A forklift is a heavy duty truck fitted with powerful hydraulic systems or with similar items, which can move, lift, and store the items or objects placed on it to the desired place. Factories, warehouses, construction companies, mining firms, car wreck companies or other organizations where there is a commercial movement of heavy materials and objects is concerned, employ the use this machine. (more…)

Cranes can be used to lift a wide variety of loads, up to large capacities. However if loads are a different shape to usual, they can be tricky to balance and the move effectively. This is where crane forks come in; simple, readily available attachments that can be added onto the crane in order to lift less standard loads, such as pallets and coils. With crane forks being an add on, they can be attached and used as needed, before detaching them to use the crane with a standard hoist and sling to lift more compact loads.

Crane forks are particularly useful for lifting loads such as pallets and coils, where the centre of gravity is different and the load may be larger or wider than usual. Detachable forks make it easiest for loads like this to be lifted safely and conveniently, so that the crane operators will be safe and the loads will be unharmed during the process. There are, of course, other ways these types of loads can be moved (such as with a forklift truck or with coil grabbers), but if they need to be moved whilst using a crane, then this will be the best solution.

Types of crane forks – which one will be right for different types of lifts?

There are two types of crane forks: self balancing and manual balancing. They will essentially do the same thing, but setting them up is a little different.

As the name suggests, self balancing crane forks will balance themselves and will stay level no matter what load they are lifting, so they can be easier and more convenient to use. They will generally have adjustable widths and heights to make lifting easier and more customisable, which is important when lifting pallets and coils of different sizes and capacities. They might be used most frequently on sites, where they can be used by tower cranes, overhead cranes, and hoists.

Manual balancing crane forks have adjustable tines and are most frequently used to move rings or coils. This is because the tines can be pushed together to make sure the load can be easily and safely accommodated. This also means that they can be easily adjusted to accommodate pallets of different sizes where needed. In order to balance the forks effectively, the master link will need to be hooked into a notch, which is a manual process that needs to be completed by the crane operator. Many manual balancing crane forks will also come with a chain to help secure the load.

Safety first when choosing a suitable crane fork

Crane forks can be used to lift loads of all weights, sizes and shapes. It’s always advisable to check compatibility with particular cranes, which should be confirmed before crane forks are purchased. This ensures that they can be attached securely and safely, and subsequently used in a safe manner. Check all specifications and make sure the crane forks selected can be used with the cranes that are already on site.

Hydraulic cylinders can have many different applications and are widely used in situations where there is no electricity for power, or where air can supply a larger amount of pressure. Many of these applications are in industrial and commercial settings, where it is very important to handle all equipment safely and to take a great deal of care when carrying out operations. Hydraulic lifting cylinders need special considerations and must be used with the right equipment in order to produce the best outcome and result. More importantly, this will keep everyone safe and will prevent injury whilst using and handling hydraulic cylinders.

Many of the hydraulic cylinders available are single acting. This is where a push or a pull force is needed, so the hydraulic fluid is acting on one side of the piston rod. This is different to a double acting hydraulic cylinder, where the piston rod is forced in two directions. It is important to know which type of cylinder is being used, how it works and how it should be used and managed. Only fully trained and competent individuals should ever be responsible for handling hydraulic cylinders and carrying out operations using them.

All hydraulic cylinders will have different capacities and will have different pressure requirements. Many have a maximum pressure of 700 bar and up to a 350mm stroke size. There are also more unique cylinders that will have slightly different usage purposes, like those that feature safety locks. These come in the form of a lock nut which will hold a position – it is recommended when a has to remain lifted in the same position over a long period of time, making it easier and safer to do so.

Many leading brands supply hydraulic lifting cylinders. There are plenty of options out there for consideration, all of which will provide very good options for different applications. It is simply a case of identifying the type, size, capacity and pressure that are needed to carry out safe and successful operations, depending on individual circumstances, as no two scenarios and environments will ever be quite the same.

Complementary Equipment to Use with Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders can be used with a wide variety of equipment in a complementary way to ensure their safe and secure operation. These are some of the main accessories that might be needed when using a hydraulic cylinder:

• Hoses, valves and accessories. Hydraulic hoses are integral to any hydraulic application. There is a wide range of accessories available, like hydraulic gauges, manifolds, hoses, valves and pressure switches.
• Pumps. Did you know that a cylinder can be capable of using 30% more oil capacity if a pump is connected? There are two types of pumps: hand pumps and electric pumps. Pressure can be generated to operate the hydraulic cylinder, which will travel from the pump through the hose. For safety, it is important to select the correct voltage, and single or three phase.

