Lift trucks are mobile machines that use 2 forks or prongs in order to place loads into positions that will typically be 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 lots of warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires that are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck models that utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are designed to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Normally, they are the great choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, that could carry cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying 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 locations and was able to raise to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
During 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in 1962. This specific unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.