---
title: "Conveyors versus cranes and trucks"
subject: "Industrial Engineering and Management"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management:conveyors-cranes-and-industrial-trucks"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/conveyors-cranes-and-industrial-trucks
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Conveyors versus cranes and trucks

Industrial Engineering and Management · Chapter 2: Design of Production Systems

- Asked in: year not given, 5 marks
- Video: [Material Handling Equipment | Material Handling System | PPT | ENGINEERING STUDY MATERIALS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXmIdbVDJqE) — Engineering Study Materials
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/conveyors-cranes-and-industrial-trucks
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/chapter-2

## Question

Differentiate between conveyors, overhead cranes and industrial trucks as material handling equipment, with their typical applications.

## Short answer

Conveyors provide continuous, fixed-path movement for uniform loads like assembly lines. Overhead cranes offer intermittent overhead lifting for heavy, bulky items without using floor space. Industrial trucks (forklifts) give flexible floor movement for unit loads in warehouses and process layouts.

## Answer

Material handling equipment is chosen according to whether the movement is continuous or intermittent, whether the path is fixed or variable, and whether the load is light or heavy.

| Basis | Conveyors | Overhead cranes/hoists | Industrial trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of movement | Continuous | Intermittent (lift, travel, lower) | Intermittent |
| Path | Fixed | Anywhere within a fixed area (bay), lifting vertically and travelling overhead | Variable, on the floor |
| Load | Light to medium, uniform, in large numbers | Heavy, bulky | Light to heavy, unit loads |
| Flexibility | Low | Medium | High |
| Use of floor space | Needs fixed floor/overhead space | Uses overhead space, floor kept free | Needs aisles |
| Cost | High initial cost, low running cost | High initial cost | Low to medium initial cost |
| Typical use | Assembly lines, bottling, mining | Heavy machine shops, foundries, power stations | Warehouses, stores, loading docks |
| Examples | Belt, roller, chain, screw | EOT crane, gantry, jib | Forklift, pallet truck, hand trolley, AGV |

#### Notes
- **Conveyors** suit product layouts where a large volume moves between fixed points; a belt conveyor moves bulk material such as sand or grain, and a roller conveyor moves boxes.
- **Cranes** lift loads vertically and move them across a shop without using floor space; they are used for dies, engines and castings.
- **Forklifts** pick up palletised loads and travel anywhere in the plant, so they suit process layouts and storage.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which describes conveyors?
   A. Intermittent movement on variable path
   B. Continuous movement on a fixed path, low flexibility
   C. Lifting only
   D. Highest flexibility
   Answer: B. Conveyors are continuous, fixed path and low flexibility, suiting assembly lines and bottling. (Key point: Conveyors)

2. What is an advantage of overhead cranes?
   A. They need wide aisles
   B. They move on any floor route
   C. They lift and move heavy loads using overhead space, keeping the floor free
   D. They are lowest cost
   Answer: C. Cranes use overhead space and suit dies, engines and castings. (Key point: Cranes)

3. Why do forklifts suit process layouts and storage?
   A. They travel anywhere on the floor and carry palletised loads, giving high flexibility
   B. They run on fixed rails
   C. They need no aisles
   D. They move continuously
   Answer: A. Trucks have variable paths and high flexibility. (Key point: Industrial trucks)

## Related in Industrial Engineering and Management

- [Material handling objectives and principles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_engineering_and_management%3Amaterial-handling-principles-and-equipment) — Industrial Engineering and Management, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [Types of cranes and lifting equipment](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acranes-lifting-equipment) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Material handling system and its usefulness](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaterial-handling-system) — Construction Management, chapter 6, asked 4×
- [Material handling and factors to consider](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaterial-handling-factors) — Construction Management, chapter 6
- [Industrial robots: configuration and applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fmanufacturing_and_production_processes%3Aindustrial-robots-configuration-end-effectors) — Manufacturing and Production Processes, chapter 9