Know More About the Different Categories of Material Handling Equipment

Material Handling equipment (MHE) includes the entire range of equipment used for the storage of material within a factory or at a site. MHE can be classified into 5 main categories which are:

Transport equipment – the equipment that is used to move material from one location to another. E.g. conveyors, cranes and industrial trucks.
Positioning Equipment – the equipment that is used to handle material in a single location for the purpose of machining, transport or storage.
Unit Load Formation Equipment – is the equipment used to restrict materials so that they maintain their integrity when handled. If material are self-restraining (e.g. a single part or interlocking parts), then they can be formed into a unit load with no equipment.
Storage Equipment – used for holding or buffing materials over a period of time. E.g. S/R machines of an AS/RS, storage carousels etc.
Identification and Control Equipment – these are used to collect and communicate the information to be used for coordinating the flow or materials within a facility and between the facility and the suppliers and customers.