Within the material handling industry, the lift truck has become a key piece of machinery. This machine is also known as a forklift or a powered industrial truck and is able to carry heavy goods and supplies. These trucks revolutionized the warehousing and the manufacturing industries. Now they are used for a wide range of applications and are considered to be essential for material handling.
A lift truck is a machine that is driven by an operator who uses the truck to move cargo around a worksite or warehouse. Companies which own their own lift trucks have to maintain the machines to make sure they have a long lifespan. Forklift components, like any machinery parts, are prone to wear and tear and would eventually become worn. In order to ensure the forklift functions safely and efficiently, you must replace worn or damaged parts occasionally. Each and every lift truck component is made for a specific purpose. Below is a list of a few lift truck attachments and their purposes:
Forklift Fork Positioner: The forklift fork positioner is a hydraulic attachment which helps to position the forks. It can move the forks either at the same time or separately. Without the forklift fork positioner, the operator of the lift truck must adjust forklift forks by hand for different load sizes.
Side Shifter: The side shifter is a hydraulic attachment which enables the lift truck operator to laterally shift both the backrest and the forklift forks. This kind of attachment makes it easier to place the load without having to change the truck's position.
Pole Attachments: These long metal poles are intended to carry carpet rolls. The poles work better for this purpose than forklift forks.
Telescopic Forklift Forks: Telescopic forklift forks are hydraulic attachments which enables the operator to unload and load from one side by handling two pallets of different sizes at the same time. This specific attachment is great for handling pallets in 'double deep racking'.