When your load is case-picked, relatively light, and smooth, column flow racks allow you to create storage density and increase the number of pick faces.
How to Quadruple the Number of Pick Faces in Carton Flow
December 26, 2008
by Scott Stone
Tags: gravity flow systems, Order Picking & Fulfillment, warehousing, Material Handling, distribution center, Carton flow rack
Posted in Order Picking & Fulfillment|
Can Your Floor Bear the Weight of a New Mezzanine?
December 13, 2008
by Scott Stone
Be sure your floor can handle a structure – and all the weight or activity planned for that structure
We’ve created an informative article you should check out if you are thinking of installing a mezzanine in your facility.
When implementing an Industrial Equipment Platform (mezzanine) be sure that you are not putting too much stress or weight on the floor of the building. Too much weight will cause the floor to crack – or worse. This article tells you how to calculate the correct load capacity and column spacing for any new structural mezzanine project. Floor capacity depends on the thickness of the concrete, but that’s not the end of the story. It also matters how much the soil underneath the slab will compress.
Click “Calculating Mezzanine Floor Capacities” to get the whole story…
Tags: Material Handling, order fulfillment, Mezzanines, industrial storage, productivity, work platforms, warehousing
Posted in Mezzanines & Industrial Platforms|
How to Intermingle New & Used Pallet Rack Components
October 3, 2008
by Scott Stone
When you are running an operation with lots of racking, it isn’t uncommon to have to replace an occasional upright or beam, or to add new bays onto an existing row. Sometimes you cannot avoid it, as the rack was purchased years ago, by someone else, or from a source you can’t even locate. It might be that you bought used rack and need to fill some gaps in, or it may be perfectly good, 10-year old rack that just needs some damaged components replaced.
This is done all the time, and although it isn’t an optimum situation for rack stability and safety, you can minimize the issues by following the following guidelines:
Tags: warehousing, Material Handling, Pallet Rack, warehouse safety, storage, industrial accident prevention, beams, uprights
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
10 Questions: Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor Specification
September 23, 2008
by Scott Stone
A few months ago, we posted a Guide to Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (you might find it useful if you’re looking at any application that moves a load up and down at least one level integrated with a shaft, mezzanine or other area). That guide includes the following questions, should be helpful as you move ahead with your project.
Tags: Automation, warehousing, Material Handling, vertical lifts, vrc, mezzanine lifts
Posted in Lifting & Lift Systems|
Palletizer Perspectives: Is Palletizing Suitable for My Operation?
August 4, 2008
by Scott Stone
With the growing popularity of automating the palletizing function, we arranged an interview with vonGAL, a leading manufacturer who has the largest installed base of palletizers in the country. Bobby Edmond is vonGAL’s Director of Applications, and has been in the business for 25 years. He has seen applications in a wide range of industries, and in companies large and small. I asked him if he would take time to share his thoughts, and answer a few questions of interest to those that might be considering palletizing for the first time.
Tags: shipping, order fulfillment, Palletizers, palletizing, Factory Automation, warehousing, Material Handling
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Options for Mobile Weighing Technologies in the Warehouse
July 11, 2008
by Scott Stone
In dynamic distribution environments, accurate, fast weighing, counting, and dimensioning systems are more important than ever. This is particularly true in 3PLs and other operations where needs often change. Getting it right, and getting it quickly has become increasingly more important. One way is to utilize the newer mobile weighing systems on the market today.
Tags: warehousing, Material Handling, scales, industrial weighing systems, inventory accuracy
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
Palletizers: Ergonomics and Justification
June 30, 2008
by Scott Stone
As interest continues to grow in automated palletizing, let’s take a brief look at a few of the issues surrounding these applications.
Over the next couple of months, I’ll be providing a handful of blog postings relative to palletizers. We will begin with what is driving the growth in the use of these products, then a look at basic systems, cost estimates, what you can expect from a properly applied palletizer system, and then share specifics from a couple of actual implementations in distribution centers. If you are experienced in palletizer systems, you will likely be familiar with much of what is covered here. If you are new to palletizing, or considering your first system, hopefully, this information will help you understand what the issues are and how you can navigate them.
Tags: warehousing, Material Handling, shipping, order fulfillment, Palletizers, palletizing, ergonomics, Factory Automation
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Comparing Gravity Flow Rack Types
June 15, 2008
by Scott Stone
Walk into any order fulfillment operation, and you will see gravity flow rack.
The reason is obvious–it’s one of the best ways to pick orders utilizing first-in, first-out principles. It used to be that there was one kind of the stuff, the plastic-wheel tracks, but these days the choices are more diverse than ever. For the most part, these flow rack types act the same; they decline toward the picker and boxes or totes or even larger components flow toward him. They’re restocked from the rear and picked from the front onto a takeaway conveyor line, a cart, workstation, or another step in the process.
Tags: Conveyor, picking systems, warehousing, Material Handling, Hytrol, order fulfillment, Supply Chain, carton flow, gravity flow rack, distribution center, Unex, Keneco
Posted in Order Picking & Fulfillment|
Modular Storage Considerations
June 4, 2008
by Scott Stone
Something we often recommend to save space for our clients is modular drawer storage — for certain operations, in particular those with components, assorted small parts, hardware, or even tool storage, we’re talking about recouping 50% -70% of floor space. Once people have ’em, they love ’em.
But there is more than one way to skin that cat. You can configure different kinds of cabinets to do different jobs. There are hundreds of possible combinations of drawer styles and sizes. Another wrinkle is what happens when you can merge the drawers with steel shelving. It can be new, it can be some you are already using. It begs the question: when is it better to have a cabinet, and when is it better to use shelving and compartmentalized drawer inserts?
Tags: warehousing, Material Handling, security, space savings, tool storage, Industrial Shelving, small parts, modular storage
Posted in Storage, Organization & Workstations|
Tips to Fight Summer Heat in the Warehouse
May 28, 2008
by Scott Stone
There are many issues of productivity and safety that are stressed as the heat rises. As temperatures start to rise, it gets particularly hot in industrial facilities, warehouses, shops, and distribution centers where air conditioning isn’t always present, extremely costly, or very effective. Experts say that employee productivity increases when ambient temperatures are comfortable and plummets when they aren’t. Error rates climb and safety is compromised as workers fight through hot, sweaty conditions. Here are some ways you can go about combating the rigors of summer.
Tags: climate control, fans, Conveyor, warehousing, Material Handling, industrial safety, heat stress, heat exhaustion, industrial fans
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|