Welcome back to the Attachment Awareness series on the OEA blog! This series explores how attachments for various pieces of equipment can improve the overall experience of operation. Throughout this series, we will explore attachments for forklifts, telehandlers and skid steers and the benefits these attachments provide: improved safety and increased productivity

In our first Attachment Awareness installment, we looked at static attachments and what benefits they provide for operators. This installment will begin our conversation on hydraulic attachments; focusing on what they are and how they work.

What Does Hydraulic Mean?

When hearing the word “hydraulics,” many people might think of the hydraulic switches on cars that we see in competitions and parades that make them jump and bounce. While the hydraulics we will focus on in this blog are for different functions, the science behind them is the same. These hydraulic principles are used in many different avenues including NASA operations, construction equipment and forklifts. From a science perspective, hydraulics can be described as the study of liquids and how they function. Furthermore, the science of hydraulics is used to create hydraulic systems. Creating and releasing fluid pressure is the basic description of a hydraulic system. These systems put pressure on a fluid (water, oil, etc.) to work with a piston and generate the energy to create movement. The pressure can be released to reverse that original movement.

Hydraulic Attachments = Hydraulic Systems

The reason the specifics of hydraulic systems are relevant to OE Attachments is because they make it possible to produce hydraulic attachments. There are hydraulic attachments for many different pieces of equipment like excavators, skid steers, track loaders and others. At OE Attachments, we specialize in hydraulic forklift attachments in partnership with KAUP GmbH & Co. KG. We are the exclusive North American dealer of the Kaup attachments and take pride in offering superior German engineering in the form of these hydraulic attachments. For this installment, we will focus on our most popular hydraulic forklift attachments from our OEA Kaup product line.

Fork Positioner

The fork positioner is designed to easily handle loads of different widths. It allows operators to control fork distance and handling capacity without ever leaving the driver’s seat, offering superior safety and versatility over other attachments.

Multi-Pallet Handlers

A staple in the food/beverage industry, multi-pallet handlers are the perfect solution for transporting multiple loads at the same time. Combining stability and optimal visibility to essentially double your productivity.

Fork Clamps

Offering additional stability and range, fork clamps allow the operator to handle various pallet types in the safest manner. The fork clamps give the operator the option to select the opening range of the forks and squeeze them together around oddly shaped or hard to grasp items for transport.

As we progress through this series, we will explore additional attachments that fit into other categories like safety and productivity and we’ll also explore other elements of hydraulic systems. Stay tuned!

Did you learn something new about hydraulics and hydraulic systems? What task would you like to see made easier by a hydraulic attachment? Let us know in the comments!