Material Handling and Cimstone
If you are a shop that works with Cimstone material you may already know much of the information in this article. And if you are setting up a new shop and plan on working with Cimstone this is information that you will most certainly need to know since it relates to engineered quartz equipment. In this article we will talk about some of the material handling equipment that is needed to work with Cimstone and how it makes your daily work easier.
What is Material Handling?
For Cimstone products, material handling involves many of the same concepts as other engineered quartz. But what exactly does that entail? For one, material handling involves simply storing Cimstone in a warehouse or a slab yard. Another part of material handling includes loading and unloading Cimstone for vehicles. Finally, when we say "material handling", we may be talking about maneuvering and/or positioning Cimstone slabs. This could be to cut the material or to finish it, either way, it is a facet of material handling.
Equipment for Storing Cimstone
Storage is an important part of material handling. in fact, a Cimstone slab might sit in storage for a while before it is actually used as a countertop. Having somewhere to store a slab of Cimstone is important then. Because of this, many fabrication shops choose to use a Cimstone storage rack to keep the slabs in until they are ready for use.
Transporting Cimstone
Fabrication shops require a number of pieces of equipment to operate smoothly. One of those is a single sided a frame cart for Cimstone or similar product. Why is that the case? Well, the easiest way to say it is that it makes the work easier and smoother by allowing the Cimstone slabs to be moved on a fixture rather than without one. Some of the transport carts can have casters (wheels) added to them so they can be loaded and rolled. Whether you are using a rolling cart in the shop or an a-frame along a wall of the delivery van, these units are practical.
Unloading Equipment for Cimstone
Loading and uloading Cimstone slabs involves lifting them onto racks, machines, or even trucks. Additionally, the slabs can be very heavy to lift to any significant height without the help of a machine; Cimstone slabs included. But how can these be hoisted up into a truck or onto a polishing table? Lifting equipment has to be used for this. So, a fabricator may use a vertical style Cimstone scissor clamp for the task. This makes the work easier and safer than trying to pick it up by hand.
In conclusion, having the proper material handling equipment for managing Cimstone products is not really all that different from what you would need to handle natural stone surfaces. Like any engineered quartz, working with Cimstone takes various products that are designed to lift, transport, and load large slabs of product.
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