H&P contracted with Mike Brunson, a lean manufacturing expert, to streamline their processes and increase efficiency. Brunson asked Hamilton about a specific caster and learned they could also design custom-built trailers perfectly suited to the lean manufacturing methods Brunson envisioned for H&P.

Hamilton Caster itself is a lean manufacturing practitioner and John Yater, a Hamilton design engineer, is one of the company’s biggest proponents of the concept. Yater worked closely with Brunson to determine how best to satisfy the lean design he had in mind for H&P.

“The trickiest part is getting a clear understanding of the customer’s application, intentions, and desires.” Yater said. “We strive to solve customers’ problems and forge a relationship of trust.”

After a series of phone calls and emails, a Hamilton Caster team flew to Oklahoma to meet with Brunson and get a first-hand look at the requirements of the new process they were helping design.

“I needed something that could handle extreme weight and had a low profile,” Brunson said. “Hamilton Caster solved the problem by creating a cart that effortlessly rolls heavy equipment into place without relying on a crane that is more dangerous and time-consuming.”

The modular dolly system that Hamilton Caster developed moves massive pieces of oil-field equipment and parts more safely and more efficiently, decreasing wasted time, energy and manpower, all core principles of lean manufacturing.

Hamilton Caster’s first project with H&P was so successful that it has since led to other projects with H&P.

“Working with Hamilton Caster is a pleasure,” Brunson said. “It’s nice to find an American manufacturer who has been around for 100 years, and is taking appropriate steps to be around for another 100 years.”

Hamilton Caster
For more than 100 years, has built ultra-durable trucks, custom-engineered trucks and trailers, and developed innovations like the super-resilient Ultralast™ wheels and HPI™ swivel caster technology.

Family owned since its inception, the fourth generation remains as committed to quality as the company’s founder, John Weigel.

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
H&P is primarily engaged in contract drilling of oil and gas wells for exploration and production companies and is one of the major land and offshore platform-drilling contractors in the world.

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For more information please contact:
Mark Lippert
Direct: 513-454-2642
800-733-7655
www.HamiltonCaster.com
info@hamiltoncaster.com
 

At the manufacturing level, handling large rolls of product packaging presents quite a challenge; a single roll of packaging can weigh up to several hundred pounds. Schlumpf USA is a recognized leader in a the packaging industry for roll and shaft handling products, as well as machinery components for unwinding and rewinding packing materials and aerospace composites. Hoist based and portable ergonomic handling systems from Schlumpf lift, load, and turn the packaging rolls; minimizing the ergonomic stress on the operator as well as reducing the risk of damage to the roll.

With business steadily growing, Schlumpf's 5,280 sq ft manufacturing facility in Windham, ME was bursting at the seams. Parts were stored on standard pallet rack that was accessed with a stacker truck. Workers would navigate the stacker truck through tight aisles to retrieve the parts needed; often reaching above their head or stretching to reach the back of the rack to get the part. "We were using every inch of floor space for storage," said Dana Denbow, Vice President at Schlumpf, "Parts were hard to access and the process was very time consuming."

Internal Expansion
With no room to grow Schlumpf installed one Element Vertical Lift Module (VLM) from Kardex Remstar providing the growth they needed without a building expansion. In fact, the first Element VLM was working so well that they added second unit. Roughly a year later, Schlumpf installed a second Element VLM.

The inventory in both VLMs was previously stored on pallet rack and drawer cabinets that occupied 20 feet by 30 feet of floor space. Using the VLMs Schlumpf was able to recover 474 square feet of floor space (reduced from 600 square feet to 126 square feet), a 79% floor space savings. With this recovered floor space Schlumpf reorganized the manufacturing flow to maximize efficiencies. "The space we've saved with the VLM has bought us another two to three years in this building without a building expansion," says Denbow.

Ergonomics & Safety
With both Element VLM's now in place, all parts are delivered ergonomically to the worker at waist level. "Our products create an ergonomic and safe work environment for our customers, and it's important to me that our manufacturing process here at Schlumpf is ergonomic and safe for our employees too," says Denbow.

The worker lifts the part one time, a horizontal transfer, from the VLM to the transfer cart, reducing the risk of injury to the worker and damage to the part. "The aisles are clear and the clutter is gone; it's a safer manufacturing environment with the VLM," says Denbow.

Facility Flow
The Element VLMs store a variety of parts and components used in final assembly. Parts are ordered from various vendors, but a majority of parts and components are manufactured in-house.   Once these parts and components are manufactured, they are stored in the Element VLMs along with the standard parts that are purchased from outside vendors.

When an order is received, it's sent out to the warehouse to be assembled. Starting with a base kit, assembly pulls the parts and components they need from the Element VLMs to assemble the final product. Upon completion, the product is inspected for quality and sent to the customer.

Picking Parts
Parts are still inventoried using an in-house system, just as they were when the pallet rack was in place. Previously, a worker would lookup the part location and then hunt through the pallet rack to find the part.   Now, the worker looks up the part location, and the in-house system lists a unit and tray number. The worker goes to the correct VLM unit and enters in the tray number where the part is stored.

The Element VLM moves to retrieve and deliver the requested tray to the worker in the access opening. Each tray is fitted with dividers and each cell location is clearly labeled, making the part easy to identify. Once the tray is delivered, the worker retrieves the part they require, confirms the transaction and the tray is returned to storage. All part numbers, quantities and storage locations are managed in the in-house inventory management system.

"This was the perfect solution for us because it allows us to expand gradually by adding one unit at a time." Says Denbow, "We are looking at integrating inventory management software with the Element VLMs in the coming year."

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.

For more information please contact:
Christina Dube
207-591-3168
800-639-5805
Fax 207-854-1610
christina.dube@kardexremstar.com
http://MediaCenter.KardexRemstar.com  
www.KardexRemstar.com

Cory Hypes, executive vice president for PAS, said, “We are very pleased to have established this relationship with Swisslog NA. Their long standing reputation for performance and service is well known in the industry and we anticipate it will open up new segments for our innovative technology. This agreement with Swisslog is another step in our Customer First initiative which along with our new direct sales force will provide our customers with greater access to PAS technology, along with superior service and solutions.”

The PowerStor AS/RS solution is a flexible, scalable, energy-efficient shuttle-based system which is ideal for new construction or retrofitting of older buildings. PowerStor’s deep lane storage capabilities allow warehouse managers to increase storage capacity and throughput, reduce labor and energy costs and realize a rapid return-on-investment.

Swisslog’s comprehensive services portfolio includes building complex warehouses which incorporate logistics solutions to optimize customers’ production, logistics and distribution processes in order to increase flexibility, responsiveness and quality service while minimizing logistics costs. Customers in more than 50 countries around the world rely on Swisslog’s expertise from over 2000 staff in 20 countries worldwide.

Markus Schmidt, senior vice president of Swisslog, said, “We see the ability to expand the use of pallet handling systems into new market segments, not historically served by automated solutions consistently. In addition, the PowerStor system will provide an additional extension to our automation solutions portfolio in cold storage applications, further enhancing Swisslog’s leading global position.”

In addition to the Swisslog sales channel, PAS has organized a nationwide network of sales agents to sell the recently introduced PAS Voyager™ shuttle device across North America to customers seeking a highly reliable semi-automated solution for increased deep storage capacity.

More about Power Automation Systems: Power Automation Systems is a leading innovator of automated warehouse products and solutions. A global company with headquarters and manufacturing in northern California, Power Automation Systems maximizes warehouse effectiveness with one of the world’s most innovative automated warehouse storage solution families, PowerStor®.  One of the most sustainable options available today, the PowerStor® system optimizes a facility by providing high density, high throughput and great flexibility.

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For more information please contact:
Ginger Wheeler
630-248-3276
ginger.wheeler@pas-us.com
 

“We are appreciative that we have been so well received  and are excited to serve the southeast and west even faster than before,” said John Petrofsky of Worldwide Foam, Ltd.

Worldwide Foam, Ltd. does business on a global and local scale with quality crosslinked polyethylene raw material. Worldwide Foam is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company. To locate the nearest branch near you, contact info@worldwidefoam.com for further details.

