Manufacturers need to feed their lines, which requires a reliable material handling operation within the plant. Historically, material flow has depended almost entirely on forklifts. More recently, another type of industrial truck is showing up at assembly lines around the world. Whatever you call them — tuggers, tow tractors, tugger-cart systems, Warehouse Trailers — this new approach has plenty to… Continue Reading
Just as economic development depends on a strong manufacturing sector, sustainable development depends on green manufacturing. You’ve probably heard the term in the industrial press, or even the mainstream news. But what exactly do we mean by green manufacturing? The sponsors of the 2008 Green Manufacturing Expo offer this definition. Green manufacturing is: The creation of manufactured products that use… Continue Reading
When manufacturers look for inefficiencies to address, they often focus on the production line itself. Can automation improve operations? New manufacturing processes? Different staffing strategies? In fact, these strategies make up only a portion of efficient operation in the manufacturing industry. Material handling — getting raw materials to the lines, moving components between one station and the next, and eventually… Continue Reading
The manufacturing industry can’t operate without adequate material handling systems, and, inevitably, those systems include forklifts. From replenishment to handling pallets of raw goods and finished products, forklifts provide the muscle that keeps manufacturing lines running. It comes as something of a surprise, then, that manufacturing facilities don’t always apply the same engineering interventions that they use to keep lines… Continue Reading
As we transition into the new year, we’re keeping a close eye on the manufacturing industry; where it’s been, where it stands, and where it’s likely to go over the course of 2019. It’s an interesting question for providers of material-handling equipment. A sizeable portion of BHS projects find their way into manufacturing operations, whether they’re fixing line-feed inefficiencies or… Continue Reading
In 2016, more than 100,000 people hailing from 117 countries packed into Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center for the biennial International Manufacturing Technology Show. These attendees represented every corner of the manufacturing industry, from sales to R&D to production engineering. This September, the crowds will return to Chicago for the 32nd edition of the manufacturing industry’s leading trade show. Buyers… Continue Reading
Automakers and other manufacturers use summer shutdowns to perform vital tasks to keep operations running smoothly. While these lulls in output can be expensive — after all, factories are not only stopping production but spending big money on improvements — they can also increase productivity. And when management takes time to carefully plan a plant turnaround, they can reap even… Continue Reading
