SnapFulfil client gets hands-on for quicker, slicker multi-site implementation
An online farmer-to-farmer and Ag tech company has fast-tracked its expansion plans thanks to a tailored ‘Self Implementation’ program from WMS provider, SnapFulfil, that enables customers to onboard the solution themselves. With demand for their products and services soaring, Farmers Business Network (FBN) needed to increase its warehouse capacity with the opening of 15 new DCs across the American Midwest in a year, whilst retaining greater cost, labor, and inventory efficiencies. The ability to remotely implement and self-configure the WMS was essential to overcome the challenges of the global pandemic, decrease rollout time, and provide FBN with greater control, more independence, and internal system expertise. The first DC to be onboarded, in Newton, Iowa, and 186,000 sq. ft, quickly delivered vastly improved picking efficiencies. The automated approach also eliminated the number of people manually involved and – with an eye to the future – delivered a standardized and more professional process that workers across all subsequent sites could easily follow. FBN’s System Engineer, Darci Fluit, was initially schooled in both project control and project execution, including the likes of bespoke order transfer, stock management functionality, implementing the environment set up, rules engine configuration, and all the staff training required via web conferencing. “The SnapFulfil team are strong partners who provide clear instruction,” said Fluit. “They advised me on how best to interview our operational staff about their specific order volume and storage requirements; then map out the intricacies of the processes needed and phased implementation from the very beginning. “With each Go Live we saw increased speed and ease of implementation and by DC 5 we’d moved on to three simultaneous sites coming on stream, just a week apart,” added Fluit. “The robust program we have in place makes it possible and the economies of scale implications are obvious. We’ve also been able to handle more complex integrations.” SnapFulfil’s new Self Implementation documentation covers everything from data gathering, configuring the technical infrastructure, user preparation, and verification to data migration, stock take, and validation, plus go-live support. With a proven and ever-improving onboarding program now firmly entrenched in the processes at FBN, the California-based company has begun expanding its fulfillment operations to Canada and Australia.
Battery manufacturer BSLBATT® receives large order from N.A. Linde forklift dealers & Fortune 500 lead acid battery manufacturer from S.A.
BSLBATT®, a China Forklift battery manufacturer specializing in the material handling industry, An order of $60W has been received from Linde forklift dealers in North America, and purchase order of nearly $100W from a Fortune 500 lead-acid industrial battery manufacturer in Central South America. The customer, who remains undisclosed due to the terms of the agreement, is a major player in the forklift rental industry and orders for Walmart’s large warehouse. Since 2012, BSLBATT has excelled in the quality standards of lithium batteries and always strives to create new and innovative products. BSLBATT Lithium Forklift Batteries are IP67 rated and feature sophisticated components including internal heat sinks that prevent overheating and extend battery life and improve quality. In addition, BSLBATT® lithium-ion batteries are currently applying for UL-2580 safety certification! The latest announcement will be released on another day, so stay tuned! The Significance of this Vital Measure UL 2580 certification is a huge move for BSLBATT® in the North American power industry. Why is it so important? Underwriters Laboratories (UL) evaluates parameters such as the battery’s chemistry, manufacturing process, and testing protocols to help to establish which batteries are the safest. Lithium technology can be very volatile and dangerous if not monitored/controlled appropriately; however, you can be sure that your battery meets industry safety and performance standards. The BSLBATT® lithium-ion battery offers a motive power solution that combines the certainty of tried-and-true technology with the pioneering elements of lithium-ion technology. BSLBATT Battery has developed 43 lithium battery modules (100AH-960AH) with different capacities. The coverage rate of forklift models exceeds 95%. Batteries in parallel (increasing battery capacity) and external strings (increasing battery voltage) form standard batteries and standard modules; different combinations of modules can meet the design power requirements of different handling industries. Those mean that you have the freedom and flexibility to use the right number of batteries for your setup. Each is independently connected to the internet and cloud, reporting constant health updates. These modules can be activated or deactivated remotely if a fault is detected. Finally, the replacement of these modules is quick and easy: just slide one module out and put in a new one! In addition, the new advanced energy vehicle group technology is adopted, and special modules are designed according to the space and characteristics of the forklift to perfectly meet the needs of customers. BSLBATT Lithium Forklift Batteries with innovative features such as low-temperature technology, the ability to meet two or even three shifts at the same time, an intelligent battery management system, higher peak discharge, and standard size, unlike any other batteries on the market. The solution provides you with more warehouse space, and more efficient power supplies but fewer forklifts. In addition, BSLBATT’s clients will benefit from 24/7 support, battery monitoring, and performance analytics in order to carry out proactive, preventative, and predictive maintenance across its entire fleet of forklifts. Eric Yi, CEO of BSLBATT®, said: “The large order from a Linde forklift dealer customer in North America and a lead-acid industrial battery manufacturer in Central and South America is a clear testament to the value and future-proof approach that BSLBATT brings – especially in an industry which is committed to high standards like the Linde forklift company in Germany and the large Walmart warehouse. The organization achieves its sustainable goals and takes its fleet operations to a whole new level of efficiency.” Support after the sale Purchasing a product is just the first step of a partnership. At BSLBATT, we value our customers and our goal of a long-term relationship. In addition to the high-quality products in the marketplace, we also have an exclusive support network across China and North America which is unparalleled in the industry. With over 36 Distributors in different countries, we have covered routine maintenance, battery accessories, and technical advice for both batteries and chargers. Looking for new Distributors and Dealers for BSL batteries？ Find a partner that has multiple technologies and product experience in addition to the capacity to handle your power needs. The right partner will help you evaluate each facility’s operation to determine whether lead, lithium, or a mix of both could be the best answer. This is a tough environment and you need a battery and technology with proven results built specifically for the application. Currently, we are working with over 36 battery distributors globally. We continue to witness growth in the forklift lithium battery replacement market. Welcome you to be a part of our inherited innovative Industrial lithium battery products, smart-powered solutions, and cutting-edge modular technologies, and to be one of 118 dealers on our global market map member! Choose a company you trust. In addition, our team is again on the road a lot this year and is presenting the latest products from our Third generation forklift lithium battery at the LogiMAT 2022. Visit our booth in #LogiMAT from May 31st to June 2nd and find out everything about our range and our services. Stop by and visit BSLBATT Battery at Booth #Hall10 Stand G74. If you would like to schedule an appointment, contact [email protected].
