Material Handling Management articles from September 2004

Material Handling Management archives from September 2004

Pretty Ironic: the need for engineers is great. The supply is not.(Editorial)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... Alanis Morissette got a big career boost by making irony pretty. Remember her song, Isn't It Ironic? "A no smoking sign on your cigarette break."... "10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife." Irony is defined as "a result that is the...

PoE may take bite out of networking costs.(News Briefs)(Power over ethernet)
September 1, 2004... As the focus on wireless infrastructures grows, the issue of how to power the devices on those networks will become more of a challenge, both from a cost and an ease of installation standpoint. One way to do that is gaining a lot of interest:...

Letter to the editor.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I just read the article titled "How To Handle Shortages on Bills of Lading" from the July 2004 MHM and, though I found it informative, I thought a significant point was missed. Though the legalities of the transaction are important, it is...

Rules announced for border crossings.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Beginning in November, drivers of trucks carrying freight over the border must describe their cargo in advance in electronic messages to customs officials, the Homeland Security Department announced recently. The electronic manifest must be...

NE Ohio WERCouncil awards scholarships.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The NE Ohio WERCouncil recently awarded its first set of scholarships to five deserving students. Two different categories of scholarships were awarded. The first category was for children and grandchildren of WERC members. The members...

On the job.
September 1, 2004... "Always do a background check before hiring 3PLs." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

CLM Roundtable presents award.(News Briefs)(Council of Logistics Management)(First Coast Roundtable)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The First Coast Roundtable of the Council of Logistics Management has presented its annual award for outstanding achievement to Priscilla Miller, who served as treasurer of the First Coast Roundtable between 2001 and 2004. During the 2004-05...

CEMA publishes revised standard.(News Briefs)(Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) has published a revision to its industry standard for conveyor troughing and return idlers. CEMA Standard 502-2004 "Bulk Material Belt Conveyor Troughing and Return Idlers, Selection and...

Roadway Express offers Time-Advantage service.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Roadway Express Inc., a transportation solutions provider, introduces new Time-Advantage service for expedited or emergency shipments. The new service provides shippers with greater flexibility and more options to meet any time-definite...

Symbol to acquire Matrics.(News Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Symbol Technologies has announced its intent to acquire Matrics, a privately held supplier of RFID solutions, for $230 million in cash. On the heels of WalMart, U.S. Department of Defense and other RFID-compliance efforts, the RFID market is...

RPCC leadership sets new direction.(News Briefs)(Reusable Pallet & Container Coalition)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The newly elected leadership of the Reusable Pallet & Container Coalition (RPCC) has called for initiatives that will provide information and data on the economic and environmental benefits of reusable transport packaging. While affirming its...

Crown receives EPA award.(News Briefs)(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Crown Equipment Corp., manufacturer of electric lift trucks in North America, has been recognized by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for its waste minimization efforts in the company's painting operations. The...

New resources available.(News Briefs)
September 1, 2004... Several new training programs are available from Summit Training Source Inc. Site Security -- What You Need To Know, a video training program, helps employees know what to look for, how to report suspicious behavior and how to respond to a...

TNT Logistics raises $150,00 for food program.(News Briefs)(United Nations' World Food Program)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... TNT Logistics North America raised more than $150,000 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in the first half of 2004 for the United Nations' World Food Program (WFP). By teaming up with WFP, TNT is committed to sharing its resources and...

Industrial Supply Association.(Association News)(Industrial Supply Association (ISA) )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The newly formed Industrial Supply Association (ISA) has announced John Buckley as its executive vice president. ISA was formed from the consolidation of the Industrial Distribution Association and the Industrial Supply Manufacturers...

American Machine Tool Distributors' Association.(Association News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Members of the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association elected Clark T. Smith, president, Smith Machinery Co., association chairman for 2004-05.

Power Transmission Distribution Association.(Association News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Power Transmission Distribution Association named Ralph Buntyn an Honorary Life Member. Buntyn retired as senior vice president of marketing with Motion Industries.

Web Sling & Tie Down Association.(Association News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Web Sling & Tie Down Association (WSTDA) was honored with an APEX 2004 Award for Publication Excellence for its new Uplifting News electronic newsletter.

RFID label applicator.(Cutting Edge)
September 1, 2004... THE CTM 360 RW label applicator can validate, write and affix RFID labels at speeds to 80 labels per minute. Its head is customized to fit the application, transponder type and frequency. The read/write head inspects each transponder at the...

EPA-compliant lift trucks.(Cutting Edge)
September 1, 2004... The AX20, BX20 and CX20 series of internal combustion engine lift trucks features environmentally friendly engine technology. The lift trucks were redesigned to incorporate the latest technological advances for increased efficiency and...

Riding on air.(Cutting Edge)
September 1, 2004... Skid-Mate is an air-filled doughnut that attaches to any platform or pallet, or directly to product bases, with a single bolt and provides protection from shock and vibration damage. The cushions are available in five color-coded load-range...

