The Ergonomic Assist Systems and Equipment (EASE) Council of MHI has produced a new brochure to help promote safer, healthier and more ergonomically correct workplaces.

EASE members are the leading providers of ergonomic assist systems and equipment for the industrial environment. Their solutions promote the general safety and health aspects of work environments for people with or in the vicinity of mechanical equipment. Such equipment includes Adjustable Worker Elevation Platforms, Balancers, Containers Tilters, Lift Tables, Manipulators, Pallet Rotators, Stackers, Vacuum Assist Devices, platform trucks, carts, flooring technologies, Workstation Cranes and Intelligent Assist Devices.

The brochure serves as an introduction to the EASE Council and their programming and directs the reader to the EASE Web site and it's ergonomic and safety resources including checklists, technical information, presentation materials, success stories and ergonomic news and events. Click here to download this brochure.

The EASE Council of MHI is a resource for trends, information, practices, equipment and organizations that focus on ergonomics and improving the working interface between people and the materials they must move and use to reduce injury, increase productivity while providing a significant return on investment.

MHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling and logistics industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling, logistics and supply chain equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. The association sponsors trade events, such as ProMat and MODEX to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.

Contact: Carol Miller, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, MHI (704) 676-1190.

A new report by the American Trucking Association (ATA) titled American Trucking Trends 2013, demonstrated that trucking continues to play a dominant role in freight transportation in the United States as even more goods were delivered by truck in 2012.

“The data in Trends shows a dynamic, growing industry that is the literal lifeblood of the U.S. economy,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves.

Among the findings:

· Trucks moved 9.4 billion tons of freight in 2012, or 68.5% of all domestic shipments. Both figures are up from the previous year.
· In 2012, trucking generated $642.1 billion in gross freight-related revenues, or 80.7% of the nation’s freight bills, also increases from 2011.
· There are 6.9 million people employed in trucking-related industries.
· The majority of trucking companies are small businesses – with 90.5% operating six or fewer trucks. Only 2.8% of fleets operate more than 20 trucks.
· Class 6-8 trucks traveled 137.2 billion miles in 2011 – up 4.7% from the previous year.
· The trucking industry paid $36.5 billion in federal and state highway user fees and taxes in 2011 – a 10.3% increase from 2009.

American Trucking Trends 2013 is available for purchase, click here to learn more.

Pittsburgh, PA—Seegrid Corporation, a leading manufacturer of vision-guided robotic industrial trucks to the material handling industry, announced Q1 of 2013 was a record quarter for unit sales.  Michael Hasco, Chief Growth Officer for Seegrid shared, “Distribution and manufacturing companies are turning to automation to drastically cut costs and improve their bottom line.  To stay competitive, companies must do more with less and we have seen over the past few months a rise in the number of businesses deploying robotic industrial trucks as a cost-savings solution.”

Seegrid record quarter is not a surprise.  According to the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), a total of 5,833 robots valued at $341.2 million were ordered from North American robotics companies through March, an increase of 14.5% in units over the same period in 2012 and 10% above the previous quarter record set in 2005.

MHI reported improved efficiencies and accuracy and speed are the most important drivers for automation investments for manufacturing and distribution facilities. The report also stated seventy-four percent of manufacturing and distribution professionals are considering automation for their operations.

Seegrid expects the balance of 2013 to show equally spectacular growth, with Hasco noting, “Global market leaders are utilizing robotic tow tractors and pallet trucks to carry out the simplistic point A to point B transportation of goods.  With safety at the forefront of all operations, Seegrid robots eliminate manned forklift related accidents and improve overall safety in the plant.”

About Seegrid
Founded in 2003, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corporation (www.seegrid.com) brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. With more than thirty years of innovation and research by leading robotic scientists, engineers, programmers and logistics practitioners worldwide, Seegrid’s exclusive Robotic Industrial Trucks are revolutionizing the movement of materials in manufacturing and distribution environments. Seegrid’s technology transforms industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, tape, laser, magnet or other automated guided vehicle (AGV) guidance systems. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages. Fast Company magazine named Seegrid as one of the Top 50 World’s Most Innovative Company in 2013 and among the Top 10 World’s Most Innovative Robotics Company in 2013. Follow Seegrid Corporation on Twitter at @Seegrid.

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For more information please contact:
Michael Hasco
mhasco@seegrid.com
412-379-4500x 237

Amanda Merrell
amerrell@seegrid.com
412-389-4500x184

PECO Pallet is pleased to announce the opening of the first PECO-operated pallet depot in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

This brand-new facility leverages the PECO team’s extensive depot experience to create a true center of excellence. In addition to sorting, repairing, storing, and reissuing pallets, this depot will also provide a place to develop operational best-in-class processes that will be implemented across PECO’s North American depot network.

