Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for around 100 years now. Even today, this piece of equipment is found in every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the first forklifts. Businesses such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which used powered lift tractors in their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and began selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design evolved during the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played an essential role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the world. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced which 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. During the 1950s, forklifts that use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. During 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.
Today, the forklift could be powered by various fuel options like electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This type uses thirty nine percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less than those types of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.