Material Handling News RSS Feed

Enhanced Electric Lift Truck Series Added to Yale Line-Up for Warehouse, Retail and Industrial ...

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:38:00 +0100

Yale Materials Handling Corporation announced the launch of an upgraded electric rider lift truck series with a capacity of 8,000-12,000 lbs. Designed to make a leading electric lift truck more advanced, the new Yale® ERC080-120VH lift truck series is built to meet and exceed application requirements for warehousing, retail and industrial environments.

“The time for converting from internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks to electric lift trucks is now,” said Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution. “Our ERC080-120VH electric riders are just as durable as ICE trucks, are more cost-effective, eliminate emissions and are fitted with leading innovative technologies designed specifically for materials handling.”

To ensure that customers’ needs are met, all of Yale’s new ERC080-120VH trucks have undergone rigorous durability and performance testing. Not only are they comparable in power and durability to ICE powered trucks, but can save money by eliminating fuel costs and dramatically reducing emissions. In addition, the new truck series features enhanced technologies such as a stronger and more durable powertrain, a drive axle with increased shock absorption for heavy loads, and a mast that is reinforced with ductile iron-casted cross members which resist mast rocking and lateral movement.

The ERC080-120HV series presents excellent stopping power with low brake pedal effort by providing wet disc brakes. These brakes are designed to lower cost of operation by requiring no adjustments or servicing other than a periodic lubrication change at 4,000-hour intervals. The series also includes a Power-Assisted Braking System, which further increases brake and drive train life by automatically utilizing traction motor braking in proportion to operator brake pedal pressure. With reduced demand on the service brakes, the assisted braking feature lessens operator braking effort by up to 40 percent.

The AC traction motors and efficient hydraulic components used in the ERC080-120VH maximize uptime and increase throughput. Considered the “operator’s truck,” Yale® lift trucks are fitted with advanced ergonomic technologies that increase productivity by helping to reduce operator fatigue. The truck also features textured grab handles, a tilt steering column with optional tilt-memory and telescopic adjustment for improved operator comfort and productivity.

For more information about the new Yale® ERC080- 120VH lift truck series, please click here.

Hamilton Caster Helps Oil Industry Giant Get Lean

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:23:00 +0100

A simple request for a caster from gas-and-oil drilling giant Helmerich & Payne (H&P) led to a custom-designed dolly and collaboration on lean enterprise with US manufacturer, Hamilton Caster.

H&P contracted with Mike Brunson, a lean manufacturing expert, to streamline their processes and increase efficiency. Brunson asked Hamilton about a specific caster and learned they could also design custom-built trailers perfectly suited to the lean manufacturing methods Brunson envisioned for H&P.

Hamilton Caster itself is a lean manufacturing practitioner and John Yater, a Hamilton design engineer, is one of the company’s biggest proponents of the concept. Yater worked closely with Brunson to determine how best to satisfy the lean design he had in mind for H&P.

“The trickiest part is getting a clear understanding of the customer’s application, intentions, and desires.” Yater said. “We strive to solve customers’ problems and forge a relationship of trust.”

After a series of phone calls and emails, a Hamilton Caster team flew to Oklahoma to meet with Brunson and get a first-hand look at the requirements of the new process they were helping design.

“I needed something that could handle extreme weight and had a low profile,” Brunson said. “Hamilton Caster solved the problem by creating a cart that effortlessly rolls heavy equipment into place without relying on a crane that is more dangerous and time-consuming.”

The modular dolly system that Hamilton Caster developed moves massive pieces of oil-field equipment and parts more safely and more efficiently, decreasing wasted time, energy and manpower, all core principles of lean manufacturing.

Hamilton Caster’s first project with H&P was so successful that it has since led to other projects with H&P.

“Working with Hamilton Caster is a pleasure,” Brunson said. “It’s nice to find an American manufacturer who has been around for 100 years, and is taking appropriate steps to be around for another 100 years.”

Hamilton Caster
For more than 100 years, has built ultra-durable trucks, custom-engineered trucks and trailers, and developed innovations like the super-resilient Ultralast™ wheels and HPI™ swivel caster technology.

Family owned since its inception, the fourth generation remains as committed to quality as the company’s founder, John Weigel.

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
H&P is primarily engaged in contract drilling of oil and gas wells for exploration and production companies and is one of the major land and offshore platform-drilling contractors in the world.

Contact Info:
Hamilton Caster & Mfg. Co.
Phone: 800-733-7655
www.HamiltonCaster.com
info@hamiltoncaster.com

Customer Feedback Results in Tough New Electric Rider Lift Truck Series

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:38:00 +0100

Hyster Company announced the launch of the Hyster® E80-120XN electric rider lift truck series — a new generation of electric rider lift trucks resulting from extensive input from customers and operators in the automotive, paper and manufacturing industries. The upgraded 8,000 to 12,000 lbs. capacity lift truck series features new enhancements to deliver better performance, reliability and durability in electric lift truck applications.

“We had a great product available, but gathered valuable feedback on how to make it even better,” said Jonathan Dawley, president of Hyster Distribution. “After designing the new trucks, we put them through similar testing as our internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. This rigorous testing helps ensure our products are dependable, even in the toughest applications our customers may face. The E80-120XN series of trucks may be electric, but they’re still made to be Hyster tough.”

The E80-120XN electric riders meet the same high performance standards as ICE trucks in regards to acceleration, speed control and load-lift abilities, but also offer lower operating costs along with zero emissions. The new lift truck series utilizes the Hyster Stability System (HSS™) — a maintenance-free design and mechanical system built right into the truck to handle a wide variety of loads without compromising the stability of the truck.

In addition, a number of technological upgrades are featured in the E80-120XN lift truck series including a durable steer axle and power-assisted braking, which improves brake life while reducing operator braking efforts by 40 percent. The trucks efficient AC traction and hydraulic motors have been updated to handle the toughest duty cycle with reduced maintenance costs and enhanced productivity.

Hyster makes operator comfort a key feature in the E80-120XN electric trucks. Using an enhanced ergonomic design with an 11 percent larger floor space, easy-to-use three-point compartment entry and an adjustable suspension driver’s seat, Hyster helps reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity.

For more information about the new Hyster E80-120XN series of products, click here.

Cerro Wire Slipwire® Thhn Cable Chosen To Speed Tractor Plant Construction

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:25:00 +0100

Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, announces that its SLiPWire® THHN cable was chosen for the construction of the new Kubota Industrial Equipment (KIE) plant in Jefferson, Georgia. Cerrowire’s value-added features, including SLiPWire®’s self-lubricating polymer and True Sequential Footage, made the installation process smoother and quicker, while maintaining low cost.

The cable was selected as part of a joint decision by Kubota Industrial Equipment, their contractor Cedartown Electric, the electrical distributor Gexpro, and distributor Electrical Products, Inc. (EPI). “The job went very smoothly,” said James Moates, Cedartown Electric’s project manager, “Cerrowire was always responsive to my needs, interested in helping me rather than simply selling products. The wire features made a huge difference on our job.”

SLiPWire® is a thermoplastic high heat-resistant nylon-coated (THHN) cable, jacketed with a self-lubricating polymer that provides an improved, low co-efficient of friction. SLiPWire® reduces the time, labor and cost for installation, eliminates the materials and labor needed for lubricating the wire, and avoids messy clean-up activities. Using pre-lubricated wire also significantly reduces the possibility of injury from slipping on spilled lubricant that would otherwise have to be transported in buckets throughout the facility.

True Sequential Footage prevents the need to carry excess cable inventory, providing precision length, accurate footage, and cost control. True Sequential Footage uses a footage mark to document remaining wire, beginning with zero at the bottom of the reel and ending with the finished length at the top. The accurate footage mark allows for quick identification of the re-order point, guaranteeing the full purchased wire length and reducing random lengths. This allows for much better control of end-of-reel scrap.

In addition, Cerrowire’s commitment to customer service and fast turn-around times impressed KIE. Cerrowire is dedicated to honoring wire footage guarantees and providing error-free shipping, and they offer emergency shipping to meet last-minute customer needs. To find out more about Cerrowire’s services and value-added features, see www.cerrowire.com.

Stertil-Koni Research Identifies Seven Critical Steps to Safely Lifting Heavy Duty Work ...

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:21:00 +0100

Stertil-Koni, the leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, today announced what its research has shown to be seven key steps that fleets and transit authorities should observe prior to lifting heavy duty work vehicles in commercial maintenance facilities.

In making announcement, lift industry veteran and Stertil-Koni president, Dr. Jean DellAmore, stated, “When it comes to using heavy duty vehicle lifts, safety is paramount. That’s why we strongly recommend a disciplined approach to ensure top performance and complete operator safety in all heavy duty vehicle maintenance facilities.

Topping the list is capacity. Noted Dr. Jean DellAmore, “Always double-check the weight of the heaviest vehicle you intend to lift. Make absolutely certain that the vehicle lift you select is certified to meet, or exceed, that threshold.”
Second, carefully measure the height clearance of the facility. Specifically, prior to selecting a lifting system – whether it is comprised of mobile columns, two-post, four-post, in-ground scissor or piston-style lifts -- measure the ceiling height in the facility and also note the height of the tallest vehicle you intend to service on the lift. In that way, operators can determine if there is ample room to raise the vehicle to a serviceable height that in turn will permit a technician to comfortably work underneath the vehicle.
Third, consider lift positioning. With mobile column lifts, before you begin, always lift on a firm foundation on level ground. In addition, when lifting outdoors, be aware of wind loads. Also, make certain that all personnel are clear of the vehicle and that the wheels on the vehicle being raised are properly engaged with the forks on the mobile column lifts. For in-ground piston lifts, operators should check that the contact points are properly positioned.
Fourth, select a lifting system that prevents unauthorized access to lift operation. This could take the form of a locked control box or a secure key or “wand” -- necessary to activate the lift system prior to use.
Fifth, select a lifting system that ensures stability. Look for “synchronization” that starts immediately when the lift goes into motion and continues through the full range of travel -- thereby ensuring safe and smooth lifting and lowering cycles, especially in cases where the vehicle weight distribution is unequal, such as three-axle fire trucks. Further, examine the mechanical locking system on the lift and make certain it starts near the floor and continues right up the entire height of the lift.
Sixth, go wireless! For added safety, when using mobile column lifts, consider a system that offers wireless operation. Certain wireless mobile column lifts are powered by a 24 Volt Direct Current system and require no interconnecting cables. Noted Dr. DellAmore, “Using this increasingly popular method, the operator has maximum access to the vehicle with no risk of tripping, as no external power source is needed to operate the lifts.”
Seventh, to ensure maximum performance and operational safety, select heavy duty vehicle lifts that are third-party tested and validated. Further, make certain that all lifts are subject to a regular program of scheduled maintenance -- in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended schedule -- and receive annual lift inspection by a certified lift inspector.

“In summary,” concluded Dr. DellAmore, “safe lifting should always be a top priority. It helps service technicians perform regular maintenance more easily, thereby ensuring the longevity of vehicles and equipment. A well designed lifting system also reduces downtime and contributes to a safer and more efficient working environment.”

Konecranes Listed as One of the Best Companies for Leaders

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:20:00 +0100

For the second consecutive year, Konecranes has been named to Chief Executive’s list of 40 Best Companies for Leaders

Konecranes is proud to have received this recognition, indicative of their commitment to the cultivation of talent and leadership within their employees as well as their continued reputation as a strong and dynamic company.

The 40 Best Companies for Leaders list is an annual ranking done by the Chief Executive Group to pinpoint the companies that most seek to develop talent. The list is determined through looking at a company’s by formal leadership processes, the commitment of the CEO to the leadership development program, the percentage of management positions filled by internal candidates, the number of other businesses that report recruiting from the company, and a 10 year shareholder metric.

“We are proud to once again be included in this list,” said Tom Sothard, Senior Vice President, at Konecranes. “It reflects our dedication to making strong internal leadership a priority. We have always been committed to developing our employees’ abilities in a progressive work environment.”

For more information on careers are Konecranes, visit www.konecranesusa.com/career.

New at ICUEE 2013: Mobile Hydraulics Courses Broaden Industry Education Scope

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:19:00 +0100

The latest from ICUEE 2013-The Demo Expo: new mobile hydraulics courses join a growing roster of industry education at the show to provide attendees more options to fit their specific learning needs.

ICUEE, the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition, will be held October 1-3, 2013 at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Kentucky.

“For 2013 we’ve gathered together more industry perspectives and input; ICUEE is already known as a top-quality show and the result will be an even more well-rounded industry event,” stated Show Director Sara Truesdale Mooney.

Most of the equipment on display at ICUEE uses hydraulics for most or all of its power and motion. For ICUEE 2013, two mobile hydraulics courses will be offered, both conducted by a professional, certified instructor and presented by Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine. One course teaches attendees the basics of hydraulics — principles, components, and systems. The other course explores essential concepts to ensure that hydraulic systems operate at peak efficiency and reliability.

The iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo returns to ICUEE 2013; it’s the utility industry’s leading education event for safety, training and operations professionals, produced by Incident Prevention Magazine.

And UCT-Underground Construction Technology is once again co-locating its quality educational programming at ICUEE related to underground construction and rehabilitation infrastructure.

Attendees can also take advantage of these new education co-locations at ICUEE 2013, previously announced:

Asset Management Symposium from the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) – its annual forum sharing new and innovative solutions for fleet asset management
Cured-in-Place Pipe Good Practices course from the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), geared to both experienced and new-to-the-field trenchless professionals

ICUEE is held every two years and covers more than one million net square feet of exhibits of the latest equipment, technologies, products and services related to utility construction and rehabilitation. It is known for extensive hands-on equipment demonstrations in job-like conditions. The show serves an audience of utility professionals and utility construction contractors in the electric, telecommunications, cable, water, wastewater, and natural gas sectors.

Visit www.icuee.com for more details.

Lincoln Electric Receives Presidential Award For Exports

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:18:00 +0100

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., ("Lincoln Electric") (Nasdaq: LECO) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Acting Secretary of Commerce, Rebecca Blank, presented Lincoln Electric with the President's "E" Award for Exports at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The "E" Awards are the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

"We are honored to receive this prestigious award as exports are a core component of our global growth strategy, which focuses on expanding the reach of our leading arc welding and cutting solutions to customers worldwide," said Christopher L. Mapes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Electric. "Today, we export to 123 countries, which allows us to not only preserve, but expand our local work force while meeting the rising demand for our solutions."

"I am delighted to be recognizing this year's Presidential 'E' Award winners for their outstanding contributions to U.S. exports and congratulate Lincoln Electric on its outstanding export achievement," said Acting Secretary Blank. "It is businesses like Lincoln Electric that are strengthening the economies of local communities, creating jobs, and contributing to the worldwide demand for 'Made in the USA' goods and services."

About Lincoln Electric
Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 45 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company's website at www.lincolnelectric.com.

About the E Star Award
President Kennedy revived the World War II "E" symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters. The "E" Award Program was established by Executive Order 10978 on December 5, 1961. A total of 57 U.S. companies were presented with the President's "E" Award this year.

U.S. companies are nominated for the "E" Award for Exports through the Department of Commerce's U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service office network, located within the Department's International Trade Administration, which has offices in 108 U.S. cities and more than 70 countries to help U.S. exporters. Four years of successive export growth and an applicant's demonstration of an innovative international marketing plan that led to the increase in exports is a significant factor in making the award.

For more information visit lincolnelectric.com

Santana Equipment Trading Company’s Intern/Management Trainee Program Launches Nationwide

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:16:00 +0100

Santana Equipment Trading Company, one of the fastest growing companies in the material handling industry, announces the 10 year milestone for their Intern/Management Trainee program. The program is designed to provide college students throughout the United States with an opportunity to gain professional work experience, attain industry-related skills, and learn real-world issues not taught in school.

Santana Equipment Trading Company seeks sharp and talented college students/recent graduates as candidates for its Intern/Management Trainee positions. The program was initially designed to recruit college students locally from the Chicago area. Now that the program has been running successfully for 10 years, Santana Equipment Trading Company has decided to expand the opportunity to students nationwide. The Internship is geared toward current college students, whereas the Management Trainee position is for recent college graduates. Historically, the company has hired 90% of students who have completed the program to full time positions with the company.

The Santana Equipment Trading Company team has strategically guided the company to expand operations to Phoenix, promote new management internally, target the growing Latin American market, develop a Social Media Marketing program, and now launch the Intern/Management Trainee Program nationally. President and founder, Eric Davidson, has prepared the company for these major changes over the past few years with his unique entrepreneurial vision. Eric understands the market, as he has been in the material handling industry for over 20 years - starting his own company 14 years ago. By nationalizing the Intern/Management Trainee Program, the company can expand the talent pool of candidates and hire someone with a working knowledge of territories that the company may look to expand in the future. Kylie Sheehan, the most recent intern to partake in the program, was hired on May 6, 2013 out of the University of Kentucky. Originally from the Chicago area herself, Kylie hopes to expand her working knowledge of B2B sales and marketing during her time with the company.

Eric Davidson, President and founder of Santana Equipment Trading Company, notes “The program has evolved into a huge success, and we are very proud of the employees we have hired over the years. We have trained them with educational business programs, and it has paid off for us.” Eric also comments: “I have seen such diversity with our students, but we all get along as I encourage teamwork, positive energy, and contributions to the company with their unique ideas. As a company, we can develop our program to educate students in sales, marketing, and social media programs in ways that universities can’t achieve. Our students receive continued education through personal interaction and hands-on experience. This sort of training starts the students on a solid and successful career path."

Visit santanaequipment.com for general information

About Santana Equipment Trading Company
Santana Equipment Trading Company is an industry leader in the material handling market. Santana primarily buys and sells used forklifts - working with Fortune 1000 companies, banking institutions, dealers, and industry giants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Santana Equipment Trading Company is a privately held organization headquartered in the Chicago area.

Cincinnati Crane & Hoist Chosen as a 2013 Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 Finalist

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:14:00 +0100

Cincinnati Crane & Hoist is pleased to announce they have been chosen as a 2013 Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 Finalist. This program, in its ninth season, recognizes the area’s fastest growing privately-held companies in a 17-county region. Cincinnati Crane just recently moved into a new 35,000 square feet facility in Harrison and currently employs 12 people from the tri-state area.

Established in 2008, Cincinnati Crane provides overhead System Solutions for commercial, industrial, and specialty applications. The crane service department can also customize an inspection and preventative maintenance program in compliance with all OSHA required guidelines. Cincinnati Crane is owned and operated by Tony Strobl, a veteran and a 2013 Cincinnati Business Courier Fast 55 finalist.

For more information or questions visit www.cincinnati-crane.com.

Colson Caster Rewarded For Energy Efficiency

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:11:00 +0100

Colson Caster, a market leader in tested caster and wheel products, received a $28,021 incentive check from the Entergy Arkansas, Inc. Commercial and Industrial Custom Program for installing insulating blankets on their injection molding machines.

“In addition to the energy savings, the installation of the insulating blankets helped to create a safer work environment for our employees by reducing the surface temperature from 450 degrees to 110 degrees,” said Plant Engineer Jack Birdno. “This one project also yielded enough incentive monies to allow us to do future upgrades to lighting and our air compressor system, which will greatly reduce our energy footprint at a cost of only 25 percent of the total out of pocket.”

The Entergy energy efficiency program helps businesses save energy and money by providing no-cost facility improvement recommendations and financial incentives based on the total amount of energy the improvements will save. The insulating blankets will save more than 1,080,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, equal to preventing the annual carbon dioxide emissions from more than 159 cars, according to Environmental Protection Agency calculations. The energy savings from this project are expected to pay for themselves in less than two months.

“Entergy Arkansas identified a real need for a program specifically designed to assist our industrial customers in finding and implementing savings opportunities via energy efficiency,” said Entergy Customer Service Manager Russell Harris. “We are pleased to be able to partner with Colson Caster on the energy savings projects implemented within their Monette facility.”

GSG Financial Expands Sales and Marketing Team

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:06:00 +0100

vGSG Financial LLC, a leading independent equipment lessor and financial solutions provider, today announced two new additions to its sales and marketing force: Randol Jackson and Katharine Harris. GSG Financial continues to expand the team in order to provide its signature personalized service and single-point-of-contact approach. As a company that places high value on personal relationships, GSG strives to deliver customized financial solutions with flexible terms and conditions to a full spectrum of business needs, from Fortune 500 companies to school districts and family-owned print shops.

Randol Jackson has been named Business Development Major Account Manager at GSG Financial’s Westwood, NJ office. He is responsible for expanding vendor relationships with a focus on the office products and graphic arts industries. “As we continue to expand our sales team, our organization is able to help further develop relationships with our customers,” said Andrew A. Bender, chief executive officer. With a focus on customer service, GSG continues to provide clients with unmatched support. Prior to joining GSG, Jackson was a member of Konica Minolta Business Solutions National Accounts and the Account Executive sales teams at Canon Solutions America in NJ. With over 14 years of sales experience, Jackson has an excellent track record managing relationships with mid to large-size companies and identifying technology solutions.

Katharine Harris joins GSG Financial as Project Manager assisting the marketing and documentation departments. She will be responsible for managing lease documentation and developing marketing initiatives as GSG continues its rapid growth. “As GSG Financial undergoes an official name change, Katharine will spearhead the rebranding effort to better position the company in the industry,” said Jessie Geltzeiler, AVP of Operations. “With a strong background in marketing, she brings a fresh perspective to further GSG’s growth as we expand into new territories and product offerings.” Concurrently, Harris was selected to participate in the first class of GSG’s Leadership Training Program, a rotation through the company’s key business segments. Harris has previously performed non-profit energy efficiency outreach in Manhattan, assisting small businesses through the contracting, retrofitting and incentive procurement process.

About GSG
GSG Financial is an independent equipment lessor and financial solutions provider based in New York City. GSG partners with organizations to facilitate capital acquisitions through personalized service and customized financial products. The company’s core offerings consist of operating leases, capital leases and equipment finance agreements structured to meet the unique needs of each client. GSG’s primary industries include material handling, graphic arts, mailing and packaging, office products, IT and software, and energy. GSG leverages relationships to effectively connect vendors, end users and financial institutions with flexible financial packages. The signature single point of contact approach connects clients with the same experienced account executive from the beginning of the credit process to the time the equipment lease or loan is finalized.

For more information, visit GSG Financial’s website at www.gsgfinancial.com.

Plug Power Secures $6.5 Million Strategic Investment From Air Liquide

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:53:20 +0100

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announced a $6.5 million (Euro 5 million) strategic investment from its partner Air Liquide, which includes a preferred stock purchase, increased ownership of the companies' HyPulsion joint venture and an engineering services contract.

The investment is a significant endorsement of Plug Power's strategy to grow its business of hydrogen fuel cells for forklift trucks and other horizontal markets. The company has seen sales of its GenDrive fuel cells increase by 36 percent in 2012. The products have been successfully deployed at customers such as Walmart, Sysco, P&G, BMW and the recently announced Ace Hardware Corp.

Including this investment, the company has raised $12 million so far in 2013.

"Air Liquide is a respected industry player, which is why this investment is a great validation of Plug Power's strategy," said Andy Marsh, Plug Power President and CEO. "The additional funds will be instrumental in providing the liquidity we need for growth. But the endorsement and board expertise we also get is just as important."

Transaction Details
Air Liquide's investment in Plug Power includes the following components:

A $2.6 million (Euro 2 million) investment in convertible preferred stock with a 60% percent conversion premium to market and an 8 percent coupon. As part of this stock purchase, an Air Liquide representative will join Plug Power's board. The parties have signed a Securities Purchase Agreement for the investment and the transaction is expected to close no later than May 22nd.
Air Liquide also purchased from Plug Power a 25 percent ownership interest in HyPulsion for $3.3 million (Euro 2.5 million). HyPulsion is a joint venture between Axane, an Air Liquide subsidiary, and Plug Power to market hydrogen fuel cells into European markets. After the investment, Plug Power owns 20 percent of HyPulsion, but has the right to purchase a majority interest in 2018.
The companies have also signed a $659,000 (Euro 500,000) engineering service contract in order to accelerate the development of the European market for hydrogen forklift with the Europeanization of key components.

Further details relating to the preferred stock investment and related transactions can be found in Plug Power's Current Report on Form 8-K filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Plug Power Inc.
The architects of modern fuel cell technology, Plug Power revolutionized the industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints. Long-standing relationships with industry leaders forged the path for Plug Power's key accounts, including Walmart, Sysco, P&G and Mercedes. With more than 3,000 GenDrive units deployed to material handling customers, accumulating over 8 million hours of runtime, Plug Power manufactures tomorrow's incumbent power solutions today. Additional information about Plug Power is available at www.plugpower.com.

Santana Equipment Trading Company’s Director of Marketing and PR Passes Away

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:40 +0100

Robert P. Walker, Director of Marketing and PR for Santana Equipment Trading Company, passed away on April 28 in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Robert, also known as Bob, is survived by his two brothers, Joseph Wilson and Richard Wilczynski.

Robert (“Bob”) Walker brought his marketing talent to the material handling industry when he joined Santana Equipment Trading Company in late 2011. Helping pave the way for a seamless expansion to Phoenix, along with owner Eric Davidson, Bob quickly played a significant role in the company’s operations. Among other things, Bob contributed wholly to Santana Equipment Trading Company by boosting the corporate image, designing a new website, creating an employee recognition award, re-structuring the management positions, and launching a national internship program.

Robert (“Bob”) Walker was a remarkable man, and touched everyone in the industry that he had the pleasure of working with. Bob was a kind, honest man of great honor and strength. He will be greatly missed, and we are all saddened by his passing. In honor of his memory, Santana Equipment Trading Company has created a plaque in his honor, and has also developed a program to encourage health and fitness for employees. The company’s employee recognition award will also be officially known as the “Robert Walker Employee Recognition Award.”

Visit www.santanaequipment.com for more information

About Santana Equipment Trading Company
Santana Equipment Trading Company is an industry leader in the material handling market. Santana primarily buys and sells used forklifts - working with Fortune 1000 companies, banking institutions, dealers, and industry giants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Santana Equipment Trading Company is a privately held organization headquartered in the Chicago area.

FSIP promotes Clare Hudson to Sales Manager

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:52:08 +0100

In April of 2013, FSIP promoted Clare Hudson to Sales Manager. Clare joined FSIP in 2010 as a Sales Associate and in 2012 was promoted to a Dealer Account Manager. In her new role as Sales Manager she will supervise the Sales Associates and continue to oversee and promote the Scrubber Sweeper market for FSIP.

FSIP remanufactures controls used on electric and gas-powered vehicles, primarily forklifts, golf carts and aerial lifts. Other platforms include scrubbers/sweepers, NEVs, scooters, mining cars, electric boats and go-karts. FSIP is partnered with many leading OEMs & offers over 6,000 part numbers with superior reliability & turnaround. They are also the exclusive manufacturer of GE electric vehicle controls and parts and a distributor of new Curtis controls.

Storage Systems Company And Conveyer & Caster - Equipment For Industry Team Up To Form ...

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:44:05 +0100

Two business have merged to form one of the region’s leading material handling firms.

Storage Systems Company (SSC), a leading distributor in the Cincinnati area for nearly half a century, has merged with Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry (CC-EFI), based in Cleveland, Ohio. SSC will be the Storage Systems Division of CC-EFI and the key employees from both companies are remaining with the merged firm.

CC-EFI, which has been in business since 1961 in Cleveland, is a third generation, family-owned, solution provider focusing on casters and wheels, power and gravity conveyors, dock and material handling equipment. Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry has developed a national reputation for providing quality, innovative, and comprehensive material handling solutions to its customers.

In addition to its Cleveland headquarters, the company has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Erie, and Syracuse. The merged company’s distribution area is principally in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Western New York, and Western Pennsylvania.

MERGER BENEFITS
“The merger of Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry and Storage Systems Company brings together two firms with great customer focused businesses that have very complementary product offerings,” said Jeff Stohr, president of CC-EFI. “This translates to great benefits for the customers and communities we serve.”

“We believe this partnership will benefit our customers greatly and keep a viable business thriving in Cincinnati,” said Bill Judd, president and founder of SSC. “The resources of Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry gives us expanded capabilities in terms of pricing and availability of products for our valued clients. At the same time, we bring expertise in large scale storage systems, mezzanines, and enclosures to the Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry customer base.” Ted Buse, a key salesman at SSC, said, “I’m excited that we’re able to offer more to our customers; making us a more valued supply partner to all of them.”

SSC’s customers will gain access to a dedicated team of customer service and technical professionals at Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry. “Our existing Storage Systems customers will still have the advantages of dealing with the same representative that they’ve known for years, plus benefit from the expanded resources and capabilities that Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry brings to the table,” said Judd. “This will help strengthen our presence in the region.”

For more information contact Conveyer & Caster - Equipment for Industry at 800/777-0600, 216/631-0202 or visit www.cc-efi.com

New Virtual Territory for METTLER TOLEDO: the Newsroom

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:46:00 +0100

METTLER TOLEDO is pleased to announce the launch of its online newsroom. The newsroom offers a central location for industry and media experts to discover what’s new at the worldwide supplier of precision instruments and other enabling technologies. Press releases, white papers, on-demand webinars, and product information are readily available. Visitors can also pick up information on upcoming webinars, training seminars and conferences making the newsroom a virtual one-stop shop for all things METTLER TOLEDO as well as many related third-party events.

“The newsroom is helping METTLER TOLEDO bring helpful content to its customers and industries using social- and multi-media tools alongside its more traditional communications vehicles,” said Marie-Louise Hupert, METTER TOLEDO’s e-program manager. Visitors can search archives and decide how they want to access METTLER TOLEDO literature based on individual preferences. Media professionals can also access news via a custom search or catalogue entries organized by product and industry. “Our goal with the streamlined access point is to make their lives easier,” Ms. Hupert added.

METTLER TOLEDO is also hoping the newsroom will make tracking industry interest over time easier as well. This evolving discussion will not only help METTLER TOLEDO make sure its current communications are relevant and useful—it could also influence future product development. “If we find that our audiences are very interested, for example, in a design feature being launched within one product line, we could conceivably step up plans to launch similar enhancements in related lines,” Ms. Hupert explained.

Ms. Hupert trusts the clean, inviting white paper, technical guide, case study, and related ePR materials overview pages accessed via the newsroom are easier to use than prior access pages. “By enhancing access to our extensive library of news and publications, we hope to continue doing our part to push evolving technologies forward so the industries we support can operate at their highest possible standards of excellence,” Ms. Hupert concluded.

For more, visit the METTLER TOLEDO newsroom at www.mt.com/newsroom.

About METTLER TOLEDO
METTLER TOLEDO is a leading global manufacturer of precision instruments. The Company is the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications. The Company also holds top-three market positions in several related analytical instruments and is a leading provider of automated chemistry systems used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development. In addition, the Company is the world’s largest manufacturer and marketer of metal detection systems used in production and packaging. Additional information about METTER TOLEDO can be found at www.mt.com.

Graphic Savings Group LLC Announces Company Name Change to GSG Financial LLC

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:44:00 +0100

Graphic Savings Group LLC dba GSG Leasing announced that it has completed its company name change to GSG Financial LLC, effective immediately. This change is part of a larger rebranding effort to emphasize the company's commitment to expand its product offering to service its expanding vendor, end user and financial partner base.

"The GSG Financial name clearly defines our company focus. Our new name also more accurately reflects our evolution to a financial solutions provider,” said Andrew A. Bender, chief executive officer of GSG Financial. “As larger banks continue to try to automate processes, our partners value personalized service and customizable financial products. With the breadth of our services expanding parallel to our partner bases and the markets in which we operate, our company is better positioned to strengthen our industry standing. This is a very exciting time for our company as we continue to position ourselves for accelerated growth in an improving economy.”

The company provides financial solutions including leases and equipment loans to a variety of core industries including material handling, office products, graphic arts, information technology, mailing and packaging and energy throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. GSG is focused on structuring transactions with middle market and investment-grade companies that require more creative and flexible financing than typically offered by traditional banks.

GSG Financial is celebrating its tenth anniversary in June. Over the past decade, GSG expanded from a captive leasing company to a full service financial solutions provider. GSG Financial partners with organizations to facilitate capital acquisitions through personalized service and customized financial solutions. Novel product development, coupled with the current name change, will help investors and customers better understand how GSG’s signature single point of contact and customizable financial offerings most effectively provide financial solutions.

In addition to GSG Financial, GSG services customers through two primary affiliates. GSG Financial facilitates energy capital acquisitions through GSG Energy Finance. GSG Finance of PR LLC provides financial solutions in Puerto Rico.

To support the new name launch, the company unveiled a redesigned website, www.gsgfinancial.com, featuring a unified product, service and solution portfolio.

About GSG Financial LLC
GSG Financial is an independent equipment lessor and financial solutions provider based in New York City. GSG partners with organizations to facilitate capital acquisitions through personalized service and customized financial products. The company’s core offerings consist of operating leases, capital leases and equipment finance agreements structured to meet the unique needs of each client. GSG’s primary industries include material handling, graphic arts, mailing and packaging, office products, IT and software, and energy.GSG leverages relationships to effectively connect vendors, end users and financial institutions with flexible financial packages. The signature single point of contact approach connects clients with the same experienced account executive from the beginning of the credit process to the time the equipment lease or loan is finalized. GSG Financial’s affiliates include GSG Energy Finance and GSG Finance of PR LLC.

For more information on the new GSG Financial, visit www.gsgfinancial.com or call 718/243-2243.

Accellos Announces the Availability of New Mobile Transportation Tracking Solution

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:32:51 +0100

Accellos, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, has launched AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile as part of its Transportation Suite of products. AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile provides seamless, real-time visibility for dispatchers and drivers by enabling information transfer between Prophesy DispatchSeries software and Android Smartphones or Tablets.

AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile runs on virtually any cellular network and allows for the sending and receiving of load information, for efficient communication during any trip. The application also allows drivers to view their exact location along a scheduled load via interactive maps provided through the solution.

Within AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile, Prophesy DispatchSeries users are able to exchange data such as the following:

Shipper name and address
Consignee name and address
Scheduled arrival and departure times
Actual arrival and departure times
Bill of Lading
Signature capture for proof of delivery
Pickup and Delivery Reference numbers
Directions
Load Instructions
Seal Number
Goods Information - Including Weight, Pieces, Pallets, and Tons
As well as other essential information.

“We are happy to announce the launch of AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile, our robust, next-generation mobile communications product, to the transportation market,” said Bill Ashburn, Accellos Senior Vice President, Prophesy Transportation Solutions. “We are certain that this solution will improve on driver and dispatcher productivity as well as planning, customer service and visibility, at the same time reducing time and paperwork.”

About Prophesy DispatchSeries Software
The Accellos Prophesy DispatchSeries solution offers a fully integrated suite of transportation management features. The industry-preferred software handles dispatch, accounting, maintenance, compliance, billing, driver pay and everything in between. Prophesy Dispatch solves the critical needs and time-consuming tasks that today’s trucking companies and brokers struggle with. Prophesy DispatchSeries works with QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Peachtree, MAS/90, and most popular accounting software packages.

For more information about the new Prophesy integration with AccellosOne SkyTrack Mobile, or Prophesy DispatchSeries Software features, visit www.mile.com, or call 800-776-6706.

Stertil-Koni Names Rick Palmer National Account Manager

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:15:34 +0100

Stertil-Koni, the leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, announced that that Richard (“Rick”) Palmer has joined the company as National Account Manager.

Palmer’s new post with Stertil-Koni is a natural progression of years of service in industries associated with heavy vehicle maintenance lifting solutions. In making today’s announcement, Stertil-Koni president, Dr. Jean DellAmore, stated: “Rick brings a proven track record of successful client development and sales at the national account level to our rapidly growing company. He is dedicated to the principal of ‘Customer First’ and we are pleased to welcome him to the Stertil-Koni team.”

Palmer’s background in transportation is extensive. He studied at Ohio State University, served as a Field Artillery Officer in Germany, flew a corporate aircraft for a large European bus operator and has a well-regarded tenure within the bus and motor coach sector. Of note, Rick also served as a Board Member for the United Bus Owners Association (UBOA) and the American Bus Association (ABA) as well as being involved for years with the American Public Transit Association (APTA).

He resides in Ohio and will be responsible for actively serving, growing and pursuing National Account opportunities for Stertil-Koni in the U.S. and Canada.

Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
800/336-6637
www.stertil-koni.com

Exploring ROI of Pneumatic Conveying Systems from a Health and Safety Perspective

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:54:40 +0100

Workplace injuries in any organization take a bite out of profits. There is a wealth of data, statistics and surveys from scores of organizations regarding occupational illness and injuries. The statistics regarding the number of injuries and illnesses that occur on the job and purported annual costs of 250 billion dollars is astronomical and difficult to digest at an organizational level and can therefore dilute the significance of injury costs to a single organization.

To bring these costs closer to an organizational level it is necessary to first identify the most common injuries and illnesses in the manufacturing arena. In the goods producing industry, which accounts for account for 35 percent of all occupational illness and injury cases, “manual materials handling is the principal source of compensable injuries,” according to OSHA.

When practical, designing the hazard out of the process through engineering is the best practice for reducing them. While 4 out of 5 manual materials handling injuries affect the back (lifting, repetitive motion, slips and falls), when manually transporting bulk dry materials, additional safety hazards such as poor respiratory environment and fugitive dust problems—hazards that can be effectively eliminated with pneumatic conveying systems—are present.

Pneumatic conveyors use vacuum to gently and quickly move materials from point to point with nothing in the way to impede the efficiency of its movement. Used to convey, batch, and weigh dry materials from fine powders to plastic pellets and caps, pneumatic conveyors consist of five basic pieces of equipment that come together to work as one – a pick up point, convey tubing, a vacuum receiver, a vacuum producer and a control module.

From simple systems that semi-automate a process to more sophisticated systems that offer complete automation, improved safety always enters the equation when utilizing a pneumatic conveying system. While there is no single equation to determine the return on investment (ROI) that fits all organizations engineering out a safety hazard, data does exist to help determine how pneumatic conveyors contribute to the bottom line in terms of reduced or eliminated hazards, and gains in productivity.

OSHA’s $afety Pays (SP) worksheet, which calculates costs associated with specific injuries and includes a dollar amount of additional sales (and increased production) needed to cover those costs, can assist managers in quantifying the benefits of reducing or eliminating hazards when implementing a pneumatic conveying system.

One of the most effective methods to justify costs of ergonomic improvements is through production enhancements. Just shaving seconds from a single process can have a huge impact. An example from ASSE’s website, ROI of Ergonomic Improvements: Demonstrating Value to the Business, validates how shaving 3.2 seconds from a task can reduce direct labor costs by $29,000 per year.

Fall Hazards

It is not unusual for organizations to seek out pneumatic conveying solutions for the express purpose of eradicating ergonomic hazards. A common dilemma in the industrial world is the manual transport of materials to raised platforms where ingredients are dumped into hoppers. This action represents not only ergonomic hazards, but also a fall hazard. Although the majority of organizations seeking to eliminate this type of hazard have yet to experience a fall event, proactive executives seek out automated solutions to safeguard workers.

When increased demand turned up the notch on production for a particular product, a chemical manufacturer’s primary goal was to eradicate an ergonomic issue by removing the need for workers to dump 20-40 drums containing powder chemicals, that weighed up to 225 pounds each, from a raised platform. Although the company hadn’t had any injuries with that process, its policy was to wipe out any potential.

Although the job required a single operator, the organization staffed it with two people to reduce the potential for injuries. Before contacting VAC-U-MAX, the company tried a bucket elevator. That method, however, created a lot of dust in the air and still presented an over-exertion hazard when dumping the product into the elevator. The company also considered a hoist system, but that would have required operators to do some drum handling which would have made the process significantly slower than their existing method.

The size of the pneumatic conveying system depends upon the desired speed at which product is transferred from one place to another as well as the distance between two transfer points. Because the company wanted to eliminate an ergonomic issue and timing wasn’t an issue it chose to utilize a smaller conveying system.

To move several hundred pounds of material in 30 minutes, a VAC-U-MAX MDL105017T Tube Hopper was utilized to transfer the claylike material up a level into a volumetric feeder. Another MDL015017T Tube Hopper was also added to a separate line that pulled granular material from awkward shaped drums weighing over 200 pounds each, up into a liquid mixing tank.

Although the time to transfer the products stayed relatively the same with the new units, the job went from requiring two people to a single operator and eliminated a hazard. The company wasn’t looking to cut any people, but they did save some money by it and the unit paid for itself in the first year of use.

Elevated falls are less frequent but more severe than same-level falls in the workplace. In 2011, falls, slips and trips claimed the lives of 666 workers and one in four resulted from a fall of less than 10 feet.

The manufacturing industry experienced 47 of the fall fatalities in 2011. OSHA’s SP worksheet, does not include cost data for fatalities, but a 2003 mean estimate of direct costs for a single fatality in the workplace was approximately $900,000.

Direct costs are budgeted costs, or insured costs. Indirect costs are those that are not budgeted (not insured) and eat away at profits. Indirect costs are estimated to be anywhere from 2 to 20 times the direct cost. These costs include training replacement employees, accident investigation and implementation of corrective measures, lost productivity, fines and penalties, repairs, any other costs not covered by insurance, including loss of employee morale.

Fall fatalities demonstrate a worst-case scenario in the workplace and have a severe impact on employee morale, and high indirect costs that are conservative at one million dollars. Most commonly, falls, trips and slips result in back injury or some other musculoskeletal disorder (MSD); however, statistically MSDs from those hazards are calculated separately. MSDs include any injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper/lower limbs or the back.

Back Injury

In the manufacturing arena, 4 out of 5 materials handling injuries affect the back and require a median of 10 days for workers to recuperate. Using the $afety Pays worksheet, calculating with a 5% profit margin, a strain has indirect costs in excess of $33,000 and requires an additional $672,122 in sales to recoup those costs. Anytime organizations can eliminate the possibility of back injuries, injury costs should be taken into consideration when determining ROI.

While working on a major efficiency project that culminated in the building of new rooms for a blending area, a tea manufacturer wanted to also cut down the amount of lifting that the operators were doing manually in the production department.

Previously, the operators were manually weighing individual hundred-pound batches into barrels, using forklifts to transfer them to the top level, and then dumping them into hoppers by hand.

One of the biggest concerns for the tea manufacturer was the breakdown of the materials themselves. Pneumatic conveying is a very gentle way to move product and once that was proven to the manufacturer in the VAC-U-MAX testing facility; the system was designed to automate the process.

Now rather than operators using forklifts to bring barrels up to the mezzanine level, and manually scooping materials into the hopper, operators insert a wand into the barrels and product is pneumatically transferred from the wand to the blenders, eliminating all the forklift traffic and wear and tear of the workers’ backs.

In addition to eliminating ergonomic issues and potential costs associated with injury, the company had a 20 percent increase in productivity.

Fugitive Dust Control

Pneumatic conveying systems are fully enclosed, protecting materials from air, dirt and waste. Because product does not escape from a pneumatic conveying system, particulates that can endanger workers respiratory health or settle on equipment and surfaces posing an explosion hazard are prevented from entering the environment.

Any time a pneumatic conveying system is employed, costs associated with housekeeping diminish as well as the potential for a dust explosion. Much could be written about combustible dust explosions and the benefits of pneumatic conveying systems; however, it should be made clear that the cost of employing even the most sophisticated pneumatic conveying system would be far less than that of a dust explosion.

Since the inherent nature of the pneumatic system prevents loose powder from becoming airborne, it makes for a cleaner and safer environment all around, and a greater number of organizations are looking at safety reasons for engaging a pneumatic conveying systems.

Several years ago, a manufacturer of cable faced a major materials handling problem--two of the fourteen ingredients used in its process were toxic. The ingredients were received in powder form in 50-lb bags which were opened on the production floor, hatched on platform scales and manually dumped into a mixer or blender. Despite extensive use of exhaust ducting and respiratory protection for the workers in the area, engineers were still concerned with the impact of toxic contamination on the environment and the threat of not meeting OSHA regulatory standards.

Indirect costs for a single dust disease, according the SP worksheet, are around 25,000 with an additional $509,000 needed in sales to recoup the cost. The worksheet lists other respiratory illnesses as well as illnesses associated that can be caused by dusty environments such as dermatitis. A single injury for dermatitis can result in indirect costs around $10,000 with over $200,000 of additional sales to make up for those costs.

The cable company eliminated the need to dump 50-pound bags of toxic material into a mixer manually by converting to a monorail-mounted hoist from VAC-U-MAX. The device lifts and positions semi-bulk bags to an unloader, which forms a dust-tight seal against the ring on the discharge opening. Agitator pads and an auger under the storage bin help to deliver material into a weigh hopper on the floor below at a controlled rate. The material is then conveyed to a blender on an upper floor.

The entire flow path is enclosed resulting in a safer environment and because of the bulk packaging, the cost per pound of materials is lower. In addition, handling costs in receiving, storing and discharging the materials are substantially lower.

Manual materials handling is the number one source of compensable injuries in the manufacturing sector. Many of those injuries could be avoided by employing a pneumatic conveying system—often for less than combined direct and indirect costs associated with those injuries. Nearly 100 percent of the time, solving a workplace hazard with a pneumatic conveyor system increases profit through production efficiencies.

To learn more about how VAC-U-MAX pneumatic conveying systems can improve efficiency, ergonomics, preserve product integrity, or reduce costs, write to them at 69 Williams Street, Belleville, NJ 07109; call 1-800-VAC-U-MAX 800/822-8629 or 973/759-4600; e-mail info@vac-u-max.com; or visit their website www.vac-u-max.com.

By Doan Pendleton, VP of VAC-U-MAX

ITW Warehouse Automation’s Steve Golladay Receives Lifetime Achievement Award From Beverage ...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:38:00 +0100

ITW Warehouse Automation (ITWWA), the global supplier of innovative, fully-integrated warehousing solutions, announces that business development manager, Steve Golladay, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Beverage World Magazine at its annual BevOps Conference. The Award acknowledges Golladay’s 30 -plus years of experience in the beverage industry.

