Why is material handling important in manufacturing?

Material handling affects both safety and throughput. Poorly managed systems contribute to workplace injuries — roughly 145,000 a year in the U.S. — and unplanned downtime, which averages $260,000 per hour across manufacturing. Well-designed systems reduce both.

What's driving the shift to automated material handling?

A structural labor shortage — over 400,000 unfilled U.S. warehousing positions — combined with rising e-commerce and production volume is pushing companies toward conveyors, AS/RS, and robotics that can run without added headcount.

What electrical components keep a material handling system running safely?

Motor starters, contactors, overload relays, and motor protection circuit breakers protect the motors driving conveyors and sortation systems, while E-stop push buttons and safety switches let operators halt a line immediately when something goes wrong.

What Is Material Handling? Why It Matters

Q: What is material handling?

Material handling is the movement, storage, protection, and control of materials across the production and logistics chain — from receiving raw materials to shipping finished goods. It includes equipment like conveyors, forklifts, automated storage and retrieval systems, and automated guided vehicles.