Month: August 2021

Categories
Conveyor Systems

What Are The Different Types Of Warehouse Lift Equipment?

Industrial Work Lift

Warehouse Lift Equipment

Lifts are useful for quickly moving heavy items and even people from point A to point B. They are common in construction sites and material handling facilities such as warehouses, factories, and storage depots. Lift systems make it much easier to hoist and haul heavy cargo and also help create a safe workplace environment for the staff involved, especially those handling hazardous or delicate materials.

Industrial lifts have been around for decades. Thanks to advancements in hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical technologies, lifts have evolved over the years into various distinct designs and models. In this guide, we’ll discuss four main types of lifts, highlighting the distinguishing features and ideal applications for each type.

Visit our products page if you’d like to learn more about specialized lift equipment and tools.

Let’s get started on the different types of lifts and their uses:

Boom lifts

Boom lifts are some of the most common and versatile types of lifts available today. They have a pretty basic design and working principle. An arm (known as the boom) sits on a turntable mounted on a motorized vehicle or ground anchor. A bucket, cage, or lifting platform is attached to the other end of the boom. The arm can stretch out vertically and swivel on the turntable to raise, lower, and rotate the bucket into position.

Boom lifts are typically used outdoors or in large warehouses, mostly to hoist workers repairing, painting, or cleaning hard-to-reach places. Farmers also use them to pick fruit from trees.

There are two types of boom lifts:

  • Telescopic boom lifts (with straight boom)
  • Articulating (knuckle) boom lift (with jointed boom)

Scissor lifts

A scissor lift features a more compact design compared to a boom lift. Instead of an arm, scissor lifts have a cross-brace mechanism that moves up and down between the base and the platform. Depending on its application, the lift can sit on either a movable vehicle or a solid base. The lifting platform can be a flat scissor lift table or a caged bucket that accommodates one or two people.

This type of lift is generally used in applications that only need up and down movements, such as accessing high shelves in warehouses and any task requiring an elevated work platform.

Scissor lifts come in a wide range of specs and builds for various applications. However, the design largely stays the same. The only distinction between the different types of lifts is the power source, which can be:

  • Hydraulics
  • Pneumatic
  • Diesel
  • Electric

Freight lifts/vertical conveyors

Freight lifts or vertical conveyors are used to move cargo from one elevation point to another in a storage or processing facility. They often lie between two horizontal conveyor systems separated by a height. In most cases, vertical conveyors link different sections of industrial supply chains or floors in a multistory building. But unlike service elevators, these types of lifts are not rated for human cargo. Unlike passenger elevators, freight lifts abide by a national safety code described in the ANSI/ASME B20.1 (Safety Standards for Conveyors).

Freight lifts fall into different categories depending on their build structure and design. Below is a list of the main types of vertical conveyors. Note that there are several iterations of the same designs, which further split these into even finer subcategories.

  • Vertical reciprocating conveyors
  • Continuous vertical conveyors
  • Spiral conveyors
  • Vertical screw conveyors
  • Scissor lift conveyors

Aerial lifts

An aerial lift is any vehicle-mounted elevation platform used to temporarily hoist personnel or cargo to otherwise inaccessible heights. Basically, it is any mechanical work platform that replaces ladders, scaffolding, and harnesses in a job site, be it construction, building maintenance, or warehouse stacking. This type of lift includes:

  • Boom lifts
  • Scissor lifts
  • Bucket trucks
  • Cherry pickers
  • Personnel lifts (mechanical ladders)

Wrapping up

Industrial lifts come in all different sizes, specs, shapes, and designs. Although most lifts are built to be as versatile as possible, each type suits a particular application, industry, or use case. Understand your elevation requirements in order to determine the most suitable type of lift for your needs.If you’re still stuck on choosing the best type of lift for your business, Handling Solutions Inc. is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out via our website or call 704-554-7117 for more information about lift equipment.

Categories
Conveyor Belts Conveyor Systems

Types Of Bulk Material Handling Equipment

What Is Bulk Material?

Bulk materials play a central role in process manufacturing. Regardless of what you’re making, all products start out as unrefined bulk materials. From granules and powders to flakes and pellets, from minerals and ores to gravel and sand, a wide variety of materials are supplied and delivered in their bulk form, ready for manufacturing. Bulk materials are sourced from multiple suppliers around the world on a regular basis, and different materials have vastly different handling and processing needs.

According to Future Market Insights, revenue from the bulk material handling system market is expected to reach US$5.1 billion in 2021, thanks in part to growth in housing and infrastructure development. 

Bulk materials are used by countless industry sectors, from food and beverage producers to manufacturing, textiles, and agricultural operations. Let’s take a detailed look at bulk material handling, from unloading and transporting materials to solutions and equipment options. 

