Modern Materials Handling articles from December 2004

Modern Materials Handling archives from December 2004

Taking the robot census.(BREAKING NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... JUST HOW MANY INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS are there worldwide, you ask. Fortunately a source that may not have come to mind immediately--the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)--says it knows. About 800,000. And that number will climb...

Not coming to a bookstore near you.(BREAKING NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW)
December 1, 2004... But you certainly can order a copy (or copies) of the all new 6th edition of Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials from the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA). The book, called the "world's foremost source for belt conveyor...

Fast fact.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... 2020 is the year that 58% of lift truck suppliers surveyed say lift truck sales in China (48,000 units in '03) will exceed sales in the U.S. (140,000 units in '03). Source: Industrial Truck Association

What's the payback for RFID?(BREAKING NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW)
December 1, 2004... Good question. And the answer is not all that encouraging at this point, says the research group ARC (www.arcweb.com). In talking to 24 companies actively investing in RFID, ARC analyst Steve Banker found only one company that expects a...

Better pallet repair.(BREAKING NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AT MANY PLANTS AND WAREHOUSES, it's easier to find damaged pallets than undamaged ones, or so it often seems. Which, of course, brings up the question of repair options. A recent report details three stringer repair methods on the bending...

Shopping and better order fulfillment.(MY VIEW)
December 1, 2004... Well, we're certainly into the teeth of it now. The holiday shopping season, that is. And from early indications, it could be a pretty good year for retailers. Consumers certainly seem motivated and are swinging into action early. I actually...

ProMat 2005 set for next month: the new year will start with a bang as ProMat fills McCormick Place South with the latest materials handling productivity solutions from more than 700 exhibitors.
December 1, 2004... It's almost time to bring your top materials handling priorities to Chicago and see what more than 700 suppliers can do to help you meet those goals. From January 10-13 at McCormick Place South, ProMat 2005 will display the latest equipment,...

Warehouse outsourcing keeps growing.(THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS)
December 1, 2004... For the second year in a row, at least 80% of the large manufacturers who responded to Accenture's survey of third-party logistics (3PL) services indicated that they use 3PL providers extensively (617-454-4708, www.accenture.com). Sixty percent...

Simulation looks into the future.(SOFTWARE)(Dell Inc. uses simulation software)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... At Dell's east coast fulfillment center, rapid and continuing growth resulted in the need for more yard capacity for inbound and outbound trailers. But just how much more capacity? To answer that and other questions, Dell uses...

Hytrol's founder dies.(OBITUARY)(Obituary)
December 1, 2004... Tom Loberg, founder, owner and CEO of conveyor supplier Hytrol, died November 8 following a difficult recovery from heart surgery. He was 87 years old. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 1935, Loberg went to work for Allen Bradley before...

Hyster launches new line.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... In a recent announcement, Hyster Company (800-497-8371, www.hyster.com) introduced the Fortis line of lift trucks. With capacities ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 pounds, this new line of trucks will offer lower cost of operations than previous...

Ten truths about RFID.(AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... With all of the focus the past year on RFID by Wal-Mart and others, there have been quite a few stories told about this emerging technology and its capabilities. While many are true, others are not quite as true. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

RFID meets shipping carton.(PACKAGING)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... When it comes to RFID, there's no more misleading phrase than "slap and ship." That may describe the label application process used by some in the supply chain. But it doesn't give any hint of the complexities of ensuring the tag is in the...

Hanson Cold Storage remains steady.(UPDATE)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2004... In the October issue of Modern, we reported that the cubic footage of refrigerated/freezer warehouse operator Hanson Cold Storage had declined 15.5% in 2004. In fact, the number was unchanged from 2003 at 29,031,551 cubic feet. The error was...

Appointments/promotions.(people to know)
December 1, 2004... Appointments/promotions: Breton Ranc is promoted to vice president technical operations, McLeod Software Corp... Remstar names Colman Roche vice president of sales... Shuttleworth, Inc., promotes Pat Sullivan to national sales manager......

