Material Handling Management articles from July 2007

Material Handling Management archives from July 2007

More than just pretty protection.(Case History: Column Protection)
July 1, 2007... When it comes to protecting assets in a distribution center, the best protection begins with having "a good set of eyes in the back of your head," says Joe Messer, technical manager overseeing Tremco Group's (Beachwood, Ohio, www.tremcoinc.com)...

Lift truck batteries and hazmat.(Guest Column)
July 1, 2007... Q: "Recently I had to return electric lift trucks and extra batteries to the lease company. When researching I got conflicting information. Was this a hazmat load when additional batteries are shipped (2,000-3,000 pounds each), beside the one...

Keeping supply up with demand: a lot of material handling is information handling. For this company the answer was more than blowing in the wind.(Process Excellence)
July 1, 2007... Southwest Windpower (Flagstaff, Ariz., www.windenergy.com), is the world's largest producer of small wind generators. The 20-year old company has been a pioneer in the development of wind technology and has produced tens of thousands of...

For John Deere, green is more than product color.(Product Focus: Flooring)
July 1, 2007... Tractor giant John Deere (Moline, Ill., www.deere.com), one of the older and more trusted names in all industry, has built its reputation on quality and reliability. Starting 10 years ago, when Deere's facility in Welland, Ontario, Canada,...

Tail can wag the dog.(Product Focus: Racks)
July 1, 2007... At the ProMat 2006 Material Handling Show in Chicago, I visited every pallet rack manufacturer's booth trying to create interest in a new product line specifically for Specialty Tool and Fastener Distributor Association (STAFDA) members. The...

Broken racks can break the bank: lift truck damage accounts for 90% of rack failures. Reinforced pallet storage racks provide long-term rugged protection against such damage.(Product Focus: Rack Damage)
July 1, 2007... With the costs of warehouse storage space on the rise, including both the actual floor square footage and the pallet rack inside the facility, a company certainly doesn't need any additional unplanned costs to maintain their warehouse. One such...

It can't happen here: seismic isolation system patented in Japan has applicability in earthquake-prone U.S. locations.(Real World)(Editorial)
July 1, 2007... Editor's note: In May I was on a natural history tour to Trinidad and Tobago. Our guide took the opportunity to show us a spot where an earthquake had occurred a few months earlier. The fissure in the ground ran for more than 50 yards. The...

Once in a blue moon.(Witts End)(Editorial)
July 1, 2007... Here's a news flash: Vacations are a great way to spend time. In spite of what you tell your partner about leaving the office out of your vacation, you might, for example, actually work out some knotty problem while pretending to be fishing....

WOW! Material handling gives retailer the edge: High-speed material handling system helps Internet shoe and apparel retailer offer customers fast shipping and a superior on-line shopping experience.(Leadership)(Cover story)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... Nick Swinmurn was walking around a mall in San Francisco in 1999, looking for a pair of shoes. After an hour going from store to store, he finally went home empty-handed and frustrated. Eight years and more than a billion dollars in sales...

Sustainable is as sustainable does.(Transport Packaging)
July 1, 2007... I have a fear that we are going to tire of the word "sustainable" before we actually achieve sustainability in transport packaging. The word will be overused, like "system," and our brains will click into cruise control at the mention of...

Just when everyone said bar codes were dead....(Data Intelligence)
July 1, 2007... ... here comes a new linear bar code symbology that can be stenciled on raw wood or even drawn with a marker. As crazy as that sounds, the need for it is quite real--and one that might have application in your own facility or, possibly, in...

Cardinal health deploys RFID technology in California.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... Cardinal Health (Dublin, Ohio) announced that it will integrate radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into the operations of its Sacramento, Calif. pharmaceutical distribution center by Fall 2007, to prepare for California's pedigree...

When size and space matter.(Industry News)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Located on the Patapsco River near Baltimore, Rubb Inc. (Sanford, Me., www.rubb.com) has completed its largest tension membrane structure for Canton Port Services LLC. This stevedoring firm specializes in handling and warehousing general cargo...

Quick poll results.(Industry News)(Survey)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In June, readers at our Web site (www.mhmonline.com) were asked: What would most improve your organization's safety performance? More than half, 51%, said top management's commitment to safety. Next came regular safety training and meetings...

AGV-lift truck Collision Avoidance System.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... Danaher Motion (Wood Dale, Ill.) has formed a strategic relationship with Sky-Trax Inc. (New Castle, Del.) to jointly develop and market an indoor collision avoidance system for industrial vehicles. The companies will strategically align...

3PD acquires affinity logistics.(Industry News)(Affinity Logistics Corp.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Seven months after a merger made it one of the country's largest last-mile logistics and delivery providers, 3PD (Atlanta) has acquired Affinity Logistics (HD) Corporation, another leading last-mile company. The acquisition increases 3PD's...

Exel earns EPA's SmartWay partner designation.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... Exel (Westerville, Ohio), a supply chain management and a Deutsche Post World Net company, has earned the SmartWay Partner designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the company's efforts to maximize fuel efficiency and...

Robot orders jump 24%.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... North American robotics companies posted gains of 24% in new orders in the first quarter, according to new statistics released by Robotic Industries Association (RIA, Ann Arbor, Mich.), the industry's trade group. A total of 4,603 robots...

PMMI sets conference agenda.(Industry News)(Calendar)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2007... The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI, Arlington, Va.), has announced the agenda for the Conference at PACK EXPO beginning October 15-17 in Las Vegas. This comprehensive education program will help packaging professionals...

Georgia-Pacific earns sustainability certification.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... Forty market-selected corrugated box manufacturing operations in Georgia-Pacific's (Atlanta, www. gp.com) packaging business have earned Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certification and are authorized to use the SFI Certified Sourcing...

USGBC changes LEED certification.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... In a move that aligns with its deep commitment to solutions for climate change, the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC, Washington, D.C.) membership has overwhelmingly passed a vote for all LEED certified projects to achieve at least two...

DHL expands in Columbus.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... DHL (Plantation, Fla.), the global express delivery and logistics company, announced the opening of a new service center facility to meet the growing needs of customers in Columbus, Ohio, and surrounding communities. DHL has invested $2.1...

Material handling education conference set.(Industry News)
July 1, 2007... The Material Handling and Logistics Conference, sponsored by HK Systems (Milwaukee), is celebrating its 22nd anniversary of fostering relevant education and fellowship in the field of material handling and supply chain. The event serves as an...