Vestil introduces new Wall Mount Guard Rails
Vestil Manufacturing Corporation is an industry provider in the production and distribution of material handling equipment featuring over 1,000 different product lines of which are in stock and ready for immediate shipment. Vestil just introduced their Wall Mount Guard Rails model GR-H2R-WM-4-YL that is available in six different lengths in either hot-dipped galvanized or tough powder-coated yellow finishes. The Wall Mount Guard Rails are a great way to provide essential protection with congestion works areas. Standard Features include: Provides safety and structural security. The wall-mount capability allows the user to mount at any height. Space-saving alternative to traditional guardrails and posts. Available in six different lengths. Hot dipped galvanized or tough baked-in powder-coated yellow finish. Mounting brackets are powder-coated black. Mounting hardware included; lag down hardware not included. Durable steel construction
Southworth customizes access to large workpieces and horizontal carousels
For assembly or maintenance of large, tall, and/or oddly shaped structures, or anything that requires workers to perform tasks while above floor level, Southworth offers custom-configured elevating worker platforms. Typically built on one or more scissor lift bases, these machines provide workers a safe, stable platform that can be positioned at heights of just a few inches to several feet for best access to the workpiece. They are also well suited for picking items from the multiple levels of a horizontal carousel. As workers need to access different levels on a workpiece or carousel, they can easily adjust the height of the platform via a simple pushbutton control. Platform decks can be configured to a size that allows a worker to move comfortably from one end of a workpiece to the other and carry all of the tools and equipment necessary to perform the required tasks. Platforms can also be built-in L- or U-shaped configurations to access multiple sides of a workpiece. Units can be stationary or traversing. Capacities up to 20,000 pounds are common with higher capacities available. Lifts can also be furnished with a wide range of other options including custom controls; soft start/stop; indexed lifting and lowering; slide-out sections that increase platform size when necessary; fold-down safety gates and handrails; custom deck treatments (non-skid, anti-static, etc.); electrical and air stations for power tools; and bellows skirting that keeps dust, debris, and moisture out of the lift mechanism.
Arbon Equipment acquires Minnesota-based Pugleasa Company, Inc.
Milwaukee-based Arbon Equipment Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rite-Hite, has acquired Pugleasa Company, Inc., a loading dock and industrial door sales and service organization headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Pugleasa Company has been in the material handling business for 65 years and has been the exclusive distributor of Rite-Hite products in Minnesota, the Dakotas, and parts of western Wisconsin and northern Iowa since the mid-1980s. Curt Moses has owned Pugleasa since 2008, during which the business grew thanks to a strong focus on employing good people, providing quality products, and excellent customer service. “Rite-Hite’s long and healthy partnership with Curt and the Pugleasa team made this acquisition a natural for our organization,” said Gerry Timms, president of Rite-Hite Company LLC, and Arbon Equipment Corporation. “And our customer-focused philosophy is right in-line with what the Pugleasa team has been doing since their founding.” The Pugleasa employees are now part of the Arbon Equipment organization and the work of serving customers continues uninterrupted. This new office is part of a growing network of Arbon Equipment sales and service providers with over 65 offices in the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Outfit your loading dock with Poweramp Loading Dock equipment
When outfitting a new loading dock, there is no better solution than a Poweramp hydraulic leveler, truck restraint, and LiftMaster door operator, all interlocked together in an iDock Controller. Poweramp prides itself on manufacturing durable dock levelers with the most structural steel in the industry. Combining this commitment to quality with the undeniable safety that coincides with an interlocked loading dock makes this combination from Poweramp the most reliable on the market. When you install Poweramp’s structurally superior loading dock equipment, not only do you have the most reliable equipment on the market, you also gain access to myQ® Dock Management by simply adding a gateway to that configuration. Using this IoT technology, you can log in to your online account and get a true insight into your operations to help you improve loading efficiency.
