EnerSys® helps Big-Box Home Improvement retailer boost sustainability
NexSys® PURE Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) batteries are helping the company cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and water consumption EnerSys®, the global provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications, is helping a big-box home improvement retailer reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and water consumption by switching its lift truck fleet power from flooded lead-acid batteries to NexSys® PURE Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) battery technology. This change-over is part of the retailer’s ambitious climate change goals – including a 40 percent reduction in its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2030. Scope 1 emissions come directly from the retailer’s own facilities and vehicles, including its logistics network and Distribution Centers (DCs). Assisting EnerSys® in the facilitation of this switch is Industrial Battery & Charger, Inc. (IBCI), a Charlotte, NC-based battery dealer-distributor helping the retailer outfit its lift trucks with 2,886 NexSys® PURE TPPL batteries. Over their lifetime, those 2,886 NexSys® PURE batteries will help the big-box home improvement retailer keep approximately 6,300 metric tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere – about the equivalent of taking 1,400 cars off the road. The solution can also help the retailer save nearly 2 million gallons of distilled water annually, a volume that would fill 3 Olympic-sized swimming pools. “Meeting ambitious climate change commitments means implementing the technologies that can make it happen,” notes Rodney Broome, IBCI’s Vice President, National Accounts. “Proprietary TPPL technology from EnerSys is helping this retailer reduce energy and water use while cutting operating costs and CO2 emissions at the same time.” Unlike flooded lead-acid batteries, NexSys® PURE batteries never require watering or long equalize charges. In fact, they recharge so efficiently that they can be opportunity-charged during breaks or in-between shifts, eliminating the need to swap batteries in and out of the vehicle. In terms of water savings, each NexSys® PURE battery eliminates the use of 13 gallons of distilled water every week. This eliminates the energy otherwise needed for water distillation and distribution. Even more, savings are realized because each NexSys® PURE battery is 24% more energy efficient per charge than flooded lead-acid batteries. The move to NexSys® PURE batteries is also helping this big-box home improvement retailer cut its capital and operating expenditures across its 15 Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs). Thanks to their opportunity-charging capabilities and high energy throughput, NexSys® PURE batteries are helping the retailer shrink its battery inventory at each RDC from roughly 600 flooded batteries to 300 NexSys® PURE batteries. That inventory reduction will ultimately enable an estimated savings of $2.3 million in battery purchase costs, but the savings in maintenance costs may prove far more substantial. One of the retailer’s RDC reports that eliminating battery watering, washing and changing has saved the facility $435,000 in yearly labor costs. Multiplied by the 15 RDCs, the potential savings is upwards of six million dollars per year. “At EnerSys, we are dedicated to developing motive power solutions that drive sustainable business practices to help build a better future for everyone, everywhere,” said Harold Vanasse, Senior Director of Marketing, Motive Power Global at EnerSys®. “NexSys® PURE batteries are part of our premier, virtually maintenance-free NexSys® battery line and are designed to reach new heights of product affordability, safety, convenience, and performance through the delivery of superior, eco-friendly power.” At the time of this writing, EnerSys® and IBCI have helped this big-box home improvement retailer switch from flooded batteries to TPPL batteries at 11 of its 15 RDCs. Plans are in the works to adopt the TPPL technology at nine additional coastal holding facilities now under construction. Eventually, the company hopes to use NexSys® PURE batteries to power lift trucks in all its retail locations.
KION North America expands territory with dealer partner Material Handling Inc.
KION North America has appointed Material Handling, Inc. with additional territory in portions of Alabama. Material Handling, Inc. currently serves areas throughout Georgia and Tennessee and is authorized to sell KION North America’s portfolio of Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands. “We are very excited about this expansion and are proud to partner with a strong material handling solutions provider as Material Handling, Inc,” said Director of Distribution Management Rick Schiel. “This organization takes pride in offering its customers the very best equipment and solutions customized to meet the needs of each operation. Their strong commitment to excellence makes KION North America proud to partner with Material Handling Inc. while promoting the trusted Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands.” Material Handling Inc. is family-owned and operated and has served the material handling industry for over 30 years by offering forklift solutions, including warehouse products and repair and maintenance services. Guided by its core values and principles known as “The MHI Way,” Material Handling Inc. has strategically cultivated a culture centered around putting its customers first. This solid foundation has made Material Handling, Inc. a trusted provider of forklift trucks, parts, and services throughout Georgia, Tennessee, and now Alabama. “We are proud to partner with Linde Material Handling to provide world-class products and solutions to the robust and growing Alabama market,” said Material Handling Inc. (MHI) President Mike Sain. “MHI utilizes the full range of Linde Material Handling products to provide the right solution for each customer’s unique needs.”
