New Report Tells Material Handling Industry To Cut Energy Usage

A report released this week by a materials handling industry advisory council provided ideas on why and how companies can  reduce their energy consumption. The report — issued by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise (NISE) — was based on a two-day workshop the group hosted for 31 energy and materials handling … Read more

German Materials Handling Company to Unveil Intralogistic Solutions

Jungheinrich, a German-based materials handling and forklift manufacturer, announced Monday that at an upcoming trade show it would be unveiling a new business model that could reduce materials handling fleet operating costs by up to 20%. During the Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution Show — scheduled for September 18 and 19, in Peterborough Arena in Cambridgeshire, … Read more

Materials Handling Planning Book Can Streamline Efficiency

Using a single binder to keep track of all the details of an automation project can help provide a central record of all the various decisions and details that went into the complicated process, according to the editor of a popular online materials handling website. Cliff Holste, of SCDigest, said he has had great success … Read more

New Dock Door Design Can Prevent Rain From Leaking Into Your Warehouse

Pentalift, a Buffalo, New York, based manufacturer of dock and warehouse equipment, recently unveiled a new type of dock door that can prevent rain from entering into the dock area. The RS800 RainStop seal uses a stiffly sprung 5.5-inch foam filled header curtain to create a positive seal on the top of the trailer. The … Read more

Indiana Manufacturer Retools Plant to Improve Efficiency

The Braun Corp., a company that makes wheelchair-accessible minivans, recently renovated its Winamac, Indiana, facility to improve its receiving, storage and picking capabilities. The result is improve production efficiency, improved storage capabilities and a new tugger-based parts picking system. The company also was able to redeploy many of its warehouse associates, slash inventory and even … Read more

Connecticut Material Handling Company Donates School Supplies to Area Students

Conveyco, a material handling company based in Bristol, Connecticut, will team up with the United Way this year to help provide area schoolchildren with new school clothes, backpacks and other school supplies. The company, which is an integrator of Automated Material Handling Systems and Design Build Solutions, was provided by the charity with a list … Read more

Chicago-based Liquor Distributor Unveils State-of-the-Art Distribution Center

Wirtz Beverage, a Chicago-based distributor of wines and spirits, recently built a futuristic distribution center on the site of an abandoned horseracing track just outside the city. The company combined three separate facilities into one brand new, 555,500-square-foot distribution center that features high speed conveyors and sortation systems, voice-directed picking and futuristic management systems that … Read more

Reduce Accidents in the Workplace with Safety Equipment

One of the keys to creating an efficient and productive workplace is by controlling the flow of traffic. City streets and public highways are regulated by traffic laws, stop lights, stop signs, speed limit signs and other safety equipment in order to maintain order and minimize accidents. That same type of control can be applied to your workplace.

safety equpimentWhile there may not be a flow of cars and trucks across your warehouse or work yard floor, other vehicles such as forklifts, golf carts, power jacks and even manual pallet jacks pose a potential collision of crushing danger if not properly supervised and managed. One of the best ways to get your employees to follow the pathways you determine is to use traffic control equipment.

Slow Down Traffic, Increase Safety

For example, something as simple as traffic cones could be used to indicate areas where power equipment should not be used, such as places with narrow passage ways or delicate inventory. Chain barricades can be used to designate areas where employees are allowed to walk so that they won’t be in danger of being run over by equipment operators.

Even speed bumps can be installed to create slow zones or to prevent operators from going to fast. Speed bumps are now available in a variety of heights and materials — including some that are made from 100% recycled plastics — so that you can help protect the environment while promoting workplace safety.

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Columbus McKinnon Reports Record Revenue Growth

Columbus McKinnon, a material handling manufacturer based in Amherst, New York, on Friday reported that its quarterly revenues had jumped 31.3% for the period ending June 30, 2013. It was among the largest one-quarter increases in the company’s history. Company President and CEO Timothy T. Tevens said the unprecedented growth was attributed to the company’s … Read more

Optimizing Labor in a Warehouse or Work Yard

Today more than ever, every penny counts. So reducing costs as much as possible needs to be among warehouse management’s top priority. That’s why it can be so infuriating to see workers idling or being unproductive while on the clock. Every dollar wasted on non-productive labor ultimately gets passed on to the consumer in the form … Read more