Material Handling Management articles from February 2004

Material Handling Management archives from February 2004

Return to sender: misunderstood? Underappreciated? Underpaid? Rip out this page.(Supply chain management )(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... Read it first. Then rip it out and send it to your boss. (If you are the boss, you'll appreciate what follows.) You have one of the hardest jobs in your company. That's why this magazine has lasted for nearly 60 years. The ability to get...

Lemelson technology tax tumbles.(Lemelson Foundation)(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... Users and manufacturers of automatic identification technologies breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when a U.S. district court judge in Nevada declared that The Jerome Lemelson Foundation's licensing fee claims against them were...

HK Systems creates new center.(HK Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... To better enable its pharmaceutical customers to respond to the growing demands of a continuously changing market, HK Systems announced the development of its Pharmaceutical Center of Excellence. The organization will provide focused solutions...

Acquisitions to affect shop floor.(manufacturing execution system )
February 1, 2004... GE Fanuc, Rockwell Automation, Honeywell, Brooks Automation and Agilisys have expanded their manufacturing execution system (MES) portfolios through the recent acquisitions of leading shop-floor software vendors. With these global giants...

Global shipments of manufacturing/shop-floor control applications software by supplier share (% of revenues).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Global Shipments of Manufacturing/Shop-Floor Control Applications Software by Supplier Share (% of Revenues) 2002 Total:$88.2 million Invensys 10.00% GE Fanuc 6.90%...

AIM names new members.(association of manufacturers of automatic identification products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Technical Symbology Committee of AIM, the association of manufacturers of automatic identification products, is chartered to create specifications for symbologies used by companies around the world and is one of the longest standing...

Managers making news.(News Briefs)
February 1, 2004... Bill Casey has rejoined Paragon Technologies (formerly SI Handling Systems), as vice president of its SI Production and Assembly Systems brand. He was with the firm previously for 36 years and active in various material handling industry...

Companies making news.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Symbol Technologies and IBM announced a global alliance partnership to offer a new generation of advanced hand-held wireless and scanning solutions customized for specific industries to help customers improve operational efficiency. These...

RFID potential demonstrated.(Checkpoint Systems Inc.' radio frequency identification equipment)
February 1, 2004... Retailers, manufacturers, distributors and packagers saw a glimpse of the future when Checkpoint Systems Inc., a provider of shrink management and supply chain technology solutions, demonstrated EPC/radio frequency identification (RFID)...

Warehouse study establishes benchmarks.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A recently completed study of third-party logistics providers' (3PL) warehouse prices has for the first time established benchmarks for the U.S. The study covers both contract and public ware-housing. Regional price differences are reported....

CLM publishes 2003 Annual Conference Proceedings.(Council of Logistics Management)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Council of Logistics Management (CLM) announced the publishing of its 2003 Annual Conference Proceedings--a collection of papers based on presentations made during its annual conference in Chicago. More than 3,100 logistics executives...

3M acquires HighJump Software.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... 3M announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HighJump Software Inc., a provider of supply chain execution software and solutions, including related trademarks and patents. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed,...

Dedicated people.(Crown)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Crown people are focused on one thing: a positive Crown experience. Whether it's a Crown engineer, production, sales or service support team member, every Crown employee is trained and dedicated to deliver value to each and every customer. ...

Proven products.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A full line of electric lift trucks focused on the task... In this era of brand swapping and "will fit" mentality, it's reassuring to know a Crown is a Crown. Paint jobs and decals aren't enough for us. Our objective is clear: provide material...

Proven products.(the number one electric lift truck brand in America)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... There are many reasons Crown is the preferred choice. Today it seems many brands claim to be number one. At Crown, we prefer to let our customers decide. And that's just what they've told us. Many insist that our products perform better,...

Innovation at Work.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Put Crown Innovation to Work for You. We know our job is more than delivering the best truck. We're about performance--easier, faster and less expensive. Through this focus, we are able to earn our rank as the number one electric lift...

