We are often contacted by customers who tell us that they need to replace equipment that was purchased in haste and did not fulfil their expectations. In the modern day of online buying it is all too easy to select products that do not quite prove to be suitable for purpose. This can be an expensive mistake and usually companies are left with an unwanted item of equipment with either no or little resale value.

We at Action Handling prefer a more old school approach, where we talk to our customers, offer expert advice and in many cases visit their sites to discuss any large-scale projects. We do have an online web shop where you can easily purchase one of the 12,000 standard products and we do recognise that many customers have a good knowledge of exactly what they require, but for those who do not, then please don’t make an expensive mistake. Our Information Hub holds hundreds of articles giving precise real-life situations and experiences of equipment plus useful tips about them. We would urge anybody who requires some help to either check out this great information source or more simply pick up the phone and talk to us for free, specific advice!

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when selecting material handling equipment:

• Failing to understand specific operational needs, including material types, sizes, weights and environmental factors like temperature and humidity, which affect productivity and safety. Without this understanding, inappropriate equipment can be chosen leading to inefficiencies and damage.​
• Ignoring future scalability and growth potential. Choosing a system that only meets current needs can result in costly upgrades or replacements later.​
• Overlooking space constraints in warehouses or production areas, causing unsafe or inefficient layouts.​
• Selecting the wrong type of equipment for the task, such as choosing conveyors unsuited to material characteristics, which compromises productivity and increases maintenance.​
• Neglecting regular maintenance, which can cause unexpected breakdowns, safety hazards and higher long-term costs. Establishing a routine preventative maintenance schedule is vital.​
• Disregarding safety features that comply with industry standards and protect workers.​
• Not considering how new equipment will integrate with existing systems and processes, risking inefficiencies and future expansion challenges.​
• Focusing solely on initial cost rather than total ownership cost, including installation, maintenance, energy consumption and downtime.​
• Omitting thorough vendor research can lead to poor support, suboptimal performance and increased risk.​
• Inadequate staff training on using equipment safely and efficiently, which can cause accidents and reduce productivity.​

Addressing these points with careful planning, investment in proper equipment and training plus choosing reputable suppliers will help organisations avoid costly errors and optimise material handling operations efficiently and safely.