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July 2009 Material Handling Tips & Information Newsletter

Issue #67

his month, we've got articles on utilizing trash conveyors, how to properly set up and use air balancer systems, saving space in the dock area, depreciation incentives that may help you pull the trigger on capital equipment purchases this year rather than putting it off, and a bit more.

Safety Tips for Utilizing Air Balancers, Jib Cranes and Rail Systems

If you utilize an air balancer in your operation, how can you know you’re safely handling loads? Balancers are great for creating a safer, more ergonomic operation by removing manual lifting and positioning (especially heavy items) and replacing it with a near-float system, where heavy loads are lifted and positioned by the balancer, not by people. Balancers are very safe and easy to operate, but there are some particulars you should understand when it comes to air pressure and capacity for various types of usage.

What's the most useless space in your warehouse?

Next time you try to figure out where you’re going to put an inbound shipment, and your dock area is stacked with empty pallets, look at your shipping dock doors and the void above them. In many facilities, the copious space between the top of the doors and the ceiling is unused. Multiply each door by that amount of space, and in many operations, we’re talking serious amounts of unused square footage.

Recycling Internal Waste with Conveyors

Whether you are in pharmaceutical, beverage, food, automotive, distribution, manufacturing or thousands of other industries today, there has to be some way to track and/or reuse what is not used within your daily operations - cartons, packing, etc. Many progressive industries are designing internal reclamation processes for utilization and recycling of goods they don’t need or are waste. Conveyor can be an essential part of that process, reducing the labor and increasing the efficiency of recycling programs.

 

Forklift Safety Simulation Game

You’ve probably heard it a hundred times: if you have forklifts in your facility, they are likely the most dangerous piece of equipment there. Accounting for 680,000 accidents, 95,000 injuries and nearly a hundred deaths every year, forklifts are a necessary but perilous piece of handling equipment. Etcetera Software has developed a simulator for forklift drivers that you could find useful for training lift truck drivers -- or if you just like videogames. They have a free trial version for you to check out.
 

Temporary, Accelerated Capital Equipment Depreciation may Increase ROI on New Equipment Purchases

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has extended some of the 2008 business tax breaks for equipment purchases. These provisions have the ability to enhance your return-on-investment for equipment purchases in 2009, rather than waiting into next year.
 

The Case for "Rightshoring" - Bringing Manufacturing Operations back to the U.S.

It’s been the big story in manufacturing for more than a decade: companies are sending plants offshore to take advantage of inexpensive labor. But according to Exel Logistics, the advantages of manufacturing overseas have waned over the last few years. Will U.S. companies begin to bring manufacturing operations home, faced with increasing burdens and decreasing ROI on their overseas facilities?