Staffing employment grows in second quarter
Year-to-Year Employment Up 6.0% U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.8 million temporary and contract workers per week in the second quarter of 2022 according to data released today by the American Staffing Association. Staffing employment and sales typically rise in the second quarter following the first quarter seasonal dip. The industry has returned to this trend after deviating last year, with staffing jobs growing 1.4% quarter-to-quarter, while temporary and contract staffing sales grew 2.7%. On a year-to-year basis, temporary and contract staffing employment rose 6.0% in the second quarter of 2022 from the same period in 2021. Staffing sales totaled $38.4 billion in the second quarter, a 9.7% increase year-to-year. “Businesses are increasingly turning to staffing and recruiting firms to help meet their needs both for a flexible workforce and for permanent workers,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “At the same time, the staffing industry is playing a critically important role in connecting people with employment opportunities that align with their needs and help them to advance their careers in the changing world of work. Staffing companies are optimistic about the next few months, expecting their third-quarter revenue to grow 11% year-to-year and anticipating an expansion of 12% for the full year of 2022 compared with 2021. To learn more about the quarterly ASA Staffing Employment and Sales Survey, visit americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey, or follow ASA Research on Twitter.
Federal Reserve Board raises interest rates as inflation soars
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), which is the voice of the 7.4 trillion-dollar wholesale distribution industry, which employs more than 5 million US workers, issued the following statement today in response to the Federal Reserve Board’s announcement that it is once again raising interest rates by 75 basis points to curb inflation. “The Federal Reserve Board is raising interest rates once again to combat rising inflation caused by increased government spending. Despite previous rate increases by the Fed this year, inflation was still 8.3% in August. Misguided laws such as the Inflation Reduction Act will actually increase inflation through 2024. Hardworking American families and businesses feel the pinch, and many are reaching their breaking point as their reserves dry up, access to credit and credit products diminishes, interest rates skyrocket, the housing marketing slows, and the government continues to irresponsibly spend taxpayer dollars. The increase in feckless government spending is raising rates and driving up inflation while sending the country into a recession, an energy crisis, and financial insecurity for everyday Americans – all with no accountability and no end in sight. Every day our government expects Americans to live responsibly, pay their bills, balance their checkbooks, and trust our leaders to do what is best. But those government leaders are progressively more about ‘spending and spinning,’ less about substance and stability,” concluded NAW CEO Eric Hoplin. NAW is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $7.4 trillion wholesale- distribution industry. Founded in 1946, NAW is comprised of national, regional, and state employers of all sizes, industry trade associations, partners, and stakeholders spanning all sectors of distribution. Our industry employs more than 5 million workers throughout the United States and accounts for 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. There are 35,000 wholesale distribution companies that operate nearly 150,000 places of business across North America, including all 50 states. NAW’s mission is to deliver world-class programs and services, designed to help the most dynamic companies in wholesale distribution succeed. Our programming is tailored for the CEOs, senior executives, and rising leaders at our member companies and associations. Members engage with NAW through our offerings in Thought Leadership, Networking, Executive Education, Benchmarking/Research, Shared Resourcing. Partnerships, Government Relations, and Public Affairs.
Joe Pajer appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President of Seegrid
Seegrid Corporation, a provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for material handling, has announced that Joe Pajer has joined the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mr. Pajer succeeds Jim Rock, who will continue as a Seegrid shareholder and advisor. Mr. Pajer will also serve on the Board of Directors. Pajer comes to Seegrid with more than 40 years of experience in the technology industry, including having previously served as CEO of Calero-MDSL (a technology expense management software company), Thinklogical (a high-end video switching company sold to Belden), and Vocollect (a warehouse automation software company sold to Honeywell). Prior to these roles, Pajer held leadership positions with Marconi, FORE Systems, Compaq, and AT&T. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and a Master of Science degree in management, both earned at Carnegie Mellon University. “We are delighted to have Joe at the helm of Seegrid,” said Steven F. Kaplan, Chairman of the Board. “I have worked with Joe for over a decade. He is a great fit for Seegrid. Not only is he a strong leader, but he is a Pittsburgh native, a CMU graduate, and an engineer. And he is a three-time winner as a CEO.” “I am very excited to be joining Seegrid at this time,” Pajer commented. “Seegrid’s innovative and proven solutions are already enabling a long list of blue-chip customers to achieve significant operational improvement and financial savings in their manufacturing and distribution operations. At the same time, Seegrid is expanding its technological leadership, enabling entry into exciting and very large new markets. I am looking forward to helping this world-class company achieve new heights.”
