Hamilton’s announces new Director of Sales and Business Development
Hamilton Caster has announced that Andy Stamp will serve as their new Director of Sales and Business Development. Stamp has been in the industry for over 26 years. “Over my 26-year career, I’ve honed my expertise in developing new business and expanding existing sales and marketing platforms across various industries supported by Hamilton Caster, said Stamp. My proficiency in leveraging CRM systems to analyze data and drive strategies will be a key benefit.” Mark Lippert, president at Hamilton Caster said, “Andy possesses the hard-to-find ‘biz dev gene.’ It’s that rare genetic makeup of someone who thrives on the hunt for new business while also possessing incredible energy and focus to be successful. More importantly, he’s a heck of a nice guy.” Andy looks forward to growing business at Hamilton. “Profitable and sizable growth in all product groups. The goals include expanding into new customer bases, increasing Hamilton’s footprint nationwide, and ensuring that we are the #1 preferred heavy-duty caster and the “only” choice for heavy-duty carts and trailers”, said Stamp. Andrew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Ohio State University and is an active member of professional associations such as AICC and PMMI. He is also a patent holder for innovative adhesive dispensing technologies. “I am thrilled to join Hamilton and be a part of such an innovative team,” said Andrew. “I am committed to driving growth and delivering unparalleled value to our customers. With our focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, I am confident that together, we will achieve new heights of success.”
New Age Industrial announces retirement of Bob Brackle
New Age Industrial, a designer and manufacturer of aluminum storage and transport, has announced the retirement of Bob Brackle, National Sales Manager for the Material Handling Division, effective May 25, 2024. Bob has dedicated 15 years and 5 months of service to New Age Industrial, playing a pivotal role in the growth and success of the Material Handling Division. His passion, dedication, and industry expertise have been instrumental in forging strong customer relationships and exceeding sales targets for the company’s innovative aluminum material handling equipment. Under Bob’s leadership, the Material Handling Division significantly increased sales. During this time, we successfully introduced and promoted New Age Industrial’s innovative line of aluminum equipment, revolutionizing how to boost efficiency, optimize workflow, and streamline operations in warehouses, distribution centers, and other material handling facilities. “Bob Brackle is one of a kind,” said Tom Sharp, Vice President at New Age Industrial. “His larger-than-life presence and unwavering dedication to building relationships have made him a legend at trade shows. We’ll miss his ability to captivate a room and generate excitement for New Age Industrial.” He continued, “We are incredibly grateful for his contributions and the lasting impact he has made on New Age Industrial and the entire industry. We wish Bob all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Urbx introduces robotic inventory storage and retrieval system for rapid retail fulfillment
High-density system delivers speed and integration flexibility for e-commerce warehouses, retail and grocery fulfillment Urbx launches its robotic inventory storage and retrieval system capable of fulfilling complex, multi-SKU orders at unprecedented speeds. The system builds on the principles of traditional automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and uses a combination of robotics, software and storage racking to deliver key advantages in speed, height, density and scalability in goods-to-person order fulfillment workflows. The system uses a fleet of proprietary Urbx TowerBots driven by AI to find the shortest 3D path through a dense storage grid to retrieve totes and bring them out to a pick station. TowerBots move across the top of racking and drop down through strategically located columns to access inventory. This storage grid design requires no navigating aisles or digging to access totes below top storage layers, enabling access to inventory at all levels – stacked up to 75 totes high – in seconds. TowerBots then move totes down through those same columns to built-in conveyor tiles for transport to order fulfillment and consolidation. In practice, the Urbx system enables exceptional fulfillment speeds, capable of fulfilling a 50-line order in less than 2.5 minutes. “We started Urbx to satisfy the demand for speed in retail order fulfillment that just wasn’t being met by existing solutions. We concepted, tested and iterated on a system that really pushes the limits of what automation can do, and in turn, of what fulfillment operations can achieve,” says Lincoln Cavalieri, Founder and CEO, Urbx. “And that goes beyond revolutionizing warehouse environments. Delivering inventory at such high rates also has the near-term potential to address the needs of grocery fulfillment and even consumer-facing retail applications.” The Urbx system offers double-deep storage built up to industry-leading heights for maximum possible density and capacity, while maintaining a small horizontal footprint. This space efficiency is a particularly strong fit for supply chains pushing to locate distribution points closer to consumers in urban centers, where pressure from high real estate costs incentivizes building up, rather than out. The ability to handle up to 100 pounds per tote allows the system to accommodate a broad range of inventory, including heavy, dense items. Urbx is designed with the needs of integrators in mind, without rigid software requirements and specialized hardware components, and is sold and supported by a global network of material handling automation systems integrators. The company uses Beckoff for standard controls and sources totes from Utz.
