The forklift is a mobile machinery that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to carry and place cargo into positions which would be usually hard to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial lift trucks are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks along with in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on smooth surfaces. Usually, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
Smaller lift trucks may run off an internal battery charging an electric motor. And as the name implies, the rough terrain forklift is engineered 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 large pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines that run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the base of the machine or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged in 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machinery was utilized around construction sites and can 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 use and rough terrain lift trucks became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available 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 during 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 3000 lbs. or 1362 kg and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during 1962. This unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the base of the machine both below and above grade.