Tag: industrial tugs

DOD Moves Towards Commercial Buying

Looking for Something to Help Lift and Tug Your Heavy Equipment? We Can Help!
Looking for Something to Help Lift and Tug Your Heavy Equipment? We Can Help!

The 2016 Defense Authorization bill initiated a process of streamlining the DoD acquisition system by moving power into the hands of military service chiefs and secretaries. Congress recently agreed on the 2017 bill, which continues the reform aimed at encouraging more commercial buying.

Removing the Roadblocks to Commercial Acquisition

According to Bill Greenwalt, a Senior Senate Armed Services committee staffer, the shift toward commercial purchasing occurred 20 years ago, but the system was less agile than it was hoped. Leaders of the Defense committees hope to take advantage of the high level of innovation occurring in the commercial sector.

Greenwalt goes on to explain that, while Part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation grants the DoD authority to purchase from commercial companies, it was laden with clauses that made it difficult to do so. Such regulations are actually meant to cover acquisition of major weapons systems.

New Pilot Program for 2017

The preference for commercial contractors extends to services including construction, medical and transportation as well as products. The new bill also mandates a new pilot program allowing the DoD to bypass requests for proposals for purchases of “innovative commercial items” up to $100 million in favor of open calls to industry.

Industrial Tugs for Defense Contractors from DJ Products

Reduce expenses and save manpower with our comprehensive line of battery-powered industrial tugs for defense contractors. A single employee using these tugs can maneuver boats, aircraft, missiles and other heavy equipment with ease. Use the handy chat feature on our website and let our friendly sales engineers help you select the right option for your application.

New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling

New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling
New Tuggers Reinvent the Process of Material Handling

In today’s society where people expect next-day delivery and a large supply of product, the ability to move items quickly through a distribution center or warehouse is essential. Continuing innovations in industrial tugs make this task easier while “increasing ergonomics, productivity and safety for workers on the floor,” according to the article “Casters, carts, and tuggers: Reinventing the Wheel” from Modern Materials Handling.

Specialized casters

Suppliers are finding new, creative ways to improve traditional caster design. These new, specialized casters capable of withstanding the weight associated with high volumes of products can help distributors transport heavier loads more often while reducing noise levels and risk of injury to workers.

These casters include motorized industrial casters that don’t use a shaft and swivel casters that rotate around two separate vertical axes. Using these casters in industrial tugs such as those available from DJ Products, greatly improves efficiency and safety in distribution centers and warehouses.

Industrial tug benefits

According to the Modern Materials Handling article, the use of industrial tugs and carts improves efficiency as “operators can unload products and replace empty containers on the production line multiple times in a single pass.” This is a vast improvement over the use of forklifts that could only transport a single load at a time and it can reduce employee injury while creating better ergonomics and less noise. Tuggers are easier to turn around tight corners than forklifts and this allows operation in narrower areas of the warehouse.

Contact our professionals today to learn how industrial tugs and cart movers from DJ Products can help improve the safety and efficiency of your distribution business.

DoD Service Contract Program Change is on a Slow Track

Army parade – boots close-up
Government Procurement Drives Demand for Industrial Handling Solutions

In January 2016, the Department of Defense instituted a policy aimed at streamlining their services contracting with better oversight and control. While the new policy is expected to make the process more cohesive, it may take another dozen years before coming to full fruition.

“A 15-Year Effort”

More than half of the Department’s procurement budget is allocated to services, with the remainder for purchases such as contract equipment. According to Ken Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition, the goal is for contracts to become part of “the general culture and policy” rather than standalones.

In Brennan’s view, the new policy is “a 15-year effort” that is already about three years along. Brennan adds that is making significant progress, and he anticipates potential for guidance soon in the areas of small businesses and administrative services.

Functional Domain Experts

One major change involves the creation of functional domain experts, or FDEs, to lead each of the individual service sectors. Claire Grady, director of defense procurement and acquisition strategy, explains that this lets people with particular expertise create strategies to improve planning and execution while reducing costs.

FDEs will also implement metrics to monitor contract performance, determine best practices and recommend policies. Grady says will be paying close attention to the metrics established by these new domain leaders.

Military and Material Handling Solutions

DJ Products offers quality options for contract equipment. Our battery-powered tugs and movers handle applications like maneuvering aircraft in and out of hangars and pulling heavy engines and parts. Visit our website to have your questions answered online by one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.

Ergonomics: A New Focus on Cutting Warehouse Staff Turnover

Prevent Warehouse Accidents
Prevent Warehouse Accidents

The warehouse industry typically has a high turnover rate due to the physical demands of these jobs. Employees can be injured while moving machinery or equipment around. They can also develop injuries that result from repetitive movements, such as soft tissue injuries.

The use of industrial tugs and similar products make warehouse work less physically demanding and could lead to a lower turnover rate.

The Importance of Ergonomics

One of the most effective ways to lower the risk of workplace injuries in warehouses and reduce turnover is by adopting ergonomics. This means making sure that employees are able to do their jobs as safely as possible with less physical strain.

Making changes that result in a more comfortable work environment offers other benefits as well that lead to lower turnover. Such improvements will help employees become more productive, since they do not tire as quickly. They can also boost morale among employees when they see that their employer is watching out for their well-being.

Ergonomic Changes

The exact types of ergonomic changes that should be made vary based on a number of factors, such as the types of equipment and machinery that are used, the size of the workforce and the warehouse’s layout. Taking these factors into consideration can help warehouse management determine effective ergonomic changes, such as reducing the weight of mobile workstations and carts, or using motorized or electrical industrial tugs.

At DJ Products, our industrial tugs make it safer for your warehouse employees to move heavy equipment around. Visit us online to see our full selection of cart pullers and other products.

The Future of Material Handling Industrial Tugs with Forecast to 2020

industrial tugs
The Future of Material Handling Innovation

Grand View Research in San Francisco has detailed the outlook for a wide variety of equipment and projects a global market of more than $208 billion in 2020.

The in-depth forecast for material handling equipment confirms that advanced technology and a growing need for automation and efficiency are driving steady gains in the industry.

The Forecast for Material Handling Equipment

With more businesses using material handling equipment to automate tasks and make human labor more efficient, we’re seeing industry rely more and more on material handling solutions to attain and maximize profitability.

The growing Asia Pacific region has the largest market for such equipment, and it continues to grow. North America and Europe are also seeing growth in the coming years, however.

In warehousing and distribution, material moving products like industrial tugs are growing. Infrastructure projects are also spurring massive sales in excavation, cranes and related equipment.

Highest Growth Seen in Material Handling

Automated material handling systems like industrial tugs and sortation devices are expected to grow more than construction, excavation, and other types of industrial machinery. The report predicts a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% through 2020.

This growth will not surprise anyone who has seen the wide range of uses for today’s material handling equipment. Industrial tugs can be used in industries ranging from warehousing to hospitals and hotels.

The latest devices have applications fit for virtually any employee in any industry where inventory, equipment, or raw materials need to be transported or distributed.

Is your business enjoying the efficiency and profitability boosts of automated material handling? Find industrial tugs and other ergonomic solutions at DJProducts.com.