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Balancing Cost Control and Quality in Loading Dock Equipment Selection

How did we ever get anything done without loading docks? Before we had a direct line from truck to building, dock workers had to trudge back and forth to lug their goods inside. Now that docks are the standard, your business likely invests in dock equipment to optimize the process of loading and unloading. As sellers and installers of dock equipment, we know from firsthand experience just how pricey it can be. As such, balancing the cost of gear while prioritizing quality can seem like an impossible needle to thread. But it’s not! Barron Equipment has consolidated the key factors you should be considering when optimizing your loading dock with new equipment.

 

Dock lever behind commercial business

Aim for Cost-Effective, Not Cheap

For starters, let’s make something crystal clear: compromising on quality is never worth it. While low-cost dock equipment can be a head-turner, always be wary of it at first glance. It’s possible the reason that price is so alluring might be due to what it lacks compared to the competition. For example, a cheaper truck restraint might have a weaker composition or lack rust resistance, making it more likely that you’ll need to replace it sooner than anticipated. It might even break mid-use and cause damage to your business or injuries to your employees. Keeping an eye out for any suspicious listings when shopping is of utmost importance if you want to avoid these situations. Look to local and regional professionals that work with reputable manufacturers. Like Barron Equipment, they should be willing and prepared to do a site visit to help you determine the best product for your application.

"Customers are generally looking for the right equipment at the right price," says Mitch Konkol, District Sales Manager at Poweramp. "This can look different depending on the market the customer is in and their experience with dock equipment. A high use, high volume, heavy weight application will need equipment that can stand up to the heavy daily usage with little downtime. Other customers have light usage but low volume that still want a good product without breaking the bank. The real difference maker for different sectors is how they incorporate safety into the dock space. As safety becomes more and more important around the loading dock, it can lead many customers to a higher initial investment in quality equipment to incorporate safety items such as barrier lips, vehicle restraints, interlocking, and restraint bypass monitoring."

 

Look at the Bigger Picture

Of course, the solution to this challenge isn’t to blindly splurge on expensive gear, it’s to take a more holistic approach to cost control. Instead of glancing at a product’s upfront cost, consider factors like energy consumption, maintenance support, and how long it’s expected to last. Take note of any quality guarantees and warranties on offer, too. All these features vastly increase the value of the equipment you’re looking at and make the purchase more justifiable.

 

One example of quality consideration is when Barron Equipment recently worked with an established customer to fully replace all dock levelers on a ten dock system. They were adamant about replacing all otherwise functional loading dock equipment with newer equipment at the same time, but within a smaller budget. Less expensive but generally less reliable levelers were installed in order to meet their budgetary needs. Within two years of initial installation, their levelers began failing. The customer then came to us to reassess why the levelers were failing, and decided to budget for two new, high-end Poweramp PR Series Levelers from Barron Equipment per year. It took five years following the beginning of the leveler failures to fully replace with PR Series levelers. Since then, the customer has not had significant problems or failures of their dock levelers. More durable and well-engineered product choices will allow them to circumvent additional expenses in servicing and replacing equipment, saving them much more money in the long run.

 

Loading Dock Levelers

In addition to choosing higher quality equipment, it's also important to consider buying in bulk to save on costs. For instance, why buy a single weather seal to secure your doors from the elements when you could buy multiple for when they wear out? Many businesses offer a bulk discount when this is done, so take advantage of that. Leveraging these offers can mean the difference between breaking the bank and sparing your savings.

