Day: September 14, 2015

Frugality Is New Business Reality

The nation’s economic gurus may have declared the recession over, but they’re warning businesses and consumers alike that recovery could continue for years. And we shouldn’t expect things to get back to the way they were — ever! The country is going through a major reset. After decades of inflated prices, inflated egos and inflated dreams, we’ve had to face the cold, harsh realities of life and — we hope — the experience has left us wiser and a little more wary of falling into the same pit again. The smaller employee pools, tighter resource management and lean production practices developed out of necessity during the recession are here to stay. Frugality is the new reality.

The frugal measures taken to keep American businesses from sinking will help us swim leaner, faster and farther in the post-recession marketplace. Having found that we can function and compete in a frugal environment, businesses are expected to use that new-found frugality to give themselves a competitive edge, using less to produce more. Sure it means that everyone will continue to work harder and do more; but that’s what it’s going to take to compete successfully in the new, tougher post-recession marketplace.

Smart business owners will seek out equipment that allows them to make more productive use of their more limited post-recession workforce. Material handling products like DJ Products ergonomically-designed CartCaddys allow a single worker to perform lifting and transporting tasks that it takes two or more workers to do manually. Because ergonomic design enables multiple workers of any size, shape or physical ability to perform the same task without risk of injury, DJ Products carts, tugs and movers allow employers to maximize use of their workforce. Eco-friendly, battery-operated motorized carts decrease fuel costs while cutting downtime and maintenance costs. And adoption of ergonomic equipment significantly reduces medical and workers compensation costs while letting your workers know you value their health and safety.

Get Ready. Cap and Trade Is Coming

Cap and trade is not going to go away. Seen as a cornerstone of the national movement to cut carbon emissions from greenhouse gases, a cap and trade program is expected to have the greatest impact on manufacturers and supply chain partners but no business or individual will be immune from the drive to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Scientific reports detailing life-threatening scenarios of potential climate disaster and irreparable damage to the planet have spurred President Obama and his team to demand action this year on environmental regulations now moving through Congress.

In June, the U.S. House narrowly passed (219 to 211) the green-energy climate bill HR 2454, referred to by press and public as the Cap and Trade Bill. Heated debate has ensued in the Senate which may or may not bring the matter to a vote before the year ends, despite presidential pressure. Senators, particularly those representing agricultural and coal states, are understandably wary of the potential economic repercussions cap and trade could have on already suffering businesses, particularly manufacturers. Although Congress may drag its feet for another year, most analysts agree that cap and trade will eventually become law.

Savvy businesses are already implementing green programs to curb energy use and switch from gas and diesel-powered equipment to clean energy battery and electric-powered material handling equipment. Even small changes like moving from power-chomping forklifts to green battery-powered motorized carts and powered tugs can add up to a significant plus on your carbon emissions balance sheet. Ergonomically-designed electric material handling equipment like DJ Products’ innovative CartCaddies kills two birds with one stone. They respond to government efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase worker safety. Win-win! 

2009 Ends on Material Handling High Note

2009 seemed like the year that would never end. For manufacturers, the bad news just kept on coming. But hope seems to have finally struggled above the horizon. From the depths of last winter’s discontent, 2009 has risen to end on a high note for material handling manufacturers and, indeed, most U.S. manufacturers. Reports indicate that U.S. manufacturing has finally turned the corner, and we can expect 2010 to be a far more productive and more profitable year. Break out the champagne!

The fourth quarter of 2009 saw strong manufacturing growth. With the job market showing signs of stabilization and housing prices beginning to climb toward normal, November brought a cautious increase in consumer spending. Manufacturing benefitted from increased orders for durable goods during the fourth quarter as customers started restocking their shelves. While durable goods orders in November were less than robust, they were twice the amount forecast by economists. Overall, the U.S. economic picture looks hopefully optimistic for the first time since the recession hit.

“We are seeing progress in a number of areas, from increases in consumer spending and business spending to growth in exports,” Brian Bethune, an economist at IHS Global Economics told the Associated Press last week. “It all adds up to a recovery that is gaining some momentum.”

Bethune and other economists are predicting a 4% annual rate of economic growth (as measured by gross domestic product) for the final quarter of 2009. In addition to durable goods, particularly a growing increase in high ticket items, industrial growth into the new year is expected to come from increased equipment and software purchases. Ergonomic material handling equipment sales are expected to increase as manufacturers and business owners seek out ways to increase worker productivity and decrease healthcare costs. Expected new regulatory requirements aimed at protecting worker health and safety are also expected to drive up sales of ergonomic carts and tugs.

Working in the Crowd

Some positions require material handling equipment that is powerful enough to tackle heavy loads reliably, but that is small and easily maneuvered to where it can weave in and out of tight corners among crowded areas.

