Click to text us! 616-796-6638parts for all makes of equipment | hyster - yale - toyota and more | are you in canada? use https://canada.intellaliftparts.com
The Intella Parts BlueSpot® safety light leads the industry in quality. What’s important to note about our BlueSpot® is that it’s UL listed, which means that it meets the tough and exacting standards that Underwriters Laboratories places on lights for forklifts.
Chances are, the forklift that you operate is also UL listed. That means that if you replace any component on the forklift, or add any electrical component to the forklift, it needs to be UL listed. Wondering if your forklift is UL listed? Most will have a tag right in the front of the forklift on the front of the dash with the UL logo.
Some other features of the Intella BlueSpot® blue forklift light include:
• stainless steel hardware
• tough metal construction
• Rated IP67 – suitable for wet/indoor-outdoor environments
• polycarbonate lense- suitable for food manufacturing applications
Each Intella BlueSpot® is burn-tested before leaving the factory. In the pictures below you can see the manufacturing test lab where each light is run for at least 60 minutes.
Ever want to know a little more about the history of your favorite forklift parts brand? We can help!
Forklifts were developed in the early 20th century. It was a group effort to bring it where it stands today; Clark developed the transmission and Yale & Towne are credited with the hoist. The market did not take off until World War II when forklifts were needed to help in warehouses of supplies.
The design has changed throughout history to improve the efficiency. The truck is narrower to increase warehouse capacities, more ergonomic to reduce injuries and of course keep the operator comfortable when using. As safety standards change, so does the forklift. There are now emission standards, load back rests, guards over the heads of the operators and even national standards of safety specifically set for forklifts. They sure have come a long way since the original pallet truck!
In the past decade, the forklift industry has undergone many changes. Due in part to the recession of 2007-2009, a shift in technology and lift truck fleet management has led to a reconfiguration of how forklifts are used in larger industries. Lift truck users since the recession have been focusing on long-term solutions for their ventures, in turn affecting the role that forklifts play in their daily business operations.
Now – the Forklift Industry
Recently, however, such significant shifts have begun to level out. According to the Worldwide Industrial Truck Statistics organization, global lift truck orders in 2013 increased by 7% as compared to 2012. While orders in Europe have yet to recover, shipments to North America and South America have increased, and shipments to Asia have jumped up a shocking 46% since 2008. In recent years, the Americas have actually shown the strongest growth in lift truck orders of the six global regions, which include Africa and Oceania.
The rankings
The 2014 edition of the Top 20 lift truck suppliers, a list released annually by Modern Materials Handling, also shows a steady leveling of the forklift market in recent years. Since 2011, Toyota Industries Corporation, encompassing brands like Toyota and Raymond, has been the world’s No. 1 lift truck supplier. It remains ahead of constant second place KION Group, which is recognized in North America by its brand Linde. In the 2014 report, Jungheinrich, Hyster-Yale, Crown, Mitsubishi, and UniCarriers make up spots 3 through 7, respectively, with other familiar brands like Komatsu, Clark, and Doosan filling spots 10 through 12.
The moneymakers
The top five lift truck suppliers have all been on a growth trend since 2011. Between 2013 and 2014, Toyota revenues increased 12%, as did the revenues of KION between 2011 and 2012. In general, these increases have been attributed to the acquisition of smaller companies (Toyota buying out Cascade Corp., for example) and the launch of new lift truck models. In addition, growth in Asian, European, and American markets showed an increase in demand for lift trucks and associated products.
At this point, the revenue needed to claim a Top 10 spot is $900 million. The closest company to reaching this goal is Clark Material Handling International, ranked eleventh with $708 million in revenue. In addition, the total revenue of all companies in the Top 20 list approaches $31.5 billion, a figure that has increased almost 20% since 2011. Above all, this increase indicates the extent to which the lift truck industry has not only stabilized but even grown in recent years amid recovery from the 2007-2009 recession. As Brian Butler, president and CEO of Linde Material Handling North America puts it, “Customers are becoming smarter about materials handling in general.” Consumers have begun recognizing lift trucks as long-term opportunities, not just necessities, and MMH’s 2014 Top 20 list reflects this.
