Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this particular piece of machine is found in every warehouse operation all around the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower that ed to the construction of the first forklifts. Companies like for instance Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a basic tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine 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 part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies throughout the world. 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 WWII ended. In the 1950s, forklifts which utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for instance the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This kind was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are many options you could use to power a forklift these days. These consist of electric battery, diesel, gasoline, CNG or compressed natural gas, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular type utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.