Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this type of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower that ed to the creation of the first forklifts. Companies like for example Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and began selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the forklift design changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machinery that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played a vital role during this time in the handling of supplies for various armies all over the globe. It was also during this time that wooden pallets were introduced that solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when the Second World War ended. During 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 type 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.
These days, the forklift can be powered by various fuel options such as diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular type uses 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.