Modern Materials Handling articles from July 2005

Modern Materials Handling archives from July 2005

Lean at the beach.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
July 1, 2005... THE LEAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE has released what is sure to be a rare entry on summer reading lists--a novel that revolves around lean manufacturing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround" weaves the human...

TGW agrees to purchase Ermanco.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(TGW Transportgerate GmbH buys from Paragon Technologies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Austria-based TGW Transportgerate GmbH and Co.KG has entered into a definitive agreement with Paragon Technologies to purchase its conveyor division Ermanco (www.ermanco.com). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, as well...

Modern scholarship winner honored.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(William Sbordon and Modern Materials Handling Honor Scholarship)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Taylor Beasley, an industrial and systems engineering major at Auburn University, has been awarded the William Sbordon and Modern Materials Handling Honor Scholarship. A senior, Beasley is also earning minor degrees in both business...

Wal-Mart and RFID research.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)
July 1, 2005... Getting RFID right in the supply chain is no easy task. Fortunately, getting it right is what the RFID Research Center (479-200-7389, http://itri.uark.edu/rfid) at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is all about. Wal-Mart initiated...

Fast fact.(RFID global market reaches $2 billion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... $2 billion The global market for RFID in 2005 Source: Marketstrat, Inc.

The new transparency.(managing supply chain)
July 1, 2005... WHEN BOB TREBILCOCK, ROBERTO MICHEL AND I STARTED WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, we all thought we had a pretty good idea what is the real-time plant and warehouse. And we did. Kind of. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The deeper we got into it, the...

Technology acceptance: no surge at 3PLs for RFID; While third-party logistics providers have been proactive about RFID, their clients have yet to race to embrace the technology.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Build it and they will come. Or so hoped leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers when they invested in RFID. But so far, the response by their customers has been lukewarm at best. In the past few months, logistics providers Ryder...

Economic outlook: materials handling equipment demand continues strong.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Projected to be a strong year for sales and manufacturing of materials handling equipment, 2005 has shaped up to be exactly that--with 2006 continuing to show growth but slower. This is according to Jim Haughey, Reed Research Group director of...

Software: DC managers set to upgrade systems.(NEWS & TRENDS)(managing upgrading of warehouse management systems )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Nearly three-quarters of warehouse or DC operations plan to upgrade their software packages within the next 12 months, says a survey of Modern Materials Handing and Logistics Management readers. Of the software systems most widely reported...

Security: WMS to the rescue in Ohio.(NEWS & TRENDS)(warehouse management system)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... In response to heightened terror alerts and as a proactive measure to divert disaster, Ohio's Department of Public Health (ODH) has implemented a warehouse management based system to distribute medical supplies in the event of a catastrophe....

Mergers & acquisitions: Lauyans purchases Richards-Wilcox automated storage.(Lauyans and Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Lauyans & Company, Inc., a materials handling systems provider, has purchased the complete line of automated storage systems from Richards-Wilcox, Inc. (www.richards-wilcox.com). Based in Louisville, Ky., Lauyans (www.lauyans.com) takes...

Services: 3PL buyer's guide ready.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Looking for a logistics provider? Armstrong & Associates has a company--or several--for you. Who's Who In International Logistics--Armstrong's Guide to Global Supply Chain Management is a buyer's guide compiled by the consulting firm...

Appointments/promotions.(people to know)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Appointments/promotions: Robert E. (Bob) Mummaw has joined Intelligrated as the technical support director--major account... American Baler Company has promoted Michael Guzek to regional sales manager... The Kennedy Group announces the...

Company alliances, new facilities.(Nationwide Conveyor changes its name to Professional Conveyor)(RHINO partners with TrenStar)(Sato America Inc and Oracle Corp to provide RFID compliance solutions)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Company alliances, new facilities: SATO, announces an alliance with Oracle to provide RFID compliance solutions... Nationwide Conveyor has changed its name and is now known as Professional Conveyor... RHINO Aluminum Pallets has entered a...

Supply chain: getting lean and efficient.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... You have to be light on your toes nowadays especially in today's rapidly evolving supply chain, says Bob Ferrari, program director, supply chain strategies for Manufacturing Insights (www.manufacturing-insights.com). In his recently...

Pharmaceuticals: pedigree program tracks drugs in the supply chain.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... In cooperation with software provider SupplyScape and several pharmaceutical companies, Capgemini (www.capgemini.com) has introduced what it hopes will become an industry standard for the pharmaceutical supply chain. Prompted by developing...

