Modern Materials Handling articles from April 2003

Modern Materials Handling archives from April 2003

Item labeling and coding on the rise. (Breaking News You Should Know).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Driven by several factors in diverse industries, demand for item labeling and coding will increase nearly 45% by 2006. "We think that one of the strongest application opportunities will come from item labeling and coding to support true cradle...

Protecting against dock seal fires. (Breaking News You Should Know).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Dock fires are a larger threat than previously realized, according to Paul Rowlett, president of dock seal supplier Frommelt Products Corp. (www.ritehite.com). Since July 2001, the company has documented more than 80 dock seal fire incidents....

IBM: no more "outsourcing". (Breaking News You Should Know).(calls it "optimized sourcing" )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Bob Moffat, IBM's senior VP of integrated supply chain, says his area of Big Blue no longer uses the word "outsourcing." He says that carries the connotation that you give the task to someone else to perform. Instead, his staff describes their...

Tap into lift truck data with MH Guru. (Breaking News You Should Know).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... How do you know when it's time to start replacing your lift truck fleet? That's always a tough question to answer. But now there's more information available than ever to help end users make the decision a timely one. All you have to do is...

It's all about the order. (Editorial).(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... How long have we all been focused on inventory? Forever, it seems. Early on, you would sooner-be dead than without safety stock. Then there was just-in-time, to varying degrees, of course. Then the focus shifted to inventory across the supply...

Industrial truck orders rose during 2002. (Outlook).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Booked Orders Index compiled monthly by the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) shows that industry orders were at a level 7.0% stronger during the final quarter of last year than during July-September of 2002. And the market continued to...

Materials handling shipments declined 11% last year. (Outlook).(2002)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The U.S. Commerce Department's survey of U.S. manufacturers' showed the value of materials handling machinery and equipment shipments to be worth 11.2% less during 2002 than 2001. So, following increases during seven of the previous eight...

Conveyor orders improved markedly at year end. (Outlook).(2002)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The average Booked Orders Index reported by the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) during the final quarter of this past year for all equipment (i.e., unit handling and bulk, combined) was a strong 18.2% higher than during the...

MMH orders index 2.2% higher in 2002 fourth quarter. (Outlook).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Although the exclusive MMH index of orders declined 3.2% between the third and fourth quarters of last year, it still appears that the industry has turned the corner. In fact, the orders total for the final three months of 2002 was an...

Wall Street values supply chain management: company stock prices can rise and fall on how well its supply chain executes. (Supply Chain).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Good supply chain management is no longer just a goal; it is a necessity. And Wall Street is taking note of those who succeed, according to J. Stuart Francis, managing director and head of global technology investment banking for Lehman...

MHMS expands its advisory board. (Professional Development).(Materials Handling and Management Society)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... At the ProMat event, the Materials Handling & Management Society (MHMS) (www.mhia.org/mhms) Advisor Council met at McCormick Place in Chicago to discuss such key issues as expanding its membership, adding a new chapter and electing new...

Collaboration is key at National Manufacturing Week. (Event).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Spanning four days and featuring five shows, the National Manufacturing Week tradeshow held at Chicago's McCormick Place last month showcased the latest trends, products and technologies within the manufacturing industries. In addition to the...

Epicor upgrades software for mid-market manufacturers. (Manufacturing).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Building on its manufacturing software used by more than 6,000 companies, Epicor (www.epicor.com) introduced two upgraded packages optimized for mid-size manufacturers in an exclusive interview with MMH. Both manage scheduling and job tracking...

RedPrairie. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Ken Finkel is appointed strategic accounts group leader at RedPrairie.

SK Daifuku. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... David Janke is named vice president of sales and marketing at SK Daifuku.

Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. appoints Brett Wood national product planning and marketing services manager.

Tom Egan. (Appointments/Promotions).(joins Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Tom Egan joins Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) as director of marketing.

