The forklift is a mobile machine which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place loads into positions which will be usually difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most commonly utilized around train and truck loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machines 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 lift trucks 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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have large pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they could use a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In the year 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 equipment was used around construction locations and can 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 popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that can raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds 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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This model enabled cargo to be positioned out from the base of the machinery both below and above grade.