Ergologistics, a start-up company at the NDSU Research and Technology Park’s Technology Incubator and creators of the electric hand truck Lift’n Buddy, has been named a Top 10 Innovator of 2012 by Food Logistics Magazine. Commenting on their annual list of forward thinking companies, editor Lara Sowinski said, “It’s a bold statement to describe your product as the ‘Future of Hand Trucks,’ but Ergologistics, the manufacturer of the Lift’n Buddy, is living up to the claim.” Lift’n Buddy is a mobile lifting device that combines the best of a standard two-wheeler’s durability and functionality, with automatic lifting and lowering capabilities.
“We’re targeting the manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, supermarkets and route-based delivery sectors,” said James Dravitz, BS ’09, MBA ’11, director of operations. “However, there’s a catch-all ‘miscellaneous’ category that’s also generating a lot of interest in the product. This category is largely made up of the hospitality industry,” said Dravitz, “in particular, hotels, restaurants, and bars – workplaces that are associated with a lot of heavy lifting but that can’t accommodate a larger piece of equipment.”
“Think of the range of employees who work in hotel bars and banquet departments, lifting beer kegs, boxes of beef and beverages to refill the vending machine, and you can get an idea of how valuable the Lift’n Buddy is in this setting alone,” said Aaron Lamb, the company’s president and founder. According to Lamb, the ongoing improvement in worker safety standards, especially in Canada and the European Union, and to a lesser extent in the U.S., are helping drive interest in the product, which can reduce worker injuries and a company’s liability.
Ergologistics manufactures innovative products for the health and welfare of material handling workers. Lift’n Buddy is designed and distributed by Ergologistics, LLC; manufactured in Fargo, the company is a member of Material Handling Industry of America, as well as the National Safety Council.
The Lift’n Buddy has been designed with proper ergonomics and safety in mind for any person and any moving and lifting job. These mobile lifting devices, fabricated of durable, lightweight, extruded aluminum, help companies avoid the financial exposure of employee injury, litigation and workers’ compensation claims.
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