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Warehouse control systems (WCS) are a game changer for businesses aiming to increase productivity and stay competitive.
Automation is becoming an essential part of the warehousing industry and despite its complexities, it can play a key role in the cold chain.
This is a paid advertisement. Ensign Equipment offers the parcel handling industry the safest and most dynamic high-speed parcel unloader for materials transported in gaylords, carts, hampers, and many other container types. The Ensign Parcel Unloader is fully capable of discharging boxes, polybags, envelopes, and mixed materials of nearly any size and shape. Control configurations range from simple, operator required, manual controls to fully automated. Machines can be designed to integrate with existing or new conveyors and chutes to streamline package singulation as well as AGVs for operator free loading.
The Hänel Lean-Lift as a high-speed shipping systemWhen it comes to tools, the experts at Productivity Inc. can provide customized solutions for the metalworking industry. In addition to consulting, customer care, service and maintenance,Productivity Inc. delivers tools and tool holders to customers throughout North America. Fast shipping from the company’s site in Minneapolis is supported by three Hänel Lean-Lifts® that are used to store more than 10,000 items.The Hänel vertical lifts are equipped with multifunction containers, making them ideal for automated small parts storage. Job orders are displayed directly on the HänelSoft® terminal and can be processed there.The high-speed version of the Hänel Lean-Lift® quickly brings stored items to the retrieval area on request.If the items needed for a particular order are located in various lift systems, picking performance can be boosted even more through parallel system operation.Thanks to digital compartment and sub-level indicators, even storage positions in very small configuration layout patterns can be identified easily. The combination of all these features ensures that orders are filled and shipped in record time – without errors.Orders are filled directly opposite the system access points, where they are also packed for shipping. Order confirmation is entered in the systems using barcode scanners. Another Hänel Lean-Lift® located in a different area of the warehouse is also integrated in the storage solution.Productivity Inc. quickly recognized the high quality of Hänel technology through the reliable performance delivered by the storage systems
Stihl dealer in the Midwest can expect fast, accurate service when they need equipment, accessories or spare partsMississippi Valley Saw was founded in 1978 by Bob Joynt in Peoria, IL. It began serving the nation’s heartland by shipping chain saws, log splitters and accessories to about 70 independent dealers and lawn centers. Growth was swift, and in 1981 the company moved into a new location. Soon after, Mr. Hans Peter Stihl visited and asked them to drop all other lines and become an exclusive Stihl dealer. Mississippi Valley Stihl (MVS) was born.MVS investigated all possible solutions to their time, inventory and space issues and chose the Lean-Lift® Vertical Lift Module from Hänel Storage Systems. A bank of three units were installed initially, with a fourth lift added shortly after to keep pace with demand.The benefits of the Lean-Lifts® were immediate. Before the lifts, five or six people would work well into overtime to fill the day’s orders.After the lifts, a single person could get all orders received by 2 p.m. out by 4 p.m. the same day. Orders are picked faster with less walking and no more overtime.The lifts work together to cue the next part automatically so that the operator can move from lift to lift, minimizing any potential wait time for trays to be delivered to the access point. Totes and boxes are used to collect the various parts for each order, with a put-to-light system ensuring the right parts go into the right container. A pick-to-light system is used to pull fast moving items from bins nearby.The increased speed and accuracy afforded by the Hänel Lean-Lifts® allowed MVS to keep its commitment to its dealer network to provide the right part within 24–48 hours, even while stocking an ever-increasing inventory of parts.
Before the Gorbel Easy Arm® was installed, it took two to three employees to move and stack the large 100 pound rolls of diaper material.
Using a combination of shelving and pallet racks, space and efficiency was maximized, allowing the customer to consolidate warehousing to one location. Just two building blocks (frame & shelf) can be used to build complex rows and quickly expand the current system with increasing capacity needs. The true boltless system makes it an easy and quick setup without tools. The META Multipal pallet racks also use simple, durable frames and beams to build complex customized solutions.
