Material Handling Management articles from November 2003

Material Handling Management archives from November 2003

Innovate, don't vegetate: "we've always done it that way" just won't do.(Editorial)(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... What's new with you? I trust you have an answer. And I hope you're the one involved in making news at your company. This country needs all the innovators it can get--especially in material handling. I'm not talking about your material...

Economic indicators point up ...
November 1, 2003... In his opening remarks to the Material Handling and Logistics Conference, sponsored by HK Systems and Irista, company CEO John Splude said the year ahead looks good. "We've seen a strong uptick in many indicators," said Splude, "including...

3PL study offers industry insight.(Third-Party Logistics )
November 1, 2003... The latest edition of a major study of third-party logistics (3PL) customers identifies several key opportunities for 3PL providers, according to a leading industry trade association executive. "Findings of the Eighth Annual Third-Party...

On the job.
November 1, 2003... RFID NIGHTMARE "Gee honey, since I bought this shirt I feel like I'm being followed." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caster Concepts Inc.(Managers Making News)
November 1, 2003... William Dobbins has been named president and CEO of Caster Concepts Inc.

Accenture.(Managers Making News)(Patrick M. Byrne)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Patrick M. Byrne has joined Accenture as managing partner of the company's Supply Chain Management service.

Harris Waste Management Group Inc.(Managers Making News)(Ashley Walls)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Harris Waste Management Group Inc. announced the promotion of Ashley Walls to the position of manager, parts sales.

SK Daifuku.(Managers Making News)(John King)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... John King has been appointed vice president sales and marketing at SK Daifuku.

Interroll.(Managers Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Interroll announced the appointment of Steve Hankey to small belt drive product manager:for AC-powered products.

More positive business news.(GlobalSpec survey)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2003... A new survey by GlobalSpec found that revenues are expected to be up, while the percentage of those companies planning to cut spending is dropping considerably. GlobalSpec, an online technical product resource for the engineering industry,...

Hyster offers management program.(Hyster Company Hyster Fleet Analysis CD )(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Hyster Company, manufacturer and marketer of lift trucks, has released the Hyster Fleet Analysis on compact disc. It is an introduction to the principles of fleet management. The Hyster Fleet Analysis CD demonstrates the necessity and...

Protecting the supply chain.(Healthcare Distribution Management Association guidelines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) issued recommended guidelines for pharmaceutical distribution system integrity. The new standards further protect the safety and efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply chain by...

What matters most?(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... As the only professional organization focused exclusively on warehouse management, the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) is always searching for new programs and information to enhance the services it provides to the industry....

APICS and the APICS Educational and Research Foundation collaborated to develop two workshops on CD-ROM.(Associations Making News)(American Production & Inventory Control Society)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... APICS and the APICS Educational and Research Foundation collaborated to develop two workshops on CD-ROM: Inventory Control Workshop Series and Lean Manufacturing Workshop Series. The inventory control series includes four-hour sessions...

Council of Logistics Management.(Associations Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Members of the Council of Logistics Management (CLM) elected Elijah Ray. senior vice president customer solutions, Standard Corporation, to be its next president. Also elected to offices were: First Vice President Mark E. Richards, vice...

Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association.(Associations Making News)(July 2003 Booked Order Index )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reports that its July 2003 Booked Order Index was 114, up two points. This represents an increase of two percent from June 2003. However, it also represents a decrease of two percent from July...

The Hoist Manufacturers Institute, an affiliate of Material Handling Industry of America, has released two new publications.(Associations Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Hoist Manufacturers Institute, an affiliate of Material Handling Industry of America, has released two new publications: Manually Lever Operated Hoist Inspection and Hoist Maintenance Personnel and Manually Lever Operated Hoist Operators....

More on tax relief.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... In September we told you how investing in necessary capital equipment or software now can result in substantial savings on tax payments. Karen Spuckler of Sedlak Management Consultants created a report illustrating the impact and advantages of...

Evolution happens.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... In a report for Vision, published by Genco Distribution System, Arnold Maltz, associate professor, Arizona State University, says customers continue to expect more from the warehouse, whether firm-owned or operated by a third party. "Modern...

Exel helps hurricane victims.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Exel announced the successful distribution of relief supplies to Hurricane Isabel victims along the North Carolina coast. The company donated freight services to collect and deliver the relief products from Exel associates and customers to help...

Improve your performance.(Aberdeen Group report)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Companies that have automated some or all of their asset management operations achieve such benefits as improved asset utilization and performance, improved budgeting and planning procedures, and improved overall profitability, according to...

Be part of MHM's January issue.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Material Handling Management will kick off 2004 with an industry forecast. Your company's buying plans play a major role in the material handling industry's economic health. Your responses are an important leading indicator of our...

Letter to the Editor.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... To George Weimer: This article [U.S. Secretary of Manufacturing? May 2003 MHM page 41] was very good. I usually like your articles, but this was top notch and I agree with you whole heartedly. I also teach at a local college and it seems...

