February 2026

Inside the February Issue

 

 

Rethink How to Move Material: How Material Handling Carts Support Safer Operations
BY EMILY KEINATH

Workplace-related injuries cost U.S. companies more than $58 billion in medical expenses and lost wages, according to Liberty Mutual’s 2025 Workplace Injury report.

Overexertion is the number one cause of those injuries, largely due to manual material handling, accounting for $13.7 billion in costs.

“There are upwards of 62,000 injuries per year related to material handling equipment,” said Samantha Taylor, product manager at Amigo Mobility, a developer of motorized material handling cars. “It’s kind of scary when you think about it, because you want to ensure that your employees are safe, that when they go to work, they’re able to do their, job not only efficiently, but that they’re not going to hurt themselves.”

As the safety manager of Boride Engineered Abrasives, Ernie Fryer needed to eliminate the risk of pulling and tugging extremely heavy manual carts, but he needed a solution that is compact and maneuverable in a 22,000 square-foot manufacturing facility.

Because Amigo’s material handling carts are smaller and lighter than other carts or large industrial trucks, they’ve had a significant effect on material movement efficiency and safety in the facility.

“Pulling and tugging 1,000 lb. carts was an extreme risk from an ergonomic standpoint, and the Amigo cart has eliminated that threat from our facility,” said Fryer.

Amigo uses a stand-up design intended to improve visibility for the operator and for others working nearby. Full story »

 

 

today's news

Aero Velocity’s Drone Service to Clean Exteriors

BSM Staff | 02.23.26

MINNETONKA, MN -- Aero Velocity Inc., a provider of commercial drone operations and aerial robotics, has initiated a strategic alliance with SoftWash Systems, a pioneer of environmentally responsible exterior cleaning solutions.

Full article »

McRay Roofing Marks 15 Years with DaVinci

BSM Staff | 02.23.26

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- McRay Roofing & Exteriors. Is celebrating 15 years of installing composite slate and shake DaVinci Roofscapes roofing products throughout Oklahoma.

Full article »

Q-PAC’s MPF is IBC and CBC Certified

BSM Staff | 02.23.26

ELKTON, FL -- Q-PAC, a manufacturer of commercial HVAC fan systems, has announced that its Q-PAC Multimotor Plenum Fan (MPF) is now covered under HCAI Special Seismic Certification Preapproval OSP-0875, giving engineers a seismically certified fan option for critical facilities and high-seismic regions.

Full article »

National Medal of Honor Museum Awards SOPREMA

BSM Staff | 02.20.26

WADSWORTH, OH -- SOPREMA, Inc., a developer of solutions for roofing, waterproofing and wall protection, has been named a Best-in-Class Award winner for its work on the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association.

Full article »

Armstrong Grows Design Business via Eventscape

BSM Staff | 02.20.26

LANCASTER, PA -- Armstrong World Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of ceilings, specialty walls, and exterior metal solutions, has acquired Eventscape, Inc., a designer of complex, architectural environments.

Full article »