The Hazleton Depot, which opened on January 2, 2013, has a focus on workstation layout and state-of-the-art equipment designed in an effort to minimize operator steps and maximize pallet quality. The new facility will be fully ramped up by July 1, 2013.

The PECO Hazleton Depot is located about 95 miles north of Philadelphia and makes an excellent showplace for customer visits, employee training, and other company events. There is a professional conference room for meetings or training sessions. New photos from the facility can be seen on the PECO website.

To find out more about the Hazleton Depot, or to schedule a customer tour, please contact Ed Jordan, ejordan@pecopallet.com or 914-376-3850.

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For more information please contact:
Peco Pallets
877-227-7326
Fax: 914-376-7376
sales@pecopallet.com
www.pecopallet.com
 

Integrated Systems Design – ISD has just launched a new website www.ISDDD.com for warehouse, manufacturing and distribution applications and latest automation techniques and equipment. The information and resource rich site tries to help guide users to possible solutions to aid organizations in competing in a global economy.

Short videos on key automated material handling systems enrich every page in the site. A resource section has a collection of white papers, equipment guides, ANSI specifications and more of which many are open and available for instant downloading.

A new section on Integrated Systems Design’s manufactured UltraProducts is available with one click. Each product has its own easy to get to page full of descriptions, applications, videos and specifications. This product line’s unique attributes and cost effectiveness make it very attractive to most organizations.

ISD - Integrated Systems Design is a leading manufacturer and systems consultant, designer and integrator for warehouse, manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, institutions and retail organizations in North America. ISD systems are renowned for their tremendous value, reliability and ease of maintenance. Systems are designed using technologies from the leading material handling manufacturers of the world.

Solutions designed by ISD focus on providing space savings, increased productivity, reduced labor, higher accuracy and system flexibility to change as on operations activities change in the future. Utilizing proven technology and off the shelf components helps provide cost effective solutions requiring minimum maintenance and yielding fast Return on Investments (ROI).

ISD expertise ranges from handling and picking pieces (eaches), cases, pallets, build lines, and special or custom handling solutions. Products and services include: automatic storage and retrieval (ASRS), conveyor, robotics, batch stations, automatic inserters and printers, pick to light, A-frames, horizontal and vertical carousels, vertical lift modules (VLMs), controls, software (including inventory management, WCS, WMS, MES and ERP), application and facility consulting and design, AutoCAD, system simulation, moves, installation and service.

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For more information please contact:
Ed Romaine
eromaine@isddd.com
215-431-4524

Gartner, Inc. has released the findings from its ninth annual Supply Chain Top 25. The goal of the Supply Chain Top 25 research initiative is to raise awareness of the supply chain discipline and how it impacts the business.

"At the heart of the Supply Chain Top 25 is the notion of demand-driven leadership," said Debra Hofman, managing vice president at Gartner. "We've been researching and writing about demand-driven practices since 2003, highlighting the journey companies are taking: from the old 'push' model of supply chain to one that integrates demand, supply and product into a value network that orchestrates a profitable response to ever-shifting changes in demand."

Alongside some perennial leaders with new lessons to share, Gartner's 2013 Supply Chain Top 25 offers three new companies, a growing group of industrials from which to learn, and two newcomers to the Top 5. The Top 5 includes three from last year — Apple, McDonald's and Amazon — and two that are new to the Top 5 but have been rising steadily — Intel and Unilever — while the three new companies joining the top 25 this year are Ford, Lenovo and Qualcomm.

Apple tops Gartner's ranking for a record-breaking sixth year in a row, continuing to outpace everyone else by a wide margin. Apple was ranked No. 1 again by the peer voters, capturing 75 percent of the highest possible points a company can get across the voting pool. Nos. 2 and 3 switched places this year, with McDonald's capturing the No. 2 slot and Amazon coming in at No. 3. This, however, was not reflected in the peer voters' opinion. Amazon ranked a very close second behind Apple in the peer vote, almost completely closing the opinion gap from previous years and fast gaining on Apple's voting position.

Gartner analysts highlighted three standout trends for supply chain leaders this year.

A New Frontier of Performance
Many companies are working on building out the foundational components of an end-to-end supply chain across disparate businesses, focusing on improving core supply chain functions, and creating more common processes and systems across them. More-advanced companies describe a wide range of initiatives that build on the foundation, including end-to-end supply chain segmentation, simplification, cost-to-serve analytics, multitier visibility and supply network optimization.

"What differentiates the top companies is where they are in the life cycle of these innovations," said Stan Aronow, research director at Gartner. "The leaders have gone beyond the theory and are now deploying the capabilities that others are just starting to consider. In doing so, they are finding new and creative ways to use these capabilities, exploring synergies and opportunities they hadn't necessarily anticipated in advance. Leaders are discovering that the combination of capabilities they are now implementing brings them to a new frontier of performance, and affords them an entirely new toolbox with which they can orchestrate the optimization of their business and leap ahead of the competition."

