What we mean when we say ‘problem-solving attachments’

We supply forks and forklift attachments to businesses up and down the country for countless tasks. Customers rely on our extensive range and product stock to keep operations moving.

But more than this, our problem solving is something we pride ourselves on. What we mean by this is thinking beyond the products we have and designing a unique solution. Not every customer has the same way of doing things, and the products we supply reflects this.?

When we are approached by a customer with an issue they are having, we look at how we can adapt an existing fork or attachment design to suit their needs. These products are tailored to our customers’ requirements and built specifically for them.

Standard or bespoke, our attachments help businesses overcome all sorts of different challenges, some straightforward, and others, not so. I've listed 5 below:

Problem #1: Difficulty operating a forklift with a skip indoors

Doosan approached us on behalf of their customer, Ibstock, with a challenge. The customer was struggling to operate a counterbalance forklift with a skip within confined indoor areas. We supplied a powered pallet truck and two bespoke designed skips.

The skips have a custom base, suited to both powered pallet trucks and forklifts. The bases provide 4-way entry, giving the customer the option to pick the skip up from any direction. We made the bodies 5mm thick to make them robust enough to handle daily brick waste

.Problem #2: Big bags slipping off forks?

A customer was having difficulty handling 1,000kg ‘big bags’ and was concerned the handle loops were slipping off the forks when lifted. We visited the site to view the current operations and understand where the difficulties were within the existing process.

?We manufactured a pair of forks with machined edges for the bag loops in two areas to secure the bags in place. Rather than sharp, blade-like top edges, the forks have softened edges to prevent them from snagging the handles and causing damage.

Problem #3: Damaged products

We were contacted by an established materials handling equipment supplier, on behalf of a port operator having trouble handling coils of steel through the core. The forks were marking the steel, meaning products were becoming damaged at a cost to the customer.

We replaced the existing fork extensions with a set featuring a positive heel pin retention for safer operation. The convex top surface with a non-slip, non-marking coat protects the steel and is compliant with CE directives. We manufactured three sets with a blade length of 2700mm.

Problem #4: Dangerous and manual glass recycling?

A major manufacturer of glass bottles contacted us to make the recycling of broken and damaged bottles less manual. Previously, the pallet was tipped onto the floor, smashing the bottles, and the drivers sorted through the broken glass to retrieve the pallet and cardboard separators.

This was dangerous and laborious; they needed to speed up the process and make it safer. We designed a fork mounted frame to allow the full pallet to be loaded into the unit. The pallet and frame are rotated on the truck hydraulics, emptying the bottles through the side frame. The truck keeps hold of the pallet and separators, ensuring the operator doesn’t have to leave their seat.

Problem #5: Stabilising forklift loads during transit

It can be difficult to stabilise loads when they’re being moved around site. This can be because standard forks allow loads to swing laterally when they’re fitted with standard top and bottom hangers.

One of our customers came to us with this problem, so we tapped into our bespoke expertise. We manufactured a pair of forks that include a wide top hanger. We welded a block to the edge of the forks on the bottom carriage rail, reducing the fork swing when transporting wide loads.

Our forklift attachments are designed to overcome most problems. If our standard products can’t, then we manufacture bespoke attachments that can. Have you got a challenge you’d like us to help you solve? Contact me on 0113 277 1222 or [email protected].