Newswise — Ergologistics, a start-up company at the North Dakota State University 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,” says James Dravitz, 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,” says Dravitz, “in particular, hotels, restaurants, and 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 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, North Dakota. The company is a proud member of MHIA (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.
The NDSU Research and Technology Park and Technology Incubator, Fargo, are home to fast-paced, high-growth companies that promote technology-based economic development in North Dakota. Each of them has the potential to compete globally or is already doing so effectively. To operate within the park or Technology Incubator, a company must be involved in the advancement and development of new technology, be willing to establish a working relationship with NDSU and work in one or more of the following technology fields: material sciences, biosciences and life science technology, information technology, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing and sensors/micro-electronics.
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