It was in the beginning of the 20th Century when the first lift trucks were introduced. These equipment during the past 90 plus years has revolutionized the material handling business and even the recycling business. The considerations for safe operation, the forklift's evolution and the many different types are discussed below.
History of Lift Trucks
These powered industrial trucks, also known as forklifts and lift trucks, were created and launched to the market in the latter part of the 19th century. Originally, these units were low lift trucks which were just capable of raising platforms a few inches high. Generally, these types of machines were used for moving material inside a shop, like work-in-progress situations. In the latter part of 1910s, high lift trucks first emerged and enhancements in truck design began to take root from there. The tier trucks ultimately developed and this allowed for better storage efficiency and stacking of loads.
During the 1930s, there were some really hard economic times. However, during this time, labor was freely available but money for investment was increasingly more difficult to come by. This situation greatly slowed the growth of lift truck usage.
Forklifts became a really strategic part of the the second World War war effort since the vast shortages in manpower in that time happened as a resulting of enlistment of thousands of men. It was found that its driver and the lift truck can deal with the work of numerous men and were really productive. As the War progressed, numerous women drivers filled the many demands. When the war was over, lift trucks became a mainstay of the material handling industry. They were utilized a lot in the Pacific war efforts. Some of the leftover pallets and lift trucks within Australia left behind by the U.S. Military became the basis for the CHEP or Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool, who today is referred to as the largest pallet pooling company in the globe.
Diesel/Gasoline
There are numerous benefits to utilizing a diesel or gas powered engine. They are readily available all around the globe; they are suitable for heavy duty workloads, they deliver consistent power throughout the shift and numerous drivers are quite familiar with the source of power.
Several of the gas and diesel engines disadvantages include: they require much more maintenance compared to electric versions, due to the emissions they release, they are not appropriate to be used inside, there is some difficulty and cost connected to fluid and oil disposal and they need a re-fueling post on-site if they are going to be used always.