Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this type of machinery is found in every warehouse operation all around the world.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the creation of the very first forklifts. Companies such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with World War II. The forklift played an essential part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all over the globe. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop when WWII ended. In the 1950s, forklifts that utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are many options you could use to power a forklift these days. These include diesel, electrical battery, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model uses thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.