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A majority of all industrial occupations involve overexertion that invariably leads to accidents and hazards. Handling and storing materials in different industries involve diverse operations such as hoisting tons of steel with a crane; driving a truck loaded with concrete blocks; carrying bags or materials manually; and stacking palletized bricks or other materials such as drums, barrels, kegs, and lumber. A survey reveals that an estimated 30 percent of the workforce is exposed to the hazard of lifting everyday. Materials handling equipment are an essential solution for reducing the risk of physical injuries for employees at work place.

Manual material handling implies unaided moving of objects, which often leads to twisted and awkward postures resulting in musculoskeletal disorders. Moreover, with the increase in the female population at workplaces and a generally older workforce, risk of injuries due to manual material handling has certainly increased. Having the right material handling equipment has become essential for a smooth and efficient work flow and high productivity.

Material Handling Equipment can be custom built in any shape or form to suit any application. Material handling equipment is used to transport, stack, recover and feed bulk materials. The concept of material handling equipment is to provide bulk material handling solutions to industries worldwide. Rollers, belts and chains are among the items that can be incorporated into a custom-built piece of material handling equipment. A variety of hydraulic and electric drives are also available. Every piece of equipment is ruggedly constructed for many years of operation.

The perfect choice of material handling equipment and good design of the material handling system and facility layout can increase productivity and reduce investments and operations' costs. When deciding what material handling equipment to use, it is important to take into account the general characteristics of the equipment types available in the market.

Among the major materials handling equipment are Conveyors, Stackers, Reclaimers and Hoppers. Conveyors often referred to as conveyor belts are made of two end pulleys with a continuous loop of rotating material feeding through them. Conveyors are used to transport materials such as coal, ores and grains. Stackers are another form of material handling equipment used to stack bulk material onto a stockpile. Reclaimers work closely with stackers. Reclaimers are used to recover bulk material that has been placed in a stockpile. Hoppers are also a type of material handling equipment. Hoppers help to feed bulk materials into other machines.

Material handling equipment is undoubtedly the best solution to improve productivity while reducing the potential of workplace injury. Versatility, reliability, state-of-the-art technology and superior execution are making modern material handling equipment an utmost necessity for a variety of industries. Reduce the total amount of required manual material handling and minimize the hazards associated with these activities by creating a unified material handling system making the right material handling equipment selection. Reduce costs and improve efficiency in industrial material handling by providing the perfect selection of material handling equipment. This article is free for republishing
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