Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for approximately 100 years now. Even today, this kind of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
The very first forklifts were built as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by WWI. Companies like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine that used powered lift tractors in their factories. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts changed in the 1920s, to a dedicated machine equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital role 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 lift truck within the material handling industry.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop when WWII ended. During the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made within 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 nowadays. These include electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular model utilizes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.