NEW Portable Power System with Advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
Say “so long” to extension cords Newcastle Systems, a provider of mobile-powered carts designed to make warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and retail floors more efficient, now welcomes the PP2.0-LI as part of the Newcastle PowerPack Ultra Series. This newest compact system offers safe lithium iron phosphate battery technology that provides seamless AC power for 6-8 hours at a time. It’s ideal for powering a laptop or small thermal printer for light computing/label printing applications. Once the battery charge has depleted, simply plug it into an outlet to be fully recharged in about 5 hours. At 17 lbs., the lightweight power system can be mounted on any rugged, non-powered industrial cart or the Newcastle LT Series Industrial Laptop Cart. By adding mobile power to your cart, workers can roll directly to the point of work and slash the time they waste walking to static printers, computers, and more. Productivity increases as workers typically gain an additional 5-10 hours each week that can be applied to other essential tasks. Proven applications include inbound/outbound labeling at the pallet, inventory control, cycle counting, and more. With an 8–10-year battery life (or over 3,000 cycles), the PP 2.0-LI offers an affordable and convenient alternative to costly cable drops or dangerous extension cords in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Adding this battery system to a mobile cart, or upgrading an old SLA battery system, will give businesses even more options to increase worker productivity when the labor pool is exceptionally tight. The PP2.0-LI comes standard with integrated power outlets, a USB port, visual & audible low voltage alert, easy-grip side handles, and an integrated cord reel holder. It also comes with blue tooth enabled for real-time stats via its own app. Data includes charge level, cycle life, and more. Available for both Android and Apple devices.
Toyota Material Handling adds to electric Walkie Pallet Jack lineup
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) has launched two AC-powered walkie pallet jacks under the brand Tora-Max – including an all-new Compact Electric Walkie Pallet Jack. These new models add to Toyota’s industry-leading lineup of electric products and are an ideal solution for customers in the warehousing, manufacturing, beverage, retail, and distribution industries. Both models are available for order online at MyToyotaStore.com and at TMH dealers across North America. “These new ergonomic walkies are perfect for customers who need a fast, turnkey solution for their material handling needs,” said TMH Product Planning Manager Jena-Christine Lawrence. “This product launch is the latest example of Toyota’s mission to provide versatile and valuable solutions for any type of customer.” The Compact Tora-Max Walkie Pallet Jack delivers optimal maneuverability and exceptional power with a capacity of up to 3,300 pounds. The compact design allows for effortless navigation when working in trailers and tight spaces, and comes equipped with an exchangeable lithium-ion battery that allows for fast charging and quick, easy battery replacement. The Compact model also features a multifunction control handle with ergonomic hand grips, fingertip controls of all functions, and an LCD display that shows battery usage and important truck information such as fault codes and working hours. “The vertical driving position allows operators to maneuver in confined areas without fully extending the control handle,” Lawrence said. “The control handle was designed for comfort and intuitive use so operators can quickly learn to use the equipment.” The full-size Tora-Max Walkie Pallet Jack is built to carry up to 4,000 pounds, and its high ground clearance permits easy operation over transitions and uneven surfaces. This model comes equipped with an AC drive motor and a sealed, maintenance-free lead-acid battery with a built-in charger to maximize uptime. Both models offer useful features such as an electric lift and lower, a turtle mode button to slow the maximum operating speed for enhanced handling control, and an optional high-load backrest.
ASSP recruiting safety instructors for three events
The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) is seeking a diverse group of occupational safety and health professionals to join its team of instructors now being formed for three education events. The world’s oldest professional safety organization is a longtime industry leader in providing continuing education for workplace safety and health professionals around the world. ASSP’s call for instructors covers courses to be delivered at SafetyFOCUS Fall on Oct. 24-28; SafetyFOCUS Winter on Feb. 13-24; and pre/post courses at Safety 2023 next June. “It’s a terrific opportunity for safety and health experts to make a difference by contributing to the continuing education of their colleagues, advancing the industry, and ultimately protecting workers everywhere,” said ASSP President Brad Giles, P.E., CSP, STS, FASSP, GIOSH. “It’s truly a rewarding experience.” Courses range from half-days to three days and focus on business and leadership skills, fall protection, risk assessment and management, safety management systems, and worker well-being. Prospective instructors must identify emerging issues, develop strategies for overcoming challenges, and aim to expand attendee knowledge and professional skills. A panel of ASSP members will anonymously evaluate all instructor proposals against the following criteria: The degree to which the proposed course meets ASSP’s program objectives. Instructor’s presentation skills and teaching experience. Interest and need for the topic within the safety and health profession. Interested instructors should submit a separate application for each course, with a maximum of four per instructor. Please direct questions to ASSP’s professional development staff at [email protected]. Course proposals for all three events must be submitted online by May 6. ASSP will notify successful applicants by email in early June.
