Modern Materials Handling articles from January 2004

Modern Materials Handling archives from January 2004

The what-if lift truck: the E-truck has no hydraulics and uses only mechanical and electronic components.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(SKF USA Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... While automakers are talking about their concept cars at the Detroit auto show this month, SKF is talking about its concept lift truck. Yes, that's SKF the bearing supplier that has never produced a lift truck. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

UL opens new pallet testing facility.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Although best known in materials handling for its burn testing of pallets, Underwriters Laboratories has branched out, opening a facility for structural testing of plastic, wood, corrugated and metal pallets in Northbrook, Ill. ...

Fast fact.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(logistics services usage)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... 83% of large U.S. manufacturers used third-party logistics services in 2003--up from 65% the previous year. Source: Survey of top U.S. manufacturers by Accenture (www.accenture.com) and Northeastern University.

Planning software moves ahead.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Manufacturing companies striving for greater cost effectiveness are behind continuing growth in supply chain planning and collaboration software. In fact, the worldwide market cleared $1.9 billion in 2003. And between now and 2008, compound...

Vision systems catching on.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Apparently, manufacturers see the value of vision systems much more clearly now. For instance, it took vision supplier Cognex (www.cognex.com) 18 years to sell its first 100,000 units. And in the four years since, it sold another 100,000 units....

Hot spots for 2004.(My View)
January 1, 2004... From all early indications, 2004 is going to be especially memorable for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Sure, you've heard that about other years. After all, who doesn't start a new year with at least some measure of optimism. But...

How's your handling system doing? According to a recent survey, too many senior managers don't know how well automated systems are performing against expectations--and that's not good.(Automation)
January 1, 2004... AUTOMATED MATERIALS handling systems play a key role in today's supply chains. Yet far too often, senior management doesn't have a clue about whether the systems they have invested in are providing value for the dollars spent or even meeting...

New directions for voice-directed picking.(Data Capture)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WHILE VOICE-DIRECTED EQUIPMENT has established itself in the warehouse in picking, there remain many other applications for this hands-free, eyes-free technology. "Voice-directed technology allows users to converse with the warehouse...

Dal Pozzo joins Modern.(People)(Modern Materials Handling)(Darrell O. Dal Pozzo)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... DARRELL O. DAL POZZO has joined Modern Materials Handling as Associate Publisher. This is Dal Pozzo's second tour on Modern. He started his career with Reed Business Information, parent company of Modern, in 1996 selling online advertising...

On the path to 'just-right' packaging.(Packaging)(International Safe Transit Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE GOAL OF EVERY PACKAGING professional is to design packaging that will protect the item being shipped through a variety of stresses and climes. It is also important not to over-design the packaging. "You want 'just-right' packaging,"...

RedPrairie opens RFID Lab.(RFID)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WHILE MANY ARE STILL PUTTING away the party hats from the most recent New Year's celebrations, January 2005 is just around the corner for suppliers to Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That's when leading...

Rockwell adds autonomous to the controls mix.(Controls)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... AT A TIME WHEN MANY ARE FOCUSED on centralized control and coordination of materials handling activities, Dr. Ram Pai is going against the crowd. At a recent meeting of Material Handling Industry of America, the director of advanced technology...

Appointments/promotions.(People to Know)(Douglas Brown)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Appointments/promotions: Peter Kerrick is appointed vice president of Bushman Equipment Inc.... Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) announces Robert Shaunnessey as executive director... USCO Logistics promotes Douglas Brown to...

Alliances/construction.(People to Know)(Jarvis Group)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Alliances/construction: The Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) establishes a scholarship program in honor of Robert Reisinger... Colson Caster Corp. acquires The Jarvis Group... LXE joins the international consortium Smart...

Places to go.(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... JANUARY 2002 January 6-8 WestPack 2004 Anaheim, CA Sponsor: Canon Communications LLC Call: 310-445-4200 Web: www.westpackshow.com January 11-14 NRF's 93rd Annual Convention & Expo New York, NY ...

