The forklift is a mobile machinery that utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions that would be usually hard to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly used around truck and train loading docks in addition to many warehouse operation. These machines have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are some smaller industrial lift truck models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have large 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, capable of lifting loads up and out from the machine's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain lift truck emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was used around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
During the year 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. 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 first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular model enabled loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.