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Bastian Solutions Launches New Beverage Software Suite, ExactaBev

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Bastian Solutions has launched a new beverage warehouse execution system, ExactaBev. The new web-based software suite offers best-in-class order fulfillment software specifically designed to serve beverage distributors.
 
Discussing the features of ExactaBev, Damir Kantardzic, President of Bastian Software Solutions explained, “Three key features of the software stand out to me. First, ExactaBev offers a web-based portal, which provides route-waving tools that are flexible, rules-driven, and easy to use. The software also organizes order picking into waves of work that maximize picker efficiency. Additionally, the rich graphical displays let users visualize the work to be done and the labor required in each area of the warehouse.” 
 
ExactaBev provides a host of tools for beverage distributors to maximize operations. These features include predictive analysis to accurately estimate when routes will be completed; robust and user-friendly web interface to help operators research and resolve exceptions; automated integration with conveyor systems to drive accuracy, speed, and sorting so every route is correctly loaded for shipment; a Business Intelligence suite for complete visibility and reporting to analyze real-time and historical data.
 
“We are very excited to bring this new software suite to our customers,” stated Greg Conner, Regional Director at Bastian Solutions. “With more than 20 years of experience in the wine and spirits and beverage industries, we understand the unique challenges of beverage order fulfillment. ExactaBev allows distributors to maximize picker efficiency, create intelligent order routing, and have complete visibility and reporting to analyze their business needs.”
 
To learn more about ExactaBev, visit https://www.bastiansolutions.com/solutions/technology/supply-chain-software/exactabev, or meet the Bastian Solutions team at MODEX Show, booth #3779, April 4-7, in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
About Bastian Solutions
Bastian Solutions, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is an independent material handling system integrator with clients and offices around the world. Founded in 1952, Bastian Solutions has established itself as an innovator in the fields of material handling automation, supply chain software, industrial controls, and robotics. The company includes 16 domestic offices as well as 7 international offices across Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, and Mexico. For more information, please visit http://www.bastiansolutions.com or follow @BastianSolution on Twitter. 

IBS and Optricity Announce Strategic Technology Partnership and Launch of Streamlined, Integrated Solutions

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International Business Systems (IBS), a leading global supplier of integrated ERP, warehouse management systems (WMS) and supply chain solutions; and Optricity Corporation (Optricity), provider of innovative software solutions for the workplace, announce a new strategic partnership in the Americas region to deliver a streamlined integration between IBS’s warehouse management and enterprise systems and Optricity’s slotting software. The solution will maximize efficiency and improve ROI for the warehousing market.
 
This partnership creates rich opportunities for joint clients to enjoy cost savings, efficiencies, and additional benefits as a result of improved operations once the combined solutions are implemented. An optimally slotted warehouse supports efficient putaway, picking, and pallet-building, while reducing product damage and increasing customer satisfaction.
 
“Optricity’s advanced slotting optimization software and IBS’s enterprise and warehouse management systems offer a high-quality solution set that, together will vastly improve warehousing operations without the hassle of having to play translator to ensure each system speaks the same language,” said Michael Wohlwend, General Manager of the Americas at IBS.
 
Both IBS and Optricity provide their solutions across industries, including, but not limited to: automotive, consumer goods, electronics, paper, publishing, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. 
 
“IBS’s dedication to innovation and their collaborative approach in exploring solutions for current and future clients, mirrors our own passion for excellence,” says Sheila Benny, EVP of Optricity. “Like us, IBS is rooted in a foundation of continuous enhancement, which is evidenced by this partnership. Our work together provides great opportunity to expand traditional WMS value to warehousing operations around the globe.”
 
This partnership was announced at MODEX 2016, “where the industry's brightest minds gather to network and share their perspectives on the ever-evolving state of the supply chain.” In the spirit of partnership, Optricity will also present at IBS’s Annual User Group Conference on May 4, and both IBS and Optricity will be exhibiting cross-aisle in the Solution Center at the 39th Annual WERC Conference, May 15-18, in Providence, RI.
 
About Optricity
Optricity utilizes a unique blend of warehousing domain expertise, advanced mathematics, and software engineering skills to deliver Workplace Optimization software, including the highly acclaimed warehouse slotting application, OptiSlot DC™. Optricity's platform of innovative technologies enhance operational clarity and enable warehouses to perform with greater precision. For more information about Optricity, please visit www.optricity.com and LinkedIn.
 
About IBS
International Business Systems (IBS) is a leading global provider of integrated ERP, WMS and supply chain management solutions to the distribution, wholesale and 3PL sectors. For more than 35 years, we have helped customers such as WORLDPAC, Associated Pharmacies, Inc., GILLIG, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Miele Inc., Tri Literal LLC, Mighty Auto Parts, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Volvo, Victory Packaging Inc. and many more, streamline, automate and accelerate their distribution network processes, and drive profitability and efficiency. Learn more about IBS at www.ibs.net.
 
For additional information, contact:
Optricity
Sheila Benny, EVP
+1 (919) 237-4846
sbenny@optricity.com
International Business Systems
Renee Truttmann, IBS Chief Marketing Officer
+1 (760) 201-6243
renee.truttmann@ibs.net

Hindsight May be 20/20, but Predicting the Future is Better

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Today, predictive maintenance is a concept that is generating interest and building momentum, yet it still raises a number of questions. Specifically, what is predictive maintenance? How can it benefit your organization? How can you get started?
 
Predictive maintenance, also known as predictive asset maintenance or predictive analytics, is the idea of capital equipment makers using embedded sensors combined with connectivity, data communications, advanced analytics, and remote diagnostics to predict equipment breakdowns before they occur. The practice uses very advanced statistical and data-mining techniques to analyze large volumes of data to best predict potential failures down the road.
 
Yet predictive maintenance is much more than just the idea of capitalizing on device connectivity, which is the basis for the Internet of Things (IoT) and the related Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) trends. IoT and IIoT imply that value can be created from machine-driven big data in an industrial or manufacturing setting through device communications. Predictive maintenance takes this idea a big step further by using available data to predict equipment failures and take action before they can occur. This helps avoid adverse—possibly catastrophic-effects to safety, productivity, and profits.
 
Warning: Danger Ahead
To picture predictive maintenance in action, think of a supplier of capital equipment products in the manufacturing, automation, or material handling industry who embeds a broadband sensor in one of its products. This sensor collects data related to the performance of the product and the surrounding environment and provides valuable trend information. But, hidden in this vast amount of data—even a single sensor can provide mountains of data—can be clues that something is wrong. This is true even if the product is operating at a normal level of quality and throughput.
 
Predictive maintenance is the perfect approach to finding these hidden clues. In this case, the analytics uses knowledge of the underlying physics of the specific manufacturing process as well as the overall trend data to identify a potential future failure. Then, when supervisors receive a notification related to a pending failure, they can schedule maintenance or parts replacement at the most convenient time, such as the end of the next shift, to minimize costly downtime.
 
Advanced Notice, Advanced Benefits
The benefits of predictive maintenance are significant— and compelling. For example, predictive maintenance can drastically reduce machinery failure rates, increase uptime, and maximize production. It can also decrease service costs and lead to higher customer satisfaction. Predictive maintenance also lets capital equipment suppliers better manage the fleet of equipment they have installed at their customers’ manufacturing sites and operational facilities. Additionally, collected data can be used to identify and prioritize future product enhancements, critical for increasing market share and revenue.
 
As attractive as these benefits may be, many capital equipment manufacturers have not yet embraced predictive maintenance. According to a recent survey by Deloitte and MHI, only 16% of respondents indicated that they are using this practice today, or plan to use it over the next one or two years for the purpose of predicting machine breakdowns for preventive maintenance.
 
With so much at stake—and seemingly so much to gain—why aren’t more capital equipment suppliers leveraging predictive maintenance?
 
