Selecting the Right Attachment for the Job

Select the Right Forklift Attachment for the Job

Forklift attachments can turn a humble truck into your facility’s Swiss army knife of product movement. Here are some considerations on selection, installation, and proper use of forklift attachments.

In addition to standard forklift forks, there are a wide variety of forklift attachments available, ranging from simple drum handling and side shifters to more complex layer-picking. Clamp attachments are available for transporting everything from cotton bales to refrigerators while rotating container attachments can mix ingredients before delivering them. Make sure the attachment you use is the correct one for the application. Using the wrong attachment for a particular application may result in damaged products or unsafe forklift/attachment system operation.

Here’s a quick look at some of the major forklift attachments and their capabilities.

Attachment Type

Material Handling Application

Attachment Image

Fork Positioners
& Side Shifters

Quick and easy fork adjustment from left to right to accommodate load changes

Clamp Attachments:

●       Carton Clamp

●       Drum Clamp

●       Recycling Clamp

 

Custom-fit attachments secure variable-sized and shaped loads for safer more efficient handling

Layer Pickers

High-throughput palletizing is exponentially faster picking one or more case layers at a time

Multiple Load Handlers

 

Multiple fork attachment adjusts to secure
one or more pallets at a time

Rotators

360° turn radius while securing the load

Push/Pull Slip Sheeters

 

Pull slip-sheeted inventory (non-palletized) onto fork truck with gripper attachment.

Forklift Attachment Installation

While each attachment will have individual instruction and specifications for installation, there are basic guidelines to follow that will help you ensure a safe connection and effective use:

• Inspect the attachment before installation – avoid using an attachment that appears to be damaged.
• Know your limitations – be aware of the mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical requirements of the attachment.
• Make a firm connection – the attachment must be properly fastened to the truck with safe bolts or pin connection.
• Confirm forklift capabilities – for hydraulically-operated attachments, check the manual to ascertain that the truck’s hydraulic system has the capacity to operate the attachment.
• Out with the old – flush out all hydraulic lines and top up oil level, if needed. In some cases, a pressure valve needs to be installed to prevent overpressuring the attachment.
• Power up – tightly secure any electrical connections.
• Do a double-take – make sure the forklift’s decal reflects the capacity limitations imposed by the attachment.
• Final checks – once the attachment is installed, run through all operations in a no-load situation to ensure proper functioning of the attachment.

Forklift Attachment Training

Don’t skimp on operator training. Using a forklift with an attachment changes the rules of the game. Operators are required to acquire an added level of knowledge over and above that of simply moving pallets.

Apex offers on-site training with your team for proper installation, operation, and maintenance of forklift attachments. So make sure operators are well-qualified before they start using that push-pull slip-sheet attachment and schedule your team training today.

Forklift Operation & Capacity

The most significant consideration when using a forklift with an attachment is the potential reduction in capacity. Forklifts are generally designed so that the center of gravity of the load is 24” from the mast. However, many forklift attachments move that center of gravity far forward, thus reducing the overall load capacity.

There are also lateral capacity considerations when using a forklift attachment. Fork positioners, side shifters, and multiple load handlers have the possibility of tipping sideways if loads are not carefully distributed laterally. In addition, using a rotator attachment on a container that is not full can cause excessive lateral force during rotation.

Care must also be taken in maneuvering forklifts with attachments. The wider loads of clamp attachments can severely hamper forward visibility, and the wide loads of multiple load handlers can make maneuvering a forklift through a warehouse akin to trying to park a jumbo jet at an airport gate.

 

NOTE: Adding an attachment will limit the truck capacity to that of the attachment. For example –  adding a paper clamp with a rated capacity of 10,000 lbs. will limit an otherwise 20,000 lb. capacity forklift to the 10,000 lb. capacity of the attachment.

 

According to ANSI B56.1 Section 4.2.1, adding a forklift attachment is a field modification that requires written approval from the forklift manufacturer PRIOR to purchasing the accessory. The attachment provider can be very helpful in making sure you follow the proper steps to ensure compliance and safety.

The Apex team is here to help you equip your vehicle with the necessary equipment for you to get the job done, as well as to ensure that your forklift remains in compliance and operates within safe guidelines.  Our team can install forklift attachments on existing or new vehicles once manufacturer approval has been secured.

Forklift Attachments & Maintenance

Forklift attachments should be maintained on the same schedule as the forklifts themselves and their maintenance plan should encompass many of the same steps. Forklifts and their attachments are constantly on the go, and the possibility of damage arising from collisions with unyielding objects like concrete walls, or overloading is a constant concern. Regular maintenance results in:

• Better performance and increased longevity
• Increased productivity
• Increased operator safety
• Cost-effective operation
• Compliance with regulation

As with a forklift, look out for structural cracks and deformations resulting from collisions, missing mechanical parts such as bolts or pins, leaks or cracked hoses in hydraulic systems, and frayed or burned electrical wires and connections. Make sure all safety decals and capacity labels are clear and readable. Installation, operation and maintenance manuals should be easily accessible.

The Apex team is ready to help you make the right connections. With the proper selection, installation, training, operation and maintenance, forklift attachments should offer a long and productive lifespan in your factory, warehouse or distribution center. Call our forklift experts today to ask about product availability, specs, and pricing. We’ll help you do the heavy lifting.