Your Comprehensive Guide to select the best handling equipment

Whether you're moving furniture, equipment, tools, or products, having handling equipment will not only save you time but also help prevent work-related injuries. For decades, warehouse and moving companies have been using hand-trucks, dollies and platform carts to load and unload items with safe efficiency. They will also help reduce the number of lower back injuries that can result from lifting too much weight.

Handling equipment come in all shapes and sizes – folding trucks, 2 in 1 convertibles, equipment, and specialty trucks with different wheel configurations. Without the right information, finding the right used truck for your needs can be difficult.There are 3 basic categories of handling equipment - straight, convertible and specialty.

The Standard Upright is best for small business owners who need to move items weighing 500pounds or less.A heavy-duty hand-truck capable of carrying loads in excess of 600 pounds. When it comes to materials handling equipment are generally made of steel and aluminum.

·         If you want the most durable and strong material possible, go with steel. Steel handling equipment are very strong, as they are reinforced with double welded joints and cross support where it counts. 

·         Aluminum handling equipment are lighter than their steel counterparts, but just as strong. Magnesium is sometimes alloyed with aluminum to create a stronger construction. 

·         If you want versatility, check out the range of convertible trucks available. Convertibles have four wheels and are slightly more versatile as they can be used as a standard upright style or in a horizontal handcart configuration. 

·         Convertibles are the most versatile with the ability to carry loads in an upright or vertical position using only 2 wheels or by folding into a 4-wheel platform that rides like a flatbed cart. 

·         Consider your space limitations. Are you limited on space? If yes, then folding truck is the best option. Because it folds up and takes up less storage space. Non-folding takes up more space when stored. 

·         Consider your load weight. Your choice of truck should be slightly larger than the weight of the load you're moving. It is better to have more capacity than not enough when choosing a handling equipment for your application.

This guide will help you find the right equipment like truck, dolly or platform cart, whether for small business use or in a larger warehouse setting. If you're handling very heavy loads, tool handling equipment have ratchet straps and additional supports built into the frame to handle large heavy loads such as refrigerators or washing machines.