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The history of the tail lift
Transportation underwent a revolution in the period 1950 to 1970. Transport by sailing ship and steam locomotive disappeared. The ocean liner was overtaken by the aeroplane, and cargo transport by sea grew enormously. It was the automobile, however, that truly changed things: the passenger car led to a mobility explosion, and the truck was barely able to keep up with the exponential industrialization.
Road transport
Increasing suburbanization and mass production created an ever growing need for more transport. Small inland navigation disappeared in the 70s, and the road transport industry took its place. Goods were now transported by truck. In the early years, trucks were loaded and unloaded by hand. That meant two men to every truck.
The first tail lift
In the 1980s, a German company called Teha developed the first tail lift, driven by an electric motor. Before the end of the decade the hydraulically operated tail lift appeared, allowing drivers to perform their work without an assistant. It also reduced the manual labour and associated risks of injuries and damage to the goods. The hydraulically driven lift gate made it possible to transport heavy goods, with the tail lift serving as the bridge between the cargo space and the warehouse floor.