Pallets are the basic building blocks of the global supply chain. They standardize shipments; they influence the design of material handling equipment; they make it possible to move goods from the manufacturer to the store or the consumer’s doorstep more efficiently. Without pallets, we might not have lift trucks. Without pallets, we might think of “unit loads” in radically different… Continue Reading
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Industry Knowledge Base
Watering Forklift Batteries: The Complete Guide for Battery Room Operators
With proper maintenance, a forklift battery should last 1,500 cycles (or about five years). Unfortunately, that’s not a guarantee — and without proper maintenance, a battery might experience significant performance issues well before the scheduled end of its service life. This guide covers every aspect of forklift battery watering, a crucial factor in determining the life of your lift trucks’… Continue Reading
Electrical Material Handling from Distribution Facility to Job Site
You can follow a cable reel or a load of conduit from its source all the way to the first flip of a brand new light switch, and at every step along the way, you’ll find material handling equipment. Many of the components required for a complete electrical installation are too heavy and awkward for manual handling. They can even… Continue Reading
OSHA Standards for Industrial Work Platforms Mounted on Forklifts
As every employer knows (and as we’ve discussed in numerous articles on this site), OSHA standards can be extraordinarily complex. That’s especially true regarding material handling equipment. While OSHA’s standards set out some basic rules for ensuring worker safety, interpretation becomes significantly more difficult when considering removable attachments and their various applications. When those attachments carry workers — as is… Continue Reading
Cable Drum Winding Machines for Delivered Solutions
Traditional cable drum winding machines require a complex series of set-up actions before you can even begin filling the take-up drum. For cut-to-length wire and cable distributors, who repeat the process with every order, these additional steps add up to substantial lost productivity. For instance, take a standard shaftless, pintle-loading cable winding machine. In order to fill an order using… Continue Reading
Cable Reel Rollers vs. Jack Stands: Which Is Better for Pulling?
Safety and efficiency are critical factors to consider when handling industrial cable spools and reels. Both factors depend largely on the right equipment. For electricians, utility suppliers, and distribution warehouses managing cut-to-length orders, that means choosing between reel jack stands and cable reel rollers — or some combination of both. Each of these products serves the same basic function: They… Continue Reading
Battery Washing Machines vs. Manual Cleaning
Battery washing machines are an essential component of a well-equipped forklift battery room, and any operation that uses lift trucks regularly should invest in wash equipment that optimize efficiency while complying with OSHA standards. For some operations, that means incorporating portable battery wash cabinets for improved versatility, but before making that decision, it’s helpful to understand the options. First, a… Continue Reading
What Is a Parcel Locker and How Can It Help Your Business?
Parcel lockers are bulkstorage units with multiple lockable compartments, designed to facilitate delivery and collection of orders at any time of the day or night. This 24/7 accessibility makes parcel lockers a powerful tool in an era of increasing e-commerce. A customer can order an item online, for instance, and travel to a nearby parcel locker to retrieve their order…. Continue Reading
Warehouse Construction Hot Spots for 2020
The e-commerce boom continues, with logistics providers struggling to keep up with tremendous demand, particularly for last-mile delivery. That will lead to more warehouse construction across the United States, but the growth will be concentrated in a few areas throughout 2020, most of them in urban centers. This is a continuing trend. Warehouse vacancy kept declining in 2019, dipping to… Continue Reading
Why Retailers May Need to Prepare for an Early Holiday Shopping Season (And Some Ideas for How to Do It)
The 2019 peak retail season may begin earlier than usual — and that’s important news for retailers, logistics operators, and shippers across the United States. Two unusual market conditions are colliding to create this unique situation: retailers’ perceptions of overly high inventories (leading to less replenishment) and consumer reaction to news of increasing tariffs. If consumers rush to beat price… Continue Reading