H&E opens new branch in Hollywood, FL
Effective September 21, 2022, H&E Equipment Services Inc. (H&E) announces the opening of its Hollywood rental branch, its 10th in the state of Florida. The branch is located at 2200 N. 30th Road, Hollywood, FL 33021-3737, phone 754-764-1200. It includes a fully fenced yard area, offices, and a separate repair shop and is capable of handling a variety of construction and general industrial equipment for customers in south Florida. “H&E has identified several locations to better serve its Florida customers and is expanding in the Sunshine State. Between our new Hollywood branch and our existing Pompano Beach facility, our company has the Atlantic coast covered down to Miami,” says Branch Manager Robert Monterrey, who has worked in the area for more than a dozen years. “The construction market in south Florida is healthy and growing, and we are well-positioned just off of I-95 and near other major thoroughfares for convenient, fast service to customers. With a 20-year track record in the state and one of the youngest fleets in the industry, we can deliver reliable equipment for any project in the area.” The Hollywood branch specializes in the rental of aerial lifts, telescopic forklifts, earthmoving machinery, compaction equipment, generators, compressors, and more and represents the following manufacturers: Allmand, Atlas Copco, Bomag, Case, Club Car, Cushman, Doosan, Gehl, Generac Mobile, Genie, Hilti, Husqvarna, JCB, JLG, John Deere, Kubota, LayMor, Ledwell, Lincoln Electric, Link-Belt Excavators, MEC, Miller, Multiquip, Polaris, Skyjack, SkyTrak, Sullair, Sullivan-Palatek, TAG, Taylor, Towmaster Trailers, Wacker Neuson, Yanmar, and others.
ALAN announces 2022 Humanitarian Logistics Awards winners
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has announced the 2022 winners of its Humanitarian Logistics Awards. “Today we’re honored to recognize a few of the people and businesses that have been a beacon of hope during disasters like the recent flooding in Kentucky, COVID-19, and the conflict in Ukraine,” said ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. “Their combined efforts have raised millions of dollars for disaster survivors – and inspired comparable donations of warehousing space, transportation services, and building supplies.” This year’s recipients include: Fleet Advantage, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution To Disaster Relief Efforts Award GAF, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution To Disaster Relief Efforts Award GP Transco, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution To Disaster Relief Efforts Award SEKO Logistics, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution To Disaster Relief Efforts Award Vector Global Logistics, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution To Disaster Relief Efforts Award And Professor Maria Besiou of Kühne Logistics University, who received ALAN’s Research and Academic Contribution Award. Fleet Advantage received its award for creating its Kids Around The Corner Foundation, which volunteers and donates a portion of the company’s profits to various children’s causes such as the First Responders Children’s Foundation, the Jacksonville School for Autism, and Truckers Final Mile. GAF was honored for the company’s donation of a 60,000-square-foot warehouse rent-free to non-profit partner Good360, establishing a new community redistribution center to provide rapid disaster relief support throughout the Gulf region. This collaboration is part of GAF’s social impact initiative, GAF Community Matters. GP Transco received its honor for creating Trucking & Logistics Professionals for Ukraine (tlpu.net), a non-profit organization that has raised more than $2 million for Ukrainian relief efforts. SEKO Logistics merited its award for launching SEKO Cares, an initiative that has provided more than $500,000 worth of PPE and other support for frontline responders during COVID-19, supplied over $150,000 in donated transportation services for medical, food, and other goods into Ukraine, and helped raise an additional $200,000 to support organizations providing ongoing relief around Ukraine. Vector Global Logistics received its award for the many products and in-kind transportation donations it has coordinated on behalf of Ukrainian relief – and for raising awareness of the needs of Ukrainian refugees via its Leveraging Logistics For Ukraine open working sessions and its Logistics With Purpose® podcasts. Prof. Besiou was lauded for the 13-plus years she has spent engaging in humanitarian logistics research as well as the thought leadership she has contributed to causes such as the Global Logistics Cluster. As the Academic Director of the KLU and HELP Logistics Joint Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD), she also has spent a decade teaching one of the only graduate-level courses on humanitarian logistics. “These outstanding honorees are living, breathing examples of what selfless logistics is all about,” Fulton said. “We’re truly in awe of the wonderful work they have done, and we are proud to recognize them today.”
Miracom introduces Post-Production Controls & Software Solutions to material handling and packaging sectors
Miracom Computer Corp., a supplier of post-press production controls and software to the newspaper industry, has expanded its solutions portfolio into two new sectors: packaging and material handling. Called PackWorx and MatWorx, respectively, the company’s software products are tailored to help small- and medium-sized companies optimize their packaging and material handling operations. The five-product suite of affordable solutions is designed to boost equipment speed and performance, optimize production scheduling, incorporate track & trace capabilities, implement in-line printing, and verify labeling accuracy and readability. For Miracom, PackWorx and MatWorx represent a natural evolution. Founded in 1995, the company has deep roots in the efficiency-critical newspaper industry. For that highly deadline-oriented sector, Miracom provides tools to gather data on equipment efficiency and other crucial aspects of production, yielding opportunities to streamline operations and reduce avoidable slowdowns or other costly disruptions. The company’s modular, standalone solutions can be implemented separately or combined as one seamless system to improve productivity, reduce operating costs, monitor remote locations, and minimize human errors. The products comprising Miracom’s new PackWorx and MatWorx solutions are: MiraBOOST: An integrated controls and software Manufacturing Execution System (MES) that provides internet-based remote monitoring, real-time reporting, and advanced data collection capabilities so companies can measure the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of specific machines, fully automated lines, or even multiple plants. Its benefits include machine synchronization, maintenance scheduling, line efficiency and lost downtime. MiraPACKAGE: A cloud based MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning) software system for planning, scheduling, and controlling production and inventory. MiraTRACE: Track & trace software with serialization and unlimited levels of aggregation. MiraTRACE is a cloud-based software system that provides traceability, product integrity, anti-counterfeiting, and brand protection when paired with MiraJET or another inline printer, and MiraSCAN or other print verification equipment. MiraSCAN: A label verification system that uses an inline camera with a printing device to verify that printed labels are accurate and readable. Designed to be plug-n-play compatible with Miracom’s MiraJet line of printers. MiraJET: A thermal inkjet printer and control system for printing high-resolution labels, bar codes, QR codes, sequence numbers, batch/lot numbers, expiration dates, and other variable data directly onto coated and non-coated surfaces. “Our expanded solutions for the packaging and material handling sectors draw upon decades of experience providing efficiency, accuracy, and verification software products in the newspaper sector, whose tight-window production schedules leave zero time for error,” said Judah Holstein, Miracom President and Founder. “Our planning, control, and integration solutions will prove to be an ideal fit in these additional sectors, where streamlining production, simplified scheduling and strict quality assurance are becoming increasingly important.”
