Lift truck trucks have been around for numerous years. Since its inception, the forklift has become an indispensable machine for the materials handling business.
Sometimes called lift trucks, one of their initial uses was lifting and moving luggage at train stations and airports. Throughout the Second World War the use of these machines exploded and the warehousing business expanded greatly. The traditional machinery was adapted to handle the requirements of stacking inventory on higher shelves and they were made to carry heavier loads and move faster.
The forklift is normally utilized for stacking inventory in warehouses. Things for the most part are packed onto pallets that are made particularly to enable the forks to move beneath the openings of the pallets. The forklift could then securely carry the cargo without it falling into the ground or wobbling. When the pallets are in place, they could be easily transported to another location. Forklifts are also utilized much in the agriculture, mining, docking and shipping industry.
The forklift is also seen on constructions locations, since many units have been made to pick up large heavy boxes and heavy pipes, concrete slabs, ceramics and other equipment. Since it is fairly a compact unit, this equipment can move from one place to another at a fairly good speed.
The dimensions of the forklift vary depending on the unit and its specific use. For warehousing applications, there are the narrow aisle truck units. These require the floor to be really flat and are quite a bit smaller in size. Typically, they are designed with rear wheel steering. There has been a significant increase in these machines within the manufacturing and mining machine businesses. Because forklifts usually deal with pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals and flammable supplies, the machines have become tougher and more durable.
The forklifts may have load capacities from 1 to as many as 5 tons. Several heavy duty models have been designed to handle as many as 50 tons. These models are often used to load shipping equipment off of and into ships. Forklifts and their required training to operate are specifically regulated to ensure the safety of the individuals utilizing this particular equipment. No one could utilize them legally without completing the proper documents and training.