Blog Posts - Barron Equipment & Overhead Doors

Choosing the Right Power Pusher for Your Industry: A Buyer’s Guide

Posted on March 24, 2025March 26, 2025 by Amanda Clark

Introduction

In the vast world of Material Handling, ergonomics has been and will continue to be a top priority for many manufacturers. Why are ergonomics so important? Simply put, a safe employee is a happy employee. Furthermore, increasing productivity and efficiency within a business benefits it on a holistic level. Employers are always on the lookout for the products that can take their processes to the next level.

PowerPusher, a brand of electric tuggers, pushers, and lifts, is currently taking the material handling world by storm. Commonly used in industrial manufacturing, car dealerships, and aerospace industries, this product has helped thousands of companies save money on the daily transportation of goods from one place to another.

Because it can cater to multiple industries, it’s important to keep your application in mind when shopping for a power pusher. As with many equipment purchases, the style and type of equipment, as well as the add-on features, should apply to your specific industry and the needs of the company.

This guide is designed to provide key considerations and tips for making the right selection. If you still have questions after consulting this buyer’s guide, you can find more information on our PowerPusher category page or you can request more information from our experts by using our PowerPusher Request Form at the bottom of this page.

Section 1: Understanding the Role of Power Pushers

What Are Power Pushers?

As mentioned above, power pushers are electric tuggers, pushers, and lifts that are designed to move heavy objects more easily and ergonomically, and are typically used by industrial and automotive businesses.

While PowerPushers have been around since the late 1950s, many companies are just now learning and benefiting from the wide variety of applications and material-moving solutions this group of products brings to the table. Industries who have seen positive results from PowerPushers include:

Vehicle manufacturers
Car dealerships
Aerospace
Food and beverage manufacturers
Agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers
Warehouses and storage centers
Healthcare facilities

PowerPushers can both push and pull items but may also require specific attachments depending on the application. Like other types of ergonomic equipment, PowerPushers improve efficiency, reduce labor costs and enhance safety. All of these benefits make PowerPushers a solid investment for many companies in those industries.

Section 2: Key Considerations When Choosing a Power Pusher

We offer many different PowerPusher products on our website. But which one is best for you? Here are some of the most important factors when choosing the right Power Pusher for your business:

Load Capacity – What is the heaviest load the pusher will need to move? Different industries work with different size loads, so it’s important to know the heaviest load needed. Certain machines have higher load capacities than others. For example, a standard duty Automotive PowerPusher has a load capacity of 22,000 lbs, whereas a Super PowerPusher has a capacity of 120,000 lbs. Here’s a full table of PowerPusher products with respective capacities:

	Product Name	Load Capacity
	Automotive PowerPusher	22,000 lbs.
	Automotive Super PowerPusher	55,000 lbs.
	E-750 Trailer Mover	7,500 lbs.
	E-12K Trailer Mover	12,000 lbs.
	Heavy-Duty Trailer Mover	35,000 lbs. (Tires/Casters) 70,000 lbs. (Rails)
	E-750 Electric Wheelbarrow	1,000 lbs.
	PT 1.2 Electric Cart Mover	2,600 lbs.
	Automotive MFC-100	4,000 lbs.
	Dual-Motor Super PowerPusher	250,000 lbs.
	Extra-Duty PowerPusher	25,000 lbs.
	Hazardous Duty PowerPusher	25,000 lbs. – 150,000 lbs.
	MFC-100 PowerPusher	15,000 lbs.
	Power Tug	6,000 lbs.
	PowerPusher Dumpster Mover	500 lbs. – 6,000 lbs.
	PowerPusher Rail Mover	90,000 lbs. – 450,000 lbs.
	ET-105 Powered Lift Table	800 lbs.
	ET-100 Transporter	1,100 lbs.

2. Terrain and Surface Type: The type of environment in which a power pusher will be used in should be considered, as it can greatly affect the performance of the mover. For example, if you’re using the pusher outside on gravel, you’ll want to opt for a more aggressive tread, such as adding tire chains, that can grip the ground more effectively. To view what additional options are available for tires on the power pushers, review the spec sheets available in the resource tab on each product page.

3. Usage Frequency: Depending on how often you plan on using the ergonomic movers and how far you plan on pushing them, certain models will work better than others. All products are generally rated for the same distance of travel and will be in the 3-3.5 mile range per battery. When considering usage, ask yourself if the usage volume is greater than 3.5 miles between charging cycles. Typically, this is not the case. However, if it’s a continuous use application versus an occasional use application, a good solution is to opt for higher capacity battery option that can handle a larger capacity.

