Material Handling Management articles from December 2008

Material Handling Management archives from December 2008

Science fact: as technology becomes more affordable, robots with human-like eyesight are no longer just science fiction.(Automation)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As you look into the future of manufacturing technology, the technology may begin to look back at you. As manufacturing demands increase, as technology expands, and as costs for robots decrease, 3D vision could...

Event explores manufacturing trends.(Automation News)(exhibition of automation)
December 1, 2008... NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More than 11,000 manufacturing experts from around the world attended Rockwell Automation's annual Automation Fair from Nov. 19 to 20. Automation Fair is an educational forum offering workshops, technical sessions, industry...

Voice enhances rugged computers.(Automation News)
December 1, 2008... BUFFALO, N.Y. -- CTG Logistics Solutions announced its voice-recognition software supports Intermec Technologies' rugged, mobile computers. According to CTG, CTGTALK voice productivity solutions software supports speech recognition and...

Silver-lined clouds.(Data Intelligence)(purchasing of systems and software)
December 1, 2008... The old adage that every cloud has a silver lining isn't always true but, these days, there are indeed some silver linings to the weak economy. Of course, there may also be some dark clouds associated with each silver lining. If you've...

Enough of this scrap! Recycling steel and plastic straps at the point of generation reduces cost, promotes safety and can even create new revenue.(Facility Operations)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whatever you're warehousing, distributing or manufacturing, chances are awkward, unwieldy scrap steel and/or plastic strapping gets in the way. How you handle the mass of steel and plastic straps holding pallets and...

Move past fear.(Front Line)(economic aspects of material handling industry)(Editorial)
December 1, 2008... Nearly every day, we're inundated with fear-mongering reports of crisis, collapse, meltdown and references to the Great Depression. We're oddly attracted to this gloom and doom just as we're compelled to slow down on the highway to eyeball...

Getting senior managers on the green bandwagon: although sustainability tops executive agendas, getting them to commit can still be challenging.(Green Way)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These days there are a lot of reasons companies are getting interested in improved sustainability, increased corporate social responsibility programs and supply-chain management solutions. Among the most salient are...

Lift trucks aid disaster recovery: a Houston-based lift truck dealer partners with a utility company to help the region recover from this year's hurricane season.(Powered Vehicles)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In our fast-paced existence, news hits airwaves, newspapers and television screens as soon as it happens. The downside of that instant-information gratification, however, is that we tend to forget important news...

Weighing the options: a busy LTL carrier saves money by using en-route weighing systems.(Powered Vehicles)
December 1, 2008... Roseville, Minn.-based LTL carrier Lakeville Motor Express weighs all freight before billing its shipper customers to ensure they pay only for the exact amount of freight transported. In the past, the process was somewhat of a guessing game....

5 reasons to consider a VMS.(Powered Vehicles)
December 1, 2008... As the workhorses of material handling, powered industrial trucks are crucial yet commonly tough to manage. And, mismanaging a lift truck fleet can lead to excessive labor time, which represents the largest cost component of material handling...

Linde previews 2009 trucks.(Powered Vehicles News)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... LONDON -- Although full details of Linde's new 2009 range of pedestrian pallet trucks and pallet stackers won't be disclosed until the official launch in February, Linde provided select media outlets with a sneak preview. [ILLUSTRATION...

Fuel cell meets CE directive.(Powered Vehicles News)
December 1, 2008... FREMONT, Calif. -- Oorja Protonics says its OorjaPac methanol fuel cell now meets the CE directive for lowvoltage equipment. The company's offering is an alcoholbased fuel cell that continuously charges batteries on material handling vehicles....

JLG rebrands telehandlers.(Powered Vehicles News)
December 1, 2008... McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. -- JLG Industries Inc. says by the end of 2008, Gradall-branded telehandlers will become part of an expanded JLG-branded telehandler family. "The Gradall name has been an icon in the telehandler industry for decades,...

