Modern Materials Handling articles from October 2003

Modern Materials Handling archives from October 2003

The death of bar codes?(Breaking news you should know first)(RFID and bar code usage )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... With the rise of radio frequency identification (RFID), the final days of bar codes can't be far behind. That's the "logical conclusion" reached by many watching Wal-Mart and others move to identification of cases and pallets with RFID. Others,...

Get the rest of the story at mmh.com.(Breaking news you should know first)
October 1, 2003... Just as Paul Harvey offers you the rest of the story in his radio spots, Modern does the same at mmh.com. This Web-exclusive information, found at the Click On mmh.com icon on our home page, is tied in to the many feature stories in this and...

Materials handling leads robot revival.(Breaking news you should know first)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The first half of 2003 was a good one for robots, according to a report just released by the Robotic Industries Association (www.roboticsonline.com). Just over 7,200 robots valued at $465 million were shipped in the first six months of the...

New job board for distribution professionals.(Breaking news you should know first)(Warehousing Education and Research Council launched a job board at www.werc.org)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) launched last month the WERC Job Board at www.werc.org. Job seekers can search for jobs in warehousing and distribution, post a confidential resume online, and sign-up for e-mail alerts...

A return to sanity.(Editorial)(analysing the rise of radio frequency identification)(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... Two months ago, I used this space to put in perspective where radio frequency identification (RFID) really stands. As you may recall, I said that this emerging information technology for identifying and tracking inventory across the supply...

One materials handling challenge, four winning solutions: the annual student design competition run by the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education resulted in an unprecedented four-way tie.(Design Competition)
October 1, 2003... Sonic Speakers, a manufacturer and distributor of audio speaker systems, needs some help. Business is good, and management expects 7% growth for the next five years. But it has outgrown its current facility and is moving into a new 120,000...

SSA to acquire EXE.(Merger)(SSA Global Technologies Inc. to acquire EXE Technologies of Dallas)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software vendor SSA Global Technologies, Inc. (www.ssaglobal.com) has signed an agreement to acquire EXE Technologies (www.exe.com), the Dallas-based provider of warehouse management and supply chain execution...

Containerization featured at Auto-Tech 2003.(Containers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The auto industry lives on its parts, and good container design makes it possible to get parts to the line efficiently. Automakers gathered recently in Detroit for Auto-Tech 2003, and containerization was on their mind. "There are more...

Flexible Material Handling to acquire MAXX conveyors.(Acquisition)(MAXX Material Handling LLC of Hampton, VA to be acquired)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Flexible Material Handling (www.flexmh.com) plans to acquire MAXX Material Handling LLC (www.maxxmh.com), a provider of powered loading and unloading products. As part of the agreement, FMH will immediately market the entire line of MAXX...

Scanner demand to increase 8% annually.(Automatic Data Capture)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Coming off a flat couple of years, bar code scanners are poised to advance at an 8% annual rate through 2007. That's according to a recent report from the technology research firm VDC (www.vdc-corp.com). Worldwide sales of handheld and...

Calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... October 2003 October 6-9 APICS International Conference & Expo Las Vegas, NV Sponsor: APICS Call: 800-444-APICS Web: www.apics.org October 13-15 Pack Expo Las Vegas 2003 Las Vegas, NV Sponsor:...

W.A. Schmidt Inc.(Appointments/promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Appointments/promotions: Kim Wanamaker joins W.A. Schmidt Inc. as general manager and vice president of sales and marketing...

Omron Electronics LLC.(Appointments/promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Paul Witt is appointed strategic sales manager for Omron Electronics LLC...

MegaStar Systems.(Appointments/promotions)(Paul Kimple named central regional manager, Matt Ventura as western regional manager and Brian Baker as director of government sales)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... MegaStar Systems names Paul Kimple as central regional manager, Matt Ventura as western regional manager and Brian Baker as director of government sales...

MARC Global.(Appointments/promotions)(Oliver Cooper appointed chief executive officer)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... MARC Global appoints Oliver Cooper as chief executive officer...

Harrington Hoists Inc.(Appointments/promotions)(Carlo Lonardi is promoted to vice president of sales)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Carlo Lonardi is promoted to vice president of sales at Harrington Hoists Inc....

Remstar.(Appointments/promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Remstar appoints Tony Arsenault as northeast regional sales manager...

