christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

DJ Products, Inc. 2nd Annual Service Summit

Our first Service Summit went so well, we thought it’d be a good idea to do it again! We’ll have 2 action-packed days providing service training and product knowledge, along with a good time! All customers are welcome to attend this event, but it would be most beneficial to Service Technicians.

Things you can expect:

Hands-on training
Troubleshooting tips & tricks
Networking opportunities
Interactive Q&A sessions
Unit demo opportunities
General maintenance, and more!

This event will take place at our manufacturing facility in Little Falls, MN. Customers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. We’ll provide meals and entertainment. For event lodging, we have 10 rooms blocked off at both the Country Inn and the AmericInn here in Little Falls.

Country Inn
209 16th St NE, Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-1000

AmericInn
306 Lemieur St SE, Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-1964

Wednesday night dinner and entertainment will be hosted at Rice Creek Hunting & Recreation.

If you RSVP by July 1st, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a DJ Products merch bundle! ($100 value)

August 1st is the final day to RSVP.

To RSVP or get more information, please contact:
tony.arnold@djproducts.com

Improve Dumpster Moving Safety with a Powered Dumpster Mover

Dumpster Moving Improved with an Electric Dumper Mover. — Improving Safety with a Powered Dumper Mover

As automation becomes increasingly used for difficult physical tasks in the workplace, moving heavy dumpsters has remained largely a manual job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that overexertion and bodily reaction are the leading causes of workplace injuries. Here’s a look at how your operations could be improved significantly with the use of a powered dumpster mover.

Disadvantages of Moving Dumpsters Manually

1. Reduced productivity

Moving heavy dumpsters is already difficult in and of itself, usually requiring at least two employees. Add to that the fact that workers will generally move more slowly in an effort to limit the risk of injury. On the other hand, a single employee using a dumpster mover can complete the task quickly and safely, leaving more time for productive activities.

2.Navigating slopes

Transporting dumpsters up and down slopes requires even more force to control the movement. In addition to injuring workers, a runaway dumpster may cause extensive damage to any objects in its path.

3. Hidden cost of injuries

Financial losses from injuries aren’t limited to workers compensation claims. The negative effect of injuries can be seen in factors such as lost productivity, increased insurance premiums, and the cost of hiring and training replacement staff. Perhaps the most serious impact is reduced worker morale, which is difficult to quantify but has major short- and long-term effects.

Why Use a Powered Dumpster Mover?

Virtually every other process in your workplace has changed with the times. Why not the act of moving dumpsters? Our dumpster movers incorporate a number of features designed to increase safety and boost productivity:

Capacity for loads up to 10,000 pounds
Eco-friendly rechargeable three-battery power source
Ergonomic controls, such as a variable speed twist grip
Foam-filled, non-marking tires for traction on any surface
Safety stop switch and horn
Neutral throttle braking
Tubular steel frame
Battery discharge indicator
5th wheel arm
Flashing light and pole

Your #1 Source for a Powered Dumpster Mover

So, are you ready to make an investment productivity and safety for big returns? Call 800.686.2651 x2146 or visit our website to chat with our friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers.

Essential Steps to Retrofit Your Warehouse for Electric Cart Tugs

Improving Ergonomics with Electric Warehouse Tugs — Improve Ergonomics with an Electric Warehouse Tug from DJ Products

Electric warehouse tugs can take your operation’s productivity to a whole new level, but it takes careful planning to maximize integration. Use these helpful tips to retrofit your warehouse and get the most out of motorized movers.

1. Review current warehouse infrastructure.

• How is the floor plan laid out?
• Are there any problem areas?
• What types of material handling equipment are you presently using?

These are a few of the questions to ask in evaluating your warehouse setup.

2. Evaluate workflow and material handling functions.

Map out a detailed path of how products travel through your warehouse, from inbound receiving to outbound shipping. Identify challenges and areas for improvement. Be sure to consider safety issues and environmental factors.

