Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this type of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the world.
The very first forklifts were built because of manpower shortages that were caused by World War I. Businesses like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machinery which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all over the globe. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced which proved the need for the forklift in the material handling industry.
Once World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, forklifts which utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like for instance 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 much more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
Nowadays, the forklift can be powered by numerous fuel options like electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular model consumes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.