Forklift manufacturers continually seek ways to make their equipment as safe as possible, building safety enhancements into their designs and helping customers to train operators in safe practices. But there are a number of other ways fleet owners can enhance safety for both operators and pedestrians in areas where forklifts travel. Here are just a few examples of the many add-on products that are available today.
EXPLOSION-PROOF BLUE LED FORKLIFT LIGHT
Larson Electronics has introduced a new blue LED light to enhance forklift safety in warehouses, delivery bays, and other industrial processing facilities (shown in photo above). Unlike other blue light LEDs, Larson's luminary is compact (ideal for mounting in tight spaces) and waterproof (IP66), and comes with explosion-proof ratings for hazardous locations, the company says.
Larson's blue LED light produces 2,250 lumens (150 watts) while drawing only 25 watts. Forklift operators can use this luminary to notify nearby pedestrians and workers about ongoing forklift operations.
The new forklift light is Class I, II, III, and Division 1 and 2 rated for hazardous areas. The light offers 9- to 60-volt universal compatibility. The company also offers a blue forklift LED warning spotlight for general work areas and nonclassified environments. (Larson Electronics, www.larsonelectronics.com)
FORKLIFT LEVEL INDICATOR
RB Innovative Products Inc.'s FlatFork is a digital indicator that shows forklift operators whether a truck's forks are level. Models are available for both counterbalanced forklifts (mast tilt) and reach trucks (fork carriage tilt).
The FlatFork, which can be used with a variety of forklift attachments, features a clear LED light display and automatic on/off capability. The device is easy to install and can be moved to other lift trucks as required. (RB Innovative Products Inc., www.flatforks.com)
AUDIBLE FORKLIFT WARNING SYSTEM
Miltronics Manufacturing Services Inc. has introduced Forklift Alert, a proximity-awareness warning system for pedestrians encountering forklift activity in a warehouse environment.
The system includes a forklift-mounted transmitter that emits a high-frequency radio signal that is detected by a receiver. The receiver is wall-mounted in areas where pedestrian traffic occurs. When the receiver detects a forklift in the vicinity, it sounds a loud warning signal to let pedestrians in the area know that an operating forklift is close by. The receiver does not require line of sight and can be mounted around corners.
Forklift Alert can be installed on almost any industrial powered vehicle. A portable version of the transmitter is available for hand-operated pallet jacks and other nonpowered moving vehicles. (Miltronic Manufacturing Services, www.forkliftalert.com)
FORKLIFT DIRECTIONAL-ARROW WARNING LIGHTS
TVH in the Americas has expanded its forklift-safety lighting product line to include new blue and red forklift arrow lights. These arrow lights will not only alert pedestrians that a forklift is in their vicinity but will also indicate the direction in which the truck is traveling.
The arrow lights are designed to be mounted on the front and back of the forklift. The blue arrow is mounted on the back, alerting pedestrians that the forklift is moving in reverse. The red arrow mounted on the front indicates that the forklift is moving forward.
When ordering the arrow lights, buyers can specify either top- or bottom-mounted options. (TVH in the Americas, www.tvh.co)
PROTECTIVE DRIVER-ACCESS CAGES
Warehouse Rack & Shelf offers driver-access cages to help secure your warehouse. They prevent truck drivers and visitors from walking into forklift traffic areas and work zones. The cages come with a standard three-foot by seven-foot hinged door with push bar, service window, and shelf to provide the driver with a flat surface for handling paperwork. The cages are made with standard wire-mesh partitions and are very easy to install, the company says. (Warehouse Rack & Shelf, www.rackandshelf.com)
POLYURETHANE FORK CUSHIONS
U.K.-based SumoGlove International Ltd. says its Sumo Glove helps reduce costly forklift damage, downtime, and wastage while improving productivity.
The Sumo Glove is made of industrial-grade polyurethane and is bonded to the forks, covering the hard steel with a material that cushions. By protecting the forklift's tines, the Sumo Glove can guard employees from work-site injuries as well as reduce damage to product inventory, pallets, and racking systems.
SumoGlove recently appointed BWS Industrial Services Inc. as its distribution partner for the U.S. East Coast. (SumoGlove International, www.sumoglove.us)
VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING SIMULATORS
Yale Materials Handling Corp., The Raymond Corp., and FL-Simulators Inc. exhibited virtual reality (VR) forklift training simulators at the ProMat trade show in April. All three were designed to help screen applicants for driving skills and improve operator training.
