U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending June 4, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 4, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 475,513 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending June 4 were 225,274 carloads, down 1 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 250,239 containers and trailers, down 4.4 percent compared to 2021. Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They included grain, up 2,515 carloads, to 23,867; motor vehicles and parts, up 1,385 carloads, to 12,518; and nonmetallic minerals, up 562 carloads, to 29,778. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included metallic ores and metals, down 3,222 carloads, to 20,192; miscellaneous carloads, down 1,468 carloads, to 8,037; and farm products excl. grain, and food, down 887 carloads, to 14,510. For the first 22 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 5,061,636 carloads, up 0.1 percent from the same point last year; and 5,805,846 intermodal units, down 6.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 22 weeks of 2022 was 10,867,482 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending June 4, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 319,932 carloads, down 1.4 percent compared with the same week last year, and 331,817 intermodal units, down 5.2 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 651,749 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.4 percent. North American rail volume for the first 22 weeks of 2022 was 14,815,546 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.7 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 75,646 carloads for the week, down 3.5 percent, and 67,573 intermodal units, down 9.2 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 22 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,134,201 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 6.1 percent. Mexican railroads reported 19,012 carloads for the week, up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 14,005 intermodal units, up 1.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 22 weeks of 2022 was 813,863 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 3 percent from the same point last year. To view weekly rail traffic charts, click here.
EP 287: The Alpine Supply Chain Solutions experience
In this episode, I was joined by Mark Zabloudil and Matt Warner representing Alpine Supply Chain Solutions as their customers. Mark is the COO at MJ Holding Company and Matt is the COO at Monat Global they both joined me at MODEX 2022 to discuss their experiences with Alpine Supply Chain Solutions as their customers. We discuss why their companies needed Alpine Supply Chain Solutions help and how they were able to optimize their distribution footprint with their guidance. Key Takeaways Alpine Supply Chain Solutions provides solutions and consulting services that help you optimize your operation and deliver maximum value to your customers. Both Monat Global and MJ Holding Company were in similar positions before they got to Alpine. They both were facing rapid growth with the pandemic fueling a lot of it. Alpine was able to help them understand the space that they had and then optimize their distribution footprint so they could not only keep up with their current demand but also grow into future demand. In MJ Holding’s case, they were looking at highly increased demand due to the renewed interest in trading cards like sports cards and Pokemon cards during the pandemic. They also faced the challenge of having multiple different product profiles where the trading card side of the business had a somewhat regular cadence they also have a toy side that is more of an impulse buy so there is a lot of fluctuation in demand. Alpine Supply Chain Solutions helped them to understand how they could better slot their products and bring in different storage solutions to optimize their space and give them the most flexibility to move products around. Monat Global saw a large spike during the pandemic due to its e-commerce-based business which distributes skincare products via ambassadors who mostly sell and market through social media. Their challenge was matching this demand with their capacity so they could get the orders out within 24 hours and have them delivered to customers at the service levels they were expecting. Alpine helped them to realize their space constraints by analyzing their data and then helping them to understand how much space they actually needed for now and future growth. Through this analysis, they were able to help them determine they should do a two-phase project with one distribution point servicing international customers and the other serving the United States. Additionally, they helped them maximize their space by recommending different storage solutions that helped them to almost double the number of pallet spaces they would have put in on their own. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 287: The Alpine Supply Chain Solutions Experience
EnerSys® supports National Forklift Safety Day 2022
EnerSys®, the global provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications, joins the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) in support of its annual National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its ninth year, National Forklift Safety Day 2022 will be observed on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, and coincide with a keynote presentation at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Estimates from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicate nearly 100,000 workers are injured each year from accidents involving the almost 900,000 forklifts currently in operation in the U.S. Statistically, it means that more than one in every ten forklifts will be involved in an accident each year. Those numbers align with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also shows nearly 100 workers are fatally injured in forklift-related incidents annually. OSHA also estimates that nearly 70% of all forklift accidents can be prevented with proper training or policy. To help facilitate such training, the ITA works with OSHA to develop educational seminars and resources that highlight best practices in manufacturing and warehousing environments. National Forklift Safety Day reflects this mission and provides an opportunity to emphasize operator training, promote greater pedestrian awareness, and share resources about forklift safety. “From battery design and installation to on-site training, safety is a top priority at EnerSys, and we proudly support ITA’s National Forklift Safety Day,” says Harold Vanasse, Senior Director of Marketing, Motive Power Global at EnerSys. “With the world’s supply chain still under tremendous pressure to recover from the pandemic and other influences, raising awareness of lift truck safety and best practices is more crucial than ever. We applaud ITA’s ongoing efforts to do that through National Forklift Safety Day.” For more information about National Forklift Safety Day, click here.
