• Reduced Manufacturing Demand: Purchasing used equipment means you’re not contributing to the demand for new manufacturing. Manufacturing processes often have significant carbon emissions associated with them. By opting for used equipment, you’re effectively reducing the need for new production and the associated carbon footprint.
• Extended Lifespan: Choosing used equipment extends the lifespan of existing resources. Instead of sending these items to landfills, they continue to be utilized, reducing the environmental impact of disposal and the need for new replacements.
• Energy Savings: Many modern warehouse equipment pieces are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Buying used equipment that is still functional can allow you to benefit from these energy-saving features without the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new ones.
• Circular Economy: By purchasing used equipment, you contribute to a circular economy model where resources are reused and recycled rather than discarded after a single use. This approach reduces the overall environmental impact of industrial activities.
• Expanding your fleet: In addition to environmental benefits, buying used equipment can often be more cost-effective compared to purchasing new items. This can free up resources allowing you to expand your fleet quickly within your business.

• Lower Initial Investment: The most apparent advantage of buying used warehouse equipment is the lower upfront cost compared to purchasing new equipment. Used equipment is typically priced significantly lower than its new counterparts, allowing you to acquire the necessary tools for your warehouse operations at a fraction of the cost.
• Avoiding Depreciation: New equipment often depreciates rapidly in value once it’s purchased and put into use. By buying used equipment, you avoid the initial depreciation hit. While used equipment may still depreciate over time, the rate of depreciation is typically slower compared to new equipment.
• Reduced Maintenance Costs: Our used equipment has already undergone repairs and reconditioning, reducing the likelihood of immediate maintenance needs.
• No Need for Customization: In many cases, used warehouse equipment will already be configured and customized for general warehouse operations. This means you can avoid the additional costs associated with customizing new equipment to suit your specific needs.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the President’s Award,” said Chris Rice, President and CEO of Welch Equipment Company. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our team at Welch. We strive to consistently deliver exceptional service and support to our customers, and this award reaffirms our commitment to excellence in every aspect of our operations.”

The winners of the 2023 President’s Award are:

• Welch Equipment Company, Denver, CO
• Conger Toyota-Lift, Green Bay, WI
• Industrial Truck Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• JIT Toyota-Lift, Frewsburg, NY
• Mid Columbia Forklift, Yakima, WA
• ProLift Toyota Material Handling, Louisville, KY
• Shoppa’s Mid America, Kansas City, MO
• Southern States Toyotalift, Tampa, FL
• Summit Toyotalift, North Haven, CT
• Toyota Lift of Houston, Houston, TX
• Toyota Lift of South Texas, San Antonio, TX
• Toyota Material Handling Systems, Suwanee, GA
• Vesco Toyotalift, Hickory, NC
• Watts Equipment Company, Manteca, CA
• Brodie Toyota-Lift, Lawrence, MA

“The President’s Award is the pinnacle of recognition at Toyota, reserved for those who exemplify superior dedication to providing customer service and solutions,” said Bill Finerty, TMH President & CEO. “Toyota Material Handling dealers have a long-standing reputation for going above and beyond for their customers, and these dealers represent the best of the company’s customer service standards.”

About Toyota Material Handling

Toyota Material Handling offers material handling products and solutions, including forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet jacks, container handlers, automated guided vehicles, and tow tractors, along with aerial work platforms, fleet management services, and advanced automation engineering and design. Toyota’s commitment to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, the hallmark of the Toyota Production System, extends throughout more than 230 locations across North America. With access to an industry-leading lineup of material handling products, Toyota dealers are uniquely positioned to help solve wide-ranging challenges in warehousing and distribution. Built for every application, Toyota can provide the most complete set of solutions for material handling, automation, energy, advanced logistics, and warehouse optimization. For more information or to learn more, visit ToyotaForklift.com.

