The forklift is a mobile machine which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions that would be usually difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial lift trucks are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks in addition to in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires that are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial forklift models that use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the great choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was utilized around construction locations and could lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg 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 unit enabled cargo to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.