The lift truck is a mobile equipment that utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place loads into positions which would be normally hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires that are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Usually, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting loads up and out from the machine's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
During 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units which could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This specific model allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both below and above grade.