Welcome to our Distribution Centre Management Blog. Our blog will introduce to you the various types of Material Handling Equipments, and how they work.
We hope our blog can help students in learning about Material Handling Equipments.
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ABOUT US
OUR TEAM
Leong Seng Yuen Chen Huixin Tou Liwen Chew Boon Yong Lim Guan Koon
WE ARE A BUNCH OF TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC YEAR THREE STUDENTS. DIPLOMA IN LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT. WE LOVE DISTRIBUTION CENTRE MANAGEMENT THE MOST!!! GRR~...
Objective
Our objective is to help students achieve better understanding of how Material Handling Equipments work and learn more about them. In addition, we want students to learn how the Material Handling Equipments are being applied in the Distribution Centres and Logistics industry.
This entry will introduce to you a special kind of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and how it works.
This MHE would be a 60k Tunner loader. It has a total loading capacity of 60,000 pounds. The Tunner can carry up to six cargo pallets at once and load and unload cargo from all military and commercial cargo aircraft. Other advantages of the new loader include an improved turning radius, higher top speed and mechanized rollers that greatly enhance the loading and unloading process.
Prior to the Tunner, loading and unloading wide-body aircraft required special equipment only capable of raising or lowering cargo two or three pallets at a time. The Tunner Loader, which transports and loads, eliminates this need for an additional piece of equipment.
The Tunner Loader has a roll-on, roll-off capability that makes it easy to be transported to where it is needed. Unlike the previous versions of 40K machines which takes two people or more than three hours to prepare. Upon arrival at any destination, the Tunner is immediately ready to perform its mission.
The loader has a versatile deck that elevates from 39 inches to 18.5 feet and a powered conveyor system to move cargo. With other equipment, several people are required to push pallets into position.
The deck has pitch roll, yaw and a side-to-side adjustment for quick interface with all military and commercial cargo aircraft. It can be driven up to an aircraft, adjust to the correct height and use its conveyer system to unload cargo. When the cargo is unloaded the Tunner Loader can be driven to another aircraft, adjust to its height and use the conveyer system to load it. It provides a seamless transfer of cargo.
We need to understand each and every type of racking system in the warehouse in order for us to know which type of Material Handling Equipment should we get from the warehouse. Each type of racking system may use different type of Material Handling Equipments to move product from the rack to staging area or vice versa. Selective Pallet Racking System Selective Pallet Racking System provides direct access to all pallets on the rack, low equipment and capital costs. It is easy to install and adjust to the suitable height and level. This type of racking system is the most common setup in most warehouses and it is cost-effective.
Advantage:
Racking can be adjusted as many times as the user's preference.
It offers a wide range of options and components.
Retaining the optimum product accessibility while maximising space use in any warehouse configuation.
Type of Material Handling Equipment Suitable for this type of Racking System:
Hand Pallet Truck
Walkie Pallet Truck
Rider Pallet Truck
Stockpicker
Sit-Down Counterbalanced Truck
Reach Stacker etc.
Picture Illustration
Double-Deep Pallet Racking System Double-Deep Pallet Racking stores two pallets deep, or four pallets deep in a double entry rack. This system requires the use of a special reach truck with either dual pantograph or sliding fork attachments.
Advantage:
Products can be protected against fire, fork truck operator error and accidental damage.
Features various frame and beam sections and sizes for light and heavy duty needs.
optional storage accessories are available for awkward and non-standard loads such as Point-Of-Purchase products(e.g. dummy models).
Type of Material Handling Equipment suitable for this type of Racking System:
Reach stackers feature a pantograph reach mechanism, giving you tremendous load handling versatility by combining the maneuverability of a straddle stacker with the flexibility of a counterbalanced stacker
Hand Pallet Truck
Walkie Pallet Truck etc.
Picture Illustration
Drive-In & Drive-Through Pallet Racking System Drive-in and Drive-Through Pallet Racking consists of a continuous block of racking up to 10 metre high, undivided by aisles. Forklift trucks can drive into the centre of the block between any uprights on the front face to pick up pallets. Pallets are supported on the front to back edges by continuous rails cantilevered from the uprights at each pallet level.
Advantage:
High density storage with no special handling equipment required.
Type of Material Handling Equipment suitable for this type of Racking System:
Hand Pallet Truck
Walkie Stacker
Stockpicker
Sit-Down Counterbalanced Truck etc.
Picture Illustration
Narrow Aisle Pallet Racking System
From the title of this Racking system, we know that the aisles for the racking system are very narrow. this racking system is served by forklift machines with the mast or fork head rotating to left or right as required.
Advantage:
This type of racking system makes optimum usage of the floor area and roof height.
