When it comes to Material Handling, we've been there, done that, now serving 285 tips in 17 categories ranging from Bollards to Yard Ramps.
When loading and unloading materials on a yard ramp, you must be sure that your footing is secure. And when the loading is done outside, you must be sure that elements such as rain and snow don't pile up on your yard ramp to cause a slipping hazard as well. There is a simple solution to these problems -- steel grating. You may not realize it, but steel grating is everywhere. It is used for airfields, highways, industrial floors, in subways and tunnels and on docks and driveways as well as on ramps.
The steel grating on yard ramps serve two main purposes:
A steel yard ramp will cost you between $9,000 and $20,000 and an aluminum yard ramp will cost you between $11,000 and $21,000, depending on factors such as what capacity you need, according to beacontechnology.com. But you don't have to spend this much on a steel yard ramp if you buy it used.
There are Web sites that offer used yard ramps. Check out companies such as americansurplus.com and warehouserack.com for deals. View pictures of the used yard ramps on these sites before buying. American Surplus Inc. claims it is the premier used material handling equipment supplier in the country, providing customers the highest quality equipment at an affordable price. If you are in the material handling business and want to save some money, it's a good idea to keep an eye on companies such as this. American Surplus Inc. advertises monthly specials and other deals. There are representatives available to answer your questions about the used equipment as well.
If you are trying to figure out just how much weight your steel yard ramp needs to hold, here is a good formula for figuring it out, courtesy of beacontechnology.com.
Judge the greatest anticipated load and add the weight of the fork truck. Then purchase a dock yard ramp with a capacity of several thousand pounds greater than that combined weight. This will ensure you have enough capacity on your yard ramp for the job.
Portable yard ramps are very useful in the material handling industry. Here are some reasons why you would want to use a portable yard ramp:
Sure, scissor lift operators must know how to operate a scissor lift. But they must also know the hazards of working with one. They must be able to protect their own safety as well as the safety of others while on the job. Because of this, the employer should make sure a scissor lift operator is trained correctly.
There are scissor lift training courses that cover topics such as effective supervision, legislative requirements, workplace hazards having to do with people, equipment and environment, safety tips and requirements for fall equipment and its use.
If you are looking to get scissor lift certification, check out the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Web site at www.abc.org. This is a national association representing all specialties within the U.S. construction industry. The association offers training in more than 20 construction crafts through a national ABC network of 80 chapter offices across the country. It offers scissor lift certification and you can find a chapter office near you on the Web site.
According to ABC, a 4-hour class in aerial/scissor lift operator certification will offer both classroom and hands-on instruction, satisfy all state and federal training requirements and provide a 36-page manual to students. Students must bring their own hard hat and fall protection to class. Students must also register and the cost is $130 for non-ABC members and $85 for ABC members.
There are many different kinds of industrial lift tables. Here is a sampling of lift and tilt tables, courtesy of beacontechnology.com:
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