Material Handling Management articles from September 2006

Material Handling Management archives from September 2006

Liquor distributor in-sources operations.(Silver State Liquor and Wine)
September 1, 2006... Silver State Liquor and Wine (Reno) had a growing problem. A year ago, its 3PL no longer had the capacity to manage the increasing volume flowing through its warehouses. Silver State, a division of the Wirtz Beverage Group (Chicago), took...

MHM quick poll.
September 1, 2006... MHM Quick Poll Extent to which facility security, including data, competitive information and inventory, depends upon employee trust and integrity vs. technology: 100% employee trust 19% 25% technology, 75%...

The quest for whatever you want to call it.(Light Lifting)(Material Handling Management introduced Census of Distribution)(Editorial)
September 1, 2006... I always smile when I hear the more creative names of the programs that new managers conjure up in order to distinguish their change initiatives from those of their predecessors. Some recent examples that I've run across: "Work Made Better,"...

If it looks like a box ...(Transport Packaging)(Jeff Duck)
September 1, 2006... It's refreshing to encounter someone not interested in being everything to everybody. Associations, companies, yes, even magazines, push the notion that bigger is better. To get bigger, think outside the box. By thinking outside the box, in...

RFID: too heavy a load.(Andel on Lift Trucks)(radio frequency identification equipment)
September 1, 2006... As information technology evolves in warehouses and distribution centers, everything in those environments becomes a food source for the ever-hungry beast called ERP--the enterprise resource planning monster. Today's lift trucks are a major...

RFID: hold it right there! Consider using RFID to track items and assets that aren't moving.(Data Intelligence)(radio frequency identification equipment)
September 1, 2006... Okay, a lot of the attention on RFID has been to show that it can be used to increase efficiencies by tracking items as they move through the supply chain. But have you ever stopped to think how useful it could be for things that aren't moving?...

Going global.(International Distribution)
September 1, 2006... Establishing an international presence starts with material handling, the backbone of any supply chain. If managers respect the local culture, and are responsive to local market conditions, setting up an international operation can go smoothly....

Improve inventory data accuracy.(Warehouse Basics)
September 1, 2006... Inventory management problems are easily resolved if the data travels as quickly as the product. Therein lies the challenge. That inventory is money is not exactly a news flash. The sooner managers and employees understand that simple fact,...

New technology introduction from the bottom up.(Labor Management)
September 1, 2006... Focusing on the financial benefits, managers usually welcome the introduction of new technology. Down on the shop floor, however, new technology can be viewed as job threatening, something new to get used to, or change for the sake of change....

The need for speed.(O'Reilly Auto Parts is using Hytrol Conveyor Company Inc.'s conveyors)
September 1, 2006... To stay ahead in the fast-paced automotive aftermarket industry, retailers need distribution centers with fast throughput. Springfield, Mo.-based O'Reilly Auto Parts (www.oreillyauto.com) increased the speed of its new Indianapolis DC by...

Innovative rack design too innovative?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... Re: "Fishbone Rack Layout Can Improve Efficiency and Reduce Warehouse Costs" (August 2006, p. 10), I think the professors forgot that most warehouses have cross aisles in several locations to facilitate cross movement other than at the end of...

Pilferage problems go beyond pallets.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2006... I found your article about the USPS pallet problem to be quite interesting ("The Case of the Pilfered Pallets," August 2006, p. 18). We are a wholesale distributor of building materials in Rochester, N.Y. We build pallet boxes for the shipment...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
September 1, 2006... Corrections: In "Outsourced Import Management" (August 2006, p.30), UPS's "Trade Direct" services help Hanken Imports (Dayton, Ohio) to better manage less-than-truckload shipments from ports to customer stores and distribution centers.

Short-run and fulfillment packaging.(Product News)
September 1, 2006... A a new line of packaging systems, the Autobag AB 180 OneStep and Autobag AB 255 OneStep are designed to provide flexible solutions for mail order fulfillment, short production runs, spare-parts distribution and build-on-demand operations....

Rotary ring wrapping.(Wulftec International)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A new approach to rotary ring wrapping can be found in the Wring-500 automatic rotary ring wrapper. The stretch wrapper has speed wrapping for increased productivity, versatility with different wrap patterns, film saving with one way wrapping,...

Top load case packer.(Omega Design Corp. )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Integrated with a case erector, bottom case taper and top case taper, the Omega-Pak system accommodates pre-bundled or individual products. Its compact design, available in various line configurations, fits into existing and new packaging line...

Measuring boxes.(Accu-Sort Systems Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The DM3500 Dimensioner determines the volume of in-motion, cube-shaped packages on flat conveyor belts. It lets users accurately calculate shipping charges on in-motion parcel streams. It calculates real volume and determines the smallest box...

