Positive Aspects of Pallet Handling Equipment

There is a vast array of pallet handling equipment on the market today and the positive effect these products have on a workplace are many. Simply put, they reduce the amount of manual handling required by workers in factories, warehouses, and supermarkets all over Australia. Efficiency is also greatly improved by using pallet handling equipment, as it is far quicker to move an entire pallet load of goods through a store rather than breaking it down into something that can be pushed around on a shopping trolley. By using equipment such as a pallet wrapping machine or strapping machine, pallet preparation can also be carried out more efficiently.

The various types of pallet handling equipment reduce the number of forklifts required by a business as well, enabling goods to be moved onsite where a forklift might not be able to access due to space constraints or due to excessive pedestrian traffic, for example in a store like Bunnings.

Convenience and Flexibility with a Pallet Jack

For a forklift to be operated during opening hours it will generally require one, if not two people to act as spotters, as well as the surrounding area to be cordoned off with the appropriate barriers and warning signs. Pallet handling equipment such as the humble pallet jack is not hampered by these restrictions, and although it is obviously a lot slower moving a load with a manual pallet jack, a large store will generally have quite a number of pallet jacks on hand to move stock both in and out of the receiving area, as well as between aisles during distribution of store stock onto shelves.

It is incredibly convenient to be able to move an entire pallet load within a store during opening hours with shoppers everywhere, rather than having to wait until close of business and bring in the forklift. One thing to bear in mind with using a manual pallet jack is the fact that you do need to allow for adequate stopping distance when hauling a heavy load.

The Walkie Stacker

The Walkie Stacker is another example of pallet handling equipment that is very common throughout Australia. Crown produce an electrically powered walkie stacker which needs to be put on charge after use but in saying that has quite an impressive battery life whilst on the job. There are many good things to say about the Walkie Stacker. It is a versatile piece of pallet handling equipment that is capable of lifting loads and stacking them at height, unlike the standard pallet jack which is limited to moving a pallet from one location to another at ground level. The Walkie Stacker is, in essence, a ‘walk behind forklift’. It is a lot more compact than a standard motorized forklift and also doesn’t have the same stringent licensing requirements associated with operating it. It comes into its own especially when transporting heavy items. In addition to having powered raise, lower and side-shift functions, it also has forward and reverse.

Maintenance of Pallet Handling Equipment

Although pallet handling equipment may not have as many moving parts as other factory equipment such as automated conveyor systems, they do require routine maintenance to ensure trouble-free operation. Even a standard pallet jack will require regular inspections to ensure the hydraulic lift cylinder is free from leaks. Not only would a leak influence the lifting capacity, it would also be a safety hazard with drops of oil on a concrete floor being an accident waiting to happen.

Manufacturing a Ventilation and Ducting System

Ventilation and ductwork will often be manufactured in a sheet metal factory. Ducting for air conditioning varies from very narrow ducts to huge rectangular ducts which you can practically walk through. A number of machines are used in the production of ventilation ducting. Ductwork is typically made in lengths that are suitable for transport. Then they’re driven out on site where they are installed by professional ductwork installers.

Ductwork is often hidden above ceilings in commercial and office buildings, however you’ll often see it exposed in underground carparks and loading docks. Ductwork can form part of contemporary design, where the ceiling lining is deliberately left out for aesthetic purposes. The dimensions of the air conditioning duct are directly related to the amount of air flow which is required to service the building and which will travel through the ductwork.

Optimising Air Flow in a Square Duct

Have you ever wondered how the air travels around a right angle in a duct system? In a square duct system, a basic square elbow would disrupt the air flow significantly, so to ensure that the disruption to the air flow is minimal within the elbow joint, turning vanes are inserted at the bend. These turning vanes are manufactured within the warehouse by rolling them on a three-part roller which can be set to bend a flat piece of metal to the required curve. This is then inserted into place at the top and bottom of the elbow. Air travelling through the system will then be deflected around the bend, rather than rebounding off the back wall.

Use Hearing Protection in a Ductwork Manufacturing Plant

Ductwork manufacturing factories are extremely noisy places to work. The walls and floor are often made of concrete and the noise from production is exacerbated by these hard surfaces. Hearing protection is recommended and, in most cases, mandatory. Steel capped boots are absolutely mandatory in these factories. Machines that are used to press and bend the various components of the ductwork can cause significant injury. Care must be taken when using them and a first aid kit should always be on site.

Insulating Ventilation Systems to Dampen Noise

Large ventilation and ductwork can be very noisy when in use, so to counter this, these ducts will often be insulated on the inside. The only problem is that there is nothing to hold the insulation in place inside the duct. So, a metal channel is first inserted at either end and screwed into place. This lines four insides of the square ducts, leaving a small calculated gap between itself and the actual duct. Now you can crawl into the duct with your 40mm piece of insulation and tuck the ends into the channels that you’ve installed at either end. The insulation that lines the top of the duct will most likely sag, so a perforated piece of sheet metal, goes in and also tucks itself into the channel at either end, which is then screwed down. That is how a large duct is insulated for sound. Insulation also serves to minimise heat transfer as the air moves through the duct, which is particularly relevant since these ducts are often located in a very hot ceiling spaces.