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Forklift Ergonomics for Multi-Shift Facilities
Anyone who’s operated a lift truck for any length of time understands the importance of forklift ergonomics, and employers are following suit. Lift truck operators can lose steam as the shift wears on. A tired or uncomfortable operator is less productive than a fresh, well-rested worker. The good news is that forklift manufacturers are aware of the challenge. One product... Continue Reading
Extractors
BHS, Inc. has been at the forefront of forklift battery handling technology since 1978. In these posts, we share the expertise we’ve developed over the decades.
Topics
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Forklift Battery Operators: Why Every Warehouse Needs One
Companies that run one or two electric lift trucks generally rely on forklift operators to change batteries. As the fleet begins to grow, however, it starts to make more sense to create a new position at the warehouse: the forklift battery operator, sometimes also called a battery room manager or even a battery changer (note that we reserve that last... Continue Reading
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Electric Forklifts in Multichannel Retail Facilities
Brick-and-mortar retailers that run e-commerce channels out of existing stores have a competitive advantage, especially if they operate multiple locations. The combined retail space/distribution center offers retailers incredible access to customers, whether they’re picking items up in the store or having them shipped directly. There is one challenge, however: Space. The retail store and the distribution center have totally different... Continue Reading
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Customs Bonded Warehouses: Solutions for Post-Tariffs Rush on Steel and Aluminum
The effects of the 2018 tariffs enacted by the Trump White House have already begun to reshape global commerce. As of this writing, the U.S. steel industry is celebrating a 41-percent benchmark price hike since the start of the year. Producers, meanwhile, are cutting manufacturing costs and raising prices to offset the new expense on raw materials. Consumer prices have... Continue Reading
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Preparing the Forklift Battery Room for DC Peak Season
Every retailer has a peak season, and distribution centers are no different. Certainly, the peak can differ between one outlet and another — an office-supply store may experience peak season during the final days of the summer, when parents stock up for back-to-school season, while most general ecommerce DCs brace for the winter holidays. Whenever peak-to-average order ratios soar, it’s... Continue Reading
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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
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Why A-Frame Gantries Are Best for Vertical Forklift Battery Extraction
A-frame Gantry Cranes are the safest and most efficient way to vertically remove forklift batteries from trucks. While it’s certainly possible to remove a battery from a forklift with a second lift truck, or even to use a modified hydraulic engine hoist to replace a forklift battery, only Gantries designed specifically for the unique working traits of forklift batteries can... Continue Reading
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Forklift Battery Handling Equipment for the Coming Year’s Budget
Improved battery room configurations and new equipment can yield big gains in productivity and profitability. As the end of the year draws closer, managers of large forklift fleets consider placing an investment in this type of infrastructure in the coming year’s budget. BHS custom designs its battery handling equipment for safety, efficiency, and lifetime cost savings. A complete system can... Continue Reading
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Utilizing Vertical Space in E-Commerce Fulfillment Centers
Vertical space has been a hot-button issue in warehousing for a long time, but with the rise of e-commerce, boosting clearance height is virtually required for fulfillment operations to remain competitive. The increased value of vertical space in fulfillment centers stems from a sea-change in shopping culture, driven by online shopping. Mail-order catalogs like the iconic Sears, Roebuck, and Co.... Continue Reading
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Government funding for Battery Handling Equipment in Hungary
The Hungarian market for lift trucks grew only slightly in 2015, the last year for which the Industrial Truck Association provided statistics. However, even incremental growth represents thousands of units, and every new fleet of electric forklifts in Hungary needs a well-outfitted battery room to achieve peak profitability. Operator Aboard Battery Extractor Systems from BHS Global provide the quickest, safest,... Continue Reading
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German Incentives for Purchasing Battery Handling Equipment and Warehouse Tools
In 2015, the German economy made up more than 1/5 of the European Union’s gross domestic product. It’s not surprising that the German forklift market is the largest in Europe. The number of counterbalance electric lift trucks sold in Germany in 2015 was more than 11 percent higher than the previous year. Meanwhile, sales of internal combustion forklifts slowed. If... Continue Reading
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Czech Incentives for Battery Handling Equipment
The Czech Republic has seen a gradual increase in the number of electric forklifts in the field since 2015. As more facilities go electric, the demand for battery handling equipment which improves safety and efficiency has expanded accordingly. There’s no reason to be daunted by investment costs for the battery room — or, for that matter, for warehouse equipment in... Continue Reading
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How Will Brexit Affect European Supply Chain Industries?
On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom made the historic decision to cut ties with the European Union. That night, the value of the British pound crashed by more than 10%. The next day was the worst for the UK’s currency on record. Economists predict disruption across all European markets, and logistics suppliers may end up facing the worst of... Continue Reading
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How Forklift Battery Handling Equipment Helps to Meet Federal Safety Regulations
There are a couple of basic regulatory safety issues to keep in mind when you outfit your battery room. OSHA regulations require a “conveyor, overhead hoist, or equivalent material handling equipment” to assist staff in changing forklift batteries. The reasoning is plain: Forklift batteries are heavy. Without the proper mechanical assistance, staff members are at a high risk of workplace... Continue Reading
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The Three Basic Types Of Forklift Battery Handling Equipment and Their Benefits
When it comes to changing out forklift batteries, OSHA regulations have a lot to say. But of all the federal safety standards that cover the battery room, two stand out as the most vital. First, changing and charging forklift batteries should be done in a designated area of your facility. Second, forklift batteries should be changed using appropriate forklift battery... Continue Reading
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Seamlessly Transitioning to Electric Power for Forklifts
By 2014, over half of the forklifts in the United States had already made the shift to electric power. Only 36 percent of the U.S. forklift market stuck with fossil fuels that year. Reluctance to make the switch to a greener, more cost-effective source of motive power usually boils down to two things: anxiety about higher up-front costs and fear... Continue Reading
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How to Choose The Right Operator Aboard Battery Extractor for Your Operation
If your forklift fleet continues to grow, the time will come when manually changing out batteries just won’t make practical sense. That’s when it’s time to make the investment in an Operator Aboard Battery Extractor. There are many types of Battery Extractors out there, and the many larger and finer points among them might seem a little bit confusing. When... Continue Reading
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When to Upgrade From Battery Carriages to a Complete Operator Aboard Battery Extractor System
When it comes to forklift battery change-outs, a small warehouse operation with just one or two forklifts can get by with minimal battery handling equipment. Portable battery transfer carriages take the risk and strain out of battery handling, and they continue to pay dividends — as long as your fleet isn’t too large. But as your business expands, you’ll need... Continue Reading
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Forklift Battery Handling Equipment for Smaller Fleets
Not every forklift user operates a vast fleet of hundreds. In fact, most don’t. A 2010 survey by industry journal DC Velocity found that the bulk of their respondents (57 percent) operated fewer than 25 lift trucks. Only 12 percent regularly used more than 100 trucks. The same survey uncovered another key statistic: almost 90 percent of the respondents said... Continue Reading
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Battery Changing Solutions For Existing Pallet Trucks
Most of the published advice on forklift battery management is aimed at larger fleets. But what about the small operation — the kind that only runs one or two forklifts? Facilities with smaller forklift fleets — even down to a single truck — probably realize that an extensive forklift battery changing system doesn’t make sense for their bottom lines. After... Continue Reading