Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even now, this particular type of machinery is found in every warehouse operation all around the world.
The first forklifts were built because of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which used powered lift tractors in their plants. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts changed during the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played an important part during this time in the handling of supplies for various armies throughout the globe. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as World War II ended. During the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This kind 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 companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
Nowadays, the forklift can be powered by numerous fuel options such as diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This type uses 39 percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less compared to those kinds of forklifts that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.