SPX Dock Products.(Appointments/promotions)(Steve Jones appointed vice president of international sales)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... SPX Dock Products hires Steve Jones as vice president of international sales in Asia and Australia and Diego Effio as sales manager for Latin America...

SATO America Inc.(Appointments/promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... John Bauer is named central regional sales manager at SATO America Inc....

Voxware.(Appointments/promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Voxware hires Jackie Jordan as vice president of alliances and strategic accounts and appoints Richard Cialabrini as vice president of global sales...

Genesys Systems.(Appointments/promotions)(Jack Lehr is chosen to head up Genesys Systems)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Jack Lehr is chosen to head up Genesys Systems, the system integration division of SJF Material Handling Inc....

Optum.(Appointments/promotions)(Charles Rafferty appointed vice president of sales)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Charles Rafferty is named vice president of sales at Optum...

Forte Industries.(Appointments/promotions)(Rob Fink hired as technical operations manager)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Rob Fink is hired as a technical operations manager for Forte Industries.

USCO Logistics forms an alliance with V3 Systems.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Alliances/construction: USCO Logistics forms an alliance with V3 Systems to use its software in a logistics solution suite for select customers...

RedPrairie and Kurt Salmon Associates sign a strategic agreement.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... RedPrairie and Kurt Salmon Associates sign a strategic agreement to incorporate RedPrairie's labor productivity software into Kurt Salmon's performance improvement program...

Rimrock Corp. acquires Robot Automation Systems Group from ABB Inc.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Rimrock Corp. acquires Robot Automation Systems Group from ABB Inc. and signs a partner agreement with ABB Inc. for the newly formed Rimrock Automation Inc....

Sick and Vitronic form a joint partnership to combine Vitronic's vision system solutions.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... SICK and VITRONIC form a joint partnership to combine VITRONIC's vision system solutions with SICK's Automatic Identification systems...

Abraham Technical Services changes its name.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Abraham Technical Services changes its name to AbeTech...

Genesys Systems of SJF Material Handling Inc. signs an agreement with Intelligrated and Versa Conveyor Corp.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Genesys Systems of SJF Material Handling Inc. signs an agreement with Intelligrated and Versa Conveyor Corp. to handle both product lines...

Savi Technology and Matrics Inc. collaborate to integrate passive and active radio frequency identification.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Savi Technology and Matrics Inc. collaborate to integrate passive and active radio frequency identification (RFID) tags technologies...

HHP and MCL Technologies partner to offer the full MCL-collection product line.(Alliances/construction)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... HHP and MCL Technologies partner to offer the full MCL-Collection product line on HHP's Dolphin mobile computers...

FKI Logistex Alvey Systems.(Alliances/construction)(office opened in Scottsdale, AZ)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... FKI Logistex Alvey Systems opens an office in Scottsdale, Ariz. to serve the Southwest region.

Industrial truck orders starting to rise.(outlook)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Industrial Truck Associations' Booked Orders Index increased 12% to 133.7 in the second quarter despite a dip to 122 in June. The trend is clearly up with an increase to 148 forecast by year-end and 158 by the end of 2004. These gains will...

Conveyor orders set for two-year increase.(outlook)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Following its seasonal pattern, the booked orders index from the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association fell 20% in the second quarter, with unit handling equipment accounting for all of the decline. Meanwhile, overall conveyor sales rose...

Materials handling shipments pick up.(outlook)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Coming off of a war-related nine-year low last spring, materials handling shipments have started to recover. Shipments of equipment tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau moved from $1.3 billion a month last spring to $1.314 billion by July. The...

Modern's orders index now rising quickly.(outlook)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... As industrial investment began to rise this summer after prolonged stagnation, Modern's materials handling equipment orders index jumped 11% in July. All signs suggest that this is the beginning of a sustained gain through the end of next year....

New roots.(Modern Manufacturing Spotlight)(tractor manufacturer overhauls production line for greater efficiency)(related article: Case New Holland Racine, Wisc.)
October 1, 2003... Extensive customization of farm tractors requires maximum handling flexibility at Case New Holland's right-sized plant. Just as the tractors made by Case New Holland Inc. (CNH) have made the American farmer more productive, CNH needed to...

