Day: September 14, 2015

Ergonomic Material Handling Solutions Improve Productivity

In our last post we talked about coming trends in warehousing. More companies are starting to outsource certain functions, such as logistics, as part of a program to increase efficiency and improve productivity. Outsourcing allows you to focus on your primary business model instead of stretching your resources to include secondary but essential functions such as logistics. The astute businessperson will realize that outsourcing is but one element of what must be a multi-directional effort to tighten efficiency and improve productivity in these difficult economic times.

Making a careful assessment of material handling equipment usage and associated costs — both direct and indirect — can have a significant affect on your bottom line.

  • With the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline going through the roof, replacing outdated equipment with fuel-efficient electric and battery-powered equipment can save thousands of dollars in fuel costs.
  • Replacing bulking, difficult to move equipment with highly maneuverable powered carts and tugs can improve workplace safety and worker morale and decrease lost man-hours from absenteeism and injury.
  • Installing ergonomically designed pushers, pullers and carts can save thousands of dollars a year in decreased medical, insurance and disability costs resulting from musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Implementing ergonomic practices in the workplace can improve worker morale considerably while increasing efficiency and productivity significantly. Retraining staff to utilize recognized ergonomic practices generally produces an immediate savings from reduced worker injuries and associated medical costs.

DJ Products specializes in providing affordable ergonomic solutions to material handling applications. Our highly trained staff can assist you in assessing your material handling needs and design solutions tailored to the specific needs of your business. For more information, visit the DJ Products website.

New CartCaddyHD Chain Drive Cart Mover pulls and pushes loads up to 50,000 lbs.

DJProducts, Inc. is the world leader in providing battery-powered carts and cart movers to the manufacturing, hospital, and retail industries.  They provide solutions that eliminate the pains and strains associated with manually pushing heavy carts and wheeled equipment, or are less costly, smaller, and more maneuverable then traditional equipment like forklifts and pallet jacks that are not designed to push/pull wheeled carts and equipment. CartCaddy HD Chain Drive

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Battery powered car pusher for pushing cars, trucks, buses, campers, or anything on wheels

DJ Products of Minneapolis, manufacturers of walk-behind battery powered tugs and platform trucks, has introduced a Car Pusher specifically for pushing stalled cars, truck, bus, campers, or anything on wheels. Called the Car Caddy®, this pusher is designed for automotive, bus, and truck repair centers, dealers, manufacturers, and government highway service organizations. Car Pusher

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Automated Products Will Lead Future Material Handling Growth

Automation and third world development are expected to drive the 5% annual global growth predicted in the material handling industry, according to a new study released by The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm (see our previous post). Durable goods will continue to lead demand, but opportunities in nondurable goods are also anticipated.

In 2007, durable good manufacturers led global demand for material handling equipment. Over the next five years, material handling growth will be led by a massive worldwide increase in motor vehicle production followed by increased demand for durable consumer goods, particularly electronics. However, rapid scientific and technological advances in nondurable goods, particularly the chemical and food and beverage industries, are also expected to create new demands for material handling products around the world.  

Rapid industrialization in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Mideast and Latin America will increase demand for conventional material handling products such as industrial carts, tugs, trucks, lifts, conveyors, hoists, production line movers, cranes, etc. However, the Freedonia Group expects automated material handling products, including robots and automated guided vehicles (AGV), to post the best gains as industries in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan move to increase automation. Software, systems design, project management and other high-end services to these markets are also expected to post significant increases. Economic and manpower issues will drive the march toward automation and increased productivity in western markets with an emphasis on automated equipment and systems that can be easily integrated into large-scale automated factory and warehouse environments. 

High fuel prices, environmental concerns and worker health and safety issues will also play an increasing roll in shaping material handling demand, particularly in U.S. markets. The current shift away from fuel-intense gas-powered trucks to more energy-efficient battery-operated material handling movers and tugs that was sparked by high fuel prices is expected to accelerate. Escalating medical, insurance and workers’ compensation costs will likewise drive a move toward ergonomically designed material handling equipment and systems.

5 Eco-Friendly Tips to Help Your Facility Go Green

“Going green” isn’t simply a trendy buzzword. Eco-awareness should be an integral part of everyone’s lifestyle. Your carbon footprint, no matter how great or small, is part of the overall environment that affects the health of our planet and its population.

Due to their significant consumption of resources, warehouses and manufacturing facilities present numerous opportunities for conservation. Here are five tips you can implement that pay major dividends in energy and material savings.

  1. Reuse items like boxes and packing material wherever possible. These types of items have long been considered disposable, but they’re usually good for several uses before they become worn out.
  2. If it can’t be reused, recycle it. Make it easy for your employees by providing several well-labeled stations with generously sized containers. Don’t forget about offices, lunchrooms and break rooms as well.
  3. Reevaluate your lighting system. Wherever possible, replace older light bulbs with newer LED models. You may even want to consider installing skylights to take advantage of natural lighting.
  4. Check the condition of your facility’s doors. Poor insulation may be causing your heating and cooling system to work harder. Remote-controlled and motion-sensor doors are available that limit the amount of heat that escapes when they’re opened.
  5. Switch from propane or diesel forklifts to battery-powered equipment tugs. Not only do they conserve energy, they’re safer and more efficient to use.

Whatever your material handling needs are, you can find an eco-friendly solution from DJ Products. Please contact us at 800.686.2651 for more information on our CartCaddy5WP and other models from our full line of equipment tugs. 

MHEDA Convention For 2014 What To Expect?

What qualities does it take to provide SUPERHERO LEADERSHIP in today’s material handling industry? Get the answers to this question and many more at the 2014 MHEDA Convention being held at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, FL from May 3-7.

This year marks the 59th occasion of the annual event, which brings hundreds of industry professionals together for four days of education and networking opportunities. The theme for this event is uncovering your own Superhero Leadership qualities in order to strengthen your people management skills.

The convention officially opens on Monday with a keynote address by Medal of Honor winner Sal Giunta, who will illustrate The Importance of Teamwork, Sacrifice and Leadership with stories of his experience as a patrol leader in Afghanistan. Activities for the rest of the day includes an exhibitors’ showcase and a series of roundtable discussions centered on the most compelling challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.

Tuesday’s schedule is jam-packed with a variety of workshops offering real-world strategies and tips to address your most pressing concerns. Topics range from Best-in-Class Contractor Management to Revenue Drivers to Increase Your Profitability. You won’t want to miss Rebooting Leadership: Managing Employees in the New Workplace which ties in perfectly with the convention’s main theme.

It won’t be all work and no play during this event. Saturday and Sunday will feature a variety of social activities for both you and your spouse. Enjoy the attractions of the Orlando area while getting a valuable chance to network.

DJ Products is proud to be part of this vital and energetic industry. Contact our Sales Engineers at 800.686.2651 to learn more about our quality material handling solutions.

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.

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.

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.

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