Warehouses continue to face increasing demand to deliver a wide range of products within short periods of time. “As a critical link in the supply chain, we know from our hands-on work with customers that warehouses need to stay nimble,” says Cascade Head of Global Product Management, Rick Whiting. “Throughput is one of the most important metrics in warehousing and logistics operations. To move product effectively, warehouse managers have three key drivers: utilize space as efficiently as possible, get products out the door faster and prevent product damage - which is where Cascade comes in.”
When warehouse operations optimize for all three of these strategies, it’s possible to deliver goods on time and undamaged. Cascade has a wide range of high-performance products to help you do just that. Here’s how:
1.) Maximize Warehouse Space
There are many ways to maximize the space in your warehouse without expanding your footprint, whether you choose to extend racking vertically, utilize double deep racking or reduce aisle width, Cascade can help you take advantage of each of those options.
For high racking applications that offer limited visibility, operators who use Cascade Sensor Forks no longer need to guess at what bin or crate they’re pulling from a high rack or shelf. With an embedded camera and a suite of digital sensors, this smart solution allows operators to read labels or view fork pockets on high up loads to ensure precision when picking. The camera wirelessly transmits a high-quality, digital feed to a truck-mounted display for incredible visibility of fork placement, while the sensors enable even more precise handling by detecting objects above the forks as well as proximity to the load. This next-level handling awareness can help operators eliminate overdriving loads, reducing the risk of costly product damage due to fork punctures.
When using methods such as narrow aisle layouts or high racking, custom products like the Bilateral and Trilateral Fork attachments eliminate the need for a forklift or AGV to turn in order to approach a warehouse racking system and then place the load onto the rack. The Trilateral attachment enables the forks to turn left or right 90 degrees, which gives trucks the ability to manipulate the load to either side of the aisle with great precision. Bilateral Forks traverse the carriage horizontally and extend from the left or right side as needed. This functionality allows for the vehicle to simply travel straight down a warehouse aisle, as small as 60 inches or 1530 mm wide depending on pallet size, and deposit the load onto a rack from either side of the vehicle – no turning necessary. In dense warehouse facilities, both of these narrow aisle solutions can help save time and increased efficiency.
For warehouse floor plans with double deep pallet racking, Telescopic Forks have the power to extend and retract, turning your standard forklift into a reach truck. With their adjustable fork length, these forks enable the handling of a wider range of pallet sizes from the same truck, as well as dual pallet handling, ideal in logistics and warehousing applications that demand versatility and speed. Telescopic Forks can accommodate a wide range of rental needs, too. One pair can do the jobs of several pairs of standard forks.
2.) Move Product Faster
There are only so many hours in a day, but Cascade can help you make those hours count. Our forklift attachments are designed to offer peak performance and fast, efficient operation across the board. More significant time savings come in to play when you eliminate steps from your workflow entirely.
Digitally integrated solutions like Cascade’s mobile weighing products, such as Weigh Forks with built-in scales, allow you to weigh product as you move it. No need to bring a load to a floor scale, drop it off, and exit the truck to work the scale. Operators can simply use the on-board wireless display for weighing and transmitting data, saving handling time in applications that require weighing, piece counting, dosing, or inventory tracking.
Sometimes you simply need to move more product per load in order to maintain your target throughput. Multiple Load Handlers provide a versatile solution, with models capable of handling from one to six or more pallets of product at once. Cascade’s new RapidSync technology allow for even faster handling as the forks move in perfect synchronization, so operators never have to interrupt their workflow for realignment, reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency. What's more, RapidSync offers ultra-fast fork speeds with open and close cycle times up to 45% faster than other models on the market. This allows end users to move multiple palletized loads even faster in order to get more product out the door.
As automation continues to be a more popular approach for maximizing productivity, if you use or plan on using Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), then you should know that Cascade has you covered. Our full range of attachments can be equipped with an electronic interface and sensors for use with AGVs. In addition, all-electric solutions from our Cascade Electrix line, including Multiple Load Handlers and Sideshifters, are available. Electric attachments can be combined with all-electric masts from Cascade subsidiary, Lift-Tek, providing an opportunity for customers to bundle a custom solution for the front end of their AGV. This unique, all electric combination provides customers savings as it reduces or eliminates the need for hydraulic components, such as the pump motor, oil reservoir, and hoses which represent a significant portion of an AGV system cost.
Product Demo: Electric Sideshifter
3.) Prevent Product Damage and Ensure Quality Delivery
Moving product faster can’t help you if your product is damaged along the way. With decades of expertise at hand, Cascade has been able to design and implement a wide range of systems that help forklift operators transport product quickly and securely from point A to point B.
Cascade offers a suite of damage reduction systems and accessories that increase operator efficiency and the success rate for delivering product damage-free. Hydraulic Force Control, or HFC™, is one of Cascade’s most popular, available in versions for both Paper Roll Clamps and Carton Clamps. It automatically senses the hydraulic pressure necessary to lift a load and adjusts clamping pressure proportional to the load weight. This prevents over-clamping and compressing the load, or under-clamping and potentially dropping the load, both of which could result in costly product damage. Systems like Cascade’s HFC are frequently used in e-commerce environments for quickly and automatically adapting to varied loads - from small electronics to large, heavy home safes – all while using the same clamp. HFC™ operates without any special actions on the part of the driver, making it a fast, efficient, and driver-friendly damage reduction solution.
Cascade Hydraulic Force Control for Carton Clamps
Other damage reduction solutions include: DTI™ (Digital Tilt Indicator), which informs the driver of proper mast tilt for perfect pad or fork alignment or the ForkSetter™, that can adjust the fork position automatically based on load type, ideal for handling variable size loads. Cascade’s sequential loop Electronic Pressure Regulator allows the driver to control hydraulic clamping pressure on a roll clamp or carton clamp with a push of a button. This quickly changes pressure relief settings indicated by an in cab light. Attachment sensors and indicators are also available, which can provide your drivers with helpful, efficiency-boosting information about the movement and positioning of their attachment.
In warehouse operations, margins matter. Even small improvements can help your bottom line when you work with the huge volumes that take place in material handling. Whether you’re focused on optimizing speed, reducing damage or maximizing your warehouse space – Cascade can help you find a way to improve. In addition to the products mentioned here, Cascade offers a world of possibilities for warehouse operations. On top of our wide range of forks, attachments, masts and smart solutions, we also offer custom solutions in order to solve the challenges you face. Consult your Cascade representative today to find how we can help you find the best unique solution for your application.
Or learn about these products and more innovative solutions at Logimat in Stuttgart, Germany from May 31st - June 2nd. Cascade will be exhibiting in Hall 10, Booth C67.
For more company and product information visit the Cascade ShopFront.
About Cascade Corporation:
Established in Portland, Ore. in 1943, Cascade Corporation is the global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of lift truck attachments, forks and related technologies and a leader in high quality mast products for a wide range of forklifts and AGVs. In addition, Cascade manufactures an assortment of attachments for the construction industry. Cascade's unmatched service, support and expertise, combined with advanced damage reduction technologies, flexible manufacturing, short lead times and high-quality products, strengthen the company's position as the premier supplier to the material handling industry. For more information visit www.cascorp.com.