Portable barcode scanners are a type of material handling equipment.
Material handling equipment includes all the machines and devices used to move goods in a factory or warehouse. This term can also include the equipment necessary to transport these goods from the warehouse to the final consumer. Material handling equipment selection can be critical to the success of a manufacturer or industry. Depending on the application, this equipment can affect everything from productivity to profit margins. In general, the different types of material handling equipment are divided into categories based on the role they play in the manufacturing process.
Forklifts can be used to handle and transport heavy materials.
Transportation-related material handling equipment includes indoor and outdoor machinery. Within the factory, this equipment can refer to a crane, conveyor, hoist, or forklift that is used to move materials. This category of equipment may travel between production areas or from an assembly line to a storage or packing room. Outside the factory, transportation-related equipment often refers to commercial trucks or containers used to move goods to stores and other outlets.
Bulk-forming material handling equipment includes bulk handling containers, such as grain silos.
Positioning equipment refers to devices used to reposition materials and products. This can include automated robots or feeders that precisely orient parts to fit assembly line equipment. Also refers to tilting or transfer tables that raise or lower pallets and assembled merchandise. Finally, positioning equipment can include elevators or hoists used to store materials on shelves in a warehouse.
Material handling equipment for load building includes packaging machinery used to prepare goods for shipment. This includes pallets and skids used to stack products, as well as boxes and crates. It can also refer to shrink packaging machines or other packaging materials. This category of material handling equipment also covers bulk handling containers, which hold products such as grain, liquids, or oil.
Storage and retrieval equipment refers to all racks or racks that are used to store products after production. This includes warehouse shelving or shelving systems, as well as boxes and cabinets used for smaller merchandise. It can also refer to silos or drums used to store liquids and other bulk items prior to shipment. Products that are stored directly on pallets or on the ground do not include any type of storage equipment in most cases.
Some definitions of material handling equipment also include systems used to track these products as they move through the manufacturing and distribution process. Inventory control software programs fall into this category, as do the labels or barcodes used to identify containers. Finally, portable barcode or magnetic stripe readers also belong to this category of equipment.