Modern Materials Handling articles from August 2003

Modern Materials Handling archives from August 2003

Designing the more perfect pallet.(Breaking News You Should Know first)(Marshal (Mark) White researches pallet design)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... While many figure there isn't much that can be done to improve pallet design, Virginia Tech's Dr. Marshal (Mark) White knows better. "Our research is examining how pallets interact with the packages they hold as well as the handling equipment...

The value of being a supply chain leader.(Breaking News You Should Know first)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Wall Street really does appreciate companies that are supply chain leaders. That's according to a study by Accenture (www.accenture.com) and two leading universities, Stanford and INSEAD. Companies seen as supply chain leaders "were found to...

Is automation an option?(Breaking News You Should Know first)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A new computer-based tool offers insights into how warehouse space and personnel can be maximized with horizontal and vertical carousels and vertical lift modules. The software asks a series of questions and allows the user to compare the...

New depreciation rules for capital expenditures.(Breaking News You Should Know first)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... While most of us have been focused on what the latest Federal tax relief act means to our paychecks, there are implications for materials handling equipment, systems and related software too. Under the act, assets purchased and placed into...

Get ready for CLM.(Breaking News You Should Know first)
August 1, 2003... With 4,000 logistics professionals expected to attend, the Council of Logistics Management's 2003 annual conference is set for Chicago from September 21-24. The conference program, which is being kicked off on Sunday with an all-day software...

The sizzle of RFID.(radio frequency identification has potential to streamline business logistics)(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... It's been quite a month for everyone's poster child for leading edge supply chain technology--radio frequency identification (RFID). In a matter of days, it went from being bigger than the Internet to a complete invasion of our privacy to a...

ERP players position for checkmate: the battle is on for supremacy in enterprise resource planning with several companies making acquisitions to better serve the mid-market.(Software)(enterprise resource planning mergers predicted)
August 1, 2003... For the last two months, PeopleSoft's acquisition of JD Edwards and Oracle's battle for PeopleSoft's have been big news. Less noticed was the sale in April of Baan to SSA. Meanwhile, Made 2Manage, another enterprise resource planning (ERP)...

How does your warehouse stack up?(Benchmarking)
August 1, 2003... What does the "average" warehouse look like? Well, it is just under 240,000 square feet, has about 150 employees, ships more than half a million orders each year and handles more than 50,000 stock keeping units. These statistics come courtesy...

Report opposes fire reclassification of plastic pallets.(Fire Safety)(Reusable Plastic Container and Pallet Association releases report)
August 1, 2003... Responding to industry concerns and proposed rules governing fire protection requirements for plastic pallets in warehouses, the Reusable Plastic Container and Pallet Association (RPCPA) has released a Fire Test Task Group Report that shows...

Siemens Dematic moves in on information technology.(System Integration)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Just as Siemens Dematic completes one transition, the company is starting still others says its new CEO and president of the managing board, Johann Lottner. To begin, Siemens Dematic AG (www.siemensdematic.com) has completed the...

The Internet of things.(Technology)(supply chain automation innovations predicted)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Now that Wal-Mart plans to ask its top 100 suppliers to have radio frequency identification tags on pallets and cartons by January 1, 2005, the race is on to develop radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions for the supply chain. ...

What's slowing RFID adoption?(Data Capture)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A recent survey suggests that while 60% of end users find radio frequency identification (RFID) appealing for item-level tracking, there are significant obstacles to its use. Respondents identified high tag price and lack of funding as the...

Murata merges two divisions.(Reorganization)(merged division named Murata Machinery Logistics and Automation Division)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Murata Machinery (www.muratec-usa.com), the U.S.-based subsidiary of Murata Machinery Ltd. of Japan has combined its two U.S. divisions. The two--factory automation, based in Charlotte, N.C., and clean room, Salt Lake City, UT--are now under a...

A truck that's a stair stepper.(News trends)(caption)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... This unique hand truck is designed to climb up and down stairs in warehouses and at delivery points (Mario, www.saliscale.it). The three tires on each side rotate around a central axis to assist in climbing or descending stairs and other uneven...

Consumer confidence steady.(outlook)
August 1, 2003... The good news is that consumer confidence recovered to the prewar level in April and held there through June. The bad news is that the level is below what would be expected at this stage of a recovery. Furthermore, consumers are now suffering...

