The golden age of mechanization The mechanization that began in the 1940s took hold during the boom years of the 1950s, as factories rolled out consumer goods and retailers sped them to America's kitchens and living rooms. During the decade, emphasis turned from simply increasing capacity to doing so efficiently and cost-effectively. By the late '50s, factories and warehouses included such ultramodern devices as driverless tractors, sorters with photoelectric eyes and electronic brains for tracking inventory.
1950's - Lift trucks get laughs During the '50s, Modern included cartoons. Many of them revolved around novel uses for lift trucks.
1950 - Materials handling industry reaches $1 billion mark Total equipment sales for 1950: $1.175 billion
1950 to 1953 - Two-way radios become integral to warehouse operations Outfitting fork trucks with radios saves time and manpower
1952 - "Automation" works its way into materials handling lexicon A Ford Motor Co. executive tells Modern, "There's a new word in the MH man's vocabulary, with tremendous implications for the future."
1953 - First counterbalanced dock-levelers introduced
1952 to 1955 - Universities add materials handling courses
1952: Wayne University announces materials handling laboratory
1954: Harvard offers summer program in materials handling
1955: Michigan State offers Bachelor of Science in Packaging Technology
1955 - First AGVs are introduced: "Driver-less tractor trains" are guided by wires strung below the ceiling or installed in the floor.
April 1955 - Pallet loading gets mechanized Four different companies introduce automatic or semi-automatic palletizing machines.
1956 - Containerization becomes a "fundamental handling principle" Modern special report on large containers features:
Returnable metal shipping containers
Shipping vans and aircraft pods
Metal, plastic and fiber drums
1955 to 1957 - Computers enter the warehouse
1955: B.F. Goodrich installs "electronic brain" to track inventory
1957: Stanford University develops computer program to find most efficient pallet patterns
1957: "Computer-type" controls direct automatic handling systems
1958 - Cost-efficiency becomes a common theme Economic recession hits American industry. The August 1958 issue of Modern is devoted to cost-cutting.
1959 - Modern describes average "materials handling man" Average materials handling worker:
Is a 38-year old man
Earns $8,600 per year
Has 7 years experience in the field
Has taken a college-level course in materials handling or engineering subjects
Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. These include: Software-enhanced wireless telephone, two-way radio and messaging products and systems, as well as networking and...
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Tom Andel, Columnist, Modern Materials Handling November 09, 2009 Dust off your path to lift truck safety
Looks like I kicked up some dust with my recent blog on OSHA’s warning... More
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