Forklifts are mobile equipment that use 2 forks or prongs to be able to place cargo into positions which will typically be difficult to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These machinery have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units which utilize 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. Normally, they are the great alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the equipment's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction sites and was able to lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in 1962. This specific unit allowed loads to be positioned out from the base of the machinery both above and below grade.