Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for approximately 100 years now. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the creation of the very first forklifts. Businesses such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts evolved from a 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 an essential role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the globe. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. During the 1950s, forklifts that utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular model 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 businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
Nowadays, 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 currently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model uses thirty nine 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 IC or internal combustion engines.