FEATURE u Materials Handling
2. SHELF AND CONTAINER TROLLIES
Shelf and container trollies are a very efficient way of moving items to where they need to go. The healthcare industry is a sector which can benefit from the versatility of trollies. Moving objects and equipment throughout the facility, hospital, health centre, etc. safely and securely is paramount. This can be aided by the use of trollies specifically designed to house hazardous materials or transport medical equipment like oxygen cylinders. Meanwhile, making the routine
processes in the hospitality industry as easy and swift as possible is of the utmost importance for the well-being of staff. Container trucks and trollies can be used to move heavier items around such as food and beverage deliveries and bed linen. Shelf trollies, meanwhile, can be used to easily move smaller items like cleaning equipment and room supplies.
3. PALLET TRUCKS Pallet trucks or pallet jacks are another important piece of equipment where goods are primarily transported on pallets, such as in warehouses and distribution centres in the logistics industry. They feature two forks to grip onto the pallet and a hydraulic system which means they can be used by hand and with minimal effort, moving large quantities or heavy loads around different areas in a time- efficient way. Electric-assisted pallet trucks can offer an even easier way for workers to move large loads.
4. DRIVABLE TRUCKS
5. ELECTRIC DRIVE-POWERED TUGS If your business often moves heavy-duty loads, electric drive-powered tugs may be a better solution for increasing efficiency. Using electric batteries, these programmable tugs can push, pull and steer wheeled loads around and are useful for moving large items across inclines or declines. Drive-powered tugs allow for easy
movement and require little physical effort from your workforce, which can help increase productivity. Apart from saving the energy and effort of your staff, the reduction of manual handling also has the benefit of reducing the risk of injury. Tugs are a higher value investment, but
they are well worth it for the advantages they bring to your operations.
The right labour- saving and handling equipment is vital to help overcome these delays and staff shortages. Manual handling jobs are made easier and quicker to complete, therefore keeping your business running smoothly.
6. CONVEYOR SYSTEMS If your facility works with large quantities of items, it’s best to use equipment that is designed to simultaneously move items in bulk. Conveyor systems are a good example of this and can be either manual or motor-driven. While both can increase labour efficiency and improve packing and dispatch times, motor-driven belts provide a greater degree of control for when items need to be moved across inclines or declines. Conveyor systems are also customisable, coming in a variety of types according to what they transport and where they need to be installed. Some of these include belt conveyors, gravity roller conveyors, or flexible conveyors for a system that can adjust size as the business’ needs change.
The other main types of industrial trucks used across the UK are motorised or fully drivable. Some are designed solely for the movement of materials and others both load and stack. For example, if you have a small space with a stacking system, sideloaders are specially designed to easily navigate narrow aisles and store items at height. Stackers are another type of bulk material handling equipment that lift items off the ground and onto shelving. While they do a similar job to forklift trucks, stackers are less expensive to run and are thus a more cost-effective solution for small to medium applications. Before investing, you’ll need to ensure that the truck you choose is appropriate for your space and the type of materials you’re working with – to speed up operations and help to keep fragile items transported and stored safely.
This is not an exhaustive list of handling equipment, however, the types featured here are some of the most used and important for warehouse operations regardless of what industry you work in. It’s never been more important to help
your workforce maximise their time and energy by introducing labour-saving equipment that assists with handling and mobility. It’s also important to stress that there are many more benefits aside improving productivity. Implementing the right equipment can help staff feel safer and more able to complete their tasks, leaving them happier and your facility to run like a well-oiled machine.
Slingsby
www.irish-manufacturing.com
www.slingsby.com Irish Manufacturing December/January 2023 19
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