Modern Materials Handling articles from July 2003

Modern Materials Handling archives from July 2003

Software in your future. (Breaking News you should Know).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Supply chain management software may be in the doldrums, but don't write it off. At least that's what our readers are telling us. In a just released e-mail survey, 91% of the respondents said they plan to purchase or upgrade their supply...

Performance management in the warehouse. (Breaking News you should Know).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... "Performance appraisals have been compared to seat belts--everyone agrees that they're a good idea, but many people find them awkward to use." So says a new self-study guide called "Managing Performance" from the Warehousing Education and...

What's holding automation back? (Breaking News you should Know).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Earlier this year, the Material Handling Industry of America (www.mhia.org) conducted a survey about automation and attitudes towards it. What was discovered was that nearly 40% of respondents say the biggest obstacle to automated materials...

Riding the RFID comet. (Breaking News you should Know).(radio frequency identification)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... There is no supply chain technology hotter these days than radio frequency identification (RFID). It seems everywhere you turn, there are developments and prognostications. Consider these four. The Uniform Code Council (www.ucc.org), which...

The future of manufacturing. (Editorial).
July 1, 2003... The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) presented some interesting points last month. * Since 2000, manufacturing has lost 2.3 million jobs. * Increasingly, manufacturers are having trouble raising prices to offset higher...

Cautious optimism at D/C Expo. (News Trends).
July 1, 2003... This year's D/C Expo event attracted more than 1,500 attendees with serious buying plans. Almost all plan to make software or systems purchases in the next twelve months--57% within six months. Companies are slowly dipping their toes back...

Provia joins MIT's Auto-ID Center. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... With interest growing in radio frequency identification (RFID) applications for the supply chain, Provia Software (www.provia.com) has joined the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Founded in 1999, the center at MIT is...

Microsoft expands SCM offerings. (News Trends).(new supply chain management software package)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... An initiative by Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) and independent solution provider Max Q (www.maxqtech.com) brings new supply chain management (SCM) capabilities to the consumer packaged goods industry and industrial distributors. The solution...

Rugged tablet PC for freezers. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... A new rugged tablet personal computer (PC) designed to bring the ease of a tablet PC to mobile workers no matter what their work environment is available from Intermec Technologies (www.intermec.com). The tablet PC operates in freezing...

Warehouse software targets production logistics. (News Trends).
July 1, 2003... Warehouse management systems (WMS) have long been used to manage warehouse and distribution centers. Irista, an HK Systems company (www.irista.com), has added production materials track and control capabilities as well as inbound...

Integrated order fulfillment debuts. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Too often, order fulfillment solutions create islands of capabilities rather than a seamless process from receipt to delivery of an order. That is beginning to change, according to John Jazwiec, company results leader for RedPrairie...

Manage shipments on a global basis. (News Trends).
July 1, 2003... Unlike traditional transportation management software, G-Log's (www.g-log.com) version 4.0 is a multi-mode shipment management tool that works with other key players in the supply chain on a global basis. It identifies and tracks not only...

Software upgrades labor management. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Getting the most from your labor is now easier thanks to a new stand-alone engineered labor standards software program from LXLI International (www.lxli.com). "Engineered labor standards create opportunities for massive operating cost...

Calender.
July 1, 2003... SEPTEMBER 2003 September 15-18 Frontline Solutions USA Chicago, IL Sponsor: AIM Web: www.frontlineexpo.com September 21-24 CLM Annual Conference 2003 Chicago, IL Sponsor: Council of Logistics ...

Study: machine wrapping lowers costs, raises safety. (Advertisement).
July 1, 2003... MEMPHIS, TN (February, 2003) Businesses who switch from handwrapping to wrapping pallets with an Orion stretch wrapping machine can significantly reduce film costs, dramatically improve the integrity of the wrapped load, and create an...

Rugged handheld computer is flexible. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The next generation handheld computer from PsionTeklogix (www.psionteklogix.com) features excellent ergonomics and ease of connection to other peripheral devices. Model 7535 uses the Windows CE .NET operating system that allows more computing...