LEEA Leads High Quality #GLAD2024
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has moved products, inspection, and training to the front of its Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) campaign. As #GLAD2024 approaches on Thursday 18 July, LEEA is sharpening its focus on the importance of surrounding these three cornerstones of lifting with high quality. GLAD is an established event where its members, manufacturers, and suppliers lead those sharing material that promotes safe and high-quality load lifting across the world. Social media posts, videos, articles, and in-person activity are bound together by the hashtag, #GLAD2024. Ross Moloney, CEO at LEEA, said: “It’s about the ongoing battle between cost and quality. We all know that buying decisions are made for a multitude of reasons, but we want people to make sure those choices are always based on quality. It is perhaps easy for some not to think there’s any difference in quality and that all equipment and services are the same; we’re saying this isn’t the case. It’s why we constantly refer to skills, standards, and high levels of competency. This is a specialist industry, where high quality is a minimum requirement.” LEEA has already circulated three graphics based on high-quality products, inspection, and training, all of which attach the trifecta to existing #GLAD2024 publicity. The message chimes with LEEA’s organizational vision to eliminate accidents, injuries, and fatalities, placing further emphasis on skills and employment, which had emerged as front-running themes when the fifth GLAD drive was launched. Moloney added: “We are in a risky industry, and these are three key ways by which we can eliminate risk; accidents occur when these three things fail. Product matters, but because it was once compliant doesn’t mean it always will be, hence the need for ongoing inspection, and this must be conducted by a high-quality individual, who has been trained to the highest standards. “This is where the LEEA logo fits,” Moloney continued. “Joining our association means you become associated with high-quality providers. Our members go through an audit where we help them to check and improve their processes and practices. And on an ongoing basis, our members access training developed and devised by 1,000 members worldwide. We’re not making this content up ourselves — it’s written by the industry, for the industry. Above and beyond GLAD, it’s a clear market signal to end users: if you are involved in lifting, look for the LEEA logo.” Moloney delivered a well-received presentation, centered on GLAD, to the Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) Spring General Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee last month (April). It was a delegation united in the understanding that there is no low-risk job in the lifting industry, and the entire global community must be trained and competent. Further, it is a sector that offers work opportunities, especially to younger people looking to become trained and qualified. “Skills in our industry pay the bills,” roared Moloney. “You get trained and qualified, and there are work opportunities in our high-tech, high-quality industry. A perception endures that lifting is all about heft and physicality, but our people fight gravity and do dangerous things. They all need to be trained and competent, so there are no unskilled occupations. We provide training and we strongly encourage end users to make sure that anyone they work with is trained and work-ready. Look at our TEAM card initiative for evidence.”
Trew® named Top workplace by employees for second consecutive year
The award recognizes top companies in the Greater Cincinnati region based on employee feedback. Trew, LLC has been recognized as a 2024 Top Workplaces Regional winner, receiving the award for the second consecutive year. Trew’s team includes a wide range of roles that work together to create client value and deliver on-time projects. Roles within the business include solutions development, project management, software, engineering, manufacturing, installation, sales, marketing, and other general corporate services. “Trew has an environment where team members consistently go the extra mile to deliver exceptional service to our customers,” said Alfred Rebello Trew Chief Executive Officer. We are thankful that our people who form the bedrock of the company and who continually strive for excellence have awarded this honor.” The Top Workplace Award is based entirely on employee feedback gathered by a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures fifteen culture drivers that are critical to success of any organization such as alignment, execution, and connection. The award highlights organizations that stood out among their peers, demonstrating a commitment to employee satisfaction, organizational excellence, and building a thriving workplace culture. Trew won 2024 Cultural Excellence awards in the following categories: • Innovation • Purpose & Values • Leadership • Work-Life Flexibility • Compensation & Benefits Eric Rubino, Energage CEO, commented, “The Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor and something companies should be very proud to showcase. The people-first cultures they have built and nurtured will set them apart in a highly competitive market. These organizations represent the best of the best.” Trew was formed in January 2019 by warehouse automation veterans and has quickly become a solutions leader in the industry. The company is anchored in Cincinnati, with a diverse hybrid workforce and additional facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the greater Toronto, Canada area.
