For our fourth article about the most popular forklift attachments, we're taking a side trip to talk about bale clamps. Unlike fork positioners and sideshifters which can boost productivity for nearly any application, you're unlikely to find a bale clamp at an average warehouse.
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But for industries that handle baled goods, this forklift attachment isn't just popular; it's essential. For example, in textile mills, a single bale can be handled up to 50 times. All this handling has the potential to cause a lot of damage, but bale clamps are designed to gently (but securely) transport synthetic fabric and other delicate material.
Many of the items around you right now were likely handled by a bale clamp at some point. Here are some applications that commonly use bale clamps:
- Cotton and Wool
- Flax
Foam Rubber Blocks
Hay
Paper Products
Pulp (including compressed and soft cellulose)
Rags and Recycled Clothing
Recycled Paper and Plastics
Scrap Steel
Synthetic Textiles
Tobacco
Protect Products and Boost Productivity
Unlike drum clamps which wrap around individual drums, bale clamps slide between tightly-packed bales. The flanges gently but firmly grab a bale (or bale block) and extract it from the pile.
- If multiple bales are stacked one on top of another, the operator can pull out the entire stack by grabbing the bottom bale(s).
- Sideshifting bale clamp attachments allow the operator to quickly maneuver the load into the perfect position.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of forklift blade attachments. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Bale clamps are essential for high-volume applications that require damage-free and secure handling of baled goods. The bale clamp forklift attachments we sell are suitable for your Toyota, Clark, Komatsu, Linde or other major manufacturer's forklift.
Forklift Clamp Attachments for Sale in the Mid-South
If you have questions about bale clamps or any other forklift attachments, our experienced and friendly forklift experts are happy to help. The Lilly Company is an authorized dealer for Cascade, Rightline and Long Reach forklift attachments and we're proud to serve businesses throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and eastern Arkansas.
Contact us online or by 844-LILLYCO (1-844-545-) and tell us about the challenges you're facing. Our experienced team will provide solutions based on your application and budget. You can also visit us at one of our 13 locations across the Mid-South.
Arkansas - Jonesboro
Alabama - Birmingham, Dothan, Irondale, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery
Mississippi - Tupelo and Richland
Tennessee - Jackson, Kingsport, Knoxville, and Memphis
Further Reading:
Most Popular Forklift Attachments: #1 Sideshifter
Most Popular Forklift Attachments: #2 Drum and Barrel Grabbers
Most Popular Forklift Attachments: #3: Fork Positioners
Last week's blog looked at forklift rotator attachments and the benefits they bring to the Agriculture, food, beverage and waste industries.
This week's blog looks at another beneficial forklift attachment bale clamps and how they benefits industries in moving bales of product.
Forklift bale clamp attachments are fitted to a forklift mast in place of standard tynes and carriage.
The attachment is made up of two hydraulic clamps that can grip both sides of baled up products, whilst the attachments rear frame keeps the load in place during transit and lifting.
Common bale clamp applications
There are a wide variety of bale clamps manufactured for the safe lifting and transport of a wide variety of products and goods that can be utilised across multiple industries, these include:
- Agriculture
- Paper, recycling and packaging
- Wool
- Textile and synthetic materials manufacturing
Some common examples of how bale clamps assist the above industries are described below.
- Bale clamps can be used to carry almost any baled up product in farming and agriculture this may include bales of animal feed such as hay or raw materials such as cotton before and during processing
- Paper recycling and packaging manufacturers may use forklifts fitted with bale clamps to assist in the manoeuvring pulp bales during the recycling process or to dispose of baled up waste at the completion of processing
- Textile and synthetic materials manufacturers may also utilise bale clamps for easy movement of products in the manufacturing process or to assist with storage of finished goods
Benefits of bale clamp attachments
- Where multiple bales are stacked on top of each other the thin profile of a bale clamps arms allows them to easily knife through tightly compacted loads to allow the easy removal of bales this ability increases operational safety, efficiency and productivity
- Safety is increased as a forklift operator can directly pick-up a bale load even if it is tightly compacted meaning the operator/employee doesn't need manually manoeuvre the potentially large and heavy load into a position beforehand so the clamp can grip the load. In some storage situations bales can be stack from floor to ceiling, the clamp eliminates the potential of employees having to climb onto bales where they can potentially be struck or fall
- Efficiency is increased as the forklift with the clamp attached can complete lifting and transport operations all at once. There is no need for a secondary vehicle or action to be involved during the process as they forklift can pick-up, transport and safely drop-off the bale load all in one go decreasing the time taken to move each load leading to increased efficiency and productivity
- Pressure that is applied when gripping a load via a bale clamp can be smartly controlled to apply the correct pressure to provide a safe and sure grip whilst causing minimal if any damage to the product
- Damage to bales is also reduced due to the wide variety of clamp pads suitable for specific applications available on the market
- Bale clamps allow the quick and easy movement of non-palletised loads this can lead to monetary savings on freight as the weight of any necessary wooden or plastic pallets do not have to be factored into freight costs
- On top of monetary savings on freight extra storage space can also be reclaimed as bales are stacked directly on top of each other removing any pallets from storage stacks
For more information how Adaptalift Group can supply the most suitable forklift bale clamp attachment for your goods contact our team of 13 22 54 or .
Reference List
- Bolzoni Auramo
USA
(). Bolzoni Auramo Four Bale Cotton Clamp KS22G2B-F-1. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22D88WLts6w [Accessed 24 Jan. ].