RollerForks

In 2003 Meijer Special Equipment introduced another unique product, the RollerForks, which can be used for palletless handling and has already won them two prestigious innovation awards. By using slip sheets for the transportation of goods the use of pallets can be eliminated.

Applications Films:
Bagged Goods
FIBC
Boxes
Beverages
Instructional Movie - Installing the Rollerforks

The use of pallets for the storage of goods is unavoidable in a company, but in order to save time and space one can ship the goods by using slip sheets. This has many advantages, i.e.:

  • increased volume and weight capacity in containers and trailers
  • lower purchasing cost
  • less handling, administration and return transport
  • more environmentally friendly
  • more hygienic, which is especially important in the food industry

The RollerForks are in fact "standard" forklift tines with two layers of rollers. When the bottom rollers touch the floor, they make the top rollers rotate in the opposite direction whereby the forks slide under the slip sheet without disturbing the load and the load is pulled onto the forks practically by itself. As soon as the load is being lifted up, the rollers drop, which will secure the load on the tines. When putting the load down, the principle is exactly the opposite and it rolls off the forks with ease.

The RollerForks will fit on a standard Class II or III fork lift carriage and have a maximum capacity of 4400 lbs.

They are a welcome alternative to the already familiar, heavy and expensive push-pull system.
Comparing the two systems the advantages of the RollerForks are the following:

  • investment cost are much lower
  • no hydraulics and lubrication points and therefore less maintenance
  • the weight of the RollerForks is just l little more than that of ordinary forks, so the residual capacity of the forklift equipped with RollerForks is much higher
  • the forklift driver's visibility is not obstructed
  • loading and unloading is much faster

And finally one of the most important advantages of the RollerForks is that the forklift can also be used for other, standard forklift tasks.