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For more information please contact:
Worldwide Foam, Ltd. 
574-968-8268
info@worldwidefoam.com
 

The UltraSert units are integrated with conveyor. As an order is moving to shipping the tote or carton is momentarily buffered in front of the UltraSert unit. The specific documentation ranging from a single to multiple pages are instantly inserted into the order and routed to shipping. An UltraSert system of one or multiple units can be used to print manifests, invoices, statements, instructions, labels, or any specialty documents required for any order depending on throughput requirements.

This patented system is cost effectively priced to provide efficient organizations a fast Return on Investment (ROI) due to its accuracy, reliability plus labor and space savings features. One hundred percent accuracy helps assure customer satisfaction without any need for additional checking labor. The UltraSert system is designed for a simplistic implementation for new or existing operations looking to improve efficiencies.

The UltraSert printer and inserter integrate a heavy-duty laser printer with an inserter mechanism. The inserter mechanism is designed with only four moving parts for virtually maintenance free operation. The inserter counts the correct number of pages in the document group and inserts the pages into the waiting order.

A simple communications scheme to the host software system uses a standard Ethernet connection. Likewise, virtually any software system capable of sending a text and bar code output can be interfaced.

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

Solutions designed by ISD focus on providing space savings, increased productivity, reduced labor, higher accuracy and system flexibility to change as an operation's activities change in the future. Utilizing proven technology and off the shelf components helps provide cost effective solutions requiring minimum maintenance and yielding fast Return on Investments (ROI).
 
ISD expertise ranges from handling and picking pieces (eaches), cases, pallets, build lines, and special or custom handling solutions. Products and services include: automatic storage and retrieval (ASRS), conveyor, robotics, batch stations, automatic inserters and printers, pick to light, A-frames, horizontal and vertical carousels, vertical lift modules (VLMs), controls, software (including inventory management, WCS, WMS, MES and ERP), application and facility consulting and design, AutoCAD, system simulation, moves, installation and service.
 
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For more information please contact:
Ed Romaine
248-668-8250
215-431-4524 (cell)
eromaine@isddd.com
www.ISDDD.com
 

“We are excited to introduce the new standard,” said Jeff Fryman, Director of Standards Development for RIA. “This has been a process which required the involvement of robotic industry leaders from across North America and all over the world. I’m proud of this new standard and thankful for efforts of everyone that participated.” The adoption of the international standard allows systems designed and built in one country to be freely moved to other countries while maintaining compliance with safety regulations.

“This global standard results in no change to our ongoing expectations for industrial robot safety while it introduces exciting new capabilities as a result of the ever changing technical improvements,” stated Roberta Nelson Shea, Chair of the RIA R15.06 subcommittee.

A key feature in the standard is “collaborative operation,” which is the introduction of a worker to the loop of active interaction during automatic robot operation. Systems can now be designed for the operator to directly load/unload the robot or manually drive the robot to a selected location thus eliminating costly fixtures.

Another key feature is that the standard addresses “safety-rated soft axis and space limiting” technology. This optional feature available on new robots may have different names depending on the robot manufacturer, but the functionality remains the same. Safety-rated software is used to control the robot motion so that restricted space can be more flexibly designed. Case studies have shown that that this saves both floor space and cost in the system design.

Standards development efforts will now shift to issuing new documents which will provide guidance to the user on using the new ANSI/RIA R15.06, including technical reports on risk assessment and proper implementation of safeguarding robot systems.

To order a copy of the ANSI/RIA R15.06, visit the RIA bookstore, or call 734-994-6088.

In addition to implementing a fully faceted marketing program at Andersen Material Handling and ISD (Integrated Systems Design), Romaine has been charged with the marketing and distribution channel development of the ISD UltraProducts™ of equipment which include the UltraStore™  Automated Storage and Retrieval System, UltraSert™  document printer and inserter, UltraBatch™  automated batch picking work station, UltraBot™  IE robotic order picking system, UltraPick™  software and control systems and UltraLights™ pick to light systems.

Romaine has three decades of experience working and marketing in the material handling industry. He has spent over two years with Sapient Automation, 10 years with KardexRemstar and nine years with White Systems.

Since the 1990’s Romaine has been an active member of the industry's trade organization, MHI. He has taken leadership positions as the Chair or Vice Chairman of: the ASRS (Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems) group, Supply Chain Execution (SCE) group of America, Order Fulfillment Council of America and helped create the Carousel and VLM Product Section Group. He also spearheaded the efforts to create the first industry safety standards for horizontal carousels in the US.

Romaine is a frequent editorial and information contributor to hundreds of publications and a speaker at many Supply Chain, Logistics & Ergonomic functions including the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), ProMat, North American Material Handling, Southern California Plant Operations, NJ Material Handling Assoc., Applied Ergonomics, Warehousing Education & Research Council (WERC), Lean Manufacturing Conference, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), NeoCon, Health Information Distribution Association (HIDA), National Catalog & Operations (NCOF) and more.

He has an undergraduate degree from Ohio University and completed advanced studies at Wharton Business School in their Competitive Strategies program.

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

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

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

###

For more information please contact:
Ed Romaine
248-668-8250
215-431-4524 (cell)
eromaine@isddd.com
www.ISDDD.com
 

The Board of Directors of the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) recently announced its 2013-2014 Scholarship Winners. This year, forty scholarships for a total of $135,774 were issued for this academic term.

This continued MHEFI's thirty-seven-year tradition of support to enterprising students at universities instructing in material handling and logistics sciences. MHEFI scholarships are awarded each year to students dedicated to entering the material handling and logistics field, either within MHI member companies or the user community.

Awardees are pursuing educational goals that will enable them to enter the industry as engineers, project managers, management and professors in material handling and logistics. Many will be employed by end-users, by manufacturers or in MHI member companies.

2013-14 Scholarship Winners

Crane Manufacturers Association of America Honor Scholarship
$9,000 awarded to Sai Srinivas Nageshwaraniyer of the University of Arizona

Tompkins International Honor Scholarship
$7,456 awarded to Austin Buchanan of Texas A&M

Rack Manufacturers Institute Honor Scholarship
$6,918 awarded to Sarah Yung of the University of Oklahoma

Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association Honor Scholarship
$5,000 awarded to Alex Brown of Texas A&M

Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association Honor Scholarship
$5,000 awarded to Daniel Angolia of NC State

Spanco Honor Scholarship
$5,000 awarded to Lindsay Byers of Penn State

Frazier Industrial Honor Scholarship
$5,000 awarded to Tugce Martagan of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Material Handling Education Foundation Honor Scholarship
$5,000 awarded to Carl Kirpes of Iowa State University

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Atlas Toyota Material Handling
$5,000 awarded to Carl Zaderej of Purdue

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Equipco Division Phillips Corp.
$5,000 awarded to Haomiao Zhu of Penn State

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by EnerSys
$5,000 awarded to Kathryn Smith of Auburn

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Transamerican Equipment and FMH Material Handling Solutions
$5,000 awarded to Erika Chin of Clarkson University

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Conger Toyota Lift, Morrison Industrial Equipment and Arnold Machinery
$5,000 awarded to Rachel McWilliams of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Toyota Lift of LA, Sunbelt Industrial Trucks and Mr. Gary Moore
$5,000 awarded to Seth Willmarth of Texas A&M

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship,
Sponsored by Riekes Material Handling Company, An Anonymous Donor, Lift & Equipment, Stoffel Equipment Company and Hy-Tek Material Handling
$5,000 awarded to Emily Greer of Oklahoma State

Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems Honor Scholarship
$4,000 awarded to Salah Ahmad of the University of Houston

Integrated Systems & Controls Council Honor Scholarship
$4,000 awarded to Pratik Mital of Georgia Tech

Conveyor & Sortation Systems Honor Scholarship ($2,000) & Hytrol Conveyor ($1,500)
$3,500 awarded to Kyler Hermanski of the University of Oklahoma Norman

Storage Manufacturers Association Honor Scholarship
$3,000 awarded to Eric Gilbert of Oklahoma State

Institute of Caster & Wheel Manufacturers Honor Scholarship
$3,000 awarded to Leily Farrokhvar of Virginia Tech

