Types of Forklift Clamp Attachments

Forklift clamp attachments can extend the ways you can use your forklift, extending its value and versatility.

Forklit camp attachments can be used as both a standard clamp and fork positioner. They are are ideal for handling awkward loads, such as crates, bales and tires. The are usualy clamped between the forks.

But there are many different types of clamps that can be attached to your forklift, so choosing the right one for the specific job is important.

Here are some of the most common types of forklift clamp attachments:

Bale Clamps — This type of forklift clamp attachment is used for handling nearly any type of baled product, such as cotton, wood, metal scrap, hay, newsprint, textiles and corregated bales. They typically compress the bales from the sides while supporting the load on the bottom.

Pulp Bale Clamps — The are used widely in on port docks, in mills, warehousing, aboard ships and in transporting operations. They minimize damage for high-volume pulp bales.

Recylcing Clamps — These forklift clamp attachments are made with rugged, highly durable materials for use in recycling harsh and often sharp loads. They often are made with full-length allow steel wear bars that have full-width high-load bearings and frame bumpers to protect cylinders from damage.

Bulk Box Handlers — Designed to handle produce, piece parts and other types of boxed loads, these forklift cramp attachments have multipurpose arms for rotating and dumping of loads.

Multi-Purpose Clamps — These forklift clamp attachments offer the versatility to handle many different types of loads, including wooden, metal and corrugated containers, as well as different types of bales. With multi-purpose clamps, it’s often possible to eliminate the use of pallets altogether.

Drum Clamps — Used widely in the petroleum and chemical industries, drum clamps are designed to handle the standard-sized 55 gallon drums. Some types of drum forklift clamp attachments can even handle up to four drums per load.

Bar Arm Clamps — These have extending poles to pick up and handle rolls of cloth material. They are used a lot in the textile industry to handle towels, linens and denim, as well as other types of cloths.

No-Arm Clamps — These require custom-made arms. Each clamp has two bold-on arm pads that are used as the base for specialized arms that can be made to whatever functionality you require. In some cases, existing arms or forks may also be welded onto the pads.

In cases where keeping a load level at all times is essential, such as when transporting liquids or other loads which can easily spill and cause damage, one option is to supplement your forklift clamp attachment with a fork leveling system. These are automated systems that let operators know when loads are imbalanced so that they can make immediate corrections.

They mount on the forklift’s mast and tell the operator the exact position of the forks while parked, while level and while traveling.

Whether using a fork leveling system or not, forklift clamp attachments can increase the usefulness of your forklift, allowing you to do more specialized jobs with maximum efficiency.