Beverage warehouses and distribution facilities can benefit from the speed and versatility the layer picker offers. When building mixed-load pallets, the Cascade layer picker handles single layers or multiple layers of both canned & bottled product. Replace costly manual labor with the versatile Cascade layer picker. One forklift operator can fill orders at an average speed of 1250 cases an hour compared to 250 cases an hour manually. The layer picker streamlines the picking process and increases the speed of pallet production without adding labor. By decreasing the number of people needed to do the work and reducing the physical labor involved, the layer picker is a cost-effective way to handle single or multiple layers of a variety of products. And because you are clamping from all 4 sides, load are more secure the when using a standard clamp so it’ minimizes loss.

Picking the right Layer picker forklift attachment

Layer pickers first burst onto the material handling scene in the mid 1990s as a solution to one simple problem: The need to quickly and efficiently build diverse pallets of products. The gradual introduction of diverse products and invreased demand over time has led many companies to abandon the traditional method of hand-building pallets in favor of using layer pickers.

As the name implies, layer pickers can “pick” multiple layers pf product at one time, assuming the product is relatively homogenous. This ability makes them a perfect fit for the beverage and distribition industries where packages can be easily stacked on top of one another due to the layers of product being flat, rigid, and rectangular in shape. As a former employee in the beverage industry, I cannot begin to tell you how much of a life (and back) saver these attachments can be.

But layer pickers have had to evole over time to keep up with current market trends and with increasing variations in both application and packaging. Different mounting types, swing capacbilities, and even magnetic models are now available.

Layer picker forklift attachment types

• Stationary carriage mount: This type of layer picker is mounted directly to the mast using an integral carriage. It can only pick up and drop off loads in front of the forklift.
• Stationary fork mount: Mounts onto the forklist’s forks using a pair of fork pockets on top of the attachment. Designed to easily install/ uninstall for forklifts that are used for more than just layer picking.
• Stationary side mount: A mast and layer picker combination that must be mounted on the forklift in place of the standard mast. The layer picker is mounted to either the left or right of ther forklift and does not swing. Useful for when all pallets are loacated on one side of the forklift.
• Swing model: A mast and layer picker combination that must be mounted on the forklift in place of the standard mast. includes an arm that allows the layer picker to rotate so that it can pick up product to the left, right, and front of the forklift. Useful for when pallets are one either side of the forklift or in front.
• Magnetic layer pickers: The layer picker types described above are available as both clamping types and magnetic types. Magnetic layer pickers use a rectangular-shaped magnet to pick up metal products such as cans for stacking. Typically, no external power sources are required for the magnets to operate.

Once you determine the correct layer picker forklift attachment type for your application, you should consider adding rail guidance. There are two general types of rail guidance: Dual rail and single rail. A single rail setup uses one rail mounted to the ground to keep the forklift a safe distance away from the product it is picking. Dual rail guidance is where a rail is mounted on both sides of the forklift.

Dual rail guidance allows the forklift more room to travel left and right. This option is well suited for applications using a swing model that picks on both sides of the forklift. The single rails system is designed to keep the forklift a set distance from the individual rail on one side of the forklift, which is typically better for stationary side mount layer pickers.

Last, but not least, there are a wide variety of options and custom configurations available to fit your specific needs. You’re going to need the correct layer picker forklift attachment size, pressure setting, pads, and possibly othe accessories to fit your application’s needs. Not to mention the correct forklift woth enough capacity and maneuverability to get the job done.

M1800 – cascade layer picker genenal

Replace costly labor with a versatile layer picker

Cascade C-Series layer picker provides an efficient and cost-effective way to handle mixed pallet orders: No more picking and packing by hand.

One forklift operator can fill orders at an average speed of 1250 cases an hour, compared to 250 cases an hour manually. The layer picker streamlines the picking process and increases the speed of pallet production without adding labor. By decreasing the number of people needed to do the work, and reducing the physical labor involved, the layer picker is a cost-effective way to handle single or multiple layers od a variety of products. And because you are clamping from all four sides, loads are more secure than when using a standard clamp, which minimizes loss.

	Stationary carriage mount Requires no guide rail system or special mast. No space limitation. It is fixed in a front-mounted position and does not move side to side. Typically used in warehousing operations where loads come in on a truck and they need to be split up into orders, or for palletless handling when fixing a damaged load.
	Stationary fork mount Conveniently slips on your existing lift truck forks for quick installation and removal for occasional use in applications where the ddedication of one truck to the layer picker is not necessary. This installation takes just minutess when used in conjunction with our Quick-Disconnect Hydraulic Couplers. By mounting the layer picker on a Sideshifter you get added versatility, no guide rail system needed. This model is fixed in a front-mounted position.
	Stationary side mount Used in applications utilizing one-sided pick lines or can move independent of the rail. Sold with our specially designed reinforced mast. The layer picker moves independently or with a Guide rail system. This model is fixed in a side-mounted position.

