How Much Control Do You Have Over Your Mind?

You can’t make it without moving it July 15, 2026 | 9:13 am CDT

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

// Start by defining breakpoints for this ad. var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping() .addSize([768, 0], [320, 50]) .addSize([480, 0], [320, 50]) .addSize([1366, 0], [970, 90]) .addSize([992, 0], [728, 90]) .addSize([400, 0], [320, 50]) .addSize([360, 0], [320, 50]) .build();

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-970x90, -4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_970x90", [[970, 90], [320, 50]], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-970x90, -4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

// Apply size mapping when there are breakpoints. .defineSizeMapping(mapping) ;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-970x90, -4'); });

Plant Production & Software

You can’t make it without moving it

By

William Sampson

July 15, 2026 | 9:13 am CDT

Print

Doucet offers return conveyors that greatly improve the efficiency of edgebanding with better material handling.

Most production efficiency efforts overlook a huge factor in your profitability: material handling.

Material handling takes time that can cut into your profit, and if you don’t do it right, it could even damage your product or injure your employees. Let’s look at few recent innovations in material handling.

Return conveyors Edgebanders are wonderful, but because many parts to be banded require more than one edge to be applied, that means the operator is constantly hiking from one end of the machine to the other to work and turn parts. Unless, of course, the machine has a return conveyor.

Doucet has long been a leader in return conveyors. The XPRS Return Conveyor is designed for low cost and a small footprint for medium-small edgebanders. It maintains continuous workflow, reduces operator movement, and improves machine utilization.  A single operator can continuously feed the edgebander. The part exits the machine, travels along the return conveyor, and comes back directly to the infeed. The cycle immediately resumes. No walking around. No unnecessary stops. Learn more at doucetinc.com.

Material handling is sometimes about holding things in place. AtlasCopco offers vacuum pumps for that chore.

Vacuum pumps Vacuum plays a big role in material handling because sometimes you need to keep things from moving while they are machined or transferred. Atlas Copco Compressors LLC offers The GHS VSD+ 350 - 900 series of intelligent vacuum solutions available with variable speed drive technology. They also feature advanced screw technology and a motor design that the company says works together to maximize energy savings. Learn more at AtlasCopco.com.

PaintLine's door transport cart is designed to safely move doors from the shop to the job site without damage.

Door transport There’s nothing worse than damaging finished goods before installation. PaintLine developed the ProDryingRack Transport system to solve that. Arms are adjustable to accommodate doors of various sizes and can be easily locked into place. Mount it into your work vehicle using the L-Track cargo tie down systems, and add an optional Platform Cart for even easier transport.

The rack is a durable and easy-to-use system designed to safely and conveniently transport finished cabinet doors from your workshop to the job site. Designed specifically to integrate with the ProDryingRack Transport (PDRTR), the heavy-duty platform cart securely attaches to your PDRTR, transforming it into a fully mobile transport unit. Learn more at paintline.com.

Sometimes waste is generated by the tractor trailer load. Keith Manufacturing Co. offers walking floor systems to handle that.

Big material handling Not all the material you need to move is product; there’s plenty of waste, too, sometimes full truckloads. RX3 Technology from Keith Manufacturing Co. is a heavy-duty Walking Floor drive engineered for waste and recycling applications. It was designed as the long term replacement for the company’s Running Floor II DX. Learn more at keithwalkingfloor.com.

.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Production Efficiency

About the author

William Sampson

William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker, and he has been an advocate for small-scale entrepreneurs and lean manufacturing since the 1980s. He was the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped found the Cabinet Makers Association in 1998 and was its first executive director. Today, as editorial director of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine he has more than 20 years experience covering the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear monthly in FDMC.

Read more articles from this author

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-1x1, 4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_1x1", [1, 1], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-1x1, 4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-1x1, 4'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-1, 4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_300x250_1", [300, 250], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-1, 4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-1, 4'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-2, 4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_300x250_2", [300, 250], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-2, 4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-2, 4'); });

RECENT ARTICLES

Closets |

07/15/2026

Closets by Design expands to Colorado Springs

Woodworking Industry News |

07/15/2026

Bliffert Lumber names Josh Brown CEO and president

Closets |

07/15/2026

Research: Home storage market outlook 2035

Plant Production & Software |

07/15/2026

You can’t make it without moving it

Opinion |

07/15/2026

What makes you excited about your business?

Closets |

07/14/2026

The Devil Wears Prada has a closet problem

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x600, 4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_300x600", [300, 600], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x600, 4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x600, 4'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() {

googletag.slots["js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-3, 4"] = googletag.defineSlot("//83945039/WWN_300x250_3", [300, 250], "js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-3, 4")

.addService(googletag.pubads())

;

googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-wwn-300x250-3, 4'); });