“It’s an honor to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Beverage World,” says Golladay. “I am grateful for my long career and take great pride in being part of the innovative and fast-growing beverage industry.”

With over thirty years of experience working across the Southeastern United States, Golladay has held multiple positions throughout the beverage industry supply chain- from sales and marketing to customer management, equipment services, re-manufacturing and more. He spent a large majority of his time with Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (CCBCC), where he formally held the position of Vice President of Supply Chain Services and Support. Golladay also led a startup, Swift Water logistics, a supply chain process improvement company consulting outside clients on supply chain processes from order generation, warehouse system redesign, delivery and merchandising. In April 2012, Golladay retired only to re-enter the workforce with ITW Warehouse Automation as business development manager on its Vertique automated case picking and StorFast automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS).

“Steve is an asset to our organization and a critical member of our team. We are thrilled he is being honored for his long and successful career,” says Doug Stambaugh, General Manager, ITWWA.

For general information about ITW Warehouse Automation visit: www.itwwa.com, or call: 1-828-654-7500.

Jamco Inc. Adds Bulldog Batteries to product lineup

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:02:00 +0100

Jamco Inc.has been recently appointed to be the authorized distributor of Bulldog Batteries (www.bulldog-battery.com) manufactured in Wabash, Ind. for the Orlando and Florida area.

Bulldog's quality, turnaround time and competitive pricing is one of the reasons for Jamco to form this partnership." We at Jamco are excited to be able to offer a full line of Motive Power Industrial and Deep Cycle Golf Cart Batteries, paired with our current extensive line of High Efficiency Eagletronic Chargers as an energy efficient un-beatable combo. At Jamco we continue to advance our line of Opportunity Chargers and this, along with the Bulldog Dealership for the Greater Orlando/Tampa market, will be a natural fit for both companies " said Tim Jamal of Jamco Inc.

This opportunity will allow Jamco to represent Bulldog Batteries full range of industrial forklift batteries, aftermarket parts, and other by-products. Jamco will be equipped to fully perform factory authorized services and warranties from its Sanford, Fla. location

For more information on Bulldog Batteries and other Jamco products call toll-free at 866/848-5400 and web address is www.jamco1.com and www.eagletronicchargers.com

About Jamco
Jamco has been in the material handling industry since 1986 and were one of the first used truck wholesalers in the Canada. All their used equipment is stored in their clean heated warehouse. They take pride in the used forklifts we supply to forklift dealers all over the world and firmly stand behind the quality of equipment.

Over the years, Jamco has expanded its product range and have become world renowned for their line of high efficiency Eagletronic motive power battery chargers, Eagle55® pallet jacks and forklift forks &attachments. They are constantly adding new products and expanding Jamco’s global market presence to meet their customer’s growing demands.

The Eagletronic high efficiency digital chargers with the exclusive MTL3 digital technology, provides the perfect balance between quality, technology, simplicity, customer confidence and price. For more information on features please visit www.eagletronicchargers.com

The Eagle55® pallet truck, with its three-year warranty, has become one of the country’s fastest selling pallet jacks. Eagle55® pallet jacks are available in several sizes. Jamco takes pride for best overall customer satisfaction of any pallet truck in the industry.

Forklift and material handling dealers across the world have come to know Jamco for reliability, service, honesty and integrity pricing.

New Platform Improves Deliveries in Confined Spaces

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:13:00 +0100

Bustin, a division of R * O * M Corporation, is pleased to introduce a sturdy compact platform and step system that can be mounted on existing equipment.

"At only 28 inches deep, the Slide & Go Space Saver Platform is made to fit in very tight spaces," said Product Manager Dan Caffrey. "The compact design fits most truck bodies, including flatbed trailers, vocational trucks and recreational vehicles. It is also perfect for side door access and trucks with limited under-mount space."

The Slide & Go measures 28 inches deep by 36 inches wide. Height varies from eight inches for the platform only, to 19 inches for the platform with Bustin's retractable Slide-Away Step installed. Optional storage for safety posts and chains is also available.

"Wherever there is scarce real estate on a vehicle, whether it's a flatbed or opposite a fuel tank, you can mount the Slide & Go," Caffrey said. "The beauty of this product is that it can be added aftermarket, so it is a good opportunity to add a platform to existing equipment."

Even with short mounting brackets, the Slide & Go is rated with a 600-pound load capacity. The Slide-Away Step is rated for 350 pounds.

"The platform enables drivers to cube out the truck and then down stack the product for delivery. The platform easily operates in tight alleyways or locations with cramped or limited space," said Caffrey.

Deployment is fast and simple. The platform features a single-hand latch release and can be opened and locked in place within five seconds. An active locking mechanism keeps the platform secure during use.

Additional safety features for the Slide & Go include serrated, slip-resistant grating and a handrail option enhancing driver safety with three points of contact.

Compact sliders help reduce the footprint and won't lock up even in the coldest weather.

"We're excited to introduce the Slide & Go," said Don Fishel, VP of Sales and Marketing of R * O * M. "This compact and sturdy platform is an excellent addition to our portfolio of products and delivers on our company mission to improve driver safety and delivery productivity."

For more information on the Slide & Go Space Saver Platform, contact Dan Caffrey at (816) 510-2956.

About R * O * M Corporation
R * O * M Corporation, founded in 1947, is headquartered in a 65,000 sq. ft. facility in suburban Kansas City, MO and specializes in building products that improve worker productivity and reduce workplace accidents associated with slips, trips, falls, and muscle strains. The company employs talented tradesmen, machinists, engineers, and sales and customer service professionals in 12 different states. R * O * M product solutions are marketed to emergency responders, truck and trailer operators, food and pharmaceutical manufacturers, telecommunication and utility workers, and other specialty vehicle occupations. R * O * M Corporation is ISO 9001-certified and also operates facilities in West St. Paul, MN, East Stroudsburg, PA, and Nesconset, NY. For more information visit www.romcorp.com.

Lenze OEM Business Development Team Manager to Discuss Centralized and Decentralized Drive ...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:08:00 +0100

Tom Jensen of Lenze Americas, a leading global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives, motion control and automation technologies, will present a Manufacturing/Packaging track session entitled Centralized or Decentralized: Application–Specific Drive Strategies at 3 pm, Tuesday, May 14th at The Automation Conference. The annual conference, produced by Summit Media Group, will be held May 14-15 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Designed for automation professionals in the manufacturing, processing and packaging industries, The Automation Conference presentations focus on delivering practical application advice and visionary insights for automation professionals. Jensen, manager of the Lenze OEM business development team, will explore the role of mechatronic design on drive selection and explain the pros and cons of both centralized and decentralized drive options, so that true mechatronic manufacturers will be better positioned to make less expensive, faster and higher quality machines.

“As silver sponsors of the conference, Lenze is also pleased to welcome Purdue University among the conference keynote speakers. We value Purdue’s efforts in workforce development and their extraordinary commitment to developing a robust academic program centered on manufacturing excellence,” said Chuck Edwards, president, Lenze Americas.

Gary Bertoline, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Technology and Professor of Computer Graphics Technology and Computer & Information Technology at Purdue University, will present a keynote address about How Higher Education’s Fatal Flaw Impacts Manufacturing, Wednesday, May 15th at 11:05 am CST. Dean Bertoline’s topic supports efforts at Purdue and others in academia helping to bridge chronic deficits in workforce development through innovative work conducted at undergraduate and graduate levels in manufacturing education, which ultimately strengthens the U.S. role in global manufacturing.

The Automation Conference will feature more than 20 presentations engaging professional participants in topics on manufacturing and automation. The keynote addresses will be presented each morning of the conference followed by a series of sessions under two concurrent topic tracks on automation applications in manufacturing/packaging and processing. Attendees will find a wealth of information on cross-industry concerns, such as safety, security, mechatronics, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), energy management and industrial network configuration, as well as specific vertical issues such as regulations, standards and device/machine integration.

About Lenze Americas
Lenze is a global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives, motion control and automation technology. Our products can be found in many industries, including automotive, packaging, material handling and logistics, robotics, and commercial equipment (pumps/fans). A global network of distributors and representatives makes Lenze Americas perfectly positioned to meet the motion control needs of customers worldwide. Lenze Americas, the American subsidiary of Lenze SE of Germany, is headquartered in Uxbridge, Massachusetts; corporate global headquarters are in Hamelin, Germany. Lenze Americas can be found online at www.lenzeamericas.com.

Tap into ‘Networking and Resources Gem’ at CRC/ICHC

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:03:14 +0100

With OSHA still grappling with key crane issues, such as whether crane operator certification is equivalent to qualification, crane and rigging professionals can’t afford to miss CRC/ICHC in Indianapolis, Ind., May 29-30.

During the jointly held Crane & Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane & Hoist Conference, some sessions will touch on big picture issues affecting safety managers, project managers, and supervisors: Technology’s impact on training, OSHA enforcement trends, and leading causes of crane accidents.

Other sessions are more technical in nature: Rail fastening for overhead cranes, multi-leg rigging, and signal person communication. However, this is not just a sit-and-listen event. Hands-on sessions, small-group networking with experts, and vendor displays offer attendees multiple ways to learn and connect.

“Great speakers, interactive sessions, and the right audience combine for an educational and useful experience. I definitely get excellent value from my attendance and participation as an exhibitor,” said LD Stutes, Vice President Sales & Marketing for The North American Crane Bureau Group (NACB), Lake Mary, Fla. NACB is the 2013 Event Partner for CRC/ICHC.

Organizations such as Construction Users Roundtable, Steel Erectors Association of America, and Ohio Manufacturers Association support CRC/ICHC because it offers merit for their members.

“Ongoing education is always important, but with OSHA’s Nov. 10, 2014, deadline looming for the certification of crane operators, we strongly encourage our members to attend CRC/ICHC in order to stay abreast of industry trends and educate themselves on issues specifically related to this mandate,” said Tom Underhill, Executive Director of the SEAA.

During breaks, attendees have access to vendors’ exhibits, which includes 20 to 30 companies representing everything from cranes to wire rope. A recent company to join the exhibitor list is rigging hardware manufacturer, The Crosby Group, Tulsa, Okla. Both Crosby and Liebherr will sponsor lunch during the conference. See the current list of exhibitors here.
http://www.craneandriggingconference.com/crc-ichc/exhibitors/

Asked what continues to draw NACB back as a repeat exhibitor, LD Stutes said: “CRC/ICHC is well organized and professionally right on target. Compared to other conferences I attend, it is a networking and resources gem.”

Produced by Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Crane & Rigging Hot Line and Industrial Lift & Hoist magazines, CRC/ICHC is an independent conference. You don’t have to be a member of an association to attend. You get access to a cross-section of experts representing various standards groups, industry committees, and employers. And the agenda is developed around the hot topics facing the industry today. Throw in breakfast and lunch, and the registration fee is well worth your investment. Register online at: http://www.craneandriggingconference.com/crc-ichc/registration/ prior to April 26, 2013 for discounted early bird rate or call 602-368-8552 to register by phone.

About MCM Events
MCM Events is a division of Maximum Capacity Media, publisher of Crane & Rigging Hot Line, Industrial Lift & Hoist, Lift and Access, and other lifting equipment industry publications. MCM Events produces the MCM-CIC Crane Operator Rodeo, Lift and Access Showcase & Symposium, SAF-T Conference, and other live and virtual events. For more information about CRC/ICHC visit www.craneandriggingconference.com.

Introducing the all-new container rental program from APR Allen Plastics Repair

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:59:12 +0100

To better serve our customers, APR is now offering bulk container rentals. We maintain a fleet of collapsible 48" x 45" x 34" bulk boxes in stock ready for quick shipment. Additional sizes may be available upon request. Our new container rental program offers a low investment solution for companies looking for short-term bulk container needs such as bank builds, short term production runs, temporary storage needs, etc.

Low Cost
APR rental containers can offer significant savings over purchasing new containers. Pricing is very reasonable, with a 25% discount on rental of 100 or more containers.

Don’t pay for days you don’t need!
After the first month, APR only charges on a per box/per day basis.

Flexibility
APR will be happy to customize a rental program to work for your unique needs and situation.

Quality Guaranteed
APR containers for rent have all been through rigorous quality checks and testing to ensure the refurbished rental containers will safely serve your company for as long as you need them.

APR's rental containers offer a great cost savings to our customers and can be written off as a tax expense. APR is pleased to announce our new container rental program, and we invite you to contact us to learn more or get a free quote today.

Please call 260-496-9934 for more information regarding APR's containers rental program.

S. W. Betz Company, Inc. Hires Kamela Robinson as Customer Service Representative

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:07:00 +0100

The S. W. Betz Company, Inc. (www.swbetz.com) has hired Kamela Robinson in the role of Customer Service/Inside Sales Specialist.

Kamela has over 15 years of experience in Customer Service support for a variety of companies in the retail and non-profit sectors. As one of the first points of contact for S.W. Betz customers, Kamela is ready to help with new product research and pricing, customer support and follow up. Kamela is dedicated to ensuring that a customer’s experience with the S.W. Betz Company is a productive and enjoyable one.

The S. W. Betz Company, founded in 1933, is a woman-owned enterprise representing many of the leading manufacturers in the Material Handling Industry. With new leadership at the helm, the company prides itself on continuing traditions developed since 1933~ identifying solutions that meet the unique needs of their customers, delivering exceptional value and providing excellent customer service.

Linda Hurka, President, observes, “We are thrilled to have someone of Kamela’s caliber and capability join our team in this crucial role. Given her experience, background and knowledge she will have an immediate impact to our organization and will be a tremendous resource for our customers and their needs.”

Magnetek Introduces New Website

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:03:00 +0100

Magnetek, Inc. announced the release of their new website. Located at the same address, www.magnetekmh.com, the new website is simple to navigate and incorporates an intuitive graphic display. All related information, including brochures and manuals, now resides on each product page, and pricing is just a click away for those registered for access to Magnetek Material Handling’s online pricing. Visitors who would like to register for online pricing access are encouraged to fill out the request form. Highlighted features include new videos, the display of related products, and more case studies.

The new website is mobile optimized for easy viewing and content accessibility whether on a smartphone or tablet. The ease with which customers can access product information from a mobile phone is expected to increase customer satisfaction and decrease the amount of time spent locating specific products and documents.

“We hope customers find it quick and easy to locate the information they are looking for on our new website,” said Dan Beilfuss, Director of Sales for Magnetek Material Handling. “We plan to continue to add useful information, such as application tips and case studies, which will help our customers get the most out of our products.”

About Magnetek, Inc.
Magnetek, Inc. provides digital power and motion control systems used in overhead material handling, elevator, and mining applications. The Company is North America’s largest supplier of digital drive systems for industrial cranes, hoists, and monorails. Magnetek provides Energy Engineered® drives, radio remote controls, motors, and braking and collision avoidance subsystems to North America’s foremost overhead material handling crane builders. The Company is also the world’s largest independent builder of highly integrated digital motion control systems for high-rise, high-speed elevators and is a leading independent supplier of digital motion control systems for underground coal mining applications. Magnetek is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wis., in the greater Milwaukee area and operates manufacturing facilities in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Bridgeville, Pa., as well as Menomonee Falls.

A real breakthrough in the forklift field!

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:05:00 +0100

With lots of excitement and enthusiasm, we're delighted to present you a brand new website—the only one of its kind in all of Canada: forkliftnetwork.ca (in English) and reseauchariotselevateurs.ca (in French). Now you can announce your inventory of forklifts—right online—and, at the same time, view what's available all over the country!

You'll have access to a network of companies and people who have the same goal as you do: to buy or sell a forklift. Become a member of our network and make the most of the many advantages in store for you:

fast, easy access to a Canadian network
significantly more potential buyers for your equipment
much more chance of finding the equipment you need
a website with very good exposure on major search engines, thereby increasing your visibility among client-users
and much more…

Just register by selecting the plan that best suits your needs, and then take full advantage of what it has to offer you!

In addition, you'll have the opportunity to advertise on our website through our various advertising packages. We're also in the process of rolling out a major web advertising campaign and have already secured priority listings on search engines through our expedient domain names. Without delay, grab this opportunity to substantially increase your visibility!

Any questions? Don't hesitate to contact us and a member of our staff will be pleased to answer you. Here are the links to our website: forkliftnetwork.ca and reseauchariotselevateurs.ca

Factory Automation Systems Becomes RIA Certified Robot Integrator

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:20:00 +0100

Factory Automation Systems, Atlanta, Georgia, has received the prestigious Certified Robot Integrator designation from the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry’s trade group.

“We are delighted to welcome Factory Automation Systems to our growing group of Certified Robot Integrators,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of RIA. “In order to become certified, integrators go through a rigorous process which includes an on-site audit, safety training and hands-on testing of key personnel among other important criteria. Based on feedback from the industry, we believe that achieving certification will be valuable to integrators looking to showcase their capabilities and experience to users and suppliers alike.

“Additionally, the program allows integrators to benchmark their own processes against best industry practices, allowing them to identify areas in which they can improve. This also helps the industry by strengthening the overall integrator channel,” Burnstein explained.

Factory Automation Systems is the 12th systems integrator to achieve RIA certification.

“Factory Automation Systems (FAS) is proud to achieve the status of RIA Certified Robot Integrator,” said Ron Potter, the company’s Director of Robotics Technology. “This distinction will allow us to display to our current and potential customers our long-term commitment to providing innovative solutions that allow our customers to control their destiny. With hundreds of successful installations over the past 20 years plus, FAS is committed to maintaining the high standards required in attaining this certification.”

RIA requires each certified integrator to be recertified every two years. Detailed information on the certification program and the certified robot integrators can be found on a special section of Robotics Online. Integrators interested in becoming certified can contact Jeff Burnstein or 734/994-6088.

Founded in 1974, RIA now represents some 300 robot manufacturers, system integrators, component suppliers, end user, consulting firms, research groups, and educational institutions. RIA is best known for its biennial Automate Show & Conference (next event slated for March 23-26, 2015 in Chicago); the ANSI/RIA National Robot Safety Standard and annual National Robot Safety Conference (October 14-16, 2013, Indianapolis, IN), and the annual Robotics Industry Forum (January 22-24, 2014, Orlando). The association also provides quarterly robotics statistics and has a content-rich Robotics Online website attracting hundreds of thousands of visits a year from throughout the world. For more details on RIA, visit www.robotics.org or call 734/994-6088.

“Robotics customers, of course, still need to conduct their own due diligence on the suppliers they select,” said Burnstein. “RIA cannot guarantee the work of any integrator or recommend which integrators to choose. We have more than 50 system integrator members and look forward to having more of them go through the certification process in the near future."

Contact:
Jeff Burnstein
President
734/994-6088

Expansion: American Crane & Equipment Corporation Completes Engineering Addition and ...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:17:00 +0100

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has completed phase one of its two phase expansion, financed by PNC Bank with engineering provided by Boyer Engineering. The first phase of construction includes a 2,500 square foot engineering addition with 11 cubicles and 3 offices. The offices and cubicles are energy and space efficient, utilizing motion activated lighting and dual monitors with adjustable arm mounting.

The second phase of the project involves the construction of a 43,000 square foot manufacturing facility. This new building will be used for shipping and receiving, load testing, equipment assembly and storage.

The projected expansion was presented to the Amity Township Board in July 2012. The Township’s guidance and cooperation enabled the engineering addition (phase one) to be completed on schedule by December 2012 and the manufacturing building (phase two) will also be completed on schedule by September 2013.

In addition to American Crane & Equipment Corporation’s corporate headquarters, located in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, the company has two other Pennsylvania locations and one location in South Carolina. As a custom crane supplier specializing in engineered products for aerospace, commercial nuclear, DOE nuclear, oil and gas, and automated systems, American Crane is known for tackling unique “critical lift” applications. The company excels in custom solutions for material handling; offers services such as inspections, retrofits, repairs and on-site maintenance; and also stocks a large inventory of spare parts and standard equipment.

For more information on American Crane products and services please call Karen Norheim at 877-877-6778, Ext. 227 or visit www.AmericanCrane.com.

Kalmar RT Center Expands International Reach To Afghanistan

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:14:00 +0100

Kalmar RT Center, the world’s only manufacturer of rough terrain reach stackers, announced that two Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stackers are en route to Afghanistan to lead military logistics for the Australian Defense Force (ADF).

Harirud General Trading Company, a contractor providing equipment and services in the Middle East and Africa, bought two Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stackers for use by ADF personnel. This is the first commercial sale of a Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker in Afghanistan since RT240s became available to the commercial sector last fall.

The Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker operates easily in the world’s most remote locations where infrastructure is destroyed or non-existent. Harirud personnel will use the Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stackers to aid in the movement of its defense equipment by working through the Afghanistan region’s intense heat, sand and geographic obstacles that other machines cannot endure.

“Military agencies and companies around the globe are quickly learning how the Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker increases productivity in ways they never imagined,” Randy Wingenroth, Kalmar RT Center Vice President of product and business development said. “We are bringing the efficiencies learned through a decade of improving logistics for the U.S. military and sharing it with the world.”

Initially produced exclusively for the United States armed forces, the Kalmar RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stackers are capable of handling 20-foot and 40-foot ISO containers across virtually any landscape. The Kalmar RT240 is the only rough terrain reach stacker capable of working in unimproved ground conditions, harsh environments and grades up to 27 percent. Its application versatility is expanded by the availability of fork and sling lift attachments.

Harirud General Trading Company personnel will receive extensive Kalmar RT240 training and product familiarization as part of Kalmar RT Center’s commitment to customer service.

About Kalmar RT
Kalmar RT Center is the only manufacturer of rough terrain reach stackers in the world. Based in Cibolo, Texas, Kalmar RT produces the RT240 Rough Terrain Reach Stacker and the RT022 Rough Terrain Telehandler. Initially produced for the United States military, the RT240 and RT022 are now available to companies around the globe. For more information, visit KalmarRT.com.

New CONEXPO-CON/AGG online exhibitor education increases trade show results and ROI

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:13:17 +0100

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 exhibitors can achieve improved trade show results with the help of a new online exhibitor training program. Show management offers the “trade show strategy and planning” support curriculum at no charge to help exhibitors get the most from their trade show investment.

The training program includes five self-paced modules that cover a broad array of attainable goals in marketing, sales, business process enhancements and profit improvement. Four modules focus on strategy and planning, including objectives setting, target marketing, effective messaging and making the strategic plan. The fifth module emphasizes staff skills and engagement techniques.

Content is of value to both novice and veteran exhibitors, with comprehensive information that includes clear examples and suggested next steps. Downloadable handouts are provided, as well as worksheets where applicable.

Share learning sessions with all exhibit team members

The online training program is designed to foster interactive discussions and participation by all company personnel involved in CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 exhibit planning.

Trade show industry expert Ed Jones of Constellation Communication Corp. developed the program for CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014. “We encourage exhibitors to take advantage of this invaluable service from show management. Revisit and review the modules as often as needed and share them internally with all exhibit team members,” stated Jones.

Jones is well-known for delivering training on best practices in the exhibit and event marketing industry. He teaches the required course in trade show marketing measurement for the Certified Trade Show Manager (CTSM) certification. Constellation Communication Corp. has provided evaluation, research, consulting and training for 25 years.

“Planning is an essential element of success, and this is another way we can support our exhibitors and enhance the value of their show experience. Research confirms that exhibitors who have a clear plan to achieve specific results are the most successful,” stated Megan Tanel, show director and vice president exhibitions and events for AEM.

Exhibitors can access the education modules using their CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 exhibitor password-order ID number. For more information, visit the show website www.conexpoconagg.com Exhibitors/Show Preparation/Exhibitor Education.

More exhibitor education at Chicago May 15-16 meeting

Jones will also participate in the upcoming Exhibitor Education Meeting, to be held May 15-16, 2013 at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. The meeting is another free, value-added service, but registration is required.

The Chicago exhibitor education meeting includes more than a dozen learning sessions, including roundtables and panel discussions, and networking receptions and dinner – two days to gather with industry experts and fellow exhibitors to share ideas and experiences.

Tanel explained that CONEXPO-CON/AGG has made increased exhibitor engagement a key goal in trade show promotion, working with exhibitors to bring the right buyers to the events. “Our new online education and the Chicago meeting are opportunities to help exhibitors sharpen their skills and drive traffic to their booths,” she stated.

The Chicago meeting is open to both CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2014 exhibitors and all companies that exhibit at AEM-produced trade shows, as well as all AEM member companies. To register for the Exhibitor Education Meeting and more details, go online to CONEXPO-CON/AGG or IFPE (www.conexpoconagg.com or www.ifpe.com Exhibitors/General Information) or AEM’s website (www.aem.org Education/ Marketing Council).

MIAS Group: New Office in Denver, Colorado

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:11:23 +0100

The MIAS Group is expanding their North American operations and has added an office in Denver, Colorado, that will support service and sales. As head of this new office, MIAS welcomed Dennis McWherter on board. Mr. McWherter will focus on expanding US/American service and sales, as Vice President of US Operations. Prior to joining MIAS, Mr. McWherter serviced as Vice President of North America Customer Support for Swisslog Healthcare Solutions in Denver Colorado, USA.

Cardoze & Lindo Partners with LiuGong Forklifts in Panama

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:08:00 +0100

LiuGong Construction Machinery N.A. LLC, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce that Cardoze & Lindo, S.A. has become the exclusive distributor of LiuGong forklifts in the Republic of Panamá.

With a 94 year history, Cardoze & Lindo has built a reputation as a leader in the material handling, agricultural and construction equipment markets. “Our product support, quality equipment offered and years in the market make us the leader in the Republic of Panama” touted Jorge Cardoze L., President of Cardoze & Lindo. With over 120 employees located in four locations (Panamá, Santiago, David and Colon), Cardoze & Lindo provides excellent products, service and support to their customers.

While considering their options for a new product line, it quickly became clear to Cardoze that LiuGong was the right partner. “LiuGong has a strong reputation in Latin America for quality products and first class product support” noted Mr. Cardoze. “Their premium line of lift truck products fits with our market very well” he added. LiuGong’s forklift product line includes electric rider forklifts up to 2.5 tons and I.C. pneumatic tire trucks up to 16 tons capacity. Cardoze & Lindo will be supported by LiuGong from their offices and parts distribution center in Katy, Texas (near Houston).

LiuGong Construction Machinery N.A. LLC is a subsidiary of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd. which was founded in 1958 in Liuzhou, China. LiuGong is a premium manufacturer of construction and material handling equipment that is easy to own and easy to operate, and features technologies with well proven reliability. LiuGong products therefore provide a great deal of value for the price, and are easy to maintain, even in rigorous and isolated environments.

The company supports its global product lines with a rapidly-growing, worldwide network of more than 380 dealers across six continents in over 115 countries. The firm employs over 14,000 including more than 1,000 R&D engineers and operates 24 manufacturing facilities. Supporting the dealer network are 10 regional offices with sales, marketing and service support, coupled with 10 parts depots located strategically throughout the world, which ensure rapid replacement of parts and servicing of equipment.

To learn more about LiuGong, visit www.liugong.com

To learn more about Cardoze & Lindo, visit www.grupocar12.com

Eight Acuity Brands Experts to Present at Lightfair International 2013

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:07:00 +0100

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is pleased to announce eight of its experts are featured speakers at Lightfair International 2013 in Philadelphia, April 21 – 25. Acuity Brands lighting, controls and daylighting experts will host a variety of workshops and seminars, covering topics from managing LED luminaire costs to healthcare lighting and retrofit lighting.

“We are excited to share our expertise with the industry as we continue to expand and develop new lighting, controls and daylighting technology,” said David Grimm, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President. “Presenting at Lightfair is a way we can engage with the industry to share our knowledge and gain insight from other industry professionals.”

Featured Acuity Brands experts presenting during Lightfair International 2013 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center include:

Sunday, April 21

Visual 2012 Training: David DiLaura, Acuity Brands Lighting Principal Illuminating Engineer, Innovation & Technology Group, with Randall King, Acuity Brands Lighting Director of the Illuminating Engineering Services and Tim Sears, Acuity Brands Lighting Lead Illuminating Engineer

Monday, April 22

Photometry: Greg Subisak, Acuity Brands Lighting Director of Training for Center of Light & Space – Granville

Tuesday, April 23

Tools and Resources for Choosing Wise Investments in Lighting: Damon Wood, Acuity Brands Lighting Specification Sales Manager

Wednesday, April 24

Managing LED Luminaire Costs: Mark Hand, Acuity Brands Lighting Director of Indoor New Product Development & Technology
The Visually-Optimized, Empowered Patient Room: Approaches to Transforming the Lighting Environment for Healthcare Facilities: Karyn Gayle, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President, Healthcare Vertical
Thursday, April 25
Lighting Retrofits: A Better Option Now Than Ever Before: Kurt Vogel, Value Stream Leader, Lithonia Lighting

Acuity Brands is exhibiting at Lightfair booth #801 and will showcase a variety of new products and technologies from its lighting, controls and daylighting offerings. For more information about Acuity Brands, please visit www.acuitybrands.com.

Santana Equipment Trading Company Adds to Management Team

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:51:57 +0100

Santana Equipment Trading Company, one of the nation’s premiere Material Handling companies promoted Angel Acosta to District Sales Manager. Angel attended the Intern/Management Trainee sales/marketing program for 3 months. The program includes a specifically designed course to teach recent college graduates about the intricacies of business and current social media marketing trends in today’s economic climate. The Santana Equipment Trading Company instituted their Intern/Management Trainee training program over 10 years ago and have recruited and promoted many employees to work for Santana. While the program is continuously being updated to adhere to the changes in the workforce, Santana Equipment Trading Company is always looking for new students to train.

Santana Equipment Trading Company has also expanded their operations to include Phoenix along with corporate HQ located just outside of Chicago. This allows the company to recruit from both coasts as well as in the Midwest to bring in young talented college graduates like Angel. One of Angel’s other great strength's is he is fluent in Spanish. This allows more contacts and assistance to sell to Santana's Latin American market. The diverse Hispanic market has increased their revenue opportunities and Santana Equipment Trading Company has taken advantage of their growing staff of speaking employees to sell to our Latin-based clientele. Angel has been a strategic individual who has managed to work very closely with our growing base of the Latin American community customers.

Eric Davidson, President and founder of Santana Equipment Trading Company notes “Angel is one of our diamonds on the rough as he is relatively early in his business career and speaks fluent Spanish”. Eric continues “This allows the company to train Angel on our business operations and we can send him to our Latin American community to work with our customers.” Eric also notes, “Adding Angel to the sales team allows us to continue to hire talented bilingual employees for the company.”

Visit santanaequipment.com for general information

About Santana Equipment Trading Company
Santana Equipment Trading Company is an industry leader in the material handling market. Santana primarily buys; sells and trades used forklifts for Fortune 1000 companies. Santana Equipment Trading Company is a privately held organization based out of the Chicago area.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks Introduces New Series Of Electric Cushion Tire Forklifts

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:49:48 +0100

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, manufacturer of reliable and affordable forklift trucks for hard-working applications, today announced a new series of 4,500 – 6,500 lb. capacity electric 4-wheel cushion tire forklift trucks. Equipped with a variety of productivity – enhancing standard features, the FBC22N2 – FBC30LN2 forklift truck series includes both 36 and 48-voltage options and features enhanced operator ergonomics, high performance levels and a new modern design.

“We’re excited to introduce this next generation of electric cushion tire forklifts to our customers,” said, Chad Pauler, product line manager for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks. “Equipped with powerful 3-phase AC technology and high-efficiency systems, the FBC22N2 – FBC30LN2 Series of forklifts offers exceptional acceleration and lift speeds along with superior operator comfort. The new design also provides easy access to routine service components, resulting in decreased downtime and a lower total cost of ownership.”

The new electric forklift trucks are designed for powerful performance and productivity in a wide-range of industries, including food and beverage, textile, general warehouse and logistics applications. Built for comfort and productivity, the new Mitsubishi forklift trucks offer:

Increased Energy Efficiency. Equipped with 3-phase AC technology, these electric cushion tire forklift trucks have exceptional acceleration and lift speeds for increased operator productivity. Equipped with separate drive, hydraulic, and steer motors, these forklifts are tailored to deliver the exact performance level required while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Enhanced Operator Comfort. Hydraulic levers conveniently located next to the seat allow the operator’s arm to rest in a natural, relaxed position when operating the controls. For maximum operator comfort, the new series also has an increased operator compartment space and a three-way adjustable full-suspension seat.
Decreased Downtime And Repair Costs. Easy access to major components reduces the time needed for periodic inspection and servicing, helping to reduce downtime, while providing a lower total cost of ownership for the customer.
Value-Added Options. A wide range of options, such as LED work lights, four-stage “quad” masts, sideshifters and foot directional control, can also be added to further enhance productivity in a customer’s specific application.

Learn more about the FBC22N2-FBC30LN2 Series of electric cushion tire forklift trucks, or view the complete Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks product line at www.mit-lift.com.

Mustang Announces ALL NEW R Series Skid Steer Loaders

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 06:31:00 +0100

Mustang has redesigned their full-sized radial lift skid steer loader line. The all-new herd, the R Series, includes three models - the 1900R, the 2200R, and the 2600R. Offering a brand new operator's station with an integrated digital display, improved 360-degree visibility, pressurized cab option, Tier IV-compliant Yanmar engines and an enhanced hydraulic system, the R Series is a new breed in the Mustang stable.

The R Series radial-lift skid steer loaders fall into the large-frame category, bringing raw performance to the jobsite. When equipped with optional counterweights, the rated operating capacities range from 2,110 lbs. (957 kg) on the 1900R to 2,780 lbs. (1261 kg) on the 2600R. Lift heights reach up to 120.5" (3061 mm) on the 1900R and 123" (3124 mm) on the 2200R and 2600R.

Download the Full Press Information Sheet

Download High-Res Photography from the Mustang Ad Portal

For more information about Mustang R Series Skid Steer Loaders visit www.mustangmfg.com/newherd.aspx

LGSTX Services Ground Support Equipment App

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 06:31:00 +0100

Along with Material Handling and Facilities Services, LGSTX also offers Aviation Ground Support Equipment Services. This app was designed to allow aviation professionals the opportunity to browse GSE that LGSTX has available for lease and sale on the go.

The exact description associated with the app is as follows:

This app allows aviation professionals to quickly and easily browse Aviation Ground Support Equipment (GSE) that LGSTX has available for Lease and Sale. LGSTX GSE is professionally maintained and perfect to supplement current operations or replace failing equipment. On top of Leasing and Sales, LGSTX offers the ability to perform maintenance and refurbish GSE.

Here is the link to the app in the Apple App Store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lgstx-gse/id610267521?mt=8

Hannibal Industries Keg-Flo Beer Storage System Gains Momentum

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:27:00 +0100

Hannibal Industries, a leading storage system manufacturer, is showing its exclusive Keg Storage system called Keg-Flo at BrewExpo America at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in booth 6078 today and tomorrow. Keg-Flo sales are currently gaining momentum across the country as beer distributors are installing it to increase their keg storage capacity, and efficiency of their operations.

The Hannibal Industries Keg-Flo system provides distributors with the ability to increase the number of Sixth Keg SKUs efficiently stored in an area. In addition to increasing warehouse capacity, this improves productivity by reducing the travel time required to pick orders.

“As craft brewers and distributors warehouse more Sixth Keg SKUs of craft beers, maximizing their existing warehouse space becomes increasingly important,” said Steve Rogers, vice president of sales for Hannibal Industries. “The fact that BrewExpo America is the largest brewing conference in the U.S. makes it an ideal venue for Hannibal Industries to present Keg-Flo.”

Connect with Hannibal Industries on Twitter @HannibalRack, the HannibalRack YouTube channel and on LinkedIn.

For additional information on Keg-Flo and Hannibal Industries’ complete storage solutions offering visit www.hannibalrack.com.

Honor industry innovators: AEM Hall of Fame nominations open in April 2013

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:22:00 +0100

Prepare now to submit your candidates for induction

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces the 2013 AEM Hall of Fame program, honoring those who have invented, built and led the off-road equipment industry. Online nominations will open in April; check the website for details (www.aem.org/HallofFame).

The 2012 inductees into the AEM Hall of Fame were:

John Deere (Deere & Company)
Pierre Bataille (Poclain)
Wood Brothers - Keith, Leonard and Mervel (Woods Equipment Company)

The Hall of Fame highlights the industry's rich legacy of progress and its critical role in economic prosperity and quality of life – to promote greater public understanding and appreciation and to inspire the industry leaders of tomorrow.

More than 40 industry leaders have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1993. Nominees are evaluated by an independent panel of industry experts.

Help us recognize and celebrate the achievements of the industry’s standard bearers. Prepare now for your nominations.

Prepare Now for Your Nominations

The nomination form is simple – 5 short essay questions covering the criteria candidates will be evaluated on that are critical to the health of the equipment manufacturing industry: 1) innovation, 2) industry contributions, 3) leadership, 4) corporate citizenship/social responsibility and 5) sustainability. You can also provide documents to support your nominee’s candidacy.

Below are details. Check the website, which will post details as they are available - www.aem.org/HallofFame

View a sample nomination form template here. As the sample template shows, AEM poses questions that will help nominators focus their essays to explain in the best way possible, using the available space, why the nominee should be considered for the AEM Hall of Fame.

The nomination requirements are very specific; AEM urges nominators to read the sample nomination form template carefully ahead of time in preparation for filling out the online form. AEM also suggests writing and reviewing the five short nominating essays in a word processing program and then pasting them into the online form. This will help ensure submitting the most effective essays possible. The form's requested information about the Hall of Fame nominee/candidate (and nominator) should also be filled out.

Although not mandatory, AEM also highly suggests submitting supporting materials. Company newsletters, feature stories, letters of recommendation and photos help tell the story of the nominee and the contributions they have made to the industry.

Paul Farrell Promoted to CEO/President of Modern Group

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:26:42 +0100

Modern Group, one of the nation’s largest distributors of materials handling equipment, forklifts, construction equipment, and power systems, announced the appointment of Paul Farrell as CEO & President effective May 1, 2013. Paul had previously been named President in November 2012. Dave Griffith, who had been Chairman/CEO will retain his role as Modern Group Chairman.

“The promotion of Paul to CEO is the natural evolution of a plan that has been in place for several years. Paul’s leadership is extraordinary and as a team we’ve successfully managed the company through the recent recessionary years. Our future is strong and Paul is a great choice to be the 3rd CEO in our 67-year company history”, said Dave Griffith, Modern Group Chairman.

“Working with Dave has been an invaluable experience in learning all the facets of Modern’s business. His business acumen is second to none and his continued role as Chairman allows us the opportunity to continue to assess his experience”, said Paul Farrell. “Dave has been at Modern since 1992 and has managed the company during years of major change in all areas of the industry. We have been fortunate to have had him as the leader, and he will continue to provide his wisdom as our Chairman. The future opportunities are limitless for Modern and we are well positioned to achieve future success. Our performance this fiscal year is strong and the future is very bright”, he added.

Paul Farrell had joined the company in 2004. Paul is a Rutgers University graduate and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. He lives in Medford, NJ with his wife, Denise, and three children.

About Modern Group
Modern Group, one of the nation’s leading equipment distributors, provides sales, leasing, short term rental, service, parts, training and financing solutions through its forklifts, power systems, construction, and warehouse products to businesses serving Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. For more information visit http://www.moderngroup.com

Northland Industrial Truck Co., Inc.

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:17:26 +0100

Northland Industrial Truck Co., Inc. (NITCO) is pleased to be named as the authorized Yale® lift truck dealer for the state of Connecticut, and for the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hamden and Hampshire in Massachusetts.

NITCO, which has been a materials handling solutions provider in the New England region for over four decades, is also the exclusive Yale® lift truck dealer in Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Eastern Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Additionally, NITCO is the exclusive Hyster ® lift truck dealer for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Eastern Vermont.

“We look forward to servicing our new Yale customers with the same dedication and focus that has served our clients for close to 45 years,” says Alan Hammersley, Chief Operating Officer of NITCO.

NITCO currently services the Connecticut and Western Massachusetts area from its state of the art, full service facility located in Wallingford, Conn.

Northland Industrial Truck Co. Inc. is headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., with five additional branch locations throughout New England, and has 285 employees.

For more information about Northland Industrial Truck Co., Inc. visit the following website: www-nitco-lift.com.

About Hyster Company
Hyster Company is a leading worldwide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry — from 2,000 to 115,000 lbs. For more information, please visit www.hyster.com.

Dervin Taylor Named As New Corporate Controller For SPG International, LLC.

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:20:00 +0100

SPG International recently added Dervin Taylor to its finance & accounting management team. He joins the company as Corporate Controller and will report directly to Steve Darnell, SPG President and CEO. "Dervin has the background and abilities that we were looking for to fill this key position," says Darnell. "His diverse experience in a broad spectrum of consumer and industrial businesses is ideally suited for SPG, and he has already begun to make contributions to our operation."

Dervin comes to SPG from Solo Cup Company and his 12-year career of progressive financial experience includes stints at International Seal, Lear Corporation and General Motors Corporation. Dervin earned a B.A. from Morehouse College and an MSA from Central Michigan University.

About SPG International, LLC:
SPG is a leading manufacturer and distributor of storage products and material handling equipment for a diverse range of commercial markets – from foodservice to grocery, healthcare to industrial. The company's five strategically located manufacturing and distribution facilities produce the industry’s broadest and best selection of storage and material handling equipment. With expertise in the mediums of wire, aluminum, stainless steel, steel and plastic, SPG offers customers seven different product lines representing the most respected names in the industry: AMCO, ISS, Freestyle, Kelmax, Universal Stainless, Gillis, Jarke. All SPG equipment is designed to allow customers to do more, earn more and save more, as they expect more with SPG. For more information, please visit www.spgusa.com.

Packaging Line Improvements Keep Craft Brewer Focused on the Future

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:17:00 +0100

After experiencing a higher than desirable level of bottle breakage with repurposed packaging equipment, Midwestern stalwart Boulevard Brewing Company approached Standard-Knapp to create a solution to meet its non-traditional packaging demands, which include four different bottle types, multiple packaging sizes, and no carton dividers. The packaging company responded with an innovative solution that picks the product from the infeed conveyor and gently places it into the bottom of the empty case. The company now reports virtually zero packaging breakage and has increased throughput by about 10 percent because of increased efficiency and less down time.

Boulevard Brewery’s growth fuels facility expansion

Kansas City, MO-based Boulevard Brewing Company is the 10th largest craft and 17th largest overall brewery in the U.S. Boulevard. It currently offers seven year-round and five seasonal brews, as well as a rotating line of artisanal beers named for its iconic brick smokestack, packaged in 750ml bottles, 12-ounce four-packs, and kegs.

During 1990, the first full year of production, the company sold 1,747 barrels (bbls) of beer. By 2011, the company had sold the equivalent of more than 46 million 12-ounce servings and is aiming on brewing about 188,000 bbls in 2013. With growth like that, it’s not surprising that the brewery reached capacity. In 2005, Boulevard broke ground on a 70,000 square foot expansion, and now has a total brewing capacity of 600,000 bbls.

Along with the new facility, Boulevard needed to invest in a packaging line that could keep up with its phenomenal growth. As Boulevard director of engineering Mike Utz explains, Boulevard began working on a high-speed packaging line in 2008, after the facility expansion was completed. “We opted to go with repurposed and reconditioned equipment for the new line, which included a drop packer.” Boulevard eventually selected used equipment from Standard-Knapp, a Portland, CT-based manufacturer of packaging machinery.

Boulevard had the unit, a 939S Versatron, rebuilt and converted to its product range. Here’s where things got tricky. While the equipment met Boulevard’s need for speed, it came with a price – a high bottle breakage rate during packaging that was exacerbated by the lighter weight bottles that are becoming the industry norm. According to Utz, the trend towards use of light weight glass bottles saves on money and materials, but makes the bottles weaker and less able to stand up to rugged drop packing. Also, the company uses dividerless packaging for a number of package sizes (6, 12, and 20 packs) so the packer had to hit perfectly because there were no separators.

According to Utz, “We wanted to stick with the traditional packaging that was part of our image, but the glass on glass packaging led to an unacceptable breakage rate.”

New Pic-N-Place packaging module virtually eliminates all packaging breakage

Standard-Knapp worked closely with Boulevard to find a solution to the breakage issue. Brian Stearns, mechanical engineer for Standard-Knapp, explains, “The used drop packer Boulevard Brewing originally purchased was developed for a different purpose and more for a company at a different stage in its development. It was not well suited for their capacity and their need for different bottle and case types, which is why they experienced breakage.”

The solution Boulevard arrived at involved retrofitting the 939S Versatron case packer with a brand new upgrade, called the Pic-N-Place module, which picks the product from the infeed conveyor and gently places it into the bottom of the empty case. It gave Boulevard soft container handling and is engineered to grab product in the optimum, most secure position or spot. The module virtually eliminated packaging breakage.

The 2-axis servo controlled Pic-N-Place acts just like a person’s arms, offering smooth operation. The system is easy to program and easy to maintain consistent operation. The PLC configurable placement profiles make it easy to configure gripping action, and the distance that the product travels into the case is easily set from the operator interface.

The Pic-N-Place’s heavy duty construction includes mechanical grippers with long life and high uptime is engineered to run 24/7. It packs every last bottle, and no human assistance is needed to complete the process.

The Pic-N-Place was initially developed for increasing speed in lowering head applications but was later considered an option that would work well for dealing with the trend toward lighter glass and partitionless packaging. Stearns explains that the industry is moving in the direction of reducing packaging materials, so everyone is going towards thinner glass and partitionless cartons. “You need extremely versatile equipment to be able to handle all those different bottle types and do it all at high speeds.” Installing the new unit at Boulevard was a win-win for both companies – Boulevard instantly solved its packaging breakage problem and Standard Knapp confirmed that Pic-N-Place’s is the perfect option for partitionless packaging.

