Crown Equipment

A new goods-to-person robotic technology is the heart of Pan Pacific Pet’s order fulfillment strategy.

Form factors continue to evolve as retailers look for the right mix for meeting consumer expectations from the DC to the store.

From racks to lift truck power utilization and safety, conventional warehouses have many options to maximize productivity.

It was another solid growth year for most of the Top 20 manufacturers of lift trucks. The pandemic was clearly the trigger for some pent-up demand in 2021, but continued growth in 2022 speaks to the value OEMs bring to the table not just with trucks, but with technologies and automation to improve operational performance.

It seems so many roads lead to smaller warehouse footprints, increased storage density and flexibility to meet order fulfillment needs. Narrow aisle and very narrow aisle trucks are addressing these needs while maximizing operator safety and trust while working at elevated heights.

From labor shortages to demand for ever-improved operational flexibility, this typically ignored class of trucks offers a chance to rethink your processes and even how you approach materials handling.

Operator-assist technologies that use sensors and cameras to alert lift truck operators of potential collisions with other trucks, pedestrians or obstacles aren’t new, but they’re progressing in capabilities and can be paired with telematics for further insights.

Training, connectivity, communication and continuous improvement are some of the fundamentals for lift truck safety.

Parts Town’s distribution center was designed from the ground up to speed parts out the door while laying the foundation for growth. Take a closer look at the various areas of the fulfillment center.

From real-time operational data to fleet right-sizing, lift truck telematics have a strong role to play in everything from safety to maintenance and even operator training. If at first it seems overwhelming, step back, take a deep breath and go small.

Operations are deploying autonomous lift trucks to offset pressures like rising order volumes and the inability to secure enough skilled operators. The ironic tinge here is that even though industry needs robots, it turns out the robots need people.

Managing lift truck safety is daunting in today’s hectic materials handling environments, but safety-related technology is advancing rapidly, with sensor-driven solutions available that promise to avoid incidents before they happen.

Once considered the purvey of the far-off future, autonomous lift trucks have arrived. Here’s what they can offer.

Sensors must be kept clean, but safe and steady autonomous operation should minimize unplanned repairs.

The installation features Crown R 1000 Series DualMode reach trucks fitted with JBT Automated Systems robotics technology.