The transportation sector has developed a number of ways of shifting industrial steel products from the plant where they are manufactured to the site where they will be installed. Oversized and heavy items made from steel present certain problems for moving and handling. Firstly, it takes a lot of energy to get a heavy product on the move. Secondly, such items have to be secured very well because if they fall from their mountings, then it could be disastrous for anyone who happens to be in their way. Finally, hefty steel products can easily be damaged if they are knocked during transit. Although steel in tough, it is also pliable if a sufficient force is applied to it. Paint finishes can also be ruined by a failure to transport steel products in the correct fashion.
What options are available to heavy manufacturing industries when it comes to delivering their products?
Plastic Pallets
Plastic is often a preferred material for making pallets from when they are to be used to hold heavy items. Plastic pallets are able to handle a huge amount of weight and will only collapse under the most severe strain. It is possible to prevent steel items from rolling around on the back of a low loader if they are tied down onto a plastic pallet. Usually, a professional transportation services firm will use webbing to hold a steel product in place on its pallet. A key advantage of this approach is its flexibility because pallets can be arranged in various configurations to accommodate oddly shaped steel products, such as bespoke I-beams.
Wooden Skids
Timber skids are widely used for distributing the weight of a number of steel items on the back of a truck. These items are made for individual use, so they are tailored for the product they will be transporting, ideal for many steel fabricators serving the construction industry, for example. Many tonnes of weight can be applied to a timber skid so this is the best option for protecting very large steel products. The timber is cut to the profile of the item or items it will carry to help the products stay in place during transit.
Steel Frames
Steel is an ideal material for transporting steel products. Long, thin items that are made from steel, such as pipes, can be mounted on steel frames with relative ease, making them ready for transportation by road, rail or air freight. One of the big plus points of a steel frame is that it will be able to withstand lots of vibration stress without bending under the load. Some such frame systems collapse down after use making them easy to transport back to base ready for the next delivery job.
