Electric Wheelbarrow: Move More With Less Effort

Power Pusher E-750 electric wheelbarrow

In order to safely maximize profits, you need the right tools. Made in the U.S.A., the Power Pusher E-750 electric wheelbarrow is a commercial-grade solution for safely moving and dumping loads up to 750 pounds with its 5 cubic foot bed capacity. It doesn't only offer drive assistance but also power-assisted dumping at the push of a button.

No workday is too long for the E-750. Its rechargeable battery works all day - up to 5 miles of travel on a single charge, noise free! Because it is battery-powered, the E-750 uses no fuel and runs emission free, making it easy to use in enclosed and indoor spaces without the dangers of exhaust.

Eliminate pulling, pushing and straining while reducing dangerous falls, slips hazards and injuries. Power Pusher's E-750 is ideal for unstable and time-sensitive loads and is ideal for commercial and construction contractors, concrete demolition, base prep and pours, masonry block and brick work, landscaping rock, retaining wall and pavers, sod and soil work, industrial material hauling and factory floor material or scrap building. It offers greater productivity with less manpower, faster and more efficient projects and solutions to your toughest and heaviest challenges.

Click here to watch the E-750 electric wheelbarrow in motion!

The Battle Over “Green” Plastics Continues In The Building & Construction Industry

Those who were once resistant to alternative plastic building materials are now taking a second look! Consumers are realizing the benefits of many plastic building products for both interior and exterior uses. According to this Plastics Today article, builders are embracing these new products as well. 

Plastics Today

This week, David Levine, CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council, took the opportunity to rake the plastics industry over the coals while SPI and other plastics industry groups held their "fly-in" in Washington, D.C. In Levine's commentary, Plastic Industry's Faulty Lobbying Agenda that appeared in this week's issue of The Hill, he chided the industry for what he called "a brazen attempt to block progress."

Levine refers to the plastics industry's opposition to the LEED v4 (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) building standards, and believes that the industry's time would be better spent on an agenda to "move away from toxic chemicals and toward safer chemicals and products using safer plastics."

This is an argument that is almost as old as the LEED standard itself. I can remember when I first began covering the International Builders Show (IBS) a number of years ago, there were a number of presentations from builders over whether or not to even certify any buildings that contained plastics construction materials.

Many would like to disallow a LEED certification to any building containing plastic materials, primarily because in the minds of many, anything "plastic" is a horrible material. The LEED competitor, Green Globes, has its detractors as well, who accuse it of pandering to not only the plastics industry, but to 'big wood' (the lumber industry) as well. We certainly can't have both - the plastics and lumber industries in cahoots in the "green" building industry!

To read more about this article, click here. 

Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year

We hope you enjoy your holiday season with family and friends!

Best Wishes,
Power Pusher

Getting the decorations out by m_shipp22

Shipping Options Driving Consumer Purchases

Super Power Pusher at work

Shipping costs are increasingly a factor in holiday shopping. With the holidays almost upon us, how much are you considering shipping in your preparation? Does it involve more personnel, or technology upgrades? The excerpt from the Material Handling & Logistics article below examines the impact of shipping costs.

Consumers consider shipping options—including free shipping—to be an important factor in their overall shopping experience, according to 80 percent of those responding to a recent survey commissioned by Pitney Bowes Inc. The survey polled consumers on attitudes toward shipping through all channels, including in store, online, catalog, and phone.

“Shipping has become a considerable factor in consumers’ buying choices,” said Jim Hendrickson, vice president and general manager of shipping solutions, Pitney Bowes. “In fact, there’s now a blurred line between the decision on a shipping method and the selection of a product when it comes to the overall buying decision.”

The survey found free shipping is by far more important to Americans surveyed over fast shipping (77 percent vs. 19 percent). That number spikes further among those who’ve shipped a purchase in the last year (82 percent vs. 16 percent, respectively).

Read the rest of the article on MHLnews.com.

