Material Lifting Equipment 101: Different Types Explained

Something as simple as moving supplies from one floor to another can be challenging when done on a larger scale. Factories and warehouses use material lifting equipment for this task alone, as this type of machinery makes the process safer and more efficient.

With so many different types of materials and supplies used and stored every day, there is also a wide range of machinery for each type and use case. This versatility makes material lifters valuable, as they can serve multiple industries while remaining cost-effective over time.

The most commonly used material handling equipment nowadays is electric, which uses either lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. The convenience factor here is that they are extremely powerful and operate quietly. Electric lifters are also much easier to maintain and produce zero emissions.

With suction picking up and lifting items, vacuum handling equipment is ideal for small and large boxes, sheets, bags and bulky items that can cause shoulder and back issues. With vacuum-powered equipment, you can usually lift items to 270 kg. They are quite versatile since you can use them on a variety of workstations without the need for additional hardware.

Hoists, trolleys and tags are different types of crate handling equipment made to efficiently and safely move, tilt and stack crates. Although this makes crate lifters somewhat specialised, they are still a common piece of equipment in warehouses and other similarly sized storage facilities.

Available as both tilting and lifting equipment, drum handling machinery can grip, move and lift drums, whether for stacking or pouring out their contents. With a drum handling machine, you can prevent injuries, reduce downtime and improve accuracy when it comes to drum placement.

As the name suggests, bucket handling equipment is designed for use with buckets of all sizes. It often comes in the form of elevators that transport bulk materials such as grain, waste powders and aggregates. Some bucket handling machinery can also integrate with vertical conveyor systems.

Probably the widest range of handling and lifting equipment nowadays is box handling machines and tools. They can be anything from pallet jacks and forklifts to cranes and automated conveyor systems. This versatility means there is equipment suited to boxes of almost any size.

With slab handling equipment, you get tools such as clamps and A-frames that can lift and move slabs or slab-like objects. Some equipment uses suction cups, which makes them even safer and more versatile, as you can lift heavier slabs.

An order picker is a machine that an operator rides on, lifting them to the height needed to pick an item. These platforms are quick and make it much safer to retrieve items stored high up the rack, making inventory organisation a breeze.

Similar to order pickers, scissor lifts raise the user while they stand on the platform. However, they are not as convenient for long-term fixed use in one area, since they have wheels and are made to be moved from one place to another. This does make them more versatile, but only for repairs and shelf adjustments, since their load-carrying capacity is not as high.

Commonly used in packing stations or assembly lines, lift tables are made to raise and lower items like goods and tools. Like scissor lifts, they are mainly used for maintenance and at workstations, as they don’t require workers to bend as much.

Much like drum lifting equipment, tilters, also known as tilting equipment, work similarly. With tilters, you can handle both drums and barrels and tilt them for pouring. While they can also stack them, it’s not as easy as with drum material lifters.

Thanks to a winch system, panel lifting equipment can lift large, heavy sheets, whether to a wall or ceiling. They have a tripod base with wheels and brakes, making panel lifting equipment quite versatile thanks to their adjustable arms.

A reel lifter is a piece of material lifting equipment that features an expandable core or grippers that make the inside of the reel engage. This is what allows them to lift and rotate the reel without any manual labour.

Whether manual, semi-electric, or fully electric, all types of stackers are made with one goal in mind: to stack pallets. These machines are compact and safe to use while being easy to store due to their small form factor.

With hoppers, you can direct any loose material like cement, gravel and fertiliser into a container. This is thanks to the large funnel the machine uses to transport the material.