Materials Handling Equipment

Beyond Lifting: Using Forklift Brush Attachments for Cold Store Cleaning

Forklifts and other MHE are typically associated with moving heavy loads, but they can also be used for tasks beyond lifting. An innovative application is using a forklift or reach truck to clean cold store floors. By attaching a forklift brush, you can reduce the use of manual labour, resulting in increased efficiency, and ensuring a cleaner & safer workspace. This is far from the reality of housekeeping in South Africa’s warehousing industry…Where cold stores often use employees, without adequate PPE & equipment. This results in poor housekeeping with the possibility that it stays warehouse and is merely swept out of sight and under the racking. What is a Forklift Brush Attachment? A forklift brush attachment is a robust, durable tool designed to easily mount onto any standard forklift or reach truck. The attachment converts the forklift into a powerful sweeper that can easily handle any debris. Whether it is sweeping wet, dry, or frozen materials, inside or outside, this attachment is a low-maintenance, cost-effective solution to keep your workspace clean. Practical Uses in Cold Stores Cleaning freezer and cold storage environments by hand is not only uncomfortable but also time-consuming. Utilizing a reach truck equipped with a heated cab and a brush attachment can significantly speed up the process. As the machines can sweep the access aisles in minutes, bringing debris to the front for easy removal. This method is particularly effective in mobile racking stores, where preventing debris buildup ensures smooth movement of the bases. An additional design element is incorporated for warehouses with mobile racking. A bent steel flange that can be fitted to the guide rail, allowing the debris to be easily swept into the gangway for manual collection. Key Benefits of Forklift Brush Attachments Why to Use Reach Trucks with Heated Cabs? For cold storage environments, using reach trucks with heated cabs makes the cleaning process more comfortable for operators. This feature ensures that the sweeper can work efficiently, even in freezing temperatures. Ease of use makes it suitable for daily use at the end of a shift. Versatility and Ease of Use The forklift brush attachment is not only powerful but also versatile. It can sweep in both directions—forward and reverse—and can be easily cleaned with water or steam. This makes it an ideal solution for a range of tasks, from clearing access aisles in cold stores to sweeping larger outdoor areas. Additionally, the option of a magnetic attachment is available. This attachment will assist in collecting and clearing any metallic debris, typically nuts and bolts. As concerning it may be to find nuts and bolts laying around within a warehouse, its more common than you think! collecting loose nuts and bolts is important as they can jam mobile bases, they also assist your maintenance team in identifying possible issues. Keeping your cold store floors clean is essential for maintaining smooth operations and reducing maintenance on mobile racking systems. A forklift brush attachment offers a practical, long-term solution to ensure your facility stays in top condition. Cost: The standard Forklift brush attachment is available for: R14,085.00 (Ex vat & shipping). Barpro also offers a specialized Forklift Brush attachment with a magnetic strip that must be wired to the forklift battery. This attachment will be available for R16,185.00 (Ex vat & shipping).                                                      

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What is the latest from our Rack Inspector?

In my recent inspections, I encountered several warehouses and cold stores around Southern Africa with operators of MHE depositing pallets on damaged beams. Not just superficial or unseen damage but damage you can see ( note photo ). We don’t know if this is done with closed eyes from the driver’s point of view or if it is just a case of the driver not knowing what can happen if such a beam collapses. Maybe the instruction comes directly from a supervisor or manager that don’t know the seriousness of the situation. Then you get beams that are damaged already being installed- the damage varies from a beam being bent to one of the lugs being broken off.(note photo). The same goes for frames. Frames that are seen to be damaged are still loaded. We are unfortunately not all engineers and do not understand the principles of structural integrity – but when something does not look right- it probably isn’t. We do a training course for exactly that reason. They will be directly responsible for seeing the damage and reporting it to the PRRS (Person Responsible for Rack Safety ) – who in return can categorize the damage into Red, Amber, or Green. SEMA DAMAGE CODES & TOLERANCES Till next time. Contact Barpro’s Rack Inspector for more advice on rack safety and inspections : Barri-Leon Malherbe Rack Inspector – Reg: 0344 Mobile: 082 565 3970 Office: 021 5529190 training@barpro.co.za

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Another use for forklift/ reach trucks?

We all know what forklifts are used for but let’s do some out-of-the-box thinking. For example, how about using a forklift or reach truck to sweep your cold store floors? In this article, we look at the forklift brush attachment that reduces the need for manual labor, increases productivity, and handles materials safely. A suitably sized forklift brush can: What is the forklift brush attachment? The brushes are easily attached to any fork truck and are versatile enough to sweep up debris in your cold store. Sweeping a freezer store by hand is an uncomfortable and difficult task. A reach truck with a heated cab could brush an access aisle in minutes, bringing any rubbish to the front of the gangway where it could be easily picked up. The same procedure could be used in a mobile racked store, thus preventing debris from impeding movement of the mobile bases. Reach trucks with heat cabs are particularly suitable as the sweeper does get cold. Features many benefits to help you with a range of tasks Increase safety by efficiently cleaning your workplace with a durable and low-maintenance brush which can be easily attached to a heated reach truck or forklift with or without a heated cab. This daily time-saving cleaning solution can be carried out at the end of the shift. KEY BENEFITS A clean cold store floor is a primary driver for less maintenance on the mobile racking systems. WHAT IS THE COST? With L1800mm, and 8 rows of bristles, the width would be around 200-250mm. Approximate Unit price:  R 10 600 per set Optional magnet kit   Approximate Unit price R 12 500 per set For more information contact us at: CPT – 021 5529190 James Cunningham – james@barpro.co.za Jonathan Dalton – sales@barpro.co.za JHB – 011 3920 1702 Robert Kershaw – rob@barpro.co.za DBN – 031 942 3200 Melanie Nargayya -dbnadmin@barpro.co.za

Another use for forklift/ reach trucks? Read More »