In manufacturing and warehouse environments, the types of machinery which operators use to shuttle materials from one place to another are called forklifts. The machinery carries pallets, also called skids, which are loaded with things. The lift truck is designed with forks which insert into the pallet rungs. Forklifts are also sometimes called Pallet Trucks, Lift Trucks, High/Low, Skid Trucks, Side Loaders and Stacker Trucks.
The very first forklifts were marketed in the early part of the 1900s by companies like Clark and Yale & Towne Manufacturing. Nowadays the majority of supplies are delivered to warehouses and stores on pallets. Forklifts are commonly found in warehouses and manufacturing plants, where they are depended upon to operate the business smoothly.
The following are amongst the different kinds of skid lifts or pallets: Walkie low lift truck - with electrical motor; Rider low lift truck; Hand pallet truck; IC counterbalanced truck; Telescopic handler; Towing tractor; Sideloader; Slip Sheet machine; Walkie stacker; Rider stacker; Electric counterbalanced truck; Walkie Order Picking truck; Reach truck; Rider Order Picking truck - also called "Order Picker"; Articulated Very Narrow Aisle Counterbalanced trucks - also known as "Flexi Truck"; Truck Mounted Forklift / Sod Loader; Guided Very Narrow Aisle truck; 'Man Down' - for narrow aisles; and 'Man Riser' Combination Order Picker/ Stacker truck
The articulated counterbalance truck is a type of counterbalanced forklift truck that is utilized for specialized applications. This particular hybrid is recommended for very narrow aisles because it can offload and onload in very tight spaces.
The Guided Very Narrow Aisle Trucks are capable of lifting as high as 12 meters, and even up to 30 meters if it is a "non top-tied" version. These trucks are available in man down and man-riser models. This equipment should just be used on floors which are even and flat.