warehouse | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 14
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How to Singulate Products on Your Conveyor System

November 28, 2023
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singulation conveyor systems merge multiple lines into single lanes of products

What is singulation?

Singulation separates and single-lines cartons and other loads into lines as they move on a conveyor. Bulk and parcel applications frequently require singulation. Conveyors and control systems use multi-speed belts, dedicated singulators, skewed rollers and side-driven motors to unscramble multiple lines of products into single-file. Think of singulation as the process of organizing cartons or other loads into a single, neat line for future processing.

Singulation is pivotal for in sorting and organizing materials ranging from boxes to fragile electronics to sturdy automotive components on conveyor systems.

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

Pallet Rack: Anchoring, Safety and OSHA Compliance Factors

November 9, 2023
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heavy duty die storage rack anchored to a concrete warehouse floor.

Warehouses use pallet racks because they maximize storage space, streamline operations, and organize inventory like no other system. We discuss rack safety in depth because it’s so critical for protecting people, property, inventory and facilities. A rack safety fundamental is anchoring: the right anchors, installed correctly, into a subfloor designed for that purpose. Think of the floor-rack connection as the very basis of your rack’s balance and capacity.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Automation: Starting with a Clean Slate

October 10, 2023
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manual and robotic palletizing.

How should your next automation project be evaluated? In many cases, companies try to replicate a manual processes through automation: if a person once rotated a tote, then picked from it and placed the contents into a container, that’s what the automation does. This kind of solution can provide excellent results, but may not be the optimal solution. What if you began with operational goals in mind that imagine a solution without the manual process?

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Ensure Smoother Operations with Pallet Dollies

September 21, 2023
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Worker using pallet dolly in warehouse

The new age of material handling solutions is bringing many products once unheard of. Whether it’s an automated process designed to ease the burden on employees and improve throughput, or new safety features that increase awareness while removing danger, futuristic improvements are being adopted at an incredible rate.

There are, however, some tried and true methods of ferrying items from one area to another in a facility. Take the pallet dolly….a solution that’s been around forever and stood the test of time (and movement!).

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Posted in Material Handling|

Comparison: Conveyor Systems and Autonomous Mobile Robotics

September 12, 2023
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Comparison: conveyor system vs AMRs

Conveyors and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are both used in logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing, but have critical differences in terms of functionality, flexibility, and applications. Neither system is inherently superior to the other based on the use case, situation, load and operational goals. When you need to build a product transport system, they can often work in tandem to create the best solution.

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

Order Picking, Accuracy and ROI for Industrial Automation

September 5, 2023
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order picking line in action, with hand scanner.

You could write a short novel–maybe a long one–about ROI for industrial automation projects.

If you’ve engaged in large-scale distribution or manufacturing automation projects, you probably have a good start on that very thing. ROI is a complicated endeavor with moving parts and shifting priorities. Because investments are always competing with other concepts, it often comes down to this: what’s most important to your company, your business environment and your industry.

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Posted in Order Picking & Fulfillment|

VLMs Vs. Vertical Carousels: Critical Specification Factors

August 8, 2023
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Vertical carousels and vertical lift modules—VLMs for short—enhance organization, increase storage density, improve security and speed throughput. They serve components directly to pickers in waist-high ergonomic zones. 

While these systems are similar from a functional standpoint and look similar from the outside, they can have different use cases and application requirements. Kevin, a Cisco-Eagle Dallas account executive, zeroes in on the differences in this video. 

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

How to Use Conveyors for Ergonomic Truck Loading and Unloading

July 18, 2023
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flexible conveyor extended into a tractor trailer for loading at a distribution center.

We recently discussed the various ways you can use conveyors to optimize the end of the line, which includes the ways they interface with trucks and trailers. The transition between the end of a conveyor system and the trucks where goods are loaded or unloaded are one of the areas where distribution centers can struggle. The traditional method has been to throw labor at the problem, but as we know in 2023, that is becoming a less useful and more difficult option.

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

Air Conditioner Protection

July 13, 2023
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Facility with industrial AC cages to protect equipment

Recently in Tulsa, where I live, we were in the midst of a large power outage due to a violent thunderstorm. Thunderstorms are not at all uncommon in this part of the country, but power outages associated with them are. What made matters worse was that the heat of the summer was just starting to blanket the city as well. As electrical workers are tirelessly repairing the damage, many residents are battling the heat without their biggest weapon, their air conditioning.

For an industrial facility, keeping your workers comfortable and cool is a top priority as the temperatures rise. But what about protecting those investments made to keep your operations cold?

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Posted in Security|

When Should You Use a Yard Ramp?

July 6, 2023
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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|

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