APICS, The Educational Society for Resource Management elects the 2003 board of directors. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... APICS, The Educational Society for Resource Management elects the 2003 board of directors: Bob Collins of SSI Worldwide is president, Arnold Kennedy of Visionary Oasis is president-elect, Wendy Kremers of Steelcase Inc. is executive president,...

FKI Logistex White Systems. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... G. Lynnwood Rosser is appointed director of sales and marketing for FKI Logistex White Systems.

Carter & Burgess. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Carter & Burgess announces additions to its leadership committee: Phillip Pryor is elected principal and Edward Green, Dennis Lang, Roger Manny, and Mathew Thomas are elected associates.

Intelligrated. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Jerry Vaughn joins Intelligrated as systems sales manager.

V3 Systems. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Joseph Kozak is hired as executive vice president of global sales and marketing at V3 Systems.

Bob Stoffel. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Bob Stoffel is named president of UPS supply chain solutions.

Riverside Logistics. (Appointments/Promotions).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Riverside Logistics hires Greg Swanson as vice president of business development and promotes Rick Holden to vice president of operations.

USCO Logistics. (Alliances/New Facilities).(establishes new customer solution organization )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... USCO Logistics establishes new customer solution organization to design, build and manage customer-focused solutions for current and future customers.

ID Technology Corp. (Alliances/New Facilities).(opens a New England regional office )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... ID Technology Corp. opens a New England regional office in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

Bluff Manufacturing Inc. (Alliances/New Facilities).(makes purchase)
April 1, 2003... Bluff Manufacturing Inc. acquires the portable dock division of Torbeck Industries.

Synquest Inc. (Alliances/New Facilities).(changes name)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Synquest Inc. changes its name to Viewlocity Inc.

Tuscarora Inc. (Alliances/New Facilities).(acquires Specor Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Tuscarora Inc. relocates its Michigan-based foam molding and integrated materials operation facility from Chesaning to Owosso and acquires Specor Systems Inc.

Federal registration update for food facilities. (Terrorism).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... In all likelihood, the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which was passed last June, is under your radar. But it can't stay that way if your operation is one of some 400,000 domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture,...

Regional logistics and supply chain execution seminars set. (Conferences).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Need to keep up with the latest developments in logistics and supply chain execution? A series of regional seminars is being offered by the Logistics Execution Systems Association (LESA) (www.mhia.org/lesa) of Material Handling Industry of...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2003... APRIL 2003 April 7-9 Supply Chain World North America. Hyatt Regency Atlanta, GA Sponsor: Supply-Chain Council Web: www.supply-chain.org Enter 385 at mmh.com/info April 27-30 WERC's 26th Annual...

A history of supply chain solutions. (For Your Information).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A hardbound book, "Delivering the Goods: The Art of Managing Your Supply Chain," written by Damon Schechter and Gordon Sander, offers practical guidance on applying proven logistical principles to today's management of the supply chain. By...

Free software determines wrapping specifications. (For Your Information).
April 1, 2003... Quickly determine the ideal size of orbital wrapping needed to accommodate your cartons, palletized loads, loose and bulky items and other products with the PYTH software program. The free software based on the Pythagorean theorem provides the...

Web site helps reduce costs, improve productivity. (For Your Information).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... A new Web site is designed to help warehouse, retail and manufacturing customers achieve cost-effective, innovative and integrated storage and materials handling solutions. The site's Tech Resource Center provides rack assembly instructions,...

Just in time just in sequence. (Manufacturing Spotlight).(Modine Manufacturing Co.)(related article included)
April 1, 2003... Modine delivers in sequence engine-cooling units for individual Jeep Liberty models within 5 hours of receiving the order. Manufacturing to a just-in-sequence ship ping schedule is a juggling act, a really complex one. And it's more...

Slaying the IT Dragon: what does an operations manager really need to know? (Information Management).(information technology)
April 1, 2003... For most operations managers, keeping up with the fast-changing world of IT can feel like a dragon is breathing down your neck. Just learning the acronyms can induce ITSS--that stands for information technology stress syndrome, a new...

