(Irvington, NY): PECO Pallet, Inc. was recently named a Green 75 Supply Chain Partner by Inbound Logistics magazine. The company will be profiled in the special “Lean and Green” June issue as one of the top 75 companies in supply chain sustainability.

As a North American leader in pallet pooling, PECO Pallet provides a more sustainable shipping platform for grocery and consumer goods manufacturers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. PECO’s sturdy wood block pallets are built from responsibly forested timber and are constantly reused, repaired, and recycled. Shippers who utilize PECO’s pooled pallets can eliminate the waste, inefficiency, and safety problems associated with single-use stringer pallets.

Adrian Potgieter, PECO Pallet’s Senior Vice President of Sales, said, “Sustainability is nothing new at PECO Pallet – our entire company was founded on the basic principle of reusing pallets to reduce waste. We sincerely appreciate the recognition from Inbound Logistics and hope that other companies who want to ‘go green’ will think about switching to ‘red’ as a way of reducing their own carbon footprint.”

This is PECO Pallet’s second year winning the recognition as a G75 Supply Chain Partner. Inbound Logistics’ methodology for selecting 75 Green Supply Chain Partners (G75) considers a company’s involvement in three areas: participation in public-private partnerships, corporate sustainability initiatives, and collaborative customer-driven projects. The editors base their choices on measurable green results, sustainability innovation, continuous improvement, and industry recognition. As Editor Felecia Stratton explained, “The 2013 [G75] honorees are truly ‘walking the walk’ when it comes to commitment to supply chain sustainability.”

About PECO Pallet:
PECO Pallet is a North American leader in pallet rental services and provides millions of its red wood block pallets to major grocery and consumer goods manufacturers throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. PECO Pallet’s tremendous growth over the last decade reflects the company’s overall commitment to exceptional quality and genuine passion for customer service excellence. PECO is headquartered in Irvington, New York and maintains over 550 service centers and manufacturing plants throughout North America. For more information about PECO Pallet, visit www.pecopallet.com.

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For more information please contact:
Adrian Potgieter
914.619.8947
apotgieter@pecopallet.com
 

The Ralphs-Pugh Company is converting to solar powered electricity for its 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Benicia. CA.  Bill Pugh, Ralphs-Pugh’s president stated, “with a temperate climate and an average of 262 sunny days per year our location is ideal to maximize the use of solar energy.”   The solar power rooftop system engineered by Helio Power Solar Solutions, Murrieta, CA is projected to provide 90 % of the company’s annual electricity needs.  Pugh added, “Ralphs-Pugh is committed to being an environmentally sensitive company. In addition to a good economic investment, converting to solar is the right thing to do from an environmental perspective. “

Founded in 1912, Ralphs-Pugh is a leading manufacturer and supplier of conveyor rollers and components for a broad range of material handling applications.

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For more information contact:
Tom O’Brien
800-486-0021
sales@ralphs-pugh.com
 

The Rack Manufacturers Institute, Inc. (RMI) of MHI's “Considerations for the Planning and Use of Industrial Steel Storage Racks – 2012 Edition" is designed to promote the effective purchase and use of storage systems using pallets, pallet racking and mechanical handling equipment in industrial facilities.

These considerations detail the purchase and use of storage systems that are well designed, diligently maintained and used as intended - systems that meet the safety objectives of industrial facilities and avoid injury to persons and property. It provides guidance on the best practices and proper use of industrial steel storage racks for the warehouse or distribution center operator who may not be a specialist in technical matters or in the detail design related to the storage facility.

This publication is for sale in the MHI Bookstore for $25.00. It is offered at no charge to RMI members. Click here to learn more and to order.

RMI is an affiliated trade association of MHI. RMI was formed in 1958 by visionary industry leaders whose mission it remains to advance standards, quality, safety and general fitness for intended use of industrial steel storage rack systems and welded wire rack decking. RMI member companies are concerned, conscientious manufacturers affiliated in an industry association to provide voluntary standards for the design of industrial steel storage rack systems, and to formulate guidelines for the proper use, operation and maintenance of those systems.

MHI is an international trade association that has represented this industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling, logistics and supply chain equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHI a strong national and international representative for the material handling industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product-specific sections, councils and affiliates. The association also sponsors trade events, such as ProMat and MODEX, to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate industry professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.

Contact: For more information on MHI activities and programming contact Carol Miller at 704-676-1190.

CLARK Material Handling Company has recently been named as one of the Healthiest Places to Work in the Bluegrass.

Bluegrass Wellness at Work was an inaugural program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and Leadership Lexington. The program aimed to encourage fitness and wellness within businesses & organizations in the Bluegrass area of Kentucky and recognizes companies that make fitness and wellness a priority. Bluegrass Wellness at Work consisted of two initiatives, a fitness challenge and recognizing the healthiest places to work in the Bluegrass.

CLARK was one of a select number of companies recognized for their workplace initiatives in the areas of physical fitness, culture, health, and nutrition, and one of only sixteen companies to receive a Platinum level award.

