Yale Lift Truck Technologies recognized for transformative warehousing project with Hamilton Beach

Yale Lift Truck Technologies announces that its work optimizing warehouse operations at a new Hamilton Beach facility in Byhalia, Mississippi has been recognized as a Top Supply Chain Project by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Yale recommended a switch from a lift truck fleet powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) to an electric fleet, with equipment recommendations tailored to support the transition away from floor-level, slip sheet storage to high-density, narrow aisle racking. Ultimately, the new facility helped Hamilton Beach reduce product damage by 80% and ship more than twice as many direct-to-consumer orders annually compared to their previous facility.

“Being a warehouse lift truck provider is about far more than just selling equipment or pushing certain technology,” says Brad Long, Global Activation Manager, Yale Lift Truck Technologies. “It’s about thoroughly understanding the operation and finding solutions that best fit where they want to go. Our work with Hamilton Beach is proof of our ability to help businesses evaluate current and future requirements, and build a best-in-class warehouse operation from the ground up.”

Prior to the move, Hamilton Beach was working in a 1.2-million square foot facility that struggled with disorganization and congestion that hindered productivity and led to about $2 million in annual product damage. By moving to racking, with about 80% of that being double deep, Hamilton Beach was able to significantly increase storage density while reducing product damage by 80% in the new facility.

The new storage configuration and lift truck fleet also helped Hamilton Beach maintain a strong safety record, with zero OSHA-recordable incidents through the first eight months of 2023. In the previous facility, operators used counterbalanced lift trucks to navigate a bulk storage layout that afforded them limited visibility, with operators straining to see around loads. But at the new facility, the racking configuration and side stance of the stand-up reach truck models enable operators to see more easily, enhancing operator comfort and helping to reduce the risk of lift truck accidents.

To best service the narrow-aisle racking configuration, Yale recommended a fleet of 51 electric lift trucks, including 33 reach trucks and 12 low-level order pickers. Even with a three-shift, 20-hours-per-day operation, opportunity charging during breaks and gaps between shifts made it possible for the trucks to remain operational throughout the entire day without redundant units. Each truck runs approximately 50% longer during a week than its ICE counterpart in the previous facility. Emissions from the new fleet are greatly reduced compared to the previous ICE trucks, and the efficiency improvements of the building drove a 75% reduction of utility costs – even with the need to charge the new trucks.

Black Equipment, a certified Yale dealer, offers 24-hour on-call service and local parts availability for Hamilton Beach, helping to reduce downtime and keep business moving. An on-site technician is also on hand to help with regular maintenance, repairs, warranty claims and more.

“I’ve been in supply chain for 30 years, and at previous companies, we’ve had difficulty getting certain equipment serviced. The fact that we have Black Equipment and Yale as a turnkey provider is huge,” says Mike Bunge, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Operations, Hamilton Beach. “And to top it off we now have the most advanced lift truck technologies for a world-class operation.”