Modern Materials Handling articles from March 2006

Modern Materials Handling archives from March 2006

AC drive market in strong growth mode.(reports of AC drives )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Global demand for high-power AC drives will advance at an 8.9% compound annual growth rate for the next five years. Such growth will drive annual sales from $3.2 billion to $5 billion in that period. That's according to a report recently...

A to Z RFID.(Tarsus Group launched radio frequency identification book)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Tarsus (www.tarsus-group.com), organizers of Labelexpo and the Smart Label Summits, have launched a brand new how-to book on RFID. Edited by Mike Fairley, the book provides a guide to understanding the basics of this emerging technology. It...

PCC Systems becomes Lightning Pick.(corporate change of name)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... PCC Systems, LLC is now known as Lightning Pick Technologies (www.lightningpick.com). The supplier of pick-to-light systems remains under the umbrella of the Professional Control Corp. (PCC) of Germantown, Wis. No company structure or ownership...

Interlake brings its bolted rack to U.S.(product introduction)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Rack supplier Interlake (www.interlake.com) has introduced its version of bolted rack systems to the United States market. Although the standard in much of the world, bolted rack domestically takes a back seat to welded rack. [ILLUSTRATION...

475.(fast fact)
March 1, 2006... 475 Number of booths at NA 2006.

On the productivity train.(reports of manufacturing productivity)
March 1, 2006... The other day I saw some productivity numbers for the final quarter of 2005. The headline was not impressive--"Productivity Fell 0.6% During Fourth Quarter." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As it turns out, that was the number for all U.S....

WMS suppliers move into manufacturing software: the move by warehouse software suppliers extends visibility in the supply chain.(ware house management system )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Looking for ways to expand their reach, a pair of ware house management system (WMS) providers has made moves that push them into software that manages the manufacturing process. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The two, 3M's HighJump...

Suppliers team up for lift truck RFID capabilities.(radio frequency identification)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Imagine a mobile RFID system capable of providing real-time location information and RFID tracking capabilities throughout the warehouse environment. That's the vision of several suppliers working to bring to market a lift truck focused on...

Company reliance on 3PLs rising.(surveys of logistics services)(Survey)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The number of companies relying on third-party logistics (3PL) providers has recently shown a notable increase, according to a survey conducted jointly by Capgemini (www.capgemini.com) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (www.gatech.edu)....

Kimberly-Clark builds RFID test warehouse.(RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT)
March 1, 2006... Joining a host of companies allocating considerable capital for RFID pilots and development, Kimberly-Clark has established a warehouse solely designed for RFID testing. The $15 billion Dallas-based consumer goods supplier built its 5,000...

Imagers gaining on laser scanners.(growth of imaging technology )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Imaging technology is growing at double the rate of traditional laser-based scanning technology, according to Venture Development Corp. (VDC, www.vdc-corp.com). The growth of imagers in the North American market is a trend that is likely to...

Box demand climbs higher.(supply and demand for corrugated and paperboard boxes )
March 1, 2006... Demand for corrugated and paperboard boxes is projected to climb 2.1% per year through 2009, rebounding from weak growth during the 1999-2004 period, according to The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial market research firm...

The rocky road to lean manufacturing.(reports of Lean manufacturing)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Despite the glut of presentations, books and other materials designed to jump-start lean implementations, at least one expert is wary that most manufacturing managers haven't yet put their foot in the water. Jeffrey Liker, professor of...

RFID solution lowers the cost of entry.(radio frequency identification)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... With so many tepidly testing the RFID waters, one solution provider is aiming to reduce the cost of the technology's implementation. Approaching the problem of installing multiple RFID readers throughout the warehouse, Vue Technology, Inc....

People to know.(appointments)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Toyota Material Handling promotes Brett Wood to the position of VP of marketing, product planning and dealer development... Wulftec International Inc. announces that Mike San Miguel has been appointed U.S. Western regional sales manager and...

Company news.(White Systems, Inc merges with FKI Logistex )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... White Systems, Inc. announces its management and Management Capital, LLC recently completed the successful buyout of its Kenilworth manufacturing division from FKI Logistex Manufacturing Systems... Infor announces a relationship with oil field...

