Felling Trailers releases design innovations for X-Force Hydraulic Detachable Goosenecks
Felling Trailers, Inc. will debut design modifications to the X-Force hydraulic detachable’s gooseneck at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. Felling has long been known as an innovative solutions provider in the transport industry, employing its engineering team to continually enhance and develop new product designs for increased production efficiencies, operator safety, and ease of use. The X-Force product line offers over a dozen models with load capacities ranging from 35 to 60 tons with an expansive selection of available options to ensure the trailer is built to the user’s spec. The redesign’s driving factors were enhancing operator usability while refining the design and reducing production time and materials. More often than not, an operator must offload/load equipment on less-than-ideal terrain that is soft or uneven. Considering this scenario, the gooseneck stirrups were designed to provide an additional 1-3/4″ ground clearance, making the hookup/disconnect process easier. Auto-ratcheting load blocks have also been factored into the neck design. As the deck is raised into position, setting the trailer’s ride height, the load blocks auto-ratchet into position. An interlocking connection between the load block and the secondary lock mechanism synchronizes the action of the two, eliminating the independent lock handle, reducing, and simplifying the operation process. Lastly, the trough of the gooseneck was reconfigured for optimal performance of the lock pin, allowing dirt and debris to fall away more efficiently, substantially reducing buildup over time. The company is anticipating reaching full production in mid-late 2023. Solid and reliable, Felling’s X-Force HDG series continues to offer a broad selection of options and features to ensure the trailer is built to the spec that owners/operators need for their applications. Gooseneck Design Highlights Auto Ratchet Load Blocks – As the deck is raised into position, setting the trailer’s ride height, the load blocks auto-ratchet into position. Stirrup Design – Provides increased ground clearance of approx. 1-3/4″, ideal for unlevel terrain conditions. Interlock Design – Connects the Load Block and Secondary lock mechanism synchronizing action when hooking/unhooking the gooseneck. Trough Design – Reconfigured the trough design for the vertical pin, providing improved clean out of dirt and debris, resulting in less buildup over time.
What happens when a department has a bad reputation
We all know when two employees have a conflict, there are countless articles on how to coach and mitigate the situation. But what happens when departments have conflicts? In virtually every organization, there are teams that don’t work well together. It may be a rub between marketing and sales, or operations and production. No matter the departments, this rub impacts morale, culture, communication, productivity, and in the end – profits. Department conflicts stem more from culture than solely from leadership. We often want to find a single source of blame for problems, and no question that a department leader sets the example for their staff, in addition to endorsing certain behaviors. Yet collectively, a department can easily create a reputation within the organization – one that’s difficult to work with stonewalls initiatives belittles others and over-elevates its own activities and importance. As a department, you need to know and understand your organizational reputation. If your identity — what you think about your department and tell others — does not match your reputation — what others actually experience — it will cause organizational bottlenecks. Information won’t be shared readily. People will create home-grown workarounds. Other departments will stop collaborating. In short, your department will exist on a proverbial island, and not effectively support the success of the organization as a whole. It’s essential that departments work together. Rarely are initiatives completed soup-to-nuts without the support, participation, or contribution from another department. Leaders frequently lament about organizational siloing, but often look at it through an operational lens – whether it be a lack of communication or process frameworks. However more often, the cause of this problem is the perceived or actual reputation of a department, and how easy or hard they are to work with. If you have initiatives that are perpetually on the “to-do” list, constant internal debates about who is the “owner” of a project, or frequent issues with one department not communicating with another, stop looking at the structure and look at the people. Naturally, people want to work with others that elevate them, challenge them in a healthy way, help them be better and more effective, and help them accomplish something they can be proud of. Is your department acting in a way that elevates the organization or simply focused on your own metrics and the things you want to do for yourself? In short, no department is more important than another. While some may disagree, each and every department exists to serve the organization and the greater organizational goals. When one department behaves in a way where its “reputation” precedes them, it fosters a culture of internal competition and an “every department for themselves” mentality. Department heads must take the time to examine their internal reputation – and how it helps or hinders their ability to work with other departments to support the growth of the company. This requires honesty – to listen to and take in both the good and the bad – and then use that information to relaunch your department’s internal brand if necessary. Just like an individual, you have to be aware of and continually refine your personal brand. If your department has built an internal brand that has a negative reputation, it’s essential to create a plan to correct it. Otherwise, you’ll be the ones actually holding the organization back – whether you know it or not. About the Author Andrea Belk Olson is a keynote speaker, author, differentiation strategist, behavioral scientist, and customer-centricity expert. As the CEO of Pragmadik, she helps organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 500, and has served as an outside consultant for EY and McKinsey. Andrea is the author of three books, including her most recent, What To Ask: How To Learn What Customers Need but Don’t Tell You, released in June 2022. She is a 4-time ADDY® award winner and host of the popular Customer Mission podcast. Her thoughts have been continually featured in news sources such as Chief Executive Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Rotman Magazine, World Economic Forum, and more. Andrea is a sought-after speaker at conferences and corporate events throughout the world. She is a visiting lecturer and startup coach at the University of Iowa, a TEDx presenter, and TEDx speaker coach. She is also an instructor at the University of Iowa Venture School. More information is also available on www.pragmadik.com and www.andreabelkolson.com.
