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How Horizontal Carousels Improve Warehouse Operations

admin — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 01:33:40 +0000

Speed. Efficiency. Accuracy. These are the most critical components of any successful warehouse or other storage operation. A warehouse is a necessary aspect of many business operations, and it needs to be supporting that business – not becoming a drag on productivity.

Horizontal carousels can help make this a reality. Computerized horizontal storage systems supplement your workers\’ efforts, improving operations, and often allowing for more efficient use of space as well.

Here are just a few ways horizontal carousels improve warehouse operations.

4 Major Benefits of Installing Horizontal Carousels

1 – Rapid item delivery

Carousels are computer-controlled and designed to deliver item picks in an expedited fashion. There\’s no need for your workforce to go searching among shelves, climbing up and down ladders. They simply input a code or scan a barcode, and the carousel delivers it directly to them a few moments later.

A single worker with a set of carousels can do the work of several people in a traditional warehouse.

2 – Better use of space

When your carousels are doing the hard work of finding and retrieving items, you have far less need for heavy machinery such as forklifts and cherry-pickers. This allows you to pack more items into the space you have. They aren\’t as space-efficient as some other automation options, such as vertical carousels, but they can still reclaim a lot of floor space.

3 – Accurate item picks.

Computerized item picking systems are accurate at rates of 99.9% or higher – can you say the same of your human workers? It is extremely difficult for a horizontal carousel to grab the wrong item, especially when most systems are responsible for storing that item in the first place. It \”remembers\” where it put each item, every time. This makes it difficult for mistakes to ever happen, without some form of human intervention.

4 – Greater worker safety

Warehouses are dangerous places to work – but why should that remain true when technology investments can make them far safer? When robotics applications handle the work of finding, retrieving, and moving items around, there are far fewer opportunities for your human workers to get hurt.

Material Flow Tech Has the Automated Storage Solutions You Need!

Material Flow Technologies specializes in helping warehouse-style operations improve efficiency, speed, and performance using state-of-the-art automation systems. We can create custom solutions from horizontal carousels, vertical lift modules, and more. Contact us to learn how we can optimize your operation!

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Vertical Grow Racks Maximize Your Cannabis Growth Potential

admin — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 07:05:40 +0000

If you have a thriving grow operation, you know that volume is what makes the difference between success and failure. How much product can you grow within your existing facilities?

Many operations hit a point where it seems that business growth is inhibited. Once all floor space is covered with plants, where do you go from there? Well, you go up! Vertical grow racks are reshaping the cannabis industry, allowing producers to fit far more plants into the same amount of space – and also improving growing conditions in the process!

How Vertical Grow Racks Can Grow Your Cannabis Business

Multiply your capacity

The first and most obvious benefit from vertical racks is that they allow you to increase capacity many times over. Rather than having to keep plants within arms\’ reach of your workers, you can effectively stack racks up to the ceiling. When they need to be accessed, the system simply rotates the stock to bring higher plants into reach.

In this way, you can increase your capacity many times over – overnight!

Easily implement hydroponics

The debate may rage among users as to whether soil or hydroponics produce better product, but there\’s no debate that hydroponics are more scalable and easier to work with. Vertical racks can easily be adapted to utilize hydroponic systems that will reduce your overhead costs, as well as eliminating the sheer bulk and weight of soil that would otherwise be needed.
(If your operation prefers soil, that\’s fine too. Vertical racks are strong enough to hold all the soil you need.)

Make more room for workers

When trying to pack more product into a room, it can become tempting to reduce walking space. However, past a point, this starts creating more problems than it solves. Workers need enough room to move around, access product and perform routine daily tasks. Vertical racks create this space while reducing the temptation to take too much space away from workers.

Utilize highly efficient LED lighting

LED UV lights are almost always the most efficient lighting solution for cannabis plants, particularly since they cannot burn the plants. Vertical racks are perfect for this setup! You can put rows of LEDs directly above each row of plants, making best use of the space available.

