Forklift attachments can be used to transform the use of your forklift truck. You will no longer see it as a simple pallet handling machine, instead it will be seen as a multi purpose machine for lifting a variety of loads in different ways.
This case study outlines the range of forklift attachments and their uses.
A customer who runs a modest manufacturing and distribution facility recently contacted us after he saw an image online which showed a different looking forklift truck. It had a kind of jib crane arm attachment on it with a hook underneath. They had never seen this type of thing before, thus his question; If a forklift can be used that way then what other things are available for forklifts so they can handle loads differently?
A great question, and just like many other people they were not fully aware of the many attachments available that can turn a forklift truck into a multi tasking lifting device.
Our customer outlined his working environment and tasks undertaken. Often hiring products to help with lifting, load moving and even cleaning up and snow clearing, not realising his forklift trucks could do all that and more.
The humble forklift truck is used by many as a mobile lifting platform typically used for loading and unloading palletised goods. By adding different attachments the forklift can take on loads that may have otherwise needed a different piece of equipment altogether.
The Forklift Attachments We Introduced
A Jib arm attachment will enable your truck to become a mini crane.
There are a number of options available, some are fixed in length and some can extend out to further the reach. They slide onto the existing forks, clamping on at the rear so they stay put! Because the arm is raised above the forks, more lifting height can be achieved.
You should always match the jib arm size to the capacity of your forklift truck. Each arm has a number of load hook positions, each having a different lifting capacity capability so always stick to the manufacturers instructions.
These attachments are great when more lifting height and reach is needed.
There are a couple of different models for these types of attachments where the hooks hangs underneath the forks, unlike the jib arm that sits above. Below the fork hook attachment are good for loads that need slinging, where the sling can be quickly fitted to the load hook.
Tipping skips are large, heavy duty steel bins that can be tipped up for easy emptying. Great for loose loads such as scrap metal or other waste materials. Tipping skips come in different sizes to suit different needs and slide onto the existing forks. These skips perfect for areas where waste management or scrap metal and swarf handling poses and issue, with the added benefit of easy emptying.
Extending the length of your existing forks would enable your truck to handle longer pallets or longer loads that would dangerously overhang the forks at the front end. These slip on sleeves provide extended reach with more stability for longer, larger loads.
This set of forklift attachments provide different methods of workspace cleaning and clearing. Once again they simply slide onto existing forks. Brush attachments are great for general factory floor and yard clearing whilst scraper attachments are better for steering debris and small items to a certain area ready for picking up for removal. The snow plough attachments come with either a fixed blade or a sprung blade and make light work of clearing snow from yard and distribution areas.
There are a number of products available to protect the forks, fork tips and rear mast area. Metal sleeves or softer fork socks are available and protect the forks from damage . Damage can occur when handling of certain load types.
Forklift buffers protect the front face of the mast and act as a buffer when loads are slid onto the forks, to prevent the load going back too far. This could cause both truck and load damage.
A fork fender is an excellent product which slips onto the fork tips, usually when not in use. They protect the forks from knocks; but they also provide protection for personnel moving around in the area from head bangs for example, because they make the forks more visible and softer should a collision occur.
The optimisation of existing machinery is the key benefit to using attachments on your forklift. Why use your truck only for palletised loads when it can do so much more!
Labour efficiency can be increased when using many types of attachments and can greatly reduce handling and clean up times so staff can be put to better use elsewhere.
Safety is another key benefit to these attachments as they can increase load stability as well as providing a more beneficial means of lifting certain loads.
If a single photo of a jib crane was enough to make our customer rethink many parts of his work operation, it's worth asking the same question he did:
Our customers site was already leaning on hired-in equipment, each one a separate cost, a separate delivery, a separate piece of kit taking up space. What he didn't realise was that forklift trucks already sitting in his yard, could be adapted to do almost all of it.
After seeing the full picture, our customer didn't need persuading and subsequently purchased the following over the next month or two.
If a forklift can do all that - what can it do for you?
Get in touch with the Lifting Gear Direct team to talk through your site, your seasonal challenges, and which attachments could save you the cost of hiring in separate equipment.
