Material handling equipment refers to the machines used in various commercial and industrial settings to transport, store, manage, and secure goods effectively. Most factories use forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyor belts, cranes, hoists, shelving systems, automated guided vehicles, and packaging machinery to handle heavy pallets, boxes, and barrels. These machines increase productivity and cut down on manual labor. This guide discusses the types of material handling equipment and the industries that use them.
Types of material handling systems
The following are a few popular types of material handling equipment used by different sectors of the economy to ensure smooth operations:
- Conveyors
Conveyor belts are frequently used to move materials inside a building. They are the best for continuous, high-volume material movement. - Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
AGVs are self-propelled machines that move materials around a facility without a human operator. - Robotics
Robotic systems have revolutionized material handling. They quickly and accurately pick, pack, and palletize items and can be programmed to work alongside human workers to handle various materials. - Storage systems
Efficient storage is essential in factories and warehouses. These facilities use pallet racking, shelving techniques, and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) that maximize space utilization and enable simple access to stored items. - Cranes and hoists
Heavy loads can be lifted and moved vertically or horizontally using cranes and hoists. These machines have massive lifting capacities and precise control that benefit the manufacturing, construction, and logistics sectors. - Manual handling
In this technique, workers physically handle and move materials by lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
Industries that use material handling equipment
Manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and retail are a few industries that depend heavily on material handling. Besides these, material handling equipment is broadly used in the following sectors:
- Construction
Construction sites transport heavy construction materials using cranes, forklifts, and loaders. - Mining
Miners use conveyor belts, loaders, and trucks to ship ores, rocks, and other minerals. - Retail and distribution
These sectors use material handling systems to ship goods from retail stores to distribution facilities, ensuring efficient inventory control. - Airports and seaports
Airports and seaports use conveyor belts to transport bags and cargo from the check-in station to the facility from which they are loaded onto the airplane or ship. - Recycling facilities
Recycling hubs use machines to separate materials and move them through various stages of the recycling process.
What to consider when designing material handling workstations and equipment?
Properly designing material handling stations is vital to improving worker safety, productivity, and general well-being. The machines should be assembled while considering good posture, automation, assistive technology, reach distances, load-bearing capacities, and user-friendly controls. Organizations can make the workplace more comfortable and productive by designing workstations and equipment, keeping in mind the human body’s limitations. It will lower the possibility of accidents, boost employee satisfaction, and help operations run more smoothly.
Many businesses use material handling as it streamlines operations, cuts costs, and increases productivity. These benefits, in turn, raise profits and help the organization survive cut-throat market competition. That said, installing such complex machines requires a considerable initial investment.