Flexible Material Handling

Tugs not only improve control, but also increase flexibility with the option to push and pull loads, depending on application requirements. Further, these devices can provide additional stability, as multiple devices can work in unison to move difficult loads. For instance, when constructing pre-fabricated housing, each piece is moved sideways along the construction zone. Using a tug on each end of the piece, operators can push the material in sync.

Material handling tugs can also be equipped with safety accessories and job-specific attachments. With the option for safety horns and strobes, operators can signal facility occupants of their impeding approach to avoid collisions—even on noisy plant floors. Further, for challenging or diverse loads, tugs can be equipped with attachments designed to complement individual needs, such as a push pad assembly, railroad truck attachment and an angle plate for modular homes. These attachments provide the ideal performance capabilities for transporting virtually any load safely and efficiently.

Big Picture: Little things that make a big difference in your operation

This article was originally posted in Modern Materials Handling.

Automation, technology and software promise new levels of efficiency and productivity along with the capability to execute complex order fulfillment strategies. That’s the good news. The bad news: just as a supply chain is only as efficient as its weakest link, a sophisticated materials handling system is only as efficient as the bottlenecks in a distribution center. A high-speed order fulfillment engine won’t hit its numbers if inventory doesn’t get off the receiving dock or orders can’t get through manual packing stations to meet shipping cut-off times.

As a result, these new systems are highlighting the big difference that little things can have on operations. Seven examples to consider for your facility include:

1. Receiving, inspection and quality control with powered mobile workstations
2. Capture cube and weight information now for packaging later
3. Integrate workstations with the materials handling system
4. Lean out the labeling process
5. Optimize and automate the packaging process
6. Don’t overlook the dock
7. Automation doesn’t stop at the dock door

Read the full article here to learn more about how to impact your performance. 

Battery-Operated Tugs Engineered for Safety

Battery-operated tugs are designed to ideally distribute weight and maximize torque. Containing specifically-designed gears, this technology effectively converts speed to torque, enabling operators to minimize the effort required to pull or push loads. The body of these devices acts as a wedge, slightly lifting the load at an angle and transferring all the weight to the drive wheels, which allows torque to propel the device forward. With this technology, users can maneuver heavy materials without straining muscles—reducing the likelihood of injury during initial exertion.

Tugs also include features that prevent incidental injury during operation. Machines equipped with anti-runaway capabilities power down once the throttle is released. Additionally, the tug is designed in a way that, prior to operation, users must actively pull back the handle and hold it in place to power-up the machine. Together, these features prevent any incidental propulsion of the device. Another safety feature built into the controls of the machine is an emergency reverse switch. When pulling a load in reverse, if the device comes into direct contact with the operator’s torso, the emergency switch will automatically move the tug forward and stop the machine, preventing users from being pinned or crushed.

Along with operational safety features, these devices can also be constructed to improve ergonomics. For instance, devices containing ergonomically-designed handles protect fingers from being crushed when turning corners sharply. With the tug’s easy maneuverability, users will not experience shoulder and back pain due to overcompensating for lack of control. Plus, by allowing operators to be closer to the loads, tugs offer better visibility to reduce incidental collisions with equipment and other workers.

The Evolution of Material Mobility

With an estimated 85 forklift fatalities and thousands of material handling-related injuries each year, the need for alternative solution arose. To mitigate some of the serious safety risks associated with forklifts and pallet jacks, many industries are moving away from this technology to wheeled cart solutions.

Battery-operated tugs are designed to provide a safer alternative for moving large loads, without exposing personnel to unnecessary risk. By effectively distributing and mobilizing virtually any load on wheels, users can transport thousands of pounds with total control and without strain—preventing injuries, reduced productivity and lost revenue experienced with other material handling solutions.

New Video Helps Promote Material Handling and Logistics Careers

 This article was originally posted in Material Handling Industry.

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) recently released a video explaining the impact material handling and logistics has on the supply chain and the many different career opportunities available in this vibrant and growing industry.