Some of CLARK’s notable initiatives include an ongoing workplace wellness program with a dedicated employee leading these efforts, on-site monthly wellness educational seminars, on-site weight loss program, physical fitness challenges, on-site health screenings, subsidized healthy snacks available and an on-going walking program.

About CLARK Material Handling Company
CLARK Material Handling Company has been an industry leader since its production of the first gasoline-powered material handling truck in 1917. CLARK is privately held by the Young An Company , and is present in 102 global markets, including the support of 550 dealer locations. A full range of I.C. and Electric trucks for diverse applications are available in the CLARK product line. CLARK has ranked #1 “Best in Value” on Modern Material Handling magazine's consumer survey and a “Best Place to Work in Kentucky.”

For more information about any CLARK products, please visit www.clarkmhc.com or contact your local authorized CLARK dealer.

Intelligrated®, a North American-based automated material handling solutions provider, today announces three new additions to the account management and sales team of its New York-based software subsidiary, Knighted® (www.knightedcs.com). The new hires will provide expert sales support to meet the software needs of Knighted and Intelligrated customers.

Scott Wells, Joe Nentwig and Michael Brown will manage major accounts and ensure the strategic direction of Knighted aligns with that of its customers. The new hires will report to Craig Wilensky, vice president, worldwide sales, Knighted.

“Adding these talented individuals to our sales team will help us leverage our investment in Knighted to provide the best logistics software solutions for our customers,” said Greg Cronin, executive vice president, Intelligrated.

Wells, Nentwig and Brown have more than 80 years of logistics and supply chain experience combined, and have held positions with RedPrairie, FKI Logistex, Manhattan Associates and Reddwerks before joining Knighted. The new hires are part of Intelligrated’s growth strategy for its software subsidiary Knighted, which it acquired in 2012.

For sales and marketing information, please contact Emily Smith, marketing supervisor, Intelligrated, by phone at 513.881.5239 or by email at emily.smith@intelligrated.com.

For media information, can also contact Natalie Fioto, public relations, Koroberi, by phone at 919.945.0566 or by email at natalie@koroberi.com.

About Intelligrated
Intelligrated® is a leading North American-based, single-point provider of automated material handling solutions with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Headquartered in Mason, OH, a suburb of Cincinnati, Intelligrated designs, manufactures and installs complete material handling automation solutions, including conveyor systems, IntelliSort® sortation systems, Alvey® palletizers and robotics, Real Time Solutions® order fulfillment systems, warehouse control software and advanced machine controls—all supported by 24X7 Customer Service and Support.

Through its New York-based subsidiary company, Knighted® (www.knightedcs.com), Intelligrated offers web-enabled logistics software for today’s supply chain operations including warehouse management software (WMS), warehouse control software (WCS) and labor management software (LMS).

Serving the warehousing, distribution, consumer product manufacturing, postal and parcel markets, Intelligrated collaborates closely with its clients to develop productivity solutions and support their needs throughout the life of their material handling systems. For more updates, follow us on Twitter @Intelligrated.

Hyster Company announced it was recently recognized for being among the 2013 Top Green Providers released in the June issue of Food Logistics for its continued commitment for providing customers with environmentally sound, tough trucks to withstand any challenge.

“As a company, Hyster is very attuned to the needs and requests of our customers, which have included highly energy-efficient electric trucks that perform effectively, with zero emissions,” said Jonathan Dawley, President, Hyster Company Distribution. “Our approach is validated by honors like this one by Food Logistics. Through understanding of the needs and changes in the market, and through evaluation of new technologies and processes, we are able to stay at the forefront of the next wave of emission reduction or elimination technologies to provide dependable, intelligent materials handling solutions for our customers.”

With the growing awareness and need for sustainable solutions, the Top Green Providers by Food Logistics shines the spotlight on certain companies that exceed industry standards for their focus on sustainability and environmental conservation. Other industries recognized were food producers and manufacturers, 3PLs and transportation and logistics providers and equipment manufacturers.

According to testing for the EPA and CARB, Hyster® lift truck emissions are among the lowest of any truck in the industry, and Hyster internal combustion (ICE) truck models meet or exceed California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirements. Hyster also provides tough electric trucks that can handle heavy-duty applications just as effectively as ICE trucks. With the Environmental Package, electric lift trucks are equipped to operate in harsh weather conditions outside of a plant, which is ideal for operations with multiple buildings or on a facility complex where efficiency is gained by a lift truck operating between buildings or outside.

About Hyster Company
Based in Greenville, N.C., Hyster Company is a leading worldwide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry — from 2,000 to 115,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features; accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.
Hyster and are registered trademarks of Hyster Company.