The end-to-end challenge: to get a handle on end-to-end costs and savings, we have to think differently.
March 1, 2006... With the emphasis on supply chain thinking these days, the end-to-end view seems to be the rage. But determining end-to-end costs and end-to-end savings can be tricky. It's easy to sketch the hypothetical build-up of costs over time and...

Sun's migratory supply chain: to thrive in a demand-driven world, Sun built a new manufacturing supply chain to deliver its product.
March 1, 2006... Is the shortest distance between two points a straight line? Not if you look at the Sun Microsystems global manufacturing supply chain. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not long ago, Sun built its products to a forecast in domestic manufacturing...

Productivity Achievement Awards.(achievement and awards)
March 1, 2006... Modern's annual Productivity Achievement Awards honor three companies that have made outstanding strides in improving operations through materials handling and related information systems. Modern's Editorial Advisory Board chose this year's...

The path to best-in-class distribution: materials handling and warehouse software transformed Brightpoint from a reseller to the leading customized logistics provider in the wireless industry.(warehousing/distribution)(Company overview)
March 1, 2006... In 1989, the cell phone was an emerging technology with a limited market. Robert J. Laikin and three partners, all in their 20s, saw a future. Together, they founded Brightpoint, a global distributor and third-party logistics (3PL) provider of...

NA 2006: the source.(show preview)
March 1, 2006... Step inside Cleveland's I-X Center this month for the year's most comprehensive materials handling event in North America. Here's a preview of some of the products to be displayed. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NA...

Marshall White on the state of pallets: Modern discusses worldwide pallet usage trends with the director of the Center for Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech.(interview)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... As the world becomes smaller and more pallets of products cross the globe, where does this critical component of domestic and international shipping currently stand? And what does the future hold for pallets? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To...

AGCs deliver on time: a fleet of customized automatic guided carts eliminate delivery delays for a major auto manufacturer.(usuage of automatic guided cart (AGC) solution)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... One of the world's leading automakers was looking for a better way to assign manpower in the delivery of discrete parts from workstation to workstation. What better way than to automate the process? The automaker was using operator-driven...

Bolted rack technology.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Interlock rack system features uprights constructed with bolted connections instead of welded ones. Modular technology allows users to modify, reconfigure and repair their rack system, making it easier to incorporate a new picking system or...

Mobile flow rack.(FOCUSON Racks)
March 1, 2006... This mobile flow rack is ideal for manufacturing assembly areas, parts picking workstations or anywhere full-case or split-case picking is needed. It features heavy-duty welded 11- and 13-gauge steel construction. Available with Kenrail roller...

Stackable shipping racks.(product information )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Stackable shipping racks provide product protection as well as the economical return and reuse of the racks. Total design services are offered for these racks, including AutoCAD drafting. In many cases, a custom rack can be designed with no...

Modular rack protects inventory.(product information)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... A security option is available for this modular rack system. The feature provides effective part containment when point-of-use racking systems are unmonitored on the plant floor. The rack has metal sides and retractable front and rear shutters,...

Pallet rack with tubular design.(FOCUSON Racks)
March 1, 2006... The SK2000 pallet rack features an all-tubular design that provides excellent torsion strength and impact resistance. The pallet rack is easy to install with boltless connections using three rivets instead of two, increasing resistance to...

Drive-in/drive-thru storage racks.(FOCUSON Racks)
March 1, 2006... Drive-in and drive-thru racks eliminate the need for conventional traffic aisles and allow maximum use of the warehouse cube for high-density pallet storage from floor-to-ceiling. Drive-in systems are designed for one-way lift truck entry,...

Pallet rack.(FOCUSON Racks)
March 1, 2006... The basic components of this pallet rack are upright frames and beams. Each is manufactured to exacting tolerances to provide many years of service at the rated loads. The roll-formed, one-piece beam is engineered to achieve the highest...

Bar storage rack.(FOCUSON Racks)
March 1, 2006... Bar storage rack organizes bar ends, saw drops and pipe and allows for fast identification and retrieval of materials. The space-saving rack bolts together for easy assembly and bolts to the floor for added stability. It features heavy-duty...

60 seconds with ... Harry Knight on what materials handling automation has changed at the brewery.(one-on-one interview)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Before we installed our seven-aisle automated storage and retrieval system and 50 guided vehicles, we only used manual handling. And it was much more complicated and time consuming than the way we operate today. Now we can better maximize...