The forklift is a mobile machine that uses 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions which will be normally hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are several smaller industrial lift truck 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. Normally, they are the ideal option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial equipment was utilized around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches 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 famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models that can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in 1962. This specific unit allowed loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.