Material Handling Equipment - Industrial and Systems Engineering

MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT3. Load Formation EquipmentUnit load formation equipment is used to restrict materials so that they maintain their integritywhen handled a single load during transport and for storage. If materials are self-restraining (e.g.,a single part or interlocking parts), then they can be formed into a unit load with no equipment.Table 4. Unit Load Formation Equipment1. Self-restraining (no equipment)2. Pallets3. Skids4. Slipsheets5. Tote pans6. Pallet boxes/skid boxes7. Bins/baskets/racks8. Cartons9. Bags10. Bulk load containers11. Crates12. Intermodal containers13. Strapping/tape/glue14. Shrink-wrap/stretch-wrap15. Palletizers(a) Manual palletizing(b) Robotic pick and place palletizers(c) Conventional stripper plate palletizers1. Self-restraining (no equipment)One or more items that can maintain their integrity when handled as a single item (e.g., a singlepart or interlocking parts)2. PalletsPlatform with enough clearance beneath its top surface(or face) to enable the insertion of forks forsubsequent lifting purposesMaterials: Wood (most common), paper, plastic, rubber,and metalSize of pallet is specified by its depth (i.e., length of its stringers or stringer boards) and its width(i.e., length its deckboards)—pallet height (typically 5 in.) is usually not specifiedOrientation of stringers relative to deckboards of pallet is specified by always listing its depthfirst and width last: Depth (stringer length) × Width (deckboard length)48 × 40 in. pallet is most popular in the US (27% of all pallets—no other size over 5%) becauseits compatibility with railcar and truck trailer dimensions; e.g., the GMA (GroceryManufacturers of America) pallet is four-way and made of hardwood1200 × 800 mm “Euro-Pallet” is the standard pallet in EuropeSingle-face pallets are sometimes referred to as “skids”10