MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY & SAFETY WHEN LIFTING & MOVING CABLE REELS

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

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

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.

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

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 Drum Roll To Unroll Cable

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.

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.