As an ‘all-rounder’ in the modern industrial field, the Telehandler combines the functions of forklift, crane and aerial working platform, and has become an indispensable equipment in many industries such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing due to its excellent flexibility and powerful loading capacity. In this article, we will discuss the history, functional advantages, industry applications and future trends of telescopic boom forklift trucks, revealing how they have become a revolutionary tool for driving productivity.
Telescopic handler forklifts were born in the mid-20th century in Europe and the United States in the field of agriculture, initially used for farm feed handling and grain loading and unloading. With the maturity of hydraulic technology, after the 1980s, the equipment was gradually introduced into the construction scene, realising the functional breakthrough from ‘vertical lifting’ to ‘horizontal extension + rotary operation’. In the 21st century, the application of intelligent control system and electrification technology makes it become the core equipment of cross-industry.
| Dimension | Telehandler | Traditional Forklift | Crane |
| Working Radius | Up to 30+ meters, multi-angle rotation supported | Limited to vertical lifting, restricted horizontal range | Requires fixed pivot, low flexibility |
| Terrain Adaptability | Equipped with off-road tires, suitable for muddy/sloped terrain | Only for flat surfaces | Requires professional site support |
| Functional Expandability | Supports attachments like forks, booms, and grapples | Single function |
In the construction field, after the introduction of telescopic boom forklift trucks by a large engineering company, the efficiency of high-rise material transport has been increased by 50%, and the construction period has been shortened by 15%; in the logistics industry, the efficiency of open field operation has been increased by 30% compared with that of traditional forklift trucks. Technological innovation has upgraded the forklift from an ‘auxiliary tool’ to a ‘productivity core’.
Feed handling
with the grapple attachment, the single handling capacity can reach 5 tonnes, which is 10 times more efficient than manual handling;
Fruit tree pruning
with the manned platform attachment, fruit tree maintenance at a height of 6-10 metres is achieved, reducing the risk of working at height;
Timber transport
Scandinavian forestry cases show a 40% increase in timber loading and unloading efficiency with the use of telescopic forklifts.
High-rise building material transport
the maximum lifting height can reach 50 metres, a construction telehandler can replace some of the functions of traditional cranes;
Post-disaster rescue
In an earthquake-stricken area in 2023, a telescopic forklift with a crushing hammer attachment completes the debris clearing operation, and the efficiency is increased by 35% compared with that of traditional machinery.
Conventional Forklift Trucks
limited to indoor levelling ground, restricted when facing rain, snow or gravel roads;
Telescopic boom forklift
equipped with four-wheel drive system and anti-skid tyres, it can work efficiently in complex environments such as ports and temporary storage sites, and the efficiency of container loading and unloading can be increased by 25%.
In the field of automobile manufacturing, the telescopic handler can complete millimetre-level lifting of body parts by means of a high-precision positioning system, replacing traditional cranes while reducing the complexity of workshop equipment layout. Data from an automotive factory shows that after the introduction of this equipment, the assembly efficiency of the production line has increased by 20%.
Municipal engineering
Carrying aerial working platforms to complete street light maintenance, pipeline laying and other operations, reducing scaffolding construction costs;
Energy industry
in the oil field scenario, it is used to carry drilling equipment; in the wind power field, it assists in completing the installation of generator parts at a height of 50 metres.
Lifting height
10-15 metre models are usually chosen for agricultural scenarios, while 20 metres or more are required for the construction industry;
Load capacity
light-duty models (1-5 tonnes) are suitable for logistics and warehousing, while heavy-duty models (10-20 tonnes) are mostly used in heavy industry;
Power type
electric type (zero-emission) is suitable for indoor warehousing, diesel type (strong power) is adapted to outdoor complex environments
| Attachment Type | Typical Application Scenarios | Efficiency Improvement |
| Forks | Palletized cargo handling | Replaces traditional forklifts |
| Grapples | Bulk material (sand, straw) loading/unloading | Efficiency increased by 60% |
| Man Baskets | Aerial work (pruning, maintenance) | Reduces manual climbing risks |
| Boom Attachments | Heavy equipment lifting | Replaces small cranes |
International standards
OSHA requires operators to pass both theoretical and practical tests, and CE certification is required in Europe
Core courses
load moment calculation, slope stability control, emergency braking process.
Resistant Overthrow Prevention System (ROPS)
automatically locks the boom when the equipment tilts over the critical angle, reducing the risk of rollover;
Load Sensing Device
real-time weight monitoring, triggering sound and light alarms when overloaded. After the system was introduced at a construction site, the accident rate dropped by 80%.
Daily Maintenance
Weekly checking of hydraulic oil cleanliness, tyre air pressure, and replacement of filter cartridges every 500 hours;
Environmental compliance
Stage V emission standards are required in the EU region, and electric models enjoy tax incentives in the Nordic countries.
The maturity of lithium battery technology promotes the rapid popularity of electric telescopic boom forklifts, whose noise in the storage scenario is 20 decibels lower than that of diesel models, and the cost of use is reduced by 30%. Some companies have begun to explore hydrogen-powered models, with a range of up to two times that of traditional equipment.
Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring
Real-time tracking of equipment location, fuel consumption, and fault warning through sensors, and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime by 40%;
Autopilot technology
in closed parks (e.g. ports, factories), autopilot models have achieved 24-hour unmanned operation.
In the future, telescopic boom forklifts will work with drones and intelligent cranes – drones are responsible for environmental scanning, and the equipment will automatically plan handling paths based on the data, forming a closed loop of ‘perception-decision-execution’ in the intelligent construction site.
From farms to factories, from traditional operations to intelligent scenarios, the telescopic handler forklift has redefined the efficiency boundary of industrial equipment with its ‘multi-purpose’ feature. For enterprises, choosing the right model is not only purchasing a piece of equipment, but also introducing a set of ‘cost reduction and efficiency + safety upgrade’ overall solution.
Visit this page, use the selection tool to match your industry needs, or book a free on-site job evaluation to unlock new possibilities for productivity improvement.