For more information, please contact:
Ryan Fisher, Jackson Marketing Group
864-272-3023 ryan.fisher@jacksonmg.com

The National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC) kicked off its first meeting on June 25. The NFAC was established to provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on matters related to freight transportation in the United States including the establishment of a National Freight Network and the development of a National Freight Strategic Plan.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 48 million tons of freight are transported across America each day, and every little improvement to our freight system can make a tremendous economic difference. That adds up to a daily value of $46 billion worth of new refrigerators, cars, food, raw materials, and machinery bound for factories, markets, and consumers.

"By 2050, America will be home to more than 100 million additional people –requiring us to move more than 8 billion extra tons of goods per year," said Deputy Secretary John Porcari. "That means our freight system – which is already the strongest in the world – will need to become even stronger."

At DOT, we've taken the lead on strengthening our nation's freight movement because we know that competing in a global economy requires American businesses to move goods from ship to train to truck as safely and efficiently as possible.

Serving as Chair and Vice Chair of NFAC are Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider and former Deputy DOT Secretary Mort Downey, respectively.

The DOT also announced a concrete step forward on freight movement by increasing to 90 percent the federally-funded share of a critical freight project in Indiana. This means that the Indiana Department of Transportation can now use up to $207 million in federal funds to complete a $230 million freight project that will help reduce congestion and improve safety along the critical U.S. 31 corridor.

The U.S. 31 Hamilton County Improvement Project is the first to take advantage of a new provision in the surface transportation law. This MAP-21 provision permits DOT to raise the allowable federal match on eligible freight projects, making it easier to move important freight projects forward.

Learn more and view a list of NFAC members.

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners recently approved a $1.02 billion budget for fiscal year 2014 that includes the Port of Long Beach’s largest-ever capital improvement spending plan.

A total of $788 million in capital spending leads the planned expenses in the budget that covers the fiscal year set to begin Oct. 1, 2013. The Port’s aggressive modernization ? with projects such as the Middle Harbor terminal and Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement ? pushed the overall budget up by 6.6 percent compared to the current fiscal year. The budget also projects operating revenue of $375 million, the highest ever.

Al Moro, the Port’s Acting Executive Director, said the Port’s budget incorporates a combination of prudent fiscal planning and “green growth” that increases cargo flows with environmental sustainability programs.

“Our carefully planned 10-year capital improvement program represents a significant investment in this Port, and this annual budget is just one part of that,” Moro said. “We’re working to maintain this Port’s ability to sustain economic activity and jobs in Long Beach and the region.”

The budget was unanimously approved by the Commission. It will be presented in July to the Long Beach City Council for approval. The spending plan reflects the Port’s commitment to boosting its competitiveness by rebuilding and replacing outdated facilities and infrastructure.

The approved budget adds 52 new full-time positions, which include 33 in the Engineering Bureau to oversee the ongoing capital improvements and 12 in the Security Division to enhance operational integration with the Long Beach Police Department and other partnering security agencies.

In addition, the budget sets aside $73 million for environmental programs to improve air and water quality, as well as to protect wildlife habitat. The budget also estimates a record $18.4 million transfer to the City’s Tidelands Fund for the Board to consider. The transfer would be 5 percent of estimated operating revenue for fiscal year 2013.

Datalogic, a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation, announces the release of the Matrix 300™, a game-changing addition to the world class family of Datalogic Matrix bar code readers.

Best Performance in Direct Part Mark (DPM) Applications.
The Matrix 300™ offers the only embedded illumination designed specifically for the low-angle, high-contrast lighting needs of hard to read bar codes in DPM, on any material type. By encasing the light source in the ultra-compact design, the Matrix 300™ maintains IP67 standards, to outperform the competition in harsh industrial environments.

First to Provide Calibrated Dynamic Electrical Focus Control.
By pre-calibrating the liquid lens focusing system, the Matrix 300™ provides superior reading performance, at varying distances with amazingly simple setup. This ease of use design is continued by being the only reader of its class to offer Power Over Ethernet option in its Embedded Ethernet and PROFINET connectivity.

Ultra-Fast Image Acquisition and Decoding.
Datalogic’s Matrix 300™ provides work-in-progress traceability solutions and the ability to read 1D or 2D bar codes at very high speeds. This reader performs ultra-fast image acquisition and decoding, meeting high throughput demands.

“As industry leaders, we at Datalogic pride ourselves in being first to provide innovative solutions for our customers real-world applications. The Matrix 300™ meets those goals. With its compact size, unsurpassed DPM performance, and calibrated focus control; this imager will revolutionize automation in markets all over the world, and solidifies the status of the Matrix Product Family as Best-In-Class Bar Code Readers,” said Gian Paolo Fedrigo, CEO of Datalogic Industrial Automation.

Datalogic Group is a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation markets. As a world-class producer of bar code readers, mobile computers, sensors, vision systems and laser marking systems, Datalogic offers innovative solutions for a full range of applications in the retail, transportation & logistics, manufacturing and healthcare industries. With products used in over a third of world’s supermarkets and points of sale, airports, shipping and postal services, Datalogic is in a unique position to deliver solutions that can make life easier and more efficient for people. Datalogic S.p.A., listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001 as DAL.MI, is headquartered in Lippo di Calderara di Reno (Bologna). Datalogic Group as of today employs about 2,400 members of staff worldwide distributed in 30 countries. In 2012 Datalogic Group achieved revenues for 462,3 million Euro and invested over 32 million Euro in Research and Development with a portfolio of over 1,000 patents across the world. For more news and information on Datalogic, please visit www.datalogic.com.