The video explains the thousands of careers available in this industry that are as diverse as the materials and products moving through the supply chain. People, projects, and resources all have to be managed. Facilities need to be planned and designed. Marketing, sales, accounting, operations, engineering, CAD design, technical support, information technology and logistics are just some of the career choices the material handling and logistics industry has to offer.

Click here to view the video.

This video is part of an ongoing effort to promote material handling and logistics careers by MHEDA and MHI. For more information, visit MHEDA's Career Center and the MHI Career Center.

A Journey Towards World Class Manufacturing

This article was originally posted in Material Handling & Logistics.

John M. Hall remembers the CNH Wichita Product Center of six or so years ago. The facility was "dark and dingy," with large amounts of material and inventory everywhere, describes the manager of the Product Customer Service Center and a 19-year veteran of the Wichita site.

"We had some issues," he says.

Today such disorder is hard to imagine at this site, the sole manufacturing location for the Case and New Holland brands of skid steer loaders and compact tract loaders. It is well-lit, with wide, clean aisles and no signs of inventory creep, courtesy of managers who recognized that the status quo had to go.

See Also: Manufacturing & Distribution Center Best Practices

"For a while, you had to keep moving or you would be repainted," Halls says of the reorganizing effort. He also points to a phenomenon that occurs when you begin to declutter. "Open space creates open space," Hall says.

The changes at the Case New Holland plant go well beyond the cosmetic, however. They go to performance. For example, in the past three years the Wichita plant has reduced scrap and rework costs by 80.5%. It has reduced energy consumption by 60.1% per unit of production in the past three years. And it has combined two dedicated assembly lines into a single line capable of mixed-model production for improved efficiency and productivity.

Today, an emphasis on the world class manufacturing (WCM) methodology is driving CNH's continuing performance improvements.

Engineering services manager Kenny Callaway calls WCM "a lifestyle." The facility's WCM tools manual describes it as a change program, one that "involves all employees in continuous improvement, focusing on eliminating waste and reducing losses" while improving standards and methods.

Operations manager Eddie Smith, who joined the Wichita plant about two years ago, says a recent reorganizing effort at the front end of the assembly line provides a good example of the facility's aim to reduce losses—in this instance, the losses associated with non-value-added activities. Operators were spending excessive amounts of time walking and searching for parts. Additionally, the line required the introduction of workstations to address added product complexity.

A cross-functional team that included operators conducted a major kaizen (WCM and lean employ many similar tools). Ultimately, the team developed a new layout. Other improvements included a new means to both deliver axles to the line and install the axles, as well as the addition of parts kitting at certain stations.

In the end, the reorganization improved line efficiency. It also resulted in the reduction of several operators on the line, and one logistics employee per shift. The displaced workers were reassigned to other, overtaxed areas in the plant.

"The goal is to be more efficient, not drive headcount reductions," Smith says. Indeed, the Wichita plant has been in a growth mode the past few years. With new employees comes an increased need for training, and the CNH Wichita Product Center has an enviable training center. So much so, that other CNH facilities have traveled there for training. The training is largely interactive, and features both touchscreen tools and an audience response system that captures an electronic record of the interactions.

Conventional Material Handling Methods: Pallet Jacks

Another device frequently used in material handling applications is a pallet jack, which operates similarly to forklift trucks, but on a much smaller scale. Pallet jacks lift and move stationary loads to provide a walk-behind alternative to forklift trucks. Available in both manual and electric options, pallet jacks are designed to haul pallets through warehouses. Difficult to control, pallet jacks result in accidental contact with other employees or equipment. When maneuvering pallet jacks, operators commonly run over other employees’ feet, fracturing bones and creating a hazard to pedestrian traffic. Pallet jack operators can also pin either themselves or other employees against walls, causing serious damage.

In addition to lack of control, operators must also be concerned about pallet jack depreciation, as wear and tear on the device can escalate safety concerns. If tires are worn unevenly or have flat spots, pallet jacks will not carry the load uniformly, increasing the possibility that the load will tip or fall. Also, breakdowns with operational systems such as the hydraulics, steering or brakes could cause serious accidents when a load cannot be stopped or controlled. Further, workers can also experience stress to the hands and arms because of difficulty steering and stopping the device.

