The lift truck is a mobile machinery that utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions which would be usually difficult to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most often utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machines have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
In the year 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 used around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
During the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This model enabled loads to be positioned out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.