Interroll presents new plug-and-play conveyor platform for automated production environments
With the new Light Conveyor Platform (LCP), Interroll is expanding its range of products with a platform-based material-flow solution that significantly increases the productivity of manufacturing processes. Designed as a plug-and-play modular system, the LCP allows all system integrators to implement scalable belt conveyor sections very easily in order to quickly meet customer-specific automation requirements for material flow. The high quality and availability of this solution are ensured by, among other things, the use of technical products that have already proven themselves hundreds of thousands of times with users worldwide. Efficient material feed and discharge play a crucial role in realizing the productivity potential of manufacturing cells, assembly, and packaging stations. At the same time, rapidly changing process environments in many other industries require flexible conveyor solutions that can easily adapt to new requirements. This is what the Interroll’s new material flow solution for system integrators and plant engineers achieves: Corresponding LCP-based belt conveyors can be easily assembled from factory-preassembled and predefined modules without any engineering effort, and can be put into operation quickly and safely via an autonomous machine control system, optionally without an additional programmable logic controller (PLC). Depending on customer requirements and application, however, connection to an external PLC with user-specific programming is also possible. Interroll’s LCP is designed to transport smaller conveyed goods, as well as boxes or polybags weighing up to 50 kilograms. The conveyors, which can also handle inclines or declines, are driven by compact and energy-efficient drum motors that have an efficiency of over 85 percent, keeping energy consumption and energy costs very low. The fully modular system can be planned and assembled very easily and conveniently on the PC monitor using Interroll’s popular Layouter tool. This drastically reduces project lead times and the necessary effort for system integrators. In addition, the predefined module sizes in different lengths and widths create the best conditions for fast production and delivery times. During the development of the new platform, great importance was also attached to maximum workplace safety and a pleasant working environment. The new LCP was extensively tested before market launch, subjected to extreme endurance and load tests, and developed according to Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DMFA) standards. It features an integrated emergency shutdown at the push of a button, complies with all relevant safety regulations, and has a quiet noise level during operation. The LCP is produced at Interroll’s site in Hvidovre, Denmark, and is available immediately in Europe, and soon in Asia and the Americas.
California community grants program honored with Sustainability Award
Southern California Association of Governments recognizes Port’s quest for equity The Port of Long Beach Community Grants Program has been bestowed with a prestigious Sustainability Award by the Southern California Association of Governments, in recognition of the $65 million-plus initiative’s efforts to mitigate the effects of goods movement on local neighborhoods. SCAG gave the prize to the Port this month in the annual award’s Equity category, which honors projects advancing equity and facilitating the growth of healthy, livable, sustainable, and economically resilient communities that are traditionally marginalized, vulnerable, and/or underrepresented. “One of the ways we stand out from competing ports is a commitment to reducing the impacts of port operations in innovative ways,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “An important tool for this is the Community Grants Program, which for more than 10 years has funded community-based projects to reduce the harmful effects of port operations, with air filters for classrooms, mobile health screenings, and asthma education programs for residents and tree plantings. We’re grateful for this recognition.” “This program is a part of a holistic approach to sustainability that has resulted in the most dramatic and substantial environmental progress ever seen in the goods movement industry,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “I’d like to thank SCAG for the award, and our dedicated staff who run this program, eliminating overhead and ensuring all of the funding goes to the community.” Projects receiving funding from the Community Grants Program must be located in the designated eligibility zone. The zone is identified as the area most impacted by port operations, and starts in downtown Long Beach and extends north along Interstate 710. It includes parts of Wilmington, Carson, Compton, and Paramount. The Community Grants Program was created to help those in the community who are most vulnerable to port-related impacts. Combined with a previous program started in 2009, it is the largest voluntary port mitigation initiative in the country. To date, $31.5 million has been committed. Learn more at www.polb.com/grants.
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending May 7, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 7, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 504,927 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending May 7 were 231,737 carloads, down 1.9 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 273,190 containers and trailers, down 4.9 percent compared to 2021. Three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They were motor vehicles and parts, up 3,071 carloads, to 14,400; nonmetallic minerals, up 1,671 carloads, to 33,952; and coal, up 522 carloads, to 63,281. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included metallic ores and metals, down 4,195 carloads, to 19,315; grain, down 2,813 carloads, to 22,402; and petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,177 carloads, to 8,940. For the first 18 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 4,138,700 carloads, up 1 percent from the same point last year; and 4,726,239 intermodal units, down 7 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 18 weeks of 2022 was 8,864,939 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 3.4 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending May 7, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 329,158 carloads, down 0.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 367,244 intermodal units, down 3.1 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 696,402 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.9 percent. North American rail volume for the first 18 weeks of 2022 was 12,078,231 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.9 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 75,688 carloads for the week, down 0.1 percent, and 78,457 intermodal units, up 1.3 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 18 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 2,541,637 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 6.9 percent. Mexican railroads reported 21,733 carloads for the week, up 15.1 percent compared with the same week last year, and 15,597 intermodal units, up 9.3 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 18 weeks of 2022 was 671,655 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.7 percent from the same point last year. To view the U.S. Rail Traffic charts, click here.
