Los Angeles News

Taylor Unveils a World’s First

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, New Forklifts, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Taylor Machine Works builds some of the toughest, most durable and reliable material handling equipment anywhere on Earth, right here in the U.S.A. We are proud to represent Taylor here in Southern California and we are even more proud to be able to join them in presenting the World’s first two all-electric top handlers to the Port of Los Angeles.

The ZLC Series has ZERO EMISSIONS, can run for two shifts on a single charge, fully charge in two hours and handle up to 90,000lbs! See the introduction in the video below which includes the Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Robert Taylor, President and CEO of Taylor Machine Works.

These are amazing machines and while they are the first two in existence, Taylor is already working on making the next delivery even better.  Eliminating emissions, particularly in Southern California is critical to the environment, our national health and security and we are proud to be part of a group making big strides in electric vehicle technology.

Even more impressive is that all of Taylor Machine Works products are built in America, by Americans in Louisville, Mississippi.  As you might be able to tell, we’re excited about these products and the future of material handling at the Port of Los Angeles, and other ports all around our great country, and perhaps the World.

More pictures of the ZLC.

www.cal-lift.com

Who Created OSHA, Why, and the Outcomes

Barry Regulatory, Safety, Uncategorized , , , , ,

OSHA-Logo-300x298Recently, we shared some information about the effects forty years of OSHA has had on industries. This led to a conversation about the real intents, effects and outcomes of OSHA on the American worker. We thought we would share some of the content of those discussions with you in order to bring a renewed perspective about the agency and what they do every day to ensure people like you, me and our children can go to work and be relatively confident that they will be protected from hazards seen, and sometimes unseen, in their workplace.

To understand any company’s operating philosophy, you must understand their mission. Congress created OSHA to assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and compliance assistance.

We won’t belabor a long study of history. But OSHA formed for a reason. While many companies, past and present, do their best to ensure the safety of their employees, there also were, and still are, many that do not place worker safety in high regard. Given that one of the roles of government is to “promote the general welfare” of its citizens, something needed to be done to ensure that all companies were doing the “right thing” when it came to the safety and welfare of their workforce. With that purpose in mind, OSHA was formed and signed into law by President Richard Nixon under the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1971.

When OSHA establishes a new regulation, it seeks and receives a tremendous amount of input from the public via RFIs (Requests for Information) and announcements that a new regulation is pending. They consult both large and small businesses to ensure the regulation will not put undue burdens on small businesses and cause them to suffer financially or potentially close. The bottom line is that OSHA has a systematic process to try to balance the need for safety and health with the productivity of business.

Within our industry, OSHA provides educational tools like the Powered Industrial Truck eTool to help businesses understand the dangers of lift trucks and how to ensure that each father, mother, sister and brother who operates one gets home safely each night. This site is packed full of information for the sole purpose of seeing that each person who operates a lift truck knows the dangers of the equipment and has guidance on how to operate it safely within the parameters of their work environment.

The outcome cannot be debated. Since its inception, workplace fatalities and occupational injuries have dropped by 60%. In fact, in 1971, when OSHA was signed into law, workplace fatalities numbered about 14,000 per year. In 2009, even though the American workforce has doubled in size, the number of American deaths due to workplace injury had dropped to 4,400. OSHA has helped businesses accomplish this by creating best practices for any given job, sharing them with other companies through its education process, and enforcing them through inspections.

We perform a tremendous amount of forklift operator training to meet OSHA requirements. When we engage a customer in training, we encourage them not to approach it as simply another hoop government forces us to jump through. While yes, we do recognize that it does place a burden on a business, and there’s no doubt that there have been times when OSHA has not gotten it completely right, we believe OSHA brings value to every American in the workplace.

We have found that companies that provide comprehensive training programs have higher levels of employee satisfaction, leading to better productivity, better care for the equipment they operate, fewer accidents and injuries, and a healthier bottom line for the company. Now that’s a by-product of OSHA we can all live with! Visit our website to learn more about Cal-Lift, Inc., Southern California’s source for material handling equipment, service, parts and rentals.

www.cal-lift.com

Minimizing the Costs of Your Forklift Tires

Barry Forklift Service, Material Handling Equipment, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Your forklift tires are the only thing that stands between thousands of pounds of forklift and the Earth beneath. As many can attest, if you ignore the importance of the tires, bad things can happen including more frequent replacement, increased operating costs, accidents and even injuries. Some experts estimate that forklift tires can account for as much as 30% of a forklift’s operating budget.

Following are a few things you can do to ensure that you have optimized the performance of your forklift tires and are getting the best performance and useful life.

Selecting the right tire

We could write an encyclopedia on this topic as there are many factors to consider. Our best suggestion is to meet with a professional who knows forklift tires (like one of our aftermarket customer support representatives).  A trained professional will consider factors like the types of equipment you operate, what type of surface they are operating on and what are the conditions of operation? Do your forklifts operate on a smooth surface in a temperature-controlled environment, or is the surface rough, gravel, blacktop or is the floor subject to debris? Are your forklifts making frequent turns, never getting to full speed, or do your forklifts frequently make long runs which generate much more heat?

