Category: Case Studies

At Barron Equipment, we help businesses improve safety, efficiency, and productivity with innovative material handling solutions. Our case studies showcase real-world success stories where clients have solved operational challenges using our ergonomic industrial material handling equipment.

PRISUM Solar Car Club Caster Case Study

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Amanda Clark

Overview

In January of 2024, Iowa State University’s PRISUM Solar Car Club, whose aim was to devise and construct a practical solar-powered vehicle, found themselves struggling to efficiently transport their 20’ steel racks. These are essential in the construction of the vehicle the club intended on entering in the Formula Sun Grand Prix at the start of July 2024. The racks needed to be able to withstand extreme heat (over 500 degrees Fahrenheit) and more than 5 tons as they were transported to multiple facilities.

Solution

To assist them in their efforts, Barron Equipment donated eight 10’’ Heavy-Duty Kingpinless Swivel Casters with Polyurethane Wheels and Large Top Plates, which they installed onto their steel racks. The team was hopeful that these industrial casters would provide their racks with an improvement to their mobility and durability, making the act of transporting their heavy molds simpler and safer.

Impact

Thankfully, Barron Equipment’s Kingpinless Casters helped PRISUM move their molds more easily and efficiently. Once they were equipped with casters, their racks held up nicely in a range of settings; including
fiberglass facilities, spray booths and outdoor environments. In addition to making the relocation process less cumbersome, Barron Equipment’s casters proved to be effective in supporting the extra weight that the molds added to the racks.

Customer Experience

The PRISUM Solar Car Club takes their carbon fiber and mold manufacturing processes seriously and utilizing industrial casters for their wire racks was pivotal in helping them optimize those processes. PRISUM has been competing in the FSGP since 1989 and they’ve developed a reliable procedure for constructing their intricate molds during that timeframe. The students within the organization found that Barron Equipment’s swivel casters were highly effective in the mold transportation process. PRISUM now highly recommends Barron Equipment to any business or organization in need industrial casters and Barron Equipment continues to donate to PRISUM to this day.

Conclusion

Thanks to the work put in by our heavy-duty casters, the PRISUM Solar Car Club has been able to ship their molds from location to location more swiftly and securely than ever, allowing them to fine-tune their processes and focus on the end result. With the aid of Barron’s products, PRISUM has felt more focused than ever on their main objective: crafting a solar-powered vehicle that ushers in the future of transportation while also leaving its competition in the dust on the racetrack.

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

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Amanda Clark

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 when their existing LoadMover Power Tug experienced control issues, creating safety concerns in their operations. The company needed a reliable solution to move their 5′ x 10′ sheet steel carts, each weighing up to 10,000 lbs, efficiently and safely within their manufacturing facility.

Previously, HON had been using a LoadMover CartCaddy, but when its circuit board failed, and a replacement was unavailable, the company sought an alternative to maintain production efficiency and operator safety.

Solution: Implementing the Super Duty PowerPusher

HON Company turned to Barron Equipment for a solution and ultimately decided on the Super Duty PowerPusher. The PowerPusher offered:

Safe and Easy Movement: Allowed a single operator to move heavy tables safely without strain.
Pushing and Pulling Capabilities: Enabled precise maneuvering of carts, particularly when loading them into the laser cell.
Custom Attachment Design: Barron Equipment worked with Nu-Star to design and fabricate a custom attachment, allowing HON to use their existing carts without modifications.

Results: Increased Safety and Operational Efficiency

With the PowerPusher in place, HON Company successfully eliminated the safety risks associated with manually moving large tables. The ergonomic design and efficient power assist of the Super Duty model allowed operators to move carts hourly across 75 feet of dry concrete flooring with minimal effort.

Customer Experience & Recommendation

HON Company was highly satisfied with both the PowerPusher product and the service from Barron Equipment.

“I would recommend a PowerPusher to anyone considering it. I really appreciated the fact that they designed and fabricated a custom attachment that allowed us to use our current tables with zero modifications.”

Max Royer

Manufacturing Engineer

Additionally, HON praised Barron Equipment’s responsiveness, particularly Stephen’s ability to quickly address their concerns and facilitate a seamless purchasing experience.

Conclusion

The PowerPusher Super Duty proved to be a reliable and effective solution for HON Company, ensuring workplace safety, operational efficiency, and reduced manual strain for operators. By partnering with Barron Equipment, HON successfully navigated its equipment transition, maintaining productivity without compromising safety.

Looking for a custom solution? Barron Equipment has your material handling handled. Contact us today!