the top logistics equipment for warehouses

It's fair to see that speed, efficiency, and safety are three of the most critical values for warehouses to achieve. Warehouses must process, store and distribute thousands of heavy items daily while meeting tight deadlines. The typical warehouse is fast-paced, and it's vital to implement solutions to improve efficiency. Material handling equipment for warehouses enhance the flow of goods through the logistics process and prevents accidents to workers or damage to packages.

Warehouses use various equipment to carry out tasks, and it's important to note that warehouse equipment should complement the workforce instead of replacing personnel. The right equipment can improve a warehouse's performance while saving money and time. At Joloda Conveyor Services, we specialise in equipment allowing warehouses to move several large items simultaneously.

Automating specific processes can do wonders for raising performance, and the following sections will run through a few top examples of logistics equipment.

Let's start with our speciality: conveyor systems! In layperson's terms, a conveyor system comprises several mechanical components that help items move from one location to another. Workers simply need to place goods on the conveyor, and they will travel to where they need to be, such as a vehicle bay ready for loading. Using a conveyor system is safer and quicker than manually transporting goods to different areas of the warehouse. Not to mention it significantly reduces the risk of workers sustaining an injury.

Two primary conveyor systems include a conveyor belt and a conveyor roller. Both systems function similarly in transporting items from place to place; however, the material they use to hold goods are different. Belt conveyors are ideal for bagged products, irregular products, or where an incline/decline is needed. On the other hand, roller conveyors are suitable for accumulating products or designing additional functionality.

After you invest in a conveyor system, we can offer a thorough conveyor service to keep your system in excellent working condition.

When transporting goods vertically, an elevator is perhaps the best solution to consider. A bucket elevator allows workers to transport small and loose items, such as bulk materials like grain. These elevators use small buckets attached to a rotating belt to collect and discharge material. A grain elevator is similar to a bucket elevator, except it is a larger tower structure explicitly built for scooping up and depositing grain.

The future is now! Modern technology is more advanced than ever, and automated robots have surfaced to present viable solutions for warehouses. Businesses can use robotic solutions for various challenging and time-consuming tasks, helping support workers with accurate results and boosting productivity.

Robots can follow pre-determined routes to move heavy items without human interference. They are highly intelligent and can assist workers in finding stock without wasting time or getting lost. Sorting robots can quickly sort goods without making mistakes, a benefit that is especially helpful if bulk items need to be sorted into individual orders.

We recently announced our partnership with Lodamaster, and they are the perfect example of a supplier that utilises intelligent robotics to enable supply chain automation.

Two of the best material handling equipment used in warehouses are forklift and pallet trucks. Workers moving heavy loads often need to turn to forklift trucks. Forklifts are necessary for lifting items that are too heavy for people to carry. When operated, a forklift can move goods from place to place or raise them to a higher location for loading or storage. A pallet truck, also known as a pump trump or pallet jack, is similar to a forklift. Pallet trucks are operated by hand or electric, and they are usually smaller and lighter.

The next piece of logistical equipment we will discuss is a hopper, also known as a particulate collection container. Hoppers usually feature a sizeable cone-shaped metal funnel which can store particulate matter or materials like dust, nuts and seeds. The hopper will hold the material until it's needed, in which case it will then release the exact quantity at the bottom.

Logistic companies often need commercial vehicles as part of their daily tasks. For instance, trucks and lorries transport goods from a warehouse to where they need to be, such as retail sites or customer addresses. But how can you safely load and unload heavy items onto a truck? The answer to that question is a tail lift.

A tail lift (aka a hydraulic liftgate or a tailgate lift) is a mechanical device fitted onto commercial vehicles, usually at the rear. Tail lifts allow you to position goods on a platform which can then be raised or lowered. This logistics equipment is the safest and most effective technique for loading and unloading items onto a van, truck or lorry so they can then be transported to their next destination.

Warehouses may encounter various airborne contaminants depending on the size of their facility, the goods they store and their processes. Airborne hazards typically include dust, fumes, vapour, mist, and asbestos, to name just a few. These contaminants can cause severe health risks when inhaled.

An LEV system is usually recommended as the optimal solution for safely extracting particulates from the air, creating a cleaner environment and preventing employees from inhaling harmful contaminants. For example, when carrying out welding processes, welding fume extraction is an excellent way to capture and dispose of the fumes safely.

Warehouses need solutions to store large amounts of goods before they leave the facility, so you might want to consider racking systems and shelving units. These logistics equipment are similar, but shelving is considered best for lighter loads and smaller goods, while racking is suitable for larger, bulky items and, therefore, the optimal solution for warehouses.

It's essential to consider elements like space utilisation, efficient inventory management and safety. Warehouses are spacious in height and width, so you will want a vertical solution that maximises storage capacity without expanding the warehouse footprint. It's crucial to pick a solution that improves picking efficiency and inventory turnover while making it easy to categorise and store products systematically. Finally, warehouses can be dangerous, so systems should be designed to support heavy loads, be stable and have the right capacity, helping to prevent accidents from incidents like falling items or damaged goods.

Do you have a conveyor system and are unsure of its condition? We would be delighted to offer a free, no-obligation conveyor assessment. Book your FREE conveyor assessment today, and we'll be in touch to arrange an appointment. When our engineer arrives at your site, they will inspect the conveyor system and let you know of any concerns or work that is needed.