4. Power Source (Battery Life and Power Output): Majority of the PowerPushers have batteries with built-in battery chargers and the ability to be plugged into 115V outlets when not in use. The machines are also equipped with battery charge indicators for convenience. These machines can all be charged on 100-240 Volts AC, single phase, 50 or 60 Hz electrical service. The max amp draw can vary by machine, but it’s a maximum of 7.5 amps. It takes about 6-8 hours to charge the batteries and depending on the size of the load and the environment, these movers should last 2-6 miles in-between charges. Electric charging makes it easy to get power pushers back up and running quickly and improve productivity.

5. Safety Features: At their core, PowerPushers promote safety. By switching from manually pushing and pulling objects to using an electric drive system, you’re improving ergonomics and advocating for a safer work environment. These ergonomic machines are equipped with a variety of safety features depending on the product. Some of these include:

Automatic Braking with Anti-Runaway – Automotive PowerPusher
Programmable Control System that allows for speed adjustments based on the environment – Dumpster Mover
Ergonomic Handles with hand guards – Dumpster Mover, E-12K Trailer Mover
Motion Alert Beepers – optional on Dumpster Mover and Trailer Movers
Motion Strobe Light – optional on Dumpster Mover and Heavy-Duty Trailer Mover
Emergency Stop – E-750 Trailer Mover
All of these safety features are designed to prevent accidents and further improve productivity.

6. Customization and Accessories: Depending on the industry in which the power pusher is being used, different attachments or modifications need to be added to the equipment to suit unique operational needs. These can include specific types of hitches (ball, combo, flatbed, pintle hook, etc.) for the trailer movers or different types of attachments or latches (angle iron, box receiver, easy-latch) for the Dual-Motor Super PowerPusher. It’s important to note which attachments come standard with a machine versus which attachments are considered add-ons or recommended options. Reviewing the specifications can help you determine which options are necessary for your application.

Note: Custom options are available and a Barron Equipment specialist can assist in helping you find the perfect power pusher for your company.

Section 3: Matching Power Pushers to Industry-Specific Needs

One of the easiest ways to shop for a power pusher is to consider your industry when doing so. That’s because these products were designed with specific industries in mind. Here are some of the most popular industries that utilize power pushers, how they use them, and which products apply to those specific markets.

Automotive Industry: Car dealerships, auto service stations, body shops and vehicle manufacturers utilize electric car pushers to move a multitude of vehicles daily. This type of vehicle pusher can help by moving inoperable cars and trucks into service bays, transporting trailers full of cars throughout parking lots, relocating parts and shelving units, and more. The battery-powered vehicle mover can also enhance safety in vehicle movement. Here are the most popular products for the automotive industry:

Manufacturing and Warehousing: Introducing power pushers to your industrial manufacturing or warehousing business would be a true game changer. Transporting raw materials, finished goods, parts or other items across the floor can be dangerous and inefficient. Thanks to tuggers and pushers, companies can save a significant amount of time and money, as well as eliminate the need for other types of equipment such as forklifts and cranes. These PowerPushers are the most common in industrial manufacturing and warehousing:

Healthcare: Safety and efficiency are the most crucial factors to focus on when buying equipment for the healthcare industry. Power pushers can be used to safely move heavy medical equipment or supply carts, all while remaining quiet through hospitals, labs and cleanrooms. Thanks to their clean, battery-powered, zero emission tugs, power pushers also minimize the risk of contamination. They also increase productivity and maintain clean standards in highly controlled environments. Here are our most popular products for the healthcare industry:

Construction: The Construction Industry is no stranger to the use of industrial machinery and transporting heavy loads. Power Pushers can be used to effectively move heavy building materials on rough or uneven terrain, due to the ability to customize the wheels on certain pushers to allow for stronger traction. Some common applications for power pushers and tuggers on construction sites include transporting heavy building materials such as concrete beams and steel slabs, moving tools and supplies across job sites. They also excel at relocating equipment, storage racks, or components and pushing/tugging trailers, lifts, or construction vehicles. These are the top PowerPusher products for the construction industry:

Other common industries that use Power Pushers include:

Agriculture
Aviation & Aerospace
Marine & RV
Cables, Reels & Paper Rolls
Ceramics
Distribution
Dumpster & Waste
Food Manufacturing
Ground Support Equipment
Landscaping
Railroad & Transit

You can filter PowerPusher products by industry by navigating to the PowerPusher category and selecting from the Industries in the filters on the left–hand side.