The new module was installed quickly and easily at the end of 2012, over the long holiday weekend. After a bit of testing that included hand-placing bottles to check out carton size, Boulevard began with a 4-hour shift the first day, and moved to 100 percent production by the following day. The quick commissioning and optimization schedule was helped by the fact that workers were already familiar with the machine and only had to make a very small change to go from drop-packing to the Pic-N-Place module.

“We now have just about zero breakage at the packaging step,” says Boulevard’s Utz, who notes that they set production records during the second week of operation, increasing throughput by about 10 percent. “We sent more finished cases down to our palletizer than ever before. The machine is not faster, but the efficiency is much greater and there is less down time, less disruption to the flow of beer, and more packages.”

He notes that before the module was installed, workers were faced with frequent shutdowns, and had to stop the line to clean out the packer and start it up again. They also had been faced with contamination further down the line. “Standard-Knapp worked with us to resolve the problems and provided an engineered solution that could fit into the existing footprint, which was important, since the packaging line is shoe-horned into the space and we did not have a lot of extra space,” says Utz.

He adds that he was very pleased with the engineering of the equipment. “Retrofitting the new system to the existing machine was done very well. This was a novel concept in the packaging industry, and I was impressed with their commitment to making it work and the quality of the solution once delivered. This solution allowed us to keep our packaging the way it was, which was an important benefit for Boulevard.”

Since its installation at Boulevard Brewing Company, several other brewers have visited the site to watch it in action. “Everyone who lays their eyes on it is excited and can’t wait to get their hands on it,” says Stearns.

PTV Group continues to grow in North America

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 06:05:00 +0100

New in the U.S.: Logistics software components for geocoding, mapping, routing and resource optimisation

Karlsruhe, Germany, 25 March 2013. Offering easy-to-integrate functions for logistics planning is one of PTV Group's key competencies. Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, PTV Group has positioned itself as a global provider of software for traffic and transport logistics. As a specialist with many years of experience in transport optimization, the company is now expanding its business in North America. Developers and system integrators can easily integrate PTV’s location based software components for mapping, routing and geocoding into their applications in order to add productivity enhancing spatial analytics. Distribution is managed via PTV's North American subsidiary in Portland, Oregon, and its continually growing network of partners. The company will now be showcasing its logistics software components at the upcoming Logistics CIO Forum, March 26-27 in Long Beach, USA.

The software components are specifically geared to the U.S. market and will be continuously enhanced. This includes integration of specific map data, a geocoding method designed to meet local needs and industry-specific background data on truck attributes provided by leading digital mapping & content providers. Moreover, a full package consisting of additional data on Latin & South America and Europe can be compiled to support international operations.

Real added value

Why do all the programming, if ready-to-use functions can be added easily? PTV's backend solutions for fleet and sales force management are scalable and reliable components which can be easily integrated into business operations and applications. Therefore, they are an ideal fit for providers and operators of fleet management and transport management systems that are looking for new or enhanced solutions which include geospatial functionality. Key PTV customers and partners that are already realizing impacting ROI by utilizing multiple “use cases” in North America are CarrierWeb, Click Software, DHL, Qualcomm, Quintiq, Trimble, and WalMart.

Tremendous market potential

There is a huge potential for logistics and telematics applications in North America: According to recent studies there are 14 million vehicle fleets with 3 - 8 trucks and more than 3.5 million vehicles have already been equipped with on-board units (OBUs). Over 2.5 million users rely on fleet management systems (FMS) which are currently used by around 300,000 companies. Fleet management systems will witness an annual growth rate of 18 - 20 percent.

"Our goal is to become the leading provider for logistic and geographic software components in North America,” says Greg Muir, Business Development Director Logistics at PTV America. The current competitive situation opens up multiple market opportunities for new providers, like PTV Group. Customers will benefit from PTV's in-depth expertise in the field of geocoding, mapping, routing and resource optimization. "After successful marketing of our software components in Europe, we want to expand our business by providing logistics products specifically geared to the U.S. market."

Greg Muir has more than 25 years of experience in IT, logistics and digital mapping. Before joining PTV America, he worked for internationally renowned companies such as Tele Atlas/TomTom, Telogis, Oracle, ObjectFX and Computer Associates, accumulating extensive experience and specialist expertise in vehicle fleet optimization and evaluation, driving behaviour and fleet operations management. Since November 2012, he has been responsible for business development of PTV logistics products in North America.

PTV. The Mind of Movement.

The PTV Group provides software and consulting for traffic, transport logistics and geomarketing. Be it transport routes or sales structures, private or public transport – we plan and optimise everything which moves people and goods worldwide.

Our range of products and services includes Concepts & Solutions, Software & Services, Components and Data & Content. Customers in more than 100 countries rely on our solutions. Our software tools enable private and public sector organisations to perform their everyday tasks in a highly efficient manner. And right at the forefront: our market-leading product lines PTV Map&Guide for transport route planning and the Vision Traffic Suite for traffic & transport planning and traffic simulation.

Scientific expertise is one of our particular strengths. We run projects in a goal-based and practice-oriented manner. Currently, we have over 600 employees worldwide crafting powerful and innovative solutions. Our head office, which is located in the technology region of Karlsruhe, Germany, has been the centre of development and innovation since the formation of our company in 1979.

The German company PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG is a member of the PTV Group. www.ptvag.com.

Steel Erectors Join CURT and Ohio Manufacturers in Support of CRC/ICHC

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 06:04:00 +0100

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) has agreed to support CRC/ICHC to be held May 29-30 in Indianapolis, Ind., announces MCM Events, the conference organizer. SEAA comes on board as a Supporting Organization at the same time that MCM Events finalizes the agenda.

SEAA represents contractors engaged in building with steel and promotes safety, education, and training programs for steel erector trades, assists with development of standards, and cooperates with others to impact the commercial construction business. SEAA joins the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) and the Ohio Manufacturers Association, other professional organizations that have agreed to promote the conference to their respective members. Two industry publications are supporting the event as Media Partners. They are Wire Rope Exchange, a publication for distributors of crane, rigging, lifting and load securement products, and Construction Superintendent, which is geared toward the needs of commercial construction superintendents, offering current news, technology, and methods.

“Ongoing education is always important, but with OSHA’s Nov. 10, 2014 deadline looming for the certification of crane operators, we strongly encourage our members to attend CRC/ICHC in order to stay abreast of industry trends and educate themselves on issues specifically related to this mandate,” said Tom Underhill, Executive Director of the SEAA.

Crane and Rigging Experts to Speak on Business, Safety, Operations, and Technology

Technology and timeless safety topics top the 2013 agenda, which includes presentations from a variety of industry leaders and experts, as well as crane and rigging professionals with jobsite experience. Setting the tone for the event will be the keynote address by Matthew Wallace, President and CEO of VRSim.

Wallace, who is a 2011 Engineering News-Record Top 25 Newsmaker, will share how simulator technology is valuable for recruitment and training. Attendees will get an opportunity to experience crane simulators first-hand during an interactive session hosted by North American Crane Bureau Group, the conference Event Partner. A case study from Bechtel Equipment Operations will demonstrate how it is bringing mobile learning to the jobsite using tablets and rigging and lift planning apps.

New to this year’s conference is a Lift Planning Vendor Vignette where attendees will hear from a member of the ASME P30 committee about a new standard on Lift Planning, followed by short features and benefits presentations from several lift planning software providers, including Lift Planner, Cranimax, and 3D Lift Plan.

Other sessions deal with safety and operational issues. “Practical Applications of the OSHA Crane Regulation” will provide implementation strategies to help safety and risk managers comply with 1926.1400. “Lift Planning for Heavy

Lifts” will address logistical considerations and site preparation for intermodal transport of loads with ASME B30 and ASME P30 standards as a backdrop. Other topics deal with specifying overhead crane hoist brakes and establishing good signaling and communication practices.

Good rigging practices are central to safe lifting operations with both mobile and overhead cranes. Mike Riggs of the Rigging Institute will present a workshop on load control with multi-leg rigging and he will host a hands-on session for participants to practice their rigging gear inspection skills. Brett Woodland of Associated Wire Rope will discuss working with heavy lift shackles in extreme environments. And Patrick Clark from Lifting Gear Hire will explain spreader beam selection.

The complete agenda can be found at http://www.craneandriggingconference.com/crc-ichc/crc-agenda/.

CRC/ICHC would not be possible without the financial support of its sponsors. Many of this year’s sponsors, including Liebherr Cranes and Morrow Equipment, are returning from last year in support of the conference. They join Event Partner North American Crane Bureau Group, an international crane, hoist, and rigging training company, which conducts nearly 400 training seminars annually. A limited number of sponsorship and exhibitor spots remain available. For information, contact Mark Bridger at mbridger@maxcapmedia.com.

Record-breaking World of Asphalt and AGG1 conclude successful run

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:34:00 +0100

World of Asphalt and AGG1 2013 concluded a successful run March 21: a sold-out show floor with record exhibit space, near-record registered attendance, more co-located industry groups and meetings than ever before, and record education ticket sales.

"We've received excellent positive feedback on the shows' value to bring together so many qualified buyers and sellers in one place, and for the networking and dialog with peers from across North America and internationally," stated Show Manager Rich Prausa.

The co-located 2013 World of Asphalt Show & Conference and AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo were held March 19-21, 2013 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Near-record registered attendance topped 6,000 at close of the shows. Registrants came from all 50 states, 8 Canadian provinces and 50 other countries worldwide. More than one-third were company presidents/owners, vice presidents, general managers or chief financial officers, and all together more than 84 percent of registrants were in managerial roles.

The sold-out show floor covered a record 123,600 net square feet of exhibit space taken by more than 385 exhibitors. Leading manufacturers and suppliers showcased their latest products and technologies for the aggregates, asphalt, pavement maintenance and traffic safety industry sectors.

Education is a cornerstone of the shows and attendees purchased a record 8,400-plus tickets for the shows' education programs, including the AGG1 Academy and People, Plants and Paving Training Program.

“Savvy industry professionals realize the importance of keeping up to date with industry best practices if they want their businesses to stay on top; they know AGG1 and World of Asphalt education programs are industry-developed and presented," Prausa stated.

Industry support amplifies the shows' networking and knowledge-sharing. The co-located groups and meetings included Association of Modified Asphalt Producers, Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Association, Rubber Pavements Association and Texas Asphalt Pavement Association. More than 25 industry organizations were official supporters of World of Asphalt and AGG1 2013, and the shows are industry-owned and operated.

AGG 1 is owned by the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). World of Asphalt is owned by the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), NSSGA and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). AEM produces both shows.

The next edition of World of Asphalt and AGG1 will be held in March 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The shows are held annually except in CONEXPO-CON/AGG years (such as 2014), with that show spotlighting the exhibitors and products of World of Asphalt and AGG1.

For more information, go online to www.worldofasphalt.com and www.agg1.org.

2013 ADS International Convention & Tradeshow - Partners for Success

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:33:00 +0100

The Association of Diesel Specialists will be holding their annual ADS International Convention & Tradeshow later this summer. The theme for the 2013 Convention is showcased at the event will be a variety of seminars and educational sessions to keep attendees up to date on the latest industry trends and business tips. There are also various networking opportunities available for all in the industry to meet and mingle.

Another key feature at this annual event is the ADS Tradeshow where attendees can meet one-on-one with exhibitors to learn all of the valuable tools and resources, new products and services that have been designed to help make their companies more profitable and competitive.

Anyone interested in attending or exhibiting can learn more about schedules, rates etc online at www.diesel.org/convention or contact Rosemary Hall, director of meetings - exhibits@diesel.org.

2013 ADS International Convention & Tradeshow
Partners for Success
Manchester Grand Hyatt
San Diego, California USA
July 30 - Aug. 2, 2012

Visit www.diesel.org/convention often as updates are constantly being made!

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Awarded Two Separate Steel King Honors

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:30:00 +0100

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. has been given two top awards by Steel King Industries Inc. of Stevens Point, WI. Both awards – Million Dollar Dealer and Top Ten Dealer - were given for the 2012 sales year. Steel King is a provider of steel storage rack systems, mezzanines, guardrails and other related products. Jay Anderson, Steel King president said “Our close working relationship with Wisconsin Lift Truck and their field sales reps, help us to learn what their customer’s needs are and then develop solutions that best meet those needs.”

Wisconsin Lift Truck has been a distributor of Steel King products for over 20 years.

“With each rack project, we strive to prove that Wisconsin Lift Truck provides the best solution to increase your warehouse efficiencies, paired with a first-rate product.” said Jerry Weidmann, president of Wisconsin Lift Truck. “Steel King has earned a national reputation for developing innovative products at competitive prices which makes them a great partner in the material handling industry”, he added.

Out of hundreds of Steel King dealers, only 41 have the “Excalibur” status and of those, the Top Ten were recognized for their marketing efforts. “We thank them and congratulate them for their outstanding sales figures in 2012”, said Anderson.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com) is a full service material handling distributor, and part of the material handling arm of the Wolter Group, which includes Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com) and Illinois Material Handling (www.imhlifts.com). The Wolter Group delivers superior service to over 15,000 customers in its three-state service area, and the cornerstone of their success is its highly trained staff of over 330 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com) , which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, sweepers and scrubbers; and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of material handling.

Industry Association Announces 2013 Award Winners

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:27:00 +0100

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), the leading trade association for the material handling industry, is pleased to announce 24 distributor member companies have achieved MVP award status for 2013.

The prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award requires a company to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in success including their customers, employees and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas:

Industry Relations
Customer Relations
Peer-to-Peer Networking
Training for Employees
Business Best Practices

To be among the less than 5% of the association’s distributor membership earning the award, MVP companies complete an application process that includes written recommendations from both suppliers and customers.

2013 MHEDA President Jerry Weidmann of Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp., Brookfield, WI, says,

“MHEDA is proud to recognize the MVP distributors’ high standards of performance in the material handling industry. MVP distributors’ commitment to industry best practices is commendable.”

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the independent material handling distributor. MHEDA represents over 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

2013 MHEDA MVP Members as of 3-15-13

AHS, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH

AK Material Handling Systems
Maple Grove, MN

American Warehouse Systems LLC
Blaine, MN

Associated
Addison, IL

Atlantic Coast Toyotalift
Winston Salem, NC

Bode Equipment Co.
Londonderry, NH

Cardinal Carryor, Inc.
Louisville, KY

Carolina Material Handling Services
Columbia SC

Conveyor Solutions
Schaumburg, IL

Eastern Lift Truck Co., Inc.
Maple Shade, NJ

Fallsway Equipment Company
Akron, OH

FMH Material Handling Solutions, Inc.
Denver, CO

Gregory Poole Equipment Company
Raleigh, NC

HyTek Material Handling
Columbus, OH

Lift Atlanta, Inc.
Decatur, GA

LiftOne
Charlotte, NC

Maybury Material Handling
East Longmeadow, MA

Morrison Industrial Equipment Company
Grand Rapids, MI

PeakLogix
Midlothian, VA

R.H. Brown Co.
Seattle, WA

Riekes Equipment Company
Omaha, NE

Springer Equipment Co., Inc.
Birmingham, AL

Sunbelt Industrial Trucks
Dallas, TX

warehouse 1
Kansas City, MO

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.
Brookfield, WI

MVP Vision Statement
The vision of the Most Valuable Partner designation is to recognize those distributors who have achieved, through documented processes, performance excellence in customer service, supplier relationships, employee training and community involvement. These distributors deliver a superior customer service experience to the end user.

Exel Earns Leed Certification For Logistics Without Borders Distribution Center In Laredo, Texas

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:24:00 +0100

Exel, part of the supply chain division of the global logistics leader DHL, announced today that its 250,000-square-foot Logistics Without Borders distribution center in Laredo, Texas, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility is the first distribution center in Exel’s North American real estate network and in the city of Laredo to receive LEED certification.

The facility, which opened in October 2012, earned its LEED designation because of its environmentally responsible design elements and efficient operating systems including energy efficient lighting, sky lights, low-flow plumbing, a white roof system, storm water runoff containment, and a recycling program. All elements were designed to conserve energy and water, reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger Laredo community.

“Our commitment to the environment, the community in which we work, and to our associates is integral to our business model and one of the driving factors of our decision to design and build a LEED-certified distribution center,” said Brian Locasto, Senior Director of Operations at Exel. “Building a sustainable commercial building – one that lasts and whose operations have minimal environmental and resource impact – starts with an inspired team collaborating on design and efficiency. Our ability to succeed in this effort was the result of the collaboration with the city of Laredo, Webb County, and the Laredo Development Foundation. Exel is proud to have our first certified build to suit – and the first one for Laredo – as a showcase of our capability.”

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, giving the industry a framework for practical green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions to help reduce energy consumption.

The Laredo facility is a half mile from the U.S./Mexico border, and serves as a hub for Exel and DHL Supply Chain’s Logistics Without Borders supply chain solution. This end-to-end supply chain solution incorporates all business units of DHL and provides customers with one-stop access to the tools, expertise and services necessary for cross-border shipping. The facility is a multi-client, multi-industry operation that supports customer supply chains on both sides of the border. Current customers include Sensata, Flextronics, Daimler Truck, Vitromex and BOS.

To read more about the Logistics Without Borders facility, visit exel.com.

2013 Solid-State Lighting Awards Solidify Acuity Brands’ Position as Technology Leader

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:20:00 +0100

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) has been distinguished as the Technology Brand Leader in the LED luminaire market by the third annual Architectural SSL magazine Production Innovation Awards (PIA). In addition, Acuity Brands received Product Innovation Awards for six of its indoor and outdoor LED lighting products introduced this past year, further emphasizing the Company’s market leadership in product innovation.

“Acuity Brands has won a Market Leadership Technology Brand Leader award for its outstanding efforts in bringing a variety of quality solid-state lighting (SSL) fixtures, including OLED products, to market,” said Jim Crockett, Editor-in-Chief, Architectural SSL. “Additionally, Acuity Brands has six products that won individual Product Innovation Awards. These products are considered some of the best LED and solid-state luminaires on the market.”

The awards represent a peer-recognized selection of quality LED products.

The innovative and significant new Acuity Brands products selected as PIA winners include:

Peerless® Origami™ LED luminaire: Inspired by modern architecture, fashion and design, Origami LED luminaires are ideal for illuminating interior spaces where uniquely designed energy-saving fixtures are desired.
Lithonia Lighting® I-BEAM® LED luminaire: Ideal for high bay applications such as manufacturing, warehousing and other large indoor spaces, I-BEAM LED high bays provide an energy-savings payback in as little as two years.
Lithonia Lighting® FEM LED luminaire: Available as a surface-mounted or suspended linear fluorescent luminaire, the energy-efficient FEM LED is suitable for wet, damp and/or cold locations such as parking garages, industrial facilities, retail malls, multi-purpose centers, garden centers, and airports.
Holophane® Petrolux® LED series: Designed for harsh environments, Petrolux LED luminaires combine a robust sealed housing with state-of-the-art LED engine and prismatic polycarbonate optics to boost visibility and maximize spacing.
Holophane® Sign-Vue® LED luminaire: Used for illuminating billboard and DOT signage, Sign-Vue LED luminaires feature an innovative optical design with superior uniformity and color rendering to increase message visibility.
Holophane® HMAO LED high mast luminaire: HMAO LED luminaires feature multiple lumen packages to maximize energy savings and deliver up to 100,000 hours of maintenance-free operation in large area and roadway applications such as airports, rail yards, sea terminals, industrial facilities, DOT interchanges and correctional facilities.

Additionally, Peerless Lighting won a Market Leadership award for Outstanding Media Campaign, which is a comprehensive award for advertising, email marketing, web design and product literature, including catalogs.

For more information about Acuity Brands, please visit www.acuitybrands.com.

“Works as Well as Advertised” — Pittsburgh Corning Installs Goff’s Climate Curtain For ...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:13:00 +0100

• Thermal scan shows 8.2 degrees F temperature difference on outside of building.
• Climate Curtain also controls dust, reflects light for brighter working area.

By: Marcus Mohwinkel, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Goff’s Enterprises, Inc.

Pittsburgh Corning is a world leader in innovative glass block products for commercial, institutional, government and residential building applications. In addition to loose glass block, Pittsburgh Corning offers High Performance Architectural Systems, LightWise® Residential Windows and GuardWise® Basement Security Windows. The company is the only U.S.-based manufacturer of glass block.

In 2011, Pittsburgh Corning began assembly of its glass block systems in an under-utilized warehouse at its Port Allegany, Penn., manufacturing location. To prepare the warehouse for assembly operations, the company needed to create a climate-controlled, low-dust environment. Further, the warehouse measured 100 feet wide by 400 feet long—but assembly operations required only a portion of the total area.

Eric Swartwout, the Senior Engineer whose responsibilities include the mechanical, electrical and environmental activities at the facility, determined that Climate Curtains from Goff’s Curtain Walls would help address all three assembly area requirements.

“I looked at the information on Goff’s website, and what impressed me was the application information and the fact that the Climate Curtains used Thinsulate Ultra Insulation from 3M,” says Swartwout. “Our assembly personnel can work in T-shirts. When its cold and they move from the assembly side to the warehouse side to pick up supplies, they put on a jacket first. They say that the temperature difference is remarkable.”

Controlling the Climate
Producing Pittsburgh Corning’s multiple block systems requires a room temperature of 60 to 70 degrees F so that the assembly cures properly, as well as a low-dust environment, largely so that Pittsburgh Corning’s products retain their high aesthetic appeal and quality standards. To control dust, a multi-layer, 1/2-inch thick epoxy coating was applied over the assembly area’s floor. The remaining floor area of the warehouse would remain concrete. To prevent dust from migrating between the clean and uncontrolled sides of the warehouse, Swartwout knew he wanted a flexible rather than a fixed wall.

“Sometimes we manufacture very large assemblies, or we may have to move equipment from one side to the other,” he says. “We wanted the ability to move an item that would be much too large to fit through a standard door. Also, we wanted the option to re-size the assembly area if necessary.”

With the need for a flexible wall clearly identified, Swartwout conducted an Internet search and landed at www.goffscurtainwalls.com. The Climate Curtains appealed to him for a variety of reasons. In addition to the Thinsulate Ultra Insulation, Goff’s Climate Curtains also feature a unique overlapping panel design that enables the curtains to maintain an insulation factor of R-5 throughout the curtain, not just “non seam” areas like other brands (and if needed, an R-20+ factor can be achieved by installing multiple layers).

Constructed with 18 oz. coated vinyl and meeting NFPA 701 standards for fire resistance, Climate Curtains come in 60-inch-wide panels that are custom made to fit each application, which was 30 feet high for Pittsburgh Corning. To provide easy access between the two sides of the warehouse, Pittsburgh Corning uses the optional galvanized steel track and roller system, and they integrated a 9-foot-wide strip door in the middle.

Easy Installation
To suspend the curtains, Swartwout decided to weld the 16-gauge galvanized steel tracks to a steel girder, leaving a gap for the curtain’s nylon roller hooks.

“We had a welder working for one day to install the tracks, and then we had a single person working with a lift truck spend about eight days installing the curtain,” he says. The worker put the strips up independently. Once evenly spread, he then used the supplied Velcro to secure the panels to each other, as well as to the floor.

“I also liked the fact the curtains were light enough that our own people could install it without having to hire contractors,” adds Swartwout. “There was a lot of good information from the website on installation. We really had no questions or problems at all.”

Energy, Light Benefits
Eight gas heaters originally heated the entire warehouse area. More than 30 years old and destined to be replaced with an energy efficient system, five of these heaters now stand idle. After installing Goff’s Climate Curtains, Pittsburgh Corning now only operates the three heaters on the assembly side of the warehouse.

“We never had a baseline to calculate the energy savings, but the fact that we’re running three versus eight heaters is a 60+ percent savings in itself,” says Swartwout.

While Swartwout hasn’t monitored the temperature variations inside the renovated facility, he inadvertently discovered noticeable difference on the outside walls.

“We know we have infiltration of birds, and it was hard to tell where the holes were so we could fill them,” he says. “I waited until we had a cold day, then had a technician take our thermal camera and look at the eves all the way around the building so we could identify trouble spots. That’s when we recognized, hey, we can quite obviously find where the curtain wall is by looking at the thermal scan.”

Taken on November 14, the thermal scan of the outside wall on the uncontrolled side of the building registered 35.8 degrees F — while the controlled side registered 44.4 degrees F. On the inside, the difference means working comfortably in a shirt on the assembly side and putting on jacket for working in the warehouse side of the building.

“Another byproduct of the curtain wall that is that it reflects all the light back into the assembly area. We actually gained a lot of light in that side of the warehouse just because of the curtain being white,” adds Swartwout. Climate Curtains come in nine different color options, but white clearly has an advantage in this application.

In a second phase of Climate Curtain installation, Pittsburgh Corning plans to install a valence in the gap between the girder and the roof.

“We realize we’re going to have to cut a lot of slits to put the curtain in place, but sealing off even more of the area came up in our audit, so we’re doing it,” says Swartwout. “I sent a technician up on lift to see if they feel the hot air move. They could tell there was a temperature difference, but they didn’t feel a blast of hot air coming across. They reported that the Climate Curtain itself really limits the air circulation between the two sides. It does an excellent job at controlling the temperature differences between one side and the other. Goff’s Climate Curtains work as well as advertised, and sometimes even better.”

Introducing a NEW Video to Help YOU Promote Material Handling Career Opportunities

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:45:14 +0100

Ever wonder how to explain the world of material handling to a young person?

As the workforce ages, it is important to think about the next generation of employees in your company.

MHEDA is excited to announce our brand new 3-minute online video you can use to promote material handling as a career choice to Millennials, the under 30 generation who has grown up immersed in technology.

This fast and visually appealing video effectively explains the impact material handling has on the supply chain and many different career opportunities available.

Here's how YOU can use this video:

Post this video on the "careers" page of your website (see sidebar for instructions)

Share through your social media sites
Make available to your HR team
Use with new hires, college grads and student interns

Watch & Share Now!

Questions? Contact us at 847-680-3500 or connect@mheda.org.

Major Florida International Intermodal Logistics Center Being Prepared To Welcome ...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:30:07 +0100

With the decision by international developer Panattoni Development Company to market and develop Americas Gateway Logistics Center in Moore Haven, Fla., the master planned, 6,700-acre, international intermodal logistics center is being prepared for tenants and to generate new jobs in southern Florida.

Planned for 40 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution facilities on 4,700 acres, with an additional 2,000 acres available for assembly plants, Americas Gateway Logistics Center will provide international and domestic manufacturers and distributors ample space and cost-effective and efficient access to growing domestic and emerging global markets. (More information can be found online at www.americasgateway.us)

A recently commissioned job creation study determined that the realization of Americas Gateway has the potential to create a significant number of direct, indirect and induced jobs within southern Florida – as many as 4,300-plus direct jobs, by the year 2018.

Positive reception of plans for the center from both domestic and international interests prompted Lykes Bros. Inc. and A. Duda & Sons, Inc., two of Florida’s well-known, family-owned land companies, to formalize their agreement to implement the plans. Mark Morton, senior vice president of Lykes Land Investments, has been appointed president of the new entity, Americas Gateway Logistics Center, LLC.

Morton said Panattoni’s decision to choose Americas Gateway as its major southeastern U.S. project is further indication of the market acceptance for the master planned center. “Panattoni has chosen Americas Gateway Logistics Center as the right location to develop an international integrated logistics center in Florida.”

“The best integrated logistics centers have access to strong domestic and international markets, connection to multiple air and sea ports, class one rail roads, a non-congested US and state highway system and a workforce ready to be trained and with growth potential,” said Carl Panattoni, chairman of the board of Panattoni Development Company. “These factors are true of Americas Gateway’s location.”

Panattoni Development Company develops, leases and owns industrial and office projects in more than 278 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Their client list includes over 500 companies, including 50 Fortune 500 companies. The firm has completed in excess of 160 million square feet of commercial projects.

“We are very pleased to have a development partner the caliber of Panattoni join our team,” said Mike Carrere, CEO of Lykes Bros. “Even more exciting is the potential for job creation that this project will bring to the southern half of Florida and the Heartland region.”

Located just west of the City of Moore Haven, Americas Gateway Logistics Center provides immediate access to existing inland truck routes (US 27 and SR 78), freight rail (SCFE, CSX and FEC), five major seaports (Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach, Port Manatee, Port Tampa) and air cargo facilities (Miami International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport, Air Glades).

The integrated, multi-modal, mixed-use industrial park is planned to serve as a logistics hub for the anticipated increase in goods from China and Asia destined to come through Port Miami and the export of Florida and U.S. goods back to China and Asia upon completion of the widening and deepening of the Panama Canal and improvements to the Port’s logistics infrastructure.

“Florida is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented from the increases in world trade, and we believe this location offers many of the strategic advantages sought by those who want to capture those opportunities,” Panattoni said.

Discussions are under way with a variety of prospective tenants, Morton said. The international commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, the industry leader in the integration of real estate and supply chain services, is the exclusive real estate broker of the project.

“The formation of Americas Gateway Logistics Center, LLC, underscores our commitment to seeing the plans for this center come to fruition,” said David Duda, CEO of A. Duda & Sons, Inc. “We believe it will play a major role in Florida’s freight and logistics future and serve as a major catalyst for economic diversity and job creation in this region of the state.”

One of the largest private landowners in the United States with major land holdings in Florida and Texas, Lykes Bros. Inc. has diversified operations in agriculture, citrus, ranching, insurance, land management, economic development and diversification, sustainability consulting and bio-energy. Founded in 1900 when two of the seven sons of Dr. Howell Tyson Lykes began a cattle shipping business with Cuba, the family-owned and -operated company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. www.lykes.com

A. Duda & Sons, Inc. is a Florida-based company with additional operations in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. A diversified land company, DUDA is engaged in a variety of agricultural and real estate operations including fresh and fresh-cut vegetables, citrus, sod, sugar cane, cattle, community development, realty and home construction. Land assets include agricultural lands and a variety of commercial properties. The family-owned and -operated company, headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, is in its fourth generation of family leadership. www.duda.com

Panattoni Development Company develops, leases and owns industrial, office and retail projects in more than 278 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. The company has expanded and enhanced relationships with tenants, brokers and investors across all sectors of the commercial real estate market. Since inception, the firm has completed in excess of 160 million square feet of commercial projects worldwide. Panattoni provides users multi-market solutions, completing quality projects on time and within budget. The development team includes highly experienced local partners with local knowledge and relationships who can make quick decisions and stand by those decisions. www.panattoni.com

Cushman & Wakefield is the world's largest privately-held commercial real estate services firm. Founded in 1917, it has 235 offices in 60 countries and more than 13,000 employees. The firm represents a diverse customer base ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. A recognized leader in global real estate research, the firm publishes a broad array of proprietary reports available on its online Knowledge Center at www.cushmanwakefield.com

Konecranes introduces its next-generation CLX Electric Chain Hoist for increased productivity

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:32:00 +0100

The new CLX electric chain hoist from Konecranes has been designed and tested to speed up work cycles, enhance safety and extend service life.

The new Konecranes CLX Electric Chain Hoist is targeted for manufacturing applications where high-speed load transfers and precise assembly work are required. Currently in capacities of 60 to 2,000 kg (130 to 4,400 lbs) CLX can be paired with workstation cranes, overhead cranes and jib cranes or deployed in an endless variety of fixed configurations. Larger capacities up to 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs) will be available soon. Hailed as the next-generation light lifting device in Konecranes’ current line of proven technologies, CLX is expected to capture significant market share in its segment.

A number of improvements have been incorporated into CLX over Konecranes’ previous models and over competing brands. The new aluminum frame is accompanied by a maintenance-free transmission and patented five-tooth chain sprocket with intermediate teeth. The latest oil lubrication-based transmission lowers operating temperature, enabling increased power. An available speed ratio of 6:1 enables movements that are fast – 25% faster than its predecessor – and precise, with corresponding improvement in work cycles.

Safety and maintenance features of CLX from Konecranes have also been improved to promote safe operations and a longer service life. All electronics have been placed on compact circuit boards, decreasing internal wiring and limiting the number of parts required for maintenance. Additional safety functions have been integrated into the hoist’s construction. For example, the standard overload device has been constructed so the brake holds the load without any interaction with the slipping clutch, a design intended to prevent micro-slip and load drops in the unlikely event of a broken clutch.

The new-generation CLX chain hoist from Konecranes boasts a modern, ergonomic look, having been created with the same design philosophy for which Konecranes has received industrial design awards in other product categories. Additionally, CLX is designed to be energy efficient and eco-friendly, meeting the requirements of the European Union RoHS Directive.

CLX from Konecranes is currently available with two-year warranty and a 30-day money back return policy.

www.konecranesUSA.com

NMHG Donates $22,300 to United Way of Pitt County

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:24:00 +0100

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a proud sponsor of East Carolina University (ECU) Athletics, presented a check for $22,300 to United Way of Pitt County during the basketball game against Marshall on Saturday, March 9. NMHG donated $100 for each of the 223 three-point shots made by the Pirates throughout the 2012-2013 season.

Jim Cieslar, executive director for United Way of Pitt County, was presented the check during halftime by NMHG director of brand management Thom Peebles. NMHG is in the middle of its third academic year in partnership with ECU Athletics to benefit United Way and has donated more than $225,000 through the program to date. Throughout the academic year, NMHG also partners with ECU baseball and football athletics.

“At NMHG, we are strong advocates of United Way as it provides us with a deep sense of pride to be able to give back to the community through an organization that does so much to help those around us,” stated Brett Schemerhorn, VP of marketing for NMHG. “In addition to the contributions NMHG makes based on specific ECU athletic accomplishments, many of our dedicated employees also voluntarily contribute to the United Way program.”

About United Way
Founded more than 50 years ago, United Way of Pitt County is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the common good by focusing on the keys to a good life – education, income, health and neighbors helping neighbors. United Way of Pitt County is a member of the United Way Worldwide, located in Alexandria, Va. United Way Worldwide is an independent, national organization that serves approximately 1,400 other United Ways across the country.

About NMHG
NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Tesla Announces Partnership With University of Akron To Develop New Anti-Corrosion Coating Products

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:23:00 +0100

Tesla NanoCoatings, a leading producer of high-tech, anti-corrosive coatings for the oil and gas industry and military uses, has announced a new research and development partnership with the University of Akron, according to Tesla President and Founder Todd Hawkins.

“The corrosion problem is a massive issue in U.S. Industry today. We started out serving the U.S. Military market with highly effective corrosion-control coatings to protect their steel structures, using carbon nanotubes. We are now expanding into the oil and gas industry, and into protective industrial maintenance coatings. But there is so much to do," Hawkins said.

"Our partnership with the University of Akron, the top research university in this field, will result in so many more applications and so many more solutions to corrosion problems," he said.

The plan, according to Hawkins, is to integrate the research work on corrosion by two world-renowned Tesla NanoCoatings’ scientists with the research conducted by the polymer engineering faculty and graduate students at the University of Akron. In response to requests from industry and the Department of Defense (DoD), the university launched the National Center for Education and Research on Corrosion and Material Performance (NCERCAMP) in 2010 as a critical resource to minimize the impact of corrosion and reduce the lifecycle costs of equipment and infrastructure.

Dr. Jorma Virtanen, Tesla's Chief Nanoscientist and Charles Simpson, Tesla's Technical Director, will be "imbedded" into the Polymer Engineering department and will collaborate with the University of Akron faculty on all corrosion research projects.

"The objective here is to share resources and maximize commercialization and research potential, not only to benefit our two organizations, but to benefit the industrial community as well. For example, we envision this partnership enabling our two organizations to address critical corrosion problems in marine, corrosion under insulation and many more,” said Hawkins.

Dr. Mark Soucek, Professor of Polymer Engineering and Chemistry, commented ”We are very excited to be working with Tesla NanoCoatings because the partnership leverages the broad experience of Tesla NanoCoatings scientists and the faculty and students of the University of Akron.”

Jorma Virtanen has been a major figure in nanotechnology for more than 40 years, in both academia and industry. His technology was selected as "Best Nanoproduct in the World 2006" in the Tokyo NanoExhibition. His academic research has focused mainly on carbon nanotechnology and biophysics. Dr. Virtanen is responsible for a number of patents on a variety of fields of use. He holds a BS in Chemistry, a MS in Chemistry and Mathematics and a PH.D in Chemistry, all from the University of Helsinki.

Simpson was technical manager, product development specialist and chemist for Sherwin-Williams Co. in Cleveland, Ohio for nearly 30 years, specializing in the anti-corrosion field. He is active in the Cleveland Coatings Society, American Chemical Society and The National Association of Corrosion Engineers. He has spoken widely and published numerous articles on the subject of corrosion. He holds a BS and MS in Chemistry from Cleveland State University.

About Tesla NanoCoatings
Tesla NanoCoatings, Inc. is a technology company based in North Canton. The company is over five years old with one current product line -- Teslan®, a highly effective corrosion control coating for structural steel utilizing carbon nanotubes, which self-assemble into rope structures, making them highly conductive, tough and flexible. Teslan was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), Champaign, Ill.

Illinois Material Handling Adds Big Joe Equipment to Extensive Product ...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:21:00 +0100

Illinois Material Handling, a division of Wolter Group LLC., is pleased to announce the addition of the Big Joe line to their extensive material handling equipment offerings. Illinois Material Handling also distributes Hyundai, Marriotti, Genie, JLG, Lift King, Lowry, Noble and PowerBoss brands of equipment throughout northern Illinois.

“The addition of Big Joe offers our customers a more unique option.” stated Jerry Weidmann, President of Wolter Group LLC. Big Joe provides low cost alternatives to traditional sit down forklifts. For over 60 years, Big Joe has tailored durable electric lift trucks to both specific and repetitive tasks. With this approach, Big Joe offers companies increased productivity, improved safety and helps drive down total material handling and labor costs.

Illinois Material Handling is part of the material handling arm of the Wolter Group. The Wolter Group delivers superior service to over 15,000 customers in its three-state service area. The cornerstone of the Wolter Group’s success is its highly trained staff of over 330 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service.

Wolter Group LLC. operates one of the nation’s largest material handling distributors, Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Due to this internal company relationship, Illinois Material Handling offers the deep resources of Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. to service northern Illinois’ two locations: Elk Grove Village and Rockford.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction, aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; And Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

Maximum Capacity Media’s Crane and Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane and Hoist ...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:11:00 +0100

With the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard requiring U.S. operators to be certified by November 2014, Maximum Capacity Media’s Crane and Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane and Hoist Conference will focus on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s crane operator certification requirements. The jointly held crane safety and management conferences will take place May 29-30 at the Indianapolis Marriott North in Indianapolis, Ind.

The operator qualification requirements are part of the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard that governs crane safety. The standard is the product of a negotiated rulemaking process that began in the summer of 2003 and culminated in the publication of the final rule on Aug. 9, 2010.

Discussions on crane operator certification requirements are heating up as the deadline for compliance draws near. Specifically, the industry is buzzing about the OSHA’s requirement to certify operators based on the type and capacity of the crane.

In fact, OSHA has opened the door on these crane safety topics and has scheduled two informal stakeholder meetings in April to solicit comments on crane operator certification requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction standard. The agency seeks information from the public on the usefulness of certifying operators for different capacities of cranes, and the risks of allowing an operator to operate all capacities of cranes within a specific type. OSHA will hold separate meetings on April 2 and 3 at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.

There is more to crane safety compliance than operator certification. At the Crane and Rigging Conference and Industrial Crane and Hoist Conference, industry professionals will also learn about OSHA’s new designations for personnel, such as lift directors, site supervisors, riggers, and signalpersons; hazards related to crane operation and how to assess them; and the crane technology and design advancements to meet current crane standards. These crane safety presentation topics include:

Practical Applications of the OSHA Crane Regulations for Safety and Risk Managers
Mark Steinhofer, Account Manager of Site Operations, Safety Management Group
Lift Planning for Heavy Lifts
Jim Yates, SVP of Engineering and Technical Services, Barnhart Crane & Rigging
Leading Causes of Crane Accidents: Final Data from Haag Engineering’s Crane Accident Study
Jim Wiethorn, Principal Engineer and Chairman of Haag Engineering
How U.S. Certifications Are Helping Fill Canada’s Labor Shortage
Debbie Dickenson, Executive Director, Crane Institute Certification
Fraser Cocks, Executive Director, BC Association for Crane Safety
Overhead Cranes and Hoists—Operator Issues and Requirements
Frank DiMeglio, Technical Trainer & Inspector, NACB
Bringing Mobile Learning to the Jobsite
Keith Anderson, Chief Rigging Engineer and Rigging Group Manager,
Bechtel Equipment Operations
Paul Drexler, Account Manager, Bechtel Equipment Operations
Complete Crane Communication
John Egnatz, 30-year veteran operator

Additionally, vendors from a variety of professional organizations, including Event Partner North American Crane Bureau, will be available to answer questions about complying with the upcoming OSHA crane regulation and overall crane safety.

To view the complete agenda and register for the Crane and Rigging Conference and the Industrial Crane and Hoist Conference, visit www.craneandriggingconference.com/crc-ichc.

New Netherlocks Website Features Improved Access to Information

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:17:00 +0100

Netherlocks Safety Systems has launched a new website that continues to improve upon its customers’ access to industry news and product information. Visitors to the site, www.netherlocks.com, can easily navigate to the valve safety products for their specific needs.

Besides improved navigation and accessibility, the new website is compatible with a variety of platforms and mobile devices. It has also been optimized to better support multimedia presentations such as videos. Visitors can expect frequent updates to case studies and previous customers’ insights that allow them to make more informed decisions on valve safety products.

For more information, call 832-403-8683, email salesUSA@netherlocks.com or visit the company's website at www.netherlocks.com.

S.W. Betz Company, Inc. Successfully Implements a Materials Intake and Processing System for ...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:10:00 +0100

The S. W. Betz Company, Inc. (www.swbetz.com) has successfully a completed the implementation of a time effective and efficient way for a prominent Mid-Atlantic Discount Store Retailer to receipt and process incoming shipments.

After consultation with the customer, the S. W. Betz Company proposed a pit scale application that would allow for the ability to quickly roll incoming product carts onto the scale, record the weight for their internal processing purposes and quickly move the cart into their materials intake area of the store. An initial install was performed for testing and evaluation. The resulting solution was found to be ideal for their operational purposes as it allowed for a much more efficient and accurate intake of materials that were entering into their various stores. The customer then engaged the S. W. Betz Company to complete scale materials acquisition and installations at four additional locations.

Linda Hurka, President of the S. W. Betz Company comments, “This project was a true partnership between our customer, their site preparation contractor, the scale manufacturer and the S. W. Betz Company. Strong communication, coordination and project management resulted in a smooth and seamless acquisition and installation of this solution with minimal impact to our customer’s day to day operation. We pride ourselves in ensuring that we always keep our customer as the central focus on projects of this nature”.

The S. W. Betz Company, founded in 1933, is a woman-owned enterprise representing many of the leading manufacturers in the Material Handling Industry. With new leadership at the helm, the company prides itself on continuing traditions developed since 1933~ identifying solutions that meet the unique needs of their customers, delivering exceptional value and providing excellent customer service.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Linda Hurka at Linda@swbetz.com

EGA Products Unveils Pink Ladders Campaign

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:08:00 +0100

Everyone uses ladders. Everyone hates cancer. Why not tackle two birds with one stone?

EGA Products, a materials handling and storage equipment manufacturer based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, has joined forces with the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in the fight against cancer, donating a portion of every pink ladder purchase to cancer research.

For every pink office ladder, rolling ladder, or steel step stool sold, EGA Products will donate 20% of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or the cancer charity of the customer’s choice. This flexible option is intended to let the customer designate money to the cancer that hits closest to home for them, EGA Products CEO Dave Young said.

“We want to utilize our industry-leading expertise in the field of materials handling and rolling ladders to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people fighting against cancer,” Young said. “No matter what form it takes, cancer has affected everyone’s life at one point or another. That makes it even more important to do whatever you can to contribute to this battle.”

EGA’s offerings of pink rolling ladders include a steel office ladder ($296) and a steel rolling warehouse ladder ($392). Both are designed for rigorous, constant use, and both are lightweight but sturdy, making movements around the office or warehouse effortless and non-intrusive.

The benefits to purchasing a pink rolling ladder or step stool ($76) are multi-pronged: The customer gets a high-quality, durable EGA ladder and excellent EGA-standard customer service, topped off with the great feeling that comes with helping a good cause. These pink ladders will be available for as long as supplies last.

EGA Products is an industry-leading materials handling company that specializes in the custom fabrication and design of rolling ladders, work platforms, shipping racks, bulk containers, and other industrial handling and storage equipment.

For more information:
Jake McCormick
262-437-2325
Jmccormick@egaproducts.com

For more information on EGA Pink Ladders:
www.egaproducts.com/race-for-the-cure.html

Two Major Health Systems Select TECSYS – Further Strengthening its Leadership in the IDN Space

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:04:00 +0100

TECSYS Inc. (TSX: TCS), an industry-leading supply chain management software company, and the dominant provider of Consolidated Service Center (CSC) solutions to IDNs (Integrated Delivery Networks), announced today that two major health systems in the U.S. have selected its solutions for their IDN operations. The two multi-billion dollar organizations have selected TECSYS’ solutions to help them in their supply chain transformational journey to reach a new level of efficiency, cost reduction, inventory visibility and improved service to patients.