TVH opens new Belgium headquarters dubbed “The Hub”
TVH has officially opened its new main office in Waregem, Belgium. Dubbed ‘The Hub’, the new facility was opened by CEO Dominiek Valcke in the presence of 200 guests. “With this state-of-the-art office building, we can now employ even more people and easily introduce visitors to our services,” Valcke said. Work on the site began in April 2019, and the new 13 000 sqm building is “a sleek, bright and contemporary solution to the impending lack of space that TVH was experiencing because of its rapid growth”, according to the company. Great attention was paid to comfort, ergonomics, and efficiency. Numerous CO2 sensors, temperature sensors, and controls ensure a pleasant indoor climate, and the many sound-absorbing materials also contribute to comfort. “The growth that TVH has experienced in recent years entailed a strong increase in the number of employees,” says Valcke. “We didn’t just create more office space with The Hub. We can now also support our employees better with extra meeting rooms, an auditorium, a new company restaurant, a showroom, and an extensive meeting center. “This additional space is certainly not an unnecessary luxury, since we are looking for more than 250 new colleagues to strengthen TVH, in Waregem alone,” Valcke adds. TVH is especially proud of its new “Experience Center”. “This unique 1,500 sqm visitor center primarily serves as a location to familiarise local and international visitors, such as customers, suppliers, associations, schools, and applicants, with the offer, services, atmosphere, and working method of TVH,” says the facility manager Luc Rasschaert. “And thanks to its interactive nature, TVH Experience Center is much more than just a showroom. Visitors can play games and test their driving skills with a virtual lift truck in a warehouse, for example.”
U.S. Rail Traffic for March and the week ending April 2, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 2, 2022, as well as volumes for March 2022. U.S. railroads originated 1,169,546 carloads in March 2022, up 1.2 percent, or 13,456 carloads, from March 2021. U.S. railroads also originated 1,338,138 containers and trailers in March 2022, down 6.4 percent, or 92,170 units, from the same month last year. Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in March 2022 were 2,507,684, down 3 percent, or 78,714 carloads and intermodal units from March 2021. In March 2022, nine of the 20 carload commodity categories tracked by the AAR each month saw carload gains compared with March 2021. These included: chemicals, up 18,291 carloads or 11.7 percent; coal, up 16,637 carloads or 5.4 percent; and crushed stone, sand & gravel, up 7,974 carloads or 8.5 percent. Commodities that saw declines in March 2022 from March 2021 included: grain, down 13,839 carloads or 10.8 percent; petroleum & petroleum products, down 9,033 carloads or 16.5 percent; and all other carloads, down 4,459 carloads or 14.6 percent. “March was another mixed month for U.S. rail volumes,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray. “It was the best month ever for carloads of chemicals while carloads of crushed stone and sand, food products, lumber, and motor vehicles were higher than they’ve been in months. On the other hand, carloads of grain, petroleum products, and paper products, among others, were down in March. These conflicting trends reflect an economy with a good deal of directional uncertainty; uncertainty that needs resolution before its full potential can be realized.” Excluding coal, carloads were down 3,181 carloads, or 0.4 percent, in March 2022 from March 2021. Excluding coal and grain, carloads were up 10,658 carloads, or 1.5 percent. Total U.S. carload traffic for the first three months of 2022 was 2,987,140 carloads, up 2.6 percent, or 76,120 carloads, from the same period last year; and 3,369,898 intermodal units, down 6.9 percent, or 249,672 containers and trailers, from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 13 weeks of 2022 was 6,357,038 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to last year. Week Ending April 2, 2022 Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 502,194 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending April 2 were 231,963 carloads, up 0.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 270,231 containers and trailers, down 5.4 percent compared to 2021. Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They included coal, up 4,155 carloads, to 63,932; chemicals, up 2,204 carloads, to 35,109; and farm products excl. grain, and food, up 1,889 carloads, to 17,347. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included grain, down 3,528 carloads, to 22,166; metallic ores and metals, down 1,989 carloads, to 21,082; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,916 carloads, to 8,127. North American rail volume for the week ending April 2, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 333,927 carloads, up 2.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 359,728 intermodal units, down 3.5 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 693,655 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.5 percent. North American rail volume for the first 13 weeks of 2022 was 8,626,296 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.7 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 80,499 carloads for the week, up 3.4 percent, and 73,035 intermodal units, down 1.7 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 13 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,782,022 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 9.4 percent. Mexican railroads reported 21,465 carloads for the week, up 32 percent compared with the same week last year, and 16,462 intermodal units, up 28.6 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 13 weeks of 2022 was 487,236 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 5.4 percent from the same point last year. To view the weekly U.S. Rail Traffic charts, click here.
MHI roars back with record MODEX 2022
The manufacturing and supply chain community came together last month for a return to in-person trade shows with a record-setting MODEX event, according to show producer MHI. Over 37,047 visitors connected with over 857 exhibitors across 405,000 square feet of exhibit space at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. This was the largest MODEX event to date for MHI, with 20% more visitors than the last pre-pandemic show – MODEX 2018. Additionally, the direct economic impact of this event to the Atlanta area is estimated to be $45 million. The next MHI trade show will be PROMAT 2023 in Chicago, IL on March 20-23, 2023.
