Forklifts are mobile equipment that utilize 2 prongs or forks to be able to place loads into positions that would typically be hard to reach. Normally, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse applications. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift units 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 great option for military and construction applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires which are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units could have a telescoping boom, which could carry loads up and out from the machine's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
During 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 equipment was utilized around construction locations and could lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available which could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck 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 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in 1962. This particular model enabled loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.