Crown SP 1500 Series delivers visibility that enhances safety
Crown Equipment Corporation has announced the availability of the Crown SP 1500 Series order picker. The lift truck introduces innovative design features, such as the industry’s first mid-platform window and industry-leading lift and lower speeds, that enhance operator safety and make order picking easier and more efficient. Visibility is a foundation of operator confidence and productivity and the Crown SP 1500 Series provides exceptional views even when fully elevated. The industry’s first mid-platform window, centered between the operator controls, provides a view of the floor below when the platform is raised. This is combined with a large upper window that offers a wide view of pedestrians, objects and other equipment, as well as openings in the center and on each side of the floorboard to provide clear views directly below. An optional large panoramic window above the operator provides clear sightlines to pick locations and overhead obstructions, resulting in clear all-around visibility for the operator. “Every element of the Crown SP 1500 Series is designed to work together with the operator to optimize the order picking process. By enabling seamless interaction between operator and lift truck, the lift truck’s design helps boost safety, efficiency and productivity,” said Chris Grote, senior product manager, Crown Equipment. “We do this by providing unmatched visibility at height, industry-leading lift and lower speeds, and intuitive blending of truck functions within a customizable, operator-centric compartment we call Op-Zone.” The SP 1500 Series also offers exceptional stability at height and outstanding lift and lower performance to complete tasks quickly and confidently. The lift truck is capable of traveling at 7.5 mph, with standard lift speeds of 71 fpm for the 24v, 115 for the 36v and 140 for the 48v. The Xpress Lower™ option raises lowering speeds from 80 fpm up to 205 fpm for the 36v and 48v lift truck options, and 110 fpm for the 24v lift truck. Op-Zone, the operator-centric compartment, can be customized to meet individual operator preferences and application requirements and to boost operational efficiency. Newly designed ergonomic controls allow for seamless blending of truck functions combined with an optional capability to provide independent height adjustability so operators can adjust control height to their individual preferences. Together with the dual-position tiller knob, they allow operators the flexibility to work from an optimal position throughout their shifts. The compartment also can be fitted with a variety of Work Assist accessories to support operators as they tackle a wide variety of tasks in a dynamic order picking environment. An underlying force supporting the Crown SP 1500 Series’ operator-centric experience is the Gena® operating system. This transformational lift truck operating system delivers a customizable, interactive, data-rich user experience to enhance supply chain performance. The intuitive system provides users with real-time, actionable data relevant to the task at hand, including safety reminders accompanied by illustrations and widgets that display key operating metrics like battery state of charge, hour meter and height indicator. “Crown helps its customers understand that implementing an integrated, holistic approach to lift truck safety is key to creating and maintaining a culture where safety is top of mind,” said Grote. “As the Crown SP 1500 Series demonstrates, equipment design is a significant component of this comprehensive approach.” The Crown SP 1500 Series includes Crown’s patented OnTrac® anti-slip traction control system that reduces slippage or wheelspin whenever the lift truck is accelerating, plugging or braking on wet or dusty floors. Customized energy solutions for the order picker are available, based on a range of V-Force® lead acid or lithium-ion batteries and chargers, to meet customer application and infrastructure requirements.
U.S. Rail Traffic report for the week ending May 18, 2024
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 18, 2024. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 474,886 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.9 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 18 were 214,092 carloads, down 4.8 percent compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 260,794 containers and trailers, up 6.2 percent compared to 2023. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2023. They included grain, up 2,004 carloads, to 19,917; petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,007 carloads, to 10,330; and chemicals, up 714 carloads, to 32,294. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2023 included coal, down 12,113 carloads, to 50,520; metallic ores and metals, down 1,872 carloads, to 20,570; and nonmetallic minerals, down 1,137 carloads, to 31,798. For the first 20 weeks of 2024, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 4,259,530 carloads, down 4.9 percent from the same point last year; and 5,057,135 intermodal units, up 8.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 9,316,665 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 2.0 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending May 18, 2024, on 10 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 323,396 carloads, down 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 346,036 intermodal units, up 4.5 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 669,432 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6 percent. North American rail volume for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 13,150,619 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1 percent compared with 2023. Canadian railroads reported 92,669 carloads for the week, up 5.7 percent, and 72,537 intermodal units, down 2.6 percent compared with the same week in 2023. For the first 20 weeks of 2024, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,229,985 carloads, containers, and trailers, up 0.9 percent. Mexican railroads reported 16,635 carloads for the week, up 7.9 percent compared with the same week last year, and 12,705 intermodal units, up 15.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 20 weeks of 2024 was 603,969 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 10.9 percent from the same point last year. View reports here