Robert Colosino, Vice-President of Marketing & Business Development at TECSYS commented, “Undoubtedly, containing costs while sustaining high-quality service to patients is critical for health systems today. These organizations face daily challenges of volatile customer demand, low to nil visibility of inventories, diverse patient care processes, and a complex payment structure. All of which translate into costly supply chains that tie up a significant part of a clinician’s day in non-healthcare activities. Over the last ten years we have enabled a significant number of IDNs through Consolidated Service Center (CSC) solutions that transform their old legacy system into an efficient and effective supply chain infrastructure. With TECSYS’ technology and expertise, health systems like these two organizations are immediately reaping the inherent benefits of a CSC; millions of dollars in savings, while gaining inventory visibility across their care delivery continuum and the ability to focus on patient care for improved service.”

The two health systems include:
One of the largest health insurers; a diversified health and wellness organization that serves millions of people across the United States with health and dental insurance, vision care and integrated health care delivery services. This organization’s supply chain services help major hospitals manage hundreds of millions of supply spend in such areas as medical surgical supplies, implantable devices, capital equipment, pharmaceuticals and purchased services. Through TECSYS’ distribution, warehouse and mobile delivery management solutions they will be able to deliver efficient supply chain management services that optimize purchasing, inventory management, warehousing, receiving and customer service for their hospital customers.

The second is an integrated health system serving the North Central part of the U.S. It is an accredited Accountable Care Organization (ACO) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. ACOs are a group of healthcare providers who give coordinated care, chronic disease management, thereby improve the quality of care patients receive. The organization's payment is tied to achieving healthcare quality goals and outcomes that result in cost savings.

With over 10,000 employees, 17 hospitals, and a significant number of clinics and longterm care facilities, this health system is one of the largest in the U.S. They have decided on TECSYS’ Consolidated Service Center approach to drive efficiency and cost savings and at the same time respond to new care delivery models in the changing landscape of healthcare reform.

About TECSYS and Healthcare
For over fifteen years, TECSYS has been providing distribution and warehouse management solutions to the healthcare industry; these include Fortune 100 manufacturers and distributors, as well as third-party logistics providers and the majority of IDNs in Canada and the United States. As an integrated solution suite, TECSYS' supply chain execution solutions for healthcare speed up the flow of business activity across the organization, consolidate information, manage inventory, drive dramatic cost savings, and help deliver superior customer service.

About TECSYS
TECSYS is a leading supply chain management software provider that delivers powerful enterprise distribution, warehouse and transportation logistics software solutions. The company's customers include over 600 mid-size and Fortune 1000 corporations in healthcare, heavy equipment, third-party logistics, and general wholesale high-volume distribution industries. TECSYS' shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TCS.

TECSYS Inc.
(514) 866-0001 or (800) 922-8649
info@tecsys.com

TMS Logistics Names Jon Hoffman Chief Operating Officer

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:15:00 +0100

ReedTMS announced a key addition to its executive leadership team with the hiring of Jon Hoffman as Chief Operating Officer of TMS Logistics, a new position within ReedTMS. Hoffman brings with him over 10 years of experience with a large flatbed carrier in the Southeast and extensive experience with a 3PL in Wisconsin.

With deep experience in the trucking industry with some larger organizations, he will be a valuable asset to help grow TMS Logistics beyond a 100 truck company by 2015 as the company continues to focus on expanding its national customer base.

"His ideas, experience and fresh perspective will help us execute and structure our key strategic initiatives in 2013 and beyond," said Mark Reed, CFO and President of ReedTMS Logistics. "Jon also brings extensive experience with TMW and mobile communications, which will help us further utilize our tools and technology."

Effective immediately, Hoffman will assume responsibility for full profit and loss responsibility of TMS Logistics. He will be responsible for the alignment of company ensuring operational excellence and growth across the country. TMS Logistics' founder and current President Don Teunissen will remain in his role and will continue to help drive the strategic direction of ReedTMS.

About TMS Logistics
Founded in 1997, TMS Logistics, Inc. is a truckload carrier specializing in dry van, blanket-wrapped and dedicated services throughout the continental U.S. Based in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, TMS Logistics is dedicated to providing the highest quality service at all times. All equipment is late-model, well maintained and California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved. For more information, visit www.TMSLogistics.com.

About ReedTMS
ReedTMS is an asset-based third-party logistics provider comprised of Reed Transport Services, Inc. and TMS Logistics, Inc. In 2010, Reed Transport and TMS Logistics formed a strategic partnership to provide expanded service offerings that address the logistics and transportation needs of shippers. While Reed Transport and TMS Logistics continue to operate as separate companies, ReedTMS was established as a combined brand for the two companies. Reed Transport offers high-quality brokerage and freight management services. TMS Logistics is an asset-based provider for dry van, dedicated and private fleet services. For more information, visit www.ReedTMS.com.

Guangxi Cummins Engine Company Celebrates Official Start of Operations with Completion of First ...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:02:00 +0100

The first Cummins L9.3 engine has rolled off the production line at Guangxi Cummins Engine Company Limited (Guangxi Cummins), the 50:50 joint venture between Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) and LiuGong Machinery (Shenzhen: 000528), marking the official start of operations in Liuzhou, southern China.

The 9.3-liter engine is designed and built in China specifically for construction equipment to meet the demand of both LiuGong and other equipment manufacturers. The engine is available in multiple versions to meet various off-road emissions standards.

“This new engine will complement Cummins existing product and manufacturing capabilities in China and focus specifically on the mainstream domestic construction markets,” said Dave Crompton, Vice President, Engine Business, Cummins Inc. “It signifies an important move for Cummins to invest in meeting the unique demands of the local market by optimizing for performance, fuel economy and cost. I am confident that this customer-focused approach is laying a solid foundation for the continuous success of the new product platform and that of the new joint venture.”

Evolved from the world class Cummins L8.9 engine platform, the L9.3 engine is rated 162 kW (220 hp) and offers superior low-end torque for wheel-loader applications with 5T-bucket load. With specially designed and patented power curve for wheel loaders and optimized combustion for wheel loader duty cycles, the L9.3 engine is uniquely positioned to meet customer requirements for strong power delivery, fast response and operational efficiency. The optimized components and engine features are engineered to deliver high reliability, improved fuel efficiency and performance for off-highway customers.

“Guangxi Cummins enjoys a natural advantage in leveraging Cummins technological leadership and LiuGong’s rich application experience in the construction machinery market.” said Steve Chapman, Group Vice President for China and Russia, Cummins Inc. “This unique value proposition is of vital importance while we explore more market opportunities with an expanded product portfolio. As construction machinery OEMs in China play an increasingly important role in the global market, we expect that the development and optimization of Cummins engines for their equipment will add value to the industry.”

Guangxi Cummins is the first Cummins manufacturing facility in China dedicated to providing power for the construction machinery market. It is also one of the largest production facilities for off-highway diesel engines in China. The total investment on the company exceeds RMB 1 billion (US $160 million). Covering an area of 200,000 square meters, the initial production capacity is expected to reach 50,000 units per year, with the ability to expand the volume higher in the future when market demands increase.

“The establishment of Guangxi Cummins further expands the decade-long strategic cooperation between Cummins and LiuGong. We are delighted to be able to complement our vigor and strength with Cummins’ expertise and leading technology,” said Zeng Guang’an, President of LiuGong. “The joint venture will be vital in building the unique competitive advantage of LiuGong construction machinery in the China market, as well as in our efforts to penetrate into international markets.”

About LiuGong
For more than 50 years, LiuGong Machinery Corporation has been a leader in China’s construction equipment manufacturing industry. From building the country’s first modern wheel loader, LiuGong has evolved to become one of the fastest growing, global, full-line CE companies in the world. LiuGong delivers opportunity to its employees, quality products and services to its customers, financial success to its investors, and community support in the regions it serves.

About Cummins
Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA) Cummins currently employs approximately 46,000 people worldwide and serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of approximately 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 6,500 dealer locations. Cummins earned $1.65 billion on sales of $17.3 billion in 2012. Press releases can be found on the Web at www.cummins.com or www.cumminsengines.com. Follow Cummins on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cumminsengines and on YouTube at http://youtube.com/cumminsengines.

About Cummins China
China has become one of Cummins fastest-growing geographical markets. In 2012, Cummins’ consolidated and unconsolidated sales in China exceeded $3 billion. As the largest foreign investor in China's diesel engine sector, Cummins operates 28 facilities in China, including 17 manufacturing sites that produce engines, turbochargers, filters, emission solutions, fuel systems, alternators and electrical power generation systems. In the aftermarket support area, Cummins has 12 regional service centers, 34 Customer Support Platforms and over 2000 authorized dealers of Cummins wholly-owned and JV entities across the region.

Exhibitor education meeting increases ROI at CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2014

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:00:00 +0100

Chicago event prepares companies to successfully reach qualified customers

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) will host an exhibitor education meeting May 15-16, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. The goal: Help companies prepare for a successful show presence and get the most from their exhibiting dollars. Location is the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel.

The meeting is a free, value-added benefit open to all companies that exhibit at AEM-produced trade shows and to all AEM member companies. Registration is required, however.

‘Best practices’ marketing & trade show ideas

AEM developed the meeting content for relevance to veteran exhibitors as well as those new to trade shows or CONEXPO-CONAGG and IFPE, and for companies small to large. The meeting’s central Chicago location provides an opportunity for exhibitors to bring more of their staff for training.

On the agenda: a session on the specific needs of smaller exhibitors, a “lessons learned” panel of experienced exhibitors and a “what’s new” presentation on CONEXPO-CON/AGG, IFPE and Las Vegas.

Session topics also include new marketing tools and pre-show promotion ideas, marketing with technology, content marketing, understanding the buying decisions of attendees, quality lead generation and focused strategies to cut costs.

Peer networking, face-to-face meetings with show staff

Attendees can meet with show management staff and key official vendors to obtain answers to company-specific questions. Getting to know staff face-to-face increases value for exhibitors, encouraging more collaboration and engagement throughout the show planning cycle.

Another meeting benefit: discussing best practices with fellow exhibitors. Networking receptions and dinner extend the time for conversation with trade show peers.

Day one is presented by the AEM Marketing Council, which is co-locating its 2013 annual seminar with the event.

Boosting exhibitor engagement a key to success

“The exhibitor meeting relates to our strategic plan that includes increased exhibitor engagement in trade show promotion; engaged exhibitors are key to successful shows,” stated Megan Tanel, CONEXPO-CON/AGG show director and AEM vice president exhibitions and events.

“It’s a collective approach where show management proactively works together with exhibitors to ensure the right buyers are at the event,” Tanel added.

“We know there’s a lot going on to prepare for a trade show; that’s why we hold this meeting about a year out to help our exhibitors with show planning. They can take a fresh look at marketing and trade show tools to increase booth value,” stated Melissa Magestro, IFPE show director and AEM senior director exhibitions.

“The Exhibitor Services Manual will have just launched, so it’s a great time to talk with staff on placing orders and meeting deadlines,” Magestro noted.

To register for the Exhibitor Education Meeting and more details, go online to CONEXPO-CON/AGG or IFPE (Exhibitor section/general information) or AEM’s website (Education section/Marketing Council).

For more information on attending or exhibiting at the shows, go online to www.conexpoconagg.com or www.ifpe.com.

Applied Energy Solutions Continual Growth by Organizational Change

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:59:00 +0100

Applied Energy Solutions, LLC, has promoted Tom Bell, Andrew Fleming, and Randy Dickes. Bell has been promoted to vice president of business development and previously served as vice president of operations. Fleming will serve as the production manager; he previously held the position of national account installation coordinator. Dickes will be transitioning to the position of installation coordinator; he previously served as a member of the product manufacturing team.

Bell has been with Applied Energy Solutions since 2000, and worked at CEN Electronics three years prior to its acquisition by Applied Energy Solutions. Bell will be responsible for development and implementation of a continued revenue growth plan, and strategic new market transition planning. He will also be focusing on management and development of the company’s new national accounts.

Fleming, will manage the day-to-day scheduling for manufacturing and production in the Applied Energy Solutions plant. Fleming will oversee production of AES’ entire product line and ensure quality control, working collectively with new Quality Manager Mark Corcoran, as well as ensure product fulfillment and lead times. Fleming has been with the company since 2003 and has worked in multiple positions. He most recently served as the company’s installations coordinator for National Accounts.

Dickes, as installation coordinator, will be responsible for overseeing product installations throughout the country for dealer and national accounts. Dickes has been with Applied Energy Solutions since 2005. Dickies’ fast and efficient learning skills and easy adaptation of AES’ dynamic processes made him a candidate for this position.

Applied Energy Solutions manufactures industrial battery chargers for forklifts, pallet jacks and other battery powered transportation equipment. AES makes all products in the USA from design, manufacturing and sub- assemblies to interconnect and final assembly. With a full product offering for every application, AES specializes in fitting the proper battery charger for the application need. Applied Energy Solutions manufactures products for high frequency charging, cold storage, rapid charging, opportunity and multiple-shift charging. For more information, call 800/836-2132 or visit www.appliedenergysol.com.

Hy-Tek Material Handling Opens New Jersey Office: Projected to Increase Sales 28%, Boost ...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:58:44 +0100

Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of its newest Integrated Systems Division office in Morganville, New Jersey, effective March 13. Hy-Tek is the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions for an extensive range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, pharmaceutical, food, electronics, and automotive. Hy-Tek Integrated Systems/New Jersey will employ up to 10 professionals and is projected to generate sales of $15 million, boosting Hy-Tek’s annual revenues to $70 million, up from $55 million posted in 2012.

Overseeing Hy-Tek’s New Jersey operations are newly appointed Principal Managers Ron Baptista and Scott Blum. Together, they have over 40 years of distribution planning and integration experience with industry leaders including Key Handling Systems, a national integrator of distribution systems to the retail apparel industry. Recognized for their industry know-how, Baptista and Blum will supervise a team of experienced engineering, sales, logistics, and project management professionals.

“For 50 years, the 100-plus employee-owners of Hy-Tek Material Handling have been dedicated to designing and delivering innovative material handling solutions for clients in retail, e-commerce, and other industries. We’re delighted to have Ron Baptista and Scott Blum join the Hy-Tek team. Having designed and implemented over $200 million in integrated systems nationwide, Ron and Scott have what it takes to support our corporate strategy—and serve our clients’ needs. We look forward to expanding Hy-Tek’s presence and delivering hands-on sales, service, and support to manufacturers and distributors throughout New Jersey, the East Coast, and the entire country,” said Hy-Tek CEO Samuel Grooms.

About Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.
Since 1963, Hy-Tek and its best-in-class industry partners—including manufacturers of industrial trucks and equipment; supply chain software; automated storage and retrieval systems; and rack, shelving, and conveyor systems—have been providing customers large and small with turnkey solutions. From customized one-of-a-kind handling and storage systems to pre-assembled buildings and off-the-shelf products—Hy-Tek’s experienced team of engineering, sales, operations, logistics, and project management professionals partner with customers to help enhance productivity, streamline processes, and boost profitability. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, employee-owned Hy-Tek Material Handling serves customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Hy-Tek’s four divisions—Integrated Systems, Mobile Equipment, Lighting Solutions, and Storage & Handling—deliver cost-effective, efficient solutions for every material handling application. Contact www.hy-tek.net or 800/837-1217.

Transportation Company Avoids Hiring Pitfalls by Adding SaferWatch™ Carrier Monitoring

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:57:08 +0100

Accellos, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, has issued a case study of Accellos Prophesy DispatchSeries and SaferWatch ™ Carrier Monitoring customer Bee-Line Delivery Service. Bee-Line now handles due diligence in carrier hiring by using the SaferWatch™ integration which monitors and checks carrier ratings and CSA BASICS score every time within the Prophesy Dispatch system.

Company

Founded in 1964, Bee-Line is a growing asset based freight transportation and logistics services company headquartered in Houston, Texas. These operating units provide high-performance, full truckload and intermodal freight transportation; logistics, warehousing and supply chain management services. Bee-Line operates from two terminal locations in Houston and San Antonio providing services throughout the United States and Canada.

Situation

A Prophesy DispatchSeries user since 2011 the team at Bee-Line was no stranger to the benefits of automation through transportation software. However when Prophesy introduced its SaferWatch™ integration in late 2012, Matt McMillan, Vice President at Bee-Line, was among the first customers to request a first look at the powerful brokerage tool in action.

“Accellos is committed to providing powerful due diligence tools for our users in all areas of the transportation spectrum, said Senior Vice President/General Manager, Bill Ashburn. Our new SaferWatch integration offers leading edge protection for our brokerage customers. This allows them to automate carrier qualification and monitoring requirements, so that they can focus on generating new business.”

Solution

Accellos’ Prophesy Dispatch integration with SaferWatch™ allows transportation brokers to retrieve real-time data on carriers right from within their Prophesy software, be alerted to any compliance issues and maintain a complete record showing due diligence and prevention of negligent hiring.

Results

In September of 2012, Bee-Line added the SaferWatch™ integration to their existing Prophesy DispatchSeries software, and began to see impressive results in both time savings and compliance right away.

“Prior to getting the integration, we spent an enormous amount of time sorting through paperwork and printing out carrier data from the Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System (Safersys.org) site then scanning and filing them with our carrier records to make sure that we were covered from a due diligence standpoint” Vice President Matt McMillan says. “Our carrier relations manager was spending their entire time setting up and monitoring carriers rather than focusing on what they should be, ensuring our carriersare happy and making sure the process is running smoothly.”

The full case study is available at: www.accellos.com/casestudies/bee-line-delivery-service/

Advance Hires Jeff Becker As Sales Manager—Integrated Systems

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:55:22 +0100

Advance Storage Products is proud to announce and welcome Jeff Becker as its new Sales Manager—Integrated Systems.

Mr. Becker brings with him 20 years of experience in the materials handling industry, having worked at Elite Storage Solutions, and most recently Konstant. Mr. Becker holds a BS in Business Administration from Clarion University.

Jeff Becker can be reached at jbecker@asprack.com or 724-368-9988.

About Advance Storage Products
Advance Storage Products has served the materials handling industry for over 45 years. Providing design, engineering, and project management for a full line of substantial material handling installations, Advance is a market leader in quality warehouse rack systems.

For more information visit www.advancestorage.com.

Joanne Fabrics Finds Room To Grow Hardware Business

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:44:00 +0100

Joanne Fabrics Inc. is a family owned and operated company that has been operating as a wholesaler and distributor of decorative fabrics for 35 years. After firmly establishing itself in the Canadian market, Joanne Fabrics successfully ventured into the United States under the name J.F. Fabrics Inc.

Joanne Fabrics distributes designer fabrics, wallpaper and decorative hardware from their 70,000 square foot facility in Toronto, Canada to retailers, designers, decorators, upholsterers, large department stores, hospitals, health care facilities, hotels, restaurants, furniture manufacturers, nautical and recreational vehicle manufacturers. Joanne selects, stocks and distributes fabrics from major mills around the world with a commitment to provide the highest level of quality and service.

No Room to Grow
With fabric sales steady, Joanne Fabrics looked to expand business into decorative hardware. The hardware line Joanne Fabrics introduced consisted of 1,100 hardware SKUs that were stored in the same shelving that held the fabric bolt SKUs. "Fitting a square peg into a round hole wasn't working," said Kim Hovesen Krasa, Vice President at Joanne Fabrics, "Picking the hardware we had was an inefficient and labor intensive process, and we needed to add more hardware lines." With hardware orders growing each year, Joanne Fabrics needed a solution to fill current hardware orders faster and add SKUs for new hardware lines.

Expanding Hardware
Joanne Fabrics implemented 4 Shuttle VLM's integrated with FastPic5 Inventory Management Software into their 55,000 square foot warehouse. The first two Shuttle VLMs were installed to manage the existing hardware line of 1,100 SKUs. With room to spare, Joanne Fabrics reduced the amount of floor space required from 600 square feet to 198 square feet, a 67% floor space savings. Looking to offer additional hardware lines, they installed two more Shuttle VLMs six months later. With four Shuttle VLMs in place utilizing the 30 foot ceiling height , Joanne Fabrics has expanded hardware inventory by 31% (to 1,600 SKUs) in only 395 square feet of floor space with no additional labor required.

Increasing Productivity & Maintaining Labor
Using the Shuttle VLMs orders are picked in half the time with only one worker required. Prior to upgrading to the Shuttle VLM's, orders took on average 10 minutes to pick manually. "Our 3pm order cutoff time is something our competitors cannot offer," said Hovesen Krasa, "The Shuttle VLMs allowed us to maintain our 3pm order cutoff time when expanding our hardware lines and growing business." Cutting the pick time in half has enabled Joanne Fabrics to meet growing customer demand without additional labor.

Near Perfect Accuracy
Joanne Fabrics order accuracy has increased from around 92%, to a near perfect 98% with the Shuttle VLMs. Using QuickPick TIC (transaction information center) Pick-to-Light Technology the operator is directed to the exact location to pick from using a light bar mounted on the front of the Shuttle VLM access opening. The TIC displays the location, part number, description and quantity of the item to be picked.

To further increase accuracy, the photo database feature in FastPic5 displays an image of the part for each transaction. "With the point and click software, pick to light direction and photo database, training new employees is no trouble at all," says Hovesen Krasa.

The Way It Was
Prior to the Shuttle VLMs, both fabric and hardware was stored on shelving. Using a paper pick ticket, the picker would walk and search through aisles of shelving 110 feet long and 10 feet high, travelling up and down, and moving from side to side on a rolling ladder, to pick orders. Using this system the picker fulfilled 3 orders at a time, with new orders received every 15 minutes.

New & Improved
Orders are initially received via the call center, online and by fax. They are then uploaded into their ERP system and pushed to FastPic5 every 15 minutes. Orders are filled in the order they were received. The picker places a tote for each order onto the batch station, up to six orders can be filled at a time. Each tote is scanned so the FastPic5 software can identify where on the batch station each order tote is located.

When the picker is ready, the VLMs move to bring the parts required for each order to the order picker. The TIC pinpoints the exact location of the part required; identifying the part number, description and quantity to pick. The worker picks the parts required, verifies the part with the photo displayed in FastPic5, and turns to the batch of orders to distribute the part picked among the orders.

When all orders for the batch have been picked, each order is verified with a bar code scanner. Once verified the packing slip is automatically printed. If the order is complete, the picker delivers it to the shipping area. If the order requires additional parts from the fabric zone, the order is brought to a staging area to be matched up with the corresponding fabric required to complete the order.

Quick & Easy Replenishment
The replenishment process is very similar to the picking process. The worker creates a replenishment order and FastPic5 directs worker through the replenishment process. Each part to be restocked or added to inventory is delivered to the workstation and the FastPic5 software automatically locates the best storage location for the part. "Instead of the worker having to search for a storage location, the Shuttle VLM presents the location for storage; allowing us to replenish inventory in half of the time," says Hovesen Krasa. Using pick-to-light technology the worker is directed to the exact location to store the part as well as the quantity and part number to store. The worker confirms the put and the on hand quantity available for picking is updated.

Using the cycle counting feature in FastPic5, parts are presented to the worker for a physical count. This allows Joanne Fabrics to ensure the physical inventory and the host system inventory are always accurate and prevents inventory shortages. "Cycle counting is 33% quicker with the Shuttle VLMs and allows us to ensure our inventory is accurate," says Hovesen Krasa.

A Bright Future
With room to grow, the Shuttle VLMs have allowed Joanne Fabrics to save 67% floor space while increasing capacity and productivity without adding labor. "We were very lean already, it's one of our founding principles," said Hovesen Krasa, "the Shuttle VLMs fit nicely into our already lean facility, simplifying processes and allowing us to do more without additional labor."

Kardex Remstar, LLC, a company of the Kardex Group is a leading provider of automated storage and retrieval systems for manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, offices and institutions. For information on automated storage and retrieval systems, call 800/639-5805 or visit www.kardexremstar.com.

Weidmann New President of MHEDA 2013 Executive Committee

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:43:00 +0100

Jerry Weidmann, President of the Wolter Group, has been named President of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) Executive Committee. MHEDA is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the material handling distributor. MHEDA represents nearly 600 companies in the material handling equipment business and provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices.

“As president of MHEDA in 2013, I am committed to continuing its mission “to further improve the proficiency of material handling distributors in order that they continue to be the most effective and efficient conduit to the marketplace and be a resource to all industry stakeholders.” said Jerry Weidmann. “I want to build on the successes of the past to assure our membership of the resources they need to succeed in any political or business climate. Throughout 2013 MHEDA will provide an impressive array of educational and networking opportunities, offer on-line/on-demand training, live seminars and webinars.” stated Weidmann. “As President of the MHEDA Executive Committee, I speak for all of us in saying that we are committed to providing the resources for success” continued Weidmann.

The Wolter Group delivers superior service to over 15,000 customers in its three-state service area. The cornerstone of Wolter Group’s success is its highly trained staff of over 340 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service.

Wolter Group LLC includes: Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts and energy systems; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com) a full service material handling distributor, and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

Santana Equipment Trading Company Promotes Marketing Manager

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:40:00 +0100

Santana Equipment Trading Company promotes Alex Stuckey as their new marketing manager following the company’s recent expansion to Phoenix. Alex was selected from the Santana Equipment Trading Company’s Management Trainee Program for recent college graduates. Alex’s Marketing degree has played a huge role in the Social Media Marketing evolution that Santana Equipment Trading Company has recently undertaken. Alex has also taken his fresh and creative video expertise to develop an ongoing series of Youtube videos. These videos showcase Santana’s humorous and innovative side. Customers thoroughly enjoy the mini movies which displays the company’s fun, playful and trendy atmosphere.

Santana Equipment Trading Company is continuing to promote individuals from within the company and hire new employees for long term growth. The company recently expanded operations to Phoenix and is researching other locations around the country to open up new warehouse and office space. The past year has been very good for the company as they continue to strategically expand operations, launch marketing promotions, and target the Latin American community. The Santana Equipment Trading Company is strategically re-engineering their business model to prepare for the economy to turnaround and promote their best talented employees for newly created management positions. The corporate culture promotes teamwork and new ideas as each employee is encouraged to develop new business strategies to improve company operations. One of the strategic planning improvements created by Santana Equipment Trading Company for the employees is to share in the company’s future success.

Eric Davidson, President and founder of Santana Equipment Trading Company, notes “Alex is the ideal candidate for the marketing position as he was hired and trained through our sales, marketing, and internal management programs we provide for new hires and interns.” Eric also states, “It so very cost-effective for the company to bring in our own talent and train them on our business philosophies and let them develop into their own successful career minded individual.” This keeps our current employees to mentor new employees coming through the system.

Visit our website santanaequipment.com

About Santana Equipment Trading Company
Santana Equipment Trading Company is an industry leader in the used material handling market. Santana primarily buys and sells used forklifts to wholesale and retail customers. Santana Equipment Trading Company is a privately held organization based out of the Chicago area.

Webinar: New Market Trends: Aerospace, Semiconductors and Mobile Robots

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:42:04 +0100

Join us for a Webinar on March 21

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now.
This webinar will describe new opportunities for robots, vision and automation in the aerospace industry as it gathers commercial momentum. Trends and acceleration in the manufacture of semiconductor based products will be discussed including the benefit derived from past standards, and how they help to manufacture new innovations at a rapid pace. The webinar will also cover many new types of markets, applications and robots that are forming in the service arena with mobile robots.

You can expect to learn:

New opportunities for robots, vision and automation in the aerospace industry.
Trends and acceleration in the manufacture of semiconductor based products.
New markets, applications and robots that are forming in the service arena with mobile robots.

Title: New Market Trends: Aerospace, Semiconductors and Mobile Robots
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/585988961

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. ...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:32:00 +0100

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a leading manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat® lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich® brands, recently broke ground to begin the expansion of its Houston-headquarters manufacturing facilities. The multi-million dollar expansion will increase the under roof production capacity at MCFA’s world-class facility by more than 40 percent.

The additional manufacturing space will allow for the increased production and assembly of all electric and internal combustion forklifts built in Houston. The growth also will support future production of the newly introduced Jungheinrich ECR 327/336 series of electric end rider pallet trucks in addition to other energy-efficient electric lift trucks in the future.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, the company celebrated the planned expansion with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by all employees. Leading the groundbreaking was MCFA’s Vice President of Operations Jay Gusler and incoming President Ken Barina. MCFA expects to complete the project, located at 2121 West Sam Houston Parkway North in Houston, Texas, in the third quarter of 2013.

“MCFA is excited about this expansion because it will allow us to offer our customers a product line built in Houston that covers all five classes of forklifts,” said Gusler. “In addition, we’ll be able to increase our production and assembly personnel, while contributing to the U.S. economy by engaging the services of local suppliers.”

Yale Materials Handling Corporation Finds Oldest Known Yale® Lift Truck in Operation

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:38:00 +0100

It’s not every day that you come across a lift truck that has been in continuous operation for more than six decades. Yale Materials Handling Corporation has located the oldest-known operational Yale® lift truck in the U.S. at J.A. Cunningham Equipment Inc. in York, Penn. The lift truck was manufactured in 1945.

“The fact that this lift truck has been around so long attests not only to the history and quality of Yale lift trucks, but also to the quality of our dealer service,” said Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution. “We’re proud of our trucks and especially our technicians and dealers that keep our trucks in good condition for many years of dependable service. A great truck doesn’t end at the forks, but extends to the Yale team that supports it.”

“My father purchased the forklift used in 1966,” said Paul Cunningham, president of J.A. Cunningham Equipment Inc., “When I took over the family business, there was never a need to replace the truck. It has always been as durable as the other Yale models we have.”

The Yale model K41-4M forklift has the capacity to lift approximately 3,000 lbs. and has carried skids of welding wires and other equipment for more than 60 years. The lift truck has never required extremely expensive repairs and functions right alongside their newer model Yale lifts trucks. J. A. Cunningham uses Eastern Lift Truck Company, a Yale® dealer headquartered in Maple Shade, N.J., with 11 locations, including York, Penn., to service their lift trucks.

“I first learned of this forklift when I joined our dealership back in 1986 and remember this truck quite well,” said Mike Edmonds, Marketing Manager of Eastern Lift Truck. “We used to joke about our road technicians not being ‘real’ mechanics until they serviced this forklift: locating and lubing all 75 high-pressure grease fittings.”

While the lift truck is still operational when called upon, J.A. Cunningham has mainly retired the truck in lieu of another Yale lift truck. The previously oldest-known lift truck in operation was discovered at Kliegal Machine Company in Big Flats, N.Y. that was manufactured in 1953.

A family-owned business, J.A. Cunningham Equipment Inc. was established in 1945 as a welding supply distributorship. Now, the company specializes in welding equipment and welding supply, selling their products nationwide. Later, J.A. Cunningham Equipment also started WeldSale, a sister enterprise that sells welding platens, welding tables, acorn style tables and assorted tooling.

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. Fortifies Fleet with Liebherr Package Purchase Including ...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:29:00 +0100

The ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. announces the acquisition of seven (7) Liebherr cranes, including the all-new LTM 1750-9.1. This blockbuster 900-ton all terrain crane, the second of its type to come to the U.S., looks to be a game changer for large mobile cranes, both on the road and on the jobsite.

A 9-axle 18-wheeler, the Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 was designed to fill the gap between Liebherr’s 600-ton and 1500-ton ATs. Rated at 900 tons, the behemoth LTM 1750-9.1 offers unprecedented mobility, transportability, and quick assembly—all on a chassis no longer than that of a 600-ton crane. The road-friendly LTM 1750-9.1 can travel at less than 155,000 lbs GVW by easily removing the complete telescopic boom, the upper engine, and the rear outriggers. Yet when the crane reaches the jobsite, the shorter but stronger-than-average boom can be self-installed with the aid of an auxiliary rolling power pack and without the use of a specialized boom launch trailer. The rear outriggers also self-install—so quickly that one outrigger can be done in less than 10 minutes. No assist crane is needed to assemble the crane except for the front outriggers. The machine’s particularly short set-up times have never been seen on a crane this size until now. Additionally, if the complete superstructure is removed using the included quick-disconnect, a GVW of less than 90,000 lbs can be achieved, which is unheard of in a crane of this class.

Another unprecedented feature is the availability of crab steering mode on the fly; that is, the LTM 1750-9.1 gives the driver the ability to seamlessly switch between standard steer and crab steer without needing to raise an axle. This feature makes the crane super mobile on tight job sites, where it can more easily maneuver between other equipment and structures.

The advent of this huge and highly versatile new AT will be a boon in wind farm work, where it can take over the job of a typical 900-ton crawler with greater directional mobility along with the ability to traverse uneven, rutted, and often muddy terrain. The revolutionary design should also prove invaluable in power plants and processing plants, where tight areas are the norm.

Michael L. Liptak, president of the ALL Family of Companies, says, “This LTM 1750-9.1 AT is going to be a game changer for 900-ton machines due to its transportability and self erection capabilities. Liebherr is at the forefront of this kind of innovation.”

The total Liebherr buy includes five (5) all terrain cranes: the previously mentioned LTM 1750-9.1; an all-new 235-ton LTM 1130-5.1; and three additional models already represented in the fleet—a 220-ton LTM 1200-5.1; a 200-ton LTM 1160-5.1; and a 500-ton LTM 1400-7.1.

Rounding out the full seven-crane package are two (2) of the new 50-ton compact truck crane, the LTC 1045-3.1. The LTC 1045-3.1 provides the excellent travel capability of traditional all terrain cranes, and, with its compact design and telescoping boom, can also be the ideal lift equipment for operations in confined spaces. ALL loaded their LTC 1045-3.1 units with the optional telescopic crane cab, which brings the driver up to eye level at 25 feet high, providing the best possible line of sight for assembly and loading work.

About the ALL Family of Companies
Since 1964, the ALL Family of Companies has grown to become one of the largest crane and equipment rental companies in North America. The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis to help customers get the right equipment for the job. An important measure of their commitment is meeting or exceeding all pertinent regulatory and safety standards. For more information, contact ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., 4700 Acorn Drive, Cleveland, OH 44131. Phone: 216-524-6550. Toll free: 800/232-4100. Fax: 216/642-7633. On the Web: www.allcrane.com

Brian Kurtz Trucking, LTD, and Bison Transport Take Grand Prizes in TCA’s 2012 National Fleet ...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:28:00 +0100

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) proudly announces that the 2012 grand prizewinners of its highly coveted National Fleet Safety Awards are Brian Kurtz Trucking, LTD, of Breslau, Ontario, and Bison Transport of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The 37th annual awards, sponsored by Great West Casualty Company, were presented Tuesday, March 5th, during TCA’s Annual Convention held at the Wynn Las Vegas. Brian Kurtz Trucking, represented by Brian Kurtz, president, won the award for truckload companies in the small carrier division (total annual mileage of less than 25 million miles), while Bison Transport, represented by Rob Penner, executive vice president and COO, won for truckload companies in the large carrier division (total annual mileage of 25 million or more miles). Both carriers will be recognized again during TCA’s upcoming Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting, to be held May 19-21, 2013, at the Westin Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Safety doesn’t just happen by chance — it takes a lot of hard work. It also requires a group effort,” said Chris Burruss, TCA’s president. “From the senior leadership to the administrative support personnel, to the safety directors and the drivers themselves — the entire team from both Brian Kurtz Trucking and Bison Transport should be commended… you are the safest fleets in North America!”

About Brian Kurtz Trucking
Brian Kurtz Trucking (BKT) is a family operation based on a blend of old-school values and modern technology. The owners and management are proud to have excellent rapport with fellow employees, customers, and the community; in fact, they have an open-door policy and know every professional truck driver on a first name basis. Those who work for BKT enjoy a safe, healthy work environment and a series of bonus programs that reward drivers for safe performance. BKT was recently named a TCA Best Fleet to Drive For, an honor that stems from driver nominations and general overall satisfaction with a carrier.

BKT’s safety management program creates responsibility for and involvement in safety initiatives at all levels, from the president to every employee. It only hires potential drivers who have two years of verifiable cross-border driving and can pass high-standard behavioral and situation-based interviews, among other criteria. Through a new online system, drivers receive customized training that addresses individual needs while allowing for self-paced learning.

According to BKT’s grand prize application, “Our mission is to be the best, to constantly set the bar a bit higher, to be the fleet that others set their standards to.”

About Bison Transport
Bison Transport runs a top notch safety program with high standards. It provides a supportive and appropriate structure, while focusing on hazard awareness and the establishment of safe processes and actions. The company continually demonstrates impressive progress toward an ever-safer operating environment. For example, over the last three years, its total accidents per million miles has decreased 23%, while its overall accident, insurance, and claims cost has been reduced by more than $1.1 million.

Bison has created an enviable corporate culture that utilizes the mantra “You’re Safe With Me.” This highly successful brand reminds employees about the company’s safety values and raises awareness about the importance of their actions. Bison offers excellent compensation, training, and tools to foster a safe working environment. It also invests millions of dollars in new equipment and technology.

According to Bison Transport’s grand prize application, “Being the safest fleet in North America comes as a result of each person doing their very best to provide safe and reliable transportation services. It is a reflection of who we are and how we work together.”

Rehrig Pacific Company Named All Star Association’s 2013 Supplier of the Year

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:46:00 +0100

Rehrig Pacific Company, a leading manufacturer of reusable transport packaging systems including plastic pallets; distribution and display crates; and carts and containers for dairy, grocery, retail, pharma, material handling, food and beverage, agriculture, and recycling and waste industries today announced that it was named the 2013 Supplier of the Year by the All Star Association. The Association’s “Thoroughbred Award” is presented to the company that not only has exemplified outstanding products and customer service to the All Star members from the previous year, but who has also introduced new innovative solutions to the members and the dairy industry.

“It wasn’t one facet of our total dairy supply chain capabilities that differentiated us from the other suppliers, but the collective ensemble. To All Star, and our customers, our value was and is our vision to be an innovator in the Industry by offering comprehensive product and service offerings,” said Luke Jeffers, national sales manager, dairy supply chain solutions for Rehrig Pacific Company. “We service over 30 of the All Star Association’s members with dairy cases and supply chain solutions.” Rehrig Pacific’s vision is that our innovative Solutions will deliver quantifiable Supply Chain efficiencies, while helping our customers grow and achieve their goals for sustainability.

Headquartered in Lexington, KY, The All Star Association offers its members a variety of services to help strengthen their operations, thus making them more profitable and utilizes the combined buying power of its members for the benefit of all. The Association’s membership includes over 300 plants in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Nova Scotia producing fluid milk, ice cream, cultured products, cheese, water, beverages, juice, custom blow molding, and related products. For more information about the Association, visit www.allstardairy.com.

Rehrig manufactures plastic milk crates and dairy pallets that meet the demands of today’s automated milk processing plants. Rehrig also provides complete supply chain solutions including a wide array of reusable transport packaging services and solutions including asset management and exchange, reverse logistics, recycling and sustainability services, and RFID tracking hardware and software. In addition, Rehrig has developed delivery carts and systems, including the EZ Pal One-Touch Delivery System that moves product picking to the production facility or distribution center and away from the retail storefront.

For more information about Rehrig Pacific Company and its full line of sustainable supply chain and waste and recycling collection products and services visit: www.rehrigpacific.com.

About Rehrig Pacific Company
Rehrig Pacific has been helping customers find better ways to transport and store their products for 100 years. Founded in 1913, Rehrig Pacific has grown to become a world-leading plastic pallet and container manufacturer serving the agriculture, pharma, bakery, beverage, dairy and materials handling industries. It also manufacturers roll-out carts, recycle bins and commercial containers for the waste and recycling collection industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., Rehrig Pacific serves customers with manufacturing and service locations throughout North America and Mexico with sales offices in South America.

Rental industry’s upward trend reflected in The Rental Show 2013 attendance

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:26:00 +0100

An extremely active trade show floor, sold-out seminars, and positive energy and enthusiasm at The Rental Show 2013 in Las Vegas reflected the equipment rental industry’s upward trend.

The Rental Show 2013 marked the fourth straight year of increased attendance growth. The number of rental businesses represented increased this year as well and was the highest total since 2006, which was the 50th anniversary of The Rental Show. The total number of attendees was 5,365 from 2,480 rental businesses.

Attendees came from throughout the U.S., Canada and more than 40 countries to The Sands Expo and Convention Center for the Feb. 10-13 show.

“Overall, The Rental Show reflects where this industry is headed. Everyone anticipated a great show because of the attitude, tone and urgency we’ve seen from attendees on buying equipment,” said Christine Wehrman, CEO of the American Rental Association, organizers of The Rental Show.

“Everything about the Show was positive this year. The Events & Tents program on Saturday and the seminar day on Sunday were huge successes. Our sessions honoring our volunteer leaders were highly regarded and enjoyed by everyone,” she said.

Rental industry’s upward trend reflected in The Rental Show 2013 attendance

ARA President Mike Blaisdell of Bunce Rental, Tacoma, Wash., also found this year’s Show electric. “It was great to see so much positive energy at The Rental Show this year with both attendees and exhibitors very optimistic about 2013 and beyond,” he said. “Attendees and exhibitors alike felt like the Show was well done and really enjoyed it. The educational sessions were well attended and received excellent reviews and, as always, the Show offered a lot of value and provided many opportunities for networking and peer-to-peer discussions that are impossible to get anywhere else.”

The perspective from exhibitors also was positive. Scott Smith, director of sales for Ditch Witch, Perry, Okla., said, “This year’s show was a tremendous success for our Ditch Witch organization. We saw a significant increase in traffic and all of the customers that we talked to were excited about the strong opportunities in the rental market for 2013 and beyond.”

Similar thoughts were shared by Pam Meyer, equipment sales manager for Subaru Industrial Power Products, Lake Zurich, Ill. “Subaru had a very good show. We were really happy with the increased attendance and the overall energy and excitement level of the rental store attendees,” she said. “Many attendees were armed with purchase orders in hand or a long list of items they needed to purchase when they came to the booth. That has not happened for several years. Subaru was also one of the exhibitors that was promoting the Show-Only Specials, which was a huge success. We’re looking forward to Orlando 2014!”

Next year, The Rental Show is Feb. 9-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Since the last Show in Orlando in 2010, the city has experienced a development renaissance with many new restaurants, hotels and attractions beyond the Disney complex. It’s also the No. 2 location on the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) list of the Top 250 Trade Shows in the U.S.

Watch TheRentalShow.com for the latest information on 2014.

Forklift Pro, Inc. Announces Change of Ownership

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:27:00 +0100

After thirty years in the industry, Buck Caldwell, founder and President of Forklift Pro, Inc. announces his retirement and the sale of his company to new owner Bill Zemak.

“It was my passion for the lift truck industry that led me to start Forklift Pro back in 2007,” said Mr. Caldwell. “After surveying the wholesale forklift market, I realized that dealer and customer needs were just not being met. I knew what had to be done. We now have what we believe to be the best team of sales professionals, technicians, and customer service representatives in the wholesale forklift distribution industry. Our success is based on the fact that we are able to deliver a reliable, quality product, and experienced sales help, including Spanish-speaking representatives and expertise in overseas exports. But even more importantly, we show consideration for the heart of the customer. And that makes all the difference in the world. I am happy to be passing the torch to Bill Zemak as I move into retirement and my next phase of life. Bill is committed to continuing with the level of quality product and customer care for which Forklift Pro is known domestically and internationally. I will stay on board for a while to assist Bill and ensure a smooth transition period for everyone.”

Bill Zemak was introduced as the new owner of Forklift Pro on February 20th. A successful entrepreneur and business owner for more than 20 years, Mr. Zemak brings with him expert business development and management strategies that promise to keep the company moving forward. In 2012, Mr. Zemak sold his previous construction company – a company he started with an initial investment of $1600 and grew to be one of Charlotte’s premier outdoor living construction companies, employing over 40 people and generating generous profits. Once the transition at Forklift Pro is complete, Mr. Zemak’s plans include expansion of the company’s current product line as well as reaching out to additional markets.

“I am impressed with the company as a whole,” said Mr. Zemak, “in particular, with how happy the employees are. In addition to an outstanding team of talented, committed people, Forklift Pro has also invested in a number of important efficiencies that have had a significant impact on the company’s continued growth potential. Chief among them are the newly designed website and web-based inventory management system. The website is working really well to reach and convert new customers while the web-based inventory management system allows our sales team to fulfill customer requests quickly and efficiently. To ensure that all lift trucks and equipment are shipped to customer specifications - that is, cleaned, inspected, and refurbished, if needed - our number of skilled technicians has been increased recently to enhance our repair and maintenance capabilities. Customers will also continue to have access to our complimentary ‘Call the Pros’ service which connects them with a live person able to provide information and answers important to their business. We’re all looking forward to the exciting times ahead and continuing Buck’s legacy of quality and concern for the customer which has made Forklift Pro a trusted and respected company throughout the industry.”

For more information about Forklift Pro, call 704/716-3636 or visit www.theforkliftpro.com.

Forklift Pro, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of forklifts and related equipment to customers around the globe, including North America, Central and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Headquartered in Pineville, NC, the company has a 20,000 SF building stocked with 100's of good quality lift trucks, attachments, forks, side shifters, carpet poles, and battery chargers. Visit www.theforkliftpro.com or call 1-704-716-3636.

Bill Zemak - New Owner of Forklift Pro, Inc.About Bill Zemak, Forklift Pro, Inc., President & Owner
Entrepreneur Bill Zemak established his first successful business while still in high school and sold it for $45,000 when he was just eighteen years old. Moving from East Brunswick, NJ to Plano, Texas, he managed a successful pool construction company while attending college full-time and fostering a motocross racing future. After a game-changing motocross accident, Bill moved from Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina. There he formed his new company in July, 1995. From an initial investment of $1600, Bill grew the Overstream brand to become one of Charlotte’s premier outdoor living construction companies. He expanded the company into the pool construction business in 2010, increasing revenue within the first year by $1.1 million. By 2011, the company had grown its staff to over 40 people and profitability by 11%. In 2012 he sold the business. Drawn to the opportunities for professional and personal growth offered by the fast-paced wholesale forklift distribution industry, Bill purchased Forklift Pro, Inc. in 2013, where he now fills the role of the new company President and owner.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. ...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:25:00 +0100

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a leading manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat® lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich® brands, announced Ken Barina as its new president. Barina succeeds Hiroshi Nagai as MCFA’s president.