Hydraulic tools can also be used in conjunction with these – there are tools such as chain cutters, puller kits, spreader wedges and more.

Cranes are made up of various components that will help to ensure they operate safely; while part of this is of course down to the crane operator, crane components have an integral part to play in crane safety and management. Crane components can be generally split up into eight categories, each of which will contain different types of components to suit various cranes, from goliath cranes to small jibs. If components and parts begin to wear out they need to be replaced before the machinery is used again because otherwise they will be compromising safety. Cranes need to be visually inspected before operation and more detailed examinations need to be carried out too on a regular basis, under LOLER and PUWER.

The components will need to be the right ones for the crane type, as well as for the brand, to ensure perfect compatibility. If unsure, these should always be checked with the crane parts supplier who can give further information regarding parts, compatibility and fitting. They can provide suitable advice on the best parts to use for the crane in question, depending on its brand, its type, its age, its condition and anything else that is necessary to consider.

The different kinds of crane components

Anti-collision systems

If a crane has more than one bridge beam on a track, it is required to have an anti-collision system in place. This is a law, not just a requirement. This type of system is used with overhead gantry cranes and will stop them colliding through two laser projecting sensors and reflector panels. This makes operation safer and it can also prolong the lifespan of the cranes, through one single component.

Inverter drives

These useful crane components are generally used to help increase the lifespan of mechanical components, brakes and gearboxes. Essentially, inverter drives will increase operational speeds gradually to protect these integral parts of operation, much like in a car; this approach will avoid the significant wear on gearboxes that a less measured approach could cause.

Crane controls

These are an integral component because they allow the crane to be operated through the use of a control pendant or a radio remote control system. Any crane control system should be heavy duty and hard wearing, suitable for outdoor use if applicable.

End trucks

These are designed for use with suspension bridge cranes, top running single girder bridge cranes and top running double girder bridge cranes.

Chain hoists and wire rope hoists

These are essentially lifting equipment in their own right but they are often used with cranes. There are various options when choosing hoists that will be compatible with cranes, including increased lifting height, and a variety of lifting capacities. This makes hoists versatile and easier to specify – wire rope hoists and electric chain hoists are available at various price points.

There are, of course, other more specialist crane components. The components required, or that might be added to give certain functionality, will depend entirely on the crane and what it is being used for.

People who are interested in finding the right electric chain hoists that can work for them need to make sure that they do a thorough search for the different products that are available. It is important that you do your research and finds a good product that will last for a long enough time.

Finding the right host will ensure that you can find something that can work for you. You will need to look at the specifications of each model to make sure that it has the carrying capacity that you are looking for. (more…)

In many industrial and commercial environments, there are more requirements than usual when it comes to managing that particular environment. Different areas need to be managed in certain ways for efficiency, productivity and above all, safety. Industrial sound proof doors can be key in managing these types of environment and are a highly popular type of door to choose. They have a whole host of benefits and can be personalised depending on individual environments’ needs.

If a sound proof door is needed, then an insulated door might be one of the best buys given this criteria. The insulating properties of the door will help to control temperature but will also give it additional acoustic properties, namely controlling noise levels and keeping them at an acceptable level. At the same time, the building owner or manager can also benefit from many of the other properties that come with a well insulated doorset, like strength and security performance. Many doors have been put through rigorous testing to prove their security credentials so they are highly effective in this kind of commercial environment.

What Materials are Insulated Soundproof Doors Made From?

Insulated soundproof doors are most commonly made from steel as this is a strong, robust, secure and high performance material that will benefit the property in many ways. The door may have an aluminium frame for fitting it into brickwork.

Steel is a naturally well insulated material and there may be additional insulating properties built into the door as well. To further enhance insulation, the door may be thermally broken – both the frame and the door itself. There may not be any glazing in a security door because of security reasons, but if there is, usually look for this to be thermally broken as well. To check on the insulation levels of the door (a well insulated door will also usually be more sound proof), look at the u-value. A low u-value indicates that the door is energy efficient and will not contribute to as much heat transfer, i.e. losing heat from inside to outside.