EP 269: Jeff Lem and the students
On this episode, I put on my other hat which is Professor Lawton, and was joined by previous guest Jeff Lem. Being at MODEX 2022, I could not teach my class in person so we did it virtually and I had a guest speaker come on. That guest speaker was the president of Portable Intelligence and author, Jeff Lem. Key Takeaways Jeff highlights the amount of technology we are seeing coming into the warehousing space which was even more evident at MODEX 2022. Even with all of the technology, Jeff is sure to mention that you must rely on your data and that the data must be accurate and consistent in order to continue to make smart business decisions. This is very much a topic that I have discussed with my students as we have covered the importance of accurate data within the supply chain. He also highlights the growth of business intelligence and how it is being grown utilizing AI. This was very interesting as my students are very interested to hear about how AI is growing and being utilized in the supply chain. The biggest growth point for AI in the supply chain according to Jeff is the predictive analytics side. This is allowing operations to understand what is going to happen and how to plan for it in their operation. Additionally, emphasizes that having solid data for AI to work properly is a key to implementing it. One of the other things that Jeff highlights is how the pandemic has caused companies to rethink how they distribute products in their supply chain. He discusses how things have changed for the customer experience and how companies have adopted different ways to allow for contact-less experiences. Through this companies have been able to start not only distributing and fulfilling orders from warehouses but also through their stores. This expands the available inventory and allows it to get to customers with more efficiency. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 269: Jeff Lem and the Students
KEEN Utility Roswell work boot features versatility
The Roswell is a first-of-its-kind for KEEN Utility — a work boot with versatility that makes it a standout for warm conditions. With a fold-down collar and breathable canvas upper, the Roswell enables a seamless transition from the job site to off-the-clock wearability. Additional comfort is provided by a KEEN.ReGen midsole that returns 50% more energy than standard EVA foam and asymmetrical carbon fiber toes that are 15% lighter than steel, while offering an unobtrusive fit. In addition to its functional good looks, this medium-duty work boot does not sacrifice when it comes to safety features required for the job. The oil and slip-resistant, non-marking, multidirectional lugged rubber outsole maximizes surface area and improves traction, while an EH-rated outsole protects the underfoot from live electrical circuits. A true blend of performance, style, and safety, the new Roswell will be available in two colorways.
KION Group withdraws its outlook for the financial year 2022
– Supply bottlenecks and substantially higher procurement costs are putting pressure on the Group’s adjusted EBIT – Given the political and economic uncertainties, it is currently not possible to assess the KION Group’s business performance for the year as a whole. – CEO Smith: “The fundamental drivers of our industry are well intact. We continue our focus on profitable growth and the implementation of our KION 2027 strategy.” In view of the ongoing and substantial uncertainties in the procurement markets, which are being significantly exacerbated by the military conflict in eastern Europe as well as by recent Corona-lockdowns, the Executive Board of the KION GROUP AG decided today, Monday, April 4, 2022, to withdraw the outlook for the fiscal year 2022 published on March 3, 2022, for the KION Group and its operating segments. “Because of the bottlenecks in the procurement markets, which are likely to last much longer than previously anticipated, as well as sharply increasing material and logistics costs and recent Corona-lockdowns which particularly affect the Asian market, the outlook for the fiscal year 2022 is no longer sustainable,” said Rob Smith, CEO of KION GROUP AG. From the current perspective, it is impossible to reliably assess how the military conflict in eastern Europe will unfold or what its economic impact will be. “There are significant uncertainties in evaluating the Group’s business performance for the further course of the fiscal year,” concluded Smith. A new outlook shall be prepared in the course of the year. Based on current information, there are also indications that in contrast to strong levels of order intake and revenue, the Group’s adjusted EBIT in the first quarter of 2022 will be significantly below the prior-year figure of €215 million but within the current capital market expectations. The adjusted EBIT is likely to be on a par with that of the fourth quarter of 2021, mainly due to a lack of parts availability and a sharp rise in material costs. In addition, the KION Group expects non-recurring items in a significant double-digit million euro range in the first quarter of 2022. These non-recurring items relate to possible write-downs of assets used for business conducted with Russia. The free cash flow of the first quarter of 2022 will also be clearly negative compared with the previous year’s figure of €262 million. The financial key performance indicators for the first quarter of 2022 will be published on April 28, 2022. “Our diversified position as a full-service provider in intralogistics, our strong worldwide presence, and our solid financial base have equipped us well to overcome both the pandemic and these new challenges,” said Smith. “The fundamental drivers of our industry are well intact. We continue our focus on profitable growth and the implementation of our KION 2027 strategy.”
