You see two identical fork-lifts that have a different system for double-deep storage of pallets in a warehouse. What do you notice when comparing the lift truck with telescopic forks and top lift truck with a pantograph.
The fork-lift on the bottom has a number of distinct advantages over the fork-lift on the top:
- Reduced attachment weight (approx. 35%).
- Improved residual lifting capacity.
- Virtually no extra lost load thickness compared to standard forks.
- Better visibility.
- Shorter mast height due to absence of moving auxiliary pantograph mast.
- No hinged parts, meaning reduced maintenance.
- Easy to install.
- Easily swapped.
- Double-pallet transport without need for extra long forks.
- Easy to install onto other equipment such as fork positioners or side-shifts.
- Improved residual lifting capacity due to fork positioner mounting on mast, hence reduced risk of tipping/
It is uncertain why telescopic forks are more popular in Europe than in America for double-deep applications but the reason is probably historical insofar as telescopic forks are a European invention, or to be more precise, an MSE-Forks invention.
A common misconception is that telescopic forks extend and retract more slowly than pantograph forks. This is completely unfounded; MSE-Forks introduced its narrow single-cylinder telescopic forks many years ago. These telescopic forks have the same cycle speeds as pantographs, which is approximately 0.17 m/s.
Other disadvantages of telescopic forks are said to be their thickness or that they deflect. It is certainly true that telescopic forks are generally thicker than regular forks with the same lifting capacity due to their internal cylinder construction. However, is this a problem? Most pallets have an insertion opening of at least 100 mm (4 inch), whereas telescopic forks start at 40 mm (1.6 inch) in thickness. Those telescopic forks can still handle pallets double-deep. Deflection is readily compensated for using the standard mast tilting function.
MSE-Forks
MSE-Forks is an independent, innovative company that develops and manufactures unique logistics products like telescopic forks and mechanical fork lift truck equipment for palletless handling the so-called RollerForks. All of our products are aimed at increasing the ease of use and application of logistics and transportation resources, such as forklift trucks and their variants.
We aim to add value to our customers’ and end-users’ logistics supply chains. We sell our products via our own international network of importers and directly to forklift truck manufacturers. It is intrinsically understood that the products we supply are of the highest quality and reliability.