You can accomplish all of this by finding a reputable installer manned with product experts to help you determine the best loading dock equipment for your situation. Distributors with experienced service and installation teams like Barron Equipment have the know-how to assess your docking needs and provide you with options, as well as maintain the functionality of your investment moving forward. Barron Equipment offers a scheduled maintenance program on loading dock doors and equipment to assist you in keeping your docks in working order. Maintenance is scheduled at your convenience and includes:

  • Visual door inspection
  • Check for weather seal gapping
  • Balance/adjust dock doors
  • Track, roller, hinge, cable and operator inspections
  • Bearing, chain and sprocket lubrication
  • Spring bumper check
  • Crack, rust and deterioration inspection on dock boards, plates and bumpers
  • Lip and header hinge tube cleaning and functionality check
  • Rear hinge and hinge pin inspections
  • Oil, grease and adjustments to unit
  • Hydraulic fluid level checks
  • Sub gram and shim packs inspection
  • Inspection of cylinder pins and mounting holes for cracks, deterioration, and missing components
  • Inspect toe guards for free movement when applicable
  • Bumper wear and tear, with replacement recommendations where necessary
  • Hold down assembly and lip holder inspection
  • Pit cleaning underneath dock leveler area and remove all FOD

Barron's scheduled maintenance also includes comprehensive reporting of which equipment was fixed and what needs further repairs, allowing you to manage and maintain that data for your internal use. We will also proactively provide recommendation for future equipment replacement, ultimately saving you company time and money in the long run.

The Hallmarks of Quality Dock Equipment

When you’re scouring for deals, there are plenty of other factors that indicate quality. Certifications never hurt! Find out whether the dock plate you’re looking at is OSHA compliant or check to see if it was tested in accordance with ANSI’s standards. If it's certified, it might be worth the money. It might also be wise to pay attention to the materials used in these products, as they tend to be indicative of their build quality and durability. Metals like aluminum and stainless steel are known for their strength, while the use of an “all-welded” design adds further resistance to wear-and-tear.

Speaking of materials, seeking out equipment that can resist corrosion is something else to consider, especially if your business uses hazardous or corrosive chemicals. Such designs are also handy if your work environment is exposed to inclement weather often, as they’ll stand strong against rain and hail damage. Also, the sturdier the equipment, the more it’ll hold up to frequent use in the long-term, making it much more worth the investment compared to cheaper alternatives.

Finding a trusted vendor with an impressive track record will only help you in the long run, too. Not only will such a seller offer you trustworthy products in the short term, but they can also be relied on for years to come whenever you need repairs or new equipment. Combined, all these bullet points will come in handy when seeking out the best dock equipment on the market.

Striking the Right Balance

This all means very little to most businesses if the price isn’t right. When searching for dock equipment, try focusing on essential features, such as load capacity or certain safety measures. Don’t downplay the power that customization has to keep costs down! In some cases, dock equipment can be customized in ways that don’t result in a price hike, like adjusting its size or swapping a component type. Take some time to consider the long-term value a product will have and ensure it won’t need to be replaced anytime soon. Take iDock controls, for instance. While investing in them may sound like an unnecessary expenditure, think about how much they could save you in the long run. With their ability to keep you updated on the conditions through fault troubleshooting and control integration of your dock, they could get you to address issues before they worsen and make you spend thousands on fixing it.

Conclusion

For as long as there are loading docks, loading dock equipment will be there to make them more efficient. If you’re on the hunt for some new tools, you shouldn’t have to blow your budget just to keep up with your cargo. When perusing the web for dock equipment, remember that you shouldn’t be settling for a drop in quality. Also, focus on the greater needs of your business before buying. Reminding yourself of factors like energy consumption and maintenance support should make investing in new gear feel more sensible. Lastly, striking a balance between essential features and extra add-ons can help keep the price tag in check while ensuring you don’t get stuck with low-quality equipment.

Staying up to date on loading dock equipment doesn’t have to feel like pulling teeth. With the help of these tips, you should be able to ride the line between quality and frugality without a hitch. Now get out there and give your loading docks the equipment they deserve!

CentraAir Air Powered Dock Leveler

Braking Ground: A Comprehensive Guide to Diverse Industrial Caster Brake Types

When purchasing industrial casters, people can get lost in the sea of information surrounding the multiple possibilities. At Barron Equipment, we’d like to provide the most information possible to help you make an informed decision about your casters that will provide the best ergonomics and highest efficiencies for your company.  

