Classification of Forklift Trucks
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular type of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
The first forklifts were made because of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the forklift design changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated equipment that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played a key role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all over the globe. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. During the 1950s, forklifts that utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models 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 within the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
Nowadays, the forklift could be powered by numerous fuel options like diesel, electrical battery, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model uses 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.