It was in the start of the 20th Century when the very first forklifts were launched. These machinery over the last 90 plus years has changed the material handling business and even the recycling business. The considerations for safe use, the forklift's evolution and the many different kinds are discussed below.
History of Forklifts
Powered industrial trucks are also called lift trucks and forklifts, were first launched and invented in the latter part of the 19th Century. These first units were low lift trucks which could raise platforms just several inches from the ground. Normally, these machines were utilized for transporting supplies within a shop, like work-in-progress situations. During the latter part of 1910s, high lift trucks initially emerged and truck design enhancements started to take root from there. The tier trucks ultimately evolved and this allowed for greater stacking of loads and storage efficiency.
There were really difficult economic times in the 1930s. Nevertheless, throughout this particular period, labor was freely available but money for investment was increasingly more difficult to come by. This situation really slowed the growth of lift truck usage.
During WWII, lift trucks became a strategic part of the war effort. In that period, vast shortages in manpower occurred resulting from the wartime enlistment. It was discovered that its operator and the lift truck were very productive and can handle the work of many men. As the War progressed, a lot of women operators filled the numerous demands. When the war was over, lift trucks became a mainstay of the material handling industry. They were used a lot in the Pacific war efforts. Some of the leftover pallets and forklifts in Australia left behind by the U.S. Military became the basis for the Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool or CHEP, who today is referred to as the world's largest pallet pooling business.
Diesel/Gasoline
There are many advantages to using a gas or diesel powered engine. They are always available all over the globe; they are great for heavy duty workloads, they deliver consistent power throughout the shift and many drivers are quite familiar with the source of power.
Some of the gas and diesel engines disadvantages comprise: they require much more maintenance than electric models, due to the emissions they release, they are not appropriate for indoor applications, there is some cost and difficulty associated to disposal of fluid and oil and they require a re-fueling station on-site if they are going to be utilized always.