Lift trucks were introduced onto the market in the start of the 20th Century. These machinery have played a hugely powerful role within the recycling business and have also changed the material handling industry. The factors for safe use, the lift truck's evolution and the various different types are discussed below.
History of Lift Trucks
Powered industrial trucks are also referred to as lift trucks and forklifts, were first launched and created during the late 19th Century. These initial units were low lift trucks which could raise platforms only several inches from the ground. Normally, these equipment were used for moving supplies within a shop, like work-in-progress situations. During the late 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 better storage effectiveness and stacking of loads.
There were really difficult economic times throughout the 1930s. Then again, during this particular time, labor was freely available but capital for investment was increasingly harder to come by. This situation greatly slowed the growth of forklift usage.
In WWII, forklifts became a strategic part of the war effort. During that period, vast shortages in manpower occurred resulting from the wartime enlistment. It was found that a lift truck and its driver were extremely productive and can deal with the work of many men. As the War continued, numerous women operators filled the many demands. By the time 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 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 biggest pallet pooling company in the world.
Gasoline/Diesel
There are numerous benefits to using a gas or diesel powered engine. They are always available all around the world; 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 diesel and gas engines drawbacks consist of: they need a lot more maintenance compared to electric models, due to the emissions they release, they are not suitable for indoor applications, there is some difficulty and cost associated to fluid and oil disposal and they require a re-fueling station on-site if they are going to be in continuous use.