Seeq launches Conneqt Global Industry Events
Seeq Corporation, a provider of manufacturing and industrial internet of things advanced analytics software, launched Conneqt, the company’s expanded global industry conference designed for manufacturing leaders to explore the latest innovations in advanced industrial analytics. From May 2-4, 2022, in Austin, Texas, Conneqt brought together a community of Seeq customers, partners, and experts in a fully immersive experience that provided access to transformative business trends, use cases, and proactive conversations through a series of interactive sessions. Customer presentations, from organizations including Chevron, Koch Ag & Energy Services, Eli Lilly & Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Guardian Glass, and others, featured Seeq use cases and best practices for addressing the complex business issues facing the process industries today. Hands-on training sessions, fireside chats with customers, and forward-thinking cloud partner discussions with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure delivered first-hand insights on conquering data and process control challenges across a variety of industries. Dr. Lisa Graham, Seeq CEO, kicked off the event, highlighting the company’s journey from inception to the present day as well as its vision for the future of the product portfolio, which includes continued investments in extensibility, machine learning, and the cloud. “The goal of Conneqt is to provide an environment for our customers, partners, and other industry leaders to exchange ideas, data-driven insights, and manufacturing expertise that will drive sustainable and scalable business results for their organizations,” says Dr. Lisa Graham, CEO at Seeq. During the customer keynote presentation, “Accelerating Business Impact Through Cultural Innovation,” Brent Railey, Manager of Data Science at Chevron Phillips, shared how Seeq fits into the organization’s overall digital transformation strategy and how influencing organizational culture enabled his team to successfully drive adoption of the advanced analytics solution across multiple sites. “The successful adoption of any digital solution requires analysis of its relationship with the organization’s culture,” says Brent Railey, Manager of Data Science at Chevron Phillips. “By understanding the significant opportunities for improvement that Seeq could uncover and potential change management challenges before deployment, we could proactively address them to accelerate the positive production outcomes we achieved.” Limited sessions were recorded at Conneqt and will be offered on-demand on the Seeq website. Seeq customers include companies in the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, mining, food and beverage, and other process industries. The company has raised over $100M to date from investors including Insight Ventures, Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, Altira Group, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Cisco Investments. Seeq is available worldwide in the Amazon Web Services Marketplace, the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, through a global partner network of system integrators, which provides training and resale support for Seeq in over 40 countries, and its direct sales organization in North America and Europe. In addition to cloud and channel partnerships, Seeq connects to an extensive set of data storage platforms from vendors including OSIsoft, Siemens, GE, Honeywell, Inductive Automation, AVEVA, AspenTech, Yokogawa, InfluxDB, Snowflake, and others.
KION Group CEO Smith: ”The fundamental drivers of our industry are strong.”
KION GROUP AG looks back on the successful financial year 2021 at its virtual Annual General Meeting Dividend of 1.50 euros per share paid (2021: 0.41 euros) Sustainability is firmly anchored in the Group’s strategy Digitization and automation remain trends of the future All proposals by Supervisory Board and Executive Board approved by a majority vote Premiere for the new CEO Rob Smith: At his first Annual General Meeting as CEO of KION GROUP AG, he looked back on the successful financial year 2021, which the Group closed with very good results. The strong performance in 2021 was also reflected in basic earnings per share of €4.34 (2020: €1.81). Investors will now participate in these successes: The Annual General Meeting approved the Executive Board’s proposal to pay a dividend of 1.50 euros per share – a very significant increase of more than three times the previous year’s figure (0.41 euros per share). Sustainability is an essential part of corporate strategy Looking at the company’s prospects, the CEO highlighted, among other things, KION’s expertise in electric drives and battery technology: “We are one of the most important providers of e-mobility in intralogistics – worldwide. Today, almost 90 percent of all new forklift trucks and warehouse trucks manufactured by the KION Group are electrically powered.” He added that lithium-ion technology and its further development were the focus of the company’s own research and development. Two and a half years ago, KION and BMZ established the joint company KION Battery Systems in Karlstein am Main. At the end of April 2022, a new production line for 24-volt batteries was opened there, which will also be used to power the Group’s warehouse equipment in the future. “This is high-tech made by KION – and in Germany,” added Smith. Smith emphasized that sustainability is becoming increasingly important in society and industry – including at KION. Therefore, this important area for the future is firmly anchored in the KION Group’s strategy as a separate and central field of action. “We bear responsibility – for the climate, the environment, and society. Our sustainability expertise and progress are recognized – also in the capital market. “In 2021, the KION Group received a B rating from non-profit organization CDP and was awarded an A rating by MSCI ESG.” He also reported to shareholders that KION also commits itself to the implementation of its sustainability goals in terms of compensation: “20 percent of the variable remuneration of the Executive Board and executives is aligned with our sustainability goals.” Digitization and automation remain trends of the future Despite the economic and political challenges on a global level, Smith was confident about the future. He underlined KION’s strong and global position as a leading full-service provider in intralogistics and supply chain solutions. “The fundamental drivers of our industry are strong: namely, continued growth in e-commerce, urbanization and the higher demands on delivery speed,” the CEO said. Smith used several examples to explain to the shareholders how KION is shaping the future of intralogistics. For example, the Group has been working with the Fraunhofer Institute for years to develop successful solutions, including the Dematic multi-shuttle system used in many warehouses. “This system plays a decisive role in intralogistics today,” described the CEO and showed the example of the new high-performance multi-channel fulfillment center in Trecate, Italy. It distributes clothing and jewelry of leading fashion brands to 80 countries. It combines multiple