Episode 488: Taking a Collaborative Approach with Rocrich AGV Solutions
The New Warehouse Podcast welcomes Carson Menke, Regional Sales Manager, and Brian Markison, Director of Sales, from Rocrich AGV Solutions. The episode delves into the unique collaboration between Jungheinrich and Rocla in North America, the extensive automation solutions offered by Rocrich, and the broader implications of automation in the warehousing industry. Be sure to tune to hear Carson and Brian share their expertise on the evolution and future of warehouse automation. Rocrich AGV Solutions: Bridging Proven Brands Rocrich AGV Solutions stands out by combining the strengths of two established brands, Jungheinrich and Rocla. Carson explains, “Rocrich is the North American sales implementation and engineering of those two product lines.” He adds, “any challenge that approaches us that a customer may be having, we can put them first and really provide a solution that works for them.” This strategic combination allows Rocrich to offer a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet diverse customer needs. Brian Markison adds, “It allows us to blend those and handle more use cases and a single source from that perspective.” By leveraging the robust capabilities of both brands, Rocrich provides flexible and scalable automation solutions. Tailored Automation Solutions for Varied Challenges Rather than focusing solely on product specifications, Rocrich adopts a solutions-oriented approach to automation. Carson emphasizes, “When you’re looking at AGVs, it’s a little bit different. You wanna look at it from a solutions approach.” This means understanding the specific challenges faced by customers and providing customized solutions. Rocrich’s offerings range from standardized AGVs based on existing forklift models to more specialized units for niche applications. As Carson explains, “We have a very large offering under the two brands,” ensuring that they can meet the unique needs of each customer. Efficiency and Safety in Warehousing The discussion highlights the critical role of automation in addressing labor shortages and improving operational efficiency. Brian notes, “One of the biggest challenges that warehouses are facing today is just having enough labor on staff.” Automation not only helps mitigate labor shortages but also enhances safety and reduces costs. Carson adds, “Efficiency and dependability are big reasons why people are moving towards automation.” By automating repetitive and dangerous tasks, warehouses can improve safety and productivity, allowing human workers to focus on more value-added activities. Key Takeaways Strategic Brand Combination: Rocrich leverages the strengths of Jungheinrich and Rocla to offer comprehensive automation solutions. Solutions-Oriented Approach: Focus on addressing specific customer challenges rather than just product specifications. Labor and Efficiency Benefits: Automation helps mitigate labor shortages, improve safety, and enhance operational efficiency. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 488: Taking a Collaborative Approach with Rocrich AGV Solutions
Longtime ASSP member earns Prevention through Design Award
Bruce Main, P.E., CSP, a longtime member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), earns the 2024 Prevention through Design (PtD) Award. The honor is presented to those who demonstrate outstanding leadership in reducing workplace hazards through design methods. The award is a collective effort of ASSP, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Safety Council (NSC) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Main, president of Design Safety Engineering in Ann Arbor, MI, was recognized for his decades of proactive workplace safety contributions. He was a founding member of NSC’s Institute for Safety Through Design in 1995 and first-ever vice chair of the ANSI/ASSP Z590.3 Prevention through Design standard committee in 2011. An ASSP member since 1992, Main currently chairs the Z244 standards committee that establishes requirements for controlling hazardous energy through lockout/tagout measures and alternative methods. “Assessing workplace environments and designing out hazards is an innovative and long-term approach to business sustainability and preventing worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities,” said ASSP President-Elect Pam Walaski, CSP, FASSP, who spoke at the awards ceremony at the AIHA Connect conference in Columbus, OH. “Bruce has trained thousands of engineers and professionals in risk assessment and has elevated prevention through design principles and practical applications.” Main’s safety and health experience covers many technical areas, including mechanical design, machine guarding, control of hazardous energy, accident reconstruction and product safety evaluation. He is a consultant, researcher, author and highly sought-after instructor and speaker at universities and industry conferences. Main earned ASSP’s Thomas F. Bresnahan Standards Medal in 2015 for his extensive work in developing and advocating voluntary national consensus standards in occupational safety and health. “Bruce has been instrumental in keeping prevention through design principles in the forefront of safety efforts for more than 35 years,” Walaski said. “His enthusiastic approach to risk mitigation and worker safety has saved countless lives across many industries.” The annual PtD Award honors individuals, teams, businesses and other organizations that have eliminated or reduced hazards through designs or redesigns – or have contributed to the body of knowledge that enables PtD solutions. It reflects how proactive efforts can target hazards to safeguard people, property and the environment.
