Wheeled material handler machinery is specialised equipment designed for handling, sorting, and transporting bulk materials, typically in industries such as recycling, waste management, scrap handling, and construction.
Functions of material handlers
- Loading and Unloading:
- Bulk Materials: They are used to load and unload bulk materials like scrap metal, waste, logs, and recyclables.
- Trucks and Containers: These machines can efficiently load and unload materials from trucks, railcars, and shipping containers.
- Sorting and Processing:
- Material Sorting: Equipped with attachments such as grapples, clamshell buckets, or magnets, these machines can sort different types of materials.
- Processing Stations: They are often used to feed material into processing equipment such as shredders, crushers, or balers.
- Stockpiling:
- Material Stacking: They can stack materials in stockpiles for storage or future processing, thanks to their extended reach and lifting capabilities.
- Transporting:
- Site Mobility: Their wheeled design allows them to move quickly and efficiently around work sites, transporting materials from one location to another.
Features of material handlers
- Mobility:
- Wheeled Base: The wheeled base offers enhanced mobility and maneuverability compared to tracked variants, making them suitable for paved surfaces and indoor facilities.
- Extended Reach:
- Boom and Arm: They feature long booms and arms that can extend to reach high or distant areas, which is useful for accessing material piles or loading/unloading high-sided containers.
- Versatility:
- Attachments: Various interchangeable attachments, such as grapples, magnets, clamshell buckets, and forks, allow them to handle different types of materials and tasks.
- Hydraulic Systems: Advanced hydraulic systems enable smooth and powerful operation of these attachments.
- Operator Comfort and Safety:
- Cab Features: Modern material handlers come with ergonomic operator cabs that can be elevated for better visibility, equipped with climate control, and designed for easy control and monitoring of the machinery.
- Safety Systems: Features like cameras, sensors, and stability control systems ensure safe operation even in challenging environments.
Applications of material handlers
- Recycling and Scrap Handling: Moving, sorting, and processing scrap metal, plastics, paper, and other recyclables.
- Waste Management: Handling municipal solid waste, construction debris, and other waste materials.
- Construction: Transporting and handling construction materials such as steel beams, pipes, and bulk aggregate.
- Forestry: Loading and unloading logs and wood chips in forestry operations.
Wheeled material handler machines plays a critical role in various industries by providing a versatile, mobile, and efficient means to handle, transport, and process bulk materials. Their design and attachments make them indispensable for improving productivity and safety in material handling operations.