automation systems from Dematic, including a 600.000 storage location Multishuttle, a 50.000 location pallet rack, a 3-module pouch system, 10 kilometers of conveyors, and the full Dematic software suite. The entire complex is about the size of 22 soccer fields. “It is one of the most modern and fastest warehouses Dematic has built to date. We have set a benchmark worldwide with this,” Smith said. A few months ago, the next project for the future was launched with the Fraunhofer institute: a new generation of driverless transport vehicles with an enormous sorting performance called LoadRunner, which KION wants to bring to market maturity. These are swarm robots for warehouses that are intended to revolutionize intralogistics with artificial intelligence. “The vehicles are unusually fast. They also talk and work with each other. This makes them ideal for warehouse sorting tasks – for example, in parcel centers. KION is bringing completely new technology into the warehouse: Swarm robotics,” Smith explained. Proposals by Supervisory Board and Executive Board approved by majority vote The majority of shareholders approved all the proposals put forward by the Supervisory Board and Executive Board. Around 200 shareholders and shareholder representatives followed the virtual Annual General Meeting of the KION Group. Further information on the Annual General Meeting and all voting results can be found here: https://www.kiongroup.com/en/Investor-Relations/Shareholders-Meeting/ https://www.kiongroup.com/en/Investor-Relations/Financial-News/
EP 279: OPEX at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Monty McVaugh of OPEX Corporation at MODEX 2022. OPEX is a family-owned automation company based in my home state of New Jersey that continuously brings cutting-edge technology to our industry. We discuss the benefits of OPEX being a family-owned business, how OPEX has been able to continually innovate since its founding in 1973, and their new Infinity ASRS. Key Takeaways OPEX has been around since 1973 and is a family-owned company. Monty is quick to point out that the family is still very much involved in the day-to-day business which has a meaningful impact on the way they do business. They have a very open culture of being able to share ideas for innovation which Monty credits for their ability to stay on top of the latest technology in the warehousing automation space. The President is very engaged in the conversation around ideas drawing from both their experiences and the employee’s feedback. The big unveiling for OPEX at MODEX was the Infinity ASRS system. This is an evolution of their Perfect Pick product after listening to customer feedback and helping to improve upon some of their pain points. One of the most interesting things about the Infinity system is that Monty points out the ability to be flexible and more modular. What caught my attention the most was that the height can go as low as 9 feet. This grabbed my attention because often when we are looking to maximize space in our industry we want to go higher. Monty shares some examples where space above docks or other areas can be utilized by implementing the Infinity in these shorter height areas. With this flexibility, we are able to rethink the space that we are using. While we typically look to make our racking higher or how high a tower can go in this case we can look at small spaces and be able to utilize them. Monty gives some great examples and he also shares how different regions of the globe do not have the same monstrous newer warehouse spaces that we are seeing in America right now. Creating a flexible solution like Infinity certainly gives you an infinite amount of utilization options. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 279: OPEX at MODEX 2022
Plant Facilities reach 148 new Industrial Manufacturing Projects in April 2022
Industrial SalesLeads, IMI just announced the April 2022 results for the newly planned capital project spending report for the Industrial Manufacturing industry. IMI tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. Research confirms 148 new projects in the Industrial Manufacturing sector. The following are selected highlights on new Industrial Manufacturing industry construction news. Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Type Manufacturing/Production Facilities – 130 New Projects Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 56 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 55 New Projects Expansion – 51 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 46 New Projects Plant Closings – 11 New Projects Largest Planned Project During the month of April, our research team identified 17 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by VinFast Auto US, which is planning to invest $4 billion in the construction of a manufacturing and distribution facility in MONCURE, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2024. Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Location (Top 10 States) New York – 13 California – 11 Michigan – 11 Ontario – 9 Indiana – 8 Ohio – 8 South Carolina – 8 Texas – 8 Minnesota – 5 North Carolina – 5 Top 10 Tracked Industrial Manufacturing Projects KENTUCKY: EV battery mfr. is planning to invest $2 billion in the construction of a 3 million SF manufacturing facility in BOWLING GREEN, KY. They are currently seeking approval for the project. KANSAS: A biotechnology company is planning to invest $650 million in the construction of a 500,000 SF processing facility in MANHATTAN, KS. They are currently seeking approval for the project. CALIFORNIA: A steel fabricator is planning to invest $350 million in the construction of a manufacturing facility in MOJAVE, CA. Construction is expected to start in early 2023, with completion slated for early 2025. ALABAMA: Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $300 million for expansion and equipment upgrades at their warehouse and manufacturing facility in MONTGOMERY, AL. TEXAS: Custom corrugated paper products mfr. is planning to invest $200 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a recently leased 1 million SF distribution and manufacturing facility on S. US-67 in CEDAR HILL, TX. NORTH CAROLINA: Building materials mfr. is planning to invest $118 million for the expansion of its manufacturing facility in OXFORD, NC by 225,000 SF. They have recently received approval for the project. MISSOURI: Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $109 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in TROY, MO. They are currently seeking approval for the project. ARKANSAS: Flexible packaging products mfr. is expanding and planning to invest $80 million in the construction of a manufacturing and distribution facility in SEARCY, AR. They have recently received approval for the project. GEORGIA: Horticultural container mfr. is planning to invest $44 million in the construction of a 256,000 SF manufacturing facility in LYONS, GA. They have recently received approval for the project. SOUTH CAROLINA: Automotive glass mfr. is planning to invest $34.5 million for an expansion of its manufacturing facility in FOUNTAIN INN, SC. Completion is slated for early 2023. About SalesLeads, Inc. Since 1959, SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team.