Little things mean a lot: no one should underestimate the importance of the size and position of equipment and inventory in the plant and warehouse.(FOR DEALING WITH THE REAL WORLD)
July 1, 2005... LAST WEEKEND I STOOD IN THE TINY SHOWER at my mother's lake house. As I banged my elbows on the walls, I thought about how little additional space it would have taken to make something that you have to do every day a pleasant activity, instead...

RFID news now: weekly exclusive e-letter content exclusives.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(RFID News and Solutions Weekly Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... RFID News and Solutions Weekly Update offers readers the latest in exclusive content about RFID. Stories cover case histories, technology, return on investment, new products, standards developments and more. The newsletter is linked to...

Hoist manuals online: improve operations, maintenance.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Hoist Manufacturer's Institute (HMI), an affiliate of Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), announces the availability of four hoist manuals. The online downloads include: the Hoist Operators Manual; the Hoist Inspection and...

Online safety course: 10- & 30-hour courses available.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Summit Training Course is now offering online safety courses, in cooperation with OSHA, for industry professionals. The courses, available in 10- and 30-hour sections, will teach professionals the OSHA guidelines and compliance techniques. The...

Site focuses on robotics: new name, new look.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Along with changing their name, Motion Controls Plus, Inc., now Motion Controls Robotics, has launched a new Web site with the corporate identity as part of the re-branding effort. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The goal of this name change...

Work platforms update: resource library now online.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Mobile area work platform supplier JLG has made it easier for users to get updates on its materials handling equipment. The JLG Online Resource Library gives users access to images of platforms, stock-pickers and more in a copyright-free...

Distribution Webcast: voice technology featured.(WEB-BASED NEWS & INSIGHTS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... RedPrairie's free educational Webcast series now features "The Advantages of Voice-Directed Distribution," to be held on July 27. Industry thought leaders and end users are scheduled to weigh in on the technology, its advantages and drawbacks....

The changing face of real time: while many say they operate in real time, few are really there today. That is about to change, however.(overview)(real time systems)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... In the early 19th century... "Three things would give an investor an edge over his rival... closeness to... the source of news; the speed with which he could receive news of events in states far and near; and the ability to manipulate the...

Real-time tech talk: data collection, communication and software tools enable real-time information systems.(information management)
July 1, 2005... THE TYPICAL REAL-TIME INFORMATION SYSTEM today collects and communicates information in real time. The problem is that too often, these systems create islands of information. For instance, warehouse managers may have access to the...

Making chips in real time: RFID enables IBM to collect, monitor and communicate up to 14,000 messages per minute from the manufacturing floor.(productivity solution)
July 1, 2005... IN EAST FISHKILL, NY, IBM integrated passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with automated materials handling and manufacturing processes to create one of the world's most advanced real-time semiconductor manufacturing plants....

Sportsman's Warehouse hits the target: a real-time warehouse management system enables workers to interleave tasks and supervisors to make decisions on the fly.(productivity solution)
July 1, 2005... Since 1998, Sportsman's Warehouse, a retailer of out-door sporting goods, has grown from two stores based in Salt Lake City to 30 stores in 15 states, with more openings planned for the future. "We are one of Utah's fastest-growing 100...

How real time changes operations: real time puts the pressure on materials handling systems to maintain continuous flow of inventory while accommodating smaller lots and fewer buffers.(equipment/systems)
July 1, 2005... THE WAY JIM TOMPKINS SEES IT, operations managers have two options when it comes to meeting customer requirements. "They can build a huge pile of inventory and service the customer from that," says the president of consultant Tompkins...

Reaching beyond the four walls: sharing real-time information across the supply chain is the final link in building a highly responsive network of suppliers, customers and outsourcing partners.(Outside the four walls)
July 1, 2005... UNTIL MOST RECENTLY, the focus of early real-time systems has been within the four walls of the plant and warehouse. But that's not the case today. What's happening outside the four walls with suppliers, customers and outsourcing partners...

No hang-ups here: for retailer Saks, use of advanced ship notices and apparel industry standards enable flow-through at its Alabama DC.(productivity solution)
July 1, 2005... WHAT IF DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE THE FOUR WALLS not only impacted the way materials are handled inside the four walls, but drove the design of the entire facility? At Saks Inc.'s distribution center in Steele, Ala., that is exactly what happened....

Scanner offers seamless integration.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The MS 32XX scanner is specifically designed for standalone applications. The scan module delivers speedy plug-and-play installation. The omnidirectional scan pattern minimizes the need for precise positioning of ID symbols and is suitable for...

High-speed scanner.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... Housed in a rugged IP65-rated enclosure, the AXIOM bar code reader performs up to 1,400 scans per second. The scanner is designed for easy setup and operation--integrated software provides a familiar Windows-based user interface. Users can...