Seegrid named in the 2022 Gartner® Market Guide for Intralogistics Smart Robotics
Autonomous mobile robot provider is recognized for solutions that address supply chain pressures, labor challenges, and rising costs Seegrid Corporation, a provider of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for material handling, has announced that it has been identified as a Representative Vendor in Gartner “Market Guide for Intralogistics Smart Robotics” research report. Gartner, a company that delivers actionable, objective insight to executives and their teams, describes intralogistics smart robotics (ISRs) as a special class of flexible, intelligent, and often mobile intralogistics systems and cyber-physical systems that leverage embedded sensors and AI technologies to sense their surroundings, operate and complete tasks, and communicate with intelligent software. Seegrid was profiled in the transport AMRs category which is defined as specialized vehicles that efficiently and flexibly automate tasks within warehouses and plants. The purpose of the Gartner report is to inform automation decision-makers of the key capabilities and attributes of advanced ISRs, as well as considerations for selection. Gartner reports significant growing interest in flexible automation and the adoption of intelligent mobile robots within the warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing environments. “Many factors are driving demand for greater automation, including consumer and competitive pressures, growing labor constraints, and rising costs,” wrote Dwight Klappich, a Gartner Vice President Analyst. “By 2026, we expect the majority of large enterprises in product-centric businesses will have adopted smart robots in their warehouse operations.” “We believe that being included in the Gartner Market Guide as a Representative Vendor is reflective of how Seegrid AMRs reliably perform in complex industrial environments with human-like agility, intelligence, and flexibility,” said Jim Rock, Chief Executive Officer of Seegrid. “It reinforces that our mobile automation solutions are valued by top global brands across the supply chain.” Seegrid recently received Frost & Sullivan’s Technology Innovation Award, was named the #4 most innovative robotics company in the world by Fast Company, and earned recognition as the #1 AMR provider in the US and #1 market leader in tow tractor AMRs worldwide by Interact Analysis, an international market research authority for the supply chain automation industry. Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gartner is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
Carolina Handling partners with Wake Tech on new Forklift Diploma program
Charlotte, NC-based Carolina Handling has partnered with Wake Technical Community College and five other material handling equipment dealers to offer a new Forklift Diploma Program that will begin this fall at North Carolina’s largest community college in Raleigh. The new one-year Forklift Diploma Program will pair students with a sponsoring dealer to prepare them to be technicians specializing in the maintenance and repair of lift trucks. Students will attend classes on Monday and Tuesday at Wake Tech and work the remainder of the week at the sponsor’s dealership earning work-based learning credits and an hourly wage, according to Jon Paige Kearns, professor and program director of Heavy Equipment & Transport Technology at Wake Tech. Upon graduation, students will be entitled to tuition and textbook reimbursement based on the agreement with their sponsoring dealer. There also may be a tool program incentive available. The new forklift diploma program will begin on August 15, with space for 16 students. Those interested in the program should apply by August 5. “For a technician, the forklift industry is just not known,” Kearns said. “People see the service vehicles driving around but I just don’t think they put two and two together, so I would like Wake Tech’s heavy equipment program to be a model for programs like this at other schools. There’s no education that will better prepare a student for a career than if they’re going to school and working with their future employer. Their career has been mapped out and they’re ready to go on day one when they graduate and go full time.” James Sanders, Director of Operations-North Division at Carolina Handling, said the company’s partnership is an opportunity to raise awareness about the forklift industry and to help recruit technicians to a growing organization that needs to hire at least 70 technicians in the coming year. The exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and the Florida panhandle, Carolina Handling also will provide the Wake Tech program with drive units, motors, and other components for hands-on learning and electric pallet jacks, reach trucks, and other equipment to coincide with classroom instruction. “We hire a lot of associates out of Wake Tech,” Sanders said. “Wake Tech has been a great partner and we hope that we can be one, as well. We’ve all come together with other dealers to help support this program so we can draw students from it. It’s good for our community and it’s good for our industry.” Going from a traditional five-day school week to the new forklift program’s work-study model also will help build relationships between students and future employers, Kearns added. “When students graduate, they actually are staying with their sponsoring dealer whereas before, students were jumping all over,” he said. For more information on Wake Tech’s new One-Year Forklift Diploma Program, contact Paige Kearns at [email protected] or (919) 866-5257.
