Material Handling Management articles from November 2008

Material Handling Management archives from November 2008

Automating the process from shore to store: a third-party logistics provider overhauls an import DC to streamline fulfillment for a major department-store chain.(Automation)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the summer of 2005, Jeffery Wolpov saw an opportunity. His third-party logistics (3PL) company, Distribution Solutions Inc. (DSI), was approached by a major U.S. department-store chain to help with container...

Equipment financing: three steps to ease the credit squeeze.
November 1, 2008... If you've tried to get funding to meet today's challenges, chances are you've felt the credit crunch. If you're getting ready to look for credit, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. Whether used for implementing new technologies and...

Beyond compliance: as economic uncertainty forces managers to reduce costs, streamline processes and eliminate waste, RFID is getting another look.(COVER FEATURE)(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... Most professionals involved in material handling realize the do-or-die perception of RFID has changed in recent years. They may not know, however, how drastically the difficult economy has altered that view. In 2003, when Wal-Mart famously...

Finding the low-hanging fruit.(Data Intelligence)(data collection system)
November 1, 2008... This may come as a shock, but finding the low-hanging fruit does not always mean settling for simplicity. The easiest fruit to pick may not be the juiciest when it comes to implementing an automatic identification and data collection system....

Device soothes aching floor joints: Pep Boys uses mechanical cylinders to stabilize loose floor joints and extend the life of material handling equipment.(Facility Operations)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Industrial concrete floors develop many problems, from cracks to excessive wear. Most of these problems have been around for decades, and the remedies for them are well established. However, one defect is becoming...

Time ticking on tax incentives.(Facility Operations)
November 1, 2008... Baltimore-based Barcoding Inc., a supplier of automatic identification and systems for data collection, recently sent a notice reminding customers that the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act is set to expire at the end of this year. "Now is a good...

Energy goes neutral.(Facility Operations News)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... WOODBRIDGE, N.J. -- Hess Corp., a global energy company involved in the exploration, production, purchase, transportation and sale of crude and refined oil and natural gas, is launching its Hess C-Neutral program to commercial, industrial and...

DCs generate power.(Facility Operations News)
November 1, 2008... PORTLAND, Ore. -- ProLogis, an owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, is leasing roof space to Portland General Electric (PGE), a vertically integrated electric utility that serves approximately 813,000 residential, commercial...

Performance is no cliche.(Front Line)(Editorial)
November 1, 2008... Words fascinate me. That's a big shock coming from a writer, I know, but hear me out. Without meaning, words are mere marks on a page or random sounds in the air. We collectively decide what words mean and agree on definitions. Some words...

The Swiss army knife of load handling: attachments transform conventional lift trucks into versatile, productivity-boosting machines.(Powered Vehicles)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although forks are standard on traditional lift trucks, they aren't always the best choice for every situation. In fact, forks represent just one option in a long list of tools that enhance the capabilities of...

Safety gets exciting.(Powered Vehicles News)
November 1, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- Etcetera Edutainment has launched National Safety Council (NSC) Safetyworks Lift Truck, a 3D simulator that enhances lift truck safety education programs. Operators drive in a virtual warehouse environment, guided by a series...

Cat revamps site.(Powered Vehicles News)
November 1, 2008... HOUSTON -- Cat Lift Trucks, a Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. brand, has spruced up its Web site at www.cat-lift.com. In addition to product information, the site offers tips on avoiding lift truck abuse, choosing the best...

Turning the page.(Publisher's Page)
November 1, 2008... Yes, you could say there is a pun intended here, as we turn the page and begin a new chapter in the life of Material Handling Management (MHM) magazine. Effective with this issue, we welcome a new editor in chief to the staff and continue the...

Smart execution enables business growth: SCE software helps foodservice distributors expand by keeping costs under control.(Technology)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The implementation of a properly configured supply chain execution (SCE) system can provide accuracy in all phases of operation, resulting in significant cost savings and major opportunities for business growth. ...

On the same page: integrating pallets and automation: lightweight plastic pallets complement a book manufacturer's high-tech printing process.(Transport Packaging)
November 1, 2008... The printing business is extremely competitive. Just ask Mayfield, Pa.-based book manufacturer P.A. Hutchison Co. Founded in 1911, P.A. Hutchison is a mid-sized book manufacturer with customers throughout the U.S. To enhance its...

Orbis buys Norseman.(Transport Packaging News)
November 1, 2008... OCONOMOWOC, Wis. -- Orbis Corp., a subsidiary of Mensha Corp., is acquiring Norseman Plastics Holdings Ltd., based in Toronto. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Orbis supplies plastic, reusable containers, pallets, totes and...

CAPS changes name.(Transport Packaging News)(Container and Pallet Services )(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... LIVONIA, Mich. -- Container and Pallet Services (CAPS) is changing its name to Container and Pooling Solutions to reflect a renewed focus on greening customers' supply chains while reducing overall costs. The company says its services,...

Winery wins award.(Transport Packaging News)
November 1, 2008... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Ste. Michelle Wine Estates has won the 2008 Packaging Line of the Year award for its high-speed bottling line. The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) presents the award, which honors packaging-line engineering...

RPA honors executive.(Transport Packaging News)
November 1, 2008... WASHINGTON -- The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA, formerly the Reusable Pallet and Container Coalition) announces that Phil Davis, senior perishables supply chain manager at the Kroger Co., is this year's recipient of RPA's 2008 Leadership...

Pallets get certified.(Transport Packaging News)
November 1, 2008... VIENNA, Ohio -- Litco International Inc.'s Inca presswood pallets, core plugs and boards recently received Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certification at the Silver tier from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC). According to Litco, the...

Elections have consequences.(Workforce)
November 1, 2008... While much of the national media focused on the presidential election, it ignored one of the highest priorities of organized labor to recapture membership and influence: the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as the card-check...