Rugged reader.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... SP400 scanners are adaptable for use in a wide variety of demanding data capture environments. A single system can support a number of interfaces with only a cable change. The unit supports all popular bar code symbologies, automatically...

Lightweight wand.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The Intermec BarPen 1280 wand is an input device for a wide variety of applications. The system is both lightweight and durable. The long-lasting synthetic sapphire tip of the scanner is housed in a rugged stainless steel barrel that stands up...

Integrate with existing operations.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... This imaging solution is ready for easy integration into either existing or newly designed hand-held or fixed-mount scanners, or portable data collection terminals. The SX5000 bundles standard-sized image engines with one of three powerful...

Fast and accurate.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... This scanning system reads all the common two-dimensional and matrix bar codes, and provides accurate omnidirectional bar code reads. Ranked with the fastest 2D imagers, the LG2 is proficient at reading small, very high-density symbols as well...

Scanner reads degraded symbols.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... DataMan readers incorporate IDMax, a breakthrough in data matrix reading software, according to the supplier. The scanner handles a wide range of degradations to the appearance of the code, no matter what the cause, allowing the system to...

Capture sharp images.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The MS1690 Focus is a high performance, hand-held area imager designed for industrial applications. The system captures and transmits sharp images in a variety of formats. A rugged housing protects the scanner in harsh environments, while a...

No computer required.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The Quadrus EZ offers a scanning solution for ID and 2D symbols at the push of a button, no computer required. A versatile, industrial reader, the scanner also reads laser-etch and dot peen symbols in a factory environment. The system decodes...

Omnidirectional reader is versatile.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The Lynx D432 performs omnidirectional reading on a wide range of symbologies from the most common 1D and 2D codes to stacked codes, improving productivity and efficiency in any application. Users capture the entire image of the object to be...

Extended battery life.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... An improved lithium polymer rechargeable battery features six times longer storage time between charges for the BI 3500, compared to the previous model. Enhanced performance reads 32K in one second, and both 1-D and 2-D bar codes. An 8MB flash...

Big label scanning.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The ST5700ALR is a long-range, high-performance scanner suitable for industrial and warehouse uses, or special purpose applications where labels and bar code print sizes are large. The system combines optimum laser scanning performance for...

Read symbols from 36 feet.(FOCUSON Bar code scanners)
July 1, 2005... The 7666 handheld laser bar code scanner delivers fast, accurate bar code reading at distances up to 36 feet. In addition, labels previously considered unreadable can now be read using the decoding software, QuadraLogic. The scanner...

RFID printer self-corrects.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The ALX RFID Print/Apply encodes and prints unique RFID labels and automatically applies the encoded labels to cartons, cases and pallets. During the encoding process, the system detects and then rejects miscoded or unreadable RFID labels....

Versatile and safe inverter.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Tilt and rotate loads with the Pallet Inverter. The system's low-profile design allows the operator to stand on the rider plat-form and steer the load from workstation to workstation quickly and easily. A DC-powered lift and drive makes...

Best practices software.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Manufacturing software includes compliance enhancements based on advanced process-driven SSA Workflow. ERP LX features functionality based on best practices for several manufacturing industries--consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, life...

Lightweight, maneuverable transporter.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The T2 transporter offers efficient functionality and is lightweight and maneuverable. The battery-powered unit allows operators, regardless of their size and strength, to move and position objects weighing up to 220 pounds without manual...

Software upgrade.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... This software suite supports the core technology stack of IBM and features enhanced composite applications that can be easily integrated into any of the supplier's warehouse management systems (WMS) as well as those from SAP. The...

Collapsible container made bigger.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Specially designed to handle extremely long, hard-to-fit parts, this 78-inch extended length collapsible container features a footprint of 78 inches X 48 inches, and is available in three heights--25, 33 and 34 inches. The container features a...

Conform to European RFID specs.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The R4Mplus UHF RFID printer/encoder with fully integrated support for ISO 18000-6B and Philips U-Code 1.19 transponders has been uniquely configured to support European specifications and regulatory requirements. The system operates at 100%...

Label software.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... Connector 2.5 software bridges the supplier's Premier bar code and RFID label printing operations across an entire enterprise, regardless of the number or type of printers being used or their geographic location around the world. The package...

Computing on the go.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The GX 1200 features a 12.1-inch rugged color-display touchscreen, 1.1 GHz Pentium III processor, wireless options and multiple I/O. The system is housed in a rugged enclosure and is ideal for applications such as forklifts, fixed-mount...

