Discover how UNEX solutions come together to transform the supply chain in Booth #S2326!Lakewood, NJ – November 19, 2024 – UNEX Manufacturing, Inc., a trusted industry leader in providing smart space solutions that transform the supply chain, will be showcasing their dynamic storage solutions for manufacturing, fulfillment, retail, and logistics in Booth #S2326 at ProMat, March 17 – 20, 2025 in Chicago, IL."Supply chains have had to adapt rapidly over the past decade due to so many factors outside our control," said Brian C. Neuwirth, President, UNEX Manufacturing. "Companies need the right equipment and solutions in place to remain agile and sustain growth despite ever-present supply chain challenges."Fortunately, there are solutions that can help mitigate the impacts of the top challenges supply chain professionals in manufacturing, fulfillment, retail, and logistics face. UNEX has helped numerous businesses across many industries save money in maintenance and operational costs while saving space. Companies like Goodwill, HelloFresh, Cutter & Buck, Daimler, and more trust UNEX solutions to save space, time, and money to create resilient supply chains now and in the future.In booth #S2326, UNEX Manufacturing will be showing visitors how companies can transform their supply chains through demos of their dynamic storage, picking, packing, and assembly solutions. UNEX will demo its industry-leading dynamic storage systems including dynamic industrial shelving, carton flow, picking carts, gravity conveyors, and modular flow rack solutions.What to Expect from UNEX at ProMat 2025New! SpeedCell Ready BayDiscover how you can increase storage density and maximize space utilization with NEW SpeedCell Ready Bay. SpeedCell Ready Bay is a complete dynamic high-density storage system designed to replace inefficient industrial shelving. SpeedCell Ready Bay includes UNEX SpeedCell columns with a pre-assembled steel suspension system and rack structure that is ready for use in minutes. SpeedCell Ready Bay helps warehouse, fulfillment, and retail backroom operations improve pick speed and accuracy for valuable time and cost savings.Ready Bay is offered in 6 standard sizes ranging from XS - XXL. Each Ready Bay includes: SpeedCell columns in your choice of size SpeedCell steel set suspension system (fully assembled)! UNEX-supplied racking Wire deck for extra storage space above your SpeedCell baySpeedCell High-Density Storage Benefits: Increase storage density by 40-60% Reduce labor costs up to 40% Transform space into useable storage Add more SKUs in less space Create a highly efficient and accurate pickVisitors to booth #S2326 will also discover SpeedCartt; an agile and space-efficient mobile picking cart that speeds order fulfillment. SpeedCartt features 4 cart sizes, 8 column sizes, and 16 different cart combinations to ensure increased order accuracy and reduced travel times.Carton Flow SolutionsUNEX will also showcase its industry-leading carton flow solution SpanTrack. Whether you're storing and picking cases or individual items, UNEX has a solution to meet your needs. These space-efficient systems maximize SKU storage and improve productivity across every area of a facility.Efficient, durable, and dependable, SpanTrack Lane and SpanTrack Wheel Bed tracks drop into existing structures to create the ultimate carton flow rack system for manufacturing facilities and order picking operations.SpanTrack Carton Flow Benefits: Add to any new or existing pallet rack; no shelves or intermediate support required. Store products with a wide variation in size and weight. Depend on a strong and sturdy solution for even the most active warehouses and assembly plants. Eliminate hang-ups with 300% more product contact than plastic wheel rails.Modular Flow RacksSee a wide variety of FlowCell flow rack configurations in booth #S2326. UNEX will demo a FlowCell modular workstation, a pick tray cart, heavy-duty flow racks, and more. FlowCell is a versatile solution that is ideal for companies across industries. From industrial workstations to order fulfillment packing stations and more, FlowCell increases space utilization and boosts productivity for many different applications.FlowCell Flow Rack Benefits: Increase space utilization by up to 50% Boost production efficiency by up to 30% Minimize reaching and improve ergonomics by reducing injury and fatigue Create reconfigurable, flexible storage to accommodate line and process changes Ensure FIFO inventory rotation Keep the factory floor organized — totes and boxes can be stored in return lanes rather than on the floorConnect with UNEX at ProMat 2025!Discover a whole universe of supply chain transformation solutions with UNEX in booth #S2326 at ProMat 2025! Our knowledgeable staff of experts will learn more about your current challenges to tailor solutions to meet your unique needs.Questions? Click here to contact us.About UNEX Manufacturing, Inc.Founded in 1964, UNEX is a trusted industry leader in engineered space optimization, offering solutions that increase efficiency, maximize existing warehouse space utilization, and ensure parts and products are more accessible for picking. UNEX offers a full range of space optimization solutions, including their patented carton flow solution SpanTrack, a full line of Gravity Conveyor products, and UNEX FlowCell for durable, modular, and portable storage in manufacturing operations. For retail order fulfillment efficiency, UNEX offers SpeedCell, dynamic, high-density storage. Using an extensive distribution channel, the company ensures local support is available for every customer - no matter the location - exceeding customer expectations through continuous improvement, customer service, and empowered employees. UNEX is an ISO-certified company committed to quality and bringing value to customers in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and retail. For more information, visit www.unex.com.

