Sideloaders have become a terrific alternative for a lot of businesses needing to perform handling tasks on unusual loads. Sales of these units are small however, taking up 1% to 5% of the global forklift market.
Normally, side-loaders are used within the timber, aluminum, steel, glass, construction and aviation businesses. Additionally, they are utilized within businesses that are making unusual things including windmill arms and moldings. Basically any industry that makes awkward or oversized long objects uses the side-loaders.
During the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally made the sideloader forklift. These early units were requested from the United States Air Force. The original idea was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over in the year 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 late 1950s, the side-loaders were introduced to Europe. The early units were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use within timber yards.
Side-loaders vary a bit from counterbalance, forward-traveling lift trucks in that they have their forks located on the side of the equipment. The operator drives the machine sitting in a cabin similar to a conventional 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 usually transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to lessen distortion, stress and damage to the load. New innovations to the side-loader design have integrated a huge range of lifting accessories being developed.
Some of the benefits of utilizing side-loaders over reach-stackers or standard lift trucks comprise: enhanced visibility, safer operating conditions, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to use available space more effectively.
Only when you assess your work setting and types of applications you would be putting your machine through, will you be able to accurately determine the right type of machine to complete your tasks. There are a few good rental alternatives available as well in order to know the best type of machine to meet your needs. Doing some research on the Internet or talking to a reputable dealer is one more good way to get some information as well when trying to figure out the right choice.