Manhattan Associates acquires ReturnCentral. (News Trends).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Manhattan Associates (www.manh.com) is buying ReturnCentral, Inc., a provider of reverse supply chain software and solutions. With the acquisition, Manhattan will provide customers with an end-to-end returns management solution, which...

Flexibility is key to new WMS. (News Trends).(warehouse management system)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Flexibility is the key to a new warehouse management system (WMS) from Robocom Systems (www.robocom.com). "Our new release is for companies searching for a flexible approach to meeting their customers' requirements' says Judy Frenkel,...

Appointments/promotions. (People & Companies).
July 1, 2003... Phil Pryor is promoted to manager of the retail and distribution division and elected senior vice president of Carter & Burgess... Mike Kasperski is named president of Automotion Systems Group, a division of Automotion Inc.... The...

SCM Consultant Ltd. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).
July 1, 2003... APICS announces the affiliation of SCM Consultant Ltd. of Thailand...

Drexel Industries. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).
July 1, 2003... Landoll acquires Drexel Industries...

Ozburn-Hessey. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Ozburn-Hessey and National Distribution and Contracting partner to open a warehouse in LaVergne, Tennessee...

Rack Enterprises Inc. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Rack Enterprises Inc. acquires Kardex Systems Inc....

SJF Material Handling Inc. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).(opens new premises in New Jersey)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... SJF Material Handling Inc. forms a systems integration division in East Hanover, New Jersey...

Cascade Corporation. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).
July 1, 2003... Cascade Corporation acquires FEMA Forks...

Kom International. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Kom International opens office in the Netherlands...

SATO America Inc. (People & Companies: Alliances/Construction).(Sato teams with CCL Label)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CCL Label teams up with to SATO America Inc. to manufacture RFID tags and labels and resell SATO RFID-enabled printers.

Industrial truck orders moving higher. (Out Look).
July 1, 2003... The Industrial Truck Association's April Booked Orders Index returned to 131, the average for late 2002, after dipping to 115 during this past winter. Expect an increase to 148 by year-end and 158 by the end of 2004. Already retail and...

Conveyor orders to strengthen in second half. (Out Look).
July 1, 2003... The booked orders index from the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association has tracked closely to the capital goods trend in general. This includes an exaggerated peak in early 2000, a steep two-year decline, an aborted recovery in mid 2002...

Materials handling shipments poised to increase. (Out Look).(sales forecast)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Shipments were stuck at a 10-year low during the prewar period when most capital goods markets were weakening. However, that is now behind us. Sales are forecast to be 3% higher by year-end and then increase almost 10% by the end of 2004. The...

Modern's orders index rising again. (Out Look).
July 1, 2003... Modern's orders index began rising in the spring after a 22% decline during the previous three years broken only by a temporary upturn in early 2002. The index is now expected to increase between now and the end of 2004. This year will average...

Spirited distribution: the Washington State Liquor Control Board improved distribution to its state-owned stores and contracted outlets. The new DC in Seattle is the toast of Washington State. (Warehouse of the Month).(new, automated distribution center (DC) for Seattle)
July 1, 2003... After experiencing years of steady growth and increasing volumes, The Washington State Liquor Control Board needed to replace its aging distribution center (DC). The new facility; built on the same site as the original DC, has improved service...

State of distribution: Gene Kremer, general manager at WSLCB's new DC in seattle, shares how he works within a government structure. (One on One).(Washington State Liquor Control Board)(Interview)
July 1, 2003... MODERN Why did the state decide it needed a new liquor distribution center? GK Our old building was built originally in 1947. It was facing repairs and updating expenses, while it had shipping volumes twice its original intent. The Board,...

Wrapping up savings: a new automated stretch wrapping system is a perfect fit for Leitchfield Plastics. (Equipment Report).
July 1, 2003... There is no more waiting for the stretch wrapping machines at Leitchfield Plastics. A new automated wrap system there has saved time, money and labor. Located in Leitchfield, Ky., the company produces custom injection-molded parts for...

