Forklift Truck Classification
Forklift trucks have been working its magic for about 100 years now. Even today, this particular kind of equipment is found in each and every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
Because of WWI, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the creation of the first forklifts. Companies like Clark and Yale & Town introduced the material handling equipment that used powered lift tractors in their plants. During 1918, Clark saw the potential for these equipment and started selling them.
From a basic tractor with an attachment, the design of forklifts evolved during the 1920s, to a dedicated equipment 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 supplies for various armies all over the globe. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet solidified the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Forklifts gained momentum and continued to develop as soon as the Second World War ended. In the 1950s, battery driven forklifts made an appearance. There were other more specialized kinds of forklifts introduced such as the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This particular model was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts a lot more versatile and companies were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are various options you could use to power a forklift these days. These consist of diesel, electrical battery, compressed natural gas or CNG, gasoline, LPG or liquid propane gas. The very first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It now operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This kind utilizes thirty nine percent less fuel than existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less than those forklift models that are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.