The lift truck is a mobile equipment which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions which will be normally hard to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift units which 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. Usually, they are the ideal choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, that can lift loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they may utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction locations and can lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In the year 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck 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 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This unit enabled loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.