Sideloaders have become a terrific choice for a lot of companies needing to perform handling tasks on unconventional cargo. Sales of these models are small however, taking up 1% to 5% of the international forklift market.
Sideloaders are quite popular in the aluminum, timber, glass, steel, aviation and construction industries. Moreover, they are used in businesses that are producing unusual things like for instance moldings, and windmill arms. Basically any business that makes oversized long or awkward items 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During the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally made the sideloader forklift.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 initial concept was patented for commercial utilization but it was not made until Lull Manufacturing was taken over by the Baker Raulang Company in the year 1959. It was Baker Raulang who made the design. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the late 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The beginning models were made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's utilization within timber yards.
Side-loaders differ a little from forward traveling, counterbalance forklifts in that they have their forks located on the side of the equipment. The operator drives the equipment sitting inside a cabin like a standard forklift. The lifting, loading, and unloading functions are performed by the mast situated at the driver's right-hand side. The cargo is usually transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to lessen distortion, stress and damage to the cargo. New innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a huge variety of lifting accessories being developed.
Some of the benefits of utilizing side-loaders over reach-stackers or conventional forklifts comprise: better visibility, safer operating conditions, and the ability to use available space more efficiently as well as faster traveling speeds.
You will only be able to precisely determine the right kind of machinery to complete your tasks, when you have fully evaluated the work setting and kinds of jobs you would be completing. There are several good rental options available as well in order to determine the best kind of equipment to suit all your requirements. Doing some research online or talking to a respectable dealer is one more good way to get some information also when trying to figure out the right alternative.