Abstract: An apparatus for operating the fork holder supports of forks of a manually or automatically driven forklift, including a first frame slidable within a vertical upright of said forklift. The first frame comprises connection means for a second frame, which supports the connection means, configured for allowing a rotation of the second frame with respect to the first frame, and first actuator means for rotating the second frame with respect to the first frame. The connection means include guiding means and sliding means, or a cam element, which allow a substantially vertical arrangement of the first actuator means within the apparatus; in addition, the first actuator means include at least one linear electric actuator of commercial type, or a trapezoidal screw actuator, or a worm screw actuator with recirculating ball nut.