Modern Materials Handling articles from May 2008

Modern Materials Handling archives from May 2008

Focus on palletizers.(TopTier offers automated palletizers )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Staff Energy efficient palletizer Staff Stacker fully automated palletizers use four drives and minimize the unit's power consumption and maintenance requirements. The system features AB controls and a color touchscreen. A...

Sick of sigmas.(Six Sigma )
May 1, 2008... By John Usher, Chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Louisville. Six Sigma has been recycled so much it's misunderstood. Let's rethink it. Six Sigma (6I) is a process improvement methodology that has...

But wait-there's more!(supply chain management of food service)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief I was channel-surfing the other night until Dean Martin stopped me. Actually it was an infomercial for a complete set of Dean Martin celebrity roasts, now out on DVD. Being a Rat Pack fan, I was trapped....

On display now.(management and types of displays)
May 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Manufacturers and distributors are being asked to provide store-ready displays for their retail customers. Here are some tips to do it right-without bringing your operations to a halt. Walk into any...

Pallet basics.
May 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor Pallets, the base of most modern materials handling systems, do more than carry loads. Applied correctly, they can also protect their loads-as well as the supply chains through which they travel. You...

Retail: Surviving in a struggling economy.
May 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief Retailers are relying on the strength of materials handling best practices-from suppliers all the way through the last mile of road to the consumer's doorstep. Some economists point at poor retail sales...

Narrow aisle forklifts.
May 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor-In-Chief These vehicles require extra measures of training and skill to afford the luxury of storage density. To make best use of narrow aisle forklifts, operators need skills above and beyond those required to...

Take ownership of your environment.
May 1, 2008... By David Martin Demand for sustainable products and practices-and the logistician's response to it-isn't driven by environmental regulations alone. There are real operational savings available. For example, Herman Miller long ago...

NA08 offers ideas for going green.
May 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor Exhibitors at NA 2008 offered technologies to help reduce packaging material and save energy in your facilities. Attendees of NA 2008 in Cleveland last month may not have been overwhelmed with new...

MHIA forecast: slowdown.(Material Handling Industry of America )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock After several consecutive years of growth, including a strong 2007, the materials handling industry is expected to contract modestly in 2008 and 2009 before resuming growth in 2010. That was one of the highlights from...

Fuel cells meet AGVs.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator Fuel cells have been making news in the lift truck industry for several years, and now they're being implemented as a power source for automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) as well. FMC Technologies (www.fmctechnologies.com...

Parent of FKI Logistex agrees to be sold.(FKI PLC has acquired by Melrose plc.)
May 1, 2008... By Jeff Berman of Logistics Management and Corinne Kator FKI PLC, the parent company of materials handling system supplier FKI Logistex (www.fkilogistex.com ), has agreed to be acquired by Melrose plc, a London-based specialist...

Direct to consumer.(distribution center )
May 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor The switch to a direct distribution model compelled pet supply company Rolf C. Hagen to upgrade its Massachusetts DC, adding 2,000 feet of conveyor. Last year, Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. announced a...

Automation acceleration.
May 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Materials handling played a critical role when the automaker created a new manufacturing environment in Belvidere, Ill. Not so long ago, nearly 500,000 square feet of valuable floor space was...

The materials handling of tomorrow.
May 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large To get instrument panels from the end of the manufacturing line to the automotive assembly line, Chrysler has developed a model for lights-out manufacturing and delivery. hen an operator puts the last...

California postpones e-pedigrees.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Staff The state of California has once again delayed enforcement of its pharmaceutical e-pedigree law. The law originally required drug makers, distributors and retailers to begin electronically tracking prescription drugs through the...

Lean practitioners connect online.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Staff Are you a lean practitioner looking to connect with others who have lean manufacturing expertise? The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) now offers a tool that can help. The SME recently launched the Lean Registry...

West Coast rack maker gains independence.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Staff Management and employees of Hannibal Industries (www.hannibalindustries.com ) have purchased their company from parent Mitsui & Co. through the formation of an employee stock ownership plan. Hannibal, located near Los...

DCs cut back on packaging.(Distribution centers )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... By Staff Distribution centers are using less packaging material, according to a recent report on distribution trends. The report is based on a survey of members of the Supply Chain Consortium (www.supplychainconsortium.com ), a group of...