Autoquip celebrates 75th Anniversary
Autoquip Corporation is celebrating its 75th anniversary of providing innovative lifting solutions to the material handling industry. The company was originally founded in Chicago in 1947 to provide hydraulic material handling lifts for manufacturing applications. It relocated to its current home in Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1974, and has redefined the industry with an innovative array of lifting solutions and advanced control systems. “The company has come a long way since its founding in 1947,” said Autoquip General Manager Chris Kuehni, “It was started in Chicago to provide basic hydraulic material handling lifts, and today we specialize in developing ‘best-in-class’ custom solutions for complex manufacturing and distribution applications.” Today Autoquip is much more than a standard lift company. It designs premium custom solutions to incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to perform or combine multiple tasks of lifting, tilting, turning, or transporting parts or materials. All are controlled by advanced, custom programmable control systems that are reliable, easy to use, and monitor. Autoquip is the established leader in the design and manufacture of custom hydraulic and mechanical lifting equipment for high-capacity applications, precision positioning, process automation, conveyance, high vertical travel multi-level transport, complex system integration, and control technologies. It designs and builds material handling solutions for some of the largest companies in the U.S. including Amazon, Boeing, Pratt Whitney, FedEx, Space X, Blue Origin, and CVS. “75 years is a milestone for not only the company but for our customers, suppliers, and employees as well. They have provided the foundation that positioned us to move past the standard offerings of our traditional competitors to provide truly innovative solutions that improve productivity and efficiency.” Autoquip is owned by Miner Enterprises, a family company that is solidly focused on the future as demonstrated by its recent acquisition of OSCO Controls and its 2009 acquisition of American Lifts. That blended two of the strongest brands of material handling equipment together as a beacon for “Made-in-America” innovation and quality. Autoquip is a longtime member of both MHI and MHEDA trade groups and has provided industry stewardship to improve guidelines and best practices to continually move the material handling industry forward.
Raymond celebrates National Forklift Safety Day with launch of next-generation Raymond Virtual Reality Simulator
A scalable virtual reality teaching tool features a wireless HTC VIVE Focus™ 3 headset for a more immersive learning experience As a proud supporter of the ninth National Forklift Safety Day, The Raymond Corporation is committed to prioritizing forklift operator education and providing intelligent warehouse solutions that help customers create a culture of continuous improvement and boost overall facility well-being. Along with National Forklift Safety Day, The Raymond Corporation will be celebrating its 100th anniversary and launch of its next-generation Virtual Reality (VR) Simulator. The first of its kind in the industry, Raymond’s award-winning VR Simulator is a flexible, scalable teaching tool that uses the latest immersive technology to bring new hires up to proficiency more quickly and to continually expand operator skills for reduced turnover. The updated VR Simulator is designed for optimum usability and performance with a smaller, lighter case for easier maneuverability and setup, as well as the award-winning HTC® VIVE Focus 3 wireless all-in-one VR headset for enhanced operator performance, comfort, and longer immersive sessions. The simulator uses training modules that build on themselves to help operators reach higher proficiency levels faster and feel more confident before reaching the warehouse floor. “Raymond continues to build on its 100-year history of innovation and continuous improvement to create solutions that help customers take meaningful action by optimizing, connecting, and automating with technologies and training solutions that, together, help reinforce operator best practices,” said Michael Field, president and CEO of The Raymond Corporation. “We are excited to build on our history and continue to provide industry-leading education and training programs for our customers.” Additional in-person and e-learning education programs Raymond offers include: Safety On The Move® — a comprehensive and modular operator training program that introduces best practices for warehouse environments to help protect employees, equipment, and materials while complying with OSHA requirements. Steps To Safety™: Pedestrian Safety in a Material Handling Environment — a training program that assists in teaching pedestrians how to act responsibly in environments where lift trucks are in operation, emphasizing the importance of operators and pedestrians working together to create a safe environment. For more information on Raymond’s National Forklift Safety Day, next-generation Virtual Reality Simulator, and a suite of in-person and e-learning training programs and tools, click here. More information and updates about National Forklift Safety Day will also be available on the International Truck Association website: www.indtrk.org/national-forklift-safety-day.
EP 286: Rajant at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Justin Warren and Don Gilbreath of Rajant at MODEX 2022. Rajant provides kinetic mesh networking solutions to help industrial applications keep moving. We discuss what a mesh network is and how to help strengthen a network in the warehouse environment. Key Takeaways Rajant has its roots in the mining and defense industry where they have provided projects with kinetic mesh networks that allow companies to continue working without any gaps in their communications or latency. They have now moved into providing this same type of technology which they deliver through radios to the warehousing industry. They saw similarities in warehouses because of the multiple objects that can be interfering with a typical wireless network like racking. Justin explains the difference between a standard wireless network and Rajant’s kinetic mesh network in this episode. Their mesh network works off of radios or as they refer to them as breadcrumbs and allows for stronger connectivity without any issue of structures blocking them. This allows for an uninterrupted flow of communication through your network. With the amount of equipment that is continuously operating on your network and allowing you to expand your capacity, you do not want to have any communication issues preventing a service level loss so this option can be very advantageous to keeping your running consistently. When it comes to challenges with your network oftentimes it is due to infrastructure changes that are done without consideration for the network. We discuss how the operations team is not really involved in the network so they may do something like put up new racking but the IT team is unaware and then has no chance to adapt the network to support the change. This results in network drops and then you have the IT vs. operations battle on fixing the network. With a mesh setup, the network is feeding off each other so signals can even be carried from robot to robot or other devices which allows you to make these infrastructure changes with no real impact on the network coverage. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 286: Rajant at MODEX 2022
Container Dwell Fee on hold through June 10
The San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will once again delay consideration of the “Container Dwell Fee” for another week, this time until June 10. Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 40% in aging cargo on the docks. The executive directors of both ports will reassess fee implementation after monitoring data over the next week. Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have both extended the fee program through July 28. Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers can be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. Currently, no date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time. The ports plan to charge ocean carriers $100 per container, increasing in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal. Any fees collected from dwelling cargo will be reinvested for programs designed to enhance efficiency, accelerate cargo velocity and address congestion impacts. The policy was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, U.S. Department of Transportation and multiple supply chain stakeholders.
