Modern Materials Handling articles from March 2004

Modern Materials Handling archives from March 2004

RedPrairie buys LIS.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... THE WORLD OF SUPPLY CHAIN EXECUTION (SCE) SOFTWARE SUPPLIERS just got smaller by one. Last month, RedPrairie (www.redprairie.com) acquired LIS. The combined company, which will operate under the RedPrairie name, projects 2004 revenues of $130...

ITA teams up with OSHA on safety.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(Industrial Truck Association)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Industrial Truck Association (ITA; www.indtrk.org) has formed an alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; www.osha.gov) to protect workers from hazards associated with powered industrial trucks. "Each year,...

More efficient storage.(Breaking News You Need to Know)
March 1, 2004... Aspecial publication from the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) is dedicated to optimizing pallet storage systems. The guide considers how best to combine pallet storage modules and pallet handling equipment. A comparative...

Manufacturing software undergoes changes.(Breaking News You Need to Know)(manufacturing execution systems)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... RECENT ACQUISITIONS by GE Fanuc, Rockwell Automation, Honeywell, Brooks Automation and Agilisys have expanded their footprints in manufacturing execution systems (MES). And according to analyst Taylor Smith of VDC (www.vdccorp.com), "the...

Taking charge of change.(My View)
March 1, 2004... Change is not only good. It's a matter of survival. That's according to Nancy Connor who is a modification center manager for Eaton Cutler-Hammer. Some time ago, she helped launch a postponement program at the company's DC in Duncan, S.C....

Legal: Court throws out Lemelson patent claims; Patents for bar code readers and machine vision systems overturned in first court battle.(News & Trends)(Jerome Lemelson)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... In a long anticipated decision, the U.S. District Court of Nevada ruled that 14 patents held by Jerome Lemelson and the Lemelson Foundation are invalid. The patents pertain to bar code readers and machine vision systems. [ILLUSTRATION...

Conferences: educate yourself at NA 2004.(News & Trends)(North America)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Where can you learn about the latest developments in materials handling equipment, radio frequency identification (RFID) and distribution operations all in one place? At the upcoming North America 2004 (NA 2004) tradeshow sponsored by Material...

Software: growth in supply chain software.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... After several slow years, the worldwide market for supply chain execution (SCE) software applications is back on track, according to a recent study by Steve Banker, service director for supply chain management, ARC Advisory Group...

Pallets: the trouble with tagging pallets.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... 'Putting an RFID tag on a pallet is like putting license plates on a car in a demolition derby!' That's the conclusion of Ralph Rupert, research associate at the Center for Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va....

Pallets: Orbis pallet receives Factory Mutual approval.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A new high-density polyethylene pallet from Orbis (www.orbiscorporation.com) has met the fire rating requirements equivalent to wood pallets, according to Factory Mutual Research Corporation. Factory Mutual is a testing lab and division of...

Obituary: inventor of narrow-aisle lift truck dies.(News & Trends)(Christian D. Gibson)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
March 1, 2004... Christian D. Gibson, inventor of the narrow-aisle lift truck has died at the age of 89. He joined The Raymond Corporation in 1943, and was the first professional engineer hired. In 1949, Gibson created the first narrow-aisle truck, which...

Appointments/promotions.(People to Know)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Appointments/promotions: Frank Rossi joins Intelligrated as director of the Chicago regional office... Mike Kern is promoted to corporate vice president of material handling products marketing and sales at Cascade Corp.... Kom International...

Manufacturing begins two-year expansion: a broad-based recovery is underway that will strengthen with time.(Outlook)
March 1, 2004... MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION has expanded at a 5.6% annual pace since last May with growth expected to accelerate to well over 6% later this year and through 2005. In fact, output will return by this summer to the peak production level at the top...

Productivity solutions front and center: here's a preview of some of the products to be displayed at this year's most comprehensive materials handling event in North America.(NA 2004 Show Preview)
March 1, 2004... NA 2004 March 29-April 1 I-X Center Cleveland, Ohio SHOW HOURS: Mon. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tues. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Web. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. SORT ITEMS DIRECTLY INTO TOTES Suitable...

A driving force: in European distribution; A new distribution center for ATU, Germany's largest auto parts distributor, brings work directly to the worker, delivering huge productivity.(Warehouse of the Month)(Auto-Teile-Unger)
March 1, 2004... WITH THE SPEED OF A GERMAN AUTOBAHN, automotive parts zip through the new distribution center of Auto-Teile-Unger in Weil, Germany. ATU is Germany's largest auto parts distributor and repair shop chain with over 435 stores. [ILLUSTRATION...

Duking it out: in a battle of heavyweights, ERP providers are taking the fight to WMS providers for a share of the warehouse market.(Information Management)(enterprise resource planning)(warehouse management system)
March 1, 2004... Last spring, Graybar Electric completed an overhaul of the company's supply chain management software with a $100 million enterprise resource planning (ERP) system from SAP (610-661-1000, www.sap.com). The only application not provided by SAP...

