Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular piece of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all around the world.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages that were caused by World War I. Businesses such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors inside their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the design of forklifts evolved from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated equipment that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all around the world. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced which proved the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when World War II ended. In the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced like for instance the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular model was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made within the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are numerous options you could utilize to power a forklift these days. These comprise diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, CNG or compressed natural gas, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model uses 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.