Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even now, this particular type of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the world.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the creation of the very first forklifts. Companies such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors inside their plants. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved in the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced 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 wooden pallets were introduced which solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
When World War II ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, forklifts which utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for example the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model 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 various options you could use to power a forklift nowadays. These include diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on diesel battery and lithium ion. This model consumes 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.