The lift truck is a mobile machine which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions that will be usually hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse operation. These machines have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth 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 designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have big pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting loads up and out from the equipment's base or they may use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads 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 machinery was utilized around construction locations and was able to raise to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in 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 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This model allowed loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.