Free downloadThis standard applies to industrial steel boltless shelving; boltless shelving placed on mobile carriages; multi-level boltless shelving systems such as pick modules, catwalks, and deck-overs; and for boltless shelving used in conjunction with an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The structural framing components for these systems are made of cold-formed or hot-rolled steel structural members. This standard does not apply to the following: industrial steel pallet racks (addressed by ANSI MH16.1), industrial cantilever racks (addressed by ANSI MH16.3), boltless shelving structures not fabricated from steel, industrial steel bin shelving, or shelving systems built with slotted metal angles. Boltless shelving is typically a hand-loaded, prefabricated, free-standing, building-like non-building structure that utilizes a designed framing system. It is generally located within an industrial or warehouse environment that is restricted from the general public. Personnel working within the confines of the boltless shelving structure are presumed to be properly trained, physically able, and appropriately attired for the intended working environment. This standard is intended to be applied to the design, testing and utilization of such structures. This standard applies to boltless shelving structures installed within a building and subjected to seismic (earthquake) loads. Loads from environmental exposure, such as snow, wind or rain loads, are not addressed in this standard. This standard does not cover any design requirements that need to be addressed for supported equipment that would subject a shelving system to significant dynamic loading and/or harmonic vibration that has the potential to cause structural damage or metal fatigue. For environmental exposure or applications beyond the scope of this standard, an evaluation by a qualified design professional is required.

Refers to the type of flooring used on an elevated work platform or shelving pick module or the shelf decking associated with standard shelving units. Common decks include composite engineered wood or plywood, corrugated metal, bar or plank grating, steel plates, and concrete.The material, generally made from welded wire, that is placed on shelves, rack load beams or walks to support loads of variable sizes.The decks or flooring of a mezzanine can be made of several different types of materials depending upon the requirements, features and capacity of the mezzanine. These flooring/decking options may include bar grating, plank grating, wood planking, plywood, composite materials and cement.

