Even if sales volumes have typically been small, approximately 1% to 5% of the worldwide forklift market; side-loaders have become the dominant choice of machinery in the material handling business for handling unconventional loads in a simple manner.
Commonly, side-loaders are used within the timber, aluminum, glass, steel, construction and aviation businesses. Additionally, they are utilized in businesses which are producing unconventional objects like for example moldings, and windmill arms. Practically any business which makes oversized long or awkward objects uses the side-loaders.
During the start of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company initially made the sideloader forklift. These early models were requested from the US Air Force. The original concept was patented for commercial application but it was not made until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company during 1959. It was Baker Raulang who produced the design. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. In the late 1950s, the side-loaders were introduced to Europe. The beginning models were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use within timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a little from forward traveling, counterbalance forklifts in that they have their forks situated on the side of the machinery. The operator drives the machinery sitting in a cabin like a traditional forklift. The lifting, loading, and unloading functions are done by the mast situated at the right-hand side of the driver. The load is normally transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to reduce distortion, stress and damage to the cargo. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a large range of lifting accessories being developed.
The utilization of side-loaders instead of the reach-stackers or traditional forklifts: safer operating conditions, improved visibility, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to utilize available space more efficiently.
You would just be able to precisely determine the best type of machinery to finish your tasks, when you have completely evaluated the work setting and types of jobs you would be completing. There are a few good rental alternatives available too in order to determine the right kind of equipment to suit your needs. Doing some research on the Internet or talking to a respectable dealer is one more good way to get some information as well when trying to figure out the right choice.