The forklift is a mobile equipment that utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal choice for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have large pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, which can lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in 1962. This particular unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.