Jonesboro, AR - S&H Systems, a full-service systems integration company that focuses on intelligent automation, today announced its participation in the award-winning Zebra® PartnerConnect program. S&H Systems is focused on using Zebra products for clients who need rapid-response, omni channel and ecommerce order fulfillment; and on-demand manufacturing technologies, specifically using the Fetch range of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR’s). By participating in Zebra’s PartnerConnect program, S&H Systems gains access to an innovative portfolio, along with comprehensive training and extensive marketing, sales and technical benefits. S&H Systems chose to join Zebra’s PartnerConnect program for its smart robotic solutions, core values of being a responsive company, speed to market, and competitive pricing positions. “As a PartnerConnect member, S&H Systems now has access to industry-leading solutions, training and tools that will allow us to collaborate with Zebra’s global partner network and better meet the needs of our clients,” said Jeff Roberts, Chief Revenue Officer. “The PartnerConnect program makes it easier for us to differentiate ourselves while working together with Zebra to give a performance edge to our front line of business.” The Zebra PartnerConnect program is designed to evolve the best of Zebra’s inclusive channel ecosystem, addressing the needs of distributors, resellers, solution partners, independent software vendors (ISVs), systems integrators (SIs), and technology alliance partners, providing opportunities for growth, and meeting customer and market demands. About S&H Systems S&H Systems, located in Arkansas and Tennessee, is a single-source, full-service systems integration company delivering dependable material handling systems, software and post-sale support. The company is known for quality material handling solutions, engineering and installations for warehouse and distribution centers, and recently reached its $200M Annual Sales mark. For more information, visit www.shsystems.com

JONESBORO, AR – March 29, 2023 – Jeff Roberts, Chief Revenue Officer of S&H Systems, is pleased to announce that new partner Dematic, has signed an agreement to provide conveyor and sortation solutions to S&H Systems. “This partnership brings additional material handling solution options to our product array, meeting the increasing client demands for conveying and sorting items at high rates while optimizing throughput and operational efficiencies,” Mr. Roberts explained. S&H Systems is known for delivering goods-to-person solutions that handle the increasingly diverse packaging and operational demands of the modern warehouse, focusing on modular, flexible and scalable solutions. Dematic, a leading global provider of intelligent automation, specializes in optimizing operational workflow for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution customers. S&H Systems is the latest to join Dematic as an integrator partner, with the aim to advance innovation, bring value to customers, and achieve continued growth. “We look forward to our relationship with S&H Systems and supporting their ability to bring additional material handling options to the market,” says Scott Hinke, Director, Integrator Network Sales, Dematic, Americas. “They will be a valued extension of our integrator partners and we’re eager to help each other meet our shared business goals.” About S&H Systems S&H Systems, located in Arkansas and Tennessee, is a single-source, full-service systems integration company delivering dependable and efficient material handling systems, software and post-sale support since 2002. For more information about S&H Systems, visit shsystems.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About Dematic Dematic designs, builds, and supports intelligent automated solutions empowering and sustaining the future of commerce for its customers in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. With research and development engineering centers, manufacturing facilities, and service centers located in more than 35 countries, the Dematic global network of over 11,000 employees has helped achieve approximately 8,000 worldwide customer installations for some of the world’s leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions. Learn more at dematic.com. Jeff Roberts, Chief Revenue Officer 870-933-7346 jeffr@shsystems.com

