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Holp GmbH introduces SafetyFork

Holp has introduced the SafetyFork, a gravity-stabilised pallet fork designed to improve the safety and handling of palletised materials on construction and landscaping sites.

Conventional pallet forks have a rigid suspension, meaning that uneven ground and sudden movements of the excavator can be transferred directly to the load. This can cause materials to shift on the pallet or, in more extreme cases, fall altogether. The risk is particularly high when handling unevenly loaded pallets, which are common in landscaping and civil engineering applications.

A survey of contractors has also found that Euro pallets frequently sustain significant damage when transported using conventional pallet forks, potentially compromising the load during subsequent handling.

Now available to order, the SafetyFork has been developed specifically for excavators and other carrier machines, using a pendulum-style suspension to make material handling more controlled.

German safety guidelines do not apply to SafetyFork

Following changes to guideline FBBAU-005 in August, the German Construction Industry Accident Insurance Association (BG) introduced stricter requirements for the use of rigid pallet forks mounted directly to machines, including those fitted to rotators, tiltrotators and swivel devices.

One of the more challenging requirements is the provision of an additional load capacity table for excavators fitted with rigid pallet forks, which must be supported by extensive testing. As a result, several large German construction groups have already prohibited the use of rigid pallet forks within their organisations.

However, the revised guidance does not apply to pallet forks where the centre of gravity remains below the attachment point on the excavator or quick coupler. Consequently, Holp's pendulum-suspended SafetyFork is not affected and can be operated using the excavator's standard lifting capacity table.

Improved load handling and reduced pallet damage

Unlike conventional rigid forks, the SafetyFork is suspended in a pendulum arrangement, with a two-axis universal joint allowing the attachment to self-align under gravity. The principle is comparable to a suspended load on a crane.

As a result, movements from the excavator boom, slewing impulses and vibrations when travelling over uneven ground are not transferred directly to the load. This allows materials to be handled more smoothly, reducing the risk of loads shifting or being lost during transport.

The suspension also makes it easier to approach pallets from the front, while gravity stabilisation and pendulum damping help guide the pallet more gently. Holp says this reduces the likelihood of damage to both the pallet and its contents, helping to avoid unnecessary replacement costs.

Compatible with various rigid quick couplers, rotators and tiltrotators, the SafetyFork has a rated capacity of 2,000kg and weighs approximately 250kg, excluding the quick-change plate.

Hydraulic centre-of-gravity compensation allows the suspension point to be adjusted to suit different load centres of gravity, enabling the safe handling of unevenly loaded pallets. A folding mechanism also allows the attachment's centre of gravity to be lowered for storage and transport, making it more compact and easier to pick up again when required.