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British leaf chain maker runs safety days on forklift maintainance

BRITISH heavy leaf chain manufacturer FB Chain has run a third annual training day for customers on how to operate and maintain critical components on forklifts.

Leaf chains, better known as a variant of bicycle chains to laymen, were again the focus of another annual leaf chain knowledge day at Stotfold Mill in Bedfordshire.

FB Chain welcomed 16 customers, as well as staff from CFTS (Consolidated Fork Truck Services), to its event to offer training in the thorough examination of forklifts.

This is a joint venture between the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), two major industry trade organisations in materials handling.

Said FB Chain managing director Peter Church: "We run the events to increase the knowledge of senior forklift technicians and to help troubleshoot leaf chain problems within the forklift industry."

Attendees learn everything from converting kilonewtons into kilogrammes or tons to establishing the relationship between tensile strength and working load fatigue.

The days typically begin with foundation knowledge on how leaf chain is made before moving on to types of chain failure, their likely causes and preventive measures.

A three per cent worn leaf chain will lose 18 per cent of its tensile strength.

"When this occurs, chain is considered a safety risk and needs to be replaced immediately. As three per cent is such a small percentage, chain needs to be monitored regularly using an accurate measuring device," he said.

"We always put a lot of focus on measuring chain wear," Mr Peter said. "We look closely at what's actually being measured and compare a couple of wear measurement methods. We then go on to answer some regular questions like why do some leaf chains measure under pitch and what type of lubricant should be used.