Manufacturers of Forklift are required to rate the forklift lifting capacity of their forklift trucks. The capacity plate that comes with the trucks will guide the driver on how to properly compute the weight and height required for each load being carried. Thus, this ensures the safety of everyone in the workplace.
Forklifts use attachments to lift, carry, and transport materials, and those attachments can affect the capacity of the weight a truck can carry. More importantly, it is crucial for a safe operation.
How to Calculate the Forklift Capacity
We mentioned earlier that the whole dynamic of the forklift changes once an forklift attachment is placed on the forklift truck. It has a crucial effect on whole truck stability and carrying capacity of the truck. The relationship between a forklift and all the parts is a piece of essential information that can be complicated to comprehend for operators who did not undergo training or are just starting to operate the forklift.
Below is the formula for the calculation of the Forklift Lifting Capacity:
The scale above should help you determine the capacity of your forklift.
Although this is a general formula, several factors can also affect the rating.
It is also important to note the condition of your truck as well as its working environment. Is it going to work on rough and uneven floors? Is the truck just brand new or in a highly-used condition?
Now that you have a rated forklift capacity, the next is to determine the load center and the capacity height of the forklift. These are essential information for safe operation.
The Load Center determines whether or not the forklift is on the verge of tipping. The forklift load is the center of the measurement of the total length of the forklift from front to back. Measure the load, divided by two. For example:
Load weight= 1500 kg
Truck measurement (front to back)= 1,000mm long
1,000mm divided by two is 500mm. The load center is 500mm.
Of course, this changes depending on the length of your load.
The height of your forklift also has a contributing effect to stable and safe lifting operations. In general, bear in mind that the size, position, and weight distribution of the load affect the whole dynamic of your forklift’s lifting capacity. Knowing these things can help avoid overloading, property damage, injury, or worse, death.
We talked further in this blog: Do You Really Understand Forklift Load Center?
FORKFOCUS, is a professional forklift supplier. Count on us to get a safe and reliable forklift! Free forklift service or pre-consulation is always available. Contact our forklift expert for now!