AGE Industries announces new equipment to increase efficiency and throughput
Upgrades will substantially reduce lead times and improve plant safety AGE Industries, Ltd, a supplier of custom paper tubes, innovative packaging, and shipping solutions, announces the addition of two flexo /folder/gluers, two unitizers, one automated stitcher, and one new scrap handling system to its Texas plants that will increase efficiency, improve throughput at each shift, and reduce forklift handling operations to create a safer work environment. Positioning itself for the future, AGE Industries is investing in equipment that will help manufacturers meet the challenges posed by increasing freight, raw material, and labor costs. The addition of the 37” Flexo folder gluers will significantly increase open capacity, enable faster production, and reduce lead times. These two-color flexo’s features a full rotary die cut section and are rated to run 18,000 boxes an hour with a 3-person crew, reducing headcount while increasing efficiency by nine times compared to its old printer slotters. Each new Flexo can comfortably convert an additional two tractor-trailer loads of product per shift. With its die-cutting capability, the Flexo facilitates running specialty boxes in one pass, unlike competitors that must use two different machines. Also added are 4-head Signode unitizers, which can compress and strap units at a rate of 40+ units per hour – more than a tractor-trailer per hour – all while moving product safely through plants. What took the prior 2-person manual strapping process 10 to 15 minutes can now be done in under 30 seconds with one person. The new equipment also provides a more consistent and tightly strapped product with a better presentation, so customers can easily double stack them in warehouses. AGE has fully conveyorized two of its plants, so products can be taken from the end of the machines it is being manufactured on all the way to the unitizer, reducing the need for forklifts to handle material on the plant floor and creating a safer environment. AGE has also added a new automated stitching machine that measures the spacing for each staple on a box, automatically adjusting staple length for the type of material being stitched. This machine can produce roughly double the number of boxes as other manual equipment. Finally, AGE has added a new scrap handling system for corrugated and paper scrap generated. All scrap is now moved by conveyor over to a horizontal baler, reducing the time needed to produce scrap bales and eliminating the need to shut down machines to remove scrap bales. Next to be added will be an Eberle tube cutting machine, which can cut 88 cycles per minute. The new machine will allow the tube division to use a blade cut, which eliminates particulates while meeting tolerances of three thousandths of an inch.
Steve Green to retire from Tubelite
Tubelite Inc.‘s Steve Green will retire as Vice President of Sales in March 2023 at the end of the company’s fiscal year. A search is underway and a successor will be announced in the coming months. Green has been a key part of Tubelite’s leadership team for more than 32 years, and his colleagues attribute much of the company’s success to his contributions. In his current role, Green oversees the sales and client service teams for Tubelite, as well as for two additional Apogee Enterprises businesses, Alumicor and Linetec. During his time with Tubelite, Green’s influence has extended well beyond the sales department. In 1990, he started with the company as a sales representative serving the Southeast. He subsequently held various titles, including owner and president, playing an integral part in strategic planning and business development. Tubelite’s president Jon Close remarked, “It is with mixed emotions I share Steve’s announcement to retire from his role as vice president of sales. This is a decision Steve has been considering for some time. After careful deliberation, he decided this is the right time for him to retire. While I am excited for Steve to enjoy his well-deserved retirement, I will greatly miss him and his wealth of Tubelite and industry knowledge.” “Steve hired me as Tubelite’s client services manager in 2006 and we have had a close working relationship ever since,” expressed Mary Avery, Tubelite’s vice president of marketing. “It has been incredible learning from his years of experience in the industry and being on the leadership team with him as the business substantially grew.” Walt Lutzke, another long-term key associate of Tubelite commented, “Steve’s commitment to Tubelite started in the worst of times and has lasted through the best of times. I have no doubt that the company’s current size and strength are a direct result of his leadership and effort. It’s been my privilege to work with Steve over that time.” Syracuse Glass’ prior president John Dwyer, representing one of many companies to have a long and successful relationship with Green and Tubelite, shared his congratulations and said, “Wow, What a remarkable career! You and the fantastic Tubelite team members have built an extraordinary organization. You all have accomplished so much over the many years we have worked together. It has been a sincere joy for me to witness the Tubelite success story. From all of us at Syracuse Glass, we wish you great things in your well-deserved retirement!” Green responded with gratitude for the many compliments and good wishes. He added, “I look forward to spending more time with family. We welcomed our first grandchild two months ago and our five children live in five different states. I also look forward to volunteering in our new home state of Florida.”