Datalogic and the Datalogic logo are registered trademarks of Datalogic S.p.A. in many countries, including the U.S.A. and the E.U.

New Equipment Digest, an industrial and warehousing publication, named the Jungheinrich® ECR 327/336 series of end-riders as a Gold-level 2013 “King Award Winner” based on the manufacturer’s superior industrial product innovation of the 6,000 lb. and 8,000 lb. capacity electric end-rider pallet trucks, which feature industry-leading speeds – up to 9.3 mph.

The King Awards showcase the best new products introduced in 2012, as chosen by New Equipment Digest readers. Award winners are providers who have developed innovative products that help customers in the manufacturing industry work more efficiently and effectively.

“We’re proud to have the Jungheinrich end-rider series recognized by New Equipment Digest as a King Award winner,” said Kent Eudy, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing at Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA). “We are dedicated to providing premium quality products that offer high performance and productivity for the manufacturing industry, which makes this recognition a significant honor.”

The Jungheinrich electric end-rider pallet trucks showcase innovative, productivity-enhancing features, including regenerative braking, which supports overall control during braking and smooth directional changes. The electrical components are also sealed against moisture and dirt to a rating of IP54, making it ideal for low-level order picking, long distance transporting and loading/unloading trailers.

Read more about the ECR series and other King Award winners.

About Jungheinrich
Leading Provider of Forklifts and Warehouse Product Solutions
Jungheinrich® ranks among the world’s leading brands for material handling equipment, specializing in warehousing and narrow aisle forklifts. Through a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), Jungheinrich forklifts are distributed through MCFA’s extensive dealer network in North America. MCFA also manufactures a number of Jungheinrich branded forklifts for distribution in the North American market and supplies parts from five distribution centers located in California, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. Jungheinrich’s North American product offering includes electric counterbalanced forklifts, narrow aisle lift trucks and walkie forklifts with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 15,400 pounds. For more information on Jungheinrich, please visit Jungheinrich Forklift Trucks, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Facebook, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Twitter, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Youtube, or call 1-877-JH-FORKS (1-877-543-6757).

Combi Packaging Systems is a leading supplier of quality packaging equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries. In an effort to help our customers meet the demands of today’s highly regulated world, our new semi-automatic and automatic top and bottom case sealer was developed with sanitary design in mind.

“After consulting with a number of people in the food processing industry, Combi is excited to introduce a truly sanitary designed case sealer that reduces and virtually eliminates potential lodgment areas where undesirable bacteria might gather,” said Bill Mitchell, Director of Engineering.

Our highly skilled engineers and sales team are advancing the design of packaging systems through our TBS-100SA and TBS-100FC sanitary top and bottom case sealers. This packaging equipment has been designed with stainless steel materials and is constructed to meet the demands of sanitary design, including accessibility and easy to clean components. The equipment is niche free, and has hygienic maintenance enclosures and water shedding surfaces.

Combi Packaging Systems LLC is a leading U.S. manufacturer of end-of-line packaging equipment, with more than 35 years’ service in case erectors, case sealers, case packers, tray formers, ergonomic hand packing stations, and case labelers. Combi Packaging Systems LLC was formed as a joint venture between 3M and The MJ Maillis Group in 1999.

Learn more about Combi's new sanitary design case sealer at www.combi.com/sanitary-sealer-TBS.

Terex Material Handling today announced that its Cleveland, Ohio facility has been awarded recertification in ISO 9001 and 14001, and certification in OHSAS 18001 by Global Group for outstanding commitment to safety, consistent quality and environmental management.

“Continuous improvement is one of our core values as we produce our Demag brand of Overhead Cranes, Rope Hoists, Chain Hoists, Geared Motors and Enclosed Tracks products. These certifications demonstrate that Terex Material Handling North America has a deep commitment to keeping our team members safe, while successfully servicing our customers, and protecting the environment,” said John Paxton, Vice President and General Manager of Terex Material Handling

To be recertified in ISO 9001, a company needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide product quality that meets customer requirements, to enhance customer satisfaction and to continuously improve through the effective application of their processes.

To be recertified in ISO 14001, a facility must monitor its usage of hazardous chemicals, minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities and continually improve its green performance.

To receive OHSAS 18001 certification, a company must demonstrate its focus on occupational safety through its ability to minimize accident and health risks of team members, customers and visitors.

“We are proud of these certifications and I thank the entire team for their great commitment to quality, safety and environmental management. The recertifications of ISO 9001 and 14011 demonstrate our long term commitment to continually improving our business.” said John Paxton.

