Modern Materials Handling Magazine Archives

February 2023 Modern Materials Handling

In this Issue:

  • Radial stays ahead of the automation curve
  • Show Preview: ProMat 2023 primed for return to Chicago
  • Reader Survey: Annual automation survey
  • Best Practices: Labor management
  • Equipment Report: Wireless mobility
In one of its Louisville fulfillment centers, Radial has combined conventional automation for picking with a robotic putwall for order assembly. The goal: demonstrate leadership in automation to improve productivity
ProMat 2023 is back in person, with 35% more floor space, more than 1,000 solution provider exhibits as well as educational sessions and keynote presentations.
Robotic putwalls have replaced manual putwalls to address labor challenges and speed orders through packing.
Our annual reader survey finds that many are looking to implement or improve their systems across numerous areas, and when it comes to decision factors for evaluating systems, total cost of ownership and integration gained in importance, while concern over parts availability declined.
Technology like assistive picking mobile robots, intuitive mobile devices and LMS can help overcome labor management challenges. But it also takes best practices like structured goal setting, in-person communication and employee engagement to be best positioned to maximize labor resources.
Widely used inside the four walls, wireless mobile devices from scanners and printers to tablets are a strong player in facility productivity. Recent advances ensure that they’ll become increasingly valuable to workflows and throughput efficiencies.
Power transmission equipment is not only starting to look different, but operate differently, too. This is a time when sustainability, decentralization and digitalization are all having a far reaching impact.
Well, it’s time to brush the dust off the suitcase and hope the khakis and blazer aren’t too snug, because early reports suggest ProMat 2023 (March 20 to 23) is going to be a whopper.
The alternative is a robots-as-a-service system that replaces capex with a lease and guaranteed performance levels. Might be worth reading on.
By adopting wearable scanners paired with Android tablets and their own mounts, RAM Mounts gained a 15% increase in warehouse efficiency.
Why best practices in battery and charger maintenance are essential to lift truck fleet operations and costs.
Modern sat down with Michael Field, President and CEO of Raymond Corporation to discuss the pallet industry.
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Latest in Materials Handling

RPA publishes 2023 Reusable Transport Packaging State of the Industry report
A comprehensive analysis of the global reusable transport packaging industry now available from the Reusable Packaging Association.

Raymond out to inspire next generation via its virtual Manufacturing Day event
Virtual event starting Oct. 6 celebrates the manufacturing industry, highlights the importance of skills development, with the aim of inspiring the next generation as Raymond continues to innovate. Virtual event is open to all middle and high school students globally via teacher registration.

SME announces 2023 College of Fellows
SME, teh national nonprofit leading the industrial ecosystem, honors nine members who have made outstanding contributions to the social, technological, and educational aspects of the manufacturing profession.

Missouri S&T to break ground on Protoplex, celebrate Manufacturing Day
Missouri University of Science and Technology's Protoplex will anchor its manufacturing and innovation campus.

PLA opens Northwest Arkansas pallet management facility
New location expands PLA’s nationwide pallet, logistics, and supply chain services capabilities.

Pallet supplier Millwood opens new location in Lordstown, Ohio
New location to employ nearly 20 new team members

Warehouse automation provider stow Group launches Movu Robotics brand
The new brand replaces the “stow Robotics” name, offering solutions based on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Integrated Warehouse Solutions acquires Pioneer Dock Equipment
Pioneer designs and manufactures a wide range of loading dock equipment including dock levelers, vehicle restraints, edge of docks, seals, and shelters.

Körber celebrates partnership milestone with robotics provider Geek+
Software provider Körber and Geek+ mark third year as partners, noting 30 implementations in eight regions and thousands of bots deployed.

IAM Robotics rebrands to Onward Robotics
Mobile robotics company rebrands to mark its next chapter, reinforcing its mission to improve order fulfillment by coordinating humans and robots as a cohesive system.

Agility Robotics readies RoboFab, a 70,000 square foot factory for producing its humanoid robots
Located in Salem, Oregon and set to open later this year, the factory will have the capacity to eventually produce than 10,000 of Agility's 'Digit' bots annually.

Rocrich AGV Solutions joint venture now in operation
The joint venture between Jungheinrich and Mitsubishi Logisnext America, announced in June, offers mobile automation solutions spanning customer use cases from standard to special purpose AGVs and automated forklifts.

Outside the Box: Why parcel shippers are suddenly focusing on packing
This webinar will discuss the recent focus on optimizing pack-out in major brands, highlighting its importance in annual shareholder letters. It will also explore the current state of packing efficiency, how big e-commerce brands are addressing the issue, and the impact of packing on margins and the environment.

Tecsys launches Innovation Lab focused on applying emerging supply chain technologies
Supply chain management software provider's lab will aim to harness a range of technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning, data science, and process modeling and simulation, to drive customer value.

Retailer Otto Group teams with Boston Dynamics on warehouse robotics deployments
Strategic agreement calls for Boston Dynamics robots, including both its Stretch and Spot robots, to be deployed across more than 20 facilities over the next two years.



Latest Resources

2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
2023 Automation Study: Usage & Implementation of Warehouse/DC Automation Solutions
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How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
How Your Storage Practices Can Affect Your Pest Control Program
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Warehousing Outlook 2023
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2023 is here, and so are new warehousing trends.
Extend the Life of Brownfield Warehouses
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Today’s robotic and data-driven automation systems can minimize disruptions and improve the life and productivity of warehouse operations.
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Power Supply in Overhead Cranes: Energy Chains vs. Festoons
Download this white paper to learn more about how both systems compare.