Material Handling Management articles from May 2006

Material Handling Management archives from May 2006

Fast charger feedback.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Excellent and very helpful article as I am looking into fast charging. I am dealing with Motive Energy [Santa Fe Springs, Calif.] and Enersis [Reading, Pa.] and did not realize the chargers themselves were made locally in California. Dean...

Retail pay rates on horizon for organized labor?(Manufacturing Management)
May 1, 2006... For generations American union labor has seen only increases in its pay and benefits. Today some union workers at General Motors and Ford command total hourly pay and benefits of upwards of $70 per hour. So it is stunning to see management in...

The "I" word: inventory is in the eye of the beholder.(Light Lifting)(Editorial)
May 1, 2006... Inventory gets a bad rap. It sits. It waits. It costs money and takes up space. Storing it and moving it around doesn't add any value. Casting the most aspersions on inventory are the lean folks. Like one of the "10 Most Wanted" on a...

Warehousing in China: slow modernization.(Industry News)
May 1, 2006... The challenge of logistics in China is that modern needs of distribution are clashing with a trading tradition that goes back 5,000 years, said Dr. Charles Guowen Chang, director of the China Development Institute in Beijing at the Warehousing...

Clark making lift trucks in U.S. again.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Clark Material Handling Co. is once again manufacturing lift trucks at its headquarters in Lexington, Ky. It recently unveiled the first two lift truck models it is producing in the United States, the NPR and ESM. These models are the beginning...

On the job.(Industry News)
May 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "My sister lives in Jacksonville. There's a great golf course not too far from 95."

Better beetle tracking.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tracking the elusive Asian long-horned beetle (ALB) could soon get a whole lot easier--and weirder. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed a novel "fingerprinting" tool...

Arbonne opens new Indiana DC to handle huge sales growth.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Arbonne International (Irvine, Calif), a developer and distributor of Swiss-formulated skin care products, announced the establishment of 208,000 sq.-ft. distribution center in Greenwood, Ind. The facility will employ around 300 people and will...

IFCO cooperating with U.S. immigration, all pallet management facilities in operation.(U.S Immigration and Customs enforcement)(IFCO systems)
May 1, 2006... In mid-April agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE) arrested seven current and former managers of IFCO, which is headquartered in Amsterdam. They were charged with conspiring to transport, harbor, and encourage and induce...

Kenneth Cole blames poor results on start-up of 3rd-party DC.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. (New York) reported first quarter revenues of $123 million, down 5.6% from last year. Executives said that the decline was primarily the result of the slow start-up of a new third-party distribution center that...

China's largest retailer expands RFID pilot program.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Working with VeriSign, Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.), Bailian Group Ltd. (Shanghai) has developed plans for the second phase of a pilot project to expand usage of RFID. The first phase of the pilot project involved simulation-based testing of...

AmeriCold expands Alabama facility.(consumer packaged goods industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... AmeriCold (Atlanta) has expanded its Albertville, Alabama facility to accommodate increased demand in the Southeast. The $12 million, 93,420 sq.-ft. expansion will add an additional 12,000 pallets of storage space and will more than double the...

Big Dog to build DC in Charlotte.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In releasing the company's first quarter results, executives from Big Dog Holdings, Inc. (Santa Barbara), a retailer of "branded, lifestyle consumer products," said the company had signed a 10-year lease on a 229,500 sq.-ft. distribution center...

Lund establishes new DC and HQ.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Lund International (Duluth, Ga.), a manufacturer and supplier of aftermarket auto accessories, opened a new 355,000 sq.-ft. foot distribution center and company headquarters in Suwanee, Ga. Over the next few months the company will relocate its...

Con-way Inc. new name of CNF.(Vendor News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... CNF Inc., the holding company for a group of transportation and logistics operations has changed its name to Con-way Inc. Con-way Freight will operate less-than-truckload (LTL) services. The former LTL company names--Con-Way Western Express,...

