Materials Handling Requires A Specialist
 Pty Ltd (ICA.jpg)
The design and installation of complex materials handling systems is arguably the last sector of industry overlooked for specialist attention. Habitually, companies upgrading systems have handed general engineering firms the responsibility to plan the materials handling design, often as part of a greater project.
Materials handling specialist Industrial Conveying (Aust) Pty Ltd (ICA) believes that without specialised input, budgets can blow out and the suitability of a handling system can be compromised.
“This happens right across the industrial sector - in general manufacturing, logistics, food processing, retail handling, sorting and transport,” said Technical Manager of ICA’s Engineering Design department, Mr Barry Thompson. “Companies appoint a firm with general engineering capabilities to write a spec for materials handling requirements, but this has its shortcomings as its engineers are unlikely to be specialised in this very defined field."
“This, of course, is not to belittle the engineers of such firms, it’s just reality that materials handling technologies are evolving so quickly that the general engineers are not completely knowledgeable on our specialised industry. While they are well qualified, often they are relying on general skills in a specialised field and in some applications it can leave them short.”
Mr Thompson is adamant if specialised input is involved at the planning and design stage of all major or complex materials handling systems in Australia, costly mistakes will be eliminated. The key is to involve an up-to-date materials handling engineer so that many little, but important, characteristics of a complex project are not overlooked.
Because the cost of conveyors is normally revealed at the latter stages of a tender bid, it is at this stage where design errors are normally revealed. This prompts the band aid remedy to knock off costs from the conveyor system and will almost always compromises its performance.
“A specialised company like ICA should be engaged as an assistant for materials handling matters in the greater scope of works,” said Mr Thompson. “A good materials handling specialist not only puts together the concept but also has the knowledge to specify the right components to ensure cost control and ongoing system quality. For instance, in our design department we can specify right down to the last nuts and bolts to give accurate costings."
“When we study requirements deep into the component level we are able to configure the best cost control by quoting excellent materials that are robust and will last, rather than the cheapest option which will cost a client in ongoing maintenance."
“Why materials handling specialists are rarely engaged as intermediary in tender applications is a complete mystery. We have the specialised ability to do this work; without this level of input the client will most likely see constant modification of buildings and constant changing to the scope of works and budget blowouts.”
“In many projects, materials handling specifications are started by architects who are appointed to design a building. If any architect was appointed to design a hospital then would you expect this person to design the operating theatre as well?”
Major projects involve huge financial investment and any company making this sacrifice should expect a subject expert at every part of the project. For example, a materials handling engineer that has not been in the industry for 10 years will be out of touch with the latest technology. Seeing technologies in a technical catalogue is one thing but knowing how to use them at an optimum is the critical issue.
“When it comes to materials handling technology, there is a big gap between what is perceived to be required as knowledge and what is genuinely needed. It’s all down to the specialist who knows the technical side, the applications of technologies, and all the other little things such as understanding of OH&S ramifications and Comcare approvals,” said Mr Thompson.
