HENRIETTA, NY - Gorbel Inc., a manufacturer of cranes, ergonomic lifting equipment and fall protection equipment, is expanding its manufacturing operations to a new facility here.

Based in Chester, CT, AeroCision LLC machines and assembles complex jet engine parts made from super alloys and exotic metals.

Lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace. In 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that more than 36 percent of injuries involving missed workdays were the result of shoulder and back injuries.

For years, managers told assemblers to "work smarter, not harder" without providing them with the tools to achieve this goal. This was especially challenging for workers who had to lift heavy objects around their workstations.

Too often, the two concepts are seen as being at odds. To be safe, you have to slow down operations. To increase efficiency, safety becomes less of a priority. In fact, that's far from the case.

As a safety manager or plant operator, you would likely agree that two of your top goals are to maximize productivity and promote workplace safety. One of the best ways to achieve both of these goals is to install one or more ergonomic jib cranes at your facility.

A safety plan for your company and facility has to include all demographics contained therein. That's a seemingly simple statement that can quickly become more complex in reality. Chances are that from supervisors to shift workers, employees of all backgrounds and ages work to help the company succeed. Do your safety efforts keep all of them in mind?

Now with the introduction of our Gorbel Electric Chain Hoists, from 1/8 ton to 5 ton capacity, we've made it even easier to find the right lifting solutions for your unique applications.

What changes is your warehouse implementing this year to increase your operational efficiency? A lot of warehouses will be looking at factors like implementing the ABC system, optimizing receiving areas, and reducing overall inventory levels.

Once the stuff of science fiction films, Intelligent Lifting Devices were first introduced to material handling in the late 1990s. Today, thanks to their impressive track record, ILDs are making their way into material-handling applications all over the world