Transfer cars are small vehicles or carts used to transport products throughout a factory. These carts play a major role in lean manufacturing systems, and allow companies to maximize production and sales while minimizing investment. Transfer cars make it easy and efficient for workers to move products from one stage of production to the next. Depending on design, these cars may be equipped to move everything from palletized goods to large vehicle or equipment bodies.
Factories rely on different types of transfer cars to meet specific manufacturing and production goals. These cars can be steerable or non-steerable, with non-steerable models among the most widely used. Non-steerable transfer cars are designed to travel on dedicated tracks or rails within a factory. Steerable models utilize wheels to travel freely in any direction without the use of tracks of wheels. Each of these types of carts may be manually operated or powered by an internal battery, depending on the weight of the product and the distance it must travel.
Transfer cars perform a variety of tasks within a manufacturing or industrial facility. They may be used for pallet handling, or to transfer product from an assembly line to a loading dock or storage area. These carts are also used to move products along different stages or bays within an assembly line, or to move the product from one piece of equipment to the next. Different types of transfer carts may be designed for each stage of production, or a single type of cart may be used throughout the facility.
These cars are often customized to transport a specific type of product. For example, some feature multi-level shelves to transport smaller items while others feature a wide base designed to support large equipment. Pharmaceutical facilities may utilize carts that resemble a mobile clean room, with special filtering or refrigeration systems to keep supplies in a controlled environment during transfer. Some carts are designed for use with a fork lift or crane, while others are designed simply for manual loading or unloading. High-quality transfer cars often include special safety features like proximity sensors and advanced braking systems.
This type of manufacturing equipment provides many advantages to businesses. They allow workers to move more quickly through the production process, resulting in greater product volume and lower costs. These cars also allow for shorter assembly lines, which helps companies use floor space more efficiently. Finally, transfer carts reduce the need for cranes, hoists, and other expensive equipment, which helps to reduce capital investment and maintenance requirements.