Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for around 100 years now. Even now, this piece of machinery is found in every warehouse operation throughout the world.
The first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and began selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machinery that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with World War II. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all over the globe. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified 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 driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular type 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 companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
These days, the forklift could be powered by various fuel options like diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This type utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less compared to those types of forklifts which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.