Materials Handling Equipment

Materials Handling Equipment is used for the moving or storage of equipment. It may also refer to complete engineered systems such as conveyors and handling robots.

There are many types of transport and lifting equipment. Cranes are used for heavy lifting and can be used to move large objects from one position to another. Some cranes are used to lift and move prefabricated houses into place. Conveyor belts consist of powered pulleys and a continuous loop of material that is moved by the pulleys. They are often used in factories in production lines. Forklifts are an industrial truck that is used to maneuver heavy goods and are often used within factories and warehouses. A scissor lift is a mechanised platform lift that is also known as a ‘cherry picker’. Workers can stand on the platform and be elevated to high off-ground levels.

A hoist is a device which has a hook on the end of a rope or chain and can lift goods by use of a manual or powered pulley system. A pallet jack is a piece of equipment that is designed to move pallets. It uses a hydraulic system and can be hand operated. Conveyor rollers are used to assist in the moving of heavy boxes whereby a series of metal rollers allow for the goods to be pushed along with little effort. Other materials handling equipment includes industrial trucks and shelving and storage units. Material handling equipment allows for greater efficiency and improved productivity in the workplace.