Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all over the globe.
The very first forklifts were built because of manpower shortages that were caused by World War I. Businesses like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment which used powered lift tractors in their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and started selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed during the 1920s, to a dedicated machine 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 various armies all over the world. It was also at this time that wooden pallets were introduced that proved the need for the forklift in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. During the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This type was made by the Raymond Corporation. In the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
Nowadays, the forklift can be powered by numerous fuel options such as electric battery, diesel, gasoline, CNG or compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas or LPG. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently runs on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular kind consumes 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less compared to those types of forklifts that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.