INTRODUCTION Handling materials is a key part of the manufacturing process of everything from bread to rocket ships. Materials handling relates to the movement, protection, storage and control of raw materials, products and goods. This applies during preparation, cleaning, assembling and consumption, as well as during refuse operations of spent materials. Examples of equipment used in this aspect of making things include storage, engineering and transport. Involved in transport are conveyors, on-rails transfer carts, cantilevered crane loading platforms and the ubiquitous forklift.
STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT This topic generally refers to non-automated apparatus and includes things like pallets, racking, shelving, carts, cages, etc. Interestingly, these items are collectively referred to as catalog items because they have universally accepted standards and are sold as stock materials out of catalogs. For example, pallets are a widely used commodity with basically the same size and shape all over the world.
PALLETIZATION The interesting thing is that nearly any type of product you could mention is palletized at some point in its history. This applies to bread, casks of beer, wide-screen television sets and toilet paper. The type of pallet that most people think of is made of wood, although steel and other materials have their applications.
ENGINEERED SYSTEMS These are exactly the opposite of catalog systems, in that they have to be designed and engineered to a particular specification depending on the characteristics of the material to be handled. This includes robots, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and conveyors. When designing this type of apparatus, the designer has to bear in mind whether it is ultimately to come into contact with products that are going to be ingested by humans. This includes things like food, drink and medications, whether taken internally or applied topically. Care must be taken to ensure that nothing that goes into the final product becomes contaminated.
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS These include tow tractors, stock chasers and the ubiquitous forklift, or powered industrial truck. Under the heading of forklifts are dozens of different types of machines, depending on how they are powered, where they are used, what type of tires they are fitted with, etc. All industrial trucks may be fitted with special attachments that makes them infinitely versatile.
ON-RAILS TRANSFER CARTS These are used to transport bulk materials in heavy industries. They are widely employed in the fields of coal mining, heavy manufacturing and metallurgy. They are able to handle weights in the region of one ton or heavier.
SAFETY Safety is everything in manufacturing. One of the blackest areas in manufacturing in terms of safety is the forklift. Hundreds of lives are needlessly lost each year and tens of thousands of injuries are suffered in accidents that could mostly be eradicated by proper training. OSHA comes down hard on employers who allow untrained and uncertified forklift operators to work in their premises.
STORAGE AND HANDLING EQUIPMENT This topic generally refers to non-automated apparatus and includes things like pallets, racking, shelving, carts, cages, etc. Interestingly, these items are collectively referred to as catalog items because they have universally accepted standards and are sold as stock materials out of catalogs. For example, pallets are a widely used commodity with basically the same size and shape all over the world.
PALLETIZATION The interesting thing is that nearly any type of product you could mention is palletized at some point in its history. This applies to bread, casks of beer, wide-screen television sets and toilet paper. The type of pallet that most people think of is made of wood, although steel and other materials have their applications.
ENGINEERED SYSTEMS These are exactly the opposite of catalog systems, in that they have to be designed and engineered to a particular specification depending on the characteristics of the material to be handled. This includes robots, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and conveyors. When designing this type of apparatus, the designer has to bear in mind whether it is ultimately to come into contact with products that are going to be ingested by humans. This includes things like food, drink and medications, whether taken internally or applied topically. Care must be taken to ensure that nothing that goes into the final product becomes contaminated.
INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS These include tow tractors, stock chasers and the ubiquitous forklift, or powered industrial truck. Under the heading of forklifts are dozens of different types of machines, depending on how they are powered, where they are used, what type of tires they are fitted with, etc. All industrial trucks may be fitted with special attachments that makes them infinitely versatile.
ON-RAILS TRANSFER CARTS These are used to transport bulk materials in heavy industries. They are widely employed in the fields of coal mining, heavy manufacturing and metallurgy. They are able to handle weights in the region of one ton or heavier.
SAFETY Safety is everything in manufacturing. One of the blackest areas in manufacturing in terms of safety is the forklift. Hundreds of lives are needlessly lost each year and tens of thousands of injuries are suffered in accidents that could mostly be eradicated by proper training. OSHA comes down hard on employers who allow untrained and uncertified forklift operators to work in their premises.
About the Author:
Genevive B. Mata has taught plastics molding techniques for over 15 years. He specializes in injection molding and thermoforming. If you are interested in learning more about custom plastic pallets then he recommends you visit his friends at PTM: Custom Plastics Injection Molding Company.
0 komentar:
Post a Comment