One aspect of casters that can become complicated is choosing the type of brake for the casters. Not all casters come with wheel brakes. This is an optional add-on to many of our swivel casters and some of our rigid casters. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of caster brakes we offer: 

The Face Contact Brake 

Side view of a Kingpinless Swivel caster with a face contact brake
Angled view of a Kingpinless Swivel caster with a face contact brake

A Face Contact Brake mounts directly onto the tread of the wheel. It is engaged at the trailing end of the caster and it locks directly onto the face (or the tread) of the wheel.  

Benefits of this type of brake are that they are fantastic for everyday use and they have the capability to be field installed. This brake is also commonly used on Mother/Daughter carts transported long distances throughout a factory.  

Barron casters that include a Face Contact Brake have part numbers that end in “FCB.” 

The Built in Brake 

Side view of a Kingpinless Swivel Caster with phenolic wheel and Built in Brake
Angled view of a Kingpinless Swivel Caster with phenolic wheel and Built in Brake

Similar to the Face Contact Brake, the Built in Brake on a caster makes contact with the tread of the wheel in order to stop the caster, but this brake is built into the fork of the caster.  

Because of its unique design, this brake is stronger than the Face Contact Brake and is ideal for heavy duty applications, especially when the caster brakes are consistently being engaged and disengaged more than average. 

You will also find this style of brake being used in Mother/Daughter cart applications, similar to the Face Contact Brake.  

For Barron casters with Built in Brakes, look for “BIB” at the end of the part number.  

Check out this video to learn about the differences between the Face Contact Brake and the Built in Brake (or Integrated Brake as it’s referred to in this video). 

 

The Top Lock Brake 

Side view of industrial swivel caster with polyurethane wheel and top lock brake
Angled view of industrial swivel caster with polyurethane wheel and top lock brake

Rather than being mounted on to the face of the wheel, like the Face Contact Brake and Built in Brake, the Top Lock Brake is mounted to the side of the caster with a lock that activates on the top face of the wheel. 

Because of the placement of the activation pedal, there is a smaller swivel radius for the swivel caster, making this brake an ideal option for applications in tight spaces.  

While this brake is only available with our 40 series, Industrial Casters, it does have the option to be added to a rigid caster, which is not common for most brake types. Another advantage to the Top Lock Brake is that they are field installable. If you purchase a 40 series caster and decide you need a brake later, Barron can help get top lock brakes installed in the field.  

To find casters with a Top Lock Brake, look for part numbers that end in “TB.” 

 

The Ideal Stop Brake 

Side view of industrial swivel caster with ideal stop brake
Angled video of industrial swivel caster with ideal stop brake

The Ideal Stop Brake is a total lock brake and is the best caster brake offered by Barron Equipment. It not only locks the wheel, but also the swivel raceway simultaneously. The pedal of the brake does not rotate with the swivel part of the caster, so it’s always accessible. The main disadvantage for other brake types is that they are not always accessible if the caster swivels under the cart.  

Another advantage of the Ideal Stop Brake is that it eliminates the need for floor locks. Two brakes can also be merged into one by using a foot bar to engage two brakes at once. The only disadvantage for this type of brake is that it’s only available on 40 series Industrial Casters – specifically 6 inch and 8 inch wheel diameters.  

Caster models with Ideal Stop Brakes have “IS” at the end of the part number.  

Check out the video below for more information about our Ideal Stop Brake.  

Additional Items

60.42.51.CIR.DSL

A couple of other options available for casters include a Ring Activated Demountable Swivel Lock or a Foot Activated Demountable Swivel Lock. To activate the Ring Activated Lock, a ring is pulled. For the Foot Activated Lock, a pedal is stepped on to activate the lock.  

