What is Materials Management? 

Materials management is the A-to-Z process of planning, controlling, directing, and coordinating the goods in your production process.  

An efficient process: 

• Utilises advanced data and analytics for forecasting and inventory management. 
• Streamlines and simplifies receiving, storage, production, and shipping.  
• Semi-automates the production process with advanced tools and technology.  
• Builds in the QA process for both raw materials and finished products.  
• Minimises drop risk, damaged product risk, and employee injury risk. 
• Is energy and time efficient, reduces labour hours, and optimises production. 
• Saves time and money across multiple key performance indicators.   

What tools are required to move my product types? 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to semi-automated lifting, moving, positioning, mounting, and stacking your materials. You will likely require a variety of customised lifting mechanics and interchangeable hooks and suction cups to complete the production process. This includes any combination of forklift-mounted, ceiling-mounted, floor-mounted, and monorail-mounted lifts.  

Your equipment mix will vary by factors such as your: 

• Material type 
• Material packaging 
• Material weight  
• Warehouse layout 
• Ceiling height 
• Compliance requirements 
• Production volume 

Let’s dive in and explore your top options by your product type, with some operational process tips mixed in. 

#1 Bulk bags and sacks  

Bags are heavy, bulky, flexible, and often require more than one person to lift manually. TAWI’s sack lifters efficiently and ergonomically lift and stack bags of every kind. Mount to a vacuum lifter or hoist for material management of up to 270 kg to effortlessly lift:  

• Paper sacks 
• Plastic sacks 
• Woven sacks 
• Jute sacks  
• Burlap sacks 

#2 Individual and bulk components 

As your raw goods are transformed into the parts required for your finished product, you will need to efficiently move components from one area of the production or assembly line to another. 

TAWI’s lifting solutions can be tailored for components and parts of every size and shape. This includes moving bulk components.  

For example: 

• Our battery lifters eliminate the strain and burnout of stacking or moving batteries to pallets, packaging, or the next area of production. 
• We custom-tailor metal component lifters for parts of every size, weight, and shape. This can include technology to precision mount to the next area of assembly. 
• Move plastic components in bulk bins or easily transfer mid-sized and large plastic components.  

#3 Raw or packaged food items 

We have food-safety-compliant food lifting equipment for raw meat, raw cheese, and food products packaged in plastic, paper, or woven sacks. This includes cartons, crates, wine boxes, blocks, and more.  

Lift, move, and rotate up to 250 kg per load of dry, refrigerated, or frozen foods with ergonomic one or two-hand operation.  

#4 Food or empty pallets 

Once your components or completed products are loaded up, you need to transfer your pallets to the next area of production. Once pallets are emptied, you need to redistribute them throughout your plant. 

Our high-frequency vacuum lifters move your pallets short and long distances without the aches and pains of reaching, straining, or lifting.  

#5 Suitcases, backpacks, and luggage  

Strain-free baggage handling lifts for airports, transportation facilities, and other cargo centres ensure safe and efficient baggage handling. Our industrial material management lifts accommodate the weight and fabric flexibility to effortlessly lift from the side or top of almost any bag. This includes soft backpacks and soft suitcases.  

Transfer and rotate 360 degrees from conveyer to cart and from cart to conveyer. Lift 60 kg in out-of-gauge environments and 32 kg in in-gauge environments.  

#6 Canisters, containers, and drums 

Simplify the process of lifting full or empty canisters, containers, and drums. Our container lifting solutions lift up to 270 kg at a time. Depending on your weight and production line, we may be able to tailor your hooks, grips, or suction cups to lift multiple items at once.  

Safely lift plastic or metal containing chemicals and liquids of every kind. Attach to a bridge crane to expand the lifting distance.  

#7 Glass windows, doors, and panels 

If you produce windows, glass doors, sheets of glass, or other fragile goods TAWI has you covered! We can tailor the placement of the suction cups on your high-frequency glass vacuum lift to ergonomically lift, move, tilt, rotate, and place or mount. The articulating jib arm all but eliminates your operational shatter, drop, and damage risk.  