Symbol Technologies sells 500,000th MC9000 mobile computer.(Vendor News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... On Tuesday, May 9, Symbol Technologies announced the sale of its 500,000th MC9000, flagship mobile computer. Introduced two and half years ago, Symbol reports that the MC9000 is now the best-selling rugged mobile computer on the market. The...

Raymond honors top dealers.(Vendor News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Raymond Corp. (Greene, N.Y.) announced its top-performing North American dealers for 2005. Nine Raymond dealers were presented with the company's Dealer of Distinction award. Raymond's 2006 Dealers of Distinction are: * ABEL Integrated...

RedPrairie to embed Voxware Technology in warehouse software.(value-added reseller agreement)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RedPrairie Corp. (Milwaukee), a supplychain software provider, and Voxware, Inc. (Lawrenceville, N.J.), a supplier of voice-driven technology, signed a value-added reseller agreement. Under the agreement, RedPrairie will embed Voxware's voice...

Indianapolis Airport awards Siemens $23-million contract for 'green' baggage handling system.(Indianapolis International Airport )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Siemens Energy & Automation's Airport Logistics Division (Atlanta) was awarded a $22.8 million contract from the Indianapolis International Airport (IAA) for a new baggage handling and in-line security screening system designed for the new...

KUKA Robotics leases space at new technical facility in Omaha.(Vendor News)
May 1, 2006... KUKA Robotics Corp. (Clinton Township, Mich.), a manufacturer of industrial robots, signed a lease with the Scott Technology Transfer & Incubator Center in Omaha, Neb., and announced plans to open a new technical facility there. The facility...

Levi ships RFID-tagged products.(radio-frequency identification tags)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Levi Strauss & Co. (San Francisco) announced that jeans sold in some retail stores will now have a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags attached. Levi Strauss & Co. spokesman Jeffrey Beckman said the company will start shipping men's...

New Orleans mail plant reopened.
May 1, 2006... Before Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the Gulf Coast, the U.S. Postal Service's New Orleans processing center handled 6 to 8 million letters each day. Katrina flooded the facility with 14 million gallons of water, destroying every...

Formica to close California facility, open new western region DC.
May 1, 2006... Formica Corp. (Cincinnati) recently announced plans to invest $25 million in new equipment and facility upgrades. These plans include the closure of its facility in Rocklin, Calif. and the sale of the 211-acre site. "Our plans to close the...

Camry chief engineer to design Toyota lift trucks.(Vendor News)
May 1, 2006... Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (Irvine, Calif.), Inc. has appointed Kosaku Yamada, former chief engineer of the Toyota Camry, as the new managing director of Toyota Industries Corp. He will oversee the design, development and manufacturing...

SI Systems wins expansion project for Eileen Fisher.(swomen's clothing manufacturer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Eileen Fisher, Inc., an Irvington, N.Y.-based women's clothing manufacturer and retailer, has selected Paragon Technologies' SI Systems Order Fulfillment division (Easton, Pa.) to perform a $600,000 expansion to its Secaucus, N.J., distribution...

Daifuku and Maves form strategic partnership.(Vendor News)
May 1, 2006... Daifuku America Corp. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) announced a strategic partnership with third-party logistics software provider Maves International Software (Thornhill, Ont.). The arrangement will integrate Daifuku's suite of material handling...

Toyota honors top 15 dealers.(Vendor News)
May 1, 2006... Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (Irvine, Calif.) recognized 15 dealers with its 2005 President's Award. The winners are: * Allied Toyotalift, Knoxville, Tenn. * Atlantic Coast Toyotalift, High Point, N.C. * Atlas Toyota...

Bug battle: news from the behind the lines.(two-dozen plastic pallet manufacturers)
May 1, 2006... Walking the aisles of NA2006 in March, I was impressed--not necessarily surprised--at the number of new players in the plastic pallet game. While resin prices have slipped back a bit, I didn't think that was enough of an impetus to bring more...

HF vs. UHF: lies, damned lies, and marketing.(Data Intelligence)
May 1, 2006... Mark Twain's original observation was, "There are three types of lies. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics." By selecting the right set of parameters, statistics can be used to support nearly any view--even conflicting ones. Today, marketing...

