The forklift is a mobile machine which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions that will be usually difficult to reach. Typically, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller forklifts may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is designed to be operated on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models can have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was used around construction locations and could raise to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that can lift 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 in 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg 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 forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This unit enabled cargo to be placed out from the machine's base both above and below grade.