Modern Materials Handling articles from June 2005

Modern Materials Handling archives from June 2005

Real-time business intel.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... IF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ISN'T ON YOUR RADAR yet, it probably will be fairly soon. At last month's D/C Expo, Ron Riggin, chief technology officer at MARC Global (www.marcglobal.com), told Modern that business intelligence is rapidly gaining...

CARB set to establish lift truck emissions standards.(California Air Resources Board )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... LIFT TRUCK ENGINE EMISSIONS, a small part of a major problem affecting air quality in California, are set to see some serious restrictions per order of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Later this month, CARB (www.arb.ca.gov) is...

New supply chain certification.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(Certified Supply Chain Professional)(APICS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Recognizing the growing importance of supply chain management, APICS has created a new certification recognizing expertise in the field (www.apics.org). The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) title recognizes individuals for...

Building a culture of success.(BREAKING NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... WHILE SOME BUSY THEMSELVES with throughput metrics and order turnaround times, The Container Store is... celebrating birthday parties. The wildly successful retailer (average 20% growth every year since founding) takes a different...

Fast fact.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... $89.4 billion Total revenues for the U.S. 3PL market in 2004, an increase of 16.3% over 2003. Source: Armstrong & Associates

While you were out.(MY VIEW)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... IT WASN'T ALL THAT LONG AGO (2001 to be exact) that Modern ran its first ever ranking of the largest best-of-breed warehouse management system (WMS) suppliers. And it seems that one of the few aspects that hasn't changed in the interim is that...

Conferences: distribution excellence--getting back to basics; The message at the Warehousing Education and Research Council conference was clear--it's all about the fundamentals and having the right priorities on the warehouse floor.(NEWS & TRENDS)
June 1, 2005... While many search for the high-level cure-all to common distribution woes, John Hill, principal of Esync, has instead gone on the offensive, urging industry professionals to strengthen their ware-housing fundamentals. At the Warehousing...

Supply chain: a close up look at best practices.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Led by a group of retail giants, over 600 companies are participating in an industry-wide assessment of supply chain best practices. Facilitated by consultant Tompkins Associates (www.tompkinsinc.com) and driven by companies such as...

Distribution: the future of retail distribution.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... What's next in retail distribution? Bill Pace, CEO of consultant Kurt Salmon (www.kurtsalmon.com), breaks the future down to three imperatives: better in-stock levels, improved inventory efficiency and better supply chain visibility. ...

Software: Manhattan unveils SCE application platform.(NEWS & TRENDS)(supply chain execution)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In what it is calling an industry first, supply chain execution (SCE) software supplier Manhattan Associates (www.manh.com) unveiled its Logistics Event Management Architecture (LEMA) at its users conference last month. "We have merged...

Appointments/promotions.(people to know)(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Appointments/promotions: Unarco Material Handling, Inc. announces the appointment of Gary Slater as president and chief executive officer, and Jeff Woroniecki takes over as vice president of sales at the company... Bruce A. Strahan has been...

Metrics: materials handling audit tool available.(NEWS & TRENDS)(College Industry Council on Material Handling Education)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Just how good are your materials handling operations? If you don't know the answer, the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) has just released an audit tool that can help. It evaluates effectiveness of materials...

Equipment: new generation of drives debuts.(NEWS & TRENDS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... In an expansion of its line of harmonized drives, Baldor (www.baldor.com) has introduced the next generation--the H2. They can be used with servo, vector and inverter motors, according to Randy Breaux, vice president of marketing, who made the...

Dealing with China: the flow of goods from the Far East seems sure to create some new handling challenges.(FOR DEALING WITH THE REAL WORLD)
June 1, 2005... FAR BE IT FOR ME TO WORRY about how to deal with the balance of trade issues that confront our policy makers in Washington. But, I, and we, do have to cope with the continuously increasing flow of goods from the Far East that arrives at our...

Dealing with a tight labor market: it's likely that there's hidden talent already in house and all that's needed is some training.(TIPS ON MANAGING PEOPLE)
June 1, 2005... ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, the unemployment rate continues to drop. Meanwhile, productivity remains strong. In addition, payroll employment continues to increase by an average of around 150,000 per month. In other words, the...

Automation: it's elementary! With robotic work cells, conveyors, cranes and an AGV, Thomas Built Buses changed its assembly process to build a new school bus design.(manufacturing)(Automated Guided Vehicle)
June 1, 2005... WHEN THOMAS BUILT BUSES, a member of the Freightliner LLC group, designed the Saf-T-Line C2 school bus, it also designed a new assembly process to manufacture the vehicle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In addition to an automated conveyor...