Barina currently serves as vice president of corporate planning and services at MCFA. He first began his material handling career with Caterpillar in 1986, where he held various marketing, product development and field sales management roles working with dealers. In 1992, Barina joined MCFA, where he has since held a broad range of administrative and general management roles across the company. In his most recent position, Barina worked closely with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and MCFA management on the company’s strategic planning and business plan achievement.

Nagai, who will return to a new assignment at MHI in Japan, served as MCFA president for two years. During his time with MCFA, Nagai successfully led the company through significant growth from 2011 through 2013, while placing an increased focus on efficiency.

In addition, Kent Eudy was promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing at MCFA, reporting to Barina. Eudy started his career in the material handling industry in 1981 with Caterpillar Inc. and joined MCFA during the company’s inception in 1992. In this role, Eudy will continue to provide leadership for overseeing and managing MCFA’s machine and parts sales and distribution services, strategic marketing efforts and direct-to-customer sales for the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.

Elizabeth Mays named new director of business development for Marlin Steel

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:23:00 +0100

Elizabeth Mays, a 26-year veteran of the food service equipment and supply industry, will join Marlin Steel Wire Company as director of business development, Drew Greenblatt, president of Marlin Steel, announced today.

Ms. Mays previously served as merchandise manager for Hubert Company, an industry leader in food merchandising based in Harrison, Ohio. She specialized in the design and sourcing of high-quality products sold throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. In her new position with Marlin, she will assist key customers in developing and growing unique, solution-based products from steel wire and sheet metal.

“Marlin Steel is thrilled to add the creative talent of Elizabeth Mays to our team,” Drew Greenblatt said. “Her innovative approach has helped propel product development for the hotel and restaurant industry for more than a quarter-century. Her ideas move the needle so our clients generate bigger profits when Elizabeth is involved.”

Ms. Mays has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Northeastern University in Boston and a master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

“Having worked with Drew Greenblatt and the team at Marlin for many years on the customer side, I know first-hand their commitment to quality, integrity and exceeding customers' expectations,” she said. “I eagerly embrace these same values and believe together we can continue to make ‘Made in the USA’ a proud symbol across America.”

Marlin Steel Wire Products LLC is a privately held company in Baltimore, Maryland that manufactures precision-engineered material handling containers for many industries, including automotive, aerospace, military, industrial and telecommunications. It exports to 36 nations.

Applied Energy Solutions Hires Mark Corcoran

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:23:21 +0100

Applied Energy Solutions, LLC, is excited to announce the addition of Mark Corcoran as quality manager. He will be responsible for overseeing the entire quality process at AES for all of our business processes along with our product quality, as well as creating lean initiatives. President and CEO, Vern Fleming says, “Along with our growth we had a need to add a very strategic position overseeing all aspects of continuous improvement and quality throughout our entire organization.”

Prior to joining AES, Corcoran was the operations manager for BAE Systems Incorporated. Corcoran also held the operations quality assurance engineer position at BAE, packaging/manufacturing engineer at Wegman’s Food Markets Incorporated, and process engineer at Schlegel Systems Incorporated. Corcoran received his Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and an Executive, MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and has earned his Executive Certificate in Leadership & Management from the University of Notre Dame. Corcoran has more than 7 years of experience in engineering specifically operations management and leadership management. Corcoran currently resides in Rochester, N.Y.

Wolter Power Systems Receives Major Award From Generac

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:22:00 +0100

Generac has given Wolter Power Systems the Strategic Accounts Dealer of the Year Award for 2012. The award was presented at the annual industrial dealer meeting, held at the Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando Florida on January 6th through the 9th.

This award is given to dealers who service Generac’s National customer accounts. Wolter Power Systems not only fulfilled all of the elements required of a Generac dealer, but displayed their constant drive to do more.

Several of Generac’s national accounts, primarily in the telecommunications market, were among many who informed Generac that Wolter Power is “going above and beyond” when it comes to service, sales and administrative efforts, such as permitting hurdles. “We greatly appreciate the recognition since Generac is an integral part of WPS, said Jerry Weidmann, President of The Wolter Group”. He added, “We are pleased to have this award and will continue to strive for the same achievement in 2013.”

Wolter Power Systems specializes in industrial engines and generators and is part of The Wolter Group of companies, which includes Wisconsin Lift Truck (www.wisconsinlift.com), Illinois Material Handling (www.imhlifts.com) and Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, sweepers and scrubbers; and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of material handling.

MHEDA Plans 2013 Annual Convention in Palm Desert, California

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:19:00 +0100

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) will present its
58th Annual Convention, May 4-8, 2013 at the JW Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California. The Convention provides material handling equipment professionals the opportunity to spend four days learning, networking and discovering resources for their company. This year’s theme is “Get Your Game On!”

Convention highlights include sixteen education sessions, three-hour Exhibitors’ Showcase, networking roundtable discussion facilitated by industry leaders, organized tours of local attractions and more.

The presentations will address critical issues impacting the material handling community, including: recruiting the next generation, energizing leadership, understanding changing customer expectations, social media, and maximizing technology and more.

“I am looking forward to the MHEDA convention for motivation, education, and collaboration. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with my fellow dealers and suppliers. Convention is such a great time that my wife and I both attend every year,” said Jerry Weidmann, President, Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp and 2013 MHEDA President.

During the Convention, MHEDA is hosting an Exhibitors’ Showcase. This event is a tabletop tradeshow featuring over 80 companies that provide material handling goods and services to meet customers’ needs. The Showcase will take place on Monday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Showcase exhibitors and attendees will have the opportunity to re-connect at the end of the day with a happy hour reception, from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Networking Roundtable Session will take place on Monday, May 6 from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This session will give convention attendees the opportunity to discuss a variety of timely issues in a structured, facilitated format.

Organized local activities will include a golf tournament, tour of the San Andreas Fault, celebrity home tour, Palm Springs Air Museum and more.

Convention registration for MHEDA Members is $1,295; $1,695 for Non-Members. This includes admittance to 16 education sessions, roundtable discussions, three-hour Exhibitors’ Showcase, three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and a Happy Hour Networking Reception. For complete convention details, visit www.mheda.org/convention2013

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the independent material handling equipment distributor. For more information on this program and other MHEDA programs, visit www.mheda.org.

Product Protector, LLC continues their quest to protect the world at PROMAT 2013 Chicago, IL

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:01:00 +0100

Product Protector has come a long way since their debut last year at MODEX 2012. With a successful experience in hand in Atlanta, the team was excited and had high expectations for PROMAT 2013. Those expectations were not only met but easily surpassed. "PROMAT was the perfect way for Product Protector to start the new year", says VP Jeff Calavan. Team Product Protector would like to thank all those who came by the booth to witness firsthand how the Product Protector can give them a competitive edge in an already competitive marketplace", says Tony Butterfield Sales representative for Product Protector.

For those that did not make it - the Product Protector is a revolutionary forklift attachment that solves the product and pallet damage problem. It does this by changing how the forklift comes into contact with the pallet and redistributing the impact to the strongest parts of a pallet.

Not only does the Product Protector virtually eliminate pallet and product damage, but it also increases the margin of safety for the forklift drivers and other employees working around the forklifts. Any company that relies heavily on forklifts can benefit from the Product Protector.

There are two basic models of the Product Protector: the Single and the Single-Double. Both models also come in a Tabbed version, specifically engineered to protect products that overhang the pallet. The Single Product Protector features a patented breakaway system so that it will never get caught in docks or racking systems. Each Product Protector is powder coated allowing for outdoor use and enabling them to withstand the freezing temperatures of cold storage operations.

A forklift operating without the Product Protector always hits the lead board of the pallet with the backs of the forks causing pallet damage. Often this results in a broken lead board as well as damaged product. With the Product Protector, the impact is shifted to the three blocks or stringer, which are a pallet's strongest points. This reduces pallet damage and wood debris, which also promotes a cleaner work environment. By hitting the stringers and blocks, the Product Protector stabilizes the load, allowing forklift drivers to work quickly and safely. If you missed PROMAT 2013 you can always catch up with the team at PMA 2013 in New Orleans.

Product Protector, LLC
www.productprotector.com
1-877-768-3287
sales@productprotector.com

Lauyans & Company Announces New Website

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:56:00 +0100

Lauyans & Company is proud to announce a completely resdesigned website! Our effort has been to provide you with an easy way to quickly understand the solutions Lauyans & Company can offer to meet a host of material handling requirements. We believe they will tie into situations your company faces.

Click here to visit our Corporate Site!

MCA Announces 2013 Board of Directors

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:02:00 +0100

The Motion Control Association (MCA), the global trade group representing the motion control industry, announced its 2013 Board of Directors on February 21st during the annual MCA Business Conference in Orlando, Florida.

John Hegel, President of American Control Electronics was named Chairman of the Board. Bill Steury, Group President – Automation & Pneumatic Solutions of Cross Company will serve as Vice-Chairman of MCA.

“I’m looking forward to serving the members of MCA as Chairman of the Board of Directors,” said John Hegel. “Having just come out of our largest ever business conference, there is a real upbeat mood amongst our members. The Board is really excited to continue to build on the progress that has already been made and to continue to enhance the organization’s value. We have a great team in place and 2013 should be another very solid year for MCA,” added Hegel.

John Hegel succeeds Andrew Vogl, Vice President – Sales, Americas of Kollmorgen and Bill Allai, Motion Control Principal Engineer, National Instruments, who remains on the MCA Board as Past Chairman.

Hegel, Steury and Allai are joined on the board by newly-appointed director Ray Butler, Vice President & General Manager, Kollmorgen. Butler is serving his first term on the board.

The other 2013 members of the MCA Board include Kyle Ahlfinger, Vice President, Minarik Automation and Control; Matt French, VP/PMC Division, AMETEK; Dan Jones, President, Incremotion Associates Inc.; Kevin McNicholas, Vice President – Nook ATC, Nook Industries, Inc.; John Payne, Vice President of the Motion Division, Yaskawa Electric America, Inc.; Ken Sweet, General Manager, Parker Hannifin Corporation, Electromechanical Automation Division; and Victor Swint, VP/GM Motion Control Business, Rockwell Automation.

“John Hegel has been actively involved since he was elected to the board in early 2010. His commitment to the motion control industry was clear as he served as the MCA Vice-Chair,” said Dana Whalls, MCA Vice President. “This Board has helped significantly grow the MCA, our membership numbers continue to increase and our market data program continues to thrive. We are in the early stages of developing a motion control education program that will serve this industry well. I’m looking forward to another great year under their leadership.”

For more information about MCA, visit www.motioncontrolonline.org or call 734/994-6088.

Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment grew 13 percent in 2012 to $26.7 billion

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:56:23 +0100

Exports of U.S.-made construction equipment topped 13 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year for a total $26.7 billion, with South America and Asia reporting the weakest gains, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), citing U.S. Commerce Dept. data it uses in global markets reports for members.

AEM noted that the 13-percent gain for 2012 follows 43-percent growth in 2011 and 28-percent growth in 2010, after a 2009 decline of 38 percent in the depths of the recession.

"Exports have been called a bright spot for the U.S. economy, and this has been especially true for construction equipment manufacturers. Exports have been essential to our industry's rebound as we continue to struggle with uneven U.S. markets," stated Al Cervero, AEM vice president and construction sector leader. "With this global slowing and continued domestic market uncertainties, it's more important than ever for our lawmakers to enact job-creating export and manufacturing policies."

U.S. construction equipment exports to Asia grew 2 percent compared to the previous year for a total $3.2 billion, while exports to South America increased 6 percent to total $4.6 billion.

Central America's purchases of U.S. construction equipment gained 13 percent for a total $2.3 billion; exports to Europe also grew 13 percent, and totaled $3.2 billion; and exports to Africa increased 14 percent to $1.5 billion.

Exports of U.S. construction machinery to Canada gained 12 percent for a total $8.1 billion, and exports to Australia/Oceania jumped 42 percent to total $3.9 billion.

The top 10 export destinations for American-made construction machinery in 2012 by dollar volume: (1) Canada - $8.1 billion, up 12 percent; (2) Australia - $3.8 billion, up 43 percent; (3) Mexico - $1.8 billion, up 13 percent; (4) Chile - $1.7 billion, up 25 percent; (5) South Africa - $894 million, up 31 percent; (6) Brazil - $886 million, down 7 percent; (7) Belgium - $806 million, up 43 percent; (8) Peru - $779 million, up 36 percent; (9) Russia - $715 million, up 10 percent; (10) China - $680 million, down 25 percent.

S.W. Betz Company, Inc. Successfully Implements New Efficiency Systems for Howard County ...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:55:00 +0100

The S. W. Betz Company, Inc. (www.swbetz.com) successfully implemented a complete weighing system to verify laundry weights issued by a third party and also installed a storage system to more efficiently maintain and handle the materials supplied to various departments in the hospital.

Howard County General Hospital, like many hospital providers, outsources their laundry services to a third party contractor who bills for their services based upon the total weight of laundry processed. The Supply Chain Manager wanted a way to verify the weights their laundry contractor was providing and in turn basing their billing on. As a part of this project our contact at HCGH was also looking for ways to more efficiently maintain and store the materials they supplied to the various departments in the hospital. The resulting solutions allowed HCGH the ability to verify their laundry billing weights and more effectively deliver critical supplies through out the hospital.

Howard County General Hospital (HCGH), a Member of Johns Hopkins Medical System, has been serving the greater Howard County, MD community for nearly 40 years. Their mission is to “Provide the highest quality care to improve the health of our entire community through innovation, collaboration, service excellence, diversity and a commitment to patient safety”.

Linda Hurka, President of the S. W. Betz Company comments, “Having worked with many hospitals and medical services providers over the years, we had a good understanding of the needs at HCGH. Working with our primary contact at HCGH we were able to develop and implement applications that would provide the solutions they were looking for. We were pleased to be able to add HCGH as another customer to our expanding portfolio of health care related clients.”

Konecranes Named One of the Top Places to Work in Dayton, OH

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:53:00 +0100

On Sunday, January 27, 2013 Konecranes was named one of the top workplaces in the Dayton-Springfield area by Dayton Daily News.

The Top Workplaces award was initiated to recognize companies that offer excellent work environments and to encourage all organizations to improve the quality of their workplace. The awards were determined on the basis of employee surveys. More than 10,000 Dayton and Springfield area employees were surveyed. Konecranes was recognized as the 13th best place to work in the midsize employer category. Konecranes has four locations in the area with a total of 316 local employees.

“We are very honoured to have received this award”, said Tom Sothard, Senior Vice President for Konecranes. “We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset and do everything we can to make Konecranes a rewarding place for them to work. It is wonderful to see everyone’s hard work rewarded in this way.”

For more information on careers are Konecranes, visit www.konecranesusa.com/career.

Hy-Tek Material Handling Celebrates 50 Years

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:48:00 +0100

Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc. celebrated its 50th Anniversary on January 22, 2013. Hy-Tek is the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions for an extensive range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, pharmaceutical, food, electronics, and automotive. The 50th Anniversary announcement was made by Hy-Tek CEO Samuel Grooms at the Ohio Statehouse during a gubernatorial ceremony recognizing Hy-Tek for half a century of business success.

“The 100-plus employee-owners of Hy-Tek Material Handling are proud to join the exclusive ranks of businesses that have survived and thrived for 50 years. As we celebrate half a century of success serving the nation’s leading manufacturers and distributors, we find ourselves reflecting on what it takes to flourish over five decades. We attribute our longevity, in part, to our ability to nurture lasting relationships with valuable partners including our customers, suppliers, associates, and community. We look forward to continued growth over the next 50 years,” said Grooms.

Since 1963, Hy-Tek and its best-in-class industry partners—including manufacturers of industrial trucks and equipment; supply chain software; automated storage and retrieval systems; and rack, shelving, and conveyor systems—have been providing customers large and small with turnkey solutions. From customized one-of-a-kind handling and storage systems to pre-assembled buildings and off-the-shelf products—Hy-Tek’s experienced team of engineering, sales, operations, and project management professionals partner with customers to help enhance productivity, streamline processes, and boost profitability.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, employee-owned Hy-Tek Material Handling serves customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. Repeatedly posting annual sales in excess of $55 million, Hy-Tek’s four divisions—Integrated Systems, Mobile Equipment, Lighting Solutions, and Storage & Handling—deliver cost-effective, efficient solutions for every material handling application. Contact www.hy-tek.net or 800-837-1217.

Columbia Machine’s New Palletizer & Load Transfer Station Blog

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:47:00 +0100

Columbia Machine is excited to introduce the new Palletizer & Load Transfer Station blog. This will be a great source for keeping you informed on industry trends, upcoming shows, customer stories, service tips, after market modifications... and more! We are looking forward to posting on a regular basis and receiving your comments and feedback on what you would like Columbia’s Palletizer Division to blog about. Visit www.palletizing.com/blog to view recent posts about the palletizing industry.

For more than 50 years, Columbia Machine has manufactured high-level, floor-level, and robotic palletizers and load transfer stations in the USA. Columbia features flexible, upgradeable designs to rates of over 150 cases per minute. All Columbia palletizers are built in the USA and backed by 24-hour customer support and parts service.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. ...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:37:00 +0100

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a leading manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat® lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich® brands, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2013 Dealer of the Year award. These industry-leading dealers were awarded the coveted Quest for Excellence honor based on delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction and support in their sales and service efforts.

"The Dealer of the Year recipients have demonstrated excellence in all areas of their service operations, and they continually exceed their goals by performing at the highest levels,” said Kent Eudy, vice president of sales and marketing, MCFA. “I’m proud to recognize these dealers for their commitment to excellence and dedication to providing our customers with first-class service and support.”

This year’s recipients are:

Adobe Equipment - Houston, TX

Altorfer, Inc. - Davenport, IA

Capitol Lift Truck, Inc. - Oklahoma City, OK

Darr Equipment Company - Southlake, TX

Equipment Depot Ohio, Inc. - Cincinnati, OH

Fallsway Equipment Co. - Akron, OH

G & W Equipment, Inc. - Charlotte, NC

Gregory Poole Equipment Company - Raleigh, NC

Hewitt Equipment Ltd. - Pointe Claire, QC

Holt of California - W. Sacramento, CA

Industrias Juan F. Secco, SA - Argentina

Miami Industrial Trucks, Inc. - Dayton, OH

Morrison Industrial Equipment - Grand Rapids, MI

Quinn Lift, Inc. - Selma, CA

Toromont Lift - Winnipeg, MB

Towlift, Inc. - Cleveland, OH

TRACSA S.A.P.I de C.V. – Mexico

UNIMAQ SA - Peru

Wholesale Equipment of Fresno - Fresno, CA

Wiese USA (Central Division) - St. Louis, MO

Wiese USA (East Division) - Indianapolis, IN

Wiese USA (South Division) - Memphis, TN

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. - Brookfield, WI

Wyoming Machinery Company - Casper, WY

About Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA)
Manufacturer of Industry-Leading Material Handling Equipment
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) is a leading manufacturer of forklifts in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America. Based in Houston, Texas, the company distributes three distinct brands – Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat® lift trucks and Jungheinrich® warehouse products. MCFA features the industry’s most extensive dealer network in North, Central and South America. The company provides customers with quality lift truck products that range from warehousing to industrial applications and are backed by industry-leading customer service. For more information about MCFA or any of the brands it manufactures and distributes, visit www.mcfa.com, www.cat-lift.com, www.jungheinrich-lift.com or www.mit-lift.com.

2013 RIA Board of Directors Announced

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:35:00 +0100

The 2013 RIA Board of Directors was announced today during the Robotics Industry Forum in Orlando, Florida. The following robotic industry leaders join the board for their first two-year terms:

* Henrik Christensen, Director of Robotics, Georgia Institute of Technology;
* Chuck Keibler, Vice President, Genesis Systems Group, LLC; and
* Pete Squires, Vice President, Schneider Packaging Equipment Company.

“RIA is now over 300 members strong,” said Catherine Morris, Chair of the RIA Board and Director of Automotive Sales, ATI Industrial Automation. “I’m eager to continue growing our organization with this great group of dedicated board members. I welcome our new board members who I’m sure will provide an enthusiastic voice to the future of our association and industry. The board will continue building on the successes that we have experienced as an organization.”

Morris is joined on the RIA Executive Committee by Past Chair Dean Elkins, Yaskawa Motoman; First Vice Chair Stu Shepherd, KUKA Robotics; Second Vice Chair John Dulchinos, Adept Technology; Secretary Curtis Richardson, Spirit Aerosystems; and RIA President Jeff Burnstein.

Re-elected to new two-year terms for 2013-14 are Tim DeRosett, Motoman Robotics; Joe Gemma, Staubli Robotics; Joyce Guthrie, USPS; Dana Komin, General Motors; Mark Lewandowski, Procter & Gamble; and Steve Rock, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Kirk Goins, Comau Robotics, was appointed by the board to the remaining one year left of an open term. Scot Lindemann, JR Automation, was re-appointed by the board to a two-year term as an at-large Director.

The remaining Board members for 2013 include John Bubnikovich, ABB Inc.; Mick Estes, FANUC Robotics America; and Michael Jacobs, Applied Manufacturing Technologies.

John Burg of Ellison Technologies Automation is retiring from the Board after eight years of dedicated service.

About RIA
Founded in 1974, RIA’s organizations include leading robot manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, community colleges & universities, research groups, and consulting firms. RIA is best-known for developing the ANSI/RIA National Robot Safety Standard, collecting quarterly statistics on the North American robotics market, sponsoring the biennial Automate show and conference (March 23-26, 2015 in Chicago), hosting the annual Robotics Industry Forum (January 22-24, 2014 in Orlando), and producing Robotics Online, the world’s leading resource for robotics information.

Southwest Materials Handling Co. attends Annual ProMat 2013

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:47:15 +0100

President and CEO, Joe Harper, along with Senior Vice-President, Kenn Harper and 2012 Salesman of the Year, Steve Cagle were among the 30,000 attending ProMat 2013 in Chicago (January 21 – 24, 2013).

Over 700 exhibitors showcased their material handling, supply chain and logistics solutions. The annual show is designed to highlight productivity and cost-cutting solutions for not only distribution operations, but also manufacturing and warehousing operations.

Of the show, Joe Harper said, “This year we felt and saw more interest in what our industry can do to make America more competitive with effective ways to move, store and lift warehouse and plant products. We also witnessed better use of cube utilization. This could be a pivotal area for our industry and America. Thank you to our men and women who continue to make us safe and may God bless America”.

Kenn Harper commented, “Compared to recent years, the show was very well-attended; which to me, suggests there is a greater interest in material handling solutions. Material handling equipment is, after all, an investment in productivity.”

“Strengthening the relationships between Southwest and their manufacturing partners is essential to being able to offer customers the most innovative and effective solutions”, said Steve Cagle. “Attending the show also offers our company the opportunity to preview new products on the market”.

Delivering the industry’s best since 1966, Southwest Materials Handling Company is a family-owned and operated distributor of new and used plant and warehouse equipment including forklifts, racking systems, personnel and burden carriers, lift tables and conveyors. Located in Dallas, Southwest offers customers full-service material handling solutions – Sales, Service, Parts, Rental and Forklift Operator Training. To learn more about the company please visit www.swmhc.com or call 1.800.303.6582.

GAC USA expansion continues with ground breaking of new Houston warehouse

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:37:29 +0100

GAC, the world's leading provider of integrated services to the shipping, logistics and marine industry, has announced the official start of construction of its new office and warehouse building in Houston's Central Green Business Park.

GAC will consolidate its existing warehouses with the new LEED (Leader in Energy and Environment Design) registered 181,067 square-foot cross dock building which includes four acres of outside storage space. The new building, which is due for completion in mid-July 2013, will centralize GAC USA's local and regional executives, multiple business areas and staff under a single roof.

“Our new warehouse represents GAC's long-term commitment to customers in Houston who benefit from our local presence and capabilities to deliver their needs globally,” says Lars Heisselberg, GAC Group Vice President Americas. “The opening of this warehouse is a key part of our strategy to continue strengthening our portfolio of services to the energy sector, particularly here in Houston, Texas.”

GAC's import and export freight customers will enjoy significant cost savings due to the warehouse's location within a designated Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), as well the considerable convenience offered by its close proximity to George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

GAC's customers' freight will continue to benefit from added security. GAC has been designated by Customs Border Patrol as a C-TPAT certified member, which is awarded to companies only after intense scrutiny, best practices and on-going security commitment throughout the supply chain.

The custom-built warehouse is being constructed in partnership with commercial real estate developers Liberty Property Trust. Liberty is one of the leading developers in high-performance green buildings. Jay Kraft, Liberty's Vice President and City Manager for Liberty's Houston region, says: “We are excited to have the opportunity to expand our sustainable offerings in Houston while also accommodating the growth needs for GAC.”

GAC's 65,000 square-foot dedicated oil and gas warehouse in Laredo, Texas continues to operate as a separate facility near the Mexican border, where GAC's oil and gas customers require daily cross-border transport.

“We are excited about the opportunities this latest new warehouse will bring to the Houston community in terms of jobs and business from the oil and gas markets,” says Bob Bandos, CEO, GAC Energy & Marine Services.

About GAC Group
GAC is a global provider of shipping, logistics and marine services. These services are constantly being refined and integrated to serve our customers' increasing need for competitive solutions. Emphasizing trust, reliability and a strong human touch, GAC has been building its reputation in its chosen markets since 1956. Headquartered in Dubai, GAC employs over 9,000 people in more than 300 offices worldwide. GAC Delivering your Strategy.

For more information about GAC and GAC Energy and Marine Services, please visit www.gac.com or www.gac.com/usa

New Appointments at Sellick Equipment Limited

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:31:47 +0100

Sellick Equipment Limited, manufacturer of rough terrain and truck mounted forklifts, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Bristow to the position of Eastern Region Sales Manager. With over 35 years of sales management experience in both material handling retail distribution and construction equipment manufacturing, Dave will be very instrumental to the continued growth of Sellick dealers and their market share.

Dave will take over for Colin Sellick who has been appointed to the newly created factory position of Process Systems Manager.

Sellick Equipment Limited is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Denney as Product Specialist, TMFL. Dan brings over 25 years of truck mounted forklift product design and field application to this expanding product line. Dan will be directly involved with major fleet accounts and Sellick dealers across North America.

Sellick Equipment Limited
519-738-2255

Global Publication Recognizes Tompkins International’s Avila as ‘Provider Pro to Know’

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:30:07 +0100

Dan Avila, Partner at Tompkins International, is being honored as a 2013 “Provider Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine.

“The efforts that a number of the industry’s leading executives continue to take to improve their business’s functionality and in turn, progress the global supply chain – this was one of the main reasons we started the ‘Pros to Know’ awards in the first place,” says Barry Hochfelder, Editor, Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

Drawing upon his many years of experience and leadership abilities, Avila ensures the best tactical and strategic outcomes for his clients. He has helped clients achieve increased customer satisfaction, boosted revenue and decreased supply chain costs. He has also implemented supply chains that fully meet client objectives and generate higher efficiency.

Avila says, “I appreciate receiving this honor from Supply & Demand Chain Executive. We are really trying to highlight retail strategies and survival in 2013, and this recognition provides me with a platform to make sure senior executives are listening. Retail companies need the right strategies to get beyond the crossroads over the next two years, and supply chain is the vehicle to deliver that strategy.”

Avila has more than 20 years of experience in supply chain, with 14 of those years in supply chain consulting. He currently resides in Colorado.

Honoring the supply chain’s best and brightest, Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s “Pros to Know” include professionals proactively working to improve their business’s functions in a number of categories – including manufacturing and production output; procurement; logistics; risk mitigation strategies; sourcing; financial operations; packaging and distribution; transportation; and much more.

Now in its 13th year, the Supply & Demand Chain Executive “Pros to Know” awards recognize both ends of the supply chain. Beginning in January 2013, the publication’s editorial selection committee reviewed close to 400 entries to find the applicants that best fit the criteria.

The full list of 2013 “Pros to Know” awards winners is available at www.sdcexec.com.

Social media hits Westfalia

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:09:22 +0100

Westfalia is now exchanging ideas virtually

For over 35 years, Westfalia has been committed to the success of our customers, being an active partner in every stage of their warehouse automation projects with listening and conversation being key ingredients in the equation. Social media will now play a major role in Westfalia’s success formula for our customers.

“Integrating ourselves into the virtual community will allow us to keep abreast of our clients’ industry trends while providing important information about warehouse automation,” said Dan Labell, president, Westfalia Technologies, Inc.

Social media will also bring transparency to Westfalia, building trust and confidence in Westfalia and the people behind the brand. Westfalia will use these platforms to create and share content paying particular attention to our customers interests.

Westfalia is now established on all of the major social media sites including:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestfaliaTechnologiesInc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/westfaliausa

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/335475?trk=tyah

Google+: https://plus.google.com/109848172768181464731/posts

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/WestfaliaTechInc

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/westfaliatech/

Blog: http://www.westfaliausa.com/blog

Labell continues, “This is the right fit for our organization. We are an innovative, technology-driven company, so why not participate in social media to engage in conversation? Bottom-line is we just want to form stronger long-term relationships and this is just one way we are committed to doing so.”

About Westfalia Technologies, Inc.
Westfalia Technologies, Inc. is a leader in providing logistics solutions for plants, warehouses and distribution centers. Their expertise in combining software (WMS) development with automated equipment manufacturing reveals Westfalia’s ability to deliver turnkey solutions to meet each client’s specific needs with unsurpassed quality and control. To learn more about Westfalia’s products, including Conveyors, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) and Savanna.NET® Warehouse Management Systems, visit www.WestfaliaUSA.com.

Stainless Steel Hoists, Cranes and Material Handling Equipment for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:32:00 +0100

The David Round Company will exhibit the pharmaceutical industry’s most extensive selection of clean room material handling equipment at the upcoming INTERPHEX 2013 trade show, Booth #1105, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY, April 23-25, 2013. Included on display will be knockdown stainless steel portable floor cranes as well as stainless steel strap hoists designed exclusively for pharma use. Additionally, the company will have stainless manual chain hoists, stainless trolleys and stainless lift tables in its booth. All items represent the latest designs in pharmaceutical material handling equipment to minimize contamination potential.

“In the last few years, the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has increasingly realized that hoists, cranes and other material handling equipment be constructed in stainless steel and entirely paint-free,” said Matt Downing, Director of Sales and Marketing and Stainless Steel Product Line Manager at David Round. “Pharma manufacturers are requiring that this type of equipment be fully cleanable using methods that do not interfere with production schedules. At this year’s INTERPHEX, once again we’ll be showcasing the industry’s most complete offering of stainless material handling products for lifting and transporting within clean rooms and other controlled environments.”

The David Round Company is the leader in design and manufacture of clean room lifting equipment. Its innovations help reduce contamination potential while providing ergonomic benefits for employees. To address the need to provide more hygienic surfaces on material handling equipment, the company maintains a manufacturing facility solely dedicated to improving the surface quality of stainless steel cranes.

Established in 1869, The David Round Company has become the pharmaceutical industry’s supplier of choice for stainless steel hoists. Eight out of ten of the largest pharmaceutical firms rely on David Round hoists in their newest facilities. In addition to its line of specialized clean room grade products, it makes standard floor cranes, wire rope hoists, jib cranes, winches and tractor drives. The company is recognized for its willingness to design and manufacture custom engineered material handling equipment to suit exceptionally demanding environments such as oil and gas production, pulp and paper manufacturing, water treatment and aviation in addition to pharmaceutical processing and food manufacturing.

The David Round Company
10200 Wellman Road, Streetsboro, OH 44241
Telephone: 800-535-2725
330-656-1600
Fax: 330-656-1601
Web: www.davidround.com
Email: info@davidround.com

Flow-Rite Controls Announces Central Regional Manager

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:50:00 +0100

Flow-Rite Controls is announcing the hiring of Sara McMurray to the position of Central Regional Manager. Sara comes to Flow-Rite from Specialty Heat Treating after 10 very successful years in the world of thermal processing.

As the Central Regional Manager, Sara will work with existing and new distributors, as well as develop new business with national accounts.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with a new product and industry,” says Sara. "I'm also excited to be working with sales and marketing teams."

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sara," says Todd Hart, Sales Director for Flow-Rite. "As a talented, technical sales professional with an emphasis on customer service, Sara is a great addition to our team.”

Please join us in welcoming Sara to Flow-Rite. She can be reached at 616/551-6612 or smcmurray@flow-rite.com.

Flow-Rite Controls Announces Quality Manager

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:47:00 +0100

Flow-Rite Controls is announcing the hiring of Tanya Jones to the position of Quality Manager. She boasts over 14 years of experience in quality, from supplier to OEM. She also has extensive experience in developing and implementing quality management systems.

Tanya comes to us from American Seating where she worked in quality and supplier development. “I’m looking forward to new and bigger opportunities here,” says Tanya on her new career with Flow-Rite. “Specifically, I’m looking forward to working through problems and implementing new ideas.”

“We are extremely pleased that Tanya has joined the Flow-Rite team,” says Mike Semm, General Manager for Flow-Rite. “With Tanya’s experience as a Quality Engineer and in supplier development, she will offer a fresh perspective to our organization and bolster our efforts on continuous improvement.”

Please join us in welcoming Tanya to Flow-Rite.

Flow-Rite Controls Ltd
960 74th Street
Byron Center, MI 49315
www.flow-rite.com
616/583-1700

Flow-Rite Controls™, Ltd., an ISO 9001:2008 registered company, was founded in 1981 by current president Dan Campau. As a vertically integrated company; Flow-Rite designs and manufactures and markets fluid control devices for lead acid batteries, recreational fishing boats, and laboratory use. All Flow-Rite products are solely our own proprietary developments and protected by over three dozen U.S. patents as well as hundreds of international patents.

Smith Flow Control Launches Regulator Packs to Ensure Safe Operation of Valves

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:44:00 +0100

Smith Flow Control has introduced a series of Filter Regulator Lube (FRL) packs to ensure the right amount of torque is set to the company’s Easi-Drive system. FRL packs manage the output available to drive the valve, preventing human error that can result in improper use of the system.

Easi-Drive is a valve operating system that actuates hard-to-operate valves in power plants, oil refineries and water and chemical processing facilities. It is ideal for use wherever there are manually operated valves with high-operating torques, hundreds of hand-wheel turns to open and close or are just difficult to operate.

FRL packs are designed in a range of colors so they can be identified and applied correctly to a range of valve systems. Packs can be factory-set on a second regulator to limit the pressure to the specially calibrated torque device, reducing the output available to drive the valve. This means that even though an operator can adjust the first regulator, the second will be set to a maximum pressure point that can never be surpassed.

The FRL packs have been adapted to include storage for the pneumatic gun, making it easy to carry the equipment and assemble the system on site.

For more information, please call 859/578-2395, email d.kelly@smithflowcontrol.com or visit the company's website at www.smithflowcontrol.com.

Parcel Forum ’13 Teams Up With Rider & Associates To Produce Warehousing Operations ...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:42:00 +0100

EventEvolution Management, Inc., producers of PARCEL Forum, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Rider & Associates to produce a three-day warehousing- and operations-focused conference track at its upcoming PARCEL Forum ’13 slated for October 7-9 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago.

“The warehousing, operations and material handling area is a natural extension of what we’ve been doing for the past 10 years. Just because they are considered small packages (<70lbs), it doesn’t mean they don’t need all of the same warehousing and material handling equipment and services as a company that ships air conditioning units, for example. Our attendees are dealing with massive amounts of inbound and outbound packages on a daily basis,” said Joel Dunkel, President, EventEvolution Management.

PARCEL Forum reached out to Susan Rider, President of Rider & Associates, to develop a three-day conference track focused on providing attendees with the latest information on Pick-to-Light, LMS software, Order Fulfillment Techniques, KPIs, Lean Logistics Strategies, Slotting and other technology advancements and management strategies essential to running and maintaining an efficient distribution center. “Susan’s background and knowledge of the parcel shipping industry are second to none. Over the years, she has been a speaker at our Forums which gives her a unique understanding of what industry professionals need. It’s a perfect fit,” explained Dunkel.

“The future is focusing on ecommerce with growth expected to more than double in the next few years. So, it’s all about shipping parcels,” explained Susan Rider. “I’m in the real world every day and understand the problems and opportunities practitioners have when it comes to delivering product. I’m excited about helping organizations to deliver product to their customers more efficiently while improving the customer experience as well as their bottom line,” continued Rider.

In addition to the new conference track, PARCEL Forum is launching its first-ever Warehousing Operations Pavilion—a dedicated area on the show floor. The goal is to showcase a handful of leading companies that can help attendees apply what they are learning in the conference.

Susan Rider is currently planning her conference sessions and pavilion. If you are interested in speaking or exhibiting, please email Susan at susanrider@msn.com or call 270/324-4763. In you are interested in receiving information about attending PARCEL Forum ’13, please email jdunkel@EventEvolution.com or call toll-free 866/378-4991.

New Speakers & Sessions at 2013 GEORGIA LOGISTICS SUMMIT

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:39:00 +0100

Just over a month to go before we kick off the 5th Annual Georgia Logistics Summit on March 19th & 20th in Atlanta. We are working hard to put the finishing touches on content and speakers to make sure this year is even better than 2012. Below you will find the most recent additions to our speaker line up, updated panel discussions, along with the final group of industry sponsors to join us for 2013.

If you are amongst the almost 1,300 already registered you will soon receive a list of attendees in order to facilitate networking, along with other important details to get you prepared. If you have not yet signed up and plan on joining us in March, you need to register soon as registrations are going fast (especially if you hoped to secure a table) and will CLOSE ON MARCH 8TH.

Download this PDF for the full agenda

LiuGong Announces JCB Distribuidora S.A. as New Forklift Dealer in Costa Rica

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:35:00 +0100

LiuGong Construction Machinery N.A. LLC, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce that JCB Distribuidora S.A. (Grupo JCB) has joined them as their new forklift dealer in Costa Rica.

Grupo JCB, a privately held company, has ten years in the material handling industry and will cover the entire country of Costa Rica for LiuGong forklift distribution and service. “Their experience in the Costa Rica market makes them an excellent partner for us” noted Ken Biediger, Forklift Commercial Director for LiuGong. “We are excited to have them representing LiuGong in Costa Rica and have utmost confidence that this will be a very successful business relationship”.

Juan Carlos Bolaños Rojas, President of Grupo JCB, agrees. “Our employees have over 20 years experience in our market which helps with clients with broad criteria see the value in the LiuGong product” stated Juan Carlos. “We required a partner with a compatible product range, established quality and very good procedures for after sales support”. “LiuGong will allow us to provide our customers high-tech equipment, good yields, excellent service and a great price” Juan Carlos continued.

Grupo JCB employs 110 people and specializes in material handling, construction equipment and container handling systems. Their head quartered in La Uruca, San Jose with branches in Rotonda Juan Pablo II and Contiguo a Uniserse.

LiuGong Construction Machinery N.A. LLC is a subsidiary of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd.

Founded in 1958 in Liuzhou, China, LiuGong began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1993 as a publicly held company. LiuGong is a premium manufacturer of construction and material handling equipment that is easy to own and easy to operate, and features technologies with well proven reliability. LiuGong

products therefore provide a great deal of value for the price, and are easy to maintain, even in rigorous and isolated environments.

To learn more about LiuGong, visit www.liugong.com

To learn more about Grupo JCB, visit www.grupojcb.com

Fortress Interlocks Unveils New US Facility

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:27:00 +0100

Fortress Interlocks dedicated its new Erlanger, Kentucky facility Friday, February 8, in a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The new premises position the UK-based safety products company for continued US growth.

When it outgrew its current space, Fortress chose to stay in the same conveniently located Northern Kentucky city of Erlanger, upgrading to new facilities. Now just five minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, customers can easily visit for on-site training and demonstrations of the company’s safety access and control systems.

State-of-the-art conference facilities enable live conference calls with the Fortress UK manufacturing facility. With additional square footage and warehouse space, some light manufacturing will be possible locally to reduce lead times on common assemblies.

The office opening was commemorated with a visit from ambassadors of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members Steve Harrington of ProSource and Tammy Trimble of Zalla Companies joined Fortress employees Josie Dewald, Mark Gilvin and Mike Martin for a tour of the new space and ribbon cutting ceremony.

Existing phone, fax and email contacts remain the same. The new mailing address is 1455 Jamike Ave., Suite 200; Erlanger, KY 41018.

Product Safety & Compliance Seminar helps manufacturers fine-tune company programs

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:38:00 +0100

Co-located Product Liability Seminar adds value for attendees

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) annual product safety event - May 7-10, 2013 - will help equipment manufacturers analyze and enhance their corporate safety programs to ensure each component remains effective and useful.

The Product Safety & Compliance Seminar runs May 7-9 with the theme “Juice Up Your Product Safety Program” playing off the event location of Orlando, Florida (Orlando Hilton). The co-located AEM Product Liability Seminar follows May 10 to provide attendees with guidelines for more effective participation in product litigation.

This AEM product safety event is the only one of its kind designed by and specifically for manufacturers of agricultural, construction, forestry, mining and utility equipment, as an industry-wide discussion of safety issues involved in design, manufacture and use of their products.

Special Prerequisite Program: The Cornerstone of Product Safety

AEM is also offering a pre-event webinar series, The Cornerstone of Product Safety, on April 23 with a focus on product safety and compliance fundamentals. The three-part webinar series is designed to develop new corporate safety leaders as well as refine the skills of more experienced personnel.

The program will examine best practices and behaviors for key elements and milestones of the product life cycle, from concept to the scrap pile. While all seminar attendees are encouraged to participate; the webinar series is open to others who also want to take advantage of this cost-effective way to educate their team.

Education Sessions Benefit Both New and Experienced Personnel

The Product Safety & Compliance Seminar offers 20 expert-led sessions on a wide range of topics from engineering documentation and incident investigation, to advanced CE marking and other global regulatory/standards issues, to social responsibility and using technology for effective safety communication, to developing safety signs and compliant manuals.

Mattel/Fisher-Price’s senior director for product safety will draw some interesting parallels between the toy industry and off-road equipment industry when she delivers the opening keynote presentation.

The Product Liability Seminar has assembled a team of highly experienced trial and corporate attorneys to help attendees answer the question, “Am I really prepared to defend my product in litigation?.” Planned topics include a mock deposition, mock jury and panel discussion and mock deliberations and debriefing.

The Product Safety & Compliance Seminar targets company management, product safety and quality managers, design engineers, technical writers, and research and development personnel, as well as training, service and communications professionals involved in product support. The Product Liability Seminar is of particular value to manufacturers without dedicated corporate counsel.

The seminars are open to off-road equipment manufacturer personnel and company-designated service providers. They are beneficial for beginner as well as experienced industry professionals and are especially valuable for small and medium-sized manufacturers with more limited internal resources.

For more information, go online to the Education section of the AEM website – www.aem.org.

Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association Announces New Board Members for 2013

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:20:00 +0100

Daryle Ogburn, President of Advanced Equipment Company, Mike Vaughan, CFO of Liftech Equipment Companies, Inc and Chris Wetle, President Pape Material Handling. have been elected to serve on the Board of Directors and Doug Bouquard VP/GM Motive Power Sales of East Penn Manufacturing has been elected to serve on the Manufacturers Board of Advisors of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) for 2013.

The following individuals currently serving on MHEDA’s 2013 Executive Committee are MHEDA President, Jerry Weidman President of Wisconsin Lift Truck, President-Elect Scott Hennie President Elite Supply Chain, Treasure Mark Milovich, President Lift Atlanta Inc, Vice President Scott Lee, President Conveyor Solutions Inc. and Immediate Past President Richard Donnelly EVP, Gregory Poole Equipment Company.

For complete listing of MHEDA Board Directors and members of the Manufacturers Board of Advisors, visit www.mheda.org/boardofdirectors.

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of the material handling distributor. MHEDA represents nearly 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit www.mheda.org.

Technology and Timeless Safety Topics Top Agenda

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:04:00 +0100

While some crane and rigging safety topics are timeless, others are predicated by industry trends, changes in standards and regulations, new technology, and shifts in labor demands. Attendees of the May 29-30, 2013 CRC/ICHC conference in Indianapolis, Ind., will hear fresh ideas from construction professionals on all these issues. Central to bringing this event before industry stakeholders in the Midwest is the Ohio Manufacturers Association, which represents transportation equipment, plastics, fabricated metal, machinery, chemical, and other types of manufacturers. On a national scale, the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), made up of construction owners across the United States, has also signed on as a supporting organization of the conference.

Setting the tone will be the keynote address by Matthew Wallace, President and CEO of VRSim. Wallace, who is a 2011 Engineering News-Record Top 25 Newsmaker, will share how simulator technology is valuable for recruitment and training. Also in this vein will be a case study from Bechtel Equipment Operations demonstrating how this leading construction company is bringing mobile learning to the jobsite using tablets and rigging and lift planning apps. A third technology topic will focus on new options for advanced rail fastening for industrial overhead cranes.

Over the course of the two-day event, attendees will experience more than just lecture-style presentations. An interactive session will offer attendees multiple hands-on learning stations to try out crane simulators, rigging apps, or perform a rigging inspection, among other activities. North American Crane Bureau Group (NACB), Event Partner and international training company, will provide several different types of crane simulators for this special session. The company offers simulators for mobile, overhead, and tower cranes, and is currently testing a Beta version of a new lattice boom crane simulator, scheduled for release soon.

“Crane simulation training is a fresh methodology in this industry to enhance and improve the skills of crane operators working in a variety of environments,” said L.D. Stutes, NACB’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We’ve seen crane simulation be successful for manufacturers of all types to construction, refineries, and even vocational education centers seeking to encourage young folks to get involved in the trades.”

Small-group sessions will afford attendees the opportunity to interact with industry experts one-one-one, and multiple breakout sessions will be specific to mobile cranes, tower cranes, overhead cranes, and rigging topics. Look for these and other presentations on the agenda.