Packaging to die for: protective corners minimize damage when shipping burial vault liners. (Equipment Report).
July 1, 2003... Delivering quality products is the goal of every manufacturer. When an item arrives at its destination dented or scratched, it costs a company more than just the price of replacement. The firm's reputation is also damaged. Doric Products...

A perfect fit: Wagner Spray Tech switches to foam-in-bag dunnage to protect its products, saving 40% over corrugated costs. (Equipment Report).
July 1, 2003... It is not often that a company is able to gain significant savings from something that is normally just thrown away. That is the case, however, with Wagner Spray Tech Corporation. The well-known maker of the Wagner painting products has...

Beyond linear bar codes: these high data density alternatives to linear bar codes have proved their worth from the auto industry to the parcel delivery business. (Information Management).
July 1, 2003... Ask any analyst about the future of automatic data capture, and you're likely to hear one term: RFID (radio frequency identification). The technology not only promises to provide access to more real-time information than linear bar codes,...

Delivered to your doorstep: assembling the Sunday newspaper inserts at the Chicago Tribune improved considerably with automated storage/retrieval and materials tracking systems. (Manufacturing Spotlight).
July 1, 2003... Out with the old and in with the new. That is especially true in the newspaper industry, where there's nothing older than yesterday's headlines. For the Chicago Tribune, keeping up-to-date meant changing how it puts together 30 to 40...

A thirst for productivity. (A Special Advertising Section: Beverage Distribution).
July 1, 2003... Tough times have taken the fizz out of the beverage industry. Like other businesses, beverage producers are confronting falling prices, rising costs and flat demand. They also face something else common to other consumer products: an...

Kelley: a history of innovation. (Company Profile).(Company Profile)
July 1, 2003... In 1953, Kelley invented the world's first counterbalanced dockleveler--and created an industry. Today you'll find the green Kelley triangle everywhere loading docks keep commerce flowing. Its a mark of innovative thinking leading to loads of...

Conveying quality in all we do. (Company Profile).
July 1, 2003... The Jervis B Webb Company, with World Headquarters located in Farmington Hills Michigan is a privately owned, family directed corporation engaged in the design, manufacture installation and support of a large variety of integrated material...

ORBIS[R] Corporation brings innovation to Amcor PET Packaging in UK. (Company Profile).
July 1, 2003... Amcor is a global packaging company based in Australia, with worldwide operations that manufacture plastic, fiber and metal packaging products used in many industries. Packaging Application Amcor PET Packaging, (formerly...

Corporate profile.
July 1, 2003... Up and down the beverage supply chain, plastic reusable packaging can improve the flow of product, reducing costs and improving efficiency. "Plastic products are cost-effective and efficient," says Barbara Philibert, General Manager of Pallet...

Komatsu Forklift proven ability. (Company Profile).
July 1, 2003... From the Covington, Georgia headquarters and production facility (ISO 9001 Certified), Komatsu Forklift U.S.A., Inc. (Komatsu Forklift) provides material handling solutions to marketplace businesses large and small. Komatsu forklifts are...

Global Storage Systems PalletRunner[TM]. (Product Showcase).
July 1, 2003... Global Storage Systems is proud to present PalletRunner[TM], the next generation in high density storage systems. PalletRunner[TM] stores more pallets than bulk storage, delivers more pallets than traditional pushback, has greater selectivity...

Muratec equals Safety. (Product Showcase).
July 1, 2003... Murata Machinery USA introduces the innovative "maintenance cab." The "maintenance cab" enables safe human intervention for automated equipment. No ladders to climb, the maintenance cab operates independently of the carriage personnel always...

Ralphs-pugh (The Leader). (Product Showcase).
July 1, 2003... Why not buy the last roller you will ever need? Our ABEC-1 precision bearings combined with urethane shaft adapters over a steel through-shaft eliminate noise, shaft wear and frame wear. No more metal to metal contact, no more hex holes worn to...

