Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular kind of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all over the world.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by WWI. Companies like for instance Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors inside their plants. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the forklift design changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played a key 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 proved the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Once World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. In the 1950s, battery driven forklifts 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 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 can utilize to power a forklift these days. These include electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular kind consumes 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those types of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.