Inventory Movement (Equipment)

Pallet Jacks

Once material is delivered to a warehouse, it is inventoried and stored.

Pallet jacks are one of the more common ways to move pallets. There are different models: some are hand-operated, some can be ridden, some have a lift capability, some have electric drives, and some are propane powered.

The drawback to pallet jacks is that they operate best on smooth surfaces, and do not do well on uneven ground.

Forklifts

Another common way to move material around the floor is by forklift. Forklifts come in many different sizes and are designed according to the types and weight of loads they will be expected to shift. With a properly sized forklift, pallets can be unloaded from a truck or trailer a lot more quickly than with a pallet jack. Forklifts can also be used to move bulky items around in the building, and to place loads high up on racks or shelves inside the warehouse.

Another advantage that forklifts have over pallet jacks is that they can be used outside the building to unload flat-deck trailers, or to move material around the yard. These machines come with gas, diesel, propane, or electric motors and may have solid or pneumatic tires. The heavier machines will even have dual wheels nearest the forks to support the heavy loads they are expected to carry.

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts are another machine used in warehouses. Just as the name implies, they operate in a scissor like fashion, lifting a platform or deck up to a specified levels and allowing the operator to lift and place large heavy items on racks or shelves. Most scissor lifts are electrically driven although propane powered ones are also available.

Scissor lifts work extremely well inside warehouses where the floors are flat and level. They should not be run on sloped surfaces when elevated. The risks associated with scissor lifts are arms or bodies being pressed or pinched against the racks or ceiling of the building.

Anything that is suspended from the ceiling, such as lights, ventilation or electrical wires, can also present a hazard. Some machines will actually have operator cages to mitigate these types of problems.

 

Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes are also utilized inside warehouses. Some are fixed, some will be restricted to travelling up and down aisles, and others are multi- directional, travelling back and forth on a track and moving from side-to-side. Some larger cranes will have operator cages that are fixed or moveable. Many of these cages are also elevated to give an operator a better vantage point as they position heavy objects within the building.

Cranes can also be fitted with controls that hang from the motor and allow the operator to walk the load into position; these are referred to as pendants or pigtails. There are also cranes that operate by remote control.