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A material handling expert is warning companies to be prepared for a long, hard winter and to ensure that their businesses aren’t damaged by a lack of forward thinking. With long range weather forecasts predicting this winter could be the worst in 10 years, Paul Casebourne of the Material Handling Hub believes companies who don’t think ahead could end up in dire straits. And now he has created a list of top tips to ensure that those who run warehouses are ready for whatever the weather throws at them. “We had an extremely bad weather last year and the forecasts indicate that this year it will be even worse,” said Casebourne, who has decades of experience in creating engineering solutions along with running the online information sharing platform, the Material Handling Hub. “For many organisations with warehouses this is one of the busiest times of years so the last thing that anyone needs is for problems to arise. With a bit of foresight and forethought these can all be avoided.” Casebourne’s tips are as follows: Equipment maintenance Snow and ice can impact on equipment performance so check truck tyres for traction and stability but also hydraulic systems – hoses can sometimes become loose and need regular checking and tightening to be able to deal with increased pressure when the temperature drops. Electricity and heating The last thing anyone wants to deal with during the winter is a loss of power. Not only make sure that data is backed up but look at investing in a back-up generator so you can continue operating. Lower temperatures not only affect equipment performance but also the performance of staff. If it’s impossible to keep the warehouse at a warm level, ensure that staff are wearing appropriate clothing. Check windows and gates to ensure […]