Transport carts in the workspace: mobility increases productivity

Any industrial work environment requires solutions that provide the necessary mobility, which in turn will enable the proper flow of parts, materials and tools (e.g. between warehouse workspace - shelves, and production workspace – workstations). Mobility also means greater flexibility in shaping the workspace as needed.

Ergonomic industrial carts perfectly address these issues and facilitate the organization of intralogistics in the enterprise. However, it is worth making sure that the transport carts you choose meet certain basic criteria (ergonomics, build quality, durability, modularity) and that they are properly suited to the needs of your business.

Below you will find practical tips to help you choose the right and optimal transport carts for your workspace in terms of productivity and comfort.

 

What qualities should any industrial transport truck meet?

Exemplary classification of industrial transport trucks

Mobile equipment components, due to their vital function, are heavily utilized, which leads to rapid wear and tear. Therefore, it is very important to choose high-quality solutions, suitable for industrial use. Therefore, a suitable transport cart should be properly designed, manufactured with high-quality materials (quality construction, tops, accessories and wheels) and solidly constructed.

Each transport cart should also be ergonomic - to meet this condition it is necessary to analyze:

• what is the cart to be used for,
• what items will be transported and the weight of these items,
• under what conditions the cart will be used (the question of the amount of storage room, the size of the working space, the type of floor, the presence of thresholds, stairs, or other obstacles, etc.),
• who will use the transport cart (number of users, dimensions of users),
• whether the conditions and specifics of the tasks will require retrofitting the carts with accessories, e.g. additional shelves, lighting, tool cabinets, reinforcement of the tops.

Once we have the answers to the above questions, it will be easier to select transport carts that guarantee proper ergonomics. Greater ergonomics, and therefore greater comfort and productivity, are provided by carts with appropriately positioned handles/grips, with the ability to adjust the height and retrofit the cart with useful accessories (modularity).

Take care to choose the right set of wheels

For obvious reasons wheels are an essential component of transport carts, so a great deal relies on the selection of the right set of wheels to enable the correct operation of the entire cart. The wheels should be appropriately selected for the dimensions and intended load of the cart in terms of diameter and the material from which the wheel is made. The ground on which the cart will be moving is also important. Some industries, such as electronics manufacturing (ESD or anti-static wheels) require specialized wheels. Castors can also be installed in different configurations - there are fixed wheels and swivel wheels (or swivel wheels with a brake). Swivel wheels provide greater maneuverability and will perform better in tight spaces.

,,The wheels should be appropriately selected for the dimensions and intended load of the cart in terms of diameter and the material from which the wheel is made.''

 

Match the type of cart to the task at hand

Transport carts can perform various tasks in the workspace, such as:

1. transportation of materials to work stations (e.g., assembly tables on the production floor),
2. mobile storage of tools or materials,
3. expanding the workspace within a given workstation (an extension, a temporary workstation, a small workstation),
4. mobile space on which a larger equipment necessary for work is installed,
5. all-purpose solutions for transporting/storing materials/tools and for performing minor work.

The above-mentioned functions can be carried out within different types of working environments - workshops, factories, logistics centers, warehouses, laboratories, paint shops, etc. When choosing the right type of transport cart, this should be taken into account. You may want to forgo one-size-fits-all solutions and choose specialized carts dedicated to your industry. Below we will briefly introduce different types of transport carts, describing their advantages and applications.

Universal shelf carts

JABAMA shelf carts in two configurations - fixed and adjustable versions

Multi-purpose table (shelf) cart, available with two or three shelves as standard. It will work well in a variety of industrial and warehouse environments for transporting parts and materials, and will also prove useful as additional workspace. The optimum shelf size for efficient maneuvering is approximately 1000 x 500 mm. Featuring a steel design, the shelf carts are characterized by high durability. Thanks to the high quality of manufacturing, Jabama shelf carts have a maximum load capacity of 200 kg. We also have carts with height adjustment of the upper top, so you can adjust it to the user and the transported materials. An ergonomic shelf cart should also be equipped with a handle.

Tall warehouse carts for picking (packaging)

Jabama shelf cart for storing parts and components with secured shelfs

Sometimes transport carts need to be adapted to transport large quantities of materials - this is especially useful in warehouses when large orders need to be processed. These types of carts are also well suited as mobile storage at workbenches, such as for assembled components, prepared for shipment to a further stage of production or storage. These types of picking carts are much taller than universal shelf carts (they are over 1,500 mm high, depending on the number of shelves), and the shelves themselves are often secured to prevent items from sliding off during transport. Jabama high storage carts are produced in various configurations (different number of shelves, their dimensions and spaces between shelves), and their load capacity can range from 200 to 400 kg as standard. Depending on the height of the cart, wheels with a diameter of 125 or 160 mm will work well - they are more durable and easier to set in motion.

Workshop and tool carts

JABAMA workshop cart with accessories (handles, cabinet, shelves, perforated wall)

Mobile solutions dedicated for work in workshops and other industrial spaces are primarily characterized by high durability. They are available in various configurations, but it is important that the cart is equipped with a work surface on which you can freely put down tools while working, but also a practical tool cabinet. We offer different types of workshop carts with containers in different configurations (different numbers of tool drawers). Workshop carts make it easier to organize the work environment, arrange tools and can also serve as a mobile workstations. By default, their dimensions are similar to those of universal shelf carts, about 1000x500x900 mm (length x width x height). The load capacity of Jabama workshop carts is 250 kg.

Cardboard carts

JABAMA packing station with a small carton cart that fits under the table

Work in warehouses and logistics or shipping centers requires, first of all, specialized packing and parcel picking stations (check out our wide range of packing tables), but their supplement and an important part of the working environment, which will help improve the organization of the station and increase the efficiency of the packaging process, will be carts for storing folded cardboard boxes. These types of carts are made in different sizes and heights (low ones that can be hidden under the work surface and tall ones), and their distinctive feature is special separators that facilitate the storage of cartons. Depending on your needs, the number and height of separators can be freely configured.

Table carts and mobile workstations

Mobile computer workstation JABAMA

JABAMA table cart for transporting larger parts

In some situations, additional workspace is needed to store parts and tools, or to perform some unusual tasks next to the target workstation. This task is often fulfilled by the universal shelf carts described above, but sometimes more dedicated solutions are required. Mobile workspace can be provided, for example, by mobile workstations with the tabletop dimensions of a typical work table, or by additional desktops that can act as computer workstations. These types of transport carts meet many of the features of typical work tables (e.g., they can be equipped with common accessories like lights and adjustable tops), but at the same time are equipped with wheels and handles for transport. Their major advantage is also that, with limited space, they can be freely moved and stored after finishing work, effectively managing space.

Mobile tilting assembly tables and racks for prefabrication of electrical and control cabinets and boards

Mobile tilting assembly rack for prefabrication JABAMA

Prefabrication of electrical cabinets requires a great deal of precision and attention. The use of JABAMA mobile prefabrication racks significantly speeds up the entire process and makes it more efficient. A typical prefabrication cart is based on an A-shape on a rectangular support and made of solid steel profiles. With two large shelves (one per side), it is easy to position the assembled cabinet during assembly. The working space is lined with protective corrugated rubber. Importantly, the height of each shelf can be incrementally adjusted. The mobile rack is also equipped with a shelf for tools. Its overall dimensions are 1910x1740x1027 mm (height x width x depth), and the carrying capacity of the cart is 300 kg evenly distributed.

„Prefabrication of electrical cabinets requires a great deal of precision and attention. The use of JABAMA mobile prefabrication racks significantly speeds up the entire process and makes it more efficient.”

 

Coating trolleys