Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower that resulted in the creation of the first forklifts. Businesses like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed during the 1920s, to a dedicated machine equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with WWII. 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 that solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when World War II ended. During the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model 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 many options you could utilize to power a forklift today. These comprise electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.