Author: Om Sai Packers and Movers Date: 24/07/2024 12:47 PM
The nature of logistics and material handling encompasses a dynamic frontier where effectiveness and safety are the ultimate objectives. Om Sai Packers and Movers providing services of shifting and logistics believe in the importance of lifting equipment in bulk material handling.
This blog post explores the topic where lifting equipment increases the capacity of bulk material handling, the types of lifting equipment, and how to determine the most appropriate equipment for your use.
1. The Various Types of Bulk Material Handling
Bulk material handling refers to all activities that transect with the movement, storage, control, and protection of bulk material which are usually in larger quantities and are usually in bulk or the form of a mass, hence are often referred to as masses.
Such goods may consist of grains, coal, ores, or chemicals. Proper handling of the bulk material entails management of the materials and their movement to fulfil their intended use without wastage or incurring high labour costs.
Handling gear is another sub-assembly applied in this process to enable the lifting, stacking and storage of materials in the right position. Lifting equipment is a necessary component of affairs in which bulk materials are often moved, and if this equipment is absent, the process may be inefficient, expensive, or perilous.
2. Types of Lifting Equipment
There are various kinds of lifting equipment primarily intended for the effective and smooth management of bulk products. Each type has its unique applications and benefits:
a. Cranes
Lifting and moving tough materials in infrastructural projects require cranes, which are versatile equipment. It includes overhead cranes, tower cranes, and mobile cranes among others as will be separately explained.
- Overhead Cranes: Also known as Bridge cranes, these are suitable for transferring mass products within a compound. These are suspended on tracks on the ceiling of the building and are used to move loads in the horizontal and vertical plane.
- Tower Cranes: It is mostly seen in construction and giant industrial structures because of their capability to lift massive loads to great extents.
- Mobile Cranes: Unlike other cranes, these are wheeled and can easily be transported from one site to another hence preferred for projects that may need to be relocated.
b. Forklifts
Lifting or moving materials over short distances is made possible by forklifts which play an important role in this. They are end-equipped with forks to provide them with the capacity to lift pallets of bulk materials and these are usually in the warehouses and the distribution centres.
- Counterbalance Forklifts: These types of forklifts utilize weight on the rear part to balance with the load held at the front, for the lifting of raw materials.
- Reach Trucks: As it is intended to be used mostly in aisles, the reach trucks can raise their forks to heights.
c. Hoists
Hoists are mechanisms which will either be employed in lifting or lowering loads of materials with the assistance of the drum or lift wheel. They are almost always associated with cranes or other lifting mechanisms to deal with the materials.
- Electric Hoists: These use electric power to elevate and lower their loads and this is a dependable kind of technique for handling material.
- Manual Hoists: These are the hand-needed ones and they are preferred for lighter loads and areas that have no electricity.
d. Conveyors
Conveyors are used in handling bulk material and transferring them from one place to another. It is for this reason that they are highly flexible in terms of possible configurations depending on the client’s requirements.
- Belt Conveyors: A continuous belt is used when there is a need to transport large quantities of material over a long distance; belt conveyors are used.
- Screw Conveyors: Some of these use a rotating screw for moving the bulk materials along the lower pan or trough hence ideal for powdery materials.
e. Elevators
It is also necessary to mention that elevators are employed in the vertical transport of various materials. They are commonly applied where there is a need for vertical transportation of large volumes of material.
- Bucket Elevators: These utilize buckets which are placed on a belt or a chain to help lift assorted materials to different heights.
- Vertical Conveyors: It is used to transport material up and down from one stage to the other.
3. Advantages Accrued From The Use of Lifting Equipment
Incorporating lifting equipment into bulk material handling processes offers several advantages:
a. Increased Efficiency
Lifting equipment increases the rate of transportation of bulk materials by a large margin. Conveyor belts cranes and other automation techniques prove helpful in managing a large amount of material in a short period thus reliving the hands-on process.
b. Enhanced Safety
The direct handling of the bulk materials on the other hand comes with great dangers in case an individual has to lift heavy loads or even in case of repetitive strain. These risks are managed by using lifting equipment which reduces the extent to which people are required to move materials by hand and control how the loads are moved to avoid dropping them.
c. Cost Savings
Indeed, the capital cost of acquiring lifting equipment usually implies a rather huge outlay but the benefits accruing in the long run are enormous. Handling also boils down to cheaper utilization of labour and results in lesser wastage which in the long run contributes to savings.
d. Improved Accuracy
Lifting equipment makes handling of materials precise, that is, the right materials are taken to the right places in the required quantities. This eliminates guesswork and increases efficiency in the stocking of the available inventory.
e. Greater Flexibility
Since there are various types of lifting equipment, one can pick the reel suitable for their company’s needs. It also means high manoeuvrability of the equipment for handling various types of bulk material about requirements changes.
4. Selection Criteria of the Lifting Equipment
Selecting the appropriate lifting equipment for bulk material handling requires careful consideration of several factors:
a. Format and Composition
The essence and nature of reflecting on creativity imply that various materials require diverse handling. For instance, powder and granule handling can be done by screw conveyors while those that are bulky such as hammers may need cranes or forklifts.
b. Load Capacity
Some factors that you should take into consideration while selecting equipment should incorporate the maximum load capacity of the equipment so that it orients to your handling. Circuiting of parts of equipment also causes overloading and it also poses a threat to the safety of persons and property.
c. Facility Layout
Here again, depending on the layout of your facility, you will make your choices of equipment. For instance, if the warehouse has narrow space, small goods have to be lifted by special narrow forklifts or reach trucks while in large open space cranes or conveyors may be used.
d. Operating Environment
These include elements like temperature, humidity, and exposure to chemicals which pose risks to the equipment's performance and serviceability. Select equipment which can sustain such conditions.
e. Budget and Cost
Evaluating the level of quality of the available equipment to purchase is also vital; however, one should also consider their pockets. The impact in terms of fluctuations in Cash operating costs, Maintenance and Repairs & overhead costs should also be taken into account while deciding.
5. Maintenance and Safety Considerations
Proper maintenance and safety practices are crucial for ensuring the longevity and safe operation of lifting equipment:
a. Regular Maintenance
Preventive or regular servicing is very much needed to avoid breakdowns and to have as well a longer life span for the lifting equipment. Maintenance should be done according to the manufacturer’s schedule and anything that needs fixing should be fixed.
b. Operator Training
Make sure operators have been taught the proper use of the lifting equipment. Training is therefore an effective tool in preventing such incidences while at the same time increasing the effectiveness of the material handling activities.
c. Safety Inspections
Invest in routine safety audits to help find out safety risks and check whether or not the equipment is properly maintained. Establish safe work practices and ensure the supply of personal protective equipment for the operators.
d. Compliance with Regulations
Comply with the standards and legal requirements of the industry on lifting equipment. Compliance guarantees that the equipment used is safe for use and that the company is not involved in any legal cases.
Conclusion
Many industries in their operations involve handling bulk material and lifting equipment is significant in boosting the efficiency of handling these materials in the industry, the safety of workers and the cost-cutting measures for organizations.
Learn the various types of lifting equipment and various applications, hence be in a position to make sound decisions for the enhancement of the business.
We are interested in economical and efficient transportation for moving and logistics services offered by Om Sai Packers and Movers and thus obtained reliable information and consultation on the use of lifting equipment in bulk materials handling. For you to benefit from high-quality equipment, or for you to consult with equipment experts, we are ready to assist you.
To know more about the lifting equipment and bulk material handling, you may turn to Om Sai Packers and Movers for details. Allow us to help in improving your business processes and realize your material handling objectives.