As inventory grows and SKU counts increase, many warehouses feel pressure before they run out of space. The real challenge often shows up in the aisles, at the rack, and around staging areas where congestion slows operations. The right narrow aisle solution can increase storage density, enhance maneuverability, and keep goods moving smoothly. Instead of expanding your footprint, many facilities can unlock capacity by rethinking equipment, racking, and traffic flow. At Papé Material Handling, this broader approach connects layout planning, operator-focused technology, lift trucks, racking, automation, and fleet management to keep warehouse operations running efficiently and safely. Safety and Productivity Go Hand in Hand With tighter spaces, control, visibility, training, and maintenance become even more important. In a narrow aisle environment, small inefficiencies can quickly lead to product damage or increase the risk of injury. That’s why productivity and safety need t

In ports and terminals, equipment decisions have direct effects on throughput, safety, and uptime. Standard lift trucks can serve many operations well, but container work creates a different level of demand. Loaded containers bring serious weight, awkward dimensions, tight schedules, and constant cycling. Add in outdoor exposure, uneven surfaces, and stacking requirements, and the job quickly moves into heavy-duty equipment territory. This is where container handlers are essential. Built for demanding shipping environments, these machines keep freight moving when conventional equipment reaches its practical limits. For businesses managing high-volume container flow, heavy-duty equipment becomes part of the infrastructure that keeps the yard productive. At Papé Material Handling, we support these operations with container handlers, reach stackers, terminal tractors, and the service network needed to keep equipment running. What Is a Container Handler? A container handler is a sp

When we launched the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast in 2016, we weren’t sure where it would go. Now, 300 episodes later, it’s become a go-to resource for growers, researchers, educators, and wine industry professionals dedicated to sustainability. To mark this milestone, we flipped the mic around and interviewed our host, Craig Macmillan, PhD — long-time vineyard and winery professional, educator, and now podcasting veteran — to reflect on some favorite episodes, meaningful moments, and what’s ahead. From Zoom Recordings to Global Reach Craig began hosting when the podcast was just an idea sparked by the Vineyard Team’s goal to make sustainable winegrowing knowledge more accessible. “I wasn't a podcast listener at all,” Craig admits. “But I said sure, why not? Let's try it.” Since then, the show has featured scientists, growers, and innovators from all over the world, creating a ripple effect of conversations and c

If peak seasons make or break your operation, you’ve seen how quickly a smooth-running warehouse can get overloaded. Orders pile up, aisles tighten, and your main forklift fleet hits its limit. You need more capacity fast, but you don’t necessarily need more equipment all year long. That’s exactly where a smart short-term rental strategy comes in. With one of the largest material handling rental fleets in the West and dozens of locations spanning across California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Montana, Papé Rents helps businesses add flexible surge capacity without locking up capital in equipment that sits idle once the rush is over. Start with Historical Data Effective seasonal surge planning starts long before the first big order drops. Look at your historical data: Daily order volumes and lines picked Dock-to-stock times Overtime hours Equipment utilization by truck type As you monitor your workflow over time, patterns start to emerge. Maybe ou

Over the past few years, wineries have seen tasting room visits decline as consumer habits shift. With more options than ever, visitors are looking for something special—experiences that go beyond just sampling wine. For many wineries, this means rethinking how they engage guests and creating a place people want to come back to. This guide explores how wineries across the country are turning their tasting rooms into destinations—balancing local charm, modern convenience, and genuine hospitality. Create Unique, Social Experiences In today’s market, wineries that stand out provide more than just a tasting—they create memorable, shareable experiences that make guests want to stay longer and come back. Enhancing the Atmosphere with Music: Music adds energy and can make an ordinary tasting feel like an event. Hosting live music, whether it’s a local band or acoustic performer, brings people together and keeps them engaged. Many wineries schedule music on weeke

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 22, 2025 — our annual Holiday Open House + Marketplace is back and shaping up to be the best one yet! We’re welcoming an exciting mix of new food vendors, fresh local artisans, and possibly even some first-time member wineries pouring at the event. Whether you're returning or coming for the first time, there's something new to discover! And yes — this is a family-friendly event, so bring the whole crew! 🍷 What to Expect: Delicious bites from local food trucks available for purchase Unique handcrafted goods from talented makers Incredible wines poured by our family of member wineries Your Ticket Includes: Admission into the event Wine tastings from over 10 Grand Cru member wineries Complimentary valet parking Access to our curated holiday marketplace featuring local artisans 🎟️ Tickets: Tickets are just $35 for a limited time, so don’t wait! Tickets Here! 📩 Have questions? Reach out to us at hospitality@gra

Supporting winemakers with expert care and seamless operations. At VintEdge Winery, located in the Napa Valley Gateway Business Park, clients can customize their winemaking experience. The 110,000-square-foot facility serves as a custom crush, barrel storage, climate-controlled cold storage warehouse, hospitality suite, and in-door space for bottling lines. Winemakers have the freedom to define their own path with the support of an experienced winemaking team assembled from locations throughout Napa Valley. Furthermore, its full-time maintenance staff ensures smooth operations throughout the year. At the same time, its housekeeping team works diligently to provide the highest degree of cleanliness. State-of-the-art facilities with Room to Grow In just four years, VintEdge has become a trusted partner for clients focusing on excellence. The facility accommodates its winery clients, whose production ranges from 10 to 450 tons. It can accommodate up to 2,000 tons and maintains

Forklift safety isn’t about adding one more alarm. It’s about making the job safer, smarter, and more responsive. That’s where Yale Reliant comes in. As one of the most trusted names in material handling, Yale has developed a suite of innovative operator assistance technologies designed to reduce risks and reinforce forklift best practices. Their award-winning Yale Reliant system is no longer just a promise; it’s a proven tool. With over 24 million hours of real-world runtime, the technology is helping warehouses move confidently toward safer, smarter operations. With over 6,000 Yale trucks already deployed with Reliant and 59 models available with the technology, Yale Reliant is a mature, scalable solution ready to make a difference today—not in five years. It’s already delivered over 24 million hours of performance in the field since 2021. By combining ADS, Object Detection, and Proximity Detection, Reliant provides your warehouse safety through:

In today’s market, smart decisions go beyond immediate cost savings—they align with long-term sustainability goals and operational efficiency. Repsco plastic slip sheets check every box. Designed from the ground up to reduce waste, improve load handling, and support a circular economy, they offer a better way to ship—without compromising performance. Each Repsco slip sheet is made from recycled post-consumer and post-industrial plastics, transforming material that would otherwise end up in landfills into a reliable and efficient logistics tool. And when a slip sheet reaches the end of its useful life? It can be recycled again. That’s not just responsible—it’s practical. With every load shipped, your business contributes to reducing environmental impact and conserving valuable resources. But sustainability isn’t just a feel-good story—it’s a smart business move. Lighter than wooden pallets, slip sheets reduce the weight of shipments,

Wine distribution in California just got a whole lot smarter. At LibDib, we’ve always believed that modern wineries deserve modern solutions. That’s why we’re excited to roll out a new Hybrid Distribution Model—built specifically for today’s wine brands that want flexibility, transparency, and full control over their path to market. This isn’t your typical one-size-fits-all distribution model. It’s à la carte distribution designed for how wineries operate now—and how they want to grow. What Is Hybrid Distribution? LibDib’s Hybrid Model blends the best of full-service distribution with the freedom to manage your own sales. That means: You control the relationships with your accounts (or bring your own rep!) LibDib handles all three-tier compliance, invoicing, payments, and reporting Access to warehousing, delivery, and merchandising only if and when you need it Live sales tracking, buyer insights, and inventory visibility v