Material handling totes are an essential part of any material handling process. In a nutshell, they streamline the efficiency of routine tasks by maximizing organization and access of materials for shop floor professionals. They do this by storing parts and supplies in an open-ended container, which is typically made of wire, plastic, or metal.
Material handling totes are nice because they’re also portable, and many variations of them are designed to collapse when they’re not in use so they can be more effectively stored. Totes come in various different sizes and are often purchased based on the volume or product they can handle. Width, height, and color are other purchasing considerations.
This article will take a closer look at the properties and benefits of material handling totes, as well as some of the key factors you should weigh when deciding between metal and plastic totes for your material handling purposes.
Totes vs. Bins
Though many people think of totes and bins as one in the same, they’re not. As we mentioned in the opening, totes are open-ended, typically at the top, whereas bins typically come with a lid to fully enclose materials. Totes are best for storing parts and materials that need to be accessed quickly, while bins are more ideal for storing and stacking parts or materials that may not need frequent access.
Think of it like this: In a workshop, it’s likely that nails and screws will be stored in totes, as those parts are often needed in such environments. Other more specialty parts would likely be stored in small bins and stacked inside a cabinet or drawer so that they’re stored and can be accessed easily while also keeping them out of the way of normal everyday operations.
Plastic vs. Metal Totes
As we noted in the opening, totes commonly come in wire, plastic, and metal variations.
For most wire totes, the wire material is made of metal. Metal totes are typically made from aluminum, steel, or stainless steel, while plastic totes come in ABS, acrylic, PE, PP, and PVC varieties.
Metal totes tend to be more heavy-duty than their plastic counterparts, but plastic still has a place in many material handling applications. Hence, it’s important to know the properties of each of the materials available.
Here’s a closer look a some of the common materials material handling totes are made of and what material applications they may be ideal for:
- Steel: Steel is a heavy, durable metal, so it’s best used for totes designed to hold heavy parts or supplies.
- Aluminum: This metal is lighter than steel and won’t oxidize, making it good in more rigorous environments. However, it does dent.
- Stainless steel: Stainless is an ideal material for totes that must perform in extreme, rigorous environments. They’re strong, don’t easily dent, and are chemical- and corrosion-resistant.
- ABS, PE, PP: These thermoplastics are common and provide a rigid material handling solution, however PP tends to be the strongest of the three.
- PVC: These types of totes are ideal for food processing and chemical facilities as PVC doesn’t easily react to environmental factors.
It’s worth noting that cardboard and wood totes are also available, though they’re not very common in most industrial environments.
Custom Material Handling Totes
While standard totes are ideal in most material handling and part storage circumstances, there are times when a facility might look into fabricating custom material handling totes.
This commonly occurs when totes need to meet specific dimensional requirements in order to be arranged in a facility. It may also be considered when things like racking or the ability to better incorporate totes with factory floor equipment are required.
For instance, totes can be custom made to be stackable. They can also be designed and made to include features such as legs or casters, or to include openings for equipment such as pallet jacks.
Some may try to source custom totes when they need material handling totes that meet specific requirements, such as insulation. Others might need a custom tote when it comes to getting certification or approval for their operations, like in the case of food or beverage processing.
Whatever your situation, know that custom material handling totes made out of aluminum, steel, or stainless can be produced by a custom metal fabricator with experience in the area, such as Southern Metal Fabricators For more information about how we can help you address your material handling totes, please contact us today.