Electrification & Controls Manufacturers Association Honor Scholarship
$2,500 awarded to David Berrios of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

St. Onge Honor Scholarship
$2,500 awarded to Zachary Montreuil of the Universite Laval

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by Cardinal Carryor, Mr. George Sefer and Doosan Infracore
$2,500 awarded to Yanira Rivera-Erives of the University of Nebraska-Kearney

Howard Bernstein Industrial Distribution Scholarship
Sponsored by St. Onge, Hamilton Caster and Allied Equipment
$2,500 awarded to Elwood Jarvis III of East Carolina University

Ridg-U-Rak Honor Scholarship
$2,500 awarded to Alina Cornejo of Georgia Tech

Hoist Manufacturers Institute Honor Scholarship ($1,600) & Monorail Manufacturers Association ($500)
$2,100 awarded to Jonghun Park of Virginia Tech

Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems Honor Scholarship
$2,000 awarded to Katrina Stine of the University of South Florida

Hanel Storage Systems Honor Scholarship
$2,000 awarded to Juan Ma of Oklahoma State University

Seizmic Inc. Honor Scholarship
$2,000 awarded to Thomas Bolton of Kansas State University

Order Fulfillment Solutions Honor Scholarship
$2,000 awarded to Christian Pizzino of Texas A&M

Steel King Honor Scholarship
$1,800 awarded to Nadeepa Wickramage of Clemson University

Gorbel Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Patrick Keida of Clarkson University

Lift Manufacturers Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Andrew Waldman of Kansas State University

Loading Dock Equipment Manufacturers Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Darnell Bortz of Oklahoma State University

Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Michael Valdez of Texas A&M

Southworth International Group Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Dustin Hirner of Texas A&M

Harlan Gillett Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Merve Ozen of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Harlan Gillett Honor Scholarship
$1,500 awarded to Michael Mostek of the University of Wisconsin-Madison

MHEFI was established in 1976 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promote the study of material handling, logistics and the supply chain by exposing students and educators to the industry through financial support. The Foundation offers a variety of scholarships to students pursuing an education in material handling. These scholarships are grouped into three types of funds: Company Funds, Named Scholarship Funds and MHI Industry Group Funds. Contributors can choose a particular fund or an individual scholarship.

In addition to providing scholarships, funds also sponsor grants to faculty and students to attend off-campus industry conferences and seminars directly related to the field of material handling research, to colleges or universities for purchase of classroom instructional aids and lab materials and fellowships for special research.

Since 1976, the Foundation has awarded over $2,500,000 from contributions to fund hundreds of scholarships, faculty/student travel conference grants, instructional aid grants and fellowships. The affairs of the Foundation are administered at the offices of MHI.

For more information on how you can participate in the efforts of the Foundation, please contact Donna Varner at 704-676-1190.

The Obama Administration recently announced that it is launching competitions to create three new manufacturing innovation institutes with a Federal commitment of $200 million across five Federal agencies – Defense, Energy, Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

The manufacturing innovation institutes will be partnerships between public universities and private companies. Last year the Obama administration established a manufacturing institute with dozens of academic and private sector members in Youngstown, Ohio. This effort builds off that pilot institute.

Each institute would serve as a regional hub designed to bridge the gap between basic research and product development, bringing together companies, universities and community colleges, and Federal agencies to co-invest in technology areas that encourage investment and production in the U.S. This type of innovation infrastructure provides a unique ‘teaching factory’ that allows for education and training of students and workers at all levels, while providing the shared assets to help companies, most importantly small manufacturers, access the cutting-edge capabilities and equipment to design, test, and pilot new products and manufacturing processes.

The Department of Defense will lead two of the new Institutes, focused on “Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation (DMDI)” (DMDI RFI) and “Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing (LM31)" (LM31 RFI) and the Department of Energy will be leading one new institute on “Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing."

All three institutes will be selected through an open, competitive process, led by the Departments of Energy and Defense, with review from a multi-agency team of technical experts. Winning teams will be selected and announced later this year. Federal funds will be matched by industry co-investment, support from state and local governments, and other sources. Like the pilot institute, these Institutes are expected to become financially self-sustaining, and the plan to achieve this objective will be a critical evaluation criterion in the selection process. DOD and DOE are opening the competition for the three new institutes immediately.

The President said he will continue to call on Congress to act on his proposal for a one-time $1 billion investment to create a network of 15 manufacturing innovation institutes across the country.

Click here for more information.

Swisslog in North America will include the PAS technology as part of their solution portfolio. The PAS proprietary system is based on PowerStor®, a cart-based Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS), used for deep storage of palletized loads. PowerStor (PAS/RS) provides automated storage for high throughput of large quantities of high-density warehouses and is very effective in existing space restricted or odd-shaped facilities.

“We see the ability to expand the use of pallet handling systems into new market segments, not historically served by automated solutions consistently,” said Markus Schmidt, SVP of Swisslog. “In addition, the PowerStor system will provide an additional extension to our automation solutions portfolio in cold storage applications, further enhancing our leading global position.”

Cory Hypes, executive vice president for PAS adds “We are very pleased to have established this relationship with Swisslog. Their long standing reputation for performance and service is well known in the industry and we anticipate it will open up new segments for our innovative technology.”

About Swisslog
Swisslog is a global provider of integrated logistics solutions for warehouses, distribution centers and hospitals. Its comprehensive services portfolio ranges from building complex warehouses and distribution centers to implementing Swisslog's own software and technology to intra-company logistics solutions for hospitals.

Swisslog’s solutions optimize customers’ production, logistics and distribution processes in order to increase flexibility, responsiveness and quality of service while minimizing logistics costs. With years of experience in the development and implementation of integrated logistics solutions, Swisslog provides the expertise that customers in more than 50 countries around the world rely on.

Headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, Swisslog currently employs over 2000 staff in 20 countries worldwide. The group’s parent company, Swisslog Holding AG, is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (security number: 1232462, Telekurs: SLOG, Reuters: SLOG.S). Note: Swisslog refers to an order as “major order” if its financial volume exceeds the threshold of MCHF 20.

For more information, please visit www.swisslog.com

Get inspired - Join the dialog
Swisslog has launched a Food & Beverage blog, where our industry experts share information on news and hot topics within the F&B industry, comment on developments and provide feature opinions. To join the dialog, please visit www.blogs.swisslog.com

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For more information please contact:
Markus Schmidt
InfoNA@swisslog.com
(757) 820-3616
 

TotalTrax, Inc. is a leading provider of real time vehicle, driver and inventory tracking technologies and fleet management solutions for manufacturing and warehouse operations. Offering a complete technology platform that transforms traditional material handling vehicles into “smart trucks”, TotalTrax provides solutions that monitor equipment usage and automate data collection and reporting for materials handling operations. With patented hardware, software, reporting and business intelligence tools, TotalTrax delivers substantial value in safety, fleet utilization, labor productivity and inventory accuracy. By automating vehicle usage, maintenance, impacts and lift truck load and location visibility data, customers are able to reduce or eliminate the inaccuracies normally associated with operator input. The resulting business intelligence provides the insight needed to implement immediate improvements resulting in documented productivity gains.

About SmartCEO
SmartCEO is an exclusive community of CEOs and business executives, highly regarded mentors and well-respected thought leaders whose experiences benefit their organizations and the communities in which they serve. SmartCEO’s mission is to educate and inspire the business community through the pages of its award winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources.

For more than a decade, SmartCEO has been a leader in helping CEOs tell their stories in print, in person and most recently in-video. SmartCEO’s Mid-Atlantic focus began in Baltimore and has grown to include Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York City.

About the Voltage Awards
The VOLTAGE Awards program celebrates the role that technology plays in the business community and the future impact the technology sector will have on economic growth. An independent panel of business leaders selects the finalists based on the applications submitted. The VOLTAGE finalists are profiled in the May issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards event in May.

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For more information please contact:
Sarah Brisbin
sbrisbin@totaltraxinc.com
(302)-514-0600

Roll Raptor™ was designed on Solid Works with stress test analysis. The Roll Raptor™ meets the handling needs of any roll product that is surface sensitive or is benefited by suspension packaging.  2000# roll weights are not a problem. The design allows for easy fork truck loading, custom sizes require NO TOOLING.

