Glossary


Safety rail Guard rail with posts and rails erected to prevent individuals from coming in contact with hazards.
SCE Supply Chain Execution
Scissors lift A raising/lowering device that is supported or stabilized by one or more pantograph leg section.
Second surface reflection A problem for polarized retro-reflective sensors that is created by shiny objects wrapped in shiny material. The wrapping material can depolarize the light as it passes through.
Selective rack Steel storage racks arranged in either single or back-to-back (double) rows. Each of the rows offers a bay or number of bays in the down aisle direction. Pallets are generally positioned side-by-side in the down-aisle direction at each level of the bay. The advantage to this configuration of rack is that all pallets are accessible from the facing aisle.
Self-Guided Vehicle A Self-Guided Vehicle (SGV) is an autonomous, self-directed robotic delivery system for the movement of product in diverse environments. An SGV operates independently to navigate around fixed and moving obstructions without the need for an external guide path network or sensors, such as buried wires or mounted magnetic or optical strips. Instead, an SGV uses on-board sensory inputs and navigational software to dynamically plot a path as the robot moves to each goal or task destination. See also AGV or Automatic Guided Vehicle or AGVS.
Semigantry crane A gantry crane designed to have one "leg" of the crane supporting an end of the bridge and the other end of the bridge is supported by an end truck running on an elevated rail or runway. Often referred to as a semigantry crane.
Sensor An electronic device designed to detect a specific phenomenon, such as the presence or absence of a physical object, and used to affect control over a designated process.
SGV A Self-Guided Vehicle (SGV) is an autonomous, self-directed robotic delivery system for the movement of product in diverse environments. An SGV operates independently to navigate around fixed and moving obstructions without the need for an external guide path network or sensors, such as buried wires or mounted magnetic or optical strips. Instead, an SGV uses on-board sensory inputs and navigational software to dynamically plot a path as the robot moves to each goal or task destination.
Sheet lifter Usually a below-the-hook (hoist or balancer) material handling device that utilizes two "claws" that grab a piece or pieces of sheet metal or wood. These claws are "squeezed" by means of a ratchet and turning wheel and wrap around the sides of the sheet. A lip on the lower portion of the claws prevents the sheet from falling out of the lifter. The sheet lifter is attached to the lifting device by means of a bail at the top of the device.
Shelf A storage surface located above the floor level and usually contained in shelving system or rack system. The formed steel sheet which attaches horizontally to the posts and supports the load. Shelves are available in many sizes and a number of capacities. Shelves should be specified based on the customer's requirements and uniform load capacity that the shelf must support. Steel gauge, shelf formation and reinforcing varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and thus determines shelf capacity.
Shelf depth The horizontal distance measured between the outside faces of beams.
Shelf divider A formed steel partition placed within the shelf opening to subdivide it into smaller compartments. Some types of dividers include: full height, angle, tapered, sliding, floating.
Shelf opening The basic shelving compartment formed between two shelves within a unit of shelving.
Shelf reinforcement A variety of flat bars, angles, channels or other formed sections which are placed within or under the shelf to reinforce the shelf and prevent damage due to shock loading.
Shelving A storage system designed to accept and store non-palletized loads, placed thereon, either manually, semi-automatically or automatically such as by an automated retrieval mechanism. In its basic open form, shelving is comprised of upright posts, the desired number of formed steel sheet panels which constitute horizontal shelves, and end and back braces. Sheet steel back and side panels may be substituted for bracing to form enclosed shelving units.
Shelving panel sway brace An alternate to the side sway brace. A panel of steel which attaches to the front and rear post to prevent front to rear sway.
Shelving post system The vertical upright member that supports the horizontal shelf. Posts are manufactured in a variety of configurations.
Shelving service aisle The area in front of a unit or row of units required to service (pick or place stock into or out of the shelving unit.
Shelving side panel A sheet steel panel attaches to the front and rear post to enclose the side of the unit, or as a partition between units placed side by side.
Shelving side sway brace Two pieces of flat or formed steel stock attached to the front and rear posts to prevent front to rear sway.
Shielded An inductive proximity sensor configuration that allows for the sensor to be embedded in metal. Shielded sensors contain a metal band that surrounds the ferrite core and allows the electromagnetic field to be concentrated to the front of the sensor face.