Air Technical Industries ground level loading dock is a perfect solution
Air Technical Industries has introduced the Zero-Low Dock Lift is a perfect solution to provide a ground-level loading platform in any location. Lift and lower loads from 4,000 to 50,000 pounds, anything from typical pallets to heavy equipment. Utilizing a Zero-Low Dock Lift offers tremendous benefits. Avoid costly construction of a pit or loading bay, especially in a leased building. Gain the flexibility of a portable solution that can be moved to different locations as needed. Easily adjust to various heights for different sizes and types of trailers. The benefits of implementing a Zero-Low Dock Lift for loading dock operations can offer a return on investment in 6-12 months. All Zero-Low Dock Lifts include guard rails and safety chains, hinged dock plate (available powered), non-skid deck surface, and hydraulic safety valves. They are available in a variety of sizes for any application. When you see how it lifts from ground level up just like a magic carpet, you will be impressed!
Miner Limited closes acquisition of Great Lakes Dock & Door
Miner Ltd., the loading dock and door division of OnPoint Group, says it has closed the acquisition of Great Lakes Dock & Door, a full-service company specializing in the sale, service, maintenance, and repair of overhead doors, specialty door systems, and loading dock equipment in Michigan and Ohio. This acquisition further expands Miner’s national presence into the Midwest region. “We are pleased to have Great Lakes Dock & Door join the Miner family, supporting our commitment to bringing efficiency, safety, and risk mitigation to our customers’ supply chain. Their presence in the Midwest market and their reputation as a top resource for customers’ complete dock and door needs further strengthens our reach and geographic footprint in this important market,” stated Miner’s President, Dave Wright. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to being the first national service organization capable of delivering coast-to-coast consistency,” added Tom Cox, CEO of OnPoint Group. Dedicated to being the first choice for customers on a local level as well as a trusted partner for automotive manufacturers, tier-one suppliers, and general contractors, Great Lakes Dock & Door has become a go-to resource for expertise and support. “We are thrilled to join Miner, a company that shares our mission of providing an expert, single-source solution for customers’ overhead door and loading dock equipment needs. We look forward to leveraging Miner’s nationwide coverage for our customers alongside expanded solutions aimed at driving loading dock safety and uptime,” said C.J. Ruffing, General Manager of Great Lakes Dock & Door.
Wildeck, Inc. welcomes Angela Wurtz as Director of People Operations
Wildeck, Inc. is pleased to announce and welcome Angela Wurtz as its new Director of People Operations. Angela will be responsible for all aspects of managing the People Operations function at Wildeck, including recruiting, training and development, engagement, employee relations, compensation, and payroll. Angela brings nearly 15 years of experience related to various HR functions, including recruiting, onboarding of new employees, human resource information systems, employee relations, and leadership. “Angela’s extensive leadership and expertise in HR functions with reputable organizations made her the clear choice to lead our People Operations department.” Commented Dan Lorenz, president of Wildeck, Inc. “I am confident that Angela’s background will bring in a new perspective that will reshape our organization to be competitive in today’s workforce and retain top talent. I look forward to her contributions as we continue to grow to unprecedented levels.” Angela earned a B.S. Degree in Business Management, Concentration in Human Resource Development from Herzing University, and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the Human Resources Certification Institute.
Fairbanks Scales announces new FB 1200 Industrial Scale Instrument
Offering the flexibility and features required by modern weighing operations! Fairbanks Scales Inc., the oldest scale company in the U.S. and provider in weighing equipment, announces its new FB1200 Industrial Scale Instrument, designed for basic applications using analog bench scales, floor scales, tank assemblies, or livestock scales. Fairbanks Scales FB1200 is a flexible, economical solution for basic industrial weighing applications. With a range of features and multiple communication options, the FB1200 can fulfill a variety of customer needs at a highly competitive price. Among general-purpose instruments on today’s market, the FB1200 is unique in that it has several “beyond basic” functions and features, including digital inputs and outputs that simplify its integration with other aspects of an operation. The simple, seven-key interface has oversized buttons for Power, Units, Zero, B/G Net, Tare, and Print as well as a single function key to access the more advanced features of the instrument. In addition, while many industrial applications do not require legal-for-trade status from their weighing equipment, the FB1200 is approved for 10,000 divisions by both NTEP and Measurement Canada (MC). This allows the FB1200 to provide legal-for-trade weights when the situation requires it. In addition to simple weighing operations, the FB1200 has feature sets to address the following types of operation: Piece Counting – Enter the piece count of a sample through the front panel and use the FB1200 to calculate the count of any size sample. Accumulation – Accumulate gross weight, net weight, and piece count values over repeated weighments. Checkweighing – Three-zone check weighing can be used to confirm a weight is within an acceptable range. The FB1200 can communicate the active zone through the front panel or as a digital output. Livestock Weighing – Use the livestock filter to calculate the weight of a single animal or a group. Peak Hold – Hold the highest stable or unstable weight, even when the weight is removed. The economical price point and the comprehensive feature set will allow the FB1200 to carve out market space on the lower end of industrial applications. The FB1200 expands the ability to address customer needs by including digital inputs and outputs, multiple weighing intervals, while significantly decreasing the time needed to install and service industrial instruments.