The existing wood end boards and wood pallet require many loose metal U and H channels.  Polyester straps secure the roll along with paper or plastic core inserts for core strength. The demand for longer rolls equate to larger diameters to allow for longer runs on converting or packaging equipment. The wood packaging has limits to weight and load. 

The Roll Raptor™ addresses the short comings of the wood end board system.  Roll Raptor™ provides the benefits of the steel roll rack system in small footprints.  The vertical cradle panels’ fold flat when empty and have an automatic pendulum corner locking tab, for safety when loading.  The vertical cradle panels are a hinged design secured to the pallet deck in slots that allow for width adjustment of 9”/ end (allows for 18” width variance). The Roll Raptor™ uses plastic or paper core inserts to strengthen the core ends.  The Roll Raptor™ has recessed strap guides for proper placement of polyester strapping, 4 strap positions.

Roll Raptor™ Features &Benefits of Steel
  
•?        Prevent roll web surface damage
•?        Eliminate hazards of wood splinter contamination in medical, food or personal care rolled materials
•?        Prevent personal injury to workers created from lifting of heavy wood end boards
•?        Eliminate personal injury to workers from sharp ends and edges of wood
•?        No heat treating required for International use.
•?        Improve working area appearance no broken wood to create trip hazard
•?        Decrease work area maintenance for cleanup
•?        Reduce inventory storage space required for various wood ends and pallets
•?        Eliminate loose U and H shaped metal channels
•?        Decrease packaging time – SAVE MONEY

Visit our website www.spsidealsolutions.com for more information and pictures.

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For more information please contact:

Joe DiSabantonio
239-514-3956
239-514-0247 fax
joe@spsidealsolutions.com
www.spsidealsolutions.com

In parts, the road is constructed on columns and supporting girders. This requires a special construction method, for which the portal cranes assume major tasks: they transport girders, supports and other load-bearing elements to the place of installation.

Dr Lars Brzoska, Vice President and Managing Director of Terex Material Handling states: “Demag crane technology is supporting the rapid implementation of this road building project. We are pleased that with our products we have been able to make a major contribution to the implementation of this infrastructure project that is so important for the region.”

Particular demands were made on the engineering of the drives because the runway also includes curved sections. Terex Material Handling therefore also supplied portal cranes that are able to negotiate curves, and can also negotiate slight gradients over the course of the road.

Terex Material Handling in Brazil has assumed co-ordination of the crane project, engineering of the crane installations and the structural steelwork engineering and assembly. The central components of the cranes such as hoists, controls and drives come from the German production facility in Wetter/Ruhr.

Vigold Georg, Managing Director Terex Material Handling in Brazil states: “With Demag portal cranes, we offer universal solutions for numerous transport tasks. Thanks to global standardization, our customers benefit from tried-and-tested crane components and extraordinarily short delivery times.”

About the construction project
The metropolitan area of São Paulo in Brazil is one of the most densely populated conurbations in the world. Approx. 20.5 million people live here – this makes the city the largest in the southern hemisphere. The roads in and around São Paulo are chronically congested. The Rodoanel Màrio Covas motorway, which is 180 km long and surrounds São Paulo in the form of a ring road is intended to provide a remedy. This Southern ring has been completed; the inauguration of the 43 km Eastern ring is planned for 2014.

This part of the road section passes through an area of outstanding natural beauty and so the section is being built on stilts, in a similar way to a bridge. Here a new process is being used in which a lattice-boom crane positions columns and lays girders on top of them. Since the terrain is impassable, the girders and other assembly parts are transported by portal cranes to the place of installation. The rail-mounted cranes travel on the outer lanes of the already completed road sections. The rails are extended as construction progresses so that the crane can always reach the place where the construction material is installed.

14 Portal cranes work under harsh operating conditions
For the construction project, Terex Material Handling supplied 14 Demag ZVPE double-girder full-portal cranes. Eight identically crane installations are designed to work simultaneously on four construction sites of the road building project. With a span of 17 m, they are each able to serve three lanes for one direction of travel of the future ring road and are used to transport prefabricated concrete parts. Equipped with a double-rail trolley and a DR 20 rope hoist, they have a load capacity of 32 tons. The lifting height is seven metres.

The special requirement: the drive units and brakes were designed to accommodate gradients of 2.5 %. In addition, the crane installations were configured in such a way that they follow the curve-shaped course of the road section.

Moreover, the cranes meet all requirements associated with outdoor use in the sub-tropical climate zone and the harsh environmental conditions of construction site operation.

A further six full-portal cranes, each with a span of 18 m, are used for lifting and transport tasks in the production plant for the construction materials.  Four full-portal cranes with a load capacity of 32 t and two cranes with a load capacity of 16 t travel on three parallel crane runways measuring 360 m in length. Thanks to their compact design, they can serve practically every point of the approximately 28,000 m² production and storage area.

Standardized portal cranes
The crane installations installed for the road building project in São Paulo were planned and designed in accordance with the high global Demag standard for portal cranes. On the basis of tried-and-tested crane components, international teams of engineers developed standardized solutions for portal cranes that focus on universal areas of application and can be adapted in line with requirements via additional localised options such as radio control, crane distance controls and two-trolley operation. Demag customers thus benefit from high-quality and extremely reliable crane components, shortened planning and delivery times and, as a consequence, higher production efficiencies. Important reasons why the Brazilian project engineering company opted to use Demag crane technology.

The availability and efficient use of crane installations is also guaranteed by a large network of qualified service engineers.

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

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

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For more information please contact:
Dan Konstantinovsky
440 248-2400
dan.konstantinovsky@terex.com

Rago shared his excitement about joining the Seegrid team and commented, “Seegrid has an excellent team environment.  Every single employee here shares a common entrepreneurial drive that I have as well. The most exciting aspect of joining the Seegrid team is the opportunity to be an integral part of sustaining past successes and developing new ones.  The privilege of joining the Seegrid team enables me to utilize my past skills acquired from previously held positions, but more importantly gain opportunities that are unparalleled by my previous experiences.”

Michael M. Hasco, Chief Growth Officer for Seegrid Corporation commented, “Seegrid’s increasing sales success requires our continued support.  Rago’s hiring represents another step in our long history of successfully recruiting from Pittsburgh’s talent-rich universities. His Industrial Engineering education, and process improvement experience, makes him a good fit for the team.  Talent, education, and experience allow us to support our sales growth and customer relationships.”

Hasco also shared, “The growth of RITs in material handling has required that Seegrid be a leader in robotics.  New technologies and new demands in this fast growing sector are driving the growth and expansion of the Seegrid engineering staff.  Because our clients in the manufacturing and industrial distribution sector demand and require the best from Seegrid, we hire only the best and brightest for our engineering team.”

Rago will play a crucial role in the pre-sales engineering of robotic industrial truck systems. As an applications engineer, he will be responsible for determining system requirements, product selection, pricing, system layouts, and proposal generation for potential Seegrid customers. Rago will provide support to the Seegrid sales team by assessing customer sites and assisting with customer presentations. The position requires day-to-day interaction with sales management, sales, engineering, and customers.

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

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

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

Material handling equipment new orders grew 7.2% in 2012 and are forecasted to grow 5.0% to 6.0% in 2013 and 10.0% or more in 2014, according to the latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Forecast (MHEM) released by MHI.

“As the current US economic expansion shifts from capital expenditure driven to consumer-led, we anticipate modest, positive MHEM growth for 2013. Housing, automotive rebounds and expansion in industrial, warehouse and commercial buildings (over 69% 2014 - 2018) will contribute substantially to improved MHEM growth for 2014 and beyond," says Hal Vandiver, MHI executive consultant.

In addition, material handling equipment shipments grew 9.8% in 2012 and are forecasted to grow 3.5% in 2013 and 9.1% in 2014. Domestic demand (shipments plus imports less exports) grew an 10.9% in 2012 and is estimated to grow 3.4% in 2013 and just over 9.5% in 2014.

