The demand for high-throughput, accurate order fulfillment isn’t only about sorting cartons, parcels and other relatively small, light packages. Large, bulky, heavy items are also in high demand and must be quickly picked, sorted and shipped.
Fall Protection Mounting Methods
October 11, 2022
Fall protection has such a stranglehold on OSHA’s yearly top 10 safety violation lists that any method to keep your workers safe at height must be a top priority.
Adding certain fall protection equipment, such as a tie-off system, provides life-saving protection for your employees. Combined with proper education and training, these systems can reduce worker falls during dangerous conditions at any height. One aspect to consider when implementing such a system is how you want to mount your fall protection. There are multiple options to do so, and each offers benefits. Which you choose depends on your working environment and needs.
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Pallet Rack Evaluation: Safety
September 27, 2022
by Scott Stone
Pallet racks are integral to modern warehousing and aren’t static systems. Safety has always been one of the most critical aspects of warehousing and pallet racks have an outsized influence on warehouse safety. When you evaluate your rack, always take time to look for safety issues.
Tags: Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
How Material Handling and Automation Increases Labor Flexibility
September 13, 2022
by Scott Stone
Manufacturing plants, warehouses and other industrial operations are all facing one central challenge today: labor shortages. There are other challenges in supply chains, material inputs and environmental situations, but everyone in every industry across the board is dealing with labor—or the lack of it.Â
Tags: labor
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Shoptalk: Will a Carousel Work for You?
September 6, 2022
In our most recent Shoptalk video, employee-owner Joel of our Systems Integration Group discusses vertical carousels—the advantages they offer and how you can evaluate them for your operation.
Tags: Shoptalk
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Vacuum Grippers and Lightweight Palletizers
August 18, 2022
by Scott Stone
One of the most exciting things about today’s automation is that it’s becoming increasingly specialized; like eating from a buffet, you can choose what you want. That’s the idea behind cobot palletizers that zero in on a specific target: lighter weight, end-of-line carton palletizing that used to take high six figures and months of implementation time. The critical part of any palletizing project, of course, is the end effector.
Tags: palletizing, ergonomics
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Fall Protection
August 4, 2022
by Scott Stone
Rooftop safety is an often overlooked area for any facility when it comes to keeping workers protected. In the past, there was minimal equipment designed for this purpose and limited education/training.
OSHA issued a recent ruling on walking/working surfaces, which stressed the need for fall protection for those surfaces (29 CFR 1910 Subparts D&I). This may be significant for a number of operations and the way you protect people who work in these areas. Particularly if you have a rooftop edge or other potentially unguarded platform where people may work, there are steps you should take.
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
When To Replace Pallet Rack
July 21, 2022
As a long-term investment, pallet racks tend to “go the distance”; you can count on them to retain their strength and integrity for years.
Even so, replacing your pallet rack might be a matter of damage (over time or suddenly) or from other reasons such as age or changes in your storage operation. Let’s review the reasons you might want to partially or fully replace your rack.
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Gapping Conveyors: A Guide to Types and Applications
July 12, 2022
by Scott Stone
Conveyors that create gaps between loads—called “gappers”—are used in functions ranging from sortation to quality control to packing to machine integration. Any process that requires identical and predictable gaps between the back of a load and the leading edge of the following will probably need a gapper. Most gappers are slider bed belt conveyors, since belts provide superior control and support.
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Automated Palletizing Options: Finding a Happy Medium
July 7, 2022
Robotics in distribution operations aren’t exactly the stuff of the Jetsons; you see them every day. Because end-of-line palletizing involves so much repetitive motion, it’s a prime target for automation. It fits the profile of easily-profiled, repeatable and low-value labor tasks. It’s also back-breaking and un-ergonomic. How do you know if a robotic palletizing option makes sense? And what type of automation fits you?
Tags: labor, palletizing
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|