Maximizing Safety and Efficiency: The Baumann Sideloader Advantage
The Basics of How a Sideloader Works
Sideloaders were developed to safely and efficiently transport timber and other long loads lengthwise rather than widthwise. Imagine moving a roll of carpet through a doorway; bending it through the gap is possible but difficult, whereas tucking it under your arm is much easier. Similarly, sideloaders make carrying long loads more manageable by minimizing the importance of width.
A sideloader’s combination of forks and a truck bed allows for secure handling and transportation over long distances. The operator’s forward-facing position provides an unobstructed, elevated view of potential obstacles. Additionally, this method of carrying long loads optimizes storage efficiency, allowing aisles to be closer together and maximizing storage density.
Securing a load along its length is simpler with a sideloader. When a forklift picks up a long object like a tube or beam from the center, it’s akin to a tightrope walker trying to balance perfectly. In contrast, a sideloader places the load on its deck, stabilizing the length and eliminating it as a destabilizing factor
How Sideloaders Improve Stability
Lifting heavy loads requires stability and security, especially when dealing with varying heights and distances. For instance, lifting a heavy box close to your body is easier than lifting it at arm’s length. Sideloaders enhance stability when handling long loads by considering this principle.
Dynamic stability, or momentum, also affects a machine’s center of gravity. Manufacturers use mathematical formulas to determine the residual capacity of their machines at height, which is the maximum lifting capability with the mast fully raised and extended. Exceeding this weight makes the machine unstable. For example, a load of 5 tonnes might be manageable a few feet off the ground but becomes dangerously unstable at heights above 3 or 4 meters.
To maintain stability, additional weight is necessary. Forklifts achieve this with counterweights: battery models or reach trucks have low-ground counterweights, while traditional counterbalance forklifts have counterweights behind the operator compartment.
How Baumann Sideloaders Work
Baumann sideloaders differ slightly. While they still need to accommodate the weight of loads at the side and at heights up to 19.5 or 30 feet, they distribute weight across a larger area. Their wide axles and unique steering method create a rectangular stability area, which is more stable than the triangular stability area of counterbalance forklifts. Counterbalance forklifts pivot on a central axle, creating a triangular stability zone. Adding weight to the forks shifts the center of gravity toward the front axle, eventually exceeding safe load capacity.
Forklifts can also overturn sideways if the center of gravity shifts outside the stability triangle during sudden stops or turns. To secure loads, reach trucks and forklifts tilt the mast back. Sideloaders achieve this by tilting the entire chassis. While some models may include additional tilt via the carriage, chassis tilt is usually sufficient.
Baumann sideloaders feature automatic deck leveling to maintain balance on uneven ground. This ensures the deck stays perfectly balanced, further enhancing stability. For more information on distributing weight and load handling.
Customer Feedback and Product Quality
Over the past few decades, customers have consistently praised the quality, strength, and reliability of Baumann sideloaders. The company’s focus on quality manufacturing and product reliability, combined with high-quality support, results in machines that improve operations, reduce waste, enhance comfort and productivity, and offer immediate fuel and maintenance savings. Baumann sideloaders not only enhance operational efficiency but also significantly improve workplace safety.
Get in touch with us to discuss purchasing a new or used sideloader.