The Stretch Wrap Machine--Protecting Your Cargo Against Moisture and Pilferage
A stretch wrap machine can increase efficiency in your shipping department by partially automating the process. The stretch wrap machine can wrap palletized cargo as a unit to protect it from rain, moisture and other damaging factors.
Stretch wrapping also makes the shipment more secure from theft or pilferage by sealing many boxes or packages together as a unit. A stretch wrap machine is an excellent investment for shipping and mailing operations with enough volume. These units come with a powered turntable for easy wrapping operations and a counter balanced film mast, and the units have an 'approach ramp' option to allow loading and unloading with a pallet jack.
Fixed or Adjustable Gantry Cranes?
Gantry cranes come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic use is for lifting and transporting bulky objects. These cranes have wheels which give them mobility over most surfaces that permit hand trucks, dollies and similar wheeled transport.
Fixed height gantry cranes are quite versatile and can be used in a wide variety of situations, but like their fixed-height counterparts, you'll need to determine clearances both horizontally and vertically for the type of work you need to have done. Additionally, check to see whether the gantry crane is rated for the weight of the materials you'll need transported.
Some gantry cranes are rated for as little as 500 pounds, and others are rated for as much as 8,000 pounds. While the fixed height gantry cranes would seem to be rated for higher weights than their adjustable counterparts, fixed height gantry cranes are actually the models which start at the 500 pound range! When in doubt, ask your workers which version would perform best in your work area.
Machine Guards
The machine guard is used to protect machinery and other equipment from vehicles. It keeps a barrier in between the machines-which may have moving parts, arms and cranes--and motorized traffic. Additionally it prevents the traffic from impacting the machinery in case of operator error or equipment malfunction.
When installing machine guards, it is important to consider the location of your power lines with regard to the machine guards. Have you evaluated the placement of your steel machine guards for electrical hazards?
The same machine guards that are supposed to protect your equipment could also turn into electrical conductors under the wrong circumstances. You may wish to consider rubber matting around your machine guards or other areas prone to moisture as a way to protect against such hazards, and a rubber coating over the machine guards to allow safe grasping.
Five Categories of Material Handling Equipment Part Two
Material handling equipment has five basic categories. One of those categories is equipment used to bind a group of materials so they may be transported or delivered as one unit.
If you have a pile of timber or rebar, it must be bound up as a unit. The equipment responsible for handing this binding is called Unit Load Formation Equipment, and can include palletizes and shrink wrappers. It can also include the shrink-wrap itself, crates and pallets.
If you are training interns, new hires or even conducting a familiarization tour of your facility these will be good concepts to pass on to your newcomers.
How Does Your Current Vendor Measure Up?
Bulk material handling presents its own set of unique challenges--one of which has nothing to do with the operation itself, but rather choosing the right vendor for supplying your equipment.
- Are you in the market for a new supplier?
- Are you wondering about your current supplier?
Assess the strengths of a given vendor by reviewing the?literature that company puts out with regard to industry issues and usage of the equipment the company sells; bulk material handling white papers, product descriptions, instructions for use and safety, etc.
- Are these documents addressing current issues and concerns?
- Is there complete and well-written instructions with regard to safety?
- What are the company policies regarding customer support, on-site assistance and other critical issues that affect your bulk material handling equipment?
These are very important questions, and the answers could help you choose?a company. You may discover that it's important to compare your current vendor with others to see how they are keeping up in today's marketplace with regard to these issues.