LEIBINGER wins the “German Innovation Award” for IQJET and is also recognized as “Innovator of the Year”
The German Design Council has honored LEIBINGER’s innovative, high-performance industrial printer, IQJET, with the Gold German Innovation Award on May 14th in Berlin. Additionally, the marking system specialist was named Innovator of the Year 2024. The interdisciplinary expert jury of the German Design Council awarded IQJET in the category “Excellence in Business to Business: Machines & Engineering” with the Gold German Innovation Award. The award is based on criteria such as sustainability, quality, and economic efficiency for outstanding products, projects, and pioneering achievements. About 300 guests from politics, business, and media attended the festive event at the Berlin Futurium. Revolutionary industrial printer IQJET Wherever production and packaging occur, marking plays a crucial role. Printed information ensures reliable compliance with legal requirements, enables seamless traceability along the entire value chain, and creates transparency as well as user interaction opportunities for consumers. With the new industrial printer, IQJET, LEIBINGER revolutionizes continuous inkjet printing (CIJ) and offers users from numerous industries an optimal solution for marking their products. IQJET, for instance, prints texts, logos, and codes on a variety of surfaces such as metal, plastic, glass, and paper. The device guarantees high performance, exceptional print quality, and efficiency with reliable continuous operation and no need for cleaning. Users benefit from the unique “Plug&Print” performance, easy operation, and five years of maintenance-free operation. Compared to conventional printers, IQJET reduces operating costs by up to 30 percent. Furthermore, companies optimize their ecological footprint through the low consumption of energy, ink, and solvents. Christina Leibinger, CEO of LEIBINGER, and COO Jan van het Reve personally accepted the award. Leibinger summarizes, “We have set a goal to continuously optimize industrial CIJ printing and take a leading role as a provider of innovative coding & marking technology. We are proud that our innovative strength has also impressed the jury.” Van het Reve adds, “Our developments are always focused on benefiting the customer, meaning that with the LEIBINGER printers we aim to make a significant contribution to operating cost optimization, sustainability, and efficiency in manufacturing and packaging lines worldwide.” LEIBINGER also awarded as a company The nomination committee also recognized LEIBINGER as Innovator of the Year 2024. Renowned business, science, and media experts consider LEIBINGER to be the pioneer in its field. The award is the largest audience award in German business, honoring companies of every size and industry as well as innovative ideas from all areas of business. Over 70,000 entrepreneurs, CEOs, and other business enthusiasts also choose the winners of the audience awards online in various categories.
Orion announced Kelly Watterworth as East Coast Regional Sales Manager
In his new role, Watterworth will be working directly with Orion channel partners to build relationships, train staff and provide support to the sales team to grow the company’s stretch-wrapping machinery. “I’m excited to once again build relationships with local channel partners as I’m transferring from a National Sales position where I worked mainly with direct sales accounts, integrators, and OEMs,” Watterworth said. Watterworth has held various managerial and sales roles with Orion since 2016. He has a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. hosts its first Robot Roadshow event in Ohio
The Robot Roadshow allows attendees eager to learn, experience, or purchase automation to have hands-on interactions with Mitsubishi Electric Automation’s latest robots and robotic innovations. Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. hosted its first-ever Robot Roadshow in late April 2024 to bring newly launched robots and robotic solutions to the Midwest. The two-day event, held at the Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America office in Mason, Ohio, brought in over 75 OEMs, System Integrators, Distributors, End-Users, engineers, education partners, and Mitsubishi Electric Automation channel partners. At the event, several demonstrations showcased the customizability of our LoadMate™ Plus engineered solution based on the robot series and size necessary for an application. Other demonstrations included machine tending and standard base options for Mitsubishi Electric Automation’s newest robotic-engineered solution, ARIA (Automated Robotic Industrial Assistant). Mitsubishi Electric Automation presented its newly released large robots, the RV-12 and RV-80, which created much excitement for attendees. In support of this event, ICONICS, a group company of Mitsubishi Electric, demonstrated real-time data and analytics visualization for robotic applications. “Thank you to all the customers who attended this event to learn more about our robotic automation and digital transformation offerings. Our demonstrations of our newly released modular ARIA platforms and robots were all a huge hit. I extend our gratitude to Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America for allowing us to host this event at your facility as well as the ICONICS and Mitsubishi Electric Automation team for making this show a great success. Stay tuned for more events from us!” said Britt Davis, regional sales manager (central) at Mitsubishi Electric Automation.
Talon trailer restraint provides safety for loading docks
Innovative design delivers an all-new approach to safer, more effective trailer loading and unloading. 4Front Engineered Solutions has announced the introduction of the Talon™ trailer restraint, the company’s newest innovation in loading dock safety equipment. Offered under both the Kelley and Serco brands, Talon is a next-generation approach to securing docked trucks, delivering great improvements in safe and effective trailer loading and unloading. Due to pending National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations affecting the design of trailer rear impact guard (RIG) bars, many trailer restraints are no longer compatible or are simply less effective at restraining and releasing trailers. Newer-style five-sided RIG bars with pentagonal cross-sections or tilted configurations require a different approach to trailer restraint design. To keep redesigned RIG bars more secure during loading and unloading trailers, the Talon trailer restraint’s additional upper hook provides true four-sided RIG bar capture, which is much more effective than two or three-sided capture. The four-sided capture also prevents the RIG bar from hopping over the hook and releasing the trailer from the dock. Talon is unique in that it accomplishes all of this as a powered restraint that does not use powered hydraulics or a motor, resulting in lower maintenance costs and a lower total cost of ownership. “The addition of Talon really cements Kelley and Serco as the leaders in loading dock safety solutions. Its clever design means that it works better with a wider range of trailers, cutting down on complexity while making it the most advanced trailer restraint system out there,” said Ryan Talbot, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 4Front Engineered Solutions. Instead of a trailer restraint’s hook contacting only two or three sides of a RIG bar, and much like the talons on a bird of prey, the Talon trailer restraint makes complete contact with and surrounds all five surfaces of the pentagonal RIG bar while also eliminating restraint release failure, ensuring the trailer can be released at the appropriate time, thanks to a proprietary locking mechanism. Many trailer restraints have excessive play (running room) between the restraint and RIG bar during forklift movement. To eliminate running room issues, as a trailer moves toward the loading dock bumpers and engages with the Talon trailer restraint, the three-position slide lock limits trailer movement for a more stable loading environment. External red and green LED indicators inform the driver whether the restraint is still engaged or disengaged so the trailer can safely depart.
