Conveyors are essential for manufacturing operations, but in some areas where they are exposed to dust, airborne debris, moisture or chemicals, there may be issues with their mechanical components. These environmental factors impact performance, equipment lifespan, maintenance burdens and safety, but can be dealt with if the conveyor is properly designed, used and maintained. Let’s dive into these issues.
Conveyors in Difficult Environments
May 2, 2019
by Scott Stone
Tags: Manufacturing, ergonomics
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Safety When Installing A Foundationless Jib Crane
January 17, 2019
You want to move heavy loads safely and effectively while also keeping your solution economical and efficient. Consider the Jib Crane, and effective tool in your warehouse arsenal that will hold its own and can interface with a wide variety of workstations and functions.
Foundationless Jib cranes offer versatility and economic savings, as they are bolted directly to an existing concrete floor and don’t require a concrete foundation. Using the existing floor means that you don’t need to install a costly special foundation, plus you can install and use the system sooner because you don’t need to wait for concrete to cure. Existing floor use also makes sense for smaller capacity and shorter span jib cranes. With that said, there are multiple concrete considerations before you install a foundationless jib crane. The key, is your installation.
Tags: warehousing, Manufacturing, industrial safety, warehouse, Safety & Ergonomics, cranes, jib crane
Posted in Lifting & Lift Systems|
How to Store and Handle Long, Heavy Loads: Tube, Pipe and Bar Stock
January 8, 2019
by Scott Stone
Pallet storage is easy, or at least easier than dealing with pipes and tubing
The idea behind pallets was to unitize and standardize the storage of standard blocks in racks designed to store those units. Standard units like pallets are easier store and handle. With pallets, you make sure your rack and forklifts can handle the pallet size and weight, and essentially you have a relatively dense, easily-accessed storage scheme. It’s more complicated for long, heavy loads like tube, bar stock and pipes. Let’s break down your options.
Posted in Manufacturing|
Shoptalk: Measuring Warehouse Guard Rail for a Perfect Fit
November 6, 2018
In the first installment of Cisco-Eagle’s new video series, Shoptalk, Taylor reviews how to measure Steel King Steel Guard rail for a perfect fit into your space.
Tags: Shoptalk
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
AisleCop: Pedestrian or Forklift Priority?
September 18, 2018
by Scott Stone
Above, left: pedestrian priority AisleCop system, where pedestrian gates default to open. On the right, forklift gates are open until the system triggers to allow a pedestrian to cross the aisle.
Forklift safety systems are usually designed to restrain pedestrians, not forklifts
The reasoning for this choice is simple: it’s the same one that usually allows cars to have the right-of-way on public streets.
It fits the operational needs of most warehouses and industrial facilities, but that’s not something that’s true in every case. Let’s go through your options for managing a pedestrian crossing in your facility using the AisleCop® system.
Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|
The Final Frontier – Using Space Efficiently
August 16, 2018
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. Â 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.
Tags: warehouse, warehouse productivity, Warehouse Management, warehousing, space savings, storage
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|
A Detailed Guide to Pallet Rack Decking Types
July 24, 2018
Pallet rack is a key storage method for effective warehouses, allowing high-cube storage in vertical space along with organizational advantages. When searching for the right pallet rack, you also must consider what decking you want to use with the pallet rack you chose. Each decking option can provide your rack with even more efficiency and storage potential, but which one will work for your rack?
Tags: Warehouse Management, warehousing, Pallet Rack, pallet racking, warehouse
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Download our Guide To Cantilever Racks
June 7, 2018
by Scott Stone
Because they offer instant access to, and easy selection of either an entire load or any part of it, cantilever racks are ideal for storing long, unwieldy, heavy and difficult loads. They come with many options and questions, so we have published a guide to cantilever racks (PDF) you should read as you move forward on a storage project involving these types of loads.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
OSHA Requirements for Better Loading Dock Fall Protection
January 23, 2018
by Scott Stone
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?
Tags: Third Party Logistics, ecommerce, 3PL
Posted in Docks & Shipping|
The Warehouse Manager’s Guide to Walking Around: Pallet Racks
September 19, 2017
by Scott Stone
It’s always busy when you operate a warehouses or DC, but as noted philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” The same applies to your facility and specifically its pallet racks. A good way to ensure they’re being used correctly and safely is to stop and look around once in a while. In that spirit, let’s touch on some things to examine in your warehouse rack operation.
Tags: Warehouse Management, pallet racking, warehouse productivity, rack safety, Inspections, Walking Around
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|