Author: Gregory Haak

Cable Drum Forklift Slippers

MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY & SAFETY WHEN LIFTING & MOVING CABLE REELS

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Maximizing Efficiency and Safety with a Cable Drum Attachment for Forklifts

 In today’s fast-paced industrial landscape, efficiency and safety are paramount when it comes to material handling. When it comes to lifting and moving reels, utilizing a cable drum attachment on a forklift can significantly enhance productivity and minimize potential hazards. A Cable Drum Attachment transforms a readily available machine – A Forklift, into a cable drum lifter.  The following white paper highlights the numerous benefits and safety advantages of incorporating a cable drum attachment on your forklift for cable installations.

  1. Increased Efficiency: By incorporating a cable drum attachment, forklifts become versatile machines capable of handling cable or wire reels of various sizes and weights. Here are some ways in which a cable drum attachment enhances efficiency:

a) Quick and Easy Installation: Cable drum attachments can be easily mounted onto forklifts, minimizing downtime and enabling prompt deployment for cable handling tasks.

b) Streamlined Loading and Unloading: The cable reel attachment simplifies the process of loading and unloading cable drums onto the forklift. This efficiency leads to faster turnaround times, reducing overall project completion durations.

c) Improved Manoeuvrability: With varying length spindle available, cable drum attachments allow forklift operators to navigate tight spaces and narrow aisles more effectively, ensuring efficient movement of cable drums throughout the worksite.

  1. Enhanced Safety: Safety should always be a priority in any workplace, and the use of a cable drum attachment provides several safety advantages:

a) Prevents Accidents and Injuries: Cable drums can be heavy and unwieldy, posing a significant risk to both forklift operators and other personnel nearby. The attachment’s secure clamping mechanism ensures that the cable drum remains stable during lifting and transporting, minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries.

b) Improved Operator Visibility: The attachment is designed to optimize the operator’s visibility, ensuring clear sightlines while manoeuvring the forklift with the cable drum. This enhanced visibility reduces the likelihood of collisions with obstacles or other machinery.

  1. Versatile Adaptability: The cable drum attachment offers adaptability to different cable or wire reel sizes, making it a versatile tool for various industries. Some notable applications include:

a) Construction Sites: Cable drum attachments simplify the transportation of electrical or communication cables across construction sites, facilitating the installation process.

b) Telecommunications Industry: The attachment proves invaluable in handling large spools of fibre optic cables, enabling efficient cable installation and maintenance in the telecommunications sector.

c) Industrial Manufacturing: Forklifts equipped with cable drum attachments provide a streamlined approach to handling heavy-duty cables used in industrial machinery, reducing production downtime and improving overall workflow.

Integrating a cable drum attachment into your forklift operations offers numerous benefits and safety advantages. By enhancing efficiency, ensuring operator safety, and enabling versatility, this attachment optimizes cable or wire handling processes across various industries. Investing in a cable drum attachment is a cost-effective way to improve productivity while minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries, ultimately leading to a safer and more efficient work environment.

Forklift Cable Reel Attachment

Zap Cap Cord Connection

Why Use A Water Resistant Extension Lead Cover for Caravans & RV’s?

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Why Weather Resistant, Recreational Vehicle Extension Lead Connectors  Are Important

Weatherproof Covers for extension leads used to power caravans and motor homes are important to prevent water ingress into the electrical plugs.

Whilst, most power leads covers, are virtually waterproof to prevent rain and dew penetrating the electrics, it is not recommended to use them submerged in water.

Caravan extension lead covers also play an important role in preventing the lead and power supply coming apart. Most power lead covers can accommodate standard 10amp 240V extension leads as well as the heavier 15amp leads used to power motor homes and caravans.

A Frame Cable Drum Stand

What is the best tool to unroll cable off a drum?

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What is the best tool to unroll cable off a reel or drum?

There are 2 main tools used to unroll cables and leads from drums:

First is the Cable Drum Stand, consisting of 2 A Frames that support an axle that goes through the centre hole of the drum of cable.  A Frame type cable drum stands are ideal if the timber or plastic flanges of the cable drum are uneven or damaged, as it is the opening, through the centre of cable drum, that supports the cable weight and allows the cable drum, to rotate. Whilst A Frame cable stands are the best tool for unrolling cable off drums where the ground is uneven, they do require a little more time to set up than a roller type cable drum. Most common uses are; cabling on solar farms, cabling on building sites and security gate cable installations.  

Second is the Cable Reel Roller that uses 2 roller bearings to support the flanges of the drum of cable. Cable Drum Rollers are very compact and are ready to use instantly, as they do not require assembly. The steel rollers supporting the flanges of the drum of cable can be varying thicknesses and incorporate light duty, medium duty or heavy duty, roller bearings, depending on the weight of the cable drum, being paid out. For wide cable drums, 2 Cable Reel Rollers can be used together, with one under each flange of the cable reel. Common uses for cable drum rollers includes; installation of telecommunication cables, signalling cables and dispensing cable out of a ute or van.  

Why Use A Cable Roller For Unrolling Cable

Why Use A Cable Drum Roll To Unroll Cable

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Why use a Cable Roller to unroll cable?

One of the key reasons to use a cable drum roller to spool out cable and wire is to ensure the cable spools off the drum evenly without twisting and tangling. An unrestrained drum of cable can move and jump unpredictably if an electrician yanks the cable to free more cable, off the drum. Other benefits of using cable drum rollers include increased safety as the drum remains in one place and  as the cable is minimises any damage to the cable that may occur, if the cable becomes tangled. These benefits are multiplied if a number of cables are being installed at the same time. A number of cable drum rollers can be set up parallel to despool different drums of cable.