ISM index shows manufacturing steady.(outlook)
August 1, 2003... The monthly survey of industrial buyers by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) has regained about half of the decline in manufacturing activity caused by prewar concerns. The balance is expected to come back in the second half of the...

Leading economic indicators jump higher.(outlook)
August 1, 2003... The index of leading indicators increased 1.0% in May, the largest monthly gain since December 1992, which was the onset of the '90s long business expansion. At 111.6, May's index is the highest since this twice-interrupted recovery began in...

Manufacturing remains sluggish.(outlook)
August 1, 2003... Manufacturing output rose 0.1% in May after two monthly declines of 0.6%. Despite the uptick, output remains nearly 2% below the peak prewar level. Consumer goods production is 0.8% below last May and business equipment output is off 2.8%....

What drives BMW: it's all about the customer at BMW's South Carolina manufacturing plant where a pull system builds customer-specified vehicles within 10 days of receiving the order.(Manufacturing Spotlight)
August 1, 2003... BMW may consider itself a niche manufacturer, but what a niche. While the Big Three automakers build cars for the masses, BMW produces luxury cars with a wide range of options. As a result, the automaker's worldwide dealers stock very...

Destination production: BMW's Sequence Center assures that the right parts get to the right places at the right times.(Warehouse Of The Month)
August 1, 2003... It's not often that a warehouse has only one customer, but that is precisely the case with BMW's Sequence Center. The building is located adjacent to the company's Spartanburg, S.C. manufacturing facility and was created to feed sequenced and...

Workforce outsource: BMW chose to partner with a third party logistics provider (3PL) to manage the labor in its Sequence Center, the warehouse adjacent to its Spartanburg, S.C. manufacturing plant. Jay Tee Tucker, BMW's department manager of logistics, shares why the automaker made this decision for its warehouse operations.(One-on-One)(Interview)
August 1, 2003... MODERN: BMW owns the Sequence Center building and inventory, but hired TNT Logistics to manage the labor within the facility. TNT also provides transportation services to you. What prompted BMW to seek a partner for these tasks and how does...

Supply chain management blues: was the supply chain management phenomenon all hype? That's the question that has some disappointed enterprises singing the blues after the tech meltdown. The answer may surprise you.(Information Management)
August 1, 2003... For all of its promise, supply chain management software is clearly an underachiever. Some have said that a few executives are unhappy with the investments they made in the software over the last three years. In fact, it's more than a few. ...

Picking lights up: productivity multiplies, accuracy rises to 99.9% or more, and training of new and seasonal workers is simple with these systems.(Equipment Report)
August 1, 2003... Computer-driven, paperless warehouses and distribution centers run far more efficiently and accurately than those based on manual, paper methods. That's especially true in labor-intensive activities such as order picking. Enter...

Top 20 lift truck suppliers: enduring tough market conditions worldwide in 2002, the world's largest lift truck suppliers did well to show any revenue increases.(Special Report)
August 1, 2003... Although 2002 was not a banner year for lift truck suppliers worldwide, the revenue numbers for most companies in this year's listing are an improvement over 2001. And considering the pain all suffered then, this is certainly a move in the...

Handheld imager.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Powered by Adaptus imaging technology, the Imageteam 5800 (IT5800) handheld industrial imager captures bar code images at distances up to 82 inches and processes the content 270 times per second. Shock-absorbing overmold protection allows the...

Small reader, big performance.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Delivering the functions of a large unit, the 13CL 21/22 bar code reader can scan bar code widths of 0.15 millimeters at a rate of 800 to 1,000 scans per second. Bar code widths of 0.8 millimeters can also be read from up to 450 millimeters...

Smart scanner.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Featuring an auto learning function, the DS4600A fixed position bar code reader automatically selects a suitable configuration when the reader is placed in front of a bar code label. Users can easily adjust the reader to accommodate any...

Fits like a ring.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Slip the RS 1 Ring Scanner onto the index finger, activate it by pressing a button and easily read bar codes from distances up to 30 inches. The RS 1 scanner weighs less than 1.7 ounces. Its Mylar scan element is frictionless to protect the...

Reader processes data faster.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Code Reader 2 (CR2) features Alchemy Solutions Au1100 processor, a highly integrated system-on-a-chip processor that allows CR2 to perform like a laser scanner and also read complex two-dimensional matrix symbols. The compact reader uses a 1.3...

Read tilted, damaged, hidden labels.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Suited to applications involving a large depth of field, the CLV 490 fixed position bar code scanner delivers tilt-independent read rates. To ensure optimum reading at the maximum depth of field, a control function directs the scanner to...

