Forklift Attachments Murrieta - 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. In addition to general forklift training, operators must be properly training for each attachment they intent to use.
Many hydraulic and non-hydraulic forklift attachments are available. They offer numerous benefits by decreasing man-power, employee accidents, fuel consumption, damage to stock and time.
Equipment Considerations
A forklift attachment can replace an existing forklift attachment or can be added to a forklift that does not already have one. Several equipment-related factors must be considered before any forklift attachment is replaced or added. These considerations include:
1. The forklift type;
2. The forklift’s capacity;
3. The carriage type; and
4. The number of hydraulic functions.
Failure to properly consider these factors will increase the safety risk associated with operation of a forklift and its attachments and increase the risk for damage to the forklift, the attachment and surrounding area, including 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. After the manufacturer of the forklift has re-rated the forklift, it should have a new factory authorized specification plate. This new specification plate will replace the original plate and should be installed showing the new rating for the forklift.
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. While not all forklift attachments are hydraulic, hydraulic attachments often include more features than the forklift has valves. In these instances, one or more valves need to be added. There are several methods of adding a valve. Forklift manufacturers make accessories for valve and hose routing. 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. However, the operators’ view may be compromised due to the cable reels and hose installation. These parts also may be easily damaged by their location. There are kits available that use a solenoid valve and specialty hoses that allow for the reinforced braid to double 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
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.
The nominal load rating will be reduced on the forklift once any attachment is applied. The nominal load rating is determined with forks and a stock fork carriage. It is important to note that the real load rating may be significantly lower.
Using any type of forklift attachment will affect the center of gravity on the machine. The forklift’s stability will be reduced and this needs to be computed for safety. 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. Thus, when using any attachment, an operator should travel at a slow speed and make turns slowly and gently. 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
Discover a list of common forklift attachments and how they are utilized below. There are many more attachments available than are listed here but this will cover the most widely-used. 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:
Fork positioners allow the forks to travel apart or together with each other to adjust for different load sizes.
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. Numerous attachments have a rotator feature.
ROLL AND BARREL CLAMP:
The roll and barrel clamp allows the forklift to grasp rounded loads including barrels. It is outfitted with different pressure settings to facilitate fragile options and often has a rotate function to simplify horizontal and vertical positioning.
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:
The slip sheeter or push-pull allows the operator to move sheets by clamping onto slip sheets. This is an option instead of relying on pallets. The slip sheet can be moved onto thin and wide metal forks to simplify loading or unloading by pushing the slip sheet. The “Save” variation allows the slip sheet to be taken off for reuse later. The “Standard,” attachment variation is another option.
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:
The man basket is a lift platform to allow workers to complete jobs with brackets and railings and 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:
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:
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:
Allow for extended reach of a forklift to transport suspended loads or loads that are stacked high or deep. They are available in different setups such as reach over and precision lifting or low profile fixed and extendable lengths.
Forklift Attachment PDF
