There are three main categories of metal framed storage units.  Metal shelving units normally 3 foot and 4 foot wide generally utilize clips as boltless connectors.  Pallet racks connect their horizontal beams via specially designed endplates on the ends of the beams to the vertical upright frames.

The category that is most often prevalent in small commercial establishments to larger warehouses are boltless bulk storage racks.  Better known as rivet rack named from the rivets on the ends of the beams that connect into the vertical posts.

Of the three category types the number of manufacturers of rivet rack bulk storage units far exceeds that of pallet rack and clip type shelving units.  Several have come and gone as well as the foreign markets have thrived in supplying this type of unit. There have never been any standards for the rivets or their placement specs of of rivets.  Compatibility of one brand hardly ever will link up securely or safely with another make.

For this very reason, purchasing used units can be very disasterous if ever intermixing types, sometimes unwittingly.  Especially watch for components that do NOT have logos or names stamped onto them.  Consultation with a materials handling expert might be the best bet before you commit to an unknown.

Social and Mobile Media have become an important resource and component of our society.  If an answer to a question is needed, we can simply ask it from a number of resources.

Last year PC Magazine stated that: 

Bottom Line:  LinkedIn is the most developed business- and career-oriented networking site and service out there. It's the way millions of career-minded people will find and develop opportunities and to build their reputations. 

Therefore, I'd like to share with you my personal Indoff LinkedIn profile website.

As a repeated topic of discussion and debates is how does one most efficiently design storage space.  Capacity is always at the forefront as is the amount of time it takes to move product in and out.

Recently, one of our professional industry journals, MHEDA Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, published an article referring to a conceptual design.  Researchers from The University of Arkansas and Auburn University have found a way make distribution centers more efficient. 

Academically and in theory they claimed the Fishbone design would deliver a 20-25% percent reduction in costs when compared to the traditional warehouse design.  One of the main problems is that transferring such a design to realty brings up a number of major obstacles.  Like safety of the forklift drivers at intersecting aisles.  Sure, mirrors "could" be deployed; but will speed be lowered enough to diminish the probability of disasters?

New ideas are always welcome and do modernize and improve methods within our industry.  Always consult with a professional material handling expert you trust.

There are a few simple steps to take to determine which size of pallet truck (also referred to as a pallet jack) that would best suit your specific application.

The main determining factor will be the pallet type (stringer or block) and size you use and receive the majority of the time. 

Fork length is determined from the tip of the fork to the backrest as shown in Step 1.  In Step 4, be aware for an example that if you are using a 48" x 40" GMA pallet (a fairly standard type in the USA) or a pallet with bottom deck boards, that the load wheels at the fork tip end will have an adequate opening for the forks to extend upwards in the lifting motion. On a 48" long pallet, 48" long forks would be advised.

 

 

 

            

Wire decking of existing or new pallet racking has multiple advantages.  Safety being the formost feature.

There are numerous choices and types of wire deck panels available. Galvanized, painted, sizes (normally two panels per load level sometimes three), capacities, mesh opening size and styles.

These choices of selection are dependent on you beam type, type of product being stored, washdown area or not and so on.  Indoff Partners pride themselves in their knowledge to make sure the best solution of wire decking is the right one for your specific application.  Buying because of a "good deal" or a used product, may cost you more with trying to expense out return costs or dumping it for salvage.

In one of my earliest Blogs Advantages of Different Sized Pallet Jacks back in January 2009 I made mention of alternatives to using pallet jacks for maneuvering pallets.

The Pry Lever Bar has been around almost forever.  There are several alias names that the pry lever bar has, such as "cheater bar" and "Johnson Bar" which originates in 1842 as a gear selector bar in the transmissions of steam powered locomotives.

The function as a fulcrum is quite obvious with the most common length of handle of about 6 foot.  Popularity is quite mixed with the compositions of Pry Lever Bar - Steel and Pry Lever Bar - Wood.

Providing dock workers, riggers and freight handlers with the leverage to get underneath heavy objects for lifting with fork truck, hand truck or other types of trucks. Rolls on 2 - 5" x 2" poly-on-steel wheels. 6"W. x 8"L.x 1/2" thick steel nose plate with beveled edge is bolted on the wood handle units and welded on the steel units.

A piece of equipment that can handle transporting a variety of materials - wood scraps, production line waste, nails, trash, machine turnings, metal scraps, cardboard, paper and continue being the most durable and cost effective would be an all steel self dumping hopper.

Obviously this would be transported with your forklift.  If the unit is placed on concrete flooring, it can be supplied with casters providing extra portability in tight places. 

The range of sizes are generally stated in cubic yards capacity with a 5 yard unit as a maximum production run unt.  This is predicated on your forklift capacity as well as muneuverablity.  One of the most common size used is the 1.5 cu yard as shown.  Further specifications are listed with the link above.

Almost two years ago I published an article, "Tips for Transporting Unstable Pallet Loads".

It viewed the procedure of using stretch wrap for the purpose of eliminating pallet load damage in the transportation phases.  One very major exclusion I didn't elaborate on that involves savings in time, stretch wrap product over-useage and possible safety hazards for the applicator is utizing a simple manual stretch wrap dispenser as shown below and in the catalog.

The benefit to cost ratio is a total "no-brainer".  Since the advent of the acceptance of YouTube for video support, I've attached a couple of brief YouTube links that bear out comparison evaluation.  With dispenser and without dispenser.

Stretch wrap is more effective in strength if stretched to it's limit.  Would you like to be the applicator going around a pallet load backwards?

Looking up or investigating sources of product has certainly evolved over the 30 years I've been in the material handling industry.

The best sources then were direct contact, word of mouth or the "yellow pages".  The internet revolution has inherently changed that procedure.  The term "just google it" rather seems to be the norm.  There’s been a lot of hype over the last couple of years about Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn and YouTube and MySpace and Plaxo and Foursquare and the list goes on and on.

Sometimes the pros and cons of buying locally or online from a remote location need to be weighed as well.  The table of contents of choices has expanded.  Indoff is a company that has recognized these changes and can be considered as a most progressive source of storage and material handling equipment.