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The fork lift has been used to elevate and transport items for nearly a century. The modern design was introduced in 1920 by various companies, including Clark (transmission manufacturing company), and Yale and Towne Manufacturing (hoist company). This piece of equipment has become very valuable to workers in warehouses, at manufacturing sites, and on construction projects.
The concept of this useful equipment dates back to the early 20th Century. In 1906, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company introduced platform trucks that were powered by batteries. They could effectively transport large quantities of luggage at the company's Altoona train station.
By 1917, the Clark company had started developing and utilizing powered lifter trucks in their factories. In 1919, the Towmotor Corporation entered the market in the United States. One year later, Yale and Towne introduced their model to the U. S. Market.
During World War II, the fork lift was a vital component of equipment production and troop mobilization. Following the war, warehouses were developed which could store supplies more effectively. This prompted the need for modifications to these trucks, including the ability to maneuver in small spaces, and reach great vertical heights.
Today, there are a wide range of models available. From the smallest to the largest, they include the hand pallet truck, powered pallet vehicle, rider low lifter truck, towing tracker, walkie stacker, rider stacker, reach truck (designed for small aisles), electric counter-balanced vehicle, and the IC counter-balanced truck. Additionally, the side-loader, telescopic handler, walkie order pick-up unit, rider order picker, flexi unit (articulated very narrow aisle counter-balanced gear), guided very narrow aisle gear, and truck mounted sod loaders are the other models that are available.
The fork lift has a long and interesting history. It has become an invaluable tool in many industrial, manufacturing and construction settings. With the wide variety of models available, they can function effectively in many environments.