Material Flow Technologies has the storage systems to truly grow your marijuana operation! Contact us to learn how we can improve your yield.

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Vertical Storage Solutions Reduce Waste and Inefficiency Within Your Facilities

admin — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 17:48:29 +0000

Vertical storage solutions are an excellent way to reclaim floor space while providing a safer and easier method for your workforce to access stock, components or tools. However, the benefits of vertical storage systems don\’t end there. They are also an excellent tool for reducing waste and inefficiency within a facility – quickly paying for themselves by eliminating drags on your bottom line.

If you\’re still on the fence about switching over to vertical storage, here are just a few ways these systems bring genuine long-term value.

Four Ways Vertical Storage Solutions Reduce Workplace Waste

1. Reduce overproduction

In organizations without strict inventory asset control, they are often tempted to produce on a \”just in case\” principle – creating stock or product that may not be strictly needed, just in case a run happens. However, better asset tracking reduces or eliminates the need for such wasteful activity. Vertical storage is fully automated, with robust item tracking which ensures you always know exactly what\’s on-site and accessible.

2. Reduce workforce downtime

Vertical storage is far safer for employees, particularly when compared to making them use ladders or cherry pickers to take items off of high shelves. Vertical storage systems complete eliminates the need for workers to climb heights to do their job, and that will translate into significantly lower accident rates – along with the downtime that accompanies most accidents.

3. Reduce labor costs in general

Vertical storage solutions are far more efficient than manual methods of item picking, and studies have shown them to increase productivity by up to 85%. Workers will spend less time hunting down items, and more time putting those items to use. Or, in situations where picking is their sole job, you may find you can reduce your workforce thanks to vertical storage.

4. Reduce picking errors

Vertical storage systems are automated and track the location of every item within their bays. Furthermore, operation is simple – it\’s no more complicated than working a vending machine and, in many cases, can be even further streamlined with use of barcodes or QR codes. This makes picking errors far less common, further reducing workforce costs as well as preventing costly problems further down the workflow.

Material Flow Tech Has the Storage Solutions You Need

We specialize in improving storage operations through automation, with over twenty years\’ experience creating better workplace outcomes. Contact us directly to consult on your storage needs.

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Automated Vertical Storage Solutions Can Optimize Your Auto Shop

admin — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 06:06:58 +0000

If you run any sort of garage or other type of vehicle repair shop, undoubtedly keeping track of parts and tools is a major concern. Your staff needs quick and easy access to the right items if they\’re going to make best use of their time. However, if you\’re still doing item management manually – with shelves and boxes and drawers – there are much better alternatives!

Vertical storage solutions are automated systems which use smart item management and vertical storage to speed up item access and accuracy. They can significantly streamline your operations!

Four Ways Vertical Storage Solutions Improve Garage Operations

1. Reduce your storage footprint

Because vertical storage solutions are built upwards, they have relatively small footprints. You could install a storage unit that\’s as tall as your garage ceiling, with parts going all the way up – but without having to worry about human accessibility. You could replace entire walls full of shelves with a single storage unit. That means more room for work to be done, or potentially even another repair bay!

2. Highly accurate item retrieval

One key feature of vertical storage units is the use of smart computer systems to track items and their placement. This is generally done via bar codes, although other optical systems are available as well. Your worker simply keys in the code for the item they want, and the system fetches it. Likewise, all they have to do is drop it into the return bin, and the system puts it back into storage.

3. Smart storage optimization

Many vertical storage systems are aware of the sizes of items placed within them and can automatically optimize their use of space. If a worker is returning a 3.5\” item, for example, the system knows to look for a best-fit space to store it. The system will automatically put it in a 4\” spot, rather than taking up a 6\” spot.

4. Reduce Loss

Perhaps this isn\’t an issue at your facility, but if you have a problem with items \”walking away,\” vertical storage prevents it. By storing items vertically, within an enclosed space, they\’re far less accessible when work isn\’t being done. Further, the system can track items which have been taken, making it easier to know if they aren\’t returned.