A New Imperative for Smarter Growth
Against a backdrop of slow growth, many companies might have been expected to retrench and slip back to focusing their supply chains solely and exclusively on delivering cost reductions and efficiency gains to corporate bottom lines. Instead, in 2013, leaders are embracing a new imperative for growth, realizing they have to get smarter about how they do it.

"At leading companies in diverse industries, the supply chain organization is no longer narrowly focused on driving efficiencies and cost cutting; it sees itself, and is seen by its CEO, as a growth enabler," said Ms. Hofman. "Part of 'getting smarter' about growth is partnership across the business. Leading high-tech and consumer product companies, for instance, are approaching new markets with cross-functional teams that include sales, marketing, operations and IT to holistically design a synchronized entry strategy: starting with the customer and designing the right product, pricing, margin targets, service levels, and supply chain network design and tradeoffs that will all work together to achieve the goal."

Getting to the Heart of Talent
Acquiring, developing and retaining supply chain talent continues to be a major focus area for companies. Companies are investing time and resources in expanded university relationships, rotational programs, enhanced career progression planning specific to supply chain, multichannel learning options, supply chain certification programs, supply chain leadership development, and others.

"Leading supply chain organizations are going beyond specific talent initiatives to look at the fundamentals of motivation in their supply chain teams," said Mr. Aronow. "For them it's about engaging hearts, not just minds; it's about igniting passion and excitement for the work, not just compliance. These organizations use terms such as wanting to be a 'destination company,' or an 'employer of choice' in supply chain. They're finding ways to connect individual activity not only to their corporate goals, but to a larger aspirational goal."

More detailed analysis is available in the report "The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2013." Click here for a complimentary copy of the report.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) is collaborating with DHL to accelerate the evolution of sustainable logistics across Asia Pacific with the launch of the Green Transformation Lab. This S$2 million initiative, hosted at the SMU School of Information Systems on the University's city campus, will focus on the creation of innovative solutions to help organizations transform their businesses towards sustainable green growth and drive beneficial change in supply chains across the region. This joint initiative will fulfill its mission through education, research and best practice development.

Mr Bruce Edwards, Global CEO, DHL Supply Chain, said: "DHL has long recognized the need for supply chains in Asia Pacific to adopt more sustainable logistics models. 'Green' momentum is growing amongst policy makers, companies and consumers but more can be done to spearhead the application of Green solutions throughout the supply chain. The Green Transformation Lab will help these organizations move beyond measuring and planning by creating more sustainable solutions for companies and supply chains that lead to large-scale adoption and subsequent economies of scale."

The fact that logistics costs as a percentage of GDP are significantly higher in Asia Pacific than in the US and Europe calls for more sustainable logistics operations and makes it a real catalyst to sustainable, economic growth. In its outstanding position as one of the world's biggest logistics hubs and its prospect of developing into a mega city with more than 6 million residents by 2017, supply chain sustainability is also vital to Singapore's continued economic success with the value of merchandise imports and exports being three times greater than Singapore's GDP.

Professor Arnoud De Meyer, SMU President, said, "Singapore is a regional hub for supply chain management and this puts us in a unique position when it comes to finding solutions for tomorrow's world. We possess the knowledge and are able to provide a conducive environment for generating ideas and solutions that are vendor-neutral and interdisciplinary to help companies steer a green transformation of their business. SMU's strength in information systems, operations and risk management, business strategies, law, economics and social sciences, allied to DHL's global leadership in logistics, is a powerful combination. We are confident that the outcome of our collaboration with DHL will be transformational thought-leadership and practical tools that Asia can use to evolve green supply chains that will contribute significantly to the long-term business growth of the region with Singapore as the driver."

The Green Transformation Lab aims to:

• Build and test new capabilities that empower organizations with knowledge, best practices and tools to achieve their sustainability goals
• Support transformation initiatives at both industry and organization levels through innovative methods and advanced technologies
• Raise awareness of greener and more sustainable operations

Opening in May 2013, the Green Transformation Lab will have two full time directors -- Mr Stephan Schablinski from DHL will serve as Director; Ms Kar Way Tan from SMU will serve as Academic Director. The Green Transformation Lab will be supported by SMU faculty and students, as well as by DHL professional staff. The Lab hopes to attract more companies that wish to accelerate sustainable supply chain adoption as partners.

Priority projects for the Green Transformation Lab in 2013 in the area of visual analytics is the enhancement of the DHL Carbon Dashboard -- an end-to-end supply chain management tool -- and research into Extended Producer Responsibility to understand its current status and trends in the region. The Green Transformation Lab will also be conducting research into innovative business models that create a strong value proposition in the area of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) while leveraging core logistics competencies.

