Push-Pull Attachment: What It Is and How It Works

A Push-Pull Attachment is a material-handling accessory fitted to a forklift that allows operators to move goods stacked on thin slip sheets instead of traditional pallets. The attachment uses a gripping plate (the pull) to grasp the slip sheet under a load and a pushing plate (the push) to slide the load on and off a truck, rack, or shipping platform.

This simple change in interface—slip sheets instead of pallets—can significantly reduce packaging costs, increase usable storage space, and improve efficiency in certain warehouse and distribution operations.

At its core, a push-pull attachment performs two primary actions: it extends a thin blade under a load and grips a plastic or fiber slip sheet, then it pulls the load back onto the forklift carriage for transport. To deposit the load, the push plate slides forward to push the load off the slip sheet onto the desired surface, and the slip sheet is left behind to be recycled or reused. The mechanism is hydraulic and controlled by the forklift operator, offering precise movement and secure handling for unitized loads.

Common components include:

• Headplate / Gripper: The face that clamps onto the slip sheet and load to pull it onto the carriage.
• Push Plate: A flat plate that slides forward to push the load off the slip sheet.
• Hydraulic Controls: Integrated with the forklift's hydraulics to control gripping and sliding motions.
• Mounting Brackets: Fixtures that attach the attachment to the forklift carriage, often compatible with standard carriage classes.
• Slip Sheets: Thin sheets of plastic or fiber that replace pallets under loads. They are a crucial consumable for push-pull systems.

Why use a Push-Pull Attachment?

There are several practical reasons that make it attractive for certain businesses, especially those shipping high-volume, low-weight products like packaged food, frozen goods, or consolidated retail shipments:

• Cost savings: Slip sheets cost a fraction of pallets and are lighter, reducing shipping weights and costs.
• Space efficiency: Eliminating bulky pallets increases the number of units you can store per pallet position or on a truck.
• Faster handling: Well-trained operators can load and unload quickly because the attachment handles full unit loads without the need to nest or un-nest pallets.
• Reduced waste: Many slip sheets are recyclable or reusable, offering environmental benefits over wooden pallets that wear out or break.

Real-world example

A frozen food distributor switched from wooden pallets to slip sheets with a push-pull attachment to save trailer space and reduce pallet handling costs. Because frozen loads are dense and standardized, the distributor could stack more product per trailer, lowering transportation costs per case and reducing time spent moving pallets through cold-storage doors.

Limitations and considerations are important to understand for beginners:

• Load stability: Slip-sheet loads can be less stable than palletized loads if not wrapped or secured properly. Stretch wrap or banding is often used together with slip sheets.
• Surface and handling compatibility: Some racking systems, dock plates, or conveyors expect pallet bases; using slip sheets may require process adjustments.
• Operator training: Using a push-pull attachment safely and efficiently requires training, especially to manage grip pressure and positioning.
• Product suitability: Not all products are suitable for slip-sheet handling—very heavy, irregular, or fragile items may still require pallets.

In summary, a Push-Pull Attachment is a specialized forklift tool that enables slip-sheet handling to save cost and space in the right operational contexts. For warehouses handling high volumes of uniform, pallet-like loads where reducing pallet-related costs is a priority, a push-pull can be a simple, effective upgrade. As with any material-handling change, consider pilot testing, operator training, and packaging adjustments to get the expected benefits.