When fully loaded shipping containers are moved in ports, 50-ton blocks are loaded in quarries, or components weighing several tons are loaded during the construction of wind turbines, standard forks reach their physical limits. This is exactly where VETTER BigForks come into play.

Manufactured by VETTER Industrie GmbH in Burbach, Germany, BigForks represent the manufacturer's largest and most powerful range of forks – designed for extreme loads, harsh environments, and maximum safety.

The dimensions speak for themselves. VETTER BigForks achieve:

• Load capacities of up to 120 tons per pair
• Blade lengths of up to 5,000 mm
• Cross sections of up to 400 mm wide and 150 mm thick
• Back heights of over 2,000 mm

This makes them among the most powerful large forks in the world.

In port logistics in particular, where a large part of the world's goods traffic is handled, forks not only have to carry enormous loads, but also withstand wind, weather, and salty air. BigForks are designed precisely for these conditions – for continuous use, high handling frequencies, and maximum process reliability.

However, their performance does not begin in the field, but already in the factory. VETTER manufactures the large forks using a special upsetting process on one of the most modern production lines for large forks worldwide. BigForks are designed for a dynamic load of one million load cycles at 25 percent overload and can statically withstand three times the nominal load without permanent deformation. They also comply with ISO 2330 – a clear commitment to safety in extreme applications.

The special steels VQ32+ and VQ1300 are used, which are optimally matched in terms of strength, toughness, purity, and wear resistance.

Technical highlights include special fully automated heat treatment and the so-called Optima fork heel, which improves stress distribution and reduces deflection. This not only increases safety but also significantly extends service life.

But size alone is not enough. Modern heavy-duty logistics requires additional intelligence. BigForks can be equipped with smart camera systems using SmartFork^® technology to increase precision and safety in daily use.

Another add-on is the CROC polyurethane coating on the fork blade or the fork back. It prevents heavy or sensitive loads from slipping, reduces vibrations, and protects high- quality surfaces at the same time. This is a clear added value, especially when transporting sensitive goods.

Extreme dimensions for offshore logistics

A large-scale project in Denmark at the end of last year demonstrated how powerful BigForks are in practice. VETTER supplied specially configured BigForks for handling oversized components to an operator in the offshore and wind energy logistics sector.

With a blade length of 4.5 meters, back dimensions of 3.5 meters, and a single weight of more than three tons, these forks set new standards in the heavy-duty sector. This was the largest BigForks project in the history of VETTER Industrie GmbH to date.

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