What’s in the blue box? Modules, Design and Chemistry of Lithium Batteries for Forklifts
The diversity in forklift lithium battery module design, chemistry composition, and form is what sets apart industrial lithium brands on the most basic level. It is increasingly hard to choose the right forklift battery, given the variety of equipment types, makes, and models designed for specific applications, work environments, and operation paces. To see through the sales pitch and make an informed decision, you need to understand the differences among cells. On the surface, all forklift batteries look the same. This article will help you to better understand what battery packs are made of. So, what’s inside the “blue box”? Types of Lithium Batteries: Lithium module Design To help OEMs, BSLBATT has developed 43 standard modules for lithium batteries of different capacities, which can form parallel building blocks in forklift battery compartments. Up to 20 of these modules can be stacked in parallel, and the total capacity can be tailored to forklift OEM needs. The slotted design of BSLBATT lithium batteries allows them to be fitted in a range of configurations for a custom fit. Each module is individually controlled by advanced on-board computing systems to ensure continuous operating conditions of your forklifts in any environment. What makes the BSLBATT the Superior Lithium Battery for your Motive Power needs? The answer is quality at every step. The BSLBATT Battery has been validated to over 60 industry quality and safety checks. It has multiple layers of monitoring, safety, and backup redundancies both in the module and the complete unit. The battery is designed and assembled in China., and its assembly facilities meet the stringent ISO 9001:2015 certification standards. In addition, BSLBATT is the first forklift lithium battery in China to obtain UL2580 certification for its complete product line. Maximum and safe transfer of energy is conducted through flexible copper busbar cabling. Read more about Lithium module Design. Why LFP is the Best Choice for Material Handling Operations Of all the various types of lithium-ion batteries, three cell chemistry types are widely used in on- and off-highway electric vehicles: lithium iron phosphate, or lithium ferro phosphate (LFP); lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC); and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA). A battery’s longevity, or its cycle life, depends on three main factors: Chemical composition of cathode materials Ambient temperature of operation Depth of discharge All batteries degrade with usage, decreasing their Ah capacity with each charge/discharge cycle. In material handling, batteries usually become unusable when they drop below 80% of their nominal capacity. This graph shows the results of recent independent degradation tests of the aforementioned three types of cells with different chemistry, under equal conditions of temperature and depth of discharge. LFP lithium batteries exhibit superior performance compared to NMC—they offer a longer lifespan and are generally less expensive. Lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) batteries performed similarly to or worse than NMC. Why BSLBATT uses LFP？ BSLBATT Battery makes the most stringent demands on the safety and quality of all components to ensure top performance and long cycle life for our lithium batteries. We have reached a strategic cooperation agreement with the most technologically advanced and reliable manufacturer of lithium cells in 2020 to guarantee our battery supply. We work with cells with different chemistry, including LFP, NMC, and others, but focus mostly on LFP technology as the optimal choice for material-handling applications. Types of lithium batteries: lithium cell format Main lithium battery pack components Currently, there is no standardized design for a lithium-ion battery (LIB). The battery cell type is selected according to a user’s needs, which ultimately influences the design of the battery module. The present LIB market most often provides a 3-tier battery concept to customers: cell, module, and pack. Cell shapes Battery cells are designed in different form-factors and shapes: cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch cells. The inner structure and the electrode-separator compound differ in terms of the material dimensions and the manufacturing processes used. Read more about the technical comparison of cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic battery cells. Prismatic batteries are the best choice for forklift batteries The differences in battery technology today allow customers to choose the best fit for their applications. Thus, lithium prismatic cells are the preferred technology for material handling equipment (MHE): Hundreds of Ah nominal capacity. The technology provides the best ratio of power and energy per volume unit. This is especially important in the high-capacity, high-current, and relatively low-voltage batteries used in MHE. Optimal utilization of available pack space. There are no space cavities between the cells. This allows maximum capacity for the battery pack and still has enough room to accommodate for required extra weight, sealing, heater, an internal charger, or other battery upgrades within the battery compartment’s limited area. Contacts are strong enough for reliable bus-bars connection. This is a hugely important safety factor with high vibration operations, especially in cushion-tire-type lift trucks. Flexible battery weight. LIB pack weight is not a limitation for most of the MHE in terms of its range per one charging (unlike passenger EVs). Forklifts operate mostly near their charging stations and their batteries are often engineered as a counterweight. BSLBATT senior sales Soma Liu brings you a magic show of what’s in the blue box. With the Soma Liu action, the forklift lithium battery module, PDU board, battery interface, and BSL battery seem to be assembled consciously Get up! Learn more about this impressive industrial battery by watching this video: Get the most out of your fleet with lithium-ion technology The right power source underpins everything you do. BSLBATT has the resources and intelligence to not only identify it but provide it as well. Having access to expert insight and proven experience has become a need, not a luxury. BSLBATT Battery is that essential resource – a team of industry experts, all committed to partnering with you to pinpoint the Lithium forklift battery that can help address your specific materials-handling needs.
