Pallet jacks are commonly used in manual material handling, and almost as often, operators run into frustrating, if not dangerous, challenges working with them. Unfortunately, even when employees attempt to use them safely, coworkers and bosses can create problems by overloading and leaving the operator to handle too big a load alone. We found an… Read more

How industrial tugs have helped manufacturers be more productive and cost efficient in their operations. Material handling equipment provides numerous benefits for those in the manufacturing industry including automotive, food & beverages, aviation, and more. These tools have proved invaluable at improving production quality, reducing labor and costs, and improving safety. By reducing human involvement,… Read more

Why customer service is the most important element of the packaging business and how the rest of the company can support this side. Priority Metrics Group (PMG) recently released its study on what drives the purchases of packaging containers, materials, equipment, and supplies. The results were based on 40 proprietary research projects on behalf of… Read more

While carts have been around a long time, manufacturers have longer relied on the forklift to transport product and materials. In its day, it was the most practical means of accomplishing the work. Thanks to the evolution of cart systems, that is no longer the case. In fact, forklift-reduced and forklift-free environments are becoming the… Read more

5S focuses heavily on the illumination of waste, making it a beneficial tool in lean manufacturing. It is one of several outlined methods useful for continuous improvement, or Kaizen. The order is always the same: sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain. Here is what they mean for manufacturers. Sort – Clutter is waste, so… Read more

Last post, we discussed a few of the major cost factors associated with using forklifts. Between labor, safety, and product integrity, forklifts can be major liabilities for manufacturers. Many companies are converting to forklift-free environments as a Lean and/or safety initiative. After all, the purpose of a forklift is to move product vertically; however, the… Read more

Is it time to retire your lift trucks and switch to a forklift-free environment? Here are some of the major costs associated with them. Forklift-free environments are becoming more common in manufacturing. In some cases, they become obsolete in a transition to Lean practices. In others, safety is a big enough issue to find an… Read more

How to keep forklifts where they are safest and create a more efficient work flow in the process. Forklifts are useful pieces of equipment, but they are relied on too heavily in the manufacturing environment. Overuse can lead to inefficient processes as well as safety risks. The best use for forklifts is lifting heavy pallets… Read more

Overcome the unique labor challenges of wine and liquor manufacturing with this practical piece of material handling equipment Wine and liquor are thriving industries. Alcoholic beverages are staples of social interaction as well as symbols of sophistication. Consumers across the globe imbibe at home, at events, out to dinner, and out on the town. This… Read more

There is a trend in manufacturing that the Freedonia Group predicts will continue through 2018, and it aims to reduce labor costs. The trend is an increase in material handling products. The rise in demand for automated equipment reflects both the current and future state of manufacturing.  The faster that technology can innovate manufacturing, the… Read more