Yale's virtual reality technology eases the learning curve and boosts confidence by enabling operators to test their skills on a stationary truck before they start operating mobile equipment. The training system is especially useful for onboarding seasonal workers. In addition, the simulator is a useful tool for reinforcing good, safe driving habits for experienced and inexperienced drivers alike. Yale will be expanding the simulator to other models later this year.
The Raymond Corp.'s simulator uses a VR headset and attaches to Raymond's existing trucks, allowing trainees to use it on the equipment they will actually be driving. The simulator, which augments OSHA-required classroom training, allows operators to train with a coach by their side before they take equipment out on the warehouse floor for hands-on training.
FL-Simulator utilized gamified environments to train users. Its simulators include 10 different levels and 40 exercises based upon forklift training practices. The company used genuine OEM forklift parts along with a VR 3-D perspective to help accelerate learning through muscle memory. (Yale Materials Handling, www.yale.com; The Raymond Corp., www.raymondcorp.com; FL-Simulators Inc., www.forklift-simulator.com)
IMPACT ALERTS, FINGERPRINT STARTER, AND WARNING LIGHT
Panacea Aftermarket Co. has added several forklift products to its family of safety products. According to the company, the Cam-DVR with impact sensors, the Smart Start, and the UL-listed blue light were all designed to increase safety and save money.
The four-camera DVR with integrated g-force sensors improves operator visibility and warehouse safety, and reduces product damage, the company says. Both the live impact alert and video review are available on a smartphone or desktop. These cameras, which are available for forklifts, cars, and trucks, come with a two-year warranty.
The Smart Start security control can start internal combustion vehicles with a fingerprint reader. Available for most forklift makes and models, this product can also be added to cars and trucks and takes just 10 minutes to install.
The UL-listed warning blue light was engineered for the toughest applications and features heavy aluminum construction, Cree LEDs, toughened glass, and an IP68 water protection rating. These lights, which are usable in multivoltage settings from 12v to 48v, are also available in red and come with a lifetime warranty. (Panacea Aftermarket Co., www.panaceaco.com)
TRAFFIC-CONTROL GATES
Cisco-Eagle's AisleCop Safety Gate System helps control traffic to separate forklifts and pedestrians. Depending on the conditions the buyer specifies, the gates can restrict pedestrians, forklifts, or both in a highly configurable traffic management plan.
The traffic-control gates are especially useful in dangerous or blind intersections where visibility may be limited. When properly utilized, these gates can potentially help reduce or eliminate lift truck/pedestrian accidents, the manufacturer says.
Standard automated AisleCop systems utilize motion detection or other sensors as they scan for forklifts, AGVs, walkies, or other industrial traffic. Users can specify rules as desired for individual operational and safety needs. (Cisco-Eagle, www.cisco-eagle.com/aislecop)
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Supply chain planning (SCP) leaders working on transformation efforts are focused on two major high-impact technology trends, including composite AI and supply chain data governance, according to a study from Gartner, Inc.
"SCP leaders are in the process of developing transformation roadmaps that will prioritize delivering on advanced decision intelligence and automated decision making," Eva Dawkins, Director Analyst in Gartner’s Supply Chain practice, said in a release. "Composite AI, which is the combined application of different AI techniques to improve learning efficiency, will drive the optimization and automation of many planning activities at scale, while supply chain data governance is the foundational key for digital transformation.”
Their pursuit of those roadmaps is often complicated by frequent disruptions and the rapid pace of technological innovation. But Gartner says those leaders can accelerate the realized value of technology investments by facilitating a shift from IT-led to business-led digital leadership, with SCP leaders taking ownership of multidisciplinary teams to advance business operations, channels and products.
“A sound data governance strategy supports advanced technologies, such as composite AI, while also facilitating collaboration throughout the supply chain technology ecosystem,” said Dawkins. “Without attention to data governance, SCP leaders will likely struggle to achieve their expected ROI on key technology investments.”
The British logistics robot vendor Dexory this week said it has raised $80 million in venture funding to support an expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) powered features, grow its global team, and accelerate the deployment of its autonomous robots.
A “significant focus” continues to be on expanding across the U.S. market, where Dexory is live with customers in seven states and last month opened a U.S. headquarters in Nashville. The Series B will also enhance development and production facilities at its UK headquarters, the firm said.
