Physical strength varies from person to person. Athletes are typically seen as being stronger than those who don’t undergo training. Either way, there are jobs out there that even the strongest of us will be unable to do. Work that needs lifting stuff that weighs a ton can only be done by a machine.

Take welders, for example. Lighter materials can be worked on by one person. But if heavier material such as large pipes needs some work done, it is no longer a solo job. But there are companies offering pipe rotators in Australia. These carry the pipe and rotate it for you while you continue welding it.

There are other types of equipment designed to do the heavy lifting. Here are some of them:

Forklifts

Starting with the smallest, you have the forklift. Loading cargo requires the use of pallets, which serve as the platform for lifting. The fork slips in the slots of the pallet. As it latches on, the operator can then proceed in lifting the load. This will help you stack one pallet over another in no time. Warehouse spaces are maximized because of forklifts.

The amount of weight a forklift can carry depends on how far its center of gravity is from the front of the fork. This distance is called the load center. At 24 inches or fewer, it can lift 4,000 pounds or 1,814 kilograms. At 36 inches, that goes down to 2,666 pounds or 1,209 kilograms.

While operating looks similar to driving a car, it’s vastly different. One main difference is that it’s the rear wheels that do the turning. Improper loading, erratic driving, or miscalculations can lead to dangerous situations. This is why if you want to make a living as a forklift operator or planning to get a used forklift in Melbourne, you will be required to undergo training because it has its own certification program. This is all in the name of safety, not just for the operator but also for the job site.

Cranes

These are made up of simple machines such as the pulley, wheel and axle, and lever. As these are heavier and more powerful equipment, load capacity figures will be at the multi-ton range. There are different types of cranes, and each has a specific purpose.

• Floating crane. This is set on a floating platform and mainly used to build bridges and ports. OSHA allows those that can carry more than 25 tons.
• Telescopic crane. This features a boom that can have a total extended length of about 21 meters. It is mobile, allowing the transport of cargo in short distances. It has a load capacity of 12 tons.
• Tower crane. This is affixed to a wide base and used to build buildings. It is able to move vertically by adding segments to its mast. This is how it is always at the top of the construction site. With the help of a 20-ton counterweight, it can lift up to 19 tons.

Without these machines, there would be no massive structures made or storage warehouses filled. What this proves, though, is the brilliance of the human mind. If something can’t be overcome with physical strength, it will find a way to innovate and solve the problem.