I can see clearly now. (Equipment Report).(materials handling vision systems)
April 1, 2003... As the demand for high-quality data collection increases, vision technology is moving from the factory floor into the distribution center. Do you need a clearer picture of the activities on your warehouse or manufacturing floor? Then...

The world's Top 20 systems suppliers. (Special Report).
April 1, 2003... Our annual listing of materials handling systems suppliers shows that while may companies struggled this year, there were a few bright sports. It was another roller coaster year. While many hoped that the economy would recover during 2002,...

By the book distribution. (Warehouse of the Month).(McGraw-Hill Inc.)(related article included)
April 1, 2003... McGraw-Hill's new textbook DC receives an "A" for accurately processing orders for schoolbooks and teaching aids according to a well-designed plan. The bell has rung, everyone please take your seat. Class is now in session. Today we...

It pays to be choosy. (One-on-One).(McGraw-Hill)
April 1, 2003... McGraw-Hill recently built a new facility in Ashland, Ohio to distribute textbooks. As with any big logistics project, suppliers were crucial to keeping construction on track. Gary Salters, senior vice president of order fulfillment, shares how...

Roll out shelves. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Ideal for storing molded plastic sheets, sheet steel and other materials, full extension shelves with a vacuum lift offer capacities ranging from 200 to 40,000 pounds per shelf. Users simply roll out the shelf, lower the vacuum lift, pick up...

Various styles of cantilever racks. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... The series 900 and 950 cantilever racks are available in single and double uprights with a range of weight capacities between 3,000 and 25,000 pounds per column. Arm lengths for the high and super capacity racks are 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and...

Protection in high bay areas. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Protecting employees from falling while working in high-bay areas, a pallet-flow pick-module swing gate is ideal for picking bays with multiple deep pallets in which pallet flow prohibits the use of dual gate safety devices. The gates fit into...

Wire decking is safe and strong. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... A full line of powder-coated wire decking with reinforced channels offers safety, strength and efficiency for storage. The decking permits high visibility for inventory inspection, improves air circulation and is easy to install and maintain....

Prevent top shelf load spills. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Prevent accidental load spills from the top shelf of pallet racks with the Cargo-Shield, a wire mesh panel restraint system that locks to pallet rack frames with simple latch fittings. The panels attach to frames by means of an offset upright...

Crank it out. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Improving storage density and accessibility as well as safety and ergonomics, a crank-out sheet rack system requires only ten pounds of torque to move a 5,000-pound load. With the help of a crank, users can access drawers and then use sheet...

Maximum storage minimum space. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Available in a variety of sizes and configuration, the MasterTrak overhead track high-density storage system allows maximum storage in a minimum space. A patented roller assembly eliminates binding, even on extremely uneven floors. Lengths of...

Ergonomics productivity. (A Special Ergonomics Supplement).
April 1, 2003... If you walked the aisles at promat in february, you may have noticed the word "Ergonomics" cropping up more often than ever before. In some respects, say the experts, it's an industry buzzword, like adding "reduced fat" to food labels --...

Vocollect: putting voice technology to work. (Profile).
April 1, 2003... Vocollect is the world leader in voice-directed distribution systems. We have been dedicated to voice solutions since our founding in 1987, and today our Talkman[R] systems are at work in warehouses and distribution centers around the world,...

Dehnco Equipment & Supplies, Inc. (Profile).
April 1, 2003... Features a full line of Heavy Duty Ergonomic Modular Workstations and Accessories Dehnco provides a variety of standard workstation solutions to solve space, storage, handling, ergonomic and various workflow issues. Use standard components...

Rotary shear cutter. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... An affordable new rotary shear cutter simplifies cutting packing papers, plastic, foam, and bubble. Safely enclosed, the rotary blade cuts easily in either direction simplifying user operation. An adjustable steel blade bed assures effortless...

