Industrial shelving…  is there anything more boring on the face of this or any other planet?  I submit that there is not.  However, as boring as industrial shelving seems on the surface, there is a growing trend to use it as a decorative furnishing in many upscale homes.

I know what you’re probably thinking…  that is some very utilitarian if not downright UGLY stuff!  And there are those who will agree.  But there are others with more eclectic taste who think this sort of thing is just the compliment to new “contemporary” look in many home decors.

And yes…  I’m referring to the key-slotted, thick, heavy-duty warehouse gray color of shelving with the plywood decking.  The more imperfections in the decking the better apparently.   “Many of our clients LOVE the contrast of the ‘warehouse look’ in the middle of an elegant dining area or a vaulted ceiling hallway.” says Marie Stramberg, an interior designer in the Chicago area.   “It has such a unique appearance and can easily be meshed in almost any style of decor.”

This elegance-ultilitarian mish mash is not unprecedented.  It is reminiscent of the late 90s when its cousin…  wire shelving…  was all the rage.  And yes…  I’m referring to the chrome wire shelving often used by offices and even more prevalent in hospitals and manufacturing facilities.  Of course with today’s technology, the wire can be coated with everything from vinyl to zinc to chrome to…  well…  whatever you desire.

I personally have not ascended to the place of personal self-awareness that allows me to put warehouse shelving in my dining room.  But I must say, in seeing some of the applications, it does make for an interesting and unique look. 

Check it out!  A great new solution for keeping business inventories, personal belongings and bulk items off the floor, safely above flooding, leaks, moisture, dirt and dust, wet or humid storage spaces.  Ideal for bulky items that will not fit on conventional shelving or under a desk or table.

This new product was created specifically for getting things off the floor.  It comes in two kit sizes, the small kit is four square feet and consists of five two foot rails, two one foot rails and four connectors.  The large kit will cover twelve square feet and consists of ten two foot rails and eight connectors.  What is really cool about this product is its simplicity and flexibility.  You can configure them any way you need to.  Around or in a corner, under a table,  in a hallway where you can only put something 12″ wide,  four foot wide as some points, two foot wide at others, the variety and options are only limited to your needs. 

Welcome to plastic pallets for dummies…. those of us who had no clue there were so many varieties available.  First we will start with some of the pallet types

Export Pallet - This is the least expensive pallet manufactured for one way shipments, light warehouse use and storage when you are not going to be moving the pallet.  Most of these pallets weigh less than 25 lbs and when you step on them, they bow.   So if you need a platform you will be stepping on (for storage) while cheap, these pallets may not work well for you.

Warehouse Use - This term will be used frequently and refers to pallets that are intended to have repeated use and handling.  They are expected to last.   

Nestable Pallet - These pallets have cone shaped legs that will nest inside each other when the pallets are being stored empty. 

Stackable Pallet - These pallets have a bottom to them.  There are a variety of bottoms, we can get into later.  Stackable pallets are appropriate where you are putting a pallet with product on top of another pallet with product.  Also appropriate for outside applications as the bottom distributes the weight so they won’t sink easily.  These pallets are available in Export, Warehouse Use and Rackable grades.

Rackable Pallet - Pallet rack is the heavy duty big shelving you see in warehouses and stores like Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club.  A rackable pallet is manufactured to bear their capacity on an open span racking system where there is a front and back beam only with nothing for support under the pallet other than those beams.  The stores I mentioned above all have decking on their rack which distributes the weight and allows them to have a variety of product either boxed or palletized on their shelves.  Rackable pallets are available in Warehouse Use or Export grades.

Capacities.  All pallet capacities are based on evenly distributed loads across the entire pallet surface.  There are several terms used as follows:

  Dymanic or Fork Capacity -  The amount of weight a pallet can handle while being moved with a forklift or pallet jack

  Static or Floor Capacity -   The amount of weight a pallet can handle while sitting on the floor.

  Rackable Capacity - The amount of weight a pallet can handle in an open span racking system. 