Checkweigher-rejector combination.(Thompson Scale Co. )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The 4693-R Heavy-Duty Checkweigher is designed for industrial and institutional packaging applications, with weight ranges from 1 to 110 lbs. Weigh station conveyors range from four to five ft. run at 100 ft. per min. The Checkweigher's...

Material handling gantry.(Product News)
September 1, 2006... The IndraMotion for Handling is a scalable gantry solution for material handling applications. It includes hardware and software components with predefined motion function blocks to run pick-and-place and loading/unloading machinery. Powered by...

Automated pipe bundling.(Sage Automation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Pipe manufacturers have a new bundling solution that is capable of handling up to three different pipe sizes at one time. The machine accumulates loose pipe and discharges fully strapped, multi-layered bundles ready for shipment. The pipe size...

Precise controller.(Advanced CAE Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The 940 PositionServo digital AC servo drive combines servo precision with the cost-effectiveness of an AC induction control. The driver is programmable and has multiple inputs/outputs. It offers high-performance indexing and positioning, and...

Versatile cabinets.(Lista International Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Modular combination cabinets can be used for storing, securing and moving items of varied size and shape. The cabinets have full-width top drawers with a 440-lb. load capacity. Cabinet bases include mobile, lift truck, pallet truck, frame and a...

Structural stairs.(Omega Industrial Products)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Quick-Step structural stairs are built with pre-manufactured components, install quickly and eliminate fixed or welded stairways. Constructed from heavy-gauge structural steel, the stairs can be adjusted vertically, which can eliminate mistakes...

Precision glue gun.(Glue Dots International)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Dot Shot Pro adhesive applicator provides a safe alternative to tape guns, hot glue guns, or liquid glues. It can be used for carton re-sealing, securing corner boards before stretch wrapping and attaching shipping labels. Rugged,...

Enclosed AC motors.(Reliance Electric Co.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A new family of RPM AC enclosed inverter duty motors, the FL180, FL210, and FL250, with finned frame construction are engineered to provide increased torque density. The motors feature advanced cooling designs that optimize heat dissipation and...

Winches maximize lift control, safety.(My-te Products, Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A physical disc brake completes the triple brake redundancy system on the new B-series single-phase winch hoists. The system enhances overall braking power and provides optimum load control for lifting and spotting. The winches feature a...

Temperature-controlled containers.(TCP Reliable)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Temperature-sensitive products can be shipped without the need for testing using TimeSaver 48 pre-qualified shipping containers. The reusable containers are designed to maintain a two to eight degree temperature range for 48 hours. They conform...

Sanitary conveyors for small products.(Dorner Manufacturing Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... For sanitary conveyor applications that call for smooth transfer of small product, the 7600 series center drive conveyor can be mounted at any location between the two spindles. This allows for additional clearance on the ends of the conveyor,...

Low-profile conveyor.(QC Industries L.L.C.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The 125Z Series line of conveyors provides tight product transfer and the ability to fit within space-constrained areas. The low profile (1.89 in.) design features fixed angles ranging from 30[degrees] to 90[degrees] that minimize the number of...

High-efficiency, low-noise belt drives.(INTERROLL Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Specifically designed for material handling applications, a new series of belt drives, ranging from 80mm to 216mm, are completely enclosed and sealed inside a steel shell, preventing water, dust, grit, chemicals, grease and oil from affecting...

Organize, protect packaging.(Product News)
September 1, 2006... Case inserts and totes, when used with Parts-in-Pocket (PNP) devices, ensure positive component identification from customized packaging materials and protection for the shipping/packaging, industrial, medical, military and automotive...

Gentle, high-speed conveying.(TGW-Ermanco)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The ULC RC Unit Load Roller Conveyor is engineered to gently convey pallets at speeds up to 85 fpm while minimizing hang-ups and pallet damage. Positive drive is provided to each roller by a precision continuous roller chain, which engages the...

Solid manufacturing outlook for 2006, slowdown predicted for 2007.(Industry News)
September 1, 2006... U.S. manufacturing production will advance 5% this year and then slow markedly to 2.5% growth in 2007, according to a quarterly economic forecast from Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI (www.mapi.net), an Arlington, Va.-based business and public...

On the job.(Cartoon)
September 1, 2006... "Because our suppliers are so important to us, we make sure they get to spend time in our exclusive Partner Training Camp." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Reusable Pallet & Container Coalition leads U.S. trial on RFID.(radio frequency identification equipment used for transport packaging)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Reusable Pallet & Container Coalition (RPCC, Washington, D.C., www.rpcc.us) has launched a study on the economic benefits and enhanced supply chain visibility that can be achieved through multi-use RFID tags in reusable transport packaging....