H&E opens new branch in El Dorado, AR
Effective April 4, 2022, H&E Equipment Services Inc. (H&E) announces the opening of its new El Dorado rental branch, its second in the state of Arkansas. The branch is located at 4682 Junction City Highway, El Dorado, AR 71730-8751, phone 870-444-8300. The 5,000-square-foot facility sits on 4.5-acres with a fully fenced yard area, offices, and a separate repair shop with six service bays. It is capable of handling a variety of construction and general industrial equipment for customers in southern Arkansas. “H&E has served central Arkansas through its Little Rock branch for many years. Adding this El Dorado location bridges the territory from there to our Shreveport branch and allows us to more effectively serve new and existing customers in the area. With growing commercial and industrial projects in the manufacturing, infrastructure, and health care sectors, we know we will have the fleet to meet the demand for quality equipment for these and many other construction projects,” says Branch Manager Jeremy Smith, who has worked in the rental equipment industry in El Dorado for many years. “H&E has one of the youngest fleets in the industry with the support of a first-class team to back it up.” The El Dorado branch specializes in the rental of aerial lifts, telescopic forklifts, earthmoving machinery, compaction equipment, generators, compressors, and more and represents the following manufacturers: Allmand, Atlas Copco, Bomag, Case, Club Car, Cushman, Doosan, Gehl, Generac Mobile, Genie, Hilti, Husqvarna, JCB, JLG, John Deere, Kubota, LayMor, Ledwell, Lincoln Electric, Link-Belt Excavators, MEC, Miller, Multiquip, Polaris, Skyjack, SkyTrak, Sullair, Sullivan-Palatek, TAG, Taylor, Towmaster Trailers, Wacker Neuson, Yanmar, and others. Founded in 1961, H&E Equipment Services is one of the largest equipment rental companies in the nation, providing a higher standard in equipment rentals, sales, parts, and service. Branches are located throughout the Pacific Northwest, West Coast, Intermountain, Southwest, Gulf Coast, Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Toyota Material Handling honors top Forklift Dealers with President’s Award
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) announced the winners of the annual President’s Award, which recognizes the top Toyota forklift dealers in North America. The prestigious award recognizes the dealers who perform at the highest level in parts, service, equipment sales, finance, customer satisfaction, and overall operations. The winners, announced during Toyota’s Annual Dealer Meeting on March 21, will celebrate together this fall in Amalfi and Rome, Italy. The winners of the 2021 President’s Award are: Bahrns ToyotaLift, Effingham, Illinois Brodie Toyota-Lift, Lawrence, Massachusetts Conger Toyota-Lift, Green Bay, Wisconsin JIT Toyota-Lift, Frewsburg, New York Kenco Toyota-Lift, Chattanooga, Tennessee ProLift Toyota Material Handling, Louisville, Kentucky Shoppa’s Material Handling, Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas Southern States Toyotalift, Tampa, Florida Summit ToyotaLift, North Haven, Connecticut Toyota Lift of South Texas, San Antonio, Texas Toyota Material Handling Northern California, Livermore, California Toyota Material Handling Solutions, Santa Fe Springs, California VESCO Toyotalift, Hickory, North Carolina D. Matthews Machinery Co., Auburn, Maine Western Materials Handling & Equipment Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada “The President’s Award is our most prestigious honor, reserved for those who deliver a superior customer experience,” said Bill Finerty, TMH President & CEO. “Toyota forklift dealers have a longstanding reputation for consistently going above and beyond for our customers. The dealers recognized represent the best of the best and we’re proud to honor them and their commitment to excellent customer service.”
Fairbanks scales announces new HC lift deck modular truck scales
Fairbanks Scales Inc., the oldest scale company in the U.S. and leader in weighing equipment, announces its new HC Lift Deck Modular Truck Scales, a common-sense truck weighing solution for waste transfer applications. The HC Lift Deck is Fairbanks’ solution to the age-old maintenance dilemma faced by Transfer Station operators nationwide. Not only can Fairbanks HC Lift Deck’s weighing modules be individually lifted and removed with a front loader or other lightweight lifting equipment, recalibrating the scale is never required when a module is set back in place. Simply reset the module and get right back to weighing. Some of the features and benefits that the HC Lift Deck Modular Truck Scales offer include: Removable Deck – Quick and simple removability allows for timely access to clean and maintain pits. Dual Remote Display – Allows loader operators to evenly distribute the load in the trailers, while maximizing each load before leaving tunnel. Narrow Modules – Ensures each tire has its own scale platform, and narrow modules keep the weight manageable so each platform can be removed using simple equipment. Self-Centering Cones – Allows the decks to be reset in place without any additional tools and ensures no need for resetting the calibration. Customizable Configurations – Each scale system is designed to accommodate the different truck/trailers used at a facility, but with the minimally reasonable amount of scale surface area to keep maintenance and cleaning as timely as possible. Remotely Located Electronics – Keeping the electronics out of the pit is important to prevent rodents and trash contamination from damaging them. Also makes cleanout easier so you don’t have to worry about damaging anything in the pit.