Handling Innovations LLC is going social.  Well…  i mean i hope our customers have already found us to be SOCIABLE.

Find out more on our Facebook page located at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Material-Handling-Equipment-Handling-Innovations/23603062424 and feel free to leave any comment.  We are always trying to improve.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Not one of the most computer-savvy people in the world? Have that tendancy to get lured onto a website and can’t get out? Ever have questions but there’s no “customer service - press here” button to bail you out? Well, fear no more!

Handling Innovations, a material handling distribution center, takes the unique approach of offering you a helping hand along the way if you need it… and for those of you who don’t, this is one of the most user-friendly sites that I have seen in quite some time. This site offers you access to product pictures with information and you just need to note your requirements on a “Request a Quote” form th have a product expert with contact information automatically assigned to you. What a great comfort to those who like the immediate touch of someone to answer their questions. What’s more, these product experts can help you define your needs to better understand what you are actually looking for and what would work best with your application!

So there is no need of fear or frustration any more while you browse the web searching for the right product to fit your material handling needs. Surf’s up and the water’s just fine, so come on in…we’ve got your back!

How to Shrink Wrap a Pallet

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Shrink-wrapping (or more accurately “Stretch-wrapping”) is a packaging technique used in industry to secure items to a pallet. It entails using a roll of thin, stretchable plastic film to apply many layers of holding power for the job. Often people do not put enough thought into this chore and the results are not as effective as they could be.
There is an art and etiquette to shrink-wrapping objects to a pallet. Read this article for tips on proper techniques and time-savers while pallet-wrapping.

Steps

1. Choose the right pallet: Place your items to be shipped or stored onto a sturdy pallet. Try to find a pallet that is just the right size to accommodate the amount of boxes or other materials you are palletizing. This will help to save you from tearing the plastic film on sharp corners of the pallet.
   • Be certain that the items you are about to wrap are as close to one another on the pallet as possible. If they have room to shift around after you’ve applied the shrink wrap the entire unit will become loose and ineffective. Brace items against one another.
2. Make it easy: Set your pallet to be wrapped on a short stack of empty pallets. This will make it easier to wrap since you won’t need to bend over so far. It helps to set your pallet diagonally at a 45 degree angle rather than square on the stack (so that the bottoms of each corner overlaps the top edge of the stack beneath). Make sure the pallet does not wobble up there!
3. Attaching the shrinkwrap: Take your shrinkwrap roll and peel out about a yard of plastic. Squeeze 8 inches or so of the end together into a loose rope shape and thread this through and around one corner of the pallet. Don’t bother tying a knot. Simply hold the end snug as you fold the rest of the yard over it. The plastic sticks to itself so this should be sufficient to keep it from pulling loose when you begin to wrap.
4. Make your foundation strong: Wrap around the base of the pallet in the same direction that was begun when you made the fold. Ensure that you wrap the base enough times so that your plastic will not slip off. This is the most important step since the goal is to keep your goods on the pallet. Wrap that base at least four or five times, being careful to allow the edge of the wrap to go underneath the corners. Pull the roll tightly just before going around each corner.
5. Secure the goods: Basically you want the entire pallet to feel like a unit; Everything should move as one, without wobbling. With that in mind, work your way up from the base so that the bottom boxes are first to be “married” with the pallet. Continue wrapping so that the next layer is joined firmly to the first and so on. Be sure to take as much stretch as possible out of the plastic film while you are wrapping.
6. Test and finish: When you reach the top of the pallet you can either end there or wrap back down the pallet again. To decide what is needed, try pushing the upper boxes to see if the load seems tight or loose. If you see the plastic ripple or the stack wobble, you either didn’t wrap tightly enough or it needs more layers. Go around it a few more times, working your way back down to the base. When the stack is firm, tear the film apart from the roll and fold the end of it under the edge of one of the wraps at the side of the pallet. This will keep your wrap job from coming undone.

