Easy Restaurant Storage Solutions

May 9, 2008 by materialflow

Here are some storage tools that will help organize any restaurant.

Metro Drying Racks
Drying Rack Unit:
Allows air circulation that provides fast drying for pots, pans, and sink items. The elimination of moisture promotes food safety.

Metro Can Racks
Can Racks:
Can racks have an easy front loading design that still keeps the oldest products at the front of the line.

Metro Tray Slides
Tray Slides: Free up other shelves for more efficient use of space.

Metro Bakery Racks
Bakery Racks: Keep baked goods accessible and make it easy to find what you’re looking for

View even more restaurant storage products.

The Benefits or Reusable Packaging

May 8, 2008 by materialflow

Reusable Plastic Products

With fuel, food, and water prices on the rise, businesses are looking for any way to cut costs. One effective way of cutting costs is to invest in reusable packaging. Reusable plastic shipping containers and pallets offer several advantages to traditional shipping products.

  • Reduces Fuel Costs: Removing 20 lbs. of solid waste from your supply chain will save 1 gallon of gas.
  • Saves Trees: Eliminating 11 wood pallets from your supply chain saves one tree.
  • Reduces Water Consumption: Remove 5 lbs of solid waste from your supply chain, you will save 9 gallons of water.
  • Saves Money: One computer manufacturer was spending more than $1.7M/year in single-use packaging. It estimated that with a $187,500 investment in reusable bulk containers and dunnage, it saved approximately $1M/year in packaging.
  • Reduces Product Damage: General Electric Appliance (Louisville, KY) reduced damage to inbound component parts by 85% after implementing reusable containers.
  • Reduces Labor Costs: With small-lot packaging implemented at their assembly lines, Ford saved up to 3 feet of walking distance for each part, equating to 54 hours per year or 1.35 man weeks.
  • Improves Workplace Safety: Worker injuries at CAMI Automotive (lacerations from opening boxes and strains from lifting heavy or awkward loads) were reduced after converting to reusable packaging in the late 1990s.
  • Requires Less Energy: According to the Lifecycle Inventory Study, reusable containers require 39% less energy over their service life.

Most reusable plastic products are designed to be fully recovered and reprocessed into other
useful products at the end of its service life. Using reusable containers seems to make more sense everyday, no what industry,

Source Article
Green Calculator

Anti-Bacterial Product Guide

April 17, 2008 by materialflow

The growth of harmful bacteria in hospitals and restaurants is a common today. Locker and other storage facilities are at risk for bacterial / fungal growth and cross-contamination through touch transfer of microbes. While common topical antimicrobial treatments such as ethyl alcohol, anti bacterial soaps and disinfectant sprays kill harmful germs, they don’t provide any residual protection and fail to prevent recontamination.

The solution to this problem is to buy anti-microbial products. The special anti-microbial finish on these products Inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. Shelving, lockers and carts are all available with anti-bacterial coatings.

Simple Storage Solutions

April 14, 2008 by materialflow

An organized workspace can increase productivity and reduce wasted money on unnecessary supplies or equipment that you have but can’t find. Shelving and cabinets are the two most basic storage solutions that can help organize the products, supplies and inventory of your office, or warehouse.

Lyon Bulk Shelving

Shelving

The simplest form of storage, shelving keeps products or supplies off of workbenches, tables or the floor. Shelving also keeps items closer to eye level making inventory, products or supplies much easier to find.

Open Shelving: Ideal for packaged stock. Offers high visibility for items without assigned shelf locations

Closed Shelving: Adds protection against dust & sunlight. Also used to separate storage and work areas.
Pre-Engineered Rivet Rack: Use for merchandise displays, storing packaged goods, or holding large cartons of equipment and supplies in commercial, industrial or institutional facilities.

Bulk Storage Rack: Great for storing cartoned merchandise in shipping and receiving departments. Can also be used for display racking in furniture and department stores and storage of medical and dietary supplies in hospitals.
Chrome-Plated Wire Shelving: Provides access from all four sides with high visibility and maximum ventilation. No dust or dirt build up, improved sprinkler access enhances fire safety.
Storage & Display Bins: Ideal for storage and display of parts, small bulk items, or packaged merchandise in repair shops, garages, parts and tool rooms, machine shops, etc.

Lyon Cabinet

Cabinets

Performs the same basic function of shelving but features doors that can hide unsightly items in public areas.

Standard Cabinets: Time tested design, great for storing supplies, inventory or products.
Drawer Cabinets: Perfect for small parts or tools.
Bin Storage Cabinets: Keeps small parts together in bins.
Safety Cabinets: Designed for the storage of chemicals or flammable items.
Mobile Cabinets: Cabinets with wheels make for easy transport.

