Warehouse and Dock Equipment

Souped-Up Power Jack Provides Solutions for Company’s Unique Problems

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MHI, a manufacturer of power jacks and other materials handling equipment, recently created a customized power pallet jack that addressed problems one of its clients was having, according to a company news release. Trans-Ocean, a leading supplier of seafood products to the food industry, needed a pallet jack that was faster yet ergonomically safer than … Read more

Convex Mirrors Reduce Collisions, Increase Safety

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convex mirrorUsing convex mirrors in your warehouse or workplace is an inexpensive, efficient way to increase safety, improve security and reduce collisions in high traffic areas. They come in a variety of different styles to fit your specific needs and can be installed easily in just a few minutes.

In many cases, convex mirrors are available for far less than $100 each. Plus, the small monetary investment in purchasing convex mirrors for your workplace can pay enormous dividends later in terms of improved productivity, less theft, and fewer workmen’s compensation claims from resulting from accidents.

Eliminate Blind Spots

Convex mirrors are perfect for eliminating blind spots and promoting a safe work environment. Also known as convex traffic mirrors, they are commonly used in parking garages, warehouse aisles and anywhere else there is likely to be a lot of vehicular traffic. They are also frequently used in retail stores and other commercial businesses to reduce theft and increase visibility for loss prevention personnel.

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

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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

New Pink Stepladders Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

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Now you can help fight against breast cancer every time you use an office ladder, rolling ladder or steel step stool in your warehouse or manufacturing facility.

pink ladder for breast cancer awarenessSpecial pink ladders are being offered for a limited time only by EGA Products, a materials handling and storage equipment manufacturer based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the distinctive ladders will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation — a charitable group that raises money for breast cancer research — or to whatever charity the buyer designates.

Social Awareness in the Workplace

It’s not often that social issues awareness campaigns enter the workplace, but EGA Products CEO Dave Young said that the company felt strongly enough about the issue to join forces with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

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Material Handling Made Easy With Smart 3D

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Since Intergraph is consolidating it’s market-leading, material handling design solutions entities into one single solution; Smart 3D. It is scheduled for commercial release to customers in the process, power, offshore and marine industries later this year. Beta testing began this past week, and many of Intergraph’s clients will be involved, along with being participants in … Read more

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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Aerial Lift Safety

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Operating an aerial lift , whether it is a scissors lift, articulating boom lift, telescopic boom lift or another type,  presents actual a variety of dangers to both workers using the lifts and others in the area. Most lifts are powered by hydraulics, so there is always the risk of a crushing injury whenever the lift … Read more

Mats and Worker Productivity

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When most companies install mats in their work spaces  they do so for safety purposes. Mats reduce slipping and keep employees working safely. Another enormous benefit to mats is increasing workplace productivity. This is especially important, when every labor hour counts. Mats not only provide an ergonomically correct work environment, but they have been proven to … Read more

Risk Management & Having a ‘Plan B’

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When things are good you have a smooth operation, the links in the supply chain work hand-in-hand; together producing a well-oiled machine. However, when things are bad — you quickly realize just how much you depend on a steady and consistent supply chain. Risk Management is something that a lot of companies do not like … Read more

Achieving Peak Efficiency with Material Handling Equipment

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Achieving Peak Efficiency
Achieving Peak Efficiency

The definition of material handling equipment is equipment that is related to the movement, storage, control and protection of materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. Consequently, because material handling equipment is so vital to all stages of production and consumption, business owners and managers are always seeking ways to increase output, control costs, and maximize productivity. In other words, the three vital aspects to whether material handling equipment is achieving peak efficiency or not.

Material handling equipment is divided into four categories:

1. Storage and Handling Equipment
2. Engineered Systems
3. Industrial Trucks
4. Material Handling

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