Rodale's book on customer service: for years, book publisher Rodale has improved DC efficiencies. The latest upgrade on the packaging line impresses its customers too.(warehousing/distribution)(package label system )
June 1, 2005... Gains in the warehouse often include increases in storage capacity, throughput or labor productivity. And, when it comes to within-the-four walls improvements, Emmaus, Pa.-based publisher Rodale has accomplished all three by reconfiguring its...

Top 20 SCE suppliers: mergers have resulted in a realignment of supply chain execution software suppliers.(information management)(supply chain execution)
June 1, 2005... Since Y2K, the software industry in general has been challenged. And no where has that been more evident than among the largest suppliers of supply chain execution (SCE) software. And after an extended period when industry observers were...

How palletizers stack up: when deciding between conventional and robotic palletizers, speed, flexibility and other factors are key.(equipment/systems)
June 1, 2005... If you haven't been keeping up with palletizers lately, now could be a good time. And while both conventional and robotic palletizers are focused on the same objective--uniformly stacking cases, bags and other units on a wooden or plastic...

Motors: the power behind materials handling; With improved efficiency, variable speed drives and powered rollers, motors are more flexible than ever.(A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT)
June 1, 2005... Automated materials handling systems have changed over the years. But one thing hasn't changed: no matter how sophisticated the system, motors and drives are still the power behind every successful solution. In materials handling, the...

Accelerate your drive selection time with new PT Pilot[R] 2.0.(PROFILE)(PT Pilot[R])(drive selection tool)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... When you're racing against time to select a drive configuration, PT Pilot[R] 2.0 helps you find what you need faster than ever before. An easier and more intuitive version, PT Pilot[R] 2.0 eliminates the time and effort of complicated catalog...

Motorized roller breakthrough!(PRODUCT RELEASE)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... Itoh Denki the world leader in motorized roller technology, has unveiled its latest innovation, the PM486FX roller. This 1.9" diameter brushless 24 VDC roller incorporates the driver card inside the roller. Thereby reducing components,...

Holjeron smart. Moves.(PRODUCT RELEASE)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2005... ZoneLine[TM] is Holjeron's innovative method for connecting powered roller control zones in conveyor applications. This connection method significantly reduces typical field wiring, cabling costs, system programming and installation time...

Danka gets a lift: using standard handling components, the office imaging company built its own solution for depalletizing loads.(productivity solution)
June 1, 2005... DANKA OFFICE IMAGING COMPANY needed a lift. The San Leandro, Calif.-based imaging equipment distributor was experiencing pains when depalletizing loads... primarily in its back. Scott Reed, depot preparation center-2 coordinator, explains...

Software package is versatile.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... All paperless picking solutions can be integrated into one software platform using PickDirector 3.0.A configurable module within the software architecture directs and manages each picking solution type. Users can operate with one picking type...

Software suite enhances tracking.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... An upgrade of LP Pick has enhanced functionality and is compatible with Microsoft .Net. The result is improved application integration and better component support and flexibility. Messaging and supervisory functions have also been upgraded....

Picking software manages throughput.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... SwiftPic offers light-directed picking versatility by managing processes and controlling order release based on user criteria. The system activates all light units in parallel to maximize picking activity. Serial numbers, lot numbers and...

Increased functionality.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The Trak3 modular pick-to-light system offers increased functionality, improved ergonomic features, and advanced diagnostic tools. Components snap into the track at the pick face with a cable-less connection, allowing easy configuration and...

Pick-to-light options.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... A multitude of options are available on a pick-to-light system. These include 14-character alphanumeric displays with full diagnostics, support for static storage devices, flow racks and batch stations, easy mounting and multiple color...

Analyze your workload.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Pick-to-light system version 1.2 simplifies manpower planning by analyzing the picking requirements of the orders in the system and determining a line configuration that balances the workload among all available pickers. It compares the current...

Beacon of efficiency.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Discreet order picking, batch picking and cluster picking can all be done by the DirectPick pick-to-light system. Bay controller lights define zone boundaries by color, so there is never any confusion about where a picker's zone begins and...

Picking software.(FOCUSON Pick-to-light)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The Inventory Management Software allows companies to move from a standard shelving and rack operation to a pick-to-light system, managing picking processes throughout the supply chain. The software is designed to adapt to a more advanced...

Versatile conveyor for varied uses.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The modular flat top chain conveyor system SBF-P 2254 is designed for use as a stand-alone unit or complex integrated system for a range of applications. Assembled in segments, this conveyor can be manufactured using various individual...

Labeling made easy.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... A push-button labeling system is ideal for a variety of applications, allowing for multiple lines to be fed to one operator who can label a variety of products. The system replaces the conventional labeling method of pre-printing large...