Click here to learn more.

Walled Lake, Michigan - EnKon Systems, Herkules Equipment Corporation’s brand name of lift systems, has designed an “off-the-shelf” Electric Belt Drive Scissor Lift Table, model #LSBD04 that provides a high duty cycle, static positioning, and repeatability.   This patented and extremely versatile scissor lift utilizes the latest technology for advancing the efficiencies in manufacturing and automation applications, with an “off-the-shelf” delivery and cost.

Designed with a high safety factor, the LSBD04 is powered with a mechatronics drive system using a single belt, multi-pulley design, powered by a standard 480 volts 3 phase.  This innovative lift design holds a static position to +/- .06” indefinitely, can fulfill 120,000-plus duty cycles in a year, has a capacity of up to 2000 lbs, and is 40” wide x 59” long.  It requires very little maintenance.    

Easy to use, the LSBD04 integrates well with conveyors and robotics within advance manufacturing systems, and is ideal for clean room applications since there is no need for hydraulic fluid.   As with any scissor lift table, EnKon’s engineering team can customize the lift for a specific application to answer a customer’s need.

For more product information, please contact EnKon Systems at 800-444-4351, or at info@enkon.pro or visit our website at www.enkon.pro.

EnKon Systems is the brand name for Herkules Equipment Corporation’s electric, hydraulic and air powered scissor lift table systems.   Herkules has been manufacturing lifting equipment close to 30 years, building a solid reputation specifically for designing & manufacturing air operated lift systems for a variety of applications.  Standard and custom lift systems include; Electric Belt Drive Lifts, Electric Ball Screw Lifts, Air Lifts, Hydraulic Lifts, Lift Tables, Lift & Rotates, Lift & Tilts, Operator Lifts, Power Rotate Systems, Cart Positioners, Pallet Positioners, Post Lifts, and Lifts for Integration.  

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For more information please contact:
Kris Fairbrother
248-960-7100 ext 209   
kris@herkules.us
www.herkules.us
www.enkon.pro
 

Wetter, Germany. Terex Material Handling is further extending its position as a leading supplier of automated storage systems for the cement industry: the company is equipping two stores with Demag process cranes and storage controllers. After commissioning, planned for the first quarter of 2014, the two crane stores in Colombia and Mongolia will run fully automatically in 24/7 operation.

Lutz Dowy, Vice President Sales & Product Management at Terex Material Handling says: “With our automated crane installations, we offer complete solutions for storage area management in the cement industry. Our customers benefit from robust crane technology that, with the highest availability, places the materials into storage and safeguards the production processes.”

On behalf of FL Smidth A/S, one of the world’s leading suppliers of machines and systems for the cement industry, Terex Material Handling is supplying two Demag process cranes for the new construction of an additives store in Mongolia. The two identical crane installations, with a span of 15.5 m, travel on a crane runway of approx. 78 m in length. Equipped with a 4m³ powered clam-shell grab, the Demag process cranes place the base materials clay, iron ore, sand and gypsum into storage, sorted correctly by type. With the store management system also included in the scope of delivery, the operator will be able to use the cranes independently around the clock.

Following the modernisation of a clinker store in its plant in Toluviejo, Colombia, the manufacturer Cementos Argos S.A. will use Demag process crane technology. The crane installation ensures the placement into storage, transport, mixing and timely provision of various clinker and additives. The installed and completely automated crane installation with 14 t load capacity and 30 m span also features scanner technology. A scanner installed on the crane bridge records the filling height of the materials in the storage area of approximately 2,900 m² every time the crane travels. From this data the store management computer creates a height profile and steers the grab of the crane exactly over the transfer points in a time-saving manner. The fill levels are also permanently measured using scanner technology and transparent store management is ensured.

About Terex Material Handling
Terex Corporation is one of the world’s leading suppliers of crane technology with Demag industrial cranes and crane components. The core competence of the Terex Material Handling business group lies in the development, design and production of technically sophisticated cranes, hoists and components and the provision of sales and services for these products. The business group manufactures in 16 countries on five continents and is present in more than 60 countries, reaching customers in more than 100 countries.

Terex Corporation is a diversified global manufacturer of a broad range of equipment. A core activity of Terex Corporation is the provision of reliable, customer-driven solutions for many applications, including the construction, infrastructure, shipping, transport, quarrying, mining, refining, energy, utility and manufacturing industries. Terex reports in five business segments: Aerial Work Platforms; Construction; Cranes; Material Handling & Port Solutions; and Materials Processing Terex Financial Services offers a wide range of products and services to assist in the acquisition of Terex equipment. Please visit our websites at www.demagcranes.de and www.terex.com for further information.

