Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular piece of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
The very first forklifts were made because of manpower shortages that were caused by World War I. Businesses like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which used powered lift tractors inside their factories. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and began selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the design of forklifts evolved from a basic tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machinery which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the globe. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck in the material handling industry.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as WWII ended. In the 1950s, forklifts which use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced such as 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 numerous options you could use to power a forklift nowadays. These include electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, 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 utilizes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.