EP 268: MODEX 2022 Recap
In this episode, I recap my experience at MODEX 2022 which just happened last week. It was an incredible event with over 37,000 attendees! Safe to say we are back in person and the material handling industry couldn’t be more excited. Here are my top two takeaways. Key Takeaways The labor shortage is at the top of everyone’s mind and every attendee was looking to see how could they address this ongoing issue. Most vendors there were offering some type of solution to this and it was heavily weighted on the robotics and automation side. What was most interesting about this was the different approaches that companies are taking to solve this. Some find ways to connect companies with workers in other geographical locations remotely and some try to turn the labor of one person into two or three. One thing is for sure is that human labor is here to stay for quite some time as most solutions were focused on empowering and enabling the worker to do more. There was not much discussion on the concept of a dark warehouse. This MODEX was the robotics and automation show! Everywhere you look there was some type of robot or something automated going on. It was pretty remarkable and some even joked that it was a robotics show and not a material handling show. There were so many innovations and technology on display that it was pretty incredible to see after two years of being isolated from seeing these things in person. My biggest takeaway in this area was that almost every part of the operational flow is being automated now and companies are looking at the bigger picture instead of just automating one piece at a time. Listen to the episode below and if you were at MODEX tell me what you thought in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 268: MODEX 2022 Recap
Why innovation should be more like Easter eggs
Every year in the Spring, Amy B., a buyer for a large retail chain store, hosts an Easter egg decorating teambuilding party, where she and a bunch of her suppliers spend an entire afternoon coloring and bedazzling hard-boiled eggs. None of them bring their kids—they do this for the sheer pleasure of out-of-the-office bonding, creating interesting and attractive objects. The group is always amazed at the creativity of the resulting eggs. (And in case you’re wondering, no, none of them are artists.) So why, as adults, don’t people exercise their inner child-like creativity more often? And what is it about the Easter egg party that allows them to so freely generate and express such a range and diversity of ideas? There are several factors—all of which also apply to innovation. Each egg represents a very low commitment. It is cheap in both time and materials to try any idea they think of, so they try lots of ideas. If one doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter—it’s just one egg. Similarly, in your innovation work, you need to consider and try out many ideas, to ensure that only the best ones move forward. As innovation projects proceed through a company, they get more expensive—in money, time, and labor—at each successive phase. Developing Fail Fast, Fail Cheap methodologies allows you to try out lots of ideas early on, while it’s still cheap. They leverage not only individual creativity, but also use the power of the group. Someone will think of an idea to try, and then toss it out to the group. Then everyone contributes ideas for how best to accomplish it. No one ever says, “Yes, but that won’t work.” Everyone just thinks of ways to help make it better. The resulting final solutions are nearly always significantly better than what the person would have tried originally. In many companies, the “Yes, But” phenomenon is all too common, and can be very damaging to creativity and innovation. Most ideas aren’t perfect when they’re first conceived, but teams act as they should be. They point out all the problems in an emerging idea before they ever attempt to find out if there’s anything good about it. For innovation and creative problem solving to thrive, it’s critical to create an environment that nurtures ideas rather than stifles them, so you get the benefit of the best thinking of the entire team. They are willing to start over when something clearly isn’t working. One woman brought eggs that were not naturally white; instead, they were brown. It wasn’t clear that dyeing them would work very well, if at all. And, in fact, the first few attempts didn’t work. So, she scraped off all the color on her unsuccessful eggs several times. But when she chose red, yellow, and orange colors and left them in the dye bath long enough, she got some of the most uniquely rich and vividly colored eggs anyone had ever seen. Unfortunately, in large organizations, too many innovation projects that aren’t quite hitting the mark proceed too far. It’s important to recognize when an idea isn’t working, and then be willing to start again when you need to. Reframing the goal results in more divergent ideas. The woman with the brown eggs also tried other methods of decorating the eggs, not just coloring them with dye. Once she reframed the problem from coloring eggs to decorating eggs, everyone else also began creating the most innovative and unusual eggs of all. This reframing of the problem is a critical step in effective problem-solving and innovation. This is because the way a problem is stated affects the potential solutions you will think of. So when addressing any obstacle, it’s a good idea to question the way the challenge or problem is worded, to see if you can reframe it to get to different and better solutions. So the next time you find yourself with eggs to decorate—or a challenge to meet—keep these tips in mind to help you think more creatively and come up with more innovative solutions. Fail fast, fail cheaply. Test many possible ideas. Leverage individual and group creativity; “Yes, and” instead of “Yes, but”. Be willing to start over when the idea isn’t working. Reframe the opportunity to expand your thinking. About the Author: Susan Robertson empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to more nimbly adapt to change, by transforming thinking from “why we can’t” to “how might we?” She is a creative thinking expert with over 20 years of experience speaking and coaching in Fortune 500 companies. As an instructor on applied creativity at Harvard, Susan brings a scientific foundation to enhancing human creativity. To learn more, please go to: https://susanrobertson.co/
MHI announces winners of annual Innovation Awards at MODEX 2022
On March 30 at Industry Night at Modex, MHI announced the winners of the 2022 MHI Innovation Awards for Best New Innovation, Best IT Innovation, and Best Innovation of an Existing Product. After receiving 121 submissions for this year’s awards, five independent judges comprised of professionals from the material handling and supply chain industry completed the initial review process. Four finalists were chosen as the most innovative products in each category – Best New Innovation; Best Innovation of an Existing Product; and Best IT Innovation based on concept, value, and impact. This year’s winners were: For the Best Innovation of an Existing Product Ancra Systems BV Skateloader System For the Best New Product Innovation Phantom Auto Remote Operation Platform Logistics For the Best IT Innovation Veryable, Inc On-Demand Labor Marketplace The MHI Innovation Award serves to educate and provide valuable insights on the latest manufacturing and supply chain products and services to Modex attendees. Modex 2022 exhibitors were called to submit a new product, product line, technology or service or new application of existing products or technology that create quantifiable and sustainable results in terms of ROI, cost savings and customer satisfaction.
