Does your forklift load go more than a metre high? If so, you may need to check your capacity plate.
Understanding Forklift Load Testing
When a forklift truck is tested at the factory, a test load will be used on the forks. If your forklift is rated at a load centre of 500mm, then a 1000mm cube test load will be used. If it's rated at 600mm, then the test load will be be a 1200mm cube.
As well as a horizontal load centre, the load will have a vertical load centre. In the case of the 1000mm cube, this would be 500mm, and 600mm on the 1200mm cube.
Adjusting for Different Load Sizes
If you load is higher than its corresponding test load, this will need to be taken into account when determining the forklift's capacity at maximum lift height. For example, if you have a mast lift of 4.5m, then the vertical load centre of a standard 1m high load will be 5m high. This is within its originally tested parameters. However, if you handle a load of 2m high on the same machine, then the vertical load centre will increase to a height of 5.5mm.
What this does is extends the lift height of your mast by 500mm, as if your forklift was fitted with a 5000mm mast. This makes it outside its tested parameters, and the rating plate is now potentially incorrect.
Importance of Accurate Rating Plates
This is a very common occurrence which usually goes unnoticed until it becomes an issue. The rating plate must be correct for the load being handled—if the truck is involved in an accident, then this will most definitely be investigated.
Expert Advice from TCM
Whether you need advice on your load sizes or just general information on the size of forklift you should be using, the TCM national dealer network have the expertise to offer all the advice you need. They also have access to unrivalled product support from the UK based TCM distributor.
For advice on calculating your forklift load sizes, get in touch with your local dealer. Click the button below to enquire.
.png?width=50)