MHEM Trade growth slowed by more than 50.0% in 2012 reflecting reduced US demand and serious problems in foreign markets. Import growth in 2012 was 17.9%, down from 37.7% in 2011. Export growth was 11.2% in 2012, down from 26.2% in 2011. MHEM Imports and Exports are expected to slow dramatically in 2013 and rebound modestly beginning mid-2014.

The MHEM forecast of material handling equipment manufacturing is released each quarter by MHIA and looks 12 to 18 months forward to anticipate changes in the material handling and logistics marketplace.

Download the complete forecast.

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

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

Brandon is a recent graduate from Oklahoma State University where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management.  “My studies have prepared me to think outside the box and find new and different techniques to improve various processes in manufacturing. I am excited to use the knowledge I gained during my college courses, one course in particular, I will be able to apply to my responsibilities here at Autoquip.  In “Simulations”, I learned to analyze systems using probabilistic and statistical techniques that model multiple events in a real settings and situations,” said Brandon.

“We are pleased to welcome Brandon to the Autoquip team.  He will provide a lot of new, fresh ideas to the shop floor and help us build upon our high standards for quality and responsiveness within our operation,” commented Chris Kuehni, Director of Operations.

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For more information please contact:
Chris Kuehni
405-282-5200
 

The Yearsley Logistics project marks the first expansion of PAS into the UK and Yearsley Logistics’ commitment to invest in the latest technology to maintain a leadership position in the UK cold storage and distribution market.

Cory Hypes, executive vice president for PAS, said “We are very pleased to be able to deliver this innovative technology to Yearsley Logistics and look forward to a long and successful business relationship with them. It is our aim to alleviate storage solution issues, reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency, and see our customers realize one of the quickest R-O-Is in the automated warehouse technology sector.”

More about Power Automation Systems: Power Automation Systems is a leading innovator of automated warehouse products and solutions. A global company with headquarters and manufacturing in northern California, Power Automation Systems maximizes warehouse effectiveness with one of the world’s most innovative automated warehouse storage solution families, PowerStor®. One of the most sustainable options available today, the PowerStor® system optimizes a facility by providing some of the highest density, highest throughput and greatest flexibility.

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For more information please contact:
Ginger Wheeler
630-248-3276
ginger.wheeler@pas-us.com

MHI is introducing a new blog for manufacturing and supply chain professionals. The MHI Blog will highlight the wealth of content on MHI.org and provide context to new technologies, topical news and industry trends.

In January, MHI rebranded the association with a broader emphasis on solutions for the larger supply chain. The MHI blog is part of this effort. MHI showcases its member companies and provides manufacturing and supply chain professionals with content that incorporates not only material handling, but manufacturing, distribution, logistics and transportation. MHI also provides informational and educational resources to increase the value these professionals bring to their companies while enhancing their networking opportunities and professional growth.

Learn more about the the new blog and the solutions MHI provides to manufacturing, distribution and supply chain professionals.

MHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. 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: Carol Miller, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, MHI, (704) 676-1190.

“In addition to the energy savings, the installation of the insulating blankets helped to create a safer work environment for our employees by reducing the surface temperature from 450 degrees to 110 degrees,” said Plant Engineer Jack Birdno. “This one project also yielded enough incentive monies to allow us to do future upgrades to lighting and our air compressor system, which will greatly reduce our energy footprint at a cost of only 25 percent of the total out of pocket.”

The Entergy energy efficiency program helps businesses save energy and money by providing no-cost facility improvement recommendations and financial incentives based on the total amount of energy the improvements will save. The insulating blankets will save more than 1,080,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, equal to preventing the annual carbon dioxide emissions from more than 159 cars, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations. The energy savings from this project are expected to pay for themselves in less than two months.

“Entergy Arkansas identified a real need for a program specifically designed to assist our industrial customers in finding and implementing savings opportunities via energy efficiency,” said Entergy Customer Service Manager Russell Harris. “We are pleased to be able to partner with Colson Caster on the energy savings projects implemented within their Monette facility.”

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For more information please contact:

Jack Birdno
877-525-1358
jbirdno@colsonmonette.com

Russell Harris
870-739-5909
rharr14@entergy.com

“Blue Giant’s consistent focus on developing innovative product and providing first-class customer service has enabled us to grow and succeed as a company,” says Bill Kostenko, Chairman.

Blue Giant was founded in 1963 by entrepreneur Kurt Larsen. Output was initially limited to mechanical dock levelers and hand pallet trucks, but as demand grew and the needs of the material handling industry evolved, the company’s product portfolio expanded to include hydraulic dock levelers and vehicle restraints, microprocessor-based touch control panels, and air-powered dock equipment. (The latter category includes the industry’s first air cylinder dock safety system.) Today, Blue Giant dock equipment can be found in such prestigious locations as Facebook headquarters, the Dubai Mall, and the Philadelphia Produce Distribution Centre, which has been called “the world’s largest fridge”.

“Blue Giant is committed to designing and building dock products that address a broad spectrum of material handling needs,” says Jeff Miller, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. “It’s a dedication that unites our people as a team and represents our customer-driven culture.”

Blue Giant’s product line and global presence both continue to grow. In January 2013 Blue Giant launched its U.S. operation, Blue Giant LLC, and opened a manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. This new location manufactures and distributes the company’s growing line of dock seals and shelters.

On May 21st, Blue Giant will be hosting a 50th Anniversary celebration at its corporate headquarters in Brampton, Ontario. City mayor Susan Fennell, company founder Kurt Larsen, and media representatives will be in attendance.

“Blue Giant will continue to shape the future of the material handling industry,” Bill Kostenko promises. “We look forward to another fifty years of delivering the high-quality and innovative loading dock solutions our customers expect from us.”

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For more information please contact:
Michael Poeltl
mpoeltl@bluegiant.com
www.BlueGiant.com
905-457-3900 x222
f 905-457-2313

“We had a great product available, but gathered valuable feedback on how to make it even better,” said Jonathan Dawley, president of Hyster Distribution. “After designing the new trucks, we put them through similar testing as our internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. This rigorous testing helps ensure our products are dependable, even in the toughest applications our customers may face. The E80-120XN series of trucks may be electric, but they’re still made to be Hyster tough.”

The E80-120XN electric riders meet the same high performance standards as ICE trucks in regards to acceleration, speed control and load-lift abilities, but also offer lower operating costs along with zero emissions. The new lift truck series utilizes the Hyster Stability System (HSS™) — a maintenance-free design and mechanical system built right into the truck to handle a wide variety of loads without compromising the stability of the truck.

In addition, a number of technological upgrades are featured in the E80-120XN lift truck series including a durable steer axle and power-assisted braking, which improves brake life while reducing operator braking efforts by 40 percent. The trucks efficient AC traction and hydraulic motors have been updated to handle the toughest duty cycle with reduced maintenance costs and enhanced productivity.

Hyster makes operator comfort a key feature in the E80-120XN electric trucks. Using an enhanced ergonomic design with an 11 percent larger floor space, easy-to-use three-point compartment entry and an adjustable suspension driver’s seat, Hyster helps reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity.

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. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Hyster is a registered trademark of Hyster Company.

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

“The time for converting from internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks to electric lift trucks is now,” said Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution. “Our ERC080-120VH electric riders are just as durable as ICE trucks, are cost-effective, eliminate emissions and are fitted with leading innovative technologies designed specifically for materials handling.”

To ensure that customers’ needs are met, all of Yale’s new ERC080-120VH trucks have undergone rigorous durability and performance testing. Not only are they comparable in power and durability to ICE powered trucks, but can save money by eliminating fuel costs and dramatically reducing emissions. In addition, the new truck series features enhanced technologies such as a stronger and more durable powertrain, a drive axle with increased shock absorption for heavy loads, and a mast that is reinforced with ductile iron-casted cross members which resist mast rocking and lateral movement.

The ERC080-120HV series presents excellent stopping power with low brake pedal effort by providing wet disc brakes. These brakes are designed to lower cost of operation by requiring no adjustments or servicing other than a periodic lubrication change at 4,000-hour intervals. The series also includes a Power-Assisted Braking System, which further increases brake and drive train life by automatically utilizing traction motor braking in proportion to operator brake pedal pressure. With reduced demand on the service brakes, the assisted braking feature lessens operator braking effort by up to 40 percent.

