Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the globe.
The first forklifts were built because of manpower shortages that were caused by World War I. Businesses such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that utilized powered lift tractors inside their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a basic tractor with an attachment to a dedicated equipment that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played a key role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the world. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the forklift within the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. In the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced like for example the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. During 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.
There are many options you can use to power a forklift today. These include diesel, electrical battery, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This model utilizes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less compared to those kinds of forklifts which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.