The purpose of these locks are to lock swivel casters into place so they can essentially become rigid casters. This can be beneficial when you’re moving a cart into a tight area that requires four swivel casters, but then needs a change in application to have two rigid and two swivel casters. A ring can be pulled or a pedal can be stepped on to engage the lock on two out of the four casters, allowing for more versatility within the application. 

Casters with Demountable Swivel Locks will have “DSL” at the end of the part number.  

 

Brake TypeBuilt for Heavy Duty ApplicationsField InstallableIdeal for Tight SpacesAlways AccessibleAvailable for any Caster Series
Face Contact BrakeNoYesNoNoYes
Built in BrakeYesNoNoNoNo
Top Lock BrakeNoYesYesNoNo
Ideal Stop BrakeYesNoYesYesNo

Conclusion 

Barron Equipment carries a wide variety of industrial swivel casters and industrial rigid casters, along with caster brakes that allow for higher efficiency and longer service life of casters. Still not sure which caster is best for your application? We have a team of specialists dedicated to educating people on the different benefits and types of caster products. Fill out the form below and a caster specialist will be in touch soon!  

 

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3 Reasons You Should Consider Fixing Industrial Equipment that Isn’t Broken

racking

A couple of weeks ago, our service crew installed new racking in our warehouse. At first, I was a little confused by this. What's wrong with our current racking? Why did we need to get new racking? Did something happen that I didn't know about? After asking these questions, I found out that we were just upgrading our racking system. But if it isn't broken....why would we need to fix it?

 

Whether it’s performing preventative maintenance on equipment or replacing equipment entirely, here are three reasons why either of those decisions can be more beneficial for your company in the long run:

Safety

Just because equipment looks safe on the outside, it doesn’t mean it’s actually safe to use! Racking in particular often gets dinged up by fork trucks and other equipment. This can really affect the structural integrity of the racking system.

You never want to put your employees in a position where they can get injured. So doing racking inspections and having preventative maintenance performed on doors and truck and loading dock equipment is a must!

Efficiency

Newer racking systems and truck and loading dock equipment are built to be more efficient for the end user. One of the reasons we replaced our racking system in our warehouse was because the loading and unloading from the rack was more efficient than the previous racking system. Efficiency leads to happier employees and higher productivity.

Productivity

It's simple. New equipment that is easier to use will increase your productivity and thus, your profits.

Contact us for a rack inspection or to set up preventative/scheduled maintenance today!

3 Ways to Keep Your Business Safe During a Pandemic

It is an unprecedented time in our culture and we're all doing the best we can to stay safe and healthy. Here are 3 cost effective ways to keep a virus at bay.

Driver Access Cages

Driver Access Cages not only increase security within your warehouse, but they act as a barrier, preventing truck drivers, delivery people and other non-employees from entering your building without permission. Failing to restrict building access is a huge potential risk for accidents in your facility, especially if they are not a trained employee. Driver Access Cages also protect your inventory. Many companies now have protocols and procedures in place for checking visitors in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Driver Access Cages are a great place to start!

Ray-Air Fans

Studies have show that COVID-19 can last several hours, if not days, on hard surfaces. The virus can only last about 3 hours in the air. A good solution would be to keep the air flow going! Ray-Air uses patented air movement technology to increase Air Turnovers per Hour (ATPH). In addition to purifying the air, it is also energy efficient and it keeps your space at consistent temperatures.

Janitorial Cabinets

Although this product might not help you prevent the spread of a virus directly, it will definitely help keep you sane by keeping you clean and organized! We have a variety of cabinets for different purposes, but our janitorial cabinets are great for storing cleaning products and chemicals.
janitorial storage cabinet

Reminder - We ARE a Critical Business!

Service Techs

We keep your business up and running

Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors is considered a critical business because we provide equipment and service to critical businesses. If you are in need of either equipment or service, do not hesitate to reach out. We are in this together!

