Forklifts Take Out The Lifting
The forklift, as we know it, began life as a powered winch. It was used to hoist heavy objects, and used electrical motors to get the job done. They were compact but specialized, with pulleys and chains for lifting heavy objects. World War II saw the widespread uses of these hoists, as they were mainly employed to lift up bombs for transportation. That’s a job that certainly calls for hazard pay!
In 1920, the first hydraulic lifting system was invented, and this was melded to a couple of forks. These huge trucks were the direct forerunner of the forklifts that we see today, and when pallets became standardized in the late 30’s, so too did the forks to lift them. But they were big and bulky, and they needed a lot of space to work.
When electric motors and hydraulics finally came together in the mid 40’s, the first real forklift was born. These vehicles were relatively small and compact, yet they could lift very heavy loads.
Here is some trivia.
- Forklift batteries originally only lasted 8 hours on a full charge, which is how long an average working shift lasts.
- Forklifts account for only 1% of all accidents in a commercial setting.
- A forklift was once used to steal an ATM.
- A modern forklift called a “Sidewinder” is the only forklift that can travel in any direction, even when it is carrying a load.
If you want more information about what a forklift or other industrial cart movers, like trailer movers, small aircraft tuggers and dumpster movers, among others, can do for you, please contact DJ Products.