Irista Inc., an industry developer of logistics management solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with AFMS Transportation Management Group, a consulting firm, specializing in the areas of domestic and international transportation.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Irista Inc., an industry developer of logistics management solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with AFMS Transportation Management Group, a consulting firm, specializing in the areas of domestic and international transportation....

Rite-Hite Corporation has completed the acquisition of CAEMA Verladesysteme GmbH, a Germany-based manufacturer of loading dock equipment.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Rite-Hite Corporation has completed the acquisition of CAEMA Verladesysteme GmbH, a Germany-based manufacturer of loading dock equipment. This merger enhances Rite-Hite's ability to provide local services and solutions specifically designed to...

Lockheed Martin, Siemens Dematic Postal Automation and Northrop Grumman's automation and information systems business, three suppliers of mail processing equipment, were recognized by Postmaster General John E. Potter for working to advance postal automation standardization.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Lockheed Martin, Siemens Dematic Postal Automation and Northrop Grumman's automation and information systems business, three suppliers of mail processing equipment, were recognized by Postmaster General John E. Potter for working to advance...

C&D Technologies signed an agreement to purchase some assets of Matsushita Battery Industrial Corporation of America and Matsushita Battery Industrial de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... C&D Technologies signed an agreement to purchase some assets of Matsushita Battery Industrial Corporation of America and Matsushita Battery Industrial de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. for manufacturing certain industrial lead-acid stationary batteries...

Hytrol.(Companies Making News)(website upgraded)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Hytrol has revamped its website, www.hytrol.com, with an easy-to-navigate product information section. You can now immediately access information on EZ Logic and Stockyard items, as well as special and standard solutions.

ORBIS Corp., North America.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ORBIS Corp., North America has established a Bentonville, Arkansas, office, staffed by a veteran sales, design and engineering team. The office is set to collaborate with the vendor community to meet Wal-Mart's need for the standardization of...

Radcliffe Inc., a supply chain software and services company, announced that it has acquired ServPlex Corporation.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Radcliffe Inc., a supply chain software and services company, announced that it has acquired ServPlex Corporation, a WMS software company that caters to third party logistics (3PL) providers.

HHP, provider of imaged-based bar code data collection and mobile computing systems and LXE Inc., a provider of rugged mobile computers.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... HHP, provider of imaged-based bar code data collection and mobile computing systems and LXE Inc., a provider of rugged mobile computers, announced a strategic sales and marketing alliance.

Corporate Express Inc.(Companies Making News)(new distribution facility)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Corporate Express Inc. (a Buhrmann Company), a business-to-business supplier of office and computer products and services, announced the opening of its new distribution facility in Hanover, Maryland. The 200,000-square-foot distribution...

Lista International Corporation, a manufacturer of storage and workspace systems.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Lista International Corporation, a manufacturer of storage and workspace systems, has purchased the assets of the Ergomation product line of adjustable height workbenches and workbench accessory systems from Aero-Motive, a subsidiary of...

Ford Power Products has selected Engine Distributors Inc., one of its 16 North American distributors, as the engine assembly location for its emission-certified products.(Companies Making News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Ford Power Products has selected Engine Distributors Inc., one of its 16 North American distributors, as the engine assembly location for its emission-certified products. Also, Ford Motor Company will be the manufacturer of record and hold...

Matrics Inc.(Companies Making News)(new high-speed RFID tag assembly system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Matrics Inc., a pioneer in the advanced development and standardization of low-cost, high-performance, EPC-compliant RFID technology, announced PICA, the company's new, high-speed RFID tag assembly system enabling the RFID transformation of the...

Pactiv Corporation.(Companies Making News)(Rock-Tenn Co. plastic packaging assets to be acquired)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Pactiv Corporation announced an agreement to purchase the plastic packaging assets of Rock-Tenn Company. The purchased assets are related to the manufacture of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) and polypropylene products.

Award for Savi.(Savi Technology)(National Transportation Award for 2003)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Savi Technology, which has provided data-rich active radio frequency identification systems and support software to the U.S. Department of Defense for nearly a decade, was recently named as the recipient of the "National Transportation Award...

Liberty Carton wins award.(Premier Print Awards)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Liberty Carton Company, a division of Liberty Diversified Industries (LDI), won top honors at the Premier Print Awards for its Liberty Pursuit board game and gift book. Liberty Pursuit was created by Liberty Carton's design team as a...

Looking for innovation.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... As we head toward 2004, Material Handling Management is looking for innovation in material handling from the user community. If you need a preview of the kinds of ideas we're seeking, stories about this year's award winners begin on page 26. In...

Ask the MHM Editorial Advisory Board.(Interview)
November 1, 2003... As noted elsewhere in this issue, Material Handling Management is interested in your company's buying plans for 2004. You can take part in our online survey on this topic by going to www.MHMonline.com and clicking on the survey button. MHM...

Wireless Switching System.(The Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Wireless Switching System (WSS) operates at 27.255 MHz via a proprietary transmission code. According to the manufacturer, the WSS is capable of secure, long-range switching with either a stationary or mobile transmitter. The transmitter...