Nucor reports record annual earnings for 2022
Nucor reports the safest and most profitable year in Company history, eclipsing prior records set in 2021 Fourth quarter and full year 2022 earnings per diluted share of $4.89 and $28.79, respectively Returned $3.3 billion of capital to stockholders through dividends and share repurchases Announced increased dividend for 5oth consecutive year since initial NYSE listing in 1972 Nucor Corporation has announced consolidated net earnings of $1.26 billion, or $4.89 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. By comparison, Nucor reported consolidated net earnings of $1.69 billion, or $6.50 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2022 and $2.25 billion, or $7.97 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year 2022, Nucor reported record consolidated net earnings of $7.61 billion, or $28.79 per diluted share, surpassing the previous record of consolidated net earnings of $6.83 billion, or $23.16 per diluted share, in 2021. Included in the fourth quarter of 2022 results was an after-tax net benefit of $60.4 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, related to state tax credits and an after-tax net benefit of $88.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, related to a change in the valuation allowance of a state deferred tax asset. Also included in the fourth quarter of 2022 results was a pre-tax $96.0 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, write-off of the remaining carrying value of the Company’s leasehold interest in unproved oil and gas properties that is included in the raw materials segment. Of these three items, only the state tax credits were known at the time and considered as part of our quantitative guidance in mid-December 2022. “I am proud to report that 2022 was both the safest and most profitable year in Nucor’s history. This is the fourth consecutive year the Nucor team has exhibited record-breaking safety performance, as we strive to become the world’s safest steel company,” said Leon Topalian, Nucor’s Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “In terms of profitability for the year, Nucor generated consolidated net earnings of $7.61 billion, or $28.79 per diluted share, which exceeds our previous record of $23.16 per diluted share, set in 2021, by 24%. These records are a testament to the world-class performance of the 31,000 Nucor teammates that live our culture every single day. Looking ahead to 2023, while we recognize there is uncertainty about the near-term U.S. economic outlook, we’re starting to see a number of demand drivers gathering momentum, including the reshoring of manufacturing, large infrastructure investments, and grid modernization. We believe Nucor’s steel and steel products with lower greenhouse gas intensity will be essential building blocks to our nation’s clean energy future, security, and productivity for years to come.” Selected Segment Data Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests by segment for the fourth quarter and full year 2022 and 2021 were as follows (in thousands): Three Months (13 Weeks) Ended Twelve Months (52 Weeks) Ended Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2021 Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2021 Steel mills $ 516,655 $ 3,128,700 $ 7,199,087 $ 9,735,020 Steel products 1,081,461 451,713 4,093,105 1,291,450 Raw materials (141,817) 44,708 496,823 549,956 Corporate/eliminations 77,106 (617,364) (1,544,171) (2,375,568) $ 1,533,405 $ 3,007,757 $ 10,244,844 $ 9,200,858 Financial Review Nucor’s consolidated net sales decreased 17% to $8.72 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with $10.50 billion in the third quarter of 2022 and decreased 16% compared with $10.36 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. Average sales price per ton in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by 7% compared with the third quarter of 2022 and decreased by 6% compared with the fourth quarter of 2021. Approximately 5,738,000 tons were shipped to outside customers in the fourth quarter of 2022, an 11% decrease from both the third quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021. Total steel mill shipments in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased 13% as compared to both the third quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021. Steel mill shipments to internal customers represented 20% of total steel mill shipments in the fourth quarter of 2022, a decrease compared to 22% in both the third quarter of 2022 and the fourth quarter of 2021. Downstream steel product shipments to outside customers in the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased by 9% from the third quarter of 2022 and increased by 2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year 2022, Nucor’s consolidated net sales of $41.51 billion increased by 14% compared with consolidated net sales of $36.48 billion reported in the full year 2021. Total tons shipped to outside customers in 2022 were approximately 25,524,000 tons, a decrease of 10% from 2021, while the average sales price per ton in 2022 increased by 26% from 2021. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $427, a 15% decrease compared to $502 in the third quarter of 2022 and a 16% decrease compared to $508 in the fourth quarter of 2021. The average scrap and scrap substitute cost per gross ton used in the full year 2022 was $492, a 5% increase compared to $469 in the full year 2021. Pre-tax pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $73 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with approximately $52 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2022 and approximately $54 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021. In the full year 2022, pre-tax pre-operating and start-up costs related to the Company’s growth projects were approximately $247 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, compared with approximately $130 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the full year 2021. Overall operating rates at the Company’s steel mills decreased to 70% in the fourth quarter of 2022 as compared to 77% in the third quarter of 2022 and 89% in the fourth quarter of 2021. Operating rates for the full year 2022 decreased to 77% as compared to 94% for the full year 2021. Financial Strength At the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, Nucor had $4.94 billion in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash and cash equivalents
AutoStore releases new research report: “Five challenges for Warehouse Management and Fulfillment in 2023”
