ploy | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 10
Cisco-Eagle Logo

Motorized Carts For Ergonomic Material Movement

March 29, 2022

powered cart operating in warehouse environment

Forklifts are the usual method to move heavy materials, but there are plenty of times—and many good reasons—you might not want to use one. You can use pallet jacks, stackers, tuggers, pallet dollies, AGVs or even conveyors, but what about the instances where you don’t need forklift power, but your loads are too heavy or the travel time too far for pushcarts?

Enter the powered cart. This option resides in that “sweet spot” for material movement. But what exactly can a powered cart offer you, and what are your options?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Material Handling|

Are AGVs Right for You?

March 17, 2022

driverless forklift AGV loading empty pallets.

AGVs–automated guided vehicles–are mainstream. You see them in increasingly diverse applications and functioning in areas of the supply chain that may have seemed impossible a few years ago. Especially as e-commerce continues to accelerate and consumers demand more and faster shipments, companies must innovate to meet demand. AGV technology is ready for real-world use and can provide the answer, but is it a good fit for you?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Shoptalk – Resolving Pallet Flow Jams

March 3, 2022

forklift resolving pallet flow issue

In this installment of Cisco-Eagle’s Shoptalk series, Jeremy reviews how to resolve pallet flow jams.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Total Protection – Industrial Facility Traffic Barrier Factors

March 1, 2022

Photo of warehouse with guardrail installed to protect pallet rack.

Most industrial facilities utilize barriers to protect pedestrians, inventory, structure and equipment. When you walk around you will see these (mostly) yellow barriers installed in highly-trafficked or other zones where forklift impacts are possible. It’s a matter of safety. OSHA forklift and powered industrial truck regulations lack specific guidelines when it comes to barriers, but there are best practices to consider.

The options depend on your specific operating environment. Finding the right system (or set of systems) is important, so it’s a matter of this: what do you need your barriers to do?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Pallet Racks and Warehouse Slab Specification

February 22, 2022

Photo of a warehouse floor, with a mezzanine installed on the left and a pallet rack system installed on the right.

Because high-bay warehouses with narrow aisles and heights of 30 feet or more have become common, it’s critical to understand your facility floor if you intend to add racks, change layouts or otherwise alter the operation. If you’re adding or changing an existing facility, and the design has changed so that higher density, taller or heavier racks are in play, what factors should you consider?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Free Falling – Ways To Reduce Mezzanine Falling Items

February 10, 2022

Mezzanine safety railing

Mezzanines offer an affordable way to increase the vertical cube of your facility. This expansion can fuel growth and reduce the need for additional locations (especially in this new normal of sky-high commercial real estate).

When looking at a mezzanine install, or even when operating with an existing version, worker safety is paramount. One safety aspect to pay careful attention to is the risk of falling items from your mezzanine. To help reduce these risks, there are multiple methods of protection available, but which one is the best fit for your mezzanine?

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,
Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|

Conveying Fruits and Produce

February 1, 2022

cherries being sorted and packed in a processing facility.
Conveyors used to transport, sort and deliver produce such as fruits and vegetables must be precise, sanitary and capable of carefully handling delicate foods. Production and packaging machinery should integrate with conveyor systems to ensure seamless operation. What are some produce conveying factors?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

How to Specify Pallet Rack Safety Netting

January 13, 2022

Pallet rack safety net catches cartons to prevent falling items from landing below.

Any aisle that overlooks an area where people work, shop or walk should be protected against falling items, and rack netting is one of the most common ways to do that. It’s relatively inexpensive, full-time protection that can also help you maintain NFPA flue space requirements.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Shoptalk: DEA-Compliant Cages for Controlled Substances

January 11, 2022

video subject in front of a storage cage

In the most recent installment in our Shoptalk video series, employee-owner (and Design Technician Manager) Edward Wallis discusses the differences between DEA-compliant security cages for controlled substances and general security cages. If you deal with pharmaceuticals or other sensitive inventory, you need to know the critical differences between general inventory and controlled substance secure storage.

Watch the video now

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:
Posted in Security|

Go With The Flow – Keg Storage Solutions

January 6, 2022

Keg flow storage options in a warehouse
With New Year’s Eve just now becoming a (possibly blurry) memory, beer providers are preparing not only for the next celebration but for the continued increase in consumption. With Covid-19 and its variants providing steady uncertainty, alcohol buyers are making sure their supply is stocked and that they have access.

To combat the demand and current supply chain woes, those that store and distribute beer, in particular, are faced with storage and accessibility challenges. You want to keep the flow (pun intended) moving so that sales are made and product is shipped on time, but what are some ways to help ensure this happens?

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Read our customer reviews