Menasha Corporation awards $6 Million in grants to nonprofit organizations in its 175th anniversary year
Menasha and Neenah Mayors declare May 21st as ‘Menasha Corporation Day’ in honor of ongoing community support In celebration of its 175th anniversary, Menasha Corporation, a sustainable corrugated and reusable plastic packaging manufacturer and supply chain services provider for over 2,500 leading global brands in North America and the parent company of ORBIS Corporation, announced it will grant $6 million to nonprofits in 2024, of which nearly $4 million will be donated to organizations in the Fox Valley where Menasha Corporation was founded. Chris Drees, Menasha Corporation President and CEO, announced the Fox Valley grant recipients on May 21, 2024, which included declarations by Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond and Neenah Mayor Jane Lang to proclaim May 21 as ‘Menasha Corporation Day’ for both cities. “Giving back is deeply rooted in Menasha Corporation’s legacy. It’s a philosophy that began with the extraordinary generosity of our founder, Elisha D. Smith,” Drees said. “Today, a fundamental tenet of our shareholders and our company is to continue that tradition of philanthropy. In our 175th year of business, we couldn’t think of a more fitting and worthy celebratory activity than to honor our milestone by supporting our community.” Through the company’s philanthropic arm, Menasha Corporation Foundation, the following Fox Valley organizations were chosen as grant recipients: Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Elisha D. Smith Public Library Trout Museum of Art Jefferson Park in Menasha The four grant recipients support causes that fall in the following four areas where Menasha Corporation Foundation focuses its support: Safe & Healthy Citizens, An Educated Society, Community Betterment, and Environmental Sustainability. The remaining donation dollars will be distributed across all of Menasha Corporation’s locations in the United States and include $350,000 in honor of the company’s anniversary and approximately $2 million in typical annual donations. “We are incredibly honored to be recognized by both cities of Menasha and Neenah with the proclamations presented today,” Drees said. “Our roots are here in the Fox Valley. Our partnership with Menasha and Neenah enriches our community. These proclamations demonstrate our commitment to supporting these two communities for years to come.” Awarded Manufacturer of the Year in 2024 by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Menasha Corporation is the third oldest continuously operating company in Wisconsin, and the 76th oldest family business in America. Today, it employs more than 7,800 people in 108 facilities throughout North America and Europe. Headquartered in Neenah, Menasha Corporation employs more than 1,500 employees in 12 facilities throughout the state of Wisconsin.
CP&A advises on container crane procurement peer reviews
Casper, Phillips & Associates Inc. (CP&A) has delivered a presentation to port authorities titled, ‘Peer Review of Container Cranes’, to assist in future procurement processes. CP&A offers a wide variety of services, including specification, design, manufacturing review, modification, and accident investigation; and it is well-positioned to remind terminal operators and fellow stakeholders of the risks involved with container crane procurement. Including transport and offloading in the peer review scope is a good way to manage some of these risks — but that’s just the start. Richard Phillips, mechanical engineer at CP&A, said: “The procurement process for container cranes is somewhat unique and presents many challenges. Unfortunately, some procurement decision makers believe buying container cranes is the same as acquiring any other piece of equipment, such as a forklift or a company van.” As should be unanimously accepted by crane manufacturers, a peer is someone with approximately equal qualifications to the design team. While there is no universal set of criteria as to what makes an engineer a peer, a good starting point is professional licensure and relevant design experience in the appropriate disciplines. The team should have an expert in the prevailing hazards such as high wind, seismic, or other location dependent hazards. A peer review is when a neutral third party checks the design for compliance with the performance specification. A performance specification states what the crane needs to do — rated load, hoist and travel speeds, operating wind speed, etc. — but it does not specify how the crane manufacturer needs to meet the specification. Importantly, a design review is about compliance; it is not about the design reviewer’s preference for how he or she would have designed the crane. There is a level of professionalism expected for design reviews. While there will always be debate, comments that are not backed up by analysis, specification, or code requirements should be avoided. Phillips said: “It’s a big red flag if a large number of comments are generated without supporting calculations or citations of specification requirements. It’s not constructive for the designer to have to refute a large volume of comments that may not be contractually required or may be speculation since they are not supported by calculations. The reviewer should be performing enough analysis to back up their comments.” Custom port equipment Container cranes are custom designed to meet the unique requirements of each port. Some of these requirements may include being in a hurricane or earthquake zone; exposure to extreme temperatures; or proximity to other geological hazards. Sometimes a container terminal is located near an airport, or a crane may need to pass under a bridge during delivery, resulting in height restrictions. A naval architect provides the sea states and predicted voyage motions for the designers to analyze and brace the crane accordingly. The crane manufacturer owns the cranes until handover. Some crane manufacturers own their own fleet; others subcontract this work. It can be beneficial for the design reviewer to check the voyage bracing prior to shipping. There are other operational considerations, such as where hatch covers are stored; the use of dual trollies; and how many containers the crane can lift: single 40 ft., twin 20 ft., tandem 40 ft., quad 20 ft., etc. All things considered the planning phase has great variance. Sometimes it starts at the wharf design stage, other times the wharf is already designed, and existing cranes are being replaced. Depending on the level of customization, once a crane is awarded, it can be up to three years before delivery. Phillips, who himself conducts peer reviews of contractors’ crane designs, including some of the largest container cranes in the world, pointed to CP&A’s crane base anti-seismic isolation system (BASIS), which is built on nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) and can protect a crane’s main structure from damage even in contingency level earthquakes. “We are always improving our software,” said Phillips. “Our crane analysis software can be thought of as a custom workbench specifically made for cranes. There is a much larger market for buildings and bridge design, so the commercial software packages tend to focus on larger markets such as those [see below]. That led CP&A to create our own crane code-checking software. One example is that we have incorporated wind tunnel test data into our pre-processor, which develops the wind load forces on a crane. Obviously, a commercial building will not have integrated wind tunnel data for container cranes.” Cranes are significant structures Interestingly, due to the geological and environmental hazards, cranes should be treated more like bridges and skyscrapers instead of mass produced cars and airplanes. However, for cars and airplanes, there are crash tests and full-scale testing, which is impractical with cranes. ASCE 7-16 1.3.1.3.4 covers minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings and other structures; this particular clause covers peer reviews for significant structures. Phillips added: “When you start thinking about how bridges, stadiums, and skyscrapers are designed it starts to become clear. For significant structures the [AISC 7] code requires a peer review. Are cranes significant structures? In our opinion they are; however, it is up to the local jurisdiction to make that decision.” Even at the time of going to press, CP&A was wrapping up peer review and procurement assistant projects related to rubber-tired gantry, rail-mounted gantry, and ship-to-shore cranes. Are your procurement processes for these hulking container cranes up to standard?
Motion enters agreement to purchase electrical/automation company
Motion’s automation market to expand in the Mid-Atlantic Motion Industries, Inc. has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Allied Circuits, an electrical and automation firm. The transaction is expected to close later this month, subject to customary closing conditions. Located in Buffalo, New York, Allied Circuits designs, manufactures and services industrial control panels, electro-mechanical assemblies, robotic automation and integrated solutions. Founded in 1987, the company serves customers in the Western and Upstate New York markets and into Ontario, Canada, due to its proximity to the border. End markets include aerospace, automotive, filtration, fluid systems & plumbing, food & beverage, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, process industries, semiconductor and water & wastewater treatment facilities. The company will join Motion’s business unit, Motion Automation Intelligence (Motion Ai). The addition of Allied Circuits will provide an exceptional workforce of highly skilled teammates, ATEX certification capabilities and over 20,000 square feet of additional production space to bolster Motion Ai’s existing presence in the area. Motion Ai’s total region size will expand to over 100,000 square feet of production space and 150 people dedicated to serving existing and new customers. Chris Scinta, Partner at Allied Circuits, said, “It’s a great match—including the business culture and core values—and we’re very excited about our customers’ expanded access to even more products and services. Motion is an industry leader, and we are pleased to integrate employee talents and contribute to the company’s growth.” “Our customers are growing, and we’re committed to growing with them,” said James Howe, President of Motion. “By combining our engineering teams, we can leverage highly experienced technical resources needed to design, program, and support increasing automation needs within the region. This strategic acquisition will create new opportunities for our customers, teammates, and supplier partners.”
Diana Mueller joins KPI Solutions as Senior Account Executive
With 15+ years of experience in the logistics and supply chain industry, she specializes in architecting transformational distribution solutions that deliver business results KPI Solutions (KPI) has announced that Diana Mueller has joined the company as Senior Account Executive. In this role, Diana will partner with clients to understand their distribution objectives, and then enable and facilitate value-based strategic initiatives that support growth and build resilience. She brings particularly deep experience in developing omnichannel solutions for the retail, apparel, and footwear industries. “I’m thrilled to join the KPI Solutions sales team to help our clients solve complex supply chain challenges and navigate the many alternatives for warehouse design and automation,“ said Diana. “My background in large-scale, omnichannel distribution projects allows me to offer a fresh perspective to clients as we build a customized, total solution that boosts productivity and enables agility.” “Diana’s experience in business case rationalization and supply chain transformation will bring value to our clients as we continue to couple innovative engineering with leading automation technologies,” said Roger Counihan, Senior Vice President of Sales. “KPI’s clients will benefit from her focus on exceeding their business goals by leveraging creative designs with world-class automation and robotics, powered by intelligent software.” Diana joins KPI Solutions from Fortna, where she was an Account Executive. Prior experience includes working as a Solutions Manager and Transportation Analyst at OHL (now Geodis). She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management degree from Auburn University and resides in Florida.