#8 Paper or plastic reels 

Effortlessly lift, move, reposition, and stack or insert industrial reels and rolls. Our reel lifters lift both paper and plastic up to 250 kg allowing for both vertical and horizontal positioning. Our solutions can be attached to a forklift or electric pushcart for mobility.  

Our add-on QuickLoad feature empowers you to program your materials management to the precise height of your machine axis or stack.  

#9 Standard or commercial tyres  

Tyres are heavy, bulky, and hard to handle, making manual lifting exhaustive. Our tyre handling lifts ergonomically lift up to 40 kg. We tailor your lift to your tire size and weight, often utilising a combination of a vacuum lifter with a double hook tool. This combination enables lifting, moving, and positioning without strain, pain, or drop risk. Move throughout your facility on a custom overhead track.  

#10 Bales and large blocks 

Our rubber bale lifters are designed to lift up to 270 kg. Securely grip and lift with at least 2 vacuum-powered suction cups. The ergonomic handles empower hours of working without fatigue. Use for both short and long-distance lifting.  

#11 Bulk materials and product crates 

Crates are ideal for lifting multiple components at once, or for moving completed orders that are shipped in crates. Choose from tilting crate lifters or multiple crate trolly lifters depending on your needs.  

Our multi-crate trollies are also ideal for space-saving and organised stocking in retail locations.  

#12 Home appliances, furniture, and electronics 

Effortlessly lift and move appliances, furniture, and electronics up to 270 kg. Size and weight aside, these home essentials are bulky and often need to make many stops along the assembly line.  

Our furniture and appliance lifts lift from the top or side and can be customised to the size, shape, and weight of parts and completed products.  

They can be tailored for the materials management of: 

• Dishwashers 
• Refrigerators  
• Washing machines 
• Dryers 
• Sinks/basins 
• Microwaves 
• Mattresses 
• Bathtubs 
• Toilets  
• Wood furniture 
• Cabinets 
• Dinner tables 
• Furniture  
• Electronics  
• And more 

#13 Raw wood planks, boards, and sheets 

Our panel lifter lift, move, rotate, and tilt wood goods up to 180 degrees. We can even customise your material handling jib to stack or reposition either horizontally or vertically.  

Move raw wood sheets, planks, boards, and finished cabinets, doors, and wood furniture!   

#14 Boxes, cartons, and food crates  

Our box lifters can move both open and closed boxes throughout your production plant. You will likely require a variety of box lifters to unload, transfer to and from racks and pallets, pack your products, and transfer to shipping.  

We can customise your lifts to lift up to 270 kg, including milk cartons, wine boxes, food crates, and boxes of every size and shape.  

#15 Metal plates, parts, sheets, canisters, and more  

Metal material handling is made easier than ever with TAWI’s metal lifters. Ergonomically lift metal of all shapes and sizes, weighing up to 1,600 kg. Multi-suction vacuum lifters are utilised for large and heavy metal goods. Small and light metal goods can be moved 2 to 4 at a time.  

#16 Glass, wood, plastic, laminate, and metal sheets 

Sheets don’t just need to be lifted along your assembly line, but rotated, tilted, and manoeuvred for precision horizontal or vertical placement. Our sheet lifts allow you to move, mount, store, and place sheets of any material.  

From glass windows and doors to wood panels, plastic sheets, laminate sheets, metal plates, and more. Customise with our QuickLoad feature to precision mount in the production line.  

#17 Stone products and cement slabs 

From bags of raw cement to construction rocks and fragile stone and cement slabs, TAWI works with you to customise your stone and cement lifters to meet your unique needs.  

Slabs aren’t just slippery and fragile, they’re heavy. We have drop and damage-free lifters that lift up to 1,600 kg. Stack or package both vertically and horizontally.  

We have lifts for cardboard containers, plastic containers, and bags and sacks made of paper, plastic, or woven materials.  

Want to Learn More About How to Semi-Automate Your Materials Management? 

If you’re ready to improve safety and compliance, while slashing labour and optimising your production time—reach out to TAWI today to learn more!