Exceptional support.(Crown)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... It's about service, support and lower total cost of ownership. Everyone claims to have a complete service network. In Crown's case we offer a comprehensive national network comprised of teams of highly focused, trained experts. Our people are...

Supply chain security.(Ask the MHM Editorial Advisory Board)
February 1, 2004... In concert with our story on supply chain security, we asked our board members: Which aspect of supply chain security is of most concern to you--data security or physical asset security? What measures have you taken to make your supply chain...

Image reader system.(Cutting Edge)
February 1, 2004... The MegaLift image reader system has a USB v.2 connection to the host PC to provide image transfer in approximately 100 ms. Applications include optical character recognition, handwriting recognition and barcode decoding for handheld address...

RFID-ready vehicle mount computer.(Cutting Edge)
February 1, 2004... The CV60 rugged vehicle mount computer integrates RFID with both Bluetooth technology and a wireless base station. This communication integration allows easy upgrading to RFID and eliminates the need for an external base station to communicate...

Modular simulation-based engineering platform.(Cutting Edge)
February 1, 2004... The simulation-based engineering platform SIMIT has an object-based architecture that allows the creation of a virtual model of the plant, including descriptions of the actuators and sensors. The open architecture permits the generation of...

Industrial handheld computer with integrated RFID.(Cutting Edge)
February 1, 2004... The JETT * ce, a customizable handheld computer with a Microsoft Windows CE.NET 4.2 operating system and Intel XScale Technology processor, now has integrated RFID. The JETT * ce can read and write to most industry standard 13.56 MHz RFID tags...

Coming attractions: invasion of the beetles.(Transport packaging)
February 1, 2004... Transport packaging's grade-B science fiction movie, starring that brightly colored black-and-white, uninvited guest, the Asian longhorned beetle, is once again (maybe I should say still) terrorizing thousands of people, devastating forests and...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... March 9 Seminar on Packaging Machinery Systems. Secaucus, New Jersey. Sponsored by IoPP. Visit www.iopp.org. March 10-11 Maximizing Warehouse Space: The Key to Productivity. Sheraton Clayton Plaza, Clayton, MO. Sponsored by WERC. Visit...

Get into the security habit.(security management)
February 1, 2004... Security is everyone's business, not just your IT department's. That's a point worth framing, because the weakest link "is us," to paraphrase Pogo. Ensuring security is really not that difficult. You can reduce your risk for security...

How to advance in the reverse channel: there are many alternatives for managing returns. whether you re-use them, re-sell them, or leave them to a third party, you're more likely to benefit if you make use of the information that comes back with them. (Part 1 in a series).(Reverse Logistics)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... It's easier to go forward than reverse. That applies to distribution as well as it does to driving and dancing. It doesn't have to be so difficult. The benefits of good reverse logistics management may make it worth your while to get over the...

A permanent solution for labeling floor storage.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... This floor labeling system has a 5 in. X 7 in. aluminum frame that installs in less than two minutes. The custom-imprinted, replaceable, 3 in. X 5 in., self-adhesive aluminum label is .012 in. thick and inserts inside the frame. Labels are...

Material handling made easy.(Browser)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The Browser moves key people and material quickly around large areas and between buildings. Numerous basket options make the Browser more functional with front baskets, front toolbox and parts platform, lap-top mounting options, trailer hitches...

Modular conveyor systems offer versatility.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(duty DynaCon[R] modular conveyor systems)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Dynamic Conveyor's light- to medium-duty DynaCon[R] modular conveyor systems offer true versatility. DynaCon's modular conveyor systems can be reconfigured in less time, in ever-changing manufacturing or workflow environments. Made from...

LP gas lift truck works in 80" Aisles.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Aisle-Master articulated forklift is designed to maximize storage space by reducing operating aisle widths. The truck can work both indoors and outside like a regular counterbalance truck. The Aisle-Master has 4400 Ib. lift capacity, with lift...

New PE 4000 Series pallet trucks provide durability.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Crown calls its new PE 4000 Series pallet trucks an 'investment in durability', offering a 5-year guarantee on each truck's power unit and fork weldment. Trucks are up to 45% heavier than other pallet trucks and stand up to tough environments....

