Adding compatible accessories to a forklift can greatly increase its versatility and expand the range of tasks it can complete.
Using certain accessories (such as manual safety cages) can save a lot of money, because it does not need to rent or purchase additional equipment such as scissor lifts.
In this week’s post, we will explore the key issues to consider when choosing the most suitable accessory for your application, as well as some of the wide range of available accessories.
Choosing the right forklift attachments
Installing and using the correct forklift attachments can reduce handling time, manpower, fuel consumption, and reduce the possibility of product damage.
When looking for your next forklift attachments, knowing the questions to ask is essential to ensure that the forklift you buy fits your purpose.
When considering the purchase of the next forklift attachments, HUAMAI recommends asking the following questions.
1. What is the weight of the load to be lifted?
Knowing the maximum load weight that the attachments needs to lift is essential to ensure that the attachment is purchased with the correct and safe lifting capacity.
It makes no sense to purchase an attachment that cannot safely handle the weight of the load that needs to be lifted.
Attempting to lift a load heavier than the rated lifting weight of the forklift and attachments may result in dangerous device instability, which greatly increases the risk of the load and forklift tipping, and may result in serious injury, death, or damage to the product and surrounding area or equipment.
2. How high does a full load need to be improved?
Similar to knowing the weight of the load that the attachment must lift, it is necessary to know how high the load needs to be lifted to ensure that the attachment that can be lifted to the required height is purchased.
Excessive attachment overload may also cause instability problems, thereby increasing the risk of device tipping and bringing potentially dire consequences.
3. How much hydraulic function is needed to operate the attachments?
Standard balanced forklifts are usually equipped with two or three hydraulic functions, which may have been used to raise, lower and tilt tynes, as well as allow any side shift function operation.
A fourth hydraulic function is needed to connect attachments to make them work properly, such as a silo rotator or tilting attachments that relies on hydraulics to rotate or tilt the silo forward.
It is very important to ensure that the forklift has the hydraulic capacity to operate the attachments.
4. Is the attachment installed permanently or temporarily?
Knowing whether the attachment is for permanent or temporary use can help you decide whether to buy a long-term attachment, or whether to hire an attachment if it is only needed temporarily.
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5. Do I need to re-grade the forklift when installing attachments?
After installing any attachments, all forklifts must be re-rated with updated nameplates.
The safe rated capacity of the forklift will be reduced to accommodate the additional weight of the installed attachments, which will reduce the safe lifting capacity of the device.
It is very necessary to understand the safe lifting capacity of the unit to be re-rated so that it will not be overloaded.
6. Does the operator need to be trained on how to operate the attachments?
Installing certain accessories may require additional training by operators to ensure that they can operate the attachments safely.
Additional training may increase the cost of acquiring attachments to cover operator training and certification.
