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By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 9/1/2000

50 years ago

"On June 25, 1950, the objectives of materials handling shifted dramatically and emphatically. On this day, South Korea was invaded and the United States stepped in to halt the spread of communism with force. This military action has given materials handling activity an entirely new meaning and importance." From the editorial

The Materials Handling Institute, assisted by the American Materials Handling Society, conducted the first educational conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., marking a historic program for materials handling education. The principal objective was to find out what was being done and what was needed to extend materials handling education. From a feature on materials handling education

25 years ago

"Business is facing a crisis. So, too, are millions of people who depend upon business for jobs. Nearly eight million people are out of work now. Millions more will be unemployed in the future if business can not raise the capital it needs to build new plants and to buy new equipment." From the editorial

A new training program for fork truck operators is a combined effort of the National Safety Council and the Industrial Truck Association. It's designed for small companies using sit-down trucks. The 4 hour classroom course requires at least 1 hour of practice driving for each class hour. From the Management Newsletter

10 years ago

Last year, AGV systems using a total of about 500 vehicles were sold in the U.S. In the same year, European companies bought an estimated 3,000 guided vehicles. Japanese corporations are reported to have purchased some 5,000 vehicles. What's wrong with this picture?

Automatic guided vehicle systems are a form of industrial automation that has proven its worth in thousands of installations worldwide.

Yet, many U.S. companies still shy away from investing in AGV systems, despite the fact that, used correctly, this technology could help them improve their ability to compete nationally and in the global marketplace. From the Industry Report on AGVs in America