The forklift is a mobile equipment that uses 2 prongs or forks to lift and place cargo into positions that will be usually hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most commonly, industrial forklifts are utilized around train loading docks and truck loading docks in addition to in warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on smooth surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
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 rough and unpaved surfaces. Usually, they are the ideal choice for construction and military applications. Rough terrain forklifts normally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models could have a telescoping boom, that can lift cargo up and out from the machine's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for carrying cargo 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 equipment was utilized around construction locations and could lift to a height of 76 cm or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial use and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were units available that could lift up to heights of 30 feet or 9 meters and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 lbs.
During 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced with 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 11 meters or 35 feet. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market in the year 1962. This model enabled cargo to be positioned out from the equipment's base both above and below grade.