Material Flow Technologies

Material Flow Technologies is dedicated to improving your operations through improved storage solutions! Contact us for a full consultation.

The post Automated Vertical Storage Solutions Can Optimize Your Auto Shop appeared first on Material Flow Technologies.

Understanding the Differences Between Vertical Lift Modules and Vertical Carousels

admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:54:02 +0000

Automated storage systems are a great investment for any business looking to streamline item storage and retrieval, and they also open up additional storage space by storing items vertically rather than horizontally. When you don\’t have to worry about humans having to directly access item shelves, you can cram a lot more items into the same space!

While there are numerous automated storage systems you might invest in, they are going to broadly fall into two categories: vertical lift modules (VLMs) and vertical carousels. Here\’s a quick breakdown of their differences, and when each would be appropriate.

I. Vertical Lift Modules vs Vertical Carousels: What\’s the Difference?

In short, the difference between lift modules and carousels is what\’s actually moving.

With a vertical lift module, you have two sets of static shelves, with a retrieval mechanism running on a track between them. You key in the item you want, then the retriever moves up and across, grabs the item, and returns it to you.

With a vertical carousel, the shelves themselves are hooked into a mechanism that rotates the entire set of shelves either clockwise or counterclockwise. The bottommost shelf is usually the one you have access to, while the others are often sealed away.

II. The Benefits of Vertical Lift Modules

The two main benefits of VLMs are that they are better at storing heavy items, and at storing a mixture of items of different sizes. VLMs can handle heavier objects than a carousel since the items don\’t move much. VLMs can also be physically larger than carousels, potentially up to 100ft high.

Additionally, most VLMs have smart onboard software that allows them to self-optimize storage space based on item sizes vs available slots. The smartest VLM can practically organize your inventory for you! Of course, such features cost money.

III. The Benefits of Vertical Carousels

Vertical carousels are best when you have a mixture of smaller / lighter items which your staff can hand pick from. They are, for example, excellent in garages and workshops that need a compact way of storing lots of parts and tools. They\’re faster and more intuitive to use. In addition, they\’re often going to be less expensive than VLMs.

Optimize Your Storage With MFT!

Material Flow Technologies is dedicated to creating and implementing optimal bespoke storage automation technologies. Contact us directly to consult on your storage optimization options.

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Vertical Lift Modules from Material Flow Technologies

admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:49:45 +0000

Are you looking for a way to reclaim space within your buildings, or find ways to make better use of the storage space you have available? Few investments will bring a better payoff than installing vertical lift modules. These automated storage systems allow you to optimize the use of your facilities by taking advantage of the space above your head.

Whether you\’re trying to reclaim floor space, convert storage rooms into offices, or simply have more storage without expanding existing buildings, vertical lift modules make it happens.

Four Ways Vertical Lift Modules Save Money and Improve Efficiency

Reclaiming floorspace

Vertical lift storage systems can be made as tall as you need, potentially even as tall as a warehouse or even higher. With a wide variety of trays inside, they can store almost anything as well. This allows you to make use of almost every inch of vertical space available, moving objects off the floor and allowing it to be put to better use.

Fast item retrieval

There\’s no need to fool around with ladders, lifts, or cherry pickers when a vertical lift module installed. These automated systems can retrieve items for you based on a variety of inputs, including bar codes or laser pointing. Just scan the item you want, and the automation system handles retrieval. It\’s quick and easy.

Improved worker safety

Cutting out the use of climbing systems in your warehouse means a big boost to employee safety! On top of that, vertical storage modules are also designed to deliver items in an ergonomic fashion which puts them at waist level. Workers don\’t have to ever lift from the floor, or above their heads, which adds further to the health and safety improvements.

More security

Lossage is an issue at almost any storage facility, and vertical lift modules can do a lot to improve the situation. With items stored securely within the module, they cannot simply be grabbed off the shelves. The system can be further set up so that every pick request is logged, making it impossible for a worker to simply swipe an item – plus, of course, locking out unauthorized personnel entirely.

