Month: June 2013

Is Bubble Wrap Actually Good for the Environment?

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using bubble wrap is good for the environmentEverybody loves bubble wrap. Businesses love the versatility and safety it provides when shipping products through the supply chain. Consumers love it because they know the products they order will arrive intact and undamaged. Even children love to play with bubble wrap, squeezing the tiny air pockets and delighting in the cascade of popping sounds.

But bubble wrap is actually good for the environment for a number of important reasons. First, bubble wrap provides superior cushioning than other forms of packaging, such as corrugated cardboard, recycled newspaper or shredded paper. It is made from polyethylene that is formed into air pockets. This trapped air provides a cushion that prevents damage during the inevitable jostling and impacts that occur during shipping. That means fewer items are damaged to the point where they have to be returned. Shipping items back to where they came from and then shipping replacement products can double or even triple your freight costs for that product- and increases emissions.

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Inspecting Your Pallets Saves Money

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One of the biggest overhead costs in any material handling operation should not be pallets. This is the easiest type of cost to keep track of and the easiest to control. Here are a few pointers to help cut costs associated with pallets and damage to palletized materials. QC Your Pallets Check your pallets often … Read more

How to Select the Best Corrugated Box for Your Shipping Needs

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How to Select the Right Corrugated Box for Your Shipping NeedsCorrugated boxes represent the vast majority of the packaging industry in the United States, carrying between 90 and 95% of the nation’s manufactured goods to consumers. Approximately 25 billion corrugated boxes are produced annually, an average of 500 boxes for every family in the US.

Part of their popularity resides in their durability. Corrugated boxes are made from two or more sheets of liner board and one or more fluted sheets of corrugating medium. Nearly all the liner boards are made from kraft, which is a type of paperboard created from virgin softwood lumber. About two-thirds of the corrugating medium is made by through a semi-chemical pulping process of virgin hardwood fibers, with the remaining third made from plant waste and recycled medium, which is used corrugated boxes collected from supermarkets and shopping centers.

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Mobile Poly Strapping Machines Ensure Secure Shipments

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Mobile Poly Strapping MachineIf your business ships bundled products such as newspapers, pipe, lumber, concrete block and other items, you may want to consider investing in a mobile poly strapping machine. Strapping, also known as bundling or banding, is the process of applying a strap around an item to hold it together tightly during transport. By restricting movement, products can be shipped more safely and with less product damage or loss.

Variable Speeds and Tensions

A mobile poly strapping machine utilizes a polypropylene strap that can automatically be applied to multiple packages — up to 15 per minute in some cases. The straps can be applied at adjustable tensions of 10 to 100 lbs.

The straps themselves are available in various lengths, thicknesses and polymer variations depending on your specific needs. They also can be embossed or imprinted with your company’s logo or branding.

Strapping can be done either horizontally or vertically. Edge protectors are sometimes used to help spread the load at the corners and reduce damage to the load by the tension of the strap.

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Telescopic Handlers and Boom Attachments for Forkifts

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Telescopic Handlers and Forklift Boom Attachments
Telescopic Handler

A telescopic handler is sort of a hybrid between a forklift and a crane. Its versatile telescopic arm can extend forwards and upwards from the vehicle and the end can be fitted with various attachments, including a bucket, pallet forks, a muck grab or a lift table. This sort of vehicle is used widely in industry and agriculture.

It’s commonly fitted with pallet forks to move loads to and from areas not accessible by forklifts. For example, a telescopic handler can be used to remove pallets from a trailer and place them on rooftops or other high places. It is often used instead of a crane, which is not always practical or cost-efficient.

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What’s New With OnTrac

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This is a press release about OnTrac’s increasing efficiency with material handling management and customer service. They strive to be the best, so they will be providing material handling installations in all of their facilities. The article goes on to discuss their reasoning for with quotes from their Director of Operations, and details about OnTrac … Read more

Equipment Rental to Continue Trending Upward in 2014, Industry Report Says

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Equipment Rental Industry Growh Expected to Continue to GrowThe US equipment rental market is expected to grow 9.8% in 2014, according to a report released this week by the American Rental Association. And it is expected to increase even further, to 11.8%, in 2015.

During 2013, the US equipment rental industry grew 7.3% over 2012, with $33.6 billion in revenues projected, the ARA report stated. The reason for the strong forecast was anticipated growth in residential construction as the nation continues to bounce back from the housing crisis of the past several years.

“The US equipment rental market is expected to continue its upward trajectory and show significant growth through 2017,” according to a summary of the report, called the ARA’s Rental Market Monitor. “Strong growth in real residential construction through 2015 will fuel the construction and industrial equipment segment.”

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