Seegrid’s Jeff Christensen Named “Pro to Know”
Leading AMR Provider Recognized for Material Handling Automation Expertise and Commitment to Improving the Global Supply Chain Seegrid Corporation, the leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for material handling, announced today that Jeff Christensen, the company’s Vice President of Product, has been named the winner of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Pros to Know Award. The prestigious annual award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage the supply chain for a competitive advantage. It is the third time Christensen received the accolade from the business technology publication for supply chain executives, covering solutions and services for improving supply chain operations and efficiencies. Christensen leads the development, design, and strategic vision behind Seegrid’s complete, connected material handling automation solutions serving global brands in logistics, ecommerce, and manufacturing. He brings more than 25 years of industry expertise and a portfolio of notable achievements in user experience, systems design, and data analytics to help Seegrid deliver market-leading AMRs, enterprise software, and data analytics solutions. “Jeff is a thoughtful strategist with a deep understanding of the challenges businesses are facing across the global supply chain,” said Seegrid’s Chief Executive Officer Jim Rock. “His visionary leadership helps Seegrid deliver market-leading mobile automation solutions that create real value for our customers.” The award comes during a period of growth and recognition for Seegrid. In the last year, the company introduced three new AMR models, launched Fleet GeekⓇ analytics software, and earned recognition as the #1 AMR provider in the US and #1 market leader in tow tractor AMRs worldwide from Interact Analysis, an international market research authority for the supply chain automation industry. Earlier this month, Seegrid was named the #4 Most Innovative Robotics Company in the World by Fast Company. A recognized thought leader, Christensen recently gave a keynote presentation with Seegrid’s founder and Chief Roboticist Dr. Hans Moravec on the future of intelligent automation, providing insight into the transformational opportunities that autonomous solutions will bring to the global supply chain. “This year’s winners are reinventing what it means to be a supply chain professional. They are intuitive, adaptive and so super smart, and continue to push the envelope when it comes to everything supply chain-related,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. “Automation technology unlocks better ways to work faster, safer, and smarter,” said Christensen. “This recognition is a tribute to the entire Seegrid team as we work together to transform the global supply chain with intelligent material handling solutions.” www.SDCExec.com seegrid.com/media
Next generation of air cargo automation solutions DIMOS receives the Middle East Innovation Award 2022 in Dubai
DIMOS Maschinenbau GmbH won the TLME Innovation Award in the Air Cargo Automation category in Dubai. The Transport & Logistics Middle East industry platform bestowed the award on the manufacturer of warehouse and industrial trucks for the DIMOS INTRAC, the automated pallet mover for efficient ULD handling. The TLME Innovation Award 2022 is one of the most prestigious logistics awards in the Arab region. And this year, DIMOS triumphed in the “Most Innovative Automation Solution Provider – Air Cargo” category with its INTRAC pallet mover solution. The award is presented to companies that develop automation solutions for the air freight industry and ultimately help to speed up operational processes and make them more efficient. INTRAC: a new generation of autonomous cargo handling systems DIMOS designed INTRAC to enable the automated transport of air freight containers, and the pallet mover has succeeded in implementing an unprecedented level of automation in end-to-end freight handling. The vehicle autonomously transports ULDs in the terminal, arranging storage and staging areas in advance and storing the load carriers in a flexible area if required. In combination with other vehicles from the DIMOS air cargo portfolio, INTRAC enables completely flexible use of the terminal space. This allows air cargo tasks to be processed efficiently. The system was introduced at the end of 2021 as a pilot project at one of the largest German airport operators. Teamwork makes the dream work “A big thank you goes to the entire DIMOS team – both in Germany and in the United Arab Emirates”, says Pascal Schütz, head of sales and development at DIMOS. Together with other members of the team, Pascal Schütz was able to accept the award in person in Dubai. “Without our commitment, teamwork and passion, we would not be holding this award in our hands”, he continues. The Petersberg family business has 90 employees, 15 of whom are based in Dubai. DIMOS has been carrying out projects in Dubai–especially in the air cargo sector–since 1999. And since this year, the company has also been taking care of orders and customers from its own local branch. Interested parties can find all information on DIMOS air cargo vehicles at: https://www.dimos-maschinenbau.de/de/produkte/air-cargo-fahrzeuge.
