Modern Materials Handling articles from April 2004

Modern Materials Handling archives from April 2004

New crane specs set.(cranes Specification 70 and cranes Specification 72)
April 1, 2004... THE CRANE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION has just released specifications for two different types of overhead cranes. Specification 70 is for top-running bridge and gantry-type, multiple-girder electric overhead traveling cranes. Specification 72 is...

Preventing forklift/pedestrian accidents.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A study by Yale Materials Handling (www.yale.com) of 369 lift truck accidents identifies not only the cause of the incidents but effective safety equipment. The report notes "most reverse travel accidents occurred within the first ten feet of...

Fast fact.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 9 of 14 industries have significantly increased the number of turns of total inventories since 1979, according to a study by The Ohio State University's Supply Chain Management Research Group. The study was funded by ProLogis Research...

What's ahead for RFID.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... It seems everyone has high expectations for radio frequency identification (RFID). But most of the focus has been on the volume of tags and readers that will be required. But senior analyst Erik Michielsen at technology research firm ABI...

The wireless factory is on the way.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... AND IF NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS has anything to say about it, the first truly wireless factory will be here sooner rather than later. The communications provider is currently working to identify a suitable company and location to deploy a full...

Long live the summer engineer.(My View)(interns)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... It's that time of the year again when companies are finalizing their plans for summer interns. And given top management's reluctance to add people these days, these positions have taken on new importance as a relief valve for multi-tasking full...

The cost of high-priced steel: steel prices are going through the roof, but materials handling customers are still buying equipment--for now.(Prices)
April 1, 2004... Sam Grooms, president of systems integrator Hy-Tek Material Handling (www.hy-tek.net), is reminded that the price of steel is going up monthly every time he goes to the mail. "I have a stack of letters on my desk an inch thick from various...

Supply chain software rebounds.(Software)
April 1, 2004... The market for supply chain management software (SCM), an umbrella term that includes supply chain planning, collaboration and execution applications, is on the road to recovery, according to "Supply Chain Management Worldwide Outlook," a new...

AIM reinvents itself.(Data Capture)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Recognized worldwide as the trade association for automatic identification and data collection, AIM (www.aimglobal.org) has announced it "is expanding its charter to emphasize mobile computing and radio frequency identification (RFID)." The...

Optum buys V3.(Acquisition; V3 Systems Inc.; Optum Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The world of supply chain software continues to consolidate with Optum's (www.optum.com) acquisition of V3 Systems. The move extends Optum's supply chain capabilities to Microsoft environments with particular emphasis on small warehouses. Price...

WINA promotes wireless.(Trade Association)(Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... "Although major advances in both price and performance have occurred in wireless networking, its acceptance in the industrial sectors has been slow." So begins the initial draft for the charter for the Wireless Industrial Networking...

D/C Expo 2004 highlights logistics technologies.(Event)(Distribution/Computer Expo)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The 22nd annual Distribution/Computer Expo is only a month away. On May 19 and 20, Chicago's Navy Pier will host over 200 exhibitors at the largest tradeshow featuring the latest information technologies for the supply chain. Sponsored by...

Mixed containers palletize well together.(Packaging)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Research conducted by Virginia Tech shows that common footprint corrugated containers and returnable plastic containers offer similar performance when mixed together on pallet loads. Testing evaluated produce items shipped through a typical...

Appointments/promotions.(People to Know)
April 1, 2004... Appointments/promotions: Ralph Henderson is appointed vice president of strategic accounts and marketing at Foxfire Technologies... Jerry Beckwith is named chief operating officer for Savi Technology... IFCO Systems appoints Fred Heptinstall...

Food industry buyer's guide.(For Your Information)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The latest edition of the International Directory of Refrigerated Warehouses & Distribution Centers includes over 300 pages of descriptions profiling 1,000 refrigerated warehouses in over 50 countries. Also released are the 2004 International...

Calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2004... APRIL 2004 April 15 Logistics & Supply Chain Execution Seminar Houston, TX Sponsor: Logistics Execution Systems Assoc. (LESA) of MHIA Call: 800-986-6277 Web: www.mhia.org/lesaseminars April 20-22 2nd Annual...

