Gorbel Workstation Cranes Utilized for Roll Handling in the Pharmaceutical Industry

The customer was using two men to physically lift and position rolls into packaging machines. This job was limited to younger men as this was an awkward and physically demanding job. Product damage was a major concern as the product was being dropped.

The operators were lifting these 150# rolls of paper and plastic and loading the rolls into the packaging machines which would package glass used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The customer decided on a Gorbel Freestanding workstation bridge crane with an air balancer and custom roll handling tool. They consider using a jib crane but this did not give them the coverage of a bridge crane and reduced the number of lift devices, air balancers and jibs as they would have had to buy numerous units. Note the aluminum bridge in the picture. This reduces the load the operator has to move.

This solution made sense on numerous levels:

It protected the workers as they did not have to pick up the large awkward loads.

They reduced the number of people to do the job-from two to one.

It made the job more accessible to women and older employees.

There is less damage to the product as they do not drop them.

Have a problem area in your plant let us look at an economical Gorbel solution for your solution. Contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com or check out what we have done for others at www.ergonomicpartners.com.

314-766-4578

Need a Manual or Electric Chain Hoist Quick?

Ergonomic Partners carries a complete line of electric chain hoists in stock for immediate delivery. If you need an 1/8 ton thru 3 ton we can help with same day shipment. We carry CM (Columbus McKinnon), Yale, Budgit, JD Neuhaus, and Demag electric and air chain hoists. In addition we carry trolleys, beam clamps, electrification for same day shipment.

Give a call for pricing at 314-766-4578 or check out www.ergonomicpartners.com and click on the product for "buy it now" pricing. Most items are free shipping to the lower 48 states.

Retrofit Your Equipment To Make It Like New

Check out this retrofit on customers existing equipment. These machines are being retrofitted with new aluminum stands on each end. This is a very clean, and relatively inexpensive retrofit. This aluminum extrusion can be ordered to length for quick retrofit.

If you have older equipment that needs a face lift this may be what the doctor ordered. If you need more information drop us a line at sales@ergonomicpartners.com or call us at 314-766-4578.

Custom Grip and Pitch Lift Assist Tool for the Food Industry

Check out this custom lift assist device which was designed for the food industry. This lift assist is suspended from a Gorbel G-Force Easy Arm to help the customer take of reels from a spindle, pitch 90 degrees and place into a box. This customer is installing (4) of these units due to going to larger reels which their work force cannot handle. We are seeing an older and increasingly female work force who appreciate lifting devices to take the load off their back and shoulders.

These reels can weigh up to 65# and are taken of the machine in batches of six. The custom lifting device has a floating handle so the operator can keep their arms in an ergonomic position even when setting the reels into shipping boxes which get stacked three high.

For more information you can contact us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com or call us at 314-766-4578.

Bushman Equipment Changes Their Name

Bushman is a great company for standard as well as custom lifters. They are still the same great company but have changed their name.

New Name Positions Company For Growth; New Structure Moves It Towards Single Source Supplier

Lift it…Stack it…Grab it…Hook it…Upend it…Invert it…Weigh it…Transfer it. If you can make it, we can move it. But first we decided to rename it—our company that is.

Bushman Equipment Inc. is now Bushman AvonTec, bringing our parent company and two divisions together to serve customers better. We are your single source supplier for Below-the-Hook (Bushman Equipment and Avon Engineering), Floor-Based (West Bend Equipment), and Slit Coil Packaging (Avon Engineering) Equipment.

This action will allow us to build on our long history of product leadership in the design and manufacture of rugged, built-to-order material handling equipment proven superior by our “enginuity” — the powerful convergence of engineering and ingenuity.

Move in the right direction for increased production and extended performance with equipment from Bushman AvonTec, including:

BELOW-THE-HOOK SOLUTIONS, ABOVE & BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

• C-Hooks
• Coil Grabs
• Spreader Beams
• Sheet & Plate Lifters
• Lifting Tongs
• Roll Handlers
• Drum Lifters
• Load Weighing Solutions
• More...

We custom-engineer and build below-the-hook lifting equipment for both mill duty and industrial applications, with capacities from 50 pounds to hundreds of tons. With Avon’s team of engineers we expand our already deep base of knowledge and experience with even more valuable intellectual capital. Our quality equipment, value-engineered to be competitively priced, benefits from well proven designs that minimize maintenance requirements and downtime. We place a heavy duty emphasis on efficiency, safety and return on your investment.

For current customers of Bushman Equipment Inc. and users of West Bend Equipment or Avon Engineering products, this means you’ll experience an even higher degree of expertise and even greater level of service. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with us, we invite you to become accustomed to Engineering That Out-Thinks… Product That Out-Performs… Service That Out-Delivers.

For your custom lift equipment give Ergonomic Partners a call at 314-766-4578, or email us at sales@ergonomicpartners.com

www.ergonomicpartners.com

CM Lodestar Electric Chain Hoists

The CM Lodestar is considered the best hoist in the marketplace by many people in the material handling industry. Many customers and sales people swear on these units in the toughest applications. There are models that are still in the field after 50 years of service.

There are may reasons why they are relied upon. Some of the major reasons are as follows:

Capacities up to 3 tons

Gear train lifetime lubricated with non-oxidizing grease--not oil leakage!