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For more information please contact:
Christoph Kreutzenbeck
+49 (0) 211 7102-3907
christoph.kreutzenbeck@terex.com

Manufacturing contracted in May as the PMI™ registered 49 percent, a decrease of 1.7 percentage points when compared to April's reading of 50.7 percent., and the overall economy grew for the 48th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

"The PMI™ registered 49 percent, a decrease of 1.7 percentage points from April's reading of 50.7 percent, indicating contraction in manufacturing for the first time since November 2012 and only the second time since July 2009, said Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the Institute for Supply Management™ Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

"This month's PMI™ reading is at its lowest level since June 2009, when it registered 45.8 percent. The New Orders Index decreased in May by 3.5 percentage points to 48.8 percent, and the Production Index decreased by 4.9 percentage points to 48.6 percent. The Employment Index registered 50.1 percent, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage point compared to April's reading of 50.2 percent. The Prices Index registered 49.5 percent, decreasing 0.5 percentage point from April, indicating that overall raw materials prices decreased from last month. Several comments from the panel indicate a flattening or softening in demand due to a sluggish economy, both domestically and globally."

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 10 are reporting growth in May in the following order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Wood Products; Furniture & Related Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; and Paper Products. The six industries reporting contraction in May — listed in order — are: Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Primary Metals.

New Orders
ISM's New Orders Index registered 48.8 percent in May, a decrease of 3.5 percentage points when compared to the April reading of 52.3 percent. This represents contraction in new orders for the first time since December 2012, when the index registered 49.7 percent.

Production
ISM's Production Index registered 48.6 percent in May, which is a decrease of 4.9 percentage points when compared to the 53.5 percent reported in April.

Employment
ISM's Employment Index registered 50.1 percent in May, which is 0.1 percentage point lower than the 50.2 percent reported in April. This month's reading indicates growth in employment for the 44th consecutive month, but at a slightly slower rate.

Click here to view the full report.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN – Frog AGV Systems announces longtime Automated Guided Vehicle expert David A. Noble recently joined the organization as Vice President of Business Development.

“Dave’s experience in the AGV industry as a leading sales and marketing executive and as a 2013 Pro-To-Know recipient by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine makes him the crucial ingredient needed as we grow our North American operations” notes Nick Wurmlinger, General Manager.

As Vice President of Business Development, Dave will be leading the sales and marketing efforts for the company. As a member of the Material Handling Industry trade group, Dave will be a national delegate for MHI’s “Automated Guided Vehicle” product section. Dave will also help shape Frog’s new North American AGV manufacturing center which opened in 2013.

“I am excited to be part of Frog,” states Noble. “For the past 30 years, Frog has led the material handling market in Automated Guided Vehicle navigation technology with their patented “Free Range On Grid” guidance system.” I am looking forward to helping them increase their North American AGV market share while bringing state-of-the-art driverless product transport to companies looking to improve their bottom line.”

Frog AGV Systems is a global material handling company that develops, implements and markets Automated Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVs), navigation hardware, and software. Frog offers customized and automated transport solutions to efficiently, competitively and effectively meet the ever-increasing transport demands of various industries by increasing productivity, reliability, flexibility and safety standards through innovation, expertise and robustness. Frog has been delivering automatic guided vehicle solutions to the world's leading companies for 30 years.

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For more information please contact:
Nick Wurmlinger
(248) 373-7200
nick@frogusa.com
www.frogusa.com
 

(Pewaukee, WI) Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. has received an I.Q. Award for Innovation from BizTimes Media LLC.

The I.Q. Awards salute southeastern Wisconsin businesses for their innovations in products and services. The award was presented at the BizTimes Award luncheon on May 16th, in Milwaukee, WI.

“It’s an honor to receive this award” says Tony Goff, President of Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. “We truly have a fantastic group of team members who are the foundation of our success. Winning this award reinforces our dedication to continually create innovative products that are flexible, simple, and effective.”

Goff’s Enterprises has been manufacturing a wide variety of flexible industrial space partitioning products for over 25 years. Goff’s product line includes curtain walls, welding curtains & screens, high speed industrial vinyl and mesh roll-up doors, strip doors, sound control products, climate control curtains, food processing curtains and more.

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For more information please contact:
Marcus Mohwinkel
800-234-0337
sales@goffscw.com
www.goffscurtainwalls.com

(Pewaukee, WI) Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. has announced the addition of the Spring Assist Door to their G2 Lite line of doors.

Goff’s G2 Lite Spring Assist Door features a durable internal custom torsion spring and an exclusive interior chain-pull quick-release feature for easy and hassle-free opening. It has a rugged centrifugal latching mechanism that allows the door to be stopped at any position and released from both sides. It’s designed with a modular web construction with replaceable panels available in vinyl, mesh, and clear PVC. The doors have impact-resistant fiberglass wind bars that allow it to easily be reset without damage to the door.

