The lift truck is a mobile equipment that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to lift and place loads into positions which will be usually difficult to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks in addition to in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller lift trucks 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 military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads 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 first machine was utilized around construction sites and could raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during 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 first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck 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.