The lift truck is a mobile machine which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions which would be usually difficult to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse operation. 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 forklift is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was utilized around construction locations and could raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This particular unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.