Forklifts are mobile machinery which use 2 forks or prongs in order to place cargo into positions which will usually be hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most often, industrial forklifts are used around train loading docks and truck loading docks along with in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
Smaller lift trucks 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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks normally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying cargo up and out from the machine's base or they could use a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain forklift emerged during 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machinery was used around construction locations and could lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The first 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered 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 during the year 1962. This model enabled loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.