VERSATILE – Special mast and carriage developed specifically for layer picking

Swing model

Designed for pick line applications. Driver does not need to steer inside the rail, just drive forward and back on the rail. The swing frame model comes with our special heavy-duty mast and carriage reinforced to withstand the stress of side loading. It swings 90 degrees so you can handle more SKUs in half the space by being able to pick form both sides of the rail. The only attachment in the industry that can pick product form either side of the pick line, which require less space.

• Superior: Four side-thrust bearings in between mast rails
• Reliable: Additional cross members throughout mast
• Secure: Four side-thrust bearings in carriage
• Durable: Rugged boom and clamp construction for long life
• Flexible: Bonded rubber pads for versatile product handling

Magnetic layer picker

Designed primarily to remove an entire layer of cans at one time from a multi-layer stack of steel cans. The entire layer can be transferred to a new pallet to build a multi-layer mixed product pallet. The steel canned product may be of any variety containing many different products. Two layers of shrink-wrapped cans can be handled in some instances. Other products such as glass jars with steel lids or plastic pails with steel lids have great potential.

Lower fork carriage

Used in build-as-you-go applications. The driver can set down the layers as he picks them up on a pallet or slip sheet that is held on a lower fork carriage. This option is used with a swing model layer picker only.

Product Guards

Create a load backrest effect. The bolt-on mesh guards protect product from falling to the floor through the arms of the layer picker. Optional bolt-on pad extensions for smaller loads (not pictured).

Center load support (or Chimney):

Required when loads are configured with a center hole (or chimney) through the middle of the load. The center load support, or chimney, fills the gap in the load, creating a solid layer for the layer picker to clamp.

Interlocking Finger Pads:

Forms a corner to prevent crushing the corner boxes of the layer and provides additional clamping surface for difficult-to-handle loads like light boxes of the layer and provides additional clamping surface for difficult-to-handle loads like light boxes or fragile products. The pads interlock like a puzzle piece when they clamp.

M1801 – C-Series layer picker

Layer Picking applications have never been so versatile

Applications:

Beverage, warehouses, and distribution facilities can benefit from the speed and versatility the Layer Picker offers. When building mixed-load pallets, the Cascade layer Picker handles single layers or multiple layers of a variety of products, including both canned and bottled product. Replace costly manual labor with the versatile Cascade Layer Picker.

Models

• Swing model: Designed for qick line applications. Driver does not need to steer inside the rail just drive forward and back on the rail. The swing frame model comes with our special heavy duty mast and carriage reinforced to withstand the stress of side loading. It swings 90 degrees so you can handle more skus in half the space by being able to pick from both sides of the rail. The only one in the industry that can pick product from either side of the pick line requiring less space.
• Stationary side mount: Used in applications utilizing one-sided pick lines or can move independent of the rail. Sold with our special designed reinforced mast. The layer picker moves independently or with a Guide rail system. This model is fixed in a side mounted position.
• Stationary carriage mount: Requires no guide rail system or special mast. No space limitation. It is fixed in a front mounted position and does not move side to side. Typically used in warehousing operations where loads come in on a truck and they need to be split up orders.
• Stationary fork mount: Conveniently slips on your existing lift truck forks for quick installation and removel for occasional use in application where the dedication of one truck to the layer picker is not necessary. Mounting it on sideshifter you get added versatility. No guide rail system needed. This model is fixed in a front mounted position.

Options:

• Lower fork carriage
• Center load support or Chimney
• Interlocking finger pads
• Product guards
• Electronic 90º stop Group
• Tray Pack exttension hooks

M1802 – Magentic layer Picker

The perfect solution for moving full layers of canned goods.

Applications:

Build pallets using the magnetized platform to pick up/ deposit single layers of metal product. Perfect for creating mixed pallets of canned goods that can’t be clamped or products with a metal top.

The Cascade Magnetic Layer Picker is designed primarily to remove an entire layer of cans at one time from a multi-layer stack of steel cans. The entire layer can be transferred to a new pallet and buil a multi-layer mixed product pallet. The steel canned product may be of any varietay containing many diffierent products. Other products such as glass jars with steel lids or may also be moved with the Magnetic layer picker.

How it works

Operation is quite simple, lower the assembly until the stripper pan contacts the layer to be handled. The hydraulic magnetic head is lowered to the holding position contacting the stripper pan. The layer picker is then raised, holding the cans magnetically as they are carried to the desired area. To release the can layer, the magnetic head is raised away from the stripper pan.

Refer >> Push/ pulls forklift attachment