TOP SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORT CENTER BY THE RAYMOND CORPORATION

Denver, CO, 05/03/2023 — The Raymond Corporation honored its top-performing Solutions and Support Centers at the recent Solutions and Support Center Dealer Management Meeting with the Dealer of Distinction award. The Dealer of Distinction (DOD) program was created to drive continuous improvement at The Raymond Corporation and within its Solutions and Support Center network by establishing diverse, yet specific, KPIs in the major areas of: customer support, customer experience and satisfaction, lean management initiatives, share of market, and financial performance. With this objective in mind, The Raymond Corporation continually drives the prioritization of its customers, its Solutions and Support Center partners, and the overall company’s growth and success.

Raymond presented Welch Equipment Company with its highest performance award, Dealer of Distinction. The awards are earned based on a Solutions and Support Center’s performance against Raymond’s benchmark standards in specific areas of operation. Solutions and Support Centers that attain the highest evaluation scores, combined with top market share performance, are named a Dealer of Distinction.

Being named a Dealer of Distinction is based on points scored in the categories of Market Share, Financial Performance, Customer Support Performance, Service Contract Growth and Scheduled Maintenance Completion, Raymond Lean Management, iWarehouse® Solutions, Purchase of Lease Maturities, Forecast Accuracy and Energy Storage Solutions. Categories cover virtually all areas of the business, including sales, service, parts, rentals, leasing, continuous improvement, power and intralogistics solutions.

“Our team here at Welch Equipment is honored to receive the DOD award from Raymond in recognition of top performance in each division of our company.  K365 (Kaizen 365 days a year) is our mantra and “Getting Better Together, Everyday” is our value proposition.  We have begun the journey of improvement in each division.  It’s a cultural effect that never ends.  This award is a testament to our people living that idea.  Cheers to my team in being one of the best dealers in the nation!” said Chris Rice, Presdent and CEO, Welch Equipment Company.

For more information about Raymond or to locate a Raymond Solutions and Support Center, visit www.raymondcorp.com or call 800-235-7200.

About The Raymond Corporation

The Raymond Corporation, a Toyota Industries Company, is a leading global provider of best-in-class material handling products and intelligent intralogistics solutions. Built on principles of innovation and continuous improvement for 100 years, Raymond’s integrated automation, telematics, virtual reality and advanced energy solutions provide ways to optimize operations and bring warehouse and distribution operations to a new level of performance. Raymond^® electric forklift trucks are engineered to achieve increased productivity and efficiency and are designed to provide ecological and economic benefits. Raymond delivers solutions to material handling and logistics markets in North America and globally. Combining operational excellence, award-winning innovation and world-class global customer support, we work together to run better, manage smarter and keep our customers always on. For more information, visit raymondcorp.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Raymond^® is a U.S. trademark of The Raymond Corporation

©2022 The Raymond Corporation. All rights reserved.

Raymond presented Welch with a performance recognition award, Dealer of Merit. The awards are earned based on a Solutions and Support Center’s performance against Raymond’s benchmark standards in specific areas of operation. Solutions and Support Centers that attain high evaluation scores for performance and market share performance are named a Dealer of Merit.

“It’s an honor for Welch and our over 300 associates to be recognized again by Raymond for being a Dealer of Merit. Raymond is an important business partner in our drive to provide the best Intralogistics Solutions for our customers’ material handling portfolio. We are humbled and will strive each day to be better than the day before,” said Chris Rice, President & CEO, Welch Equipment.

For more information about Raymond or to locate a Raymond Solutions and Support Center, visit www.raymondcorp.com or call 800-235-7200.

Even though lead acid battery types feature a bit lower power density than several of the more advanced kinds of batteries, they are able to preserve a consistent voltage as they discharge, they can function through a wide range of thermal levels and they can be faithfully charged/ discharged over hundreds of cycles.

The escalation in international battery purchases has also caused steep price growth over the last five years. Greater battery costs mean that boosting your fork lift battery life can easily have a real influence on your bottom line.

Care and maintenance of batteries has a direct influence on their life expectancy, so a small purchase of top quality battery handling tools can yield substantive savings in the future.

