Steel Telescopic Forks (STF) | Miniload ASRS & AGVs

Miniload ASRS telescopic forks are load-handling devices designed for totes, plastic boxes, and small cartons rather than pallets. Used in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and on tote-handling AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), they pick, move, and position containers in warehouse storage racks. A miniload is a type of ASRS designed for smaller, lighter containers, as opposed to pallet-handling systems. Telescopic forks, also called telescoping or extendable forks, use nested sliding members that extend and retract like heavy industrial drawer slides, allowing containers to be stored or retrieved without repositioning the main machine. Servo motors or other actuators drive the forks, while sensors and machine controls manage their travel and positioning.

Miniload systems use shuttle vehicles, stacker cranes, and other automated equipment to transport containers through storage aisles and position them at designated rack locations. Tote-handling AGVs can also carry telescopic forks, navigating between storage locations without requiring fixed tracks. The forks extend into storage racks to retrieve or deposit containers. Fork fingers are the projecting load-handling elements that engage or support a tote during retrieval and placement. Independent finger sets allow a fork to handle containers in different storage positions.

Space on the moving carriage is often limited. A single rail long enough to reach deep into a storage rack would require excessive space when retracted. Nested telescoping rails solve this problem by remaining compact when retracted and extending outward to provide substantially greater reach. This allows telescopic forks to operate on warehouse shuttles, miniload machines, stacker cranes, AGVs, and gantry systems while maintaining a compact load-handling assembly.

Single Depth telescopic forks reach containers in the first storage position from the aisle. Double Depth forks extend farther to retrieve containers from a second position behind the first, using independent finger sets to handle both storage positions. Adjustable Depth forks accommodate different tote sizes and storage positions, allowing one fork to handle mixed-size containers without hardware changes.

PBC Linear's Steel Telescopic Fork (STF) is a complete load-handling assembly built on the SDP telescoping rail platform. The SDP steel drawer slides provide the extending rail mechanism, while the STF integrates the fork structure, load-handling fingers, and position sensors. All STF configurations extend and retract bidirectionally, allowing automated equipment to pick and place totes in storage locations on either side of the carriage.

PBC Linear offers Single Depth, Double Depth, and Adjustable Depth steel telescopic forks for standard 600×400mm totes and mixed-size containers from 200–600mm wide, with load capacities up to 50kg. Motorized configurations feature integrated 400W AC servo motors, while motorless versions accommodate customer-supplied actuation. Each STF is made to order with a standard lead time of approximately 12 weeks. For telescoping steel drawer slides alone, see SDP. For heavier rack and lift telescoping applications, see Hevi-Rail®.

• Steel telescopic forks for miniload ASRS tote storage/retrieval, not pallets
• Use with Miniload ASRS shuttle vehicles, tote-handling AGVs & lightweight stackers
• Pick, move and position totes, plastic boxes, small cartons and similar containers
• Built on the PBC Linear SDP telescoping steel drawer slide platform
• Nested steel members provide extended reach from a compact retracted assembly
• Three configurations: Single Depth, Double Depth and Adjustable Depth
• Single Depth: Handles one row of totes in the first storage position
• Double Depth: Independent finger sets handle two rows of totes
• Adjustable Depth: Handles mixed-size totes without hardware changes
• Standard tote size: 600×400mm
• Adjustable tote widths: 200–600mm
• Maximum load capacity: 50kg
• Bidirectional extension and retraction from either side of the carriage
• Position sensors included for controlled fork travel
• Optional integrated 400W MOONS AC servo motor or customer-supplied actuation
• Construction: Aluminum alloy and formed hardened steel
• Additional applications: Stacker cranes, gantries and automated material-handling systems
• SDP steel drawer slides also sold separately
• Made to order; standard lead time approximately 12 weeks

Frequently Asked Questions