Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Jib Boom Forklift Truck Attachment

Why should we buy forklift attachment jibs instead of a jib crane?
We certainly won’t discourage you from buying one of our jib cranes if you need one, but please be aware that it might not be necessary. If you are on a budget, or if space on your project site is limited, jib forklift attachments can work equally effectively for most tasks that require a crane. They are less expensive than cranes and can perform at a fraction of the cost.

What are some of the things forklift attachment jibs can do?
Forklift attachment jibs allow you to reach over obstructions to place heavy loads on roofs, elevated platforms, and decks. You can use them to reach through windows and doorways to pick up loads from second and third story areas still under construction. Forklift jibs can also be used to load and unload flatbed trailers and trucks. Many companies use them to suspend trusses and to laminate wood, and heavy duty jibs can also be very useful when reaching over scaffolding for masonry work. Overall, they are some of the most useful tools you can invest in for moving and handling equipment on a construction site

How many swivel hooks do your jibs have?
Every forklift jib attachment is made with two swivel hooks. One hook is permanently fixed at the end of the crane jib, and the other hook can be manually placed at any location the underside of the boom. This allows you to pick up any load with two hook points. You can use one hook or two hooks to pick up a load, Be sure in either case that you make certain that the total weight of the jib and the load does not exceed the rated capacity of the jib as shown on the load chart for that extended or retracted position.

Each hook is individually rated at either 4000 lbs. or 6,000 lbs, depending on the size of the model.

Forklift Attachment jib Load Capacities
Maximum load capacity for forklift jibs can range from 1935-6000 lbs. Ask your forklift manufacturer or Easy Rack account manager about load limits for your particular application. Remember too that load capacity ratings are for the jib itself and not the forklift nor the maximum load that can be safely handled with a particular forklift. Anytime a forklift jib, is added to a fork truck it creates a new center of gravity and reduces the lift capacity of the forklift. Reference our article on “heavy duty jibs” for details on how to calculate these load limits, or call a member of our staff.

Jib Boom Forklift Attachment Safe Usage
Before using a forklift attachment jib or self dumping hopper, be certain that you have properly secured it to the forklift with shackles and hooks, and check to make sure that the screw pins are tight. Double check too that your load limit calculations are correct, and take into consideration while doing so that rated capacities can and will decrease when the boom is in a raised position, when telehandlers are used, or when you tilt the fork truck mast forward

Do not pull any load with a forklift jib. Jibs are designed exclusively for vertical lift. Use extreme caution to prevent the load from swinging and tipping over the fork truck.

What types of material handling equipment other than jib cranes does Easy Rack inventory?
Easy Rack carries a wide variety of commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting, used pallet racks, netting and modular prefab buildings installed nationwide. If you can not find what you are looking for in our new articles call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you.

Our world headquarters is located in Houston, Texas with facilities located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Denton, TX, McKinney, Texas, Midland, TX, Killeen, Texas, ALBQ, NYC, LA, MPLS.

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Heavy Duty Jib Cranes

What types of forklifts can heavy duty jibs attach to?
Easy Rack Heavy Duty Jibs can be used with industrial lift forklifts, rough terrain straight-mast, or extendable-reach forklifts. Heavy duty jibs attach to any forklift by inserting both forks fully into the fork pockets. The rear of the jib seats against the back of the fork, and a safety chain wraps around the forklift carriage to hold it in place.

Who many swivel hooks do Easy Rack forklifts have?
Each heavy duty jib has two swivel hooks. One hook is fixed at the end of the jib, and the other can be placed anywhere on the underside of the boom. This allows you to pick up any load with two hook points. Every hook is rated at 4000 lbs. on the mid-sized model and 6,000 lbs on the larger model. You can use one or both hooks to pick up the load but the total weight cannot exceed the rated capacity of the jib as shown on the load chart for that extended or retracted position.