Alta Equipment Group acquires Baron Industries
The acquisition expands Alta’s Warehousing & Logistics Capabilities in its material handling business Alta Equipment Group Inc. has announced that it has acquired Baron Industries (“Baron”), a privately held dock & door company based in Woburn, MA. Baron is an established, provider of dock and door sales, service, and installation for the greater New England area. The company specializes in commercial overhead loading dock doors and equipment, hydraulic lifts, and vertical reciprocating conveyors. “This strategic acquisition jump-starts our expansion in the loading dock & door equipment business and immediately positions Alta as a leading provider throughout the northeast,” said Alan Hammersley, president, Alta Material Handling. “Baron’s sterling reputation for service has made them the vendor of choice among general contractors, architects, government agencies, military sites, hospitals, and more, which makes them an excellent fit with our customer-first product support culture. This service capability expansion is another key step in our strategy to build out our full-service warehousing and logistics offering within our growing material handling segment.” Baron generated approximately $6.0 million in revenue and had adjusted EBITDA of approximately $400,000 in the latest fiscal year. The purchase price includes certain tangible assets such as inventory, vehicles, and an $800,000 goodwill premium. The total purchase price is expected to be less than $2.0 million, subject to customary post-closing purchase price adjustments.
The Upender, improving worker safety
The Upender is an ergonomic “lifting aid” that helps prevent worker injuries, lowering the cost of claims and downtime. Ergonomic solutions in the workplace are necessary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018, reported that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for over 30% of worker injury and illness cases involving days away from work (DAFW). The CDC states that workplace musculoskeletal disorders cost between $45 and $54 billion annually in workers’ compensation, lost wages, and lost productivity. There are many tools and resources available to assist with identifying ways to increase worker safety by conducting routine audits and planning for improvement. One way to improve safety is the use of lifting aids which are listed among the top ergonomic best practices because the equipment reduces the need for lifting, turning, twisting, and bending. There are many popular lifting aids like forklifts, hoists, scissor lifts, tilters, stackers, conveyors, pallet trucks, etc. But are you familiar with the Upender? Mechanical Upenders are sometimes called coil positioners because they rotate products and are used in a variety of production and maintenance applications for rotating, turning, or positioning heavy or awkward loads. Upenders are available with Electric or Hydraulic drive systems and are equipped with a heavy-duty brake to stop the load in any position. The Upender lifts and maneuvers products to make them more accessible during manufacturing and assembly for a safer work environment reducing risks for manual labor. Upenders have been adopted in many steel handling applications. The Uni-Craft Corp. team presents the Upender that repositions large, round, and odd-shaped products such as dies, rolls, or coils. The Uni-Craft Upender is an ergonomic solution with applications in manufacturing and assembly to the end of the line during palletizing and shipping. The Upender offers many benefits and can tilt loads up to 95 degrees to change the vertical or horizontal orientation of heavy, awkward products. The Uni-Craft Upender is capable of capacities of more than 8,000 pounds and features a range of speed, powering, and control options, including integrated switches to meet the specific needs of each application. The Upender makes repositioning large or awkward products simple and efficient while protecting workers and helping to avoid workplace accidents. One great solution example was a furniture manufacturer with extreme space constraints. The customer struggled to efficiently flip awkward, bulky pieces of furniture 90 degrees in order to palletize in preparation for shipping. The solution for this customer was a Pass-Through Upender capable of flipping the furniture safely onto a pallet for shipping. The Upender for this customer was equipped with control features that ensured the furniture was oriented and precisely placed on the pallet.
