Prone to damage, the rolls have considerable value attached, so it is important that port operations specify exactly the right truck and type of attachment to achieve efficient and safe materials handling.
The Pressure of Attachment Selection
Front end paper handling attachments are available in many different forms, including vertical or horizontal paper clamps, 180/360 degree rotators and multi reel handlers, which should be specified according to how the rolls are received, stored and then loaded for redistribution. From the outset, it is crucial that the attachment is specified and maintained correctly with the right clamping pressure. Excessive pressure can very often result in damage to the paper reel, which can lead to out of roundness, which is when the roll becomes oval, making it difficult to use in the manufacturing process on high speed winding machines. Clamping with insufficient pressure can result in the reel sliding or dropping out of the clamp, resulting in damage, lost production and potentially serious safety concerns.
The correct clamping pressures to suit the grade of paper would be identified during a site survey completed by the materials handling supplier. In the UK, Barloworld Handling chooses to work closely with a limited number of approved attachment manufacturers who offer proven, tried and tested clamps supported by a wealth of technical experience, advice and service back-up.
Compact Trucks for Storage
At a port, expensive high quality reels are typically stored in a controlled, clean warehouse environment where space is at a premium. The reels can be stacked to various heights depending on the product weight and dimensions. For example, a newsprint reel with a diameter of 1250mm and 1500mm width can be typically stacked 4 high, whilst a tissue reel which can have wider range of variance in terms of diameter, width and weight needs further consideration. With pressure to reduce aisle widths and maximise product storage space the compact Hyster SpaceSaver forklift truck offers lift capacities up to 9000kg @ 600mm, which is smaller than an equivalent competitor 5,500kg conventional counterbalance truck. To put this into perspective, the overall width of the Hyster S9.0FT-6 is 1438mm verses a competitor’s conventional 7,000kg truck with a width of over 2000mm. Other truck features that add considerable value in the paper handling environment include:
• Square-wave anti-clog radiators and radiator screens improve the cooling capacity and uptime of forklifts.
• Heat resistant wraps added to the exhaust system help to reduce exposed surface temperatures, which could ignite paper debris.
• Heavy duty high lift masts with 6 roller carriages and side thrust rollers take the exceptional stresses of this type of application.
• Three position hydraulic mechanical and electrically operated relief valves provide variable clamp pressures for handling a range of reel dimensions.
• Intelligent clamps are available that can automatically exert the correct clamping force to suit various paper products being handled.
• Oil immersed brakes help keep brakes and tyres cool in short shuttle or long run applications and reduce wear.
• Fire extinguisher systems, hydraulic oil cooler and hydraulic load accumulators.
• Rear drive handle and integrated horn button, together with optional swivel seat, assist the driver in finding a comfortable seating position when driving in reverse and ensures they are easy able to make pedestrians and other truck drivers aware of their presence.
• A safety gate on the 4th Hydraulic clamping function will ensure the clamping lever is not activated inadvertently by the operator potentially dropping the reel. This is now the industry standard and has been part of the Hyster and Barloworld specification for the past 30 years.
• The Hyster ‘Return
to set tilt hydraulic control’ helps ensure correct alignment for the clamp contact pads and safe reel handling and stacking.
• Leak free O-ring fittings on all hydraulic connections reduce risk of product contamination and slippery surfaces.
Clamp pressures should be regularly tested to ensure the truck is delivering the integrity of the hydraulic pressure for the clamp’s safe operation. Planned maintenance is crucial for the success of any operation and by following a strict regime trucks will continue to operate with optimised performance and availability. All drivers should also be trained to operate the equipment they use, including the attachment, and pin code access can help ensure only authorised personnel operate equipment whilst helping management teams to identify and reduce damage. Fleet management tools available from Barloworld Handling can provide live performance reports for the fleet and empower management teams to make informed decisions leading to cost reduction and continuous improvement.
Colin Pemberton, Regional Sales Manager, Barloworld Handling
Colin is responsible for leading an experienced regional team of material handling specialists in the UK. Colin’s career spans 36 years with Barloworld Handling, delivering solutions in many varied industries including paper, print and packaging applications in paper mills, manufacturing plants, storage and distribution operations, recycling centres and ports.
Barloworld is the largest independent lift truck dealer in the world with over 50 years experience in the UK as distribution partner for leading forklift manufacturer Hyster. Barloworld has a proven track record supplying a full range of equipment and service solutions across all sectors of UK industry