lifts | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 12
Cisco-Eagle Logo
Blog Home > lifts

The Final Frontier – Using Space Efficiently

August 16, 2018
by

shelf supported mezzanine

In a recent article released by the Wall Street Journal, warehouse space was showcased as being at its tightest since 2000. While this should come as no surprise that this issue of space is consistently growing, the rate at which warehouse vacancy is dwindling is far outpacing the increase in new construction.  In the second quarter of 2018 alone, industrial real estate availability fell to 7.2%. This creates in a unique predicament for those thriving and looking towards expansion, but also provides opportunities for those who can maximize their available footprint.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|

A Guide for Conveyor Proposals & Specifications

August 9, 2018
by

power conveyor system with cartons on a curve

Conveyors are a critical part of warehousing operations, but there are many options, providers and variables. To help clear that up, we have created a quick download for your use. Let’s break down what you need to know beyond the obvious.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

A Guide to Measuring Your Facility

August 2, 2018
by

layout of an industrial building

We measure many facilities on-site, but there are times our customers either want to or need to measure their own buildings. Here is a quick guide to measuring for conveyors, racks and other material handling equipment.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|

A Warehouse Manager’s Guide to Safe Product Flow

July 12, 2018
by

incline conveyor loading in a warehouse

One of the best things about warehouse automation the way it helps your labor force become more flexible.

With the right automation strategy, you can add new people without long training curves. This allows you to expand, hire temporary workers as needed and juggle shifts. When it comes to safety, though, there are behaviors you must account for, no matter how much conveyor or how many robots are at work to simplify the work. Let’s break down the ways you can work to keep people safe near conveyors.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Order Picking & Fulfillment|

How to Set Overhead Conveyor Clearances

June 19, 2018
by

conveyor clearance in a distribution center

OSHA’s conveyor guidelines focus on guardrails and emergency stops, but when it comes to conveyor safety, the story hardly ends there. One neglected aspect is in areas where people may pass under suspended or overhead conveyors. Here are some best practices for those situations.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

How to Restack Pallets Safer, Faster

May 22, 2018
by

floor mounted pallet return system

In warehouses, we deal with tons of empty pallets, and the load can be overwhelming at times. Yet, people tend not to notice the effect all that lifting and manual manipulation has, because it’s cumulative. Pallets are routinely handled the same way because that’s what we are used to. The problem is really one of ergonomics: people who stress, push and strain with stacks of pallets on a daily basis are more likely to be injured. They certainly aren’t working at the speed you’d like. It’s wasted time with a serious downside.

The new Pallet Return Device offers a safer and way more efficient way to handle your pallets, all while making more perfect stacks.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|

Three Inexpensive Ways to Reduce Forklift Accidents

March 1, 2018
by

forklift driving

You probably know the stats: Forklifts are extremely common, very productive and likely the most dangerous piece of machinery in any given warehouse. They seriously injure tens of thousands of people a year.

Over its lifespan, most every forklift will be involved in some type of accident. If that involves a pedestrian, the injuries can be ghastly and the costs astronomical. Here are some things we’ve recently looked at to help reduce the chances of such incidents.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

The Ergonomics of Flexible Conveyors

February 20, 2018
by

flexible skatewheel conveyor loading a truck

As we have covered previously, conveyors contribute to ergonomics in material handling operations by reducing repetitive lifts, twists, reaching and materials movement that may have been done by hand without them. Eliminating manual lifting and carrying reduces the chances for painful, expensive musculoskeletal injuries. It’s not about the once-in-a-while lift/carry. It’s about the same, repetitive motions over and over.

It’s important that your conveyor is configured correctly to make this work.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

OSHA Requirements for Better Loading Dock Fall Protection

January 23, 2018
by

dock doors with snow on the ground outside

In warehouses, about 25% of injuries come at or near the loading dock area.

This is usually because it’s such a focal point of any distribution operation—it’s where everything is accepted and put away and where everything eventually processes out. This means that at times the dock will buzz with forklifts, workers on foot and other bursts of activity. It has a natural fall hazard in the edge of the dock. It’s got exposure to elements, meaning that it may have moisture, oils and other trip/slip hazards. When it comes to preventing falls, what are OSHA’s requirements? And what should you do above and beyond them?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Docks & Shipping|

Smarter Space in the E-Commerce Landscape

January 18, 2018
by

pick module in ecommerce warehouse

Online sales will account for 17% of all U.S. retail sales by 2022, up from a projected 12.7% in 2017. As you might imagine, warehouses are suffering from a major capacity crunch. Whereas previously warehouses were organized to handle large volumes of each product, E-commerce orders are characterized by a low quantity of many items or just a singular item. In an e-commerce oriented warehouse, huge quantities of SKUs exist, each needing their own specific storage slots.

Warehouse managers know that inventory levels can fluctuate anytime within a sales season, especially during a holiday when inventory levels are typically at their peak, often double or triple normal levels. Plus, because of the Amazon-effect, consumers are demanding more products with faster and better service, putting additional strain on warehouse space. Because of this growth, many businesses are looking for additional space to distribute and store products, but warehouse real estate is hard to find.

What is a retailer to do? The answer for additional space can be found within the four walls of your current operation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|

Read our customer reviews