Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even today, this particular kind of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the globe.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses like Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and began 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 World War II. The forklift played an essential part during this time in the handling of supplies for various armies throughout the globe. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift in the material handling business.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when World War II ended. In the 1950s, forklifts that use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This type was made by the Raymond Corporation. During 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 many options you can utilize to power a forklift nowadays. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model consumes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.