Created on 2025.12.04
The history of forklift
Aftermore than a hundred years of development and evolution, forklifts have becomeindispensable mechanical equipment in modern society, widely used in variousfields such as warehousing, industrial production, and port terminals. Thedevelopment history of forklifts can be traced back to the early 20th century.With the growth of industrialization and logistics demands, forklifts graduallyevolved from simple handling tools into modern and intelligent logisticsequipment, not only improving the efficiency of handling but also laying asolid foundation for subsequent mechanization and automation handling.
•Before the emergence of forklifts, factories and warehouses mainly relied onmanual labor or simple levers, pulleys, and other devices to manually handlegoods.
•In 1906, it became an important turning point in the history of forklifttrucks. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company equipped the transportation vehiclesat the Altoona railway station with batteries, thus giving birth to the world'sfirst powered industrial transport vehicle. This milestone event marked thebeginning of a new chapter in the transition from manual transport vehicles topowered ones. With the continuous advancement of electrical technology, earlyrailway stations also began to introduce electric platform vehicles, providingnew power for the rapid transportation of goods.
•In 1913, a landmark invention patent - the hydraulic lift - had a profoundimpact on the history of forklift trucks. Although the production capacity waslimited at that time, this lift did not immediately gain widespread applicationbut gradually became popular in the following decades. With the continuousprogress of hydraulic technology, the design of platform vehicles graduallyevolved into the modern contours of forklift trucks, which pointed the way forthe subsequent development of forklift trucks.
•During World War I, many factories and warehouses in the United States faced ashortage of labor, especially in the transportation of heavy goods. To addressthis challenge, in 1917, the American CLARK equipment company launched aninnovative three-wheeled platform-type industrial vehicle -"Tructractor". Although this vehicle did not have forks and did notlast long, it was regarded as the prototype of forklift trucks, marking theinitial birth of this modern logistics equipment. It was mainly used for transportingraw materials, but did not have lifting functions. In 1923, CLARK began toimprove the Duat tractor. In 1924, they made a breakthrough and successfullyinstalled a mast and lifting chain device on the Duat tractor, enabling thisvehicle to easily lift up to 1000 pounds of goods. This significant improvementmarked the birth of the world's first truly internal combustion-poweredforklift truck. This innovative breakthrough not only greatly increased thelifting height of goods, surpassing the limitations of trucks themselves, butalso fully utilized the vertical space of factories and warehouses,significantly improving the handling efficiency and laying a solid foundationfor the further development of forklift truck technology.
In1947, in a small town called Silverdalens in southern Sweden, with the ambitionof creating the world's most durable forklift, the first generation of forkliftdesigners founded Silverdalens Mekaniska Verkstad (SMV). They aimed to enhancethe efficiency of sawmills and continuously met the diverse needs of customersfor forklifts. With exquisite craftsmanship and a rigorous attitude, theydevoted themselves wholeheartedly to every research and production. Afterseveral years of efforts and trials, they finally launched the first generationof heavy-duty forklifts in 1958. The design concept oriented towards customerneeds led SMV to rise rapidly and introduce a series of forklifts that werehighly praised by the market.
•In the 1950s, electric forklifts began to gain popularity, especially forindoor operations. They were favored for their low noise and zero emissions.
•In the 1960s, the introduction of hydraulic systems made the lifting andtransportation of forklifts more stable and efficient. During this period, thedesign and production of forklifts gradually became standardized, andinternational safety standards (such as ISO standards) were also established.
•In the 1990s, with the development of computer technology, automated guidedvehicle (AGV) forklifts emerged, capable of autonomously completingtransportation tasks through programming or sensors.
Modernforklifts are equipped with GPS, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies andartificial intelligence (AI), enabling intelligent upgrades such as remotemonitoring, path optimization and fault prediction. They also place greateremphasis on the safety and comfort of operators, for example, through augmentedreality (AR) technology to assist operations. In the future, forklifts willfurther integrate with robot technology, becoming the core equipment of fullyautomated warehouses. The application of hydrogen fuel cells and lithiumbattery technology has also made forklifts more energy-efficient andenvironmentally friendly, meeting the demands of green logistics.
Thehistory of forklifts reflects the epitome of industrialization andtechnological progress. From simple transportation to intelligent logistics,forklifts have always been a key tool for improving efficiency and reducingcosts. BYD forklifts' "three-electric reduction" strategy: LeveragingBYD Group's battery, motor and electronic control technologies, their electricforklifts cost 20% less than the industry average and have a 30% longer batterylife. They are transforming forklifts with "electric vehicle-levelthree-electric technology" - for example, transplanting the energyrecovery system from cars to forklifts, which can automatically charge duringdownhill driving. This has forced traditional forklift manufacturers toaccelerate technological iterations.
Asdriverless forklifts navigate through the warehouse and hydrogen-poweredforklifts rumble in the port, what we are writing is not only the history of anindustry, but also the future of China's smart manufacturing.