Plant facilities reach 170 new Distribution and Supply Chain Industrial Projects in April 2022
Industrial SalesLeads, IMI, just announced the April 2022 results for the newly planned capital project spending report for the Distribution and Supply Chain industry. IMI tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. Research confirms 170 new projects in the Distribution and Supply Chain sector. The following are selected highlights of new Distribution Center and Warehouse construction news. Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Type Distribution/Fulfillment Centers – 43 New Projects Industrial Warehouse – 161 New Projects Distribution and Supply Chain- By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 83 New Projects Expansion – 45 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 43 New Projects Closing – 4 New Projects Largest Planned Project During the month of April, our research team identified 7 new Distribution and Supply Chain facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by VinFast Auto US, which is planning to invest $4 billion in the construction of a manufacturing and distribution facility in MONCURE, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2024. Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Location (Top 5 States) Florida – 14 Texas – 13 California – 11 Indiana – 10 Ohio – 10 Top 10 Tracked Distribution and Supply Chain Project Opportunities Pennsylvania: Specialty chemical company is planning to invest $1.1 billion in the construction of processing, warehouse, and storage facility in POINT TOWNSHIP, PA. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in Fall 2022, with completion slated for Fall 2024. North Carolina: A department store chain is planning to invest $584 million for the construction of a 1.4 million SF distribution center in CHINA GROVE, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Summer 2023. Wisconsin: A real estate development company is planning to invest $300 million in the construction of a 1.57 million SF warehouse and hydroponic greenhouse facility in JANESVILLE, WI. Construction is expected to start in Fall 2022, with completion slated for late 2023. Alabama: Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $300 million for expansion and equipment upgrades at their warehouse and manufacturing facility in MONTGOMERY, AL. Texas: Custom corrugated paper products mfr. is planning to invest $200 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a recently leased 1 million SF distribution and manufacturing facility on S. US-67 in CEDAR HILL, TX. New York: Warehousing and logistics provider is planning to invest $130 million for the construction of a 2 million SF warehouse and distribution complex in HORSEHEADS, NY. Construction will occur in phases, with the completion of the first 461,000 SF warehouse and distribution facility slated for early 2023. Arkansas: Flexible packaging products mfr. is expanding and planning to invest $80 million in the construction of a manufacturing and distribution facility in SEARCY, AR. They have recently received approval for the project. Tennessee: A global shipping company is planning to invest $60 million in the construction of a 58,000 SF warehouse at 2900 Democrat Rd. in MEMPHIS, TN. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Texas: A waste recycling service provider is planning to invest $47 million in the construction of a 200,000 SF processing, warehouse, and institutional center in SAN ANTONIO, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2024. Kentucky: An aviation service provider is planning to invest $40 million in the construction of a 150,000 SF warehouse, office, and maintenance hangar at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in HEBRON, KY. They have recently received approval for the project. About SalesLeads, Inc. Since 1959, SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team.
Young joins Felling Trailers as South-Central Regional Sales Manager
Felling Trailers Inc., a national provider of industrial and commercial trailers, has recently named Mike Young as a regional sales manager to serve the South-Central territory. He will be responsible for all sales development, activity, and dealer support within Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. As the regional manager for the south-central territory, Mike’s primary responsibilities will be to achieve region market share objectives with the existing dealer base and develop new dealers in the assigned territory, providing training and product support. Mike will be taking over the south-central region once served by Gary Knudsen, who retired at the end of 2021. “Mike has a lot of industry/product knowledge. I believe he will be an asset to our team as we continue to grow our market share in the south-central region and the underground construction equipment markets,” said Nathan Uphus, Felling sales manager. Young brings over a decade of experience in the underground construction, oil, and gas industries with a strong emphasis on sales, management, and customer service. Mike brings a diverse knowledge of the underground utility markets, having worked in the oil & gas drilling industry for 12 years. Most recently, Mike held the role of vac truck sales manager for Vermeer Equipment of Texas/Louisiana. Before his time there, he was the regional sales manager for Vac-Tron/Vermeer MV Solutions for the Texas/Louisiana, Midsouth, and Great Plains territories. Along with representing the Felling Trailers product lines, Young also represents Larson Cable Trailers’ products throughout the southern United States. Larson Cable Trailers is a division of Felling Trailers, Inc. Felling Trailers acquired the Larson Cable Trailers’ assets in early 2021. “I am glad to be a part of both the Felling Trailers’ and Larson Cable Trailers’ sales teams. Both companies manufacture high-quality trailers that work great in their specific applications. I am excited to start my journey with them,” said Young. “We feel Mike’s extensive experience in the underground oil & gas industries will be a great asset in our south-central territory,” said Patrick Jennissen, Felling’s SVP of sales & marketing.
Alta Equipment Group Inc. reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results
First Quarter Financial Highlights: (comparisons are year over year) Net revenues increased 23.4% year over year to $331.7 million Construction and Material Handling revenue of $206.1 million and $125.6 million, respectively Product Support revenue increased $21.5 million YoY to $101.6 million Record first-quarter financial results primarily due to strong demand for equipment and product support growth Net loss of $(2.0) million available to common shareholders compared to a loss of $(5.7) million in 2021 Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per share* of $(0.02) compared to $(0.14) in 2021 Adjusted EBITDA* grew 30.4% to $30.0 million, compared to $23.0 million in 2021 Alta Equipment Group Inc. (“Alta” or the “Company”), a provider of premium material handling and construction equipment and related services, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022. Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer of Alta, said, “We are very pleased with our solid start to 2022 and the current momentum in our business. Total revenues increased 23.4%, or $62.9 million, to$331.7 million in the first quarter from a year ago. We remain extremely focused on operational excellence and as a result, delivered both solid organic and acquisition-related revenue growth. Consistent with our fourth-quarter results, our Construction and Material Handling segments continued to benefit from the strong tailwinds in our end-user markets, producing significant year-over-year revenue growth on a combined basis, despite ongoing supply chain issues. Our flexible business model and increased product support revenues were driven by higher new and used equipment sales, and expansion into higher-margin specialty segments will continue to have a positive impact on future profitability.” Discussing the current market environment, Mr. Greenawalt noted, “Customer sentiment, project activity, and visibility, remain extremely positive across all our operating markets. Demand for new and used equipment and rental equipment has eclipsed pre-pandemic peak levels. As an example, our organic physical rental fleet utilization was up more than 5 percentage points from a year ago and rates on rental equipment continued to strengthen in the first quarter. We are operating in a fundamentally robust expansion cycle and all the industry indicators are extremely encouraging for the balance of the year. While the timing is uncertain, the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure bill should also be an incremental benefit to our business.” Mr. Greenawalt, concluded, “Our 2022 growth strategy remains very much intact, and we have a solid pipeline of M&A opportunities we are evaluating that are consistent with our previous deals. Our ongoing goal is to expand our presence in existing key markets, add broader high-margin capabilities to new regions and expand into new markets which offer substantial growth opportunities. We have a strong balance sheet to support our expansion initiatives. Lastly, our entrance into the commercial electric vehicle industry and partnership with Nikola is progressing very well. While this initiative won’t be a material contributor to our results in 2022, it puts us in an excellent position to be an EV truck market leader in the densest truck markets in the country.” Three Months Ended March 31, Increase (Decrease) 2022 2021 2022 versus 2021 Revenues: New and used equipment sales $ 151.6 $ 123.8 $ 27.8 22.5 % Parts sales 53.4 41.4 12.0 29.0 % Service revenue 48.2 38.7 9.5 24.5 % Rental revenue 37.7 33.1 4.6 13.9 % Rental equipment sales 40.8 31.8 9.0 28.3 % Net revenues $ 331.7 $ 268.8 $ 62.9 23.4 % Cost of revenues: New and used equipment sales $ 123.9 $ 106.5 $ 17.4 16.3 % Parts sales 36.7 28.7 8.0 27.9 % Service revenue 20.1 14.5 5.6 38.6 % Rental revenue 5.4 5.5 (0.1 ) (1.8 )% Rental depreciation 20.3 19.4 0.9 4.6 % Rental equipment sales 33.9 26.9 7.0 26.0 % Cost of revenues $ 240.3 $ 201.5 $ 38.8 19.3 % Gross profit $ 91.4 $ 67.3 $ 24.1 35.8 % General and administrative expenses $ 82.9 $ 64.8 $ 18.1 27.9 % Depreciation and amortization expense 3.9 2.0 1.9 95.0 % Total general and administrative expenses $ 86.8 $ 66.8 $ 20.0 29.9 % Income from operations $ 4.6 $ 0.5 $ 4.1 820.0 % Other (expense) income: Interest expense, floor plan payable – new equipment $ (0.3 ) $ (0.5 ) $ 0.2 (40.0 )% Interest expense – other (5.8 ) (5.3 ) (0.5 ) 9.4 % Other income 0.3 0.1 0.2 200.0 % Total other expense $ (5.8 ) $ (5.7 ) $ (0.1 ) 1.8 % Loss before taxes $ (1.2 ) $ (5.2 ) $ 4.0 (76.9 )% Income tax provision — 0.5 (0.5 ) (100.0 )% Net loss $ (1.2 ) $ (5.7 ) $ 4.5 (78.9 )% Preferred stock dividends (0.8 ) — (0.8 ) 100% Net loss available to common shareholders $ (2.0 ) $ (5.7 ) $ 3.7 (64.9 )% Recent Business Highlights: The Company was awarded the Nikola Arizona sales and service territory. The full Year 2022 Financial Guidance: The Company maintained its guidance range and expects to report Adjusted EBITDA between $137 million and $142 million, net of new equipment floorplan interest, for the full year of 2022. Conference Call Information: Alta management will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss and answer questions about the Company’s first-quarter financial results. Additionally, supplementary presentation slides will be accessible on the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at https://Investors.altaequipment.com.
Delta-Q Technologies ships its four millionth battery charger
The milestone represents a carbon emissions reduction of four million metric tons since the company’s founding Delta-Q Technologies (Delta-Q), a provider of battery charging solutions for electric vehicles and industrial equipment, has announced the shipment of their four millionth battery charger. With each charger representing the potential to save one metric ton of emissions, this significant milestone equates to four million metric tons of carbon emissions saved since the company’s founding, further cementing its imprint on global electrification and sustainability. In April, Delta-Q was also recognized for its innovation in reducing emissions in the transportation sector with a $300,000 grant from The CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization (ARC) Program. The grant is part of CleanBC’s “Roadmap to 2030,” an initiative to expand and accelerate climate action by building on the province’s natural advantages – abundant, clean electricity, high-value natural resources, and a highly-skilled workforce. The ARC funding for Delta-Q will aid in the development of a family of high-power and high-voltage on-board battery chargers for commercial and industrial electric vehicles. “We are excited to contribute to BC’s leadership in clean technology and the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Sarah MacKinnon, co-CEO and CFO, of Delta-Q Technologies. “Shipping four million chargers not only signifies our company’s solid growth and more jobs created in BC, but it also means that we are helping combat the global energy crisis in a tangible way as industrial electric vehicles replace fossil fuel-based vehicles.” With roots in BC and a 22-year history in the sustainable electrification of vehicles and industrial machines worldwide, Delta-Q is a prime example of how a business fostering innovation and nurturing emerging technologies brings investments and jobs back to BC. In fact, the company was ranked number 10 in the recent Business In Vancouver’s Biggest Alternative Energy Companies in BC 2022.
Black Equipment acquires portions of Tennessee and Arkansas operations for Hyster
Material handling dealer expands sales and service territory to include the Memphis market Black Equipment, a material handling equipment dealer with headquarters in Evansville, Indiana, announces a significant expansion to its sales and service territory in the southern United States. Black Equipment has acquired the Briggs Equipment territory as the Hyster® dealer in the Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Tennessee; and Jonesboro, Arkansas markets, effective April 29, 2022. Black Equipment is already the authorized Yale® dealer for these markets and will continue to operate from its existing locations. A family-owned business, the material handling dealer has grown from a single facility to 11 locations covering parts of seven states. “Black Equipment is a dedicated partner and industry leader in the markets we serve, and our growth is a reflection of that,” said Scott Bonnell, president of Black Equipment. “By investing in people and technology, we deliver trusted service, material handling solutions, and 24-hour support that helps our customers thrive. In fact, 80 of our trained technicians are already dedicated to this region, and we look forward to welcoming our new customers with a seamless transition.” “Memphis, Jackson, and Jonesboro are very significant to Hyster and Yale, and this expansion by Black Equipment further strengthens our dedicated dealer network,” said Chuck Pascarelli, president Americas Division, Hyster-Yale Group. “With a proven performance record that includes 22 consecutive years of recognition as a Dealer of Excellence, we are confident in the service and expertise that Black Equipment will provide to their new customers in these markets.” As part of this transaction, Briggs Equipment will take over the Black Equipment territory as the Yale® dealer for Tupelo, Mississippi.