Nano One to acquire Johnson Matthey Battery Materials Canada
Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Johnson Matthey Battery Materials Ltd. a Canadian entity located in Candiac, Québec Acquisition to include the team, facilities, equipment, land, and other assets The team has more than 360 years of scale-up and commercial production know-how Team and facilities proven in supplying tier 1 cell manufacturers for automotive LFP facility and land strategically located near Montréal and operational since 2012 Facility and equipment can serve Nano One’s process needs with room to expand Expedites Nano One business strategy for LFP and other battery materials Nano One® Materials Corp. (“Nano One” ) a clean technology innovator in battery materials, announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Johnson Matthey (JM) Battery Materials Ltd. (“JMBM Canada”) for approximately C$10.25 million. The acquisition is fully funded and is on a cash-free, debt-free basis, subject to certain working capital adjustments. JMBM Canada includes a team with over 360 years of collective experience, including R&D, pilot to commercial scale cathode production, and product qualification and quality assurance systems expertise for tier 1 automotive lithium-ion cell manufacturers. JMBM Canada also includes a 2,400 tonne per annum capacity LFP production facility located in Candiac, Québec occupying approximately one-tenth of the 400,000 square foot property. The transaction is expected to complete by the end of 2022, subject to JMBM Canada fulfilling contractual commitments and certain other customary closing conditions. Nano One CEO Mr. Dan Blondal said, “The rapidly expanding need for responsibly produced cathode materials in North America presents an opportunity for Nano One to deploy its technology and become a leader. We are excited to announce our agreement to acquire JMBM Canada. Experienced employees are at the core of this deal and will help fast-track Nano One’s learning curve. The facility is in Greater Montreal and strategically located in proximity to employees and their families, international airports, and major port facilities and is a critical link in the mines-to-mobility initiative. This complements Nano One’s technology innovation center and team in Burnaby, British Columbia, and is a perfect base for the advancement, expansion, and acceleration of our commercialization strategy. We now look forward to working with our colleagues at JMBM Canada for a smooth business transition later this year and sharing our vision and plans with all stakeholders in the coming weeks and months.” Liam Condon, Chief Executive of Johnson Matthey, says: “We have worked with Nano One on a number of projects over the last year, and having seen their innovations, we believe they have the potential to develop the Candiac site in the best way possible. We remain at the Candiac site until the end of the year and are fully committed to serving the needs of our customers.” The Candiac production facility was acquired by Johnson Matthey in 2015 and has been in operation since 2012. It is a supplier of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material to the lithium-ion battery sector for both automotive and non-automotive applications for a select group of customers. Strategically located in Candiac, Québec, it has the benefit of access to a North American ecosystem that will serve the broader global community with cost-effective, resilient, and environmentally sustainable cathode materials.
Myers Industries acquires Mohawk Rubber Sales of New England Inc.
Myers Industries, Inc. has announced that it has acquired the assets of Mohawk Rubber Sales of New England Inc., which was financed with its revolving credit facility. Mohawk Rubber Sales is a leading auto aftermarket distributor with a long-standing reputation for quality and service. This value-creating acquisition is another proof point of the Company’s successful execution of its 3-horizon strategy. “We are extremely pleased to announce the addition of Mohawk Rubber Sales to the Myers family. Mohawk and its team bring complementary geographic coverage, additional sales and customer service capability, and meaningful scale to our Distribution Segment,” said Mike McGaugh, President and CEO of Myers Industries. “Mohawk’s business model is similar to our own, and this transaction is another example of our team’s ability to find accretive opportunities to expand and grow our businesses – accelerating our progress against Horizon 1 of our 3-horizon strategy.” Paul Johnson, Vice President of Myers’ Distribution Segment, added, “I am excited to join forces with Mohawk Rubber. The company has a large and very experienced sales team and a complementary distribution network that, combined with Myers’ Distribution, will bring even better service solutions, support, and value to our customers. Together with Mohawk, Myers’ Distribution will have the largest, most experienced field and customer service teams in the tire supplies and repair industry. We believe we’ll be in an even better position to help our customers, large and small, win in their markets, every day.” Brian McGeoghegan, Owner of Mohawk Rubber Sales, said, “My team and I are thrilled to be joining the Myers family and believe Myers’ culture and values align directly with our own. We’ve long admired Myers Tire Supply and its leading position in the tire repair and retread market and believe that Mike and his senior leadership team have repositioned the business for long-term success. We bring complementary assets and services, which will help both of our businesses achieve scale and efficiencies. Our collective focus on strong service and innovative products will create the best solutions in the market today and deliver enhanced value for our customers.” Founded in 1932, Mohawk Rubber Sales has grown into one of the country’s leading providers of tire repair distribution across traditional and online channels. The Company is headquartered in Hingham, MA, and has four strategically located distribution centers across the United States located in Hingham, MA, Alpharetta, GA, Salt Lake City, UT, and Houston, TX. In 2021, Mohawk’s revenues were approximately $65 million. Mohawk will be integrated into the Myers’ Distribution segment. The transaction provides both growth and cost synergy opportunities and is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2023.
