NBC’s "The Office" Warehouse Features Vertical Baler From Olympic Wire and Equipment in "Safety Training" Episode

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Those huge baling machines that bale cardboard and other no-longer-needed paper products are no laughing matter. Unless, of course, they are used on the set of the Emmy Award-winning primetime NBC-TV series “The Office,” as will occur Thursday, April 12.

The episode, entitled “Safety Training,” will be a hilarious spoof on what can go wrong in the warehouse environment starring not only Golden Globe winner Steve Carrell as character Michael Scott, but highlighting a bright red vertical Olympic baler provided by Olympic Equipment and Wire, based in Newport Beach, Calif.

Guest director Harold Ramis, of “Groundhog Day” and“Caddyshack” directing fame, got the call for this episode, written by B.J. Novak and produced by Greg Daniels. The premise revolves around the unsafe antics of Carrell’s character, which cause warehouse foreman Darryl (Craig Robinson) to get injured prompting a safety-training day, in which Darryl humorously outlines to Michael and other office employees the functions as well as the risks associated with using some of the warehouse machinery, including the Olympic baler, without proper training.

“Since the vertical Olympic balers compact recyclables under 56,000 square feet of pressure, the machines should only be used by trained operators,” said James Walker, CEO of Olympic Wire and Equipment, Inc. “However, this particular baler has more safety features than most balers, and will not begin the compression cycle until the loading door is closed and locked.”

Olympic’s 48-inch and 60-inch vertical balers are designed for use in retail stores, manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers and other companies wishing to recycle. Because of its size, the 48-inch unit featured on the show is ideal for companies with space limitations, such as drug stores. With an average cycle time of 37 seconds, the baler can produce multiple bales per day weighing from 800 to 1100 lbs.

“Olympic is very excited to be the supplier selected to provide equipment for the popular show,” said Walker. “It has been one of our long-time goals to raise safety awareness, and this ties in really well with our ongoing safety education and maintenance programs for our customers.”