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending September 17, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 17, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 490,654 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.9 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending September 17 were 239,528 carloads, up 2 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 251,126 containers and trailers, down 7.3 percent compared to 2021. Five of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They included coal, up 3,948 carloads, to 72,774; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,491 carloads, to 35,163; and motor vehicles and parts, up 2,185 carloads, to 13,879. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included metallic ores and metals, down 3,192 carloads, to 21,581; miscellaneous carloads, down 1,623 carloads, to 8,250; and forest products, down 1,362 carloads, to 9,076. For the first 37 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 8,553,624 carloads, up 0.3 percent from the same point last year; and 9,740,253 intermodal units, down 5.1 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 37 weeks of 2022 was 18,293,877 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending September 17, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 342,034 carloads, up 3.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 341,595 intermodal units, down 4.7 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 683,629 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.8 percent. North American rail volume for the first 37 weeks of 2022 was 25,025,034 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.4 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 81,350 carloads for the week, up 3.7 percent, and 75,196 intermodal units, up 0.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 37 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 5,351,880 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 2.4 percent. Mexican railroads reported 21,156 carloads for the week, up 22.1 percent compared with the same week last year, and 15,273 intermodal units, up 18 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 37 weeks of 2022 was 1,379,277 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.1 percent from the same point last year. For the weekly rail charts, click here.
LiuGong North America adds Crouse Equipment to dealer lineup
LiuGong North America welcomes Crouse Equipment as a new construction equipment dealer. The Sheridan, Arkansas-based dealer is centrally located within the state. As a LiuGong construction equipment dealer, Crouse will sell both excavators and wheel loaders. Crouse Equipment President Dean Crouse has conducted due diligence over several months to gain more insight into LiuGong’s products, services, and support network. “I think it’s going to be a good move for both of us,” Crouse said. “It will let us be more diversified in different industries where we’ve struggled before.” Crouse hailed the direct relationship in working with LiuGong’s dealer support team as one of the key reasons for the new agreement. “They’ve been very open and forthcoming and answering any concerns or questions,” Crouse explained. “There’s a group here that is wanting to grow. They are open-minded and listen to and address concerns that their dealers have. And I really think that’s the direction they’re going to be headed.” Adding another dealer in this region continues to strengthen the LiuGong dealer network. “The further development of LiuGong’s dealer network is central to our growth strategy in North America,” said Andrew Ryan, President, LiuGong North America. “We believe LiuGong machines are some of the best available in our industry and we want great partners to represent and support them with our customers. We’re confident in the Crouse team and thrilled to have them as partners as we introduce our brand in Arkansas.” Crouse said the other major contributing factor for the new agreement was product and parts availability. With continued global supply chain constraints, ensuring there are enough machines present was key to the agreement. “If you can’t get the product, you can’t sell it,” Crouse said. “They’re very transparent about what they have, where they have them, and what’s coming down the pipeline.”
Plastics Industry Association participates in clean-up event with RiverLink at River Bend Park
Members of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), working in conjunction with RiverLink, an Asheville-based conservation organization, participated in a clean-up event at River Bend Park along the Swannanoa River. The event is a collaboration between RiverLink through the Community Impact Task Group of PLASTICS’ Future Leaders in Plastics Committee (FLiP)—a professional development initiative for plastics professionals under the age of 40. Flip’s mission is to foster collaboration, providing an outlet to give back and positively impact the environment and communities in which the plastics industry serves. “PLASTICS is here to demonstrate our commitment to the environment, promote the environmental benefits of using plastic responsibly, and encourage legislators to do all they can to fund recycling infrastructure that will help protect beautiful places like this,” said Leslie Jutte, PLASTICS staff liaison for FLiP and director of the association’s Material Suppliers Council. “We love plastic – we hate plastic waste.” Working with the RiverLink team and utilizing materials and equipment provided by the non-profit, approximately 50 PLASTICS’ members spent several hours removing litter in support of RiverLink’s goal of promoting the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and surrounding waterways. “The plastics industry isn’t just companies, it’s people all over the country who care about the communities where we live and work,” said Jon Smalling, National Sales and Marketing Manager at BAUMÜLLER and member of the FLiP Community Impact Task Group. “It’s an honor for us to do some good for the local environment while we’re guests here in Asheville.” “As a local non-profit working for the past thirty years to promote the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed, we’re grateful to work with a diverse group of volunteers each year on projects that benefit our waterways and public lands,” RiverLink said in a statement. “Removing litter from Riverbend Park along the Swannanoa River, one of the French Broad’s largest tributaries is one of many ways we can steward this special place and connect volunteers from groups like the Plastics Industry Association with the areas we care about.” The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly one million workers in the $468 billion U.S. industry. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability through education initiatives, industry-leading insights, and events, networking opportunities, and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE2024: The Plastics Show.