Alliances/construction.(people to know)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Alliances/construction: FKI Logistex announces that its North American Airport, Post and Parcel division is expanding manufacturing operations at its two largest facilities in Danville, Ky. and Frederick, Md.... Daifuku America Corp. adopts the...

Equipment shipments to climb through next year: after swings in demand in 2004, the outlook is for 9% growth in materials handling equipment in 2005.(outlook)
December 1, 2004... THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR OF SHIFTS IN materials handling equipment shipments and orders. While strong early in the year, both dropped briefly during the summer when there was an economy-wide slowdown in spending. And now, equipment shipments and...

A clear vision for the future: a multi-million dollar makeover at CooperVision produced dramatic improvements in productivity with room to grow.(WAREHOUSE OF THE MONTH)
December 1, 2004... Two years ago, Joe Stannard, vice president of logistics for CooperVision, a $400 million division of the Cooper Companies, developed a vision for the future: an expanded distribution center in Rochester, NY, that could meet the high customer...

Dunnage reduces damage: Cooper Hand Tools increased efficiency and reduced shipping weight when it dispensed with paper in favor of foam-in-bag packaging.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)
December 1, 2004... At its distribution center, in Apex, N. C., Cooper Hand Tools fills orders for its industrial, commercial and consumer tools from adjustable wrenches to soldering guns. Unfortunately, the packaging process was not as efficient as it could be....

Palletizing beauty: automated palletization and stretchwrapping of cosmetic jars and lids for Noxzema and Olay skin creams saves time and labor.(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... Wheaton Pharmaceuticals in Cayey, Puerto Rico, used to rely on a labor-intensive manual palletizing process for loads of empty jars and lids that it molds for Noxzema and Olay skin care products packed at another company location. "There...

Wrap that rocks: a concrete block and paver manufacturer secures heavy loads for safer transport and distribution with automated stretchwrapping.(EQUIPMENT REPORT)(Willamette Graystone Inc.)
December 1, 2004... Shipping thousands of tons of concrete blocks and paver rocks to their customers both safely and in good condition had become a challenge for Oregon-based Willamette Graystone Inc. The heavy blocks and rocks can easily shift if not secured...

Leading trends in manufacturing, warehousing & distribution.(SPECIAL REPORT)
December 1, 2004... In a groundbreaking survey, Modern's readers offer for the first time their views of where industry stands today and where it's headed. For the foreseeable future, they expect to increase their purchases of materials handling equipment, systems...

ProMat 2005: step inside Chicago's McCormick Place next month for the year's most comprehensive materials handling event in North America. Here's a preview of some of the products to be displayed.(PROMAT 2005 SHOW PREVIEW)
December 1, 2004... SMALL FOOTPRINT CONTAINER FOR ASSEMBLY The HC323017 container features a 32 inch X 30 inch footprint and a height of 17 inches. Designed using detailed load analysis for superior strength-to-weight performance, the container features a...

Club Car lowers its handicap: the golf car maker has sharpened its manufacturing game with a pull system that simplifies production as it maximizes quality.(MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT)
December 1, 2004... The name of Club Car's new golf car is the Precedent. But when it comes to the car's manufacturing and design processes, most everything is, well, unprecedented. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To begin, both manufacturing and design started...

Get lean: while lean is long a fact in manufacturing, innovative managers at warehouses and DCs are now asking what lean can do for them.(BEST PRACTICES)
December 1, 2004... Several years ago, OPW Fueling Components, a leading manufacturer of fueling products for gas stations and convenience stores, implemented lean manufacturing at its facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With results...

WMS takes on new roles: once focused solely inside the four walls, warehouse management systems are now dramatically reaching across the supply chain.(INFORMATION MANAGEMENT)
December 1, 2004... Not so long ago, a warehouse management system (WMS) was an insider's game. The software and its users played only inside the four walls of the warehouse. By bringing discipline and repeatability to distribution processes, they delivered...

