Increased SKU counts, tight warehouse and in-store spaces, and delivery personnel who manage heavy cases and kegs are driving innovation of new mobile carts and hand trucks that are designed to improve ergonomics and enable warehouse workers to safely and efficiently stack, retrieve and deliver products.

Through ergonomically designed carts and hand trucks, suppliers are helping to make DSD safer and more efficient.

Designed to handle all rimmed steel, fiber and plastic drums weighing as much as 1,000 pounds, the hand truck has two 10-inch main wheels with full roller bearings, and two 4-inch swivel casters to support the drum while moving through plants and warehouses.

Carts and hand trucks are helping to reduce delivery personnel’s body stress in store, while powered liftgates are supporting these concerns among fleet operations.

In partnership with Steel King, Wisconsin Lift Truck developed a new hand cart that enables the transport of products to retail stores, while also doubling as a display to minimize heavy lifting and ensure the easy, safe transportation of bottles, cans and cases to the retail floor, the company says. Construction involved directly bolting a steel 48-inch-square five-shelve wire rack unit to a pallet.

Increased SKU counts, tight warehouse and retail spaces, and delivery personnel who manage heavy cases and kegs are driving the proliferation of new mobile carts and hand trucks designed to improve ergonomics and enable warehouse staff to safely stack, retrieve and deliver products.

When it comes to health and wellness, there is no shortage of data and literature for beverage-makers to consider when formulating new products. However, wellness is not reserved only for packaged products in the beverage market.

Beverage route drivers endure one of the most physically demanding jobs in the delivery industry, according to Carl Boettcher, chief executive officer and founder of HTS Systems Lock N Roll LLC, Scranton, Pa.

An early-spring snowstorm did not stop attendees and exhibitors from trekking to Chicago's McCormick Place to see and showcase the latest supply chain solutions at ProMat, which took place March 23-26.

When it comes to beverage delivery, safety is a top concern. However, drivers also are interested in delivering more product in less time, says Kari Michalski, channel manager for Magline Inc., Standish, Mich.