Episode 317: Hannibal at MODEX 2022
On this week’s episode of The New Warehouse, Eric Andres of Hannibal Industries (Nucor Warehouse Systems) joins Kevin to discuss optimizing warehouse space. Hannibal is one of the largest racking manufacturers in the United States. Over the last several years, Hannibal has also grown on the integration side of the business, completing over $1 billion in full turnkey pallet racking packages. Hannibal was acquired in late 2021 by Nucor Warehouse Systems, one of the largest steel makers in the United States and one of the largest recyclers. The acquisition is a logical fit given Nucor’s investments in downstream businesses that consume steel, allowing Hannibal to continue to grow its turnkey model, specifically within warehousing. Be sure to tune in as Kevin and Eric discuss the recent acquisition and trends in warehouse design and racking solutions. Key Takeaways Eric explains they are bullish on the warehouse space because the e-commerce boom will not end anytime soon. Hannibal’s team of designers and engineers, along with their access to many products enable them to provide various solutions to maximize and optimize warehouse space and build something that works best for their customers. Eric says their customers see labor as a significant challenge in warehouses. The more companies can optimize the layout of their warehouses, the more productive and efficient operations will be. Kevin and Eric discuss the challenge of finding affordable warehouse space in today’s market. Smaller companies must find innovative ways to utilize space more efficiently to compete against the Amazons of the world. Nucor is looking at the warehouse as an entire building system, incorporating those annoying columns into the design, better utilization of space near the joists, and incorporating the racking more structurally. One trend Eric sees with warehouse construction is bringing in the racking design earlier in the process. Having a seat at the table early on ensures the racking and the building are designed in a way that makes the most sense to maximize space and drive efficiency within that building. As robots and automation become more commonplace in warehouses, the design of the warehouse should incorporate future automation or at least allow the flexibility to add automation down the road without having to reconfigure the entire warehouse. Companies experiencing growth or looking to automate often look to add more racking, but that might not be the best solution. Eric advises working with a company like Hannibal to look at the entire building system to design a racking configuration that is safe, efficient, and maximizes space. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 317: Hannibal Industries at MODEX 2022
Twin Disc announces sale of Belgium facility
Twin Disc, Inc., a global provider of power transmission technology for marine, land-based, and oil & gas applications, has announced the sale of its facility located at 54 Chaussée de Namur, Nivelles, Belgium. The 390,000 ft2 property, including a plot of land and buildings, was sold for €6.950.000. The agreement also contains a two-year renewable leaseback provision, allowing for a smooth transition to a smaller and more efficient facility. “The sale of our Belgium facility is a continuation of an asset optimization strategy,” said John Batten, President & Chief Executive Officer, Twin Disc, Inc. “Our approach to right-sizing our footprint makes Twin Disc more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable. We continue to invest in modernizing our global facilities, including the anticipation of a new, modern facility in Belgium.” Twin Disc, International S.R.L., currently operating out of this facility, is primarily focused on manufacturing marine transmissions for the commercial and pleasure craft markets, but also sells and supports Twin Disc industrial products. A comprehensive transitional plan will be established to ensure minimal impact on customers.
Integrating mobile robots from multiple vendors
Creating heterogeneous fleets of mobile robots by integrating products from different vendors is the next step in warehouse automation. CoEvolution is bringing this technology to the US. CoEvolution, a provider of intelligent logistics solutions, has announced it will soon be entering the US market with a solution that enables the creation of fleets of mobile robots from multiple providers by integrating with and talking directly to the robots. The CoEvolution solution does not simply just connect existing robot systems, it also offers a unified robot control system meaning it can talk directly to robots from any provider. Essentially, it functions as a ‘universal translator’: an open platform that can integrate with any mobile robot. The technology allows logistics companies and warehouse managers to build unique warehouse automation solutions tailored to their specific needs. This capability has been enabled by two important developments. First, the mobile robot market has reached a high level of maturity, meaning there is now a wide range of cheap, reliable, and capable mobile robots easily available. Second, recent major advances in software planning technology have broken the barriers to the coordination of multiple robots from different fleets in a warehouse environment. These advances have involved taking video game technology that enables the planning of movements of multiple agents and applying it to real-world fleets of heterogeneous robots. Lijun Zhu, CEO of CoEvolution, says: “Because of the US market’s ever-growing demand for e-commerce and the ongoing labor shortage, many logistics companies are starting to think about implementing full workflow automation. This requires a combination of specialist robots from different providers. It is a difficult challenge to solve, but CoEvolution has invested heavily in this technology. “We have developed strong expertise in helping logistics companies to solve the problem of creating and coordinating heterogeneous fleets of robots from diverse providers. Effectively, we fulfill the role of both software developer and systems integrator for warehouse automation solutions. The results speak for themselves. One recent customer in South Korea – Yunda Express Korea – has doubled its storage capacity and reduced labor costs by 40%. “As an Asian company, we’ve got experience at working in some particularly challenging and fast-moving Asian markets. Now we are bringing that expertise to the US. We are currently looking for on-the-ground business partners in the US. And we’ll be attending the ProMat show in Chicago in March 2023. We hope to meet you there!”