Versatile JIT handling systems. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... Create custom JIT material part handling operations with Quixxstart[TM] Kits. Modular component system provides maximum flexibility in creating carts, racks, workstations and flowracks. Readily expandable with additional components and...

New ergonomic study from gorbel. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... An independent research team compared Gorbel's G-Force to four other lifting devices, plus manual lifting. They simulated typical lifting situations: high cycle and precision placement applications and studied each device's performance in terms...

Vacutrade USA. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... With Vacutrade--The international organization that solely provides vacuum lifting systems with service and support--you'll protect workers, save time, improve productivity, and increase profits with one cost effective investment. Stop the...

Shelving system. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... Rousseau's SPIDER[TM] ultra-versatile shelving system. This system allows users to combine regular shelving With bulk storage making. SPIDER[TM]'s common post is the cornerstone of the structure. Its hollow center allows components to be both...

UniMove vacuum lifter. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... UniTech is the original US manufacturer of ergonomic tube-style vacuum lifters. UniMove is the highest quality, and has the greatest lifting capacity system world wide. Stock and custom designed vacuum/mechanical adaptors for lifting objects to...

C Tek industrial products. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... Jump start your lean manufacturing program with the power of the American Pro-Pipe universal modular system. Superior strength poly-coated steel pipes and specialized connectors easily assemble to create unlimited flow rack, workstation and...

The BOXX. (Product Showcase).
April 1, 2003... The BOXX[R] is an ergonomic, reusable container for bulk storage or movement of goods. Its unique knockdown design minimizes freight costs and maximizes warehouse space. Removable sides allow easy access to bin contents. Call 800-575-2699...

It's Invincible. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Constructed of high-strength steel, Invincible storage racks are available in a wide range of frame heights and beam lengths. Capacities are between 6,300 and 50,000 pounds depending on beam shelf spacing. Rack depths offered are 36, 42 and 48...

Safely ship items with portable rack. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Pin Rack is a portable rack with adjustable parts retainers that keep parts of various sizes and shapes in place during shipping. The rack is customized with a double-level sheet metal deck with the sheet metal perforated to accept drop-in...

Increase capacity up to 75%. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... A pushback rack system provides the same high-density storage as drive-in systems. Available in 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 deep systems, the rack offers easier load access as all pallets are stored and retrieved directly from a front aisle. Pallets can...

Rack repair and protection. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Called the "Bulldog," an impact-deflecting accessory can be installed on undamaged front frame post to reinforce the first 12 inches of the base of pallet rack columns. It uses 2-3/4-inch anchors to resist impact and eliminate frame post twist....

Shelve bulk materials. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Constructed entirely of steel, Ridg-U-Span wide-span shelving is a rigid and stable hand-loaded, bulk storage system with a modular design for expansion. The upright frames are reinforced with welded horizontal and diagonal C-channel bracing...

Carton flow racks. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Suitable for low-volume case picking and high-volume split case picking, carton flow rack can be installed as a stand-alone unit or as a component of a larger pallet rack or pick module system. Users load cartons individually at the backside of...

Quickly Shipped shelving units. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... Added to the Quick Shipment Program is the RivetRite shelving unit, which can store almost any type of hand-loaded material and be shipped within 72 hours. The shelving units allow access to contents from all four sides and are easily assembled...

Decking in multiple designs. (Product Focus).
April 1, 2003... A line of wire decking is available in a variety of designs including flare decking, inverted channel and flush decking. The standard decking features a waterfall design with support channels to accommodate 1-1/2- or 1-5/8-inch step beams....

Modular plastic belt conveyor. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... A modular plastic belt conveyor features an all-plastic belting that snaps together by hand, has no hinge pins, and is driven by a variable-speed, direct-drive brushless DC motor. Capable of operating at speeds up to 200 feet per minute,...