Lift truck competition rewards employees.(Powered Vehicles News)
December 1, 2008... LONDON, U.K. -- The top 10 lift truck drivers for Arla Foods competed in the company's first "Driver of the Year" competition. The drivers engaged in head-to-head competition to test skills and operational knowledge. This is the first time Arla...

Kusters Zima to produce generators.(Powered Vehicles News)(Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc. partners with Kusters Zima Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Nuvera Fuel Cells, headquartered in Billerica, Mass., has teamed up with Spartanburg, S.C.based Kusters Zima Corp. to manufacture Nuvera's hydrogen generation product, PowerTap. The generator, roughly 6 x 12 feet, converts...

ProMat 2009: learn about equipment and technologies that maximize performance.(Cover story)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you want to find out what's really happening--and what lies ahead--in material handling and logistics, you have to attend ProMat, arguably the industry's largest and most important venue for learning, networking...

Maximize return on investment: make the most of your ProMat investment by looking for ways to address material handling trends and challenges. To help target your efforts, we asked MHIA's John Nofsinger for his expert analysis.(ProMat[R] 2009)
December 1, 2008... Many of us will eagerly raise the champagne glass on New Year's Eve, as it will mark the end of a painful year. But, will it also signal the start of something different? To get a sense of what 2009 may hold for material-moving businesses...

Highly anticipated keynote.(ProMat[R] 2009)
December 1, 2008... Tuesday, 9:00 am Along with hundreds of exhibits, ProMat will also offer a keynote presentation addressing what many experts have called the most important challenge facing material handling: the changing workforce. With Baby Boomers...

Keynote panelists.(ProMat[R] 2009)(Discussion)
December 1, 2008... Rob Hoffman Director of business development, Chicago Workforce Board Rob Hoffman has been the director of business development at the Chicago Workforce Board since April 2007. He is charged with creating a training regime for the...

Educational seminars.(ProMat[R] 2009)(Calendar)
December 1, 2008... Industry experts will host 100 educational seminars in specially designed theaters right on the show floor at the ProMat Knowledge Center. The seminars are expected to cover a wide range of day-to-day challenges facing manufacturing, logistics...

Fleet management.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Access Control Group announces Vigilant Lite, a mobile asset management system for equipment fleets. Often, says the manufacturer, firms cannot justify the cost of an expensive system, yet they still need to comply...

Automated picking.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Axium showcases its ROP (robotic order picking) 600, designed to reduce bottlenecks in distribution centers. Cube IQ software indicates to an automated storage/retrieval system (AS/ RS) the sequence in which to release cases and tells the robot...

Electric motors.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Baldor Electric Co. designs, manufactures and markets industrial electric motors, power transmission products, drives and generators. The company also offers batteries, chargers, power systems and controls. Its brands include Baldor, Dodge and...

New wheel.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Colson Caster presents its Triumph wheel, designed for tow-line, automotive and tire manufacturing applications. The Triumph wheel is built for loads of 1,200 pounds per wheel and is available in four models. The...

Low-profile AGVs.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Creform displays its automated guided vehicle (AGV) components and systems, along with new drive units, power supplies and guidance layouts. The company also features its new BST, which features an ultra low-profile...

AGVs and AS/RS.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Daifuku America Corp. and Jervis B. Webb Co., both affiliates of Daifuku Co., will jointly exhibit for the first time. Webb and Daifuku will demonstrate how an automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS) integrates with two automated guided...

Batteries and chargers.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... EnerSys showcases an array of products, from its value-priced, flat-plate General battery, to its high-performance, square-tube Ironclad battery. Charging systems include the new EnForcer line of high-frequency char gers and the Express...

Inventory tracking.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Enterprise Mobility focuses on customized, mobile information systems for business. Typical applications include receiving, finished-product conversion, cycle counts, barcode reading, wireless data synchronization, Web site administration...

Energy-efficient fans.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Envira-North Systems manufactures the Altra Air ceiling fan, available in diameters from eight to 24 feet. The fan destratifies the air, creating a uniform temperature from floor to ceiling, which can reduce heating...