Welch Equipment supplies a full line of battery handling materials from first-class suppliers:

Battery Chargers

We offer both new and pre-owned commercial battery chargers for all sorts of applications from single shift, standard use facilities to around the clock, intensive use businesses. Inquire about our battery and charger lease and rental programs.

Battery Carriages & Carts

Lift truck battery transfer carts allow workers to safely remove and substitute lift truck batteries that are designed for side-removal. Welch provides powered solutions for higher-frequency programs and manually powered options for lower volume applications.

Battery Extractors

Forklift battery extractors are required tools for any material handling enterprise that needs frequent battery extraction and replacement.

Battery Stands

Conserve space and safeguard your battery stock with charger stands and battery stands. Welch provides a comprehensive array of choices and can tailor systems for your unique demands.

Battery Hoist

We supply a variety of battery hoist options according to battery sizes, regularity of utilization and warehouse configuration.

Battery Beam

Welch supplies battery lifting beams including insulated construction and adaptable hook points. Beams offer an efficient and hassle-free way to manage weighty industrial fork lift batteries.

Battery Crane

Our gantry crane choices are excellent for vertical battery removal uses. We provide a variety of beam spreads, heights and capacities.

Battery Wash Equipment

Battery wash stations minimize terminal and cable corrosion, stretch the use of batteries, cutdown on fork lift electrical issues, and support in compliance with environmental requlations.

Battery Watering Systems

We provide full battery watering systems as well as individual components, from containers and deionization appliances to watering guns and valves.

Battery Room

Battery areas have to be installed with correct airflow, suitable floor covering, wash facilities, basic safety systems plus all essential battery handling tools. Our team can help to plan your facility and supply all battery handling systems for your operation.

Forklift Battery Near Me

If you’d like to speak with a Welch representative about lift truck batteries or power systems, please get in touch with Welch Equipment.

Serving Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Fountain, Gleneagle, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Woodland Park, Woodmoor and surrounding areas. 

Some lift truck components naturally receive unrelenting wear, or are more vulnerable to degradation over time. All rubber components and hoses should be preemptively replaced on a regular basis in order to avoid problems with leakage or failure.

Swapping out lift truck parts before they weaken or break down can prevent far more expensive maintenance down the road. As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Lift truck parts that need to be replaced on a regular schedule are:

• Power Steering Hoses & Rubber Parts: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
• Reservoir Tank Hose: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
• Wheel Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every 1,000 hours or annually
• Master Cylinder Rubber Parts: Every 1,000 hours or annually
• Hydraulic Hose: Every 2 years, or 4,000 hours
• Lift Chain: Every 3 years, or 6,000 hours
• Swing Lock Cylinder: Every 10,000 hours

There are other parts that may also need regular replacement, including:

• Forklift batteries: lead acid batteries generally have a lifespan of at least 5 years, and given adequate management they can last much longer. However, from time to time they may need replacement.
• Forklift tires: once tires go under the 50% line, have shredding or general disintegration problems, or form flat points, they should be replaced immediately.
• Bearings: any failing bearings need to be replaced quickly to maintain unimpeded operation of the lift truck.

Forklift Maintenance

Regular forklift maintenance plans should address the following:

• Lubrication: the joints and moving parts of a forklift should be greased on a regular basis.
• Fluids: Battery water and fluids for hydraulic systems should be monitored regularly.
• Charging: A systematic charging routine is imperative for your forklift’s battery life and efficiency.
• Instrument Inspection: for safety, all instruments and gauges must be checked on a regular basis. Not only is this a good idea, it’s also mandated by OSHA under Section 1910.178(q)

Lift Truck Safety

The federal government has a number of rules related to forklift upkeep, and any vehicle that is found to be noncompliant must be sidelined until all issues can be resolved. How do you know when a vehicle is not safe to operate? These are some of the conditions that could easily justify removing a lift truck from service:

• Tires with gouges or missing chunks
• Weld failures on the mast or truck frame
• Missing fasteners or bolts on any part of the forklift
• Compromised instruments or gauges
• Overhead guard damage

Forklift Parts Near Me

If you’d like assistance in sourcing forklift parts or need forklift service, contact a parts technician at Welch Equipment today.