A survey of 300+ C-level executives finds that reducing costs and investing in automation technology are top priorities AutoStore™ has launched a new benchmark report with insights from over 300 C-level business leaders in warehouse management and fulfillment. Survey participants identified the top three current challenges facing organizations as rising energy costs (32%), increasing labor costs (27%), and supply chain and shipping constraints (26%). “There is a need to operate more efficiently, which is perhaps why nearly 9 in 10 organizations either have or are planning to install, automation technology in their warehouse in 2023,” said Ellen Brune, Head of Global Strategic Accounts at AutoStore. “The intention to meet a challenging macro environment with a technology uptake is good news for customers who want their products quickly.” AutoStore surveyed executives from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific for the report. European respondents (44%) cited energy costs as a top challenge, compared to North American and Asia Pacific respondents (24%). Conversely, rising labor costs are more of a concern in APAC (34%) and North America (27%), compared to Europe (22%). Efficiency-Enhancing Technology According to the industry business leaders, the most important focus areas for 2023 are improving customer satisfaction levels (34%), investing in automation technology (31%), sustainable solutions (31%), greater workforce efficiency (31%), and delivering goods-to-person faster (30%). A large majority of respondents (88%) shared that they will implement an automated storage and retrieval system by 2024. Thirty-two percent have some sort of automation technology in place already and 56% are making plans to deploy it in the next 12 months. “Automation technology has shifted to where it is no longer a ‘nice to have’ in the warehouse, but an absolute must-have,” said Marcus Mogéus, Chief Marketing Officer at AutoStore. “This report shows that the investment plan for companies when it comes to automation technology has increased dramatically from previous reports.” Push for Space Efficiency The report shows that approximately one in three industry business leaders cite sustainability as a key priority for 2023. Energy efficiency (55%), reducing waste (46%), employee well-being (43%), reducing storage footprint (39%), and recycling (36%) were the most important initiatives. Conversely, when asked what brands are looking for from AS/RS providers, sustainability decreased in priority (13%). In comparison, respondents cited reliability (24%), simplicity (22%), and space utilization (20%) as more important attributes. In fact, 43% said space saving/utilization will be mission critical to their business and 49% cited it as a very important business priority. “Space is critically important for organizations. We help businesses reduce costs, become more efficient, and deliver a complete ROI in one to three years while reducing a warehouse footprint by 75% when compared to conventional storage,” said Brune. “Optimizing space closely aligns with the challenge of rising costs.” For more information about the report, go to https://www.autostoresystem.com/insights.
KION North America announces monumental partnership with Impact Forklift Solutions
KION North America announced that Impact Forklift Solutions, headquartered in Dallas, TX, has joined its expansive dealer network, covering the following territories: Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri. Impact Forklift Solutions will sell KION North America’s complete product portfolio of Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands. “We are proud to partner with dealers who are extremely committed and dedicated trusted solutions providers for their customers,” said Director of Dealer Development Rick Schiel. “Impact Forklift Solutions exudes what it means to be completely committed to its customer base, which is directly related to its long history of success. We look forward to partnering with Impact Forklift Solutions as they represent the Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands.” Impact Forklift Solutions is born from over 40 years of material handling experience and is proud to offer superior sales and service to its customers throughout its territories. That long heritage aligns with their core values of integrity, humility, respect, empathy, and commitment, creating a foundation of success and making the organization into the powerhouse organization it is today. By putting the customer first, this organization has built a solid reputation as an experienced, integrated solutions provider for its customers to help them navigate and prepare for their business challenges. Impact Forklift Solutions’ commitment to customer satisfaction includes delivering solutions that have the most significant impact on its customers’ businesses.
One user interface for all devices in the warehouse from Picavi
Picavi will be highlighting their software at ProMat 2023: One of the main topics at booth S3459 is the user interface of the pick-by-vision specialist. Independent of the higher-level system, users can operate this not only on smart glasses but also on many other devices if required. To increase productivity and minimize errors, more and more companies are supporting their warehouse staff with wearables, for example in picking or returns management. At ProMat, pick-by-vision expert Picavi will show how users can deploy the user interface on a wide range of devices. Whether it is smart glasses, MDE, smartphone, or tablet – Picavi ensures device-independent intuitive usability and clear work processes. With Picavi, warehouse managers have a single point of contact for the entire software infrastructure of their wearables in their logistics operations. The Picavi software integrates seamlessly into existing IT infrastructure and communicates with all higher-level ERP and warehouse management systems. Especially for 3PL companies who serve different clients and often use multiple soft- and hardware, this brings numerous advantages: Picavi supports all common interfaces such as SAP, various web services, HTML, and Telnet connections. This eliminates the need for cost- and resource-intensive programming of special solutions. Employees work with the same user interface across devices and interfaces, which increases process reliability and productivity. The simple language and the targeted use of icons and images make Picavi’s user interface intuitive to use. Interactions with the software, also fully controllable via voice commands, are designed to be understood by everyone immediately. This minimizes training and ramp-up times. At ProMat, Picavi will demonstrate with real-life examples how the company helps logistics professionals improve their performance sustainably. Attendees can also try out the Picavi solutions for themselves at booth S3459.
Millwood adds second repair operation in New Jersey
New pallet repair facility marks 37 locations nationwide Millwood, Inc. added a second New Jersey-based pallet repair location in Barrington, NJ. The new location is about an hour southwest of our pallet repair location in South River, NJ, and is Millwood’s 37th location nationwide. “The opportunity to expand in New Jersey allows us to grow the Millwood family and have a further impact on the new communities we serve,” said EVP Operations Brad Arnold. This new location, which is about 60,000 square feet, will allow Millwood to service customers in the greater Philadelphia region and add nearly 50 new team members to the Millwood family. An estimated 50,000 pallets, or 100 truckloads in and out, per week, will be repaired at this new location. Team members from various departments are in Barrington working with our new family on their orientation into Millwood. Our mission is for all who come in contact with Millwood would clearly see the love of Jesus Christ in all that we do, which we are able to support by ensuring a chaplain is at every location to tend to all of our team members’ personal, professional and spiritual needs across the country. “This is a great opportunity for Millwood and will give us opportunities to do more,” Arnold said. “Over the next several months we plan to ensure the right people are in the right positions and to quickly help our new hires feel like they’ve been a part of the Millwood family for a while now.” Millwood continues to look for opportunities to add more pallet repair and other operations in 2023. New job openings at this new location will be posted on Millwood’s career site. All of our job openings can be found online at www.millwoodinc.com/careers.