ALL Erection & Crane Rental receives Longevity Award from SC&RA
ALL Erection & Crane Rental, a member of the ALL Family of Companies, has been honored with the Longevity Award from the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), recognizing its decades of leadership. SC&RA is an international organization with more than 1,350 members from 46 nations serving all aspects of heavy industry including specialized transportation, lift equipment, machinery moving, maintenance, and more. SC&RA’s Longevity Awards are presented to member companies for their longtime support and dedication to the association and its mission. ALL was recognized with the 50 Years Award. ALL has a deep history with SC&RA. Its Dawes branches are among the seven founding companies that formed the association. More recently, Dawes general manager Steve Freckmann received the association’s Pinnacle Award in 2020 in recognition of his more than a decade and a half of involvement in leadership positions within the association. “The ALL Family believes in the power of our industry to move the world forward,” said Michael L. Liptak, CEO and president of ALL. “SC&RA is a vital organization to our industry, working hard to advocate for effective, prosperous operations that serve the needs of customers and projects all around the world.” Firms across the United States and around the world submit dozens of entries to the SC&RA Awards competition each year. The awards program recognizes worldwide excellence in the crane, rigging, and specialized transportation industry. “We’re proud to be recognized by SC&RA with this Longevity Award and to be aligned with an organization that does so much to further the interests of our industry and its constituencies,” said Liptak.
Asetec, an AutoStore™ Integrator in South Korea, Joins the RightHand Robotics™ Partner Integrator Network
Partnership expands use of robotic piece-picking for order fulfillment centers in the APAC region RightHand Robotics, a provider of data-driven, autonomous robotic picking solutions for order fulfillment, and Asetec, a logistics automation ICT company, have partnered together for future robotic logistics center integration projects in South Korea. As an AutoStore™ integrator, Asetec will combine the world’s leading robotic storage system and other matched technologies with RightHand Robotics’ award-winning RightPick™ item-handling solution to expand its offerings with a diversified range of automation. Founded in 1996, Asetec is a turnkey integrator for logistics centers, providing customers with consulting and engineering, automation design and construction, and AI software solutions (WMS/TMS/OMS/WCS). Over the past three years, the company has grown significantly, with revenues generated by a mix of software products and system integrations. Throughout this period, the firm has identified the strong need for AI-enabled robotic solutions that can be applied to supply chain and warehouse challenges for the South Korean market. “In recent years we’ve seen tremendous growth, especially during COVID, as customer demand for robotic automation multiplied, leading us to adapt and enhance our business and product offering,” said JongSuk Park, founder and CEO of Asetec. “To continue to meet the market need, we’re excited to partner with RightHand Robotics, the leader in robotic piece-picking, and offer a fully integrated RightPick–AutoStore system solution for South Korea.” Asetec joins the RightHand Robotics Partner Integrator program, the company’s flagship strategic partnership initiative that makes it easier for end customers to adopt the RightPick platform and integrate with their preferred automation suppliers. The new collaboration will accelerate the program’s growth initiative and further expand its reach into the Asian logistics market. “We’re thrilled to work with Asetec and gain momentum in South Korea,” said Leif Jentoft, co-founder and CSO of RightHand Robotics. “With over 1,000 domestic customers from pharmaceutical to e-commerce to general goods, there will be numerous opportunities for our RightPick technology to integrate with Asetec’s AutoStore solution and fulfill customer orders nationally. We look forward to advancing Asetec’s business.”