About Sound Ratings: How to Understand the Noise Reduction That a Door Will Provide

When buying a door with specific sound proofing properties, there will be a an Rw assigned to it. This number will tell you the sound insulating abilities of this particular door. It stands for weighted sound reduction index and it is used for doors, walls, windows and other objects that may need to be sound proof. The Rw rating is measured in decibels and if the number is higher, this means the sound proofing properties are greater. When looking at a sound proof door, always look for this Rw number to indicate the level of noise reduction that you can expect to achieve with that particular product.

Noise reduction will also depend on the way the door is fitted and its environment. For example, if there are gaps left around the door where there shouldn’t be, then this will compromise the product’s ability to block out sound. Different size gaps around the perimeter will contribute to different levels of noise insulation being lost. It is very important that the door is fitted and used as intended and that the surrounding environment is well prepared, and is adapted to the installation of the sound proof door. Only in this way can the product achieve the results that it is intended to, as the environment matters as well. For this reason, many single leaf and double leaf sound proof doors are generally installed by the manufacturer, supplier or a professional door fitter who will ensure it is working effectively in situ. Installation is also important if the door is external and will need to act as a security measure too.

In conclusion, the door may not always be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about sound proofing but the right doorset can contribute to greatly increased levels of sound proofing. There is no need for a padded studio or individual sound proof room, as the right kind of door can do a great job and achieve excellent levels of sound proofing. Insulated doors are a very good starting place when noise levels need to be reduced in commercial spaces and they bring with them a whole host of other benefits as well, like security and good thermal insulation. All in all, an insulated steel door set can be one of the most beneficial purchases in a demanding commercial environment where noise levels need to be managed.

Drums trolleys are specifically designed for moving drums and cylindrical loads, due to their shape and construction. They can be used when:

• Moving drums
• Loading them onto lorries, shipping containers etc.
• Unloading drums to store them
• Reorganising drums and stacking them i

The drum will be loaded onto the trolley, often with a jack, and will then need to be secured to make sure it will not move whilst it is being relocated.

A drum trolley can improve safety when loading up drums and moving them; drum management and logistics become significantly easier and more efficient as well. The usual safety standards must be followed though, such as not overloading a drum truck because they will come with a specific capacity. They must also be used safely in the manner intended. If a drum trolley is not easy to manoeuvre or it is not big enough, a different size must be obtained – some drum trolleys have handles to make moving loads easier.

If you have a job where you need to work at height, you will need to use the right safety equipment including harnesses, fall restraints for equipment and safety gear such as gloves and helmets. Companies should have policies to protect you if you are working at height, even if you just do so temporarily – make sure you have a full understanding of what is required of you and how you will be protected, including the gear that you will need.

Whilst all construction and other companies need to have policies to protect staff, it is also important to understand that you are responsible for your own safety when you are working at height. It is up to you to take the right steps to ensure safe working practices. If you do not have the right training to work at height, you should never be asked to do so – if you are, make it clear that you are not willing or able to do this until you have the relevant experience and equipment.

Construction can be a dangerous area to work in if procedures are not followed correctly. A building site is full of dangerous pieces of equipment and machinery that, if used incorrectly, could cause serious injury or even death. Health and safety is imperative for good, safe construction practices.

However, it is worth remembering that the machines used on a construction site are actually there to make processes safer. It is simply a case of using them properly. When a crane or another piece of lifting equipment is used instead of manual lifting, this is going to help protect the operator from injury.

If you are going to use a crane, make sure you receive the proper training. You should also be fully insured to work on the site. Discuss this with your employer, as it can get slightly trick when many construction workers are self employed. Make sure you receive continued training as well.

Furniture movers are specialist pieces of equipment that can be used to lift heavy loads, perhaps like household furniture or industrial pieces of equipment. They are often used by people like removal companies during the removal processes, to avoid dangerous heavy lifting processes. They can lift pretty heavy loads for their size, usually up to around 1,800kg.

The mover works by having skates that are slid underneath the load. The load is then positioned on the trolley or wheels correctly and safely – with some models, support rails and tension straps are available to help hold the load in place. It can then be moved by simply wheeling the mover into position.

Different wheels are available for different floor coverings. This makes moving skates suitable for use in the domestic market, where it is important to protect a customer’s home. There are also a variety of sizes and lifting heights available.