When in Rome...Blog about Material Handling

So I'm sitting in Rome, I was just served my Caprese salad and I'm contemplating the impact of material handling on the world. I am very tired as it's after 10:00 pm in Rome Italy (people eat late here).

One of my clients here (and the reason for my visit) is a map support office for the US Navy. The MSO (Map Support Office) needed a more efficient way to store, package and ship the standard, classified and secret maps used by Naval ships and aviators alike.

The MSO used to receive their map stock rolled in rolls of hundreds of maps. They would unroll the maps and fold them to store on conventional shelving. When an order came in, they would unfold the maps, roll them up again and supply their customers with the rolled maps. Not only was this extra work for them, the navigators did not like the creases folding put into their maps. As you can imagine if you are plotting out a course for a ship, a crease in your map could easily throw of angles and distances.

American Warehouse Systems was asked to design a storage aid system that could store thousands of large maps in a very small area. This new system would allow the MSO to receive their maps, unroll them and store them. When an order came in they would simple pull the flat maps they needed out of the system roll them and send them out (with no creases). Fortunately this was not our first MSO project so we already had a system designed that with a few tweaks would surpass their requirements.

My trip to Italy (this time) was to kick off the installation of the new storage aid system. I am happy to say everything seems to be going very well. We were able to provide a solution to the Navy in the European arena that not only saves labor hours but also literally helps them to better stay on course.

I am very grateful to be a part of an industry that is able to provide solutions to real world problems. American Warehouse Systems is very fortunate to be able to work so closely with our military to offer our best ideas to help where we are able. Projects like this one are a great source of pride for us. I am proud to support our Armed Forces everyday and truly blessed to be able to continue that support through my career and my industry.

OK my salad is gone and I need to get up early tomorrow morning. Next week I'll be blogging from Miami and the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association Board of Directors Meeting.

Can Your Forklift Pick Up a Dime?

I spent most of my day today putting out fires and making a video for my good friend Kyle at Toyota Lift of Minnesota. Consequently I don't really have anything prepared to blog (if you remember I usually just blog what is on my mind every Wednesday). So I figured I'd just blog the video of Kyle and his crew picking up a dime with their Toyota forklift.

Have a great week!

American Warehouse Systems Awarded Project at Bagram Airfield

Bagram Airfield is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, 6.8 mi southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. It is often referred to as Bagram Air Base, however the senior mission commander at Bagram is an Army two-star general, making it an Army Airfield in US military parlance. The base is currently occupied and maintained by the 5th Aviation Battalion (Assault),and 6th Aviation Battalion (GSAB) of the United States Army, with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of the United States Air Force and other U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard.

American Warehouse Systems responded to a need from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing for additional space in a hangar currently used as a recreational facility for our troops. American Warehouse Systems proposed a large mezzanine floor system to be installed in the facility to create a "second floor" inside the hangar. Treadmills, exercise bikes and other exercise equipment will be placed on the mezzanine to allow for more space on the main floor for other activities.

American Warehouse Systems was fortunate enough to receive the award on this project giving us the opportunity to further support our Armed Forces. We will design and engineer the system in our facility then ship the materials to Afghanistan and install the mezzanine in the hangar. The whole project from start to stop shouldn't take more than 8-12 weeks.

American Warehouse Systems is proud to be able to provide this project to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. Even though Afghanistan may not be the most hospitable place to install a mezzanine system, the notion of creating additional comfort for our troops is worth the risk.