How CustomMHS Buying Guides Help You Choose the Right Material Handling Equipment
Buying material handling equipment is rarely a quick decision. A pallet rack, a lift table, or a set of modular drawer cabinets may stay in your facility for years, sometimes decades. When you choose the right option, it quietly improves safety, saves floor space, and keeps work moving. When it is wrong, you live with it every day through wasted space, overloaded shelves, awkward workstations, or equipment that simply does not fit the job.
That is why we built the CustomMHS Buyer's Guides. They are written for the people who actually specify and use this equipment: maintenance managers, plant engineers, warehouse supervisors, safety coordinators, and purchasing teams who need clear answers before they commit.
What the Buying Guides Cover
Our library currently includes 28 buying guides covering the product categories we sell, including:
♦ Storage: small parts bins, containers and totes, bulk containers, cabinets and modular drawers, lockers, shelving, pallet racking, pallet rack components, and cantilever racking
♦ Moving and lifting: carts, trucks and dollies, mobile lift equipment and stackers, lift tables and pallet positioners, reel lifts and rotators, drum and cylinder handling, and hoppers and tilt trucks
♦ Safety and security: barriers and machine guarding, wire partitions and security cages, dock equipment, and matting
♦ Work areas: workbenches and workstations, chairs and stools, ladders and work platforms, and cleanroom and stainless equipment
Most guides include around 14 sections and 12 frequently asked questions, so you get both the big picture and quick answers to the questions buyers ask most.
How the Guides Help You Make Better Decisions
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They explain how the options actually differ.
Many product categories look similar on the surface but perform very differently in use. Our guides break down those differences in plain language. For example, the Containers, Totes & Trays guide compares stacking and nesting containers and explains how nest ratios affect space savings. The Bulk Containers guide compares collapsible and rigid designs, and the Dock Equipment guide explains the difference between a dockboard, a dock plate, and an edge-of-dock leveler. Once you understand how the options differ, it becomes much easier to see which one fits your operation. -
They explain what the specs really mean.
Spec sheets are full of numbers, but they're only useful if you know how to read them. Our guides walk you through the specifications that matter most, such as inside-dimension sizing for bins, static versus dynamic load ratings for bulk containers, steel gauge and load ratings for cabinets, and what a workbench capacity rating really covers. This helps you compare products on equal terms instead of guessing which number matters. -
They help you size equipment correctly.
Sizing mistakes are some of the most expensive ones to fix. The guides show you how to size and choose equipment based on how you'll use it. The Cantilever Racking guide, for example, explains why a 48-inch arm holds 70% less than a 12-inch arm and why base length follows the arm, not the height. The Workbenches & Workstations guide explains why bench height is a task decision that can range from 18 to 39 inches. These details separate equipment that works from equipment that almost works. -
They point you to the applicable standards.
Many purchases involve safety or compliance requirements. Where a standard applies, our guides reference it directly. The Barriers & Machine Guarding guide covers OSHA 1910.212 requirements. The Dock Equipment guide covers what OSHA 1910.26 requires. The Cantilever Racking guide explains what ANSI MH16.3 changed in 2025, and the Workbenches guide covers ESD workstations to ANSI/ESD S20.20. Please keep in mind that guides on regulated topics are for educational purposes. They are not a compliance assessment, risk assessment, or legal advice, but they give you a solid starting point for the right conversations. -
They help you avoid mistakes that cost money.
Each guide covers the category from start to finish, including the common mistakes buyers make. Just as important, each guide tells you when a product is the wrong answer. A guide that recommends everything is not really a guide. If a different type of equipment would serve you better, we want you to know before you buy.
Why You Can Trust the Information
We hold every guide to three rules:
♦ Every figure is sourced: Dimensions, load ratings, and temperature limits come from manufacturer data. We quote regulatory requirements from the published standard. When a figure was not published, we say so rather than filling in the blank.
♦ Vendor claims are labeled: When an industry number is marketing rather than measurement, we point that out and show you how to calculate your own.
♦ We tell you when not to buy: Honest guidance means sometimes steering you away from a product.
As always, manufacturer specifications can change, so confirm against the current data sheet before ordering.
Easy to Share With Your Team
Equipment decisions usually involve more than one person. Every guide is available as a formatted PDF, with the download link at the top of each guide. Print it for a planning meeting, attach it to a purchase request, or send it to the supervisor who will be using the equipment every day.
A Simple Way to Use the Guides
If you are starting a new project, try this approach:
- Start with the category guide. Read the overview to understand the main product types and how they differ.
- Review the specs section. Learn which ratings and dimensions matter for your application.
- Check the FAQs. Many of your questions are already answered there.
- Read the "when not to buy" guidance. Make sure the product is truly the right fit.
- Talk to a specialist. Bring your notes and questions, and we will help you finalize the specification.
Browse All Buying Guides → Each guide is organized so you can read it from start to finish or jump straight to the section you need. |
Each guide is organized so you can read it from start to finish or jump straight to the section you need.
Still Not Sure What You Need?
If your application isn't covered, or you want a second opinion, call us at 866-333-0728. Tell us the application, and we will help you spec it. Material handling specialists review quotes, typically within one business day.
No bots. No guesswork. Real experts.