What is bulk material handling?

Bulk material handling is central to many industrial and commercial applications. This field is mostly concerned with engineering, particularly the design and operation of mechanical equipment for the handling and processing of bulk materials. In practice, bulk material handling can involve screw conveyors, bucket conveyors, hoists, bulk bag frames, and other handling systems. 

Unloading and transporting bulk materials

Unloading bulk materials is a big job that requires specialized handling systems. The equipment used depends on the nature of the materials, with examples including conveyors, hoists, and cranes. Some handling systems are used for loading and unloading materials, and others are used to transport materials from A to B. When managing bulk materials on-site, it’s important to address material quantity, density, form, packaging, and flow characteristics, among other considerations.

The characteristics of each product dictate how you should handle it, from the timing of the delivery to the storage and loading requirements. Processing plants typically store their materials in bulk before transporting and unloading them at various stages of their processing. Mechanical bulk material handling equipment is needed to discharge material from bulk bags – this process is called bulk bag unloading.

Space restrictions and storage needs also have to be addressed by plant managers, not just for the bulk materials themselves but also for the bulk bag frames and unloading equipment. Custom unloading, transporting, and storage options are often needed to meet operational needs. For example, some applications require a hoist to enable vertical movements above the bulk bag system framework. It’s important to install a system that fits in your space and gives you free access to your production line and unloading area.

Solutions for bulk material handling

When you’re dealing with bulk materials, it’s essential to have a proficient handling system. Handling Solutions leads from the front, with our team working with you to create the perfect operating environment. We have more than 50 years in operation, so you can rely on proven solutions that meet the demands of your production line and industry sector. We can improve efficiency throughout your space and streamline every aspect of material handling and movement. 

At Handling Solutions, we have a huge range of equipment options to satisfy your operational needs, including conveyor systems, bucket elevators, cranes, hoists, workstations, and storage solutions. From conception to completion, our solutions are designed to meet your handling needs. We understand that no plant is identical, and we know how to create innovative solutions that make the best possible use of your space.Bulk materials play a vital role in numerous industry sectors. In order to receive, unload, transport, store, and manage bulk materials effectively, you need to have the right infrastructure in place. If you would like to learn more about our products or request a quote, please contact our team today.

Categories
Overhead Cranes

Types Of Industrial Cranes | Material Handling Equipment

Types of Cranes

Overhead cranes play a vital role in many industry sectors, including manufacturing, warehousing, and construction. If you need to lift and move heavy equipment at a plant or industrial facility, cranes provide a safe and effective solution. When you have the right crane for the job at hand, you can extend your reach and expand your operational capabilities. Not all cranes are created equal, however, with differences in size, capacity, and ergonomics influencing the range of potential applications.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, about 100 employees are killed and almost 95,000 are injured every year while operating forklifts in all industries. Cranes are a viable material handling alternative to forklifts in many situations.

When choosing a crane for your business, it’s important to select a model that’s right for the project and the environment. If a crane has worked well in a similar building, it doesn’t mean it’s the best crane for your facility or application. When you get the right crane, you are likely to operate more efficiently and streamline all aspects of your workflow. Let’s take a look at common types of overhead cranes and hoists so you can get the perfect model for your needs.

Types of overhead cranes

Overhead cranes are a specialized type of crane found in many industrial environments. Two of the most common configurations are jib cranes and bridge cranes. Other examples include gantry cranes, monorail cranes, and workstation cranes. Regardless of the name, all overhead cranes have a parallel runway configuration with a traveling bridge that spans the gap.

Jib cranes

A jib crane is a common type of crane where a horizontal member supports a moveable hoist. This member is fixed to the wall or floor, with the jib either fixed or providing lateral movement depending on the application. Jib cranes are used in many manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, and distribution centers. They are also seen on some military vehicles. Air and electric chain hoists feature a similar construction to jib cranes. However, hoists are normally a special construction fitted to the top floor of a building to enable the movement of goods between floors.

Jib cranes are named after the jib or jib arm, which is a horizontal or near-horizontal beam that supports the load clear of the main support. In most configurations, jib arms are attached to a vertical mast or tower. In other configurations, they may be attached to an inclined boom. When a crane design does not include a jib arm, and the load is hung directly from a boom, it is often still referred to as a jib.

Bridge cranes

A bridge crane is the common name used to describe all overhead cranes. It also refers to a particular configuration that features an elevated runway system that runs the length of the building. Bridge cranes include both single and double girder bridge arrangements, and both types enable three dimensions of movement.

The bridge part of a crane is the only section that is ever in motion. It supports the lifting device and facilitates load movement. Bridge cranes are similar to monorail cranes, with the former designed to work with rectangular work areas and the latter designed to cover work areas of various shapes. Monorail cranes move along a linear path and can link areas together.