inVia Robotics wins the 2022 Technology Innovation Goods-to-Person Robotics Award from Frost & Sullivan
inVia Robotics, a provider of eCommerce fulfillment automation systems –– has been awarded this year’s Best Practices Technology Innovation Leadership Award in the North American goods-to-person robotics market by Frost & Sullivan, third-party research and consulting firm. inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model beat out category competitors as it provides retailers and 3PLs with a flexible, cost-effective solution that dramatically increases productivity in existing facilities. The RaaS system allows customers to pay for the productivity of inVia robots and software versus competitors who lease or sell robots. The subscription service covers all system updates and includes 24/7 monitoring and support through inVia’s Robotics Operation Center (ROC). A team of robotics experts is dedicated to each customer to oversee fulfillment operations and troubleshoot any problems, often fixing them before they are even visible. This model democratizes automation, making it available as an operating expense to businesses of all sizes, versus traditional equipment that was capital-intensive and expensive. “We’re honored to receive this recognition and award for our technology that is solving the pressing issues facing warehouse employees and businesses on a daily basis,” says Lior Elazary, CEO and Co-Founder of inVia. “We recognize that eCommerce demand is continuing to rise and warehouse workers are still facing immense pressures to fulfill orders quickly. Our mission is deeply rooted in creating an environment where people can do fulfilling work and in order for us to ensure this happens, we are committed to improving the technological offerings that our customers require.” “Frost & Sullivan applauds inVia for maximizing worker productivity and providing eCommerce organizations with an attainable entry point to introduce autonomous mobile robots and the PickerWall into their businesses,” says Sankara Narayanan, Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan. “The company’s RaaS model, ROC, and quick deployment further enhance its customer value proposition.” A key differentiator in receiving the award was the inVia PickerWall, as it demonstrates inVia’s unique workflow that removes interdependencies between robots and people and subsequently unleashes productivity rates, at a time when warehouse labor is hard to hire. The inVia PickerWall helps companies manage higher order volumes without having to increase labor enabling eCommerce warehouses to be 10 times more productive. Most importantly, inVia PickerWall leverages the strengths of both people and robots. Robots work nonstop doing repetitive tasks like traveling and picking. People are allowed to do higher-order tasks like sortation and work on a variety of tasks in bursts. Workers enjoy more stimulating working conditions and businesses enjoy consistently meeting service level agreements (SLAs) without dips in productivity. inVia Picker robots were also recognized by Frost & Sullivan as solving one of the most challenging problems in the eCommerce space; quick and easy access to a wide variety of stock-keeping units (SKUs). eCommerce warehouses are often 250,000 square feet, comparable to three football fields –and may have 100,000 SKUs distributed across the warehouse. The robots are completely autonomous and eliminate the need for people to travel across the facility to retrieve inventory and deliver it to the packing station. Additionally, inVia Pickers are mobile, unlike traditional shuttle systems, and can be moved to work in different zones or in other locations. This eliminates the need for reengineering facilities, allowing inVia to adapt to different environments. The Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies across the globe for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. inVia was awarded based on its commitment to innovation, creativity, and application diversity that meet ever-evolving customer needs.
J.W. Speaker tackles jobsite lighting & introduces LED Compact Work Light family
Small size; powerful output: the three new compact-sized lighting options can be used together, or individually, to create customizable, powerful illumination for any work site J.W. Speaker, known globally for manufacturing high-performance LED technology, has announced its new LED Compact Work Light Family. These work lights are designed for the harshest working conditions, providing crucial illumination that improves the safety, productivity, and comfort of workers. The lights are suited for agriculture, construction, mining, and even off-road environments. “Dark, harsh work environments need better illumination to meet the demands for safety and productivity. But the biggest obstacle is the operating conditions are within these tough and sometimes unforgiving workspaces, which a unique set of challenges for workers, as changes in weather and lighting conditions are a daily occurrence,” said Tim Speaker, co-president at J.W. Speaker. “These lights will stand out in the industry because of their compact size and high lumen output. Rated for wear, rated for water, these LED lights allow any crew to stay active, productive, and safer at all hours, in any weather.” The lighting family includes three new models: the 792, 892, and 893. They can be used together, or individually, to create customizable illumination for any work site: Model 792 LED Compact Work Light is engineered for bright brightness in tight spaces. The 3”x4”, low-profile design of the work light combined with its 2,000 lumens provides an ideal lighting option for agricultural, construction, and industrial vehicles. This durable light is available in both pedestal and panel mount options to fit a large variety of applications. Increase productivity by replacing inferior halogen lights with the Model 792 Compact Work Light. Model 892 LED Compact Work Light takes illumination to the next level. This pedestal-style, 4”x4” LED light projects an incredible 3,800 lumens for forward lighting that cuts through the darkest nights and most inclement weather. Use it in agriculture, construction, mining, and even off-road environments to help keep your crews productive and safe. Model 893 LED Compact Rectangular Work Light uses a unique low-profile 3”x8” design to project a wide beam of light in the harshest and most limiting conditions. Dependable and brighter than a standard work light (3,700 lumens), the Model 893 can be used in agriculture, mining, construction, and off-road environments. Avoid accidents and keep your team out of harm’s way by upgrading to the optimal illumination solution. The J.W. Speaker LED Compact Work Light Family is engineered for the most demanding conditions. They are manufactured to endure rigorous requirements for stability and resistance to the elements while also producing powerful flood/trap light patterns to illuminate the darkest work sites—keeping production moving and workers safe. Rated IP67 and IP69K, these compact work lights withstand bumps, thumps, and vibrations common when used by rugged users on tough, weather-adverse sites.
