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Latest NewsForklift Thorough Examination “black hole” could compromise truck safety - warningThe current Thorough Examination inspection for forklift trucks does not place sufficient emphasis on checking the chain that controls a truck's lifting and lowering functions and, as a result, there is a "black hole" in forklift testing procedures that risks compromising forklift operating safety. That is the view of Phil Taylor, managing director, of leading manufacturer and supplier of leaf chain to the materials handling industry, FB Chain Ltd. "All working forklifts are required to undertake a Thorough Examination every year. Like an MOT for a car, it is a detailed inspection of a truck's safety related parts," says Phil Taylor. He continues: "At present, there is no requirement for the person carrying out the Thorough Examination to see a truck's Chain Test Certificate – unless they believe that the incorrect chain has been fitted. However, with one forklift chain looking very much like another, it is difficult to detect an inadequate chain from a visual inspection alone. Which is why, in my view, a truck's Chain Test Certificate should be checked and verified as part of the Thorough Examination inspection process." Historically, Chain Certificates were inspected as part of a forklift truck's annual MOT-type check. However, this changed following the introduction of the CE Marking scheme and the Machinery Directive in the 1990s, as Phil Taylor explains: "Before the introduction of the CE Mark – which is a truck buyer's assurance that a forklift complies with European health, safety and environmental protection legislation - a truck user would receive all relevant test certificates from the manufacturer whenever a new forklift was acquired. This enabled anyone undertaking a forklift examination throughout the truck's working life to easily check that, if a replacement chain had been fitted to the truck, it matched the specification of the original. "However, since the arrival of the CE Mark, the truck manufacturer has simply issued a one-off compliance document to the user that covers everything – including the chain. This means that truck users no longer receive a Chain Test Certificate when they buy a new truck." To ensure that a replacement chain is appropriate for the truck it is intended for, Phil Taylor advises truck users to buy from a reputable and well established leaf chain manufacturer or go directly to the manufacturer who supplied the truck in the first place. "We believe that there has been a big rise in sub-standard leaf chain entering the market in recent years and it is particularly important that truck users select their chain supplier carefully. If a lift truck chain is not adequate and breaks while in use, the Health & Safety Executive will be down on the truck user like a ton of bricks," warns Phil Taylor. All replacement forklift truck chains should be supplied with a Chain Test Certificate. The Certificates are issued by chain manufacturers and should show full details of the chain's minimum breaking load and proof load applied (a test to demonstrate that the chain is capable of supporting at least one and a half times its safe working load weight). "A forklift chain must be specified with a safe working load in excess of the lifting capacity of the truck it is fitted to," says Phil Taylor. "And a chain's suitability could be easily checked by the competent person carrying out a Thorough Examination if they were shown the test certificate but, at present, there is no legal requirement for this to happen." Typically, a forklift truck's chain will last between three and five years before it has to be replaced due to wear and, like a truck's tyres and forks, replacement chains are often not covered by service and maintenance packages. Of the popular sizes of chain that it sells, FB Chain's products are up to 30 per cent stronger than is required by the international standard which covers forklift chains. My bolt's bigger than your bolt !
During August we also made smallest bolt we have ever made (in the palm of Peter's hand). It was made for a machine tool counter balance and is under 40 mm long for a chain with just a 1 ton breaking strength.
Why is my chain measuring minus when the chain is new?
All FB Chain's leaf chain components are designed and manufactured from components specifically for leaf chain and therefore achieve perfect pitch. The FB Chain professional chain wear gauge is the only gauge which measure the actual chain wear in 0.25% increments. If you would like to know more about chain inspection click on the following link. Corrosion resistant leaf chain
In 2001, working with two equipment manufacturers,we developed a new coating which is baked onto the leaf chain for applications directly exposed to wet conditions and road salts. Over the next ten years we enhanced this product which we now call Super Shield chain. In our test cabinet, which simulates harsh environments, standard chain rusts in around 12 hours, zinc plated chain rusts in around 70 hours but Super Shield chain remains rust free after 500 hours. This is equivalent to at least 5 years in normal conditions without rusting! Once in service Super Shield chain can be treated like any normal chain and lubricated at regular intervals to prevent elongation due to wear. So if you have a forklift that; works outside, works in a harsh environment or is being regularly washed down, 'Super Shield leaf chain' could save you lots of time and money replacing rusty chain. Looking after your leaf chain
The life of an adequately lubricated chain is estimated as 60 times longer than that of a dry running chain. Even temporary dry running will shorten chain life considerably. All FB leaf chains are supplied ready for use. They have been fully immersed and articulated during final inspection with Fuchs Anticorit lubricant (picture to left). This ensures complete coverage, helping the chain resists corrosion, and reduces initial wear. If you would like more information you can download our recommendations by clicking on the following link |
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We made longest bolts we have ever made for a Sheffield Foundry - they were required for the refurbishment of a quenching tank for large castings. The 5 metre deep tank, which had 2ft thick concrete walls, contained 76,000 litres of water. We supplied 50 metres of 1½" pitch leaf chain with a breaking strength of 34 tons and 4 off 3.3 metre long bolts (pictured) and 4 off 1.0 metre long bolts. At 3.3 metre the bolts were are the longest to have been produced in our Letchworth factory.
We are often asked 'Why is my chain measuring minus when the chain is new?'. The international standard for leaf chains, ISO 4347, allows for leaf chains to be manufactured using components made from roller chains. The key component on any roller chains is the roller units, all other components are toleranced to ensure the roller unit will wrap on the sprockets. When roller chain pin link plates and centre link plates are assembled into leaf chain the resulting chainwill measure less than the nominal pitch. This situation can be made worse by poorly punched plates and badly maintained press tools.
In the past we have built stainless steel and zinc plated leaf chains for arduous applications like tanneries and food production where the forklifts are regularly cleaned. These chains were expensive and there was a considerable reduction in breaking strength.
We often get asked if we sell chain lubricant and while it has been tempting to sell an FB branded lubricant we have never found one that we would be happy to put our name to. Most chain lubricants are designed for transmission or motorcycle application, the loading and operations of leaf chain requires lubrication with different properties.
