What factors should you consider when selecting equipment and materials for the science area

Last updated on Jan 5, 2020

• Factors Affecting the Selection of Material Handling equipment
• Types of Material Handling Equipments
  • Variable Path equipment

Selection of Material Handling equipment is an important decision as it affects both the cost and efficiency of the handling system.

Factors Affecting the Selection of Material Handling equipment

The following factors are to be taken into account while selecting material handling equipment.

1. PROPERTIES OF THE MATERIAL
   Whether it is solid, liquid or gas, and in what size, shape and weight it is to be moved, are important considerations and can already lead to a preliminary elimination from the range of available equipment under review. Similarly, if the material is fragile, corrosive or toxic this will imply that certain handling methods and containers will be preferable to others.
2. LAYOUT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BUILDING
   Another restricting factor is the availability of space for handling. A low-level ceiling may preclude the use of hoists or cranes, and the presence of supporting columns in awkward places can limit the size of the material-handling equipment. If the building is multi-storied, chutes or ramps for industrial trucks may be used. The layout itself will indicate the type of production operation (continuous, intermittent, fixed position or group) and can indicate some items of equipment that will be more suitable than others. Floor capacity also helps in selecting the best material handling equipment.
3. PRODUCTION FLOW
   If the flow is fairly constant between two fixed positions that are not likely to change, fixed equipment such as conveyors or chutes can be successfully used. If, on the other hand, the flow is not constant and the direction changes occasionally from one point to another because several products are being produced simultaneously, moving equipment such as trucks would be preferable.
4. COST CONSIDERATIONS
   This is one of the most important considerations. The above factors can help to narrow the range of suitable equipment, while costing can help in making a final decision. Several cost elements need to be taken into consideration when comparisons are made between various items of equipment that are all capable of handling the same load. Initial investment and operating and maintenance costs are the major cost to be considered. By calculating and comparing the total cost for each of the items of equipment under consideration, a more rational decision can be reached on the most appropriate choice.
5. NATURE OF OPERATIONS
   The selection of equipment also depends on the nature of operations like whether handling is temporary or permanent, whether the flow is continuous or intermittent and material flow pattern-vertical or horizontal.
6. ENGINEERING FACTORS
   The selection of equipment also depends on engineering factors like door and ceiling dimensions, floor space, floor conditions, and structural strength.
7. EQUIPMENT RELIABILITY
   The reliability of the equipment and supplier reputation and the after-sale service also plays an important role in selecting material handling equipment.

Types of Material Handling Equipments

Material handling equipment can be classified into two categories, namely:

1. Fixed path equipment, and
2. Variable path equipment.

a. Fixed path equipment which moves in a fixed path. Conveyors, monorail devices, chutes, and pulley drive equipment belong to this category. A slight variation in this category is provided by the overhead crane, which though restricted, can move materials in any manner within a restricted area by virtue of its design. Overhead cranes have a very good range in terms of hauling tonnage and are used for handling bulk raw materials, stacking and at times palletizing

Variable Path equipment

b. Variable path equipment has no restrictions in the direction of movement although their size is a factor to be given due consideration trucks, forklifts mobile cranes and industrial tractors belong to this category. Forklifts are available in many ranges, they are maneuverable and various attachments are provided to increase their versatility.

Material Handing Types of equipment may be classified into five major categories.

1. CONVEYORS
   Conveyors are useful for moving material between two fixed workstations, either continuously or intermittently. They are mainly used for continuous or mass production operations indeed, they are suitable for most operations where the flow is more or less steady. Conveyors may be of various types, with rollers, wheels or belts to help move the material along: these may be power-driven or may roll freely. The decision to provide conveyors must be taken with care since they are usually costly to install; moreover, they are less flexible and, where two or more converge, it is necessary to coordinate the speeds at which the two conveyors move.
2. INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS
   Industrial trucks are more flexible in use than conveyors since they can move between various points and are not permanently fixed in one place. They are, therefore, most suitable for intermittent production and for handling various sizes and shapes of material. There are many types of a truck- petrol-driven, electric, hand-powered, and so on. Their greatest advantage lies in the wide range of attachments available; these increase the truck’s ability to handle various types and shapes of material.
3. CRANES AND HOISTS
   The major advantage of cranes and hoists is that they can move heavy materials through overhead space. However, they can usually serve only a limited area. Here again, there are several types of crane and hoist, and within each type, there are various loading capacities. Cranes and hoists may be used both for intermittent and for continuous production.
4. CONTAINERS
   These are either ‘dead’ containers (e.g. Cartons, barrels, skids, pallets) that hold the material to be transported but do not move or ‘live’ containers (e.g. wagons, wheelbarrows or computer self-driven containers). Handling equipments of this kind can both contain and move the material and is usually operated manually.
5. ROBOTS
   Many types of robots exist. They vary in size, and in function and maneuverability. While many robots are used for handling and transporting material, others are used to perform operations such as welding or spray painting. An advantage of robots is that they can perform in a hostile environment such as unhealthy conditions or carry on arduous tasks such as the repetitive movement of heavy materials.

The choice of material-handling equipment among the various possibilities that exist is not easy. In several cases, the same material may be handled by various types of equipments, and the great diversity of equipment and attachments available does not make the problem any easier. In several cases, however, the nature of the material to be handled narrows the choice. Some of the material handling equipment are shown in the following figures.

Wheel conveyor

Screw conveyor roller

Belt conveyor

Roller conveyor

Jib crane

Bridge crane

Platform truck

Fork truck

Chain hoist

Electric hoist

Spiral chute

Industrial tractor

Electrical hoist

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