Materials handling spending makes a comeback: with materials handling equipment coming off a 36% decline since 2000, orders are once again on the rise as companies break into the capital expenditure piggy bank.(Special Report)(James Haughey)(Interview)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... We have all heard how the recession was a short, mild one that ended in November of 2001. If nothing else, that is little more than confirmation that such big picture statistics tell only part of the current economic story. The rest of the tale...

What's old is new again: materials handling equipment from other Ingram Micro DCs goes into its new Mira Loma facility, saving 20% on capital costs without sacrificing performance.(Warehouse of the Month)
January 1, 2004... Sometimes it's best to alter standard practices when a unique situation presents itself. And that's exactly what information technology products distributor Ingram Micro did when it built its new 800,000 square foot distribution center in Mira...

20 space saving ideas: eight consultants offer ideas on how you can beat the space crunch in the warehouse or DC.(Management)
January 1, 2004... 1 Install case flow lanes above pallet flow pick modules. A common pick module configuration is one or more levels of pallet flow rack that faces a conveyor or travel aisle for case picking. The height of each level is typically two or more...

PPG moves to hands-off handling: automatic guided vehicles and robots eliminate almost all manual handling during the production of fiberglass yarn at PPG Industries.(Manufacturing Spotlight)
January 1, 2004... For PPG Industries, a move to automation was necessary for it to spin a good yarn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company sought to minimize the manual handling of the fiberglass yarn it manufactures at its plant in Chester, S.C. Manual...

Shortcut to better team building.(One-on-One)(Brian Stewart)(Interview)
January 1, 2004... PPG HAS CREATED AD HOC TEAMS TO ADDRESS safety, quality and productivity issues at its manufacturing facility in Chester, S.C. Brian Stewart, operations manager, explains the significance of this employee-management cooperative to the...

Getting the most from real-time information: Modern talked to five experts who know what it takes to work in real time, and how it reduces costs, balances workloads and generally improves operations.(Information Management)(Panel Discussion)
January 1, 2004... YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING: EVERYONE TALKS about the weather, but no one does anything about it. The same can be said about managing with real-time information. For years, technology consultants and suppliers have talked about the importance...

Top trends in conveyors: with conveyor demand strengthening, suppliers are responding with equipment that offers greater flexibility, higher speeds, lower noise, custom features and value.(Equipment Report)(Buyers Guide)
January 1, 2004... By all indications, demand for conveyors is starting to pick up after a long and difficult downturn (see related story page 16), and with good reason. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looking to improve the productivity and effectiveness of...

How to cross dock successfully: offering variations on the same theme, eight crossdocking techniques deliver distribution efficiencies and cost savings.(Best Practices/Operations)
January 1, 2004... Since the concept's been around for almost 20 years, you might think crossdocking would be a common practice. After all, transferring pallets or cases of product directly from receiving to shipping, without first placing those items into...

Automation: your investment in productivity.(Advertisement)
January 1, 2004... During the late 1990s, automated materials handling and information systems were all the rage. You could say it was an automation arms race. Internet upstarts drove up the cost of warehouse space, hired the best employees, and implemented some...

FKI Logistex Distribution Team: shrinking the supply chain.(Company Profile)
January 1, 2004... The FKI Logistex Distribution Team is a world-leading designer, integrator, and manufacturer of material handling solutions for all phases of product distribution. Our integrated systems feature state-of-the-art material handling solutions that...

Design, engineering & systems integration.(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
January 1, 2004... As a member of a powerful group of companies, SSI Schaefer offers unequalled capabilities, including a full range of equipment, systems and services. * Racking and shelving systems * General contracting * Warehouse management and...

Palletize only in-spec items.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... A line of robotic palletizers easily and automatically removes out-of-specification products without disrupting operations. Using data from in-line checkweighers and metal detectors, the equipment identifies specific packages that do not meet...

Handle 200 cases a minute.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... New to the high-speed 900 palletizer series are models capable of handling more than 200 cases a minute. Many configurable options are available, including a powered roller or modular plastic chain conveyor surface and an in-line pattern...

Flexible palletizing.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... Flexible and powerful, a robotic palletizer manages single and multiple products, mixed loads and complex stacking patterns including overlapped bags. Fuji Ace Robot automatically places a pallet or slip-sheet and stacks products from a single...