Fast-charge chargers.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... eTec Minit-Charge showcases two new, high-frequency, fast-charge chargers: the SC and the FC. MinitCharger is a fast-charging technology, which, the company says, provides an environmentally friendly, energy- and cost-efficient means of...

Integrated equipment.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FKI Logistex launches its Logistex Case Conveyor Solutions (LCCS) product family, which will be featured as part of an equipment demonstration loop. In addition to the LCCS products, the company also showcases...

Cross-belt sorter.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GBI showcases its new line of crossbelt sorters. The sorter, driven by contactless induction motors, can sort products weighing 100 pounds. Each cross-belt car unit contains a smart processor with an independent set...

Vinyl door.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Goff's Enterprises introduces its HarshGuard line of vinyl doors, designed for areas affected by chemicals, water and dust. The unit withstands moisture buildup and resists rust due to its stainless steel, PVC and alumi num components....

Electric lift truck.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hyster introduces its E45-70XN line of electric lift trucks. The E45-70XN series features a remodeled operator compartment with more foot and leg room and a removable floor plate for quick maintenance. There's also a...

Workbenches.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... IAC Industries manufactures productionwork benches, ergonomically designed workstations, chairs and accessories. The company produces Laminar flow workstations, which provide dust-free work areas for sensitive testing and assembly areas. The...

EFG lift trucks.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp. unveils two series of counterbalanced trucks with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 pounds. The EFG 213-220 and EFG 316-320 both provide three-phase, AC technology in the drive, hydraulic and steering systems....

LP lift truck.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... The new Bendi LP gas-powered lift truck from Landoll Corp. features an integrated, demand-driven hydrostatic drive, lift and steering system; a tier-three-certified, LP gas, 2.4-liter GM engine; on-demand fuel injection; CAN-bus...

High-bay warehousing.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... The automated high-bay warehousing system from LTW ensures precise positioning, even at heights exceeding 40 meters, the company says. LTW's switching technology allows for the use of derailment-guarded, curve-going stacker cranes. The...

Custom devices.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Martins Industries Inc. introduces Flexpipe assembly components, which enable companies to create custom workstations, carts, racks and other devices. The modular system is made up of resin-coated steel tubes, steel connectors, conveyor rails...

Powered workstation.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Newcastle Systems' NB Series mobile powered workstation holds and powers a variety of equipment, including computers, industrial printers and barcode scanners. The workstation allows operators to perform tasks wirelessly. Applications include...

Dust-control sweeper.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... The Exterra rider sweeper from Nilfisk-Advance features a 77-inch sweep path. The unit's DustClear side-broom system uses fog to minimize fugitive dust and provide up to 71% more cleaning productivity than conventional sweepers, says the...

Modular lift.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pflow's new Series B lift moves boxes, cartons, barrels, loose parts and other portable loads to and from mezzanines and basements or between floors. Featuring a 3 x 3 x 4-foot load carriage, the Series B moves loads...

Versatile stacker.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Counterbalance Stacker from Presto Lifts works with any pallet or skid and is suitable for servicing racks, loading/unloading trucks, feeding machinery and other applications. With a load capacity of 1,100...

Pallet truck.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Raymond Corp. showcases its range of pallet trucks designed for extreme and corrosive environments. The Extreme Environment Corrosion package includes galvanized frames, parts and linkages that extend the life of the...

Plastic pallet.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Rehrig Pacific Co. introduces the 40 x 48 inch HuskyLite Nestable SG plastic pallet. The injection-molding process allows the manufacture of complex geometric shapes, precise tolerances and reinforcement of specific areas of the pallet,...

Efficient fan.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Revolution fan from Rite-Hite is a high-volume, low-speed fan that is said to provide more consistent air circulation and ventilation with better energy efficiency than traditional, high-speed ceiling or floor...

Heavy-duty cabinet.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rousseau's WSA0380 Triple Mobile Standard Cabinet provides extra muscle on the work floor, says the manufacturer. With 100 pounds of capacity per drawer, the WSA0380 reduces the time it takes to retrieve or replace...