Orbital Stretch Wrapper manufacturer introduces upgraded safety control package
New package adds automated safety scanners to TAB Wrapper Tornado Orbital wrapper manufacturer TAB Industries, LLC, has introduced an upgraded safety control package. Available as an option on the company’s TAB Wrapper Tornado Smart Controls orbital wrapping machines, the new upgraded safety control package adds the company’s automated Safety Scanners, bumper guards, and accessories at a discounted price versus the individual add-ons. The Safety Scanners create an invisible field emanating in a 180-degree arc from both the front and back of the machine that allows forklifts to pass but automatically stops the wrapping machine if a worker enters the field. The scanners are set within the bumper guards, which protect the stretch wrapper from accidental contact with lift trucks. Available on TAB Wrapper Tornado Smart Controls models with the standard 80-inch, 100-inch, and 115-inch wrapping rings, the Upgraded Safety Control Package accommodates 480V electrical service and may be retrofit onto Smart Controls wrapping machines in the field. The patented smart controls pallet wrapping machines automatically apply stretch wrap 360 degrees around and under a pallet and load to create a stable, secure, unitized load in 30 seconds or less without boxes, crates, or banding. The stretch wrap machines are designed and manufactured at the company’s Reading, Pa. headquarters and delivered with the worker safety upgrade pre-installed, tested, and ready to operate. A full warranty is included.
MHS Lift named Top Workplace for Fifth Consecutive Year
For the fifth consecutive year, MHS Lift, Inc. has been honored as one of the 2024 Top Workplaces in the Greater Philadelphia area by The Philadelphia Inquirer. For the last 15 years, The Philadelphia Inquirer has partnered with Exton-based company Energage to rank the region’s Top Workplaces through a scientific survey of employees who rate their workplace culture. Any organization with at least 50 employees based in the Delaware Valley area is eligible to participate. MHS Lift was additionally honored with Energage’s 2024 National Culture Excellence Award, a national recognition for Top Workplaces. The workplaces are divided into groups based on the number of employees and calculated scores. MHS Lift was honored for its excellence in the categories of leadership, innovation, compensation and benefits, purpose and values, and work-life flexibility. “We are very proud of the work environment that we’ve built here at MHS Lift,” said Andy Levin, co-president, MHS Lift. “We owe this award entirely to the hard work and outstanding performance of our talented employees, as well as our dedicated customers and associates.” “Each year, we strive to make MHS Lift an even greater place to work, emphasizing our company’s competitive benefits and salaries, while also staying committed to providing our employees with ongoing training and advancement opportunities,” said Brett Levin, co-president, MHS Lift. “Our goal is to consistently recruit highly skilled and smart people to join our growing workforce.” Committed to fostering a thriving company culture, MHS Lift has taken “having fun at work” to the next level with its one-of-a-kind Fun Committee. This group is dedicated to ensuring that MHS Lift employees enjoy their time on the job. The Fun Committee meets monthly to organize parties, fundraisers and community events, as well as brainstorm new and exciting ways to make the MHS Lift social scene vibrant and fun.
Hy-Brid Lifts announced Director of Sales for South-Central USA
Hy-Brid Lifts has announced Gary Coke as director of sales covering the south-central United States. Coke’s responsibilities include providing customer support as well as continuing the growth and channel development of the Hy-Brid Lifts line of low-level scissor lifts. “I am excited to join this team and look forward to the opportunity to work with past and future customers. Coming from equipment manufacturing, I understand the importance of quality equipment and customer service backed by a solid service department,” said Coke. “After meeting the Hy-Brid Lifts team and seeing all of the new products in the pipeline, it’s no surprise that this company is continuing to grow, and I look forward to being a part of that growth.” Coke brings 19 years of industry experience to his new role, largely derived from his time in equipment manufacturing with SkyJack. He spent a majority of his career in sales with a strong emphasis on customer relationships and going above and beyond for every customer. “The entire Hy-Brid Lifts team is excited to have Gary on board to serve the south-central United States. Gary has a wealth of sales and rental industry knowledge that will strengthen our ability to serve our customers,” said Dave Wanta, Custom Equipment LLC vice president of sales. “Gary Coke is a valuable addition to the team, and we look forward to the contributions that he will provide for our company’s continued growth.”