The forklift is a mobile machinery which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions which would be normally difficult to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most often, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial lift truck models that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain forklifts normally have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the machine or they could use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was utilized around construction locations and was able to raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can lift 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 in 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 22.5 feet or 7 meters or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular model allowed loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.