CARLSTADT, N.J./May 25, 2023 -- ABCO Systems will host a trade show on Thursday, July 27, to showcase its innovative systems for warehouse automation and design. Automation Innovation 2023 will be held at ABCO’S headquarters in Carlstadt, N.J. The trade show will help distribution centers, warehouses and e-commerce facilities learn how effective material handling operations are designed with a unique blend of efficiency and resilience. “Customers’ rapidly changing demands have left logistics professionals scrambling,” said Seth Weisberg, CEO of ABCO Systems. “Warehousing capabilities were once solely defined by the ability to store products in sufficient volume. But the tremendous pressure on retailers and suppliers to have wares ready the moment someone makes a purchase has pushed legacy logistics systems beyond their breaking point.” ABCO systems designs, engineers, and installs automation solutions including robotics, conveyor systems, sortation systems, AS/RS systems along with static storage systems including Pick Modules and Pallet Racking to help logistics professionals meet needs for the lifetime of their industry. ABCO creates solutions by developing partnerships with the most innovative manufacturers of automation and storage technology and bringing them together to provide a complete solution that addresses all of the customer’s needs. “The trade show gives us an opportunity to demonstrate how our solutions can help businesses get the most out of their warehouses and distribution centers,’ Weisberg said. “We have more than 50 years of experience helping clients implement the tools they need. Big or small, we have unique warehouse design and automation solutions to meet a customer’s needs.” The trade show runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advanced registration is required. There is no cost to attend this free trade show with over 20 exhibitors. Learn more at https://abcosystems.net/upcoming-trade-shows/ About: ABCO Systems provides material handling solutions engineered for today’s challenges – and tomorrow’s opportunities. With over 50years of meeting the ever-changing demands of consumers, ABCO ensures that your logistics solutions are optimized. From warehouse design to warehouse automation, ABCO Systems designs and installs unique big and small solutions to meet customer needs. Its services include automation, robotics, conveyance, sortation, and storage optimization. The company also offers ongoing maintenance programs to ensure long-term system operation. For more information, please visit AbcoSystems.net
Driving Next Generation, High-Speed, High-Density Warehouse Automation SolutionsPITTSBURGH, PA / FRISCO, TX - Feb 27, 2025 — Freespace Robotics, an innovator in autonomous robotics for material handling and logistics, today announced a strategic manufacturing collaboration with CASI, a leader in industrial automation systems. By leveraging CASI’s decades of industrial expertise and advanced rack infrastructure through CASi-IBOD and conveyor lines, Freespace Robotics will deliver a comprehensive, turn-key AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System) that integrates storing, retrieving, sorting and sequencing—all within a single, compact cube that efficiently delivers orders to pick stations or docks.“We are excited to offer a combination of Freespace Robotics' automated storage, retrieval and cross-docking solution with CASI's industry-leading conveyor technology to create a seamless, end-to-end material processing solution,” said Karl Sanchack, Chief Operating Officer at Freespace Robotics. “Together, we are bringing our customers a flexible, high-efficiency solution that automates key functions across the warehouse process flow while integrating seamlessly into their existing operations. We expect to grow this collaboration over time to include technologies such as the CASi-Intelligent Box Opening Device (IBOD) and the CASi-AutoDecant to robotically place cases into our system trays or customer totes.”“By combining the strengths of Freespace Robotics' innovative sorting, storage, and sequencing capabilities with US-manufactured CASI solutions, we are providing customers with a transformative tool that not only reduces operational costs but also increases efficiency and flexibility,” said Greg Judkins, CEO of CASI.Freespace Robotics’ pioneering solution leverages advanced robotics to deliver high-turnover, small-footprint, high-rise AS/RS technology. Its design integrates functions traditionally managed by external conveyors—such as sortation, sequencing, each-picking, order buffering, and pre-staging—into one seamless operation. Combined with CASI’s specialized automaiton and advanced racking, the Freespace solution offers unmatched versatility across diverse industries and workflows, improving KPIs for efficiency, scalability, throughput, and cost-effectiveness.In today’s fast-paced supply chain environment, businesses demand solutions that are not only efficient but also reliable amid economic fluctuations and labor shortages. This collaboration minimizes international trade concerns by using US-based sourcing, including US Steel at the materials core, with some Freespace Robotics solutions ready in as little as 6-8 months from concept to commissioning.Through this strategic manufacturing collaboration of the Freespace Robotics solution, Freespace Robotics and CASI are setting a new standard in flexible, fast, and reliable outcomes by delivering innovative automation solutions that empower customers to meet today’s dynamic supply chain challenges.Key benefits of the Freespace Robotics’ solution with CASI: • End-to-End Task Management: Seamlessly integrates with industry-standard WMS platforms (e.g., Manhattan, Oracle, and SAP) for inventory management, order picking, and replenishment.• Scalable, Modular Design: Adapts to diverse facility configurations, uneven floors and unconventional layouts-with high-rise options up to 70 feet, enabling vertical and horizontal expansion to meet future business requirements, unknown demands and changing product characteristics without demolition, retrofitting or new builds.• Cost-Effective Maintenance: External positioning of robotics components facilitates easy servicing, while domestically sourced parts ensure reliability, availability and resilience.• Versatile Inventory Handling: Supports standard and large trays, full cases and individual each-picks, accommodating loads up to 100 pounds.• Sustainable Operation: Powered by rail systems, eliminating costly and fire-prone battery dependencies while reducing environmental costs, fire risk and insurance outlays.• Shipping Buffers: Optimizes operations with seamless sorting, buffering and sequencing in a single process inside the cube for timed delivery to docks• Cross-Docking Operations: Reduces labor, equipment needs, and operational footprints while improving safety on the floor.• Last-Mile Delivery Potential: A mobile version delivers goods directly to drivers in dolly order, eliminating the need to enter the trucks- reducing manual labor, fuel consumption and shift time.Freespace Robotics will also showcase its solutions at the prestigious Startup Pavilion, in booth E11200SP, during ProMat 2025, North America’s largest conference and expo for material handling and logistics professionals. The event is being held March 17-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago.ProMat attendees can find CASI’s latest automation innovations at booth N7933, found in Hall B of McCormick’s North Building. The CASI exhibit showcases the uniquely modular, scalable design of the company’s products, exhibiting the seamless connection of package opening, transportation and sortation solutions.About Freespace RoboticsFreespace Robotics, a spin-out company of venture studio Carnegie Foundry, is a leading innovator in autonomous robotics solutions for the logistics and warehousing industry. By combining advanced robotics, modular design, and unmatched versatility, Freespace Robotics delivers breakthrough advances that redefine how businesses approach storage, retrieval, order fulfillment and the movement of goods. Based in Pittsburgh, PA and backed by US Steel, NFI Industries and Matthews Automation Solutions, Freespace Robotics thrives at the intersection of industrial innovation and artificial intelligence. To learn more about Freespace Robotics, please visit www.freespacerobotics.com.ContactPilot/Sales/Operations: Karl Sanchack, ksanchack@freespacerobotics.comInvestment: Matthew B. Wachter, matt@freespacerobotics.comAbout CASIFor more than 20 years, Cornerstone Automation Systems (CASI) has been at the forefront of the warehouse automation industry, delivering industry-focused tools that laid the groundwork for the e-commerce industry. Headquartered in Frisco, TX, CASI has delivered tailored, turnkey, and tested solutions to some of the largest retailers, 3PLs and warehouse operations all around the world, while being recognized by a variety of industry leaders, including receiving the FANUC Top Robotics Integrator and Innovation Award. All CASI solutions are US manufactured and tested in North Texas. To learn more about CASI, visit www.casiusa.com.Contactsales@CASUSA.com
Visit Booths S1703 and S1903 and interact with our team at a warehouse site, ask questions and see solutions implemented in a real working environment.From automation to telematics to energy innovations, The Raymond Corporation has intelligent solutions that are helping material handling leaders navigate the constantly changing material handling landscape. Visit Raymond experts at Booths S1703 and S1903 during ProMat 2025 from March 17-20 to see and learn firsthand how these advancements can help boost productivity, improve security and optimize warehouse efficiency. Our representatives can speak to:• How new energy solutions are solving for power issues and inefficiencies• New automation tools for maximizing uptime, reducing facility footprints and more• The latest in Raymond® intelligent warehouse technologies that support operators• Steps leaders can take now to prepare for emerging innovationsThe ProMat lineup for Raymond includes:Livestream Demonstrations From a Real WarehouseEvery hour on the hour, from March 17-19, Raymond will be showcasing its solutions in action from a warehouse facility. The moderated demonstrations will provide attendees with the opportunity to ask questions, meet experts and experience firsthand the Raymond difference.Energy SolutionsLearn how Raymond is revolutionizing energy solutions to supercharge the warehouses and supply chains of tomorrow. Talk with experts about how advancements in lithium-ion, electric forklift fleets and comprehensive facility power studies, for internal combustion and electric lift trucks, help industry leaders maximize efficiency while also achieving key sustainability initiatives.iWAREHOUSE® Intelligent SolutionsVisit our team to discuss Raymond iWAREHOUSE solutions, including award-winning telematics advancements, real-time forklift fleet monitoring and the value of data. Get insights on how experts are thinking about using intelligent operations strategies to build a smarter, more optimized supply chain and distribution landscape.Connected Smart Lift TrucksSpeak with Raymond experts about the new iWAREHOUSE ObjectSense Detection & Notification System, which can alert operators to obstructions and offer controlled slow-down and stopping functions for maximum on-the-job security. Experts also will be on-site to explore how Raymond’s smart truck innovations are improving supply chain and distribution uptime — such as the Pick2Pallet™ LED Light System, the only put-to-light system designed to reduce picking errors and improve batch picking applications.AutomationStop by the booth and see how Raymond leads the way with the latest automation technology. Storage solutions like the Radioshuttle storage system and Raymond Swing-Reach® turret trucks help maximize warehouse space without expanding facility footprints, while the ML2 offers exceptional maneuverability in tight spaces.Support ServicesForklift operator training, service and maintenance solutions, and more — experts are on hand to talk about the ways Raymond goes above and beyond to deliver customer excellence and meet evolving industry needs.Let’s talk! Stop by South Hall S1703 and S1903 during ProMat 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago from March 17-20 to chat with the industry’s brightest minds on Raymond’s latest innovations.For more information regarding Raymond’s expert-led seminars and ProMat presence, visit www.raymondcorp.com/promat2025.For interview requests, please contact Megan Kass at mkass@bader-rutter.com or 414-607-2145.About The Raymond CorporationThe Raymond Corporation, a member of the Toyota Industries family of companies, is a leading global provider of best-in-class material handling products and intelligent intralogistics solutions. Built on principles of innovation and continuous improvement for over 100 years, Raymond’s integrated automation, telematics, virtual reality and advanced energy solutions provide ways to optimize operations and bring warehouse and distribution operations to a new level of performance. Raymond® electric forklift trucks are engineered to achieve increased productivity and efficiency and are designed to provide ecological and economic benefits. Raymond delivers solutions to material handling and logistics markets in North America and globally. Combining operational excellence, award-winning innovation and world-class global customer support, we work together to run better, manage smarter and keep our customers always on. For more information, visit raymondcorp.com and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.ContactElizabeth BuzaThe Raymond Corporationelizabeth.buza@raymondcorp.com607-343-0845Megan KassBader Ruttermkass@bader-rutter.com414-607-2145
BALYO, the company that specializes in transforming standard forklifts into driverless robots, will be attending ProMat 2023. Robotic experts will be on-hand to discuss BALYO’s full line of driverless forklift vehicles that are helping companies scale up as opposed to out, and showcase tools that simplify the shift from manual to autonomous materials handling. The BALYO line of high-bay storage robots will be front and center at ProMat 2023. Robots like the BALYO REACHY, which can pick pallets of up to 1.5 tons to a height of 37 feet and achieve a 360° turn in only 9.9 feet - the narrowest in-aisle turning space for high-reach robotic forklifts. “Smart companies are scaling up - not out!” says Mark Stevenson, BALYO’s Chief Sales Officer. “The only way to safely and efficiently be part of this vertical revolution in materials handling is to automate the storage and retrieval of goods.” In addition to saving space, the shift to high bay storage has other efficiencies including increased speed of materials movement, flexibility in warehouse design, and the inherent safety that comes from using automated systems. “The shift to robotic operations just makes sense, from overcoming labor challenges, to safety, to ROI, all the numbers add up,” continues Stevenson.”The biggest thing that holds organizations back is the fear of complicated change, time to deploy, and disruption.” “BALYO is ready to show that there’s nothing to fear, our standard solutions can be deployed in weeks not months, and our simple tools are designed to allow users to do much of it themselves. It’s easy to simply change.” BALYO experts will be demonstrating tools like BALYO eBudget for simple scoping of robotic projects, and BALYO Road Editor software that makes mission management a drag-and-drop experience. BALYO developed its unique software nearly 20 years ago with the aim of turning standard electric trucks into standalone intelligent robots, a move which the company believes, helps to address the reluctance of some operators to switch to automation and realize all of these benefits. Stevenson continues, “BALYO robots can be operated both fully manual and autonomously, bridging the perceived gap between whether to use people or technology. This frees up people to focus on improving operations and other truly value-added activities. In this way, our technology is being used to vastly improve people’s working lives.” The Reach Robot is just one of the full complement of Balyo’s sustainable robotic solutions including stackers, counter-balanced robots, tuggers, pallet jacks, and a VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) robot that can reach heights of 55 feet. BALYO’s global head offices are in Paris with global operations in the USA, Singapore, China, and Australia. BALYO, Stand N8710 ProMat 2023, Chicago Illinois, March 20-23 https://www.balyo.com/reach-trucks/reachy About Humans around the world deserve enriching and creative jobs. BALYO believes that pallet movements in DC and manufacturing sites should be left to fully autonomous robots. To execute this ambition, BALYO transforms standard forklifts into intelligent robots thanks to its breakthrough Driven by Balyo™ technology. The company’s leading geo guidance navigation system enables robots to locate their position and navigate autonomously inside buildings without the need for any additional infrastructure. To accelerate the material handling market conversion to autonomy, BALYO has entered into two global partnerships with KION (Fenwick-Linde's parent company) and Hyster-Yale Group. A full range of globally available robots has been developed for virtually all traditional warehousing applications; Tractor, Pallet, Stackers, Reach and VNA-robots. BALYO and its subsidiaries in Boston and Singapore serve clients in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company has been listed on EURONEXT since 2017 and its sales revenue reached €21.8 million in 2021. www.balyo.com Contact Rob Patey rob.patey@balyo.com +1 215 260 0675
This guidance document represents user considerations associated with multi-level shelving. It was developed by the Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) and is intended to provide useful information and guidance for owners, users, designers, purchasers, or specifiers of material handling equipment or systems. It is advisory only and should only be regarded as a simple tool that its intended audience may or may not choose to follow, adopt, modify, or reject. The following information does not constitute a comprehensive safety program, cannot guard against pitfalls in operating, selecting, and purchasing such a system, and should not be relied upon as such. Such a program should be developed, and an independent adviser should be consulted in doing so.
This guidance document represents user considerations associated with industrial work platforms. It was developed by the Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) and is intended to provide useful information and guidance for owners, users, designers, purchasers, or specifiers of material handling equipment or systems. It is advisory only and should only be regarded as a simple tool that its intended audience may or may not choose to follow, adopt, modify, or reject. The following information does not constitute a comprehensive safety program, cannot guard against pitfalls in operating, selecting, and purchasing such a system, and should not be relied upon as such. Such a program should be developed, and an independent adviser should be consulted in doing so.
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
A company, well known to the wind power industry, who installed over 300 units in Grover, Texas needed a method of lifting heavy tools and spare parts to the nacelle for maintenance and repair of their Wind Generating Turbines. The problem was, they need to lift up to 425 feet. Demag met the challenge and developed a hoist specifically for maintenance of wind power generators.