Maneuver bulky freight. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... CargoMaster II is an on-board hoist allowing users to load and unload heavy, bulky freight from anywhere inside the trailer to ground level. A pendant control with large switches makes single-handed operations easy. The light hydraulic...

Lift tons of loads. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... Featuring a lift capacity of 1/2 to 5 tons is the SMA manual chain hoist. Overload protection is standard on the lightweight, all-steel hoist. Hardened roller bearings as well as a self-adjusting disc-type double pawl mechanical load brake...

Explosion protection. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... Featuring mechanical explosion protection, the ST EX chain hoist series is offered in two frame sizes for loads up to 11,000 pounds. Two-speed sliding rotor motors permit fast transport and precise lifting and positioning of loads. Two-step...

Lift 500-pound loads safely. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... A servo-driven lift hoist allows operators to safely lift and place loads weighing up to 500 pounds. The touch-sensitive handle senses the speed of the operator's hand movement and adjusts automatically to provide the right amount of mechanical...

Hoists to 2 tons. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... Small- and medium-frame hoists are available in 1-, 11/2- and 2-ton capacities. Five hook styles accommodate various applications. The standard latching hook is designed to open under overload. The gate type hook latch revolves under spring...

Light as air. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... The Profi series of hoists is enhanced with an optimized, low-maintenance chain drive and air motor using a reduced number of components. Profi hoists provide carrying capacities of 3.2 tons and 6.3 tons as well as 10 and 16 tons. For quieter,...

Air chain hoist. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... ShopAir is a heavy-duty air chain hoist capable of lifting 300 pounds at speeds to 31 feet per minute and 600 pounds at speeds up to 15.5 feet per minute. Lightweight and compact, the hoist features a variable flow, two-lever pendant for...

It's electric. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... Lift between 125 and 525 pounds with the ED-II dual speed adjustable single-phase electric chain hoist. Features include an ergonomically designed one-hand cylinder control and a double braking system. The zinc-plated, heat-treated alloy chain...

Heavy-duty travel. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... The MPW Built-Up hoist has a load capacity ranging from 5 to 185 tons and lifting power ranging from 25 to 224 horsepower. They can be equipped with two-speed or infinitely variable speed operation, as well as with a DC brake or double-shoe...

Designed for durability. (Product Focus).
July 1, 2003... ABUS electric chain hoist offers newly designed features including a hardened load chain and a friction clutch for increased safety, quality and durability. The brake withstands more than one million operations without any adjustments....

Do we need to reinvent the wheel? No, but there's room for some upgrades on order picking equipment. (Last: Great Ideas).(Column)
July 1, 2003... Every time that I move dirt, one wheelbarrow load after another, from my truck to the garden, I never cease to be amazed at the power of that one small wheel. Of course, wheels are not a new thing in the workplace. Recently, I have been...

Scan windows are Frost-Free. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The Frost Free Scanner (FF5) has a heated scan window on handheld computers to eliminate condensation in freezer and cold applications. FFS allows users to move between cold and warm environments without the scan window fogging. It can operate...

Labeling system. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... EconoLine is a pressure-sensitive labeling system that can be configured for front/back and wraparound applications at operating speeds up to 100 items per minute. It utilizes a six-foot long conveyor with an adjustable conveyor height. A...

Plastic dollies move easily. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Plastic dollies with a padded or flush deck feature a steel-reinforced design and 1,000-pound capacity. The padded deck dolly measures 30 x 18 x 8.75 inches while the flush deck dolly is 30 x 18 x 7.75 inches. Equipped with four plate-style,...

UPS-compliant Shipping software. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Integrating with UPS Worldship, Shipping Manager software' version 2.0 creates an all-in-one packing list and shipping labels from any ink jet or laser printer. The software calculates product cost for invoicing, including shipping, handling...