Jungheinrich AG to acquire Storage Solutions group
Strengthens Jungheinrich’s intralogistics business with a complementary regional footprint Adds strong growth platform for warehouse automation solutions in the U.S. An important step in the implementation of Strategy 2025+ German intralogistics pioneer Jungheinrich AG (“Jungheinrich”) has signed a share purchase agreement with Merit Capital Partners, MFG Partners, and the management of Storage Solutions for the acquisition of 100% of the share capital in the Indiana-based Storage Solutions group (“Storage Solutions”), a provider of racking and warehouse automation solutions in the U.S., to gain enhanced access to the attractive U.S. warehousing and automation market. The total consideration agreed under the share purchase agreement consists of a purchase price of approximately USD 375 million (which is subject to customary closing adjustments) and a flexible, performance-based component in the mid to high single-digit percentage range of the purchase price which can be achieved by the retained Storage Solutions management over three years following completion of the transaction. The acquisition will be financed with available cash and debt with limited leverage impact. Storage Solutions, headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, is a U.S. warehouse design, automation, and integration company with 170 employees and 45 years of experience in delivering turnkey, best-fit solutions to customers. Based on a technology-agnostic business model, the company has achieved a strong position in the attractive U.S. warehousing market, which benefits from robust long-term growth dynamics. It offers unique vertically integrated service lines with in-house logistics and installation teams, ensuring on-time project completion and providing value-added services, including workflow optimization, engineering, and permitting. Storage Solutions is a trusted partner to a large and growing customer base with a strategic focus on companies that need integrated warehouse design, technical and project management support, and competencies. Its recurring customer base includes a broad range of leading brands, for example in the third-party logistics, e-commerce, retail, food and beverage, and industrials sectors. For 2022, Storage Solutions is set to report revenues of approximately USD 290 million and an adjusted EBIT of approximately USD 34 million. Strengthening Jungheinrich in line with its 2025+ strategy For Jungheinrich, the acquisition is highly complementary to its global footprint and will further strengthen the company’s market position. It is a unique opportunity to enter a large and rapidly growing market segment with a strategic foothold in the U.S. The market coverage of Storage Solutions will provide Jungheinrich with access to key logistics hubs in the U.S. and the opportunity to support the existing European customer base in this market. Acquiring a growth platform in the U.S. also provides the additional mid-term potential to build a presence in the adjacent countries of Canada and Mexico. The acquisition will sit alongside and not have any impact on the existing partnership of Jungheinrich with Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (MLA), which will remain the sole activity of Jungheinrich in the North American forklifts market. By combining the expertise and capabilities of both partners, Jungheinrich and Storage Solutions will jointly drive the further development of innovative automation solutions. Warehouse automation is a priority for customers both of Storage Solutions and Jungheinrich, with an expected global market growth of 10% (CAGR) in the period of 2021 to 2025. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to EPS, free cash flow per share, and adjusted EBIT margin from the beginning. The 2025+ goal of 20% of sales outside Europe, in particular through inorganic growth, will be underpinned by the addition of USD 300+ million in annual revenues from Storage Solutions. Furthermore, the service-oriented business model of Storage Solutions allows for an asset-light approach with limited capital expenditure requirements, thereby strengthening Jungheinrich’s cash generation and resilience. Dr. Lars Brzoska, Chief Executive Officer of Jungheinrich: “The acquisition of Storage Solutions is an important step in the implementation of our 2025+ strategy. It is an excellent opportunity to expand our geographic footprint in the U.S. and adds a strong strategic platform for growth in warehouse automation across the region. Storage Solutions is a well-established and successful business with an attractive customer base and an excellent management team. We see great opportunities in combining the warehouse and automation capabilities of both parties to the benefit of customers in the U.S. as well as our European customers with operations in North America.” Kevin Rowles, Chief Executive Officer of Storage Solutions: “The next level of growth in our industry will be driven by an increasing need for warehouse automation. Storage Solutions has established solid capabilities in racking as well as automation and digitalization which we are seeking to expand further, as demand is continuously accelerating on the back of strong underlying fundamentals. Together with Jungheinrich, we look forward to jointly capturing the upside for further growth.” The executive board and supervisory board of Jungheinrich have approved the transaction. The completion of the acquisition, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2023, is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of the merger control clearance in the United States. Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc is acting as financial advisor to Jungheinrich and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is acting as legal advisor, while Deloitte has provided support during the due diligence process. Baird is acting as financial advisor to Storage Solutions and Goodwin Procter LLP is acting as legal advisor.
