CAM attachments® offers a wide range of fork positioners, in order to fit your needs as closely as possible. But how do you know what models are most suitable for you? By means of this three-step plan, we explain the basic choices to be made in order to find the most appropriate fork positioner.
1. Determine the required lifting capacity
Depending on the sector in which you are employed, the lift truck will mainly lift either light or heavy loads. For standard use in a warehouse, a normal capacity of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes is sufficient. However, if you are in the construction or metal industry, then the required minimum lifting capacity of your lift truck will quickly rise to 6 or even 8 tonnes.
2. Determine the intensity
You not only need to know how heavy the load can be, but also how long the lift truck needs to haul around such loads. Up to 8 hours of activity a day is considered normal use. If your lift truck is only used one shift a day, then you fall within this category. If multiple shifts a day are performed, then your lift truck is used intensively.
3. Determine the mounting method
Based on what you replied to the two previous questions, you can form an idea of where the functionality of your lift truck is situated in the balance between lifting capacity and intensity. Depending on how robust your lift truck needs to be, you can now select the appropriate mounting method: the heavier the load the lift truck has to lift and the more often a load has to be picked up, the stronger the fork positioner must be attached to the fork carriage.
Our range is mainly composed of hook-on fork positioners: these aren't integrated into the mast and so must be attached to the fork carriage separately. For normal applications requiring an average capacity of 2.5 to 5 tonnes, a FEM fork carriage will definitely be sufficient. Standard FEM forks must be mounted in this case. A popular classic in this category is the ready-to-use PH model, applicable to all industries and available directly from stock.
In case of heavy-duty use (up to 16 hours a day), it is best to opt for pin-mounted fork carriers or pin-type forks. Pin-mounted fork carriers are literally ‘suspended over the pin’. A popular example is the PFA model, which can handle particularly heavy loads. In addition, you can also select pin-type forks. These are equipped with rings that you can slide over the provided bar on the mast.
Something for everybody
Do you have any other specific wishes for your fork positioner? We offer a wide variety of extra options:
- with sideshifter
- with 360° rotating function
- with extra wide opening
- ...
Do you want to have your forks welded? No problem at all. Do you need a fully custom-made fork positioner? Even that is something we can offer you. Provide us with the desired criteria, and we will gladly help you.