3. Understand the role of electric warehouse tugs.

If you’ve been working with forklifts and other traditional material handling equipment, electric tugs offer an incredible set of advantages. Familiarize yourself with features such as maneuverability, versatility, and energy efficiency and consider the specific effects on work flow.

4. Determine requirements for operation of electric tugs.

• What load capacity will the tugs need to handle?

• Where will the charging be situated?

• Does the electrical infrastructure need upgrades to accommodate the additional power demands?

5. Create a budget.

Before a company makes any investment, it has to be determined whether it makes financial sense. Factors to consider include how much capital can be allocated to the initial purchase and calculating return on investment (ROI). With no fuel costs and reduced maintenance and labor costs, electric tugs usually represent a significant financial savings.

6. Choose the right electric tugger for your application.

Once you’ve laid the groundwork by completing the previous steps, you have the information you need to select the appropriate electric movers for your particular needs.

7. Complete the integration.

Fortunately, electric warehouse movers don’t require a lot of complicated training to get workers up to speed. Once you review operating instructions and safety considerations, employees will be quick to adapt.

State-of-the-Art Electric Warehouse Tugs from DJ Products

Ready to improve productivity and safety in your warehouse? Call 800.686.2651 and let our knowledgeable Sales Engineers help you choose the best solution for your application.

Improve Fleet Vehicle & Trailer Management with DJ Products

Fleet Vehicle and Trailer Management with a Motorized Trailer Dolly — Improve Trailer Management with a Motorized Trailer Dolly

Is it the best use of time and money to have licensed drivers moving fleet vehicles and trailers around the yard? Find out how our motorized trailer dolly can improve safety and productivity for your business.

Why CDL Drivers Aren’t the Best Solution

Drivers with CDLs have specialized training that allows them to operate trucks transporting goods across long and short distances which is what keeps the supply chain going. When you have to employ their services to move vehicles and trailers back and forth in the yard, this can result in the following obstacles:

Using drivers in this manner takes valuable time away from their principal function, which can cause delivery delays.
Unless you keep a dedicated driver onsite for this specific purpose, you have to wait until one is available, running the risk of bottlenecks as vehicles and trailers pile up.

Enter the Motorized Trailer Dolly

No matter how busy your yard is, an electric trailer dolly can keep traffic moving smoothly.

No specialized license or extensive training is required to operate the trailer dolly. With basic instruction, any of your employees can be ready to use one effectively.
A single worker can move vehicles and trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds.
The dolly’s compact size allows for greater maneuverability in tight spaces and around corners.
Battery power means less environmental impact than running vehicle fuel-powered engines.
Cost is less than 25 percent of a new shunt truck and maintenance expenses are minimal.

Features of the Electric Trailer Dolly

Heavy-duty steel frame
Four 48-volt batteries
External charger with battery discharge indicator
Neutral throttle braking
Variable speed thumb twist pad
Safety stop switch, safety horn, and safety strobe flashing light
18″ solid-tread steer and drive tires
HD king pin receiver for 5th wheel trailer
10″ hydraulic pump lift kit

Customize your trailer dolly with optional equipment such as ball hitch and bracket, air brake release kit, and king pin and foot path lighting kits.

Material Handling Solutions for Any Application

Make an investment that provides maximum returns. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more about our motorized trailer dolly and other electric tugs, pushers, and movers from DJ Products.

Creating Solutions for the Modern Warehouse

Warehouse Management for the Modern Warehouse

The landscape of warehousing and distribution is rapidly evolving, driven by the constant push for efficiency, safety, and scalability. Modern warehouses are no longer just storage spaces but dynamic environments that require innovative solutions to meet the challenges of today’s fast-paced market. From optimizing space utilization to enhancing productivity, implementing effective warehouse management tips can significantly transform operations. Here, we explore practical strategies and introduce cutting-edge technologies that can help streamline processes and improve overall warehouse performance.

