Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even now, this particular kind of machinery is found in every warehouse operation all around the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the construction of the very first forklifts. Companies such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which used powered lift tractors in their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and began selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the forklift design evolved during the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with WWII. The forklift played a vital part during this time in the handling of materials 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 business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts 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 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 utilize to power a forklift today. These include electric battery, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model consumes thirty nine percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those kinds of forklifts which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.