As someone who works in an industry such as manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, construction, automotive or logistics, MHE likely plays a critical role in your everyday operations.
But what exactly is MHE, and how can it help your business succeed?
Metreel are leading suppliers of MHE in the UK, so you couldn’t be in a better place to discover the MHE meaning, plus receive tailored advice from our experts.
What Does MHE Stand For?
MHE stands for material handling equipment. The abbreviation is widely used across warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, distribution and construction to refer collectively to any machinery, tools or systems used to move, lift, store or control materials and goods within a facility. You may also see it written as MH&E (material handling and equipment) in some industrial contexts, though MHE is the more common abbreviation in UK warehouse and logistics environments.
What Is Material Handling Equipment?
MHE is the abbreviation of material handling equipment.
As the name suggests, material handling equipment can be a name given to any type of tool or piece of material that is responsible for lifting, lowering or repositioning materials.
Typically, MHE tools are deployed as the materials are either too heavy to manually lift, or the work requires streamlining in some other way through the use of machinery.
MHE equipment provides several benefits:
- Improving productivity
- Improving safety
- Reducing the strain on manual labour
- Protecting goods and materials
Material handling equipment is available in many different forms, in addition to various customisations such as the lifting capacity or the ability to transport the machinery itself. Therefore, it’s possible to curate the machine or tool to suit the exact application to maximise all of the above benefits for your business.
What Are The Different Types Of Material Handling Equipment?
On our handling page you’ll discover a fantastic range of MHE to give you a real insight into the tools and machinery that could make your workplace far more productive as well as safer.
But to give you a brief overview, the different types of handling equipment include equipment capable of lifting, lowering and repositioning materials and goods.
These include:
Overall, material handling is any type of equipment that can perform potentially dangerous or time-consuming aspects of the task. This is where the importance of MHE is felt the most, especially in terms of improving safety. However, removing strain on human labour also means the task can be completed more efficiently to boost the overall output of the business.
Warehouse Material Handling Equipment
All of the above examples of material handling equipment may be useful within a warehouse environment. As a warehouse owner, we can certainly discuss with you how Metreel material handling products can improve safety and efficiency in your business.
You can read more about this in our post: Keeping Your Warehouse Productive With Material Handling Equipment.
However, other examples of material handling equipment used to move, store and retrieve goods in a warehouse can include:
- Automated retrieval systems
- Conveyors
- Dock equipment
- Forklifts
- Order picking equipment
- Pallet jacks
- Shelving and racking systems
Ensuring your warehouse is maximising the use of material handling equipment is essential, since this can have a direct impact on safety and productivity. This is why warehouses need to continually review their operations to ensure inefficiencies within the business are being activity remedied with the right tools, equipment and overall processes.
What Is An MHE Driver?
An MHE driver is a warehouse or logistics operative who is responsible for operating material handling equipment as a core part of their role. In practice, this most commonly refers to forklift drivers, reach truck operators and counterbalance truck drivers, though the term can extend to anyone operating motorised handling equipment within a warehouse or production environment.
MHE drivers are typically required to hold relevant licences or certifications for the equipment they operate. In the UK, forklift operators are expected to hold a recognised accreditation such as a RTITB or ITSSAR licence, and employers are responsible for ensuring that anyone operating MHE has received adequate training and is deemed competent to do so safely under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
What Is MHE Experience?
If you have seen the phrase “MHE experience required” in a job listing, it refers to hands-on experience operating material handling equipment in a warehouse or industrial setting. This typically means the candidate has previously worked with equipment such as forklifts, pallet trucks, overhead cranes, hoists or similar machinery as part of their role.
MHE experience is a common requirement for warehouse operative, logistics and production roles where goods need to be moved, lifted or repositioned as part of daily operations. The specific type of equipment involved will vary depending on the employer and the nature of the work, so it is worth checking the job description carefully to understand which machinery you would be expected to operate.
Metreel – Material Handling Equipment Supplier UK
Do you own or work on behalf of a business that is in search of MHE products?
Based in Derbyshire, Metreel can work with your business to supply a variety of handling products. We specialise in various types of cranes including workstation cranes as well as monorails, track systems, gantries and more.
Discover our full range of products by visiting our site or downloading our product brochure.
Or contact our team to discuss your requirements with us by calling us on 0115 932 7010 or emailing us at [email protected].