Enhancing Efficiency with Technology

One of the primary goals in modern warehouse management is improving efficiency. This can be achieved through the integration of smart technologies and the application of strategic warehouse management tips:

Automation: Deploying automated systems for tasks such as inventory tracking and order picking can drastically reduce manual errors and speed up operations.
Digital Inventory Management: Utilizing cloud-based inventory management software offers real-time tracking of stock levels, reducing overstocking or stockouts.
Advanced Planning Tools: Implementing warehouse management systems (WMS) for optimized layout planning and resource allocation based on predictive analytics.

Fostering a Safe and Agile Environment

Safety and flexibility are paramount in today’s warehouse settings. Following key warehouse management tips can help in creating a safer and more adaptive workspace:

Regular Safety Training: Ensuring all staff are trained on safety protocols and the use of equipment.
Ergonomic Solutions: Introducing equipment that reduces physical strain on workers, such as adjustable workstations and ergonomic handling devices.
Flexible Design: Adapting the warehouse layout to be scalable and modular, allowing for quick adjustments based on changing demands.

Implementing Modern Solutions: The CartCaddy5WP HD

A prime example of innovation in warehouse management is the CartCaddy5WP HD motorized cart mover. This heavy-duty, battery-powered device is designed to push, pull, or maneuver carts or equipment weighing up to 10,000 pounds, offering a substantial upgrade in terms of efficiency and safety over traditional material handling methods. Its capability to securely attach to carts with a mix of swivel and straight casters, coupled with its ability to pivot a full 180 degrees without jackknifing the cart, exemplifies the type of solution modern warehouses need to stay competitive and safe.

Streamlining Operations with Strategic Insights

To keep pace with the demands of modern commerce, warehouses must continually seek out strategies that streamline operations and enhance productivity. Here are some actionable warehouse management tips:

Conduct Regular Audits: Regularly review operations to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
Employee Feedback: Engage with staff to gain insights into the day-to-day challenges they face and explore solutions together.
Continuous Improvement: Adopt a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging insights from data analytics to fine-tune operations.

Empowering Your Warehouse for the Future

As we explore these strategies and tools, it’s clear that the future of warehousing lies in smart, scalable solutions that prioritize efficiency, safety, and flexibility. Implementing these warehouse management tips and embracing innovations like the CartCaddy5WP HD motorized cart mover can significantly enhance your warehouse operations. For those looking to further explore these solutions and tailor them to their specific needs, we invite you to Contact Us to speak with one of our warehouse solution experts.

Why Electric Warehouse is Equipment is Better

Abstract Image of Electric Warehouse Movers — Electric Warehouse Movers

Have you made the switch to electric warehouse movers yet? If you’re still on the fence, consider these important advantages you can gain choosing electric over diesel.

1. Easy to maintain

Electric movers generally have fewer parts than diesel equipment, so maintenance is less complicated and time-consuming. In addition, repairs are less costly because there are not as many parts to malfunction. With electric movers, your warehouse doesn’t have to take a hit in productivity due to equipment that’s out of commission.

2. More eco-friendly

Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) regulations specify that maximum carbon dioxide content allowed in warehouses is 50 parts per million as an eight-hour average. Electric movers run cleaner, resulting in only trace emissions. Your warehouse stays in compliance while employees enjoy safer working conditions.

3. Less vibration

Diesel equipment is often prone to a significant number of vibrations during operation. This affects warehouses in two different ways:

Vibrations create excessive stress that creates a greater risk of damage.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) can have short- and long-term effects on the health of your employees.

Electric movers experience a minimum number of vibrations, moderating the danger of these side effects.

4. Low center of gravity

Objects with lower centers of gravity are more stable, reducing the chances of tip-over accidents that can injure workers and damage products. Electric warehouse movers are also anchored by a heavy battery pack that keeps them upright.

5. Longer lifespan

You can get more bang for your buck with electric movers, which last up to 12 years. That’s 50 percent longer than the eight-year lifespan of diesel equipment.

6. Extended battery life

Depending on the size of the load, batteries in an electric mover can last for a full eight-hour shift. Recharging batteries is a simple process that allows for less downtime.