EP 278: Signode at MODEX 2022
On this episode, I was joined by Mike Stein of Signode at MODEX 2022. I first spoke to Signode at ProMat 2019 when they had multiple solutions available to the market but they have since evolved to become an integrator as well as a solution provider. We discuss how that evolution came about and the importance of being able to provide end-to-end solutions for customers. Key Takeaways Signode is focused on making sure that your products are getting packaged and out the door in the most efficient and optimized way possible. Originally they had started out focusing on packaging and different components of packaging which we have spoken about here on the podcast but they have been able to evolve in the marketplace as an integrator as well. They recognized the fact that they were providing components that were helping operations become more efficient but had multiple requests for end-to-end solutions which they decided to take on themselves. As an integrator, they are now able to take your operation towards automation from end to end from automated wrappers to ASRS build-outs. Mike and I discuss the importance of being able to provide end-to-end solutions and how that can be beneficial to the customer. Having this option for the customer allows them to move faster and smoother. Working with multiple different companies can result in disconnects between systems and products which may result in frustration and ultimately long-term issues. By getting end-to-end solutions from one provider, a company can know that they are going to be on the same page and that the integration of different components will run smoothly. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 278: Signode at MODEX 2022
Motion’s 2021 Supplier of the Year award winner: Gates
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, named Gates Corporation “2021 Supplier of the Year.” The award recognizes companies that have shown exceptional commitment to Motion through quality products and services, as well as earning the highest score in the multi-faceted Supplier Stratification rating system. The presentation took place May 3rd at Motion’s headquarters in Birmingham. “We value and appreciate the relationship that we have with the Gates team,” stated Motion’s President, Randy Breaux. “Over the past couple of years, we all have faced challenges like never before—with a pandemic, supply chain shortages, workforce issues, and now inflation. Together, Motion and Gates continue to exemplify that relationships truly matter.” Kevin Storer, Motion’s Executive Vice President of U.S. Branch Operations, added, “As the Motion team works to deliver value to our customers and continually earn our place as the premier industrial solutions provider, we are proud to have innovative and dedicated suppliers such as Gates.” “On behalf of all Gates employees, we are truly honored and humbled to receive the 2021 Supplier of the Year Award from Motion,” said Grant Gawronski, Chief Commercial Officer of Gates Corporation. “For over 75 years, Gates and Motion have worked closely together to serve industrial customers with the highest levels of service, quality, and innovation. Working through the challenges of the past few years further highlights the strength of this relationship, as well as our optimism for our future, combined success.” Joe Limbaugh, Motion’s Executive Vice President of Supply Chain, Operations Support, Marketing, and Enterprise Excellence, said, “Suppliers who finished in our Top 50 are the ‘best of the best’ in our industry, and to rank first in this elite group is extremely impressive—especially with our rigorous rating system. We look forward to mutual success with Gates in 2022 and beyond.” Motion’s Supplier Stratification formula is a rating system that evaluates each supplier’s performance in a number of Supply Chain, Marketing, and Field Support categories.
Lincoln Electric appoints Michelle N. Butler as Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) & Sustainability
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has announced that Michelle N. Butler has been appointed Vice President, Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) & Sustainability, reporting to the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. In this new role, Butler will oversee the Company’s EHS & Sustainability policies, procedures, and operational initiatives to advance safety, health, incident and accident prevention, regulatory compliance, and environmental management performance. She will also lead the Company’s sustainability program and its Sustainability Committee to enhance environmental performance and product stewardship. She will also serve as a key member of the new Executive Sustainability Leadership Committee, which will oversee environmental, social, and governance initiatives, targets, performance, and disclosures. Butler most recently served as Director of Sustainability at Wabtec Corporation, where she integrated their sustainability strategy into core processes and governance structures, developed a roadmap to achieve energy goals, enhanced external reporting, and supported the issuance of green bonds. She also led Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) in the Americas region. “We are pleased to welcome Michelle and the expertise and leadership she brings to improve our EHS performance and expand our sustainability initiatives,” said Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our Higher Standard 2025 Strategy emphasizes innovation and operational excellence across the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) pillars to achieve our 2025 sustainability goals and longer-term commitments to ensure our organization is aligned with our stakeholders and is operating by a higher standard to build a better world.” In addition to her tenure at Wabtec, Butler served as the EHS Growth and Sustainability Leader at GE Transportation, Senior Pollution Prevention Engineer at the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, and held a variety of Health, Safety, and Environment roles of increasing responsibility at Eastman Kodak Company. Butler earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, a Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and a dual Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Toyota Material Handling, Cornell Engineering announce partnership on innovative forklift learning studio
The partnership aims to fundamentally change the learning experience by connecting theory and application Toyota Material Handling (TMH) and Cornell University’s College of Engineering have announced a unique partnership dedicated to the development of an innovative learning studio that incorporates Toyota equipment to elevate immersive engineering education to an entirely new level. The Forklift Learning Studio will be built and developed during the summer with the goal of officially launching it to Cornell engineering students at the start of the fall semester in August. Toyota and faculty from Cornell Engineering’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) began discussing this partnership late last year as a way to revolutionize the way engineering students learn by finding a more optimal balance between lecture and lab sessions. “Our students enjoy theory, but they are motivated by action–building, and testing. They respond best to seeing engineering systems first and having the system motivate the theory they learn,” said David Erickson, the S.C. Thomas Sze Director of MAE. “The educational opportunity Toyota is enabling us to bring to life will fundamentally change the student experience by allowing them to see how each area of engineering connects to a larger system – in this case, a forklift. We believe this will provide students a uniquely engaging learning environment.” Erickson intends for this to be the first of multiple learning studios. Each one will be designed to unify multiple courses and link students across classes and skill levels as they engage in work with real-world applications. They will each incorporate a fully functional system – like a forklift – so that students can use it to perform experiments and model problems that connect to lessons from other classes. This set of lab