Resin shortage problems to continue for pallet makers.(Industry News)(Dow Chemical Co. closing polystyrene production facility)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Rising resin prices have pinched plastic pallet and container makers for several years. One reason cited has been lack of production in North America. It appears the trend will continue. The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, Mich.) announced that...

Hydraulic hybrid truck makes debut.(United States. Environmental Protection Agency)(Eaton Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... With Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center's wind-driven electric turbine spinning in the background, UPS (Atlanta) Eaton Corp. (Cleveland), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced the world's first hydraulic hybrid delivery...

Special lift truck safety warning.(Industry News)
September 1, 2006... The United Kingdom's Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) issued a special safety warning in response to two separate fatal accidents involving very similar circumstances. Both incidents involved a trained operator who had parked the vehicle but...

NIOSH reviews ergonomic hazards of order pickers.(Industry News)
September 1, 2006... Atlanta-based building products distributor BlueLinx Corp. (www.bluelinxco.com) asked the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, www.cdc.gov/niosh) to visit the company's Bellingham, Mass., distribution center to...

Material Handling Management Industry Leadership Award deadline.(Industry News)
September 1, 2006... The editors of MHM have long appreciated the instructional and motivational value of success stories. We believe that there are many more such stories out there just waiting to be told. In an effort to recognize manufacturing plants,...

Material Handling Education Foundation awards scholarships.(Industry News)
September 1, 2006... The Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) announced its 2006-2007 scholarship winners. This year 31 students at 20 universities will receive $87,000 in scholarship funds. The scholarships, sponsored by members of the Material...

Libbey Glass toasts new DC in Shreveport.(Bob Moore Construction Inc. to built a facility for Libbey Glass Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Libbey Glass, a division of Toledo, Ohio-headquartered Libbey Inc. (www.libbey.com), recently opened a new 646,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Shreveport, La. The facility will serve the southeast and lower mid-western states, plus the...

Game maker moves factory to Mexico.(Valley-Dynamo L.P.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Valley-Dynamo (Richland Hills, Texas), a division of Brunswick Corp. (www.brunswick.com), will move its manufacturing operations to Reynosa, Mexico. The company will locate the new facility alongside another recently opened Brunswick...

NuVasive opens Memphis warehouse.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... NuVasive, Inc. (San Diego, www.nuvasive.com), developers of minimally disruptive surgical treatments for the spine, opened a 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and distribution facility in Memphis, Tenn. Located near the Federal Express worldwide...

Imation opens Memphis DC.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Imation Corp (Oakdale, Minn., www. imation.com), a manufacturer of removable data storage, officially opened its new Southaven, Miss., distribution center. The 364,000-sq.-ft. facility will employ 65 people and serve Imation customers across...

Mack Trucks adds Jacksonville parts distribution center.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Mack Trucks, Inc. (Lehigh Valley, Pa., www.macktrucks.com) added a new parts distribution center in Jacksonville, Fla. The new facility joins existing distribution centers in Reno, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, Memphis and Toronto. Approximately...

Sears closes Columbus DC.
September 1, 2006... Sears Holdings Corp. (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) closed its apparel and fashion goods distribution center in Columbus, Ohio. The DC was one of five U.S. distribution centers that handled apparel and fashion goods for Sears.

UPS opens Ontario logistics center.(UPS Supply Chain Solutions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Atlanta) opened new logistics campus in Burlington, Ontario. The second largest UPS logistics facility in North America, the Burlington complex was built at a cost of $72 million. The campus includes the Canadian...

Warehouse fire destroys UN relief items in Beirut.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Proving once again that fire prevention and suppression must be a top priority in any warehouse, hundreds of blankets, mattresses and tents were destroyed in a fire in a Beirut facility storing relief supplies from the United Nations. ...

Americold buys 1.7 million sq.-ft. of refrigerated space.(Americold Corp. acquires ConAgra Foods Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... In September Atlanta-based Americold (www.americold.net) acquired four refrigerated warehouse facilities and a lease with a purchase option for a fifth facility from ConAgra Foods, Inc. (Omaha, Neb., www. conagrafoods.com). The five warehouses...

DSW to add headquarters to distribution facility in Columbus.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DSW Inc. (Columbus, Ohio, www.DSWshoes.com) announced plans to build a new corporate campus in Columbus, Ohio, to accommodate ongoing sales growth. Designs call for a new 150,000-sq.-ft. office to be combined with an existing 700,000-sq.-ft....

Ethan Allen to shutter two factories, convert one to distribution center.(Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (Danbury, Conn., www.ethanallen.com) will close its Spruce Pine, N.C. case goods manufacturing facility and convert its Atoka, Okla., upholstery manufacturing facility into a regional distribution center. In a news...