How GM saves $10 million: containers that collapse for the return leg of the automakers' closed-loop distribution system are the secret.(Equipment Report)
October 1, 2003... America runs on the automobile and the automobile runs on reliable replacement parts. To get parts to dealers quickly, ergonomically and cost effectively, General Motors has recently shifted to new metal containers. The collapsible containers...

The end of the line is just the beginning.(Industrial Packaging)(packaging quality affects customer satisfaction)
October 1, 2003... Your mother was right. You only get one chance to make a first impression. That truism also applies to the supply chain. Suppliers want their first delivery to a new customer to pull into the dock on time and with the right product. ...

Custom foam dunnage.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Creative Techniques offers customized structural foam dunnage engineered to exact customer specifications. Dunnage is extremely durable, lightweight, highly component protective and reusable, eliminating consumable packaging expenses. Creative...

High performance laser scanner.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... DS6ODO Series- built-in connectivity to Ethernet, Devicenet and Profibus. DS6300 - optimal solution for a wide range of manufacturing applications on the factory floor and warehouse. New DS6400 - designed for various AutoID...

Belt Doctor cures sick belts.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Dura Belt's Belt Doctor, Jim Hammond, is a physicist who provides free technical assistance in the design and maintenance of urethane belting applications. An ex-Jet Propulsion Labs engineer, this rocket scientist has over 12 year of experience...

Liberty Technologies provides system integration solutions.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Liberty specializes in turnkey applications and related consumable products, merging a variety of sophisticated packaging and material handling systems into a fully automated production line. Pictured, is a compression/strapping station...

Orion introduces the Spectra high-performance, semi-automatic turntable stretch wrapping machine.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... The machine features an enclosed design which protects gearboxes and motors within a steel mast, a solid-state microcontroller with membrane keypad, a maintenance-free industrial belt carriage lift, and Orion's proven Insta-Thread easy loading...

Quick machine changeover.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... This multi axis positioning controller offers an intermediate solution between manual change over and total serve control. This embedded control application allows the user to do automatic machine set up using existing centrols. Communication...

Ralphs-Pugh Company.(product Showcase)
October 1, 2003... Ralphs-Pugh specializes in conveyor rollers and components for a wide range of industries and applications. Products are available through a network of industrial distributors, material handling dealers, and 0EM's. R-P products include plastic...

Containers deliver healthy return: returnable plastic containers saves Duane Reade Drugstores $300,000 annually while improving handling in its distribution center.(Modern Equipment Report)
October 1, 2003... Distributing merchandise to Duane Reade's drugstores in the New York City's five boroughs and northern New Jersey has been much easier since the company switched from corrugated cartons to returnable plastic containers. The move has reduced...

The best of two worlds: an innovative shipping container at medical products supplier DePuy provides better ergonomics while saving $275,000 a year in shipping costs.(Modern Equipment Report)
October 1, 2003... Surgical products manufacturer DePuy wanted the best of both worlds--outstanding handling ergonomics and low-cost packaging. Finding that new balance wasn't easy, but an innovative returnable container design accomplished both goals. The...

Fashionably on time: by consolidating three facilities into one, eyewear supplier Lantis fills orders to customer schedules even during peak season.(Warehouse Of The Month)(related article: Lantis Eyewear Secaucus, N.J.)
October 1, 2003... Lantis Eyewear has a much clearer vision of its distribution operations since opening a new DC. Prior to moving to the new building in Secaucus, N.J., Lantis, a leading provider of sunglasses and prescription frames, leased space at three...

Wanted: DC roommate: Lantis Eyewear built its new DC with enough capacity to meet the spikes of seasonal distribution. But building for peaks leaves a lot that is underutilized during the rest of the year. Emile Lemay, senior vice president of operations, shares how Lantis wants to use that extra capacity by offering third-party distribution services to other companies.(One-On-One)(Interview)
October 1, 2003... MODERN: What are some of the factors that caused you to consider becoming a third-party logistics provider (3PL)? EL: We have a very seasonal business. Sunglasses by nature are a spring and summer product. Our volumes then are six or seven...

The emerging world of real-time control: a new three-tier information architecture that controls live operations also blurs the line between programmable controllers, PC controls and automated materials handling control systems.(Information Management)
October 1, 2003... Information equals control. Increasingly, real-time information control also includes the machine-level controls and materials handling control systems that manage automation in a factory or distribution center. The reason is simple....