Postpone to get ahead: by switching to returnable containers to support a new postponement strategy, Cutler-Hammer saved $300,000 in the first year of a pilot program.(Manufacturing Spotlight)
March 1, 2004... For years, Eaton's Cutler-Hammer business produced industrial circuit breakers at its plant in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. All 3,500 different models of finished breakers were then shipped to a warehouse in Duncan, S.C. for distribution to customers...

Lean & mean: here's what lean means to manufacturing and warehousing today, nearly 50 years since Toyota introduced it on the production floor.(Special Report)
March 1, 2004... It's time to get lean. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No, this isn't about the Atkins diet. Instead, we're talking about the lean principles companies are implementing to take the fat out of every day processes from receiving through...

High-speed sorting at FedEx Ground: two sliding shoe sorters running in parallel permit packages to fly through the facility.(Equipment Report)
March 1, 2004... TWO ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN ONE. Such is the case with the two sliding shoe sorters running in parallel at FedEx Ground's new facility in Cleveland. The sorters have been instrumental in creating efficiencies, gaining processing speed, reducing...

Double-duty sorting at Lands' End: a new crossbelt sorter brings speed, flexibility and labor savings to end-of-the-line processes.(Equipment Report)
March 1, 2004... THE DESIGN ENGINEERS at Lands' End had a tall order to fill. They needed to create more throughput and flexibility in their sortation and packing systems. The goal was to double throughput in a system occupying half of the footprint and with...

To outsource or not to outsource? Before you turn your order fulfillment operations over to a third party, you better be asking the right questions.(Management)
March 1, 2004... TO OUTSOURCE OR NOT TO OUTSOURCE? For a warehousing professional, that question is every bit as profound as Hamlet's contemplation of life, according to Clifford F. Lynch, principal, C.F. Lynch & Associates (901-415-6800, www.cflynch.com) and...

Hazmat: handle with care; Proper distribution of hazardous materials requires a product handling plan, a well-designed facility and workers trained to tackle day-to-day tasks and the unexpected emergency.(Best Practices/Operations)
March 1, 2004... In August of 2000, a fire broke out in a multiple-tenant warehouse in Phoenix. It started in an area housing home and garden supplies, including swimming pool chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. Flames spread rapidly due to the dangerous...

Hoist features 360-degree rotation.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... The Hurricane hand chain hoist features a handwheel cover that rotates 360-degrees to enable hoist operation in any direction. Lifting capacities range from 1/2 to 3 tons. Its frame and housings are made from impact-resistant, stamped steel for...

Ideal for low-headroom applications.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... Added to the PROFI series of hoists is the Mini Air Hoist for light-duty, low-headroom applications. The compact, light-weight hoist lifts between 275 and 2,200 pounds. Features include a wear-resistant braking system and precise variable...

Three-ton capacity hoist.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... Part of the New Century series of electric chain hoists is the Speedway model with a one- to three-ton lifting capacity. It is available with single- or dual-speed control. Featuring a multiple disc brake, the Speedway holds a full capacity...

Lift up to two tons.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... The Redi-Lift 360 series of electric chain hoists lifts loads weighing between 1/8 and 2 tons. Hoisting lift speeds are 8, 16 and 32 feet per minute at standard lift ranges of 10 and 15 feet. Many mounting options are possible including hook,...

Chain hoist lifts 4,400 pounds.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... Lifting from 275 to 4,400 pounds, an electric chain hoist features precise positioning with a two-speed motor. Its single fall chain reeving extends chain life. Standard features include overload protection, upper and lower limit switches,...

Pivoting hoist.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... Lifting up to five tons, the Quantum series electric chain hoist features eyebolt suspension, allowing the hoist to pivot and align itself with the direction of load pull. This suspension is standard with motorized and plain trolleys. A...

Small, yet powerful.(Focus on Hoists)
March 1, 2004... With a 1/4-ton lifting capacity, the LX Mini Puller is compact yet handles a wide range of applications. Features include a free-chain adjusting mechanism, low pulling force and a rubber grip handle. The durable, lightweight hoist utilizes a...

Catalog mart.(Modern)
March 1, 2004... This advertising section is a handy shopping guide for manufacturers' new products and catalogs. Write reader service numbers to receive more information or visit mmh.com/info. LP Gas Lift Truck works in 80" aisles Aisle-Master...

Getting buffers to be just right: there are ways to balance seemingly conflicting objectives in sortation, orderpicking and workstations.(For Dealing With the Real World)
March 1, 2004... THE TRIP THROUGH OUR MATERIALS HANDLING processes can be pretty rough without something to help cushion the ride. Whether we realize it or not, we continually insert small buffers into the process to smooth out the flow and improve the...