Forklift Truck Classification
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular type of equipment is found in every warehouse operation throughout the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the first forklifts. Companies such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine that utilized powered lift tractors inside their plants. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and began selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the forklift design changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played an essential part during this time in the handling of materials for various armies throughout the globe. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the forklift within the material handling industry.
When World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. 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 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 numerous options you can utilize to power a forklift today. These comprise electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This kind uses 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.