Lift up to 185 tons. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The MPW built-up hoist has a load capacity range from 5 to 185 tons. It comes fully equipped, assembled and ready to connect. MPW features include two-speed or infinitely variable speed operation and a DC brake or double shoe brake. The hoist...

Roll-out drawers for vertical carousels.
April 1, 2003... Roll-out drawers with dividers provide maximum space utilization in vertical carousels. By replacing conventional shelving and drawer systems with automated vertical systems, users can increase the efficiency of storage and retrieval...

Hopper-front containers handle up to 150 pounds. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Hopper-front containers for any application are available in over 1,000 standard sizes and more than 12 colors. Sizes range from 4 to 65 inches in length. Hopper-front containers are available in basic plastic, heavy-duty plastic, ESD and...

Explosion-proof forklift for narrow aisles.
April 1, 2003... The counterbalanced turret explosion-roof forklift enables narrow-aisle facilities to have high-density storage for totes, pallets and drums. It has a capacity of 3,000 pounds, lifting elevation in excess of 15 feet and can operate in 60-inch...

Nestable pallet is durable. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The triple-wall nestable pallet provides durable protection for products and is light weight, reducing shipping costs. The base of the triple-wall, corrugated deck is constructed with 12 plastic cones to eliminate moisture absorption from the...

Overhead door guard. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Protect overhead doors from fork trucks and other traffic with an overhead door guard. Specially designed with tubular steel sides and a wooden beam for the top of the guard, the wooden beam can be easily replaced for a fraction of the price of...

Robotic palletizing system. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The robotic "mini-pallet" stacker is an automatic palletizing system that stacks a single column of bags onto a 24 x 15 inch pallet. This new innovation saves time and money by supplying manufacturers with one machine that is capable of...

Vacuum lifters for long loads. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Oversize vacuum lifters can be custom built to accommodate loads up to 60 feet long per lift, and can be equipped with 20 or more vacuum pads. Featuring the Vasguard solid state leakage sensor, warning, and control module, these lifters have a...

Easy-to-use ink jet system. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The LINX 6800 small character continuous ink jet system maintains the best attributes of previous LINX printers and incorporates a variety of new features for improved printing precision, reliability, message formats, and integration...

Multiple-pick windows add flexibility to VLMS. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Multiple pick windows can increase productivity, space savings and ergonomics for facilities using vertical lift modules (VLMs) in materials handling storage and retrieval applications. The Shuttle VLM is an enclosed system of vertically...

Shrink tunnel delivers better packages. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The new "soft convection" shrink tunnel features advanced technology to ensure uniform distribution of heat-the key to producing attractive, consistent shrink packages. With easy-to-use controls featuring real-time adjustment of air velocity,...

Versatile pallet rack systems. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Selective pallet rack systems are designed to satisfy virtually any combination of size and capacity required, and are engineered to maintain durability and reliability for years of continuous use even in the most rugged environments. These...

Reusable, collapsible containers. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... The ROPAK 4048ns reusable, collapsible container offers seven height options and greater materials handling efficiency, convenience and cost savings. Made of high-density polyethylene, the 4048ns has a 40 x 48 inch footprint and is available in...

Powered lift tables for loads to 6,000 pounds. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Battery-powered lift tables feature load capacities of 1,000 to 6,000 pounds along with a full complement of standard features in a variety of table sizes (18 x 36 inches, 24 x 36 inches and 32 x 48 inches). Standard on all powered lift tables...

Portable counting scale speeds operations. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... Ideal for inventory management, shipping, mailing, stockrooms and other materials handling applications, the DIGI DC-688 counting scale combines ruggedness to withstand industrial environments with portability for operator convenience. A...

Store heavy items. (New Products).
April 1, 2003... This unit is ideally suited for storing heavy items such as printing cylinders, wave guides, dies, molds, fixtures, and spare parts. The user simply rolls out the shelf, lowers the crane, picks up the item needed, sets it on a cart and takes...