About Terex Material Handling
With the integration of Demag industrial cranes and crane components, Terex Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of crane technology. 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 reporting in five business segments: Aerial Work Platforms, Construction, Cranes, Material Handling & Port Solutions and Materials Processing. Terex manufactures a broad range of equipment for use in various industries, including the construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, shipping, transportation, refining, energy and utility industries. Terex offers financial products and services to assist in the acquisition of Terex equipment through Terex Financial Services. Terex uses its website to make information available to its investors and the market at www.terex.com.

EnerSys® (NYSE: ENS), a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, has increased the amp-hour (AH) rating of its 23" Ironclad® Workhog® and Deserthog® batteries from 85-AH to 90-AH. This increase provides greater sustained voltages and more power for today’s advanced AC lift trucks. The Workhog® and Deserthog® batteries are the only 90-AH batteries in the 23" size with standard, rather than high gravity electrolyte for maximum battery life.

In order to maintain the lift truck’s constant drive and lift performance thoroughout a shift, an AC motor must offset a battery’s normal voltage drop during discharge by drawing more and more amps. Workhog® and Deserthog® batteries, featuring the highest AH rating in the industry, sustain higher voltages throughout the discharge cycle and deliver the power, performance and extended runtime required for lift trucks with AC drive technology.

The increased work capacity and performance of Workhog® and Deserthog® batteries is the result of the unique square tubular positive plate design. Ironclad® square tubes provide up to 84% more surface area on the positive plate, exposing more positive plate acitve material to the electrolyte. This combination of greater positive surface area and electrolyte provides higher sustained voltages throughout the discharge cycle. For over 100 years, Ironclad® batteries, with their exclusive square tube design, have outperformed round tubular and flat plate design batteries.

“Ironclad® batteries are well established and have proven to be the industry leader,” said Steve Spaar, director of marketing for EnerSys. “The higher sustained voltage and rugged reliability provide higher productivity, whatever the motive power application. Today’s next-generation AC lift trucks stem from the demand to move products at a faster rate. The increased amp-hour rate of Workhog® and Deserthog® batteries deliver greater sustained voltages to deliver power, performance and extended runtime to meet rising industry demands,” concluded Spaar.

Workhog® batteries, rated at 75-, 90- and 125-AH, are the most powerful standard gravity batteries available and provide up to 20% more running time than conventional round tube or flat plate batteries. With higher sustained voltage and lower amp draw, the batteries reduce heat and strain on the lift truck’s electrical components, resulting in reduced costs for maintenance and replacment.

Deserthog® batteries are rated at 90-, 100- and 125-AH, and due to the high capacity tubular plate construction, Deserthog batteries do not need to utilize unreliable low-antimony plates to achieve longer watering intervals. The higher jar design and less required sediment space allows for up to 132% more water, resulting in watering intervals of only 4-6 times per year, as opposed to every week.

More information about EnerSys® and its Ironclad® batteries can be found at www.enersysmp.com.

ABOUT ENERSYS®
EnerSys, the world leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes reserve power and motive power batteries, chargers, power equipment, and battery accessories to customers worldwide. Motive power batteries are utilized in electric fork trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles. Reserve power batteries are used in the telecommunications and utility industries, uninterruptible power suppliers, and numerous applications requiring standby power. The Company also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers from more than 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.

David B. (Dave) Scott, recognized pioneer and authority on the application of technology and computer systems for real-time warehousing, distribution & supply chain management, recently passed away.

Mr. Scott was a respected systems analyst, inventor, modeler and designer with over thirty years of experience in the development and implementation of real-time systems for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

He was also as a team leader and coach who left an imprint on all he met and lit up every room he entered. "Dave Scott was a supply chain systems trailblazer, the unassuming father of WMS and a mentor to many in our industry who will miss him greatly," said John Hill, St. Onge Company and MHI Director at Large.

Mr. Scott spent his early career in engineering and systems development with Fortune 50 computer industry pioneers IBM, Intel and Memorex. He was a co-founder of Shugart Associates, the company that developed and commercialized the floppy disk.

As a senior officer at Logisticon, the world’s first WMS provider, he directed development of the first WMS package that used UNIX, C and relational database management.

He was a founder of Cypress Associates where he co-designed an object-oriented tool kit for network modeling and led selection and deployment of multiple warehouse and transportation management systems

As an officer and board member at supply chain consulting and systems integration firm, ESYNC, he set the standard for network analysis and optimization excellence.

Mr. Scott concluded his career as a senior associate with Diamond Head Associates, an independent supply chain analytics and performance analysis consulting firm.

Mr. Scott was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues and the industry he served.

Wal-Mart remains at the top of the STORES’ 2013 Top 100 Retailers list, raking in $328.7 billion in 201. Kroger, reporting more than $92 billion in sales in 2012, maintained the No. 2 spot for the fourth year in a row.

Costco (4), The Home Depot (5) and Safeway (9) each moved up a single spot, and McDonald’s (10) joined the top 10 list for the first time in the survey’s history, reporting more than $35.5 billion in sales in 2012.

