Forklift Truck Classification
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular kind of machinery is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which resulted in the creation of the first forklifts. Businesses such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine that utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed 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 key role during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all around the globe. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that proved the need for the lift truck within the material handling industry.
As soon as WWII ended, the forklift gained momentum and continued to develop. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like for example the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This kind 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 various options you could use to power a forklift nowadays. These include diesel, electrical battery, CNG or compressed natural gas, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This type consumes 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less compared to those forklift models that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.