Quality Electric Warehouse Movers from DJ Products

We have a full line of movers that are suited for a wide range of applications, including warehouse and industrial, hospitality, and automobile dealers. For more information, call 800.686.2651 or use our handy online chat feature to contact our knowledgeable Sales Engineers.

How to Boost Warehouse Productivity Part Two

Improve Warehouse Productivity with a Motorized Warehouse Dolly — Improve Warehouse Productivity

When it comes to warehouses, time truly is money. Improving productivity of your operations has an increasingly positive impact on the bottom line. Use these helpful tips, along with our electric warehouse tugs, to add a significant boost to productivity in your warehouse.

1. Organize for better workflow.

Does inventory follow a logical progression from receiving to shipping? Are order selectors wasting time retracing their steps?

Take a good look at the warehouse layout and make any changes needed to eliminate problem spots and streamline processes.
Make plentiful use of signs and labels to identify zones and mark hazardous areas.
Provide employees with maps so they can easily locate where they need to be.

2. Use storage solutions to compartmentalize inventory.

From automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) to old-school totes, bins, and dividers, there are storage solutions to fit any application and budget.

3. Tighten up the receiving process.

With deliveries constantly arriving at your warehouse, it takes only one misstep for items to “disappear.” Every delivery should be checked in carefully and products should be accounted for from the time they arrive on the loading dock to the time they’re put away on the shelves.

4. Document step-by-step return procedures.

If returns are processed haphazardly, this can throw your whole inventory off and cost money in lost or misplaced products. Create step-by-step documentation for how returns are handled and make sure all workers are fully trained.

5. Implement cycle counting.

Year-end inventories are time-consuming, and by that point problems have gone unnoticed and become too difficult to unravel. Cycle counts let you catch discrepancies and solve them before they get out of hand.

6. Keep aisles clear.

Electric warehouse tugs should improve operations, not add to the confusion. Install a culture of cleanliness where workers are conscientious about keeping aisles free of debris and obstructions. This also pays benefits in safer workplace conditions.

Electric Warehouse Tugs for Any Application

Demonstrate your commitment to increased safety and productivity. Contact DJ Products at 800.686.2651 and let our Sales Engineer help you choose the right tug, mover, or pusher for your company’s specific needs.

How to Boost Warehouse Productivity Part One

Productivity is one of the biggest priorities for warehouses. It helps businesses save money, keeps operations running smoothly, and can lead to an increase in customer satisfaction. How can your warehouse boost productivity? The following tips can help.

Invest in More Efficient Equipment

Moving heavy loads from aisle to aisle or around other warehouse areas can be time-consuming. Using a forklift or other traditional equipment may lower productivity. Workers might have a hard time maneuvering them around, especially in tighter spaces.

Electric warehouse tugs offer an effective solution. These tugs have better maneuverability, resulting in less time spent moving heavy loads around. This helps improve productivity in warehouses.

Aim for a Better Organized Warehouse

Having items scattered around can interfere with how productive your warehouse is. Work on ensuring that all items, from merchandise to equipment and supplies, are organized as much as possible.

Improve the layout of your warehouse for a better workflow. Use signage, labels, and maps to make sure that all staff know where everything is located. Signs and labels should be highly visible and easy to read. Maps can help newer staff know where to go. These steps help streamline the work process, leading to enhanced productivity.

Improve Inventory Management

Keeping an accurate count of your inventory and organizing it is crucial for your warehouse. Make use of bins and other storage solutions to compartmentalize different items. This allows workers to easily and quickly find what they need.

If you haven’t done so already, look into automated inventory management software. This provides you with a simple way to keep close track of the products stored in your warehouse, along with other items. You can then order ahead to replace low inventory as needed.

How else can you manage inventory more effectively? Evaluate your receiving process to ensure that products are handled efficiently when they arrive. This helps prevent boxes from building up in the receiving area and ensures that orders can be promptly picked, packed, and shipped.