Shipping Container Code(SCC) Achieved by adding a two digit code to the front of the standard UPC Code.
Shoe sorter conveyor The conveying surface consists of continuously linked slats. The linked slats move in a manner similar to a belt. Between each slat, along one side, there is a shoe that moves along with the slats. Each shoe is capable of simultaneous independent lateral movement from one side of the conveyor to the other at the same time as it continues to move forward. At the appropriate time, controls sequence as many shoes as necessary, depending on the size of the load, to move from one side of the conveyor to the other, contacting the side of the load, thus directing the load to one of multiple discharge or take-away lanes. The take-away lanes can be powered by gravity. At the end of the run, after the last take-away lane, and on the return (remember the main sort lines move like a belt), the shoes are all reset to their original side. Such sorters are capable of higher sort rates in the range of 150 cases per minute. Another name for this type of sorter is surfing sorter.
Shop floor scheduling A system that prioritizes and schedules work for the shop floor and communicates the progress of this work regarding the schedules and plans that have been made. Shop floor planning is necessary to ensure that quantities that are expected to be completed on time are and also that the resources (labor, materials, machinery and equipment) are used to best effect in on-time delivery, inventory minimization and cost control.
Side loader truck An industrial truck with lifting capabilities and able to accommodate the narrowest of aisles, depending upon the model and type, all the way down to the 5 foot range. Trucks operating in this range are sometimes called very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks. With the exception of the platform type sideloader, the fork and/or the entire mast on a VNA style truck is capable of rotating or swiveling 90 degrees left or right within the aisle from the down aisle orientation. Some manufacturers have models that can stack in storage racks 10-12 pallets high.
Simulation A technique used to test-drive or simulate the operation of a material handling system in a production or warehousing facility. A computer generated model is created to represent the proposed system and the flow of product is "sent" through the model. The efficiency of the proposed system can thereby be gauged prior to the actual installation of the system.
Single deck pallet A pallet possessing one load bearing deck.
Single deep rack The simplest of all racking systems. This rack is selective and accommodates only a single pallet.
Single deep selective rack Rack structure which allows loads to be stored one unit deep on either side of an aisle.
Single girder crane An overhead traveling crane that utilizes a single bridge beam attached to the two runway/end trucks. This bridge beam or single girder supports a lifting mechanism or hoist that "runs" on the bottom flange of the bridge beam.
Single leg gantry crane A gantry crane designed to have one "leg" of the crane supporting an end of the bridge and the other end of the bridge is supported by an end truck running on an elevated rail or runway. Often referred to as a semigantry crane.
Single row double face shelving One generally continuous row of units joined together side to side to be serviced from either front or back by two service aisles. May also be identified as "pass through" shelving.
Single row single face shelving One generally continuous row of units joined together and side to side to be serviced from one service aisle.
Sizing The use of sensor arrays to detect the size of an object. The number of sensors in continuous array that detect the object are a surrogate for object size.
Skew angle The angle at which photoelectric sensors are sometimes mounted in retro-reflective applications so as to prevent the reflection of the object itself from triggering the sensor.
Skid A pallet that does not utilize a bottom deck. Generally supports the top deck by means of blocks and stringers.
Slat conveyor A conveyor employing one or more endless chains to which non-overlapping, non-interlocking, spaced slats are attached.
Slave pallet A pallet used in an automated rack system.
Slider belt conveyor A simple and inexpensive form of powered conveyor. A single section will have a large roller at both ends, one of which is powered by a pulley type belt connected to a motor. The belt is literally slide over a flat surface therein conveying the load on a horizontal plane or carrying loads up an incline.
Slip rings An electro-mechanical device consisting of rings and sliding brushes that allow power, control or signals to pass from a stationary source to a rotating machine member.
Slip sheet Usually a piece of cardboard or plastic sheeting that a load is piled upon to be moved with a special fork lift equipped with shovel forks and a push/pull attachment.
SMA Shelving Manufacturers Association A Product Section of the Material Handling Industry of America 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201 Charlotte, NC 28217 Phone: 704-676-1190 Fax: 704-676-1199 Tom Meinert, Managing Director tmeinert@mhia.org The Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SMA) was formed in 1974 by visionary industry leaders as a Product Section of the Material Handling Industry of America, a non-profit Trade Association. SMA's mission includes development and advancement of standards and activities to advance the quality, safety and general fitness for intended use of Industrial/Storage Equipment. SMA member companies are concerned, conscientious manufacturers affiliated in an industry association to provide voluntary standards for the design of steel industrial/storage equipment, and to formulate guidelines for the proper use, operation and maintenance of these products. Principal among these products are steel shelving, industrial mezzanines, work and assembly stations, modular drawer equipment, clothing storage lockers, movable base storage equipment, storage containers and directly related equipment.