Scissor Dock Lifts can accommodate a variety of truck bed heights
PDL Series Loading Dock Scissor lifts from Presto ECOA allow users to quickly and safely transfer loads from a variety of truck bed heights to loading docks up to 59”. Because the lift platform is always level, transferring between truck beds and docks is easier and safer than ramps or other incline devices. Standard units are available in 5,000 lbs. and 6,000 lbs. capacities with a roll-over capacity of 10,000 lbs. Base and leg sets feature a corrosion-resistant, galvanized finish. Diamond tread steel platform sizes range from 6 x 8 feet to 8 x 12 feet and are designed for use with manual or powered pallet jacks. Standard features include a weatherproof pushbutton NEMA-4X control with 20 feet of coiled cord; beveled toe-guards painted yellow for safety; removable steel handrails with mid-rails and 4-inch-high kickplates; a hinged, diamond-tread throw-over plate at one end of the platform and a snap chain at the other end. PDL Scissor Dock Lifts meet or exceed ANSI Standard MH29.1, Safety Requirements for Industrial Scissors Lifts. PDL Series Scissor Dock Lifts provide a fast, safe load transfer solution at a variety of facilities including retail outlets, manufacturing plants, warehouses, hospitals and medical facilities, schools and universities, and other establishments loading or unloading items to/from multiple types of trucks with varying bed heights. Lifts can be installed to accommodate any dock or loading configuration, whether the truck is parked perpendicular or parallel to the dock. Units are typically mounted in a concrete pit so they lower to grade level which is extremely useful for facilities that have no loading dock at all.
Shoppa’s Material Handling adds two Directors to the growing Leadership Team
Shoppa’s Material Handling, one of the fastest-growing dealerships in the country providing complete material handling solutions, announced today the appointment of two new directors: Jacob Ratekin, Director of Rental & Used Remarketing, and Mike Pond, Director of Dock & Door Division. “We are pleased to be adding two professionals to our growing leadership team at Shoppa’s who brings proven leadership and extensive industry experience,” said Jimmy Shoppa, President of Shoppa’s Material Handling. “As our company continues to grow as a complete material handling provider, our leadership remains committed to offering integrated solutions while delivering an exceptional customer experience.” Ratekin will lead the Rental team, collaborate with the Used team, and manage the lease maturities portfolio. Ratekin has more than a decade of material handling industry experience, most recently as the Director of Fleet & Asset Management at Lift One. Prior to that, Ratekin was President & CFO of Toyota Material Handling Northeast, Inc. and also was with Toyota Material Handling USA, starting as Financial Planning & Analysis Manager and then moving to Manager of Dealer Operations. Ratekin has a B.S. in Finance and an MBA, both from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business. “Jacob’s significant material handling experience at both the dealership and manufacturer levels will help lift our rental and preowned business to new heights,” added Shoppa. In his new role, Pond will oversee all innovative dock and door solutions at each of Shoppa’s nine locations. He brings with him an extensive background in material handling with more than 20 years of expertise in dock products, safety equipment, commercial doors, and environmental control warehouse solutions. Most of his career was spent at Southern Dock Products. Pond has a BBA in Marketing from the Lunar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Mike not only brings an immense knowledge of the industry but also his proven leadership will help grow our dock and door business,” stated Shoppa.
NOVA Technology introduces new Rain Deflector Xtreme
NOVA Technology continues to raise the bar for loading dock seal and shelter performance with its new Rain Deflector Xtreme. This foam-filled, multi-layer water defense system provides an excellent barrier to block water runoff from the tops of trailers. It is compatible with existing seals and shelters and covers a wide variety of truck heights. Its innovative wiper system redirects water runoff away from the building and down the sides of the trailer, even at declined approaches. Available now!