Making the Case
It’s an interesting question, especially when capital equipment makers stand to gain a substantial competitive advantage with this type of innovation. As the value of the asset they are selling and the impact of that asset’s failure both increase, so too does the rationale for investing in predictive maintenance.
 
Consider the case of jet engines, which are very expensive to build and have an extremely high impact in the case of failure. Manufacturers of jet engines are using predictive maintenance to minimize engine downtime caused by parts failure or to improve efficiency and performance. For example, GE uses sensors to collect jet engine data to perform short bursts of maintenance before larger issues can occur and create downtime. This means that over an entire lifecycle, the engine spends less time in repairs, which has led to significant productivity gains for GE employees.2 Market and industry factors are driving the return on investment of predictive maintenance down to less expensive products. Today, warehouses and manufacturing plants are becoming smaller, closer to consumers, and more automated to better respond to consumer demand for customized products. Yet as automation increases, the number of human workers decreases, a trend that requires even more automated decision-making, especially when those decisions are related to machine maintenance.
 
Finally, recent advances in data tools, technologies, and services further enable the concept of predictive maintenance. The cost of extracting value from big data—once considered prohibitive—is decreasing every day. Increasingly powerful data tools and analysis techniques are now readily available, and are being deployed by sophisticated users familiar with advanced statistical methods as a means to create business insight. All of this is evidence that the time is right for capital equipment suppliers to develop predictive maintenance functionality that will result in increased market share and keep the competition at bay.
 
Where Do We Go from Here?
Yet the question remains: how do capital equipment makers proceed with predictive maintenance? Stay tuned for the next article in this two-part series, which will describe how companies can implement specific programs to make predictive maintenance a reality.
 
About the Author – Tom Mariano
As Executive Vice President and General Manager, Tom provides strategic oversight and technical expertise to Foliage’s Industrial Equipment practice. He has over 25 years of experience in software development, engineering and marketing management. Tom’s focus during his career includes semiconductor and automotive manufacturing automation; robotics and material handling for warehouse and distribution solutions. He holds a Master of Science in Robotics and Control Systems from MIT, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University.
 
Have questions about predictive maintenance? Contact Tom at tmariano@foliage.com
 
About Foliage
Foliage, part of the Altran Group, is a global product development company partnering with clients to address the business and technical challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing and supporting complex, connected systems. Providing a full complement of technology consulting and engineering services, Foliage ensures clients deliver innovative solutions to market while reducing total cost of ownership over the lifecycle of their products. Visit foliage.com
 

PS DOORS To Debut New ANSI-Compliant SafeMezz360™ At MODEX 2016

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PS DOORS will announce its new SafeMezz360™ mezzanine safety gate at MODEX 2016. This innovative new gate keeps workers safe during the important but potentially hazardous job of loading and unloading forklifted materials to and from a mezzanine. SafeMezz360 is an ANSI- and OSHA-compliant fall protection product that creates a foolproof, fully enclosed area that keeps workers safe from the elevated mezzanine edge. PS DOORS will be in booth #1450 at MODEX 2016 on April 4-7 in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
Part of PS DOORS’ Safety Access™ line of products, the SafeMezz360 meets ANSI standards, including the stringent ANSI MH28.3 Section 6.4.3 requirement that states: “A work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by the guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open or lift out, leaving an unprotected opening in the guarding, are not acceptable.” The SafeMezz360 also includes an ANSI-required 4-inch safety toeboard and meets
OSHA safety railing standards.
 
The SafeMezz360 utilizes a counterbalanced gate system to provide 360 degrees of mezzanine ledge protection. In addition, it features a slam-proof, cushioned dampening system that protects personnel from dangerous and noisy slamming.
 
The SafeMezz360’s gate opens and closes smoothly on 2-inch nylon rollers and track system, allowing easy, one-handed operation. It’s constructed with heavy-gauge steel with a durable powder coat, safety yellow finish that’s ideal for repetitive use. It bolts easily into place on the mezzanine and is available in single- or double-pallet widths.
 
“Our SafeMezz360 is an economical way to meet both ANSI and OSHA standards, making a hazardous job a lot safer,” says Dean Thorsen, PS Safety Access national sales manager. “The SafeMezz360 is the all-angles way to protect your team on the mezzanine.”
 
To learn more about the SafeMezz360, call 877-446-1519 or visit www.safemezz360.com.
 
PS DOORS is an industry-leading manufacturer of safety and fall protection products (PS Safety Access™), flood protection products (PS Flood Barriers™) and industrial doors (PS Access Solutions™). With custom fabrication capabilities, PS DOORS serves a wide variety of industries, including the military, oil and gas, agriculture, food processing and all types of manufacturing. Established in 1974, PS DOORS is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
 
For more information, please contact:
Aimee Halstenson
Marketing Manager
PS DOORS
701.795.6526
ahalstenson@psdoors.com

PSI Unveils Packing Slip Pouch - Holds Up to 20 Documents at MODEX 2016 Show

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PSI Engineering, an industry leader in high speed material handling automation and packing station automation systems geared to the fulfillment operations for manufacturing, distribution centers, 3PL, packaging and e-Commerce will be exhibiting at MODEX 2016 in Atlanta Georgia- booth # 2517. 
 
PSI’s Automated Packing Slip solution has evolved to meet the demands of eCommerce companies seeking order fulfillment solutions within their Supply Chain.  eCommerce, Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply distribution companies have continued to adopt the PSI Autoslip solution due to its flexibility to hold up to 20 duplex folded documents within each packing slip.  An added benefit with PSI’s Autoslip is the Auto Duplex feature which automatically configures to print on both sides of the paper so the packing slip can contain up to 20 pages of information; if required.  
 
Recently European Medical Supply companies have embraced the PSI Autoslip solution with tamper evident packing slip for open and closed case shipments between countries.  “The need to open a sealed case containing pharmaceutical or medical supplies is eliminated which may deter counterfeit interlopers from tampering with the contents within; thereby providing an extra layer of security.” States Mr. John Panunto, President of PSI Engineering.  “Documents are automatically folded and inserted into the packing slip pouch and automatically applied to the closed case, addressing the need for accuracy, security, speed and evidence if the packing slip pouch has been tampered with.” concludes Mr. Panunto.  
 
As an added measure of security, the Autoslip system can also incorporate PSI’s order verification vision system, embedded in PSI’s existing software to visually confirm product fulfillment and sealing of a case to the point of shipment; further safeguarding Medical Supply and Pharmaceutical companies’ supply chain. 
 
About PSI Engineering
PSI Engineering offers North American Engineered Solutions with installations from coast to coast in North America, into the EU and as far afield as South Africa and Australia. PSI Engineering designs and manufactures high speed material handling automation equipment, packaging and dispensing machinery and production laser printing systems for use in the direct mail, manufacturing, distribution, packaging and order fulfillment industries. PSI designs its equipment for low total operating cost, high capacity and industrial durability while keeping operator intervention to a minimum.
 
For further information about us, visit our website at: http://www.psiengineering.com, or call (905) 858-3600 / 1-800-PSI(774)-5758.
 

THE REVOLUTION® FAN HELPS CONTROL TEMPERATURE YEAR-ROUND

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To keep people more comfortable year-round – and to help building owners and managers drive down energy costs – Rite-Hite Corporation offers the Revolution® Fan. Designed to deliver optimal performance, the high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fan supplements heated and cooled air for more efficient and cost-effective air circulation in virtually any facility. 
 
“In a process called destratification, this HVLS fan gently distributes the air in an equal manner throughout a facility,” said Andy Olson, Rite-Hite marketing manager. “Not only does it improve working conditions for employees, it helps save energy and related costs.”
 
A single Revolution Fan circulates a large volume of air up to 85 feet from the fan’s center in all directions for optimum heating or cooling of an area encompassing up to 22,000 square feet. Unlike traditional floor and ceiling fans, the easy-to-operate and extraordinarily quiet fan turns slowly to gently move air – reducing the ambient noise level and a facility’s energy consumption by up to 30 percent. 
 
