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February 2026
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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.
“Being able to have a clear view, no matter what the facility’s
size, is crucial. You’re not sitting, you’re not low to the
ground. You can see your surroundings,” said Taylor. Full story »
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