● How U.S. Certifications Are Helping Fill Canada’s Labor Shortage, presented by Fraser Cocks, Executive Director of the BC Association for Crane Safety, and Debbie Dickinson, Executive Director of Crane Institute Certification.

● Advanced Rail Fastening for Industrial Overhead Cranes, presented by Tom Berringer, Sales and Product Manager for Gantrex Inc.

● B30.3 Tower Crane Standards Update, presented by Peter Juhren, Corporate Service Manager for Morrow Equipment Co.

● Safe and Efficient Use of Spreader Beams, presented by Patrick Clark, National Sales Support Manager for Lifting Gear Hire.

● Bringing Mobile Learning to the Jobsite, presented by Keith Anderson and PaulDrexler, Bechtel Equipment Operations.

● Practical Applications of the OSHA Crane Regulation for Safety and Risk Manager, presented by Mark Steinhofer, Account Manager of Site Operations for Safety Management Group.

● Leading Causes of Crane Accidents: Final Data from Haag Engineering’s Crane Accident Study, presented by Jim Wiethorn of Haag Engineering.

Early bird registration is just $495 and includes admission into the conference, exposition and breakfast and lunch each day. Register online at www.craneandriggingconference.com/crc-ichc/

Cerro Wire Now Offers SLiPWire® Copper Xhhw-2 Featuring True Sequential Footage™

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:01:00 +0100

Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, announces that it now carries XHHW-2 cross-linked polyethylene (XLP) insulated copper conductors with a SLiPWire® jacket and True Sequential Footage™. XHHW-2 is ideal for use in conduit or other recognized raceways for service, feeder, and branch circuit applications as specified in the NEC®. It is a good choice for industrial applications where better insulation toughness and resistance to moisture and heat are required.

XHHW-2 can be used in wet or dry locations at temperatures up to 90°C. The XHHW-2 insulated copper conductors are available in sizes from 14 AWG to 750 MCM, with outer dimensions ranging from 0.120 inches to 1.136 inches. Sizes 1/0 and larger are rated for cable tray (CT) use. The product is available in reels of 1,000, 2,000, 2,500, or 5,000 feet.

SLiPWire XHHW is manufactured using Cerrowire’s Self-Lubricating Polymer (SLP®) technology, so it can be installed without a pulling lubricant. SLiPWire XHHW-2 also features True Sequential Footage, which is guaranteed by Cerrowire to be accurate to ±0.5 percent on reels 1000 feet and longer for sizes 1 AWG and larger.

About Cerro Wire LLC
Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, supplies its products to wholesale electrical distributors and retail home improvement centers across North America. Cerrowire’s Electrical Distribution Division offers building wire for residential, commercial and industrial use. Our operating philosophy focuses on customer service, low cost operations, simplification and innovation. Our employees operate manufacturing and distribution facilities around the United States. Cerro Wire is a Marmon Wire & Cable/Berkshire Hathaway company.

Please visit our website at www.cerrowire.com for a complete description of our products and services. For more information, please contact Dale Crawford at 256-773-2522, or via email at dcrawford@cerrowire.com.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Awarded 2012 Big Joe Dealer Of Excellence

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:59:00 +0100

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. has been awarded the prestigious Dealer of Excellence designation for 2012 from Big Joe Forklifts. Big Joe designed this award to recognize the top Big Joe dealers throughout the United States that have achieved the highest standards of sales excellence.

To be awarded this designation, Wisconsin Lift Truck has displayed the ability to outperform previous goals and provide exceptional customer satisfaction while creating a culture of professionalism within their organization. Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.’s consistent commitment to excellence has led the firm to this notable achievement.

“Wisconsin Lift Truck is proud to be recognized for their hard work, dedication and commitment to providing superior customer service,” said Weidmann, president of Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.

“Wisconsin Lift Truck’s vision is to add value by solving our customers’ problems. Merely having a breadth of product is not enough. That product has to be part of a larger solution. It’s combining those two elements, being the source and the solution, which makes Wisconsin Lift Truck a leader in the material handling industry today,” stated Weidmann.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. is part of the material handling arm of the Wolter Group, which includes Wolter Material Handling and Illinois Material Handling. The Wolter Group delivers superior service to over 15,000 customers in its three-state service area. The cornerstone of Wolter Group’s success is its highly trained staff of over 330 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, sweepers and scrubbers; and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of material handling.

For more information, contact Kristin Carey, at Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.; Phone 262-781-8011 X3145; Fax: 262-783-0729; e-mail: kristin.carey@wisconsinlift.com

AEM updates safety pictorial database

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:54:24 +0100

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recently updated its already extensive online safety pictorial database . More than a dozen new and updated pictorials have been added, increasing the number of graphics to 145, with more additions planned in the near future.

AEM’s free service promotes effective safety messaging through the use of consistent. industry-recognized pictorial images that are not dependent on language to warn operators and others of potential hazards.

The database covers both hazard identification and hazard avoidance and consists of graphics that are common to many industry segments and product lines. It is searchable by categories, keywords and content, and is accessible via http://pictorials.aem.org or the AEM website www.aem.org in the Safety, Regulatory and Technical section.

The AEM Pictorial Database helps manufacturers and others interested in promoting safety by reducing the considerable time and costs associated with developing their own graphics. It is a convenient resource for engineers, designers, technical illustrators and other industry professionals who develop equipment safety signs, manuals, labels and related training materials.

AEM developed the database at the request of member companies and is the result of member cooperative efforts. “Promoting safe equipment operation is a major focus of our members and of AEM,” said Larry Buzecky, AEM director, safety materials. “Consistency of images reduces confusion and makes them more recognizable to industry workers, thus enhancing safety.”

Every safety pictorial can be downloaded in vector formats for graphic design or CAD-based engineering projects (.eps or .dxf formats, respectively). Database site visitors can also simply copy the .jpg thumbnail of any image or images they would like to use.

The database covers only the pictorial aspect of safety signs and other safety materials; it does not cover text or other facets of safety messaging and is not intended to promote or endorse any particular format of safety sign or message. The goal is to develop greater consistency, not to establish standards or regulations.

Stertil-Koni Unveils the Power and Flexibility of Wireless Mobile Column Lifts at World of ...

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:54:00 +0100

To demonstrate the superior lifting capacity, flexibility, user-friendliness and portability of its wireless mobile column lifts, Stertil-Koni took heavy duty lifting to new heights recently at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas.

In a live, on-going demo over the course of four days, the true recognized leader in heavy duty vehicle lifting systems, Stertil-Koni, drew large industry crowds as it showcased the performance of its highly regarded ST 1082 Wireless Mobile Column Lifts. Each ST 1082 has a lifting capacity of 18,000 lbs. per column, thus a set of four on the show floor – with a capacity of 72,000 lbs. – easily handled the lifting and lowering of a custom, flame-painted mixer.

Industry experts recognize that these lifts are distinguished by their highly dependable hydraulic lifting system that operates quickly, efficiently and smoothly – with low maintenance – in contrast to certain mechanical lifting approaches. In addition, the unique Stertil-Koni synchronization system starts at a height difference of just 9/16th of an inch, thereby ensuring safe and smooth lifting and lowering cycles, especially in cases – such as concrete mixers – in which the vehicle weight distribution is decidedly unequal. Also drawing attention were the lifts’ forks. Because the standard length of the ST 1082 lifting fork is 14 inches, the Stertil-Koni mobile column lifts comfortably accommodate large vehicles with super single tires.

The attendees at World of Concrete were also shown the ST 1082’s fast lifting and lower capabilities—reaching a maximum height of 69 inches in just 89 seconds.

Clearly, one of the most eye-catching features of the Stertil-Koni 1082 is its wireless capability. The lifts require minimal set up time, as no interconnecting cables are required, and utilize a 24 VDC system, so no external power source is needed to operate them. The result is a superior heavy duty lifting system, with maximum access to the vehicle and no risk of tripping. Up to eight ST 1082 wireless mobile columns can be configured in a single lifting set and each column is equipped with a complete control box so the operator can control the vehicle height from any single column in the set.

For added safety, the Stertil-Koni ST 1082 is third-party tested and validated by ALI/ETL-Interk.

About Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
Stertil-Koni is the global market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts – bus lifts and truck lifts – and is the preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. Stertil-Koni's breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes mobile lifts, two-post, four-post, in-ground piston lifts, parallelogram lifts, half-scissors and its innovative axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. Stertil-Koni has also recently introduced DIAMOND LIFT, a full rise telescopic piston lift designed to set new standards in precision heavy duty lifting.

Stertil-Koni is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland and has a major production facility in Streator, Illinois

Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
800/336-6637
www.stertil-koni.com

Automate 2013 Reaches a Record Number of Attendees

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:55:00 +0100

Automate 2013, North America’s leading automation event, was attended by a record 10,975 attendees from across the United States and 55 countries. The event took place January 21-24 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Automate 2013 exceeded all of our expectations,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation, the primary sponsor of Automate 2013. “All of our numbers were up sharply, including total exhibitors (+17%), show attendees (+62%) and conference participants (+10%). Our post-show survey indicates that Automate is becoming the primary trade show in the field for many people, as about 50% of Automate attendees do not attend any other automation related trade shows.

“It’s clear that our message that automation is the best way to become a stronger global competitor is resonating with companies in virtually every industry,” added Burnstein. “Robot sales set a record in 2012, the Automate 2013 show was better than ever, and we expect these trends to continue as the manufacturing resurgence in the United States gains an even stronger foothold. We believe this will lead to an expanded Automate event when it is next held in 2015.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased with Automate 2013,” stated Joseph Cyrek, Vice President at Recognition Robotics, Inc. “The attendee traffic was fantastic. We generated many solid leads with potential users, some of whom were already asking for quotes to move forward with our technology. This has been a great show; everyone seemed really fired up about the industry. We will definitely come back for Automate 2015 with an even bigger presence.”

Automate 2013 also generated a large amount of press coverage, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, the Chicago Tribune, Univision, Chicago area TV news outlets NBC 5 and WGN, and many different trade publications. Much of the coverage centered on how using automation technologies displayed at the show can help save and create jobs, the opposite from what is often reported in the media. The Association for Advancing Automation is a strong advocate for this message, which was highlighted during a special CEO Roundtable at Automate 2013. To view a video summary of the CEO Roundtable, please click: www.robotics.org/content-detail.cfm/Industrial-Robotics-News/View-the-CEO-Round-Table-Discussion-at-Automate-2013-in-Chicago/content_id/3926

More than 75 industry experts from around the world gave presentations at the conference, including keynote speakers Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media and Henrik Christensen, Director of Robotics at Georgia Institute of Technology. Forbes’ talk was so popular that people were turned away once 1,000 people were in the room.

“Many of the sessions were geared to small and medium sized companies who are new users or considering using robotics, vision, motion control, and other automation technologies,” Burnstein asserts. “One of the featured sessions highlighted small company executives who have successfully automated in order to become stronger global competitors. These executives provided real-world examples of companies who would have had to either go out of business or send manufacturing offshore but instead succeeded by automating.”

Automate 2013 was collocated with ProMat 2013, sponsored by the Material Handling Industry of America. The next Automate Show and Conference will be held March 23-25, 2015 in Chicago.

INDUSTRYHUDDLE.COM Promises Manaufacturers, Distributors, and Customers a Social Network for ...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:14:04 +0100

IndustryHuddle.com founder and president, Zachary T. Haines, is changing the face of social networking with his new Social Trade Network, which is focused on the needs of manufacturers, distributors, manufacturer’s reps, contractors, and end-users inside industries like Material Handling, Tools, Bearings, Welding, and many others.

While other social network sites allow companies to build up “likes” and “follows,” Industry Huddle’s approach is to provide an industry-focused platform where companies find new sales leads or potential suppliers in the Material Handling industry, for example, and then request products samples, send quotes, or upload bids.

In the past, social media has provided companies with the ability to communicate to customers in a B2C open forum but, according to the staff at IndustryHuddle.com, such a method does not take into account the complex communication network in the supply chain, where the terms “customer” and “supplier” depend on the transaction.

“My goal with this website is to make it easier for companies to do business online, while protecting the integrity of the supply chain,” said Haines. “This means that companies are in control of their information on the website, particularly when it comes to which users can view a company’s sales promotions and listings.”
When a company joins the website, they choose to receive announcements, or “Huddle Posts,” only from relevant companies, instead of updates about individuals in all industries. This structure is a revolutionary step for how B2B companies network online, and it helps to rid the excess noise companies find when leveraging social media for product sales.

Members on the site also have the ability to search for other companies based upon whether they are seeking a manufacturer, distributor, service provider, or end-user. The search can find companies by industry (with over 40 to choose from), the location of the company, and the products that they buy or sell. This advanced search is simply not available through most social networking sites.

Industry Huddle is expected to increase its users rapidly thanks to its Members Savings Program. The website is offering instant savings on business expenses when a company signs up for free, with up to 62% off at Staples, 25-35% off from Sprint plans, 25% and more off ADP Payroll Processing, saving cents at the pump, plus numerous other expense cuts.

Haines has experience working with manufacturers and distributors directly as the Executive Director for the Distributor Partners of America (DPA), a buying group with over 500 member companies. Many DPA members have already signed up to IndustryHuddle.com, but he stresses that the website is free for any company to sign up and begin taking advantage of its savings and industry directory.

About IndustryHuddle.com – Industry Huddle, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a free social trade network for B2B companies to connect with suppliers and customers in their industry in order to increase product sales. A first of its kind, this free service offers savings on business expenses simply by signing up. For more information, visit www.industryhuddle.com.

Stellana US Inc. Announces New President Appointment

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:42:00 +0100

Stellana a global manufacturer of molded polyurethane and rubber wheels and tires has appointed Mark Shea as President of Stellana US Inc.

“Mark has shown great vision and leadership is areas ranging from operations to global business strategy development for Stellana. His input has been insightful and valuable for our cross functional groups throughout our organization and more importantly our global customers,” said Jan Wikstrom, President HEXPOL Wheels

Mark Shea joined Stellana US in July 2010. Through his position as Operations Manager, he has participated in all aspects of the Company’s business development activities as a part of the Stellana Executive Management Team. In addition, he has created development strategies and operational efficiencies globally as a member of Stellana’s Global Operations Team. Prior to Stellana, Mark Shea has been in operations and senior management for over 17 years with various manufacturing firms.

Stellana US Inc., a part of Product Area Wheels within HEXPOL, is located in Lake Geneva, WI. Stellana is the only global supplier of high quality polyurethane, rubber and nylon wheels and rubber tires to the OEM and the aftermarket. Stellana worldwide headquarters and manufacturing operations are in Laxa, Sweden with additional manufacturing facilities in the USA, Sri Lanka and China.

For more information contact Stellana at 262/348-5575 or visit www.stellana.us

ITW Warehouse Automation Introduces its Storfast AS/RS Solution at ProMat 2013

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:39:00 +0100

ITW Warehouse Automation (ITWWA), the global supplier of innovative, fully-integrated warehousing solutions , is exhibiting at ProMat 2013 in Chicago, Illinois (Booth #1223). For the first time in North America, the company will showcase its StorFast cart-based, ultra high-density, AS/RS solution. In addition, attendees can learn more about ITWWA’s Vertique case-picking system and robotic VTP palletizers.

ITWWA will feature its StorFast AS/RS in-line with ITW Muller’s Octopus ‘S’ Series automatic rotary ring stretch wrapper. The cart-based AS/RS maximizes storage capacity with higher density and throughput than traditional crane-based systems. StorFast designs are modular and can be easily expanded as capacity requirements and SKUs increase. Carts operate on each level of the system and can even change levels. Thus, StorFast has built-in redundancy, resulting in even greater efficiency. Visitors to the booth will see a live demonstration of how the cart system works in a closed loop. The loop also features a live demonstration of the innovative Octopus stretch wrap machine. Long an industry standard, the Octopus has been newly designed and will feature a load stabilizer, new load lift conveyer and the highly anticipated No Touch No Tail (NT²) seaming device- an effective and efficient alternative to heat seal pads or wipe down systems.

“We are excited to introduce StorFast to the North American market,” says Jeff Stingel, Vice President of Sales, ITWWA. “We’ve experienced great success with it in Europe for either optimizing existing facilities or new buildings. Displaying it with the Octopus stretch wrapper further reinforces our ability to offer fully-integrated warehousing solutions.”

ITWWA will also highlight its Vertique case picking solution and VTP Palletizers. With over 20 installations and a picking accuracy of 99.8%, Vertique is the most proven and accepted case picking system in the industry. Best known for its flexible solutions, , the company offers both vertical tower and horizontal lane buffering solutions, as well as different levels of automation based on a customer’s ROI needs.

For attendees looking to maximize warehouse efficiencies and minimize costs of their palletizers, ITWWA’s robotic systems enable quick pallet changeover options, gentle product handling and minimal maintenance requirements.

“ITWWA offers proven, scalable systems for a variety of industries,” says Stingel. “We are excited to showcase our capabilities and help visitors achieve their warehouse automation needs.”

For general information about ITW Warehouse Automation visit: www.itwwa.com or call: 800/654-7500.

New Industrial Truck Association website enhances industry’s image

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:14:00 +0100

Industrial truck manufacturers and suppliers have a new go-to source for valuable information that could enhance their business profile.

The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) has overhauled its website, indtrk.org, to provide new value to its members and to become the leading source of information about industrial trucks for policy makers worldwide.

The re-launching of the website is part of an enhanced communications strategy meant to engage ITA’s members, attract new members, and fortify ITA as the voice of the Material Handling Industry.

“A new communications strategy is crucial to helping ITA portray a professional image that reflects the quality of our member companies,” said Brian Feehan, ITA president. “This new site is designed to improve communications among members, stay up to date on market activities and serve as an information resource for anyone interested in the industrial truck industry.”

Visitors to the website should view market information in the Market Intelligence section. This contains publicly available information on market trends for non-members. “This market intelligence depicts trends and drives interest in the industrial truck marketplace by helping businesses recognize the changing needs of the industry,” Feehan said. “Our goal is to be the first and best at delivering the information, news and insight they need to support decision-making.”

Feehan, who became president in January 2012, also plans to make the new revamped public website a more active tool for member engagement. This will include posting member press releases on the site to help them expand the reach of their message in the marketplace.

ITA will soon launch an e-newsletter to keep its members informed on market intelligence, engineering and standards, and other industry insights.

Accellos Announces Mobile Scanning Integration Now Available within Prophesy Dispatch

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 06:39:00 +0100

The Prophesy division of Accellos, a leading provider of supply chain execution software solutions, has partnered with Eleos Technologies, a custom software development company focused on business process automation, to include Eleos’ Drive Axle mobile scanning application into the Prophesy Dispatch solutions package for trucking and fleet management. The enhancement now enables drivers to use their smart phones to scan documents remotely in the cab, or anywhere, and immediately send the documents to the Document Imaging module in Prophesy Dispatch without the cost and hassle of faxing and without risking damaged or lost originals.

Drive Axle is a free mobile app that runs on Android and iOS smart phones and tablets. The driver simply takes a picture of the document using their smart phone and enters details such as the load number and/or BOL number. The driver then selects the document type (POD, BOL, Scale Ticket, Freight Bill, Log, Fuel Receipt, Scale Ticket, Invoice, photograph or other). The image is then sent to the Drive Axle cloud where the image is enhanced using Eleos’ proprietary image enhancement engine. The enhanced document is then imported into the Prophesy Dispatch program and is automatically indexed into the Document Imaging module for easy access within the system.

“We’re delighted to be part of Prophesy’s trucking dispatch software solution,” said Kevin Survance, founder and CEO of Eleos Technologies. “Our Drive Axle app makes life easier for drivers everywhere and integrates seamlessly with Prophesy’s software tools for faster billing and more efficient fleet operations.”

“The Transportation industry is increasingly a mobile app driven business,” said Accellos Vice President William Ashburn, “Our new integration with Drive Axle allows our users to dynamically view and act upon documentation updates from their drivers in real time.”

In addition to the new Drive Axle mobile scanning app, the Accellos Prophesy DispatchSeries solution offers a fully integrated suite of transportation management features. The industry-preferred software handles dispatch, accounting, maintenance, compliance, billing, driver pay and everything in between. Prophesy Dispatch solves the critical needs and time-consuming tasks that today’s trucking companies and brokers struggle with. Prophesy DispatchSeries works with QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Peachtree, MAS/90 and most popular accounting software packages.

For more information, about the new Prophesy integration with Drive Axle mobile scanning, or Prophesy DispatchSeries Software features, visit www.mile.com, or call 800/776-6706.

Re-Grip Helps Facilitate OSHA Recommendation

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 06:32:00 +0100

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends applying grips on all pneumatic tools for safety “Publication 3080 Hand and Power Tools - Use of heavy jackhammers and other pneumatic tools can cause fatigue and strains. Heavy rubber grips reduce these effects by providing a secure handhold”. OSHA also states under Construction Safety Orders Article 3 Section 1520 “Hand protection shall be required for employees whose work involves unusual and excessive exposure to physical agents which are encountered and capable of causing injury or impairments”. Subchapter 7 – General Industry Safety orders Article 6 Ergonomics states “Every employer subject to this section shall establish and implement a program designed to minimize RMIs (Repetitive Motion Injuries)”.

Re-Grip, Inc. of Lake Elsinore, California has created the ultimate solution to minimize safety risk and down time while adhering to OSHA recommendations. Re-Grip is a universal solution to applying a new handle grip. Significantly improving the few options on the market, Re-Grip uses strong, durable elastic material to provide mechanical and environmental protection while enhancing comfort for the user. It is ergonomic and reduces muscle fatigue while having non-slip properties for better control and safety.

Replacement grips are usually specific to a particular tool or application and difficult to install. This product can fit any handle that is cylindrical or semi-cylindrical. Its applications include tools like hammers and sledges, lawn and garden items like shovels and wheelbarrows, jackhammers and other pneumatic tools, industrial applications like levers and wrenches, everyday household items like brooms and brushes, and so much more. “Its versatility is what makes it so great” says John Vernieu, Co-Founder of Re-Grip, Inc.

With its special patent pending design, Re-Grip is easy for anyone to install. The elastic grip is held extended by an inner coil, forming a tube that fits over the handle. The user simply pulls a tab at the bottom to unwind the coil, allowing the elastic grip to constrict around the handle. The entire process takes seconds. “Having Re-Grips handy on our trucks has been great. Every time we need a replacement grip on a construction site, we simply grab a Re-Grip and in seconds we are back up and running. It minimizes downtime while maintaining our safety requirements, which are both critical to any business.” says Jamie Bahr, owner of Inland Valley Pipe Line.

Re-Grip is available in three sizes – with clearance of 1.3”, 1.6” and 2.1” – for application with most types of handles. Length is seven inches but custom lengths are available. Product information is also available at Re-Grip.com. Contact Pat Roscopf by email at proscopf@re-grip.com, or call 800/607-8931 for more information.

Hyster Company Unveils New Durable Tier IV Final Compliant Engines at ProMat 2013

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 06:23:00 +0100

With ever-present U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and the global push for greener equipment solutions, Hyster Company introduced its EPA Tier IV Final compliant engine solution on the Hyster® H80FT lift truck at this week’s ProMat 2013 show (Booth #1503).

“Our desire to provide near-zero emission engines is fueled by our commitment to our customers having a truck that meets their application needs, as well as EPA emissions requirements,” said Jonathan Dawley, president of Hyster Distribution. “Hyster is providing rugged lift trucks that get tough on their application, but stay soft on the environment.”

In 2011, the EPA set standards to regulate emissions in larger materials handling equipment, expecting to reduce exhaust emissions by 90 percent. Hyster Company is proud to deliver tough, durable ICE trucks that won’t strain the environment and meet these challenging EPA regulations. The efficient 74 horsepower Tier IV Final compliant diesel engine features an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to achieve near-zero emissions. The use of EGR technology eliminates any need for urea or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)-related equipment or costs.

The Hyster H80FT lift truck is designed to meet and exceed application requirements in industries such as industrial machinery, scrap and waste applications and lumber yards while producing extremely low exhaust emissions.

About Hyster Company
Based in Greenville, N.C., Hyster Company (www.hyster.com) is a leading worldwide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry — from 2,000 to 115,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features; accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Yale Materials Handling Corporation Introduces Certified Remanufactured Program at ProMat 2013

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:21:47 +0100

Deciding on a pre-owned lift truck just got easier with the new Yale Materials Handling Corporation factory-backed Certified Remanufactured Program being introduced at this week’s ProMat 2013 show. Select Yale® dealers will be authorized to offer certified remanufactured Yale® lift trucks that will be available with a one-year, 2,000-hour warranty.

“With Yale Certified Remanufactured trucks, our customers get more than just a truck they get the complete Yale experience,” said Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution. “This program demonstrates the promise Yale makes to go beyond our products to our commitment to support customers with the best service in the industry. Customers no longer need to sacrifice service or productivity for a lower price since a Yale Certified Remanufactured truck will give greater access to a quality Yale lift truck at another price point.”

To qualify as a certified product, pre-owned lift trucks must pass a pre-selection quality checklist to enter the remanufacturing process. Trained technicians are required to perform a 200-point inspection and replace key parts. Other parts will be inspected and replaced as needed. Yale dealers use genuine Yale parts for the remanufacturing process as these parts are designed specifically for Yale lift trucks and meet stringent standards for performance, fit and durability.

About Yale Materials Handling Corporation
Yale Materials Handling Corporation markets a full line of materials handling lift truck products and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks; narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorized hand trucks. Yale has a comprehensive service offering including Fleet Management, Yale service, parts, financing and training. Yale® trucks are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility and range in capacity from 2,000 to 36,000 lbs. For more information, or to find the Yale® lift truck dealer nearest you, call 1-800-233-YALE or visit www.yale.com.

TotalTrax Announces Issuance of Collision Avoidance Patent

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:27:00 +0100

TotalTrax, Inc.(TotalTrax) announced that the US Patent Office has issued TotalTrax a seventh patent, covering a method for collision avoidance.

US patent 8,346,468 entitled “Method and apparatus for collision avoidance”; covers a method developed by TotalTrax to prevent collisions between driven vehicles and automated vehicles operating in the same building. The system keeps track of the location, direction, and speed of all tracked vehicles operating in a facility, and rapidly performs trajectory calculations in real time for each vehicle, determining the probability of collision based on the vehicles’ capabilities and the potential for interaction between the vehicles. The method establishes a “safe zone” around each vehicle, within which other vehicles are not permitted to enter, by sending control commands to automated vehicles (“stop”, “slow down”, or “turn”) and by alerting the operator of driven vehicles to take action if a potential collision exists. In practice, The TotalTrax collision avoidance system is similar to that used by aircraft to keep aircraft safely separated while in flight.

“We are excited to have received this patent from the US Patent Office,” said Mike Kinnard, TotalTrax President & Chief Executive Officer. “This patent is particularly important for our partners and customers who are operating mixed fleets of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and fork trucks in the same facility. This technology is key for creating and managing safe environments for mixed fleets that we believe are the future for more productive and safer materials handling processes.”

This latest patent awarded to TotalTrax on January 13, 2013 follows the award of six other patents in the past 24 months. This includes TotalTrax’s initial patent for its ground breaking indoor tracking solutions based on its Sky-Trax vehicle and inventory visibility, tracking and guidance technology.

About TotalTrax, Inc.
TotalTrax, Inc. is the leading provider of real time vehicle, driver and inventory tracking technologies for manufacturing and warehouse operations. Offering a complete technology platform that transforms traditional material handling vehicles into “smart trucks”, TotalTrax provides solutions that automate data collection and reporting for materials handling operations. With patented hardware, software, reporting and business intelligence tools, TotalTrax delivers substantial value in safety, fleet utilization, labor productivity and inventory accuracy. By automating vehicle usage, maintenance, impacts and lift truck load and location visibility data, customers are able to reduce or eliminate the inaccuracies normally associated with operator input. The resulting business intelligence provides the insight needed to implement immediate improvements resulting in documented productivity gains.

For more information contact TotalTrax, Inc.at 855/895-7720 or visit www.totaltraxinc.com

Hyster® Electric Lift Trucks Equipped with New Environmental Package Go Where Electric Power ...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:22:00 +0100

The tough just got tougher. Hyster Company rolled out a new Environmental Package at the ProMat 2013 show today that extends the range and capabilities of Hyster® electric lift trucks into applications that in the past have only been serviced by internal combustion powered trucks. The special package is featured on the J70XN lift truck in the Hyster booth (#1503).

“This new Environmental Package brings Hyster electric trucks to a new level and capability that is synonymous with the durability and reliability that our customers expect from Hyster internal combustion lift trucks,” said Jonathan Dawley, president of Hyster Distribution. “Both our ICE and electric trucks go through the same outdoor testing to ensure durability and reliability in the field.”

The Environmental Package prepares electric trucks to handle notoriously heavy-duty industries, such as lumber, dock yards, masonry, food preparation and handling, heavy manufacturing and recycling. The package comes with three tiered options: the IP54 sealed drive axle and motors with belly pan and side shields, the outdoor protection and wash-down package and the front mud guards.

The first option provides shielding devices on the sealed drive axle to prevent debris from interfering with operations. The second features sealed bearings and waterproof cover relays and connectors to make the truck able to work, rain or shine. Finally, front mud guards on the front fenders protect the attachment and load from drive tire-slung debris and water.

An independent agency tested the electric trucks fitted with the special package alongside the ICE trucks for 15 days in an accelerated, harsh-environment trial. Both the electric and ICE Hyster lift trucks were fully functional after the test, which included 30 thermal shock cycles, 150 hours of high humidity soak with salt spray and 15 pressure-wash events.

Hyster Company is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its subsidiaries employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Ningbo Ruyi To Offer Wholesale Direct Sales To The North American Market With The Launch Of ...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:25:00 +0100

A major force globally, Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co., Ltd. products are sold in more than 135 countries and regions. Their material handling equipment has been branded as XILIN in markets outside North America but have been distributed extensively throughout North America through private branded relationships. Chu Jiang, Vice-President of Ningbo Ruyi is proud to announce it is expanding its North American presence by offering wholesale direct sales to this market. This new entity will be known as Xilin-Americas Material Handling Inc. and its products will be branded as XILIN-AMERICAS.

Ningbo Ruyi has been a leading Chinese original equipment manufacturer since 1985 and operates one of the largest material handling equipment manufacturing facilities in the world. They currently employ 1,500 employees including 188 professional mechanical technicians, 77 senior engineers and 120 sales people. Their product line includes more than 430 types of lifting trucks including Pallet Trucks, Manual Lift Trucks, Electric Lift Trucks and Forklifts.

A leader in the material handling industry, Ningbo Ruyi was the first Chinese manufacturer and exporter to secure the TUV/GS/CE certification for Pallet Trucks, boasts many ISO International Certificates from the Cannon Quality Group, and holds several patents.

Xilin-Americas has appointed Robert Uhrig and Steve Guagliano Jr. as North American Business Development Representatives and Greg Hydes in charge of North American OEM Business Development. These individuals possess vast experience and are leaders in the North American material handling industry. Xilin-Americas will initially operate two warehouses: one in Chicago and one in Toronto to service the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Ningbo Ruyi / Xilin-Americas is exhibiting at PROMAT 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago from January 21 - 24 and invites you to visit Booth 1052 to learn more about this exciting new venture. "Ruyi" translates to "everything is the best and being happy". Ningbo Ruyi and Xilin-Americas and its team believe that customer satisfaction is goal one and will strive to ensure that its customers receive the best products and service possible.

Contact:
Xilin-Americas Material Handling Inc.
1230 St. Charles Street, Elgin, IL 60120
Toll-Free Phone: 888-975-9838 / Fax: 847-289-9911
General Email: info@xilinamericas.com
Website: www.xilinamericas.com

Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co., Ltd.
North 3/F, West Lake Ming Building, 296 Qingchun Road
Hangzhou, Zhiejiang 310006, P.R. China
Factory Address: 656 Taoyuan Road, Ninghai, Zhejiang 315600, P.R. China
Telephone: 86-571-85126023 87153626 87153634
Email: sales@xilin.com
Website: www.xilin.com

Yale Materials Handling Corporation Showcases New Yale Vision Wireless Asset Management System ...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:19:00 +0100

Lift truck fleets will be getting more efficient and productive as Yale Materials Handling Corporation introduced its Yale Vision today at ProMat 2013. The wireless asset management system provides enhanced levels of monitoring and control to reduce the cost of operating lift trucks.

“Yale Vision is a result of Yale’s continued commitment to servicing our lift truck customers beyond just the lift truck itself,” said Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution. “Products and services like the new Yale Vision tracking and monitoring system provide crucial data to make our customers’ operations more efficient. Working with their customers and this level of information, Yale® dealers will further enhance their reputation for service. Our customers trust us to bring them solutions, and this technology is another way Yale dealers will deliver.”

The Yale Vision system provides a tiered offering of wireless monitoring, wireless access and wireless verifications. With basic monitoring, lift truck operations are able to utilize a variety of tracking capabilities, including hour meter, cost of operations, periodic maintenance, fault code, impact monitoring, operator training, parking brake and seat belt violation and speed alerts. This breadth of monitoring helps operations effectively manage the fleet of lift trucks and their operators to aid in providing greater productivity and efficiency. Emails can also be sent automatically when certain faults or impacts occur, improving information available when reviewing incidents.

With the wireless access tier added on, operations receive the monitoring level as well as operator access control and idle shutdown control. For operator access, Yale Vision knows who is operating the equipment and can keep untrained personnel from accessing or operating a piece of equipment. This increased operator accountability can improve driving behaviors and reduce damage or repair needs to equipment. The idle shutdown feature will power off equipment following a pre-identified amount of time if the equipment is tracked as idling or unattended, reducing excess fuel costs and preventing running equipment from being left unattended.

The wireless verification tier builds on the previous two by further reducing management of a fleet’s equipment through checklist tracking. This feature offers prompt verification of equipment issues, allowing them to be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible, reducing expenses or potential downtime. With a further hardware investment, Yale Vision can be linked to existing WIFI resources. For more information about Yale Vision, visit www.yale.com.

Stanley Vidmar Productivity Solutions on Display at ProMat 2013

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:19:00 +0100

Stanley Vidmar will showcase its wide range of lean-focused storage and organization solutions at ProMat® 2013, Booth #1543, from January 21-24 in Chicago.

From customizable cabinets and workstations to adjustable racking and automated lift systems, Stanley Vidmar offers proven solutions for boosting manufacturing productivity and improving supply chain efficiency with modular, expandable products that deliver maximum organization, reduced retrieval items, and protection from loss and damage.

"We challenge any facility that believes they have maxed out their available floor space to see us at ProMat or give us a call,” says Tom Pinchuk, Director of Market and Product Development for Stanley Black & Decker’s Storage & Workspace Solutions business. “We can help recover additional space within the facility's existing footprint and avoid the cost of new construction. Over the years, we've saved companies hundreds of thousands of square feet (and potentially millions of dollars) by introducing more streamlined storage systems designed to save space, save time, and save money.”

Stanley Vidmar's featured item at ProMat will be the popular Stanley® Vidmar® STAK System®, a flexible, adjustable racking product designed to make the storage and retrieval of heavy, bulky items faster and easier. The booth will also feature 5S Cabinets, specially engineered for lean applications; the Vidmar Tower vertical lift module for automated retrieval applications; and the recently introduced Workbench Accessory System, which provides a series of interchangeable above-the-worksurface components designed to enhance workflow.

For more information, visit StanleyVidmar.com.

Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. Hires New Dealer Development Manager

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:15:00 +0100

Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Michael Wells as a Dealer Development Manager.

Joining Goff’s two current Dealer Development Managers, Michael will cover the East Coast and Midwest. He will focus on improving dealer performance through continual training and targeted sales efforts. Michael brings with him more than 17 years experience between the Material Handling field and the High Speed Door Industry. He is based out of Olean, New York where he lives with his family. He and his wife Linda have 3 children.

“Michael will play a key role in our continued efforts to grow and strengthen our distributor network” states Marcus Mohwinkel, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Goff’s Enterprises. “His skill set and experience in the industry will be an asset to our company. We are thrilled to have him join our team.”

Goff’s Enterprises has been manufacturing a wide variety of flexible industrial space partitioning products for over 25 years. Goff’s product line includes curtain walls, welding curtains & screens, high speed industrial vinyl and mesh roll-up doors, strip doors, sound control products, climate control curtains, food processing curtains and more.

For more information contact at Goff’s Enterprises, Inc. 800-234-0337 or visit www.goffscurtainwalls.com

Brand New Year, Brand New Stärke EcoMaxx Series

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:37:41 +0100

Stärke Material Handling Group introduces the all new line of EcoMaxx Series forklifts, now available through US and Canadian Stärke authorized dealers. Featuring GM Tier IV EPA and Yanmar EPA Tier III diesel engines with lift capacities from 4,000 to 7,000 pounds, these new ECO-NOMICAL and ECO-FRIENDLY trucks are loaded with features to meet a wide range of applications and workplace needs.

Visit us at www.starkecanada.com or www.starkeusa.com for more information. Dealers interested in carrying the Stärke line are urged to contact Tabatha Summers at 877.435.4352 ex 230 or tabatha@starkeforklift.com.

Bell and Howell Unveils Gantry-Style Linerless Labeling Solution at ProMat 2013

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:36:37 +0100

At ProMat 2013, Bell and Howell will unveil a gantry-style top-apply labeling solution that utilizes the company’s patented and patent-pending technologies to deliver up to three times the output of traditional parcel management systems. The linerless, print-and-apply labeling technology provides higher throughput and improved efficiency. Bell and Howell will showcase the technology, and other parcels and flats solutions, in booth 3553 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Jan. 21 through Jan. 24.

This innovative technology is central to ParcelMgr™, an integrated solution that incorporates state-of-the-art components to provide a system that achieves greater throughput and efficiency, resulting in a high return on investment. The linerless labeling technology that ParcelMgr utilizes has been perfected through thousands of installations in demanding production environments. The combination of the efficient linerless labeling technology and some of the fastest print engines on the market enables ParcelMgr to easily outperform traditional solutions.

In addition to improving speed, the patented linerless technology produces a much greater up-time by providing up to 220 percent more labels per roll than what traditional 12” OD die-cut systems use. With no liner waste to discard, the solution is both green and efficient. In addition, the linerless technology allows the system to produce varying length labels on demand, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated systems.

“Throughput limitations in the manufacturing and distribution process are typically created by the labeling system. The preferred label location in many cases is the top panel of the carton,” said Rich Wojdyla, Bell and Howell’s Business Development Manager for Logistics. “This is the most demanding application for a traditional labeling system due to the method in which the system must cycle between the printing and application of each label. To accommodate this limitation, the system must decrease the conveyor speed, increase the carton spacing, or provide multiple printer applicators. ParcelMgr resolves these issues, and delivers the throughput that distribution-center and logistics managers require to keep up with the increasing growth in parcel processing.”

A video of the ParcelMgr system, featuring the linerless labeling system, is available on YouTube.

For more information on Bell and Howell’s parcels and flats management solutions, call 1-800-220-3030, email marketing@bhemail.com, or visit www.bellhowell.net. Also, visit www.facebook.com/BellandHowell or follow @bellandhowell on Twitter.

Five CAT Dealers Select TECSYS’ Service Parts Logistics Solutions - Company’s Market Share ...

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:49:00 +0100

TECSYS Inc. (TSX: TCS), an industry-leading supply chain management software company, announced today that during the last fourteen months five CAT dealers have selected TECSYS’ service parts logistics solutions to modernize their technology in an effort to move away from labor-intensive and costly logistics processes, improve productivity and visibility to better service their clients across their territories.

“We are committed to the success of our clients. Our commitment goes as far as ensuring that 99% of our service parts are available for delivery the next morning, and that we provide the best over-the-counter service in our industry. After a comprehensive review of several warehouse management solutions, we have come to the conclusion that TECSYS is the undisputed standard for service parts operations in our industry. With TECSYS we will undoubtedly be able to deliver on our commitments, at the same time significantly improve efficiency in our service parts operations to further enhance service to our clients at the highest standard,” stated Corporate Parts Warehouse Manager at a major CAT dealer.

With the addition of the five CAT dealers; one in Canada, three in the U.S. and one in South America, TECSYS’ market share soars to over 29% of North American dealers, solidifying the Company’s position as the number one supplier of logistics solutions for service parts operations in this industry.

About TECSYS' Warehouse Management Software (WMS) for CAT Dealers
Collaborative and scalable, TECSYS' WMS is a robust solution that empowers logistics management to gain control over customers' service levels, order accuracy, throughput volumes, turnaround times, as well as warehousing costs and profitability. Positioned in the "Visionaries" Quadrant of the Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems, TECSYS’ WMS key advantages include: Visual Logistics®, Visual-On-Voice™, real scalability, accessibility from anywhere at any time and extended supply chain execution capabilities beyond the warehouse. In addition to its feature-rich functionality, TECSYS' WMS for CAT dealers is one of the only WMS already interfaced to CAT’s DBS system and the only one for the current ADMS dealer system, as well as other ERP systems. It delivers pre-configured WMS processes specific to the CAT service parts operations and has such exclusive capabilities as cubic dimension for Caterpillar parts, Customer Self-Service Kiosk, embedded Transportation Management functionality, Mobile Delivery Management for package tracking and Proof-of-Delivery, and real-time visibility throughout the Dealers' distribution process.

Deadline Approaches to Enter the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:47:00 +0100

Dave is a bus mechanic that relies on Carhartt in the winter months to get children to school safely in below-zero temperatures. Nancy from Wisconsin wears Carhartt while she does maintenance on outdoor industrial pipeline tanks. In Manitoba, Armand battles -50 degree wind chills to inspect power and gas lines, battling frostbite.

These are just a few of the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest entries received in 2012. With less than two months left to enter, Cintas and Carhartt are still looking for this season’s toughest cold weather worker. Will it be one of these tough individuals, or is the toughest of them all still out there?

Cintas Corporation launched the second annual Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest to recognize individuals in the U.S. and Canada who withstand the toughest winter working conditions. Entries will be accepted through February 28, at which time Cintas and Carhartt will select finalists and begin public voting at the contest website. The grand prize winner will be announced in April, and he or she will enjoy a trip for two to the 2013 CMA Music Festival in September.

“Carhartt is synonymous with outerwear, so with colder months approaching, we are thrilled to re-launch the Cold Crew Contest,” says Brad Heizman, National Director of Garment Strategy for Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier. “Last year’s contest generated amazing stories from men and women who brave extremely brutal working conditions during the winter months, and we are looking forward to another opportunity to acknowledge them.”

The Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest was first launched in December 2011 in conjunction with the release of the Carhartt Rental Active Jacket, offered exclusively by Cintas Corporation as part of the Carhartt Rental Workwear line. Hundreds of entries were collected, and the public selected Brooke Boyer, a wastewater treatment plant supervisor from Mt. Shasta, CA, as the grand prize winner.

“Mt. Shasta is at a high elevation, and when I’m on equipment 30 feet in the air with icy wind blowing around, I can’t imagine not wearing Carhartt,” says Brooke. “If only my employer had the Cintas rental program, we’d have fresh, durable Carhartt apparel to wear year-round. And to have them cleaned by someone else would be nice. When you’re in wastewater all day, you want to make sure your clothes are cleaned properly.”

Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier, introduced the Carhartt Rental Workwear line in 2010 as part of a partnership with Carhartt, which was founded in 1889 and is a global manufacturer of premium rugged apparel. In addition to the Carhartt Rental Active Jacket, the line includes a Carhartt Work Shirt, a Carhartt Carpenter Jean, a Carhartt 5-Pocket Work Jean and a Carhartt Dungaree Pant, all of which are available exclusively through Cintas.

Workers appreciate the styling, durability and rugged performance one would expect from Carhartt with the added benefits of laundering, repair and replacement that accompany a Cintas Rental Program. Businesses can now supply Carhartt, a brand that workers recognize and trust, in a cost effective manner, while increasing morale and exuding a professional company image. For more information about Carhartt Rental Workwear, visit www.cintas.com/carhartt.

”We’re excited for round two of the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, a competition that truly highlights the hardworking spirit of men and women across the country and look forward to the continued success of our rental work wear partnership with Cintas,” said Rick Fecowicz, director of Carhartt Licensing.

New Stertil-Koni Research Study Finds Preventative Maintenance and Safety Remain Top Focus of ...

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:46:00 +0100

A new industry-wide market research study of fleet operators and transit authorities conducted by heavy duty lift leader Stertil-Koni has found that the three top elements cited as very important to fleet maintenance operations in the U.S. and Canada are safety, mentioned by 97% of respondents, followed by controlling costs (91%) and minimizing downtime (88%).

“From a macro standpoint,” observed Dr. Jean DellAmore, President of Stertil-Koni, “our research shows that preventative maintenance programs are virtually universal, now in use by 93% of all respondents. That’s a genuine plus in terms of vehicle durability and safety.”

Additional factors cited as very important to fleet and transit operations were: productivity (85%), employee training (74%) and spare parts availability (70%). A bit further down the list, but still prominent were: environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, cited by 53% and 51% respectively.

Added Dr. DellAmore, “This is truly a ‘glass is half-full’ moment, as environmental awareness and action appear on the radar screen of more than half of our industry members.”

Participants in the study, which was conducted online, include transportation professionals in commercial, municipal and military fleet-related activities. Of these, Stertil-Koni’s research found that more than three-fourths (77%) currently use vehicle lifts in their fleet maintenance operations and mobile column lifts were the most widely used – cited by more than one-half (51%) of all respondents. These were followed by in-ground piston lifts (18%), 4-post lifts (15%), 2-post lifts (13%) and platform lifts (3%).

Noted Dr. DellAmore, “Of particular interest to our industry is the fact that while more than one-half of all participants (58%) report that their vehicle lifts are third-party certified, nearly one-third (31%) simply are not certain. That is potentially a major area of both concern and opportunity, particularly given the premium that respondents place on safety.”