Integrated management.(Cutting Edge)
September 1, 2004... SmartChain Site Manager provides integrated, node-level management for data collection and system configuration. Features and benefits include modular software adapters for plug-and-play integration, centralized management of rules and...

Calendar.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... September 16-17 Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association Fall Meeting. Chicago O'Hare Airport Hilton. Visit www.cemanet.org or phone 239-514-3441. September 19-22 Material Handling & Logistics Conference. Grand Summit Resort Hotel,...

Work station labeling: angled label holders are clearly visible.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... AngleVision[TM] combines a heavy duty, clear plastic insertable label holder with a flexible "C" channel snap that retrofits the 1.00"-1.12" diameter tubing used by major work station manufacturers. Tilt holder to any desired angle for maximum...

Narrow aisle forklift: LP gas lift truck works in 7 ft. aisles.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... The Aisle-Master articulated forklift is designed to maximize storage space by reducing operating aisle widths. The truck can work both indoors and outside like a regular counterbalance truck. The Aisle-Master has 4400 lb. lift capacity, with...

Packing function: free packing area design guide.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... The Order Fulfillment Solution Center-Packing Function Website has been created to help management become better informed about problems involved in designing and integrating a packing department into the company order fulfillment plan. Each...

Power systems: Legacy Platinum System.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... The Legacy Platinum System from Douglas Battery offers the ultimate in maintenance-free power. This valve-regulated system is designed and manufactured to provide long life and superior performance, while reducing maintenance costs and...

Conveyor systems: modular conveyor systems offer versatility.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... Dynamic Conveyor's light- to medium-duty DynaCon[R] modular conveyor systems offer true versatility. DynaCon's modular conveyor systems can be reconfigured in less time, in ever-changing manufacturing or workflow environments. Made from...

Telescoping lifter: telescoping lifter provides safe, stable handling.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... The MechLift's[TM] rigid structure ensures ergonomic load movement without annoying sway. Pneumatic and electric models adapt to a wide selection of end effectors. Capacities to 1500 lbs. The MechLift is ideal for applications such as door or...

Safety Gates: double coverage--up to 6-foot-wide mezzanine openings.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Protect a 6-foot-wide opening with standard FabEnCo XL71 Series Self-Closing Safety Gates for $500 or less. Special features allow for mounting on either side of your mezzanine opening with no opposite point contact. No cutting, welding or...

Dock Lights: Metal Halide Dock Lights--brighter and energy efficient.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Our new generation of Dock Lighting Equipment: The Metal Halide (100-watt HID lamp source) is operated by integral electronic ballast and is extremely lightweight. The aluminum shade design includes an interior polished reflector allowing for...

Lifting device: precision lifting.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... More precise than a hoist, more efficient than an air balancer. Gorbel's new Easy Arm[TM] lifting device gives you the speeds you need to increase productivity, the precision you need to decrease product damage, and the strength to protect your...

Lift trucks: new brushless AC-powered, three-wheel lift trucks are durable and maneuverable.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Hyster announces the J30-40ZT three-wheel lift truck series, combining brushless AC technology with excellent maneuverability, for top performance in crowded aisles and congested loading bays. Available in 3,000 to 4,000 lb. capacities, the...

Powered conveyor rollers: Interroll's HTBL roller offers 70% more torque.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Interroll Corp. enhanced its 8000 Series RollerDrive BL (brushless) DC powered roller with a new motor that delivers 70% more torque and speed. RollerDrive BL rollers may be paired with a PC or with Interroll's DriveControl zero pressure...

Presswood pallets: export and domestic pallets.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Litco's Inca presswood pallets meet the new ISPM 15, International Standards for Wood Packaging Material, and do not require additional costly treatment for infestation. Inca pallets are priced for the budget-minded! Incas have been used in the...

Workstations: modular ergonomic industrial workstations.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Choose from basic four leg stations, hand-crank or electric height-adjustable, technical systems, wire harness stations, clean room, LAN stations, ball transfers and packaging stations, cabinets and lab furniture. Many units IN STOCK. Our...

Labeling software: EASYLABEL[R] software RFID enabled.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... EASYLABEL[R] 5 Platinum, bar code labeling software, is now available with an RFID Wizard that takes the worry out of creating and printing smart labels with its extensive support for EPC specifications. Additional features: EAN/UCC-128 Wizard,...

Wire partitions: style 840[TM] woven wire partitions.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)
September 1, 2004... Separate, secure, or store valued items with this easy to install system. Use 20 standard sized panels and steel support posts to build partitions, enclosures, or storage areas of any size or configuration. Modular design reduces installation...

Material handling resources: find it quickly and easily at the new www.MHMonline.com.(Special Advertising Section: New Products, Equipment & Services Showcase)(Advertisement)
September 1, 2004... Easy online access to what you want to know about material handling logistics, warehousing & distribution and transport packaging. Find suppliers with our new online directory, read the current issue of Material Handling Management, get...

