Material-handling equipment (MHE) includes mechanical tools and systems used to move, store, control, and protect goods throughout manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution.
Major Categories of Material Handling Equipment
Storage and Handling Equipment: Used to organize and buffer items over short or long periods to maximize floor and vertical space. Examples include pallet racks, shelving, bins, and mezzanines.
Industrial Trucks: Motorized or manual vehicles used to transport loads across variable paths. Examples include forklifts, manual and electric pallet jacks, hand trucks, and walkie stackers.
Bulk Material Equipment: Designed to move, store, and control large volumes of loose or granular materials like coal, grain, or sand. Examples include conveyors, silos, hoppers, and bucket elevators.
Engineered Systems: Fully automated networks that coordinate multiple tasks across a smart facility. Examples include automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