Electric warehouse tugs can significantly increase your warehouse’s productivity. Contact DJ Products to get more detailed information on our material handling solutions.

Improve Your Warehouse Management Processes with Our Top Tips

Warehouse Manager Instructing Team Member on Using Motorized Warehouse Tugs — Improving Warehouse Ergonomics with Motorized Warehouse Tugs

Running a warehouse means overseeing every aspect of operations, from receiving merchandise to shipping it out. Managing these different processes can be challenging. The following tips can help you improve them.

Organize for Easier Inventory Control, Storage, and Picking

Taking steps to organize your warehouse as much as possible helps with a few key processes. Consider using more efficient equipment, such as motorized warehouse tugs. These help workers move pallets and other heavy loads around more quickly and easily.

This allows you to maintain an organized warehouse, resulting in more accurate inventory control. Workers are also able to store inventory and pick merchandise with greater efficiency. Other organization tips include adopting a more dependable system for storage and optimizing the picking process.

Improve Warehouse Entry for Inventory

When merchandise arrives at your warehouse, it’s important to make sure that you’re receiving the right items. Other entry details to verify include item quantity and scheduled arrivals. This helps ensure that your warehouse is getting the correct products and product amounts within the right timeframe.

Making improvements to this process helps workers catch inventory entry errors. For example, they can find and remove damaged products instead of having these stored on shelves. This prevents damaged merchandise from being shipped to customers. It also ensures that storage, picking, and other processes can be done in a streamlined manner with fewer issues overall.

Reduce Packing and Shipping Errors

Merchandise needs to be packed with care to prevent damage during shipping. Orders that are ready to be shipped need to be sent to the right destinations. Errors with packing and shipping can lead to frustrated customers and an increase in returned merchandise.

Make sure all staff are trained on packing products for optimum safety. Have a process in place for verifying that orders are set to be shipped to their intended destinations. Taking these simple steps can go a long way toward preventing errors that lead to a decrease in revenue.

Exploring all of your options for motorized warehouse tugs? Contact the experts at DJ Products for assistance with selecting the most efficient equipment for your warehouse.

Top Tips for Better Management of Your Warehouse

Warehouse Management Tips from DJ Products the Electric Trailer Dolly Manufacturer — Warehousing Tips from DJ Products

Managing a warehouse involves providing a safe environment that encourages productivity and efficiency. This includes overseeing or handling a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. Managers might make changes to the warehouse layout or invest in safer equipment, such as electric tugs. The following warehouse management tips can help you make improvements as needed.

Make Inventory Control a Priority

Even the most well-organized warehouse can run into serious problems without effective inventory control. Product shortages can affect order fulfillment and lower customer satisfaction. To avoid this, use an inventory management system to store records of what’s in stock and other details. This helps ensure that you have an accurate inventory count at all times.

Maximize Warehouse Space

Making the most of available space means you should have plenty of room for inventory. Leave enough room for receiving merchandise. Work on getting rid of obstacles or barriers that hinder workflow throughout your warehouse. This helps prevent slowdowns that affect productivity. Keep in mind that these obstacles can also become safety hazards.

Improve Safety

Warehouses tend to be busy workplaces filled with equipment and inventory. Forklifts and similar equipment can cause accidents on the job. Consider switching to equipment that offers safer and more efficient ways to move boxes or other heavy loads around. Motorized tugs provide these qualities, resulting in a lower risk of injuries.

Evaluate Picking Strategies

The right picking method can boost productivity in your warehouse. Go over the current strategies you use, and make changes as needed. Some warehouse management tips for picking include finding ways to decrease travel time in the warehouse and using the right order to streamline operations, such as batch or zone picking.

Offer Regular Training

All staff members in your warehouse should be up-to-date on training. This includes training on using certain equipment and technologies, following safety protocols, and learning new procedures. Hold training sessions as often as needed. This helps create an efficient, productive, and safe workplace for everyone.

Ready to improve safety and productivity in your warehouse with motorized tugs? Contact DJ Products for help choosing the right tugs for your business.