Consider feeding times in places like hospitals, nursing homes and institutions – many of the residents of these environments are incapable of visiting a cafeteria so there food must be delivered.  In buildings that have potentially thousands of residents who are on a tight schedule, feeding time can be a very busy time.  Individually carrying meals to the residents is completely impractical, but large manual carts could be too cumbersome to move throughout hallways where there will be residents/patients and other members of the staff constantly moving.

These aren’t atmospheres where the hallways can be tied up for extended periods of time for food service; meals need to be delivered on schedule, quickly and without blocking access to other areas of the unit.

This is where equipment like the Parts CaddyLite from DJ Products becomes a necessity.  This super efficient, quiet and powerful little cart is easy enough to maneuver that even crowded hospital hallways are easily navigated.  Food and supplies can be easily delivered without interfering with other necessary operations and without causing any excess noise that could potentially disrupt residents or patients.

The Parts CaddyLite is easy to use and designed with both efficiency and safety in mind.  With a variable speed adjustment, the job can be completed as quickly as is necessary, but without putting anyone’s safety at risk and the battery is capable of lasting for two whole shifts on a single charge – so reliability will never be an issue.  If your business requires that your employees be capable of delivering goods on time, without fail in an environment that has close quarters and crowds – the Parts CaddyLite will deliver every time.

Making the Assembly Line Safer and More Efficient with a Vehicle Pusher

Manufacturers of cars, buses trucks and trailers have different assembly line obstacles than most other factories.  With each and every necessary component that gets added on to these large and cumbersome products, the heavier and less manageable they tend to become.  Trying to move an unfinished truck, bus or trailer manually could result in serious injury and trying to move them without a properly designed piece of equipment could result in damage to the vehicle before assembly is even complete – that’s where a vehicle pusher comes in.

DJ Products makes a vehicle pusher for just about every situation, in the assembly line, on the sale lot and the in mechanics’ shop.  DJ Products has a vehicle pusher specifically designed to wheel heavy trailers around a dealership, crowded lot or down the assembly line that will greatly lessens the chances of accidents and injuries.  The trailer pusher allows a single employee to easily handle a camper, RV, boat or just about any other towable piece of equipment weighing thousands of pounds without any undue stress or strain and without any hassle.

An automobile dealership couldn’t succeed if they didn’t have their cars and trucks kept in prime conditions.  DJ Products has vehicle pushers that can handle everything from the smallest compacts to the biggest pick-ups and each vehicle pusher from DJ Products is ergonomically designed for the safest and simplest operation possible.  This equipment can help dealerships keep their lots stocked to full capacity without worrying about any damage to the cars and trucks as they are being moved.

Any damage to a car, truck or camper decreases its value so manufacturers and dealers must make every effort to keep their automobiles in the best possible condition from the beginning of assembly through to their placement on the lot.  The easiest way to prevent possible damage while moving an automobile is with the use of a high quality and properly designed vehicle pusher.

Ergonomically Designed Equipment Can Help Employees Work More Efficiently

As we advance into the 21st century there will be more and more talk of how machines can replace people. Certainly, there are a number of professions in which fewer people can find work because machines are being used more often, but there is still a lot of work that requires the human touch. And if your company has jobs that require human effort, why not take good care of your workers? When you use the right equipment, such as a battery powered tug from DJ Products, you can prevent your employees from becoming injured.

DJ Products’ warehouse tugs like the RiderCaddy can increase overall productivity. If your company had carts that required several operators, a RiderCaddy would allow them to be moved by just one operator. The operators eliminated from this responsibility would then be available for other tasks.

Last year, a Forbes.com article made this very point. Instead of giving in to the fear that machines will take over, individuals and companies can find tasks that make better use of an employee’s time. “We mechanize a task, get it done by machines, which frees up humans to go and do something else. Possibly a more interesting something else.”

Your employees could get more done and do it safely when they have equipment that is ergonomically designed. All of our products are battery powered “walk-behind” units, that allow the operator to have increased control, even in tight, difficult spaces. Because of this operating flexibility, our extremely efficient electric cart movers can be used in more applications than standard material handling equipment.

Santa’s Secret Helper: A Trailer Mover

While legend has it that Santa travels around the globe on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, did you ever wonder just how he got all of those toys into his sleigh in the first place? After all, the elves have worked all year making toys and there probably isn’t room for all of them in Santa’s workshop. Perhaps some of the toys are stored in trailers until it is time for them to be loaded before Santa makes his rounds. But how can you move a number of trailers from one spot to another for loading?

Whether you have a whole lot of toys to get loaded on a sleigh once a year or you need to move items frequently throughout the year, a trailer mover can make your work a lot easier.