Materials handling equipment purchases surge; demand has risen further and more quickly than expected just a short time ago.(Outlook)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... TOTAL MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT SHIPMENTS (including both domestic and imports), have increased about 9% since mid-2003. Meanwhile, orders for the two most closely tracked types of equipment--conveyors and industrial trucks--are higher,...

Ford powers ahead: the company made a big bet on the revival of its F-150 truck, and has the materials handling system to back that up at its Dearborn Stamping Plant.(Manufacturing Spotlight)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... From most accounts, the re-launch of Ford's F-150 pickup truck was a major undertaking. Some called it a new start. Others said it was a "bet the company" move. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whatever it's been called, the truck is a huge hit....

Tough containers bear heavy ROI: Emerson Power Transmission's returnable plastic container system delivers 112% return on investment in first year.(Equipment Report)(return on investment)
April 1, 2004... Transporting heavy ball bearing components between Emerson Power Transmission's two plants in Aurora, Ill. and Morehead, Ky. has been much less expensive since the company switched from heavy-duty corrugated cartons to returnable plastic...

Containers deliver maximum flexibility: combining small totes into one pallet footprint allows AISIN to ship a variety of parts to automakers.(Equipment Report)(AISIN U.S.A.)
April 1, 2004... AISIN U.S.A. Mfg., Inc. manufactures a wide range of automotive parts from door frames to brakes and trim molding. At its 750,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Seymour, Ind., the company runs more than 275 production lines a day and...

Productivity in a small package: integrating reusable containers into ink jet cartridge manufacturing yields big productivity improvements and cost savings at Epson Portland, Inc.(Equipment Report)
April 1, 2004... In today's competitive ink jet cartridge manufacturing market, labor costs and productivity are a make or break proposition. About a year ago, Epson Portland Inc. (EPI), located in Hillsboro, Ore., looked to automate its manual packaging...

Sheetz takes control of its distribution destiny: the convenience store chain has revolutionized its supply chain capabilities by bringing distribution in-house for the first time, adding to the bottom line immediately.(Warehouse of the Month)
April 1, 2004... Sheetz has gained more than convenience since building its own distribution center. The new facility has allowed the Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain to gain full control of its distribution while achieving a high level of flexibility....

RFID: is it for real? A survey of Modern's readers says yes, but there are more obstacles to adoption than may be broadly recognized.(Information Management)
April 1, 2004... From Bentonville, Ark. to Washington, D.C., organizations such as Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense are gearing up to make radio frequency identification (RFID) an integral part of their distribution operations in the next few months. ...

Top 20 system suppliers: our annual ranking of the largest materials handling system suppliers shows continued dominance by European providers as average revenues move up.(Special Report)
April 1, 2004... According to most, 2003 was supposed to be a year of recovery for a materials handling industry reeling from recession. In fact, most of the companies included in Modern's seventh annual listing of the 20 largest materials handling system...

Improve carton flow.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... A carton flow system integrates the concept of traditional flow rack with the flow properties of full-width roller track to efficiently transport products. Roller Rack carton flow units are easy to assemble without any tools. A Span-Track-Ready...

Sturdy pallet rack.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... TUF Rack pallet rack is constructed with tubular upright frames for greater impact-resistance and durability. A teardrop pattern is stamped on 2-inch centers and accommodates many beam types including beams with gravity pins and metal safety...

Push pallets to the back.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Providing high-density storage and accessibility, the Push-Bak rack uses a dynamic cart-on-rail system to push pallet loads to the back. When a load is retrieved at the aisle, the deeper pallet load automatically advances to the aisle. Storage...

Cantilever rack withstands abuse.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... A cantilever rack system features high-strength steel columns that are tapered to counteract deflection. Its columns are also pre-punched on both sides, allowing users to convert from single- to double-sided units. Welded to the column, a steel...

