Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even today, this particular 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 first forklifts. Companies like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors in their plants. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and began selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts changed in the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all around the world. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift within the material handling business.
Once WWII ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model was made by the Raymond Corporation. In 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.
There are numerous options you could utilize to power a forklift these days. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This type consumes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those types of forklifts which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.