Battery retailer opens DC in Las Vegas.(Universal Power Group)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Universal Power Group, Inc. (UPG, Addison, Texas), a subsidiary of Zunicom, Inc., (Carrollton, Texas), opened a new "Batteries & Beyond" retail store and its third distribution center in Las Vegas, Nev. UPG's Batteries & Beyond's products...

Miner Fleet Management recognized for fast growth.(Miner Fleet Management Group )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Miner Fleet Management Group (San Antonio, www.minercorp.com) was recently ranked #210 among the "nation's fastest-growing private companies in America" by Inc. magazine. A distributor of material handling equipment, Miner reported a growth...

Rite Aid acquisition of Brooks and Eckerd stores to leverage supply chain "synergies".(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Rite Aid Corp. (Camp Hill, Pa., www. riteaid.com) announced the acquisition of all Brooks and Eckerd drugstores for $2.5 billion in cash and stock plus $850 million in long-term debt from The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc. (Longueuil, Quebec). The...

Finning sells UK material handling division.(Vendor News)
September 1, 2006... The U.K. subsidiary of Finning International Inc. (www.finning.com) will sell the business and assets of its material handling division to Briggs Equipment UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Sammons Enterprises Inc. of Dallas, for $159 million. The...

FKI Logistex automates DC for Michaels Stores.(automated sortation system )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... FKI Logistex (St. Louis, Mo., www.fkilogistex.com) won a major contract from Michaels Stores, Inc. (Irvine, Texas, www.michaels.com) to supply a turnkey picking, cross-docking and automated sortation system at the company's new Northwest...

Siemens wins contract to build baggage handling system for Detroit terminal.(Walbridge/ Barton Malow LLC)(Siemens Energy and Automation Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Siemens Energy & Automation's Airport Logistics Division (Atlanta, www.industry.siemens.com) won a $19.1 million contract from Walbridge/ Barton Malow LLC for an inline baggage handling system as part of the new Detroit North Terminal...

Greatwide files patent for optimized delivery system.(Vendor News)
September 1, 2006... Greatwide Logistics Services (Dallas, www.greatwide.com) filed a patent for its Greatwide Distribution Optimization Center (G-DOC), a routing system that supposedly enhances the way products are moved from DCs to retail stores while reducing...

TNT N.V. sells logistics division for $2 billion.(Apollo Management L.P.)(TNT Post Group N.V.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... TNT N.V. (Amsterdam, www.tnt.com) will sell its logistics division to Apollo Management, L.P., (Purchase, N.Y.) a private equity firm with offices in New York, London and Los Angeles. The intended sale is part of TNT's desire to focus on its...

AMT to support DENSO robots.(Vendor Briefs)
September 1, 2006... Applied Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Orion, Mich., www.appliedmfg.com) entered into an agreement with DENSO Robotics, a subsidiary of Japan-based DENSO Corp. (www.globaldenso.com), to provide engineering and support services for DENSO...

Airtrax signs agreement with Israeli Air Force.(Vendor Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Airtrax, Inc. (Blackwood, N.J.), a developer of patented omni-directional technology, signed an agreement with the Israeli Air Force to build and deliver specially designed equipment handlers based on the Airtrax commercial MP2 platform. The...

Illinois Tool Works acquires Click Commerce.(Vendor Briefs)
September 1, 2006... Illinois Tool Works Inc. (Glenview, Ill.) will acquire Click Commerce, Inc. (Chicago), a provider of on-demand supply-chain management software. The total value of the transaction, including payment for outstanding stock options, is...

Manhattan wins contract with Apparel maker.(Vendor Briefs)
September 1, 2006... Apparel manufacturer Walls Industries (Cleburne, Texas), will use Manhattan Associates' (Atlanta, www,manh.com) EPC Manager integrated with its existing warehouse management software to improve its inventory and shipping accuracy. Walls...

Schneider recognized for visibility software.(Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association)(Schneider Logistics Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Schneider Logistics, Inc. (Green Bay, Wis., www.schneiderlogistics.com), a logistics service provider and part of Schneider National, received the 2006 Best Third-Party Provider Award from the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions (VICS)...

LXE Inc. reports another record revenue quarter.(Vendor Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... LXE Inc. (Atlanta, www.lxe.com), a manufacturer of wireless devices, set an all-time record for quarterly revenues in the second quarter of 2006 and extended a run of 15 quarters of record revenues compared with the corresponding quarters of...

Dover buys Markem Corp.(Vendor Briefs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... New York-based Dover Corp., a diversified industrial manufacturer with $6 billion in annual revenues, announced plans to acquire Markem Corp. of Keene, N.H. The privately held company develops and manufacturers various types of product...