Forklifts are mobile equipment which utilize 2 forks or prongs in order to place loads into positions which will typically be difficult to reach. Usually, forklifts fall into 2 main categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Industrial forklifts are most commonly utilized around train and truck loading docks in addition to a lot of warehouse applications. These equipment have smaller tires which are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Usually, 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 lift truck is designed to be operated on rough and unpaved surfaces. Commonly, they are the great alternative for construction and military applications. Rough terrain lift trucks usually have big pneumatic tires which are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These forklift units can have a telescoping boom, that could carry loads up and out from the equipment's base or they could utilize a vertical tower, that is responsible for lifting cargo straight up.
During the year 1946, the rough terrain forklift emerged as a 2 pronged lift attachment was placed on a tractor chassis or a power buggy. This first equipment was utilized around construction sites and could lift to a height of 76 centimeters or 30 inches and had a lifting capacity could lift 1000 pounds or 454 kg. Vertical tower forklifts were rapidly developed for industrial application and rough terrain forklifts became popular too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were models available that can lift up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 2500 lbs or 1135 kg.
The original 4-wheel drive rough terrain forklift was introduced during the year 1958. It offered 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 35 feet or 11 meters. The very first telescoping boom rough terrain forklift emerged on the market during 1962. This unit enabled loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.