Forklifts are mobile equipment which use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place cargo into positions that will normally be difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks in addition to in warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the great choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, that could lift loads up and out from the machine's base or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
During 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 equipment was utilized around construction locations and was able to raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg 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 first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the base of the machinery both below and above grade.