Transfer loads from crane to crane.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(American Crane & Hoist)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Combining underslung cranes and overhead runway equipment, the Railmaster interlocking monorail system enables users to transfer loads from the crane to the runway or from crane to crane. Features include durable alloy steel construction and...

Monorail automatically replenishes workstations.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Space Carrier electrified monorail system combines speed, quiet operation and space efficiency for manufacturing and distribution operations. Operating from over-head tracks to save floor space, the system automatically replenishes...

Jib cranes range in size and design.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A series of pillar, wall-mount and wall traveling jib cranes is offered in a wide range of sizes and designs to accommodate various requirements in terms of load capacity, swing range and outreach. All cranes feature a low jib deadweight and...

Electrified monorail system.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Acco Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... An electrified monorail system consists of independently controlled carriers suspended on an overhead extruded aluminum track. Each carrier is powered by its own motor and is equipped with on-board logic for automatic control of speed and...

Overhead bridge cranes with 5-ton capacity.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)( R.J. Cyr Co. )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Ideally suited for assembly and manufacturing, a series of overhead bridge cranes is available in I-beam and enclosed track formats. The various styles offered include top-running, under-hung, powered pneumatically, electrically or manually in...

End truck for 5-ton bridge crane applications.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Suitable for 3- to 5-ton bridge crane applications, the C-Series Cleveland Tramrail end truck features highly durable wheels, gears and pinions. Its components are three times harder than similar I-beam crane parts, according to the supplier....

Rider-type crane lifts up to 20,000 pounds.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A self-propelled, rider-type, hydraulic crane has a telescopic boom length from 72 to 120 inches at angles up to 60 degrees. The unit's maximum lifting height is 15 feet with lift capacities ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 pounds. The boom swings...

Gantry cranes can be disassembled.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Portable and lightweight, modular aluminum gantry cranes feature a knock-down design that allows them to be completely disassembled for storage and transportation. Only two operators are necessary to assemble and disassemble the cranes without...

Crane stores paper rolls.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Integrated into a computerized automated storage and recovery system, a crane is designed for safely handling paper rolls. Autostore is a crane-based system that uses suction lifters, an expanding core gripper and safety arms that rotate...

Moving carriers along monorail systems.(FOCUS on cranes, monorails)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Covering a range of capacities and travel speeds, MotoVeyors are drive units that propel hoists or load carriers along a monorail system. The 3HL model is a rugged monorail drive unit built to move heavy-duty loads under punishing requirements....

QCON-24.(catalog mart)
December 1, 2004... Quiet, Intelligent, Modular, Sate, 24V Brush-less DC Roller Conveyor. Designed to meet your demands of 21st Century's. 3-5 Weeks Delivery. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Intelligent Package Systems--A division Of M2L Systems 2818...

LP Gas truck works in 7ft aisles.(catalog mart)
December 1, 2004... 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 4400lb lift capacity and can...

Toyota: Electric Pallet Truck.(catalog mart)
December 1, 2004... Toyota Material Handling introduces its new 4,500 lbs, capacity Electric Pallet Truck. It features a highly maneuverable, innovative compact design with state-of-the-art technology that improves space utilization. For warehouse and retail...

Clean Air Technology.(catalog mart)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Komatsu Forklift launches the next generation of lift trucks with engines that burn cleaner and increase power output by 10-15%. The new EPA compliant lineup of cushion & pneumatic lift trucks is available in 3,000 lbs. to 35,000 lbs....

Modularity, portability and logistics: by sizing processes to match the local demand, there are efficiencies to be gained that are typically overlooked.(FOR DEALING WITH THE REAL WORLD)
December 1, 2004... MY MOTHER GREW UP ON A SMALL FARM. We always spent a few weeks there in the summer. As a child, I stood in wonder as the great thrashing machine was towed up the road and rolled into the barn. Sheaves of wheat, thrown from the loft into a...