Battling bugs with electrons.(Transport Packaging)
September 1, 2004... Just as cooler weather began moving in to Northern Ohio, and I stopped thinking about insect problems in the forest, a call from a reader poured in, asking what's new surrounding bug issues and solid wood transport packaging material. I...

Standardized packaging: this month's question comes from a global logistics services provider.(Ask the MHM Editorial Advisory Board)(Interview)
September 1, 2004... Q: We are reviewing the packaging for one of our automotive customers. All its vendors use one-way, non-standardized packaging (various sizes of cardboard on wooden pallets) at a high cost (charged by the supplier for waste management in...

3PLs: looking out for you; Is it in your best interest to use a single third-party logistics provider or to use multiple providers? The answer could be key to balancing your business.(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... According to a study by Northeastern University and Accenture, nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies use multiple third-party logistics providers (3PLs). And why is that? Not being able to find a single-source provider whose service...

Putting returns to work: how do you transform returns from headache to brainstorm? Here are some "outside-the-box" reverse logistics models. Part 3 in our reverse logistics series.(Reverse Logistics Part 3)
September 1, 2004... "We're on the threshold of what I think will be a huge outpouring of investment in material handling logistics and its associated networks, largely because we're becoming more competitive and people are realizing that waste is the cost, not...

Crunching data instead of products.(Warehousing & Distribution)(United States. Postal Service)
September 1, 2004... I recently received a tardy newsletter. The tardiness was not the fault of the company that sent me the newsletter, but of that great warehouse operation known as the U.S. Postal Service. Don't get me wrong, USPS does a great job. Its material...

Integrating systems, end-to-end: for the best productivity, data and information must flow seamlessly among supply chain systems. Achieving this can be a challenge when you have multiple programs from multiple vendors. But there are solutions.(Warehouse Networks)
September 1, 2004... To achieve the breadth and functionality needed in supply chain systems, material handlers have usually selected individual "best-of-breed" solutions and attempted to network, or integrate them. "Over the last few years, best-of-breed programs...

A pallet that's soft yet tough: a trip to a do-it-yourselfer's store inspired this new approach to palletization.(MHM Innovator of the Month Melvin B. Hill)(Melvin B. Hill)
September 1, 2004... As a regional sales manager for the Bucyrus-Erie Company, Melvin B. Hill was always around heavy construction equipment. Whenever he traveled, he was attracted by new equipment designs. This continued into his retirement. The problem ...

'Bestshoring' or outsourcing?(Manufacturing Management)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... In case you haven't noticed, this is an election year and a particularly nasty one in terms of everything from who did what in the military 35 years ago to what's wrong with the economy and how to fix it and create more good jobs. It seems...

Recognize the lies about RFID.(Automatic Data Collection)(Radio Frequency Identification)
September 1, 2004... Ah, sweet September. Time to start thinking about all those upcoming autumn chores--like gearing up for all the AIDC trade shows and seminars and getting ready to deal with the piles of marketing hype from vendors and dubious information from...

Safety rails.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... Cubic SafetyRail is designed for use throughout a plant or facility to safeguard work areas and protect employees. The rail stops lift trucks, sweepers and other in-plant vehicles and prevents accidents that result in downtime, damaged...

Concave LEDs.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... Concave cylindrical light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit light that is as bright at its edges as in the center. Illumination is bright even in direct sunlight. Leads are provided for wire wrap applications. They are available in six...

Man-down turret truck.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... The V30ZMD man-down turret truck was designed for very-narrow-aisle applications. The 180[degrees] turret mechanism allows access to both sides of a dead-end aisle, while the AC transistor control eliminates motor brushes to decrease service...

Flow storage for slip sheets.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... UniversALL Flo handles products on slip sheets as well as most plastic or wood pallets in the same dynamic flow lane. The system combines a speed-controlled wide roller flow bed with an exit zone that activates a lowering mechanism, allowing...

Jeep plant uses side-by-side system.(Case Study)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... DaimlerChrysler installed a side-by-side parts handling system at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit that manufactures the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The rack-handling system brings cradle modules to the assembly line while isolating...

Walkie pallet trucks.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... The WP 2300 walkie pallet truck features the X10 handle that minimizes hand and wrist movements while simplifying control. A debris guard protects the load wheel axle from items such as stretch wrap and plastic straps. The InfoPoint...

Accumulator.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... The Flex Flow accumulator operates on the concept of an expandable travel path, sensing fluctuations in production and responsively changing length to match the variations. It offers side transfer at infeed and discharge points, and provides...

Reusable containers.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... The 4A48 Series collapsible container has a 45 X 48-in. footprint and is available in heights of 25, 33, 34, 39, 42, 48 and 50 in. There are four flat label areas on each sidewall, as well as two removable label surfaces located in the upper...

Molded fiber trays.(Product News)
September 1, 2004... Made from recycled paper, the trays protect small industrial motors, components and subassemblies during interplant and intraplant shipment. By gripping certain areas of the motor or component while allowing clearance in other areas, fan blades...