Material Handling Equipment – Types, Uses & Buying Guide

Helping UK Businesses Move, Store & Protect Goods

At Permatt, we supply, hire, and maintain a wide range of material handling equipment focused on forklifts and related industrial trucks. The right equipment can transform productivity, improve safety, and reduce operational costs in your warehouse or industrial facility.

This guide explains what material handling equipment is, the different types in the industry, and, most importantly, how our expertise in forklifts and trucks can support your business.

What is Material Handling Equipment?

Material handling equipment includes the machinery, tools, and devices used to transport, store, protect, and control goods within your operation. Whether it’s lifting pallets to high racking, unloading delivery vehicles, or moving materials across a site, the right equipment streamlines workflows, keeps workers safe, and helps prevent product damage.

Main Categories of Material Handling Equipment

Material handling equipment is typically grouped into four main categories. At Permatt, we specialise in industrial trucks, particularly forklifts and related equipment, but it’s useful to understand the wider landscape.

1. Storage and Handling Equipment

Items like shelving, racking, and bins designed for storing goods safely and making them easy to access. We don’t supply these products directly, but our forklift solutions work seamlessly alongside them to optimise warehouse operations.

2. Industrial Trucks (Our Speciality)

This is our core area of expertise — equipment used to move goods within a facility or between transport vehicles. We supply, hire, and maintain a wide range of high-quality trucks from leading brands:

• Forklifts – Counterbalance, Electric, Diesel, and Gas models.
• Pallet Trucks – Manual and powered options for efficient load handling.
• Reach Trucks & Stackers – Warehouse solutions for high racking and narrow aisles.
• Tow Tractors – For moving multiple loads quickly across larger sites.

3. Bulk Material Handling Equipment

Machinery for moving large volumes of loose materials — such as conveyor belts, hoppers, and stackers — typically used in industries like mining, agriculture, or construction. These are outside our direct supply range but form part of the wider handling equipment landscape.

4. Automated Systems

Technologies such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotic palletisers, and automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS). While we don’t sell these systems, our forklift solutions integrate easily into partially automated workflows, supporting hybrid warehouse operations.

Benefits of Modern Material Handling Equipment

Investing in the right equipment delivers multiple business benefits that can transform how you operate:

• Increased productivity – Modern forklifts and warehouse trucks can move goods faster, handle heavier loads, and operate for longer periods without downtime. This means more pallets moved per shift, fewer bottlenecks, and a smoother overall workflow.

• Improved safety – By reducing the need for manual lifting, bending, and carrying, material handling equipment helps prevent workplace injuries such as back strain and repetitive stress issues. Built-in safety features like stability controls, ergonomic controls, and better visibility further protect operators and staff.

• Lower costs – Efficient equipment minimises product damage during handling, reducing wastage and returns. Better workflow efficiency also means less overtime and reduced energy use, lowering operational expenses over time.

• Greater flexibility – With a range of attachments and equipment options available, modern handling equipment can adapt to changing tasks, seasonal peaks, or expansion plans. This flexibility ensures you can take on different load types and warehouse layouts without needing multiple machines.

Material Handling Equipment from Permatt

We partner with leading brands to deliver reliable, high-performance trucks:

• CAT Forklifts – Durable and versatile models for a wide range of applications.
• JLG Access Equipment – Boom lifts, scissor lifts, and telehandlers for safe working at height.
• Konecranes – Heavy-duty lifting solutions with capacities up to 65 tonnes.
• Combilift – Multi-directional forklifts for handling long or bulky loads.
• Carer Electric Forklifts – Heavy-duty electric models with extended battery life.

Why Choose Permatt?

At Permatt, we pride ourselves on offering more than just quality material handling equipment – we deliver complete solutions. Our UK-wide coverage means you can rely on fast delivery, flexible hire arrangements, and dependable servicing wherever your business operates. With decades of hands-on experience supplying industrial trucks and forklifts to a wide range of sectors, we understand the demands of modern warehouses and industrial sites. We offer flexible hire and purchase options to suit different budgets and operational needs, ensuring you get the right solution without overextending your resources. Every recommendation we make is backed by expert, on-site advice tailored to your specific environment, helping you choose equipment that will boost safety, productivity, and long-term efficiency.

Next Steps

Ready to upgrade your material handling equipment?
📞 Call us on 0191 216 5320
📧 Email: enquiries@permatt.co.uk
Or contact us online to arrange a free consultation.

Looking for a broader view of how equipment fits into your workflow? See our full guide to material handling solutions.