The lift truck is a mobile equipment that uses 2 forks or prongs to carry and place loads into positions which would be usually hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machines have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
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 unpaved and rough surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have big pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, which can lift loads up and out from the equipment's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo 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 first machine was used around construction sites and can lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that can lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during 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 lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.