Networking opportunity: the low cost/best service challenge: Is it time to redesign your distribution network?(Leadership)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... IT'S not a question of "If," but a question of "When?" Rising fuel and transportation costs will have an impact on the structure of your distribution network. "A year ago, when [costs] started to climb, people were looking at it as a blip....

Wrap up: Sheetz applies drive-through efficiencies to the stretch-wrapping process in its DC.(Sheetz Convenience Stores )
May 1, 2006... Sheetz Convenience Stores (Altoona, Pa.), is recognized within its industry as a benchmark for convenience store innovation. It created the "convenience restaurant"-a modern, quick-casual restaurant powered by touchscreen terminals-at the...

Real-world ROI for RFID: today's applications of RFID technology build the business case first.(Radio Frequency Identification Device tag readers)
May 1, 2006... Adopters of RFID technology are no longer standing around like deer frozen in the headlights, blinded by the brilliance of the technology. Nor are they baffled by the bedevilment of mandates. "Cool only sells for a short period of time,"...

The welded vs. bolted debate: both technologies are effective for building racks. Preference and price are the determining factors in the buying decision.(Racking)
May 1, 2006... Which is better when constructing racks: bolting or welding the side braces to upright columns? It's a simple question that sparks a surprisingly emotional debate about the best construction method. North American companies prefer welded racks,...

Just say yes: drug testing in the workplace: few business expenditures offer the return on investment that random drug testing does.(drug-free employees)
May 1, 2006... When it comes to employee drug use, the statistics should make any business manager or owner sit up and take notice. Ten percent of fulltime workers in the United States currently use illicit drugs. Employed drug abusers cost employers twice as...

Tool crib: planning helped Ridge Tool successfully move into a new distribution center during a record sales quarter.(Ridge Tool received training funds)
May 1, 2006... Ridge Tool Company needed a new facility for one simple reason. Growth. A change in the customer base, new products and order profiles demanded a larger facility. Ridge Tool, a division of Emerson Electric (St. Louis), produces the...

Modular conveyors enhance production line agility: modular conveyor systems provide automotive parts supplier with added flexibility, simplified replacement parts inventory and easier maintenance.(Conveyors)
May 1, 2006... Production agility is vital to many manufacturers today, more so in the auto parts sector than many others. Although auto parts companies have dedicated production lines for continuous runs of components and assemblies, such setups can benefit...

Flexible, eco-friendly conveyor.(Product News)
May 1, 2006... Motorized driven rollers (MDR) conveyor features 24-volt, low-cost eco-friendly operation. MDR has an "erector-set" design that easily fits together for new applications. Non-contact accumulation on both incline and decline prevents damage to...

Upgraded low voltage conveyor.(Product News)
May 1, 2006... The Accuzone 24-volt, motorized roller accumulation and transportation conveyor now offers modular wiring, improved aesthetics and integrated belt technology. Model features zero-pressure, zero-contact accumulation. It is available in straight,...

New generation of spiral conveyors.(Ryson International, Inc)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Spiral conveyors have a small footprint (4 ft.-9 in. to 8 ft.-6 in.), handle loads up or down in a continuous flow. Load capacity is 75 lbs. per linear foot of conveyor for speeds to 200 fpm. The angle of incline is between 9 and 11 degrees...

Zero-pressure accumulation.(Product News)
May 1, 2006... Interroll's new 'Z' card can control accumulation in four conveyor application zones, including any combination of straights, merge, divert or transfer. The card interfaces to all Interroll RollerDrive products. It offers optional control...

High-speed, low cost, non-contact accumulation.(XenoPressure accumulation conveyor)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The XP43CZ XenoPressure accumulation conveyor provides cost-efficient, high-speed, quiet accumulation. It can reach speeds to 180 fpm. Cushioned pneumatic actuation reduces noise. The conveyor's brake design uses a quiet pad assembly. The...