MH Equipment: A Leader in Material Handling and AMRs
MH Equipment is a systems integrator and an authorized OTTO dealer, specializing in helping manufacturers modernize their operations with cutting-edge automation. With deep expertise in material handling and robotics, MH works with leading manufacturers to design and deploy advanced solutions that improve efficiency, safety, and throughput.
When a Midwest manufacturer of large-scale storage products needed to modernize its production line, MH Equipment partnered with Power Pack Conveyor Company to deliver a seamless AMR integration. The customer wanted to reduce reliance on forklifts, improve consistency, and capture a strong return on investment—all without compromising safety or production flow.
The Challenge: Moving Beyond Forklifts
The facility’s material movement relied heavily on forklifts, creating both inefficiencies and safety risks. Forklift accidents remain the number one cause of injuries in manufacturing, and the manual process slowed pallet transfers between injection molding, inspection, cooling, and shipping areas.
The manufacturer sought a solution that could:
- Improve workplace safety by reducing forklift traffic.
- Handle pallet transfers with consistency and reliability.
- Deliver ROI in line with industry benchmarks of under two years.
- Support cultural change as employees adapted to working with AMRs.
The Solution: AMRs with Fully Integrated Conveyor Systems
As the project lead, MH Equipment designed the overall AMR workflow, including pallet transfers, dwell times, and system routing. Recognizing the need for conveyors engineered specifically for OTTO AMRs, MH partnered with Power Pack to co-develop the integration.
Together, the teams created:
- Custom AMR Conveyor Toppers – fully integrated with OTTO’s operating system, eliminating the need for a separate conveyor control platform.
- Pick-and-Drop Conveyors – designed for seamless handoffs between AMRs and fixed automation.
- Dwell Pod Conveyors – specialized stands allowing pallets to cool before advancing to stretch wrapping.
- Lift Table Topper Conveyors – facilitating the transfer of pallets between levels of the facility.
- Integration with Related Equipment – Power Pack provided core conveyor systems while MH coordinated with additional vendors for pallet de-stacking and handling equipment.
Unlike other conveyor solutions that require operators to learn and maintain a second control platform, Power Pack’s design integrated directly into the OTTO ecosystem. This eliminated the complexity of managing two separate systems.
For the end user, the benefit was clear:
- Simpler training and onboarding – staff only needed to learn the OTTO software they were already adopting.
- Easier troubleshooting – all adjustments and diagnostics could be done inside a single interface.
- Reduced risk of errors – no confusion about whether an issue stemmed from the conveyor system or the AMR software.
By eliminating the burden of dual systems, the integration streamlined change management and gave the customer confidence that their workforce could adapt quickly without added complexity. MH’s role as integrator ensured that these technical advantages translated into real operational benefits for the end user.
A Partnership Built on Collaboration
From concept to commissioning, the project was a true collaboration. Over 12 months, MH and Power Pack worked through hundreds of design iterations, refining equipment until it fit perfectly within the facility’s process flow.
MH engineers even embedded at Power Pack’s facility, testing prototypes and collaborating in real time. The trust between the teams was so strong that MH was given full access to Power Pack’s floor, working side by side as if they were one company.
“Our objectives were aligned, our values were aligned, and we had total trust. That made the collaboration seamless and the project successful.” – Dan, PPCC
Results: Safety, Consistency, Reliability, ROI
Under MH’s leadership as the systems integrator—and with Power Pack as a trusted conveyor partner—the system is now in production use, and the outcomes are clear:
- Improved Safety: Reduced forklift use, addressing the #1 cause of manufacturing accidents.
- Consistency: Pallets move with precision and repeatability.
- Reliability: AMRs don’t call off sick—they run continuously.
- ROI: Reduced forklift reliance and reallocation of labor contributed to efficiency gains and a strong return on investment.
For the manufacturer, this integration represents not just a modernization project, but a step toward a safer, more automated future.
Looking Ahead: Setting Standards in AMR Integration
The success of this project has laid the foundation for future collaborations between MH and Power Pack. The two companies are already working together on additional AMR conveyor applications, including projects in consumer goods and automotive.
As AMR adoption accelerates, MH Equipment is uniquely positioned to lead as both an OTTO dealer and integration partner. By pairing their AMR expertise with Power Pack’s conveyor systems, the two companies are creating a blueprint for future-ready automation across industries.
“Safety, consistency, reliability, and ROI are the four key outcomes that AMRs deliver—and this project proves it.” – Dan, PPCC