Available in 8-, 12-, 16-, 20-, and 24-foot diameters, the Revolution Fan’s four-blade design includes easy-to-use controls that allow users to adjust fan speed, or operate the unit in reverse. The unit comes standard with mill-finished, aluminum blades. Rite-Hite Fan’s Propell-Aire™ blade design has a complex contoured shape (tilt, taper and twist) that varies along its length, allowing for maximum air movement. Mounting heights range from 15 to 80 feet from the finished floor to the bottom of the fan blade. Also available is a touch-screen control box for operation of up to 18 Rite-Hite Fans.
 
The unique design of the Revolution Fan directs air outward from the center in a conical shape, eliminating dead-air holes directly beneath the fan and in building corners – translating to more uniform airflow from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall. For maximum longevity, the Revolution uses a rotationally balanced blade/hub connection along with vibration-absorbing resilient material that reduces stress to the hub by 50 to 75 percent. A robust motor and an extruded, precision-milled aluminum hub provide reliable operation with virtually no maintenance.
 
For ease of installation, the Revolution Fan features a steel, universal mounting bracket. The mounting system also includes a beam clamp, motor housing, and a three-way motor-to-hub safety connection. 
 
Contact a Rite-Hite representative to learn more and ask for a custom energy-cost and return on investment analysis. More information is available online at http://www.ritehite.com/en/AM/Products/Industrial-Fans.
 
About Rite-Hite
Rite-Hite Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a leading manufacturer of material handling systems designed for maximum safety and productivity. Principal product lines include: trailer restraints, dock levelers, integrated controls, dock seals and shelters, industrial power doors, HVLS fans and aftermarket products and services. For more information, visit www.ritehite.com or call 1-800-456-0600.
 
For more information, contact:
Andy Olson
414-362-6364
aolson@ritehite.com
 
Andy Larsen
414-271-0101, ext. 119
alarsen@boelterlincoln.com
 

Cloud Based Mobile Engagement Platform, Lumavate, Exhibits at MODEX 2016

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Lumavate, a mobile engagement platform built exclusively for manufacturers, will attend MODEX 2016 booth 3729 in Atlanta, GA April 4-7th.
 
Lumavate’s cloud based platform makes it easy for manufacturers to deliver branded mobile experiences with their products that provide access to multi-media content and engagement channels for marketing, service, and support teams. Using the analytics and reporting features, manufacturers can monitor the success of their mobile engagement strategies.
 
“We are excited to showcase our platform at MODEX 2016. Lumavate fills a real void which is an easy-to-use platform that enables manufacturers to execute mobile engagement strategies around the use and service of their products.”  Paul McGrath, CEO, Lumavate
 
Mobile moments with products are happening whether brands are controlling the experience or not.  Mobile users are interacting with Google, YouTube, Amazon and other online resources to get answers when they need them.  Lumavate helps companies like First Build (a joint partnership with GE) and MobileDrill International deliver crucial product information when and where users need it most.
 
In order to control the message, companies need a solution to manage it. Lumavate’s mobile engagement platform helps manufacturers’ easily transform the way they engage users. 
 
“Lumavate helps companies mobilize their supply chain by providing mission critical information when and where users need it most. “ Paul McGrath, CEO, Lumavate
 
About Lumavate:
Lumavate transforms the way manufacturers engage their users by supporting crucial mobile moments that happen throughout the lifecycle of the product. Lumavate’s cloud based platform helps manufacturers and distributors easily execute mobile strategies that deliver model specific information, engage end-users and analyze key data related to your product’s useage. www.lumavate.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Megan Glover
Lumavate
m.glover@lumavate.com
www.lumavate.com
 

Gearing up for a European campaign

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Choosing the right supply chain partner will enable the thousands of small and medium-sized US internet retailers to reproduce the success they are enjoying in their home market in the buoyant European trade zone, says Mark Elward, managing director of the UK supply chain and fulfillment solutions specialist, DK Fulfilment Ltd

According to the latest figures released by the UK-based Centre for Retail Research, US online spending was expected to reach $349.20 bn [£215.39 bn] in 2015 - an increase of 13.8 per cent on the previous year. 
 
If the forecast figure proves accurate it would mean that in 2015 online orders accounted for some 12.7 per cent of all US retail goods sales. 
 
But, with the home market buoyant, there is a feeling among some analysts that many of the US’s most successful online retailers are overlooking the opportunities that exist overseas – particularly Europe, where consumers have embraced internet shopping with the same enthusiasm as the American public.
 
In fact, e-commerce is the fastest growing retail market in Europe and is predicted to be worth US$300bn in 2016.
 
Furthermore, according to the Centre for Retail Research’s analysts, while the US online retail industry remains much larger, e-commerce is expected to grow by 19 per cent across Europe this year - compared to 14 per cent in the US.
 
So how can the thousands of small and medium-sized US retailers reproduce the success they are enjoying in their home market in the buoyant European internet trade zone?
 
“Supply chain efficiency is the key that will allow US retailers to open the door to the European market quickly and cost effectively,” says Mark Elward, managing director of the UK supply chain and fulfillment solutions specialist, DK Fulfilment Ltd.
 
He continues: “US companies with current or future plans to take advantage of the rapidly expanding European online retail market can gain a significant commercial advantage by using a Europe-based logistics specialist to store their products and fulfill their online orders.”
 
“For example, the European Union (EU) is a free trade zone so by fulfilling orders from within Europe, US retailers will not incur additional taxes or duties. 
In addition, shipping orders to European customers from a European base means no custom delays which speeds up the delivery process and makes it more cost effective which, in turn, results in increased customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.”
 
And, while US retailers could choose to fulfill their e-commerce orders from any location in Europe, Mark Elward believes it makes the most sense to choose a UK owned and operated fulfillment company that is capable of servicing the whole of Europe. 
 
“For a start, we share the same first language, so there will be no barriers to effective communication - and we all know how important good communication is in the world of business,” he says.
 
“And, being located in the center of your market place, allows you to compete on a level playing field without incurring costly shipping expenses from the US. Not only will this allow you to compete on price, but you will have all the advantages of the same transit times as your competitors and in today’s fast moving e-commerce arena, one extra shipping day could mean a lost sale.”
 
“In addition, simply having a physical presence in a country allows you to ‘behave’ like a local company. And locals like to buy from locals.”
 
With three modern and secure UK-based facilities and other sites located in Germany, DK Fulfilment has helped a diverse list of clients to grow by delivering exceptional and consistent online customer satisfaction.
 
DKF’s presence on the European mainland contributes significantly to the company’s value proposition, as Mark Elward explains:
 
“From our German facility the average transit time to most EU countries is to 1-2 days – and for online retail operations quicker transit times mean more sales.
 
“By utilizing our transport partners in Germany, we can get your products to your European customers at a fraction of the cost and time that shipping from the UK mainland would incur. These savings alone offset the fulfillment costs of many of our existing clients. “
 
“What’s more, because the DK Group has significant buying power in Germany, our clients benefit from the volume-related discounts that DKF is able to negotiate with Europe’s major carriers. “
 
Mark Elward adds, ”DKF has years of experience in delivering innovative B2B and B2C fulfillment solutions and our large international client base is expanding rapidly as more and more export-focused companies appreciate the benefits of servicing their European online customers through a Europe-based logistics partner.”
 
To discuss how DK Fulfilment’s portfolio of fulfillment services and solutions can benefit your company, visit Booth 4573 at Modex 2016 (April 4-7, Georgia World Congress Center) or visit www.dkfulfillment.com
 
www.dkfulfilment.co.uk
 
Editor’s Notes: About DK Fulfilment Ltd
With three modern and secure UK facilities and a European site located in Germany, DK Fulfilment focuses on providing fulfilment, reverse logistics and bonded warehousing services to a range of online businesses. The company is part of the DK Group.
 
