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The right lift
for your business

Supplying forklifts since 1976

What we do

Since 1976 H&F Trucks have provided local business with high quality materials handling solutions. For nearly four decades we have achieved steady growth year on year, enabling us to provide superior service to our customers from a stable & sustainable business platform.

Calculating the Load for a Forklift

When loading a forklift, it is essential you ensure you are not ‘overloading’ it as this can result in an extremely dangerous situation. Over 100,000 injuries are incurred by the incorrect use of a forklift and an astounding 100 deaths are reported every year in the US through incorrect forklift use.

In many cases overloading forklifts are the main contributors to these accidents and sadly most of these accidents and injuries could be avoidable if the operators would calculate the load capacity of their machines before use.

ONE – Locate the data plate

The date plate should be located before use and can usually be found on the hood of the machine, which is just beside the operator’s seat. You should make sure you look for a rectangular plate that is covered with numbers that will present the weight limits and different heights; this is where you can locate the data in order to calculate its load and height capacities. For safety reasons the date cannot and should not ever be removed or altered for any reason.

TWO – The load centre

Before lifting the load on your forklift, first determine the load centre of the materials you are attempting to lift. The capacity will change as the load is raised or the forks have been tilted forward. The further the load centre from the back rest, the lower that your lifting capacity will be. Remember never to exceed the capacity limits; you can always see the chart on the data plate for reference showing the various load centres and various heights.

THREE – COG

You should understand the stability triangle of the forklift, you will be able to form this triangle by drawing a line between the front wheels. Then, from the end of those lines you should be able to draw a line to the centre of the back axle. This is known as the stability triangle.
When the forklift is empty the ‘centre of gravity’ also known as COG, will be located in this triangle nearer the rear end of the axle. As the load is lifted, the COG moves forward as the forklift turns right or left.
If in any situation, the COG goes outside of the triangle the machine will overturn so this is a good indicator of load on your forklift.

Make sure you are also fully trained or apply for forklift training before operating one of these machines.

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Testimonials

H&F have supplied us with all our fork lift equipment for in excess of ten years now, and have maintained it in accordance with our stringent operation requirements. During this time they have provided a consistently high level of service (including short term hire when required) whilst never failing to support us in a totally honest and professional manner.

Ashley Basset, Director
R G Bassett & Sons Ltd

H&F Lift Trucks are a pleasure to deal with. All staff, Technicians, Sales and Directors have hands-on experience of all ranges of vehicles they supply. From initial assessments and listening to all users of a potential new vehicle requirement, they keep us informed of all aspects of specification and lead times through to delivery. Their maintenance service is superb – they organise suitable times around our busy working day with our Yard Managers. Any accidental damage or operator error faults are always discussed with me and dealt with fairly – not like some unscrupulous suppliers who seek to profit at every service visit! In a cut-throat market, where we are offered “good deals” a few quid cheaper every day, we are never tempted to stray.

James Hipkins, Managing Director
Emerys

Pym and Wildsmith have been working closely with H&F Fork Trucks for many years. Their service is excellent, ranging from prompt callouts to breakdowns through to the supply of new trucks. We would not hesitate to recommend them.

Ian Pym, Operations Manager
Pym & Wildsmith

We cover a 30 mile radius