Toyota Industries Corporation acquires viastore and opens up long-term international growth prospects for the intralogistics expert
As an internationally recognized system integrator in the field of intralogistics, viastore completes TICO’s range of products and services, enabling the company to offer an integrated range of intralogistics solutions in the future In the partnership with TICO, viastore creates new long-term potential for all three business areas – from automated solutions and software to the service business Both companies will benefit from their individual strengths e.g. in the fields of Warehouse Management Software, Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems, forklift trucks and Automated Guided Vehicles and create added value through a combined offering In future, viastore will be an independent unit under the roof of Toyota Advanced Logistics Group (TALG) – brand, business areas, locations and management will be maintained The shareholders of viastore GROUP (“viastore”), an international provider of intralogistics systems, intralogistics software and supporting services, have signed an agreement to sell all shares in the company to Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO). With its three business units, viastore completes TICO`’ range of products and services and will enable an integrated intralogistics offering and customer-specific solutions in the future – from forklifts to fully automatic sorting systems. Together with TICO, viastore will continue to actively pursue its growth strategy. The new partnership provides viastore with access to the customer portfolio of a leading global engineering group and long-term growth prospects for all three business areas. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, which is still subject to antitrust approval and is expected to close in the third quarter. Over the past 50 years, the viastore GROUP has developed into a leading international intralogistics expert. With its three business units Intralogistics Systems, Intralogistics Software and Supporting Services, viastore is a system integrator for the manufacturing industry and other industries and offers integrated, automated intralogistics solutions. In recent years, the company has embarked on a successful growth course and, as one of the few companies in the industry worldwide, has consistently relied on software services as an elementary part of its business model. Today, the material flow specialist is present in 17 countries with around 600 employees. For the 2021 financial year, the Group reported sales of around EUR 140 million. Dynamic growth prospects in automation TICO is a listed Japanese engineering company and a global leader in its field. It operates in three business areas: Automotive (manufacture of vehicles and components), Textile Machinery and Material Handling (Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) – forklifts, warehouse technology and lifting platforms and Toyota Advanced Logistics Group (TALG) – automated integration logistics). TICO has set itself the goal of further strengthening its global competitiveness and offering its customers a comprehensive range of products and services in the field of intralogistics. In 2017, TICO acquired Vanderlande (Netherlands), one of the world’s leading general contractors for airports, warehouse and parcel logistics process automation solutions, as well as Bastian Solutions (USA), a leading North-American system integrator. Under the roof of TALG viastore becomes part of an alliance of established, strong intralogistics brands. All three brands, Bastian, Vanderlande and viastore, are among the top 20 intralogistics brands worldwide. They have already successfully established themselves independently on the international market and are now pooling their know-how and innovative strength. Analysts expect significant growth in the global market for material handling solutions in the coming years. By 2026, they forecast a compound annual growth rate of around 8 percent and an increase in industry revenue to USD 354 billion, up from USD 195 billion in 2018. Against the background of a growing demand for integrated solutions in the field of material handling, viastore is tapping into long-term growth potential through the partnership with TICO and its cooperation with Toyota Material Handling Europe. Besides a broader approach to the market – especially in the area of small to mid-sized automation projects – both companies will benefit from their individual strengths e.g. in the fields of Warehouse Management Systems, Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems, forklift trucks and Automated Guided Vehicles and create added value through a combined offering. Partnership characterized by continuity The partnership with TICO is characterized by continuity. viastore will continue to actively pursue its strategic development and will operate as an independent unit under the roof of Toyota Advanced Logistics Group (TALG) in the future. Brand, business areas, locations and management will be maintained. The management team consisting of CEO Philipp Hahn-Woernle, CFO Anja Zschernig and the COOs Dr. Harald Goebel and Thomas Hibinger will continue to lead the company. Philipp Hahn-Woernle, CEO of viastore, said: “In the context of a growing demand for integrated solutions in the field of material handling, TICO has recognized the potential of viastore and presented a vision that is strategically compelling for both sides. In TICO, we have found a partner who appreciates the value of our brand and capabilities and will support the company in its long-term global growth trajectory. As an independent unit under the roof of Toyota Advanced Logistics, we will continue our successful course and open up new potential and long-term stability for our customers and employees by belonging to a successful group of companies.” Norio Wakabayashi, Senior Executive Officer of TICO, added: “The viastore GROUP is a successful company with an outstanding market position. Its complementary business areas make viastore a perfect match for TICO to be able to offer customers an integrated intralogistics solution in the future. I am very pleased to welcome the outstanding team of viastore, which strengthens our know-how in the market for intralogistics and expands our family of companies through the addition of another highly recognized intralogistics brand. “ www.viastore.com www.toyota-industries.com