Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even now, this particular kind of equipment is found in 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 Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors inside their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and began selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated equipment which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with World War II. The forklift played an essential role during this time in the handling of materials for different armies throughout the globe. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced which solidified the need for the lift truck in the material handling industry.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as World War II ended. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made within the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are various options you could use to power a forklift today. These comprise electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model consumes 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.