The forklift is a mobile machinery which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to carry and place loads into positions that would be normally difficult to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around train and truck loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires that 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 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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the great alternative for construction and military applications. Rough terrain forklifts usually have big pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, that can carry cargo up and out from the base of the machine or they can utilize a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
In 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 initial equipment was utilized around construction sites and was able to raise 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 quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units which can lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in 1958. It offered a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during the year 1962. This particular model allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.