Media Contact:
Lloyd Arkill
Arkill Matthews Allen Ltd
Tel: 01923 777897 
Mobile: 07903 809127
 
Company Contact:
Robin Buxton 
European Marketing Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 1788 820235
Mobile: +44 (0) 7736885759

DEFENDER CELL ADDS SAFETY TO COMMON AUTOMATED PROCESSES

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Rite-Hite Machine Guarding Defender Cell restricts access and provides point-of-operation guarding around potentially dangerous automated and automatic processes including stretch-wrap machine operations. It incorporates perimeter safety products – Rite-Hite’s RoboGuard steel-wire fencing and point-of-operation guarding with a high-speed , automated barrier door, the Defender – into one four-sided safety cell.
 
“Automated processes are making distribution centers and warehouses more efficient, but a lack of regulations makes certain applications a widely unprotected danger,” says Eric Esson, Rite-Hite Machine Guarding product manager. “It’s important to adhere to OSHA’s most basic guidelines by keeping employees and potential bystanders safe during these operations. The Defender Cell offers a solution in one package.”
 
Constructed of eight-gauge welded steel wire, RoboGuard effectively restricts workers and bystanders from entering dangerous work spaces where machinery might be moving. The fencing is easily  customizable to accommodate various applications and designs. The Defender’s high-speed, high-cycle automated door safely separates machine operators and manufacturing processes at the point-of–operation, while also allowing safe and easy access to the process cell once it has powered down. Additionally, the roll-up design leaves a small physical footprint. As more suppliers incorporate robots into daily operations – automatic stretch-wrapping, robotic palletizing and automated conveyors – it’s critical that the safety methodologies used are similar to that of other robotic processes and are compliant with applicable standards.
 
“Companies don’t have to sacrifice efficiency in the name safety,” says Esson. “The Defender Cell is proof that potentially dangerous automated processes can be made safer.”
 
About Rite-Hite
Rite-Hite Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a leading manufacturer of material handling systems designed for maximum safety and productivity. Principal product lines include: trailer restraints, dock levelers, integrated controls, dock seals and shelters, industrial power doors, HVLS fans and aftermarket products and services. For more information, visit www.ritehite.com or call 1-800-456-0600.
 
The information herein is provided as a general reference only regarding the use of the applicable products in generic applications. The specifications stated here are subject to change.
 
Contacts:
Andy Larsen, Boelter + Lincoln
414-840-0891 / alarsen@boelterlincoln.com  
Eric Esson, Rite-Hite Machine Guarding
414-362-3736 / eesson@ritehite.com
 

BRIAN O’CONNELL JOINS FORTE TEAM IN CHARLOTTE

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FORTE, a Swisslog company, is pleased to announce the addition of Brian O’Connell to its expanding team in Charlotte, N.C., to support FORTE’s Beverage Engineering Center of Excellence. O’Connell joins the company as the new sales manager.
 
In his role, O’Connell is responsible for leading the business development team in their efforts to identify qualified opportunities and support the development of strategic accounts in the beverage industry. He plans to work to deliver outstanding results that FORTE clients have come to expect over the more than 35-year history of the company.
 
O’Connell brings more than 15 years of outstanding customer relations and operational development experience to his role at FORTE, having served clients such as Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Coca-Cola Corporation, SlimFast, Nike Inc., The North Face, among others in previous positions. 
 
In his prior role at InTrek Logistics, O’Connell was responsible for the strategic direction of the company and daily oversight of sales and operations. Additionally, he designed and patented multiple innovative solutions for the beer, soft drink, and food service industries. 
 
O’Connell earned his bachelor of behavioral science degree at the University of Maryland and received his master’s certification in project management from George Washington University. 
 
About FORTE
FORTE, a Swisslog company, is a leading warehouse automation and warehouse execution software (WES) company focused on optimizing distribution centers for many of the world’s fastest growing companies. FORTE's business model brings a completely objective, equipment-agnostic approach to planning, designing and implementing automated material handling systems. By combining FORTE's experience with Swisslog’s global expertise in designing, developing and delivering best-in-class automation solutions, the companies form an Automation Powerhouse™. To learn more, visit www.forte-industries.com or www.swisslog.com/na.
 

Daifuku Warehouse Automation Technology Selected for Innovative Robotics Training Center in Michigan

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Wynright Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company and a leading U.S.-based provider of intelligent material handling systems, today announced that it and its sister company Jervis B. Webb have received a contract to provide automated warehouse technology for an innovative technical education program at Lansing Community College (LCC) in Lansing, Michigan. The college will use the Daifuku technology, including automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS), conveying and sortation systems, for a new robotics and automation training center supporting a new mechatronics technician degree program. 
 
“As Michigan’s skilled workers retire, and the advances in technology continue, we will depend highly on the specialized workforce,” said LCC President, Dr. Brent Knight. “In planning for the College’s new Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME), we assembled an advisory board of 35 area industry leaders to ensure incorporation of cutting-edge technical tools and training for in-demand jobs. Daifuku technology was recommended for the supply chain realm.”
 
Development of the CME began in the spring of 2015 when the Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded the college a grant to purchase new technology and create a space necessary to meet the growing demand for highly skilled automation technicians in the area. The grant has enabled LCC to modify its engineering labs and expand its overall learning space from 14,000 square feet to nearly 27,000 square feet. 
 
The CME, slated to open in the fall of 2016, will feature a real-world training environment with a robotic assembly line. The Daifuku warehouse technology will extend the training environment into the supply chain maintenance area, helping students gain skills and a deeper appreciation of the role of logistics in the manufacturing field.  
 
Jervis B. Webb and Wynright, both subsidiaries of Daifuku Co., Ltd. are developing a manufacturing solution that will integrate Webb’s inverted monorail, Automatic Guided Carts (AGC) and AGC software, with Wynright’s Automotion® brand conveyor, and Fanuc, ABB, and Universal collaborative robots utilizing machine vision and various gripping techniques.  The closed loop system will utilize conveyor and AGC’s to transport parts between robotic stations where collaborative robots assemble, disassemble, load and unload product within the closed loop.  
 
This project will allow LCC to develop a maintenance-focused curriculum around material handling equipment commonly found in an automotive manufacturing facility. The intent of this equipment is to provide a system that will function as a stand-alone closed loop system as well as individual modules able to run independently of one another.
 
“We are proud to be part of this important STEM initiative and especially pleased that the new LCC degree program will address automation issues beyond the plant floor. Getting the product from the plant floor to the eventual end user, efficiently and profitably can be as complex as producing it. Many new employment and business efficiency opportunities are emerging in this space and we are looking forward to working with LCC to help automotive and other industries to benefit from them,” said Kevin Ambrose, CEO Wynright.
 
About Wynright Corporation
Wynright Corporation, a subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company, is a leading provider of intelligent material handling systems. With more than 200 engineers in-house, the company designs, manufactures, integrates and installs a full spectrum of intralogistics solutions, offering both Wynright-branded and third-party equipment to meet client needs. These include leading-edge conveyor and sortation systems, voice- and light-directed order fulfillment equipment, a suite of warehouse controls & execution software, robotics, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), mezzanines, and structures, all backed by critical round-the-clock service and support.
 
Since its founding in 1972, Wynright has been a trusted partner to some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies, showing them how to use their space more efficiently to deliver improved productivity, today and tomorrow.
 
About Daifuku North America Holding Company 
Daifuku North America Holding Company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with sales and manufacturing locations throughout the continent. It is comprised of Daifuku America Corporation, Jervis B. Webb Company, Elite Line Services, Inc. (ELS), and Wynright Corporation and is a global leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and service of innovative material handling technology such as automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, baggage handling systems, bulk handling systems, cleanroom systems and airport maintenance services. Daifuku North America specializes in integrated systems used in the automotive, airport, semiconductor, LCD equipment, food/beverage, bulk, warehousing and manufacturing industries. 
 