Ruggedized platform, enhanced software.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The CK60 is designed specifically for the physically demanding requirements of the direct store delivery (DSD) market. The system's onboard, nonvolatile persistent storage memory preserves applications and databases even if the battery becomes...

Increased capacity VLM.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The SMART depot LX vertical lift module (VLM) is configured with a single delivery window that can be located within any of the two, three or four storage bays and/or on any floor. Because there is only one opening in the machine, storage space...

Build cases quickly.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The C-300 case erector reliably builds 10 cases per minute, utilizing a design that holds the case square and erect throughout the process. The system features increased efficiency. It erects and tapes case blanks with unglued seams or...

Get a big lift.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... An ideal solution for lifting materials on projects requiring long reach, the New Yorker Portable Hoist easily attaches to scaffolding, I-Beams and Trestle/Monorails. Portable, flexible, and strong enough to withstand tough job site...

Control Center software.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The G-Log Global Command and Control Center (GC3) software version 5.0 provides users with a competitive weapon when managing complex supply chain and logistics networks. The single GC3 platform monitors, analyzes and optimizes a broad range of...

Next generation printer.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The R110PAX4 multi-protocol print engine is designed to print and encode RFID smart labels while improving speed, reliability and print quality in high-volume, automated label print-and-apply operations--and can be configured to comply with...

Crates save space, cut costs.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The SmartCrate 2416-14 is ideal for shipping perishables due to its ability to maintain temperature, and its collapsibility. Washable and made of durable polyurethane, the containers are more cost efficient than their disposable counterparts....

Retrieve containers in comfort.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... This unit can be used to transport containers from a staging area, to a work cell and back again. While in the work cell, the Container Transporter/Rotator will raise a 1,500-pound load up to 35 inches and rotate it with side tilting forks up...

Keep eyes on your product.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... A 2 megapixel vision sensor, the In-Sight 5403 captures full-frame, 1600 X 1200 images at up to 15 frames per second for highly detailed inspection of fast moving objects. The resolution of the system provides increased accuracy for precision...

Versatile RFID labels.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... SmartTrak RFID smart labels, a line of pressure-sensitive labels that includes embedded RFID inlays, can be encoded with large amounts of variable information. The labels are pressure-sensitive with RFID inlays inserted between the label face...

Sorting at high speed.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The small-footprint, high-speed LogiSort sorts up to 30 items per minute and takes advantage of unused vertical space by enabling item diverges and merges to and from vertically stacked conveyors. The belted vertical sort unit sorts items of...

Narrow-footprint cabinet.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... A narrow-footprint base cabinet of the Technical Bench System makes the user's job easier by providing more legroom. In addition, the cabinet's internal organization makes use of every cubic inch of drawer space. The system's base cabinet has a...

It will survive.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The Survivor dock shelter features an innovative, impactable side-frame design specifically engineered to eliminate costly damage that often occurs when semitrailers make contact with loading dock shelters. The result is longer life and lower...

Versatile, ergonomic lift truck.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)
July 1, 2005... The NR3000 Series 24V Reach Truck features a spacious operator compartment, multifunctional control handle, and AC-drive system to enhance performance and improve operator efficiency. Configurations for the lift truck include: reach, deep reach...

Beverage distribution: getting a cold one to you; As the product variety and volumes climb, some in the beverage industry are taking a closer look at automated materials handling and warehouse management systems to increase distribution responsiveness and flexibility.(A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT)
July 1, 2005... On the product development front, change is brisk in the beverage industry. New product categories, flavors, and packaging are the norm. But on the distribution side, companies have done little to change primarily manual materials handling...

Matrix-2000[TM] MegaPixel CCD reader.(PROFILE)
July 1, 2005... The new model of the Matrix-2000[TM] offers a SXGA 1,3 MegaPixel sensor with a wide field of view and reads up to 100 codes in a single frame. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Suitable applications: document identification in static reading...

Optimizing the beverage supply chain.(ORBIS Corp services)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Plastic reusable packaging products are used to move, store, distribute and merchandise beverage products within a single operation or entire supply chain. ORBIS understands each loop of the beverage supply chain and provides the necessary...

Spiralveyors--bottles/cans.(PRODUCT RELEASE)
July 1, 2005... Spiralveyors are not just for cartons or trays anymore. AmbaFlex introduces the SVM (MultiLane) for single row or mass flow of bottles, cans, and containers. Saves valuable floor space by improving line layout efficiency. High volume...

Modern Materials Handling Company Profiles.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Welcome to Company Profiles, a special advertising section of Modern Materials Handling. In the pages that follow, companies from throughout the materials handling industry tell you more about themselves, their services, and their products. ...