Compact scanner has large read area.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Compact and lightweight, the BL-600 series of laser bar code readers weighs only 115 grams and makes as many as 500 scans per second. Polygon mirror scanning technology allows twice the reading area and incident reading angle of conventional...

Scan with the touch of a button.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... The Flic laser bar code reader scans, decodes and stores bar code symbols using a single button. A flexible user interface consisting of a single LED and audible tones provides indications about scanning quality, memory capacity and downloading...

Linear imaging for harsh environments.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... Added to a family of wireless handheld devices is the 2435 handheld computer with a linear imaging scan engine. It incorporates Vista scanning technology and is designed to operate reliably in harsh environments. The linear imager reads...

Scan package labels easily.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... High-speed reading of linear bar codes and two-dimensional symbologies over a wide field of view is possible with the iQ160. The high-resolution linear CCD camera system features a large depth of field, co-planar laser illumination and a...

Digital reader is more reliable.(Product focus)
August 1, 2003... The AV4000 CCD is a bar code reader featuring LED illumination and digital zoom technology. Integrated co-planar LED illumination provides the same high read rates as sodium illumination while eliminating the safety concerns associated with...

Double scissor lift table.(New products)
August 1, 2003... The 7DSL series of double scissor lift tables is available in 500- and 1,000-pound capacities with platform sizes ranging from 12 x 24 inches to 48 x 60 inches. Vertical lift range is 36 inches, starting at a 7-inch low height. Features include...

Improve picking rates by 25%.(New products)
August 1, 2003... The PickDIRECTOR Express integrates an indexing conveyor and pick-to-light technology to improve picking rates by as much as 25% over traditional picking systems, according to the supplier. Multiple pre-labeled totes and cartons are indexed...

Manufacturing alerts.(New products)
August 1, 2003... LiveAlert is a real-time notification and exception management solution that reduces the time and effort needed to recognize and resolve manufacturing problems. Users can define the business rules for identifying problems and alerting plant...

Labels and ribbons in one roll.(New products)
August 1, 2003... The SC-TTL solution for bar code printing combines labels and ribbons in one roll. The self-contained thermal transfer labels eliminate ribbon threading wrinkles and print head alignment problems. SC-TTL enables the use of any size, face...

Capture data in many forms.(New products)
August 1, 2003... The MPT9100 data capture and communications terminal features highly visual graphical interface capability, advanced connectivity and a rugged industrial design. A large, integrated 800 x 600 SVGA color display is transreflective to provide...

Zero pressure accumulation.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Designed to accumulate and release product with zero forward pressure, the ZoneControl family of controls reduces product damage and derailment. ZoneControl offers multiple mounting configurations to accommodate all types of accumulation...

Monitor warehouse operations.(New products)
August 1, 2003... IMI Warehouse 4.1 is a software package that delivers high-speed warehouse operations with real-time planning controls, monitoring and execution. Capabilities include managing transport routes and linking the warehouse operation to departure...

Portable load transfer station.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Easily transfer products between different pallet types using the LT35 load transfer station. The portable machine measures 92 inches long and 60 inches wide for shipping. It operates at speeds up to five times faster than a traditional load...

Ergonomic workstations.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Workstations with T-slotted aluminum extrusions allow users to make adjustments to suit individual ergonomic needs. Components include tool hangers, swing arms and linear bearings for quick set-up changes. Many extrusions can also be used as a...

Data capture devices are wireless independent.(New products)
August 1, 2003... A line of data collection devices is designed for the rigorous demands of warehousing, distribution, manufacturing and field service applications. The collection includes handheld and PDA devices, vehicle and fixed mount systems, and a...

Extend ERP/MRP applications.(New products)
August 1, 2003... QuikTrac 5.0, a screen integration tool, allows AS/400, I Series users to extend enterprise resource planning and materials requirements planning applications to remote data collection devices without modifying the existing host code. Using the...

Track-based pick-to-light.(New products)
August 1, 2003... EASYpick Trak Light is a track-based pick-to-light system featuring an Ethernet plug-in design. It offers single-cable connections and microprocessors for all display units. The picking units are capable of communicating independently with...

Protection in mezzanines.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Featured on the Roly and Rack-Supported gate models, a chain and sprocket design interconnects the front and rear gates with roller chains to ensure that a gate is always in place for protection in mezzanines. As one gate is lifted for access...