The AC traction motors and efficient hydraulic components used in the ERC080-120VH maximize uptime and increase throughput. Considered the “operator’s truck,” Yale® lift trucks are fitted with advanced ergonomic technologies that increase productivity by helping to reduce operator fatigue. The truck also features textured grab handles, a tilt steering column with optional tilt-memory and telescopic adjustment for improved operator comfort and productivity.

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 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. For more information, or to find the Yale® lift truck dealer nearest you, call 1-800-233-YALE or visit www.yale.com.

Yale Materials Handling Corporation 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.

Yale is a Registered Trademark of Yale Materials Handling Corporation.  People. Products. Productivity. is a Trademark in the United States and certain other jurisdictions.

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

Global manufacturers are putting their supply chains at the center of their business strategies to serve as the foundation for operational efficiency and collaborative innovation, according to KPMG’s 4th annual Global Manufacturing Outlook - Competitive Advantage - Enhancing Supply Chain Networks for Efficiency and Innovation.

However, many manufacturing executives (49 percent globally; 54 percent U.S.) admit that their companies currently do not have visibility of their supply chain beyond Tier 1 suppliers. Moreover, only 9 percent say they have complete visibility of their supply chains. That number is even lower among U.S. executives, with only 7 percent claiming complete supplier visibility.

“Obtaining real-time visibility across all tiers in the supply chain can significantly increase speed to market, reduce capital expenditures and manage risk,” said Jeff Dobbs, Global Sector Chair, Diversified Industrials and a partner with KPMG in the US. “Moving toward a demand-driven supply chain is probably the single most important step a global manufacturer can take today.”

However this could prove challenging, as Dobbs points out that “much of the supply chain technology is outdated.” In fact, 44 percent of respondents overall say they still use email, fax and mail as the means to communicate issues about demand in the supply chain. “The winners will be the ones who can network real-time across their entire supply chains, reducing the information lag that costs companies significant time and money,” adds Dobbs.

When asked about their ability to assess the impact of an unplanned supply chain disruption, a similarly small percentage of executives, (9 percent global; 7 percent U.S.) say they are able to assess the impact within hours. However, the most frequent response among global executives was 1 and 6 days (36 percent) and U.S. respondents most frequently said 1-2 weeks (32 percent).

To help manage supply chain risk and continuity in the event of unanticipated disruptions, executives (58 percent globally; 71 percent U.S.) say they plan to regionalize or localize their supply chains.

Overall, China and the U.S. remain the top sourcing locations, but the report shows that many will keep sourcing closer to their major markets over the next 2 years. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. respondents will increase sourcing in the U.S. followed by Canada (18 percent) and China tied with the U.K. at 13 percent.

Focus on growth and innovation
On the growth front, a third of all companies globally and in the U.S., and 47 percent of larger companies (over US$5 billion in revenue), are looking to pursue mergers and acquisitions over the next two years. In the U.S. specifically, executives indicate that the priority transactions for their companies will be investing in Greenfield opportunities in growth markets, M&A and innovation driven by enhanced collaboration in the supply network seen as growth drivers.

Manufacturers maintain that investment in R&D is essential for growth: 38 percent of U.S. respondents expect to invest 4 percent or more of revenue in R&D and innovation over the next 24 months which is 20 percentage points higher than the level being invested currently, according to the findings. Seventy-one percent of U.S. respondents say their R&D will largely be incremental, with a focus on enhancing existing products and lines, 29 percent plan to invest in breakthrough innovation – comparable to overall global results.

“As companies step up investment in innovation, whether in search of breakthrough R&D or incremental improvements, they are increasingly looking to their supply network for ideas,” Dobbs commented.

Just over half of global respondents (51 percent) say that partnerships with suppliers will define the direction of innovation, and over the next 2 years, 57 percent expect at least 10 percent of their revenues to come from innovations. Yet paradoxically, the biggest challenges manufacturers say they have with regard to innovation is aligning it to the business strategy (34 percent), and the complexity in collaborating with suppliers and partners (32 percent).

“Supply chain partners will play a critical a role in a manufacturer’s innovation strategy as part of their investment in R&D,” Dobbs added. “Mitigating the challenges of collaborating with partners is complex; close familiarity with who your suppliers are and how they operate will certainly help optimize performance.”

KPMG’s Dobbs believes notable shifts in the way companies are redefining and investing is indicative that manufacturing is on the verge of a “hyper-innovation era.” “The sector may appear to be slowly evolving, but it is on the cusp of explosive change in the next 3 to 5 years. The prolonged stage of intense competition, modest growth and a hyper-focus on cost reduction has strongly positioned companies to maximize this next phase of innovation.”

“With new data technologies proliferating to enhance partnering, shared efficiencies and visibility, we’ll start seeing some breakthrough and disruptive innovation in manufacturing – not only to the products but also to the process.”

Click here to download the full report.

About the report
KPMG’s 2013 Global Manufacturing Outlook, a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, is based on a survey of 335 senior executives, conducted in November 2012. Executives represented five industries: Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Conglomerates, Engineering and Industrial Products, and Metals. Forty-six percent were C-level, including board members. Respondents came from companies of many different sizes: nearly 30% represent companies with more than US$5bn in annual revenue. Respondents are distributed globally, with nearly a third each from The Americas; Asia; and Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

This transaction will allow Lyon to shed legacy obligations and emerge with a strong balance sheet led by new ownership with substantial industry experience. Lyon has been a cornerstone in the communities of Montgomery, Watseka and Paris for many years, providing good jobs to local families and additional economic benefits to the surrounding communities. The new owners are committed to working with these communities, employees and suppliers to mitigate the harmful effects of the bankruptcy and build on the legacy of the “Lyon” name, while at the same time, transforming the business to meet the challenges of a globally and technologically competitive market.

To meet these challenges, the new business will be led by Gene Berg, who has led a number of successful turnarounds in the last 25 years, and before founding Echelon Capital, served in various executive positions including President of Bergstrom, Inc., a leading global manufacturer to the commercial vehicle industry. “We are committed to partnering with our customers, dealers, distributors, suppliers and employees to build on the rich heritage of Lyon,” said Mr. Berg.

Mr. Berg, along with his partners William Guo and Matt Zakaras, will be changing the name of Echelon Capital to Lyon Capital Partners, LLC in order to build on the legacy of the “Lyon” brand in manufacturing and metal fabrication. The new Lyon Capital Partners, LLC, headquartered in Chicago, owns several other metal fabrication businesses in Illinois, including Viking Metal Cabinet Company, Hobart Cabinet Company, Precision Quincy Ovens and Austin-Westran. Revere Finance, led by David Muslin on a transaction team that included Todd DiBenedetto, Alice Peterson and Roger Dittrich, provides capital and financial solutions to middle market manufacturing businesses. Revere Finance is a wholly owned subsidiary of PPL Group of Northbrook, Illinois.

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For more information please contact:
Matt Zakaras
mzakaras@echeloncap.com
312-339-7252

Pick and pass order fulfillment allows organizations to pick in one zone and then pass to the next zone for further order fulfillment. Ideal for operations with a large number of SKUs, spread over multiple workstations, orders are downloaded into Power Pick Global software and ready for fulfillment. Orders can be grouped together by priority or delivery date, and then sent to the workstations for picking.

In each pick zone, Power Pick Global software easily navigates the next pick by displaying a message to the operator. This eliminates the need to reference the computer screen located at a picking station, saving the operator time. For example, if an operator is picking from 1 of 3 Kardex Remstar Shuttle Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) in zone 1, Power Pick Global software can tell the operator after picking from VLM 1, the next pick is in VLM 3. This eliminates operator dwell time. While picking from VLM 1, VLM 3 is already retrieving the next pick in the order.

Another new feature allows an operator to scan the order tote when it arrives in the zone to start picking. Previously, as an order moved from work zone to work zone, a paper printout with the order number had to be scanned for each zone to begin picking. Now, each order tote has a bar code ID unique to that order. The operator in each work zone simply scans the bar code on the tote and the order information automatically populates in the Power Pick Global software. This eliminates the need for an operator to search for the paper order, increasing worker productivity and efficiency.