Thinking of getting an employee certified as a forklift operator?
Here are some things you should know before you begin the process.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), about 70% of all lift truck incidents in the US can be avoided with appropriate implementation of safety training. The most common of these incidents include forklifts being driven off loading docks, forklifts falling between docks and trailers, workers being struck by forklifts, or workers falling off of elevated pallets or forks. Other dangers include improper use of forklift jacks. In light of all of these dangers, the best way to keep yourself and your employees safe is to train competent operators and make sure that your equipment and forklifts are functioning properly.
Keep in mind that it is federal law that no person below the age of 18 ever operate or ride on a forklift truck. In addition, no person, even above the age of 18, may operate a lift truck who is not properly trained and certified to do so.
Q: How do I train a forklift operator?
A: To become certified, an employee must first be trained. OSHA
requires employers to create and use a training program that makes use of both formal training (video, lecture, presentation, etc.) and practical training (demonstration and exercises in the forklift).
Q: How often must I re-evaluate my forklift operators?
A: At least once every three years.
Q: What must a valid forklift operator training program include?
A: Training programs can be either purchased or developed by the employer, but a valid program must cover the following topics, paraphrased directly from OSHA regulation:
• Operating instructions and warnings for the types of truck the operator will be authorized to operate.
• Differences between a lift truck and an automobile.
• Truck controls and instrumentation: where they are located, what they do, and how they work.
• Engine or motor operation, steering and maneuvering, and load manipulation, stacking, and unstacking.
• Visibility (including restrictions due to loading).
• Fork and attachment adaptation, operation, and use limitations, as well as composition of loads to be carried and load stability.
• Vehicle capacity and stability, especially on ramps and other sloped surfaces.
• Inspection and maintenance that the operator will be required to perform.
• Refueling and/or charging and recharging of batteries.
• Surface conditions where the vehicle will be operated.
• Pedestrian traffic in areas where the vehicle will be operated.
• Restricted places and hazardous locations where the vehicle will be operated.
Employees still in training may not operate a forklift unless under the direct supervision of a certified operator. If a certified operator uses a lift truck in an unsafe way or is involved in an accident with a lift truck, he or she may be subject to a suspended certification and a session of refresher training before he or she may operate a lift truck again.
Q: How can I get a trained operator certified?
A: A certification in accordance with OSHA standards includes the name of the operator, the date of his or her training and evaluation, and the name of the person (or people) performing the training and evaluation. In order to receive certification, employees must show adequate mastery of the training topics listed above.
Again, training/certification programs can either be purchased or developed by an employer. In order for an employer to develop his or her own program, he or she must first take an OSHA trainer course that provides certification as a trainer. For more information on these and other regulations, see the sources below.
The serial number of your GM forklift engine will be in a location specific to your model of engine. Below are diagrams showing locations for 2.5/3.0L L-4, 4.3L V-6, small block V-8, and big block V-8 engines, respectively. The big block V-8 engine has two diagrams, indicating serial number location for models both before and after 1991.
Once you have located the serial number, you can derive from it information about your forklift engine. As shown in the diagram below, the first letter indicates the source code of the product. The next four digits indicate the month and day the engine was produced, and the last three digits are the engine’s type code.
interpreting your serial number
More about GM engines
A variety of forklift manufacturers have used GM engines in the past.
• Hyster‘s history with GM engines goes back many years, all the way back to the 2.4 liter engine as well as the 3.0 “iron duke”, and the 350/4.3 engine. When the parent company of Yale, “Nacco” purchased Hyster Company, Yale began using GM engines as well. Recently Nacco has moved away from GM engines to Kubota.
• Toyota uses GM engines as well, believe it or not. The automotive rivals work together somehow as Toyota uses the 4.3L engine. Toyota did use the 3.0 liter engine for a brief period but it no longer does so in 2015.