Pallet rack with various beam/frame sizes.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Available in various size options, a pallet rack features roll-formed one-piece beams for high strength-to-weight ratios. Beam step heights range from 7/8 to 1 5/8 inches and adjust on 3-inch vertical centers. The face of the beam also has an...

For medium- to heavy-duty storage.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Designed for medium- and heavy-duty storage applications, the Cant-I-Beam rack system is constructed of rugged I-beam components. Its columns and arms are I-beam sections with the arms secured to the column by four bolts. Arms can be adjusted...

Nest racks to save space.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... When not in use, the portable Nestainer racks nest together from front to back to save space. Each rack adds only 5 1/2 inches to the overall nested height and overhang is limited to two inches per rack. This results in nesting ratios as great...

Rack that's tough.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Ideal for high-volume, heavy-throughput applications, the Tuff-55 structural rack line uses reinforced channel corners and thick steel columns to provide durability and resist abuse. Many rack types are available including selective, pushback,...

Ensure smooth carton flow.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... The Profile series of roller track features the Slide-Glide design to ensure consistently smooth carton flow. This design uses a full-length, captive T-slot on each side of the track to provide secure guide attachment without increasing the...

Portable and stackable.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Portable racks have posts that can easily be assembled and dismantled to accommodate a variety of storage needs. Available in four deck and base patterns, Stack Racks can be stacked four to six high and hold up to 4,000 pounds. Deck styles...

Tubular design for added strength.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Featuring a closed tube construction, the SK2000 rack is stronger and 250% more damage resistant than open-backed rack, according to the supplier. While the rack's closed tubular uprights provide torsion and impact resistance, its 1 X 2 inch...

Two styles of pallet rack.(Focus on Racks)
April 1, 2004... Two styles of pallet rack, keystone and teardrop, meet a variety of storage needs. Designed for optimum strength-to-weight ratio, the keystone rack has columns with solid corners and keystone slots punched in the area of least stress for...

Ergonomics the backbone of a more productive warehouse.(A Special Supplement)
April 1, 2004... The dictionary defines ergonomics as a science that coordinates the design of devices, systems and physical working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the worker. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That sounds innocent. But just...

Carts feature safety brake.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... For safer transport, a static cart features a specialized floor brake that is automatically applied when an operator releases its spring-loaded handle. To move the cart again, operators simply squeeze the cart and brake handles together. Topper...

Plastic pallet meets fire resistance standards.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... The heavy-duty Structo-Cell high-density polyethylene pallet is safe for warehouse applications, having met fire rating requirements equivalent to wood pallets. Measuring 40 X 48 X 5.1 inches, the one-piece, double face plastic pallet has a...

Rotate products up to 360 degrees.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... Capable of rotating products up to 360 degrees, the 26-CRPT turntable is powered by a shaft mounted gear motor with a variable speed controller for soft starts and stops. The turntable's speed is three revolutions a minute. Proximity switches...

Control panels in three touch screen sizes.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... A Windows CE-based control panel combines the functions of a programmable logic control and an operator panel in one compact, powerful unit. The CP3xxT-STUDIO-IB control panels are ideally suited for applications that do not require the...

Two electric tow tractors.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... Featuring 8,000- and 13,200-pound capacities, the CBT4 and CBT6 Floor-Runner models are highly durable sit-down electric towing tractors. Both models use a 48-volt electrical system and hydraulic drum brakes for towing subassemblies at...

Storage unit is 30 inches deep.(Product Showcase)
April 1, 2004... Added to a line of full-size and mini-security storage/transport units is a 30-inch deep unit. A heavy-gauge open-wire construction makes inventory easily visible. Mobile units have a 1,200-pound load capacity. With the Add-A-Shelf design,...

Have you done your housekeeping chores? Warehouse cleanliness is all about higher productivity, happier employees, less turn-over and overall quality.(For Dealing with the Real World)
April 1, 2004... I AM NOT NORMALLY ONE TO BE FANATICAL about order and cleanliness. But, during this past month I had the experience of visiting two of the cleanest warehouses that I have ever been in-and, two of the dirtiest. The contrasts were stark. In...