Modern Materials Handling articles from December 2008

Modern Materials Handling archives from December 2008

Resolutions.(workforce security,production and technology of the industry discussed by the editors)(Discussion)
December 1, 2008... By Staff Members of Modern's Advisory Board suggest a fresh agenda for a new administration. With a new presidential administration set to take office next month, you can bet the chief executive elect is immersing himself in advice...

Don't stop the presses!(Editorial)
December 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief Congratulations. It's December. You've made it through another year of Modern Materials Handling --your job and the magazine. If you're in the newspaper publishing industry, you're twice as lucky, because that...

Overhead handling basics.
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning, Associate Editor Overhead handling systems can include elevated roller, belt, chain, power and free conveyors, and monorails. Here's a primer on how they work. One of the biggest challenges for distribution center...

A new supply chain by design.
December 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Optimization and simulation programs are moving outside the four walls of the DC to build more efficient supply chains. When Japan's Coca-Cola Bottling Company wanted to launch a new soft drink, it...

Newspaper publishing: Survival strategies.
December 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor-In-Chief Newspapers are struggling to stay alive in this era of online information resources. Many are finding new life through automation. A production line divides the orchard of opportunities available to...

Handle propane safely.
December 1, 2008... By Brian J. Feehan, Guest Columnist Propane is easy and safe to use, if lift truck operators follow the rules. Here are guidelines that will help ensure maximum safety and efficiency. Before installing a filled propane cylinder on a...

Industrial athletes.
December 1, 2008... By Craig Halls Ever wonder how professional athletes get back to work just a few days after spraining an ankle while it takes an injured employee 6 weeks to get back to work? Or why an Olympic athlete who hurts their back is lifting...

Making light of steel.(Power Curbers Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning, Associate Editor With workers lifting thousands of pounds a day, Power Curbers found a better way to transfer steel--in a conveyor system with adjustable lift tables. Employees at Power Curbers, which shapes steel...

Putting Canadian sin gear.
December 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Sports retailer The Forzani Group implemented an automated order fulfillment system that tripled throughput without adding to headcount. Down here in the lower 48, you may never have heard of the...

Mezzanines maximize cube for Forzani.
December 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Canadian sports retailer uses materials handling automation and a three-tiered mezzanine to increase productivity. Forzani's Mississauga distribution center uses materials handling automation,...

Pack Expo 2008: Fighting waste with packaging.
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning, Associate Editor Leaders call on Companies to step up and change perceptions about the packaging industry's contribution to sustainability initiatives. More than 20 global industry groups and 1,700 companies focused...

Technology is productivity.(Conference news)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning Even in an economic downturn, companies won't be cutting from their IT budgets, Epicor senior vice president and chief marketing officer John Hiraoka assured attendees at Epicor Perspectives (www.epicor.com ), held...

Market expansion facilitates greater RFID adoption.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning ABI Research expects the global RFID market to reach $5.3 billion in 2008, driven by high-growth, high-volume applications such as supply chain management, ID documents, ticketing and contactless payment drive shipments....

Consumer needs shape product offerings.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Allison Manning When consumers change their minds about how they want their products, retailers jump to give them what they want. But these changes directly affect the manufacturers and distributors, who may need to switch products or...

HighJump acquires BelTek.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Staff As part of its stated strategy to grow organically and through other product lines, supply chain software provider HighJump acquired BelTek Systems Design, a provider of direct-store delivery (DSD) software. The acquisition...

Gap installs solar power system.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Staff By installing a 1 megawatt solar power system at its West Coast DC, Gap Inc. will generate 1.9 million kilowatt-hours annually, equivalent to the electricity needed to power 350 homes. Gap will be able to buy predictably...

Warehouse upgrades coming.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Staff Most warehousing operators anticipate new rollouts or upgrades in the next two years, centering on process improvement and technology, according to an October Aberdeen report. In the last 6 months, Aberdeen found that the...

Big Ass Fans featured on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition".(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Staff A 16-foot industrial grade ceiling fan from Big Ass Fans will keep aspiring boxers cool in the new gym run by Tim Hill, who was featured on a November episode of Extreme Home Makeover on ABC. Hill, whose dreams of becoming a...

ProMart 2009: Path to productivity.
December 1, 2008... By Staff High-volume storage, retrieval Staff The rail-guided stacker crane high-speed storage/retrieval system moves items quickly and accurately to support high-volume picking. The system reduces overhead costs while improving...

ProMat 2009: Path to productivity.
December 1, 2008... By Staff ProMat 2009, slated for January 12-15, will showcase more than 750 exhibits and include a comprehensive educational conference. The event, held at McCormick Place in Chicago, will offer an array of products to help improve...