Forklifts are mobile machinery that utilize 2 forks or prongs to be able to place cargo into positions which would typically be hard to reach. Normally, forklifts fall into 2 major categories: rough-terrain and industrial.
Most often, industrial forklifts are utilized around truck loading docks and train loading docks as well as in warehouse operations. These equipment have smaller tires that are engineered to run on paved surfaces. Typically, industrial lift trucks are powered by an internal gasoline engine running on diesel fuel or propane.
There are some smaller industrial forklift models which utilize an electric motor running off an internal battery. As the name implies, rough terrain lift trucks are engineered to run on unpaved and rough surfaces. Commonly, they are the ideal alternative for military and construction applications. Rough terrain forklifts generally have big pneumatic tires that are normally powered by internal industrial engines which run on diesel or propane fuel. These lift truck units could have a telescoping boom, that could lift loads up and out from the base of the equipment or they could utilize 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 first equipment was used around construction sites and was able to raise to a height of 30 inches or 76 cm and had a lifting capacity can lift 454 kg or 1000 pounds. Vertical tower forklifts were quickly developed for industrial application and rough terrain lift trucks became famous too. By the time the 1950s came around, there were available units which can raise up to heights of 9 meters or 30 feet and had lift capacities of 1135 kg or 2500 pounds.
In 1958, the first 4-wheel drive rough terrain lift truck was introduced with a capacity of 2724 kg or 6000 lbs. 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 first telescoping boom rough terrain lift truck emerged on the market during the year 1962. This model allowed loads to be positioned out from the machine's base both above and below grade.