Spiral conveyors.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Ryson's new spiral conveyors target applications requiring high height and weight capacities. The units can handle double the weight of Ryson's regular spiral conveyors, and they ship in one piece to reduce installation costs, says the company....

AutoID options.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Sick Inc. provides automatic identification, industrial sensors and safety products for the retail logistics, parcel/postal, automot ive and consumer goods industries. Example products include barcode scanning and dimensioning systems, conveyor...

Pallet inverter.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Southworth says its PalletPal inverter is a fast, safe and easy way to rotate fully loaded pallets. It is suited for replacing broken pallets, switching to or from inhouse/ shipping pallets, transferring loads to slip sheets and replacing dam...

Tubular rack.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Steel King offers its SK2000 boltless, closed tubular rack, which the company says is stronger than open-backed racks. Features include upright frames, 1 x 2-inch, horizontal bracing, two-inch welds and multiple-offset anchor holes. ...

Custom controller.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tapeswitch Corp. introduces its MultiZone Controller. Compatible with light curtains, safety mats, edges and safety bumpers, the new product provides a higher level of system responsiveness, according to the company....

Hybrid lift truck.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Toyota Material Handling USA (TMHU) debuts its hybrid concept lift truck, inspired by Toyota's automotive Prius technology. The prototype harnesses both electric and internalcombustion technologies to deliver optimum...

Fulfillment software.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... Vargo Companies has developed SpeedPack, software that enhances COFE (continuous order fulfillment executor), Vargo's flagship fulfillment suite. SpeedPack employs software and mechanical material handling adjustments to increase packing...

Steel mezzanine.(Must-See Products and Technologies)
December 1, 2008... VertiSpace's structural-steel mezzanine transforms unused overhead space into valuable floor space, the company says. Platforms fit around existing obstructions, and openings for stairways or pallet-drop areas can be located anywhere on the...

Does the world need another supply chain application?(Technology)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AMR Research has stated the problem: Brand owners need better visibility into supply networks, but current technology is not up to the task. The past decade has clearly seen a dramatic shift in manufacturing to...

The key to survival: new ideas will light the way to future growth.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... The word "innovation" conjures up images of high-tech, perplexing things like computer chips, biomedicine and nanotechnology. But there's another, more down-to-earth aspect. In fact, the greatest innovation opportunities are prosaic. If...

Survive and thrive: 2009 and beyond: this special Innovation Toolkit is an easy-to-read guide that can help prepare you for progress.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... As Roth notes in the preceding article, those who challenge the status quo and embrace innovation are better equipped to survive turbulent times. And, innovation must be a continuous process, not a knee-jerk reaction to an emergency. As...

Green is good business.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Outsourced Logistics [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In October, Tony Hollis, director of innovation and technology management at Exel, offered energy-saving tips at the Council of Supply Chain Professionals' annual conference...

Maximum production, minimum space.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... Greenheck, located in Schofield, Wis., is a manufacturer of ventilation equipment. The company's main production facility, which supplies parts nationally, was being strained. "We not only had to ramp up production but also get leaner...

Raising the roof on sustainability costs.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Material Handling Management An increasingly popular way to get a larger building is to pop the top. Brian Holroyd, vice president of Rooflifters, Toronto, Ontario, says financial forces are going through the roof. ...

10 steps to reducing inventory.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... Excess inventory takes up valuable space, is expensive to maintain and may become obsolete or spoiled. However, insufficient inventory leads to lost sales and unhappy customers. Most companies have two challenges: too much of the wrong...

Spare-parts service management: today's challenges and opportunities.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Outsourced Logistics While many companies once considered spare-parts service management a necessary evil, most now realize that it can and should be a profit center, as well as a way to differentiate themselves from their...

Turn dead inventory into dollars.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... Ever wonder what to do with obsolete or slow-moving SKUs? The smartest solution may be to give them to charity. By donating overstock merchandise, your business can qualify for a federal income tax deduction, under 170(e)(3) of the U.S....

