Basic Types of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) in Warehouses

There are many types of MHE available to assist the modern warehouse operative. The following describes three types of MHE that are found in typical warehousing facilities, and one type of MHE (iii) that is atypical in ordinary warehouses but always found in narrow aisle-configured layouts.

(i) Forklift truck/basic counterbalance MHE. This is the most iconic piece of MHE. The typical forklift is a small diameter-wheeled, electrical vehicle with a heavy weight loading toward its rear that acts as the counterbalance for the forward-located lifting mechanism (chain-driven forks) and the loads they can lift and carry. The centre of gravity of the vehicle is around the area of the back axle. The forks’ dimensions enable the truck to lift standard-size pallets, but non-standard sizes up to or under a certain limit can be lifted also (on a typical truck, the forks’ spread is not adjustable). Its operation is fairly easily learned, and the vehicle is agile, quick, quiet, robust, and capable of carrying and lifting heavy (typically <3500 kg) loads. The forklift truck is suitable for both indoor and outdoor operation, and its dimensions enable it to work inside most standard aisle configurations. Forklift operators require licensing. Larger capacity, heavier-lifting diesel-powered forklifts are also available.

(ii) Pump truck/hand pallet transporter. These are manually steered, manually pumped (pneumatically assisted), forklift-bearing, pallet-carrying platforms usable by any operative. Operators do not require licences. The forks function as a platform for carrying a standard pallet. The platform can be raised by the pumping of the handle/steering column. The platform is lowered by the pulling of a hand lever (often to be found inside the loop that forms the upper part of the steering column). The truck is either pushed or pulled. If the forks are forward relative to the operator, the truck must be pushed, and because steering is from the rear, the direction of the truck is opposite to the direction of steering. A large single wheel or a double wheel set for steering is located at the bottom of the steering column, and sets of non-steering wheels are positioned toward the ends of both forks, giving the vehicle three points of floor contact. Maintenance and operation of this form of MHE is straightforward. They are usually used indoors. Electrically powered versions of this vehicle allow faster movement, heavier lifting, higher raising, and operator carriage.

(iii) Narrow aisle truck. Like the forklift, this is an electrically powered, rear weight-counterbalanced, pallet lifting and carrying vehicle operated by a driver; but in this case, the driver operates the vehicle while standing inside a compartment that travels up and down with the load, and the reach of the vehicle is higher (e.g. five levels or more) than that of the typical multiuse forklift. It is designed to operate in high density storage facilities, in which goods are positioned on narrowly spaced, high-stacked shelving. For stability, the front of the truck features non-moving floor forks directly beneath the moving lift forks.

(iv) High-reach truck. This is something of a hybrid of the narrow aisle and basic forklift truck. The driver stands inside the driver’s compartment to operate the vehicle, but the compartment is static; the forks ascend and descend independently of the driver’s compartment. However, the high-reach truck has a much higher (e.g. ten levels) upward reach than the standard multiuse forklift. Its width is approximately the same as the standard forklift, which makes is unusable in narrow-aisle shelving configurations. Like the narrow-aisle and standard forklift, the typical high-reach truck is electrically powered and rear weight-counterbalanced.