Target (3), CVS Caremark (7) and Lowe’s (8) round out the top 10, and Amazon.com, one of only two pure-play retailers on the Top 100 list, jumped from No. 15 to No. 11 this year.

Most people still do the bulk of their shopping at Wal-Mart, Target, CVC, Macy’s and lots of supermarkets and home improvement chain stores as online transactions account for less than 15 percent of total retail sales.

“The evolution of consumer expectations, the emergence of new business models and the proliferation of new technology have set retailers on a course of reinvention,” said Susan Reda, editor, STORES Media. “Success is contingent on innovation, relevancy and personalization, and many of the companies on the Top 100 list have embraced those imperatives. There’s no such thing as status quo anymore; we live in a world where shoppers expect seamless personalized experiences across every transaction. It’s both enormously challenging and tremendously exciting.”

Growth in Home Goods Sector Shows Consumer Resilience
An area of note in this year’s report is the growth seen in the home goods sector. Of the three companies who made the list, each climbed from last year’s position. Thanks to an improving housing market, consumers have come out of hibernation and have begun sprucing up their homes or buying for their new homes. Williams-Sonoma landed at No. 91 this year, up from No. 94 last year, and IKEA North America came in right behind at No. 92, up from No. 95. Bed Bath & Beyond reported more than $10.9 billion in sales in 2012 and landed at No. 36, up from No. 39 last year.

"In many ways 2013's list will be remembered as the last one without Amazon in the Top 10. Increasingly today's winning retailers are winning through deep understanding of connection to their shoppers across all touchpoints, and then either intense specialization against specific categories and needs or a deep granular understanding of what their shopper wants as a total solution".

1 Wal-Mart
2 Kroger
3 Target
4 Costco
5 The Home Depot
6 Walgreen
7 CVS Caremark
8 Lowe’s
9 Safeway
10 McDonald's

Click here to view the complete list.

Within five years, higher manufacturing exports due to a widening cost advantage over China and other major economies could add $20 billion to $60 billion in output to Mexico’s economy annually. And thanks to the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), U.S. manufacturers of components for everything from automobiles to computers assembled in Mexico also stand to benefit, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The key drivers of Mexico’s improving competitive edge are relatively low labor costs and shorter supply chains due to the country's proximity to markets in the U.S. Another important advantage is that Mexico has 44 free-trade agreements—more than any other nation—allowing many of its exports to enter major economies with few or no duties.

A tipping point was reached in 2012, when average manufacturing costs in Mexico, adjusted for productivity, dropped below those of China. By 2015, BCG projects, average total manufacturing costs in Mexico are likely to be around 6 percent lower than in China and around 20 to 30 percent lower than in Japan, Germany, Italy, and Belgium.

“Mexico is in a strong position to be a significant winner from shifts in the global economy,” said Harold L. Sirkin, a BCG senior partner. “That is good news not only for Mexico, which relies on exports for around one-third of its GDP. It’s also good for America, since products made in Mexico contain four times as many U.S.-made parts, on average, as those made in China.”

The research is part of BCG’s ongoing “Made in America, Again” series on the changing global economics of manufacturing, produced by its Operations and Global Advantage practices. BCG has previously released research predicting that rising U.S. exports, combined with production “reshored” from China, could create up to 5 million new U.S. jobs in manufacturing and related services by the end of the decade, thanks largely to significant labor- and energy-cost advantages over Western Europe and Japan and rising costs in China.

Global companies are expected to continue moving production to Mexico despite concerns over crime and safety. Research by the World Economic Forum has found that companies view violence and corruption as the most problematic factors of having operations in Mexico—as well as significant costs of doing business. Another drawback is the perception that Mexico lacks enough skilled workers.

But the cost advantages of producing in Mexico are becoming so attractive that many companies are finding ways to mitigate these perceived risks. “When the economics are a wash, U.S. manufacturers often keep production in the U.S.,” said Michael Zinser, a BCG partner who leads the firm’s manufacturing work in North America. “But when the economics are compelling, companies will invest in additional security and training to address these issues.”

Mexico’s labor costs are especially competitive when productivity differences with other economies are factored in. By 2015, for example, average manufacturing-labor costs in Mexico are projected to be 19 percent lower than in China, where wages are rising rapidly, and around 30 percent lower when adjusted for output per worker. In 2000, Mexican labor was 58 percent more expensive than in China. Mexico will also have lower energy costs than many other economies. Average electricity costs are around 4 percent lower in Mexico than in China, for example, while the average price of industrial natural gas is 63 percent lower.

The industries expected to see the biggest production gains are likely to be transportation goods, computers and electronics, appliances, and machinery. “These industries have relatively high labor content, stringent logistical requirements, and strong existing manufacturing clusters in Mexico,” explained Eduardo León, a BCG senior partner based in Monterrey. Due to Mexico’s growing cost advantage, production in these industries could increase between 7 to 19 percent by 2017 over and above the projected level if current growth trends remain the same. This could result in 300,000 to 900,000 direct manufacturing jobs annually in Mexico and 1.5 million to 3.5 million jobs in related services jobs.

