Even though sales volumes have normally been small, around 1% to 5% of the worldwide forklift market; side-loaders have become the paramount choice of machinery in the material handling industry for dealing with unusual cargo in a simple way.
Sideloaders are quite popular within the aluminum, timber, steel, glass, construction and aviation businesses. Additionally, they are used within businesses that are making unusual objects including windmill arms and moldings. Basically any business that produces oversized long or awkward things uses the side-loaders.
Side-loaders were initially designed in the start of the 1950s by Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company. These units were designed in response to a request from the US Air Force. The initial concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company in the year 1959. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the late 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early units were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the machine'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 equipment. The operator drives the machinery sitting in a cabin similar to a standard lift truck. The unloading, lifting and loading functions are performed by the mast situated at the right-hand side of the driver. The load is normally transported lying on a metal or wooden deck. This helps to lessen distortion, stress and damage to the load. New innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a large variety of lifting accessories being developed.
The use of side-loaders rather than the reach-stackers or conventional lift trucks: improved visibility, safer operating conditions, and the ability to utilize available space more efficiently along with faster traveling speeds.
You will just be able to precisely know the right kind of machinery to finish your tasks, when you have completely assessed the work setting and types of tasks you will be completing. There are a few good rental alternatives available as well in order to determine the best type of machine to meet your requirements. Doing some research online or talking to a respectable dealer is another great way to get some information as well when trying to know the right alternative.