Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even today, this particular piece of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower that resulted in the construction of the first forklifts. Businesses such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a basic tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with WWII. The forklift played an important role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all around the globe. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Once the Second World War ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. In the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are many options you could use to power a forklift nowadays. These include electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model utilizes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those types of forklifts that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.