Are you getting the most out of your forklift?
Depending on your warehouse, and the items you move and store, adding attachments to your forklift helps your business run smoother. Forklift attachments can also improve safety.
Each year, about 85 deaths and about 34,900 serious injuries are a result of forklift accidents. Using the best attachment, and training employees before using attachments, reduces the risk of injury.
Using forklifts without helpful hydraulic forklift attachments also adds expense to your bottom line. These attachments create efficiency by relocating products quickly and safely.
Not sure which attachment you need? Here are some forklift attachments to consider when choosing the best one for your business.
1. Fork Positioners
These are some of the most popular attachments available for your forklift.
Adjust the width of the forks automatically with fork positioners. This removes the need for a forklift operator to stop the forklift, leave the seat, and manually adjust the forks to the correct position for a load.
With the use of this attachment, loads move more quickly, safely, and efficiently than when using forks that shift manually. You'll save time and money when you invest in fork positioners.
2. Push/Pull Attachment
Here is another great money saving attachment. You'll also save space in your storage facility by using this forklift accessory.
Push/Pull attachments eliminate the need for pallets when storing your inventory. Instead of pallets, loads sit on plastic sheets or cardboard. The sheets have a lip. The push/pull attachment grabs the lip and pulls the load onto the forks. When you're ready to drop the load, the attachment pushes the load into its place.
This attachment fits on to your forklifts existing carriage for easy installation.
3. Load Stabilizers
Load stabilizers hold the load steady from the top of the forklift. These are ideal forklift accessories for carrying loads safely across uneven surfaces.
The stabilizer applies light pressure to the top of your load, which creates a "sandwich" of security with your load nestled between the forks and the stabilizer.
By clamping the top of the load with a stabilizer, any bumps along the way won't affect the placement of the load on the forks. Apply pressure slowly and adjust as-needed to avoid damaging products in the load.
4. Clamps
No matter the products you haul, there are forklift clamps available as attachments.
Specific clamps help transport your load securely.
Drum clamps are used for transporting drums. These attachments clamp around a drum and tilt as-needed.
Appliance clamps (also known as Flat Surface Clamps) are flat and fit around most appliances. When it's not ideal to force the forks underneath for lifting, these clamps squeeze against the sides of appliances sitting on flat surfaces.
Bale Clamps are similar to an appliance clamp. When moving bales, these attachments grab baled products like cotton or hay from the side.
Pipe clamps look like a claw. This attachment grabs, rotates, and lifts large pipes.
Brick or block clamps. These attachments have a third prong for lifting cement blocks or bricks.
Harbor clamps aid in moving cargo in ports. Loading and unloading cargo from ships and containers is easier and safer with one of these clamps.
Paper roll clamps attach for moving large rolls of paper in storage or printing facilities.
These are just a few of the most common clamp attachments for forklifts. Do your research to locate the best clamp for your type of load.
5. Multi-Load Handlers
What's better than carrying one load at a time? Carrying more than one load in one trip of course.
These attachments allow lifting and carrying two pallets at a time. Be careful when using this attachment. While you'll carry more than one pallet, do not exceed the load weight limit of your forklift.
Also, be aware of your wider load width when moving two pallets across your storage facility. Be sure your aisles or pathways are wide enough to safely carry the load.
6. Rotating Attachments
Unless you use multiple employees for manually emptying a cargo bin into another container, you should consider a rotator attachment for your forklift.
Emptying cargo bins into other containers is quicker and safer with a rotating attachment. You'll save money on your workforce, too.
Rotating attachments provide between 180 and 360 degrees of rotation. Carry the load to your bin, then rotate the open bin and let it empty into the destination container.
7. Sweepers, Pushers, and More
Forklifts are a valuable business asset, and they are versatile for more purposes than just hauling cargo.
Add a sweeper attachment for cleaning the warehouse.
Add a snow pusher attachment for clearing snow, mud, or debris from around your building.
Add a work platform attachment for lifting workers to a higher work area when needed.
Use your forklift for more than its original purpose to get the most out of your equipment investment.
Safety and Maintenance
Remember the importance of safety when using forklifts and attachments.
Completing daily inspections and training are both vital to ensure everyone’s safety, and OSHA requires training for employees before using a new attachment.
When using attachments, keep the added weight of the attachments in mind. Include that weight in the total weight capacity limits of your forklift.
Also remember some attachments shift the balance of your forklift. Accommodate for balance changes when using an attachment.
Use the Right Forklift Attachments
No matter the job, the right forklift attachments help get the job done. Investing in the right attachments saves money and time.
You may not need a large fleet of forklifts when one forklift is fitted with a different attachment depending on the type of load. They also install and remove easily with the proper training.
Carolina Industrial Trucks offers training and certification for new forklift operators and for accessory training. We also have training available for operators interested in keeping up to date with safety standards.
We guarantee our services for repair and ongoing maintenance of your equipment. CI Trucks has six locations in North and South Carolina ready to serve you.
