Trying to go forklift-free as an automotive or heavy equipment plant can be challenging if that has always been your process. You need a solution to reduce container clutter on the main floor that allows sequencing in a separate area, and then transporting parts and materials around the plant in a safe manner.

Industrial carts are a safer, more efficient way to streamline your processes. Here are the features that make a difference when considering making the switch from forklifts to industrial carts.

Racks vs. Containers: Choosing the Right Industrial Cart

How the industrial cart will be used is integral to choosing a cart with the right features. Things like pick height and whether parts will be picked from a container or a rack will change what type of industrial cart is best suited to your needs.

Rotate or Walk-in Carts for Racks

Racks generally use a static dolly or walk-in cart for easier access to shelves. If your racks have a double-sided pickface, rotate carts make it easier to display the rack lineside in any orientation and seamlessly rotate to the other side when one side of the rack is empty or to access different parts.

Tilt Carts for Containers

Tilt carts make it safer and easier for operators to move parts in and out of containers because the worker doesn’t have to bend down as significantly to reach parts at the bottom of the container. Tilt carts come in 30 degree and 60 degree tilt options depending on preference and the height of the container itself. We also have an option for a low boy tilt cart that is designed to tilt at 45 degrees but with a lower pick height to keep things within safe ergonomic reach for taller containers.

Considering Casters

It’s very challenging to pick what the right casters are for your industrial cart fleet. Casters impact the maneuverability of the cart, which is extremely important when you take into account the conditions in which the cart will be operating.

One of the most important considerations is aisle width, as this will determine how much turn radius you need from your caster wheel configuration. Six-wheel configurations give a zero-turn radius when being pushed or pulled manually, but aren’t recommended for tilt carts. Another option is quad steers that allow all four wheels to pivot, but this can actually be more challenging to keep moving in the right direction, even though they provide the tightest possible turn radius. All of our carts come with the standard two swivel rigs and two rigid rigs for the optimal balance of stability and mobility.

Additional Features for Static Carts

Beyond the basics of selecting an industrial cart, there are many additional features that can meet unique needs in automotive or heavy equipment plants. Industrial carts can come with pre-installed risers or gravity flow racks for built-in storage and height. We also offer a top hat rack that allows operators to do top hatting on the cart itself to streamline sequencing. Whatever your industrial needs, our carts can adapt to meet them!

Invest in Components, Select for Process

Components are key to choosing the right industrial carts. You need these carts to be sturdy and reliable, which is why American Manufacturing only uses the strongest materials for our carts. All of our carts have a tubular frame with structural steel members and a plate deck atop 8×2 polyurethane casters that offer the best possible capacity and longevity.

Confident in your industrial cart provider, the only thing left to do is choose which industrial carts are right for your fleet. There are a lot of ways to do carts, so contact us at American Manufacturing and let us help you find the right customized cart solution for your needs.