MFC-100™

The hydraulically operated MFC-100™ is ideal for lifting and moving heavy barrels, automotive towing or lifting awkward equipment. With push-button ease, operators can engage the hydraulic lift to raise the load for effortless transportation. Featuring diverse attachment options and a 15,000-pound maximum push capacity, the MFC-100 is a powerful, flexible industrial cart solution for a wide range of material handling applications.

Features and Benefits:

• Fully programmable control system with diagnostic features to adjust speed and acceleration/deceleration based on load and environments
• Fingertip control and compact sizing deliver superior maneuverability
• Load capacity of 15,000 for heavy-duty applications
• Built-in battery charger for long lasting operation
• Automatic braking for increased operator safety

2013 Warehouse/DC Equipment and Technology Survey: Moving More, Spending Less

This article was originally posted in Modern Materials Handling.

Just as an effective materials handling system cannot be shaped around one data point, interpreting the results of an industry survey is about more than just the bottom line. For instance, take a look at the average materials handling budget as reported by Peerless Research Group (PRG) in the 2013 State of Warehouse/DC Equipment and Technology Survey. At nearly 26% less than last year, the average anticipated spending among the survey’s 597 respondents is just $334,510. In fact, about half of those respondents plan to spend less than $50,000.

But if we look at activity levels, facility capacity numbers have jumped up by as much at 10% in one year—following six consecutive years of decline. According to John Hill, director at St. Onge, capacity figures between 60% and 70%, although a big improvement, are still below a certain threshold. When they rise above 70%, he says, it’s often necessary to spend on materials handling equipment just to keep up. In the meantime, most businesses will tend to sit tight.

In fact, respondents expressed a great deal of optimism that they could handle it. When asked about their anticipated activity levels over the next two years, almost 95% said that they expected activity to increase or stay the same. To be fair, more than 50% of respondents suggested their warehousing activity would stay the same.

According to George Prest, CEO of Material Handling Industry (MHI), growth is projected to improve into 2014. Following industry growth rates of 14% in 2011 and 10% in 2012, 2013 could hover around 6% before breaking double digits again in 2014.

Click here for more information about the survey and to read the full article.

Conventional Material Handling Methods: Manpower

Manpower refers to one or more employees physically pushing or pulling a load to its intended destination. This method of material mobility presents numerous safety hazards to workers, including overexertion and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). With manpower, the majority of the force required to build enough momentum to propel the load forward is through the initial exertion. Therefore, most injuries occur while workers are attempting to set a load in motion. Liberty Mutual Research Institute states that in 2009, the primary cause of serious workplace injuries arose from overexertion due to lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, holding or carrying heavy loads—accounting for 24.5% of all work-related injuries and costing companies nearly $13 billion in direct costs each year.

Relying on manpower to move loads that weigh hundreds or even thousands of pounds contribute to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders within material handling applications. These disorders make up as much as one third of all work-related injuries and effect nearly all tissues, including the nerves and tendon sheaths. The physical strain required when using manpower often causes sprains, nerve damage, hernias and joint dislocations.

To help instill safer material handling procedures, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) outlined parameters on what constitutes a material handling safety hazard. When deciding if a hazard exists, they consider the repetitiveness of lifting the distance from the load to the spine; the weight, size and stability of the load lifted; and the footing at the worksite. Though NIOSH provides helpful guidelines to avoiding injury when moving large or heavy loads, on a busy plant floor, operators do not always have the time to carefully calculate these factors before proceeding.

Back to Basics: Inventory Handling and Tracking Technologies

This article was originally posted in Material Handling & Logistics.

Inefficient or poorly-managed logistics operations increase overhead and reduce customer satisfaction, posing a significant threat to a manufacturer's profitability. Technologies can lend an almost scientific approach to logistics operations planning. With that in mind, let's look at just one area in which technology is making an impact—inventory tracking and handling.