Serving Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Fountain, Gleneagle, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Woodland Park, Woodmoor and surrounding areas. 

As storage costs surge, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that you’re employing warehouse space in the most efficient manner possible. For smart warehouse managers, that means maximizing density and automating processes wherever possible.

Fortunately, high performance material handling technology has evolved rapidly over the last several years, giving you the tools you need to increase your density and efficiency like never before. Automation technology is rapidly changing the elemental concepts of warehouse storage solutions.

Warehouse Automation

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) are revolutionizing the warehouse. Here are the primary concepts behind adding AS/RS systems:

1. Massive increases in efficiency. AS/RS systems cut employee costs, save floor space, lessen unintended inventory breakage, and increase throughput.
2. Greater stocking ability. Efficiency gains mean that operations have the ability to increase the number of SKUs and increase the volume of existing operations for even greater profitability.
3. Lift truck operating cost reductions. An automated warehouse system cuts forklift travel distance and hours.
4. Enhanced Coordination. Automated solutions enable complex sequencing and buffering possibilities that can be coordinated with freight times and lane options.
5. Quality assurance. AS/RS systems are simply more accurate and are better at handling complicated functions than human resources.
6. Improved safety. Fewer humans equates to fewer safety incidents.
7. Adaptability. When it comes to order aggregation, assembly/enrichment, storage, put-away and replenishment, AS/RS systems are increasingly flexible solutions that can automate almost any warehouse process.

Automated Storage and Retrieval System

So what exactly is AS/RS? There are several types of technologies that are classified as AS/RS systems, including the following:

• Vertical lift modules
• Horizontal carousels
• Vertical carousels
• Fixed aisle systems

Vertical Lift Modules

Similar to a vertical carousel, vertical lift modules are vertically aligned systems that hold receptacles in a tall metal casing. However, a VLM has a retriever mechanism that travels up and down in the center of the module, retrieves specific bins and presents them directly to the user.

Horizontal Carousels

Horizontal carousels are kind of like that rack your drycleaner uses to locate and access your clothing items. These carousels are typically employed for smaller sized products and they are an array of receptacles attached to an elevated track. They are frequently integrated with voice picking systems or pick-to-light systems.

Vertical Carousels

Vertical carousels are vertically driven, and are somewhat like a Ferris wheel with storage platforms fastened to a rotating mechanism that travels in an up and down motion. These carousels are generally contained in a tall metal casing.

Fixed Aisle AS/RS

Fixed aisle systems are typically designed with two columns of racking with a narrow channel separating the two. The center of the aisle has a raised steel track with an upright mast that travels along it. Connected to the upright is a vertically moving carriage outfitted with a load handling apparatus.

This upright and carrier device is referred to as the crane or SRM. Most systems use a single SRM per aisle, but more advanced systems may have several.

Categorically, there are a couple of types of fixed aisle systems. Unit-load systems are designed to manage bigger loads on pallets. Mini-load systems (oftentimes known as a case-handling machine or tote stacker) are smaller installations that can deal with cartons and smaller goods.

Warehouse Automation Systems Near Me

Talk to an expert! If you’d like assistance in assessing warehouse automation options for your material handling operation, contact a technical expert at Welch Equipment.

Our design team will work with you to assess on-site equipment design for your warehouse or distribution center. We will help you build a business case including process, conditions, training, future needs, and combined cost.

We provide service and support from our locations throughout the West. Whether you need new or used equipment, maintenance, parts, service or training, we supply a full selection of material handling services and products.

Serving Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, Fountain, Gleneagle, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, Woodland Park, Woodmoor and surrounding areas. 