Small parts storage The system of storing small parts/items usually utilizing bin shelving and rack and storing the parts in plastic or metal bins and containers. Carousels can be used for storing and retrieving these smaller parts.
Smart card A card with a magnetic stripe to capture and present information.
Software A system of codes which instructs a computer as to the functions it is expected to perform.
Solid deck pallet A pallet constructed with no spacing along the deck(s).
Solid side pallet A pallet constructed such that the stringer sides are not notched.
Sonic control A means of transmitting "instructions" to the controls of a material handling device utilizing sound and or voice. A form of Wireless Controls.
Sortation Separating items (parcels, boxes, cartons, parts, etc.) according to their intended destination within a plant or for transit.
Specification The Product Sections affiliated with the Material Handling Industry of America have and continue to develop specifications and standards for performance, testing, safety and design of various types of material handling equipment. To preview these MHIA developed standards, please utilize the MHIA Web site at www.mhia.org/bs.
Split case order picking A process used to fill orders for quantities less than a full case thereby requiring ordered items to be picked from a case or some similar container.
Spreader beam A below-the-hook lifting device that utilizes two or more hooks (attaching devices) located along a beam and the spreader beam attaches to the hoist by means of a bail. The spreader beam is used to handle long or wide load and serves to "spread" the load over more than one lifting point. Often used in conjunction with slings.
Stack and nest container A combination container that has both stacking and nesting features. Can be stacked ands nested in 90 degree and 180 degree combination.
Stack only container A container that possesses self-supporting and straight walls. This feature means that the container walls are straight and can support the total weight of several stacked containers. Stackability reduces the required floor or rack storage space for empty containers.
Stackable container Hand-held container that can be stacked or nested when turned 180 degrees.
Stacker crane The stacker crane in appearance looks like a conventional bridge crane except that in place of a hoist, a rotating ridged or telescoping mast is suspended from the bridge trolley with the mast equipped with a load handling device such as single or double forks or a grab. These cranes can be manually operated or powered and are used where the carne spans multiple aisles allowing for the storage and retrieval within any aisle of items such as coils of steel.
Stacking frames Portable storage aids for attachment to pallets to enable stacking of unstable items two three or more units high.
Stacking interlock Refers to the mechanism that locks containers when they are stacked on top of another container. This feature allows safe and secure shipping load units.
Stacking pallet A pallet constructed in such a manner as to allow one pallet complete with load to be placed on another without damage to the lower unit load. This is generally achieved by utilizing a superstructure within the pallet.
Stacking saddle or arch An element of the leg of a container that engages the container wall below to ensure safe stacking.
Standard The Product Sections affiliated with the Material Handling Industry of America have and continue to develop specifications and standards for performance, testing, safety and design of various types of material handling equipment. To preview these MHIA developed standards, please utilize the MHIA Web site at www.mhia.org/bs.
Static storage system A storage system where there is no mechanical movement of either the storage locations or the loads within the systems once they are deposited.
Step beam A beam that provides two horizontal surfaces on which the rack decking can be placed. Usually the top surface supports the deck and the lower surface supports the reinforcing members.
Stock-to-operator equipment A device which brings items from their storage locations to the end of an aisle where an operator or transport mechanism sends them to their point of use.
Storage The process or act of positioning and placing items (cartons, packages, pallet unit loads, etc.) in area set aside for holding these items or staging these items for shipment.
Storage aisle An access route to storage areas such as rack bays, slots for pallets, bins or containers.
Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association The Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association (SMA) was formed in 1974 by visionary industry leaders as a Product Section of the Material Handling Industry of America, a non-profit Trade Association. SMA's mission includes development and advancement of standards and activities to advance the quality, safety and general fitness for intended use of industrial/storage equipment. SMA member companies are concerned, conscientious manufacturers affiliated in an industry association to provide voluntary standards for the design of steel industrial/storage equipment, and to formulate guidelines for the proper use, operation and maintenance of these products. Principal among these products are steel shelving, industrial mezzanines, work and assembly stations, modular drawer equipment, clothing storage lockers, movable base storage equipment, storage containers and directly related equipment. For contact information, please see SMA.
