Ultimation Adds Private Label Partnerships to its Business Portfolio

Ultimation is expanding its distribution network to include private-label partnerships for its quick-ship material handling product line. The move is part of a long-term strategy to expand in e-commerce, innovate for its mainstay automotive customers and develop new products that provide greater material handling efficiency across multiple industries.

Private labels are gaining a foothold in the wholesale trade, with some experts predicting it will be a major trend in B2B distribution. The practice allows retailers across a range of industries to sell products that have been manufactured by third-party vendors under their own brand names. Private label sales increased by $1.9 billion in 2021, with store brands now accounting for $199 billion worth of sales across all major retail channels.

“Private label partnerships allow retailers to enhance their own brands with quality products from trusted suppliers,” said Richard Canny, president of Ultimation. “They also give suppliers additional penetration into markets they might not otherwise have been able to access.”

Ultimation is no stranger to innovation. In 2016, the company launched a line of “quick ship” products for sale through their own online store as well as on Amazon. E-commerce now makes up nearly 50% of Ultimation’s business. Expansion into additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) for some tooling and fixtures gives Ultimation more creative freedom to design parts in-house and allows the company to create prototypes for customers in hours rather than weeks. New product lines such as warehouse robots, Qimarox lifters and Portec conveyors help customers transform their facilities into fully integrated warehouses.

Ultimation was recognized in 2020 and 2022 as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies in America. The company was also named a 2022 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

“We’re always looking to improve as that’s how we continue to grow,” said Canny.

How We Helped: Stories from our Customers

Some of the best ideas for using Ultimation conveyor products come from our customers. This is especially true when it comes to carpentry. Here are three examples of how some of our in-stock, quick-ship solutions are making the woodworking process easier and more efficient:

Two Widths, Two Ways With Lightweight Gravity Conveyors

Positioning long or oversized boards for a table saw is no problem with Ultimation’s Light-Duty Gravity Conveyors. The five-foot length and 24” width provide versatility and stability when paired with the appropriate supporting legs. Galvanized steel rollers can move up to 360 pounds when the conveyor frame is fully supported. A 12-inch width is also available for capacities up to 900 pounds.

Table Saw Conveyor System

“Perfect for table saw conveyor system,” writes one customer. “They’re wide, roll very easily, are lightweight, and high quality.” Another says: “Great help in feeding my table saw. Great value for the money. Would rate 10 stars if I could! 5 for the conveyors and 5 for Ultimation’s outstanding customer service!”

Table Saw Conveyor System Customer

Rollers keep projects…well, rolling

What’s better than one 10″ long roller and bracket? Two! One customer took advantage of a two-pack of rollers and brackets to create a homemade outfeed roller for a table saw. Roller brackets are available in two length configurations: 10″ between frame and 16″ between the frame. Their durable, 100-pound capacity makes them ideal for a variety of projects.

Table Saw Roller and Bracket 2-Pack

“Great for a space-limited workshop,” says the customer. 

Table Saw Roller and Bracket Two Pack

 

For more solutions, visit Ultimation’s online store.

Ultimation Awards Third Annual STEM Student Scholarship

A student from Oregon State University is the latest recipient of Ultimation Industries’ annual STEM student scholarship program. For the past three years, the company has awarded a $1,500 stipend to the U.S. college student with the best idea for improving material handling. Ryan Moore is the 2022 scholarship winner for his suggestions to streamline processes in vertical or indoor farming systems.

 

Ryan outlined a plan for managing an entire rack of plants using only a couple of motors and centralized, powered conveyors to transport plant trays. Each plant platform is oriented to vertically move the plants from the storage position to the loading and off-loading positions. The system further streamlined operations by only requiring one watering and feeding position, allowing plants to be taken care of without the need for a complicated plumbing system. According to Ryan, the entire process is also scalable, from just a few plants to hundreds of platforms for plant trays.

2023 STEM Scholarship Winner Ryan Moore

“Vertical farming is quite literally, a growing industry, thanks to innovations that are taking place at a rapid pace,” said Richard Canny, president of Ultimation Industries LLC. “Ideas such as Ryan’s will go a long way toward shaping the future of vertical farming and driving the productivity improvements needed for businesses to thrive.”