After consulting with you and observing your operation, a professional can suggest tires that will last longer, wear better, resist heat, while maximizing operator comfort.

And if you’re purchasing a new forklift, make sure the right forklift tire is part of the quote. Standard issue tires can work for some operations, but be sure you’re getting the right tire for your operation before you put it into service.

Little known fact: If your forklifts frequently carry loads that are half the rated capacity of the forklift, it puts more pressure on your steer tires as the load up front does not balance out the load of the counterweight.

Keep up the Pressure

Keep tires inflated to the recommended pressure. Over-inflation and under-inflation both cause uneven wear.

Purchase a Premium Tire

We’re not suggesting you simply purchase the most expensive tire. However, purchasing a tire simply because it’s on sale or is the lowest cost alternative, will often end up costing you more in the long-run. After consulting with a professional, there are usually options based upon your operation and budgetary constraints. Finding the BEST tire for your operation, usage, wear and tear, will pay off in the long run. The quality of tire should likely increase with the weight of the load, length of the run and condition of the surface on which it operates.

Match Tires to Application

Use tires that are suitable for the specific conditions of your warehouse, such as cushion tires for indoor use or pneumatic tires for outdoor use.

Rotation and Alignment

  • Regular Rotation: Rotate tires regularly to ensure even wear.
  • Alignment: Ensure the forklift’s alignment is correct to prevent uneven tire wear.

Frequent Inspections

Pre-shift inspections are required by OSHA and tire inspections are part of that process.  Look for things like stress cracks, tread wear and chunking. Knowing how to determine wear on your tires depends upon the type of tire and how the manufacturer determines it is time to replace. When you purchase your forklift tires, be sure the representative explains how to inspect them and when it is time for “re-tirement.” And make that inspection part of your forklift operator training. All your operators should know how to inspect all your forklift tires.

Keep it Clean

Keeping the surface a forklift operates on clean will provide additional useful life of your forklift tires. Metal bands, shrapnel, nails, screws and the like are the obvious enemies of a forklift tire and if your operation is manufacturing, you probably have plenty of debris to consider. Often times a floor sweeper (rider or push) will pay for itself over time in reduced damage to your tires.

In addition to the obvious culprits there are other concerns with operating surface. Dirt and debris can build which can reduce traction of the forklift tires creating a dangerous operating environment. A regular review of your floor can also reduce damaging factors. Things like uneven concrete joints, cracks in pavement or concrete surfaces and dock plates that are un-even or damaged can reduce wear and increase damage. Some customers even consider the condition of the tractor trailer floors. Things like nails in the floors or large splinters in trailer floors can wreak havoc on your forklift tires.

Creating a regular process for purchasing and caring for forklift tires can provide many benefits to safety, productivity and your bottom line. Our Planned Maintenance program can take a lot of these considerations off your hands. Learn more and get a quote customized to your operational needs.

To consult with one of our tire professionals, please contact us at 800-322-5438.

CLARK Expands Lexington KY Facility

Barry Company News, Material Handling News, Uncategorized , , ,

CLARK employeesLexington, KY – March 5, 2019 – CLARK Material Handling Company, one of the most recognized forklift brands in North America, plans to expand facilities at its North American corporate headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky by adding a third facility to the company’s manufacturing operation. In conjunction with this expansion, CLARK will begin re-shoring to Lexington production of its “heart-of-the-line” internal combustion products, the “S-Series.” Volume production of the S-Series is expected this summer.

“This is the third expansion of CLARK’s Lexington campus in four years,” said Scott Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CLARK. “We completed a new R & D/Engineering Center in 2017, and in 2016 we expanded our manufacturing footprint to include high volume models previously produced in Mexico. To meet the growing demand for the company’s electric and internal combustion products, CLARK will produce nearly 80% of its products in Lexington.”

At a recent groundbreaking ceremony held in Lexington, Dennis Lawrence, CLARK’s President & CEO commented: “This is an important step to position CLARK for the future. This expansion will enable us to improve our operations, drive out waste and reduce lead times. We are excited to be strengthening our investment in the Lexington area. The dedication and productivity of the local workforce is key to helping expand our production capacity. Our expanded facilities are important elements in our desire to exceed customer expectations and fuel global growth.”

About CLARK Material Handling Company

CLARK Material Handling Company has been an industry leader since its production of the first gasoline powered material handling truck in 1917. CLARK is privately held by the Young An Company. CLARK has over 550 locations worldwide with dealer representation in more than 80 countries. A full range of I.C. and Electric trucks for diverse applications are available in the CLARK product line. CLARK was named a Best Place to Work in Kentucky for 2019.

About Cal-Lift

Cal-Lift is a full-service material handling equipment dealership in Southern California. Lift Truck brands include, BYD Lithium Iron Phosphate battery powered forklifts, CLARK Material Handling forklifts, Combilift multi-directional narrow aisle forklifts, Lift Master narrow aisle articulating forklifts and Taylor Big Red, heavy-duty forklifts and container handlers. We also specialize in service and parts for all makes and models of forklifts. In addition, we are the local distributor and servicing company for Kalmar Ottawa yard tractors and spotters. Learn more about Cal-Lift at our website.