ALAN launches Logistics Initiative improving access to disaster aid
As non-profits across the country struggle with inflationary pressures, one logistics non-profit organization is shoring up its efforts to help them make every disaster relief dollar count – and to assist disaster survivors more quickly. The American Logistics Aid Network has launched an initiative to help the non-profit community build stronger disaster supply chain networks. “This project stands to make a true systemic impact on disaster relief efforts because it will enable us to reach non-profits all across the country, especially the small to medium-sized ones that don’t have robust logistics programs in place,” said ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. Funded through a Walmart Foundation grant, the ALAN project will provide disaster-focused non-profits with the opportunity to learn and apply a variety of best supply chain practices that have been gleaned from other humanitarian organizations as well as the commercial logistics community. The project will also create a stronger framework for more frequent logistics collaboration between non-profits and private businesses. “After 18 years and more than 60 disaster responses, we know that healthy humanitarian logistics practices aren’t just a game-changer, they’re a life-changer because they allow more relief to reach survivors more quickly and ultimately to multiply the good that they can do,” said Fulton. “That’s why we’re so excited about this grant. It will be a huge blessing to us – and the non-profits it enables us to serve. We’re incredibly grateful to the Walmart Foundation – and immensely excited to begin work on this project.” “Supporting vulnerable communities and getting aid to people after disasters requires close collaboration between businesses, non-profits, and government. This investment in ALAN will improve the coordination and efficacy to help donations and supplies reach those most in need during times of crisis,” said Brooks Nelson, Senior Manager, Disaster Preparedness and Response at the Walmart Foundation.
Episode 353: Spot AI
SPOT AI is a camera system that helps businesses leverage video footage to improve safety, security, and efficiency. By detecting areas of improvement early on, companies can save time and resources and reduce operational costs – ultimately leading to increased profits and customer satisfaction. In this episode of The New Warehouse, Sud Bhatija, co-founder of SPOT AI, discusses how intelligence dashboards can identify potential bottlenecks, provide training opportunities and improve collaboration. Key Takeaways SPOT AI works with any existing camera system customers have and provides them with an intuitive dashboard containing modern tools powered by AI. These tools make it easier for users to search through hours of footage quickly, collaborate on the footage securely, set alerts triggered by certain activities or people in specific areas, and receive notifications when those alerts are activated. Companies are using video technology to monitor specific areas, such as forklift or equipment usage in unauthorized areas. This technology can be used proactively to train new employees and prevent incidents. Customers have used this technology to improve their operations’ efficiency by instrumenting how long trucks idle in yards and how quickly loading/unloading takes place. Spot AI’s intelligent dashboard allows customers to get a real-time understanding of their business operations. The dashboard lets customers visualize and track all the different metrics they need to know about their business performance in one single, easy-to-access location. This enables customers to quickly analyze and identify areas performing below target or exhibiting any bottlenecks. Sud believes that to ensure privacy is respected; companies should use video not just for surveillance but also shift towards allowing multiple people to access the footage instead of having it centralized with one person looking at what everyone’s doing. He believes in moving from the traditional use of video surveillance to one where everyone in an organization can access it and collaborate. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 353: Spot AI
AAR Reports Rail Traffic for the week ending January 23, 2023
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 21, 2023. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 467,485 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending January 21 were 230,545 carloads, up 3.3 percent compared with the same week in 2022, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 236,940 containers and trailers, down 6.7 percent compared to 2022. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2022. They included nonmetallic minerals, up 5,895 carloads, to 31,264; coal, up 2,454 carloads, to 68,675; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,321 carloads, to 13,166. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2022 included chemicals, down 2,891 carloads, to 31,038; grain, down 1,262 carloads, to 22,015; and forest products, down 799 carloads, to 9,065. For the first three weeks of 2023, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 687,678 carloads, up 3 percent from the same point last year; and 682,296 intermodal units, down 8.4 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first three weeks of 2023 was 1,369,974 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 3 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending January 21, 2023, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 336,113 carloads, up 6.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 309,502 intermodal units, down 6.7 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 645,615 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1 percent. North American rail volume for the first three weeks of 2023 was 1,893,180 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.5 percent compared with 2022. Canadian railroads reported 82,940 carloads for the week, up 20.2 percent, and 56,839 intermodal units, down 7.9 percent compared with the same week in 2022. For the first three weeks of 2023, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 413,325 carloads, containers, and trailers, up 8.7 percent. Mexican railroads reported 22,628 carloads for the week, up 0.7 percent compared with the same week last year, and 15,723 intermodal units, down 1.1 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first three weeks of 2023 was 109,881 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 0.3 percent from the same point last year. To view the weekly traffic charts, click here.
