Forklifts are mobile machinery that use 2 prongs or forks to be able to place loads into positions that will typically be hard to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most often used around truck and train loading docks in addition to lots of warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires which are designed to run on paved surfaces. Usually, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial forklift units which use an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain forklifts are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Usually, they are the great option for construction and military operation. Rough terrain lift trucks generally have large pneumatic tires which are generally powered by internal industrial engines which run on propane, diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck models could have a telescoping boom, that could carry loads up and out from the machine's base or they could use a vertical tower, which is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
The rough terrain lift truck emerged during 1946, after a 2 pronged lift attachment was attached to a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first equipment was used around construction locations and was able to lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity can lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular as well. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available models which could raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
During 1958, the original 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. 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 1962. This model allowed loads to be placed out from the equipment's base both below and above grade.