Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for around 100 years now. Even now, this particular kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the very first forklifts. Companies like for instance Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the forklift design changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated equipment which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played an important part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the globe. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the lift truck in the material handling industry.
When World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized types 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 today. These comprise electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular model uses 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.