New planning tools

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2001

HK Systems, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisc., and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., are partnering to develop new planning tools for users of materials handling equipment and systems. This collaboration of a hardware supplier and a university is focused on the development of Internet-based multi-media tools for developing complex integrated materials handling systems.

The project will address the engineering design of manufacturing and distribution systems composed of accumulation conveyors, palletizers, and unit load storage and retrieval systems.

New tools will be created that will allow system designers to:

• Consider more variables and options in concepting models;

• Link concepting tools directly with their user data sources;

• Link systems performance measures with cost estimation models for rapid assessment of design options;

• Exploit information network and e-engineering technologies; and

• Provide improved designs and responses to customers of systems engineering services.

"Making the right decisions during the concepting stage will enable HK customers to utilize their resources effectively and give adequate and accurate consideration to all viable design concepts," says Mike Kotecki, senior vice president of HK Systems.