Food safety depends on maintaining the cold chain at every step, from producer to processor to foodservice operation to, eventually, the diner’s plate. In the United States, a handful of federal agencies regulate all the industries involved in taking food from farm to fork. These include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and even… Continue Reading
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The 2018 Industrial Truck Association Meeting: Business Trends and ITA Approaches
The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) will host the 2018 ITA Annual Meeting September 26 through 29, at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club in Ponte Vedra, Florida. The meeting arrives during a time of great disruption, as global trade rules are being rewritten. The ITA leadership chose an appropriate theme for this year’s meeting, considering these changes: Charting the Course…. Continue Reading
How Automotive Manufacturers Can Improve Material Flow Systems During Plant Shutdowns
Automotive manufacturers can’t push out the next big model without retooling plants, and that means periodic shutdowns at factories across the U.S. But while teams of workers busily upgrade assembly lines, plant managers also stay busy planning to move the entire operation forward. Disruptions of day-to-day plant operation create tremendous opportunities for improvement. This is especially true in the automotive… Continue Reading
Alternatives to Going Forklift-Free at Automotive Manufacturing Facilities
Automotive manufacturing facilities have long been at the forefront of lean manufacturing — after all, the practice was born out of Toyota’s process of continual improvement, or kaizen. But unlike some other sectors, many auto manufacturers are choosing not to go forklift-free to achieve their goals. That’s because automakers have discovered how to become leaner without sacrificing the muscle of… Continue Reading
Cold Storage Forklift Battery Maintenance
Cold storage is hard on lift truck batteries. Poor inventory management and maintenance is even worse. The combination of an extreme environment and shortcuts in battery handling practices can cause major reductions in battery capacity and lifespan. That’s why it’s important to use best practices for forklift batteries in cold storage applications. Here’s what you need to know to keep… Continue Reading
Electric Forklifts in Cold Storage: Solutions to Common Challenges
Cold storage facilities are the backbone of the supply chain for crucial products, including frozen and refrigerated foods, pharmaceuticals, and petrochemicals. Unfortunately, the extreme temperatures needed to preserve perishables can reduce efficiency in electric forklifts — or even damage them outright. Thankfully, there are a number of mitigating strategies that can improve forklift performance in cold storage applications. For instance:… Continue Reading
Sustainable Forklift Fleets: Save Energy on Core Material Handling Tasks
Electric lift trucks are the best choice for green warehousing operations working to build a sustainable forklift fleet. But not all electric forklift fleets are equally green, and going electric is not a guarantee of sustainability. The switch from diesel or propane to electric lift trucks is a terrific first step in the effort to reduce a warehouse’s carbon footprint,… Continue Reading