Goff’s G2 Lite Door line was released early last year. It was adapted from Goff’s G2 Door as a cost effective option for dock doors and internal doors that do not endure heavy fork lift traffic and high wind loads. Goff’s G2 and G2 Lite Doors are available in a variety of manual and motorized operations.

“The G2 Lite Spring Assist Door is a perfect addition to our G2 Lite line” states Tony Goff, President of Goff’s Enterprises. “It gives our customers a full array of door options based on functionality requirements and cost constraints; from high duty cycle and wind loads, to low traffic and limited use applications.”

Goff’s Enterprises has been manufacturing a wide variety of flexible industrial space partitioning products for over 25 years. Based in Pewaukee, WI, Goff’s product line includes curtain walls, welding curtains & screens, high speed industrial vinyl and mesh roll-up doors, strip doors, sound control products, climate control curtains, food processing curtains and more.

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For more information please contact:
Marcus Mohwinkel
800-234-0337
www.goffdoors.com
 

(Jonesboro, AR) Hytrol Conveyor Co., Inc. is now offering an affordable Unified Drive System with standard lead times. This Unified Drive solution provides many benefits to your conveyor system and is the lowest cost to support. It is a quiet system with great design flexibility and requires fewer spare components. A major advantage of the system is it requires little to no maintenance, and the compact drive assists with lower elevations and obstacles.

Hytrol’s Unified Drive System eliminates:
• Drive chain            
• Sprockets
• Chain guard
• Vent plug
• Lubrication
• Alignment
• Tensioning

This system is available to order in various models and drive configurations. To learn more about Hytrol's Unified Drive System, click on the following link to download the Product Focus Sheet.

Contact your authorized integration partner for further information. Click here for a complete list of Hytrol’s integration partners.

About Hytrol:
Hytrol Conveyor Co., Inc. designs and manufactures innovative conveyor equipment, controls, and solutions for customers with processing, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution needs. Hytrol’s 27,000 square foot Technology Center is the birthplace for many industry-changing solutions, such as EZLogic® accumulation conveyors and the E24™, a low-voltage, motor driven roller conveyor series. These technologies are complemented by Hytrol’s sortation offerings, the ProSort 400 Elite Series high speed shoe sorter, as well as the ProSort MRT series narrow belt sorter. Hytrol's consistent growth is strengthened by its Integration Partner Network, with over 100 locations worldwide. Experience the Hytrol Advantage today!

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For more information please contact:
Phillip Poston
pposton@hytrol.com
870.935.3700
 

Kardex Remstar has extended its portfolio for the RS series, the latest generation of the proven vertical carousel, by introducing the new Megamat RS 180. This new model satisfies market demands for tailored solutions.

The Megamat RS 180 is particularly well equipped for storing and retrieving small items; the weight capacity holds up to 397.8 pounds per carrier with a total unit load of 13,260 pounds. The vertical carousel can increase order picking efficiency on the factory floor, production line or in distribution centers to optimize processes and minimize costs.

The Right Solution for Light Duty Operations
As Marc A. Zenses, Manager Solution/Product Management at Kardex Remstar explains: "In terms of durability, functionality and user friendliness, the new Megamat RS 180 matches with the rest of the product family. With the RS series we now cover three load classes, with the latest Megamat addition serving the lightweight class up to 180 kilograms." Any tailored, lightweight storage requirements can be served by the vertical carousel, which ensures maximum storage space in a minimal footprint. This can save up to 85% of floor space. The Megamat RS 180 is equipped as standard with the new Logicontrol machine controller, which offers basic warehouse management functions.

Versatility wins the game
Available in a variety of widths from 6.09 feet to 12.6 feet, depths from 4.7 feet to 5.3 feet and heights from 7.2 feet to 24.6 feet; the Megamat RS 180 is designed for light duty operations storage. The storage system can be extended at any time, and the devices can be easily relocated. A wide variety of items can be stored in the Megamat RS 180, ranging from nuts and bolts to bulky spare parts to sensitive semi-finished products. The warehouse system can also be designed for specific controlled climate environments for example temperature controlled or clean room.

Improved safety and ergonomics
Several safety features and the carousel's ergonomic design afford optimum protection for both stored goods and operating personnel. The smooth-action sliding door, for instance, ensures faster, safer access to items. Access authorizations can be optionally granted to specific persons. Downtimes can be avoided in the event of power failure as the carousel can be manually operated by emergency hand crank as a temporary measure.

Kardex Remstar, LLC, a company of the Kardex Group is a leading provider of automated storage and retrieval systems for manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, offices and institutions. For information on automated storage and retrieval systems, call 800-639-5805 or visit www.kardexremstar.com.

