Forklifts are mobile equipment that utilize 2 forks or prongs to be able to place loads into positions which would normally be difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to many warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units that 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. Usually, they are the great alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have big pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units can have a telescoping boom, that can lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they may utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was utilized around construction locations and could raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units that could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
During 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 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.