Consumers rein in spending…again…in December
The advanced monthly retail sales estimates for December recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed another month of a pullback in monthly consumer spending. Total sales for retail and food services decreased by 1.1% in December after a 1.0% decrease in November. Motor vehicles and parts, as well as electronics and appliances sales—both plastics-intensive sectors—had 1.2% and 1.1% sales decreases, respectively, in December. 2022 closed with retail sales at Department Stores decreasing 6.6%—the most significant among all retail stores sectors. While sales declined in most retail categories, however, there was a 0.3% uptick in building materials and garden and equipment supplies, as well as a 0.1% uptick in sporting goods, hobby, musical instruments, and bookstores retail sales. Food and beverage retail sales flattened in December, but grocery sales increased, albeit marginally, by 0.1%. Year-on-year retail sales increased in most categories Retail and food services total sales rose by 6.0% Y/Y in December. With the exception of electronics and appliances stores, and department stores, which saw 5.6% and 0.6% Y/Y decreases, respectively, retail sales in all other categories increased. Motor vehicles and parts dealers’ sales rose 1.8% Y/Y and building materials and garden supplies sales were up 2.3% Y/Y in December. Food and beverage stores retail sales rose 6.9% Y/Y in December, with grocery store retail sales up 7.3% Y/Y. Higher borrowing costs have slowed spending on durable goods Appliances, and to some extent electronics, are complementary products to the housing demand. As higher mortgage rates began weighing on home sales last year, demand for appliances also slowed. This explains the year-on-year decrease in electronics and appliances retail sales in December. New single-family home sales fell 15.3% Y/Y in November 2022. Housing starts in December fell by 21.8% Y/Y in December. A weaker outlook in housing will continue to weigh on consumer spending when it comes to appliances. Moderate economic growth will have uneven impacts on the plastics industry Moderate economic growth rates and higher interest rates are expected to continue to have an uneven impact on the plastics industry by way of changes in consumer spending on plastics’ end markets. Consumer non-discretionary spending—such as nondurable goods, which are not fully sensitive to rising borrowing costs—can be expected to remain stable. By extension, plastics manufacturers that serve nondurable goods end markets and the packaging industry can expect stable demand. However, lower demand for durable goods—particularly those that are normally financed—will cause lower demand for plastics in durable goods-producing end markets. This does not mean that as the economy continues to adjust towards long-term growth it will be strictly headwinds for plastics’ durable goods end markets. The plastics industry will continue to service demand in nondurable goods end markets, but demand will be lower than in recent years. If inflation continues to ease, rising borrowing costs may be nearing an inflection point. More important, demand growth in nondurable goods end markets could be at sustainable and serviceable levels—in contrast to 2020 and 2021 when insufficient inventory capped business revenue growth despite strong demand—as supply chain conditions continue to improve. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $468 billion U.S. industry.
R.A. Jones testing ecofriendly packaging materials
R.A Jones trials sustainable films on its Pouch King equipment, helping brand manufacturers transition to environmentally friendly packaging and meet consumer and industry demand R.A Jones, a Coesia Company, has developed new material handling technology to allow them to run a variety of different recyclable-ready flexible films on their high-speed Pouch King Form/Fill/Seal pouching system, which will help brand manufacturers transition to a more environmentally friendly packaging materials. With sustainable packaging emerging as a top priority for consumers – and rising pressure from global governing bodies like the European Union, mandating that all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030 – R.A Jones is making it easier for consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies to prepare and meet these green initiatives with innovative equipment solutions. To achieve 100 percent recyclability, new film structures are being developed to ensure these green solutions can fulfill the same necessary requirements as the legacy packaging materials. Many of the traditional flexible packaging film structures consist of multiple layers and dissimilar materials, which provide barrier qualities and enhance machinability. Yet these same multi-layered films have low recyclability capabilities due to the combination of materials, which can result in packaging eventually ending up in landfills. However, these new flexible packaging films are not always easy to run on form/fill/seal systems, especially high-speed machines similar to what R.A Jones provides with their Pouch King line. One of the biggest challenges with the new materials is a decreased heat tolerance. In order to produce a seal, applying heat and pressure to the film is required, which can cause the new eco-friendlier packaging alternatives to stretch, shrink, or distort when exposed to heat in an uncontrolled manner. These complications can lead to material waste and costly equipment downtime. In response, R.A Jones has invested substantially in developing new sealing technology, which manages the sealing process to avoid damaging the sustainable packaging films. “Consumer Packaged Goods suppliers are faced with meeting the increasing demand for sustainable packaging while ensuring they can operate machinery at the same performance level,” said Robert Kalany, Senior Manager of Research and Development at R.A Jones. “Our current Pouch King line is one of the fastest form, fill and seal pouch machines in the world with speeds of 2,000 pouches per minute. Now with this new sealing technology, customers will be able to run sustainable flexible materials on their Pouch King machinery while still meeting their output goals.” R.A Jones is in the process of evaluating different materials that can be used to package a variety of products, including soup bases, spices, instant breakfast foods, drink mixes, nutraceuticals, and snacks. The needed hardware and software upgrades will be available starting in Q2 of 2023 for any new R.A Jones’ Pouch King PCU-2000 and can be retrofitted on any Pouch King already in service, depending on the vintage of the machine.
Toyota Material Handling announces organizational changes
Toyota Material Handling (TMH), the industry leader in material handling innovation, announces the promotion of Bill Byrd and Dan Kossow to director-level positions as part of a new strategic vision for the company’s organizational structure to further support and enhance operations and collaboration between corporate sales teams and its renowned nationwide TMH dealer network. “These promotions are a reflection of Toyota’s ongoing commitment to providing customers with world-class service and expertise to meet their unique needs and challenges,” said Jaksa Pejnovic, TMH Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “It is our experience that one of the best ways to successfully uphold such a commitment is through a culture of continuous improvement in how and what we do – or ‘kaizen’ as we call it. We have an opportunity to enhance our collaboration as a team. Adding these executives to our management team positions us to pursue TMH’s vision for the future by leveraging their combined skills and talents for the benefit of our customers.” As Director of Dealer Development, Byrd is charged with managing the company’s relationships with its industry-leading network of independent and equity dealers. Byrd, a 24-year industry veteran, has held several key roles since arriving at TMH in 2016, including his most recent position as Senior Sales Manager for National Accounts. In addition to his current responsibilities overseeing the company’s Heavy Duty Division, Kossow will assume Byrd’s former responsibilities in his new role as Director of National Accounts and Heavy Duty Sales. Kossow’s industry experience spans 24 years. He joined TMH in 2019 after the company’s acquisition of HOIST Liftruck.