Raymond appoints new executive roles to enrich expertise, enhance responsiveness to customer needs, support sustainability
The Raymond Corporation has made an organizational change to appoint three new executive roles to enrich its level of executive expertise; support environmental, health, and safety efforts; and provide a dedicated focus on enhancing responsiveness to customers’ evolving needs. Jennifer de Souza has been appointed vice president, energy solutions, procurement, and leasing at The Raymond Corporation. Previously, de Souza was senior director for energy storage solutions, procurement, and leasing. De Souza will oversee energy storage solutions and will continue to lead Raymond’s alternative energy initiatives, research and continual evaluation of other viable alternative energies, as well as procurement and leasing. In addition to her existing duties, de Souza will assume supervision for the logistics, inventory control and product configuration departments. Brian Howard has been appointed vice president, marketing and program management at The Raymond Corporation. Previously, Howard was senior director of marketing and program management and oversaw the marketing, digital, portfolio management, and overall product and program management efforts. In addition to his existing duties, Howard will assume responsibility for the sales and operations planning functions to further support customers’ needs. Tony Topencik has been appointed vice president, operations, quality, and environmental health and safety (EHS) at The Raymond Corporation. Previously, Topencik was senior director of operations. In addition to his existing duties, Topencik will assume responsibility for the material planning function and have oversight of EHS responsibilities across the organization. “These appointments will help provide a range of expertise to continue to support the growing needs of our ever-evolving industry,” said Michael Field, president and CEO at The Raymond Corporation. “With a number of challenges impacting the future of material handling combined with a boom in e-commerce and greater emphasis on environmental, health and safety, Raymond is here to provide support to meet and exceed expectations, serving customers’ needs and providing them with a competitive edge.”
Mountainview Equipment Company with locations in ID and WA becomes Merlo Dealer
Mountainview Equipment Company with locations across ID and in WA is adding Merlo telehandlers to its product line. “In researching adding another line to Mountainview’s lineup, we found Merlo telehandlers to be the most complementary to our current equipment lineup.” Bill George, Sales Manager said. “We were looking for equipment that would make material handling for our customers easier and safer. Merlo’s Turbofarmer line of telehandlers packs a lot of power and nimbleness into every machine. Our customers will appreciate the versatility these machines will bring to their operations.” Mountainview Equipment Company chose the TF38.10 with a lift height of 31’ and max. the operating capacity of 8,400 lbs., the TF 42.7 with a lift height of 24’7” and max. the operating capacity of 9,250 lbs. They also added in the P27.6PLUS. Quite compact and easy to operate the P27.6PLUS may be the smallest of the Merlo telehandlers, but it supplies much versatility within its 19’4” lift and 6,000 lb. max. capacity. Along with expanding their Agriculture offerings, Mountainview has added the Merlo P40.17PLUS. A heavy-duty telehandler with independent front stabilizers. “While they are an agriculture-oriented dealership, Mountainview brought in the P40.17PLUS to take advantage of the need for construction telehandlers in all their markets, such as the booming city of Boise, Idaho,” said Austin Bailey, AMS-Merlo Sales Manager. “With the P40.17PLUS being one of the most popular models from both a sales and rental aspect, this model made the most sense for them to begin their expansion into the construction market.” For over 50 years, Mountain View Equipment Company has proven to be an award-winning full-service dealership in the hay and forage, and dairy markets. Delivering to customers the products they need to make their businesses successful, Mountainview takes great pride in also supplying outstanding service and parts supply. There are four locations: Meridan, Homedale, Jerome ID, and Sunnyside WA.
Motion launches Mi Fluid Power Solutions brand
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, has announced the formation of its fluid power business brand: Mi Fluid Power Solutions (Mi FPS). Unifying top tier fluid power business units—including the former Kaman Fluid Power divisions of BW Rogers, Catching FluidPower, Intellimotion, Calkins Fluid Power, Northwest Hose & Fittings, Western Fluid Components, and Inrumec along with Hydraulic Supply Company and Motion’s OE Mobile service capabilities—Mi FPS is a complete provider of fluid power, integrated electronic controls, and electro-mechanical technologies for industrial and mobile equipment. Mi FPS’s main focuses are hydraulics, pneumatics, lubrication, filtration, process pumps, precision industrial tooling, and factory automation products. New and serviced components range widely from hydraulic pumps and motors to valves and cylinders of virtually any size. The new brand comprises North America’s largest network of over 65 on-demand retail fluid power hydraulic and industrial hose assembly stores and support facilities, including repair, build, and engineering capabilities. Mi FPS serves the automotive, aerospace, metals, logistics, mobile offroad equipment, mining, medical, pharmaceutical, and many other industries while applying the highest-quality fluid power components and engineered systems. “Fluid power combines products and engineering skills to design a system that solves a customer’s need,” said David Mayer, Motion’s Group Vice President of Fluid Power. “We have partnered with the world’s best suppliers to provide more products, more inventories, and more robust capabilities to ensure we can optimally solve a project, maintenance, or production problem. Our deep inventory of hydraulic equipment, pneumatics, pumps, filtration, motors, and lubrication products get any equipment up and running quickly. We also offer services that run the gamut from barcoded hose assemblies and VMI delivery services to pressure testing, design of mobile equipment, hydraulic manifold design, and custom power units with complete integrated controls and software.” Motion’s President, Randy Breaux, said, “Fluid power continues to be in high demand due to its unique ability to deliver high forces and torque in the most challenging applications. As North American industry and infrastructure grow, the Mi FPS team is well-positioned to offer the latest product and service innovations to meet this rising market demand. Thanks to this talented group and investments supporting the new brand, we are ready to serve our customers even better than before—offering more choices and more solutions.”
