B&B's mesh attachment

B&B Attachments has supplied a unique mesh grab attachment to steel supplier Fender Steel.

One of Fender Steel's core products is reinforcement steel mesh. This product is indispensable for reinforcing concrete parts in reinforced concrete construction. To assist with the difficult task of loading and unloading the bulky reinforcing mesh, in the safest and most economical way, Fender Steel contacted B&B Attachments to provide a materials handling solution to this industry-wide handling issue.

B&B was able to modify a design customised for a similar challenge some years ago. According to a spokesperson, the attachment was updated specifically for this project.

The mesh grab attachment consists of four pincers which slot between the apertures, enabling the operator to handle bundles of the steel reinforcing mesh in one single lift. Each pincer is powered by a hydraulic cylinder. The mesh attachment is designed as fork-mounted, which means it can be fitted or removed from a forklift in a matter of seconds. This allows the forklift truck to return quickly to other duties.

The spokesperson explains that the product being handled has a specific 'footprint' so the entry points for the pincers are always going to be uniform.

While the attachment was designed for a specific client, B&B says it has broader applications: "There are larger sections in the marketplace and we can offer a hydraulic telescopic unit that can spread the pincers further apart for different-sized loads."

The company has already had new enquiries and interest in further units.

The current customer, Fender Steel, was founded in 1983, and has built a strong reputation based on reliability, service and product knowledge. The company specialises in supplying reinforcing steel and associated products, together with building materials, to the construction industry on a wholesale basis.

The company's head office is in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. It operates five manufacturing depots across the UK, providing nationwide service to the construction industry.