About Jervis B. Webb Company 
Jervis B. Webb Company, a subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company, is a leading developer of innovative material handling technology such as Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), conveyors, and baggage handling systems. For nearly a century Jervis B. Webb has been at the forefront of the material handing industry continuously developing innovations that have changed the way products are manufactured, moved and warehoused. Jervis B. Webb is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., with manufacturing locations throughout North America.
 
About Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is Michigan’s third largest community college with nearly 15,000 students attending each year. LCC offers courses in general education for those interested in transferring to a university, career and workforce development, developmental education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized programs for credit, non-credit and continuing education. The University Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from six partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit lcc.edu.
 

Raymond Handling Concepts Corporation Sees Explosive Growth

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Raymond Handling Concepts Corporation (RHCC), a leading materials handling equipment supplier in Northern California and the Northwest, has transformed its business to include not only traditional material handling systems, but total end-to-end warehouse management solutions for its customers, resulting in a 35 percent sales growth for 2015.  As a part of its expansion and commitment to ensuring customer success, Raymond Handling Concepts has added engineered storage solutions that incorporate pallet rack, shelving and mezzanines, as well as expanded its project management practice and automated storage system products, including Kardex Remstar carousels and vertical lift modules.
 
With a reputation for being a dependable partner for material handling needs, in 2014 Raymond Handling Concepts wanted to evolve its business model go beyond the core needs of its trusted customers to provide additional products and services that complemented its primary business.  In the time since, the company expanded its ability to assist customers with complete material handling and storage needs, from envisioning the concept to evaluating alternative designs, all the way to managing the project through to completion.  
 
“Though Raymond Handling Concepts has always experienced strong growth in our traditional businesses, to achieve 35 percent growth in a year we had to dramatically change our business plan and ensure our team could execute the plan accordingly,” said Steve Raymond, President of Raymond Handling Concepts Corporation. “While the Raymond Handling Concepts leadership is very proud of this accomplishment, we are even more proud of all of the dedicated individuals who work together so hard to achieve these results.”
 
In addition to the end-to-end solutions it is providing its customers, the company successfully partnered with a number of the largest third party logistics companies in North America to help support the company’s growth, with focus in e-commerce, automotive, food processing, retail distribution and aerospace industries. 
 
To complete this company-wide expansion, Raymond Handling Concepts also expanded its teams of field service technicians through training programs in order to support growth without compromising its service reputation. It has also introduced its fleet care department, which has already been able to dramatically drive down costs for customers.
 
For additional information, visit www.raymondhandling.com.  Connect with Raymond Handling Concepts on Twitter @RaymondHandling, on Facebook, on Google + and on LinkedIn. 
 
About Raymond Handling Concepts
Raymond Handling Concepts provides high-density storage, order-picking systems and associated services to companies engaged in warehousing and distribution as well as material handling of all kinds.  The company was established in 1987 as a family-oriented company that fosters close, long-lasting customer relationships. Its parent company, The Raymond Corporation, was founded more than 90 years ago in the small, rural village of Greene, NY when it purchased Lyon Iron Works in 1922. “At Raymond Handling Concepts, it’s not just business. It’s personal.”
 
For more information, contact: 
Raymond Handling Concepts 
Tiffany Broden
253-333-2100 x14219
tbroden@raymondhandling.com
or
Ashton Maxfield
949.289.6493
ashton@masterplanpr.com
 

Smart Logistics (4.0): End-to-end optimization on the basis of maximum data transparency

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The distribution logistics is currently undergoing a paradigm shift. First and foremost, the change is driven by the market itself: Food and non-food consumers have completely new possibilities to cover their needs with E-Commerce and online trade. The good old supply chain has long developed to a consumer-controlled demand chain. Moreover, technical developments such as Big Data, Predictive Analytics, or Smart Logistics (4.0) create the conditions to practically realize concrete solutions for partially new business models.  These issues have top priority for WITRON and its national and international customers, as well - many of these issues have already been implemented successfully today - and challenging issues are in the pipeline.  
 
Integrated data transparency in real-time and on all levels
Horizontal and vertical data transparency is the foundation for the right decisions in the demand chain. It is decisive to react quickly to changed requirements or to anticipate potential developments in due time. The prerequisites for an integrated data transparency and the digitization of the entire value added supply chain in logistics have long been established.  
 
As general contractor, WITRON is fully responsible for the design, IT, control, mechanics, maintenance, and the system operation of its projects. With almost 45 years of market experience and more than 2,000 realized projects, the company knows the horizontal supply chain of many industry sectors in detail: From the supplier, over receiving, the distribution center, transportation, and through to the supply of the goods to its destination, as for example the store shelf or direct home delivery. Since WITRON has its origin in the development and integration of warehouse management and control software, the company also has extensive knowledge of the vertical supply chain: From the ERP system, over the WMS, the WCS, the PLC, mechanics, drives, and through to sensors and actuators.  
 
The structuring of gathered information will create a "transparent logistics center" with a great amount of relevant data that is used as extensive knowledge database to benefit WITRON's customers: For an optimal and efficient system and shift operation, as action recommendation for strategic logistics decisions, as design basis for additional projects and flexible adjustment to market changes, the creation of exact analyses and visualizations for the efficient and sustainable use of mechanics elements, the development of innovative software features, for maintenance, and much more.  
 
But the fast and correct interpretation of all available data has another effect as well: A way will be paved towards an autonomously controlled system. The consequence: A logistics process with consistently high optimization on all levels and in all areas. 
 
The modern logistics center will be steered with and from a leading-edge control center. A master control software developed by WITRON and created based on many information from the warehouse management system automatically provides action and operating recommendations for the operator by means of numerous interfaces to internal and external systems. This allows data transparency over all distribution channels, an intelligent purchase and inventory optimization, as well as a global inventory management over all internal and external warehouse locations through to items stored at the supplier's site. It also allows an integral forecast for processes of all warehouse areas - from receiving, over order picking, and through to dispatch - with corresponding optimization measures related to manpower requirement and shift occupations.  
 
In the future, WITRON will be able to provide its customers even more detailed forecast and basis for decision-making processes. The consequence: The view of the warehouse management system will not only be focused on pure intra-logistics, but on the entire business process of the customer, for example, with an intelligent and dynamic integration of the route scheduling.  Moreover, the WMS receives insight into the purchase / sale systems and identifies evaluations of current or historic store data. It also has access to information about marketing campaigns and the handling of returns with the goal to evaluate all possible impacts on logistics.  
Direct and integrated communication between products, machines, and systems
If a highly dynamic WITRON distribution center connects all products, areas, and elements - from receiving to dispatch - in a logical and IT-supported manner, it allows a real-time optimized order processing that runs largely without staff intervention. The result is a "flowing" logistics process: If master data, departure times, store layouts, machine, or frame conditions change, also order processing or prioritization will change in a flexible and automatic manner, and in real-time. The core of the idea is that all units and/or parties involved in the entire system (as for example machines, SKUs, stores, tours) are directly linked with each other, communicate with each other, and that dynamic changes flow into the process in a decentral manner and in real-time.   
 
The following is a typical example for the "independent control and integrated communication" within logistics based on the handling of PET bottles: The incoming goods pallet will not only be checked for completeness and quality by the system before it is automatically stored,  at this point the logistics system already knows, if it is a toteable product, a bulky product, if the item can be picked fully automatically, or if it has to be picked manually. Based on the existing customer orders, the system already knows in the receiving area if the product is currently a fast mover or a slow mover. Storage in the high bay warehouse is done accordingly. If ABC curves change, new optimizations will have immediate effect. Subsequently, the items are provided to the OPM area on demand.  
 
