Forklift Attachments Fremont - Forklift attachments make a variety of jobs possible. Forklift attachments make many jobs safer, easier and quicker to complete. Forklift operators require training for each attachment they will be using as well as their general forklift training.
Forklift attachments come in a wide variety of hydraulic and non-hydraulic attachments. The benefits of utilizing a forklift attachment include decreasing:
1. Employee accidents;
2. Damage to stock;
3. Manpower;
4. Time; and
5. Fuel consumption.
Equipment Considerations
Forklift attachments can be switched out to replace existing attachments or may be used on machines that don’t currently have one. There are many equipment factors to consider prior to adding or replacing any forklift attachments. Considerations include the carriage type, the forklift model, the capacity of the forklift and the number of hydraulic functions used to power the features of the attachment.
Failing to take these aforementioned factors into consideration can create extra safety hazards and risks for the operator, the forklift, its’ attachments and the stock. Extra safety factors must be considered which will be discussed in more detail.
Forklift Rating and Re-Rating
Forklifts are given lift capacity ratings by the manufacturer which will need to be adjusted if adding or changing a forklift attachment. Manufacturers of forklift attachments usually offer calculators available online to estimate the safe lifting capacity when using a particular attachment. Accurate lifting capacities are only available from the forklift manufacturers.
The first step before installing any attachment is to get in touch with the authorized local forklift dealer to request that that forklift brand is re-rated accordingly with the attachment. Once the forklift manufacturer has re-rated the machine, it will ideally have a new specification plate that is factory authorized. This new specification plate will replace the original plate and should be installed showing the new rating for the forklift.
Equipment Upgrades
It is vital to note when working with forklift attachments the equipment’s hydraulic function consists of a forklift valve that has a lever located near the operator which creates two areas for pressurized hydraulic passages for oil. Note that not every attachment is hydraulic; however, the hydraulic attachments provide more features compared to the number of valves the forklift offers. In these instances, one or more valves need to be added. There are several methods of adding a valve. There are many ways to add a forklift valve.Equipment manufacturers make forklift accessories for hose routing and valve placement. Due to the cost of labor and parts required, this process may not be practical. Alternative methods include adding a solenoid valve in conjunction with a hose or cable reel that diverts oil flow from an existing function. The main issue is that the cable reels and hose may block the view of the operator and these items can be damaged. Kits are available that rely on a solenoid valve and certain hoses to transform the reinforced braid to additionally function as an electrical conduit. These hoses are designed to replace existing ones and stay free from being damaged. The operator can enjoy a clear view with this option.
Safety Considerations
Proper training must be obtained prior to fitting any forklift attachment. An operator must be competent in the fitting, operating and removal of the attachment.
Two important safety factors must be considered before the use of any forklift attachment.
The nominal load rating will be reduced on the forklift once any attachment is applied. The nominal load rating is computed with a stock fork carriage and forks. However, the actual load rating may be substantially lower.
Second, the center of gravity will be affected by the use of any forklift attachment. This will reduce the forklift’s stability. Due to the attachment weight being situated in front of the fulcrum point, the forklift needs to be driven as though it is partially loaded even when it is empty. Operators need to travel gently and slowly every time they use an attachment and take extra care while turning. Every attachment should be listed on the forklift capacity data plate.
To maintain safety, special checks need to be completed before using any forklift attachment. The forklift attachment needs to be the right one for the type of forklift being used, appropriate for the load at hand, correctly attached, locked in place and permitted on the data plate of the forklift.
List of Common Forklift Attachments
Below is a list of popular forklift attachments and their general uses. This is just a sample list of some of the most popular forklift attachments. Forklift attachments are designed to increase job efficiency for many applications.
SIDESHIFTER:
The sideshifter enables the forklift to move laterally for easier load placement without having to reposition the entire machine.
FORK POSITIONERS:
The fork positioners adjust for different loads by moving the forks together or apart in relation to each other.
DIMENSIONING DEVICES:
Provide dimensions for the cargo allowing for more efficient use of warehouse and truck trailer space and often used in conjunction with billing systems based on volume.
ROTATOR:
A rotator helps to straighten tilted skids and handle custom load requirements and fast unloading. There is a rotator feature on numerous attachments.
ROLL AND BARREL CLAMP:
The roll and barrel clamp simplifies grasping rounded loads such as barrels. It has numerous pressure settings for handling fragile items with less damage potential. This attachment often has a rotate function to change the load from a vertical to a horizontal position.
CARTON AND MULTIPURPOSE CLAMP:
The carton and multipurpose clamp has pressure settings and is used for handling more squared shaped loads. It easily masters boxes, bales and cartons.
POLE ATTACHMENTS:
Pole attachments are long metal poles in place of the forks. They are useful for picking up linoleum and rolled up carpet or similar items.
SLIP SHEETER OR PUSH-PULL:
Allows operator to transport slip sheets by clamping onto slip sheets, as opposed to pallets, and either pulling the slip sheet onto wide and thin metal forks for loading or pushing the slip sheet to unload. Some variations of the attachment are Save, where the slip sheet is removed for reuse, or Standard.
DRUM HANDLER:
The drum handler is specifically designed to transport drums. It might feature arms to hold the drum or be a spring-loaded model to grip the top lid.
DRUM AND STORAGE BIN TIPPER:
The drum and storage bin tipper is designed for easier transport of liquid items or loose materials into bigger containers.
MAN BASKET:
Lift platform meant for lifting workers and complete with railings and brackets for safety harnesses.
TELESCOPIC FORKS:
Allows operation in a warehouse using two pallet stacking where one shelf is placed directly behind another with no aisle between the two.
SCALES:
Scales are helpful for allowing operators to transport pallets while weighing them. This stops the need for interrupting work with regular travel to the scales. It can be used in legal-for-trade weights for operations that bill by how much items weigh.
SINGLE-DOUBLE FORKS:
Allow movement of a single pallet or platform or two pallets side by side. With the correct attachment/s a single forklift can be used for multiple specialist materials handling tasks alongside normal lifting tasks, thus reducing the need for owning a specialist unit alongside a normal unit and the larger running and maintenance costs associated with multiple units.
SNOW PLOW:
Snow plows are used to remove snow and redistribute it; however, this attachment can be used with other loose kinds of material.
SKIPS:
Allows safe and speedy removal of waste to the appropriate skip or waste compactor. Skips are available in a roll-forward type and a bottom-emptying type.
BOOMS AND JIBS:
Jibs and boom offer extended forklift reach for transporting loads that are stacked deep or high or that are suspended. There are reach-over, low profile, precision lifting and extendable length options.
Forklift Attachment PDF