A versatile TrailerCaddy trailer mover can move a trailer or push and pull a RV, a camper, an equipment trailer or a boat. Our powered trailer movers are less bulky than traditional trailer mover products. This sleeker design results in fewer accidents and lower maintenance costs for you. The fact that you can exert increased control over the trailer mover in tightly confined areas means minimal damage to surrounding parts and equipment in comparison to other electric puller products.

Our trailer movers come with:
• Tubular Steel Frame
• 1500 lb. Differential / Transaxle
• High Tech Speed Controller
• Neutral Throttle Braking
• Electric Adjustable Acceleration/Braking
• 36v(3) 115 Amp Batteries
• Variable Speed Twist Grip
• 0-3 mph Forward/ Reverse
• Non-Marking Tires
• Electric Battery Gauge
• Automatic Electric Charger
• 16- Hours of continuous use batteries, plenty of battery life for mover to usually last two shifts

Call us at 800-686-2651 for more information on trailer movers

A Muti-purpose Powered Trailer Dolly

Do you need to move a trailer that requires lifting one end before moving? If so, you can use the CartCaddy HD Chain Drive Extreme, a Powered Trailer Dolly manufactured by DJ Products. And before you become concerned about buying a dolly to just move one thing, you should know that the TrailerCaddyHD Extreme is also capable of pushing and pulling boats, RVs, horse trailers, toy haulers and equipment trailers. In other words, this is valuable multi-purpose unit that you will be able to use for several tasks.

What gives the TrailerCaddyHD Extreme all of its power? First, it has a heavy-duty steel frame and a 2000 lb. Differential/Transaxle. We make our ergonomic powered pushers and pullers so that you can control them with ease and not strain your muscles. The TrailerCaddyHD Extreme has a high tech sped controller, neutral throttle braking, adjustable acceleration and braking, variable speed twist grip as well as a safety stop switch. Trying to push trailers on your own or using a makeshift dolly can lead to muscle pain and strain or perhaps even injury and you don’t want that.

If you want to learn more about this powered trailer dolly, please call 800-686-2651 and talk with one of our Sales Engineers. They can help you assess just what kind of powered mover will be best for you and advise you on customizing one to fit your needs. The basic TrailerCaddyHD Extreme comes with great features but you may wash to add optional features such as a ball hitch and steel mounting bracket, air brake release kit, safety horn, or a flashing light and pole. You can also upgrade to add 18″ Star Wheels.

Got a Fleet of Vehicles? You Need a Vehicle Pusher

If your company has a fleet of vehicles that are used on a regular basis, there is the possibility that one of them may break down. And while there may instances where an employee needs to wait on a tow truck, there are probably just as many times when you could use a vehicle pusher. A car pusher from DJ Products can help you get that car, truck or van out of the road or transport it across your property as needed.

A helpful employee’s first instinct may be to just go ahead and push the vehicle–either alone or with the help of a few co-workers. It is great when someone jumps in and takes the initiative to get the job done. What is not so great is when that person’s instinct leads to overexertion and he or she ends up sidelined later with an injury that could have been prevented.

Not only can your employees injure themselves; they may also unintentionally damage a stalled vehicle should they decide to use another vehicle to move one that is stalled. Both vehicles can be dented, scratched, or cracked when this is done.

Of course your employees would only be trying to do what needs to be done but you can prevent possible injury and property damage by providing a vehicle pusher in advance of situations like these. The CarCaddy car and vehicle pusher is a battery-powered pusher for pushing stalled vehicles that generally have pneumatic tires and don’t need to be steered by the CarCaddy itself.

Call one of our Sales Engineers at 800-686-2651 to learn more.

Charting the Future of Material Handling Solutions

Over the last several years the material handling industry has become an integral part of logistics and supply chain management. Today it stands poised to break out onto the global business stage. This is the vision of George Prest, head of the Charlotte, NC-based trade association MHI, the foremost advocate for the material handling sector.

Prest began implementing this shift when he became CEO of what was then Material Handling Industry of America just over two years ago. The organization became rebranded to MHI to advance its scope beyond domestic limits. He also presided over the launch of Modex, a biennial trade show incorporating all aspects of supply chain along with material handling. The next show is scheduled to open March 17, 2014 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

A key initiative has been the birth of the U.S. Material Handling and Logistics Roadmap. Industry members gathered with academics and consultants to brainstorm ideas regarding challenges to be faced over the next 12 years and action plans to address them. Their findings are in the process of being formalized and an early draft of the report began circulating in late 2013.

These events correspond with Prest’s belief that the future is something to be embraced, not feared. He’s excited about the changes in logistics and supply chain and how material handling is the thread that unites them.

DJ Products is proud to be part of such a vital and innovative industry. Our material handling tugs offer solutions for a variety of applications including hospitals, hotel, warehouses, factories and aircraft. Contact our Sales Engineers at 800.686.2651 to learn how we can help answer your material handling questions.