Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even today, this particular piece of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by WWI. Companies like Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which used powered lift tractors inside their factories. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with World War II. The forklift played an important role during this time in the handling of materials for various armies throughout the globe. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced which proved the need for the forklift in the material handling industry.
Once WWII 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 the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular 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 various options you can use to power a forklift nowadays. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular type consumes 39 percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.