material handling equipment – Page 5

Hoists and Balancers Purpose

November 14, 2023July 17, 2013 by Dan M

Hoists and balancers are attachments for bridge cranes and other material handling equipment that are used to lift heavy loads. Relatively simple in design, they provide stability and increased mobility and come in a wide range of capacities and can be used for a variety of purposes.

A hoist consists of a power source, a drive mechanism that turns a lift wheel or sprocket, and a length of chain or wire rope, known as the lift media. When power is supplied to the hoist, the drive mechanism turns the sprocket, which retrieves or extends the lift media. This, then, raises or lowers the payload. In most cases, the up and down functions are controlled by a hand-held pendant with buttons or levels for each direction.

Client Demands Results in Material Handling Partnership

November 14, 2023July 11, 2013 by Jared

With the increase for client demands in the material handling business, Bastian Solutions has announced a partnership with Seegrid. According to insiders, they both fulfill client demands and both companies are satisfied with partnership. Referencing the partnership, National Account Manager for Seegrid stated “Seegrid is very happy to partner with Bastian Solutions. The innovation and … Read more

Material Handling Equipment Forecast Shows Growth

November 14, 2023July 4, 2013 by Jared

Material handling equipment new orders grew by over 7% in 2012, and are expected to grow by 5 or 6% by the end of 2013. The growth it is expected to be at 10% by 2014. States MHI executive consultant, Hal Vandiver, “as the current US economic expansion shifts from capital expenditure driven to consumer-led, … Read more

Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Wood Pallets

November 14, 2023June 21, 2013 by Dan M

Wood has been used to make pallets for decades and there are still millions of wood pallets still being used in warehouses and in the supply chain worldwide. Yet if you have ever worked with wood pallets, you know their drawbacks: They are heavy, can splinter and often expose dangerous sharp nails when their boards become loose, among other problems. If you currently are using wood pallets for your materials handling needs, you might want to consider switching to pallets made from 100% recycled post-industrial recycled foam. They offer a number of advantages, including being moisture-proof, lightweight and nest-able to save space.

A Safer, More Affordable Solution

Heavy-duty structural foam pallets, on the other hand, offer a safer and more durable alternative to your pallet needs. Their polystyrene foam core is coated with a high-impact polystyrene skin that can’t absorb water. They are food safe and universally approved to transport food products. Wood pallets, on the other hand, can pose serious bio-hazard risks because they are susceptible to bacterial and chemical contamination, including E. coli and other food borne illnesses.

Telescopic Handlers and Boom Attachments for Forkifts

November 14, 2023June 5, 2013 by Dan M

Telescopic Handlers and Forklift Boom Attachments — Telescopic Handler

A telescopic handler is sort of a hybrid between a forklift and a crane. Its versatile telescopic arm can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle and the end can be fitted with various attachments, including a bucket, pallet forks, a muck grab or a lift table. This sort of vehicle is used widely in industry and agriculture.

It’s commonly fitted with pallet forks to move loads to and from areas not accessible by forklifts. For example, a telescopic handler can be used to remove pallets from a trailer and place them on rooftops or other high places. It is often used instead of a crane, which is not always practical or cost-efficient.

Equipment Rental to Continue Trending Upward in 2014, Industry Report Says

November 14, 2023June 3, 2013 by Dan M

Equipment Rental Industry Growh Expected to Continue to Grow The US equipment rental market is expected to grow 9.8% in 2014, according to a report released this week by the American Rental Association. And it is expected to increase even further, to 11.8%, in 2015.

During 2013, the US equipment rental industry grew 7.3% over 2012, with $33.6 billion in revenues projected, the ARA report stated. The reason for the strong forecast was anticipated growth in residential construction as the nation continues to bounce back from the housing crisis of the past several years.

“The US equipment rental market is expected to continue its upward trajectory and show significant growth through 2017,” according to a summary of the report, called the ARA’s Rental Market Monitor. “Strong growth in real residential construction through 2015 will fuel the construction and industrial equipment segment.”

Proper Use of Safety Cans

November 14, 2023May 27, 2013 by Dan M

Safety cans are used to store dangerous and flammable chemicals, such as gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel. They are specifically designed to ensure that these materials are kept safe and handled property to reduce the risk of fire or explosion. Safety cans include a number of features that make them the preferred choice of Underwriters Laboratories … Read more

A Little Planning Can Improve Warehouse Racking Efficiency

November 14, 2023May 24, 2013 by Dan M

If you are considering installing new shelving in your warehouse or replacing existing shelving to make it more practical, taking the time to consider the long-term implications of your warehouse racking system can increase efficiency and reduce long-term costs.

The first thing to consider is your storage density. Deep-lane storage opportunities — such as double-deep, drive-in, drive-though, pallet-flow and push-back racks — can make your warehouse more versatile and profitable. Obviously, if you need continual access to every pallet in our facility at all times, deep-lane storage is not the best option. But if you don’t require 100% selectivity, it usually will pay off in the long run.

FIFO or LIFO?

Before making a storage density decision, you need to consider whether your warehouse is Last-In First-Out (LIFO), or First-In First-Out (FIFO). FIFO operations do better with pallet flow racks while LIFO lends itself to deep-lane storage. If you use buried loads in a LIFO operation, you could be unnecessarily increasing your material handling labor cost.

Another thing to consider is your picking profile. Are your typical orders primarily picking pallets, cases or pieces? Do you pick from bulk to replenish a forward pick zone? How you configure your warehouse racking will be a function of your most common picking profiles. While most setups are not 100% efficient, by building your flow to your most common picking profiles, you can optimize your efficiency the greatest number of times.

The Importance of Forklift Preventive Maintenance

November 14, 2023May 8, 2013 by Dan M

Too often big business tries to cut back on doing preventive maintenance in attempts to cut back on overhead. Small to medium sized business will often try to do the same. This is a huge mistake and ends up costing more in the long run. In this post we will discuss the advantages of preventive maintenance (PM) and how not participating in a PM program in regards to your equipment is the same as just breaking it yourself.

Gaining Control of the Situation

Preventive maintenance is the foundation of any maintenance strategy. Having a strategy in place means that you schedule 80% of your maintenance at least a week in advance without losing any equipment. Some of you are thinking this is impossible because you would need an extra forklift as the ones you are currently using are going nearly 24/7 as it is. No, you do not need an extra, you are already short one.

Global Demand for Robots Rising

November 14, 2023April 29, 2013 by Dan M

The demand for robots in manufacturing is predicted to increase nearly 11% to $20.2 billion by 2016. This growth rate is faster than the expected expansion in the global economy and overall manufacturing activity. In the US alone, the use of robots in manufacturing is expected to grow more than 15% in the next three years. In China, that figure is expected to be closer to 17%. Japan, Germany and South Korea also are predicted to show significant growth in the use of robots in manufacturing.

These statistics, compiled by the industry market research firm Freedonia Group , show rapid growth in robotics thanks to a number of key advances in robotic technology. These improvements include upgraded software, increased weight capacities, and improved dexterity. In the coming years, manufacturers will find new applications for robots as models that can perform more tasks enter the marketplace.