The lift truck has been around ever since the early 1920's. Ever since its inception, the lift truck has become an indispensable machine for the materials handling business.
The lift truck is also referred to as a lift truck and was first utilized to lift and move luggage at airports and train stations. Throughout WWII the use of these equipment exploded and the warehousing business expanded significantly. The traditional equipment was adapted to deal with the requirements of stacking inventory on higher shelves and they were designed to move faster and carry heavier cargo.
The lift truck is usually utilized for stacking inventory within warehouses. Things for the most part are packed onto pallets that are made specifically to allow the forks to move beneath the openings of the pallets. The lift truck can then lift the goods securely without it wobbling or falling onto the ground. Once the pallets are in position, they can be transported easily to a different place. Lift trucks are also used much in the docking, shipping, mining and agricultural business.
Forklifts are often seen on construction locations. The manufacturers of these machinery design them to pick up huge heavy boxes and concrete slabs, heavy pipes, other equipment and ceramics. As it is fairly a compact unit, this machinery could move from one location to another at a fairly good speed.
Depending upon the particular model and its intended application, the forklifts dimensions could vary. There are narrow aisle units specifically for warehouse use. These need the floor to be very flat and are quite a bit smaller in size. Typically, they are made with rear wheel steering. There has been a dramatic increase in these equipment within the manufacturing and mining equipment industries. Since forklifts usually deal with petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals and flammable materials, the machines have become more robust and tougher.
Forklifts have a load capacity varying from 1 to 5 tons. There are heavy-duty units that can handle up to 50 tons. These models are usually utilized to load shipping equipment onto and off of ships. Lift trucks and their required training to operate are particularly regulated to ensure the safety of the individuals utilizing this particular machinery. No body can legally use them without completing the correct documents and training.