Friday, January 19, 2007

Positioning Equipment

Positioning Equipment

They are used to handle material at a single location so that the material is in the correct position for subsequent handling, machining, transport, or storage. They are also usually used for handling at a single workplace. Materials can also be positioned manually using no equipment.


The major types of positioning equipment are:

  1. Manual

  2. Lift/ tilt/ turn turntable
  3. Dock leveler

  4. Ball transfer table
  5. Rotary index table
  6. Parts feeder

  7. Air film device

  8. Hoist

  9. Balancer

  10. Manipulator
    - Rigid-link manipulator
    - Articulated jib crane manipulator
    - Vacuum manipulator

  11. Industrial robot

The use of positioning equipment can;


  • Provide better productivity then manual labour when handling is high


  • Improve product quality and limit damage to materials and equipment when item handled is heavy, etc


  • Reduce fatigue and injuries when the environment is hazardous and inaccessible



Though there are many stated, there are only some very common ones when related to Singapore:


1. Manual

Materials can be positioned without the use of equipment, however, goods should not be heavy as it could cause injury to the person.


2. Dock Leveler















A picture of the control box for the dock leveler.


























Used at loading and unloading docks to compensate the difference in height between a truck bed; container bed when it comes to a dock.


3. Hoist

Used for vertical movement of goods, it is usually attached to cranes and monorails which provide vertical movement and it can be operated manually or electronically.

No comments: