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Visit booth #S1956 to see how versatile VRCs improve efficiency and worker safetyMilwaukee, WI – PFlow Industries, the founder of the vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry, will showcase its vertical material lifting solution capabilities at ProMat on March 17-20, at the McCormick Place in Chicago. Attendees can visit booth S1956 to learn more about the versatility of PFlow VRCs, including the M Series 2-Post Mechanical Material Lifts that are ideal for almost any material lifting application.The PFlow M Series moves materials faster and more safely than forklifts, with standard travel speed of 25 feet per minute (FPM), and up to 400 FPM available. With its ability to lift up to 10,000 pounds, reach an unlimited number of floor levels, and perform under even the most demanding continuous use applications, the M Series is a perfect lifting solution for high-speed / high-cycle and automated material handling applications. With quality construction, backed by a lifetime structural warranty, the M Series provides reliable, long-term performance, resulting in minimal downtime.Each M Series VRC conforms to ASME B20.1 and is equipped with advanced safety features, including limit switches that control carriage travel, shutting off the motor and engaging the brake when tripped or power is lost. Additionally, chain sensors, certified safety cams, chain tensioners, and guides ensure safe operation by detecting chain tension loss and chain failure and preventing uncontrolled carriage descent.PFlow specializes in designing customized lifting solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each application, ranging from simple, two-level material lifting to complex integrations with automated systems. The versatile M Series VRC is available in both straddle and cantilever designs, each with its own unique advantages. Straddle configurations provide increased lifting capacity and larger carriage platform sizes, making them ideal for applications with ample space. Conversely, cantilever configurations offer access to the carriage platform from three sides and can accommodate taller payloads, making them suitable for areas with limited space.Visit PFlow at booth S1956 where product experts will be available to discuss vertical material handling needs and provide customized solutions and best practices for accelerating business goals, including improving efficiency, increasing facility velocity/throughput, and enhancing worker safety.About PFlow IndustriesAs a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry founder in 1977 and key author of state and federal codes, PFlow has literally written the book on VRC design and safety. Backed by the strength of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer network, the largest in-house engineering and technical support staff, and dedicated in-region sales team, PFlow is an industry trusted VRC partner. Proudly claiming 20,000 units in operation, PFlow has the experience to ensure your project’s success. PFlow also designs and manufactures Cartveyor® shopping cart conveyors, designed for high-volume cart transport in multi-level retail environments. For more information visit www.pflow.com and www.cartveyor.com.ContactChuck CobbVP Sales, Marketing & Customer Supportinfo@pflow.com
Waukesha, WI – December 2, 2024 – Wildeck, Inc., a leading manufacturer of industrial work platforms (mezzanines), vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs), rideable material lifts (RMLs), custom ladders, access platforms, and safety guarding products, is excited to announce the completion of its new corporate headquarters and innovation center in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Located at 1900 E. North Street, the new campus spans over 21.97 acres, and is triple the size of the previous headquarters, which Wildeck operated at 405 Commerce Street (also in Waukesha) for nearly four decades.VJS Construction Services led the construction and design for Wildeck’s new 40,000-square-foot office which includes state-of-the-art, new facilities for training, research, and customer engagement. Wildeck’s new office connects to an expansive manufacturing space which has involved recent capital investments, including an automated powder coat paint line, automated structural steel fabrication line, and fiber laser.Remaining in Waukesha, a hub of skilled manufacturing talent, was crucial to Wildeck. With deep roots in Southeastern Wisconsin, the company is proud to contribute to the area’s strong manufacturing tradition and benefit from its skilled labor pool. Located conveniently off I-94, the new headquarters ensure an easy commute for Wildeck’s employee-owners, most of whom live nearby.Dan Lorenz, President of Wildeck, emphasized the significance of the new headquarters: “Our new headquarters is a game-changer for Wildeck, helping us attract top talent, offering a prime space for customer tours, and providing a cutting-edge training facility to ensure our team’s continued excellence. We’re grateful to VJS Construction Services and the city of Waukesha for their support in making this project a smooth success.”The new facility not only supports Wildeck’s operational growth but also strengthens its role as a top employer in the region, regularly hiring manufacturing positions including welders, material handlers, machine operators, and painters, largely from the Waukesha area. The company’s expanded headquarters enable the development of new and innovative products, the ability to attract top industry talent, and best-in-class training resources for dealer partners.“VJS Construction Services is proud to have led construction for Wildeck’s new facility, supporting their growth and creating job opportunities for Waukesha and nearby communities,” said Katherine Kawczynski, Partner and Director of Architecture at VJS Construction Services.As Wildeck embarks on this new chapter, the company remains committed to driving innovation and providing superior solutions to its customers across the country. The company looks forward to continued collaboration with the city of Waukesha and other local partners as it grows its footprint and impact in the region. Images of its new headquarters can be found here: www.wildeck.com/wildeck-completes-move-to-new-wi-hqAbout Wildeck, Inc.Wildeck, Inc. headquartered in Waukesha, WI, is a subsidiary of Holden Industries, a 100 percent employee-owned company. Founded in 1976, Wildeck has grown to become a leading manufacturer of industrial mezzanines, material handling lifts, and safety guarding products in the United States. With a focus on safety, quality, and innovation, Wildeck supports warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities nationwide. For more information, visit www.wildeck.com.About VJS Construction ServicesBased in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, for more than 76 years, VJS Construction Services has served as a leading general contractor, construction manager, and design builder, playing a pivotal role in shaping and revitalizing communities throughout Wisconsin. Their areas of expertise span various sectors, including K-12 Education, Higher Education, Senior Living, Multi-Family Housing, Corporate, Civic and Community, Manufacturing/Industrial, Aviation, Religious, Retail and Hospitality, and Healthcare markets.ContactDan LorenzPresidentinfo@wildeck.com
Milwaukee, WI – PFlow Industries, the founders of the vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry, highlights its M Series 2-Post Mechanical Material Lifts that are ideal for almost any material lifting application. The PFlow M Series moves materials faster and more safely than forklifts, with standard travel speed of 25 feet per minute (FPM), and up to 400 FPM available. With its ability to lift up to 10,000 pounds, reach an unlimited number of floor levels, and perform under even the most demanding continuous use applications, the M Series is a perfect lifting solution for high-speed / high-cycle and automated material handling applications. With quality construction, backed by a lifetime structural warranty, the M Series provides reliable, long-term performance, resulting in minimal downtime. Each M Series VRC conforms to ASME B20.1 and is equipped with advanced safety features, including limit switches that control carriage travel, shutting off the motor and engaging the brake when tripped or power is lost. Additionally, chain sensors, certified safety cams, chain tensioners, and guides ensure safe operation by detecting chain tension loss and chain failure and preventing uncontrolled carriage descent. PFlow specializes in designing customized lifting solutions tailored to the specific requirements of each application, ranging from simple, two-level material lifting to complex integrations with automated systems. The versatile M Series VRC is available in both straddle and cantilever designs, each with its own unique advantages. Straddle configurations provide increased lifting capacity and larger carriage platform sizes, making them ideal for applications with ample space. Conversely, cantilever configurations offer access to the carriage platform from three sides and can accommodate taller payloads, making them suitable for areas with limited space. About PFlow Industries As the vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) industry founder in 1977 and key author of state and federal codes, PFlow has literally written the book on VRC design and safety. Backed by the strength of one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer network, one of the largest in-house engineering and technical support staff, and dedicated in-region sales team, PFlow is an industry trusted VRC partner. Proudly claiming 20,000 units in operation, PFlow has the experience to ensure your project’s success. PFlow also designs and manufactures Cartveyor® shopping cart conveyors, designed for high-volume cart transport in multi-level retail environments. For more information visit www.pflow.com and www.cartveyor.com. Contact Kristin Nugent McNeil, Gray & Rice 617-367-0100, ext. 148 kristin.nugent@mgr1.com
ATLANTA, GA and ESSEX, MA — March 8, 2024 — Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc., an innovator in the design and manufacturing of pallet drop safety gates that provide fall protection in distribution centers, warehouses and manufacturing and material handling facilities, is expanding its custom engineering design services, and to meet growing demand for development, the company has added a new building on its current property in Essex, Mass. In addition, the company is exhibiting at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta where it will be showcasing its manually operated Roly ® safety gate with the product containment netting. A first-time MODEX exhibitor, the company will have its head of engineering in the booth to discuss both existing safety gate models as well as areas in which a custom pallet drop gate may be needed. All of the pallet drop safety gates manufactured by Mezzanine Safeti-Gates come in standard single-wide and double-wide sizes. Additionally, the gates can be manufactured in stainless steel or powder-coated steel and finished in any color. Custom engineering can be obtained for standard designs with uncommon pallet drop area sizes or for completely new safety system designs. “With advances in automation, we are seeing a greater need for custom-engineered safety gate designs,” said Chris Conway, vice president, engineering at Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “We are getting more requests to design pallet drop gates that not only protect employees, but also the equipment being used within the facility. In addition, companies are getting very creative in using their current facility space as the applications shift, so many times gates need to be designed for unique spaces.” Some of the unique custom engineered pallet drop safety gates created recently by the company include: • TCA safety gate design with product containment netting on both the ledge and rear gates, as well as the two sides; the customer needed to keep material completely inside the pallet drop area while ensuring employees have no access to the ledge at any time. • Roly safety gate design that opens and closes with the lift within a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) that protects robots from falling into the shaft as materials move through levels. • Roly safety gate design for an automated parking garage All custom designed safety gates thoroughly tested to they fully comply with OSHA’s Walking Working Surface Fall Protection regulations as well as ANSI fall protection standards. Used in thousands of locations throughout the world, pallet drop safety gate systems offered by Mezzanine Safeti-Gates can be equipped with power, remote operation, radio frequency sensors and photo eyes. To learn more about custom engineered mezzanine safety gates, visit www.mezzgate.com/index.php/models/custom-jobs. About Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. Headquartered in Essex, Mass, Mezzanine Safeti-Gates is an innovator in the design and manufacturing of safety gate systems for material handling, warehousing and manufacturing operations. Celebrating 40 years in business in 2022, the company designed the first dual-gate pallet drop safety system, the Roly® mezzanine safety gate, which has been installed in thousands of facilities across the world. The company offers a full line of pallet gates, designs for loading docks, dock-lifts and custom-engineered solutions. All gates in the company’s product suite can be customized to meet specific facility requirements and meet OSHA, ANSI and IBC fall protection standards. A member of MHI’s ProGMA and MHEDA, the company can be reached via telephone at 978.768.3000, email at sales@MezzGate.com or on the web at www.MezzGate.com. Contact Jen Conway jen@mezzgate.com 978-884-5210
This is a paid advertisement. Automate multi-level automated material workflows with a PFlow vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC). VRCs integrate seamlessly with various types of automated conveyor systems and autonomous vehicles and optimize material movement between floor levels.
Revolutionize your material handling automation with Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (VRCs). Efficiently move heavy loads between floors, optimize space, and streamline operations.
Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors - or VRCs - are gaining popularity in the material handling industry because of their cost effectiveness, safety features, and ability to optimize operations. In this video, learn how VRCs work, and how you can implement them into your own business.
In the bustling world of eCommerce, the heart of warehouse efficiency pulses within the final 100 feet. This pivotal space, integral to order fulfillment, has remained largely untouched by many optimization strategies - until now. Our latest episode of the MHI Industry Leadership podcast delves deep into the role of Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (VRCs) in these critical zones, casting a spotlight on SLAM - Scan, Label, Apply, and Manifest - processes. Joined by seasoned experts Chuck Cobb and Steve Castle, we explore transformative techniques that not only enhance efficiency but also skyrocket outbound package accuracy. Their insights, garnered from decades in the material handling and VRC industries, are a goldmine for anyone keen on supercharging their order fulfillment operations. Don't miss out on these game-changing insights! Tune in, and discover how to elevate your warehouse operations to new heights!
The Application Guidelines for Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors were thoroughly revised from the original 1991 Version which they replace. They were prepared as a result of the VRC Sub-Committee's recognition of a need to develop comprehensive safety guidelines and establish a minimum design criteria for when such are used in conjunction with ASME B20.1 - The Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.
A conveyor that moves perpendicular to the floor and provides intermittent operation of a single load-carrying platform or cage which travels up and down on steel rails or guideways. There are many configurations of vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) including those with a single mast, single rail, double mast, double rail and even models which offer incline travel versus strict vertical travel. There are also numerous platform configurations ranging from a simple flat steel surface to a powered roller conveyor deck with controls that are integrated with the controls of powered feed and take away conveyor lines at the different levels.
One of our largest retail customers wanted to implement an automation system as part of their local store fulfillment strategy. As part of this new local fulfillment process, they are incorporating a fully automated system including robotic assistance, automated guided vehicles (AGV’s) and (7) Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors to expedite processes in the backroom. Because of our experience working with the customer in the past with other successful VRC installations, they contacted us to work with them on implementing VRCs into their system. (5) VRCs are part of the AGV Rack & Track System and 2 VRCs will be part of the Conveyor Loading Dock.
Wildeck’s SmartControl™ system for hydraulically operated lifts is a major advancement in control technology for vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs). Older controls had “relay logic” that stopped the VRC on an error without signaling the cause of the problem. Users were left wondering, “Did the VRC stop because it was loaded with too much weight? Did it run out of hydraulic oil or did someone push the E-Stop button?”
Baker Distributing is a Vermont-based, family-owned and operated beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverage distribution company. In contemplating ways to cost-effectively expand their facility, the company decided to integrate four Wildeck mezzanine platforms. These mezzanines would serve as the storage location for the company’s delicate, liquid merchandise. To ensure the smooth and efficient transportation of their merchandise to and from the mezzanine’s deck, Baker Distributing decided to install Wildeck vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs) to handle the product transportation.
This paper is to serve a brief introduction to Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (VRC). VRCs are vertical conveyors that efficiently move material vertically between two or more fixed elevations. They are used in commercial buildings, factories, warehouses, industrial plants and retail stores or anywhere that material or products need to move from one level to another. VRCs provide fast, convenient and safe methods for transferring material to/from mezzanines, balconies, basements, and between levels in multiple story buildings.
