Forklifts are mobile machinery that utilize 2 forks or prongs in order to place loads into positions that will normally be difficult to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most often utilized around truck and train loading docks in addition to many warehouse operation. These machines have smaller tires that 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 lift truck models that utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are designed to run on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction operation. Rough terrain forklifts normally have big pneumatic tires that are generally powered by internal industrial engines that run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, that could carry cargo up and out from the base of the equipment or they could use a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying 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 initial machine was utilized around construction locations and could lift to a height of 30 inches or 76 centimeters and had a lifting capacity can lift 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 that can raise up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
The first 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 1362 kg or 3000 lbs. and 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This particular model allowed cargo to be placed out from the base of the machinery both below and above grade.