When I first read through the sales coordinator job description at Bastian Solutions, a material handling system integrator, I didn’t fully understand what this company did. Someone on the outside might ask what exactly a material handling system (MHS) is. While the CAD drawings (computer aided design drawings) look like they were drawn by a rocket scientist, an MHS very simply moves (handles) something (material) from point A to point B; an item is going from here to there.

As I learned more about material handling systems, I thought–a silly thought I admit–that even Santa Claus would be more efficient with a conveyor system…

Read More >>

When expanding your facility, one key decision is the choice between modular construction and traditional stick-built or “hard” construction. Some of the typical considerations when making this choice are cost, lead time, and code requirements. While this is a good starting point, there are other things to consider. Let’s look at the following as a guide to help you compare the two building methods and their benefits…

Read More >>

I have had the good fortune to have succeeded in the material handling equipment (MHE) industry for more than 27 years now, and during my time in the industry, I have worked with a wide range of customers. Most of them have been excellent partners in the purchasing process; however, some have made the process a bit difficult, resulting in numerous re-quotes and many wasted engineering hours. This not only resulted in frustration for me, but more importantly, frustration and wasted time for them.

To avoid those issues and facilitate the process for both parties, here are some basic tips on how to be an excellent material handling equipment partner:

Read More >>

In years gone by, facility roofs were designed in such a manner that you could just about hang the Queen Mary from them with little regard given to worrying about the roof collapsing or caving in. Nowadays, this is not always the case. With rising costs in steel and labor, roof structures are for the most part designed with the minimum loading allowed by law.

This can cause concern when trying to layout a material handling system within a distribution center. Clear floor space is very important to customers, so here are five ways conveyor can be supported without hanging it from your roof or facility structure.

Read More >>

It’s always puzzled me as to why so many companies spend months and years planning and designing a project and only give the material handling integrators two weeks to bid.

It’s also been suggested that tight timelines provide the end user with the best price possible. In my opinion and past experience, this statement couldn’t be further from the truth.

Read More >>