Even if sales volumes have normally been small, around 1% to 5% of the international forklift market; side-loaders have become the paramount choice of equipment in the material handling business for dealing with unconventional loads in a simple manner.
Sideloaders are rather common in the timber, aluminum, steel, glass, aviation and construction businesses. Moreover, they are used in industries that are making unconventional items including windmill arms and moldings. Practically any industry which makes awkward or oversized long items uses the side-loaders.
In the start of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally designed the sideloader lift truck. These early models were requested from the US Air Force. The original idea was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over in 1959 by the Baker Raulang Company. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. In the latter part of the 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early units were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use within timber yards.
The side-loader is a bit different from the counterbalanced forklift, as the traditional forward-traveling lift trucks have front facing forks whilst the side-loader has side facing forks. The operator though will drive in a cabin similar to those utilized in conventional lift trucks. The lifting, loading, and unloading functions are performed by the mast located at the right-hand side of the driver. The cargo is typically transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to lessen stress, distortion and damage to the cargo. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
The use of side-loaders as opposed to the reach-stackers or standard forklifts: safer operating conditions, better visibility, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to utilize available space more effectively.
Only when you assess your work environment and kinds of applications you will be putting your machine through, would you be able to precisely determine the right kind of machinery to finish your tasks. There are several great rental choices available as well in order to determine the right type of machine to meet all your needs. Doing some research on the World Wide Web or talking to a reputable dealer is one more good way to get some information also when trying to know the best choice.