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List of Warehouse Material Handling Equipment
Posted: Aug 21, 2022
Goods are handled either manually or by automated machines in warehouses. Manual handling entails lifting heavy or out-of-gauge cargo with various tools and equipment. Modern warehouses have a wide range of equipment, the majority of which is used in daily operations to receive, store, dispatch, and move goods within the warehouse. Such equipment, known as warehouse Material Handling Equipment or simply MHE, assists in reducing manual effort while performing various tasks safely and efficiently.
Material handling equipment of various types is used to handle different types of cargo, such as bulk cargo or individual cartons. Bulk cargo can be solid, liquid, or gaseous. Material handling entails the tasks required to move goods from one location to another, whether within a warehouse or factory or across long distances. Material handling equipment is used throughout the entire process of moving or storing goods. It is used in the transportation of raw materials and during the manufacturing process.
Types of Material Handling Equipment
Some material handling equipment, such as certain types of conveyor belts or rollers, use friction or gravitational force to move the goods depending on the type of goods handled.
Material handling equipment typically includes the following:
- Manual pallet trolley
- An operator controls a battery-powered pallet trolley
- Forklift and reach truck
- Crane
- Lift
- Conveyor system
- Robotics
- Protective covers and safety equipment
Manual Pallet Trolley
Pallet trolleys are wheeled and have a strong fork in front. They are ergonomically designed to lift pallets from beneath, move, and lower them as needed by pumping the handle. Pallet trucks of this type are used to transport pallets within a warehouse over short distances.
Battery-powered Pallet Trolley
A battery-powered pallet trolley, on the other hand, moves, lifts, and lowers pallets by using electric power from batteries installed on the trolley. Some have a small platform on which the operator can stand while operating the Material Handling Equipment. Hand-operated and battery-powered trolleys can both carry up to 3000 kilogrammes.
Forklift and Reach Truck
Lift trucks and forklifts are powered industrial trucks that are used to lift, move, and lower loads within a warehouse or over short distances. Forklifts can transport loads weighing up to 50,000 kilogrammes. Heavy-duty ones are used to transport cargo containers, for example.
A reach truck, like a forklift, is much smaller and thus more manoeuvrable. It can move quickly down narrow aisles to pick up or set down a load. Double-reach trucks with telescopic mechanisms can reach two pallets deep into a rack to pick up or set down a load.
Crane
Bridge cranes and jib cranes are the two most common types of cranes used in warehouses.
Bridge Cranes
Bridge cranes are commonly used in manufacturing and assembly to lift and move large, heavy objects. It is made up of a hoist on a bridge that is supported by two rails that typically run the length of the warehouse. Bridge cranes are also used to access goods stored beneath the bridge.
Jib Cranes
Jib cranes are hoists that are attached to a wall or a sturdy vertical post via a boom or jib. Its access area is restricted because the hoist only moves along the length of the boom.
Lift
Lifts are small platforms that can be operated manually or with a motor. These are used to move goods vertically from the floor to a higher level or vice versa, where they are received on a pallet trolley for further positioning.
Conveyor System
This is yet another piece of machinery used to transport goods along a metal or rubberized belt. Conveyor systems move goods horizontally between fixed positions within a warehouse or assembly unit.
However, some systems use gravity or friction to move it at a downward or upward angle. Belt and roller conveyors, for example, are widely used in warehouses.
Robotics
Robots or machines that perform some of the tasks that humans do are becoming more common. They are most useful when performing repetitive tasks or working in hazardous conditions. Robots can be programmed to perform tasks precisely and safely. They play an important role in the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals or biohazardous materials.
Protective Covers and Safety Equipment
Some goods, particularly during transportation, require protection from natural elements such as rain or sunlight. Keeping such items covered is the simplest and most common way to protect them. For this purpose, heavy-duty sheets made of nylon, plastic, or tarpaulin are typically used.
Personal Protective Equipment While Handling Goods
Only properly trained personnel should operate Material Handling Equipment. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn to protect the operator from injury or accidents. PPE includes helmets or hard hats, protective clothing, masks, goggles, gloves, and other similar items. They protect against flying objects, heat, electricity, chemicals, and particulates.
Using the proper PPE and adhering to the safety procedures is critical to avoiding accidents. With the current trend toward standardised packaging and packing, the equipment used to handle goods must also be standardised to the greatest extent possible. Racks, shelves, and pallets are typically standard sizes throughout the world.
The pallet is the most used piece of equipment for storing and transporting goods as a unit. Pallets allow goods to be stacked or stored efficiently, neatly, and safely. As a result, buyers and sellers from all over the world can easily handle incoming and outgoing cargo with standard MHE and storage equipment.
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