AMT’s COO Craig Salvalaggio to present at A3’s International Robot Safety Conference
Applied Manufacturing Technologies COO Craig Salvalaggio will present “The Important Role of System Integrators in Robot Safety” at the International Robot Safety Conference (IRSC) hosted by Association for Advancing Automation (A3) on September 28, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) has announced Craig Salvalaggio will present in person at the 2022 International Robot Safety Conference (IRSC) in Columbus, Ohio. Salvalaggio’s presentation, entitled “The Important Role of System Integrators in Robot Safety,” takes place on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 8:30 am ET. The presentation educates end users on key criteria for choosing a robotic system integrator partner to ensure project success and covers the RIA Certified Integrator Program, the end user’s perspective, standards, risk assessments, and more. The presentation is based on Salvalaggio’s foundational eBook, “The End User’s System Integrator Selection Guide.” “I am excited to present again at the International Robot Safety Conference on this popular topic,” said Salvalaggio. “Attendees will learn the right questions to ask and how to navigate the selection of a system integrator to have a productive relationship.” The IRSC will be in person for the first time since 2019. The conference will examine key issues in robot safety and provide an in-depth overview of current industry standards and best practices. For more information or to register, visit the IRSC website. A FANUC Authorized System Integrator and three-time winner of the FANUC Sales Growth Award, AMT offers full-service systems integration, specializing in end-of-line solutions, complex material handling systems, and engineering support such as turnkey industrial controls, robotic programming, and automation consulting. Bringing together best-in-class technologies and custom automation, AMT provides high-quality, cost-effective automation solutions. The company’s solutions have benefited manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, medical, alternative energy, fabricated metal, industrial machinery, rubber and plastics, food and beverage, and many other industries.
Marine Travelift appoints Minten Executive Vice President
The Marine Travelift/Shuttlelift/ExacTech, Inc. family of companies has announced the promotion of Kurt Minten to Executive Vice President of Marine Travelift. As the longest-tenured employee in Marine Travelift history, Kurt has many years of experience in all aspects of the business and has held positions in both engineering and sales leading up to this promotion. Kurt’s experience with Marine Travelift began even before he was an employee of the company. Early in the company’s history, engineering services were outsourced to a local company called RA Stearns, which is now known as Bay Engineering. Kurt worked as a drafter at Stearns and was assigned to the Marine Travelift product line in 1981. When Marine Travelift developed its internal engineering team in 1986, Kurt was hired as one of two people in the department, and he worked in that role until 2005. At that time there was an opening for a salesperson as the company was expanding its industrial division with the Shuttlelift Carrydeck and gantry crane lineup. The engineering department had grown significantly by this time and Kurt, with his extensive knowledge of the company and products, was an excellent choice to move into that sales role. Kurt was head of Carrydeck sales and was a major contributor to the success of that product line. He then grew into the Director of Shuttlelift Sales and eventually started handling contracts on the Marine Travelift side as well. Additionally, Kurt collaborated and supported various departments while in these positions with his natural ability to lead. He most recently held the position of Vice President of Sales on his way to this well-deserved promotion. To summarize: Kurt has devoted 36 years of his career to Marine Travelift and Shuttlelift, 41 years if you count his time drafting for Marine Travelift products while at RA Stearns. In his time with the company, he and his wife Carla raised two boys who are now married and have children of their own – making Kurt a grandpa of three. He is an avid soccer fan and coached his boys through their years in soccer and club sports. In his years at Marine Travelift, Kurt has traveled to many places around the world including Chile, Brazil, Singapore, Russia, England, Netherlands, and Denmark. Denmark stands out as one of his favorite places because of his Danish lineage and visiting the “homeland” was quite a memorable experience. “Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Kurt knows he is the epitome of a team player and is as professional as they come. He takes the time to talk and get to know everyone he comes across and leaves a lasting impression on customers and coworkers alike. We as a company are fortunate to have Kurt as a leader, coworker, friend, supporter, and more, and we look forward to having him in this new role for the years to come.” -Erich Pfeifer, president & CEO, Marine Travelift
CLARK Material Handling Company announces CLARK SMART suite of Telematics and Fleet Management offerings
CLARK Material Handling Company, a top-ten global manufacturer of forklift trucks and spare parts, announces the launch of new products that help our customers manage large fleets: CLARK SMART, and CLARK SMART Fleet. With the launch of these two products, CLARK customers now have more visibility of their forklift fleets than ever before. CLARK SMART simplifies fleet data and empowers customers to improve operational safety, efficiency and decrease costly accidents. A state-of-the-art telematics offering, CLARK SMART now allows customers to gain valuable insights and awareness of operator safety and performance metrics. Customers can address incidents as they occur. With the CLARK SMART client portal, authorized personnel can restrict operator access and track the performance of each forklift. Our user-friendly web-based dashboard displays key metrics, including impact reports, pre-shift inspections, vehicle utilization reports, and much more. Available through the CLARK Aftermarket program, CLARK SMART can be added to virtually any truck on the market and can be installed by any Authorized CLARK