Continued Dr. DellAmore, “Lift certification by an independent entity, such as the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI), assures the user that a particular lift model is in electrical and mechanical compliance with established and agreed-upon standards. It is also why Stertil-Koni strongly endorses lift certification, combined with a regular program of scheduled maintenance and annual lift inspection, to ensure maximum performance and operational safety.”

Entitled "Fleet Performance 2012," the survey was initiated on October 2, 2012 and designed to help the fleet and transit industries identify and better analyze the latest developments in the sector. Participation was strictly anonymous.

About Stertil-Koni
Stertil-Koni is the global market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts– bus lifts and truck lifts – and is the preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. Stertil-Koni's breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes mobile lifts, two-post, four-post, in-ground piston lifts, parallelogram lifts, half-scissor and its innovative axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. Stertil-Koni has also recently introduced DIAMOND LIFT, a full rise telescopic piston lift designed to set new standards in precision heavy duty lifting. Stertil-Koni is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland and has a major manufacturing facility in Streator, Illinois.

Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
800/336-6637
www.stertil-koni.com

New Fit4Filter Smartphone App Simplifies Ordering Bosch Rexroth Hydraulic Filters

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:52:52 +0100

Bosch Rexroth’s newest digital offering, the Fit4Filter smartphone app, allows customers to cross reference and replace their existing hydraulic filter elements with the corresponding Rexroth filters. The app is available for both Apple® and Android™ devices and is an outstanding tool for upgrading filter elements on hydraulic power units in virtually any application—plastic injection molding machines, offshore drilling equipment, machine tools, metal stamping machines, steel making equipment, and more.

Fit4Filter includes cross references to thousands of filter elements, and a unique “sync-on-demand” feature allows users to update the app with new filter elements and other data with just a few finger taps. The new app offers support in English and German languages, with contact information for Rexroth filter support personnel in 20 countries so that customers worldwide may inquire locally about replacement filters. Connecting with the appropriate Rexroth contact person is easy with built-in e-mail links and one-touch dialing.

For U.S. users, the app also indicates whether the selected Rexroth filter is part of the company’s GoTo Focused Delivery Program, as well as a link to specific Rexroth filter elements available on Amazon.com.

“OEMs and equipment owners are relying on mobile devices to perform their jobs more than ever before, including identifying and locating replacement parts right from the job site and the factory floor,” said Kerry DeWitt, Product Manager Filtration Systems Sales. “Bosch Rexroth is providing tools and support to meet those needs and fit the way they work.”

Fit4Filter is the latest mobile application from Bosch Rexroth to help project managers, engineers and other personnel on-the-go identify and gather specification information for Rexroth products. iPad® and iPhone® Apps for the GoTo program were released in 2012.

Fit4Filter is available now in the Apple App Store and the Google Play™ Store.

To download the Android version of Rexroth’s Fit4Filter:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rexroth.filterfit

To download the iOS version of Rexroth’s Fit4Filter:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fit4filter-by-rexroth/id589385002?mt=8

For more information on Rexroth hydraulic filters, visit www.boschrexroth-us.com/filter.

Intelligrated Celebrates Grand Opening of Headquarters Expansion in Mason, Ohio

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:40:17 +0100

Intelligrated®, a leading North American-based automated material handling solutions provider, announces the grand opening of its 122,000-square-foot headquarters expansion in Mason, Ohio. With a combined area of 262,000 square feet, Intelligrated's headquarters will accommodate an ongoing increase in engineering, research and development staffing.

The yearlong construction project was made possible by a financial incentive package from the state of Ohio and the city of Mason to support local job growth. Over the past year, Intelligrated added more than 160 employees in the state of Ohio and 275 employees companywide. In addition, the company plans to add 150 more employees by the end of 2013.

"The state-of-the-art facility is designed to attract and retain world-class talent," said Chris Cole, CEO, Intelligrated. "We appreciate the incentives from the state of Ohio and the city of Mason that allows us to expand our footprint, increase our technical staff and continue to meet an increasing demand for innovative automated material handling solutions."

The grand opening is a milestone in Intelligrated's ongoing development as one of the most technologically-advanced players in the material handling industry. In addition to its corporate headquarters, Intelligrated has expanded facilities in Texas and Illinois within the past 12 months.

"Intelligrated is yet another example of a successful business continuing investment in Mason. As a former CEO of a publicly traded company located here, I appreciate what it takes to grow a company," said Mason Mayor David Nichols. "Having that perspective and a city council and city manager that think like businesses, means our focus is to not only remove barriers, but leverage every advantage available. Intelligrated has been an ardent supporter of the city and the benefit of doing business here, as well as a leader in Mason's growing business community."

Contact Intelligrated, at 513/881-5239 or visit www.intelligrated.com.

AEM names Charlie O’Brien as senior vice president

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:02:53 +0100

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named Charlie O’Brien as senior vice president in recognition of his expanded leadership responsibilities for the association. These include activities under AEM’s new strategic plan, initiated in 2012, to better serve all members’ current and future business-development needs.

In addition to increased responsibilities since joining AEM in 2007, O’Brien has taken a leadership role with expanded responsibilities in development of strategic initiatives to achieve the plan’s Key Result Area (KRA) goals and objectives, and AEM goals development to continue implementation of the strategic plan. He was also instrumental in development of the vision for launch of AEM’s successful AG CONNECT Expo and Summit, now on its third show, to take place January 29-31, 2013 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The initial AEM strategic initiatives focus on increased advocacy, a services plan to respond to membership-survey results and a new financial model to sustain expanded services and activities. New initiatives being implemented for 2013 include increased member engagement, market information services and global business development.

“This is not another layer of management; it is a way to improve our service to the membership and better represent the industry through better use of staff capabilities. Charlie serves as the recognized face and voice of AEM agriculture activities, and provides the solid management and leadership credentials to enable AEM to achieve this higher level of action,” stated AEM President Dennis Slater.

O’Brien joined AEM in 2007 as vice president. He serves as agriculture sector leader and also oversees AEM’s market information, technical/safety and member services areas. O’Brien came to AEM with more than 20 years of experience in the off-road equipment industry. This includes president and CEO of FPC Financial as well as Farm Plan & AgLine (Canada) product manager and sales manager for John Deere Financial; branch manager and director of strategic initiatives for Deere Financial’s England operations; and Deere Financial management positions in sales, market and business development, and risk management.

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) – www.aem.org
AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 850 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the world capitals of Washington, D.C.; Ottawa, Canada; and Beijing, China.

Hy-Tek Material Handling Appoints Mobile Equipment President: Jim Ripkey Returns to Help Grow ...

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:41:00 +0100

Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.—the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions—is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Ripkey as Mobile Equipment Division President. Mobile Equipment is one of four divisions operated by Columbus, Ohio-based Hy-Tek. In addition, Hy-Tek operates Integrated Systems, Lighting Solutions, and Storage & Handling Divisions—all of which are dedicated to delivering cost-effective, efficient solutions for every material handling application in a broad range of industries. Ripkey’s appointment was announced by Hy-Tek CEO Samuel Grooms.

In his position as president, Ripkey will be responsible for growing the business of the Mobile Equipment Division—the leading Yale Forklift dealer in central Ohio—within its current market and beyond. Long-term relationships with Yale Lift Trucks and other premier manufacturers enable Hy-Tek to resource the best options for customers’ mobile equipment needs. Hy-Tek Mobile Equipment solutions include new and used equipment for purchase, lease, and rent; fleet analysis, reports, plans, and management; customized maintenance programs; flexible financing programs; reliable aftermarket services and parts; and operator training and compliance certification.

A business development and operations specialist with 22 years of material handling equipment experience, Ripkey returns to Hy-Tek after a 10-year absence. From 1995-2002, he served as Hy-Tek’s vice president and general manager, as well as the company’s director of operations. For the past decade, Ripkey has held executive positions with Barloworld Handling, the world’s largest lift truck dealer with some $300 million in U.S. sales.

“Jim Ripkey is a tremendous asset with a proven track-record. During his previous tenure with Hy-Tek, Jim was credited with doubling the company’s aftermarket business and expanding our team of professional technicians by nearly 50 percent. We’re delighted to have Jim back as part of our family of 100-plus employee-owners. Hy-Tek will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in January. We attribute our longevity, in part, to our ability to nurture lasting relationships with driven, dedicated, in-demand professionals like Jim Ripkey,” said Grooms.

Active professionally, Ripkey has served on the board of directors of the Material Handling Equipment Distributor Association (MHEDA). A popular speaker at industry conventions and meetings, he regularly conducts training seminars for MHEDA, leading equipment manufacturers, and independent lift truck dealers.

About Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.
Hy-Tek is the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions for an extensive range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, pharmaceutical, food, electronics, and automotive. Since 1963, Hy-Tek and its best-in-class industry partners—including manufacturers of industrial trucks and equipment; supply chain software; automated storage and retrieval systems; and rack, shelving, and conveyor systems—have been providing customers large and small with turnkey solutions. From customized one-of-a-kind handling and storage systems to pre-assembled buildings and off-the-shelf products—Hy-Tek’s experienced team of engineering, sales, operations, and project management professionals partner with customers to help enhance productivity, streamline processes, and boost profitability. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, employee-owned Hy-Tek Material Handling serves customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. Repeatedly posting annual sales in excess of $55 million, Hy-Tek’s four divisions—Integrated Systems, Mobile Equipment, Lighting Solutions, and Storage & Handling—deliver cost-effective, efficient solutions for every material handling application. Contact www.hy-tek.net or 800/837-1217.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) Introduces Jungheinrich® Parts Guarantee

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:44:00 +0100

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a leading provider of forklift trucks in the United States, Canada and Mexico, today announced the launch of the Jungheinrich® “Parts Fast or Parts Free Guarantee,” which ensures next-business-day delivery of parts, or they are free, including freight.

“We’re pleased to introduce this new Jungheinrich Parts Fast or Parts Free Guarantee to our customers and dealerships,” said Kent Eudy, vice president of sales and marketing at MCFA. “We understand that our customers need their lift trucks to operate at peak performance, and this is another step in helping them achieve this goal.”

The guarantee is extended to all Jungheinrich warehouse product customers who conduct business with one of the more than 330 authorized Jungheinrich dealer locations throughout North America. Replacement parts are sourced from five North American MCFA parts distribution centers located in California, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, in addition to Jungheinrich AG’s parts distribution warehouse in Germany.

“There’s a misconception today that Jungheinrich parts are only available from Germany, and that’s simply not true,” said Eudy. “In fact, today, we have more than 150,000 Jungheinrich parts stocked and ready-to-ship from our five parts distribution centers throughout North America, and we’ll continue to add to that inventory in the year ahead.”

To qualify for the guarantee, orders must be placed through the customer’s authorized dealer by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and the customer must advise the dealer at the time of order that the part must be ordered to ship via FedEx or UPS next day air services. All orders within the United States will be delivered within 24 hours, or MCFA will cover the cost of the part and the freight. For orders placed within Mexico and Canada, the guarantee states that the part will ship within 24 hours, or it’s free, including freight.

For more information, see the complete details on the Jungheinrich Parts Fast Parts Free Guarantee.

Applied Energy Solutions Releases New Technology in Lithium-Ion Product

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 02:58:00 +0100

Applied Energy Solutions (http://www.appliedenergysol.com) has released a brand new advancement in green technology to the world of material handling. They have announced their use of lithium-ion in a battery and charger pack for pallet jacks. CEO, Vern Fleming said, "Specializing in industrial applications and advanced technology has always been a part of Applied Energy Solutions’ goals and we will always strive to provide these solutions to our customers for added choices.”

The lithium-ion technology provides a much more energy dense and efficient chemistry over the traditional lead acid batteries commonly found in these material handling applications. This causes the battery to require less energy to be returned to a full state of charge, leading to considerable amounts of energy savings and great reductions in the user’s carbon footprint. The new product is also virtually maintenance free because the electrolyte level does not need to be monitored. The lithium-ion charger and battery pack also allows vehicle performance to reduce very little as the battery is discharged.

The lithium-ion battery and charger pack will be displayed during MHI’s ProMat 2013 at the Applied Energy Solutions booth #972.

Applied Energy Solutions manufactures industrial battery chargers for forklifts, pallet jacks and other battery powered transportation equipment in Upstate, New York. AES specializes in fitting the proper battery charger for the specific material handling application; high frequency charging, cold storage, rapid charging, opportunity and multiple-shift charging. All products are made in the USA from design to final assembly. For more information on the full complete line of AES battery chargers, call 1.800.836.2132 or visit www.appliedenergysol.com.

Paper Roll Damage Expensive?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:51:00 +0100

Attend TAPPI's SRW Workshop in April and be a part of this dedicated group of mills, carriers, warehouses and printers as they collaborate to reduce in-transit damage to rolls of paper.

The Shipping, Receiving and Warehousing Workshop is an affordable working meeting with presentations and collaborative discussions, engaging keynote speakers, and great opportunities for networking. It's something you can't afford to miss.

Why attend?

Keynote Presentation by Dave Schirmer, Vice President and General Manager of Hearst Enterprises responsible for paper procurement for divisions of The Hearst Corporation.
Presentations provided by experts from the class 1 railroads, intermodal providers, warehouses, shippers and dunnage manufacturers with extensive experience and practical background knowledge.
Practical information sharing by all parties in the paper manufacturing supply chain in an interactive environment
Excellent networking opportunity - paper buyers, paper companies, carriers, securing / damage prevention specialists, block and bracing manufacturers, safety experts all under one roof.

Learn more about the Shipping, Receiving and Warehousing Workshop.

Blue Giant Equipment Corporation Announces U.S. Expansion

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:50:54 +0100

Blue Giant Equipment Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its U.S. operation, Blue Giant Equipment LLC, which is marked by the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“We are excited to expand our presence into the United States to better serve our customers,” says Jeff Miller, Blue Giant LLC’s President. “The Greensboro location affords us the opportunity to manufacture in the U.S. while taking advantage of the abundant resources that North Carolina has to offer. Demand for Blue Giant dock products is growing globally. Opening in Greensboro, which is within 650 miles of half the U.S. population and close to major logistics hubs, will let us effectively respond to increasing order volume and strengthen our overall position.”

Situated on Burnt Poplar Road in an industrial park in Greensboro, this new facility will provide Blue Giant with additional manufacturing space and favorable freight and lead-times to customers in that market.

Angie Mueller, Blue Giant’s Dock Seal Product Specialist, confirmed that the immediate focus will be on the manufacturing and distribution of the company’s growing line of innovative dock seals and shelters, which includes fixed and inflatable seals, stationary and retractable truck shelters, full access seals, and rain shrouds. All are constructed from quality fabric that resists tearing and abrasion even under strenuous usage. Most models can be customized for unique applications.

“Blue Giant is experiencing strong growth because the quality of our dock products has made us a leading solutions provider,” explains Steve Barbosa, Chief Financial Officer. “This new state-of-the-art facility will allow us to supply the highest quality seals
and shelters in the U.S. at competitive prices and with superior lead times and support.”

Blue Giant, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in May 2013, has received industry-wide recognition and acclaim for its ability
to develop innovative new product to meet changing workplace needs.

About Blue Giant Equipment Corporation
Blue Giant is the premier solutions provider of safe, effective, and technologically innovative loading dock and material handling equipment.

With a product line that includes dock levelers, vehicle restraints, intelligent dock controls, dock and door guards, door seals and shelters, and a diverse range of material.

BLUE GIANT EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
www.BlueGiant.com
905-457-3900

Industry Kicks Off 2013 with High-Energy ASI Orlando

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:29:52 +0100

The ASI Show™ in Orlando bolted into a new show season with a bigger, jam-packed show floor featuring 810 exhibitors – including 114 new to Orlando – a full slate of networking events, expanded education and new pavilions featuring hands-on decorating equipment demos.

Brown & Bigelow (asi/148500), The Vernon Company (asi/351700), AIA Corporation (asi/109480) and Geiger (asi/202900) were among 18 leading companies that kicked off their 2013 sales season at The ASI Show Orlando.

“We brought about 60 of our account executives here to ASI Orlando,” said Dale Limes of HALO Branded Solutions (asi/356000). “We look at ASI Orlando as a destination show – it’s a great venue, great location and very well organized. The show floor is super. All the suppliers that you need to see are here. Our people really benefit from the time they spend at The ASI Show.”

Held Saturday, January 5, through Monday, January 7 at the Orange County Convention Center, ASI Orlando delivered quality attendance, top-performing salespeople and energized attendees enjoying a first look at 2013’s hottest products. The Orlando show featured a 10% increase in supplier participation – including many Counselor® Top 40 suppliers. Total distributor attendance was about 6,000 from 2,427 distributor firms.

“ASI Orlando has been a great show for us,” said Jason Buchanan, of Broder Bros. (asi/42090). “Traffic to our booth has been very steady, and we’re seeing a lot of quality distributors. Attendees have very specific questions about their 2013 projects and they’re always looking for what’s new and hot. So ASI Orlando is perfectly timed for us to show them exactly what they’re looking for.”

During a standing-room-only keynote on Monday, about 900 industry professionals gained valuable business advice from Forbes Media Chairman Steve Forbes. The event was co-sponsored by Pepco Poms (asi/77280) and Showdown Displays (asi/87188).

“No matter what job you have, you’re selling,” said Forbes. “See yourself as a consultant – ‘I’m here to help you. I’m doing well and so will you.’ That’s what the transaction exchange is all about.”

Tom Clayton of Taylor’s Printing and Office Supplier (asi/548319) said he listened to every word Forbes said. “I don’t think ASI could have picked a better speaker,” Clayton said. Patrick White, from Rustico (asi/84264), said Forbes offered excellent insights and a very optimistic view for 2013.

The three-day show – the first of the 2013 ASI Show season – featured the industry’s most innovative products, specialized pavilions (the Incentive, Decorator and the New to Orlando Pavilions), two networking receptions and a Gala Celebration at Universal CityWalk. In addition, the industry celebrated the 80th birthday of ASI® Chairman Norman Cohn at a special party featuring an enormous fireworks display at the Walt Disney World Resort.

For 2013, ASI Orlando expanded its live ASI Education offerings to 63 sessions, including a new class for owners (sponsored by TargetLine, asi/90640) and a new Imprint It Track (sponsored by Bodek and Rhodes, asi/40788).

All education sessions were eligible for credits toward BASI™ (Bachelor of Advertising Specialty Information) and MASI™ (Master of Advertising Specialty Information) certification. Following a reception in their honor, 22 graduates of the ASI Certification Program were recognized in a pinning ceremony. To date, over 23,000 industry professionals have registered for classes necessary to obtain the industry certification.

“It’s clear from the high caliber of quality ASI suppliers on the show floor and the growing number of leading companies holding sales meetings that ASI Orlando has become the show of choice for industry pros on the go,” said Lorenz Hassenstein, general manager and vice president of The ASI Show. “There’s no better way to kick off a new year and a new show season than with the best education in the industry, a bigger, better show floor and superior networking events.”

“Attracting 114 new exhibitors to Orlando is the best possible proof of growing interest in the ASI Orlando show experience, which brings together top suppliers and engaged distributors eager to expand their product lines while learning everything there is to know about new and emerging markets,” added Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI

On Sunday, ASI honored 270 of the industry’s top-performing suppliers at the annual Counselor Distributor Choice Awards. The Magnet Group (asi/68507), the world’s largest magnet manufacturer, was selected as the 2013 Supplier of the Year, securing the industry’s most-valued supplier status across 59 categories. For more info and a complete list of winners, click here.

For complete coverage of the show, including blogs and videos, visit www.asicentral.com.

Upcoming 2013 ASI Shows are Dallas (February 6-8), Long Beach (March 22-24), New York (May 8-9) and Chicago (July 16-18). To learn more about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2013, contact Karen DiTomasso, vice president of sales, at kditomasso@asicentral.com.

Mary announces retirement from UNIRAK Storage Systems

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:28:42 +0100

Mary announced plans to retire on Jan. 31st, 2013.

Mary Mazurek has been an excellent employee and friend at UNIRAK Storage Systems for 16.5 years. In that ENTIRE span, she hasn't missed more than 5 days due to illness. She has NEVER taken a lunch hour, she has NEVER been late without car trouble or justifiable issue, she has ALWAYS stayed as late as requested. Customers and vendors alike who know her, know she takes to heart the delivery of exemplary customer service and continuously fought for quick turn around of quotations, inquiries, freight logistics, and on time shipments.

She will be sorely missed but certainly deserves some wonderful time off to enjoy her grand kids and not feel the pressure of the UNIRAK hot seat.

Thank you Mary - Enjoy retirement! Your friends at UNIRAK.

Wolter Group Adds to Illinois Material Handling Sales Team

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:27:49 +0100

Wolter Group LLC, announced the appointment of David Smagor as Account Manager for its Illinois Material Handling facility, a member of the Wolter Group of companies.

Smagor’s career includes 17 years in the customer service/account management field and 7 years of material handling aftermarket experience. Included in the mix is a background in the industrial battery industry. “David brings a wealth of experience dealing with a diverse customer base. His multi-level relationship management skills and his ability to facilitate multifaceted projects make David a great asset to the Illinois Material Handling Sales Team,” said Jerry Weidmann, president of Wolter Group.

“Smagor has excelled in previous positions due to his skill in improving efficiencies and identifying cost reduction methods for his customers. This ability to find solutions for customers’ needs is what made David a good fit for our company.” stated Weidmann.

Illinois Material Handling is part of the material handling arm of the Wolter Group, which includes Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp., and Wolter Material Handling. The Wolter Group delivers superior service to over 15,000 customers in its three-state service area. The cornerstone of Wolter Group’s success is its highly trained staff of over 330 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service.

The Wolter Group operates one of the nation’s largest material handling distributors, Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Due to this internal company relationship, Illinois Material Handling offers the deep resources of Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. to service northern Illinois’ two locations: Elk Grove Village and Rockford.

Illinois Material Handling is a distributor for Hyundai, Komatsu, Marriotti, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, Lift King, Lowry, Noble and PowerBoss.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com), a full service material handling distributor and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

Request for Information – Technologies to Reduce the Noise of Urban Deliveries

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:26:31 +0100

The Center for Infrastructure, Transportation and the Environment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information on noise reducing technologies to lessen the noise produced by urban deliveries in the off-hours. These technologies may be suitable for use on trucks, trailers, shipping equipment (e.g., carts and dollies) or at the location of the delivery.

Through this RFI the project team will explore the benefits that various products have for reducing delivery related noises. If your company has a product(s) that could potentially be used to reduce the noise produced by deliveries, we would like to learn more about your products and services. Please respond by February 1, 2013.

Click here to participate.

FMH Material Handling Solutions Receives Industry Award

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:24:00 +0100

FMH MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Status for 2013 in a program from the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association). To be among the less than 5% of the association’s membership earning the award, FMH MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism and good stewardship.

MVP status requires a company to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas:

Industry Relations
Customer Relations
Peer-to-Peer Networking
Training for Employees
Business Best Practices

John Faulkner, President of FMH Material Handling Solutions comments, “We are very highly honored to have been awarded the MHEDA MVP Award. It is such a high honor.” FMH customer states, “We have been fortunate enough to work with FMH for the past several years. They have exceeded our expectations in the areas of rentals, sales and service. Their staff is incredibly knowledgeable, dependable and professional.”

FMH MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS has been in business since 1978 with branches in Denver, Albuquerque and El Paso. FMH offers a complete line of material handling products, such as forklift trucks (new, used and rental), pallet jacks, loading dock equipment, shelving and pallet racks to handle all your material handling needs. FMH represents the following product lines: Big Joe, CAT, Clark, Crown (only in Albuquerque and El Paso), Doosan, Donkey, HELI, JLG, and Kalmar. For more information, visit www.FMHSolutions.com.

AEMP Members Set to “Accelerate, Aggregate, Elevate” During 2013 Spring Conference and ...

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:50:22 +0100

Fast tracking professional growth, getting together with the best and brightest in the profession and rising to new levels of knowledge and expertise. This and more awaits asset managers and their counterparts in heavy equipment manufacturing during the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) Management Conference and Annual Meeting March 17-19, 2013.

The Management Conference and Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville, Fla., is now in its 31st year. It is AEMP’s largest event, one that brings together the industry’s leaders and practitioners with those who design and manufacture the equipment they oversee. In addition to networking opportunities, the 2013 event will allow those professionals to share ideas, participate in educational and issue-related seminars and visit the extensive exhibit hall to gain practical knowledge on the latest topics in fleet management.

Highlighting the conference will be a Mini Management Seminar presented by C.E.M.P.’s Mike Vorster, Ph.D. and John Hildreth, Ph.D., titled “Adding Value in Equipment Management.” Vorster, owner of C.E.M.P., is a Virginia Tech professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering. Hildreth is an assistant professor of construction management at UNC Charlotte. During their half-day program, Vorster and Hildreth will discuss critical skills in three areas: how to add value through a full understanding of the equipment management function; how to add value through effective cost management; and how to add value through data analysis and fleet age planning. This memorable, half-day seminar is designed for equipment managers, financial managers and operations specialists who seek tools and ideas to improve their fleet management and increase their return on investment.

Greg Bennick, award-winning producer and writer, will kick off events and sessions on the first day of the conference and will emcee the recognition of AEMP’s latest certified professionals. Bennick blends laugh-out-loud comedy with audience participation to deliver a powerful message about how to turn you into a leader.

Also appearing will be Parker Schnabel, “the Young Master” on the Discovery Channel’s hit series “Gold Rush.” Hailing from Haines, Alaska, Schnabel has worked in his grandpa’s Big Nugget mine since his feet could touch the pedals of mining equipment. End users and Strategic Alliance Partners are invited to join Schnabel for humorous outtakes and questions during the 2013 Fleet Master’s ceremony.

In all, the conference will include 36 educational sessions with crucial topics that include essential fleet metrics, equipment ownership cost, understanding customers, cutting fuel costs with telematics and elevating the asset manager role. In addition, the exhibit hall will be open March 17-18 with industry exhibits and demonstrations.

Conference and meeting attendees also have the opportunity to attend Professional Development Institute (PDI) sessions March 17-19. PDI sessions help industry professionals prepare for either the Certified Equipment Manager (CEM) or Certified Equipment Support Professional (CESP) exam. The sessions cover a range of topics under the five core standards of professional asset management: finance, information, controls, policies and customer service. Certification exams will be administered on Wednesday, March 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. Applications for either exam are required by February 25 so that AEMP can determine eligibility.

Beyond the seminars and the PDI, the conference and meeting will feature several annual events. Opening day will begin with the keynote address and recognition of newly certified professionals, continue with the AEMP Foundation 2013 Technician of the Year Luncheon sponsored by John Deere and the AEMP Foundation, and close with the evening gala. Day two will feature the Fleet Masters Award Ceremony and Dinner sponsored by AEMP’s Strategic Alliance Partners. Kicking off the third day of events will be the Inauguration Awards Breakfast, where AEMP recognizes its top members and new AEMP board members and board president will take the oath.

AEMP Strategic Alliance Partners that sponsor the Management Conference and Annual Meeting are AT&T, Case New Holland, Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants, Caterpillar, Construction Equipment magazine, IronPlanet, John Deere Construction & Forestry, Komatsu, Randall Reilly Construction Division, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, and Volvo Construction Equipment.

Management Conference and Annual Meeting registration fees cover meals, seminars and all events. For more information about the event, including sessions and schedules, visit AEMP.org or contact Client Services Manager Claudine Wheeler at 970/384-0510 or claudine@aemp.org. For more information on certifications and the PDI, contact Vice President of Educational Services Jim Phillips at 970/384-0510 ext. 202 or jim@aemp.org, or visit the website.

Combi Sales Department Promotions

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:48:30 +0100

ffective January 1, 2013, Combi Packaging Systems’ sales territories will be changing slightly due to their long-term plans for continued strategic growth.

Mark Freidly, VP Sales, is going to focus his efforts on new business development with large national accounts. Mark’s sales and engineering experience makes him ideally suited for this critical role. In addition, Mark will retain a smaller sales territory with the following states in his region: North and South Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota. Mark is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a BS in Electronic Technology and has been with Combi for the past 13 years.

Shawn Beatty has been promoted to Regional Sales Manager covering the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Michigan. Shawn’s experience working with distributors and end users as a Combi sales application engineer and his education from Ohio University in mechanical engineering, positions him as the ideal candidate for this critical role in growing Combi’s business.

Combi Packaging Systems LLC is a leading U.S. manufacturer of end-of-line packaging equipment, with more than 35 years’ service in case erectors, case sealers, case packers, tray formers, ergonomic hand-packing stations, and case labelers. Combi Packaging Systems LLC was formed as a joint venture between 3M and The MJ Maillis Group in 1999.

Flow Storage System Accelerates Company’s Expansion

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 08:57:44 +0100

Expanding business in a tough economy isn’t easy, but that’s how Crider makes it look, having just added a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse to its Stillmore, Ga. facility to accommodate all the new business it’s getting. But before the company could continue expanding in the consumer goods marketplace, it first had to rethink its production and warehouse logistics.

“We’ve experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, resulting in our warehousing and logistics becoming a bottleneck,” says Mark Howell, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Crider, the market leader of canned chicken in the U.S., which offers canned meats and frozen, fully cooked chicken to a variety of customers. “We’d outgrown our old warehouse and offsite storage, and had finished product stored in virtually every square foot of available space. We had to streamline logistics to meet demand and continue growth.”

The company’s capacity was limited by empty pallets cluttering up production and by inefficient floor stacking of palletized product, which created inventory management, forklift access, and truck loading challenges.

“We had to move product to get to other product, which made first-in, first-out (FIFO) product rotation difficult,” explains Phillip Rehberg, Vice President of Operations at Crider. “Over-handling and over-stacking the pallets caused costly, unnecessary finished product damage. Forklift operators spent too much time searching for product to ship, which made staging and loading delivery trucks inefficient.”

Crider turned to Craft Equipment Company, a full line material handling distributor, and Steel King, a flow storage system and pallet rack manufacturer. To unclutter the production area and free up about 2,000 sq. ft. of space for more equipment, the Over-Dock Pallet Storage Rack by Steel King was implemented, according to Rehberg. Like a kitchen cupboard for the kitchen, this keeps empty pallets safely out of the way until needed in a specially designed, over the loading dock storage rack that accommodates empty pallets, skids or returnable shipping containers.

“To continue growth and clear the logistics bottleneck with maximum pallet rack space in a minimal footprint, a needs analysis showed that a warehouse dynamic flow storage system was the best choice for Crider,” explains Buddy Chadwell, Craft Equipment’s Vice President of Sales, who oversaw an initial existing warehouse improvement project, followed by an expansion, then a new warehouse project, using the SK3400 pallet flow system by Steel King.

In a flow storage system, dynamic flow rails are inclined in a static rack structure, allowing loads placed on one end to move by gravity on rollers to the unloading end, with speed controllers acting as gentle brakes. As a load is removed, the loads behind it move forward automatically.

Since the flow system depth, height, and width were limited only by the size of the facility and capabilities of the material handling equipment, it was a good fit for Crider’s high volume, space efficient needs. Once loaded, FIFO product rotation is automatic and the rack eliminates labor and fork truck operation to arrange loads. Forklifts are required only for the initial and final unloading. Since only two aisles are necessary, aisle space can be reduced by 75 percent and up to 100 percent more product can be stored than with traditional selective pallet racking.

Because of the success of the flow system in the existing warehouse, an initial system of 864 pallet positions was soon expanded to a system with 1440 pallet positions, according to Chadwell. More recently, a new 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse was completed, which houses a total of 10,240 pallet positions of flow rack, including the previous flow rack, which was moved there and reconfigured to optimize storage at the new facility.

“Instead of inefficiently floor stacking product two to three pallets high, now we can securely store product four pallets high and twelve deep with the flow storage system, which maximizes storage density,” says Rehberg. “Once a forklift operator places a pallet, it automatically flows by gravity into storage. The pallets have designated entry and exit lanes and storage locations. This optimizes inventory management, minimizes overhandling and product damage, and expedites truck loading and staging for delivery. Before the flow system and new warehouse, we might ship 16 truckloads on a good day. Now we can routinely ship 25 truckloads in less time with less labor.”

“To protect the efficient logistics of our new warehouse and flow storage system, we wanted rack that would withstand inevitable forklift impact over the years with minimal maintenance and production downtime,” adds Rehberg.

At Chadwell’s suggestion, Crider chose SK3000 pallet rack, a rugged bolted rack with structural channel columns, by Steel King. A number of rack features helped the company meet its strength, durability, and maintenance goals. Compared to typical racking, the pallet rack constructed of hot-rolled structural channel column with full horizontal-diagonal bracing offers greater frame strength, durability and cross-sectional area. All grade-5 hardware provides greater shear strength, and a heavy 7-gauge wrap-around connector plate ensures a square and plumb installation with a tighter connection and greater moment resistance.

For added protection against fork truck impact, Craft Equipment recommended and Steel King provided two protective products to further safeguard vulnerable rack areas. Steel Guard, a pre-fabricated modular protective railing, was installed to protect rack at warehouse intersecting aisles, a high damage area where forklifts frequently make turns. Also installed was Guard Dawg, a low profile guardrail, to protect rack down aisles.

“Our warehouse logistics, which was once a bottleneck, is now a competitive advantage that enables us to efficiently grow our business while meeting customers’ needs,” concludes Howell, who is quick to show Crider’s new warehouse and flow storage system to customers and sales prospects. “Once someone sees our investment, they have confidence in our ability to deliver.”

For more info, contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; call 800-826-0203; email: dheemstra@steelking.com or visit the website www.steelking.com.

SMARTRAC Launches WebLite UHF RFID Tag for Retail EPC Programs

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 08:56:35 +0100

SMARTRAC N.V., the leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of RFID transponders and inlays, today announced the introduction of its new UHF EPC compliant WebLite inlay.

The SMARTRAC WebLite inlay represents a technological advance in both size and performance. With an antenna size of only 46 x 15 mm (1.8″ x 0.6″), it is especially suited for item-level tagging and identification where RFID tag space is limited and performance is of critical importance.

Due to its compact form and special design, which takes into account RF requirements for close coupling and high population RFID scanning, the SMARTRAC WebLite perfectly meets the needs of retail apparel applications. Close coupling occurs when RFID-tagged items are stacked in close proximity to each other. SMARTRAC has been working with its partners, renowned independent test facilities, major retail end users, and RFID hardware providers, to test, qualify, and approve the WebLite tags and inlays for immediate deployment in major item-level tagging applications.

“The new SMARTRAC WebLite is an important next step for item level identification in retail. As EPC tagging expands to a wider range of consumer products, reduced tag size without compromise in performance has become very important”, says Michael Teitelbaum, CEO of r-pac International Corporation. “We are pleased that we are able to deliver the new EPC tagging solutions to retailers and their brand suppliers based on our close cooperation with SMARTRAC. The industry has been demanding a small format tag, such as the WebLite, that meets the most challenging tagging situations. The WebLite meets the technology needs of the industry by performing on a wide range of products from denim to kitchen electrics – while maintaining a small form factor.”

“Our new WebLite inlay is the result of our close collaboration with and commitment to our partners as well as our goal of understanding the needs of end users, retailers, and brand owners in their quest for significantly improved merchandise visibility enabled by RFID technology. Working with r-pac has allowed us to take application requirements from end users, turn them into a product concept, and, in a very short period of time, validate and approve this concept in the form of a new product, the SMARTRAC WebLite,” said Wolfgang Schneider, Member of the Management Board and Head of SMARTRAC’s Business Unit electronic Product Identification (ePI).

Technical features of the SMARTRAC WebLite with Impinj Monza™ 5 IC:

Antenna size of 46 x 15 mm / 1.8″ x 0.6″
128-bit EPC, 48-bit serialized TID
Especially suitable for item-level retail, logistics, and supply chain applications

The SMARTRAC WebLite is currently available. High-volume production started at the end of November. The WebLite has gone through stringent performance testing by major U.S. retailers with RFID programs and has passed these tests for a multitude of product categories. The WebLite is available in converted, fully printed, and encoded form through r-pac and the r-pac worldwide service bureaus.

The new WebLite products will also be displayed at the SMARTRAC booth (#2059) at the NRF 102nd Annual Convention & EXPO from January 13 to 15, 2013, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

About SMARTRAC
SMARTRAC is the leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of RFID and NFC transponders and inlays. The company produces both ready-made and customized transponders and inlays used in access control, animal identification, automated fare collection, border control, RFID-based car immobilizers, contactless payment cards, electronic product identification, industry, libraries and media management, laundry, logistics, mobile and smart media, public transport, retail, and many more.

SMARTRAC was founded in 2000, went public in July 2006, and trades as a stock corporation under Dutch law with its registered headquarters in Amsterdam. The company currently employs some 4,000 employees and maintains a global research and development, production, and sales network.

If you have any questions about SMARTRAC, please call +31 20 30 50 157 or visit www.smartrac-group.com

NMHG Scores Touchdown with $39,000 Check to United Way of Pitt County

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:15:00 +0100

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG) presented the United Way of Pitt County with a $39,000 check during East Carolina University’s (ECU) final regular-season home football game against Marshall on Nov. 23. As a sponsor of ECU athletics, NMHG made the donation based on the total number of ECU touchdowns during the 2012 season.

“We’re thrilled with another strong season by the Pirates, helping us to make this donation to United Way of Pitt County,” said Brett Schemerhorn, vice president of marketing for NMHG. “We’re excited about the start of the basketball schedule and look forward to baseball to be able to further support and strengthen our community through United Way.”

NMHG representatives Jason Parson and Jonathan Dawley presented the check to Jim Cieslar, executive director for United Way of Pitt County. NMHG is beginning its third year in partnership with ECU athletics to benefit United Way and has donated more than $200,000 through the program to date.

“The NMHG/ECU partnership is an excellent example of community building and help for those in need,” said Cieslar. “This partnership has enabled the United Way of Pitt County to move forward on its community impact goals of decreasing high school drop-out rates, lowering community unemployment rates and providing a safety-net of basic needs services. The program does this not only through the funding it has generated, but also through the exposure it has created for United Way at ECU athletic events. We sincerely appreciate all that both NMHG and ECU Athletics does to LIVE UNITED by building and strengthening our community here in Pitt County through United Way.”

Founded more than 50 years ago, United Way of Pitt County is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the common good by focusing on the keys to a good life – education, income, health and neighbors helping neighbors. United Way of Pitt County is a member of the United Way Worldwide, located in Alexandria, Va. United Way Worldwide is an independent, national organization that serves approximately 1,400 other United Ways across the country.

A world leader in the lift truck industry, NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG) designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally primarily under the Hyster® and Yale® brand names. NMHG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Smarter, Faster, Leaner, Integrated Warehouse Operations.

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:32:32 +0100

Hear how mobile technology can help your warehouse operations be smarter, faster, leaner, integrated, as well as discover how social applications are embedding themselves in business, aiding decision making and improving communication by delivering real time, contextual information at the free seminar session from Infor at Logistics Link South 2013.

Logistics Link South returns to Sandown Park on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th February 2013 with hundreds of cutting edge software systems and new equipment on display with leading companies covering all areas of logistics. Registration is completely free at www.logisticslink.co.uk.

There will also be many live demonstrations taking place both on stands and in the live demo arenas. All of this will mean visitors can compare the latest products and solutions and see for themselves how they can be used to optimise their operations.

There will be extensive educational content in the Seminar theatre taking place on both days of the exhibition covering topics including”The Modern Connected Warehouse”, “Integrated Delivery Management for Complex Logistics”, “Making Strategy Pay” and much more, repeated each day of the Show. The seminars will feature many practical ideas and are a great opportunity for delegates to see a showcase of the latest solutions with new sessions being announced all the the time.

And Women in Logistics will be holding a meeting on the 13 February at 11.00am which is a great opportunity for members and other visitors to meet, network and exchange views. This will be followed by a talk from their founder, Ruth Waring on how to get the most out of social networking, specifically for logisticians.

Visitors to the show will also have the opportunity to network with their peers in the buyers only networking lounge.

Registration is free for logistics and supply chain professionals and ensures fast track entry to the Show. Details at: www.logisticslink.co.uk

Dates announced for Logistics Link Exhibitions 2013

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:10:00 +0100

We are pleased to announce the 2013 dates for the Logistics Link Exhibitions. Logistics Link plays a leading role in bringing the latest and best of logistics to the industry and provide a time productive and financially rewarding way for visitors to learn new ways to improve productivity, cut costs, boost customer service and manage stock.

Can you please add these dates to the event listings in your magazines and on your websites?

Logistics Link South
12th - 13th February 2013
Sandown Park, Esher
http://south.logisticslink.co.uk

Logistics Link Live
5th - 6th June 2013
NEC, Birmingham
http://live.logisticslink.co.uk

Logistics Link North
8th - 9th October 2013
V3 Warehouse, Doncaster
http://north.logisticslink.co.uk

About Akabo Media - www.akabomedia.co.uk
From breaking news alerts delivered direct to the inbox of CSCOs to exhibitions and conferences bringing together industry decision makers, Akabo Media provides news, insight and networking opportunities for supply chain, logistics and RUC leaders in Europe.

Wolter Group Expands Illinois Material Handling Sales Team

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:06:48 +0100

Wolter Group LLC, announced the appointment of Dawn Tippit as Account Manager for its Illinois Material Handling facility, a member of the Wolter Group of companies.

Tippit has over 10 years of solid experience in the industrial machinery field. Her career began as a Sales Manager selling aftermarket parts for asphalt pavers, dozers, excavators and skid steers. Tippit further expanded her experience by moving into the field of capital equipment where she sold TCM and Hyundai forklifts in the Northwest Chicago area. Most recently she served as a rental professional for varied categories of machinery including backhoes, cranes, scissor lifts, sweepers and scrubbers. “This extensive and varied industry background makes Tippit an excellent addition to the Illinois Material Handling Sales Team,” said Jerry Weidmann, president of Wolter Group. She has a proven track record of assessing the needs of each customer and providing the correct equipment solution to meet or exceed their requirements. Her work ethic complements our Mission Statement: “To enable our customers’ success through value-added solutions, supported by superior service and quality products, professionally delivered with the sense of urgency,” stated Weidmann.

Tippit is a long time resident of Elk Grove and currently lives with her two sons in the area.

Illinois Material Handling is a distributor for Hyundai, Komatsu, Marriotti, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, Lift King, Lowry, Noble and PowerBoss.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com), a full service material handling distributor and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

For more information, contact Kristin Carey at Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.; Phone 262-781-8011 X3145, Fax: 262-783-0729; e-mail: kristin.carey@wisconsinlift.com

Hy-Tek Receives Hytrol Integration Partner Service Awards

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:03:23 +0100

Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.—the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions—was awarded two Hytrol Integration Partner Service Awards at the Hytrol Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 18. Hy-Tek was recognized for 50 years of service at the company’s Columbus office and 10 years of service at the Cleveland office.

Hytrol Integration Partner Service Awards are given to integration partners who have achieved service anniversaries of 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years. The 2012 award is the first for Hy-Tek’s Cleveland office, the fifth for the company’s Columbus facility. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in January 2013, Hy-Tek is one of Hytrol’s oldest, most trusted integration partners.

“Hytrol's go-to-market philosophy is based on selling equipment solely through a network of integration partners. Because we don’t sell direct, we rely on our integration partners to represent our products and services with knowledge, professionalism, and a commitment to customer service. Together, Hytrol and Hy-Tek believe in doing whatever it takes to care for our customers. For 50 years, Hytrol and Hy-Tek have worked together to develop and implement innovative solutions that provide customers with peace of mind. We have the utmost confidence in Hy-Tek's ability to perform to our expectations, meet our customers’ needs, and support our continued growth,” said Hytrol Marketing Manager Phillip Poston.

Founded in 1963, Hy-Tek attributes its half-century of business success to its ability to build long-term relationships with best-in-class industry partners like Hytrol. “When Hy-Tek looks for a manufacturing partner, we seek an organization with the proven ability to deliver a quality product, promote their brand, and support us, their sales and integration partner. We’re proud of our 50-year relationship with Hytrol, and we look forward to working together for the next 50 years—and beyond,” said Scott Hennie, VP, Hy-Tek Integrated Systems Division.

About Hytrol
Hytrol Conveyor Co., Inc. was founded in 1947 and is regarded as an industry expert when it comes to automated material handling solutions. Hytrol designs and manufactures innovative conveyor equipment, controls, and solutions for customers with processing, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution needs. Hytrol's 27,000 square foot Technology Center is the birthplace for many industry-changing solutions, such as EZLogic® accumulation conveyors and the E24™, a low-voltage, motor driven roller conveyor series. These technologies are complemented by Hytrol's sortation offerings, the ProSort 400 series high speed shoe sortation, as well as the ProSort MRT series narrow belt sortation.

Hytrol's consistent growth is strengthened by its Integration Partner Network, with over 140 locations worldwide. Experience the Advantage.

About Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc.
Hy-Tek is the premier single-source provider of material handling solutions for an extensive range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, pharmaceutical, food, beverage, electronics, and automotive. Since 1963, Hy-Tek and its best-in-class industry partners—including manufacturers of industrial trucks and forklifts; supply chain software; automated storage and retrieval systems; and rack, shelving, and conveyor systems—have been providing customers large and small with turnkey solutions. From customized one-of-a-kind handling and storage systems to pre-assembled buildings and off-the-shelf products—Hy-Tek’s experienced team of engineering, sales, operations, and project management professionals partner with customers to help enhance productivity, streamline processes, and boost profitability. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, employee-owned Hy-Tek Material Handling serves customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia. Repeatedly posting annual sales in excess of $55 million, Hy-Tek’s four divisions—Integrated Systems, Mobile Equipment, Lighting Solutions, and Storage & Handling—deliver cost-effective, efficient solutions for every material handling application. Contact www.hy-tek.net or 800/837-1217.

