Even if sales volumes have usually been small, around 1% to 5% of the worldwide forklift market; side-loaders have become the paramount choice of equipment in the material handling business for dealing with unconventional cargo in a simple manner.
Sideloaders are quite common in the timber, aluminum, steel, glass, aviation and construction industries. Moreover, they are used in businesses that are making unconventional objects like moldings, and windmill arms. Practically any industry which produces oversized long or awkward items utilizes the side-loaders.
In the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company initially designed the sideloader forklift. These early units were requested from the United States Air Force. The initial concept was patented for commercial application but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over during the year 1959 by the Baker Raulang Company. It was Baker Raulang who produced the design. Afterward, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the late 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The early models were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the machine's utilization in timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a little from forward traveling, counterbalance lift trucks in that they have their forks situated on the side of the equipment. The operator drives the machine sitting in a cabin similar to a standard lift truck. The unloading, lifting and loading functions are done by the mast located at the right-hand side of the driver. The cargo is usually transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to reduce distortion, stress and damage to the load. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a huge variety of lifting accessories being developed.
The utilization of side-loaders as opposed to the reach-stackers or conventional forklifts: safer operating conditions, improved visibility, and faster traveling speeds as well as the ability to utilize available space more effectively.
Only when you evaluate your work setting and types of applications you will be putting your machine through, would you be able to precisely determine the best type of machine to complete your tasks. There are several good rental choices available as well in order to know the right kind of machinery 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 also when trying to figure out the best alternative.