Interesting Facts about Forklifts You Probably Didn’t Know

Forklifts are one of the most crucial tools for modern industrial innovations. Forklifts are extremely practical and popular for moving various products over short distances. In addition, there are over 150,000 of forklifts being distributed to material handling buyers annually. The forklift might not be the most fascinating piece of machinery in the world, but it is efficient and saves companies a lot of money by doing the work of twenty men.  With that being said, here’s some interesting facts that you probably do not know about the forklift.

1. Forklifts Do Not Cause as Many Accidents as One Might Assume

• Despite contrary beliefs, forklifts are not as hazardous and life-threatening as one would expect. 
• While it is true that forklifts are dangerous and operators are required to pass a mandatory safety tests before they are given the license to drive them, however forklifts actually no not cause a lot of accidents in factories or warehouses. 
• As a matter of fact, among all the accidents that can occur in industrial workplace forklift accidents only make up for about 1% of them. 
• However, forklifts can cause only about 10% of physical injuries. 

2. Thieves Have Actually Stolen an ATM Through Using a Stolen Forklift 

• While forklifts have generally been used in the working world, there have been people who have thought of slightly more creative and illegal ways to use this machine.  
• In August 2014, some enterprising and creative  thieves somehow managed to steal a forklift and then proceeded to use that stolen forklift to make off with an ATM machine in Fayetteville, Georgia.
• Security footage shows that a forklift was ramming into the 2,000 pound ATM machine and removing it from its foundation. Apparently, using forklifts in robberies similar to this has become somewhat of a trend. 
• This may go without saying, but one should use their forklift for good

3. The Forklift was Descended from The Tractrator 

• There are some very important forerunnings that paved the way for the creation of forklifts before its final outcome of the forklift. 
• The tractractor is especially credited as being the ancestor or inspiration for the traditional forklifts.
• In 1917, Clark’s axle plant produced the tractractor solely for its own use, however when visitors started requesting their own models, this resulted in the development of forklifts
• By 1923, Yale produced its first electric truck with raising forks.
• Thus came the existence of the forklift, although it took some time before forklifts gained its popularity.
• The modernized version of forklift didn’t appear until the year 1960.

4. The Production of Forklifts and Wooden Pallets Were Pushed Forward during World War II 

• The forklift has made some crucial evolutionary steps to upgrade its working capabilities and World War II function as a major cause.  
• The wooden pallet became standardized and popular during 1930, at the time laborers were looking for a more efficient way to transport and load the large quantities of war supplies on ships and wagons, this resulted in the skyrocket of forklift production
• One company moved from just 500 units in 1939 to over 23,000 units towards the later end of the war.  
• This continuous movement of goods led to another important forklift development.  
• When it became vital for forklifts to have a longer lifespan and last longer, models were developed and manufactured  to work for a full eight-hour shift on a single battery charge.

5. Forklifts Are Not Just Produced for Warehouse Uses

• Although forklifts are most associated with industrial areas such as warehouses and factories, forklifts of varying types can also be found in other workplaces. 
• The rough-terrain forklifts are specially designed so that they can transport construction equipment, roofing supplies, bricks, and lumber. 
• Technically, these forklifts have the exact same function as normal forklift trucks, but they are also equipped with a very rugged transmission which allows them to work in different ground conditions. 
• The 4-wheel mechanism provides this forklift a larger turn radius and it’s slightly slower at work due to the 4 wheels creating traction on the ground.

Based on the five facts listed above, there are a lot of interesting things that define the purpose and function of a forklift than one would initially expected.