Less charging time required.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... SBS Airpower is a tubular plate industrial battery with an electrolyte air mixing system. The battery's construction causes air bubbles to rise from the bottom of a vertical air pipe during charging cycles, allowing more efficient mixing of the...

Battery holds more water.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... Featuring a cell design that holds up to four more inches of water than standard batteries, the Deserthog line of flooded batteries extends watering intervals. Deserthog batteries are designed with more space above the plates, allowing up to...

Extended battery life.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... Using four heavy-duty, deep-cycle gel batteries, the redesigned Deka Powr Mate battery offers up to three times longer life than small sealed lead-acid batteries, according to the supplier. The 24-volt unit features secure-fit hold-downs, a...

Battery requires less watering.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... The WATER LESS battery requires watering only four times per year, reducing maintenance costs by 90%, according to the supplier. Offered are 85, 100 and 125 AH capacities for medium and heavyduty applications. The battery's estimated cycle life...

Easy charging.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... E-Z Charge is a ferroresonant battery charger designed for industrial applications where batteries are 80% discharged and 10 hours are available for recharging. Features include a five-second delay to allow for safe connection and a DV/DT...

High current, quick charging.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... For high-current, high-speed charging, the SBE 700 amp connector is capable of 10,000 mating cycles. The self-aligning connector features high performance copper contacts and is engineered for use with standard 4/0 cables. As many as ten...

Managing batteries.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... E-Batt is a battery management system that monitors the condition and usage of batteries in electric forklifts. Designed for facilities operating a fleet of vehicles on multiple shifts, E-Batt monitors charge cycles, cool-down periods and run...

Charge and go.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... Charge batteries without removing them from the forklift by using the 448Plus forklift fast charger. Forklifts are simply connected to the charge station and the charger completes a full charge cycle and equalization without operator attention....

Recharge up to 10 vehicles.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... The PosiCharge MVS fast charging system eliminates the need for a battery changing room and increases efficiency in electric lift truck operations. The system can parallel charge as many as 10 vehicles at a time in one central location....

Prevent battery death.(Product focus)
October 1, 2003... PowerPulse is a battery maintenance system that prevents battery death by eliminating sulfation build-up. The small weatherproof electronic device collects energy from a battery, reconditions it and then returns it to the battery as a pulsating...

Case packers.(New products)
October 1, 2003... Two models of entrylevel case packers, the Vertical KDF and Horizontal KDF, accommodate cartons up to 30 x 21 x 24 inches. The Vertical KDF packs four cases per minute while the Horizontal KDF handles seven cases per minute. Both models are...

Manage inventory on the go.(New products)
October 1, 2003... Users of Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PCs and Microsoft Compact Framework devices can manage inventory of their supply chains using V3.Mobile system. The system manages all aspects of inventory across interconnected supply chain...

Stretch wrap loads of all sizes.(New products)
October 1, 2003... A semi-automatic stretch wrap machine secures pallet loads of all sizes and shapes for shipment. The Yellow Jacket 110 Model 87-SA wraps loads while the driver remains on the forklift. Versatile and mobile, the machine plugs into any 110-volt...

Vehicles for forklift-free applications.(New products)
October 1, 2003... Heavy-duty, powered vehicles are for use in lean, synchronous flow and forklift-free operations. PowerFlow vehicles tow up to 3,500 pounds. They can also be easily moved into tight work areas or positioned for integration to line-side...

Floor-mounted jib crane for low headroom.(New products)
October 1, 2003... An ergonomic articulating jib device called the Easy Arm Intelligent Lifting Arm integrates G-Force lifting technology and a processor-controlled servo-drive system. It provides easy access in work cells where low headroom and obstructions make...

Small footprint containers.(New products)
October 1, 2003... The FlapNest 2416 series of nestable plastic containers features a footprint of 24 x 16 inches and is available in three heights: 9.6, 12 and 14 inches. The containers are also available with an all-plastic dolly, offering easy nesting,...

Optimize transportation management.(New products)
October 1, 2003... An enterprise-level transportation management system (TMS) optimizes the execution and visibility of outbound shipments with a multi-carrier shipment processing solution that tightly integrates with enterprise-level business processes. The...

Safety first.(New products)
October 1, 2003... Keep warehouse operations safe with the S 3000 safety laser scanner that shuts down materials handling and other equipment when it detects an object or person within a hazardous zone. The scanner can be used in stationary as well as mobile...

