Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the world.
The very first forklifts were made because of manpower shortages that were caused by WWI. Businesses like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the forklift design 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 world. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the forklift in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as World War II ended. In 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 kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
These days, the forklift can be powered by numerous fuel options like electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular model utilizes 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.