The forklift is a mobile equipment which utilizes 2 prongs or forks to lift and place loads into positions which would be usually hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial lift trucks are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks along with in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Normally, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some 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. Usually, they are the ideal choice for military and construction operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires that are usually powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, capable of lifting cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they can use a vertical tower, which is responsible for carrying loads straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during the year 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first machine was utilized around construction locations and could raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available which can lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 2500 pounds or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in the year 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg 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 lift truck emerged on the market during 1962. This unit allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.