Material Handling
Moving, storing and controlling materials across the facility.
Material handling is the discipline of moving the right item to the right place at the right time with the least effort. It spans manual carts, forklifts, conveyors, AGVs, hoists and overhead systems — and the safety, ergonomics and software that bind them together.
Articles here help operations and engineering teams choose the right equipment for each flow, design safe pedestrian/vehicle interfaces, and balance capex against operating cost over a 10-year horizon.
Articles in Material Handling
Material HandlingOptimizing Conveyor Systems for Cold Chain Logistics in the Benelux
Maintaining the integrity of the cold chain is critical in the dense logistics landscape of the Benelux. This article explores how to select, design, and optimize conveyor systems for temperature-cont
Material HandlingAutomated Guided Carts (AGCs) and Conveyors: Streamlining Production Lines in Benelux Manufacturing
Combining the flexibility of Automated Guided Carts (AGCs) with the high throughput of fixed conveyors creates a powerful hybrid solution for modern production lines. This article explores how Benelux
Material HandlingVertical Conveyor Systems: Maximizing Storage in Benelux
In the space-constrained Benelux market, building 'up' is more viable than building 'out'. This guide explores how vertical conveyor systems unlock massive storage density gains by efficiently connect
In-depth guides
Gravity vs powered, 24V MDR, sizing rules, accumulation, integration with WMS/WCS.
When to choose AGV, when to choose AMR, and the integration and ROI math behind each.
Chain vs roller pallet conveyors, transfer cars, AS/RS infeed and safety.
Ball transfer units, insert assemblies vs integrated tables, omni-directional wheels and packing-station design.
About material handling
What is material handling equipment?+
Any equipment that moves, stores, controls or protects materials — forklifts, pallet trucks, conveyors, AGVs, AS/RS, hoists, racking and packaging stations all qualify.
How do I improve material handling safety?+
Separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic with marked lanes and gates, use proximity sensors on AGVs, train all operators yearly, and track near-miss incidents — they predict serious accidents months in advance.
When should I move from forklifts to AGVs?+
When the same routes are driven repeatedly, when labour cost per shift exceeds AGV TCO over 5 years, or when accident rates push insurance premiums up. Typical break-even: 2-shift operations with 3+ fixed routes.
Planning a new conveyor or automation project?
Easy Systems designs and installs internal transport, conveyor and warehouse automation systems across the Benelux. Tell them about your flow — they'll come back with a system that scales.