When you’re operating in an industrial space, you understand that you face a lot of challenges. Some of those challenges include keeping your job site clean and maintaining your plant. In order to help your processes run as smoothly as possible, it’s crucial to have the right equipment to keep your space in order. There are a number of pieces of equipment that you’ve probably heard of: dump hoppers, a forklift dumpster, granite racks or granite a frames. Roura was the original creator of the self dumping hopper, so let’s start with that.
How it Works
The low-cost, self dumping hopper is perfect for storing bulk materials that can then be easily transported and dumped. It is also designed to be perfectly balanced, making it extremely easy to load and unload. Use cases for the hopper include:
- Storing glass
- Housing garbage
- Collecting food processing waste
- Containing Scrap
- Storing cardboard and other items
Hoppers have built-in pockets made especially for forklifts, making them easy to transport to another location. Once moved, the metal hopper can be unloaded in a single motion – simply release the safety latch and it will tilt forward and release the load.
Once all the material has been unloaded, it will immediately return to its locked position. The forklift operator can then slide the forks back into the pockets and take it right back to the plant floor to be reloaded.
Proper Techniques for Safety
Since the self dumping hopper is considered heavy equipment, it is vital to maintain and follow proper safety procedures when operating it. Here are some of the top safety tips to follow when utilizing this piece of equipment in your industrial space:
Inspection – Before you use the hopper, make sure to check the components (including the latch assembly) to make sure that they aren’t damaged or showing excessive wear. If the drum, base and latch spring are working correctly, it is safe to use.
Secure the Equipment – You should make sure the latch holder on the hopper is in the locked position before loading. It should remain locked always, unless you are unloading the content. When loading the hopper on the forklift, make sure to secure the safety chain around the mast of the forklift so it stays secure during transport.
Don’t Overload – Make sure that whatever forklift you are using can handle the capacity of the loaded hopper. If you are unsure, be sure to check the load chart.
Picking Up and Transporting – Once you’ve inserted the forks into the opening at the base, spread out the forks to secure the unit. Tilt the mast back and pick up the forks in order to keep the load tight. Only ever transport a single hopper at a time, and make sure it’s not too high during transport.
Dumping and Re-latching – With the mast back, go unlock the latch holder and then raise the forks. Once you are at the correct dumping location, slightly tilt the mast forward and release the handle. After the contents are clear, tilt the mast back and then move the latch holder back into the locked position and re-latch it.
Invest in the Best
If you’re in need of reliable, durable self dumping bins, then contact Roura Material Handling. We are the home of the original self-dumping hopper and have been serving the material handling industry for over a century. In that time, we’ve perfected our metal hopper and are confident that you’ll be impressed. Call us or fill out our online form today!