Classification of Forklift Trucks
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even today, this particular type of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the construction of the first forklifts. Companies such as Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors in their plants. During 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 basic tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine which was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played an essential part during this time in the handling of materials for different armies all over the globe. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet solidified the need for the lift truck in the material handling business.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop when the Second World War ended. In the 1950s, battery operated forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular model was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made within the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are numerous options you can utilize to power a forklift nowadays. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular type uses thirty nine percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are around 14.6 tons less compared to those types of forklifts which are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.