Mobile workstations.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Mobile workstations designed as high-density storage cabinets on wheels are available in a variety of heights, widths and depths. The cabinet drawers feature a 440-pound load capacity and have seven different full sidewall heights for maximum...

Durable PC.(New products)
August 1, 2003... DNet IPC 6/215 is an industrial computer featuring a sealed case for extra protection. The computer is designed to withstand extreme mechanical, electrical, chemical and thermal environmental conditions. DLoG Inc. Enter 404 at mmh.com/info

RFID functionality for handheld computers.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Offered with the 700 Series Pocket PC is Intellitag IP3, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured as an accessory for handheld computers. In a single device, the 700 Series combines bar code scanning and RFID reading with three...

Floor labels withstand wear.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Heavy-duty floor labels made of aluminum permanently withstand pallet and lift truck traffic. The replaceable 3 x 5 inch, self-adhesive aluminum labels insert into a protective 5 x 7 inch aluminum frame. Labels are custom printed with a user's...

Cabinets for sanitary environments.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Designed for sanitary environments, a 72-inch high vertical storage cabinet is constructed of stainless steel. Features include adjustable shelves and transverse rod handles with keyed locks. The cabinet is available in 36- and 48-inch lengths....

Dispenser for transparent and opaque labels.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Two label dispensers, the LD-100T and LD-200T, are capable of dispensing opaque and transparent labels. The LD-100T model accepts 4.5-inch labels while the LD-200T uses 6.5-inch labels. Both dispensers use a high/low speed switch and adjustable...

Easy container handling at conveyors.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Move containers on and off a conveyor line easily with a transfer conveyor cart. Users position the cart to abut a conveyor line and transfer loads weighing up to 3,000 pounds. The cart's roller top construction enables containers to roll onto...

Protecting doors.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Extending the life of roll-up doors, a door rail guard prevents door tracks from being damaged by forklifts and pallet jacks. The guard is available in 2- and 4-foot lengths and is easy to install by bolting it to the floor and wall. W.A....

Simplify assembly line automation.(New products)
August 1, 2003... A modular power drive system simplifies assembly line automation in lean manufacturing environments. The system provides operator-determined, variable speed automated workflow control. Containers and bins move along the center track guided by a...

Weigh barrels, drums and pallets.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Featuring a low-profile design, the RoughDeck BDP weighing system accommodates barrels, drums and pallets. The stationary model can be retrofit for portability. An indicator stand is attached to the portability frame to prevent vibration from...

Loading docks.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Making loading dock areas safer, the Universal GX-4000 dock door panel is available with Day-Lite Translucent slats that allow natural light into the facility. The full-width 6-inch high slats are constructed of extruded acrylic and can be...

Automated packing slips.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Autoslip is an automated packing slip preparation machine that laser prints, folds and inserts documents into an adhesive pouch. A pouch holds up to six pages of information and can be generated in seconds. The machine is equipped with Intel...

Vertical reciprocating conveyor.(New products)
August 1, 2003... The Matot 800 series of vertical reciprocating conveyors features load capacities ranging from 100 to 2,000 pounds and speeds of up to 300 feet per minute. Auto load and unload equipment can also be integrated into the system for further cycle...

Servo control improves motor speed.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Reducing energy costs, the MicroFlex servo control is a single-axis brushless drive offering improved motor speed, high resolution and space vector modulation. MicroFlex software can be selected for various feedback devices including...

Guided vehicles maneuver precisely.(New products)
August 1, 2003... Odyssey automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) feature precise maneuverability, an on-board PC, laser scanning, continuous radio frequency communication and operator diagnostics. The line consists of fork, unit load, and tow style AGVs. This line of...

Hyster provides full-color brochure on S40-65 XM lift truck series.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... (Greenville, N.C.)--Hyster Company offers a full-color, 14-page brochure featuring the complete series of S40-65 XM lift trucks. Color application photos, Hyster facts and product close-ups supplement information on the series commitment to...

Rolco product accumulators.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Rolco's accumulation method is based on a first-in, first-out principle. Rolco product accumulators maximize floor space and increase efficiency. Call for a Windows Player CD movie the explains Rolco's unique concept. Rolco International,...

Lift truck attachment.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... The Basiloid "Top Handling" method is not only a space saver but it can reduce product damage as well. Your lift trucks have a greater usefulness with the availability of our exclusive folding forks. Will mount on any make or model fork lift...

