Many businesses stock large amounts of inventory or materials on site. These products or raw materials need to be stored safely and securely. Plus, materials need to be moved without causing injury.
There are somewhere in the region of 2.6 million non-fatal injuries at work every year. Overexertion is one of the most frequent work injuries. Reaching for objects, or straining when lifting can result in back and muscle strains.
When the proper equipment is in place, workplace injuries will be minimized. And material handling products are essential for smooth business operations in other areas too.
What are business material handling products?
Business material handling equipment and products refers to the tools used to store or move goods around a site. Commonly used material handling products include pallet jacks and forklifts. For storage, racks, and shelving are used. And safety equipment such as guardrails may come under material handling equipment also.
The inventory at Material Flow shows a wide range of material-handling products that help improve productivity and safety. Indeed, safety is an important aspect of material handling in warehouses and industrial areas.
But, material handling products also help with inventory management and efficient use of storage space.
What are the benefits of material handling products?
There is a large variety of material handling equipment available on the market. The different forms that material handling products takes, suit various industries and sizes of warehouses. Some of the equipment available can be customized to fit specific needs. And there are products designed for small and heavy loads.
Material handling products are beneficial to any business that carries stock and is involved in distribution or supply. Typically, factories, warehouses, and distribution centers would benefit from this type of equipment.
If you think of the size of Amazon’s fulfillment centers, then you may understand just how important material-handling equipment is. Inventory needs to be accounted for, and goods must be moved around these facilities quickly and efficiently.
But, businesses much smaller than Amazon can gain from investing in essential material handling products.
Here are four of the main benefits that business material handling products bring.
Cost savings
Investment in material handling equipment will lead to cost savings later. Material handling products are cost-effective in more than one way. Quality handling equipment reduces the need for manual labor and thus lowers costs.
By optimizing space with efficient shelving and racking, the need for additional storage will be reduced. Current warehouse space can be used far more efficiently with material handling products.
Control over inventory and stock
With efficient storage solutions, inventory can be managed and controlled. The benefits of stock inventory management include accurate stock levels and automated tracking. Reduced inventory errors will help avoid over or understocking materials.
Efficient inventory control will improve order fulfillment leading to better customer relationships, and repeat orders.
Increased productivity
When the correct material handling products are used, operations can be streamlined. Material handling products assist with transportation within facilities such as warehouses. The proper handling equipment will reduce demand for manual labor and also save time.
Carrying and lifting materials manually is time-consuming, and can lead to injury. Handling equipment is developed with safety in mind and efficiency.
Improved safety
Material handling products used for moving and lifting are designed with safety features. These features help to avoid the most common workplace injuries and accidents. Falling objects, lifting heavy materials, and overexertion, are some of the most common injuries facing workers.
Around 11 days per every US worker are lost each year due to workplace injuries. These include sprains and musculoskeletal injuries. Back problems are very common, and these can be avoided by using the proper handling equipment.
Conveyors and dollies help to safely move heavy objects with minimal manual labor needed.
Essential business material handling products
A quick check of one material handling equipment supplier’s website reveals at least fifty different types of products. And many of these have several subsections.
Personal protective equipment for instance is an important part of material handling. Hi-vis jackets and hard hats may be needed in some work environments. Warehouse storage may involve mezzanines and platform carts also.
However, due to limited space, only the most common areas of material handling products are discussed here
1 Conveyors
Normally used in assembly lines, conveyor belts help to transport goods from warehouses to another location. These systems can operate via gravity or be powered. Conveyor belts help improve efficiency and provide a constant flow of materials.
2 Pallet jacks
Hand-operated pallet jacks are very common in warehouses. Battery-powered jacks are also available for ease of use. But, both types provide an effective method of lifting goods that are housed on pallets. Pallet jacks speed up offloading of deliveries and loading for distribution.
3 Racking and shelves
Pallets are ideal for delivering large loads or heavier items. But, smaller products require shelving and racking. Heavy-duty storage racks can make efficient use of warehouse space. Forklift work platforms can be used to reach high shelves safely allowing vertical space to be optimized.
4 Forklifts
Pallet trucks are highly effective at moving loads around industrial facilities, but forklifts are faster. These versatile machines enable faster movement of heavy materials and pallets.
5 Packaging and shipping
Ultimately, the materials held in a warehouse or storage facility will be shipped somewhere else. Packaging materials are an important part of business material handling. Strapping equipment helps to secure loads, and bubble wrap protects fragile items.
The growth in ecommerce has led to a boom in parcel shipping. Around 159 billion parcels were shipped in 2021. The immense amount of deliveries around the world demands quality material handling equipment today.
6 Drum handling equipment
Drums need specialized equipment to move and store them safely. With drums, there is the risk of spillage, and they may contain hazardous materials. Such equipment as drum dollies helps transport these storage containers easily.
7 Carts and trolleys
Wagon carts can be used for heavier loads, but basic trolleys and carts are very useful for moving small goods in a workspace. Distribution centers are one area where trolleys and carts are useful.
8 Lift tables
Awkward shapes and heavy weights make lifting difficult. Lift tables are used to raise loads to a desired height. This reduces strain on employees’ backs and reduces the chance of injury. Lift tables are often used alongside assembly lines.
9 Accessories
Many of the products associated with material handling can be configured to certain needs. There are several attachments available for forklifts including work platforms as mentioned previously. Pallets are needed for transportation and lifting. And bins are used for storage.
Summary
The benefits are clear for any business that has to handle large amounts of materials and goods. Any business that takes delivery of products will need to move and store these materials. And safety will be a priority.
Instead of relying on manual labor and time-intensive work, material handling equipment provides a fast and efficient solution. Operations can be streamlined and costs cut. Plus, inventories will be easier to manage.
With investment in handling and storage equipment, your workers’ roles will become easier, and they will be more productive. This can result in improved order fulfillment and increased customer retention.
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