“Companies investing in Mexico must balance the economics with the potential downsides,” said Sirkin. “But the economic advantages are becoming so pronounced that global companies should include Mexico on a shortlist of locations for their next manufacturing plant.”

Just as what goes up must come down... in distribution "what goes in must come out".   The process of receiving a part into inventory is just as important as picking or removing the part from inventory.   A little extra thought on the receiving end leads to benefits on the picking end. A solid slotting plan to receive and store parts in a facility can lead to quicker and more accurate picking distribution.

Slotting is the concept of using data analysis to create a logical process to assign every part a location based on specific attributes of the part. While the work involved in slotting items in a storage system can become very involved and complicated, at its core it can be broken into four steps.

Determining what equipment will house a part is probably the most important step, but is too often answered in a rush early on in the process based on a company's current storage practices. Answers range from automated horizontal carousels and vertical lift modules to racks and drawer cabinets. Most storage systems can operate quite well with a handful of zones utilizing different material handling technologies. It is important to review each part individually and take into account not only how much space is required – but also how often that part is accessed. Very often parts need to be stored in various quantities and in more than one storage location or device for efficient material flow.

Next, determine how many of each part should be stored.  The answer to this will almost always be "as little as possible."   For medium size and medium velocity Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) stored in a horizontal carousel, a good rule of thumb is to store a 20-day supply.   This stock quantity is often used as a starting point for discussion. It offers a decent amount of stock while not requiring a tremendous amount of replenishment. Sometimes the number of parts that should be stored doesn't match what is currently stored and changes need to be made.

Then determine what size the storage location or cell should be.  It's important to keep the number of cell sizes to a minimum. Having a small number of cell sizes will allow random storage to be incorporated effectively and will make the loading process a breeze and limit "paralysis by analysis".   Churning data can only take you so far. A hands on approach is always best, get out to the warehouse and look at the different cell sizes to determine if they are  working for you.

Lastly, determine where the cell goes. Put the faster moving items in cells that are easy to access. It is important to examine the storage equipment and determine if there is a tactical advantage to storing fast movers in them. If there is, determine the best way to get your fastest movers into those cells. It is often a good idea to hold off on this step until you are at least partially through your slotting exercise, so you have a decent idea of how many of each cell size there will be. Pick density should be considered when configuring cell layouts. It is often better to store four smaller medium moving parts (say each gets 4 hits a day) in an prime, easy to access space than one larger fast moving part (say it gets 10 hits a day). By storing the 4 medium moving parts, that prime space will get 16 hits per day instead of 10. 

Slotting an entire warehouse is a sizable undertaking, but the rewards greatly outweigh the time investment. When done properly, slotting can trigger a number of LEAN undertakings such as reducing obsolete inventory, minimizing stock quantities and decreasing part retrieval times to improve flow.   In order to get the ball rolling, it is sometimes a good idea to focus on the fastest moving parts – in order to ensure they are being stored in an efficient quantity and location, and to gauge the immediate benefits gained from the process.

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
 

Hyster Company has supplied one of its Hyster® J35XN lift trucks to the duck-men of Duck Commander, makers of world-famous duck calls.

The Duck Commander business experienced significant growth in 2012 as a result of their popular television show, and needed to make significant operational improvements. They asked the local Hyster Dealer, Deep South Equipment, to help them make their facility more productive. Deep South Equipment installed racking in the warehouse, and recommended the electric Hyster J35XN lift truck for its tight turning radius, its low cost of operation and its durability.

“There is no doubt that Willie, Phil and the other duck-men are tough guys,” said John Parsons, president/owner of Deep South Equipment. “That’s why it makes sense that Duck Commander chose a tough Hyster forklift to help move their business forward.”

“At Duck Commander, we love our Hyster forklift that we got from Deep South Equipment,” said Willie Robertson. “When running my family business here at Duck Commander, I don't always get a choice of employees because it's family. However, I do get to choose the equipment we have, and the Hyster forklift is efficient and easy to drive. This ease gives my guys maximum productivity and that is what I am looking for. It's versatile and so easy to run that even Jase and Godwin can run the thing.”

About Hyster Company
Based in Greenville, N.C., Hyster Company (www.hyster.com) is a leading worldwide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry — from 2,000 to 115,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features; accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its subsidiaries employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Hyster and are registered trademarks of Hyster Company.

For more information, please contact:
Ryan Fisher
Jackson Marketing Group
864-272-3023
ryan.fisher@jacksonmg.com

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), the provider of Jungheinrich lift trucks and narrow aisle products in the United States, Canada and Mexico, announced today that the Jungheinrich® ETV/ETM 216 moving mast reach truck was recognized as an “International Forklift Truck of the Year” (IFOY) in the Warehouse Trucks category. The IFOY Award ceremony, sponsored by the German Engineering Federation, recognizes the year’s best materials handling equipment and solutions in four categories.