Lift from both sides of the aisle.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The EKX 410 lift truck provides the ability to stack and retrieve pallets from both sides of narrow aisles with a 180-degree swing mast. The truck features an adjustable driver's cab for an unobstructed view at all times. Operators can work...

VLM streamlines storage.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Spare parts and components can be cataloged, stored, and accessed with a vertical lift module (VLM). The system offers the organizational benefits of modular drawers, the space savings of an automated storage and retrieval system, and the power...

Indoor/outdoor lift truck.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The 40SE electric narrow-aisle lift truck is targeted for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. With a 4,000 pound capacity, the truck can work both inside and outdoors eliminating the need for counterbalanced forklifts, and reach...

Improve supply chain visibility.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Enhancements to Voyager Solution 7.5 help distribution-intensive companies use the Internet to gain visibility of key metrics, manage dynamic global supply chain activities, support RFID initiatives and optimize transportation operations....

Rugged, heavy-duty lift truck.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The G40S series of lift trucks includes a new, compact 11,000 pound capacity model. Equipped with either a 4.3L LP engine, or a 5.8L diesel engine, this model surpasses new EPA Tier-II emission standards. The truck's heavy-duty, transaxle...

Organize and store parts.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The PartsMobile storage unit organizes and easily moves any size parts where they are needed. Constructed of industrial strength 14-gauge steel with a powder-coated finish, the unit includes five shelves, two removable small parts trays, eight...

Compact computer offers big performance.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Weighing one pound, the Microflex CE3240 provides reliability and outstanding functionality. An ideal tool for any demanding mobile application, it is equipped with an Intel XScale PXA 255 400 MHz processor and runs the latest Windows CE 5.0...

Quality bar code printing.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... The A-50 direct thermal bar code printer utilizes the "Posi-Lock" printhead mechanism to ensure high reliability and quality printing on all direct thermal media including difficult to print hang tags. The A-50 prints on labels and tags from 1...

Robust database system.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... AutoCrib 5.0 provides enhanced database stability, integrity and size for the supplier's extensive line of point-of-use dispensing systems as well as traditional cribs and stores. The software is well suited to larger users who demand a more...

Dynamic RFID solution.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Lift trucks can now operate as a mobile RFID data collection tool with the Warehouse Tracking System. The forklift reads pallet tags and tracks every warehouse product movement. This approach to reading RFID tags decreases the need for RFID...

Reusable corrugated containers.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Reusable corrugated plastic containers, with or without foam dunnage, are designed for intra/inter-plant handling of component parts and sub-assemblies. Ideal for industrial manufacturing and material handling applications, the containers...

RFID applicator.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Well suited to many supply chain automation and asset tracking applications, the 1000e SM RFID label/inlay applicator fits a variety of industries including manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Equipped with a color touch screen that...

Lift trucks with 12,000 pound capacity.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... A 7,000- to 12,000-pound capacity family of lift trucks comes in four models and features a highly stable platform and engineered controls that provide the capacity retention necessary to carry heavy loads. The MOSFET transistor technology used...

Containers provide safe handling.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... Drop bottom containers offer a fast, efficient and safe way to move and place parts for assembly and many other types of operations. The heavy-duty corrugated steel containers are built to stand up to the harsh, everyday use typical in most...

Versatile accumulator chains.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... High-performance accumulator chains are ideally suited for operations requiring reliable and continuous conveying, accumulating, singulation and acceleration of materials. They deliver smooth and gentle transport and optimum support for all...

Long parts container.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... An extended-length reusable, collapsible container is designed to handle long and hard-to-fit parts. The unit features a 64.5 X 48 inch footprint, plus an extensive array of design enhancements for greater handling flexibility. A one-piece base...

Positive air system.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Buyers Guide)
June 1, 2005... A new environmental conditioning system for buildings provides a clean, comfortable environment in all seasons. It also reduces energy, equipment and maintenance costs, according to the supplier. The system controls a building's supplemental...

Tote for large parts.(PRODUCTSHOWCASE)(Mills Industries )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A stackable-interlocking corrugated plastic tote measures 90 X 16 X 20 inches and weighs 14 pounds. Available with handholds for easy manual lifting, the tote can be custom designed to properly fit and protect parts while making the best use of...

60 seconds with ... Gary Smith on how to optimize the supply chain from end to end.(one-on-one interview)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... Last year, IBM shipped 2 billion pounds of hardware and parts to more than 160 countries around the globe. That said, our primary focus is on optimizing the supply chain from end to end. There are four keys to getting this done. ...