In this installment of Cisco-Eagle’s Shoptalk series, Lance reviews how goalpost dock door protectors work.
Motorized Carts For Ergonomic Material Movement
March 29, 2022
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?
Tags: labor, ergonomics, Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Material Handling|
Are AGVs Right for You?
March 17, 2022
by Scott Stone
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?
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Ergonomics and Pallet Handling
March 10, 2022
by Scott Stone
Palletized loads are one of the most common—and most difficult—areas of concern for ergonomic warehouse operations. In an era of labor shortages and increased safety concerns, dealing with pallets and palletized loads should be a higher-priority target for warehouse operations.
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Total Protection – Industrial Facility Traffic Barrier Factors
March 1, 2022
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?
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Free Falling – Ways To Reduce Mezzanine Falling Items
February 10, 2022
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?
Tags: Space Optimization, Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|
How to Specify Pallet Rack Safety Netting
January 13, 2022
by Scott Stone
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.
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Shoptalk: DEA-Compliant Cages for Controlled Substances
January 11, 2022
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.
Go With The Flow – Keg Storage Solutions
January 6, 2022
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?
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
New Rules for Industrial Automation ROI
January 4, 2022
by Scott Stone
In October 2019, I wrote this article on ROI factors for automation projects.
That was just over two years ago, but the world is, to understate the case, a different place now. We endured a relentless Covid-19 pandemic that still persists. The “great resignation” has accelerated. Ecommerce demand was already ascendant, but is on an even faster track. The labor pool got shallower and continues to contract. What should we consider when we look at these projects in 2022 and beyond?
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|