The forklift is a mobile equipment which uses 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions which would be usually hard to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are several smaller industrial forklift units which 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. Normally, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, which could carry loads up and out from the base of the machine or they could use a vertical tower, which 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 equipment was utilized around construction sites and was able to lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
During the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with 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 specific model allowed loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.