Click the button below for more information about our products and services.

Special Announcement Regarding COVID-19

2019BarronLogo

STILL RESPONSIBLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Dear Valued Customer,
Given global concerns regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to personally reach out and share the extra precautions Barron Equipment and Overhead Doors is taking to keep our customers and employees safe and allow them to have confidence in Barron Equipment and Overhead Doors.

For more than 40 years, Barron Equipment and Overhead Doors has had a safety program in place to not only provide ongoing OSHA and safety training to employees, but also to coordinate health and safety procedures throughout both of our locations.

We are carefully monitoring the recommendations of governmental health agencies, such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health organizations, and we have further elevated our stringent cleaning and sanitation protocol. Here are some examples of what we are doing:
  • Disinfecting high-touch hard surfaces throughout the our buildings
  • Increasing the deployment of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers within our office and warehouse spaces
  • Educating our staff on COVID-19 symptoms as well as preventative measures
  • Instructing employees to wash their hands a minimum of hourly, which has been proven by the CDC to be the most effective preventative measure
  • Mandating that employees who are not feeling well, stay home to prevent the spread of germs

There is no denying that COVID-19 has had an impact on our communities. Rest assured, Barron Equipment is taking the proper precautions as this situation evolves. We will continue monitoring the situation closely, keeping safety top priority and following the recommendations provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

We are still here when you need us. If your equipment is down, even after-hours, our service team is available to help keep your operation running. The most important thing is to keep our team safe while still supporting all the needs of our customers.

Thank you for your long-term trust in Barron Equipment and Overhead Doors. Our dedicated employees and customers have been at the center of our business since we opened our first location in 1979, and we remain committed to offering you a safe and enjoyable environment.

Thank you for being our loyal customer,
Pete Loken, President
Steve Joslin, Vice President

Why the Insulation of Your Garage Door Matters

Carriage House Garage doors

When you’re buying a new garage door for your home or business, it’s sometimes tempting to go with the cheaper option. But what if you were aware of all of the benefits of garage door insulation? Would you upgrade to a door with a higher R value? What type of insulation would you choose? Let’s dive into that a little bit and give you some information about why insulation matters.

 

THE BIGGEST AREA OF HEAT LOSS IS YOUR GARAGE

 

inside garage door

It’s a proven fact! With an insulated garage door, you can increase energy efficiency and ensure that you’re not paying extra for your heat in the winter. Not only does insulation help from preventing heat from escaping, but it also prevents hot air from getting into your garage during the warmer months.

 

Quieter garage door = happy family & happy neighbors

 

neighborhood

Okay, I will admit, this isn’t a proven fact. But it makes sense, right? If you’ve ever come home to a sleeping baby and had to quickly close the man door to your garage so that the noisy garage door won’t wake up the baby, then you know what I’m talking about! You also wouldn’t want to be those people in the neighborhood who have the loudest garage door on the block. Insulation can help with this! Studies have shown that insulated garage doors are about 3 times quieter than non-insulated garage doors.

The R-value is what is used to measure the transmission of heat

 

brown garage door

If you’re shopping for garage doors, you’ll want to know what “R-value” means. The R-value refers to the transmission of heat. Garage doors with a higher R-value have a slower transmission of heat. Which ultimately means you will have less warm air escaping your garage door when it’s cold outside and less heat trying to get through your garage door in the summer time. The R-value (ranging from 6.3 to 20.4) can be determined based on the material/type of insulation and the thickness of the door. Again, if you’re going to reap the benefits of an insulated door, you will want to look for a mid to high range R-value.

Poly-what?

 

There are two main types of garage door insulation – polystyrene and polyurethane. Both are great, but it’s good to know the difference.

Polystyrene is what you’ll typically find at your major retail stores. Rigid panels of polystyrene are put in between the steel. While this is more energy efficient than a door without any insulation, it’s still not quite as efficient as a door insulated with polyurethane.

