The forklift is a mobile machinery that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to carry and place loads into positions that will be normally difficult to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 major categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are used around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These machinery have smaller tires which are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial forklifts are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on propane or diesel fuel.
There are several smaller industrial forklift models that use 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. Commonly, they are the great choice for military and construction applications. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift models could have a telescoping boom, that could carry cargo up and out from the machine's base or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
The rough terrain forklift 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 sites and was able to lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial use and rough terrain forklifts became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during 1958. It offered 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 lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This model enabled loads to be positioned out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.