Plastic box with RFID.(The Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Techno-Box has radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking for closed-loop systems. The reusable corrugated polypropylene plastic box features self-locking bottoms and tops and knocks down flat for storage. The RFID technology allows...

Cart Lift System keeps product moving.(The Cutting Edge)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Cart Lift System automatically keeps carts moving through the assembly process. A rodless pneumatic cylinder activated by a proximity switch raises and lowers carts to or from the return track at the beginning and end of an assembly cell....

It begins with the box.(Transport Packaging)(Material Handling & Logistics Conference)
November 1, 2003... Attending an educational conference is not unlike drinking from a fire hose. While you're happy to survive the experience, often you're left with only a flavor of what really happened. So it was at the Material Handling & Logistics...

Calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... December 7-10 IMC-2003 Mastering the Maintenance Process. Clearwater Beach, Florida. Sponsored by the Institute of Industrial Engineers and MaintenanceResources.com. Phone (239) 985-0317. December 8-11 International Ergonomics Conference...

Business Intelligence and ethics: can they work together?(Controls & Systems)(Editorial)(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2003... "You have zero privacy anyway get over it," said Scott McNealy, of Sun Microsystems in 1999. Tactful, no. But is he correct? Unfortunately, yes. And privacy advocates need to understand this. As a consumer, every time you buy an item, whether...

Material Handling Management Innovation Awards 2003.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Although Innovation is the attribute these awards celebrate, there are many other qualities that, if the awards were big enough, MHM would have inscribed on them: Courage. Insight. Leadership. Individualism. The winners you'll read about in the...

Something in the air.(Automatic Data Collection)(Frontline International Supply Chain Week Conference and Expo )(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... The irony is that, until recently, RFID and other non-bar code vendors complained that the Frontline International Supply Chain Week Conference and Expo (and its predecessors ScanTech and IDExpo) was "a bar code show." This year, bar codes...

Manufacturing our escape from the Third World.(Manufacturing Management)(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2003... Most of you agree that a Secretary of Manufacturing would be good for the country. Your suggestions ranged from cutting down on imports by various means to forcing other countries (somehow) to comply with fair trade practices. Others suggested...

... And it's RFID by a head ...(Compliance)(Radio frequency identification)(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... That's the kind of horserace it was at Frontline's International Supply Chain Week Conference and Expo. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology topics and products dominated both conference and expo. Standard old barcoding stayed in...

Incentives to go electric.(Market Trends)(Electric Power Research Institute)
November 1, 2003... It's about time companies that run clean fleets get some credit. That includes lift truck fleets. So says EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute. Bob Graham, area manager for electric transportation at EPRI, is making his case to the...

Career patterns in logistics.(Market Trends)(Council of Logistics Management report )(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2003... In spite of difficult economic conditions, the importance of logistics continues to grow as the role of logistics officers gains importance. Two recent surveys reflect trends in the growing importance of logistics within the corporate...

Ann Taylor. doubles volume at national distribution center.
November 1, 2003... Thanks to a new, better-designed material handling system, Ann Taylor has greatly increased the product volume it moves through its national distribution center in Louisville, KY. After operating the revamped distribution system for almost...

Floor labeling system.(Product News)
November 1, 2003... This floor labeling system has a 5 in. x 7 in. aluminum frame. The custom-imprinted, replaceable, 3 in. x 5 in., self-adhesive aluminum label is .012 in. thick and inserts inside the frame. The labels are custom printed at the factory according...

Eco-friendly pallet.(Product News)
November 1, 2003... This corrugated pallet is manufactured with up to 100 percent recycled corrugated materials--and can be recycled into paper at the end of its useful life. Corrugated material is recycled into smooth, solid decking with sturdy supports for...

Modular power drive system.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Modular power drive system is designed for automated parts delivery. It operates as a stand-alone unit or integrates into workstations, flow racks and part presentation carts. The system offers operator-determined, variable speed automated...

Single-Level Power changer.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... The Single-Level Power medium volume changer has a 5 HP motor and is capable of loaded travel speeds of up to 150 fpm. The variable speed, dual hydraulic drive allows for quick battery changes that average less than two minutes. The changer...

Geared motors.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... The Eta Solution Series K geared motors are a combination of spur-geared, flat-geared, bevel-geared and worm-geared motors with an integrated frequency converter mounted directly to the motor. The motors range from 0.25 HP to 10 HP for supply...

Flat-free tire.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... This flat-free tire is designed for hand trucks and is manufactured with a customized advanced polymeric urethane formula. The material prevents flats without adding significant weight to the tire. According to the manufacturer, the tire will...

Iron steel axle lift truck.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... The S135-155XL2 lift truck series is available in two capacities, 13,5/10 and 15,500 lbs. The track is equipped with a cast ductile iron steer axle. The single reduction drive axle distributes the weight of the track's load evenly across the...

Mobile receipt printer.(Product News)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... The Mt3 three inch thermal receipt printer is Bluetooth-capable for wireless operation. The printer weighs 23 ounces and has shock-absorbing housing. It has an internal battery recharge system and prints approximately 800 six-inch receipts per...