Modern Materials Handling articles from January 2006

Modern Materials Handling archives from January 2006

The path to higher productivity.(World Food Logistics Organization)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Second-guessing the efficiency of your operation's racking? Is your fleet of forklifts not quite getting the job done? Worker productivity a bit sluggish? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For the second year, the World Food Logistics...

New company debuts at NA 2006.(Celerity Automation Inc)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Celerity Automation Inc. (www.celerityautomation.com), a new materials handling venture, will present its take on materials handling in the 21st century when it introduces its linear transfer vehicle (LTV) at the NA 2006 show in Cleveland,...

Writing the book on lean organizations.(Lean Enterprise Leader)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... While lean manufacturing is well established, lean warehousing is only in the early stages of development. And now comes a new publication called Lean Enterprise Leader focused on how to create an organization of empowered teams all pulling in...

Five tips for selecting the right conveyor.(purchasing a conveyor system)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... There are so many factors to consider when purchasing a conveyor system. To break down the barriers of a successful implementation, essential questions need answering. But, asking the right questions is the key to getting the most appropriate...

Fast fact.(Consumption)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... $65 billion U.S. Material Handling Consumption in 2005 According to MHIA

RFID's quiet bang.(MY VIEW)(radio frequency interference)
January 1, 2006... FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WITH MODERN, each year was going to be the one when RFID took off. Last year was no different. And once again, we're still waiting. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Or are we? You see, I'm beginning to think that maybe...

Following banner year in 2005, expert expects robust 2006: strength in the general economy will carry forward to the manufacturing and warehousing sectors as well as materials handling equipment sales.(OUTLOOK)(Gross Domestic Product)
January 1, 2006... Following a strong 2005, the U.S. economy is promising another solid performance in the new year. Not only will the general economy be robust in 2006, but so will both the warehousing and manufacturing sectors. In turn, they will keep sales of...

Certification program for RFID expands.(Radio frequency identification)
January 1, 2006... As a response to the growing number of major retailer mandates to use RFID in their supply chains, a vendor-neutral certification program is being developed. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced the...

NA 2006 education program set.(new materials handling solutions, technology advancements and educational seminars)
January 1, 2006... March is not that far away. Which means it's not too early to make your plans for NA 2006 in Cleveland, Ohio (www.na2006.org). This year's show, set for March 27-30, offers a bevy of new materials handling solutions, technology advancements...

Global supply chain seminar on demand.(Lean Enterprise Institute)
January 1, 2006... Available on demand, Modern's Global Supply Chain Conference can be accessed at www.mmh.com. James P. Womack, president of the Lean Enterprise Institute, delivers the keynote and addresses how the principles of lean production can be applied...

Top supply chains identified.(Report by AMR Research's team)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... For the second consecutive year, Dell took top honors in AMR Research's Supply Chain Top 25, a list exemplifying the very best in supply chain practices. Published recently in "The AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25 for 2005," the list identifies...

The changing culture of lean.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Without leadership on the C-level advocating for a complete migration to a lean manufacturing philosophy for subordinates, truly lean manufacturing processes are an impossibility, according to Mike Gugger, manager of special projects at...

Keeping the dock safe.(minimal vibration to lift truck operators)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Dock shock and trailer drop are leading to operator injury and equipment damage. And despite the prevalance of these occurances, more can still be been done to curb the jarring incidents. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Both situations occur...

People to know.(Automatic Systems, Inc)(Orbis Corp)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Stephen C. Turner has been named vice president of service for Remstar International, Inc... Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) announces several management changes, including Adam Hughes as national dealer sales manager, Eric...

Company news.(Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks officially opened its new Customer Focus Area )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks officially opened its new Customer Focus Area in Houston to dealers attending the annual dealer conference in Houston... Avaya and Symbol are joining forces to provide a joint solution designed to improve...

The fine art of making do: innovative materials handling solutions often come from the most unexpected places.(FOR DEALING WITH THE REAL WORLD)(Column)
January 1, 2006... Several years ago I was driving home from North Carolina late one night. Tiring, I stopped at a rest area for a quick nap. Upon awakening, my battery was too weak to start the car. A helpful soul stopped, but neither one of us had any...

Towline conveyor increases productivity: Case New Holland's conveyor system for 60,000-pound tractors pays for itself in less than a year.(CONVEYOR UPDATE)
January 1, 2006... At its tractor manufacturing plant in Fargo, N.D., Case New Holland relies on a unique towline conveyor system to help workers assemble massive, articulated agricultural tractors. The system features four different connected, towline conveyors...

Warehouse upgrade gives orderpicking a lift: Navarre Corp. scores gains using new linear and spiral conveyors as well as pick modules and a voice system.(service enhancement)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... With growth and consolidation on the horizon, national distributor of entertainment media and software Navarre Corp. needed to increase warehouse size and upgrade an outdated orderpicking process. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The old process...

Loading system improves worker safety: Unilever-Bestfoods now loads significantly more trailers a day in less time while reducing product damage.(automatic truck loading system )
January 1, 2006... To improve overall worker safety by significantly reducing fork lift traffic at a plant in Chicago, Unilever-Bestfoods Corp. implemented an automatic over-the-road truck loading system. The turn-key system automatically loads up to 145...

Fast lane for slow movers: higher productivity, more efficient warehousing and a new approach to handling slow movers are the drivers behind Mercedes' newest parts DC.(distribution center)
January 1, 2006... When Mercedes Benz decided to open a Northeast regional distribution center, the company's objectives were threefold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] First, it needed a new, more productive DC to replace an outdated one in Maryland. Second,...

Focused solutions for your supply chain.(2006 Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference )
January 1, 2006... March 27-30, 2006 * I-X Center * Cleveland, OH The 2006 Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference (NA 2006) is your one-stop destination for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution solutions. With a comprehensive showcase of...