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 about our dynamic storage solutions, call 800-639-5805 or visit www.kardexremstar.com.

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

China's meteoric rise, following the economic reforms of the late 1970s, turned it into the world’s fastest growing economy. And while fourth-quarter headlines from a multitude of sources cited the nation’s manufacturing flat line, often in dramatic fashion — “China’s Doldrums Put Pressure on U.S. Exporters,” The New York Times wrote in October 2012; “The End of Chinese Manufacturing and Rebirth of U.S. Industry,” stated Forbes in July 2012 — financial reporters for The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg were touting China’s apparent uptick just after the new year.

Confused? Those with an interest in the Asia-Pacific supply chain may do well to put their market tickers in a line. Depending on which index you’re watching, you might suffer whiplash.
“Those who are speaking to the supposed death knell of China’s manufacturing industries are way off base,” says MHI Executive Consultant John Nofsinger. He calls the nation’s economic trends something of a reset, one that just about anyone could have expected. “China’s initial response to manufacturing was one built on sheer manpower and brute strength, but what we’re seeing now is a maturing, normal evolution.”

Whether you’re looking to bring your business to China, work with one of its existing entities or clip a few strategies from its formidable playbook, the ins and outs of manufacturing in the Far East can be as tricky to master as its many dialects. From trends to tips to dispelling myths, here are five points the pros think you should know:

1. Growth is growth
Lloyd Morgan, Executive Vice President of International Business Development at St. Onge Co., wonders aloud where some of the speculators are getting their information about China’s supposed cooling off . “Even if some people are rethinking their investments here, it tends to be a very company-specific thing based on the analysis of their supply chains,” says Morgan, whose clients in China are both domestic and international, including American powerhouses such as Walmart. “It doesn’t mean people are closing their doors and moving everything back to the U.S. because there’s a little slowdown.”

Often, companies that defect find they moved to Asia for the wrong reasons or in the wrong manner. “China isn’t for everybody,” he says, “and for others it’s not the only player in the region.” He cites a customer, Unilever, as an example. “Unilever isn’t just focusing on China; it’s focusing on the entire Asia-Pacific market. Unilever has its manufacturing spread out strategically — in Indonesia and in Thailand, and of course China is a big piece of that too.”

What some call China’s comparative economic doldrums, says Nofsinger, “is just an early response to exploiting its advantages. It’s a country that needs to change its ways — from purely collective approaches to a more balanced, collective capital approach as it moves forward.”

Wages, too, are a factor. “They’re increasing in China. It’s getting more expensive to do business,” Nofsinger points out, “but the flipside is that China’s productivity is increasing as well …. At one time it was merely throwing a billion people with hammers and anvils at the problem,” he says. But the labor market has become increasingly sophisticated. “Th e new five-year plan,” he predicts, “will see China placing more of an emphasis, longer term, on technology. Chinese industry is moving toward the higher end, not the lower end.”

China may no longer be the free-for-all economists and business professionals have come to know … “but growth in the 7-to-9-percent range is still pretty good growth,” Nofsinger says. “What they were seeing for more than a decade, right up until just a couple of years ago … that was really unsustainable.”

2. Warehousing: dichotomous trends
What of the companies that are re-shoring their operations to American soil?

“Ten or 20 years ago, [a company might have] decided to outsource things that were difficult or troublesome,” Nofsinger explains. “Th e company thought it could get it done cheaper elsewhere without realizing that, in many cases, it was outsourcing the things that differentiated it.” What followed was an economic game of telephone. “Th e company became dependent on this long, complex supply chain, and internally it lost the knowledge of how it had executed these things in the past.”

Outside factors can play a role as well — the longer the chain, the greater the risk for disruption by things such as weather or geopolitics. Many companies began rebuilding stateside inventories as insurance against such disruptions. Before long, the point was lost.

“[People would say] ‘We did this because we didn’t want to have three warehouses in America …’” says Nofsinger. “So they revisit it. As the numbers have changed, for some companies it became less cost-effective in China and more so here. The advantages aren’t the same as 10 or 20 years ago.”

And China is most certainly not the United States. “People didn’t build big-box warehouses here back then,” says the Shanghai-based Morgan, who has seen many changes in China in his 12-plus years of living and working abroad. Part of the reason stemmed from division; China has many provinces. “Imagine if each of the 50 states had its own regulations for commerce,” he analogizes, “something similar to Europe before the Euro and the European Union (EU) — things that were meant to tear down those barriers. China was the same way. Each province was its own little kingdom.”

Over time, as their companies grew, many of Morgan’s clients found themselves building campuses, “logistics bases that may have had five or six small buildings,” he explains. “Not ideal, but historically all they could do.”

Then came boom time: China was growing; industrial real estate developers showed up and big-box warehouses began to make gains. “Many of my customers began to move away from the campuses. They had their inventories spread over several warehouses — electronics in one, apparel in another, food in a third ….” With the advent of e-commerce, consolidation would soon become king.

3. E-commerce: China’s new Great Wall
Th e simplest analogy is Amazon.com – you go online. You order a baby gift for your new niece, a pair of board shorts for your upcoming vacation and a new power drill (because when you get back you’re finally going to get to that stuff you’ve been meaning to do around the house).

As this business model developed, one could almost hear the collective great minds of distribution at once: “You know, we really should put all this stuff under one roof.”

Clients such as Walmart and many, many others, says Morgan, looked at China in the shadow of e-commerce and saw 1.3 billion people, at least half of whom, perhaps more, have smartphones -- an entire generation of consumers who are used to living and ordering through their phones.

“Companies such as Yihaodian, Walmart’s partner over here … were offering same-day delivery. They had a system designed for young Chinese professionals: they order what they need when they get to the office and by the time they get home it’s at the door.”

It was a model that proved expensive. “They’ve backed off a little,” Morgan notes, though he believes they’ll continue to work on it. “People laughed at FedEx when it said it was going to do next-day delivery. Now it’s commonplace and you never think about it.”

Chinese consumers expect these kinds of conveniences, Morgan says, noting that he can have just about anything -- water, liquor, diapers for his son -- delivered right to his door. Online commerce has proved a boom for his retail customers, and it’s where he’s seen a lot of distribution work develop. “Companies are asking themselves which distribution center they want Eastern Exposure to use for e-commerce,” he says, “and whether they might need an additional building in the city to support that quick turnaround.”

4. Automation and labor: new waves are coming
In China, e-commerce has been and will continue to be an impetus for innovation in automation, says Morgan. “It’s going to be about getting orders out the door. You can’t process thousands and thousands of orders a day with a million people tripping over each other.”

Automation’s next big thing, he believes, will be all about picking and sorting. “It’s what you’ll be using to process in these big e-fulfillment centers,” he says. Just think about entities such as Amazon. Or Walmart. “You’ve got hundreds of thousands of SKU numbers on the website, hundreds of thousands of things you can order. One customer orders four. Another two. It’s nothing like replenishing a [brick-and-mortar] store … it’s piece-picking.” Add to that the Fapiao (government receipt) that’s mandatory in China. “Even amid a continuing slowdown, the pick-pack automation thing is still strong.”

Stateside, Nofsinger predicts something of a Golden Age of automation as well, but with different factors driving it. “There are many people in America who, for any number of reasons, will have to work past an age that in the past would be considered apt for retirement.” If that’s the case, he says, material handing will be rife for innovation to accommodate. “They’ll be answering the need for a safer, more ergonomically friendly loading dock,” he believes, “a healthier place for aging or elderly workers, perhaps workers with disabilities.

It presents opportunities for people who make lifting devices and other equipment to make people in that stage of their lives productive and able to handle manual tasks. It’s a fantastic opportunity to retool infrastructure to deal with very different demographics.”

