Bespoke is an adjective for anything commissioned to a particular specification. It may be altered or tailored to the customs, tastes, or usage of an individual purchaser.
Materials Handling Equipment is according to dear old Wikipedia - mechanical equipment used for the movement, storage, control and protection of materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. The different types of material handling equipment can be classified into four major categories -transport equipment, positioning equipment, unit load formation equipment, and storage equipment.
Put the two terms together and it shows that customer choice in this sector can be almost limitless!
Is it expensive?
Not necessarily so. Modern design and manufacturing techniques often allow an economy of scale to be less important than when equipment was produced using less automated procedures. Manufacturers often consider that in order to provide a bespoke service a lower level of cost has to be applied to attract that business. Customers are often very surprised at the competitiveness of bespoke made equipment.
What are the benefits?
Bespoke made can provide the perfect answer to a practical problem. Sometimes there just is not a standard product that will do the job well enough to justify a compromise.
- Increased speed of operation
- Increased operator safety
- Reduced risk of product or plant damage
- Reduced cost of operation
- Longer life of product
- Better ergonomic operation
- Improved product design
How can you decide?
When a requirement for materials handling equipment is established, first off speak to the experts who know what is available as a standard product. They can advise you accordingly and provide you with suitable options that are possible solutions to your requirement. Should it become apparent that perhaps a more bespoke solution is required then a company representative may be needed to call at your premises to discuss the matter more extensively. Specialist technical design and manufacturing techniques can easily be employed to work with you on projects and after an initial brief where we can establish your operation, tasks and environments, we can then work out the best way to deliver the right handling solution for you.
Analysing past case histories is also a good method of establishing if similar requirements have been catered for in the past. Often by bringing together different design elements from different jobs a common product design can be sought and supplied.
Bespoke heavy duty industrial trailers can be designed to hold specific component parts used by the client. These trailers are fitted with a specially fabricated body to 'house' components weighing up to 8000Kg. The unique 'waisted' frame design also allows for better manoeuvrability in and around the customers' plant and with a double Ackerman steering system this means that the trailers can be towed better in 'train'.
A specially designed raised work platform incorporating an access ramp was supplied to the NHS Supply Chain. The platform was constructed so that the framework fitted neatly around existing cable trunking and building ties. Operatives were then able to move plastic containers containing goods from vehicle to loading bays without the worry of any conventional stair treads and their associated trip hazards.
Weather proofing canopies can be designed and installed around the existing facia of a customer’s building. These canopies can be fitted with high speed shutter doors that enable and assist the loading/unloading of goods vehicles. PVC strip curtains can also be incorporated to minimise heat loss and dust from entering the building.
Retail outlets are often looking to enhance their customer`s shopping experience and the supply of the correct type of shopping trolley is often extremely important in gaining customer trust and loyalty. These bespoke nesting trolleys have been designed to help both customer and the retail outlet. The nesting capability and folding top basket enables the trolleys to be easily stored away when not in use and to take up the minimum of floor space. The easy slide lower platform facilitates loading and unloading of goods plus the extra carrying capacity of the top basket comes in very useful for smaller items.
Bespoke should not mean prohibitive or expensive….it should mean `best suited` and `the best choice` for your particular requirement.