Industrial power supplies.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Designed for today's space and efficiency requirements, these compact, DIN-rail mounted power supplies are a simple, cost-effective solution to a wide range of applications. The brochure details the comprehensive line which covers an output...

Plastic containers for material handling.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Durable low-cost containers available in over 750 standard sizes to meet virtually any material handling need. Learn how to make the most of every inch of your space with the perfect container system. Our new color catalog shows you how. Circle...

Toyota 7-Series 3-wheel electric lift truck.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... The new 7-Series 3-wheel electric lift trucks from Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc, set new standards in performance, productivity and safety. Toyota brings both power and energy efficiency to new levels with its AC drive system and...

IntelliSort.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Sort products from 6 to 48 inches in length at 200 to 220 cartons per minute with the IntelliSort. This system offers flexible sortation for a wide variety of products, operating at speeds up to 600 feet per minute. Features include slidingshoe...

Materials don't get from point A to B by magic. But we're working on it.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Making sure your customers get what they want when they need it requires a well-designed solution. Lockheed Martin delivers the total package when it comes to material handling solutions. From design to integration we combine intelligent...

Buckhorn introduces work centers and transport products.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Buckhorn adds wood, steel, and plastic carts, platform trucks, dollies, industrial-grade workbenches and worktables to its line of reusable plastic bulk boxes, pallets, and hand-held containers. Call 1-800-543-4454 for a catalog. Circle...

Free product testing.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Hytrol offers free product testing on our conveyors. Are you unsure about you product's conveyability? Let us test and video your product moving on a Hytrol line. We can videotape it on a variety of conveyors. Best of all, there is no charge...

Air Bags.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Air Bag Lift Tables eliminate any unnecessary bending by adjusting the lift to a comfortable height. Heavy duty Air Bags and construction provide reliability and cleaniness with low maintenance costs Hand Pedestal or Foot Control available. For...

Protection products.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Manufacturer of patented airchamber systems that wrap around columns and racks to protect facilities, forklifts, and people from costly damage and injury. Sold under the Column Sentry[R], Rack Sentry[TM], Concrete Wrap[TM] brand names. ...

The 2003 All Products Catalog CD features SICK's complete line of industrial automaton solutions.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... The 2003 All Products Catalog CD features SICK's complete line of industrial automaton solutions. Featuring the latest editions of our safety controls, automatic identification, photoelectric and proximity sensors catalogs. SICK, Inc. ...

Gravity flow order picking systems.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... NEW brochure compares Static Storage, Automatic Systems, and Gravity Flow Rack. Keneco handles widest range carton sizes, weights; virtually eliminates carton hang-up; speedy lane adjustments. Called "The most cost-effective gravity flow...

SINCO rack and conveyor guarding systems.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... SINCO offers pre-engineered guarding systems that protect both product and personnel. Standard sizes are available from stock and special orders can be quickly assembled for special applications. SINCO also offers netting for pallet loads....

Bar code reading solutions.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Datalogic has built an unquestioned worldwide leadership in data capture with a comprehensive range of hand held, fixed position scanners and high speed vision systems. Datalogic offers solutions that allows information to flow faster, easier...

The best solution for battery watering!(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Flow-Rite Controls is an ISO 9001 registered company producing battery-watering systems for industrial forklift batteries since 1985. Now we are proud to introduce battery-watering systems specifically designed for golf cars, utility vehicles,...

Modular drawers.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Rousseau's modular drawers are engineered with a view to meeting all your high-density storage requirements. They provide up to 70% more space, and are ideal for storing tools, mechanical parts, hardware, etc. Items are protected from dust and...

LP gas lift truck works in 80" aisles.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Aisle-Master articulated forklift is designed to maximise storage space, by reducing operating aisle widths. The machine can work both indoors and outside like a regular counterbalance truck. The Aisle-Master has 44001b lift capacity and can...

Orion's new CTS-67.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... Orion's new CTS-67 is a convey-prized twin station automatic stretch wrapper which provides a staging area for lift truck operators to place unwrapped loads. Once the wrapped load is removed, the waiting load is conveyed on to the turntable....

New M84Pro Series.(catalog mart)
August 1, 2003... SATO's new M84Pro Series printers feature some of the fastest print speeds in the industry. With a simple switch of the printhead, the user can change from 305 dots per inch with a print speed of up to 8 inches per second, to 609 dpi with an...