Forklift Attachments Costa Mesa - Without forklift attachments, many jobs would be difficult, if not impossible. 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. Various considerations need to be taken prior to adding or replacing any forklift attachment. These considerations include the kind of forklift, the machine’s capacity, the number of hydraulic functions required to power the attachment’s and the type of carriage.
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
These machines are provided with lift capacity ratings from the manufacturer that need adjusting when changing or adding any forklift attachments. There are calculators available online from forklift attachment manufacturers to estimate each attachments particular lifting capacity. It is important to note that only the forklift manufacturer can provide accurate lifting capacities.
Before installing any kind of attachment, it is essential to contact the local authorized forklift dealer of the particular forklift brand to request that they rate the machine accordingly with the attachment being used. 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
When dealing with forklift attachments it is important to note that a forklift’s hydraulic function is made up of a valve on the forklift with a lever located close to the operator which provides two passages of pressurized hydraulic oil to power the attachment features. While not all forklift attachments are hydraulic, hydraulic attachments often include more features than the forklift has valves. When this happens, the forklift needs to have one or more valves added. There are numerous ways a valve can be added. Forklift manufacturers make accessories for valve and hose routing. There are plenty of labor and parts involved which can be costly enough to make this an impractical solution. Another possibility is to install a cable reel, solenoid valve and hose to divert oil from an alternate location. The main issue is that the cable reels and hose may block the view of the operator and these items can be damaged. There are kits available that use a solenoid valve and specialty hoses that allow for the reinforced braid to double 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
Prior to fitting any type of forklift attachment, proper training must be obtained. Operators need to be competent with removing, operating and fitting the attachment before using it.
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.
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. Operators need to travel gently and slowly every time they use an attachment and take extra care while turning. Check the forklift’s capacity to ensure that every attachment is listed on the data plate.
Certain safety checks need to be done before using any kind of attachment. The forklift attachment must be permitted on the forklift’s data plate, locked properly, correctly attached, appropriate for the particular load and appropriate for the type of forklift being used.
List of Common Forklift Attachments
Below is a list of popular forklift attachments and their general uses. There are numerous forklift attachments and this list will cover the most popular. Forklift attachments are designed to increase job efficiency for many applications.
SIDESHIFTER:
The operator can manipulate the forks laterally with a sideshifter. This allows for easier load placement without having to move 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:
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:
Allows for grasping of load with a rounded shape, such as rolled material and barrels, often with various pressure setting to avoid damage to more fragile materials. These attachments sometimes also have a rotate function to assist with, for example, rotating an item from a horizontal to a vertical 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 placed where the forks would normally be and are used for transporting carpet and rolled up linoleum.
SLIP SHEETER OR PUSH-PULL:
Slip sheeter or push-pull attachment lets the operator move slip sheets with a clamping option instead of pallets. It can pull the slip sheet onto thin and wide metal forks to facilitate pushing or loading. The attachment variations include “Save,” where the slip sheet is removed to be used again 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:
Allows for quick transfer of loose or liquid contents in large containers.
MAN BASKET:
Lift platform meant for lifting workers and complete with railings and brackets for 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 allow forklift operators to weigh their pallets during transport. This increases efficiency by providing simultaneous data and not making the operator travel back and forth to scales. This attachment can be used for operators who bill by weight in legal-for-trade applications.
SINGLE-DOUBLE FORKS:
Single-double forks facilitate movement of a single platform or pallet or two side-by-side pallets. This is useful for transporting specialty items with the right attachments employed. It can be used with normal lifting tasks and stops the need for owning two separate machines. This greatly reduces the cost of maintenance and operation that is used with multiple forklifts.
SNOW PLOW:
Originally designed for snow removal, snow plow attachments can be used to move other loose items.
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:
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
