Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular type of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
The very first forklifts were built because of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses like for example Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine that used powered lift tractors in their plants. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and began selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed during the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played an essential part 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 forklift in the material handling industry.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when World War II ended. During the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for instance the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular kind 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 various options you could use to power a forklift these days. These include electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model consumes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.