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For more information please contact:
Christina Dube
207-591-3168
Fax 207-854-1610
christina.dube@kardexremstar.com
http://MediaCenter.KardexRemstar.com  
www.KardexRemstar.com

Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) -- Manhattan Associates has named 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group, a leading supply chain consulting, systems implementation and engineering firm, to the Manhattan Partner Performance Club for its efforts to help clients successfully deploy Manhattan solutions.

“We are honored to receive this award from one of our valued software partners,” said Frank Camean, President and CEO of 4SIGHT. “Our focus is to help clients successfully deploy best-of-breed supply chain software applications to strengthen their distribution and transportation operations. Our functional and technical expertise with the Manhattan product suite, coupled with our solid implementation methodology, helps our mutual clients achieve their supply chain objectives.”

“These great partners are leaders in the supply chain industry, working with Manhattan Associates to provide excellent service and strategy to our shared customers,” said Jeff Cashman, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Manhattan Associates. “Their integration expertise and understanding of supply chain solutions provide significant added value for new and existing customers alike.”

The Manhattan Value Partner (MVP) program is an ecosystem of third-party integrators/consultants, complementary software providers and hardware providers whose combined expertise and products ensure delivery of world-class supply chain solutions to joint customers.

About 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group
4SIGHT specializes in supply chain consulting, systems implementation and engineering. Our seasoned professionals average more than 18 years of experience helping manufacturers, distributors and retailers solve their supply chain challenges. As a testament to the value our clients place on our expertise, experience and integrity, 4SIGHT has received multiple industry awards. For more information, please email us at in4mation(at)go4sight.com or call (201) 940-7311.

About Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Manhattan Associates continues to deliver on its 22-year heritage of providing global supply chain excellence to more than 1,200 customers worldwide that consider supply chain optimization core to their strategic market leadership. The company's supply chain innovations include: Manhattan SCOPE a portfolio of software solutions and technology that leverages a Supply Chain Process Platform to help organizations optimize their supply chains from planning through execution; Manhattan SCALE™, a portfolio of distribution management and transportation management solutions built on Microsoft .NET technology; and Manhattan Carrier, a suite of supply chain solutions specifically addressing the needs of the motor carrier industry. For more information, please visit www.manh.com

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For more information please contact:
Greg Puckett
www.go4sight.com
770-992-3269

Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) -- 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group, a leading Supply Chain consulting and systems implementation firm, announced today the formation of its Operational Excellence practice. The focus of this practice is to help clients improve the efficiency, productivity and customer service of their Fulfillment, Distribution and Transportation operations by building continuous improvement plans that leverage benchmarking, best practices, performance measurement and workforce development.

"We’re already providing operational excellence consulting for many of our clients. With the expansion of our Labor Management practice and the continued growth of our Consulting and Transportation practices, it makes sense for us to dedicate a practice to helping our clients define, achieve, and maintain excellence across their Fulfillment, Distribution and Transportation operations," said Frank Camean, President and CEO of 4SIGHT.

Within the Operational Excellence practice, 4SIGHT’s professionals will help supply chain executives create continuous improvement programs that analyze their current state of operations, identify opportunities for improvement, understand the alternative solutions available to capture those opportunities, and create a roadmap for reaching their goals and maintaining their new levels of excellence.

“Because of the cross-functional capabilities of our Consulting, Transportation, and Labor Management practices, we have a holistic view of supply chain operations. We will leverage this domain expertise to help clients develop an integrated roadmap for achieving operational excellence,” said Camean.

About 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group
4SIGHT specializes in supply chain consulting, systems implementation and engineering. Our seasoned professionals average more than 19 years of experience helping companies across all industries solve their distribution, fulfillment and transportation challenges. As a testament to the value our clients place on our expertise, experience and integrity, 4SIGHT has received multiple industry awards. For more information, please email us at in4mation@go4sight.com or call (201) 940-7311. On the Web: www.go4sight.com

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For more information please contact:
Greg Puckett
770-992-3269

Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) -- 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group, a leading supply chain consulting and systems implementation firm, has been awarded the 2013 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 award. For the third consecutive year, 4SIGHT received the honor based on a highly successful WMS implementation project for a Fortune 500 client.

The 2013 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 are supply chain solution and service providers that are helping their customers and clients achieve supply chain excellence. They have produced measurable gains in ROI through cost-cutting and increased efficiency, whether in distribution, transportation, procurement sourcing or any other category in the end-to-end supply chain. 

Through an online submission process, Supply & Demand Chain Executive collected information on supply chain transformation projects, including information on the objectives, scope, timeline and results of each project. The submissions were evaluated by the magazine's editorial staff primarily based on ambitiousness/scope of the project; creative application of technologies/solutions/services used; extent of the business results/impact; clarity of submission.

