The lift truck is a mobile machinery that uses 2 forks or prongs to carry and place loads into positions which would be usually difficult to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller lift trucks 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 option for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, which can lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
In the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was used around construction sites and could raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular unit allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both below and above grade.