Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular kind of machinery is found in every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the creation of the very first forklifts. Businesses like Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved during 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 a vital role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all around the world. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the forklift within the material handling business.
Once World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced such as 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 businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
These days, the forklift could be powered by various fuel options like electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model utilizes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less compared to those types of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.