Counterbalanced forklifts are vehicles used for loading, unloading, stacking, and transporting unitized loads at ports, railway stations, and within industrial facilities.
A counterbalanced forklift-often simply referred to as a "forklift"-is a lifting vehicle equipped with lifting forks at the front and a counterweight at the rear. These vehicles are suitable for handling unitized loads in settings such as ports, railway stations, and industrial plants. Forklifts with a capacity of less than three tons can also operate inside ship holds, railcars, and shipping containers. By replacing the standard forks with various attachments, forklifts can handle a wide range of cargo; for instance, fitting a bucket allows for the handling of bulk materials. Self-propelled forklifts first appeared in 1917, and the technology advanced significantly during World War II. China began manufacturing forklifts in the early 1950s.