With regards to WITRON's solutions, even the individual SKUs are directly communicating with the logistics system and the corresponding mechanical elements. In the course of the depalletizing and separation process, the product "signalizes" according to what parameters it needs to be "handled". The depalletizer knows for example the maximum intensity of the contact pressure and the mechanics systems knows for example that an item needs to be placed and not laid onto a tray, and much more. When transporting the item to the tray AS/RS, the conveyor system automatically adapts its speed to the individual product - bottles will therefore not tilt for example. The warehouse management system generally knows where the individual case is physically located in the warehouse. This is also visually verified by a product image for every single case. For a store-friendly order picking, the packaging unit will be transported in the right sequence from the AS/RS to the COM machine. If necessary, it will be re-adjusted automatically before it receives its assigned location on the order pallet or roll container - depending on the individual shop layout of the store. Since bottle necks are not stable storing positions for additional products, the OPM system knows via master data and stacking algorithm, that a slip sheet needs to be placed onto the bottles first. Then, additional products will be picked without any error. Error-free, because the entire system is monitored via sensor technology and because the physical position and quality of the individual products is permanently compared with the theoretical stacking design.  
 
The process-controlled product handling continues in the dispatch area. Automatic dispatch buffers provide the truck driver the order pallets and order roll containers via gravity conveyors just-in-time and in the right sequence for loading: optimally adapted to the loading volume and the allowed load capacity of the trailer through a shipping space calculation. "Empties" such as totes, pallets, and roll containers returned by the truck driver, will automatically be returned into the material flow, cleaned if required, returned or buffered in the internal logistics cycle with an optimum quantity.  
 
Forecasting + optimizing / order processing within order picking
The central element of a logistics center is and will remain the order picking process. This is precisely where data consistency gives a high optimization potential. The order picking process starts with a preceding simulation that determines the necessary picking capacities on the basis of workload and order structure. The data model also includes dispatch, route scheduling, and the car pool management. Subsequent to Predictive Analytics under consideration of all influencing factors, the order picking process will be holistically optimized and handled in a process-controlled manner. This means: Manpower requirement, shift schedules, and machine run-times will be defined by the system, and replenishment from the high bay warehouse to the respective sub-systems will be controlled.  Order priorities and order start will be considered at the same time. Load carriers are provided at the picking workstations in the right quantity. A workload balancing - a distribution of order peaks to the available picking resources - will also be carried out. All proactive analyses are dynamic: If influencing factors and frame conditions change, the processes will immediately be optimized independently by the system based on the new definitions.  
 
Whether it concerns tote items, piece pick, case pick, bulky products, or temperature-controlled items - automated or semi-automated order picking is done dynamically, store-friendly, and basically without any errors. This is ensured by highly efficient stacking algorithms that generate an optimal stacking design for every order based on the article master data and customer demands. Basically, an "intelligent" stacking algorithm continually receives the sum of all data and factors that are relevant for a cost-efficient order picking - that is not only SKU and store specifications, but also criteria that concern transportation. If, for example, it concerns a "long" tour, for which the trailer has to cover many miles, the focus is on very densely packed pallets / roll containers in order to save transportation costs. In case of "shorter" tours, the focus is more on "store-friendly" picking. Here too: If parameters change, the system will optimize automatically with regards to the new requirements. Another important part of the simulation process is the consolidation. The bundling and integration of different business models at WITRON is generated through efficient order consolidation from the different sub-systems and the consolidation to one customer order using all synergies. Thus, solutions designed by WITRON enable the handling of store business, Multi-Channel business, and online business with the same logistics modules from one central logistics center.  
 
WITOOLs optimize service and maintenance
Operators require investment protection. This means that systems of specific industry sectors have to run 24 hours a day, 365 a year - for 25 to 30 years. To ensure these high requirements, WITRON developed the web-based and applicatory Service Management Software WITOOL. Therefore, WITRON's digital end-to-end strategy does not end in the dispatch area. The software also includes an integrated maintenance processing. Also, in the field of service and maintenance, the trend clearly goes towards self-learning systems. It is about creating an extensive data pool, optimizing processes with the existing data, identifying trends based on the available data and processes, and creating exact action recommendations for the maintenance team based on these trends. WITOOL enables this overall transparency over all service and maintenance tasks: The organization of active and proactive maintenance based on an efficient operating data registration, a resource management for the entire maintenance team, a professional fault removal, the spare parts management, recommendations for health and safety, and much more. In consequence, WITOOL stands for high cost-efficiency, cost control, effectiveness, and timesavings and at the same time simple implementation and user-friendly handling. Flexible cloud hosting models as well as open interfaces allow for smooth implementation in a variety of maintenance areas. The most important dialogs are optimized for the mobile usage by means of tablets or smart phones. An own server and database infrastructure on-site or special technical expertise is not required.
 
The basis of the maintenance tasks carried out by WITRON is the Risk Based Maintenance (RBM) and Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) strategy. The user revives support with his or her decision whether to exchange parts proactively or reactively: Where do higher costs arise - due to the parts consumption (proactive) or due to downtimes (reactive). Moreover, the complete networking and the available operating data, production planning, machine data, and resource planning in connection with intelligent analysis functions allow the automatic creation of maintenance schedules, the definition of optimal spare parts requirements, and employees receive their work orders for maintenance and system support directly on their smart phone.  
 
Conclusion:
Through the intelligent networking of all "parties involved" within the entire internal and external value added supply chain, logistics solutions from WITRON enter into a new dimension - and create new perspectives for WITRON customers.  
 

Sobeys puts its trust in WITRON for a third time

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For almost 10 years now, WITRON Integrated Logistics and the Canadian food retailer Sobeys have maintained a close partnership. With two warehouse automation projects jointly realized in Vaughan, Ontario and Terrebonne, Quebec the two companies are about to add another chapter to this success story. In mid-May 2014, both companies signed a contract to extend the existing dry grocery facility in Ontario by adding a fully automated case picking system for fresh and frozen goods. 
 
The numbers are again impressive: the new facility will have a footprint of approximately 245,000 square feet. The fully automated case picking system called OPM (Order Picking Machinery) is designed to handle a daily peak picking performance of almost 170,000 cases. The article range covers about 3,800  different products. Moreover, an automated shipping buffer will optimize the entire dispatch process. The warehouse will supply 783 stores with frozen goods and 829 stores with perishable products. Productive use of the distribution center is scheduled for fall 2016. 
 
WITRON will implement two of its systems into the new Sobeys Distribution Center extension – the Case Picking System (CPS) and the above mentioned Order Picking Machinery (OPM). Both systems are currently being operated in the existing Sobeys dry grocery facilities. 
 
The OPM system is literally a fully automated case picking solution as almost all processes apart from unloading and loading the trailers at shipping and receiving are automated. Thus, the system virtually eliminates picking labor in within the DC.  The benefits of such a system extend beyond the DC, with a reduction in effort to fill store shelves as a result of store-friendly pallets.  In addition, transportation benefits can be realized from improved order pallet density.  All of these benefits are made possible through WITRON’s innovative and proprietary COM (Case Order Machine) at the heart of the OPM system.  The COM allows cases to be automatically stacked atop order pallets in a store-friendly sequence, without any of the gaps around the cases that result in most robotic pallet-building applications. At the new Vaughan extension, WITRON will integrate 10 COMs. Once system ramp-up is complete, Sobeys will have a total of 42 COMs in use at their existing sites
 
Although revolutionary in its approach, the majority of the components and processes that drive the OPM are standard within the world of warehouse automation. The OPM is highly flexible to business needs. Projects range from handling 300 to 18,000 SKUs, with as few as 3 COMs to as many as 70 COMs, and handling volumes from 13,000 cases per day to 600,000 cases per day.  So far, a cost-efficient solution was found for every customer's task. 
All in all the benefits for Sobeys are high transparency, lowest error rates, and optimization with regards to service and logistics costs. 
 