• Mitsubishi/Caterpillar Forklift uses the GM 4.3 engine in its 8000-12000 pound capacity lift trucks.
Looking for parts for GM engines used in forklifts? Intella can help. We carry tune up parts, cooling / water pumps, starters, alternators, distributors, filters, and general rebuild parts. We know GM engines and we can help you determine what you need. If you can’t figure out from our website what you need to order, please call us at 616-796-1288.
“How much weight can my forklift lift?” It’s a common question for many and the answer starts by looking at the forklift data tag on your forklift.
Q: What is a forklift data tag?
A: A forklift data tag, also called a nameplate, load plate, or data plate, concisely displays information about the lift truck for the use of its operator. According to OSHA, all operators must be trained in reading a data tag and understanding what it means so as to maintain a safe work environment for all employees near or in contact with the truck. A truck cannot legally be operated without a readable data tag.
Q: What does a forklift data tag look like?
A: By OSHA regulation, the tag must be durable, corrosion-resistant, and legible. It is often displayed near the driver’s seat for easy accessibility, and it typically includes some sort of warning about proper use of the lift truck. Be sure to read this warning.
Q: How do I read a forklift data tag?
A: The information on a data tag can look daunting, but with familiarity, reading it can be quite straightforward.
• Model, type, and serial number are often displayed near the top of the data tag.
• Mast information is sometimes displayed on the tag as well. In the example above, it is shown in the bottom half of the tag with the use of a diagram. Other tags may include this information without a diagram in the upper half of the tag. Mast information includes maximum height, number of stages, and sometimes maximum degree of tilt.
• Truck weight is often displayed in the upper half of the tag.
•Capacity and load center are typically shown in a table-like format. They are in table format to include room for the capacity and load center when certain attachments are used.
• Somewhere on the tag, designation of compliance with safety standard requirements must be present, which is the responsibility of the manufacturer. Often the data tag itself has a type of serial number as well, so that it can be tracked if need be.
• Information on wheels, tires, and batteries may also be included, but this is not necessary by OSHA standards.
tag layouts can vary – notice that this one does not have capacity data in table format
this Yale tag has a more typical tabular layout, with a diagram to the right
Q: When do I need a new forklift data tag?
A: If you add a new attachment that changes the configuration of the forklift, you need to order a new data tag from the manufacturer. Some manufacturers provide these at no charge, others charge up to $150 per tag. When ordering the data tag, the manufacturer will want to know any attachments that have been installed on the forklift after the forklift was shipped from the factory. Attachments such as side shifters, clamps, rotators, fork positioners, etc change the capacity of the forklift.
Q: How do I determine lift capacity from a forklift model number?
A: There are some simple ways of knowing the lift capacity of a forklift without looking at the data tag. While the data tag is the most reliable method of checking capacity, the model usually designates the standard lifting capacity of the forklift without any attachments.
American manufacturers such as Hyster, Yale, Crown, and Raymond will typically have a number designation in their model which, if multiplied by 100 will equate to the rough lifting capacity of the forklift. For example, a Hyster S50FT will have a lifting capacity of 5,000 pounds before any attachments are installed. A Yale GLC120 will have an estimated lifting capacity of 12,000 pounds before any attachments.
this Toyota 7FGU25 has a capacity of 2,500 kg normally – but it has an attachment that changes this capacity
Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, Komatsu, Mitsubishi, TCM, NYK will designate the lifting capacity in metric form. A Toyota 7FGCU25 will have a lifting capacity of 2,500 kilograms or 2500 x 2.2 pounds per kilogram = 5,500 pounds. A TCM FCG15 will have a lifting capacity of 1,500 kilograms (x 2.2 for pounds).
These are only general guidelines and useful for determining approximate lifting capacity from the model number before any attachments are added. If you want to know the exact lifting capacity of any forklift, check out the data tag!
Text
