Many businesses are experiencing a boom in their operations. Orders are once more coming in, production is ramping up, and people are finally getting back to work. But what happens when business is so booming that you need to expand … and quickly? Purchasing and re-equipping a new facility can take years of planning. And … Read more
The popular clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters is building a new distribution center that will handle both store replenishment and direct-to-consumer orders from the same inventory. Typically, these two functions are handled by different operations, but the new AEO distribution center currently under construction in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania, will be a streamlined, fully-automated facility that … Read more
An Australian materials handling manufacturer has developed a new tool that makes it easier to unload boxes, crates and other heavy items from the back of vans, the trunks of cars, or even on top of desks. The Foldalift lift trolley — from King Materials, of Bayswater, Victoria, Australia — resembles a two-wheeler hand truck … Read more
Fans are such a big part of our indoor environments that most of the time we hardly ever know they are there. Yet without fans to cool, ventilate and circulate fresh air and remove odors, many of the spaces where we live and work would be uninhabitable due to a buildup of noxious pollutants and … Read more
Intelligrated, one of the leading manufacturers of automated materials handling equipment, has opened a new regional center in Irving, Texas, that will serve the Southwestern United States. The company — which is headquartered in Mason, Ohio — hopes the center will provide access to specialized engineering, projects management, and sales support for companies in southwestern … Read more
The Chinese powdered milk company Synutra has hired a Michigan industrial equipment supplier to provide it with automated guided vehicles, conveyors and other automation to build what eventually will be the world’s largest powdered milk manufacturing facility. The facility, which currently is under construction in Carhaix, Brittany, in northwestern France, will use automation provided by … Read more
Modern warehouses operate more efficiently by taking advantage of their vertical footprint, rather than expanding horizontally. Building up rather than out reduces floor space, decreases property taxes and reduces maintenance and care. But there are inherent risks with storing products one or more stories in the air. Without adequate safety devices, products and workers can … Read more
Wooden pallets may be inexpensive, durable and practical, but they are also flammable. Storing wooden pallets at your warehouse or manufacturing facility could be an invitation for disaster, as was illustrated by a series of destructive pallet fires recently: In December 2012, about 3,000 wooden pallets caught fire at a wood recycling plant in North … Read more
Storage Solutions — the Indianapolis-based employee-owned manufacturer of industrial storage and materials handling equipment – is making a big push into the Western market by opening a new office in Ontario, California, and a 50,000 square foot distributions center in nearby Montebello. The new warehouse and distribution center will house a wide variety of the … Read more
Safety trainers may differ on how to effectively engage the operators and keep their attention during classroom training. Comic relief in safety training can not only lighten the mood, but also give the operators some useful perspective. Some video clips from various movies show some great examples of how not to use equipment such as … Read more
