Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this type of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower that ed to the creation of the first forklifts. Businesses like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors inside their plants. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated machine equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with WWII. The forklift played a key role during this time in the handling of materials for various armies throughout the world. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop when WWII ended. In the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced like for instance the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This 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.
There are various options you can utilize to power a forklift today. These consist of electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular kind uses 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.