Material handling equipment (MHE) is a broad category encompassing different types of mechanical equipment used to handle, store, control, and protect material throughout the processes in its life cycle from production and distribution processes to consumption and disposal processes.
There are several different categories of equipment underneath the MHE umbrella. Transport equipment is used to move the material while positioning equipment is used to place and position material for processes. Additionally, unit load formation equipment is used to pack, load, and prepare material for transport or other processes, and storing equipment is used to keep material until it’s ready for
Types of Material Handling Equipment
Transport Equipment
Transport equipment like trucks, conveyors, or cranes is used to move material from one site to another. One of the most common types of transport equipment used in material handling is conveyors. Conveyors come in handy when a significant volume of materials needs to be regularly transferred within a location because they are capable of continuously handling high amounts of material with little error. There are several different kinds of conveyors and conveyor systems, such as in-floor, on-floor, and overhead. Sorting conveyors can even identify and separate products to specific destinations. Positioning Equipment
In contrast with transportation equipment, positioning equipment doesn’t move the material to a new location. Instead, this category of equipment manipulates material in a single spot to feed, orient, load/unload, or otherwise move materials into the proper position for future handling, machining, transport, or storage.
Tilt/turntables, hoists, balancers, manipulators, and industrial robots are examples of positioning equipment, and can often be used to improve employee health by reducing un-ergonomic repetitive movements or heavy straining.
Unit Load Equipment
Unit load equipment like pallets, baskets, crates, bags, cartons, or plastic trays is used to protect and manage loose material as it makes its way through processes. The type of Unit Load Equipment used depends on the type of material as well as cost and how well it integrates with the equipment used in other material processes.
Storage Equipment
Storage equipment, like containers and boxes, keeps material intact and unaffected until it is needed. Storage equipment can be used at any stage of material processes, from holding completely processed material before distribution to holding unprocessed material before the process begins.
Choosing the Right Fit
At Tuffman, we offer a variety of high-quality Material Handling Equipment to fit any need you have in your material processes. Tuffman experts are available to help you determine the best material handling equipment for your organization. Contact us for a personalized quote today!