To complement a new educational video, thought leaders representing the Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA), an MHI product group, discuss the importance of protecting personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities.ProGMA has recently launched the second in a series of videos about the importance of protective guarding products in the material handling industry. The video titled “Proper Safeguarding for Elevated Work Platforms” followed the inaugural, educational video titled, “Essential Safety Barriers for Automated / Robotic Workcells”. (http://www.mhi.org/progma/videos)Here, representatives of member companies expand on the themes explored within the latest video in the group’s first blog.Before we start, says Arlin Keck, corporate research and development engineer at Steel King (a manufacturer of pallet racks, mezzanines and guardrails), it’s important to clarify what we mean by “mezzanine” in this context. “The technical term for what my company and other members make is work platforms. Mezzanine was an old term for these systems; however, the word mezzanine had to be dropped because mezzanine, as defined in the building codes, refers to a specified type of floor within a building structure and carries with it added requirements for fire safety, egress, parking, and so on,” Keck explains.A typical work platform is design to support the site-specific load that will be placed on the floor, be it palletized loads, pallet jacks, foot traffic, work equipment, filing cabinets, racking or shelving units, to name just a few possibilities.Keck says that the main purpose of an elevated work platform is to add additional floor space into a building or room by taking advantage of surplus ceiling clearance that may exist in a warehouse or manufacturing facility. Aaron Conway, president at Mezzanine Safeti-Gates Inc. (a manufacturer of safety gates to secure the ledges of pallet drop areas on mezzanines and rack picking systems), says, “A company that has utilized all of its ground space can build upward. An elevated platform allows one to use the space for workflow or to store product.”As Hue Schlegel, director of marketing at Wildeck Inc. (a manufacturer of mezzanines and work platforms), puts it, “Move up, not out.” He adds, “Depending on the available height in a building, platforms can be one, two, or three levels high, with the most common height being 10 ft. top-of-deck and supporting a floor load of 125 lbs. per square foot. Their length and width are only limited by facility size.” Importantly, he explains, they cannot occupy more than two thirds of a fire-rated area within a building.Keck says work platforms are also used to create catwalks between separated platforms, and to serve as sortation and conveyance areas for mechanized systems. Conway agrees, adding, “Companies that supply elevated work platforms can fabricate them in virtually any configuration. They can be designed to accommodate specific workflow operations or to fit with existing structures in the building.”Industrial buildings are getting bigger and elevated work platforms are scaling up with them. Say, 50 years ago, facilities were much smaller and ceilings lower so there were fewer requirements for elevated platforms. Further, the equipment to load at such heights didn’t exist. Now, the capability of equipment is greater and taller structures are being utilized as a result. Within them, work and storage takes place on multiple levels.These multi-level work platforms present a danger of personnel and objects falling from height.As the latest video warns, the pallet drop area of elevated work platforms can lead to accidents if the ledge is open without adequate guarding. Falls to lower levels cost employers $5 billion annually in compensation claims in the U.S. alone. OSHA reports that it costs on average 16 lost working days per injured employee.Conway says, “Falling from an elevated level, whether it be people or products, is a serious danger and both should be addressed proactively, securing the situation before an incident occurs.” Schlegel adds, “The worst case, of course, is death; while the best scenario is that a worker survives a fall from the typical mezzanine height of 10 ft. sustaining only broken bones, fractures, and other injuries from hitting the concrete floor below. It is a serious matter not to be taken lightly.”Traditional railing or guarding systems are effective at preventing falls from height as long as they include a kick plate that is installed in conjunction with ANSI MH 28.3-2009. Adding netting or expanded metal and safety products to traditional railing systems provides added protection by capturing small objects that might otherwise fall into the work area below.OSHA Standard 1926.502, meanwhile, requires paneling or screening where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toe-board or kick plate. ProGMA members also manufacture both netting and wire mesh panels that comply with that standard.However, David Brentz, chairman of ProGMA and vice president of member company Industrial Netting (a manufacturer of plastic netting), says, “That’s only a minimum requirement; added protection is financially prudent. The cost to install netting or wire screens around the perimeter of an elevated work platform pales in comparison to the cost of a single lost time accident. ProGMA members offer several simple, cost effective solutions to protect employees below loose objects that may fall or be kicked off work platforms.”Conway says, “In the past, properly guarding a pallet drop area or installing netting or wire was something that would be retrofitted, either after an incident occurred or after someone pointed out the issue. Designing proper safety guarding for the structure at the time of purchase makes for a much better fit; when retrofitting, there is often insufficient room for proper guarding and concessions have to be made. But, it is important to note that even if proper guarding wasn’t designed with the structure, it still should be installed. There are companies in the ProGMA that can customize solutions to fit these areas.”He continues, “Don’t confuse luck with judgment. If I visit a facility that was built, say, 20 years ago, I’m sure to find open pallet drop areas or insufficient guardrails. Just because these areas have been around for a while isn’t a reason not to properly secure them. I’ve heard the line, ‘Well, we’ve been doing it this way for 20 years and nobody has gotten hurt’. To that I say, ‘You’ve been lucky!’”Schlegel says, “The biggest safety risk is when a forklift access gate on mezzanine is left open creating a fall hazard for someone off-loading a pallet at the upper level. There are many products, provided by ProGMA members, that prevent the gate from being left open or that keep the operator at a safe distance, which should always be installed.”ANSI says, “Any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift up, leaving an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.”Dual gate systems such as a rolling gate ensure that the operator is separated from the ledge as well as the load. A pivoting gate ensures the operator is never exposed to the ledge and does not require him or her to walk near an open ledge to operate the gate.Unfortunately, sometimes it can take an incident and a facility to be shut down during an investigation for companies to understand the serious financial consequences of a workplace injury. There are many other companies that understand the risks and proactively secure their work areas. These diligent companies end up ahead in the long run:1. They typically get better solutions because they had the time to design them correctly;2. They get a better price because they can take their time and research the solutions;3. Safety solutions are in place before they need them.Conway concludes, “The large majority of people don’t want to get hurt and are not acting recklessly on the job. Typically, they are performing a repetitive operation, and in their process miss a step or push something too far and someone gets hurt. Proper guarding should be in place to prevent injury if this happens.”About ProGMAThe Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. Member companies meet regularly to review, discuss, and revise the standards for design and performance of protective guarding products used in the material handling industry. ProGMA member companies are committed to the development, maintenance, and publishing of industry standard specifications for these systems. Visit the website at http://www.mhi.org/ProGMAAbout MHIMHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. http://www.mhi.orgContactAnupam Berry Boseabose@mhi.org704-676-1190

Click Here to Read More

When Baker Distributing (a Vermont-based, family-owned and operated beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverage distribution company) realized that they were running out of space, they knew the solution to their problem could be found by “going up.” While the installation of four Wildeck mezzanines at their two facilities resolved their space woes, the company was still in need of first-rate products that would provide access to the mezzanine’s deck.