Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular type of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the world.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower that resulted in the creation of the very first forklifts. Businesses like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine that used powered lift tractors in their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played an important role during this time in the handling of materials for various armies throughout the world. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced which solidified the need for the lift truck in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as World War II ended. During the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model 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 businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are numerous options you can utilize to power a forklift nowadays. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model consumes 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.