Easier loading of trailers.(New products)
October 1, 2003... Designed to automate the loading of trailers, a gravity conveyor features a cantilevered base and powered three-stage telescoping boom that retracts to save floor space. The gravity conveyor's wide design provides increased accumulation...

Create bar codes on the Web.(New products)
October 1, 2003... The e-BARZ Pro 3.0 is Web-based bar code printing software for UNIX, Linux and NT operating platforms. Its common gateway interface and command line capabilities enable Web designers to easily embed bar codes dynamically on any Web page....

Hoist is versatile.(New products)
October 1, 2003... A new model of web-strap winch hoists can be quickly converted from single- to double-rigged capacity without using additional parts. The hoist has a small frame and weighs 1 1/2 tons. A web guide keeps the strap from twisting while the wind-up...

Transform printer into print/apply system.(New products)
October 1, 2003... The PA1000tZ printer/applicator transforms Zebra Z4M thermal/thermal transfer bar code label printers into a print/apply system. Depending on label size and product height, the PA1000tZ applies up to 58 labels per minute. Its programmable logic...

Protected speed drive.(New products)
October 1, 2003... A tamper-proof, dust-tight enclosure designed specifically for harsh environments is featured on the Reliance SP600 AC drive. The enclosure withstands direct water pressure up to 1,000 psi and protects against dust particles as small as 75...

Packaging foam.(New products)
October 1, 2003... CelI-Aire ST polyethylene foam has a soft, non-abrasive surface with a high coefficient of friction for product protection. The soft-touch material provides a low-slip surface to hold items in place. Its closed-cell foam construction also...

The blocking and tackling of floor storage: floor pallet storage sounds simple but works best with careful attention to certain practices.(Great Ideas)
October 1, 2003... One of the most common, and surely, the most mundane of all storage methods is the stacking of pallets on the floor. With no racks to buy, and little space devoted to aisles, it seems like a natural. Perhaps because it is viewed that way, there...

The power of productivity.(Editorial)
October 15, 2003... We've all seen the headlines about industrial productivity lately. To say the least, it's having a great run, exceeding expectations most every quarter for two years now. Even after roughly a 6% total increase last year, productivity is up...

Versatile lift trucks save time and space, cut costs: automotive supplier Dana made those gains and more with narrow-aisle trucks.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... Making best use of space in a warehouse can be a challenge. And it's no easier to cut costs and save handling time, either. But automotive supplier Dana Corp. has achieved all three with a new fleet of narrow-aisle lift trucks. At its...

The right trucks for the right jobs keep shipments on time: a fleet of 54 trucks tailored to Applied Materials' specific needs keep orders moving out the door on schedule.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... Applied Materials, Inc., based in Santa Clara, Calif., makes semiconductor production systems that produce virtually every type of microchip in the world. "Each of our shipments represents several million dollars" explains Doug Lambert,...

Workplace safety improved with work-assist vehicles: replacing ladders with the vehicles cuts labor in half.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... It took only a standard demonstration of work-assist vehicles to convince the president of Southeast Records Service that its records management operations could be more efficient. The company supplies document storage for legal, medical,...

Fleet overhaul increases warehouse efficiencies: increased productivity and shorter response times to customer orders are achieved.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... Robert Weed Plywood Corp.'s internal Committee had the company's customer-first and cost-management values in mind when shopping for a new fleet of lift trucks. Quite simply, tile plywood supplier wanted to improve load handling efficiency and...

Beverage distributor handles more pallets in less time: lift truck with special attachment builds pallet loads four times faster.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... Distribution of beverages is a high-volume proposition that puts a premium on speed. And as one of the oldest, most successful independent bottlers in the country, Ab-Tex Beverage Ltd. understands the importance of streamlining warehouse...

Low-emission trucks solve operator misuse issue.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... When lift truck operators adjust trucks to achieve faster speeds, physical and environmental damage almost inevitably ensues. That was exactly the case at Delta-National Tire Corp.'s warehouses, and the company was feeling the erects. It needed...

Leased fleet cuts costs, improves operations: Hanson Cold Storage went to a leased fleet of 127 lift trucks tailored to its materials handling needs, and a full maintenance contract.(Lift Trucks)
October 15, 2003... Hanson Cold Storage wanted to spend less time worrying about lift truck management and more time taking care of its customers. So the company did what it asks customers to do--outsource. The company provides cold storage services for local,...