RFID on the front lines: while it hasn't happened overnight, RFID technology is beginning to transform the Department of Defense's supply chain from storage depots to the battlefield.(radio frequency identification)(information management)
January 1, 2006... Last June, Assistant Under Secretary of Defense for Supply Chain Integration Alan Estevez visited a Marine logistics unit in Iraq. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although Estevez has been at the forefront of deploying RFID technology for...

Palletizer keeps butter churning: with pressure to keep prices low, a dairy coop's move from manual to robotic palletizing will pay off in less than two years.(productivity solution)
January 1, 2006... Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association Inc. didn't need a better way to make butter: It needed a cheaper way. The regional milk marketing and processing cooperative, located in Reston, Va., serves nearly 1,500 dairy...

Building a new supply chain.(Supply Chain Solutions)(Company Profile)
January 1, 2006... Supply Chain Solutions' CEO Les Brand and co-founder Jim Ward honed their skills in just-in-time/just-in-sequence manufacturing with Saturn and Dell. Now, they use those practices to service the furniture industry in Grand Rapids, Mich. ...

New supply chain horizons.(special supplement)(global supply chain conference)(management of business logistics)
January 1, 2006... The third annual Global Supply Chain Conference (GSCC) 2005 featured an impressive lineup of speakers to discuss the latest trends, opportunities and challenges in supply chain and logistics management. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

High-speed electric chain hoists.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... The ED single phase, electric chain hoist line now includes two, 1/2-ton models: the single-speed ED1050S and dual-speed ED1050DS. Compact ED hoists can be easily installed and offer high lifting speeds. The dual-speed model includes a...

Magnetic lifting frames.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... Custom designed for specific lifting applications, STRONG-MAG lifting frames securely move metal sheets in plants. The lifting frames can be easily attached to an overhead crane or a forklift and lowered onto the sheets to be moved, avoiding...

Easy-to-read crane scale.(FOCUSON overhead handling)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The upgraded MSI-4300 Porta-Weigh Plus electronic crane scale features a rechargeable 12-volt, sealed lead acid battery and LED backlight display. The battery provides up to 300 hours of operation between charges and the six-digit, 1.6-inch...

Pneumatic chain hoists.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... Lodestar Air XL air hoists have capacities from 2 to 7.5 tons and are metric-rated. Air pressure is 90 psi and lifting speeds range from nine feet per minute for the 7.5-ton capacity to 31 feet per minute in the 2-ton capacity model. Pendant...

Increased contactor life.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... Wire rope hoists are available in capacities of three, five or 10 tons. The hoists feature a heavy-duty design, high cycling motors and accurate positioning with a 6:1, two-speed motor. The hoists also offer increased contactor life due to the...

Ceiling-mounted workstation bridge cranes.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... Ceiling-mounted workstation bridge cranes are ideal for facilities with limited floor space. The systems provide infinite coverage without interfering support columns. With crane interlock sections, ceiling-mounted systems can be linked to a...

Vacuum lifter for large parts.(FOCUSON overhead handling)
January 1, 2006... The VPF-57 vacuum lifter features a custom lifting frame with two swiveling vacuum suction pads that can be adjusted and locked in place. Available with capacities up to 4,000 pounds, this lifter can be supplied with compressed air, 115-volt...

Low-level order pickers.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... The "P Series" of low-level order pickers is based on the P-Type chassis and is designed for picking orders from the first and second levels in warehouse racking. Two base versions of the lift trucks are available, with the driver position...

Caster swivel lock provides easy access.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... A vertical swivel lock on heavy-duty casters is mounted at a 90-degree angle to the top plate providing much easier access to the operator. The new design reduces the amount of bending required by the operator. The swivel lock provides...

Containers handle 1,500 pounds.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... ROPAK industry standard containers are built on a 45-inch x 48-inch footprint and are available in two heights--25 and 34 inches. Engineered to be lighter in tare weight than standard footprint containers, the containers offer capacities up to...

Read linear and 2-D bar codes.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... The MAH200 universal bar code reader automatically discriminates between all major 2-D matrix and linear bar code symbologies. The readers incorporate a dual-path, optical system, a 1.3 million pixel CMOS sensor and a 400 MHz processor. Their...

Cabinets with 100 drawer sizes.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... A multi-drawer cabinet features a full-width ergonomic handle, a choice of 100 drawer sizes, 12 colors and different drawer banks. A variety of drawer accessories such as partitions, dividers and plastic bins are also available. The cabinet,...

Internal backlit conveyor.
January 1, 2006... The AccuVision internal backlit conveyor is designed to provide more accurate visual inspection procedures for a range of industries. The conveyor's internal lighting system projects a strong, uniform light field through the translucent belt on...

Low-volume palletizer.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... The NO-LIFT semi-automatic palletizer is designed to reduce worker fatigue and eliminate potential injury from lifting and stacking boxes onto shipping pallets. Boxes come from an in-feed conveyor and are easily positioned on the ball transfer...

Hydraulic trough dumper.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... Quick discharge of materials into elevated hoppers or processing equipment is possible with a hydraulic trough dumper. Features include a 60-degree discharge angle for non-free flowing materials, a 304 stainless steel bucket with polished...

Conveyor system offers safety features.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
January 1, 2006... A conveyor system features "safety-yellow" belting with electrostatic discharge properties and an engineered modular frame. The conveyors also offer a non-tensioning drive system that guides moving parts. Safety snap-link belting protects...

60 seconds with ... Thomas Moore on why Northeastern's MBA program is newly focused on supply chain management.(views of supply chain management)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... We have chosen supply chain management for repositioning our MBA program for a number of reasons. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We believe that SCM has had a transformative effect on many industries in the last few decades and will continue...