The forklift is a mobile machine that utilizes 2 forks or prongs to carry and place loads into positions which will be normally hard to reach. Usually, lift trucks fall into 2 main categories: industrial and rough-terrain.
Industrial lift trucks are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse operation. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Normally, 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 unpaved and rough surfaces. Normally, they are the ideal option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have big pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, capable of carrying loads up and out from the base of the machine or they may use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting loads straight up.
In 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This initial machine was utilized around construction locations and can raise to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could carry 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced in 1958. It offered a capacity of 6000 lbs. or 2724 kg and had a lift height of 7 meters or 22.5 feet or 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 35 feet or 11 meters. The first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market in the year 1962. This model allowed loads to be placed out from the base of the machinery both below and above grade.