Improve Systems Efficiency with Material Flow Technologies!

For over twenty years, Material Flow Technologies has been crafting custom automation and storage solutions for businesses across the country. Contact us today for a full consultation on your options.

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Vertical Storage Solutions Lower Costs and Improve Efficiency

admin — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:31:04 +0000

When growing an operation, efficient use of space is a must. Land and development are expensive, so whenever you can make better use of existing facilities, you\’re improving your bottom line.

One of the best ways to accomplish this is the integration of vertical storage solutions. A company without vertical storage is almost certainly making less-than-optimal use of their space. Often, they can reclaim huge amounts of storage space with only minimal investment in new systems to utilize it.

Five Major Benefits to Vertical Storage Solutions

Utilize unused space

All too often, building planners forget about all the space that exists above people\’s heads. This space goes mostly or completely unused, amounting to wasted space within a facility. Vertical storage systems reclaim this space, allowing building managers to \”discover\” large amounts of storage space without any need to expand floor space.

Better visibility and efficiency

Another major benefit to vertical storage is that it puts more stored items where they can be seen by staff. It\’s all too easy for items stored on the floor, or on low shelves, to become buried under additional stacks of items. When these are spread out vertically in an intelligent fashion, they become easier to see and easier to access.

Improved oversight

As a corollary to #2, there is also the matter of oversight and stopping loss. When it\’s easy to lose track of where a particular stored item is, it\’s also easy for that item to go missing without being noticed. However, if everything is stacked vertically within clear sight of cameras and managers, such disappearances become far less common.

Convert back rooms into profit-drivers

Do you have entire rooms in your building devoted to storing products, ones which could potentially also be utilized as offices or other profit-creation rooms? You can reclaim them with vertical storage! Get your stored items out in the open, and then the back room is free for better use.

Preparing for automation

Automated storage and item retrieval systems work much better when storage is vertical. In fact, they basically cannot work with the traditional \”stacks of boxes\” approach to ground-level storage. If you see automation in your future, moving towards vertical storage systems is a great multi-purpose first step.

Improve Efficiency with Material Flow Technologies

We are your storage automation specialists! Contact us today to consult on your options in streamlining your operations.

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Five Steps Towards Better Organization in Your Warehouse

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:52:17 +0000

Organizing a warehouse is a mammoth task – but the right industrial storage solutions often make the difference between a profitable operation, and a warehouse that becomes a money hole. However, in our experience, one of the best ways to organize a warehouse is also one of the oldest ways!

The \”Five S\” methodology was first developed in 16th Century Japan, and to this day, it\’s one of the most sensible ways of handling warehouse logistics. Here are the basics.

Great Industrial Storage Solutions Follow the Five S Methodology

1. Sort

When is the last time you\’ve done a full inventory, with an eye towards removing clutter? This is the beginning of the Five S system. Don\’t hold onto old stock, or old equipment, in hopes you might one day find a way to profit on it. Discard anything that doesn\’t have immediate value.

2. Set in Order

Without unnecessary clutter and old stock, you\’ll have a lot more space to optimize and organize your warehouse. This is your opportunity to implement a new system for finding and distributing stock. Better organization should also help reduce \”lossage\” as well!

3. Shine

Warehouses benefit from cleaning, and this is an excellent time to do it. Clean the warehouse from top to bottom, including all shelves, tools, and machinery. This will significantly reduce potential safety hazards and ensure everything is functioning properly.

4. Standardize your System

Your workforce should understand the methodology behind your warehouse reorganization, as well as how they fit into the system. This should be codified and clearly explained to everyone in the operation, no matter their level of involvement. Keeping a warehouse running at peak efficiency is genuinely a team effort.

5. Sustain

Once you have a strong new organizational system in place, it will be upon you – the leaders – to ensure it continues to operate smoothly in the future. Stay on top of your workforce, your system, and your cleaning. Don\’t let standards slip. If necessary, create new schedules of work orders specifically to ensure your standards remain high.

