As cooler autumn weather moves in, for many businesses that means it's time to get ready for peak shipping season. The holidays have always been a busy time for companies, but with eCommerce continuing to set new yearly records, the bar is even higher for fulfillment and distribution centers. The ability to perform at the maximum operational levels in this peak season can make or break a company.

Hopefully by now, companies have reviewed their plans and are well underway to implement changes based upon the operational lessons learned from last year. Even if your business is ready, there is still a little time left to look for a few additional ways to better prepare for the approaching challenge.

Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) have been disrupting the Material Handling world. Now that the power of these smart mobile robots has been unleashed, each year brings new advances that are radically changing the industry. New research predicts that "Mobile robotics in material handling and logistics will become a $75bn market by 2027. It will then more than double by 2038" (Business Insider). From smart Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) that move materials around a facility, to warehouse shelves that bring themselves to packers and shippers, to swarms of airport baggage AGCs (Automated Guided Carts), Material Handling is heading for more changes in 2019 than ever before.

With packages of all sizes, shapes, and weights moving along your conveyor system daily, "log jams" are bound to occur. Often employees have to resort to "makeshift" jam break poles, or whatever is within arm's reach, to unjam conveyors. Unfortunately, when employees use these sorts of bent metal makeshift conveyor jam-up tools, safety issues or product damage can often result. Whether your company moves hundreds (or millions) of products each day, product damage or downtime due to these package jams can mean the difference between success and failure for your operation. 

Whether your company moves thousands or millions of packages, operational inefficiencies, product damage or downtime can mean the difference between success and failure.

Globe's engineering team noticed that distribution centers were using bent metal makeshift tools to unjam packages on conveyor systems. Sometimes the bent metal ends were welded or fastened and the sharp edges of the tool punctured the package or damaged the product. These makeshift tools aren’t easy to repair, causes product damage and are not safe for package handlers or employees. 

In any parcel or distribution facility, there are several pieces of equipment that are critical to operations. Tilt-tray sorters, diverter arms, actuators, and conveyance components all keep business operations running smoothly. Packing and shipping tools, such as palletizers, trailers, and trucks, play an integral role in the efficient movement of parcels. Unfortunately, each of these critical tools can experience issues that disrupt performance.

Downtime can be costly and disrupt the flow of your whole enterprise. There is nothing more frustrating than watching an essential piece of equipment sit idle. Are these frustrations just a part of the job, or is there something you can do to minimize unscheduled downtime?

When it comes to material handling, the conveyor that the materials are transported on is just as important as the materials themselves. While the primary goal of most conveyor systems is to provide an opportunity to inspect products and transport them throughout your facility, this is not possible without the implementation of a proper handling system. 

When your company is handling a massive amount of packages each day, employees risk injury due to inadequate equipment—and oftentimes the tools that they use suffer from the heavy wear & tear of daily use. With packages of all sizes, shapes, and weights moving along the conveyor system daily, jams are bound to occur. Unfortunately, workers sometimes have to resort to makeshift jam break poles or whatever is within arm's reach to alleviate the problem. 

What is a Stationary Diverter Arm?

A stationary diverter arm is used in automatic sorting systems for parcels, packages, boxes, or other items to change the object's direction or orientation on the conveyor belt.  They can be used to redirect packages or parcels at any point on a conveyor easily and without the need for automated assistance or manned supervision.

What is a Jam Break Tool?

Although it looks like a shepherd's hook, you won't see Bo Peep carrying one tending her flock.  A Jam Break Tool is used for dislodging items or parcels that may have become jammed or lodged in sorting systems. Jam Break Tools can be attached to poles of varying lengths to grab packages from just about anywhere and easily free it from the system.