High density storage racking system with direct access to all pallets.
Type of Material Handling Equipment suitable for this type of Racking System:
Narrow-Aisle Reach Truck
Very Narrow-Aisle Turret Truck
Picture Illustration
Push Back Pallet Racking System
It is also a high density pallet storage system in which pallets of the same/similar product are stored two, three and four deep on a slight upward incline rack.
Advantage:
It suits products or goods where multiple of pallets of individual pallet lines are stored.
Type of Material Handling Equipment suitable for this type of Racking System:
It uses unique bar pattern to represent various alphanumeric characters. A bar code label is attached to each item in the warehouse for tracking and identification purposes. A bar code system consists of a bar code label, bar code scanner and bar code printer.
ii) Radio Frequency (RF) Tag
Data is stored in the microchip in the RF tag. An antenna will transmit RF signal to read from the tag. The RF tag enters the field of view of the RF magnetic wave. The tag will be activated and will send signal containing the data in the tag to a reader. The antenna will capture the data and the reader will read and decode the data. The decoded data will then be passed to an attached host computer for processing. The use of RF tag is similar to use of bar code system. It is used for tracking and identification of items in the warehouse. However, RF tags can store more data than bar code labels and the reader can read faster than bar code technology. Hence, the cost of implementing RF technology is higher then bar code system.
iii) Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)/Internet Electronic data interchange (EDI) provides standards for inter-corporate transfer of purchase orders, invoices, shipping notices, and other frequently used business documents. Prior to the Internet, EDI required expensive dedicated value added networks (VANs). EDI is critical for implementing JIT manufacturing.
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Types of Storage Equipment
Saturday, January 13, 2007
i) Automated Storage & Retrieval System Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are means to high density; hands free buffering of materials in distribution and manufacturing environments. There are several classes of Automated Storage and Retrieval (AS/RS) that are characterized by weight and size handling characteristics. It can be classified as unit load AS/RS, mini load AS/RS and carousel AS/RS.
Unit Load AS/RS Unit Load AS/RS machines are generally pallet handling systems with capacities that vary much like lift trucks. Unit load AS/RS Systems are often quite tall and sometimes support the building shell that contains them. The density, security and labor / machinery savings they provide, make them a good choice in a variety of applications from cold storage to general warehousing.
Mini Load Mini Load AS/RS - operating on the same principles as the Unit Loads these mini load machines handle smaller and lighter loads. These typically range from metal trays and totes to shipping cartons. Mini loads may be used in traditional stockroom applications but are also well suited as buffers to support manufacturing processes and shipping systems.
Carousel AS/RS Carousel AS/RS, aka, the industrial carousel may be integrated with a specific purpose robotic inserter/extractor for small load buffering. Very often, carousel as/rs is applied in 'lights-out stockroom. This technology finds itself at the heart of systems varying widely in application from the food industry to the manufacturing floor.
ii) Storage Carousel Carousel consists of a set of vertically or horizontally revolving storage baskets or bins. Materials (and the storage medium) move to the operator, "part-to-man," for end-of-aisle picking. Each level of the carousel can rotate independently in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Control ranges from manually activated push buttons to automated computer controlled systems. Provides an alternative to typical "man-to-part" AS/RS, where the S/R machine moves to the part. Similar to a trolley conveyor with storage baskets.
Source of information: http://vistamation.com/ASRS.htm
It is a platform with enough clearance beneath its top surface to enable the insertion of forks for subsequent lifting purposes. The types of material that can be used to make a pallet are wood (the most common), plastic, paper, rubber and metal.
ii) Carton
It is a disposable container used to utilize and protect loose items. It is typically used for distribution process.
iii) Crate
It is a disposable container used to protect discrete items and is typically used in distribution purposes.
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Positioning Equipment
Thursday, January 11, 2007
i) Dock Leveler
It is used at loading dock to compensate for height differences between a truck bed and the dock.
ii) Parts Feeder
It is used for feeding and orienting small identical parts, particularly in assembly operations. Motion of parts in a random pile channeled so that each part automatically assumes a specified orientation, where the symmetries of a part define its possible orientations. Motion can be imparted through vibration, gravity, centrifugal force, tumbling, or air pressure.
iii) Balancer
It is a mechanism used to support and control loads so that operator needs only to guide a balanced load, thus providing precision positioning.
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Types of Transport Equipment
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Types of Conveyors
Conveyor systems are used for moving materials from one point to another; over a fixed path. Hence, there must be a sufficient volume of movement to justify dedicating the equipment to the handling of task. Depending on the types of material handled, a variety of conveyors can be used. Conveyors can be classified in several ways. For example, conveyors can be classified according to the type of material being handled and the location of the conveyors.
