Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for around 100 years now. Even today, this piece of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the first forklifts. Companies like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the forklift design evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with the Second World War. The forklift played an important role during this time in the handling of materials for various armies all around the globe. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift within the material handling industry.
When the Second World War ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for example the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model 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.
There are numerous options you could use to power a forklift today. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular kind utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.