Why is that? Polyurethane is a foam that is injected in between the steel layers. Because it is foam, and not rigid panels, it reaches all those gaps that the polystyrene cannot.

Both Polystyrene and Polyurethane are great choices for insulating your garage door. But if you want the ultimate energy efficiency, you’d want to go with Polyurethane.

 

Polystyrene insulation
polyurethane insulation

At Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors, we have a wide selection of doors that have low R-values to high R-values, as well as doors insulated with Polystyrene and Polyurethane.

In fact, for the months of January and February, we are having a promotion on all of R 9 and R 18.4 doors!

 

January Resi Email Banner

For more information, give us a call today!

 

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence

40th Anniversary Email Banner

Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors is celebrating 40 years of excellence in the Material Handling industry as of December 2019.

Barb and Ron Modjeska originally founded Barron Equipment in Davenport, IA, December 15, 1979. In the past 40 years, we have upgraded our Davenport location to a larger building off of Brady Street, grown our team to 60 strong, added another location in Des Moines, IA, and increased our business to accommodate cities and states all across the United States.

Here is a timeline of the most notable events over the last 40 years:

Barron History Timeline

An interview with the original owners of Barron - Barb & Ron Modjeska

What did you do before you started Barron?

"We both worked at Material Handling in Bettendorf, Iowa."

Why did you decide to start Barron?

"I wanted to set up a separate division at Material Handling selling everything but forklifts, we called them allied lines.  These included dock equipment, conveyors, storage rack, etc.  The owner of Material Handling didn’t think there was enough money in allied lines, so he didn’t see the need. I didn’t like selling forklifts, so I quit and started Barron."

How many employees did you have in the beginning?

"Just the two of us."

What are some of the challenges you faced with starting a company?

"The recession in the early 1980’s.  The area lost about 20,000 manufacturing jobs,  J.I. Case closed in Bettendorf and Rock Island, Caterpillar closed in Bettendorf and Mt. Joy, and John Deere cut way back."

How were you able to overcome the challenges you faced from local manufacturing companies making cuts during the recession?

"When the economy was so bad, we made a greater effort and made more calls. We also had to adjust our income down."

What was your biggest accomplishment over the 23+ years of owning Barron?

"Over the 23+ years, the fact that we developed a good reputation and gained great lines of products. The best part was that we hired great employees, and kept them."

If you could go back and change anything, would you? If so, what would it be?

"Not one thing!"

What advice do you have for the current owners of Barron?

"They’ve done an outstanding job!  Just treat your employees well and the rest will come."

Barb Ron
Larry Pete Barb Ron
Pete Steve
Barron Anniversary Logo

What is Barron up to now?

Cultivating Corporate Culture

Family, food, and fun are some words that our employees would use to describe Barron. While several of our team members are related, once you're a part of the Barron team, you become family! We enjoy having our monthly Barron employee cookouts where we get to know each other and enjoy some good food. We also take part in other fun events such as baseball games, concerts, bowling, etc.

Nate Mike Steve
Award from Poweramp

Expanding Influence

With two locations, we are looking at expanding our brand not only throughout the Midwest, but throughout the whole country. We have found that even though we're a smaller, local company, we have the potential to become a nationwide brand. Our dedication to our customers and our ability to find custom solutions are what sets us apart from other material handling companies.

Working Together as a Team

Teamwork makes the dreamwork! As cliché as that phrase is, we've found it to be true. We are a sales driven organization, but we recognize the importance of each and every employee and how we can all work together to achieve a common goal. By investing in software and programs that allow for greater communication amongst departments, we've found our team cohesiveness has improved. We are excited to ring in new year and the new decade with a strong focus on team work and an emphasis on servant leadership.

Barron leaders
Team Pic of people whove beenat barron for 10 years
Full team at 40th anniversary
Pete Steve with cake

Cheers to Many More Years!