We offer a complete range of hydraulic dock levelers from the very best manufacturers. Upgrade your loading dock equipment by using the latest in industrial and safety design standards. Welch suplies many types of dock leveler options, including:

Hydraulic Dock Levelers

Designed for high capacity conditions, hydraulic levelers are dependable, durable units that can survive many years of sustained lift truck and pallet truck traffic. Hydraulic units are a safe, practical, high speed option for commercial dock levelers. Hydraulic options are the most common equipment in heavy-use customer facilities that turn many trucks per dock , per day. Although they’re more costly than other leveler options in the beginning, repair and maintenance work costs will generally be significantly less than other options over the long term.

Mechanical Dock Levelers

Mechanical dock leveler systems are hand controlled, meaning that they don’t offer the same level of efficiency and safety protection of a hydraulic system. These products rely on a spring mechanism as opposed to hydraulic action. They’re simple to control and relatively durable, although they do demand more frequent maintenance.

Air Powered Dock Levelers

Air driven dock levelers allow customers a “middle of the road” option, more reliable than mechanical units and somewhat cheaper than hydraulic devices. They use an inflatable air bladder that lifts and lowers the deck surface. The sack is raised or lowered at the push of a button. These setups are not as fast as hydraulic choices, but are well suited to inhospitable conditions like frigid temperatures and corrosive substances. Although relatively inexpensive to maintain, replacing air bags can be costly.

Edge of Dock (EoD) Levelers

Edge of dock levelers are stand-alone mechanisms fastened to the top of the vertical dock face outside of the door. Though they allow a smaller working range than pit levelers, they do allow less complicated installation and less expense. They are a suitable and safe choice if there is little variation in vehicle/trailer dimensions.

Dock Leveler Installation

Replacement: if you need to modernize your dock levelers, Welch has a full catalog of modular equipment options and parts, in addition to pit-kits designed for whatever style of levelers you choose. We also offer full service on site removal and replacement of your current dock levelers. New Construction: for new building plans, we can help with loading dock design and product selection for your new location. We can also oversee pit construction and equipment installation at your site. Also ask us about doors, storage systems, conveyors and accessories!

Dock Equipment Service

Scheduled maintenance is important for the safety and efficient operation of your loading dock. Welch has a team of highly trained specialists available to assist with any maintenance assignments that develop. In addition, we offer emergency repair service and on-call support if you have a critical leveler or industrial door issue.

Dock Leveler Near Me

To get more information about selecting, installing, repairing or servicing a dock leveler, please contact an expert at Welch Equipment and request a quote today. Welch has been providing services and products to the material handling equipment and warehouse industry for nearly one hundred years and are among the best in the business. Welch features the best products, top tier customer service and incomparable support. Finance, lease and rental terms are available, allowing you a number of alternatives We also provide high speed doors, dock seals, shelters, high velocity industrial fans, lights, vehicle restraints, mobile ramps, bumpers, portable dock boards, wheel chocks, wheel risers and any other dock equipment you may need.

Alongside loading dock equipment, we also provide a full spectrum of warehouse systems from conveyors, storage systems, pallet and industrial shelving, pallet jacks, lift trucks, scissor lifts, and other material handling equipment.

Call or contact your nearby Welch sales center online to request a quote today! A customer service professional will help you with any material handling system or service you require.

Welch Equipment Company
5830 Midway Park Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 822-8043

Serving Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Santa Fe, South Valley and surrounding areas. 

When storing products, a forklift sets pallets in the foremost position in a lane and the shuttle moves the load backward to the furthest available position in the rack until the lane is entirely loaded. For unloading, unit loads are collected from their slot and transported to the foremost position to be picked by a lift truck.

Pallet shuttle systems are perfect for high throughput storage applications and make it possible for operators to seamlessly store and retrieve pallets using a vehicle mounted transmitter or systematically through a WMS.

Maximize Warehouse Storage Density

These types of deep lane AS/RS systems benefit warehouse operators greatly by increasing storage capacity within a facility. A smaller number of forklift lanes are necessary, and consequently a good portion of that aisle space is recovered for storage. Cart mounted sensors enable shuttles to position pallets in very close proximity, optimizing storage space within each channel. Vertical storage capacity is also enhanced because shuttles require very little clearance between levels.