The picking of large and bulky articles in both Cooler and Freezer at the Vaughan DC will take place in WITRON’s Car Picking System (CPS). CPS is a pallet picking solution with path-optimized order picking supported by pick-by-voice operator guidance. The pickfront is automatically replenished by AS/RS cranes. The CPS module will be integrated into an automated high-bay warehouse within each chamber.  The Freezer pallet high-bay warehouse will have 5 pallet AS/RS cranes servicing approximately 14,200 storage locations while the Cooler high-bay warehouse will have 2 pallet AS/RS cranes servicing approximately 4,800 storage locations. 
 
With annualized sales of more than CAD 24 billion, 125,000 employees and 1,500 stores, Sobeys Inc. is Canada’s second-largest food retailer.
Sobeys has been serving the food shopping needs of Canadians for 108 years. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises approximately 1,500 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawton’s Drug Stores as well as more than 350 retail fuel locations. Sobeys, its franchisees and affiliates employ more than 125,000 people.
 
As a general contractor, WITRON is responsible for the entire design and realization of all IT, control engineering, and mechanical components. All conveyor system elements will be designed and produced by WITRON's subsidiary, FAS. The system will work 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 

FESTO opts for WITRON‘s highly dynamic solution also in the USA

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FESTO AG continues to expand their US business and is investing 40 million US Dollars into a new production, service, and logistics center in Mason, Ohio. The facility will measure 161,500 square feet, and will open in 2015. The new Regional Service Center (RSC) will provide space for additional growth in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Due to the central location of the RSC, FESTO will be able
to supply its North American customers in a more fl exible manner with its innovative, customer specific, and tailor-made solutions, and provide an even better service in terms of engineering and consulting. The stated aim is to further strengthen its position in the American market.
 
For this new facility, FESTO AG, the worldwide operating market leader for control and automation technology headquartered in Esslingen, made its decision once again for WITRON‘s logistics capabilities. As a general contractor, WITRON is responsible for the entire development and startup of all IT, control engineering, and mechanical components.
 
“Since 1994, both companies have been successfully working together in the warehouse logistics area. So far, WITRON successively expanded our central warehouse in St. Ingbert, Germany in four construction phases and pro-actively adapted the material fl ows to our dynamic business. In consequence, we are able to provide an optimal delivery service to more than 300,000 customers in
176 countries of the world“, explains Andreas Wiebe, project coordinator at FESTO. “Nevertheless, WITRON had to face a tough competition during the bidding process for the project“.
 
In addition to a cost-effi cient concept, WITRON‘s activity on the US market including their US subsidiary, which has been successfully running for almost 20 years, contributed to the positive decision in favor of WITRON. The US subsidiary WITRON Integrated Logistics, headquartered in Chicago, currently employs more than 400 people.
 
“We are very pleased that FESTO put its trust in us for the realization of this challenging North American project“, says Josef Gallersdoerfer, senior project manager for WITRON. The new distribution center in Ohio will supply all North American customers in a very short time after receipt of order. “Availability of goods and short delivery times are of top priority in our industry sector“,
emphasizes Andreas Wiebe. “All articles ordered today have to be received by our customers on the next day“. Based on the broad range of articles with more than 18,000 different products like drives, motors, controllers, valves, sensors, or image processing systems, FESTO works analogous to the German central warehouse with WITRON‘s standard module OPS (Order Picking System)
that was adapted exactly to the special customer requirements.
 
Of particular note are the seven high-efficiency pick workstations including the corresponding, downstream packing stations. The stations were developed according to strict ergonomic specifications. Every workstation is able to pick up to four customer orders at the same time. Moreover, a pick-by-light system and an integrated scale ensure a very high pick quality. Thus, it is possible to pack a total of up to 500 customer packages without any errors at a peak day and
ship them in a timely manner.
 
A ten-aisle AS/RS with 73,000 locations, designed for different tote sizes, provides the picking and packaging area with goods over a conveyor system network. Integrated sequence buffers ensure a sequence-friendly provision of the ordered goods at the workstation and an optimal workload of the pick and pack locations. At the same time, these sequence buffers decouple the
AS/RS stacker cranes from the picking sequence.
 
For many years, FESTO AG has been characterized by consistent growth. This refers to both the core markets in Germany / Europe and many other sales regions around the globe. FESTO currently employs some 16,700 staff members and achieved a group revenue of 2.28 billion Euros. FESTO has associations in 61 countries and 250 subsidiaries worldwide.

Yale Debuts Self-Guided End Rider Driven by Balyo: A Winning Combination for Warehouses

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As warehouse operations contend with increasingly rigorous fulfillment requirements, Yale Materials Handling Corporation debuts robotic lift truck technology that can help deliver improved productivity and dependability while reducing total cost of operations. In Yale booth #3147, the company’s MPE080VG end rider Driven by Balyo demonstrates this technology, allowing attendees to discover what it has to offer and its foremost advantages.
 
The Yale® MPE080VG end rider harnesses the power of Driven by Balyo technology to operate as a self-guided truck. The infrastructure-free navigation technology requires no tape, wire or magnets for guidance. Instead, it relies on existing structural features such as walls, racking and columns to self-locate and navigate. Ideal for a wide range of load transportation applications, the self-guided truck independently picks up, transports and drops off pallets anywhere on the floor, improving labor productivity by executing low value-added tasks and minimizing unnecessary stops.
The truck is equipped with both manual and automatic modes for efficient operation in shared environments alongside employees and manually operated trucks. The Balyo architecture can also scale according to operational demands, providing the flexibility to manage a single truck or an entire fleet.
 
“At Yale, we strive to help our customers break-free from limitations using the latest technology that enables them to leverage their skilled labor force, thus increasing labor productivity,” said Mick McCormick, Vice President Warehouse Solutions for Yale. “The Driven by Balyo self-guided truck demonstrates our dedication to help customers move products quickly and accurately to improve reliability, flex with market demands and control costs.”
 
The built-in smart management system helps the truck anticipate and react to its immediate environment. Its advanced obstacle-detection feature controls truck speed in real time, affording smooth movement while minimizing unnecessary stops and shocks, allowing up to 20,000 hours of use. The Driven by Balyo technology can interface with a facility’s warehouse management system for advanced integration, and the ergonomic 7-inch LCD touch screen provides all necessary controls and information for operation. 
 
About Yale Materials Handling Corporation 
Yale Materials Handling Corporation markets a full line of materials handling lift truck products and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks; narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorized hand trucks. Yale has a comprehensive service offering including Yale Vision wireless asset management, fleet management, Yale service, parts, financing and training. Yale® trucks are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility and range in capacity from 2,000 to 36,000 lbs. 
 
Yale Materials Handling Corporation is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, 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 more than 5,300 people world-wide. 
Yale is a Registered Trademark and   is a Registered Copyright and PEOPLE. PRODUCTS. PRODUCTIVITY. is a Trademark in the United States and certain other jurisdictions. 
 
Company Contact:
Nicole McLawhorn
Yale Materials Handling Corporation
252-931-5535
nicole.mclawhorn@hyster-yale.com
 
Media Contact:
Dan Gauss
Koroberi
919-797-2907
dan@koroberi.com
 

Hannibal Steps Up Innovation to Increase Efficiency as Part of Nationwide Expansion

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Today, Hannibal Industries, Inc. announced that it has implemented significant advancements in its manufacturing facilities in Los Angeles to stay ahead of the technology curve as the material handling industry continues to automate.  These advancements, including sophisticated robotics and upgrading IT systems, are helping the company increase efficiency and provide precision products to its customers on a global scale.  
 
In addition to modernizing the company with cutting-edge technology, Hannibal Industries’ expansion to the South has also added 16 jobs in the last quarter and has plans to add 100 more jobs in the next three years.  
 
