It’s undeniable that the forklift
has a long and storied history as an industrial workhorse. Nor is it difficult to understand just how
important the forklift is when you consider the numerous and varied applications
where forklifts are used in everything from manufacturing and warehousing to
metal working and agriculture. Without a
doubt, the forklift offers unmatched efficacy and versatility among industrial equipment, but this is statement cannot be made without a few
caveats.
Although
standardized forks are one of the defining features of the forklift, there are situations and applications where they are less
than ideal. Without additional
equipment, the standard fork setup can be inefficient and limited to lifting
palletized or standardized loads. As
such, the forklift offers limited utility if separated from the enhanced versatility
made possible by a myriad of attachments and accessories.
The forklift becomes almost
infinitely adaptable with the addition of an appropriately selected attachment,
as it is no longer restricted to standard loads or maneuvers. In the agricultural, pharmaceutical, food and
beverage industries, for example, clamp attachments are used to grip barrels,
drums, bales, paper roles and cartons without loading them onto a pallet or
causing damage to the load in the process.
Other examples of load specific attachments include replacing the forks
with long poles to transport carpet or tires and specialized multi-fork setups
designed to efficiently carry potted plants or trees.
This isn’t to say that all
attachments completely replace the standard fork. For applications suited for standard forks,
attachments expand the capabilities of the forklift and allow operators to
perform their duties in a more efficient and effective manner. Among the most popular applications of this
principle are side-shifts and fork positioners, which allow the operator to
reposition either the forks or the entire carriage, respectively, without
getting out of the forklift. Rotators,
on the other hand, allow an operator to pick up, transport and dump a container
with a single forklift by rotating the forks, carriage and load up to
360°.
As you can see, there are
attachments for nearly every application, attachments which help to improve
efficiency, productivity and safety while handling loads. The only question is, which one best suits
your application? If you’re not
satisfied with your productivity, contact the forklift experts at Lucas Liftruck for help selecting an attachment for your application!
