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AMETEK PRESTOLITE POWER INCREASES PIAZZA PRODUCE'S WAREHOUSE PRODUCTIVITY
AMETEK Prestolite Power today announced that its customer, Piazza Produce, has seen significant benefits within its warehouse operations over the course of its twelve-year relationship with Prestolite Power. A case study of the project that began this long-term relationship is available today for download on AMETEK's website.
In 2005, Scott Lutocka took on the role of facilities and sustainability manager at Piazza Produce, Inc., a produce distribution company based in Indianapolis that delivers fresh produce and specialty foods to more than 150 cities across four states. As a part of his new role, Lutocka wanted to find smarter ways to run the company's warehouse, which operates on a 24/7 schedule.
In the first few months, Lutocka and his team evaluated a host of equipment challenges and breakdowns, including multiple battery failures across the company's forklift fleet. Piazza Produce sought out guidance on how to remedy systematic problems that were evident to both Lutocka and corporate management.
With the help of Associated Integrated Solutions, a local material handling company, Waddell Power and DEKA batteries worked closely with AMETEK Prestolite Power in recommending to Piazza Produce that it replace not only the batteries in each working forklift, but the chargers as well.
"AMETEK Prestolite Power was glad to help Piazza Produce with a plan to ensure that its fleet was ready 24/7. As warehouse experts, we understood the need to streamline efficiencies in a time-sensitive industry, such as produce and short-life foods," said Jeff Harrison, Business Manager of AMETEK Prestolite Power.
"Once the system was functional, Piazza Produce began to see immediate benefits in efficiency with more than two hours of time savings per shift. Everyone worked as a team from the consultants to the warehouse employees to provide correct specs, installation, training, and application," said Lutocka. "Despite the project's size, everything went smoothly - reinforcing the notion that we made the right business decision from the start."
Pizza Produce is now in its 12th year with the new batteries and chargers. With the fleet's daily use factor so high, short charges have stopped and the life cycle of each battery is still on track to continue for years to come.