In this edition of the Employee Spotlight, we talk with David Waltmon, Account Executive in our Houston office. We caught up with David to discuss his journey, what guides his work, and the unique culture of the Houston team.
Your Mezzanine is an Opportunity Cost
September 16, 2025
Mezzanines are often seen as simple space savers. If your floor is packed and your ceilings are high, why not build up and buy yourself some breathing room?
It’s a logical move, and in many cases, a necessary one. But here’s what often gets overlooked: every mezzanine is a commitment of real estate, labor, capital, and layout. And every square foot you dedicate to a mezzanine is a square foot you can’t use for something else.
In that light, the true question is “What could be the best use of this space?”
Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|
The Easiest Win in Automation: Machine Loading and Unloading
August 28, 2025
by Scott Stone
Machine load-unload automation is one of the most profitable and straightforward automation opportunities in both warehouses and factories. It improves productivity in two key ways:
- Reducing labor needs: Repetitive manual loading and unloading is replaced with automation, cutting costs and reducing injury risk.
- Increasing machine uptime: Machines stay productive with predictable cycles, eliminating idle time between parts.
The real payoff is in uptime. When unloading and reloading are automated, a machine rarely waits for an operator. Preparatory work and staging can happen offline, so the next part is always ready. In ideal cases, production rates can increase dramatically without additional equipment investments. Focusing on these key points, where automation can have outsized impact is the key to smarter, better operations. These tend to be low value, but critical processes that should be automated so that labor can be reallocated to more critical functions.
Tags: Automation, Manufacturing
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Insights August 2025: Employee-Ownership & Manufacturing
August 19, 2025
by Scott Stone
This month, we discuss strategic warehouse execution system implementations with Savoye–how to scale, how to match real-world processes. Additionally, the impact of employee ownership on manufacturing and its potential as a key to succession for small and mid-sized manufacturers. Also, more on industrial construction and the softening demand for manufactured products.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Industry Insights|
Employee Spotlight – David Rodriguez
August 5, 2025
In this edition of the Employee Spotlight, we chatted with David Rodriguez, a member of our Web Sales Team in Dallas.
He brings decades of customer service experience, a deep knowledge of our online tools, and a steady presence in a fast-paced environment. We caught up with David to learn more about his path, what keeps the work interesting, and how employee ownership has shaped his journey.
Posted in ESOP & Company News|
How to Choose the Right Sheet Metal Storage System
July 10, 2025
by Scott Stone
Whether you’re running a metal fabrication shop or laser cutting center, or stocking raw materials for manufacturing, sheet metal storage can make you faster. It makes the stock easier to reach, protects valuable materials and prevents injuries. However, the wrong solution means injuries, wasted time and damaged materials. In this article, I’m covering a range of solutions, from simple floor stacking to semi-automated carousels, analyzing for fit, safety, access and cost.
Posted in Manufacturing|
Insights: Labor Balance in an Aging Society
July 3, 2025
by Scott Stone
In 2025, the U.S. labor market is undergoing a significant demographic shift. Approximately 4.18 million Americans reach retirement age this year (about 11,400 turn 65 each day). The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the labor force will grow at a modest 0.4% annually from 2023 to 2033, reaching 173.3 million by 2033. The problem: we’ll need to fill 192 million job openings, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Posted in Industry Insights|
Cisco-Eagle Announces 2025 Core Values Awards
June 26, 2025
by Scott Stone
Cisco-Eagle named its inaugural Core Values award winners in June 2025. These are employee-owners who embody our core values–the principles we aspire to. Those values were established over thirty years ago and remain unchanged since. “They are universal and timeless,” said CEO Darein Gandall. Our founder, Warren Gandall, has often said that he wants to treat his suppliers, customers and employees the way he wants to be treated.
Our values reflect that vision, and so do the 2025 winners of these awards.
Posted in ESOP & Company News|
Behind the Gates: A Conversation with Markus Green on AisleCop Gen5
June 10, 2025
When pedestrian safety meets forklift traffic, there’s no room for error. That’s where AisleCop® comes in. And now, with the launch of Gen5, Cisco-Eagle has made it faster, easier, and more scalable to deploy than ever before.
We sat down with Markus Green, head of our Safety Automation department, to talk about what’s new, why Gen5 was developed, and how it’s helping safety managers and operations teams move faster.
Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|
Best Practices for Loading & Unloading Pallet Conveyors with Forklifts
May 20, 2025
by Scott Stone
Loading and unloading pallet conveyors with forklifts is an everyday, all-day task.
Done right, it’s fast and efficient. Done wrong, product damage, collisions, injuries, and workflow bottlenecks happen. I’ve seen it in dozens of warehouses, even in highly automated operations, and most of them tend to bridge the shipping dock and the end conveyor lines with forklifts (these days, AGVs and AMRs often do this work). Pallets are large, heavy and in motion when they’re transported on conveyors. That combination of size, pressure and movement can result in damage or injuries when not properly controlled.
Tags: forklifts, conveyor safety
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|