Dealer in two hours or less. Each CLARK SMART unit comes equipped with both Cellular and Wi-Fi capabilities; as well as 5 years’ worth of data – no monthly fees. CLARK SMART Fleet, available to CLARK National Accounts, is the next evolution of intelligent fleet management. This powerful new tool from CLARK simplifies the customer’s complex forklift fleet by collecting and reporting on unit utilization, service history, invoice consolidation, and much more. CLARK SMART Fleet is a value-added service that saves fleet customers money while improving efficiency and increasing profitability. CLARK SMART Fleet customers will have access to a dedicated data analyst to review service trends, usage data, and invoices to provide feedback and suggestions on ways to maximize their operational efficiency while minimizing cost. This highly customizable solution for large-scale customers allows for seamless fleet management that fits customers’ specific needs while reducing the amount of time and energy they spend managing their fleet. “The launch of CLARK SMART and CLARK SMART Fleet represents our continued efforts to deliver innovation, customer support, and SMART products that serve customers’ evolving needs. This is a leap forward that we are confident will deliver valuable solutions to complex challenges facing today’s fleet managers,” commented Brandon Bullard, Director of Sales and Marketing at CLARK. “From the first overhead guards and seatbelts to new technology today -Safety has always been a guiding light, at CLARK. The CLARK SMART tool empowers supervisors with actionable data to achieve a safer and more efficient operation.” “CLARK SMART Fleet builds in immense added value for National Account fleet customers who manage diverse assets, in multiple locations. Our customers need tools for managing equipment and decreasing operational costs without increasing headcount at their facility. CLARK SMART Fleet collects and interprets service data, and provides informed recommendations to save our customers money,” added Herb Michelli, National Account Sales Manager.
Matthews Automation Solutions listed as a Sample Vendor in 2022 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Supply Chain Execution Technologies
Matthews Automation Solutions, a provider of innovative material handling systems and software, and proven process optimization expertise, has announced that it has been identified as a Sample Vendor in the 2022 Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies. Matthews Automation Solutions was named in the Warehouse Execution Systems and Warehouse Controls Systems categories. [1] The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphic representation of an emerging technology’s maturity lifecycle and potential adoption trajectory. Hype Cycles insights help clients see the evolution of these technologies and evaluate application deployment opportunities beneficial to their business goals. According to the Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, “Warehouse execution systems (WESs) are a hybrid of technology that blends capabilities from traditional warehouse management systems (WMSs) and warehouse controls systems (WCSs). WESs enhance work management in automated warehouses and manage the interplay between automated and manual processes. WESs leverage near-real-time insight into work in the automated warehouse, combined with advanced business logic, to improve the flow, orchestration, and prioritization of work.” In the Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, Gartner states “Supply chain technology leaders, especially in e-commerce, retail and high-volume direct-to-consumer, are under pressure to drive increased throughput at lower costs per order, which is pushing the need for high-velocity automated fulfillment. WESs is a potentially good fit for new automated order-picking strategies, and companies will look to WESs to help support increased volume and velocity.” “As an established warehouse execution system and warehouse control system provider for over 25 years, Matthews Automation Solutions specializes in providing Information Anywhere and adaptive intelligence through our dynamic suite of warehouse software products. Our breadth of installations of legacy products including Pyramid Director and Compass CORS spans over 500 sites in multiple continents,“ says Gary Cash, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Matthews Automation Solutions. “With, NEXUS, our next-generation WES, we expect to continue setting the standard in terms of managing flow, optimizing performance, and delivering compatibility with virtually any device by leveraging our web-based platform. According to us, being recognized by Gartner highlights our authority in the supply chain execution technology market.” [1] Gartner, “2022 Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies,” Dwight Klappich June 27, 2022.
Elevating worker platforms vertically position employees
Elevating Worker Platform Lifts from Presto ECOA are the perfect solution for assembly, repair, or maintenance of large or tall workpieces, such as transportation equipment (trucks, buses, aircraft, etc.); electrical sub-assemblies; prefabricated buildings or any other large, awkward shaped items that must be accessed at elevated or varying heights. Not only do they position workers at a comfortable, convenient height, but they also provide a stable platform with room for multiple workers, tools, workstations, test equipment, computers, etc. They are safer, more comfortable, and more versatile than ladders or scaffolding. Because platform height can be quickly and easily adjusted at the touch of a button, Presto ECOA Elevating Worker Platforms are commonly used for stock picking at high shelves, racks, and horizontal storage carousels. Fully customizable to the application, they can be configured with a variety of options including custom platform shapes/cutouts; slide-out decks and bridges; anti-skid or anti-static deck coatings; redundant controls; soft start/stop; indexed lifting and lowering; powered traverse; bellows skirting that keeps dust, debris, and moisture out of the lift mechanism; and many more. While typically used indoors, lifts can be easily modified for use outdoors or in other special environmental conditions. Virtually any platform size, lifting height, or load capacity requirement can be accommodated.