Section 4: Evaluating Vendors and Support Services

When purchasing any type of material handling equipment, it’s important to consider three important factors: the vendor’s reputation, after-sales support and warranty, and customer reviews and testimonials. Keeping these factors in mind will help you avoid unnecessary issues with products and services both during and after the purchase.

Vendor Reputation:

Companies should side with a vendor that has a solid track record in providing reliable power pushers and other material handling equipment. Consult the ratings for the company on Google and other reputable sites. Also, keep in mind that the manufacturer of PowerPushers, Nu-Star, is selective about which distributors they sell through and only select top-notch, reputable companies, such as Barron Equipment.

After-Sales Support and Warranty:

Upon purchasing material handling equipment, you’ll want to be assured that the company you purchased the equipment from can provide after-sales support, maintenance and warranties. Barron Equipment has a team of specialists trained on power pusher products that can answer questions, provide troubleshooting instructions, and even perform maintenance around the Midwest. We also offer a one-year warranty from the date of receipt on all parts of a PowerPusher product.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials:

Like the vendor reputation, but more product focused, customer reviews, case studies and testimonials can tell you a lot about products offered by a company. You’ll want to read through these to ensure the vendor’s equipment can meet your needs and reach out to the company for specific questions and customizations.

Section 5: Case Study

Case studies are a great way to get an understanding of how specific products can be applied and the positive outcome as a result of those uses. Check out our case study on a custom power pusher:

Super Duty Power Pusher with Custom Attachment

Case Study: HON Company Implements PowerPusher for Safe and Efficient Laser Table Movement

March 21, 2025 No Comments

Industry: Office Furniture Manufacturing Challenge: Ensuring Safe and Efficient Movement of Heavy Laser Tables HON Company, a division of HNI Corp., faced a critical challenge

Balancing Cost Control and Quality in Loading Dock Equipment Selection

Posted on January 15, 2025January 15, 2025 by Carson Wade

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.

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.

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!

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

Posted on February 5, 2024February 5, 2024 by Amanda Clark

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

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

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).

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

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.

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 Type	Built for Heavy Duty Applications	Field Installable	Ideal for Tight Spaces	Always Accessible	Available for any Caster Series
Face Contact Brake	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Built in Brake	Yes	No	No	No	No
Top Lock Brake	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Ideal Stop Brake	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No

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!

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

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Amanda Clark

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

Posted on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 by Amanda Clark

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!

Link to Additional Resources

Special Announcement Regarding COVID-19

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Amanda Clark

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

Why the Insulation of Your Garage Door Matters

Posted on January 15, 2020January 15, 2020 by Amanda Clark

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.

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.

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.

Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence

Posted on December 20, 2019March 25, 2021 by Amanda Clark

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:

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.”

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.

4 Reasons to Get a Barron Calendar

Posted on October 30, 2019January 30, 2023 by Amanda Clark

3 Reasons Why You Should Schedule an Ergonomic Walkthrough

Posted on September 27, 2019October 3, 2019 by Amanda Clark

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.

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.

Introduction

Section 1: Understanding the Role of Power Pushers

Section 2: Key Considerations When Choosing a Power Pusher

Section 3: Matching Power Pushers to Industry-Specific Needs

Section 4: Evaluating Vendors and Support Services

Aim for Cost-Effective, Not Cheap

Look at the Bigger Picture

The Hallmarks of Quality Dock Equipment

Striking the Right Balance

Conclusion

The Face Contact Brake

The Built in Brake

The Top Lock Brake

The Ideal Stop Brake

Additional Items

Conclusion

Driver Access Cages

How it Works

Ray-Air Fans

Janitorial Cabinets

Reminder – We ARE a Critical Business!

We keep your business up and running

STILL RESPONSIBLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS

THE BIGGEST AREA OF HEAT LOSS IS YOUR GARAGE

Quieter garage door = happy family & happy neighbors

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

Poly-what?

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

What is Barron up to now?

Cultivating Corporate Culture

Expanding Influence

Working Together as a Team

Cheers to Many More Years!

Blast From the Past

1. It’s functional

2. It’s informational

3. Deals on deals!

4. It’s FREE!

1. Prevent injuries

2. Increase Efficiency

3. Improve Employee Morale