TPT250 Fundamentals of Transport: Unit Load Concept/Material Handling
TPT250 Fundamentals of Transport: Unit Load Concept/Material Handling
TPT250 Fundamentals of Transport: Unit Load Concept/Material Handling
FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSPORT
CHAPTER 5:
UNIT LOAD CONCEPT/MATERIAL
HANDLING
5.0 CHAPTER OUTLINE
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
5.2 MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT
5.3 PALLETISATION
5.4 CONTAINERIZATION
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
The unit load concept can be defined as combination of a
multiple units of product into single entity. It means that a
collection of item is moved as a single unit.
Goods or materials can be handled much more efficiently in a
large quantity or volume through the process of consolidation.
The process of consolidation of goods or materials in large
quantity or volume is based on the unit load concept.
This can be explained as below:
50 tins of baked beans can be moved in a single unit in cardboard
cartons
1000 tins (in five rows of 4 cartons each put on a pallet)- can also
be moved in a single unit by using a forklift to lift it.
20000 tins (20 pallets loads are deposited in a container) – can be
also moved in a single unit in a container, lifted by a gantry crane.
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
The above methods of handling goods or materials using
unit load concept is more economical and convenient.
Types of unit loads
a) Work Boxes
b) Cardboard Cartons
c)Sacks
d)Stillages
e)Pallets
f) Drums
g) Container
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
a) Work Boxes
-Is suitable for handling small components such as
metal castings, angle joints, bolts, washers and etc
-A metal or plastic boxes designed to stack easily,
moved manually, on conveyors or by forklift trucks
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
b) Cardboard Cartons
-Protective packaging unit which can be stored on
pallets or racks
-Stronger cartons will be needed for contents which
might crush in transit
Corrugated Fiberboard
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
c) Sacks
-Are made from paper, jute or plastic
-When properly filled and dry, paper sacks have
considerable strength and can easily piled one upon
another
-Cannot stand for excessive handling
-Cheap and suitable for cement, animal foodstuffs,
fertilizers & etc
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
d) Stillages
-Is a base-plate usually of wood
-With bearers to give a clearance between the platform
and the floor
-Cannot stack one on top of the other
5.1 UNIT LOAD CONCEPT
e) Pallets
-The most versatile unit load system
-Made from wood or metal framework
-Can be picked up by a forklift truck or other
mechanical device
A metal pallet with
The classic wooden removable beams.
pallet These are often used
by tree nurseries (to
stack trees)
Pallet Trucks
Counter-balanced trucks Side-loaders
5.2 MATERIAL HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
b) Mobile Cranes
-Most are hydraulic operated
-use either on the work site or in the industrial
premises
5.2 MATERIAL HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
c) Gantry Cranes
- track-mounted, shoreside crane utilized in the
loading an unloading of breakbulk cargo, contain
and heavy lift cargo.
5.2 MATERIAL HANDLING
EQUIPMENT
d) Container Crane
-usually a rail-mounted gantry crane located on a
wharf for the purpose of loading and unloading
containers on vessels.