Tales abound of construction workers who have been seriously injured by falling materials. The same is true of companies that have parted with hefty fines owing to the environmental effect of their materials on the construction area. You would not want your company to become a part of these grim statistics and paint you in poor light among would-be clients. Safe material handling and disposal are the primary elements that will guarantee profits in your business and paint you as an eco-conscious company.
A transparent recycling bin for some contractors seems like all they need for optimal material handling and disposal. Material handling equipment is, however, categorized as small and large equipment. Small equipment includes cartons, dollies, and storage bins, while large equipment encompasses lifts, trucks, and storage bins. Here are tidbits on the categories of material handling equipment.
Transportation
This includes all equipment used to move materials from one spot to the next. The machines can move your materials from one facility to the next or simply from the docking platforms to storage areas. Industrial trucks, cranes, conveyors, haulers, lifts, and belts are common types of transportation machinery. Cranes, for instance, are used for moving materials within restricted zones while conveyor belts move them along one path. Trucks, on the other hand, are among the most versatile machines and can move materials virtually anywhere.
Positioning
This equipment ensures your materials are passed off safely. This means the optimal stacking, pivoting, and turning off your materials. Positioning equipment in construction encompasses both storage and transportation equipment. It not only minimizes worker fatigue but also ensures the seamless movement and storage of materials that are too bulky to be handled manually. The standard positioning equipment used for heavy materials includes cranes, lifts, and conveyors.
Storage
Storage equipment will allow the sitting of materials in a container, construction site, or facility up until you need them. Bins, frames, shelves, and tracks are some of the common storage equipment. Push-back, sliding, pallet, and cantilever racks are the common types of storage equipment in most heavy-duty tasks. They are also meant to control the use of materials since they allow you to inventory what you need easily, and pick want needs to be used first. In large storage facilities, control equipment like magnetic strips, radiofrequency tags, and bar codes are used. These promote optimal supply chain management and minimize the risks of pilferage.
Unit Loads
These are meant to stabilize or hold your other equipment or materials to avert their movement during storage or transportation. This not only boosts the safety of your construction site but also minimizes the risk of damage to your materials and equipment. The common unit load equipment used for bulky materials includes pallets, lockers, palletizers, and intermodal and bulk load containers.
The above equipment will make all the difference between a profitable venture and one riddled with considerable losses. They are, thus, something worth considering for all construction companies focused on profits. While several suppliers now exist for material handling equipment, settling for the cheapest or nearest is not necessarily a failsafe choice. You should settle for one who guarantees the highest quality levels for their products.
