The Five Categories of Material Handling Equipment Part One

Material handling equipment, also known by its acronym MHE, is used to assist in moving and storing material on-site or at a facility. There are five basic categories for MHE.

The first two are concerned with moving and positioning material.

• Transport Equipment gets the materials from point A to point B. For example, offloading from a dock to the storage area, or moving from workspace to workspace. This equipment includes industrial trucks, cranes and conveyors.
• The second category is called Positioning Equipment. This is used at a single site or location and is often used to position materials correctly for further on-site use.

While these terms are quite elementary for those with experience in materials handling, trainees, interns and other newcomers to your business will most likely need a quick education on areas those with seniority take for granted.