Automated

Material Handling

Equipment:

Varieties And

Benefits

In the industrial domain, varied

equipments are required for

storage, control, movement and

protection of materials, products

and goods. This is where automated

material handling equipment is

used. These tools are very handy

throughout the process of

manufacturing, distribution,

consumption and finally disposal.

These mechanical devices can be classified into four main varieties namely storage and handling equipment, industrial trucks, engineered systems, and bulk material handling.

• Storage and Handling Equipments: Usually these equipments are non-automated. These include tools like shelving, pallet racking, and carting. For storage and handling, the shape and size of the tools are according to the product. Materials used for these equipments are of high quality ensuring safety of product during storage.

• Engineered Systems: These include automated engineered material handling structures like conveyors, AS/RS, AGV, handling robots, and others. Sometimes many products are combined together to form one system under this category.

Material Handling Equipment

• Industrial Trucks: These are equipments that are driven by motors as warehouse vehicle. They can be manually handled, powered by gasoline, electricity or propane. These forklift trucks are an essential item and have multi-purpose for material handling owing to their easy accessibility. Tow tractors, stock chasers etc. are some common examples of industrial trucks.

• Bulk Material Handling Equipment: These are used for moving and storing bulk materials such as liquids, ore, and cereals. These tools are widely used in mines, refineries, farms etc.

To explain further varieties of automated material handling, mentioning about tools like cranes and hoists is significant as they move heavy loads. There are many types of automated cranes used these days like single girder, gantry cranes, JCB cranes and so on. These are manufactured keeping in mind the load capacity, gear boxes, electrical panes, and motors. Wire rope electric hoists are also useful in factories or warehouses.

Material Handling Equipment

The undeniable benefits of such equipments are stated below:

• These tools make the entire process of production to shipping possible.

• Labour cost reduces, thus increasing the levels of profit.

• Production quality and quantity improves significantly as there is no manual handling and everything is done on automated machines.

• Time is saved as the work is being executed with fully computerized operation, and comprehensive data processing facilities.

• Safety and efficiency is assured in a compact and methodical system configuration and physically effortless operation.

• Saves considerable space and keeps the working space clean and orderly.

Material Handling Equipment varieties simplify the process and are truly indispensable tools in the modern day industrial purview.