Forklift Attachments Mesa - Forklift attachments make a variety of jobs possible. The wide range of forklift attachments make most jobs not only possible but also safer and quicker. 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.
Not considering these issues will drastically increase the safety risks associated with operating the machine and its attachments. This can increase risks relating to operator safety, forklift damage, stock damage and more. There are further safety issues to take into consideration which can be discussed in more detail below.
Forklift Rating and Re-Rating
Manufacturers give forklifts a lift capacity rating that needs to be considered and adjusted when adding or changing forklift attachments. There are calculators available online from forklift attachment manufacturers to estimate each attachments particular lifting capacity. However, only the forklift manufacturer can provide accurate lifting capacities.
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. After the manufacturer of the forklift has re-rated the forklift, it should have a new factory authorized specification plate. The upgraded specification plate replaces the original plate and needs to be installed with the new forklift rating showing.
Equipment Upgrades
Forklift attachments rely on the machine’s hydraulic function and are made up of a forklift valve that has a lever situated close to the operator. This creates two passages of pressurized hydraulic oil for powering the attachment features. Note that not every attachment is hydraulic; however, the hydraulic attachments provide more features compared to the number of valves the forklift offers. In this circumstance, it is common to add one or more valves as needed. There are numerous ways a valve can be added. There are many ways to add a forklift valve.Equipment manufacturers make forklift accessories for hose routing and valve placement. There are plenty of labor and parts involved which can be costly enough to make this an impractical solution. Other options include adding a cable reel and a hose in conjunction with a solenoid valve to divert oil from an existing location. 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. Because these hoses replace the existing hoses housed in the forklift, the hoses are safe from damage while keeping the operator’s field of vision clear.
Safety Considerations
Before using any type of forklift attachment, adequate training must be fulfilled. An operator must be competent in the fitting, operating and removal of the attachment.
There are 2 vital safety factors to think about before operating any type of forklift attachment.
Firstly, it is important to note that any kind of forklift attachment will reduce the machine’s nominal load rating. Forks and a stock fork carriage compute the nominal load rating; although, the precise load rating may be much lower.
Secondly, the forklift’s center of gravity will be affected when any forklift attachment is added. The forklift’s stability will be reduced and this needs to be computed for safety. Since the attachment’s weight is prominent in front of the fulcrum point on the forklift, the operator needs to drive the machine as though it is partially loaded even before it is carrying a load. Thus, when using any attachment, an operator should travel at a slow speed and make turns slowly and gently. Check the forklift’s capacity to ensure that every attachment is listed on the data plate.
Specific safety checks must be made prior to using each forklift attachment. The attachment must be:
1. Appropriate for the specific forklift being used;
2. Appropriate for the specific load;
3. Attached correctly;
4. Properly locked; and
5. Permitted on the forklift’s data plate.
List of Common Forklift Attachments
Discover a list of common forklift attachments and how they are utilized below. There are numerous forklift attachments and this list will cover the most popular. The variety of attachments can drastically increase efficiency for many jobs.
SIDESHIFTER:
Allows the operator to move the forks laterally, allowing for easier placement of a load without the need to reposition the entire forklift.
FORK POSITIONERS:
Fork positioners allow the forks to travel apart or together with each other to adjust for different load sizes.
DIMENSIONING DEVICES:
Dimensioning devices feature cargo dimensions useful for creating better efficiency in trucks, trailers and warehouses. This technology is often used alongside billing systems that monitor volume.
ROTATOR:
Rotators help to right tilted skids and are useful for fast unloading and tackling custom load requirements. Numerous attachments have a rotator feature.
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:
Long, metal pole used in place of forks to lift rolled items such as carpet or linoleum.
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 built for holding drums. It may have arms that encompass the drum for transporting or it may feature a spring-loaded jaw to grip the drum’s top lip.
DRUM AND STORAGE BIN TIPPER:
The drum and storage bin tipper helps to transfer loose or liquid items into other containers.
MAN BASKET:
The lift platform known as a man basket is designed to transport workers vertically. It is outfitted with brackets and railings to anchor safety harnesses.
TELESCOPIC FORKS:
The telescopic forks are used in locations with a two pallet stacking design were one shelf is placed right behind another with no aisle between them.
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:
The single-double forks can be used alongside regular lifting tasks. It allows a single pallet or platform to move or two pallets beside each other. Additional attachments can be used and this replaces the need for having a separate specialty unit; thus reducing maintenance and operating costs associated with more than one machine.
SNOW PLOW:
Designed for snow removal and distribution but can also be used to move other types of loose material.
SKIPS:
Skips enable quick and safe waste removal to a skip or waste compactor. They may feature a bottom-emptying design or be a roll-forward model.
BOOMS AND JIBS:
Booms and jibs allow forklifts extended reach. They are available to transport deep or highly stacked loads, suspended loads and more. These attachments can be low profile, precision lifting or reach over models to facilitate extended lengths.
Forklift Attachment PDF
