POPULAR FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS: #7 Slip Sheet Handler

Pallets dominate the material handling industry...for now. With transportation costs on the rise, a subtle sea change is taking place. An increasing number of warehouses, distribution centers and other operations now use lightweight, low-cost slip sheets instead of pallets to save money and space.

Read on to learn:

• Four major benefits to using slip sheets instead of pallets
• What a push/pull forklift attachment is and how does it work?
• Which applications shouldn't use slip sheets

What is a Slip Sheet?

Slip sheets are thin panels made from corrugated or solid fiberboard, metal, paperboard or plastic. You can use slip sheets with most unitized goods including: bagged, cylindrical, boxed and unboxed products. Some slip sheets weigh as little as one pound but can support loads of 4,000 lbs. or more. 

How does a push/pull attachment work?
As the video below shows, the attachment grabs the lip of the slip sheet and pulls the load onto the flat, wide forks (platens). A push/pull forklift attachment can transform your existing forklift into a dynamic load-handling machine that can handle both pallets and slip sheets. 

Benefits of Using Slip Sheets vs. Pallets

Lower transportation and handling costs

• A slip sheet weighs 20 times less than a wooden pallet
• Less weight means less fuel and lower transportation costs
• Workers can easily move multiple slip sheets at once – reducing handling time and labor costs

Decrease loading/unloading time up to 60%

• Faster loading/unloading reduces labor costs
• No pallet exchanges to worry about
• Push/pull attachments are easy to operate

The thickness of one pallet = a stack of 100 slip sheets

• Stack 12-15% more products in a trailer, container or warehouse shelves. 
• Reclaim space you’re currently using for pallet storage.

They’re a cheaper, cleaner, eco-friendly alternative to wooden pallets

• Pallets cost $13+ each, while slip sheets cost as little as $2-$3 each
• No wooden pallets mean no broken pallet pieces all over the floor
• Metal and plastic slip sheets create a barrier against insects and rodents
• Slip sheets are reusable, most are recyclable
• They can be ordered in custom shapes and sizes

Things to Consider Before You Buy a Slip Sheet Attachment

Slip sheets are a cost-effective alternative to pallets for many operations, especially those that handle:

• Agricultural products
• Bottled beverages
• Cased food
• Cement
• Cosmetics
• Electronics
• Seed
• Textiles

But...slip sheets aren’t perfect for every operation. Applications that handle uneven or unbalanced loads may prefer the structural support of a wooden pallet. For low-throughput operations, the cost of a push/pull attachment will take a while to pay for itself. Our forklift attachment experts can crunch the numbers and help you decide if a push/pull attachment will be a smart investment for your business.

If slip sheets sound like a good fit for your operation, the next step is to consider what features you’d like on your push/pull forklift attachment. Here are a few options:

• Ability to handle both pallets and slip sheets
• An attachment that's easily removable 
• Hydraulically-positionable outer platens
• Roller forks instead of standard platens
• Can be used on Class II and Class III trucks
• Superior visibility

You can choose from some of the most popular configurations or ask one of our friendly experts to recommend a few options.

PUSH/PULL Forklift Attachments for Sale in the Mid-South

Have questions? Want more information? Our friendly forklift experts are happy to help. The Lilly Company is an authorized dealer for Cascade, Rightline and Long Reach forklift attachments. 

We’re proud to serve customers throughout Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and eastern Arkansas. Connect with us online or by phone 844-LILLYCO (1-844-545-5926), or come say hello at one of our 13 locations across the Mid-South.

Arkansas - Jonesboro
Alabama - Birmingham, Dothan, Irondale, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery
Mississippi - Tupelo and Richland
Tennessee - Jackson, Kingsport, Knoxville, and Memphis

Further Reading:
Most Popular Forklift Attachments: #6 The Mighty Single Double
All forklift attachment articles
5 Things a COMBiLift Can Do That Other Forklifts Can’t