“Customer demand for Hannibal’s rack products has increased both nationally and globally, and the company has matched that demand with innovation and technology in order to deliver without delay,” said Steve Rogers, executive vice president at Hannibal. “Hannibal Industries is proud to be on the leading edge of technology, expanding its global presence and continuing to be the company the industry looks to for a high-quality diverse pallet rack offering.”
 
As an employee-owned company, Hannibal is financially successful because it is continually looking to improve its product, its processes and its customer relationships. In addition to the advancements in robotics, the company has invested in increasing its IT systems as well. With this additional technology implementation, customers will have access to an online portal that will give updates on orders, allow for inquiries to be answered directly and to make real-time updates with the team at Hannibal. These advancements make the company efficient in manufacturing as well as making the entire process convenient for its customers.
 
Additional information on Hannibal Industries is available at http://www.hannibalrack.com, on Twitter @HannibalRack, on the Hannibal Rack YouTube channel and on LinkedIn.  
 
About Hannibal Industries, Inc.
Hannibal Industries, Inc., headquartered in the Los Angeles metro area, is a pallet rack and steel tube manufacturer with a diverse product line that enables the company to provide material handling products to some of the largest operations in the world.  This employee-owned company is the largest U.S. manufacturer of steel pallet rack west of the Mississippi River. 
 
The company’s industry leading product offering includes TubeRack, Metalsistem, Structural Pallet Rack, Roll-Formed Selective Pallet Rack, Hybrid Systems, Cantilever Systems, Pushback Systems, Pallet Flow Systems, Case Flow Systems and Drive-In Systems. Engineering and design services offered by the company include: system design; seismic engineering; permit administration; in-house installation and custom fabrication.  A true innovator, Hannibal Industries was awarded patents for its pallet rack system adjustable safety restraint and TubeRack.  For additional information, visit www.hannibalrack.com
 
For more information, contact:
Hannibal Industries Media Relations/      
Master Plan Communications, Inc.
Ashton Maxfield
949.289.6493
 

GLOBAL DEMAND FOR TWINLODE GEN2 ON THE RISE

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Twinlode, a leading supplier of high density storage rack systems, announced today that in the two years since it debuted its Gen2 storage rack system, the company has completed installations in North America, South America, Asia and the Middle East, with some of the largest food and beverage companies in the world.  These installations feature Twinlode Gen2, the company’s patent-pending double-wide system that satisfies the most sophisticated warehouse, as well as exceeding stringent requirements for geographic areas with the potential for high seismic activity.
 
Twinlode’s Gen2 is a stronger, smarter and more compliant racking system that adheres to new seismic regulations around the world, which include making warehouse and storage facility floor slab specifications.  The Twinlode Gen2 also provides flexibility for expansion, moving and reconfiguration at much lower costs than conventional racking systems. Vertical markets that benefit most from Twinlode Gen2 include food and beverage, produce and the food processing industries, as well as automotive, building products, perishable commodities, petroleum and pharmaceuticals.  
 
“According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there were 14,588 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater in 2015 globally. This is a staggering reality for many companies trying to navigate the engineering feat of building a streamlined warehouse environment,” said President of Twinlode Corporation, Lawrence Eastman.  “We are seeing additional demand in new markets such as Europe, Australia and Africa as we move into the second quarter of 2016 and look forward to installations in many of these areas later this year.”
 
Twinlode’s patented dual pallet system allows warehouse personnel to load and unload two pallets at a time, increasing productivity up to 50 percent, while decreasing wear and tear on material handling equipment. By eliminating one upright in every pallet position, space utilization is improved as well.  Storage density can be improved up to 35 percent over competing four-high designs while wider pallet bays also decrease product and rack damage when loading and unloading. 
 
About Twinlode Corporation:
Twinlode is a leading supplier of high density storage rack systems, specializing in the beverage, produce and food processing industries. It offers a full line of storage rack solutions, including drive-in/drive-thru, push back, pallet flow and case/carton flow rack systems and selective and cantilever storage racks. For more information, please visit http://www.twinlode.com.
 
For more information, contact:
Twinlode Media Relations/      
Master Plan Communications, Inc.
Ashton Maxfield
949.289.6493
Ashton@masterplanpr.com
or
Kirsten Woodard
714.366.6003
Kirsten@masterplanpr.com
 

VIRTUAL VISION® ALLOWS WORKERS TO “SEE” THROUGH HIGH-SPEED DOORS

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Working near high-speed doors just got a little safer with the introduction of LED Virtual Vision® by Rite-Hite. Unlike light communication systems that use arrows and countdowns to alert workers when a door is about to close, the exclusive Virtual Vision allows workers to “see” through the door with red LED lights that indicate when another worker or object is approaching the door from the other side.
 
Knowing if something is about to pass through a door opening can prevent a host of potential accidents, including dangerous and costly collisions between forklifts and workers, which is the second most common type of forklift accident. The light communication system uses a motion sensor on each side of the door. When the sensors detect an object approaching the door area, a strip of red light emitting diodes (LEDs) begin flashing on the opposite side of the door.
 
This system is an alternative to – or can be the perfect complement to – high-speed doors that use clear plastic vision panels. LED lights are typically placed just outside of the door’s frame on each side, but they can be set up anywhere that promotes the easiest visual for forklift operators and personnel.
 
LED Virtual Vision joins a full Rite-Hite lineup of light communication devices, which includes LED Pre-Announce and LED Countdown. All three communication devices are compatible with Rite-Hite’s line of FasTrax High-Speed Doors, as well as other makes and models.
 
About Rite-Hite
Rite-Hite Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a leading manufacturer of material handling systems designed for maximum safety and productivity. Principal product lines include: trailer restraints, dock levelers, integrated controls, dock seals and shelters, industrial power doors, HVLS fans and aftermarket products and services. For more information, visit www.ritehite.com or call 1-800-456-0600.
 
Media Contact
Andy Larsen
(414) 271-0101 x119
alarsen@boelterlincoln.com
 

KION North America releases two new Linde forklift series

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KION North America Corporation has announced the release of two new Linde forklift series, the Series 1169 Electric Walkie Stacker and the Series 1276 80-volt electric truck, at MODEX 2016-the leading tradeshow for supply chain, manufacturing and distribution industries in the U.S.
 
Designed specifically for the needs of the North American market, these new products are part of KION NA's long-term strategy to develop a more comprehensive product portfolio.
 
The Linde Series 1169 is the newest addition to the KION NA warehouse product line. This 24-volt truck features a Linde controller, sealed AC motor, sealed connectors, stability caster and residual capacity that can outperform the competitors.
 
"We designed this straddle truck specifically for the North American market which uses a GMA 48-inch long by 40-inch wide pallet," said John Callahan, warehouse equipment product manager at KION North America. "This truck is versatile and can fit in a variety of material handling applications at the fraction of the cost of a sit down rider truck."
 
The Linde Series 1276 is the latest addition to the company's electric counterbalance lineup. It includes twin drive motors, a combi axle and an 80-volt AC electrical system.
 
"This is an unbeatable performance and feature laden machine," said Bob Hasenstab, general product manager. "The voltage arrangement guarantees cooler running motors and high efficiency, due to less energy waste by avoiding unnecessary heat build-up and emissions."
 
The twin motor drive system, combined with patented "combi axle," provides unparalleled maneuverability. Additionally, the truck features traction control to deliver motion, even with one wheel completely slipping. The operator assist feature is designed to aid the operator when maneuvering around curves.
 
For a first look at these two new products and to see first-hand why Linde is considered the material handling industry's premium manufacturer, visit KION North America booth #3935 during MODEX from April 4-7 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
 
Media Contact:
Name: Rochelle Edwards
Title: Marketing & Communications Manager
Phone: 843-875-8311
Email address: Rochelle.edwards@kiongroup.com
 
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