What load capacities can heavy duty jibs handle?
Maximum load capacity for each model in the various extended or retracted positions range from 1935-6000 lbs. Ask a material handling specialist about your specific application. Please remember that load capacity ratings are for the heavy duty jib itself and not the forklift nor the maximum load that can be safely handled with a particular forklift. Whenever heavy duty jibs, or any other forklift attachments for that matter, are added to a lift truck, the weight of the attachment, the new center of gravity, will reduce the lift capacity of the forklift.

How do you calculate the load capacity of a forklift when a jib is attached?
Ideally, you should contact the forklift manufacturer for a load capacity chart. If you cannot obtain this, simple foot pound calculations can be made to estimate the reduced load capacities. To calculate, for instance, the load when using our mid-sized model at its maximum extension of 11’7”, simply deduct the 1850 foot lbs for the weight of your heavy duty jib (cg x weight of jib) from the 16000 ft lbs and then divide the remainder by the new load center, 11.6 feet which gives us 1221 lbs maximum lift capacity.

These sample calculations only approximate the reduced forklift capacity when using heavy duty jibs. They are based on a standard 24' forklift load center. The maximum load capacity for each hook position is shown under the forklift’s rated capacity for that fork position. Calculations have to be individual and precise. Again, if you do not have time to do all this calculation yourself, contact one of our experts.

What other Forklift attachments does Easy Rack Carry?
Heavy-Construction-Equipment
Forktruck Attachments
Forklift Work Platforms
Heavy Duty Forklift Attachment Buckets
Self-Dumping Hoppers

Easy Rack carries a wide variety of shelves, dock loading equipment, commercial shelving, material handling equipment, commercial lighting, used pallet racks, commercial Christmas lighting and modular buildings installed nationwide.

If you can not find what you are looking for call us toll free at 1-888-776-3720 and we will find it for you. Read our testimonials section, product reviews or visit our material handling blog to learn more about Easy Rack.

Our distribution complex is located in Houston, Texas with regional hubs positioned in all 50 States including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Boise ID, Atlanta GA, Albuquerque NM, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Albuquerque NM, Huntsville AL, Fayetteville AR, Norfolk VA , Madison WI.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Gantry cranes are the perfect alternative to expensive overhead cranes for light duty material handling purposes.

Gantry crane's are one of the most flexible and important parts of any material handling operation. Gantry cranes offer the ability to lift extremely heavy items, and move them easily from one area to another.

There are a whole range of gantry cranes depending on your particular application or needs. Light weight gantry cranes are useful for lifting items onto a pick up truck, work benches, or lift tables. The basic design of any Easy Rack gantry crane is the same. Two support legs are connected by a support beam. The lifting gear is positioned on the gantry between the legs, and loads can be lifted off the ground and moved. Easy Rack Gantry cranes have stabilizing mechanisms provided that prevent the crane from becoming unstable or collapsing when moved around the facility.

Depending on the exact design of the gantry crane you are using, lateral movement on the beam may be possible. Smaller units tend to be restricted to a single position, and to get the item being carried into its final position, the whole crane must be moved. On the other hand, aluminum gantry cranes that are built on a much larger scale tend to have a motorized winches that allows the load to be automatically lifted by the touch of a hand control.

Care must always be taken when moving items using a jib or gantry crane. The motion must always be slow and steady in order to prevent the mass from swinging around. Maintaining the balance of the portable crane when it is being moved is crucial, and the weight being carried should be as low as possible to ensure that the center of gravity of the gantry crane remains quite close to the ground. These two techniques of slow movement and a low level for the weight combine to create a much more stable lifting system that will ensure fewer accidents, and less waste through any damage that is caused.

Call Easy Rack at 713-553-1122 and let us help you make the best investment material handling investment within your budget. We are located in Houston, Texas and welcome the opportunity to assist with product selection or to provide a customized quote.

Are you are looking for industrial shelving, new or used pallet racking, material handling equipment, ergonomic supplies & equipment, commercial storage racks, commercial lighting fixtures or warehouse lighting, we can help!

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