5. Challenges: efficiency and infrastructure
Years ago Morgan tried — and failed — to sell the idea of network optimization in China. “They wouldn’t even talk to me,” he says. “The attitude was ‘build it and they will come.’” After 2009, however, the economy began to slow. Suddenly there was new interest. “‘What’s that you were saying about that efficiency stuff ?’” they’d ask. “‘I’ve got 15 distribution centers and I think maybe I can do it with four ….’” His workload continues to grow. “People here are putting more thought into efficiency when it comes to facility design these days, not only to reduce labor but, processing time.”

Sortation methodology is similar to that applied stateside, but over here, we’re doing it more like China, and cutting out a lot of the bells and whistles. In the U.S., he explains, people go for the 100 percent solution. “Over here, people will say, ‘Give me 70 percent and we’ll do the other 30 [percent] manually. If 50 percent of the cost is in the last 20 percent, they’ll say forget it and instead spend that money on the core things the operation needs. They can afford to add more bodies -- something you typically wouldn’t see in the U.S.”

Infrastructure will continue to be an issue for both nations. Stateside, Nofsinger sees new opportunities in projects like the expansion of the Panama Canal. “Today, it can handle only ships with about 4,500 containers, but soon we’re going to be bringing through 12,500-containter megaships.” Many will come from Asian ports. “They’re bigger and faster, and cargo with shelf life, things that until now we couldn’t have brought from that region to the West Coast and [have] trucked or trained across the country with time to stock on grocery shelves, will become new parts of the
American supply chain.”

China’s high-speed light rail system is the longest in the world, stretching from Beijing to Guangzhou to Shenzhen. As its parcel service increases, Morgan speculates it will give air a run for its money. “Maybe it takes a couple more hours to get a package from Shanghai to Beijing, but if it’s half the price …?” Competition just got hot.

While America’s development of high-speed rail is comparatively light years behind, what its infrastructure does have is more equal distribution. “In China, there are huge cities with millions of people and massive consumption,” Morgan explains. Outside these bounds, however, “…there’s nothing. Even in the most remote parts of the U.S. you’d probably only have to drive an hour or so to find a Walmart that has everything,” continues Morgan, “It has that retail infrastructure. It’s developed because the American population base has money all across the country. In China, the wealth is very highly concentrated. No one wants to sell a television in the middle of nowhere, because no one has the money.”

It is part of what he believes feeds China’s monstrous capacity for innovation. “People learn how to survive with what they have here. And that’s what invents stuff .”

Providing the framework for assessing the impact of packaging components selection and packaging design benefits everyone. Implementing a system Until recently, if you were to ask any
international packaging expert for the definition of “sustainable packaging,” they would have asked you a question first, “According to what country?”

Definitions, classifications and descriptions have varied widely in international trade and even within countries. As interest in sustainable packaging has grown, smooth international free trade has become more difficult every time trading partners attempted to develop and assess claims of environmental impact throughout a package’s lifecycle.

The task has become easier since January 2013 when a series of six international standards were published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on “Packaging and the Environment.” This family of standards provides suppliers with a common framework for assessing how to place packaging or packed goods on the market. It is now possible to reference an international standard rather than trying to negotiate differences between national standards.

An additional benefit of these standards is that they help guide conversations between all the players in the packaging supply chain. The six standards are as follows:

• Packaging and the environment – General requirements for the use of ISO standards in the field of packaging and the environment (ISO 18601:2013)
• Packaging and the environment – Optimization of the packaging system (ISO 18602:2013)
• Packaging and the environment – Reuse (ISO 18603:2013)
• Packaging and the environment – Material recycling (ISO 18604:2013)
• Packaging and the environment – Energy recovery (ISO 18605:2013)
• Packaging and the environment – Organic recycling (ISO 18606:2013)

Follow the path
You are likely familiar with the mantra, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." To “reduce” waste, sometimes increasing materials in primary and secondary packaging helps. It seems counterintuitive, but many times increasing materials helps to ensure that less product is wasted due to damage or spoiling. Packages or components may then follow the “reuse” branch (potentially following cleaning, label removal/ replacement, etc.) and may cycle through reuse many times prior to being recovered in the form of “recycling,” energy recovery, or organic recycling.

National and international effort
The 1860X series of standards was the result of four years worth of international meetings taking place in a variety of major cities around the world. MHI, in its role as administrator of the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) committee developing the U.S. positions on the standards, coordinated the U.S. effort.

Over 40 U.S. experts, many representing their companies and entire industry associations, participated in the committee and in the international meetings. Many more international packaging experts from around the world participated in the development effort. The standards are available either through the ISO or through ANSI’s Standards Store.

Getting involved
New work has begun within the international committee working on this family of standards to define additional terms and to develop internationally accepted symbols to identify materials used as packages or package components. If you are interested in becoming involved, contact standards@mhi.org.

TMI, LLC’s complete line of Screen-­-Pro®, Vinyl-­-Pro and Bird-­-Pro roll-­-up screens, doors and barriers now includes the 6000 Series. The 6000 Series features a higher speed external jackshaft motor that moves doors at a speed of 36” per second. Prior to the 6000 Series, the fastest speed TMI roll-­-up doors could reach was 24” per second.

“We’re focusing on fully encompassing our customers’ needs by responding to a request that we couldn’t serve in the past,” Chris Jacobs, the primary point on the 6000 Series’ development, said. The increased speed allows for a wider variety of door and screen applications, including in areas where the expense of a high-­-speed door can’t be justified. “We’re continuing to build on the momentum of the product line. Now we’re able to meet the demands of more applications,” Jacobs said.

TMI’s roll-­-up line of doors and screens separate differing environments within and around a facility while also helping facilities meet AIB International Consolidated Standards for Inspection. Additional information on the new 6000 Series of Screen-­-Pro® screens, Vinyl-­-Pro doors and Bird-­-Pro barriers is available on TMI’s website or by calling 1.800.888.9750.

About TMI, LLC
Founded in 1988, TMI, LLC is a fully integrated, leading international manufacturer and supplier of innovative products and solutions designed to manage customer environments by improving work safety, cleanliness, comfort, efficiency and energy savings. TMI’s comprehensive product line includes strip doors, exclusive PVC-­-based strip, film, panel and sheet products, PVC-­-coated and laminated fabrics, air curtains, insect screens, swinging impact doors, curtains, modular enclosures and dock accessories. Services include slitting, heat sealing, interleaving, sheeting and die-­-cutting. The business is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with operations in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Anaheim, CA and Norcross, GA. For more information on the complete group of TMI Companies, visit www.tmi-­-pvc.com.

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For more information please contact:
Diana Werkmeister
412.787.9750 ext. 148
dianaw@tmi-­-pvc.com
www.tmi-­-pvc.com

IA’s WCS and WMS products are distinctive in the material handling software market. The new software brings expertise and discipline around a “true versioned product approach”.   A versioned product is unique in the WCS market segment and streamlines customization made over time for specific customers by incorporating them into the baseline product. 

These new software products are a welcome addition to SI Systems’ current range of order fulfillment solutions and the benefits to end users are many. Because there are so many options already built into the base software, new implementations are faster, easier, and require very little customization. In addition, the standardized code allows for better support and more cost-effective, efficient upgrades.

“A truly versioned software product such as this fits well with the SI Systems model and strategy of focusing on distribution through regional integrators,” stated Larry Strayhorn, President and CEO of Paragon. “This will enable SI Systems to expand its Order Fulfillment technology suite and offering to a growing market segment."

Headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania, SI Systems has been providing automated material handling systems to manufacturing, assembly, order fulfillment and distribution operations for over 50 years.

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For more information please contact:
Peter Rice
(610) 312-3569
(610) 252-3102 (Fax)
rice@sihs.com
 

The patent describes the use of the information collected by the robot on its travels to be used for another purpose. For example, a robot that is using image data for navigation might also re-use the data later to decide what parts of the facility need cleaning. This patent was co-awarded to robotics pioneer Hans Moravec, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Seegrid Corporation, who commented, “The future of robotics is about data and information. Seegrid robotic trucks already use and collect more data than any other commercial robots. This patent allows the user to gain more value from the information collected by the robot as it roams their facility.”

Seegrid is the only supplier of commercial vision-guided vehicles, and has developed core technologies that make this possible. The grant of this patent further solidifies Seegrid as a leader in the $38 billion dollar material handling forklift market.

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

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

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