The lift truck is a mobile machine that uses 2 forks or prongs to lift and place loads into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most often utilized around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts 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 forklift is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the great option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have large pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, which could lift cargo up and out from the base of the machinery or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during 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 sites and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. 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 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 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This model enabled cargo to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.