RMS Omega Expands Technical and Managed Service Offering with the Acquisition of ScanOnline BALTIMORE, MD, January 2, 2024 – RMS Omega Technologies, a leading tracking technology and automated solutions provider, announced today the acquisition of ScanOnline, an innovative systems integrator and managed service provider based out of Charlotte, NC. This strategic move strengthens RMS Omega's position in the automated identification and data capture industry and expands its offerings with ScanOnline's complementary technology, services and expertise.ScanOnline will continue to operate as a distinct division within RMS Omega, retaining its brand identity under the leadership of Brian Graves as President, a longtime advocate and sales leader at ScanOnline. RMS Omega plans to align the companies' resources to complement both organizations' capabilities and enhance the strategic technology offerings and services provided to all customers. This structure allows both companies to leverage their respective strengths while fostering collaboration and innovation."ScanOnline has earned a well-deserved reputation for providing exceptional support and service to their customers," said Peter Vatenos, VP of Marketing & Principal, RMS Omega Technologies. "Their expertise and dedication to providing more than just hardware aligns perfectly with our values as a technology provider and systems integrator. We are thrilled to welcome them to the RMS Omega family."ScanOnline is well known for its remote managed services for enterprise devices and network support and its One Solution platform, including hardware, software, and support as-a-service. RMS Omega is a leader in developing advanced tracking technology solutions utilizing RFID, RTLS, barcode, and enterprise wireless technologies combined with signature services and ongoing support offerings. Over the past 20 years, both companies have leveraged solid partnerships with premier hardware, software, and supplies manufacturers to provide the best value to their customers.The acquisition reflects RMS Omega's ongoing investments in technical resources and commitment to providing superior service to its customers and partner communities while positioning ScanOnline for continued growth and success as a division of RMS Omega."What we have essentially accomplished by combining strategies with RMS Omega is to consolidate the financial, technical, and professional experience of both organizations. It is an exciting transitional moment for the combined history of both companies, leaving existing and prospective customers as the ultimate winners." – Brian Graves, President, ScanOnline.About RMS Omega TechnologiesRMS Omega is a technology solutions integrator with extensive experience developing strategic tracking and automation tools for healthcare, manufacturing, the supply chain, and field service industries. RMS Omega offers a vast portfolio of technology and professional services, including RFID, RTLS, barcode, data collection, wireless infrastructure, enterprise mobility applications, voice automation, location technology, and more throughout the United States and Canada. From the initial consultation to post-implementation optimization, RMS has the necessary resources and expertise to design, deploy, manage, and provide ongoing service for all our customers. With RMS Omega, organizations become empowered with the oversight and peace of mind that their data, inventory, assets, and people are always at the right place at the right time.About ScanOnlineScanOnline builds ecosystems of connected technologies to improve how warehouses, manufacturers, and the greater supply chain perform every day, by enhancing the effectiveness of daily operations & data collection management. ScanOnline unifies disparate systems, mobility solutions, network infrastructure, label printing and more, to help employees at all levels retain visibility of their business in motion, whether fixed or on-the-go. ScanOnline's supply chain workforce solutions improve the ability & speed of employees to perform their jobs at the point of work & collaborate in real-time.From project design to deployment, ScanOnline’s professional services team fields some of the finest talent in device management and network engineering in the Charlotte metro region. The ScanOnline Managed Services Group protects the life of the tech we offer, through 24/7/365 remote monitoring, security, and cyclical system maintenance.

A System Integrator is a company that possesses the resources required to provide a full set of engineering services needed to take a project from the problem definition stage all the way through to implementation and system acceptance by the end user. In some cases, but not always, a company that defines itself as a system integrator may also manufacture equipment and controls. A system integrator will also assume financial responsibility for system performance. See also Consultant and/or Integrated Systems & Controls.

This session synthesizes key insights from two pivotal reports by STIQ and Interact Analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest trends, economic impacts, and technological advancements in conveyors and sortation systems. Attendees will gain a detailed understanding of how shifts in e-commerce, changes in economic conditions, and innovations in technology are reshaping the future of warehouse operations and logistics. Learn about the strategic shifts towards optimizing existing facilities, the rise of mobile automation, and the expected growth trajectories in various global markets. This seminar is tailored for logistics professionals aiming to leverage these insights into actionable strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of intralogistics. ----- Is this on target or in the right direction regarding what it should be???

This is a paid advertisement. Unlock the full potential of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) by increasing efficiency and availability of each robot. The new Obstacle Detection System (ODS) software from ifm aims to reduce friction during development and deployment of AMRs across industrial environments. Solving the problems of floor segmentation and false positives, ODS solves for obstacle detection above and below the safety LiDAR, reduces unplanned stops and collisions, and shortens costly integration time.

Discover the four main types of automation integrators and how each supports warehouse automation projects.

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Review these recommended safety best practices to keep personnel safe and injury-free while working around sorter and conveyor installations.

The Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) has published a blog to supplement its latest video on safety at pick modules. The video can be viewed at mhi.org/progma/videos.Here at ProGMA, we have produced a series of educational videos on protective guarding equipment in the material handling industry. ProGMA members provide fixed protective guarding products to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. A variety of such items are designed for installation at pick modules, which are multi-level structures typically constructed out of pallet rack that allow multiple pallets of product to be stored, broken down, picked, and packaged into specific orders for shipping.Our video is targeted at end users, system integrators, material handling warehouse design consultants / engineers, distributors, and safety professionals in manufacturing and distribution centers in the material handling industry, as well as students studying the sector. Many household and industrial goods we interact with every day were once stored or passed through a pick module. At the distribution centers of companies like CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid Corporation, for example, goods are stored before being repackaged and shipped to individual stores.As the 2:23min-long video says at the outset, pick modules can have several elevated levels of materials that are handled by both automation and personnel. Although everything in the material handling industry is becoming more automated, separation of full stored cases into smaller, individual shipments is still being completed manually. The size of pick modules has been increasing over the years; in the past, you may have seen a floor plus one level system, then a floor plus two levels, and now it is not uncommon to see three or even four elevated levels. This increases potential hazards.As the video continues, it is of paramount importance that proper guarding is used from the ground up to protect structures, the product they hold and, most importantly, the people working within and around them. Rack upright columns can be difficult to replace and costly to repair because often the area has to be closed off, product has to be removed, and multiple sections need to be disassembled. These components are all dependent upon one another, so if one part fails, the entire system can fail.The video highlights three “easy and affordable” solutions: Free-standing pallet rack column protectors Post cushions Bumper guardsHowever, ProGMA members offer a variety of products for ground-level protection including guardrails, bumper guards, column protectors, bollards, rack guards, and product containment enclosures  (i.e., wire mesh or netting); and for upper-level protection, such as side and back product containment enclosures (wire mesh or netting) to prevent products from falling below.What does ANSI say?The video continues, and quotes American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 6.4.3, which states that “…any gate that provides an access opening through the guards for the purpose of loading and unloading material onto a work platform shall be designed such that the elevated surface is protected by guards at all times. Gates that swing open, slide open, or lift or leave an unprotected opening in the guarding are not acceptable.”However, it is important to note that there are many mezzanines that were installed before the ANSI standards were created that used more conventional gates, such as removable, sliding, or swinging systems—and that is the same for pick modules. Systems can be retrofitted to achieve conformity with current standardization. There is no grandfather clause for ANSI (or OSHA) so all systems whether new or old should follow their guidelines. Note that many of the protective guarding products found in the video and on the ProGMA site are easily retrofittable to these older systems.As the video stresses, only dual-gate systems should be used. The same gates used on a pick module are also the preferred method for securing all elevated pallet drop areas whether they are in pick modules, on mezzanines, or on elevated work platforms such as storage or production / blending areas. The ANSI standards that recommended the use of dual-gate systems were written specifically for elevated work platforms and since a pick module is a type of elevated work platform that should be applied.The video demonstrates how a dual-gate system uses two counterbalanced and interconnected gates that are configured so when the first gate at the ledge is open, the second gate behind the pallet is closed. Fixed guarding on the sides—often the frame of the pallet rack in a pick module—prevents access into the side of the areas. This allows material to be loaded into the area while keeping employees a safe distance from the ledge and the material. When the rear / operator gate is opened, the ledge gate automatically closes, maintaining a barrier at the ledge while the pallet is accessed and picked. This creates what ProGMA calls a controlled-access area so there is always a barrier between the worker and the ledge.For information, ProGMA members that manufacture such solutions include Mezzanine Safeti-Gates Inc., Wildeck, and Heartland Engineered Products. Although companies still provide swing gates for pallet drop areas where a single pallet is loaded and staged, they are not an acceptable solution according to ANSI and could potentially create a situation where they are in violation of OSHA code.A self-closing swing gate, also featured in the video, should only be used when integrated with pallet flow lanes where multiple pallets are loaded into the system. The pallet flow lanes are pitched so the pallet rolls into the storage area. This allows the gate to immediately close once the pallet is loaded.  By comparison, when used for a single pallet position without flow rails, the staged pallet would hold the swinging gate open, preventing it from closing.For securing multiple deep pallet flow lanes, a dual-gate system is the preferred safety method because not only does it make sure a barrier is in place all times for fall protection, but it also keeps people out of the pallet flow lanes when pallets are being loaded. The two types of incidents we see in these areas are falls from the ledges and pallets being pushed into the legs of employees who have entered the lane. Only the dual-gate system keeps people out of the lanes when the lane is being loaded. The self-closing swing gate, however, does secure the ledge for fall protection.Hand in gloveOftentimes, a safety aspect can be used to increase productivity. For example, the self-closing swinging gate on pallet flow lanes will allow pallets to be quickly loaded into the system. Any time the lift truck operator wants to load a pallet into the area, they just push the pallet through the swinging gates. The dual-gate system has the potential of the gates being in the incorrect position for loading, meaning that the ledge gate is closed when the lift truck is trying to replenish pallets into the area. So they can go to load but a barrier is in place preventing them from doing so.A user can power operate these gates for remote operation but often this isn’t feasible due to the number of areas. Manual operation can actually create a safer and faster environment. The position of the gates in a dual-gate system can be used as a signal between the picker up on the platform and the lift truck operator below. In other words, when the ledge gate is closed that means the picker is picking from the pallets or the area doesn’t need to be replenished.When the picker has finished in that bay or when they notice the pallets need to be replenished in that bay, they just manually close the gate near them, which opens up the ledge gate. Now the lift truck operator can look up and see which areas are safe and ready to be replenished. This is an example of a safety system helping communications among the different workers.In conclusion, it’s evident that, despite automation, people remain at the center of activity in and around pick modules. ProGMA and its members are a one-stop-shop for leading safety solutions, whether it be for preventing hazards associated with falling boxes, product, or workers; or structural protection of the system itself from impact. As the video serves to reiterate, even in automated systems there are still people moving around the facility, either on ground level or on the elevated levels. Even if people are not used for the picking of material, there are areas where empty pallets or totes are removed that need to be guarded.The product-centric video doesn’t feature specific brands, but free-standing pallet rack column protectors, post cushions, and bumper guards are available from ProGMA members including Adrian’s Safety Solutions, A-Safe USA, Bluff Manufacturing, Boplan, DamoTech, Folding Guard, Husky Rack & Wire, Heartland Engineered Products, Jesco, McCue, Slowstop Guarding, SpaceGuard Products, Steel King, Troax, VisiPlas, Wildeck, and WireCrafters.Costs range from inexpensive, light-duty products to more expensive, heavy-duty solutions. Importantly, talking with the manufacturer about the application will help source the right product/s for the facility. No two pick modules or applications are completely alike and that’s what the member companies of the ProGMA are here to help with.The ProGMA website—mhi.org/progma—features details of 22 member companies and hundreds of solutions to help companies with older systems find protective guarding solutions to update / upgrade their pick module system.See the latest video and others in the series at mhi.org/progma/videosShould you be using a ProGMA member to enhance the safety and productivity of your pick modules?About ProGMAThe Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of fixed protective guarding products designed to protect personnel, equipment, and inventory in industrial facilities. Member companies meet regularly to review, discuss, and revise the standards for design and performance of protective guarding products used in the material handling industry. ProGMA member companies are committed to the development, maintenance, and publishing of industry standard specifications for these systems. Visit the website at mhi.org/progma.About MHIMHI 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. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals.Contact for editorial enquiries: Ashley Skidmore, askidmore@mhi.org or 704-676-1190

