Understanding the Material Handling Category
The Material Handling category (ID: 6987) represents the classification within the Google Product Taxonomy for equipment and apparatus designed to move, protect, store, and control materials and products throughout the manufacturing, distribution, consumption, and disposal processes. In the Google Merchant Center taxonomy, it sits as a sub-level under the parent category Business & Industrial. Assigning this category correctly helps Google understand the specific use case of your industrial equipment, which can influence how your product data is interpreted.
What Belongs in Material Handling
This category is intended for machinery and hardware specifically engineered for moving, lifting, and shifting heavy or bulk items within an industrial or warehouse setting. Based on products found in the US market, this category includes items such as:
- Lifts & Hoists: Various electric cable hoists, manual builders' hoists, and heavy-duty lifting equipment used to raise products vertically for stacking or relocation.
- Conveyors: Components such as mattop conveyor chains, roller chains, and flat belts that are essential for automated transport systems in factories.
- Pallets & Loading Platforms: Standard shipping pallets, wood pallets, and specialized Euro pallets utilized for the bulk transportation and storage of goods.
When categorizing, consider if the primary purpose of your item is the movement or staging of goods. If your product is a critical component for a moving assembly line or a storage platform, it fits here perfectly. These examples represent the core types of industrial hardware that Google typically expects to see within the 6987 identifier.
What Does Not Belong Here
It is common to confuse material handling with other business-related categories. You should avoid placing products in Material Handling if they belong in the following neighboring categories:
- Industrial Storage: If your product is a static rack, shelf, or cabinet meant for stationary storage, it should likely go under Industrial Storage rather than Material Handling.
- Heavy Machinery: Large-scale equipment used for earthmoving, excavation, or large-scale construction (such as excavators or cranes) belongs in Heavy Machinery.
- Work Safety Protective Gear: Items like gloves, helmets, or safety vests, even if used in a warehouse, must be categorized under Work Safety Protective Gear.
- Manufacturing: Tools and equipment used for the act of shaping or creating a product (like a lathe or a CNC machine) should be placed in Manufacturing.
Always review the full tree of the taxonomy to ensure your product is not better suited for Agriculture, Construction, or specialized fields like Science & Laboratory or Medical. If a product serves a specific specialized function, such as Janitorial Carts & Caddies, it should be placed in that distinct category instead.
When to Choose a Subcategory
You should prioritize the most specific category available. If your product fits clearly into one of the subcategories, do not use the general Material Handling (6987) ID. For example, if you are selling a specific type of hoist, navigate down to the Lifts & Hoists subcategory. If you are selling shipping pallets, use the Pallets & Loading Platforms subcategory. Using the deepest, most granular level allowed by the Google taxonomy provides the highest precision for the Google search algorithm and ensures your product is matched correctly with relevant search queries.
Implementing in Your Feed
When configuring your Google Merchant Center feed, you can specify the category using either the numeric ID or the full path. The system accepts these as either a string or an integer for the ID. Using the numeric ID is generally preferred as it is language-independent and less prone to formatting errors. The relevant details are:
- Category Name: Material Handling
- Numeric ID: 6987
- Full Path: Business & Industrial > Material Handling
Keep in mind that while the google_product_category attribute is optional, providing it prevents Google from guessing your category, which often results in misclassification. Remember that product_type is a separate attribute where you can include your internal naming conventions; it does not replace the mandatory taxonomy classification. Because Material Handling is an industrial category, you are generally not required to provide fields like color or size, which are strictly reserved for Apparel & Accessories.