CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM 1: HOW MUCH DOES THE LOAD WEIGH?

Transporting heavy objects in manufacturing or other industrial environments is not a task to be underestimated. As a manufacturer, you may need to move high-tonnage products from one point to another on the assembly line or find a way to transport completed equipment. Choosing the right material handling solution is vital for cost control, increasing production efficiency, and safeguarding workers against unnecessary safety hazards.

Many industrial operations tend to revert to the same options, whether they are suitable for the process or not. For instance, forklifts and cranes can be excellent choices for transporting very heavy objects under specific conditions. However, they can also introduce unnecessary safety risks and increase operating costs and delays.

However, the diversity of alternatives available to manufacturers can be perplexing. From rail systems, battery-powered transfer carts, wheel-based vehicles like forklifts or tuggers, conveyors, overhead cranes, to air cushion systems, numerous different options exist. How can you determine the most suitable option for your business when faced with such diversity?

Answering this question entails a multi-step process. This article marks the first step in a series where we will address each of the seven questions that need evaluation when selecting the right material handling solution.

Customized Solutions

When selecting the right material handling system, the first and most fundamental question is: How much does the load weigh?

By asking this initial question, we can promptly eliminate any material handling system that is clearly unsuitable for the weight class of the load. For example, it's evident that relying solely on human power to lift or move several tons of weight is not feasible. Even traditional material handling solutions like forklifts become impractical as the weight increases.

However, this question is more complex than it might seem at first glance. It's not just a matter of whether the material handling system can physically handle a specific weight. Operators must also determine if that system is ideally suited for a given weight or weight range.

Transfer Carts and Rail Systems

At this point, rail systems, piggyback or transfer carts provide a good example. These options can cover a wide range of weights, particularly ideal for loads ranging from 5 to 250 tons. Using them for lighter loads would be cost-ineffective, and their efficiency diminishes as the load gets heavier, making them unsuitable for extremely heavy loads.

Air Cushion Carriers

Air cushion systems stand out due to their versatility in handling various load weights.

Air cushions perform well when transporting lighter loads (i.e., those weighing less than 5,000 pounds) that can be pushed by a single operator. Moreover, their cost and complexity do not significantly increase with the size of the load. This sets them apart from material handling systems like larger cranes, where costs escalate substantially with increasing load weight.

For a detailed examination and assessment of each material handling solution's compatibility with various weight classes, please get in touch with us. Our expert team thoroughly evaluates the suitability of each material handling system for different weight categories. Additionally, we discuss all seven questions that organizations must consider to identify the most suitable material handling system for their specific needs.

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