Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for roughly 100 years now. Even now, this particular piece of equipment is found in every warehouse operation all over the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the construction of the very first forklifts. Companies such as Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine that utilized powered lift tractors inside their factories. In 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machinery and began selling them.
From a simple tractor with an attachment, the forklift design changed during the 1920s, to a dedicated machinery equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with WWII. The forklift played an essential role during this time in the handling of materials for different armies throughout the globe. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the forklift 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 kinds of forklifts introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This type 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 many options you can use to power a forklift these days. These consist of electric battery, diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas or CNG, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It presently operates on diesel battery and lithium ion. This particular type uses 39% less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics prove that its carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by internal combustion or IC engines.