WE'RE NOT COMICS. BUT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH NEW MATERIAL. READY WHEN YOU ARE. TM
Using the wrong equipment to move products in, out, and around your facility costs you time, and that time adds up quickly.
Don't forget the injuries and product damage that can result, too. This doesn't have to be the case. Having the right products and systems in place, and training your team to use them, are the best ways to ensure speedy, smooth, and safe material handling at your facility.
Pallet jacks, hand trucks, and carts can make easy work of moving inventory, supplies, and prepared orders into, around, and out of your facility. While you may have one or more of these pieces of equipment, they each bring different advantages and which one you pick for a task depends on the size and weight of the item or items to be moved, and where they're going. Knowing the differences between each piece of equipment can help you decide.
These carry pallet-sized loads horizontally on long forks. They're more affordable and easier to maneuver than forklifts, though they can't carry as heavy of loads. Some pallet jacks require OSHA training & certification to operate. Operators can use pallet jacks to raise materials from a few inches off the ground to several feet.
The flat deck of a wheeled platform truck allows easy transport of bulky objects, several differently sized objects, as well as large loads. Deck material options are available that include steel, aluminum, plastic, and wood to suit the application, while a wide, cross-braced handle provides leverage. Work-height deck options are also available.
These upright movers are designed for smaller loads than pallet jacks typically carry. The base of a hand truck is shorter than a pallet jack; it sits upright and transports material on a small base plate. Need to move products up stairways? There's a hand truck for that, too.
Need An Adjustment?
Hand trucks and pallet jacks come in adjustable models that give users extra versatility. Some hand trucks convert into platform trucks, while portable and folding options can be easily moved where needed or stored away. Adjustable pallet jacks can handle a wide range of jobs by letting users choose the fork width and length they need.
Consider these features when deciding whether a hand truck, pallet jack, or cart is a better fit for what you need to move.
Product | Base Type | Load Size Range | What They're Used For |
---|---|---|---|
Hand Truck | Plate | 275 - 1,200 lbs | Yes |
Platform Truck | Deck | 1,000 - 2,000 lbs | Yes |
Tugger | Hitch | 1,500 - 5,000 lbs | Yes |
Pallet Jack | Forks | 2,200 - 5,000 lbs | Yes |
Cart | Shelf | Various | No |
Note: A forklift is best for pallet loads exceeding 5,000 pounds, Trying to move a load heavier then the max rated capacity on any of these continuously is not only bad for your equipment, but it is dangerous and puts your employees at risk. You might choose the heavier duty equipment if you need to move a log of loads quickly and at max weight.
You've moved inventory, supplies, and other materials off the truck and into your facility's staging area — now what?
Having the right storage and shelving options ensures these products end up where you need them, when you need them, and are protected from damage, theft, and loss. Knowing your options can help your team pick the storage and shelving that not only meets your needs today, but can grow along with your business.
Designed to hold palletized material, these durable, heavy-gauge steel systems can be adjusted based on the size of materials you're storing. Uprights and beams provide the height and width of the assembly, while decking, cross bars, and dividers offer additional stability and support for a variety of pallets, boxes, and storage bins and containers.
Store boxes, bins, and standalone goods on shelving or in cabinets. Open units afford easy access and visibility while closed units add security. Think strategically when choosing shelves: Wire shelves offer airflow, while solid shelves can contain spills and help keep items upright. High density storage units save on space and allow for faster and more accurate order picking.
Storage systems are often incomplete without an additional layer of containment. Not only does this help with organization, it enables pickers and other team members to easily find what they need. Storing goods in bins, totes, and containers also can protect products from environmental damage, loss, and contain spills or breakage.
Proper labeling of shelves is critical for efficient and accurate picking. Ensure labels are applied consistently across the facility, and that they are placed in the same spot on each unit of storage. Remove or sufficiently cover old labels to avoid confusion and scanning errors.
The jack-of-all trades storage bin finds purpose across your facility. Here's a look at how bins can be used at each step of the order fulfillment process.
Nested for easy stroage, bins stay tucked away until you need them.
Pickers remove inventory from the shelved bins and plae it into bins that correspond with orders being fullfilled.
Crew members transport the filled bins to storage, where inventory is moved from the transport bins to bins already on the shelves.
The packing team removes inventory from pickers' bins, compiles orders, and places those packges in a new bin that will travel to the shipment staging area.
When the truck rolls in, bins are ready to collect inventory as it is unpacked.
Use 5S and critical inventory management practices to optimize your facility for quick picking. Store fast-moving inventory at the front of the warehouse in easy-to-reach spots and locate slow-moving inventory further back and higher up to make the best use of your footprint.
Order fulfillment can feel like a marathon, and these days the pace is picking up with no finish line in sight. We can't slow down the supply chain, but we can provide ideas and products to help you keep orders moving out as fast as they're coming in.
Designate a location for packing activity that has enough space and the right supplies needed. This is essential to proper inventory management, as it can improve efficiency and help you fulfill orders faster. Your packing station can be customized with power, task lighting, monitor and fan mounts, as well as storage reels, bins, shelves, and cabinets. Choose an adjustable-height model so your setup is flexible as your needs change.
Need to seal cartons? Shrink wrap pallets? Weigh a heavy load? There's a solution for every need to get the job done with carton sealing and stretch wrap machines, heat guns, as well as a range of scales. Don't forget bag sealers, barcode scanners, dispensers for labels, rolls and tape, along with carton staplers, bag inflators, and more.
From boxes and shipping crates to envelopes, mailers, and protective packaging, Global Industrial® has you covered. Remember to stock up on tape, staples, labels, and barcodes to ensure you never run out, which can lead to unexpected delays and customer service issues.
Pallets aren't only for storage. If your business ships palletized materials, it's important to know your options to ensure safe transport from your facility to your customers.
Shipping & Storage Type
Featuring bottom runners and frames to stack multiple loaded pallets, reducing your storage and shipping footprint.
Fits inside one another for easy storage when they're not in use. Ideal for operations where storage space is at a premium.
Shipping & Storage Type
BUY OR RENT PALLETS?
Renting may make sense for operations that rarely use pallets but owning them has advantages:
Procedure changes and equipment upgrades that don't keep worker safety in mind aren't doing you any good…
and may be doing you bad.
Workplace injuries offset gains in efficiency and erode trust in your organization from within. Thinking critically and broadly about safety concerns when making any procedure or equipment change can reduce the risk of injuries on the job, letting your operation reap the full benefits of the improvements you're making. Keep these considerations in mind: