Sideloaders have become a great choice for many companies needing to perform handling tasks on unconventional loads. Sales of these models are small however, taking up 1% to 5% of the global forklift market.
Sideloaders are rather popular in the aluminum, timber, steel, glass, aviation and construction businesses. Additionally, they are utilized within businesses which are making unconventional things like for example windmill arms and moldings. Basically any industry which makes awkward or oversized long things utilizes the side-loaders.
Side-loaders were originally designed during the start of the 1950s by Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company. These models were made in response to a request from the US Air Force. The initial idea 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 made by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's use within timber yards.
The side-loader is a bit different from the counterbalanced forklift, because the traditional forward-traveling forklifts have front facing forks while the side-loader has side facing forks. The operator though would drive inside a cabin similar to those used in traditional forklifts. The lifting, loading, and unloading functions are performed by the mast situated at the driver's right-hand side. The load is usually transported lying on a wooden or metal deck. This helps to decrease stress, distortion and damage to the load. Recent innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a large variety of lifting accessories being developed.
A few of the benefits of utilizing side-loaders over reach-stackers or traditional forklifts include: safer operating conditions, better visibility, and the ability to utilize available space more effectively as well as faster traveling speeds.
You would only be able to precisely know the best kind of equipment to complete your tasks, once you have fully assessed the work environment and types of jobs you would be performing. There are some good rental options available as well in order to know the best kind of equipment to meet all your requirements. Doing some research on the World Wide Web or talking to a respectable dealer is another good way to get some information also when trying to know the best alternative.