Tension Packaging & Automation is a global leader in complete packaging and automation solutions. Specializing in a wide variety of results-driven processes, we offer customers expertise in project design, machine development and software integration. Our broad support for automation includes manufacturing, installation, equipment, consumables, robotics and full life-cycle service and support.

The Hänel Lean-Lift as a high-speed shipping systemWhen it comes to tools, the experts at Productivity Inc. can provide customized solutions for the metalworking industry. In addition to consulting, customer care, service and maintenance,Productivity Inc. delivers tools and tool holders to customers throughout North America. Fast shipping from the company’s site in Minneapolis is supported by three Hänel Lean-Lifts® that are used to store more than 10,000 items.The Hänel vertical lifts are equipped with multifunction containers, making them ideal for automated small parts storage. Job orders are displayed directly on the HänelSoft® terminal and can be processed there.The high-speed version of the Hänel Lean-Lift® quickly brings stored items to the retrieval area on request.If the items needed for a particular order are located in various lift systems, picking performance can be boosted even more through parallel system operation.Thanks to digital compartment and sub-level indicators, even storage positions in very small configuration layout patterns can be identified easily. The combination of all these features ensures that orders are filled and shipped in record time – without errors.Orders are filled directly opposite the system access points, where they are also packed for shipping. Order confirmation is entered in the systems using barcode scanners. Another Hänel Lean-Lift® located in a different area of the warehouse is also integrated in the storage solution.Productivity Inc. quickly recognized the high quality of Hänel technology through the reliable performance delivered by the storage systems