Precision machined and hardened lift wheel with hardened chain guides

H4 Duty cycle

Rugged Nema 4 pushbutton station

Hoist duty motor

overload device

Made in the USA

Ergonomic Partners has full stock for shipment from stock. Visit us at http://www.ergonomicpartners.com/332/332/category/Hoists.aspx for a complete line of hoists that can be customized and purchased on-line.

For a custom quote call us at 314-766-4578

Gorbel Fall Arrest Systems offered by Ergonomic Partners

Gorbel is well known for their Workstation cranes, workstation jibs and I-Beam jib cranes but did you know they have other structural products to fit many of your facilities needs.

The newest product is their Custom Tether Track™ Products. They have taken the idea of fall arrest systems and came up with numerous configurations. The first systems they came up with were their Rigid Rail Fall Arrest Anchor Systems and Tether Track™ trolleys.

Well they expanded on this and now offer custom products.

These include:
Free standing systems
Fold away systems
Jibs
Outdoor systems

Dual track systems so workers can pass each other

Ergonomic Partners will help you with all of your custom fall arrest needs.
Call us today at 314-402-7775 to quote and configure your custom system.

http://www.ergonomicpartners.com/

sales@ergonomicpartners.com

Gorbel Products Show Up in the Craziest Places

Check out this shot of a Gorbel jib in our nations capitol. Snap a picture and send it to us if you see a Gorbel product in an unusual place and we will post it.

Interesting Report from MHIA

Our industry typically is 6-8 months behind the rest of the economy. Well, it may be even lagging further per the below report. We may be another year away from positive growth in most material handling sectors.

MHIA sees a turnaround in process for material handling and logistics with growth predicted in early 2011

Reduced investment and historically low capacity utilization point to contraction through 2010 followed by a new expansion cycle in early 2011

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) leaders discussed material handling and logistics market trends at the recent 2009 Annual Meetings in Amelia Island, Florida. Overall, the first half 2009 has seen a decline of 44.9% for orders of new equipment vs. 2008. MHIA forecasts this decline to slow slightly in the last half of 2009 and hold the total year decline to 35.0% to 38.0%. A decline of another 5.0 to 10.0% in 2010 is expected with growth to begin early in 2011.

“We are in the middle of a serious contraction this year, but the worst appears to be over,” said Hal Vandiver, MHIA executive vice president of business development. “MHIA is forecasting that 2010 will be 6.0% to 8.0% below 2009 for the industry, and it will be 2011 before we see the industry come back into growth.”

More specific information on several key material handling and logistics markets was also discussed including:

Package Handling Conveyors
The conveyor market declined by 30% for the 12 month period ending in July 2009. MHIA is expecting a total year decline in the conveyor market of 35-38% for 2009, and a further decline of 5-10% in 2010. A recovery of 10% to 12% is forecasted in 2011. Conveyor market growth opportunities are seen in retail & general merchandise; grocery and food service; direct to consumer; pharmaceutical and medical supply; and in third party logistics.

Industrial Racks
U.S. domestic production of rack equipment is estimated to be $800 million in 2009, down 37.5% from 2008. “I am confident we have bottomed out,” said George Prest, Unarco Material Handling.

Casters & Wheels
Caster manufacturers saw a 25% drop in their market in 2009 and a bottoming out in 2010 followed by slow growth for several years. Growth opportunities are seen in the alternative energy and medical markets.

Automation
The first half of 2009 saw a record low for automation. Second half of 2009 is showing signs of improvement. We see 2010 as a year of recovery and growth (when compared to 2009, but below 2008 levels). Growth opportunities are seen in manufacturing, medical, food and beverage, government and sustainability.

Ergonomics
The market for ergonomic systems and lifts was off 20% from the prior year period through the second quarter of 2009. “Technically, we have hit a bottom,” said Brian McNamara, Southworth International Group, Inc.

Supply Chain Software
Annual sales for warehouse management systems fell from $1.24 billion to $1.195 billion from 2007 to 2008. It is estimated that it has continued to contract in 2009. The market is forecasted to grow again in 2010.

Lift Trucks
In 2009, the U.S. lift truck market is estimated to drop approximately 35%, compared to 2008. 2009 is forecasted to be the bottom and recovery to begin gradually next year. Growth opportunities are seen in food and beverage, grocery chains and general merchandise stores.

Overhead Material Handling
In 2009, the industry is contracting in all segments (hoists, cranes and monorails). The outlook for 2010 is for our industry to begin a long, slow recovery; but, likely will not see positive growth until late in the year. Growth opportunities are seen in renewable energy, infrastructure, government/military and aerospace.

Download the complete report.

MHIA is an international trade association that has represented the material handling and logistics industry since 1945. MHIA members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHIA a strong national and international representative for the material handling and logistics industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product-specific Industry Groups. The association sponsors trade events, such as ProMat 2011 and NA 2010 to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing, distribution and supply chain professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics. MHIA also publishes a quarterly Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Forecast.

Contact: Carol Miller, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) (704) 676-1190/800-345-1815.

For ergonomic material handling applications call 314-766-4578, or visit www.ergonomicpartners.com

October is National Ergonomics Month

This month is National Ergonomics Month. The Human Factors and Ergonomic Society designated this month in 2003. Check out this website for upcoming activities http://hfesnem.org/.

www.ergonomicpartners.com

sales@ergonomicpartners.com