Specialty Lockers

December 14, 2007 by materialflow

Specialty Lockers

Lockers are a necessity at many businesses today. Providing workers with a secure place to store their belongings is a benefit that any employee will appreciate. Sometimes a standard locker just won’t do. Here’s a rundown on some specialized lockers.

High Tech Lockers: These lockers feature a digital lock that ensures no more lost keys. A management key allows an administrator to open all lockers. This feature comes in handy for preventing workplace theft.

Health-Care Lockers: The prevention of harmful growth in hospitals is becoming more important every day. These lockers are coated with an antimicrobial finish that reduces the spread of germs.

ADA Compliant Lockers: Non-Compliance to the Federal ADA act can lead to big fines. These ADA approved lockers feature a low profile design, a special door handle that only requires 20 degrees of rotation and an easy closing door specifically designed for those with physical challenges.

The Genie Superlift

November 11, 2007 by materialflow

Genie Superlift

Properly using lift equipment is one of the easiest ways to prevent worker injury and increase productivity. Unfortunately lift equipment costs money. That’s why the Genie Superlift makes so much sense. It can be used for multiple jobs and tasks.

Only have so many fork trucks in your warehouse? Use the Superlift for order picking. Need a drum lifter/rotator/mover? The Superlift empties, moves and rotates drums with ease. Working in a construction site? Don’t let your workers try to carry heavy objects up ladders, get them a Superlift. The Superlift excels in lifting ventilation ducts, piping, or HVAC units. The Genie Superlift is more than lift, it’s a drum handler, load lifter, and material mover all in one.

Flexible Conveyors

October 22, 2007 by materialflow

Flexible Conveyors

A smooth running conveyor system keeps product and inventory moving. Standard conveyors are great for many applications, but flexible conveyors offer offer portability and flexibility that conventional conveyor systems often lack. With flexible conveyors it’s possible to store 24 feet of conveyor in a six foot area, this saves space when conveyors are not in use. Another benefit of flexible conveyors is the fact that they are self-tracking. Self tracking conveyors allows packages or products to move along the conveyor curves without side rails or engineered curves. Flexible conveyors also offer zero pressure accumulation to prevent cartons from pushing against each other.  All flexible conveyor systems are available in a variety of configurations and styles. Call Material Flow at 1-800-338-1382 to purchase a Flexible Conveyor System.

Furniture Storage Rack

October 16, 2007 by materialflow
Furniture Storage Racks from Material Flow Furniture Storage Racks from Material Flow

Storing furniture can be a daunting task, different sizes and awkward shaped items can be a real pain to keep organized. One solution to this problem is the use of furniture storage rack. This style of racking system is specifically designed for furniture and allows bulky, awkward items to be neatly stored without dangerously hanging over shelves and aisles.

Two styles of furniture rack are available. A cantilever system allows objects of varying lengths to be placed anywhere along the shelf, while selective style racks are better suited for the deeper loads that are needed for mattresses and carpet rolls. Furniture storage racks can accommodate in rack sprinkler systems and entry guides to add another level of protection for your products.

Some other features of furniture racks include; bolted arm connections, bolt on bases, options for a variety of decking materials, bolted on horizontal column braces and a durable powder coat finish.

Guide to Structural Cantilever Storage Rack

October 16, 2007 by materialflow

Structrual Cantilver Rack

Structural Cantilever Storage Rack is perfect for retail or warehouse environments and works well with lift trucks. Many systems are available for use and outdoor and come in corrosion resistant finishes. Light and heavy duty models are available and in a variety of styles. Some common uses of structural cantilever rack include:

  • Plywood
  • Lumber
  • Furniture
  • Appliances
  • Pipe
  • Sheet Steel
  • Tubing
  • Doors
  • Boxes
  • Pallets
  • Conduit
  • Building Materials

To purchase cantilever rack visit materialflow.com. They have cantilever racks for all applications.  F.O.B. points all across the U.S. ensure the lowest shipping costs. Call them at 1-800-338-1382.

Ergonomic Seating Guide

September 6, 2007 by materialflow

Ergonomic Seating

Sitting down all day can cause strain and discomfort for workers. When purchasing seating products it is important to consider ergonomics. The following list of seating features can improve worker comfort and productivity.

  • Seat Tilt: Allows workers to receive back support when completing tasks that require bending.
  • Pneumatic Adjustability: Not all workers are the same height. Adjustable height allows workers to adjust chairs to their comfort.
  • Ergonomic Design: Waterfalls ease pressure behind knees while saddle shape contours supports weight evenly.
  • Foot Supports: Reduces fatigue and promotes circulation.
  • Contoured Seat Backs: Maintain lumbar support.