Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all over the globe.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Companies like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine that utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and began selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played a key role during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all over the world. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck in the material handling business.
As soon as the Second World War ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. In the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are numerous options you could utilize to power a forklift today. These include diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular type utilizes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.