The “series B” funding round was led by DTCP, with participation from Latitude Ventures, Wave-X and Bootstrap Europe, along with existing investors Atomico, Lakestar, Capnamic, and several angels from the logistics industry. With the close of the round, Dexory has now raised $120 million over the past three years.
Dexory says its product, DexoryView, provides real-time visibility across warehouses of any size through its autonomous mobile robots and AI. The rolling bots use sensor and image data and continuous data collection to perform rapid warehouse scans and create digital twins of warehouse spaces, allowing for optimized performance and future scenario simulations.
Originally announced in September, the move will allow Deutsche Bahn to “fully focus on restructuring the rail infrastructure in Germany and providing climate-friendly passenger and freight transport operations in Germany and Europe,” Werner Gatzer, Chairman of the DB Supervisory Board, said in a release.
For its purchase price, DSV gains an organization with around 72,700 employees at over 1,850 locations. The new owner says it plans to investment around one billion euros in coming years to promote additional growth in German operations. Together, DSV and Schenker will have a combined workforce of approximately 147,000 employees in more than 90 countries, earning pro forma revenue of approximately $43.3 billion (based on 2023 numbers), DSV said.
After removing that unit, Deutsche Bahn retains its core business called the “Systemverbund Bahn,” which includes passenger transport activities in Germany, rail freight activities, operational service units, and railroad infrastructure companies. The DB Group, headquartered in Berlin, employs around 340,000 people.
“We have set clear goals to structurally modernize Deutsche Bahn in the areas of infrastructure, operations and profitability and focus on the core business. The proceeds from the sale will significantly reduce DB’s debt and thus make an important contribution to the financial stability of the DB Group. At the same time, DB Schenker will gain a strong strategic owner in DSV,” Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz said in a release.
Transportation industry veteran Anne Reinke will become president & CEO of trade group the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) at the end of the year, stepping into the position from her previous post leading third party logistics (3PL) trade group the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), both organizations said today.
Meanwhile, TIA today announced that insider Christopher Burroughs would fill Reinke’s shoes as president & CEO. Burroughs has been with TIA for 13 years, most recently as its vice president of Government Affairs for the past six years, during which time he oversaw all legislative and regulatory efforts before Congress and the federal agencies.
Before her four years leading TIA, Reinke spent two years as Deputy Assistant Secretary with the U.S. Department of Transportation and 16 years with CSX Corporation.
Serious inland flooding and widespread power outages are likely to sweep across Florida and other Southeast states in coming days with the arrival of Hurricane Helene, which is now predicted to make landfall Thursday evening along Florida’s northwest coast as a major hurricane, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
While the most catastrophic landfall impact is expected in the sparsely-population Big Bend area of Florida, it’s not only sea-front cities that are at risk. Since Helene is an “unusually large storm,” its flooding, rainfall, and high winds won’t be limited only to the Gulf Coast, but are expected to travel hundreds of miles inland, the weather service said. Heavy rainfall is expected to begin in the region even before the storm comes ashore, and the wet conditions will continue to move northward into the southern Appalachians region through Friday, dumping storm total rainfall amounts of up to 18 inches. Specifically, the major flood risk includes the urban areas around Tallahassee, metro Atlanta, and western North Carolina.
In addition to its human toll, the storm could exert serious business impacts, according to the supply chain mapping and monitoring firm Resilinc. Those will be largely triggered by significant flooding, which could halt oil operations, force mandatory evacuations, restrict ports, and disrupt air traffic.
While the storm’s track is currently forecast to miss the critical ports of Miami and New Orleans, it could still hurt operations throughout the Southeast agricultural belt, which produces products like soybeans, cotton, peanuts, corn, and tobacco, according to Everstream Analytics.
That widespread footprint could also hinder supply chain and logistics flows along stretches of interstate highways I-10 and I-75 and on regional rail lines operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX. And Hurricane Helene could also likely impact business operations by unleashing power outages, deep flooding, and wind damage in northern Florida portions of Georgia, Everstream Analytics said.
Before the storm had even touched Florida soil, recovery efforts were already being launched by humanitarian aid group the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). In a statement on Wednesday, the group said it is urging residents in the storm's path across the Southeast to heed evacuation notices and safety advisories, and reminding members of the logistics community that their post-storm help could be needed soon. The group will continue to update its Disaster Micro-Site with Hurricane Helene resources and with requests for donated logistics assistance, most of which will start arriving within 24 to 72 hours after the storm’s initial landfall, ALAN said.