Forklift Truck Classification
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this piece of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the globe.
The very first forklifts were made as a result of manpower shortages which were caused by World War I. Businesses such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the design of forklifts evolved from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with World War II. The forklift played an essential 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 lift truck in the material handling industry.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when World War II ended. In the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for instance 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.
There are numerous options you can utilize to power a forklift these days. These include electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This type utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less compared to those kinds of forklifts that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.