Guide to Bulk Material Handling Equipment

Find the best deals on bulk material handling equipment

By Ben Hahn, Freelance Writer

1. For easy access to multiple bulk handling systems, look for online catalogs of equipment. Distributors with comprehensive inventories will often carries supplies at wholesale prices.
2. Buy dry bulk handling equipment like buckets elevators and conveyors for moving your goods.
3. Find bulk handling equipment to help you move and package a product.
   

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online catalogs of bulk material handling equipment

Unless you know exactly what bulk material handling system you're looking for, online searches can be tedious and time-consuming. Easily compare products and prices from vendors with online catalogs or comprehensive listings of materials handling equipment.

I recommend: Interstate Products has a wide selection of Morse Manufacturing Company drum handling equipment. Find a variety of industrial material handling equipment including drum rollers, drum rackers, drum transports and forklift attachments. Northern Tool + Equipment also carries a number of drum handling supplies. Check out their online catalog for dollies, hand trucks, cradles and more.

Purchase dry bulk material handling systems

If you need to transport dry bulk materials, look for material handling equipment manufacturers specializing in conveyors and bucket elevators. For custom products, contact a manufacturer offering engineering services as well as machinery.

I recommend: KWS Manufacturing Company offers a wide range of bulk material handling equipment. Their products include conveyors, bucket elevators, screw feeders and custom made components. Buy individual equipment or full bulk handling systems. If you're looking for a custom solution to your bulk handling needs, contact their engineering department. Olds Elevator manufactures a vertical conveyor elevator system that combines many bulk handling features into a single operation.

Buy bulk material handling equipment to help you sort and package your product

If you're dealing with raw materials, equipment for handling bulk is the easiest way to sort and package your materials so you end up with a product to sell or transport. Bag handling systems and drum handling systems can make loading and unloading materials easier and settle materials in their containers.

I recommend: Bulk Equipment Systems Technology offers a wide variety of products that make moving, loading, and packing your bulk materials easier. Check out their website for bag handling systems, weighing, measuring, settling, packing and loading solutions. For materials processing and handling, see the selection of dryers, crystallizers and hoppers sold by Sterling.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're looking for a great deal on equipment, search the Internet for used material handling equipment sales. Buying used and refurbished products will cost you a fraction of what you spend on new equipment. Many distributors of new machinery may have used items in stock as well.

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Research information on bulk material handling equipment

Determine which type of bulk material handling equipment you'll need for commercial and industrial handling and loading applications. Manufacturers' sites provide full descriptions and application information.

I recommend: Heyl & Patterson lists bulk material handling equipment such as rail car dumpers and barge unloaders. Noble Products features cranes, hoists, carts, lifts and shelves. Search Process Barron online for bulk material handling equipment such as conveyors, fuel handling systems and feeders.

Search for a variety of bag handling systems from manufacturers and distributors

Consider bag handling systems when working with fine chemicals or food. Verify that material handling equipment manufacturers meet the appropriate certifications and specifications to ensure quality bulk handling equipment.

I recommend: Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing develops stainless steel components for bag handling systems used in food processing. Luxme International distributes bulk material handling equipment such as vertical bag elevators and conveyors for transporting food, fertilizer and pharmaceuticals. Bag handling conveyors can also be found online at Carrier Vibrating Equipment.

Look for maintenance and repair services for bulk material handling systems

Consider working with bulk handling equipment manufacturers that provide repairs and parts replacement services.

I recommend: In addition to providing technical support, Nol-Tec Systems also supplies spare parts for bulk material handling equipment. American Custom Hydraulics offers repair services and replacement parts for industrial material handling equipment such as cranes and excavators. Rexnord Industries specializes in repairing bulk handling systems such as elevators and conveyor components.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Certification is also important when considering bulk material handling equipment. Most bulk handling systems come from material handling equipment manufacturers that are ISO-certified.

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Attend seminars to learn more about industrial material handling equipment

Industrial material handling equipment seminars contain a lot of valuable information for those who are new to the industry, as well as for the seasoned professional. Seminar topics include the latest technology and additional skills training. In some cases it includes the certification needed to operate specific pieces of equipment.

I recommend: Bulk Handling Equipment provides annual seminars on the dry bulk handling equipment it manufactures, with many educational opportunities available. Powder/Bulk Solids presents seminars and events where people can learn about bulk handling equipment, including changes in the latest technology for a particular industry.

Sign up for in-house training sessions to learn about a bulk material handling system

To learn how to maintain and operate different bulk material handling systems, you can have a manufacturer come to your place of business and conduct customized in-house training sessions. This training usually covers how to operate equipment, and safety guidelines that need to be followed when it is in use.

I recommend: Nu-Con provides in-house training for bulk handling conveying equipment that includes operation, safety and troubleshooting. Jenike & Johanson offers many training courses that cover all types of bulk materials handling equipment, including conveying systems and feeders. It also provides the training your employees need to troubleshoot these systems.

Explore additional educational resources for material handling supplies

Whether you are currently training to be a bulk materials handling equipment operator or already have those qualifications, you can benefit from the online resources available to trainees and bulk handling professionals. Some of these resources include conversions for dry materials, books and videos.

I recommend: Frazier Bulk offers many educational materials and resources for bulk material handling professionals, including volume calculators and conversion factors. Business Industrial Network provides an e-book that covers the fundamentals of materials handling practices.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to train to use a specific piece of equipment, you can find detailed instructions through material handling equipment manufacturers about their products.

Guide to Bulk Material Handling Equipment Key Terms

Know bulk material handling equipment key terms

By Denise Brown

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Conveyor

A conveyor is a number of belts or series of rollers that move bulk materials from one place to another. The conveyor loops continuously, and it's a matter of placing the material on the conveyor system to get it moved from point A to point B.

I recommend: See several types of conveyors at Titan Industries.

Feeder

A feeder allows you to put a quantity of bulk raw materials in one place. This container then allows the materials to flow into the manufacturing process according to your specifications.

I recommend: The Amada Industries feeder works with large volumes of dense products. Other feeders are available for smaller products as well.

Hoppers

Hoppers can carry bulk quantities of materials to wherever they need to be. The hoppers either dump the contents by turning to one side to allow the contents to flow out. Or the hoppers have an opening in the bottom that allows them to dump the contents in that manner.

I recommend: Solutions Dynamics has examples of self-dumping hoppers.

Bucket elevator

A bucket elevator acts like a conveyor belt, except it has small containers or buckets that hold the bulk material. Some bucket elevators move the product in a straight line horizontally or vertically, while other bucket elevators move products in a variety of directions.

I recommend: Gough Econ has samples of multi-directional bucket elevators, as well as straight-line models.

Box dumpers

Box dumpers are another way to quickly put bulk materials in one location. You can elevate box dumpers to a desired height to help you quickly offload bulk materials.

I recommend: See the box dumper offered by Meyer Industries.

Rotary style railway dumper

For dumping railway cars with bulk materials, you have a number of options. The rotary-style railway dumper allows you to pull the boxcar off the tracks and tip it on its side to dump bulk materials. Railway cars with this feature dump much faster than those with hopper-style dumping systems.

I recommend: You can read more about rotary-style railway dumper cars at Heyl and Patterson.