I work in a shop with a 8' X 20' Plasma table. Currently I load the plates with a bigger sized forklift with 6' forks. It becomes extremely difficult to load thinner plates (1/8" - 1'4") that are 20' in length as they bow, sometimes needing 2 forklifts to load. Also when cutting thicker plates it is difficult to muscle them onto the forks one by one when taking off the table. Our building structure can not support a crane so as of now I think forklift is our only option?
We want to put a guard rail up in front of the table so forklifts cannot run into the the rail, but in doing so it will make it even more difficult to get plates on and off the table.
Does anyone do something different or know of any ideas as for remote magnets or suction cups for a forklift to lift the plates on and off the table?