Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular kind of machine is found in each and every warehouse operation all around the world.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower that ed to the construction of the first forklifts. Businesses like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling machine which utilized powered lift tractors in their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery 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 that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more advanced with World War II. The forklift played an important part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all over the world. It was also at this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck in the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop when WWII ended. During the 1950s, forklifts that utilize batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced like for example the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular type was made by the Raymond Corporation. During 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 various fuel options like electric battery, diesel, gasoline, CNG or compressed natural gas, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This kind uses 39% less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are about 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.