Forklift attachments are an integral component when it comes to the moving, handling and transporting of goods in and around the warehouse. If the material handling industry were to be without forklift attachments, it would mean numerous people around the globe would be unable to run their operations as smoothly or as efficiently as they might have otherwise been able to.
Despite their paramount importance in the industry, forklift attachments are often overlooked as a key part of owning and operating a forklift. But for many, the prospect of choosing the right forklift attachment alone can force them not to bother purchasing one at all, mainly due to the fact that there are so many of them and all with different capabilities.
So what are the most common forklift attachments on the market today and what uses and capabilities do they all have?
This is one of the most common forklift attachments available. The sideshifter, as the name would suggest, enables loads to be shifted smoothly and safely from side to side. It also allows for minor adjustments to be made to the alignment of the pallets, all without the hassle of maneuvering the entire forklift.
The benefits of a sideshifter are as follows:
Some of the industries that would find a sideshifter incredibly advantageous include agriculture, paper handling, food and beverage, construction and even manufacturing, to name a few. Also, warehouse owners with small premises will find a sideshifter impressively useful.
This enables the forks of the forklift to be hydraulically positioned, ensuring the operator has the ability to precisely align the forks with the pallet in question. This allows for the effective and timely moving and handling of stock. This attachment would be particularly useful if the width of the loads you work with change regularly.
Below are a few of the benefits associated with the fork positioner:
The industries that would benefit most from the use of a fork positioner include distribution, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, warehousing, construction and general manufacturing. The loading and transporting of food and drink would also become more efficient with the implementation of a fork positioner.
This forklift attachment is really only useful in the paper handling industry. Also known as paper roll attachments, the implementation of paper clamps allows for a quick and easy improvement in productivity and efficiency across paper handling operations. It ensures rolls are left damage-free which, in turn, helps to save you time and money in the long run.
The benefits of using paper clamps, or paper roll attachments as they’re otherwise known, includes the following:
This is a cost-effective solution for a number of industries and can be connected to a number of different forklifts. Shipping volume can be increased using a high-quality slip sheet that is also rather inexpensive to buy.
This can help to pick up and transport both wooden and plastic pallets, whether it be one load or several. If you’d like to return the forklift back to its original state, then these attachments can be taken off with absolute ease for your ultimate convenience.
The benefits of a push/pull attachment include:
The industries that will find push/pull attachments most advantageous would be food and beverage, food manufacturing and even bagged goods. If you’re on a tight budget with a modest-sized warehouse, then you might also find push/pull attachments useful. Although, it’s important that you discuss your needs with your forklift dealer to ensure you’re getting the right equipment to suit your operations.
This attachment can be used to handle numerous pallets, as the name would suggest. The forks can be spread in a bid to hydraulically lift, carry and side shift several pallets simultaneously, side by side.
Often considered to be one of the most versatile attachments on the market, it also enables narrow aisles to be navigated around with absolute ease. Using a multiple pallet handler attachment will ensure you see an increase in efficiency and productivity as it’ll take fewer trips to get the job done.
The benefits associated with the multiple pallet handler include:
The industries that will typically use a multiple pallet handler forklift attachment include bottling, brewing, warehouse, distribution, shipping and even retail. Due to the versatility of the attachment, it can be used by almost any sector or industry to enable the smooth running of operations.
This attachment is designed purely to extend the length of the existing forks. Fork extension sleeves are designed to be a highly-effective, simple method of handling awkward, long or extensive loads that typically pass the the tips of the existing forks.
The benefits of using fork extensions are as follows:
The warehousing industry, together with shipping, factory work and retail, often find fork extensions to be advantageous. It enables them to tackle large loads of various different shapes, regardless of what it is or the nature of the load contained within a pallet.
Dubbed an extremely useful attachment for a number of reasons, implementing a set of rotators will, as the name suggests, allow you to rotate stock 360 degrees when needed. This is a safe and efficient way of moving and handling loads of multiple sizes, but it’s most commonly used for inverting and offloading stock. This improves productivity as a result, as well as reduces downtime.
The benefits of using a set of rotators on your forklift include:
The industries that will often find a set of rotators useful in the work they carry out include waste management, waste recycling, food processing, food manufacturing, agriculture and food and beverage. They’ll also prove to be advantageous in particularly small warehouses where aisles are narrow.
You’ll be able to look to Multy Lift for a wide range of different forklift attachments. Regardless of the forklift you have, they’ll have the equipment you need to ensure operations go off without a hitch. For more information about how the specialists at Multy Lift can help you, get in touch with them today - they’re always happy to help.