“Winning this award for the third consecutive year is a testament to our team’s experience and quality of workmanship,” said Frank Camean, President and CEO of 4SIGHT. “We have a veteran team of supply chain professionals that deliver strong results for our clients every day on every project. Our entire team is proud of this accomplishment for these types of transformation projects are never easy. We’ve been successful because we run a very strong operation with high quality resources and we expect the best from our team - and they deliver. Everyone at 4SIGHT has bought into our program and it shows,” said Camean.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. On the Web: www.SDCExec.com.

About 4SIGHT Supply Chain Group
4SIGHT specializes in supply chain consulting, systems implementation and engineering. Our seasoned professionals average more than 19 years of experience helping companies across all industries solve their fulfillment, distribution transportation challenges. As a testament to the value our clients place on our expertise, experience and integrity, 4SIGHT has received multiple industry awards. For more information, please email us at in4mation@go4sight.com or call (201) 940-7311. On the Web: www.go4sight.com

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For more information please contact:
Greg Puckett
770-992-3269
 

Pittsburgh, PA—Seegrid Corporation a leader in robotic industrial trucks announced the addition of Suzanne Love as human resource administrator.  Before joining Seegrid, Love was employed by Enscoe Long Insurance Group, a medical P&C brokerage firm.  Love was responsible for human resources and employee benefits for all account groups.  In addition, Love served as a wellness coordinator with responsibility for educating account groups on the importance of wellness programs within their organizations and assisting them with the implementation of those programs.

As Human Resource Administrator, Love will manage all aspects of human resources including benefits administration for medical, dental, vision, and voluntary plans.  She will also be responsible recruitment, onboarding for new hires, and processing payroll for hourly and salary employees.

Love shared her excitement about joining the Seegrid team and commented, “I am thrilled to join an innovative organization such as Seegrid with its enormous potential for future growth.  I enjoy working in all areas of human resources including employee benefits, recruiting, implementation of policies and procedures, and most importantly dealing daily with the most important resource an organization has—their employees.”

According to David Heilman, Chief Administrative Officer for Seegrid, “Suzanne’s high level of energy and skilled background in human resources makes her an excellent fit for a rapidly growing company like Seegrid.  Along with managing human resources, Suzanne will be responsible for launching a company-wide health and wellness program.”

About Seegrid
Founded in 2003, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seegrid Corporation (www.seegrid.com) brings robotic vision-guided technology to the material handling industry. With more than thirty years of innovation and research by leading robotic scientists, engineers, programmers and logistics practitioners worldwide, Seegrid’s exclusive Robotic Industrial Trucks are revolutionizing the movement of materials in manufacturing and distribution environments. Seegrid’s technology transforms industrial vehicles into unmanned, automated pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate without the need for wire, tape, laser, magnet or other automated guided vehicle (AGV) guidance systems. Seegrid offers solutions that optimize workflow processes by increasing productivity and reducing costs, creating economic and operational advantages. Fast Company magazine named Seegrid as one of the Top 50 World’s Most Innovative Company in 2013 and among the Top 10 World’s Most Innovative Robotics Company in 2013. Follow Seegrid Corporation on Twitter at @Seegrid.

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For more information please contact:
Michael Hasco
mhasco@seegrid.com
412-379-4500x 237

Amanda Merrell
amerrell@seegrid.com
412-389-4500x184

AMHERST, N.Y. – Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCO), a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer, and marketer of material handling systems and services, is proud to announce the addition of 22 products to our In-Stock Guarantee (ISG) inventory.

Launched in March 2013, the In-Stock Guarantee is a company-wide commitment to ship our most popular chain and forged attachment products in 3 days. If any ISG product is not shipped on time, Columbus McKinnon Channel Partners will receive a 5% discount and free shipping on a future rigging order.

Our In-Stock Guarantee business model was developed from the top down, with a focus on providing our Channel Partners and Distributors with best-in-class service on the chain and forged attachment products that they use every day.

Today, we have expanded our In-Stock Guarantee offering by 22 products. With these new shackles, master links, and sub-assemblies, Columbus McKinnon now offers more than 155 chain and rigging products that are guaranteed to be in stock and ready to ship. For more information on the In-Stock Guarantee and to watch our video, please visit www.cmworks.com/In-StockGuarantee

About Columbus McKinnon
Columbus McKinnon is a global leader in the material handling industry, supplying products and systems that efficiently and ergonomically move, lift, position or secure materials. Key products include hoists, cranes, actuators, chain and forged attachments. The Company is focused on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by its superior design and engineering know-how. Comprehensive information on Columbus McKinnon is available on its web site at http://www.cmworks.com.

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For more information please contact:

Gary Krypel
cmco.marketing@cmworks.com