Modern Materials Handling articles from December 2007

Modern Materials Handling archives from December 2007

Getting value from adding value.(Editorial)
December 1, 2007... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large More customers are demanding value-added services, but there are ways to do it so it's worth your while. When information technology (IT) provider CDW (800-750-4239, www.cdw.com ) built a new...

Reader's choice: Top products of 2007.(Material Handling Product News publishes product descriptions )
December 1, 2007... By Noel P. Bodenburg, Managing Editor What are this year's hottest new products? The following innovations won the most reader clicks on our Web site. Each year, Modern and our sister publication Material Handling Product News publish...

Changes coming next year.
December 1, 2007... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief Modern 's always bringing you stories of companies that had to change to meet the needs of their customers. Now it's our turn to change. I wanted to give you a heads up on what the new year of Modern will...

Value turns warehouses into DCs.(distribution center)
December 1, 2007... By Maida Napolitano, Contributing Editor The warehouse is not just for storing and picking product anymore. Value-added service requirements are turning the four-walled beast into an entirely new species right before our eyes. ...

Conveyor basics.
December 1, 2007... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor Here's both a refresher and an update on the wheel, belt, roller and chain conveyor commonly used to transport products through industrial facilities. Visit a modern distribution center or...

Automated S/R systems.(automated storage and retrieval systems)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Staff Sales of fixed-aisle automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) have more than rebounded from the drop they suffered at the beginning of the decade. Sales of unit-load AS/RS have been particularly strong in recent years....

Daifuku acquires Webb.(Daifuku Company Ltd. and Jervis B. Webb Co.)(Editorial)
December 1, 2007... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief Global materials handling leader Daifuku's purchase of Jervis B. Webb expands and strengthens the Japanese company's overseas business. Japan's Daifuku (www.daifuku.com ) is set to acquire the Jervis B....

Trends in voice recognition.(voice recognition technology)(Survey)
December 1, 2007... By Bob Trebilcock In just five years, voice recognition technology has moved from an emerging technology used by early adopters to a common practice delivering a real return on investment, especially in picking operations. That's the...

Michigan warehousing tax delayed.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Tom Andel Last monthModern reported that Joel Anderson, CEO of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (www.iwla.com ), was on a mission to kill a tax bill in Michigan. The legislation aims to impose a 6% tax on many business...

Highlights from Pack Expo.
December 1, 2007... By Corinne Kator Although Pack Expo is primarily a trade show for consumer packaging technologies, this fall's Pack Expo Las Vegas (pelv2007.packexpo.com ) featured a number of end-of-line packaging machines, including several new...

Robots help pickers at Walgreens DC.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Tom Andel Walgreens (www.walgreens.com ) has expanded split-case picking in its Mt. Vernon, Ill., distribution center by implementing a robotic picking system for replenishing store inventory. This is a switch from the pick-to-light...

ExxonMobil onboard with hydrogen lift trucks.
December 1, 2007... By Corinne Kator ExxonMobil and a group of technology partners are collaborating to develop an on-vehicle hydrogen production system for fuel cell-powered lift trucks. The plan is to convert liquid fuels-gasoline, diesel, ethanol or...

People to know.(Advanced Handling Systems Inc. appointed Justin Latona)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Staff Justin Latona joined Advanced Handling Systems as a system sales engineer-Richard Murphy , president of Murphy Warehouse Company, became chair of the board of directors for the Council of Supply Chain Management...

Faster with carousels.(Editorial)
December 1, 2007... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Gardner Denver's seamless consolidation of a manufacturing plant and an aftermarket parts DC combines higher efficiency and better service. Now that Gardner Denver has consolidated order fulfillment...

Loads in, stress out.(Editorial)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Noel P. Bodenburg, Managing Editor A rider pallet truck helped Dunkin Donuts reduce operator fatigue at its busy New England DC. If doughnuts could have a downside, the people working at Dunkin' Donuts Northeast Distribution Center...

MHIA offers e-lessons in order picking.(Material Handling Industry of America )(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Staff Want to learn about order picking? The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) recently posted on its Web site a series of 'e-lessons' that detail the order-picking process. Professor Michael Kay of North Carolina State...

Toyota lends a hand.(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Staff When wildfires swept Southern California this fall, Toyota Material Handling USA (TMHU) donated $25,000 and 13 lift trucks to the American Red Cross for use in the relief efforts. The company also matched employee donations to the...

Reducing fear of RFID.(radio frequency identification)(AIM Global)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By Staff Many consumers see RFID tags as tools used by Big Government and Big Business to spy on their personal habits. AIM Global (www.aimglobal.org )-a trade association for auto-ID companies-is trying hard to change that perception. ...

Add to your reading list.
December 1, 2007... By Staff Several new books related to materials handling were released this fall. Check them out: Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management: An Essential Guide for 21st Century Managers By Ken Ackerman and Art Van Bodegraven...

Control your career.
December 1, 2007... By Steven J. Kerno, Jr. The 'behind the scenes' actions of materials handling professionals enable consumers to enjoy products whenever and wherever they want. America owes a good portion of its standard of living to the efficiencies and...

Twice the work, half the time.(Editorial)
December 1, 2007... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Industrial manufacturer Gardner Denver enjoyed a 100% increase in picking productivity and a 50% reduction in labor hours by combining new and aftermarket business in a horizontal carousel system. ...

Focus on overhead cranes.(Konecranes Americas )
December 1, 2007... By Staff Intelligent lifting Staff The G-Force Q and programmable iQ intelligent lifting devices are offered in a 660 pound capacity. Combining the responsiveness of a human with the power of a machine, the units generate precise...

Product showcase.(Robinson Engineering Corp., Crown Equipment and K-Sun Corp.)
December 1, 2007... By Staff Radio crane control Staff The handheld Crane Boss Titan radio control offers 5-speed motion for easier, more efficient operation. With five individual detent contacts, operators only need to push one button to achieve the...