Types of hoists

Hoists are similar to cranes but feature a more simple form of construction. While cranes can move loads in any direction, hoists simply lift and lower materials from one place to another. Hoists are designed to lift loads through chains or ropes, with most modern hoists operated either electrically and pneumatically. Cranes also include a hoist section, which describes the lifting component of a crane that travels along the bridge.

Air and electric chain hoists

There are many types of hoists in operation across industry sectors, some of which are manually operated and others of which are operated electrically or pneumatically. While all hoists use chains, ropes, or fiber to actually lift the load, different technology is used to control the lifting mechanism. Electric chain hoists use a powerful electric motor, and pneumatic hoists use compressed air to eliminate the need for a suitable power supply. While electric hoists are generally more powerful than air hoists, air hoists are typically much lighter and more portable.

Wrapping up

Finding the right crane or hoist for your environment and application requires careful research and consideration. By comparing different products based on weight, height, cost, and speed, it becomes easier to select the perfect equipment for the job at hand. If you would like to learn more about our cranes, please review our lifting equipment or contact Handling Solutions today.

Industrial lifts come in all different sizes, specs, shapes, and designs. Although most lifts are built to be as versatile as possible, each type suits a particular application, industry, or use case. Understand your elevation requirements in order to determine the most suitable type of lift for your needs.If you’re still stuck on choosing the best type of lift for your business, Handling Solutions Inc. is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out by requesting a quote or call 704-554-7117 for more information about lifting equipment.

Categories
Conveyor Belts

Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor | Material Lifts

Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors

When you operate a factory, industrial facility, warehouse, or distribution center, you need a safe and effective way to move goods and materials. For any industrial or commercial building of a certain size, vertical movement is critical. Vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) are a powerful and economical way to raise and lower materials between levels.

According to Global Market Insights, the vertical reciprocating conveyor market is set to hit $700 million by 2027. Growth in the sector is due to the increased adoption of advanced technologies across the board, along with expansion in the healthcare sector.

The primary components of a VRC are the guide columns, the carriage, and the actuating mechanism. This mechanism can be operated either mechanically or by hydraulic means. While VRCs feature a reciprocating shaft similar to elevators, they are designed to move goods and not people. This makes them exempt from elevator safety restrictions. VRCs have their own national code (ASME B20.1) as “material-moving” vertical conveyors.

What are vertical reciprocating conveyors used for?

VRCs are used to transport goods and materials between vertical levels of a building or structure. This equipment plays an integral role in many organizations, and it is a powerful alternative to elevators, cranes, forklifts, or manual staff movements.

Benefits of using vertical reciprocating conveyors for material lifting

VRCs offer a range of safety, compliance, and operational benefits to any business. As one of the easiest, fastest, and safest ways to move materials, VRCs are unsurpassed when it comes to managing vertical movements. VRCs are both flexible and robust, with materials and goods able to be transported either up or down between floors, basements, and mezzanine levels.

The following benefits are central to any application:

  • Safe and compliant – Material lifts are incredibly safe in most use case scenarios. There is much less danger to workers compared to manual or forklift movements, and compliance is improved due to ASME B20.1 codes.
  • Simple to use – Vertical conveyors are designed to be simple, with transparent operating principles combined with reliable technology standards. Because VRCs are classified as a material conveyor, there is no additional training required by OSHA.
  • Cost-effective – VRC lift equipment is a cost-effective solution compared to many alternatives. While there is an initial outlay, they are less expensive than elevators and forklifts, and they also require much less maintenance.

Options for material lifts

If you’re thinking about getting a vertical reciprocating conveyor, it’s important to understand the many options available to you. Every business has unique operational needs, with custom solutions designed to cover all possible use case scenarios. For example, you may need to move large pallets, medium-sized carts, or small boxes.

The type of VRC you need depends on the size and shape of your building, along with the specifics of what you need to move and how often you need to move it. The conveyor lifting mechanism can differ considerably between installations, with the following types of lifts available to choose from:

  • Mechanical vertical conveyor – These elevator conveyor systems provide fast, smooth, and continuous operation between multiple floors or levels. Mechanical systems are the preferred option for many applications, as they offer higher speeds, improved capacity, and higher cycles than hydraulic systems.
  • Hydraulic vertical conveyor – These elevator conveyors are a cost-effective solution for applications that only require movement between two floors. Hydraulic systems have a limited load capacity, so they’re not an option for businesses with large capacity requirements or complex movement needs.

From large warehouses and distribution centers to complex industrial settings and production lines, the vertical movement of goods and materials is central to many businesses. Vertical reciprocating conveyors enable safe, fast, and controlled movements between multiple levels with ease. If you would like more information, please review our products or contact Handling Solutions today.