As we mentioned last month, you can expect increases in 2025 shipping costs and fees, particularly in the heavy package sector. What else can you expect in 2025 in the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution spaces?
2025 Industrial Trends: What to Expect
February 25, 2025
by Scott Stone
Posted in Industry Insights|
Employee Spotlight – Ross Adams
February 20, 2025
Meet Ross Adams, an Account Executive in Arkansas, whose dedication to building relationships, solving customer challenges, and love for travel drive his success at Cisco-Eagle.
Posted in ESOP & Company News|
Automation and Space: Conveyor Layouts
February 4, 2025
by Scott Stone
Above: Belt conveyors hang from the ceiling of a busy e-commerce distribution center, feeding shipping operations from a pick module while leaving the space below for traffic and shipping activities.
Conveyor systems transform picking, transport, assembly, and more, but occupy space in fixed positions. Tight layouts, low ceilings, facility structures and equipment compromise and compete for that square footage.  Don’t worry, though—there are creative ways to work circumvent those limitations–and in some cases make them strengths.
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Package Shipping Fee Increases: How to Cope with Surcharges
January 28, 2025
by Scott Stone
Tags: Automation, shipping, labor
Posted in Industry Insights|
OSHA’s Top Violations for 2024
January 23, 2025
Ensuring workplace safety is an ongoing challenge, especially in fast-paced manufacturing, warehousing, and material handling operations. Every year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes its list of the most frequently cited workplace safety violations, a snapshot of the most pressing hazards that can lead to injuries and serious fines.
While the list results don’t have many changes from year to year, it’s important to review annually. Comparing your safety processes and training to what’s included can help to create a more robust system that can save lives and protect what matters.
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Loading Docks, Security and Truck Drivers
January 14, 2025
by Scott Stone
Truck drivers often need to enter warehouses when they deliver or pick up shipments. When they do, many warehouses have installed secure driver cages that let the driver into the facility, but not into the building at large. This can seem “driver-unfriendly” because they contain the driver. However, there are good reasons to install them while ensuring drivers have a good experience at your facility.
Tags: warehousing, dock security
Posted in Docks & Shipping|
Double-Post Pallet Rack Systems: When, Why and How
January 7, 2025
by Scott Stone
Most pallet rack systems are installed with a starter-adder design, which shares a common rack upright between consecutive storage bays. The alternative is a double-post rack system, where each bay has two independent uprights. Most of the time, starter-adder is used because it’s more economical and uses space more efficiently.
Given that it’s costlier and uses more space, why–and where–would you use a double-post design?
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Kevin Harwell Retires from Cisco-Eagle
January 3, 2025
by Scott Stone
Above: Kevin Harwell and Bryan Gauger
On December 31, 2024, Kevin Harwell retired from Cisco-Eagle after an incredible 33 years of dedicated service. Kevin joined the company in February 1991 and has been an integral part of our success ever since.
Posted in ESOP & Company News|
How Many Warehouse and Manufacturing Workers are Retirement Age?
December 19, 2024
by Scott Stone
This month, we’re looking at the growth of workers 65 or older, who choose to stay on the job. They now make up 22% of all American workers. How does that affect manufacturing and distribution operations? What can you do to accommodate these workers? Also: more on packaging automation, manufacturing in Texas and more.
Tags: warehousing, Manufacturing, labor
Posted in Industry Insights|
All Squared Away: Carton Quality
December 17, 2024
Cartons affect the full sequence of warehousing operations, but are frequently overlooked.
Besides carton sizes, you must also consider carton construction. One box out of square may not matter much; over a whole shipment, un-squared cartons can cause issues up and down the line. They don’t stack well, may not convey correctly and could result in product damage. In fact, you may pay higher shipping costs due to the size, composition and condition of the simplest thing: the carton.
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|