IFOY Award winners, selected by a panel of international trade journalists, are recognized as the year's best new material handling equipment products.

“We’re proud to see the ETV/ETM 216 moving mast reach truck receive this recognition,” said Kent Eudy, executive vice president of sales and marketing at MCFA. “The ETV/ETM 216 reach truck is a global leader in its product category, and we are honored to represent this product line in North America.”

Jungheinrich’s ETV/ETM 216 reach truck was recognized for its superior performance, combining energy efficiency with excellent handling, driving performance and a range of ergonomic features. One of the few sit-down moving mast reach trucks offered in North America, a key benefit of the reach truck design is that the operator remains seated while driving the truck. This allows for enhanced comfort especially in applications where the operator remains on the truck for extended periods of time.

The IFOY Award’s Warehouse Trucks category focuses on pedestrian-controlled warehouse trucks, tugger trains, tow tractors, seated/standup material handling devices, very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks and reach trucks.

For more information on the Jungheinrich ETV/ETM 216 reach truck, visit www.jungheinrich-lift.com.

About Jungheinrich
Jungheinrich® ranks among the world’s leading brands for material handling equipment, specializing in warehousing and narrow aisle forklifts. Through a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), Jungheinrich forklifts are distributed through MCFA’s extensive dealer network in North America. MCFA also manufactures a number of Jungheinrich branded forklifts for distribution in the North American market and supplies parts from five distribution centers located in California, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. Jungheinrich’s North American product offering includes electric counterbalanced forklifts, narrow aisle lift trucks and walkie forklifts with capacities ranging from 2,000 to 15,400 pounds. For more information on Jungheinrich, please visit Jungheinrich Forklift Trucks, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Facebook, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Twitter, Jungheinrich Forklifts on Youtube, or call 1-877-JH-FORKS (1-877-543-6757).

ORBIS Corporation, an international service provider of sustainable reusable packaging and an expert in supply chain optimization, has opened an ORBIS Reusable Packaging Management (RPM) Beverage Service Center located in Queretaro, Mexico, which will provide support to the Rexam Mexico facility.

ORBIS works with Rexam, one of the world’s largest beverage can manufacturing companies, to provide management of its plastic pallets which are used to transport cans from Rexam’s can manufacturing plants to customer filling plants. Through its Reusable Packaging Management service, ORBIS manages this process, including demand planning, shipping, tracking, cleaning, sorting and replenishment—improving the flow of the product through the supply chain.

“Though this Service Center was established late in 2012, it has now been set up as a fully equipped cleaning and sorting facility,” said Sergio Cabrera, ORBIS RPM Beverage Service Center manager. “The Center will be instrumental to continuing ORBIS’ work with Rexam from a management perspective, providing visibility to all of their assets so that Rexam can get the most out of their reusable packaging system.”

Rexam recently recognized ORBIS RPM with its prestigious honor of Best Support for providing support to Rexam, by assuring pallet availability during high demand times, which resulted in consistent plant performance and delivery quality.

The opening of the RPM Beverage Service Center is an integral step in ORBIS’ expansion of their Reusable Packaging Management services. Since the recent appointment of Albert Seecharan as president of the company’s RPM services, ORBIS has been focusing on service line management to ensure their customers extract full value from the efficiency of a reusable packaging program.

“This RPM [Service] Center will not only assist with sorting, washing, repair recycling and replenishment of Rexam’s packaging, but will also assist with demand planning and asset tracking,” said Seecharan. “We consider this new center in Queretaro to be the next step in creating a long term relationship with Rexam- moving from not just providing reusable packaging but going one step further to also leverage our experience and expertise to optimize their entire shipping system.”

ORBIS RPM offers customers easily adoptable and highly visible models to ensure customers benefit from efficient tracking, improved reusable packaging turnaround time, reduced product losses and transportation costs, and to enable customers to operate with less packaging while reducing the need future purchases – tightening consumption and increasing profits.

To learn more about ORBIS Corporation, visit www.orbiscorporation.com. To learn more about the new ORBIS RPM Beverage Service Center, or to set up an interview with Albert to learn about his goals for ORBIS’ current initiatives in RPM, please contact Heather Markovich at 414-299-3965 or via e-mail at hmarkovich@corecreative.com.

About ORBIS Corporation
ORBIS helps world-class customers move their product faster, safer and more cost-effectively. Using a proven approach, ORBIS experts analyze its customers’ systems, design a solution and execute a reusable packaging program for longer-term cost savings and sustainability. Using life-cycle assessments to compare reusable and single-use packaging, ORBIS also helps customers reduce their overall environmental impact. ORBIS Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, the 3rd oldest family owned business in the United States. As a steward of sustainability, ORBIS is committed to a better world for future generations. ORBIS tracks and measure our own resource utilization to continuously conserve natural resources and reduce waste. For more information, please visit www.orbiscorporation.com, www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-corporation, www.facebook.com/ORBISCorporation, or www.youtube.com/orbiscorp.