The Fully Automated Warehouse

Full warehouse automation is the most comprehensive example of technology use in retail warehouses. The biggest manufacturers can find that success creates its own particular challenge when it comes to order fulfilment—a gigantic customer base, demanding swift delivery of a huge range of products, to innumerable locations ranging from retail stores to the very homes of the consumers themselves.

To create the operational fluidity necessary to satisfy their millions of customers, leading companies will often invest heavily in completely automating their warehouse facilities. Such facilities tend to have a completely integrated system where specialized warehouse management software interacts with specially designed automated racks, cranes, and stackers to ensure that inbound items are loaded, and outbound items located, retrieved and passed along a network of conveyor belts to the appropriate loading bay—with high accuracy rates.

IKEA, Walmart and Zappos are just some of the retail giants that currently employ these advanced systems as an integral part of their low cost/large scale operations.

Read the full article here to learn more about inventory handling and tracking. 

Material Handling Solutions Past and Present

Material handling applications often require operators to move objects weighing thousands of pounds, which can result serious safety and health consequences. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010, an estimated 3.1 million workers in the United States suffered nonfatal work-related injuries, which not only affects productivity, but also directly impacts a company’s bottom line. Each injury results in workers’ compensation, insurance increases, lost productivity and diverse indirect costs, which amount to billions of dollars each year nationwide.

Traditionally, industries have been utilizing manpower, forklift trucks and pallet jacks to transport goods throughout a facility. While effective solutions for moving goods, these devices create worker vulnerability by exposing them to potential injury, such as muscle strains, nerve damage or in some cases, even death. Lacking stability and control, forklifts and pallet jacks increase the likelihood of incidental contact with personnel and equipment, while manpower can lead to injuries resulting from overexertion.

With today’s industries moving faster than ever, implementing solutions that adhere to strict safety regulations without impacting productivity is crucial to meeting growing customer demands. The development of battery-operated tug units, which are capable of effortlessly moving thousands of pounds, eliminates excess strain or exertion to personnel for increased material handling safety. With their inherent stability, tugs accommodate uneven surfaces without tipping, and are engineered to simplifying material mobility. This allows facility managers to not only minimize risk of injury, but also improve efficiency, productivity and profitability.

A Proactive Approach to Plant Safety

In recent years, improving worker safety has become an important focus in most industries, as job-related injuries can result in employee absenteeism, reduced productivity and increased costs. Many material handling applications pose serious health and safety risks, requiring workers to move heavy loads either through sheer manpower or by using equipment that is unstable, difficult to control or ergonomically deficient.

To overcome these safety challenges, the development of battery-operated tug devices allows employees to single-handedly move materials weighing thousands of pounds without exposing them to unnecessary risk of injury. Battery-operated tugs enhance safety by preventing operator strain and reducing potential collisions on busy plant floors, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency—ultimately impacting a company’s overall profitability.

Introducing the Power Pusher Safely Moving Forward Blog

Welcome to the new Power Pusher Safely Moving Forward Blog, designed to bring you the latest technology, trends and tips on material handling solutions. The blog will include information, strategies and equipment we can offer to enhance your productivity while delivering safety benefits in a wide variety of material handling applications. In addition to providing our own expertise, the blog will also focus on relevant industry news and issues.

With participation from a variety of Power Pusher representatives, from product development and technology, marketing and sales, we ensure detailed technical information and knowledgeable opinions on a variety of material handling topics, from productivity and safety to quality equipment solutions.

Power Pusher, a division of Nu-Star Inc., is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of material handling solutions. With over 40 years of experience as a mover, shaker and innovator in the industry, we have a competitive edge in providing reliable and cost-effective load-moving solutions that deliver tangible productivity and safety benefits in a wide variety of applications.

For the latest information on material handling solutions, bookmark this page or add our RSS feed. We welcome your feedback on future posts, as well as suggestions for topics that you’d like to see covered in the future. Stay tuned!