The forklift is a mobile machinery that uses 2 prongs or forks to carry and place cargo into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Typically, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks in addition to 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 diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller forklifts 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. Commonly, they are the great alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts usually have big pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting loads up and out from the machine's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
In 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular 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 lbs.
In 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift 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 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This unit allowed cargo to be positioned out from the base of the equipment both below and above grade.