 

Ryan’s entry was chosen by the judges from more than 100 applications from around the country. Entries for the 2023 scholarship are now being accepted. Students have until December 15, 2023, to submit their ideas for conveyors for vertical farming applications.

These 2023 Conveyor System Trends Can Help Manufacturers and Distributors Improve Efficiency

The need for faster throughput, increased automation and more efficient use of energy and space influence today’s conveyor system designs

ROSEVILLE, Mich. (Jan. 17, 2023) – Material handling needs are changing as manufacturers and distributors look for ways to keep up with the growth of e-commerce and reduce their environmental impact, according to Ultimation Industries. Faster throughput, increased automation and more efficient use of energy and space are some of the factors that are influencing conveyor system designs in 2023.

Ultimation is the leading direct-to-consumer conveyor manufacturer, specializing in solving productivity challenges with fast-to-deploy solutions for the automotive, food processing, vertical farming, heavy equipment, warehousing, fulfillment and delivery sectors.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in requests from manufacturers for flexible material handling solutions that allow them to scale quickly and reduce energy consumption…without requiring major capital expenditures,” said Kali Cresent, general manager for Ultimation. “We expect those trends to continue—and even accelerate—into 2023 and beyond.”

24V MDR Conveyor System Trends 2023

Cresent pointed to five growing trends in the conveyor industry:

  1. Moving more with less energy. Increasingly, companies are looking for every opportunity to reduce their energy consumption. An unexpected place to find savings is in material handling systems. Conveyors equipped with motorized driven roller (MDR) systems are an energy-efficient alternative to legacy systems. MDRs operate with 24-volt DC power and only use electricity when they are actively moving cargo. Cresent says a typical 5-foot ­­­­Chain Driven Live Roller (CDLR) conveyor system using approximately 0.75kWh of energy for operation could save up to 81% in energy usage by replacing it with a same-size MDR system. MDRs are also quiet and can handle a multitude of products such as packages, tote bins, pallets, tires, cartons and more.

 

  1. Building up. Companies that need to scale up fast don’t have time to wait for building expansions or the acquisition of additional square footage. Better utilization of vertical space in a warehouse or manufacturing facility through lifters and overhead conveyor systems is an affordable, effective solution that can be deployed relatively quickly. Lifters can help manufacturers and distributors move totes, cartons and pallets from one level to another with carriers designed to handle multiple load weights and sizes. In vertical farming applications, overhead style material handling systems can help with all-important space optimization.

 

  1. Squeezing it in. Seasonal volume increases, unexpected spikes in demand and even sustained high order levels put pressure on manufacturers and distributors to get more mileage out of their existing floor space. For temporary or seasonal situations, flexible and expandable conveyors are an inexpensive investment that can be set up quickly during high volume months. Flexible conveyors can quickly form lines or curves to get materials where they need to be, and easily stored away when they’re not needed. A more permanent option is the addition of fixed, curved conveyors to an existing material handling system. Curves can be used in ascending or descending applications to help minimize the footprint within a multi-tier warehouse.

 

  1. Addressing the need for speed. Higher throughput requirements are driving many manufacturers to explore conveyor options that reach faster speeds without compromising product or people safety. Some industries are taking a page from the airlines’ playbook by incorporating Interroll Portec systems that move more than 4 billion pieces of luggage annually. The speed and durability of Portec systems make them ideal for demanding material handling environments, such as distribution centers, parcel handling operations, food/wine/beverage facilities and vertical farms.

 

  1. Automating processes. The shortage of workers, coupled with the growing adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies means many manufacturers and distributors are turning to automated systems and robotics to meet productivity requirements. Material handling operations are no exception. Systems that integrate with radio frequency identification (RFID) and other technologies provide greater efficiency and improve accuracy. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) or warehouse robots are a good option for manufacturers and distributors of all sizes who need to transfer loads within their facilities quickly and without reconfiguring production lines or factory footprints. They can be deployed wherever and whenever needed, interfacing with existing conveyor systems and providing flexibility as volumes change.