INTRODUCTION Material handling is a manufacturing term relating to moving, storing, protecting and controlling of raw materials, goods and products. Material is handled as it is cleaned, prepared, manufactured and consumed while refuse is disposed. The types of equipment used in the materials handling process includes systems for storage and engineering. It also includes industrial trucks, conveyors, on-rails transfer carts and cantilevered crane loading platforms.
STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT This topic generally refers to non-automated apparatus and includes things like pallets, racking, shelving, carts, cages, etc. Interestingly, these items are collectively referred to as catalog items because they have universally accepted standards and are sold as stock materials out of catalogs. For example, pallets are a widely used commodity with basically the same size and shape all over the world.
PALLETS Practically any manufactured item you could mention, from cupcakes to casks of beer, from telephones to toilet paper, spends at least part of its life cycle strapped to a pallet. Mostly, these are made of wood, although there are also requirements for pallets made of steel or other materials.
ENGINEERED SYSTEMS These are exactly the opposite of catalog systems, in that they have to be designed and engineered to a particular specification depending on the characteristics of the material to be handled. This includes robots, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and conveyors. When designing this type of apparatus, the designer has to bear in mind whether it is ultimately to come into contact with products that are going to be ingested by humans. This includes things like food, drink and medications, whether taken internally or applied topically. Care must be taken to ensure that nothing that goes into the final product becomes contaminated.
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS These include tow tractors, stock chasers and the ubiquitous forklift, or powered industrial truck. Under the heading of forklifts are dozens of different types of machines, depending on how they are powered, where they are used, what type of tires they are fitted with, etc. All industrial trucks may be fitted with special attachments that makes them infinitely versatile.
ON-RAIL TRANSFER CARTS These are used to carry bulk materials in the heavier industries. They are used in the mining industry, in heavy manufacturing and in metallurgy.
SAFETY It's all about safety in the manufacturing environment. A disturbing number of employees are injured and killed needlessly each year, especially when forklifts are concerned. OSHA is working constantly to put pressure on employers to maintain safe environments and make sure all of their employees are correctly trained.
STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT This topic generally refers to non-automated apparatus and includes things like pallets, racking, shelving, carts, cages, etc. Interestingly, these items are collectively referred to as catalog items because they have universally accepted standards and are sold as stock materials out of catalogs. For example, pallets are a widely used commodity with basically the same size and shape all over the world.
PALLETS Practically any manufactured item you could mention, from cupcakes to casks of beer, from telephones to toilet paper, spends at least part of its life cycle strapped to a pallet. Mostly, these are made of wood, although there are also requirements for pallets made of steel or other materials.
ENGINEERED SYSTEMS These are exactly the opposite of catalog systems, in that they have to be designed and engineered to a particular specification depending on the characteristics of the material to be handled. This includes robots, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and conveyors. When designing this type of apparatus, the designer has to bear in mind whether it is ultimately to come into contact with products that are going to be ingested by humans. This includes things like food, drink and medications, whether taken internally or applied topically. Care must be taken to ensure that nothing that goes into the final product becomes contaminated.
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS These include tow tractors, stock chasers and the ubiquitous forklift, or powered industrial truck. Under the heading of forklifts are dozens of different types of machines, depending on how they are powered, where they are used, what type of tires they are fitted with, etc. All industrial trucks may be fitted with special attachments that makes them infinitely versatile.
ON-RAIL TRANSFER CARTS These are used to carry bulk materials in the heavier industries. They are used in the mining industry, in heavy manufacturing and in metallurgy.
SAFETY It's all about safety in the manufacturing environment. A disturbing number of employees are injured and killed needlessly each year, especially when forklifts are concerned. OSHA is working constantly to put pressure on employers to maintain safe environments and make sure all of their employees are correctly trained.
About the Author:
Henry A. Parker has taught plastics molding techniques for over 15 years. He specializes in injection molding and thermoforming. If you are interested in learning more about plastic pallet supplier then he recommends you visit his friends at PTM: Custom Plastics Injection Molding Company.