Load handling tool includes various items such as automatic guided vehicles, ergonomic equipment, and storage tools, which helps store and move goods in a warehouse. You’ll find such equipment being extensively used in various industries. These items are quite versatile and can be used in various applications.
Understanding the uses and benefits of such equipment will help you purchase the right ones that meet your company’s requirements. Having said that, you should consult an automated guided vehicle systems provider who can assist you in selecting the best equipment for your business.
However, there is certain equipment that you should consider buying for your warehouse. These items will only increase efficiency in your daily operations. Let’s look at the main categories of material handling equipment in greater detail.
Bulk Handling Material Equipment
This equipment consists of tools and items that transport, control, handle, and store bulk materials. Manufacturers design these tools to transport and store loose materials. You’ll normally find such equipment transporting and storing food, liquid items, metal, and minerals.
Hoppers are commonly used by industries to handle bulk materials. You’d find manufacturing businesses using the equipment to pour loose materials into containers. They are also extensively used in the construction industry.
Reclaimers are another bulk handling machine that picks up loose materials from a stockpile. You’d probably have heard of the conveyer belt if you operate in the manufacturing or storage industry. They are an important part of the order handling process and are considered to be essential in ensuring the smooth picking of materials.
Stackers are also important to move bulky materials. These automated machines seamlessly move loose materials to their stockpiles without human intervention. Bucket and grain elevators are also important for handling bulk equipment. They usually have a motor attached but can be operated manually as well.
Silos are also used in agricultural applications. This bulk handling material equipment is used to safely store grain or hay. They’re also widely used in construction applications and help store coal, cement, sawdust, and more.
Engineered Systems
Engineered systems are automated machines used to store and transport bulk materials. Automated systems eliminate the need for human intervention to complete mundane tasks. The labor can be redirected to do more value-added tasks. AS/RS are among the most popular systems used in various industrial applications.
They can handle multiple works with ease. You can utilize the system to pick materials and place them wherever necessary. The machine automates the picking and storing process, improving overall operational efficiency. These automated systems can be integrated within a company’s stock system, which will help in real-time information processing.
AGVs are one of the most popular automated machines to handle heavy loads. These machines are autonomous and move materials safely around the warehouse. There are three commonly used AGVs: Unit Load AGVs, Forklift AGVs, and Tugger AGVs. Let’s look at them in more detail below.
Unit load AGVs are used when there’s a need to move a discrete unit of loads between two points. The load can be anything from heavy sheets of metal to packaging paper. These machines don’t require human intervention and are preferred to fork trucks due to their automation capabilities. These vehicles may be used in cases where the moving action is continuously repeated for a short period.
Forklift AGVs are one of the most commonly used vehicles to transport loads between two locations. They are versatile and can navigate through different locations without human help. Forklift AGVs can also pick up and deliver a load to and from various heights. Narrow, Straddle, Counterbalance and Hybrid are some types of standard Forklift AGVs
Tugger AGVs are a modern invention considered more productive and efficient for Forklifts. These AGVs pull or ‘tug’ a series of load-carrying carts from one place to another, making them ideal for carrying heavy loads. The vehicles can be programmed to stop at multiple points for unloading and storage.
You can also consider using robotic systems in your warehouse operations. It will automate your entire assembly line and ensure a seamless production and packing of your goods.
Industrial Trucks
These are essential material handling equipment that consists of various tools and technology. They play a massive role in transporting material, and it is hard to envisage an industrial setting without such trucks. You can get small, versatile hand-operated trucks to large machinery that can serve various purposes.
Hand trucks are simple two-wheeler trolleys that are used to transport small equipment with ease. You can find foldable hand trucks that are quite portable and packs flat when not in use.
Pallet Jacks are also extensively used in warehouse operations to move stacked pallets. The jacks are forks that slide under the stacks and are carefully lifted and transported to their intended destination.
Walkie stackers are an upgraded version of pallet jacks or trucks. The basic design is the same as a normal pallet jack. However, the equipment is motorized. This helps pallets to be stacked on the second shelf of a warehousing system. Walkie stackers are extensively used to move small items and are commonly used indoors on concrete floors.
Order pickers and side loaders are also important equipment used in industrial applications. Order pickers can be considered smaller forklifts but larger than a walkie stacker. It can lift more weight and replace items from heights of 10-30 feet. On the other hand, side loaders are useful for loading and unloading materials from the side of the machine. You should consider getting side loaders if you have narrow aisles and doorways.