Keeping cool. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Airvolution is a highvolu me, low-speed (HVLS) fan measuring 20 feet in diameter. Constructed of extruded anodized aluminum, ten blades operate at a fan speed of up to 48 revolutions per minute to displace up to 125,000 cubic feet of air per...

Convert rack into picking system. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The add-on pick tray easily converts rack into a split case picking system. Added to any pallet or carton flow rack, the pick tray holds boxes up to 50 pounds per foot. The tray is made of galvanized steel and measures 15 inches deep. It mounts...

Self-diagnostic printer/applicator. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... A series of label print-and-apply systems features an on-board programmable logic controller (PLC) that controls each operational sequence. The PLC monitors the status of each printer signal and each applicator component. Status signals are...

Cantilevered conveyor gate. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... A retractable conveyor bed with a self-supporting design and spring/shock technology allows conveyor flow to be temporarily halted as workers pass through the line. The cantilevered gate is available for gravity wheel and powered roller bed...

Corrugated pallet is eco-friendly. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... A corrugated pallet is 100% recyclable and designed to withstand harsh shipping conditions. Constructed with four stringers and cross-stringers, the pallet is sturdy enough to carry 3,000 pounds of product yet weighs approximately 17 pounds. A...

Balance production efficiency and inventory. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Manufacturers can balance production efficiency, inventory levels and cycle times by using PowerChain Echelon. The software solution offers a "what if" analysis that evaluates the effects of real-world variability to optimize production and...

Pallets dispensed automatically. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Accommodating 40 x 48 inch and 42 x 48 inch pallets, an automatic pallet dispenser stacks up to 15 same-size pallets and dispenses them at a top speed of two per minute. When pallet levels are low, a detection feature alerts the operator. The...

Mezzanine safety gate. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Protect-O-Gate Clear-Aisle protects workers in mezzanine loading areas while using minimal space. The gate takes only 10 inches of aisle space on the mezzanine ledge when the corral is in the raised position. It provides access to the work area...

Efficient AC drive. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Ideal for maneuvering 24- to 80-volt battery-powered devices, the compact TDH-model AC hub wheel drive delivers up to 95% efficiency for longer battery life, according to the supplier. The hub wheel drives use synchronous AC motors available as...

Prevent bar code fraud. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Authenticate bar codes with the TechMark Taggants and Read/Write Threads, a line of thermal-transfer label security papers available for Zebra printers. The taggants embedded in the paper stock are invisible in ordinary light but readily...

Door Guard. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The Roll-Up Door Guard is a collision prevention system designed for overhead doors. A guard arm remains in front of the driver's view until the door is completely open and then rises out of the way. No electricity is required for operation....

Self-cleaning printer. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Added to the line of IJ/3000 large character ink jet printers is the IJ/3000 Impulse Jet with enhanced capabilities. The IJ352 automatic cleaning printhead can be programmed to self-clean the printer at any time. Also offered are...

Filling spaces. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Available with pneumatic and portable inflation, the RF inflatable packaging system produces cushions with superior air retention under load for void fill applications. The pneumatic inflator uses shop air and plugs into a standard 110-volt...

Decking with open surface area. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Punch Deck combines corrugated steel deck and wire decking panels to provide 50% open surface area created by large flanged holes. The design allows air, light and water from sprinklers to easily penetrate the decking. The flat storage surface...

Making WMS upgrades easy. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... Version 5.0 of RIMS warehouse management system features customization tools for reformatting screens and changing field labels and display lengths. The RIMS Tool Kit allows users to remain on a standard version of the software and easily...

Nestable plastic pallet. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... HuskyLite is a nestable, high-pressure injection molded plastic pallet measuring 40 x 48 inches. The impact strength of the pallet's co-polymer polypropylene exceeds many of the high-density polyethylene resins used in twin-sheet thermoformed...

Printers with CIJ technology. (New Products).
July 1, 2003... The Citronix product line of CIJ printers, including the ci500 and ci1000 small character ink jet printers, is ideal for applying lot and date codes to a wide range of products. Compact yet powerful, the ci500 features a minimized fluidic...