Chapter List

MATERIALS-HANDLING DEFINITIONS

Materials-handling technology includes hardware and systems which can be categorized as follows: category ranges from simple two-wheeled hand trucks to specially designed over-the-road vehicles and also includes skid trucks, floor trucks, powered walkie lift trucks, powered lift trucks, and mobile hydraulic cranes.

• Containerization

• Fixed-path handling

• Mobile handling

• Warehousing

Containerization. This classification covers the broad spectrum of confinement methods that are used for storage through all phases of the manufacturing, or process, cycle. The materials-handling engineer employs the unit-size principle to optimize the quantity, size, and weight of the load to be handled or moved and is able to specify the best container after considering material and other production-system parameters. Pallets, skids, tote boxes, and wire-mesh containers, covering a wide range of sizes and materials, are included within the category. category ranges from simple two-wheeled hand trucks to specially designed over-the-road vehicles and also includes skid trucks, floor trucks, powered walkie lift trucks, powered lift trucks, and mobile hydraulic...