Sideloaders have become a great option for a lot of businesses needing to perform handling tasks on unconventional cargo. Sales of these models are small though, taking up 1% to 5% of the global forklift market.
Sideloaders are rather common within the timber, aluminum, glass, steel, aviation and construction businesses. Additionally, they are used within businesses which are making unconventional things including moldings, and windmill arms. Basically any business that produces awkward or oversized long objects utilizes the side-loaders.
During the beginning of the 1950's, Henry Le Grande Lull from the Lull Manufacturing Company originally made the sideloader lift truck. These early models were requested from the US Air Force. The first idea was patented for commercial utilization but it was not developed until Lull Manufacturing was taken over during 1959 by the Baker Raulang Company. It was Baker Raulang who put the design into production. Later, the name was changed to Baker Traveloader. During the latter part of the 1950s, the side-loaders were launched in Europe. The beginning models were designed by Italian manufacturer Fiora and the afterwards B-P Battioni e Pagani who pioneered the equipment's utilization in timber yards.
Side-loaders vary a little from counterbalance, forward-traveling forklifts in that they have their forks situated on the side of the equipment. The operator drives the machine 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 load is typically transported lying on a metal or wooden deck. This helps to decrease stress, distortion and damage to the load. New innovations to the side-loader design have incorporated a huge range of lifting accessories being developed.
The utilization of side-loaders as opposed to the reach-stackers or standard lift trucks: improved visibility, safer operating conditions, and the ability to utilize available space more efficiently as well as faster traveling speeds.
You would just be able to accurately know the best kind of equipment to complete your tasks, when you have fully evaluated the work environment and types of tasks you would be performing. There are some great 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 reputable dealer is another good way to get some information as well when trying to figure out the right alternative.