Precision lifting.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... More precise than a hoist, more efficient than an air balancer. Gorbel's new Easy Arm[TM] lifting device gives you the speeds you need to increase productivity, the precision you need to decrease product damage, and the strength to protect your...

Export & domestic pallets.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Litco's Inca presswood pallets meet the new ISPM 15, International Standards for Wood Packaging Material, and do not require additional costly treatment for infestation. Inca pallets are priced for the budget-minded! Incas have been used in the...

Heavy-duty floor cabinet is strong and functional.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Strong Hold floor model cabinet has drawers that hold up to 225 pounds and adjustable shelves. The wrap-around design from 12-gauge steel and one-piece all-welded construction makes it the strongest storage cabinet available today. The...

Style 840[TM] woven wire partitions.(Wire Crafters LLC)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Separate, secure, or store valued items with this easy to install system. Use 20 standard sized panels and steel support posts to build partitions, enclosures, or storage areas of any size or configuration. Modular design reduces installation...

Order fulfillment solutions.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Improvements in order fulfillment technology, combined with new operational methods, have created the potential for vast increases in order fulfillment productivity. At a time when the very nature of order fulfillment is changing for most...

Label design software.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... NEW! EASYLABEL[R] 5 bar code label design software. New features: Database in Gold version, EAN/UCC-128 Wizard, Microsoft OLE DB and ActiveX[R] Data Objects (ADO), compliance tools for the FDA 21 CFR Part 11 regulation, supports multilingual...

Yale Materials Handling Corp. offers latest in Straddle Stacker series.(New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase: Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 1, 2004... Yale's new MSW-E 2,000 to 2,500 and 3,000 to 4,000-pound capacity Straddle Stacker offers exceptional ergonomics, performance and serviceability. The lift truck excels in manufacturing and warehouse applications where space utilization is a...

Container industry in transition: as the market for reusable containers is sated, manufacturers focus on specialized needs.(Specialized Containers)
February 1, 2004... The ubiquitous plastic box has becomes just that--a commodity. Gone are the days when the fight was with money managers to justify a reusable container. Arguments of environmental responsibility never made an impact like showing how the bottom...

Blast back at your bugs; when it comes to security, it's not terrorism that's the big threat. It's bugs, such as the Blaster worm. In 2004, the three most critical steps to protect your systems are patch, patch and patch.(security management)
February 1, 2004... The Blaster virus was the bug that roared. It helped businesses lose millions of dollars in sales because customers could not access the Internet. The one good thing Blaster did was dramatically display the need for secure computer systems and...

Look out for No. 1; No. 1 CEO Rex Falkenrath applied key material handling principles in a unique way to tune up his company's logistics processes.(MHM Innovator of the Month)(No. 1 International)
February 1, 2004... No. 1 International's customers include some of the major names in retail auto parts supply, including Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Advanced Auto and NAPA. These retailers have a variety of service demands, but all want quick response. ...

Talk is cheap (relatively).(use of speech recognition equipment in warehouses)
February 1, 2004... Put yourself, for a moment, in the shoes of your warehouse employees. Odds are that you (they) are either still carrying around a paper work order (such as a pick list) or a mobile terminal that tells you what to do next and where to go to do...

Consolidation means less space, more stress in the DC.(distribution centers help prevent counterfeit prescription drugs)
February 1, 2004... This month's Warehousing & Distribution section focuses on storage. We present case studies of two companies--one that paid special attention to its storage needs when building a new distribution center (DC), and another which increased its...

New distribution center requires new storage technology; Becton's forward pick area uses a "pick tunnel" technology, a three-deep pallet flow or case flow rack as the primary pick location and a four-deep pushback rack above.(Warehousing & Distribution)
February 1, 2004... Becton Dickinson and Company (BD), a leader in drug delivery technologies, syringe production and medical products distribution, faced a challenge that called for improving distribution center (DC) service and reducing costs. The facility's...

