materials handling

Want to Cut Electricity Costs? Mitsubishi May Be Able to Help

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation announced this week that it is teaming up with Powerit Solutions to help manufacturing businesses identify ways to reduce their electricity costs and achieve corporate sustainability goals. With energy costs rising, practically every materials handling and manufacturing company is looking for was to reduce their electrical usage. The two companies plan to … Read more

Indiana Manufacturer Retools Plant to Improve Efficiency

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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

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

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Equipment Rental Industry Growh Expected to Continue to GrowThe 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.”

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A Little Planning Can Improve Warehouse Racking Efficiency

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warehouse rackingIf 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.

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Global Demand for Robots Rising

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Industrial RobotsThe 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.

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Sysco Foods, Walmart Use Fuel Cells to Cut Costs, Emissions

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Toyota forklift
A Toyota fuel cell-powered forklift prototype

Fuel cells are devices that convert fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction involving oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Unlike batteries, fuel cells need constant supplies of the fuel and of oxygen. But as long as those are supplied, the fuel cell can produce electricity continually. The fuel they use might be hydrogen, natural gas or methanol.

The most famous early use of fuel cells was creating power for NASA space capsules, satellites and probes. Today they can be found in various commercial and industrial buildings, particularly in out-of-the-way or hard-to-access areas. Fuel cells can power virtually any vehicle, including cars, boats and forklifts. A recent article from Fuel Cell Today, published online at https://www.fuelcelltoday.com/ , poses the question of whether or not successful utilization of fuel cells in regions including the U.S. materials handling equipment industry will spread to other parts of the world.

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What Are Roller Conveyors For In Material Handling?

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A roller conveyor serves as very important equipment /tools in material handling. It is for the purpose of sliding the load, pushing, accumulating materials. There are different kinds of roller conveyors. There are those that are driven by a chain, belt, shaft, accumulation and those that are non-powered. It is made of steel, stainless steel, … Read more

Decreasing Manual Labor Force with Carts and Trucks

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For various material handling industries nowadays, fast work turn-around, convenience and safety are starting to be the major priorities. One product that is of great help to decrease the manual labor force not only for the serviceability of  workers but also for faster work accomplishments, are carts and trucks. Another good thing about carts and trucks is … Read more

The Latest Trends for Material Handling Automation

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What’s new with material handling automation? And what’s pushing it to go to the next level? According to the two experts, John White and Mike Dunn, senior executives of the firm for consulting, Fortna – they are evidently considering a notable increase of users showing interest for material handling solutions which are automatic. Here are … Read more