Tips for Safely Lifting, Storing & Dispensing Drums of Cable.

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As we often get asked about handling drums of cable, our team at Adept Direct have come up with a brief check list to assist in the safety and payout of cable drums:

These safety tips are detailed as follows:

  • Know the weight of the cable drum before attempting to lift
  • Consider the diameter of the drum. Larger drums mean the weight will be carried further from your body
  • Unless using a mobile cable drum dispenser or trolley, it is prudent to only carry one cable drum at a time
  • When moving large cable drums, use the axle of an A-Frame cable drum dispenser between two people to evenly distribute the weight of the drum
  • Roll unused cable back onto the drum when each task is completed to prevent loose cables becoming trip hazards. This also prevents cable ends being damaged
  • Always use a cable dispenser, such as an A-frame cable drum stand or cable drum roller, to payout cables. This keeps the drum or drums of cable in one place and prevents them from rolling around, potentially tripping someone up.
  • When doing a risk assessment to install cabling, ensure that any measures implemented do not introduce new risks. This includes positioning the cable unroller in an area of least traffic.
  • Last but not least, good housekeeping is essential to ensure the path is clear of obstructions when carrying or wheeling cable drums.
Magnet Hose Hanger

Magnetic Hose Clips Cut the Dust!

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The applications for Adept Magnetic Hangers never ceases to amaze!

This photo shows Adept Magnetic Hangers “clipped” along the boom of a small tracked excavator to support a garden hose. The Magnetic clips were configured so the nozzle of the hose directs a light spray of water over the bucket area of the excavator in order to minimise dust!

As this excavator was being used to dig foundations for an extension on a home in an established area, it was very important to reduce dust levels which can have a significant negative impact on the health of personnel, the environment and surrounding neighbours. A light spray of water was all that was required and Adept Magnetic Hose Clips meant that an assistant was not required to hold the hose.

Simple but very effective in dusty environments!

magnetic hook

Cable Holder Clip – Medical Trolleys & Hospital Carts.

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As medical trolleys with heating or cooling functions have become more common in the healthcare environment, so too has the safety hazard of tripping on their cords. Cable Handling experts, Adept Direct have recently developed a Cable Holder Clip with a high strength magnet to “stick on” the metal sections of medical trolleys and hospital carts.

The Adept Cable Holder Magnetic Clip has a top and bottom section to hold power leads, hoses and cables up off the floor and eliminating trip hazards.

Elevating cables and hoses also ensures that they cannot be run over and damaged by the castors or wheels of the medical trolley.

The high density polyethylene clip is hygienic and there is minimum number of nooks and crannies to harbour germs. The high strength magnet just takes seconds to slide sideways off the metal frame of the medical trolley and attached to a different section or a new warming trolley.

Adept Direct Double Clip Magnets have been successfully used on medical trolleys in private hospitals in Queensland and have become popular with the medical staff and maintenance teams alike.

Adept  Direct Double Clip Magnets are available online and bulk purchase discounts are available.

www.adeptdirect.com.au

Hospital Bed Remote Control Holder

Cable Clips for Hospital Bed Electrical Leads.

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AdeptDirect Magnetic Cable Clips for securing electrical leads on hospital beds.

Innovative Cable Handling experts, Adept Direct, have expanded their range of Magnetic Cable Hangers  to include Magnetic Cable Clips for power leads and cables on hospital beds. The simple and easy to use magnetic cable hanger can “clip up” power cables for electric motors on hospital beds, in any position to prevent them getting jammed or worse, severed when raising, lowering, or moving the bed.

Another power cord that can be caught up in the workings of the hospital bed is the remote control cord. With only 1 or 2 Adept Direct Cable Clips, these electric leads can be safely secured to the side or underneath of the bed. A further advantage is that the risk of a patient tripping or becoming entangled in these electrical  leads is minimised.

Adept Direct cable clips are manufactured from high density plastic so they are hygienic and have minimal crevices to harbour bacteria. The high strength magnet is encapsulated in a zinc coated steel cover and will withstand years of arduous use.

The Cable Clips can be used anywhere where there is a steel surface for the magnet to “stick” to and can safely hold 2 or 3 standard power cables within the one clip.

Air Hose Hanger,

Air Hose Hanger Bracket

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Pneumatic Hose Hanger Bracket                                       

AdeptDirect have a Air Hose Hanger Bracket, for hanging air lines, cables, power leads and pneumatic hoses up out of harm’s way.

The Pneumatic Hose Hanger has a square steel backing plate which combines with the 90° frame to position the insulated skyhook to safely support up to 8 power leads and hoses. The “prongs” or fingers of the skyhook prevent leads or cable from flicking out the hanger bracket.

Designed and made in Australia AdpetDirect Hose Hanger Brackets provide a simple and fast means of minimizing trip hazards by securing hoses along walls and site sheds. These industrial grade heavy duty hose holders have been on used on building sites, mines, and construction areas, across Australia.

Manufactured in an advanced Australian manufacturing facility using cutting edge robotic welding technology, AdeptDirect Pneumatic Hose Hangers are calculated to withstand years of hard use on building sites and in workshops.

There is no excuse for staff or customers tripping on any cables or hoses at your premises or construction site. Minimise your risk by ordering your AdeptDirect Pneumatic Hose Hanger Brackets at: http://www.adeptdirect.com.au/product-category/lead-stands-and-hose-stands