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Heavy Equipment Parts Express Houston - A type of machine which is specifically designed to load and unload heavy, large freight containers is referred to as an container handler. They are utilized to shuttle freight off and on truck beds, trains and ships. Container forklifts are the biggest and most durable kinds of forklifts made. They need to be extremely maneuverable on uneven terrain and have sufficient torque and power to safely raise bulky containers. They usually have large pneumatic tires and heavy-duty diesel engines. A container forklift, like all kinds of forklift, utilizes forks in order to lift the containers. Forks should be positioned to ensure the load is secure during transport. Some types of container forklifts are just designed to raise the containers several meters off the ground. Other container handlers use a different technique for lifting containers to greater heights. A container handler utilizes a device affixed to the front of the vehicle to clamp down on either end of the container like jaws. The machine is counterbalanced with weights to maintain stability. The main purpose of a container forklift is to lift and transport containers. Regular forklifts do not have sufficient reach for working in ports. The forks are rated based on the most weight they can handle. The capabilities of the forklift must never be exceeded and should be posted prominently in the cockpit. Caterpillar Counterbalance Forklifts and The Manufacturers Which Dominate The Business Manufacturers All over the globe, companies produce about 100 different brands of forklifts. The business is dominated by companies like Caterpillar and Clark. Within Asia, companies like for instance Nissan and Toyota are major players. You should pick the the right forklift company when purchasing any kind of forklift. Two of the top five forklift manufacturers are located within the US, whereas the other three are located in Japan and Germany. The Japanese manufacturer, Toyota & Raymond, makes electric powered forklifts and internal combustion forklifts. The leading German company is Kion Group, recognized for its high performance, low cost, hybrid forklifts. Hybrid technology is a recent advancement which presents a solution to the pollution caused by fuel-burning engines. Providing various kinds of lift machines, another respected company is Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp. Ranked fourth is Crown Equipment Corp., a company based in the state of Ohio. Crown Equipment is popular for the efficiency and quality of its products. Ohio State is also the home of NACCO Industries, fifth on the list. NACCO Industries has diversified to include household products along with forklifts. The Various Parts and Functions of a Caterpillar Diesel Forklift Forklifts are vehicles commonly found within factories, warehouses and various work locations where it is necessary to move heavy materials from one location to another. The mast is the mechanism located on the front of the forklift that hydraulically lowers and raises the load. The "cat" is the protected area where the forklift operator sits. Forklifts can lift loads which weigh between one to five tons. Some types could be utilized to carry shipping containers and loads that are a lot heavier. Forklift tires should be maintained and checked on a regular basis. The types of tires on different forklifts vary according to factors such as frequency of use, load weights and ground surfaces. Each and every driver of a forklift should have access to replacement tires, a forklift jack and tire press. Tire Maintenance Instructions You should regularly inspect the tires. Watch for signs of wear and damage to the tires. If the wear on the tire exceeds 40%, it should be replaced. When you purchase tires, be sure you purchase the right kind - pneumatic, polyurethane or solid. When you have to replace the tires, the forklift jack should be positioned under the tire. You can easily change the tires if you lift the forklift high enough. You could utilize the tire press to pull the tire from the rim and remove the damaged tire. Install the new tire and properly secure it. If you are changing more than one tire and you only have one jack, lower the forklift, then reposition the jack at the next tire. A repair company could offer on-site tire repair. If the tire is extremely large for both in-house and mobile tire presses, the damaged tire must be transported to a shop which has a stationary tire press. responsibilities of a Forklift Driver Forklift drivers typically are employed in warehouses and factories. Their job is to move materials and goods from one place to another. They need to be trained to use the forklift controls safely. Specialized training is a prerequisite. Operators should pass a drug test and have a background check. Performing Inspections HRSDC and OSHA both require forklift operators to perform daily and pre-shift checks. Forklift driver training must include the proper performance of safety checks to assure optimum functionality. An inspection should also be done at the end of each shift. Regular safety training must be undertaken on a yearly basis. Unloading and Loading The forklift driver is tasked with the job of unloading and loading materials in a safe and timely method. This job also includes the organized stacking of goods so they are accessible. Weighing Materials The responsibilities of a forklift driver could include weighing the materials that are being transported and recording the weights. Quality Control The driver of the forklift would be in charge of quality control. They should make certain that goods do not sustain damage during transportation inside the warehouse and orders are accurate. Safety Awareness A responsible forklift driver should have excellent skills in awareness and attention to safety. Drivers must exhibit a high level of concern for the safety of personnel and pedestrians. The driver should find the safest way to deal with challenges, such as navigating a steep surface with a load. The driver should determine the route that is the safest. An operator's training will include learning about the forces that might cause a forklift to tip over. The driver has to be really familiar with the design and safety ratings of the forklift unit which they are utilizing. A forklift driver has to be sensitive to the need for breaks to avoid fatigue. Accidents associated to forklifts are more likely to take place when an operator is exhausted. The company of Doosan Infracore produces many medium-sized and large scale construction machinery available on the global market. The company has continued to grow ever since the year 1990 and expanded worldwide production and business network. Now the company is a leading construction machinery manufacturer, recognized globally for its leading-edge information technology and electronics. It has also achieved recognition for its compliance with worldwide environmental regulations. Doosan has built large-scale factories for manufacturing construction machines within China, Korea and Belgium. The successful establishment