AMT to present Technical Seminars on Autonomous Mobile Robots and mixed Load Depalletizing and at Automate 2022
Applied Manufacturing Technologies COO Craig Salvalaggio and Controls Manager Terry Meister will share technical expertise on autonomous mobile robots and mixed load depalletizing at Automate hosted by A3 Association for Advancing Automation June 6-9, 2022 at Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent automation engineering company supporting warehousing and logistics, robot companies, system integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, today announced the details of its collaboration with Liberty Reach and presentations at Automate 2022 hosted by Association for Advancing Automation (A3). “Applied Manufacturing Technologies will have an extensive presence at Automate 2022,” said Rick VandenBoom, Vice President of Sales at AMT. “Not only are we presenting two of-the-moment technical seminars, at our booth, we will also be showcasing groundbreaking robotic and AI technology for mixed case palletizing/depalletizing / decanting of multiple cases using optimized best-fit finding algorithms. The event will be capped off by our founder, Mike Jacobs, receiving the prestigious Engelberger Robotics Award for Leadership.” AMT’s Controls Manager, Terry Meister, will present “Autonomous Mobile Robots – Integrator’s Insights on AMR Integration.” During this presentation, Meister will share some of the tools, thought processes, and strategies to consider when developing an AMR solution. He will discuss possible pitfalls to avoid, and how to work with the end-user on what to expect. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 10:00 am. AMT’s Chief Operating Officer, Craig Salvalaggio, will present “Demystifying Mixed Load Depalletizing: How AL and ML Vision Technology Can Unlock New Applications in the Warehouse.” During this presentation, Salvalaggio will break down the different descriptions of mixed product palletizing and depalletizing. He will describe vision technology and new software applications within the warehouse and review two case studies. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 1:30 pm. Also at Automate, AMT will unveil the latest technology breakthrough in robotic depalletizing using artificial intelligence (AI) in booth #1210. Held at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan June 6-9, 2022, the Automate Conference and Exhibition is the largest and most inspiring showcase of automation in North America. The Automate exhibition hosts more than 500 leading global automation solutions providers on the show floor. The Automate conference hosts four full days of educational sessions with eight training tracks for attendees with varying interests and levels of experience. At Automate on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, AMT Founder and CEO Michael P. Jacobs will be presented with the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award for Leadership at the Joseph F. Engelberger Awards Dinner and Ceremony.
Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission approves 2023 Budget
Cargo growth is expected to boost Port of Long Beach’s revenue by almost 11% The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners recently approved a $685.5 million annual budget for the Port of Long Beach, with almost 47% of expenditures dedicated to the nation’s most active seaport capital improvement program. Budgeted spending for the 2023 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, is 10% higher than the budget adopted last year. Operating revenue meanwhile is anticipated to be 10.9% higher, primarily due to anticipated increases in cargo volume. “Prudent fiscal planning has allowed us to weather the most drastic crisis to hit the supply chain in recent years,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “This budget reflects our commitment to continually invest in our facilities to attract business and put our customers in the best position to succeed.” Next year, the Port will again transfer a record amount – $22.8 million – to the City’s Tidelands Operating Fund, which supports quality-of-life projects along Long Beach’s 7-mile coastline. The budget also includes $40.6 million for the self-sustaining Clean Trucks Program as the Port works toward a zero-emissions drayage truck fleet by 2035. “This budget maintains our financial strength and broadens community access to the economic benefits the Port creates,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “Our consistent focus on improving our position as a preferred gateway for trans-Pacific trade while operating in a more sustainable way is why we are the Port of Choice.” In alignment with the Port’s Strategic Plan, the Port forecasts investing nearly $2.6 billion in capital improvements over the next 10 years to improve terminal and rail capacity, upgrade critical infrastructure and reduce the environmental impact of Port operations. Almost $322 million is set aside for the improvements in 2023, demonstrating the Port’s leadership role in an increasingly competitive market. The Long Beach City Council will consider approval of the budget in late summer.