Material Handling

Benefits of Modular Workstations

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benefits of modular workstationsFor many companies that are expanding rapidly or have limited office space, modular workstations are an effective and affordable solution.

Modular workstations, or cubicles, are prefabricated desks that come attached to short walls that are usually covered in attractive fabric or other professional-looking material. They are used by many businesses today because of their versatility and their efficient use of space. Modular workspaces allow the flexibility to modify office layout almost instantly, without having to tear down or build up new walls or perform other expensive renovations.

Cubicles can be broken down, moved and set back up in just a few minutes using a minimal amount of tools and labor. You won’t need to hire construction workers or even outside workers to change the setup of your office. Some cubicles even snap together.

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How to Reduce Your Shipping Costs

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Thanks to the rise in E-Commerce, most companies today are shipping their products to their clients or customers more often than ever before. But this added convenience for the end user often means additional expenses for vendors, which usually are passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices or additional charges. Yet some companies … Read more

Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Wood Pallets

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benefits of foam palletsWood 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.

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Using an Inventory System to Reduce Warehouse Theft

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using inventory to reduce theftRegardless of the types of products they store, nearly every warehouse has experienced shrinkage due to employee theft at some time or another. But one of the best prevention tools you can use to reduce or eliminate theft from your warehouse doesn’t require the purchase of an expensive surveillance system or the adding to your payroll with the hiring of security guards. It’s your inventory system that might need the upgrade.

An accurate, frequent inventory of the products you store in your warehouse can be your best defense against employee theft. First, when your workers see your inventory being counted on a monthly, or even a weekly basis, it will put them on notice that you are paying close attention to how much of your product should be there. While some businesses will perform a physical inventory as little as once a year simply to satisfy bookkeeping requirements, a monthly or weekly inventory will help you identify and solve a theft problem more quickly.

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Is Bubble Wrap Actually Good for the Environment?

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using bubble wrap is good for the environmentEverybody loves bubble wrap. Businesses love the versatility and safety it provides when shipping products through the supply chain. Consumers love it because they know the products they order will arrive intact and undamaged. Even children love to play with bubble wrap, squeezing the tiny air pockets and delighting in the cascade of popping sounds.

But bubble wrap is actually good for the environment for a number of important reasons. First, bubble wrap provides superior cushioning than other forms of packaging, such as corrugated cardboard, recycled newspaper or shredded paper. It is made from polyethylene that is formed into air pockets. This trapped air provides a cushion that prevents damage during the inevitable jostling and impacts that occur during shipping. That means fewer items are damaged to the point where they have to be returned. Shipping items back to where they came from and then shipping replacement products can double or even triple your freight costs for that product- and increases emissions.

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Inspecting Your Pallets Saves Money

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One of the biggest overhead costs in any material handling operation should not be pallets. This is the easiest type of cost to keep track of and the easiest to control. Here are a few pointers to help cut costs associated with pallets and damage to palletized materials. QC Your Pallets Check your pallets often … Read more

How to Select the Best Corrugated Box for Your Shipping Needs

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How to Select the Right Corrugated Box for Your Shipping NeedsCorrugated boxes represent the vast majority of the packaging industry in the United States, carrying between 90 and 95% of the nation’s manufactured goods to consumers. Approximately 25 billion corrugated boxes are produced annually, an average of 500 boxes for every family in the US.

Part of their popularity resides in their durability. Corrugated boxes are made from two or more sheets of liner board and one or more fluted sheets of corrugating medium. Nearly all the liner boards are made from kraft, which is a type of paperboard created from virgin softwood lumber. About two-thirds of the corrugating medium is made by through a semi-chemical pulping process of virgin hardwood fibers, with the remaining third made from plant waste and recycled medium, which is used corrugated boxes collected from supermarkets and shopping centers.

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Mobile Poly Strapping Machines Ensure Secure Shipments

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Mobile Poly Strapping MachineIf your business ships bundled products such as newspapers, pipe, lumber, concrete block and other items, you may want to consider investing in a mobile poly strapping machine. Strapping, also known as bundling or banding, is the process of applying a strap around an item to hold it together tightly during transport. By restricting movement, products can be shipped more safely and with less product damage or loss.

Variable Speeds and Tensions

A mobile poly strapping machine utilizes a polypropylene strap that can automatically be applied to multiple packages — up to 15 per minute in some cases. The straps can be applied at adjustable tensions of 10 to 100 lbs.

The straps themselves are available in various lengths, thicknesses and polymer variations depending on your specific needs. They also can be embossed or imprinted with your company’s logo or branding.

Strapping can be done either horizontally or vertically. Edge protectors are sometimes used to help spread the load at the corners and reduce damage to the load by the tension of the strap.

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