A packaging group is answering the call for more recyclable packaging
A Packaging Group (APG) is answering the call for more sustainable and environmentally-friendly packaging solutions. As consumers and businesses alike become more conscious of the impact of packaging on the environment, APG is rising to the challenge with a variety of new and innovative products that are not only recyclable but also designed to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact. “We understand that brands and their customers are looking for more sustainable packaging options. Our patented line of dispensers called “The Infinity Line” is fully recyclable with HDPE and PET bottles, and there is no need to disassemble before recycling them”, said company spokesperson Hannah Palese. APG is also promoting the use of sustainable materials, such as plant-based materials. These materials break down quickly in the environment, reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans. By offering a range of recyclable materials and designs, APG is helping brands to enhance their green credentials and improve their sustainability agendas. In addition, APG work closely with customers to develop custom packaging solutions that meet their specific needs. So, whether they’re looking for a way to make sustainable products stand out on the shelves or need a packaging solution that meets specific regulatory requirements, APG has the expertise to help. APG’s new sustainable packaging solutions are not only better for the environment, but they are also good for business. By choosing APG’s sustainable packaging options, companies can reduce their environmental impact, improve their public image, and build consumer trust. “APG is committed to providing customers with innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that help them to meet their green goals and reduce their environmental impact. We believe that sustainable packaging is not only good for the planet but it is also good for business. With a wide range of recyclable materials and designs, APG is making it easy for businesses of all sizes to enhance their green credentials and improve their sustainability agendas,” said company spokesperson Hannah Palese.
Women In Trucking Association announces 2023 Content Advisory Council
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced its 2023 Content Advisory Council, a volunteer group comprised of executives or professionals who have vast knowledge and experience in transportation and logistics, as well as a passion for the mission of the association: to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize the obstacles they face. The goal of WIT’s Content Advisory Council is to provide guidance and counsel regarding relevant and meaningful content for WIT’s annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo, as well as various communication channels, such as its Redefining the Road magazine, weekly e-newsletter, and social media platforms. “It’s critical that WIT provides relevant, practical, useful information to our members and the industry at-large through our various communication channels,” said Brian Everett, group editorial director and publisher of Redefining the Road magazine and strategy advisor to WIT. “We rely heavily on this powerhouse group of industry experts to help guide, formulate and validate the content we produce and distribute.” The 2023 Women In Trucking Content Advisory Council is comprised of the following industry leaders: Melissa Addis, Producer, Commercial Underwriters Insurance Agency Niki Bolton, Chief Strategic Operations Officer, American Truck & Rail Audits Laura Duryea, Manager of Recruiting, Retention & Driver Development, Boyle Transportation Madeleine Frume, CEO, Koppur Trailer & Chassis Molly Gibson, Vice President of Sales Operations, CDLLife Vanessa Hernandez, Director of Carrier Resources, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Malaina Hudson, CPIM, Director, Supply Chain Systems, Hillebrand Jeana Hysell, Senior Safety Consultant, J.J. Keller & Associates Jerri Jarvis, Safety Analyst, Cheeseman Kesha Jones, Senior Director of HR, Total Transportation of Mississippi Kelly Kirkpatrick-Lee, Truck Audits Manager, American Truck & Rail Audits Rachel Kremm, Vehicle Programs Project Engineer, Kodiak Angelika Mangino, Driver Recruitment & Engagement Manager, Clean Harbors Mark Mariano, Director, SRS Distribution, Inc. Samantha McCracken, Strategic Operations Manager, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Josh Mecca, Director of Recruiting, American Central Transport Claire Mules, President, Assurance Resources, Inc. Martha Payne, Attorney, Benesch, Friedlander, Copland & Aronoff LLP Kristin Ridley, Marketing Communications Manager, Rihm Kenworth Amber Roy, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Triumph Business Capital Laura Sayers, Senior Director of Marketing, TRANSFLO The members of the 2023 Women In Trucking Content Advisory Council can be found online at https://www.womenintrucking.org/content-advisory-council
Hyster forklifts win two Product of the Year awards
High-capacity integrated lithium-ion lift truck and newly launched internal combustion engine-powered model earn honors Hyster Company announces that two of its forklift models have been voted as top products of 2022 by readers of Material Handling Product News and MaterialHandling247.com. The J230-360XD36/48 was voted the year’s top lift truck and accessories product, while the H40-70A was elected the year’s best ergonomics and safety product. “These two award-winning lift trucks demonstrate our commitment to delivering solutions that address the wants and needs of our customers,” says Martin Boyd, Vice President, Product Planning and Solutions, at Hyster Company. “Whether customers are looking for tailored solutions they can build around their application or a solution designed to empower them to transition even high-capacity trucks from internal combustion to electric, our approach is to provide choices and work in partnership with customers, consulting on the optimal solution for their operations.” Powered by a factory-integrated lithium-ion battery, the J230-360XD36/48 offers lift capacities up to 36,000 pounds, bringing zero emissions and performance comparable to that of an internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered truck to heavy-duty industries such as steel, concrete, lumber, agriculture, and ports. The integrated lithium-ion battery enables opportunity charging, high uptime, and a low total cost of ownership. The ergonomically designed, high-visibility cab also puts high productivity within reach. An armored glass top window, curved front, and rear windows, and steel doors with tempered glass provide excellent all-around operator visibility. The largest cabin entry area in the industry makes access more convenient for the operator, and inside the cab, a full-color touchscreen puts performance data at the operator’s fingertips. An ergonomically designed control arm, an adjustable steering column, and a unique foot pedal design provide additional support for operator comfort and productivity all shift long. In addition to the win for the J230-360XD36/48 electric lift truck, Hyster took home a second Product of the Year Award for the recently launched H40-70A, the first model in the new, highly configurable A-Series lineup. These 4,000-to-7,000-pound capacities ICE forklifts are designed and manufactured according to a scalable approach that helps customers maximize operator performance while keeping a low total cost of ownership. Customers can choose the options they need from a fully integrated set of adjustable features, based on their unique application. The A Series also offers robust standard features, such as the innovative Dynamic Stability System, which uses sensors to continually monitor truck status. When it detects the truck exceeding designated stability thresholds, DSS automatically implements measures like limiting truck speed and hydraulic function, to help minimize the risk of forward and sideways tip-overs.
