CASE STUDY
Ergonomic Solutions are Brewing at Renown Beer Company
PalletPal® 360 Improves Worker Experience and Operational Efficiency
Allagash Brewing Company, located in Portland, Maine, crafts a multi-award-winning line of Belgian-inspired beers with nationwide distribution.
The company, which employes 120+ full-time team members, is proud to be included on Maine’s Best Places to Work list for ten consecutive years. The job satisfaction and wellbeing of Allagash employees is important, so operations managers are always looking for ways to make the work that team members do safer and easier. The Southworth PalletPal® 360 Spring pallet leveler is an integral part of the Allagash process.
The Challenge
At its Portland facility, Allagash handles high volumes of packaged beer, which includes assembling its popular brand of Variety Packs. Previously, workers lifted heavy cases of bottles and cans from floor-level pallets, requiring repetitive bending.
We needed a solution that would make the cases easier to access,” reports Mike O’Connor, who oversees packaging operations. “It’s all about ergonomics.”
The Solution
Allagash integrated PalletPal 360 Spring units into its workflows. These self-leveling machines automatically adjust the height of loads to optimal ergonomic levels using a system of springs and shock absorbers. Their turntable tops provide full 360° access. The units are free-standing, require no power, and can be easily moved using a fork truck.
The Results
The use of Southworth PalletPals has improved worker experience—reducing physical strain and boosting operational efficiency. Easier access to cases and more ergonomic pallet handling enable employees to work faster, with less fatigue.
We try to automate as much as possible,” continues O’Connor, “but there will always be areas of our operations that require manual handling. PalletPal offers the flexibility we need, where we need it.”
About Allagash
Founded in 1995, Allagash Brewing Company produces Belgian-inspired beers distributed nationwide. The company is a Certified B Corp recognized for product quality and workplace culture, with a strong commitment to employee safety and operational excellence.