Turn to Material Flow Technologies for The Latest in Industrial Storage Solutions

Our business is helping your business run more smoothly. We specialize in warehouse management, storage solutions, and other ways to streamline your operations. To learn more about our full portfolio of services, please contact us.

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4 Leading Industrial Storage Solutions

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 20:24:39 +0000

Even the largest warehouses need to have the proper storage solutions because haphazardly storing items creates dysfunction in the workplace. For this reason, many invest in industrial storage solutions to make their daily operations more efficient and organized. The right storage technology can help free up space and keep up efficiency on the shop room floor.

Material Flow Technologies offers storage solutions across industries and we’ve gathered some insightful information for you below to make the most out of your warehouse’s storage space.

Vertical Lift Modules

For those who want to capitalize on their facility’s floor space, vertical lift modules are ideal, freeing up to 90 percent of the average commercial warehouse’s floor space. These automated systems can also increase productivity and labor, reducing the need for employees to have to shuffle around the shop room to find the right box or storage compartment. The Modula Lift technology employed by Material Flow Technologies also limits access to only those authorized.

Mobile Storage Solutions

Offering a host of specialized solutions for industries including law enforcement, athletic equipment, hospital, and retail storage, mobile racks, and shelving can help you keep important items organized and free up to 70 percent of your floor space. The best part about mobile racks and shelving is that they can be easily moved to accommodate the layout of your facility.

Vertical Carousels

Many industries, such as manufacturing firms and pharmaceutical specialists, require more specialized ways of storing and organizing important items at high volume. Vertical carousels consist of a series of bins mounted to a vertical, oval-shaped track, much like a carousel, turning to bring you the desired items. This industrial storage solution allows users to create custom, subdivided categories and exercise quality control over the entire inventory, in addition to saving space.

Horizontal Carousels

Designed for high-speed order picking and parts delivery, horizontal carousels work best in industries where both delivery time and accuracy is imperative. Your inventory is housed in pods using specialized software that allows for batch picking and higher speeds during peak hours. Such storage solutions also contain redundant controls, making for access even during a software or control failure.

Material Flow Technologies can handle industrial storage needs of any size!

Does your commercial enterprise need to get organized? The automated storage technology available from Material Flow Technologies can improve operations and quality control, so contact our team today!

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Stainless Steel Belts & Automated Conveyor Systems

admin — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 20:17:04 +0000

When it comes to automated conveyor systems, there are few things that have made as much of an impact over the years as stainless steel: its durability and versatility make it the ideal material for a host of industries. Most of today’s advanced conveyor systems are designed with stainless steel belts to increase efficiency, minimize errors and provide a sterile environment.

Stainless steel belts are also manufactured to endure high temperatures and even exposure to chemicals, all without the slightest amount of damage. It’s for this reason that the professionals from Material Flow Technologies rely on the material to fashion their versatile and operator-friendly conveyor systems.

How are Stainless Steel Belts Driving Automation Technology?

Automation is used to enable manufacturers to create a product or perform various applications much more efficiently and accurately than they could by hand. Nowadays, with the advent of 3-D printing technology, this accuracy and time has increased even more. This is also thanks in part to stainless steel belts and drive technology.

Custom 3-D printers and cutting-edge software enable manufacturers to create custom parts and print them in-house, something which has become possible only in recent years. The printing head can be mounted nearby the belt, which bears pieces and materials to be printed upon. Other belt materials wouldn’t be able to withstand such use and weight.

Robotic Applications Benefit from Stainless Steel Belts

Robotic arms are a common thing to see on many automated production lines. Automated conveyor systems using robotics often employ stainless steel belts and tapes that enable them to perform tasks without stretching or needing to be frequently replaced. Since stainless steel is so durable and sterile, it rarely needs to be cleaned and requires no lubrication.

Learn about automated conveyor solutions by calling Material Flow Technologies!

To take advantage of our maintenance-friendly conveyor technology call our team today! We also specialize in lighting and software solutions, as well as consulting and design services. You can visit our website for a complete list.

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