Forklift Truck Classification
For less than a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even now, this kind of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all around the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the construction of the very first forklifts. Businesses such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment which used powered lift tractors inside their factories. During the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
It was during the 1920s that the forklift design evolved from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with WWII. The forklift played an important role 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 within the material handling industry.
Forklifts 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 kinds of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This type was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made within the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are various options you could use to power a forklift today. These comprise electric battery, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, liquid propane gas or LPG. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular type consumes thirty nine percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.