(i)Flat Belt Conveyor
It is used for transporting light- and medium weight loads between operations, departments, levels, and buildings. It is especially useful when an incline or decline is included in the conveyor path. Advantages: It provides a considerable control over the orientation and placement of the load. Disadvantages: Friction prevents smooth accumulation, merging, and sorting of the load.
(ii)Slat Conveyor
It can operate horizontal and inclined, and handle heaver or more awkwardly shaped units than belt conveyors.
(iii)Chain Conveyor
It consists of one or more endless chain on which loads are carried directly. Chain conveyors are usually used to transport bulk materials that are not suitable for roller conveyors. They are often used to transport tote boxes and pallets.
Types of Cranes
Cranes are used to move material over variable paths within a restricted area and when there is insufficient flow volume such that the used of a conveyor is not justified. It provides more flexibility in movement than s conveyor but less than an industrial truck. Materials handled are more varied in their shape and weight compare to a conveyor.
(i)Bridge Crane
A bridge is mounted on tracks that are located on opposite walls of the facility so that a wide area can be covered. A bridge crane can provide three-dimensional coverage of a department. The bridge can either be top riding or underhung. A top-riding crane can accommodate heavier loads than an underhung crane.
(ii)Stacker Crane
It is similar to bridge conveyor. Instead of using s hoist, it uses a mast with forks or platform to handle unit loads. It is used for storing and retrieving unit loads in storage racks, especially in high-rise applications in which the height of the racks are above 50 feet high.
Types of Material Handling Equipment
(i)Industrial Trucks
They are used to move materials over variable paths with no restrictions on the area covered. It provide vertical movement if the truck has lifting capabilities. Industrial trucks provide more flexibility in movement than conveyors and cranes.
(ii)Pallet Jack
An operator operates it manually. The operator manually lifts a pallet up and pulls the pallet jack around the warehouse. Stacking of pallets is not allowed when using it.
(iii)Order Picker
It is used during order picking process. It allows the picker to retrieve goods from the racks beyond his reach. It has forks to allow the truck to be used for pallet stacking and to support a pallet during less-than-pallet-loads picking.
(iv)Narrow Aisle Reach Truck
It is used for narrow aisle racking. It requires 8-10 ft width. Load rests on the outrigger an arm during transport, but a pantograph (scissors) mechanism is used for reaching, thereby eliminating the need to straddle the load during stacking. Reaching capability enables the use of shorter outrigger arms (arms > 1/2 load depth) as compared to NA straddle truck (arms = load depth). Counterbalance of the truck used to support the load when it extends beyond the outrigger arms.Below is a link where you can read more about the birth of NA reach truck. http://www.raymondcorp.com/content/viewArticle.cfm?ArticleID=62
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What is Material Handling Equipment?
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Material Handling Equipment (MHE) means equipment, including its supporting structures, auxiliary equipment and rigging devices, designed to transport, lift, move or position people, materials, goods or things. MHE can be classified into five major heads namely Transport Equipment, Positioning Equipment, Unit Load Formation Equipment, Storage Equipment and Identification and Control Equipment.
Transport Equipment: It is equipment used to move material from one location to another location. An example is moving items from a loading bay to a storage area. It is also important to note that materials can be transported manually without using any equipment. Conveyors, cranes and industrial trucks are part of transport equipment.
Positioning Equipment: It is equipment used to manage material at a single location so that it is in the correct position for the purpose of machining, storing, or transport. Material can be positioned without any equipment. Dock leveler; Parts Feeder and Balancer are examples of positioning equipment.
Unit Load Formation Equipment: It is equipment used to restrict materials so that they maintain their integrity when handled a single load during transport and for storage. If material is self-restraining (eg a single part or interlocking part), them they can be formed into an unit load without equipment. Pallets, Cartons and Crates are examples of Unit Load Formation Equipment.
Storage Equipment: It is equipment used to hold materials over a period of time. If materials are stacked directly on the floor, then no storage equipment needed. It includes S/R machines of an AS/RS, storage carousels etc.
Identification and Control Equipment: It is equipment 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. Bar code, Radio Frequency (RF) tag and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)/Internet are examples of Identification and Control Equipment.
The video below will show the drivers using forklift to move goods around the warehouse.
Hi Guys! Welcome to Distribution Centre Management Blog! In this blog, you will get to learn and find interesting stuffs regarding Material Handing Equipment(MHE)that you wouldn't know.
Our DCM project group members are Leong Seng Yuen aka Terry, Lim Guan Koon aka GK, Chen Huixin aka Xin, Chew Boon Yong aka Drool and last but not least, Tou Li Wen.
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