of a global dealership network has earned the company status as a global player with branches and sales subsidiaries within numerous nations. Within China, clients ranked Doosan the highest for customer satisfaction in the excavator business from the year 2003 to the year 2010. Doosan Infracore's efforts to become one of the Top 3 construction machine manufacturer within the world are based on a market and customer-oriented organizational platform and synergies together with companies like Bobcat. Expansions comprise North Dakota-based Bobcat compact construction equipment and Montabert attachments. Bobcat Company has been a leader in the development of compact construction machinery for more than fifty years. Construction work sites throughout the globe rely on the popular Bobcat brand. Bobcat's dedication to producing top quality construction machinery has fostered a worldwide production system including Europe, North America and Asia. Bobcat makes skid-steer loaders, mini excavators, compact track loaders, mini track loaders and telescopic tool carriers. Bobcat's compact track loaders and compact skid-steer loaders are both on top of their respective markets and have a global customer base. Their mini excavator is also well received ranking third in the international market. In spite of the worldwide economic recession in recent years, which resulted in a slowdown within the market for compact construction machinery, the Bobcat brand has continued to lead the way with compact skid-steer loaders and mini excavators. The Bobcat brand in synergy with Doosan Infracore would continue to be at the forefront of the business of making construction equipment. Hyundai A forklift, also known as a counterbalance, lifts loads as heavy as 30,000 lbs. Despite being big and sturdy, these industrial machinery still carry the potential risk of crash or accident. In order to be safe, be sure to have operators put on an appropriate seat belt inside the forklift and make certain that up to standard safety features are on board. People know that seat belts could save lives in case of an accident. Three-Point Seat Belt Three-point seat belts can extend across the upper body and over the lap. These belts provide an extra degree of safety by protecting your body. They are offered in both bench-seat and buckle-seat types. The 3-point seat belts are available in either retractable and non-retractable types. Retractable seat belts are normally utilized in most modern vehicles on the market. While non-retractable styles increase safety, retractable styles offer much more comfort. It is truly not possible for a non-retractable seat belt to accidentally extend. Lap belts Two-point lap belts are ones that extend over the lower part of the body. Most lap belts feature a push-button closure system and are non-retractable. So as to secure the seat belt, simply press on the belt button and then the two sides will separate. Circuit-closed seat belt The type of seat belt that forces a forklift operator to put on a seat belt is a circuit-closed seat belt. These types of seat belts have a micro-switch attached which sounds an alarm if an operator starts a vehicle and is not secured by a seat belt. The circuit-closed seat belts are made in both retractable and non-retractable lap-band styles. Prior to becoming qualified as an operator, training on a forklift or an industrial-powered lift truck is necessary. This particular training is often modified to the specific type of machine, any machine attachment to be used by the operator and individual facility. It is really vital to have safety foremost on the mind of the trainee or the trainer. General Qualifications You must be eighteen years old if you want to operate a forklift. Also, you should have the physical ability to operate and control the kind of equipment you are training for in a safe manner. Before assuming any operator responsibilities, all operators must be correctly trained. Pedestrian Safety When a pedestrian stuck by the equipment, this can result in one of the most common kinds of injuries related to using forklifts. Operators of forklifts have to always yield to pedestrians and utilize their horns when nearing any crosswalk, pedestrian area or intersection. Weather Conditions Amongst the most dangerous places to utilize a forklift are loading docks. When rain filters in through open dock doors, the floor could become very slippery and dangerous. It is vital for operators of forklifts to take these situations into consideration when working within these kinds of settings. Certification Both hands-on exercises and classroom instructions should be completed so as to become a qualified forklift operator. This particular type of training could be adjusted to be able to suit all the requirements of each kind of workplace; for instance, incorporating the different attachments that will be used on that particular job site and each specific type of machine. Accidents On a yearly basis, roughly one hundred people are killed due to accidents related to utilizing forklifts. In addition, there are around 100,000 who are injured. With safe operation of the machinery and proper forklift training, the majority of these injuries could be avoided all together. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration does require drivers using a counterbalanced forklift to have received lecture style or classroom training. They additionally require that a periodic refresher training as well as a supervised driving course is completed. There is no required minimum time for the supervised driving or classroom training. Furthermore, there is no frequency mandated for the refresher training either. Counterbalanced Forklifts A counterbalanced forklift balances its load with the weight of the truck. The forks on a lift truck are in a fixed position; they go down and up and do not turn. The forks run parallel to the forklift's body. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that individuals who would be operating counterbalanced forklifts on the job be trained on the trucks while being in the kind of environment that they will be utilizing them. Classroom Training Classroom training or lecture style training offers information about the truck which the driver would be using. This training includes aspects such as weight and load capacity, height, how to charge or fuel the forklift. It includes how to gauge the time on the engine as well as any forklift specific safety information like where to stand when walking around the truck. Either oral and/or written testing is part of the classroom training. There is no minimum time requirement for the training. Supervised Driving The forklift operator has to learn how to use the counterbalanced forklift while being supervised. The supervised driving needs to take place in an area that reflects the environment the driver will\would be driving in. This atmosphere must include the type of terrain she will be traveling on, have similar surrounding structures nearby, and the same pedestrian and vehicle traffic nearby as well. There is no specific minimum number of hours the driver has to drive while being supervised.