Why Purchase Material Handling Equipment
Now that you know the different types of material handling equipment, you might wonder why you need them in the first place. Well, this equipment can benefit your business in more than one way. Purchasing machines can be quite cost-effective and can reduce your operational costs. Once you set up cutting-edge material handling systems in your company, order picking and packing processes will become more convenient, simpler, and streamlined.
Another major benefit of having such equipment within your workspace is preventing product damage. You’d build a strong reputation for your business by providing high-quality products. All it takes is one bad product to spoil the goodwill you’d established over the years.
The delivery of a damaged product, inaccurate precision, and measurement can have severe reputational and financial consequences for your business. Automating the handling process through machines will ensure no hiccups during the process. It eliminates human intervention, which is one of the major contributors to product damage.
Industries where the workers handle heavy equipment manually encounter several accidents every month, eventually dramatically dropping their productivity levels. Make sure to invest in agile and flexible systems to ensure the well-being of your employees and products.
You need to stay competitive in the modern economic climate. Businesses are increasingly looking to implement technology within their operations, and you need to ensure that you don’t fall behind. You need to continuously invest in modern systems such as material handling equipment that can streamline your entire operations and ensure that your business stays relevant in the modern economic era.
Choosing A Reliable Supplier
Now that you know the importance of having such equipment in your warehouse, it is time to choose a supplier who can provide you with such equipment. To get the best out of your equipment, you should work with a reliable supplier who can provide you with top-notch equipment that fulfills your unique needs and requirements.
However, finding a supplier is not as easy as it seems, and there are several factors you’d need to consider before making your decision. These factors can help you narrow down the list of equipment you need, making the whole finding a supplier process much easier. You’d not want to spend all day searching the internet or making phone calls to find reliable suppliers.
First, you need to understand the features of their equipment and whether they’re suitable for your products and industrial facility. You must have clearly defined goals and understand why you buy such equipment. You’d need to ensure their equipment can easily carry the heavy loads you need to move within your industrial facility.
When choosing a supplier, it is important to look at their accreditation and licensure to ensure they’re in a position to provide you with quality equipment. The last thing you’d want is to spend significantly on material handling equipment only to find it substandard.
When making such a significant investment, you should work with a supplier with more than a decade of experience in the industry. They will know the ins and outs of the industry and provide you with quality equipment. Experienced companies are more reliable and already have several clients who consult them when they need help. You can learn about a company’s reliability and customer support from previous clients.
Time lags can potentially affect your productivity and may directly affect your business performance. Before choosing a material handling equipment supplier, ensure they have a track record of delivering the desired equipment without any delays.
Generally, entrepreneurs, industrialists, and business owners don’t have sufficient knowledge about the type of equipment handling systems they need. If you partner up with a reliable company, they will discuss your requirements and inspect your existing systems and their flaws to help you choose the right equipment. Make sure the company representatives understand your requirements and budget limitations and provide you with customized solutions.
Get Started with Reliable and Affordable Material Handling Equipment Providers In Seattle
Regardless of the industry, you operate in and the type of warehouse operations, you can get various material handling equipment to improve operations and warehouse performance. Having said that, you should consult a reliable, experienced, and affordable equipment provider who can understand your needs and provide you with the right equipment.
If you’re looking for a supplier who can help you with heavy equipment movers, check out the products and services at Hovair Systems. The company has established itself as a leading supplier of warehouse equipment. They use state-of-the-art technology to manufacture their equipment that can help in various industrial applications.
They’re one of the leading providers of air casters, air bearings, and other rigging equipment to industries in the country. They have more than 50 years of experience that has helped them develop a sound understanding of the warehousing needs of modern industries.
Hovair Systems design, build, and manufacture a wide range of industrial tools and material handling equipment, such as industrial turntables, heavy load handling systems, moving heavy loads, air beams, vehicle turntables, automated guided vehicles, heavy movers, air bearing modules, automated equipment for handling of heavy loads, air bearing kits, moving heavy machinery, and air compressor tools.
From vehicle turntables, lifting & rigging equipment, and industrial turntables to heavy load moving machines or other industrial materials handling equipment, they have solutions for all your material handling needs. Their air-bearing services are quite popular amongst their industrial clientele.
Hovair Systems has developed an extensive list of clientele, including some of the world’s most renowned companies, such as Lockheed Martin, Hewlett Packard, Boeing, Goodrich Aerospace, Siemens, Pilkington, and others. They have produced reliable and affordable industrial turntable Systems, rigging equipment, lifting & rigging equipment, and durable air bearings for small and large manufacturers.
The company pays specific attention to the Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) requirements and strictly complies with the safety standards to ensure that the team and customers are safe and secure. You can get in touch with the company to learn about products that can help you in your construction projects.