Guide to Material Handling Equipment News and Trends

Find out what the newest material handling equipment can do for your business

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read articles and white papers on material handling equipment news and trends

Many industrial material handling equipment manufacturers offer their vision of the industry through white papers and special articles posted on their websites. In other instances, you can find this particular facet of industry discussed on general manufacturing websites.

I recommend: Remstar has a unique series of articles on its website. “Doctor Warehouse” discusses ways to use material handling machines to “cure” problems in warehouses and factories. On a more serious note, BNET offers a number of articles that discus material handling equipment news and trends.

Sign up for newsletters and online magazines that cover material handling

Many sellers of material handlers at least offer a free email newsletter, but some publications are quite sophisticated. All of them offer insight into news within the material handling industry. Take time to read the ads in these periodicals as well. Newsletters and online magazines are a great way to find used material handling equipment for your business, as well as tips on what's new.

I recommend: Dematic has a newsletter you can read about materials handling equipment to get ideas on improving the efficiency of your operations. Material Handling Management is a free online newsletter that features manufacturing material handling.

Read material handling blogs

From personal insight regarding operations to information about the latest news inside the boardroom, you can find all sorts of information on material handling blogs.

I recommend: SJF Material Handling, a leading material handling equipment provider, offers a blog about news and trends in material handling systems. Modern Materials Handling provides three unique blogs, each dealing with different aspects of industrial material handling equipment. Company Briefings shares information from leading material handling equipment manufacturers. On Your Worst Behavior looks at the human side of material handling. Takeaways is an open blog where readers share ideas and tips to make material handling easier.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  No matter how great any innovation in material handling equipment is, it's not worth your time if it doesn't incorporate safety for the operator. Always follow the latest news and trends about safe handling of material, in addition to news on the equipment itself.

Guide to Material Handling Equipment

Proper material handling equipment helps keep warehoused products safe

By Stephanie Fagnani, Freelance Writer/Editor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the right material handling system for your business

A material handling system may include pallet racks, which come in many configurations and weight classes and can be configured to meet your exact business needs. The weight of the product and the amount of time it may sit in the warehouse all factor into how sturdy the pallet rack needs to be.

I recommend: GlobalIndustrial.com offers a multitude of material handling system components, including pallet rack systems that can accommodate varying degrees of weight. Handling Innovations deals exclusively in plastic pallets, while Coastal Pallet Corp. custom builds wood pallets for its customers. 

Make sure your warehouse equipment list includes lifting devices

Some form of lifting device, such as a forklift or vertical conveyor, is a necessary piece of warehouse equipment as it allows complete pallets to be easily transferred throughout the warehouse and stacked floor to ceiling if necessary.

I recommend: Register for free at GlobalSpec.com and gain access to its searchable database of 464 companies specializing in the sale of warehouse equipment, such as forklifts. For a more modular vertical transportation option, check out the spiral conveyors at Apollo VTS, which are available in a variety of colors.  

Invest in strong industrial shelving

Because the warehouse setting is much more rugged than the retail environment, you need industrial shelving that is of a higher caliber than standard consumer-strength shelves.

I recommend: Mecalux offers a wide variety of warehouse ready, industrial shelving, including drive-in racking, mobile pallet racking and a push-back system. Other vendors specializing in heavy metal industrial shelving include Material Handling Exchange and Yankee Supply. For a variety of options, take a look at Business.com's directory pages on storage racks, steel shelving and wire shelving.  

Save money by leasing material handling equipment

Leasing used warehouse equipment can provide business owners with an additional source of credit while allowing them to conserve capital and expand their budget.

I recommend: Learn the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding equipment leasing, and specifically forklift leasing, from Ervin Leasing and Liberty Lease, respectively. A selection of additional used material handling equipment, including rolling ladders, is available at RackExpress.  

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchasing the right material handling equipment for your warehouse is integral to tracking inventory and shipping and receiving goods.
• •  Industrial shelving doesn't need to look pretty or even be new to do its job. Sturdiness is the main criteria required to keep products safe in the warehouse.
• •  Treat the investment in warehouse equipment like you would any other investment and shop around for the best price. Consider leasing to save money.

Guide to Making the Most of Material Handling Equipment

Making the most of material handling machines means more money for your bottom line

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn as much as you can about material handling equipment

By studying material handling, you can discover ways to make your operation more efficient. You can find ways of incorporating used equipment with new pieces to make the handling process operates seamlessly. You can also make sure you purchase the right piece of equipment for the job.

I recommend: Automation Technologies International has a checklist to follow when considering used material handling equipment. Russell Equipment Company offers a complete listing of the different types of forklifts used as material handlers. Remstar has a number of tools and downloads on its site to help you make your material handling process run smoother.

Use consulting services for making the most of material handling equipment

Let expert consultants offer guidance in setting up your material handling systems. They may be able to help you find specialty or used material handling equipment, to streamline your material handling process and save you money in the long run.

I recommend: Check with the experts at the material handling equipment provider Rack n More for ways to make your material handling more efficient. SJF Material Handling offers a free warehouse consultation to help you set up your industrial material handling equipment efficiently.

Consider modular materials handling equipment

As your business grows, you can allow your manufacturing material handling facilities to grow as well with modular pieces. Start with the basics, then add to them as the need arises.

I recommend: Use the products of Viastore System to add to your material handlers as your warehouse needs expand. Bastian MaterialHandling has a number of modular handling and storage solutions to help you with inventory control, and help you keep your warehouse organized. Each piece is either on wheels or can be moved with a forklift.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you look for ways to be making the most of material handling equipment, also look for ways to make material handling more comfortable and safe for your employees. Make sure you keep any and all safety guards in place. Provide comfort mats under foot. Make sure there are no dangers from materials falling from overhead storage or hooks.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Accumulator conveyor

An accumulator conveyor is a conveyor system that uses a series of buffers to temporarily store parts throughout the conveyor system. The system accumulates these parts to reduce stress on the conveyor system.

I recommend: Concentric offers an overview of the FlexLink vertical accumulator conveyor system.

Bar code reader, bar code scanner

A bar code reader, or scanner, is an electronic device that reads bar codes through a light sensor. This system is used in materials handling to sort and track different materials.

I recommend: TAL Tech provides an overview on how a bar code reader works and what type of computer programs support bar code readers for collecting information.

Cantilever rack

A cantilever rack is a free-standing storage unit. This type of rack features load bearing arms and is used for bulk materials, such as bars, pipes and lumber.

I recommend: D.C. Graves provides information on cantilever racks, including the basic components of the rack, design options and sizing.

Cross-belt sorter

A cross-belt sorter is a system that sorts-using a series of induction motors-materials up to 100 pounds. The cross-belt cars carry materials along belts with varying speeds to multiple dispatching positions.

I recommend: GBI Data and Sorting Systems offers info on the specs and benefits of a cross-belt sorter for materials handling.

Pick-to-light system

A pick-to-light system allows the operator to scan a bar code label on a box. A digital display tells the operator what SKU to pick and the quantity to choose.

I recommend: Innovative Picking Technologies provides an overview of the pick-to- light system and the benefits it offers for material-handling businesses.

Voice recognition

A voice-recognition system uses a standard PDA or pocket PC with voice recognition software installed to offer operators hands-free picking.

I recommend: All Warehouse Management gives an overview of voice-recognition picking and how it can increase productivity for picking operators.