Douglas Equipment, located in Miami, Florida, is a leading wholesale supplier of casters and material handling equipment.
To get an idea of the broad range of material handling equipment we sell, imagine a warehouse, then think about every aspect of operations that might occur in there, from lifting, to transport, to storage. We provide equipment for all of those tasks. Chances are that if a job needs to be done in a warehouse, you can get the lifting equipment needed for that job from Douglas Equipment.
If you are involved in automotive services, you might be surprised that a company that specializes in casters and material handling equipment has a lot to offer when it comes to helping your operations. Consider this, some portion of your facility is likely devoted to moving and storing materials, parts, and supplies – much like a warehouse.
Furthermore, you probably have to lift and move heavy or bulky items. The specialized equipment found in warehouses might be just the solution you need when it comes to helping with your lifting requirements.
In the sections below, we’ll highlight some of the lifting equipment we sell at Douglas Equipment, and explain ways to use that equipment for automotive services.
Lifting Boxes and Bulky Items
The delivery driver just dropped off the latest shipment of parts, and there they are, stacked in a pile in your receiving area. What’s your usual method of moving them to where they need to go? Do you rely on that old, beat up two wheeled hand truck, and struggle to make the load fit, no matter what shape or size? Here are some ideas to help you lift your load:
- Hand Truck– The simplest device is the two-wheeled hand truck. (Perhaps you know it as a two-wheeled dolly.) Place boxes on the hand truck’s nose plate, and wheel them away. One size, however, does not fit all – did you know there are many types of specialized hand trucks? We can help you find one that suits your needs. For example, we have two-wheeled hand trucks that can convert to four-wheeled carts; hand trucks that fold for easy, out-of-the-way storage; hand trucks that have an extra set of wheels that help support the load when the truck is in the inclined position; and more.
- Dolly – Tor bulky items, a dolly is ideal. It’s a flat platform resting on four wheels. Place the load on the platform – it can even hang over the sides – and wheel it away!
- Cart – For loads that are long or fragile, a cart is a good solution. You balance the load on the cart, and then push against the cart’s handles to set it in motion. (Dollies, mentioned above, don’t have handles; you push against the load.) If that doesn’t work for your load, try using a cart.
Each of these pieces of equipment is available in many different variations. Choosing the best one can make the work of lifting and moving things much easier.
Lifting, Moving and Stacking Pallets
Do you have items that are shipped to you on pallets? If so, we recommend that you use a pallet truck (also known as a pallet jack). With this, you can move items all at once when they’re still on the pallet – rather than going through the extra work of transferring them to a hand truck or cart, and then moving them individually.
- Manual Pallet Truck – Slide the pallet truck’s two forks under the pallet, lift the load a few inches (usually by pumping the truck’s handle a few times), and roll it away.
- Powered Pallet Truck – If you need to move many pallets, or you need to raise pallets several feet and slide them onto shelves, then a powered pallet truck might work well for you. The power for this is usually supplied by onboard batteries. Models are available with extended reach. The pallet truck will lift the load for you, and then move forward to place it on a shelf all at the touch of a button.
With many different styles of pallet trucks to choose from, we can help you find one that’s right for your particular situation.
Drum Handling Equipment
Drums containing fluids, powders or parts are common in automotive service operations. These drums can be 55 gallons or smaller, and made from steel, plastic or fiber. Do you need to lift and move drums? If so, then you should know that we carry an extensive line of drum handling equipment.
- Manual Drum Handlers – These range in size from small units that can move and lift drums to a height of over a foot, to larger units that can lift drums higher than 8 feet. The weight of the drums can be up to 800 lbs. for the smaller drum handlers, or as much as 1,500 lbs. for the larger ones. Tilt mechanisms make pouring the drums easy.
- Powered Drum Handlers – Drums can be heavy! If you have a lot of lifting to do, a powered drum handler can make the job much easier. Electric, air, and battery-powered units are available. Manually propelled units, which you push to move across the floor, are available with power options for the lift and tilt mechanism.Power propelled units, with all of the functions of the drum handler operated with power, are also available.
The range of options for moving and handling drums are extensive! If you’ve struggled in the past with moving drums, you’ll be happy to know that we can show you a drum handler that will end that struggle.
Call Douglas Equipment for Help Lifting Your Load!
We know you’re busy running your automotive service business, but if you take a little time to give our customer service experts a call, we’d like to hear about your operations. Douglas Equipment can suggest lifting equipment that you may never have thought of. Furthermore, it will help streamline your workflow. We can be reached toll free at 1-800-451-0030, or 305-888-3700 in the Miami area. We can also be contacted online via our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