Staffing employment rebounded in January
Staffing employment rebounded further in the week of Jan. 8-15, increasing by 3.4% to a rounded value of 101. Several staffing companies mentioned a holiday as a barrier to preventing further growth. Staffing jobs were up 0.15% from the same week last year. New starts rose in the 2nd week of the year, increasing by 7% from the prior week. More than half of staffing companies (53%) reported gains in new assignments week-to-week. The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average edged down from the prior week to a rounded value of 95, but temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Jan. 15 was 0.23% higher than the same period in 2021. “Staffing employment has followed up a December holiday lull with two weeks of growth, in line with the typical seasonal pattern,” said Tim Hulley, ASA assistant director of research. This week, containing the 12th day of the month will be used in the December monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Feb. 3. The ASA Staffing Index is reported nine days after each workweek, making it a near real-time measure of staffing employment trends. ASA Staffing Starts are the number of temporary and contract employees placed in new assignments during the reporting week. ASA research shows that staffing employment has historically been a coincident economic indicator.
#GLAD2023 Scheduled for July 13th
The fourth Global Lifting Awareness Day—#GLAD2023—will take place on Thursday. July 13th. Powered by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) and supporting organizations, it is now a widely celebrated day where manufacturers, suppliers, and end users are among those sharing materials that promote safe and high-quality load lifting. Social media posts, videos, articles, and in-person activity will again be bound together by the hashtag, #GLAD2023. Industry stakeholders are also invited to share their content so LEEA can add it to the newly updated website—www.globalliftingawarenessday.com—where information about apprenticeships, military recruitment, diversity, sustainability, and technology has been posted during previous years. While the key message remains the same, LEEA has updated the logo, which will be used as another point of identity before, during, and after the event. Anyone with an interest in lifting and working at height can contribute by using the graphic and hashtag to celebrate their involvement with the industry and promote it as an interesting place to work, especially for younger generations. Ross Moloney, CEO at LEEA, said: “There’s an energy building behind plans for this year’s Global Lifting Awareness Day that suggest it will be the most widely supported and impactful ever. The concept has successfully spanned the Covid era, reiterating the fact that lifting remains both ubiquitous and essential in keeping all kinds of operations going, irrespective of pandemics and economic conditions.” He added: “Fighting gravity is inherently dangerous and getting it wrong can lead to accident, injury, and even fatality. That makes it an extremely important, challenging, and rewarding sector to work in, which is just one of the messages we’re encouraging people to promote.” Celebrate the lifting industry on Thursday 13 July—include the #GLAD2023 hashtag.
Episode 352: Hopstack
The New Warehouse welcomes Vivek Singh, Co-Founder of Hopstack, a software platform that automates and optimizes warehouse operations. Vivek founded Hopsack to bridge the gap between legacy systems and new software for modern e-commerce businesses by creating an open digital operating system that is agile enough to accommodate omnichannel strategies. Hopstack ensures its software meets the complexity introduced via automation in fulfillment operations, such as pre-built integration capabilities for robotic hardware devices like pick-to-light devices or picking robots. Be sure to tune in to learn about software in the fulfillment space, how it’s been changing over the recent years, and how some gaps between legacy systems and new software are being closed. Key Takeaways Vivek refers to Hopstack’s software as a warehouse operating system. He explains that larger companies may employ five to six different types of software, such as a warehouse management system (WMS), Warehouse Execution System (WES), Inventory Management System (IMS), order fulfillment software, etc. This isn’t practical for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), making a system like Hopstack that can perform all those functions in one package is ideal for SMBs. Vivek shares that companies transitioning from legacy systems into modern cloud-based solutions like Hopstack have seen 30-40% benefits in terms of efficiency, order lead times, and the number of orders fulfilled daily. Hopstack’s system allows for native connectivity with picking robots and requires less implementation time than traditional systems, taking as little as 8-10 weeks on average. Many companies are reluctant to abandon their legacy systems because they cannot afford to have their operations negatively impacted by a lengthy implementation process. Vivek believes that having a software system to run fulfillment is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a necessity to operate in today’s environment. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 352: Hopstack