Improve Warehouse Efficiency and Safety

The benefits don’t stop at storage density. Efficiency goes off the charts because lift trucks no longer have to travel to separate aisles–each pallet is loaded or unloaded from a central interface. This greatly shortens typical loading and unloading times. Accordingly, it can reduce the number of forklifts required, and slash labor expenditures by employing fewer workers.

By reducing lift truck travel, you also reduce your risk of accidents. Fewer lift truck hours mean fewer damaged forklifts and racking, less product damage and fewer injuries or safety mishaps.

Welch Radioshuttle

Welch’s Radioshuttle system is one of the most innovative pallet shuttle options available. As the the pioneer in pallet shuttle systems close to 30 years ago, Radioshuttle offers extremely fast shuttle speeds and a battery recharge interval of 8-14 hours, depending on configuration. Radioshuttle equipment is also extraordinarily reliable and sturdy—some systems deployed nearly 30 years ago are still in operation today!

Radioshuttle units are capable of carrying loads of up to 3,900 pounds. And for extreme conditions or cold storage applications, Radioshuttle is the ideal option. The equipment operates dependably in temperatures from -22 to +104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pallet Shuttle Systems Near Me

To get more information on pallet shuttles or other AS/RS solutions, call Welch today!

Welch Equipment Company
5830 Midway Park Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 822-8043

Serving Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Clovis, Farmington, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, Roswell, Santa Fe, South Valley and surrounding areas. 

When storing products, a lift truck deposits pallets in the foremost slot in a lane and the carriage transports the pallet back to the furthest unused position in the rack until the lane is fully loaded. When removing products, individual units are picked up from their slot and carried to the front to be selected by a lift truck.

Pallet shuttle installations are well suited to high turnover warehouses and enable workers to continuously store and retrieve pallets either through a truck mounted remote control or integration with a WMS.

Maximize Warehouse Storage Density

Warehouse operators gain considerable benefits from deep lane AS/RS systems through improved storage density inside their buildings. Not as many forklift aisles are required, therefore a good portion of that corridor space can be converted to storage. Carriage mounted sensors permit pallet shuttles to place pallets as close together as possible, optimizing storage capacity within each channel. Furthermore, with a shuttle, minimal clearance is required between levels allowing more vertical storage as well.

Improve Warehouse Efficiency and Safety

There are more benefits to shuttle systems than just added capacity. Operational efficiency increases dramatically because forklifts are no longer required to drive to specific aisles–every unit is loaded or retrieved from a primary interface. This greatly lowers typical loading and unloading times. As a result, it can reduce the number of forklifts required, and more to the point, greatly reduce labor expenses because not as many workers are necessary.

When you reduce the number of forklifts driving up and down aisles, you also lower your exposure to accidents. Fewer lift truck hours mean a reduction in damaged forklifts and racks, a decrease in product loss and fewer safety incidents or injuries.

Welch Radioshuttle

Welch’s Radioshuttle solution is among the most advanced pallet shuttle options on the market today. As the inventor of pallet shuttle systems nearly three decades ago, Radioshuttle offers industry leading shuttle speeds and a battery recharge interval of 8-14 hours, depending on system setup. Radioshuttle automation systems are also incredibly dependable and sturdy—some units installed as far back as 1990 are still operating today!

Radioshuttle units accommodate weights of up to 3,900 pounds. And for extreme conditions or cold storage applications, Radioshuttle is an excellent choice. Even in environments from -22 to +104 degrees, the shuttles continue to function reliably.

Pallet Shuttle Systems Near Me

To learn more about pallet shuttles or other warehouse automation equipment, call Welch today!

Welch Equipment Company

2181 South 3200 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
(801) 972-9272

Serving Alta, Bluffdale, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Grantsville, Herriman, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray, Ophir, Riverton, Rush Valley, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Stockton, Taylorsville, Tooele, Vernon, Wendover, West Jordan, West Valley City