lifts | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 4
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OSHA’s Warehouse Safety Emphasis Program: An Analysis

August 1, 2023

Illustration of an automated warehouse being inspected.

Warehousing grown for most of the last decade, with a 5-6% annual growth rate expected for the next 5 years. That level of expansion stresses labor availability and supply chains, but has another implication: safety. In July 2023, OSHA announced what it terms a “new national emphasis” for workplace hazards for warehouses, distribution centers and retail storage facilities. Since nearly 2 million people work in the industry, the agency is interested in reducing injuries across the board.

What are the implications of this emphasis?

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

When Should You Use a Yard Ramp?

July 6, 2023

yard ramp with a truck trailer in a shipping yard

Yard ramps are great for letting you load trailers in situations where you can’t back them to a dock because they can easily adjust to trailer heights. You can also use them to connect dock height to the ground in situations where that’s necessary. Beyond these basic situations, there are detailed reasons for using a dock ramp. Let’s look at those reasons:

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Posted in Docks & Shipping|

Ways to Optimize Industrial Labor

June 1, 2023

Manufacturing worker on a production line.

73% of warehouse operators said they can’t find enough workers. The National Association of Manufacturers sees shortfalls today, and more in the future: an astonishing 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2030. With labor shortages the norm today and for the foreseeable future, how can you optimize, retain and improve labor in your operation?

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Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|

The Right Caster Can Be a Game Changer

May 4, 2023

Casters in an industrial facility

Casters need a moment! They know you don’t think about them in the grand scheme of a facility’s operations. They know they’re overlooked most of the time….until they’re not for all the wrong reasons.

But, if you take some time to get to the ground level of things, you can see that casters keep your warehouse moving forward. Yes, the task they carry out is a simple one (at least from our perspective), but only if you outfit your operations with the right caster solutions. You don’t want reoccurring problems with your casters, either.

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Posted in Material Handling|

Options for Pallet Rack Floor-Level Storage Versatility

May 2, 2023

Warehouse

Change is inevitable, particularly in warehousing, manufacturing and distribution. Many warehouses will shift storage area missions over time. New SKUs, more inventory, and different business and operational missions can create the need for newer storage concepts. The problem? There isn’t always a place for new demands. When this occurs, one thing to consider is using the floor or lower levels of your rack system.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Mezzanine Monthly – Why Choose A Shelf Supported Mezzanine

April 18, 2023

shelf supported mezzanine in an order fulfillment operation
Above: Shelf supported mezzanine in a warehouse facility.

Not all warehouse shelving (or storage) options work for every facility. One operation’s pallet rack solution might not be ideal for a warehouse that wants to not only grow vertically but offer more picking options for items they’re selling and shipping. When you need high density storage, what mezzanine option fits best?  Shelf supported mezzanines checks a lot of boxes.

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Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|

Targeted Warehouse Automation: Manual Pallet Handling

April 13, 2023

stacking and wrapping pallets with manual processes
While many companies can benefit from full scale automation, the math isn’t the same for everyone. However, labor shortages continue to drive companies to seek ways to reduce dependence on manual processes in specific, labor-intensive functions. What are some areas you should target for partial automation?

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Pallet Rack Safety: Policies and Practices

March 7, 2023

warehouse manager inspecting a pallet rack in a warehouse.

Operating a warehouse almost always means using pallet racks to take advantage of vertical space and organization of bulk storage. If they’re specified, installed and loaded correctly, racks are usually one of the most stable, effective and safest pieces of warehouse equipment. Because they carry heavy loads on vertical structures, racks should always be evaluated for safety and effectiveness. They’re stable, but that stability can be compromised by any number of factors.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Mezzanine Monthly – Why Choose A Rack Supported Mezzanine

February 21, 2023

rack supported mezzanine in an order fulfillment operation
Above: Rack supported mezzanine in a warehouse facility. Photo courtesy of Unex.

The typical U.S. distribution center is 31.1 feet tall, according to a survey by Statista.  But when more space is needed for operations, mezzanines can be used to create it. Most facilities aren’t fully using that vertical cube, either. Rather than expanding out, you can expand up.  Vertical storage options have options within as well (whoa, that got deep).

Tall racks are frequently deployed to utilize all if that vertical cube. If you have pallet rack, using part of it in the form of a rack supported mezzanine gains more from your vertical cube is an ideal solution. What could a rack mezzanine do for your facility?

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Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|

Comparing AGV Navigation Methods

February 16, 2023

AGVs in a variety of configurations - unit style, driverless forklift.

The type of AGV and the way it navigates are two huge considerations in any automated material transport project. Vehicle type dictates functionality, interface and payload factors, but navigation is critical to overall performance. After all, AGVs travel; that’s their primary role. The way they do wind their way through rack aisles, across dock areas, near work cells, around conveyors and throughout the warehouse can make or break a project. The options range from simple methods like tape guidance to highly-automated laser and contour systems.

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

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