Warehouse & Dock Equipment – Page 9

Rough Terrain Stacker, Once Reserved for Military, Now Available to Public

November 14, 2023August 28, 2013 by Dan M

military grade heavy equiipment — RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker

Kalmar RT, a manufacturer of rough terrain lift stacker trucks that have been reserved exclusively for the United States military, announced that it now is offering some its vehicles to civilians as well.

The Kalmar RT240 is designed to be operated under practically any terrain conditions, including grades of up to 27 percent. It has the capability to stack 20- and 40-foot containers and can work in unimproved ground conditions, including marshy terrain, and any type of environment. The versatility of its applications is enhanced by available fork and sling lift attachments.

Four Purchased for Oil Field Project

Four of the vehicles already have been sold to Toll Group, an Asian integrated logistic services provider, and will be used on the Gorgon Project, a remote natural gas project in Australia’s Gorgon gas fields, considered to be one of the biggest in the world. The vehicle was selected because of its capacity and efficiency and will be used both at the dock and at the construction site. Previous vehicles proved ineffective and the project fell behind schedule.

So far, Toll Group is the first to buy the vehicles, but Kalmar RT, based in Cibolo, Texas, is poised to market the rough terrain reach stackers to customers who are looking for equipment that already has been quite literally battle-tested.

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

August 27, 2013 by Dan M

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

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

August 8, 2013 by Dan M

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

Reduce Accidents in the Workplace with Safety Equipment

November 14, 2023July 31, 2013 by Dan M

One of the keys to creating an efficient and productive workplace is by controlling the flow of traffic. City streets and public highways are regulated by traffic laws, stop lights, stop signs, speed limit signs and other safety equipment in order to maintain order and minimize accidents. That same type of control can be applied to your workplace.

While there may not be a flow of cars and trucks across your warehouse or work yard floor, other vehicles such as forklifts, golf carts, power jacks and even manual pallet jacks pose a potential collision of crushing danger if not properly supervised and managed. One of the best ways to get your employees to follow the pathways you determine is to use traffic control equipment.

Slow Down Traffic, Increase Safety

For example, something as simple as traffic cones could be used to indicate areas where power equipment should not be used, such as places with narrow passage ways or delicate inventory. Chain barricades can be used to designate areas where employees are allowed to walk so that they won’t be in danger of being run over by equipment operators.

Even speed bumps can be installed to create slow zones or to prevent operators from going to fast. Speed bumps are now available in a variety of heights and materials — including some that are made from 100% recycled plastics — so that you can help protect the environment while promoting workplace safety.

New Pink Stepladders Raise Breast Cancer Awareness

November 14, 2023July 29, 2013 by Dan M

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.

Special 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.

Increasing Warehouse Space for Less, Part 3

November 14, 2023July 10, 2013 by Dan M

Editor’s Note: This is the last in a series of blogs examining the benefits of work platforms in warehouse and manufacturing facilities.

Work platforms offer warehouse operators a fast, efficient and affordable way to increase their existing warehouse storage space. But they also can be used for a wide variety of operations.

Picking operations, value-added services, sorting systems, slow-moving inventory storage, fast-response processing and other functions can all be facilitated by work platforms. That’s because they offer the full functionality of new construction or the addition of a mezzanine or other renovations to existing facilities without the expense or downtime.

Increasing Warehouse Space for Less, Part 2

November 14, 2023July 8, 2013 by Dan M

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of blogs examining the most efficient and affordable ways to optimize existing warehouse space

Thanks to near universal access to the Internet and web’s elimination of geographic boundaries, many companies today are turning to e-commerce as a way to increase their customer base. While this usually results in more business, it also typically requires more warehouse space.

One of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to optimize your existing space — without having to invest heavily in new construction or renovations — is to install work platforms. These sturdy, steel structures allow warehouse operators to utilize vertical space, maximizing their cost-per-square-foot.

Increasing Warehouse Space for Less, Part 1

November 14, 2023July 3, 2013 by Dan M

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part series on innovative ways to increase warehouse space.

Rapid growth is every business’s objective, but it can sometimes have unintended consequences.

When companies experience a sudden upswing in business, it often requires them to find additional warehouse space. Building new facilities requires substantial capital investment. And seeking out more leased space can be time-consuming, not to mention the logistical issues it can cause when products are located in multiple locations.

Need More Room? Try Looking Up!

Another option that most warehouse operators sometimes don’t consider is to make better use of their vertical space. This can be achieved by either adding on a mezzanine — or essentially a second floor that runs wall to wall within the warehouse — or by simply installing work platforms.

Mobile Robots Make Warehouse Ops Cheaper and More Efficient

November 14, 2023July 1, 2013 by Dan M

Mobile robots have been used in manufacturing for decades, but thanks to their shrinking costs and the needs for businesses to increase efficiencies and lower expenses, they are starting to appear more frequently in warehouse and distribution applications.

Corey Ryan, medical account manager for KUKA Robotics, based in Shelby Township, Michigan, said that in recent years robots have been showing up in more and more businesses, not just manufacturing.

“We increased interest in mobile robotics across all industries,” Ryan told the website Robotics Online. “The ability of one mobile robot to service several locations and perform a greatly expanded range of task offers a great appeal for specialized applications.”

Giant Eagle Uses Robots to Cut Warehouse Costs

One success story is Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, a leading supermarket chain that operates in four Eastern states. The company currently is using pallet-handling mobile robots in its 440,000-square-foot food distribution center outside of Pittsburgh. Four double pallet robots, which resemble driver-less forklift truck, handle much of the facility’s putaway operations. Another four mobile robots are being used at a Giant Eagle distribution center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Using an Inventory System to Reduce Warehouse Theft

November 14, 2023June 19, 2013 by Dan M

Regardless 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.