We are so thankful to be able to celebrate our 40th anniversary in December of 2019. It has taken a lot of hard work, perseverance and team work to get to where we are today. We are excited to be able to grow our business and reach new markets. Special thank you to all of our loyal customers who have made us as successful as we are today.

Blast From the Past

Addition on the Old Tremont Building"
Brad Clevenger"
Celebrating a Birthday"
Installing a Dock Lift"
Eugene Tawney"
Installing a Dock Lift"
Installing a Pit Mounted Lift Table"
Larry in the Pit"
Larry Venden & Chris Clevenger"
Old Barron Truck"
Unloading a Dock Leveler"
Installing a Pit Mounted Lift Table"
Young Larry Venden"
Chris Clevenger"
Brad Clevenger & Lee Bower"
Barron Circa 2012"

4 Reasons to Get a Barron Calendar

Product Calendar Image
Caster Calendar

Lots of companies come out with their own calendars. Whether it's poster-style, pocket calendars, or flip-book style, they all do the same thing -- tell you the date. So why would you need one from Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors? Here are 4 reasons why!

1. It's functional

Calendars are great to look at, but they're meant to be used! Scribble in appointments, meetings, events, birthdays, you name it. The best calendars are the ones that can be personalized for your needs. Our new style of calendar is a flip book style that allows big enough spaces to write information in for each day. This creates the perfect amount of functionality for our calendars.

calendar image

 

2. It's informational

showroom casters

Lots of people wonder what we do at Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors. Basically, if it's in your warehouse, it's in our wheelhouse! The Barron Product calendar features a different product group every month with information and pictures. The Barron Caster calendar does the same, but with caster specific information. Both are great for expanding your product knowledge of the material handling industry and understanding what Barron has to offer.

 

3. Deals on deals!

It wouldn't be fun if we weren't giving anything away! We have a variety of offers each month of the calendar. Some of these offers on the product calendar include: 15% off scheduled maintenance, 10% off residential garage door openers, free rack inspections, etc. The caster calendar offers 20% off of your first online caster order. All of these amazing offers add up to over $1,000 worth of deals.

Liftmaster 8355W 267 Garage Door Opener

 

4. It's FREE!

happy employee

Did we mention both of these calendars are free? That's right! Over $1,000 worth of deals for free! Order yours today by clicking one of the buttons below, or email us for more information.

3 Reasons Why You Should Schedule an Ergonomic Walkthrough

ergo walkthrough

Ergonomics are somewhat of a buzzword in this day and age in the manufacturing industry. Ergonomics can be defined as the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. Ensuring your factory/warehouse is ergonomically friendly is important, not only for safety, but also for increased productivity and profits.

Here are 3 reasons you should schedule an ergonomic walkthrough with us:

 

1. Prevent injuries

employee with hurt back

Our team can review how your employees are performing their jobs and point out potential hazards with their processes. Some processes may seem fine in the moment, but with repetitive movements come chronic injuries. Our specialists have an eye for movements that may seem harmless, but could become a problem in the future.

 

2. Increase Efficiency

palletpal

Ensuring your work space is ergonomically friendly can help with efficiency. For example, if your employee is bending down to pick up boxes off of a pallet on the ground, it may take him a while to get the job done. If he had a PalletPal 360, the employee won’t have to bend down or take extra steps to get the boxes because the PalletPal will automatically adjust to the correct height depending on the load and will spin to make unloading quicker and more efficient. We all know time is money! So by making this process more efficient, you will be saving time and increasing productivity – therefore increasing sales. Our team can look at your current equipment and make recommendations for equipment that will make the job easier and more efficient.

 

3. Improve Employee Morale

happy employee

By ensuring that employees are safe from recurring, chronic injuries and increasing their efficiency in the workplace, you’ll have happier employees! Happier employees reduces turnover, which will help save you money because those employees will stay with your company longer and you won’t have to train new employees. Loyal, hardworking employees can be hard to find. You want to make sure you’re fostering a healthy environment to keep your best employees happy and fulfilled in the workplace.

