Early Life and Education Norman Lee Cahners (1914–1986) was an influential American publisher and a key figure in the materials handling industry. Born in Bangor, Maine, he was the son of James A. Cahners, a businessman involved in multiple industries. Cahners attended Phillips Academy and later Harvard University, where he excelled as a track and field athlete. Notably, he and his teammate Milton Green boycotted the 1936 U.S. Olympic trials due to the event being held in Nazi Germany. He went on to speak at the Harvard Tercentenary Ceremonies in 1936 and was later inducted into the Harvard Varsity Athletic Hall of Fame.
Contributions to Materials Handling and The Palletizer During World War II, Cahners served as director of the U.S. Naval Ordnance Materials Handling Laboratory at the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot in Massachusetts. His work there led to the development and adoption of new materials handling technologies, particularly the pallet. Recognizing the importance of pallets in military logistics, he pioneered the ‘four-way pallet,’ which became a military and industrial standard.
To promote the advantages of palletization and educate military contractors on efficient shipping methods, Cahners launched a newsletter called The Palletizer. This publication marked the beginning of his career in niche publishing, as he provided specialized industry insights that were crucial to streamlining logistics and materials handling processes.
Transition to Publishing and the Growth of Cahners Publishing After the war, the Navy allowed Cahners and his colleague, Saul Goldweitz, to transition their research and publication into a private enterprise. They rebranded The Palletizer as Modern Materials Handling, which remains a leading publication in the industry today.
Seeing an opportunity in trade and business publications, Cahners expanded beyond materials handling. In 1956, he acquired Metalworking, followed by numerous other publications. His pioneering approach to niche publishing focused on industry-specific content filled with valuable information and advertising tailored to targeted business audiences. By the time of his passing in 1986, Cahners Publishing had grown to include 90 trade magazines, including well-known titles such as Variety and Publishers Weekly.
Legacy and Impact Norman Cahners’ impact extended beyond materials handling into the broader publishing world. His expertise in business journalism transformed how industries accessed technical and trade-specific information. Cahners Publishing thrived as a dominant force in trade media, eventually being acquired and rebranded as Reed Business Information under Reed Elsevier.
Despite his shift to publishing, his contributions to materials handling remain foundational, with his innovations in pallet design and logistics efficiency still relevant today. His first magazine, Modern Materials Handling, continues publication under Peerless Media, reflecting the lasting influence of his work.
From revolutionizing materials handling with The Palletizer to shaping the trade publishing industry, Norman Cahners was a visionary whose contributions continue to impact both fields.