Leaning toward green.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In these challenging economic times, lean principles are the glue that holds the new paradigm together. Lean manufacturing drives more effective and efficient resource utilization, reduces waste and energy...

The 12 most costly conveyor maintenance mistakes.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many companies don't give much thought to conveyor systems--until there's a breakdown. Then, a conveyor becomes a major issue. Production stops. Employees are idle. Shipments are late. Customers are upset. Often...

Knowledge is power.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On average, only 20% of the total cost of a lift truck can be attributed to the purchase price, while 80% is operating cost, said John Russian, manager of fleet marketing at Hyster Co., at the company's ...

Greener company culture--from the top down.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... Escalating energy prices have served as a wake-up call to corporate leaders to devise ways to conserve energy. Energy efficiency is evolving from a corporate concept to a priority item on the CEO's agenda. Over the past five years, the...

Tedious tasks go virtual.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Material Handling Management [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Material handling managers have a lot on their plate these days. As a result, it can be difficult to deal with basic human-resources tasks such as putting together...

Improve supply chain efficiency.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Material Handling Management Improving supply chain efficiency is often measured by hitting certain targets. The targets, however, that supply chain managers are aiming at today are entirely different from what they used...

Five costly mistakes.(Innovation Toolkit)(Workers' Compensation Managed Care )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... While Workers' Compensation Managed Care (WCMCO) is widely viewed as a means of controlling expenses, the results are sometimes different. Here are five common mistakes that are often made when working with WCMCOs. 1. Employers assume the...

Top 10 reasons good employees quit.(Innovation Toolkit)
December 1, 2008... From the pages of Material Handling Management According to the U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics, turnover can cost an organization 33% of an employee's total compensation, including both salary and benefits. The impact is not only...

Reusable returns: the new president of the RPA takes charge as reusable transport packaging gains momentum as a cost-control strategy.(Transport Packaging)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A big question looms in the minds of those involved with reusable packaging systems: Could these material handling tools, most often associated with sustainability, take on a greater role as gloomy business...

Study highlights shifts in packaging use.(Transport Packaging News)
December 1, 2008... ARLINGTON, Va. -- With retailers demanding greater value, and bottom lines demanding reduced costs, secondary packaging is under the microscope, according to the latest research from the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). ...

ARPAC, GRSI form joint venture.(Transport Packaging News)(AG Integrators )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- AG Integrators (AGI) is a new joint-venture company created by ARPAC and GRSI. The venture blends packaging-equipment manufacturing with software integration and warehouse control systems. AGI designs packaging systems...

Pregis names director of distributor program.(Transport Packaging News)(appointed Thor Petersen )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Thor Petersen has been named director of Pregis Corp.'s distributor program. Petersen will oversee programs and initiatives designed to strengthen the supplier/distributor relationship. He has a bachelor's degree in...

CHEP helps build townhouses.(Transport Packaging News)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... ORLANDO, Fla. -- CHEP is joining business leaders, sponsors and volunteers to help Habitat Orlando with one of its biggest homebuilding projects. CHEP, a pallet and container pooling services company, is providing financial support for...

How to preserve and strengthen the workforce: ergonomics is no longer just a way to comply with OSHA requirements. Forward-thinking companies see it as a strategy to overcome the labor crisis.(Workforce)
December 1, 2008... U.S. industry is headed toward a workforce crisis that will require critical changes in the national paradigm. Not only is the workforce shrinking, it is also becoming more multicultural. In addition, workers now entering the workforce expect...

CDW urges Congress to oppose EFCA.(Workforce News)
December 1, 2008... WASHINGTON--The 500-member Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) released a letter it delivered to Capitol Hill. In the letter, CDW urged members of the Senate and House "to oppose all efforts to pass any provision included in the...

OSHA: an ergonomics resource.(Workforce)
December 1, 2008... For more information about how to start an ergonomics program, visit www. osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.html. Besides engaging in enforcement actions, OSHA also offers resources employers can use to launch ergonomics programs. OSHA...