 

Ergonomics should be an important aspect of your business. If you haven’t been making ergonomics a priority, we can help! Give us a call or fill out the form on this page to schedule your complimentary ergonomic walkthrough today!

 

5 Reasons to get Polyurethane Wheels on your Casters

Polyurethane wheels

Let’s start off by discussing what casters are and how they are used. The official definition of a “caster” is a wheeled device typically mounted to a larger object that enables that object to roll relatively easily. Heavy duty casters are often used in an industrial setting, such as in factories or warehouses. You may have seen medium to light duty casters used on everyday items, such as a shopping carts or TV stands.

“What’s the difference between casters and wheels?” you might be wondering. The short answer is that wheels were invented over 5,000 years ago and we’re pretty accustomed to seeing them around, pun intended. The difference between a wheel and a caster is that wheels are part of the caster. A caster includes the wheel, along with a bracket, which is often-times called a “fork.” Casters are more versatile and have only been around for about 150 years.

Apex wheels on cart

Casters can be used for many different applications within an industrial setting. There are different types of options and combinations when it comes to choosing the caster material, bearing type, size of the caster and the wheel type. While there are several options on the market, we’re going to explain today while polyurethane is one of the best materials for the wheels on your casters.

polyurethane chemical compounds

Because we like to define everything, here’s the fascinating definition for “polyurethane” - a synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams. Super scientific, right?

Let’s break it down for you! Here are 5 reasons why polyurethane is one of the best wheel materials for your casters:

polyurethane wheels on a cart

1. Floor Protection

Who wants a scratched/scuffed up floor? Not us! Nobody wants to pay extra money to have the floor redone, simply because casters have damaged it. The material of polyurethane will deflect and create a much large footprint than some of its harder wheel counterparts (such as nylon wheels)

employee with hearing protection

2. Less Noisy

Products that protect your employees are hot on the market right now. Everything from ergonomic matting, to sit-to-stand desks, to pallet pals that help prevent work injuries. One injury that can commonly get overlooked is hearing loss. While most companies provide earplugs, they sometimes don’t always do the job. Polyurethane wheels act as a shock absorber and noise levels are dramatically reduced in comparison to steel or cast iron wheels. This will ultimately keep the noise level down and protect your employees’ ears.

polyurethane wheels on a cart

3. Higher Load Capacity

In comparison to rubber wheels, polyurethane can withstand a much higher load capacity, which also providing the benefits of rubber wheels (such as noise reduction, shock absorption, and floor protection).

4. High Resiliency

Not only is the tread non-slip, but the caster wheel itself has high resiliency because of the polyurethane material and the way it is designed. Its rebound resilience is higher than that of many other wheel materials, which causes it to be more ergonomic because less force is needed to push/pull the caster, because of its rebound energy.

polyurethane wheels on shelf

5. Tread is non-slip

The non-slip tread allows for it to keep towed carts right-side up where sliding can be a problem for harder wheel materials. Because of the good traction, less force is necessary to drive the wheels, reducing the amount of load on the wheel and prolonging the life of the casters. Not only is the tread non-slip, but the caster wheel itself has high resiliency because of the polyurethane material and the way it is designed. Its rebound resilience is higher than that of many other wheel materials, which causes it to be more ergonomic because less force is needed to push/pull the caster, because of its rebound energy.

Barron Caster logo

While there are several options for casters and wheels, polyurethane is a great choice, especially if you work in wet and/or humid environments.

Not all urethane wheels are the same! We are very picky about the quality of products we sell, and we only carry the best wheels and casters on the market. We also offer a four year warranty on all Blickle urethane wheels. For more information about our polyurethane wheels and/or all of our casters and wheels, please contact us at casters@barroneq.com, or give us a call at 1-800-397-6690.

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