Storage redesign increases capacity, improves ergonomics.(Security Business Records Management )
February 1, 2004... The business of Security Business Records Management (SBRM) of Knoxville, TN, is storage and management: business records, paper documents, blueprints, microfilm and other archival material. The company stores the material in boxes that are 12...

Tailor-made Laser Guided Vehicle.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... Tailor-made Laser Guided Vehicle carries a vehicle body through the assembly process. LaserWay technology recognizes reflectors to continuously position the vehicle within the system. Color-coding allows a quick view of the vehicle's status...

Dual drive AGV.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... The HK40 can move loads that weigh up to 4,000 lbs. Loads are transported at set speeds across set paths. The vehicle's dual drives allow it to pivot 360 degrees about its center. The vehicle is available with either a wire guidance navigation...

Counterbalanced fork AGV.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... Counterbalanced fork style, laser-guided AGV is designed for light loads up to 1,500 lbs. The vehicle has floor-to-elevation lift capability up to 98 in. and a 24 in. wheelbase. Other features include: a point-and-click function for guidepath...

Easily configurable AGV.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... This guided vehicle system provides a material handling solution that can quickly and easily be reconfigured. Feature include user-friendly software (Layout Wizard) that defines the road system, laser guidance which eliminates the need to make...

Laser- or wire-guided vehicles.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... Standard models for laser or wire guidance include: forklift type A, with straddling outrigger legs; type B, with fork over support legs; type D heavy duty fork lift, with straddling outrigger legs; quad motion forklift type Q, with dual...

Intelligent automated guided cart.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... Automated guided carts (AGCs) deliver material to production lines with payloads up to 1,200 lbs. AGCs do not require in-floor guidance typical of AGVs. A Course-10 control box provides programming capabilities for multiple guide paths. For...

Compact, low profile AGV.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... The DC-40 is available with an onboard gyroscope to determine AGV headings and positional information. Standard features include: automatic load/unload transfer deck; onboard routing logic (map of system path layout); onboard diagnostic mode...

Vertical carousels.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... The 2100-Series and 2200-Series vertical carousels features include: a bolted-together modular design with frame components that can be disassembled; single- or dual-tiered pans; and a heavy duty scissor-arm conveyor mechanism with a...

Electric Lateral File.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... MediaStation Electric Lateral File consists of a series of vertically arranged rotating carriers controlled by an electric keypad. The file minimizes physical effort such as twisting, bending and tight grasping and provides easy system...

Map-based guidance system.(AGV Buyers' Guide)
February 1, 2004... The NavSystem is a map-based guidance system. The Walk-Through Then Work program installation takes minutes and requires no facility modification. Open architecture integrates with existing routing, traffic management and other AGV control...

Direct-to-store boxes.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... Techno-Boxes are water-resistant, reusable direct-to-store boxes that are designed for break-pack, pre-pick and pre-sort applications. They have self-locking bottoms and tops that set up without tape or glue and knock down flat for storage....

Narrow aisle truck reaches new level.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... The RR 5200 reach truck family has a variable side-stance design with padded surfaces and a suspended floorboard. The trucks offer variable side stance, a multitask control handle, a lower step height and an entry bar with sensors to...

"Behind the head" headset.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... The SR-10 rugged headset is worn behind the head and is designed for users who need to wear a hardhat or other head covering. The headset comes with an adjustable headband. It connects to the Talkman T2 wearable computer and is designed for...

Lift truck series.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... The S25-40XMS lift truck series has a compact, 2,500-4,000-lb. capacity design. The lift truck is equipped with an LPG engine and an isolated operator compartment. The S25-40XMS uses tapered roller bearings and heavy-duty integral sideshifts to...

Stainless steel lift table.(Storage Products)
February 1, 2004... Stainless steel mobile lift table can transfer loads up to 500 Ibs. Features include: a 24 in. X 24 in. table top, lift strokes of 14 in. or 16 in. (to 42 in. or 44 in. heights), adjustable down-speed control, four five-in. locking casters;...