Storage racks A single or multi-level structural storage system that is utilized to support high stacking of single items or palletized loads.
Straddle crane A crane that is configured to "straddle" a load and often is wheeled. Often used in lumber yards or to move large containers at sea ports.
Straddle truck An industrial lift truck that is utilized in aisles as narrow as 6 feet and has had the counterbalancing addressed by front end outriggers. These outriggers also serve to prevent the natural forward tipping motion that would be created as a load is lifted
Straight wall container A container made from plastic or metal whose walls are not corrugated but are indeed straight walls with no ridges or perforations.
Strap hoist A lever operated manual device, utilizing polyester or nylon straps as the lifting medium, used to lift, lower, or pull a load and to apply or release tension.
Strapping A load stabilizing and securing methods wherein a variety of materials can literally be used to wrap or tie down a load or individual item for movement and protection. These materials include cold rolled low and medium carbon steel, hot roller high tension steel, polyester, nylon and polypropylene. Each of these materials has special properties that need to be closely matched to the load requirement.
Strength factor The ratio of ultimate strength of a material to tis design stress and maximum rated capacity.
Stretch film This is popular method of securing loads, especially the irregularly shaped unit load and loads that cannot tolerate the strain of being strapped. This film is tensioned and stretched mechanically as it is unwrapped from its rolls. The tension is released as it is wrapped around the load. The result is greater holding power.
Stretchwrapping Unitizing a load by stretching and wrapping a plastic sheet tightly over the load.
Stringer The support beams of a pallet which generally are placed at right angles to the deckboards and designated as edge stringers or center stringers.
Stringer board A component of a pallet that is a solid board placed between the deckboard and the block and extending the full length of a block pallet.
Stringer chord Generally refers to the upper edge of a notched stringer.
Stringer foot Generally refers to the bottom or lower edge of a notched stringer.
Strip base A base of an industrial metal container utilizing a combination stacking saddle and bearing plate.
Structural foam molded pallet Structural foam molding is a variation of the injection molded process whereby a compounded plastic material is introduced into an extruder in pellet form, heated to a molten state, and then formed by means of a rotating screw into one or more mold cavities. The material adopts the configuration of the mold, and once cooled, it is injected as a fully formed pallet. With structural foam molding, a blowing agent is introduced to and mixed thoroughly through the plastic prior to its injection into the mold cavities. The heating process activates the blowing agent and creates a cellular structure within the molten material. This cellular structure not only saves on raw material requirement, but it produces a part with an elevated strength-to-weight ratio.
Structural lifter A lifter which consists of one or more rigid parts for attaching the load to the lifting device.
Structural rack Steel storage rack made from hot rolled steel shapes, generally conforming to the requirements of AISC, such as angle, beams or tubing.
Supply Chain The supply chain consists of the physical and communication paths connecting multiple, interrelated businesses. Material, goods, products and information flow through these paths from their points of origin or source (often viewed as beginning with raw material) to the final end consumer. This flow is sometimes extended to include the eventual disposal, recycling or return of goods. See also, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Material Handling, and Third Party Logistics. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.
Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management is the integration and coordinated execution of all the business processes used to plan and execute the flow of material, goods, products and related information between the many sources and points of use throughout the supply chain in order to achieve the best overall, system wide performance in terms of total cost, on-time (just-in-time) delivery and minimum in-process inventories across the network of suppliers, factories and trading partners that comprise the supply chain. See also, Supply Chain, Logistics, Material Handling, and Third Party Logistics. Note that all of referenced terms are highly interrelated and their definitions are frequently intermingled.
Supporting lifter A lifter that carries the load on rigid projections or weight bearing surfaces.
Synchronous detection The use of an exact sequence of light pulses to activate the output on a photoelectric cell.
System Integrator A System Integrator is a company that possesses the resources required to provide a full set of engineering services needed to take a project from the problem definition stage all the way through to implementation and system acceptance by the end user. In some cases, but not always, a company that defines itself as a system integrator may also manufacture equipment and controls. A system integrator will also assume financial responsibility for system performance. See also Consultant and/or Integrated Systems & Controls.

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