Make product changeovers quickly.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... Available in six configurations, the LSP-7 high-infeed palletizer handles up to 40 cases a minute. Maximum load weight is 4,200 pounds. Its user-friendly programming and multi-product memory allow users to make fast product changeovers....

Separate infeed for drums and pails.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... Drums and pails can be palletized on one machine with the 100-57DP automatic drum palletizer. Utilizing separate infeed conveyors, the system palletizes up to six drums a minute and up to 20 pails a minute. Various drum sizes and types...

Robotic palletizer fits in limited space.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... Designed for high-speed, heavy-payload palletizing, the M-410iB robot handles cartons or bags weighing 220 pounds at rates of 20 cycles a minute for cartons and 27 for bags. Its four-axis, modular construction with an integrated mechanical and...

Palletize 5,000 bags an hour.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... A family of modular palletizers handles between 600 and 5,000 bags an hour. Using a large variety of packing patterns, the Paletpac series processes bags weighing more than 100 pounds. Low-speed belt conveyors and gentle handling of the bags...

Ideal for fragile products.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... To provide gentle case handling of fragile products, the von Gal SPLX MK II palletizer utilizes simplified mechanical systems and a device that cushions cases while turning them. The system's chain-driven live roller also declerates the cases...

Palletizer manages four lines at a time.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... Working from as many as four infeed lines simultaneously, a robotic palletizer manages up to 880-pound loads. Each line can have either bags weighing between 50 and 100 pounds or boxes of any size. Fully automatic, the system places pallets,...

Stage items for top productivity.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... The Robotic Palletizing Matrix (RPM) uses a single conveyor infeed to stage items for robotic palletizing by overhead gantry. Cases are conveyed and grouped with similar products within the gantry envelope. Once the quantity of staged product...

Palletize multiple configurations simultaneously.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... A gantry robotic order building system palletizes multiple configurations simultaneously while also building orders in load buffer locations or accumulation cells. The gantry design allows the system to be easily adapted to handle a variety of...

Continuously feed cases to form layers.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... A case palletizer featuring an overhead pusher bar continuously feeds cases as pallet layers are formed. It is equipped with an Intelligent Control programmable logic controller and constructed of heavy-gauge steel. A-B-C Packaging Machine...

Palletizer/de-palletizer is compact.(Focus on Palletizers)
January 1, 2004... The K-Bot is a four-axis, floor-level system that runs single and dual line applications and serves as both a palletizer and de-palletizer. It moves up to 175 pounds at a rate of 10 cycles a minute. A compact 62 X 104-inch footprint allows for...

Intelligent battery charger.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... A battery charger dynamically assesses charging requirements using intelligent technology. As long as batteries have the same voltage, the Powertech charger recharges batteries from 450-1200 amp hours without adjustments. It inverts incoming AC...

Voice system for wireless terminals.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Eliminating the need for a proprietary platform, a voice recognition system is available on handheld wireless terminals. Rugged and audio-capable, voice enables workers to efficiently perform various tasks including picking, receiving, putaway...

Manage inventories better.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Designed for small and mid-size operations, the latest version of a warehouse management system provides users with detailed inventory information. The system is a Web- and handheld device-based single-source solution for picking, packing and...

Medium-rate Sorter.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... The Pivot Arm Sorter offers positive, medium-rate carton sortation from 30 to 74 cartons a minute. Its pivoting arm diverter and integral vertical belt drive provide a variety of divert configurations. Single-side and bi-directional sorter...

Swivel and fixed casters.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Available in swivel and fixed models, the Blickle line of spring-loaded heavy-duty casters is offered in a range of sizes and load capacities. The swivel caster has a heavy-gauge stamped steel bracket and various features for high resistance to...

Produce air pillows instantly.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... The AIRplus Excel system featuring the Excelerator is an air cushioning system with sensors that trigger automatic refill operations without any manual input. Produced on demand, the low-density polyethylene air pillows are available in several...

Lift and position 3,000-pound loads.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Designed to handle any type of pallet or skid, Trans-Positioners featuring a fork-over or straddle configuration allow users to lift, transport and position up to 3,000 pounds at a time. The fork-over model handles skids and pallets with no...

