The forklift is a mobile machine which uses 2 forks or prongs to lift and place loads into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most often utilized around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain lift truck is engineered to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal option for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have big pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, which can carry cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they can utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged during 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was used around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular model enabled loads to be placed out from the base of the machinery both above and below grade.