redesigns is supported by an Innovative Teaching and Learning Award from Cornell’s Active Learning Initiative. “We are excited about the future of this partnership and the impact it will have on the next generation of engineers,” said Brett Wood, President & CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America and a Cornell graduate. “As a former engineering student, I would have loved the opportunity to learn in such a hands-on way that connects the classroom to the real world. Young people often wonder how they’ll use certain theories in their professional lives because it’s often difficult to connect the dots. In our Forklift Learning Studio, all of the ‘dots’ will exist in the same space as the finished product. This connects perfectly to our Toyota culture of continuous improvement by giving Cornell Engineering students a place for continuous learning.” Toyota proposed that forklifts would be a perfect fit for such a learning studio and offered to donate the equipment and branding work necessary to bring the idea to life. Forklifts encompass all aspects of a mechanical engineering curriculum – they use internal combustion engines (thermofluids), bear weight (structural mechanics), and their use depends on dynamic stability (dynamics and controls). This innovative learning space will provide students with opportunities to discover new principles and to build bridges – both between their courses and from their coursework to their careers. For the college, this model provides efficient and effective use of space that allows engaging lab work to be spread evenly through the curriculum. “Systems thinking is at the core of what we teach students. The ability to take apart a complex system – and to analyze its key components and their interconnections – is essential to modern engineering,” said Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell. “This learning studio will advance our educational priorities and enrich the MAE experience for all students. I anticipate that the model we’ve formed with Toyota will be replicated in programs that span the entire college. We deeply appreciate the expertise and forward-thinking approach that Brett and his colleagues at Toyota have brought to the table as we reimagine engineering education and strengthen our connections to important industries.” In addition to modernizing the way students learn, the mutually beneficial partnership will expose them to new products and industries where they could build successful careers. The forklift industry is an essential part of the nation’s supply chain, and it is coming off a record year in 2021 with 334,000 units sold in North America. The industry contributes more than $26 billion to the United States’ annual GDP and offers wide-ranging opportunities for engineers – including in automation. “When you think about it, forklifts are incredibly important to the world we live in. Everything that we buy at the grocery store, every package that ends up at our front door was touched by material handling equipment at some point in the process,” said Brian Kirby, the Meinig Family Professor of Engineering at Cornell’s MAE. “If we can’t move goods and materials, it has a domino effect on all kinds of things in the industry, the economy, and ultimately our society. The opportunity to expose our students to such an important industry while also revolutionizing the way they learn is a win-win on every level.”
One-stop help For Trucker Days set for May 24-26
Multiagency, in-person event to assist drivers seeking Port access Truck drivers and others seeking clearances to access the San Pedro Bay port complex can sign up for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, the Clean Truck Program, and other official programs at a convenient, one-stop event designed to provide help for truckers at the Port of Long Beach from May 24-26. Drivers also will be able to sign up for radio frequency identification tags that are needed in the port complex and for the Port of Long Beach’s Truck Alert notification system, which provides real-time text message updates on traffic issues in the Harbor District. The Port of Long Beach is hosting the event in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration and the identity certification company IDEMIA. “Truck drivers are an essential link in the supply chain and we want to give them every opportunity to obtain access to the Port,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Our collaboration with the TSA and IDEMIA will help truckers move cargo more quickly through the Port.” “We’re happy to accommodate the trucking community by bringing the registration process directly to the Port,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Steven Neal. “We hope this event provides a convenient and easy way to get the clearances they need.” The “four-in-one” event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, May 24-26, at the Port of Long Beach Terminal Access Center, 1265 Harbor Ave., Long Beach (southwest corner of Harbor Avenue and West Anaheim Street). Free tacos will be available to participants from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, while supplies last. TWIC appointments and pre-enrollment are available at universalenroll.dhs.gov/programs/twic. Click New Enrollment, complete the information and in Step 9 – Select Appointment Location, choose “Pop Up: Port of Long Beach, 5/24-5/26.” For questions and appointments regarding Clean Truck Program registration and RFID, call 866-721-5686 or email [email protected].
Flimsy bags can now be picked and handled more easily with a safe grip
As the bags become thinner and flimsier, the more carefully they need to be treated. With the new BGX suction cup developed for handling flimsy bags, this challenge is outdated. The BGX suction cup is suitable for applications in E-commerce, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Secondary food picking, Fashion, and other industries where bags are handled. Bags made of thin plastic films such as those used for salad leaves and fresh herbs, or the aluminum foil bags used for chips and other snacks are flimsy and often just as fragile as their contents. New biodegradable and recyclable materials are becoming increasingly popular and with it the challenges of bag handling increase. The thinner the bags become, the easier they can be sucked into and damaged by the suction cup’s grip. To avoid any damage to the bag or indeed to its contents, the lip of the suction cup needs to provide outstanding sealing capability even at low vacuum levels. Piab’s new BGX bag handling suction cup has been specially developed to be the perfect bag picker for flimsy and oversized bags addressing the challenges presented by this application. The lip of the bag cup is designed with outstanding sealing capability also at a low vacuum level. Produced as a one-piece suction cup with two bellows, the suction cup will easily pick bags of different heights with a safe and stable hold of the product in the fast/semi-fast robot applications. The BGX suction cups are made of FDA & EU-approved blue silicone for direct contact with food and are suitable for both high and low-temperature applications. The suction cup can be configured by choosing between 3 sizes of lip diameters 34, 41, and 48 mm, and 6 different aluminum push-in fittings designed to attach safely to the robust neck of the cups. The ultimate bag picker benefits: Perfect for picking flimsy bags Thin lip seals outstandingly at a low vacuum level One-piece suction cup provides safe and stable hold of the product in fast/semi-fast robot applications Multi bellow design compensates for height differences and uneven surfaces FDA & EU approved silicone material for direct food contact Suitable for both high and low-temperature applications Configurable for individual applications in E-commerce, FMCG, Secondary food picking, Fashion, and other industries. Piab’s solutions for automated bag handling rely on our long-standing expertise in vacuum and ejector technology as well as the use of our specialized suction cups. With over 20 years of experience in developing bag-handling suction cups, we still constantly challenge ourselves to create new cups for increasingly targeted applications supporting your success.