Print large characters at high resolution.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Extending a line of printhead options for large-character ink jet printers is the IJ/768 four-inch printhead. Used with the IJ/3000 Impulse Jet printer, the printhead delivers sharp, high-resolution printing of alphanumeric characters and...

Plastic belt conveyor.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Designed for applications where fabric belts cannot be used, a plastic belt conveyor is effective as a transport belt on conveyors with right-angle pushers and pull-offs to maintain belt tracking. The conveyor transports, accumulates and...

Cart automatically adjusts ergonomics.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... The Auto Height Cart adds onboard intelligence and automated ergonomic adjustment capabilities to the Lo-Tow line of in-floor towline carts. Radio frequency (RF) communication with the programmable logic controller of each towline cart...

Wrap irregularly shaped loads.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Eliminate sealing problems common with stretchwrapping irregularly shaped loads. A film sealing system conforms to uneven surfaces to provide a positive seal that reduces film tails and prevents the film from unraveling. By focusing heated air...

Hand truck moves 1,250-pound loads.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2004... Featuring many enhancements, the Gemini XL convertible hand truck now handles 1,250 pounds in the platform position. With a 45% larger, non-skid surface deck than its previous model, the Gemini holds more products in place while still...

Komatsu's three-wheel with ACdrive.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... The new three-wheel electric lift truck from Komatsu meets the challenges of busy storage, handling, and distribution environments head-on. This compact low profile truck utilizes AC drive technology, engineered to enhance performance,...

The evolutionary Hyster R30XMS2 OrderPicker truck.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... (Greenville, N.C.) -- Hyster Company's R30XMS2 OrderPicker truck is designed with fewer parts to simplify serviceability and maximize full pick potential. This low cost, industrial strength truck is ideal for operators with multiple case...

LP gas lift truck works in 80" aisles.(Catalog Mart)
January 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...

IntelliSort.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... 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...

Throw away your aisles!(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... Since your seasonal items sit for a long time, store them tight together without aisles in Portable Racks and save 60% of your space! Guaranteed Trial. Call now for a Guaranteed Trial and see how Portable Racks stack up for yourself. ...

Lift truck attachment.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... 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...

M10e.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... SATO's new M10e was designed with manufacturing applications in mind. It handles media up to 11.8" wide at a speed of up to 5" per second. The 10.5" printhead makes it possible to print large formats without sacrificing throughput or quality....

Matot vertical reciprocating conveyors.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... With 115 years of experience and four generations of continuous family ownership, Matot, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of vertical material handling equipment. The Matot 800 series VRC features capacities from 100 to 2000 lbs. at speeds up to...

www.morsemfgco.com and drum handling catalog.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... Extensive descriptions, specifications, new products, plus sources for more information, fast response and help. Over 100 products include Karriers, Rotators, Cradle Trucks, Hand Trucks, Fork Attachments and Below-Hook models. ...

Workstation system.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... Rousseau Metal's workstations simplify the user's job while increasing operator efficiency and productivity. The workstations feature an extensive choice of components and accessories. Their rugged strength makes them ideal for industrial...

AGVs improve process flow.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... Increase your material handling efficiency by automating your workflow process. Transbotics designs, supports and manufactures Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems, (AGVS), to boost your industrial bottom line. We provide turnkey solutions to meet...

Nestable Pallets.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... Lightweight Nestable Pallets features a corrugated deck and high-density injection-molded platform supports, which eliminate moisture absorption. Perfect for export in certain applications. Nesting capability saves space and lightweight saves...

Matot vertical reciprocating conveyors.(Catalog Mart)
January 1, 2004... With 115 years of experience and four generations of continuous family ownership, Matot, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of vertical material handling equipment. The Matot 800 series VRC features capacities from 100 to 2000 lbs. at speeds up to...

Expect more, get more: all it takes is a well-planned system, rigorous training, and making the best use of people.(Great Ideas for Dealing with the Real World)
January 1, 2004... WE FIND OURSELVES AT AN INTERESTING JUNCTURE. The economy is beginning to rebound. That means new hiring can't be far behind in DCs. Meanwhile, we are coming off the time of year when many part-time employees were needed to handle the holiday...