Materials handling equipment is the mechanical means by whichproducts are moved under the guidance of an operator.
The types of Materials Handling equipment can include:
Forklift – The narrower the aisle the more likely damage is to occur to the uprights. Forklifts with narrower aisle access, find it difficult to line pallets up and as such tend to hit the inside lengths of the uprights
Double deep pantograph – Asper counter balanced forklifts restrictions. Additionally increased risk of damage to beam levels from “pushing” pallets onto levels. Most reach trucks are to wide for drive-in racking and are seldom used.
Order Picker – Additional care needs to be taken where order pickers are not working in dedicated wire or metal guided rails. Care should be taken to ensure that the floor levels are level.
Walkie Stacker – Manual or automatic pallet trucks with masts designed to lift pallets in small storerooms or warehouses where a forklift would be too large or inconvenient. Lower SWL lifting capacity than counter balanced forklifts.
Turret forklift truck – Turret trucks are known as very narrow aisle (VNA) lifts. They have a counterbalanced design with a rotating, articulating base. Turret trucks and VNA scan fully rotate 180 degrees and maneuver within tight aisle space. Similar to operating a regular warehouse forklift, but special attention should be paid to overhead hazards, since the equipment is used in extremely narrow aisles.
Pallet jack – A pallet jack, is a manual or electric tool used to lift and move pallets. Pallet jacks are the most basic form of a forklift and are intended to move pallets within a warehouse.
Automatic storage retrieval system AS/RS
– Are a computer-controlled systems that put away, store and retrieve product in warehouses, distribution centres and manufacturing facilities. Interaction with these units is minimal and restrictions are usually in place.
WAV Machine – Allows one (1)person to access stock at height, with a potential reach of up to 5-metres. Able to maneuver through tight aisles and doorways that larger MHE are unable to access.
