Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for around 100 years now. Even now, this type of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the creation of the very first forklifts. Businesses like Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine which used powered lift tractors in their plants. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and began selling them.
From a simple 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 advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played a key role during this time in the handling of materials for various armies throughout the world. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift within the material handling business.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as World War II ended. In the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized types of forklifts introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This 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 can utilize to power a forklift nowadays. These include diesel, electrical battery, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular model utilizes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less than those types of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.