Automation

Fantatics has grown into the leading online retailer for officially licensed sports merchandise for professional and college sports teams. Today, Fanatics stocks 500,000 SKUs and has to be prepared for wild swings in demand that range from 30,000 units a day to 500,000 units during peak periods like the Final Four and the Super Bowl—and ship those units with only seconds left on the clock.

The acquisition of the Bigfork, Montana-based Upturn enhances Dematic solutions and expands its capability into distribution center workflow, asset and inventory management, and preventative maintenance.

Former president of FANUC Robotics Americas becomes president and CEO of the new company.

Heavy gains in unit handling outpace even last year's record growth.

Rising wages in the services industry could drive materials handling automation.

Experts predict continued growth in coming months.

Genco is looking to piece handling robots and automatic lift trucks to take its business to the next level of materials handling.

Piece-handling robots work side by side with associates to seal products in packaging.

North American manufacturers are expanding operations and increasing output. Here’s how the materials handling industry is enabling the emerging comeback.

Following a post-recession bump, third-party logistics providers’ warehousing is on track for more modest growth in 2013.

Aging infrastructure turns from liability into savings across network of facilities.

Around this time of year it’s natural to want to look back at the last 12 months to gain perspective on where we’ve been and where we’re going as an industry.

What we’re doing is documenting the trends of the companies that are bringing manufacturing back, why they’re coming back and how many jobs they’re bringing with them. Then, we promote it.

A look back at Modern's system reports featured in 2013.

Big acquisitions, an improving economy and some new players change the landscape heading into 2014.