Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this type of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the very first forklifts. Companies like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors inside their factories. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed 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 a key role during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all over the globe. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced which solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as WWII ended. In the 1950s, forklifts that use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This 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 various options you could utilize to power a forklift today. These consist of electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular type uses thirty nine percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.