DJ Products, Inc.

Ergonomic Design Makes Motorized Tugs Workhorse of Future

February 01, 2010 By: CartPro Category: Future Trends, Material Handling, Products, Safety and Ergonomics, ergonomics

Ergonomic design, energy efficiency and versatility make DJ Products’ powered carts and tugs the material handling workhorse of the future — or at least the next decade. Our battery-powered and electric ergonomic carts and cart movers seem tailor-made for the federal government’s push to improve workplace safety, reduce medical costs, save energy and put more people back to work.

• Improve workplace safety. The Obama administration is poised to increase governmental regulation of workplace safety issues. Ergonomics will play an important role in creating safe working environments. The science of designing equipment to fit the physical attributes and abilities of the worker, ergonomics reduces discomfort and fatigue and prevents repetitive strain injuries that can lead to long-term disability.
• Reduce medical costs. With Congress revamping the national health care system, businesses will be working even harder to bring down medical costs. By preventing expensive musculoskeletal injuries, ergonomics helps businesses drastically reduce medical costs, worker’s compensation expenses and medical insurance premiums.
• Save energy. The President’s promise at the U.N. Copenhagen climate conference to drastically cut the nation’s carbon dioxide production places renewed emphasis on equipment that isn’t powered by CO2-producing fossil fuels. DJ Product’s motorized carts and tugs use clean, green battery or electric power. Just like the Energizer Bunny, our tugs keep going and going, operating through two full shifts on a single charge.
• Put people back to work. With most of the country starting the year with double-digit unemployment, putting people back to work is the government’s primary 2010 goal. Ergonomic design makes it possible for workers of any size, age or sex to easily operate any of DJ Products’ versatile carts and tugs. Intuitive design and conveniently placed controls make for safe operation with minimal training.

To find out more about DJ Products’ ergonomically designed motorized carts and tugs, visit our website.

No Comments →

Recession Over but We’re Not Out of Woods Yet

October 30, 2009 By: CartPro Category: Business Tips, Manufacturing Industry, Material Handling, economy

Today’s headline blared: “Recession officially ends, with trepidation.” Ain’t that the truth! In officially declaring the recession over, the U.S. Commerce Department cited a 3.5% growth in the economy. Encouraging, certainly. Something to cheer about? Apparently Wall Street thought so as the Dow Jones Industrial average shot up nearly 200 points. But the guy or gal on the street? Maybe not so much. The effect seems more psychological than actual. Economists caution that much of the 3.5% increase in gross domestic product was fueled by the government’s Cash for Clunkers program and first-time homebuyers tax credit. Whether those programs have created an unnatural spike in economic growth that can’t be maintained or the economy really is finally throwing off the chill of recession, only time will tell. But until unemployment decreases, most analysts agree we’re not out of the woods yet.

Getting people back to work is the real challenge now. People aren’t going to start buying again — the necessary trigger for real economic improvement — until they have jobs and can stop worrying about keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads. And the jobs won’t be there until American businesses feel comfortable financially. A bit of a vicious circle: consumer purchasing fuels businesses which fuel jobs. Traditionally, small businesses provide the greatest potential for U.S. job growth; so it was interesting to read the results of the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor bi-annual survey in Manufacturing & Technology eJournal.

Here are some of the survey highlights:

• 51% of manufacturers have a positive outlook, about the same as last year (52%)
• 61% are experiencing serious cash flow difficulties, compared to 47% a year ago
• only 22% plan to hire additional employees, down from 30% six months ago 
• only 36% are planning capital investments, down from 59% in 2008
• 68% think U.S. economic woes are far from over

DJ Products would like to know what you think and how your business is coping with the recession.

No Comments →

New Trends Will Affect Speed, Strength of Economic Recovery

July 31, 2009 By: CartPro Category: Business Tips, Future Trends, economy

The heart monitor on the economy has started beeping again, apparently shocked into recovery by the dual application of bailout money and stimulus funds. Of course, there’s still concern that the cure may prolong the patient’s recovery but the big guy does seem to be on the mend. Many economic analysts are now predicting that true recovery from the recession may begin as early as next quarter, that’s six months to a year ahead of previous predictions. Naturally, there’s disagreement about the strength and speed of the economy’s recovery. “The question is whether we are transitioning to a solid growth period or to something flatter,” explained Dr. Chris Kuehl, economic analyst for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International (FMA), in the FMA economic newsletter Fabrinomics.  

Kuehl pegs the strength of the economy’s recovery to three emerging trends that manufacturers and businessmen will need to factor into their plans as they position themselves to compete in the post-recession market:

• Cautious consumers. High unemployment and the continuing threat of job loss has made consumers wary of spending and further depleting any financial reserves they have left. Most economists expect consumer spending to lag other signs of recovery, further slowing the recovery process. Until unemployment rates return to post-crisis norms and consumers regain confidence in the economy, demand for goods and services is expected to remain low.
• Consolidation. Financial chaos has forced mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. and around the world, and not just in the automotive industry, Kuehl points out. Manufacturing bases have gone global, shifting from the U.S. and Europe to Asia, particularly China, and Latin America. Digging a toehold into these markets will be essential — and extremely challenging — if manufacturers, especially smaller players, are to survive. The complexities of global business may encourage even more consolidation as small manufacturers partner with larger ones or form cooperatives to gain global access.
• Unsettled financial markets. While banks and financial entities took the brunt of the first blow, they haven’t carried the burden of the economic crisis. Even so, they are still recovering which will continue to make them wary of lending money. The yet-to-be-known impact of new government oversight and regulation will also be a factor. Kuehl sees a return of the “old-school banker” with tougher credit standards, demands for greater cash flow, and less money available for growth and expansion.

Comment (1)