Material Handling Management articles from February 2008

Material Handling Management archives from February 2008

No news is not good news: a failure to communicate can mean a failure of the business when dealing with a third-party logistics provider.(Special Feature)
February 1, 2008... "In the end, we're a day care for inventory," says Jon Petticrew, vice president of operations at ODW Logistics, a third-party logistics provider headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. He offers that assessment with a smile. Many companies, however,...

Special racks carry the load: heavy-duty die storage racks help Greenheck continue growth, maximize production floor use.(Facility Operations)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Greenheck (Schofield, Wis.), a manufacturer of ventilation equipment, is on a growth streak. It has doubled its sales in the past five years to almost $500 million. However, continuous growth was straining the...

Door of opportunity rolls open.(Facility Operations)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For Armoloy of Illinois Inc. (DeKalb. Ill.), dealing with growth has been a fact of life throughout its 38 years in business. From the outside of the building, the many additions are obvious; however, it could only...

How to help the customer improve: Web hosting usually means taking care of a client's Internet presence. Here's how one company expands that definition.(Information Management)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Creating a niche business refers to taking a small or specialized part of a larger operation and turning it into something special. GSI Commerce (King of Prussia, Pa.) has used Web hosting as a stepping stone to...

Burden carriers, floor sweepers boost productivity, safety.(Powered Vehicles)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The familiar lift truck is not the only powered vehicle that can dramatically increase productivity in manufacturing and distribution facilities. Don't overlook burden carriers and floor sweepers, both of which...

Shipping solution for film manufacturer: thermoformed plastic roll cradles use a unique locking tab to prevent loads from shifting.(Transport Packaging)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cleveland Plastic Films (Elyria, Ohio, www.clevelandplasticfilms.com) Was shipping rolls of its film across North America using stacked plastic cradles. Sometimes, the cradles would shift and open. "When you...

Domestic costs of foreign sourcing.(Voices of Industry)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Give or take, it goes something like this: How much would we save if we sourced the product we are manufacturing (or sourcing domestically) from China, Southeast Asia or elsewhere? Then, the sourcing or manufacturing...

Giving green some numbers.(Witt's End)
February 1, 2008... Recently, I received a news release from the folks at Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc., announcing to the world that the company was awarded ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating its commitment to enacting environmentally friendly...

Ceiling's the limit: because of the productivity and ergonomic benefits, more manufacturers are choosing monorail systems to do their heavy lifting.(Automation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There had to be a better way, thought Doug Jones, facilities manager at Yarde Metals, as he stood in the sheet-metal banding area of his distribution center in Bristol, Conn. The DC prepares aluminum, stainless...

Big issue still RFID: the automotive industry spends nearly a billion dollars every year replacing reusable pallets and containers.(Transport Packaging)
February 1, 2008... For our January online reader poll (www. mhmonline.com), we asked what you saw as the big issue for 2008. I was a bit surprised at the results, or at least the thing that surfaced as number one. It was RFID. I know RFID is still out there;...

Giving is getting: investing in education and mentoring young people is not about warm fuzzies.(World of Difference)
February 1, 2008... Demand strains outdated equipment. Materials have special handling requirements. Throughput has to increase. Maybe you turn to a system integrator. Maybe you consult a consultant. No matter which path you take, one thing is certain: You'll...

Council commits additional $1 million.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has doubled its funding commitment for green building research grants to be awarded in 2008 to a grand total of $2 million. Of the additional $1 million in...

ProLogis launches national sustainability initiative.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... DENVER -- Distribution facility developer ProLogis announced a new sustainability initiative that will require all of its development projects in the U.S. to comply with U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) environmental standards. USGBC is a...

10 Best Lean, Green Warehouse Networks.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Lean, green warehouse networks are environmentally friendly and cost efficient. They reduce carbon footprint emissions, fuel and logistics costs by minimizing the distances between a company and its customers. They eliminate the...

Bubble Wrap winner creates sensory wall.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. -- While most material handling managers think of Bubble Wrap as protective packaging material, 13-year-old Hannah Haas, from Charlotte, N.C., had a bolder vision. Haas has been named the grandprize winner in the annual,...

Network Services offers industry predictions.(Industry News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. -- In a recent statement, R. James Alexy, CEO of Network Services Co., commented on distribution trends in the janitorial, foodservice, healthcare and manufacturing industries. Network Services Co. is made up of more than...

New Emergency Response Guidebook available.(Industry News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Labelmaster is printing and distributing the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), which offers guidance for handling emergencies dealing with hazardous materials. This year's edition features more than 50 amendments to proper...

Book details eight-element safety plan.(Industry News)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... LANHAM, Md. -- A new book, Safety and Environmental Management, Second Edition, from Government Institutes, shows safety managers how to set up and maintain a company-wide safety plan that includes both safety and environmental concerns. ...

DHL offers Mardi Gras shipping program.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... PLANTATION, Fla. -- DHL has launched a King Cake shipping program for all bakeries in New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras and help displaced residents get a taste of home. Introduced to Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery, the King Cake...

Design, order pallet trucks online.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... SCOTTDALE, Ga. -- Wesley International's new online design tool makes ordering custom-fabricated pallet trucks simple and fast. Located on its Web site (www.wesleyinternational. com/pallettrucks.aspx), the online design tool provides instant...

Ballard to supply material handling market.(VENDOR NEWS)
February 1, 2008... VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Ballard Power Systems announced it has signed a two-year supply agreement with Danish system integrator H2 Logic A/S to supply fuel cells for products developed for the material handling market. "This...

Soy news is good news.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- In case you missed the latest information from the United Soybean Council (USB, www.soynews.com) here is how some companies are finding alternatives to high-priced petroleum products. Ford expands soy foam into more vehicles:...