B&B Offering Electric Attachments

B&B Attachments, based in Birmingham, United Kingdom, will be offering electronically operated attachments. The attachments include PLC with CAN-Bus interface that allows communications between the attachment and the forklift. In this case, the feature will allow an AGV to control the forks of the attachment and also send data back to the truck.

The new attachments were displayed at the Kaup booth at IMHX 2019 B&B also unveiled at the show a double pallet handler, one of many attachments capable of moving multiple pallets at a time.

The new Kaup electric fork positioner T160BE removes the need for hydraulic operation. The hydraulic hose installation over the mast and hydraulic connection is no longer necessary.

Electrically operated and electronically controlled, the sideshift and positioning of the fork tines can be set and controlled with absolute precision, from inside the forklift truck. The forklift truck receives feedback on the exact position of the attachment and the fork tines. The capacity of the forklift truck in combination with an electric attachment is not restricted by distance of movement. Once programmed the sideshift stroke cannot exceed the permission values related to the stability of the forklift truck. Additional functions also include a display showing the service and maintenance requirements and evaluation of its operating hours.

B&B also displayed fork attachments originally distributed domestically, but will soon be available to the export market. The products cater to the brick and block market.

Mike Barton, managing director of B&B, noted that his company’s presence at the IMHX was its biggest to date.

Kaup Managing Director Hoger Kaup was also present. He forecasts a dwindling of materials handling trade shows on the market.

According to Kaup, “A lot of companies are doing their own thing, like Linde with World of Material Handling, and once the big players don’t appear at these shows, it’s not so attractive any more. And nowadays, you also have other ways and means to get your information, so I guess in the long run, a lot of these shows will disappear.”

Kaup also predicted a further disruption of the attachments market as AGVs become mainstream.

“So, we have to adapt our normally not-very intelligent attachments to the requirements of the future,” he concluded.

Smart forks currently account for less than 1 percent of Kaup’s sales, but are rising quickly.

(Source: Forkliftaction.com and B&B Attachments)