The forklift is a mobile equipment that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to lift and place cargo into positions that would be usually difficult to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial lift trucks are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks in addition to in warehouse operations. These machines have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck models that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, that can carry loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they may utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In the year 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first equipment was used around construction sites and could lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous 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 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be placed out from the base of the machine both above and below grade.