Forklift Attachments New Jersey - Without forklift attachments, many jobs would be difficult, if not impossible. There are numerous forklift attachments that make jobs faster and safer 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.
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. Further safety factors must also be taken into consideration, which will be discussed in greater detail below.
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. However, 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. 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. Hydraulic forklift attachments typically offer numerous features compared to the number of valves on the forklift. Not ever forklift attachment is hydraulic. When this happens, the forklift needs to have one or more valves added. 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. However, the parts and labor to install these can be so expensive as to make this option impractical. Another possibility is to install a cable reel, solenoid valve and hose to divert oil from an alternate location. 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. Kits are available that rely on a solenoid valve and certain hoses to transform the reinforced braid to additionally function as an electrical conduit. Since these hoses replace existing forklift hoses, they remain safe from external damage while maintaining clear vision for the operator.
Safety Considerations
Proper training must be obtained prior to fitting any forklift attachment. Operators need to be competent with removing, operating and fitting the attachment before using it.
Before using any forklift attachment, two safety issues need consideration.
The nominal load rating will be reduced on the forklift once any attachment is applied. 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. Every attachment should be listed on the forklift capacity 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
A list of the most common attachments and their general uses are set out below. 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:
Moves the forks together or apart in relation to one another to adjust for various load types.
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:
Assists in righting skids that have tilted, handling custom load requirements and quick 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 is for grasping loads with a squared shape. It also features pressure settings to handle bales, boxes 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:
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:
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 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:
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:
Originally designed for snow removal, snow plow attachments can be used to move other loose items.
SKIPS:
Skips facilitate fast and safe removal of waste to the proper waste or skip compactor. Skips are either a bottom-emptying model or a roll-forward 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