Tips

• Do not tie the shrinkwrap to the pallet with a knot! This is an issue of both etiquette and time-economy. Not only does it take you extra time to make the knot, but somewhere down the line someone will have to take out their knife and sever that knot. The plastic film sticks to itself, so knots are unnecessary.
• For a little added strength at the end of wrapping move to the center of your pallet and go around one more time. As you go around flip your shrink wrap to create an X in the wrap. This allows you to pull much harder without breaking the wrap and also adds stability.

Warnings

• Do not wrap too loosely as this will allow the plastic wrap to stretch while in transit. Always stretch the plastic to the point of almost breaking. The more “stretch” you can take out of it the more firmly it will hold.

Related wikiHows

• How to Choose an Industrial Spill Container
• How to Lease an Office, Retail, or Industrial Space
• How to Check a Forklift for Safe Use

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Shrink Wrap a Pallet. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Choose the Right Plastic Pallet for Your Application

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Plastic pallets are not the most exciting topic on the planet. But any business that moves large size inventory knows choosing the proper pallet is very cost-effective while choosing poorly is just very costly.

Steps

1. 1 Know your product as it relates to shipping and storage. Does your product’s “cube” fit in a standard pallet size (48″x40″). What is it’s weight? Does it’s cube make it “top heavy”? Is it food-related? Is it stored in a special package such as a 55 gallon drum?
2. 2 Know what pallet products are available. The most cost effective size is 48″x40. So if your product fits in that size, it will save some money. Custom pallets are very expensive. Beyond the pallet, size there are some specially designed pallets that you should know about. They include export pallets, stackable pallets, rackable pallets, nestable pallets, display pallets, drum pallets, and wire or steel pallets.
3. 3 Know how you plan to use the pallets. Are you using them strictly for storage? Are you exporting products on them? Are you using them for moving products around the warehouse? Maybe you need them only to get product off the floor in a “wet” area.
4. 4 Contact a pallet specialist and ask the above questions. This will give you all the latest and greatest information on the lastest products including RFID and “smart” pallets. Make sure the specialist knows your EXACT application.
5. 5 Get a sample of several of whatever the pallet specialist recommends. There is only one way to KNOW for sure that you are getting the best pallet for your application and that is get one or two and try them. Just because a pallet looks good on “paper” don’t assume it is best and most cost-effective option until you have tried it.

Sources and Citations

• More information on pallets can be found at http://pallets.handlinginnovations.com

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world’s largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose the Right Plastic Pallet for Your Application. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (”MCFA”), a leading manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat lift truck and Mitsubishi forklift brands, annouced announced the company was awarded ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating its commitment to enacting environmentally-friendly practices.

“At MCFA, we are proud to utilize efficient and environmentally-conscious operating procedures,” said John Hansen, vice president of Operations, MCFA. “It not only solidifies the efforts our employees put forth every day to be mindful of our impact on the environment, but it is good business.”

ISO 14001 is a recognized system of standards that helps organizations minimize negative effects to the environment, while enforcing environmental law and regulatory compliance. ISO 14001 also outlines internationally accepted specifications for environmental management systems.

To obtain ISO 14001 certification, a company must demonstrate their environmental objectives and measurable targets in place to help reduce harmful effects on the environment. The forklift manufacturer also conveyed it is continually striving to improve policies that effect the environment.

ISPM 15 is an International Phytosanitary Measure developed by the IPPC that directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries. It affects all wood packaging material (pallets, crates, dunnages, etc)requiring that they be treated with heat or fumigated with methyl bromide, or made from alternative material, like paper, plastic or manufactured wood products (eg. plywood). New treatments are being evaluated for inclusion in ISPM 15.

So what does all this mean to you?  Well, the short answer is two words:  plastic pallets.  You can avoid ALL issues associated with wood period just by using plastic.  Not to mention all the other benefits of plastic pallets which include:

There is so much more to know about pizza ovens than the average college kid cares about. I am helping a friend open a pizza parlor and have been pricing stainless steel deck ovens. The amount of BTUs is the best method for choosing an oven and then single, double or even triple capacity for the size. Just 8 minutes for a slice of heaven!

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