Scissor Forklift

In the field of industrial material handling, counterbalanced forklifts are among the most common types of forklifts. The scissor lift attachment (commonly referred to as "scissor forks") is a specialized accessory that can be mounted on counterbalanced forklifts. By being installed on the front fork carriage (or a dedicated interface) of the forklift, it converts the forklift's power (hydraulic or electric) into horizontal telescopic movement of the forks, enabling traditional counterbalanced forklifts to perform the functions of reach trucks. This attachment offers strong compatibility, being suitable for mainstream counterbalanced forklifts. There is no need to replace the entire forklift; only the interface and the attachment need to be added, resulting in low modification costs.

1. Core Basic Functions: High-Level Stacking and Goods Retrieval

1.1 High-Level Stacking

Operation Process: The forklift approaches the rack at a low speed → The mast rises vertically to the height of the target cargo location → The forks extend horizontally forward → Push the goods (pallets) deep into the rack → The mast moves backward to retract → The forks lower to the ground → The forklift exits the aisle.

Typical Scenarios: High-level goods stacking in automated warehouses, mezzanine racks, and flow racks.

1.2 Precise Goods Retrieval

Operation Characteristics: The forks can move forward and backward independently of the forklift body. Combined with the fine-tuning function of the operating handle, they can accurately place goods into the designated cargo location on the rack.

Advantages: Prevents goods from colliding with the rack or adjacent goods, reducing packaging damage; especially suitable for "First-In-First-Out (FIFO)" management scenarios to ensure goods are stored and retrieved in order.

2. Compound Motion Functions: Collaborative Operation of Lifting + Extending + Translating

2.1 Lifting While Extending (Compound Lifting)

Function Description: The forks extend forward synchronously while ascending, shortening the single-cycle time (e.g., retrieving goods from the ground → lifting to 2 meters → extending 1 meter forward → placing into the rack, with a total time ≤ 8 seconds).

Application Scenarios: High-frequency high-level replenishment, reducing waiting time and increasing the volume of operations per unit time.

2.2 Lowering While Retracting (Safe Exit)

Function Description: The forks retract backward synchronously while descending, ensuring the center of gravity of the goods always remains within the wheel support surface and avoiding the risk of tipping due to center-of-gravity shift.

Application Scenarios: Ensures operational safety when retrieving heavy-load goods (close to the rated load).

3. Selection and Usage Precautions

3.1 Matching Forklift Parameters

Select a suitable scissor lift attachment based on the forklift's rated load, power type (fuel/electric), and fork carriage interface size. Overloading or installing incompatible attachments should be avoided.

3.2 Load Center-of-Gravity Control

Goods must be placed evenly at the center of the platform. Uneven loading or overloading on one side is prohibited (the stability of the scissor structure depends on the balance of the load).

Conclusion

The scissor lift attachment is a "high-level operation expansion kit" for counterbalanced forklifts. By combining the mechanical advantages of the scissor structure with the forklift's power system, it addresses the pain point of the single function of traditional forklifts. It holds irreplaceable value in high-level material handling scenarios in fields such as warehousing, manufacturing, and engineering.