Magnalight.com Releases Rail Mount LED Work Light with Dual Light Heads

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:07:00 +0100

Magnalight.com announced today the release of the WAL-JH-2XWP400 Rail Mount LED Work Light designed to allow fast temporary mounting to ladders, scaffolding and railings. This high output LED work light is designed to provide highly versatile mounting options for workers who frequently use ladders and scaffolds during work operations. This LED light features an adjustable scaffold mounting bracket and dual light heads that make it an ideal lighting solution for larger work spaces where operators must work from elevated locations.

The Magnalight WAL-JH-2XWP400 rail mount LED work area light provides powerful and dependable LED illumination with dual LED light heads and versatile mounting options with an adjustable J-hook ladder mount bracket. This railing mounted work light produces 2,924 lumens of bright white light and distributes it in a wide flood pattern capable of illuminating 15,000 square feet of work space. The lamp assembly on this work light consists of two 40 watt LED light fixtures producing 1,462 lumens each mounted onto an aluminum J-hook bracket designed to be attached to ladders, scaffolds and railings without the need for tools. The J-hook bracket can be adjusted between 26 inches to 43 inches in length, allowing it to be quickly and easily fitted to a wide variety of railings and scaffolds of various sizes. Each LED lamp is independently adjustable and a an adjustable center post allows the operator to elevate the lamps up to three feet above the mounting bracket for better coverage. The lamps are IP68 rated waterproof to three meters, providing excellent protection against water and humidity, and the LED design is highly resistant to damage from shocks and vibrations. The lamps have a 50,000+ hour operational life, providing more than twice the longevity of HID lamps, and are designed to provide high output while running cooler, resulting in less heat in the work area and less chance of accidental burns should hands or fingers come into contact with the lamps while they are operating. These scaffold mounted work lights run with common 120-277 VAC current in standard configuration, allowing them to be operated from most typical wall outlet power sources. Magnalight also offers optional 12/24 VDC configurations for applications where low voltage power sources are preferable or more convenient. These rail mount LED work area lights are ideal for workers who operate in large spaces where scaffolding and ladders are commonly used and allow them to position the lights in elevated locations, thus providing excellent overhead illumination of the work area below and around them.

“This rail mounting system is an extremely versatile way to utilize the two high powered LED light heads.” said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics. “Being both lightweight and highly durable, the entire lighting configuration is ideal for sand blasting, construction, and anywhere portable lighting is needed.”

Larson Electronics’ Magnalight offers a wide selection of LED work lights, LED light towers, explosion proof lights, LED flashlights, and intrinsically safe LED lights. The Larson Electronics family of brands can be found on Magnalight.com, LXFlashlights.com and Larsonelectronicsllc.com. You can also call 800/369-6671 to learn more about all of Larson Electronics’ lighting products or call 214/616-6180 for international inquires.

Hytrol Honors 9 Employees with Tower of Strength Award

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:25:00 +0100

Hytrol Conveyor Co., Inc. presented nine employees with their Tower of Strength award on Monday, November 19, 2012. The award honors employees for forty consecutive years of service. The name itself, Tower of Strength, signifies the qualities one must possess to attain this distinction. The nine recipients of the award were: Hershel Williams, Tommy Holmes, Larrie Woodard, James Williams, Lennis McClure, Jimmy Becker, Jerry West, Ron Johnson and Mike Millsap.

Phillip Poston, Manager of Marketing, began the presentation with a brief history of world events beginning in 1972; this was the time period when all nine employees started their careers at Hytrol. He then recognized each recipient and made note that most recipients worked in several different areas during their time with the company. When given the opportunity to speak about their time with the company, several of the honorees mentioned that their family members are current or former employees of Hytrol.

Hytrol’s President, Gregg Goodner, took the opportunity to thank the gentleman for their commitment to the company. He stated that he was “blessed to have the chance to work with each one of these men. They exemplify what Hytrol stands for and represent the love one has to have to be a part of the Hytrol Family.”

To conclude the presentations, each employee was honored with a stainless steel plaque laser engraved with their likeness. These awards are displayed on the columns at Hytrol, along with previous honorees and those to come. Hytrol has now presented twenty-two of the most dedicated employees with their Tower of Strength award.

About Hytrol
Hytrol Conveyor Co., Inc. designs and manufactures innovative conveyor equipment, controls, and solutions for customers with processing, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution needs. Hytrol’s 27,000 square foot Technology Center is the birthplace for many industry-changing solutions, such as EZLogic® accumulation conveyors and the E24™, a low-voltage, motor driven roller conveyor series. These technologies are complemented by Hytrol’s sortation offerings, the ProSort 400 series high speed shoe sorter, as well as the ProSort MRT series narrow belt sorter. Hytrol's consistent growth is strengthened by its Integration Partner Network, with over 100 locations worldwide. Experience the Hytrol Advantage today! www.hytrol.com

New Product! New Style Hall Effect Controllers

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:22:00 +0100

TVH in the Americas (TVH) is proud to introduce their expanded controller selection of New Style Hall Effect Controllers. Hall Effect: is the production of a voltage across an electrical conductor. Edwin Hall discovered this technology in 1879.

Technological advances have made it more feasible
Less moving parts than traditional controllers
Increased precision on measurement of movement versus carbon potentiometers/gears

The controllers size and rugged durability are widely used in many applications, such as; aerial work platforms, material handling, agricultural and forestry equipment.

Updated controllers with newer plug
Single/Dual Axis
With or without Steer Controls
Update Kit -Controller with new harness
Adapter Harness

For more information contact TVH, 16355 South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, KS 66062, toll free phone 800-255-4109, phone 913-829-1000, fax 913-829-6206, www.tvh.com

Datalogic predicts global growth for AUTO-ID as new business models emerge in industrial automation

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:24:00 +0100

As the advocate for data collection during the cornerstone CEO Vision session at the 11th edition of ID WORLD International Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany this month, Gian Paolo Fedrigo expanded on the opportunities significantly impacting business models in industrial automation. He focused on the challenges presented by today’s proliferation of data and the global performance that is expected for the automation sector with respect to material handling, traceability, inspection and detection. Datalogic Industrial Automation is a division of Datalogic Group and, along with Datalogic ADC, enhances business in all the company's markets, offering a comprehensive combined product portfolio ranging from industrial scanning and imaging solutions tohand-held and fixed scanners and from mobile computers and vision systems to integrated business solutions.

“New levels of automation are necessary in order to reduce cost, increase productivity and be more competitive. This need crosses all industry sectors where Datalogic is present – from Transportation & Logistics to Manufacturing, and Retail to Automotive, as well as key verticals such as postal, where flexibility, economy of scale and value-added services drive demand for fully automated processes,” said Gian Paolo Fedrigo.

“Today, Auto ID deployment demands data intelligence that goes much further than the bar code. Next generation cameras and vision systems, allowing advanced image capture, dimensioning for establishing weight and volume, as well as condition monitoring, all have a crucial role to play in ensuring goods arrive at theright time, in the right place, securely, efficiently and in the most cost effective way,” he added.

He further stressed the benefits of automation processes in the T&L sector in particular, where players can leverage on the resulting broad portfolio of digital data for enhancing their services to maintain a competitive edge. These include added value for customer and single item profiling, optimized billing and streamlined payment processing end-to-end within the supply chain.

The CEO Vision Panel provided an opportunity for ID WORLD delegates to challenge the thoughts and learn from the business strategies of four prominent leaders from the auto ID industry in the prime sectors of data collection, biometrics, cards and RFID. Datalogic’s participation added new dimensions for the future growth of the industry.

About Datalogic Group
Datalogic Group is a global leader in Automatic Identification with a specific focus on the Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation sectors. As a world-class total solutions provider and producer of bar code readers, data collection mobile computer and vision systems, Datalogic offers innovative solutions for a full range of applications in the manufacturing, retail, healthcare and transportation & logistics industries. Datalogic S.p.A., listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001 as DAL.MI, is headquartered in Lippo di Calderara di Reno (Bologna). The Group's recent acquisition of Accu-Sort Systems Inc., a leading supplier of Automatic Identification products and solutions in the United States, has doubled its presence in the Industrial Automation market, escalating Datalogic to undisputed leadership in the Industrial Bar Code Scanners segment with a market share of 31%. Datalogic Group as of today employs more than 2,400 members of staff worldwide, distributed in 30 countries across Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region. In 2011 Datalogic Group achieved revenues for 425,5 million Euro and invested over 26 million Euro in Research and Development with a portfolio of over 1,000 patents across the world.

For more news and information on Datalogic, please visit www.datalogic.com.

GSC Packaging Is Expanding and Moving to a 100,000 Square-Foot, State-of-the-Art Packaging Facility

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:23:00 +0100

GSC Packaging, a nationwide provider of turnkey contract packaging solutions, has purchased a 100,000 square-foot facility to keep up with the company’s rapid growth. Since 2008, GSC Packaging has grown to 300 employees. In December of 2012, GSC Packaging will move from its current contract packaging facility at 3715 Atlanta Industrial Parkway in Atlanta, Georgia, to the new location at 575 Wharton Drive. The Atlanta location provides clients with strategic national distribution capabilities. Extensive renovations, led by Sandy Epstein of Sanford Epstein and Associates, PC, Architects, are taking place to transform the building into one of the nation’s largest, state-of-the-art contract packaging facilities.

“Company growth doesn’t happen without a team of excellent employees working daily to provide superb customer service to every client. The new state-of-the-art GSC Packaging facility is a reflection and a celebration of our team’s dedication to providing the best customer service possible to today’s world-class food manufacturers,” said Bob Shapiro, CEO of GSC Packaging.

The new GSC Packaging facility features fifteen production lines, including seven horizontal form/fill/seal (FFS) lines, three six-lane stick pack packaging lines, as well as various semi-automatic, large format automatic, and secondary packaging and kitting lines. The new packaging facility also features a state-of-the-art layout and design, the latest air-handling technology, lot code tracking, real-time computerized inventory control, dust control and air-conditioned storage.

For more information about GSC Packaging, visit www.gscpackaging.com.

About
GSC Packaging is a nationwide provider of turnkey contract packaging and secondary packaging solutions for powdered food products, drink mixes, supplements, and diet products. The company specializes in stick packs, the fastest growing single-serve packaging in use today, as well as stand up and other popular flexible pouch formats. With state-of-the-art manufacturing and warehouse facilities, innovative technologies, experienced staff, and an extensive offering of services including fulfillment, warehousing, and delivery, GSC Packaging works in close partnership with clients to develop packaging solutions that meet all their product preparation and presentation needs. For more information, visit www.gscpackaging.com.

The 2012 International Seminar

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:22:00 +0100

TVH in the Americas (TVH) welcomed participants to an International Seminar on October 24th. There were participants from Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Combined, 12 countries were represented by 60 attendees.

The seminars consisted of discussions and lectures on topics including Industry and the Economy, Quality, IRMN, Industrial Equipment, and Technical Services. A tour of the TVH headquarters in Olathe was included in the seminar. Without a doubt, the highlight of the seminar was the active participation and the ability to learn from each other’s knowledge and shared experiences.

For more information contact TVH, 16355 South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, KS 66062, toll free phone 800-255-4109, phone 913-829-1000, fax 913-829-6206, www.tvh.com.

ESAB Showcases Mechanized Cutting Solutions at Fabtech 2012

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:17:00 +0100

ESAB Cutting Systems is exhibiting a wide range of innovative products at Fabtech 2012 in Las Vegas, including software features, plasma beveling system, a new drill station and improved plasma cutting capabilities. ESAB Cutting Systems provides a complete package of products and processes that lead the industry.

The Avenger X large gantry CNC cutting system will be the centerpiece of ESAB Cutting Systems display. The rugged, accurate Avenger X is the flagship machine in ESAB’s wide range of automated cutting machines, and is available with straight cutting tools, bevel cutting tools, and plate marking systems. The Avenger X will be plasma bevel cutting on ESAB’s exclusive Continuous Cleaning Downdraft table.

The Avenger X gantry’s design delivers the speed, accuracy, and flexibility demanded by fabricators, ship builders, and equipment manufacturers around the world. Its dual-precision linear ways and high-stiffness fabricated beam structure make it ideal for precision cutting, marking, and beveling. Its high-speed AC drives and oversized gearboxes make it fast, precise, and durable for added productivity.

Building on the success of the Avenger X, ESAB now adds a standard drill station with the capacity to drill up to 20mm holes in materials up to 2” thick. The heavy-duty drill station features programmed feed rate, fully automatic tool cycle, and automatic tool mist lubrication. Supplied with drilling parameters for a wide range of hole sizes, the system makes it easy to produce plasma or oxyfuel cut parts with precision drilled holes in a single operation.

The Avenger X is ideally suited for use with ESAB's m3 plasma system, providing the industry's widest range of capabilities in a single plasma system. The fully integrated m3 system is completely automated by the Vision™ T5 CNC, for quick setup and easy operation.

The Vision T5 was designed specifically for plate cutting machines. With the Vision T5, all cutting and marking process tools are controlled directly on the easy-to-use touch screen. Operation is easier and faster since the needed controls are always at the user’s fingertips. External boxes are eliminated, and all process setup is fully automated through the built-in process database, which dramatically boosts productivity.

Working in tandem with the Vision T5 touch-screen based controller is ESAB’s new Smart Voltage Height Control (SVHC). SVHC automatically compensates for electrode wear by keeping the nozzle the same distance from the plate – this allows the electrode to be fully used before being changed. This consistent electrode-to-plate distance maintains cut quality and reduces torch crashes. Operating cost is reduced by eliminating premature electrode changes.

ESAB further upgrades mechanized cutting processes with SmartCycle Technology. SmartCycle integrates the Vision T5 CNC, gantry, m3 Plasma system, Smart Voltage Height Control, and Columbus programming software to eliminate unnecessary motion and improve productivity. This automatic system requires no operator intervention to produce optimized nests of high-quality plasma cut parts in the shortest time possible.

The Avenger X will also be equipped with the Plasma VBA Global , the latest plasma bevel cutting system from ESAB. The Global PRO incorporates new height control and plate sensing features that allow it to cut bolt-ready holes using Precision Hole Technology. The Global PRO will also utilize ESAB’s new XR Series Nozzles, which allow the popular m3 Plasma System to cut thicker materials with less power. The wide cutting range means fewer consumable changes, improved speed, and enhanced cutting quality, which result in dramatic increases in productivity and reduced operating costs.

The Global PRO can also take advantage of ESAB’s recently developed Smart Voltage Height Control system and SmartCycle Technology, making it the most accurate and productive plasma bevel system available.

Visit ESAB at Booths N-3922 and N-4122 to see this complete mechanized cutting system in action.

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most experienced manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing cost effective solutions for its customers. For more information, visit www.esabna.com or call 800/ESAB-123.

ARA Foundation Contributes $6,000 to Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:09:00 +0100

When the ARA Foundation board of trustees met this past week at the American Rental Association (ARA) headquarters in Moline, Ill., it unanimously voted to donate a total of $6,000 — $3,000 each — to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. These agencies are critical to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts for residents in New York, New Jersey and the rest of the East Coast.

These agencies were chosen because “the trustees felt the immediate relief efforts of the American Red Cross and the longer-term assistance provided by the Salvation Army are vital to aiding residents impacted not only by the hurricane but also now the subsequent winter storm, or nor’easter,” says ARA Foundation Chairman Doron Broadfoot, president of The Rent-It Store, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

“The people in this region have suffered such devastating damage. We wanted to contribute to the relief efforts on a broad scale. We know that rental companies, which have a great deal of equipment in the area, are supporting the efforts of cities and municipalities. As the philanthropic arm of the equipment rental industry, we wanted to broaden that reach because we know that the recovery and rebuilding will take a considerable period of time,” he adds.

Foundation Vice Chairman Catherine DeBusk, CERP, vice president of Party People Rentals, Phoenix, couldn’t agree more, adding, “The current weather conditions will only complicate the recovery. These agencies, as well as local organizations, are invaluable to the welfare of those living in the affected areas. We wanted to show our support for their efforts. A strong financial contribution to both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army was our way of helping them assist those in need.”

This donation is just the latest disaster relief efforts offered by the ARA Foundation, notes Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development. “Disaster relief and recovery efforts always have been a strong initiative of the ARA Foundation,” she says.

A signature piece of the ARA Foundation’s disaster relief and recovery efforts has been the creation of the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Guide. “This publication, created in conjunction with ARA, the ARA Foundation, ARA Insurance and Rental Management, is offered as a free download to those in the equipment rental industry. It is full of practical information, including specific checklists, that can help rental operators prepare and plan for what to do in the event of a disaster,” Venema says.

The guide emphasizes the need for every rental operation to have a disaster preparedness document to help everyone in the business know what to do in case of a disaster. “As we have seen in this hurricane and other natural disasters, residents count on the rental businesses in their area to be there to supply generators, pumps and other equipment to get through these very challenging times. Rental is a service industry. But rental businesses need to know what to do to protect their own employees and their businesses so they can be there for their customers. The best way to do that is by having a disaster preparedness plan in place that everyone in the operation has been educated on and can enact,” Broadfoot says.

To download the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Guide, go to ARAfoundation.com. For questions about disaster preparedness or to schedule a disaster preparedness presentation for your state, local or provincial association meeting, contact Venema at 800/334-2177, ext. 236, or jennifer.venema@ararental.org.

Material Handling Supply Inc Gives Red Cross A Much Needed Lift

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:07:00 +0100

Material Handling Supply, Inc., the Philadelphia area authorized Crown and Nissan lift truck dealer, encourages local businesses to assist the Red Cross with their continued relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

“Being in the material handling business means we’re in the business of distribution. During a crisis getting supplies and equipment to where it is needed is critical,” stated Bob Levin, President, Material Handling Supply, Inc. He continued, “We were happy to donate the use of four Nissan forklifts and six Crown pallet jacks from our rental fleet to the Red Cross for use in their regional Disaster Relief distribution center.“

The Red Cross continues to focus on reaching as many people as possible who need assistance. Help is urgently needed to continue the support relief efforts. The Red Cross provides shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy.

Material Handling Supply, Inc. is a 43-year old privately held corporation that started in the Brooklawn area as a Crown and Nissan equipment dealership. The company has continued to grow and now has three locations throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The company offers a comprehensive line of industrial equipment brands including Nissan, Crown and Genie. Currently, there are over 140 employees company-wide with plans for continued growth.

For more information on Material Handling Supply, Inc., visit online at www.mhslift.com or for more information about the Red Cross and what you can do to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, visit online at www.redcross.org.

4Front Named World’s Greatest Manufacturer of Warehouse and Loading Dock Solutions

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:35:13 +0100

One of the most overlooked areas of business that impacts daily life in America and across the globe is shipping and receiving and warehouse operations. Companies that manufacture the products that move materials from place to place quickly and safely must be some of the most reliable and trusted in the industry.

4Front Engineered Solutions has been selected as the World’s Greatest Manufacturer of Warehouse and Loading Dock Solutions and will be featured on the popular television series “World’s Greatest! …” to discuss the products and solutions that can help increase productivity and safety and support sustainability initiatives. Viewers will learn that 4Front has become the global industry leader by combining a clear focus on customer needs with innovation, automation and an unmatched attention to detail. “4Front Engineered Solutions is one of those companies we like to feature on “World’s Greatest!,” said Gordon Freeman, Executive Producer of the show, “We think their story will be meaningful to our viewers.”

4Front Engineered Solutions owns the brands Kelley®, Serco®, LoadHog®, TKO® Doors, 4SIGHT™ and APS Resource® and has been revolutionizing the design and manufacture of loading dock and warehouse equipment for nearly 60 years. The company prides itself on thoroughly understanding each customer’s unique process and works collaboratively across multiple departments to tailor solutions that maximize operating efficiency. Some of these products and solutions include HVLS big fans, dock levelers, vehicle restraints, dock seals and shelters, specialty and impactable dock doors, scissor lift tables, LED lights, yard and dock management system and a complete line of aftermarket products, parts and service.

Be sure to check your local listings for the “World’s Greatest!…” series to learn how 4Front Engineered Solutions utilizes its people, products and processes to provide tailored solutions to customers across the globe. Air dates include, November 19, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. EST, November 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. EST and November 23, 2012 at 7:00 a.m. EST.

Look for streaming video of the program on our website, YouTube channel and other online media during the month of December.

For more information contact 4Front at: info@4FrontES.com, 877-778-DOCK or visit www.4FrontES.com

Indoff National Sales Meeting A Success

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:18:00 +0100

In late October, Indoff hosted their National Sales Meeting in St. Charles, Missouri. Their Sales Partners came in from all across the United States to take classes and learn from each other about being a better, more effective sales person.

“The NSM was a great opportunity for our Partners to reconnect with old friends and colleagues and meet new friends,” said Angela Suntrup, Indoff’s National Marketing Manager. “The theme of our meeting was social media and technology – Be Different. Be You. Be Social. Hopefully, the Partners not on social media will take the jump and ‘be social’.”

The weekend started with registration and a cocktail hour on Thursday evening. Friday began with classes that were put on by some of Indoff’s leading Vendors. The Partners got to learn about new selling opportunities as well as strengthen their relationships with key Vendors. Friday afternoon’s Vendor show featured over 100 displaying Vendors and afforded everyone a great opportunity to talk one-on-one with Vendors and learn about new products and opportunities.

Saturday was the final day of the National Sales Meeting. Indoff Corporate employees and Sales Partners shared their knowledge on various topics from social media to online ordering in breakout classes. The afternoon consisted of a few more classes and a general meeting for all of Indoff. The Sales Meeting concluded with an awards dinner celebrating the Partners that have excelled in the last year.

Overall, the Partners, Vendors, and the corporate staff in attendance really enjoyed themselves. One Indoff Sales Partner in particular agrees. “I love the fact that we have a sales meeting once every 18 months - not two and three a week,” Indoff Partner, Ken Hebert said. “Indoff values our time selling and doing what we do best. This company treats me like an adult, and I really like that!”

Robin Migdal, Indoff’s VP of Human Resources, thanked everyone in attendance. “I want to thank all of the Sales Partners and Vendors that took the time and made the investment to attend our sales meeting,” said Migdal. “It is YOU who made it the success it was!”

Indoff is excited and looking forward to the next National Sales Meeting in April 2014!

Hyster Company Looking for a Few Good Men, Women

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:17:38 +0100

This Veterans Day, Hyster Company continues looking to veterans of the U.S. armed forces for its dealers to grow their sales force. The company and its dealer network have been working with Snelling Search’s Military Division since November 2011, and to date, Hyster® dealers have hired 32 veterans through the program.

“Our veterans are skilled, dedicated, high-character, hard-working individuals, and we want them on our team,” said Jonathan Dawley, president of Hyster Distribution. “At Hyster, we know the value provided by employees who have served in the U.S. military. We are actively pursuing veterans to deliver the very best in materials handling equipment and service to the industry through our expansive dealer network. The pool of skilled veterans is an ideal labor force for our dealers as Hyster continues to be a leader the industry.”

Snelling Search was selected because of the military recruiting team’s ability to match skill sets to company culture for a long-term fit. Multiple rounds of candidates and hiring have resulted in dozens of filled positions at several levels throughout the Hyster® dealer network. Many of the newly hired veterans have attended the Hyster Sales Academy training program.

“Working with Snelling Search resulted in NITCO hiring multiple highly skilled sales professionals,” said Alan Hammersley, COO for Northland Industrial Trucks Company, Inc. (NITCO), a local Hyster dealer. “Our expectations were clearly exceeded, and we are now on our second hiring round.”

“MH appreciates the opportunity we’ve had to work with Snelling Search to recruit new sales personnel for our team,” said Fred Metzger, president of MH Equipment Company. “The Snelling team has gained an insightful understanding of MH’s culture and vision for qualified employment candidates, and provided a pre-screened pool of prospects from which we have made multiple hires.”

About Hyster Company
Based in Greenville, N.C., Hyster Company (www.hyster.com) is a leading worldwide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry — from 2,000 to 115,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features; accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support. Its Berea, Ky., manufacturing facility was honored with Plant Engineering’s prestigious 2011 Top Plant Award.

Hyster Company is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and its subsidiaries employ approximately 5,300 people worldwide.

Hyster and are registered trademarks of Hyster Company.

For more information, please contact:
Ryan Fisher
Jackson Marketing Group
864-272-3023
ryan.fisher@jacksonmg.com

Florida-based Cat Lift Truck Dealer Donates the Use of a Forklift to Local School

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:20:39 +0100

A Florida-based Cat® lift truck dealer recently donated the use of a forklift to a local high school, allowing students to receive hands-on instruction and gain the skills and experience necessary for a successful career in the logistics industry.

Ring Power Lift Trucks donated the use of a Cat lift truck 5,000 lb. capacity cushion tire truck to Columbia High School’s Global Logistics Academy in Lake City, Fla. in early October at an event with administrators and students, including Rebecca Golden, Columbia High School Global Logistics instructor.

“The forklift will allow our students to train and become forklift certified, making them more employable,” Golden said.

The Cat lift truck is valued at $20,000 and will be used in the school’s warehouse for the academic year. Outside groups will also use the truck to become forklift certified, providing additional income to sustain the program, Golden said.

“Proper training and education is crucial in the logistics industry, and the best way to learn is with hands-on instruction,” said Robert Burkhead, general manager, vice president of Ring Power Lift Trucks. “We’re proud to support Columbia High School students in preparing for a career in logistics with the donation of this Cat lift truck.”

Three years ago the Global Logistics Academy started with 53 students. Currently 124 students are enrolled in the program and many of them enter careers in the logistics field upon completion of the program. At the warehouse on campus, students receive books from First Book, an organization based in Washington D.C. that collects and donates books. When a shipment arrives, students receive the order, package the books and then distribute them throughout the country.

To learn more about Cat lift truck dealer Ring Power Lift Trucks and its recent forklift donation, please visit http://lifttrucks.ringpower.com/. For more information on Columbia High School’s Global Logistics Academy, visit http://chs-logistics.blogspot.com/.

Expanding in a Tough Economy with a New Warehouse and Pallet Rack

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:35:18 +0100

Despite the weak economy, or perhaps because of it, Distribution Inc., is expanding its business yet again. Recently, the Lincoln, Nebr.-based commercial warehouse and distribution center, built a new 62,000 sq. ft. warehouse and added over 10,000 pallet rack positions, for a total of about 200,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and 28,000 pallet positions.

“Our manufacturing customers depend on Just-in-Time inventory, yet cannot afford to waste resources on warehouses that may sit half full when demand fluctuates,” explains Bob Winter, Distribution Inc.’s President and CEO. “We offer them just the warehouse space they need, fully staffed and equipped on a 24/7 basis. With our truck fleet, we can typically deliver materials, parts, packaging, or finished goods to their end customers in the Midwest within a few hours.”

“To enable the efficient storage and distribution our customers need, we decided to build our new warehouse around the racking system,” says Winter. “We decided to blueprint the racking, then build the building around it. The pallet rack had to be strong, durable, and adaptable. It had to use all available storage space, as well as accommodate a range of customers and changing pallet sizes.”

For help integrating the right storage racking system with the warehouse building and required fork trucks, Distribution Inc. turned to Lift Solutions, a Midwest-based material handling systems provider that has implemented turnkey projects nationally.

Craig Zegers, the Lift Solutions Account Manager who helped with system integration, recommended and Distribution Inc. chose the SK2000 selective pallet rack, a boltless, closed tubular upright product by Steel King, a leading manufacturer of material handling and storage racking products.

Compared to open back roll formed columns, the closed tubular uprights are 44 times more torsion/twist resistant, with 250% greater frontal impact resistance and 68% greater side impact resistance. All beams are constructed of high-strength (55,000 p.s.i. minimum) steel, and holes are placed on the column's face, not the corners, minimizing strength loss.

“Steel King’s SK2000 pallet rack provided the strength we needed to maximize storage capacity, durability, and selectivity,” says Zegers. “With it we were able to install special 40-foot high rack uprights on one side, and 34-foot high rack uprights elsewhere in a building with a 45-foot high ceiling at its highest point. This enabled us to fit 10,000 selective pallet positions in a narrow aisle format, using Crown turret trucks, a man-up style forklift that allows picking and put away on both sides of the aisle.”

“We expect to be at least 20 percent more efficient in inventory, distribution, and delivery with the new warehouse and rack system,” adds Winter. “That means customers will get their product, packaging, or materials even faster, which is critical for Just-in-Time systems.”

The selective rack system’s boltless assembly also enables it to quickly adapt to changing storage needs, while minimizing maintenance down time.

“The rack’s boltless design makes it easy to adjust or reconfigure as needed, such as to change beam height for large items or allow for varying pallet sizes,” says Winter. “With this flexibility, we can meet the needs of a whole group of different customers. We can optimize for efficient storage and inventory of virtually any size or configuration, whatever the customer needs.”

Zegers adds, “Since the rack has a boltless design, it is not only easy to install and reconfigure but also to repair and replace, if rack damage occurs. This can cut the cost of maintenance while minimizing operational downtime.”

To make their storage racking system even more fork truck resistant, Distribution Inc. opted for Steel King Column Core column reinforcement, which can make the SK2000 pallet rack five times more impact resistant at the front corners and sides where the upright is the most vulnerable.

According to Zegers, column reinforcement on the bottom 72-inches of one portion of the rack provides added protection from fork truck damage without interfering with product put away or picking.

Because the pallet rack is powder coated rather than painted with enamel, it's 94% more resistant to chips and scratches.

"Our customers bring their customers to tour our new warehouse and racking,” says Winter. “Even the rack’s powder coat is part of a powerful first impression. And with the rack’s strength, durability, and adaptability, we know it will be optimizing the capacity, efficiency, and delivery of our customers’ inventory for a long time.”

For more info, contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; call 800-826-0203; email: dheemstra@steelking.com or visit the website www.steelking.com.

Two long-time leaders to be inducted into Rental Hall of Fame

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:08:39 +0100

Two long-time rental industry veterans were selected by the American Rental Association as the newest inductees into the Rental Hall of Fame. Robert C. Elmen of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Paul M. Coogan of Peoria, Ill., will be formally inducted during the keynote session on Feb. 11 at The Rental Show in Las Vegas.

The American Rental Association created the Rental Hall of Fame in 2000 to foster an appreciation of the historical development of the rental industry and the leaders who have made the industry what it is today. Each year, nominations are accepted to recognize individuals who have made a substantial impact on the industry at the national or international level. The induction ceremony is held during the keynote session at The Rental Show.

Robert C. Elmen
Robert Elmen is the owner of Elmen Enterprises and has been active in the rental industry for 49 years. His entire entrepreneurship can be seen in his leadership, industry commitment and impact, ingenuity and his personal commitment to his community and the equipment rental industry.

Elmen’s leadership has been demonstrated by the achievements and successes of his business ventures, as he believes in giving people the information, opportunity and platform from which to make choices that challenge themselves and their staff within individual businesses. He’s been responsible for 53 general rental stores, a rental software firm, and rent-to-own and mini storage businesses, plus had a television station interest and substantial property management initiatives. He created and operated all of this with a central office staff of eight located in Sioux Falls. He had a thin, flat management system that utilized field managers to make major decisions regarding their individual markets, stores, staff and future with operations in 11 different states.

Elmen’s impact on the rental industry can be seen through 40-plus years managing rental stores, where he grew his firm to become the largest privately owned general rental company in the U.S. He helped build the original United Rental franchise as well as the Nationwide trailer system. His impact additionally was felt with the designing and building of a rental computer software system for his stores, which he then shared with the industry. He also trained hundreds of managers who found careers in the rental industry.

It was ingenuity and foresight that drove Elmen’s business growth. He was able to foresee the impact of computers and installed IBM computer/cash registers in all his stores by 1977. He used his own rental stores to develop R.E.N.T.S. software for rental stores and offered it nationwide, resulting in 250 user stores. He developed Mail Order USA, which was a time-use versus time-out rental program for rural markets, as well as the flex rate program that automatically changed rental rates based on time and availability.

In addition to his businesses he wrote “Some Operational Aspects of the General Rental Industry” in 1966 in addition to articles for Rental Age and RENTAL MANAGEMENT magazines. He was recognized the “50 National Rental Leaders” list in 1963, was ARA Meritorious Service Award recipient in 1970, ARA Distinguished Service Award recipient in 1974 and ARA Region Six Person of the Year in 1990.

In 1999, he sold his rental stores to United Rentals. He currently is the owner of Mason City Rent All in Mason City, Iowa, and does contract bookkeeping for rental firms in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.

Elmen is committed to his community, as well as a U.S. Navy veteran. He is involved in his church and civic and community organizations, including Augustana College, Sioux Falls. He also an Augustana College Fellow.

Paul M. Coogan
Paul Coogan was the past president and CEO of Aggregate Equipment and Supply in Peoria, Ill., from 1958-1989. He is currently retired. Coogan started his rental company from scratch and grew it into a multi-state, multi-million dollar company with more than 12 branches in just a few years. He exemplifies integrity and drive and strives to be the best of the best in all he does.

Coogan’s leadership can be described as forward-leaning, which is demonstrated in his desire to embrace change and continuous improvement of the individual and the rental industry. He sought out ways to diversify Aggregate Equipment and Supply by looking for diverse employee candidates to nurture. He developed a formal manager trainee program for his new employees referred to as “Coogan College” that was an intensive week-long program covering all aspects of the rental business. In addition, he encouraged employees to continue their educations by providing reimbursement for business-related course work. This allowed him to have and grow an educated and loyal managerial workforce.

As president of the American Rental Association in 1985, Coogan was an outspoken proponent of the rental industry and made it a point to help others expand their operations successfully as he himself had done. During his term, he and his fellow directors put into place management procedures for continued growth of the industry and ARA. He strengthened ARA’s structure and program management to help point

Coogan’s ingenuity helped propel not only Aggregate Equipment but also the entire industry as a whole by thinking “outside the box.” Multiple stores and multiple state locations became a key to increasing equipment utilization. Marketing on a progressive scale was another of his beliefs.

The “one-stop shop” concept was another innovation of his that helped propel Aggregate and other rental stores to a higher level of profitability. The idea to build or erect one-source jobsite rental stores on or as near as possible to new building projects was part of his “mega project concept” that was incorporated by other rental businesses.

He also developed a plant shutdown and turnaround specialization idea that became very profitable for Aggregate and others. Coogan developed the idea of specialists versus generalists for both the rental and sales sides of the business. This concept showed that a rental store operation could compete with the very specialized stand-alone companies. In addition, safety and risk management were always at the top of mind in any business operation.

Coogan helped fund scholarships at the business school of Bradley University in Peoria and sponsored several of Bradley’s marketing students for internships. He believed in promoting from within and the use of incentives for his employees.

Coogan’s personal commitment to the industry is evident in the work he did while on the board of ARA as well as through Aggregate Equipment and Supply. His personal commitment to his community was done in quiet ways through leadership roles, service and without fanfare. He served on the Illinois Central College board of trustees, as well as local community and civic organizations and his church.

About the American Rental Association (ARA) – www.ararental.org
The American Rental Association, Moline, Ill., is an international trade association for owners of equipment rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment. ARA members, which include more than 8,500 rental businesses and nearly 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers, are located in every U.S. state, every Canadian province and more than 30 countries worldwide. Founded in 1955, ARA is the source for information, advocacy, risk management, business development tools, education and training, networking and marketplace opportunities for the rental equipment industry throughout the world.

5 Questions Every Fleet Management Program Must Answer

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:14:00 +0100

In today’s business world, most enterprise-level companies have some form of Fleet Management in place to track how they purchase and service rolling stock warehouse equipment such as lift trucks. Some companies rely on spreadsheets and manual data entry, while others have a modified ERP system in which fleet data tracking is tied into the company’s purchasing system. Most companies, however have signed up with one of many outsourced fleet management firms or a supply chain partner that offers the service in conjunction with equipment and maintenance services. Whether insourcing or outsourcing though, there are FIVE fundamental questions that an effective fleet management program must be able to answer to provide maximum results. Programs that do not answer these questions are not likely maximizing the fleet production potential and are probably leaving cost savings on the table.

How are maintenance dollars being spent, and what are the root operational causes?

While understanding how much is being spent on lift truck maintenance is important, it is only part of the story. The true power in tracking your maintenance spend comes in a breakdown analysis showing where the maintenance dollars are going. Only when repairs are categorized and detailed to help identify and eliminate root causes, will a true fleet management program succeed in affecting substantial changes in the total spend.

Is the fleet right-sized?

While it is common practice for most fleet management programs to produce hourly usage information, it is also an unfortunately common practice for the same programs to provide little more. Arguably the most potential for cost savings lies in the elimination of excess equipment. To achieve this, a fleet management program MUST provide specific recommendations as to which equipment can be stripped from the fleet without affecting operational uptime.

What is the return on investment?

Whether insourcing or outsourcing your fleet management, there are costs associated with dedicating resources to document and analyze fleet data. Just as companies expect a return on the investment they make in the fleet itself, a solid fleet management program should be able to readily show a similar return. While invoice auditing is one way to generate marginal savings, this approach to fleet management rarely pays for itself and often has adverse effects on supply chain relationships and invoicing. Most enterprise-level clients only realize an ROI when adopting programs that focus on fleet size optimization and root-cause analysis for maintenance spend.

Is there a baseline for fleet costs and is it accurate?

As painful as it may be for clients to hear, each application and often seemingly identical site locations can vary significantly in maintenance cost. This makes comparison across an entire organization somewhat difficult. While some fleet management approaches attempt to gloss over these differences, an ideal program will embrace them. A push for uniformity of rates and standardized repair times in order to make data analysis easier leaves potential cost savings on the table and masks site-specific issues. Look for a fleet management program that can handle difficult analyses of complex operational and market variations to come up with an accurate baseline against which your fleet can be reliably measured.

What are the hidden costs of the fleet management program?

Since the purpose of a fleet management program is to help companies uncover hidden costs, it may seem contradictory that implementing such a program can potentially have hidden costs of its own. One of the most common examples of this type of hidden costs comes from fleet management programs that use “invoice scrubbing” as a method for providing cost savings. When a third party holds up an invoice from a vendor for scrubbing in an effort to reduce the overall bill by a marginal amount, this can create major issues for the client. When an invoice is sent to a third party, it is immediately subject to the payment terms in the vendor/client contract. Invoice scrubbing is a very timely and contentious process that can add up to 2 MONTHS to the time an invoice actually gets paid. The net effect for many clients using a scrubbing service is missing the payment term window which often results in incurred late fees and can even affect the credit rating and viability of the third party, the client, or both! Additionally, the process of invoice scrubbing can transform an attractive service client into a financially risky relationship for top-tier service providers. The almost guaranteed significant delay in payment is enough to send the most qualified service providers with impeccable records for ensured uptime running for the hills!

Briggs Equipment
10550 N. Stemmons Frwy
Dallas, TX 75220
214/351-4511
www.briggsequipment.com

Americold Announces Xpedite: A New Expedited Transportation Service

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:15:00 +0100

Americold, the global leader in temperature controlled warehousing and logistics to the food industry, is introducing Xpedite, a 24/7 service providing coordination and expedited delivery of LTL and Full Truckload shipments. The Xpedite service is a useful tool that utilizes all modes of transportation to help shippers locate truck capacity for routine and urgent deliveries.

“There are many expedited service companies in the marketplace. What sets Americold apart is our focus and expertise in managing the transport of temperature-controlled product,” said Greg Bryan, Executive Vice President of Transportation at Americold. “The Americold network supports dry and temperature-controlled products while also providing an on-demand solution for shippers with urgent deliveries.”

About Americold
Americold is the global leader in temperature controlled warehousing and logistics to the food industry, offering the most comprehensive warehousing, transportation, and logistics solutions in the world. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Americold owns and operates 182 temperature-controlled warehouses, with over 1.1 billion cubic feet of storage, in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina and Canada. Americold’s warehouses are an integral component of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to consumers. Americold serves over 3,000 customers, and employs 12,000 associates worldwide.

More information about Xpedite is available at 1-888-843-4343. More information about Americold is available at www.americold.com.

Heli Americas Appoints New Dealer Development Manager

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:10:00 +0100

Heli Americas has appointed Bob Camp to the newly created position of Dealer Development Manager. Bob will work closely with Heli’s America’s team of Regional Marketing Managers and the Authorized Dealers to continue the rapid growth of Heli Americas in the US market. Bob comes to the position with over 30 years experience in the material handling industry having worked at both the OEM and dealer level. Bob’s experience will support the growth of Heli lift trucks by identifying new dealer candidates as well as working with existing dealers in the market.

Schneider Packaging Debuts E3 Robox Palletizer For Low Cost, Flexible, Portable, Small ...

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:15:31 +0100

Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc., specializing in end-of-line solutions for case packing and palletizing needs, exhibits its newest robotic palletizer, the E3 ROBOX at Pack Expo 2012, McCormick Place, Chicago, October 28-31, 2012, booth# 1228. Economic, efficient and easy to own, the E3 palletizer is the palletizing solution the market has been waiting for.

Designed with economy in mind, the E3 provides a simple and portable robotic end-of-line palletizing solution at a price point and small footprint that is easy to justify. The built in flexibility simplifies handling multiple SKUs, often without any mechanical changeover. As part of our ROBOX family of palletizers, the E3 unit is equipped with fork pockets and can be transported by fork truck between lines for fluctuating production demands.

A key feature is the small footprint. At 8 x 71/2 feet, the E3 fits into the same space as a manual palletizing station. Available with product labeling and bar code reading for product tracking applications, it’s ideal for pharmaceutical and food applications. The unit is also available with semi and full automatic pallet exchange and other options.

“With the introduction of the E3, Schneider now offers the broadest range of robotic palletizing solutions available today, from the small and economical E3 to fully integrated multi-line multi-SKU solutions delivering wrapped and labeled unit loads ready to ship,” indicates Terry Zarnowski, Director of Sales and Marketing.

ABOUT SCHNEIDER PACKAGING EQUIPMENT CO., INC.
Schneider manufactures a complete line of robotic palletizing, case packers, tray packers, specialty cartoning systems and completely integrated packaging solutions. Schneider is FANUC Robotics largest integrator for palletizing, case packing and cartoning in North America. Additionally, Schneider offers a variety of ancillary equipment such as case erectors, cartoners, conveyors, pallet dispensers, shuttle cars, automatic guided carts, and elevators that can easily be integrated with coding/labeling equipment, RFID / barcode scanners, weight checking, and stretch or shrink wrapping equipment to provide a complete turnkey system solution. Some specialty markets include pharmaceutical, food, beverage, industrial, tissue, paper, personal care, and replication industries.

Whatever the requirements, Schneider works to provide the best solution for any unique need. Schneider Packaging is a Certified Servicing Integrator, Authorized System Integrator, Certified Vision Specialist, and Strategic Market Specialist for FANUC Robotics as well as a Machine Builder partner in the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™ program. For more information on Schneider Packaging, contact our sales department by phone at (315) 676-3035, fax at (315) 676-2875, email sales@schneiderequip.com or visit www.schneiderequip.com.

Christie Provides Custom Built Solutions In 24 Hours By Increasing Manufacturing Efficiencies

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:10:37 +0100

If a picture is worth a thousand words, the visual displays created with Christie visual display solutions are immeasurable. Combining innovative engineering, advanced manufacturing and eight decades of experience Christie has a reputation of delivering superior, dependable visual display solutions and providing unprecedented levels of customer service and support.

Christie is a global visual technologies company offering diverse solutions for business, entertainment, visual environments and medical industries. With over 100,000 projection systems installed worldwide, Christie technologies include solutions for cinema, large audience environments, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and virtual reality, simulation, education, media and government.

The manufacturing facility in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada is the worldwide center for advanced manufacturing of all Christie DLP® projectors. With over 200,000 sq. ft of production floor space and 600+ employees, the certified ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 facility houses top of the line technology, equipment and employees. The manufacturing process is based on the Kaizen Lean Manufacturing philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement processes and the 5S methodology.

Meeting Customer Needs

Always looking to the future, Christie has recently started to expand into new markets and new territories. As the number of orders increased, so did production requirements. With production already at capacity and limited room for expansion, Christie installed two Shuttle VLMs from Kardex Remstar; recovering 70% floor space, doubling capacity and cutting labor requirements in half.

All Christie projection systems are configured to order, but customers were also demanding quick delivery times. While increasing capacity, Christie also sought to give their customers the best of both worlds: custom built projectors with 24-hour order turnaround time.

Room To Grow

With orders increasing, Christie needed to double the number of sub-assembled projectors they kept on hand. Previously, Christie maintained an inventory of 100 sub-assembled projectors, each stored on a cart that was two feet by three feet. "To double inventory with the previous cart system, we would have had to expand the area to make more room for 200 carts on the floor, buy more carts and hire more people," said Philip Hibberd, Sr. Manufacturing Engineer.

Taking a closer look at material flow throughout the manufacturing process it was evident that expanding the work in process area with carts would not fit the Christie Lean Manufacturing philosophy they had worked so hard to achieve. Christie looked for a solution that provided increased capacity, less floor space and more efficiencies.

Christie implemented two Shuttle XP VLMs, each currently holds 100 sub-assembled projectors. Both have room for more capacity, allowing inventory to increase based on sales projections. Including the work aisle, each Shuttle VLM occupies only 180 square feet, compared to the 600 square feet occupied by the previous cart system; provides a 70% floor space savings. Adding another VLM allowed Christie to double capacity and only occupy an additional 180 square feet. "The recovered floor space has been used to expand the sub-assembly process from 6 assembly stations to 9 assembly stations," said Hibberd.

Ergonomics & Safety

With each projector weighing in at approximately 52 pounds, worker ergonomics and safety is always a concern. "The projectors are very heavy and lifting them puts the employee at risk of injury and the projector at risk of damage," says Hibberd. Previously, projectors were stored on carts and the carts were often shuffled around to get to the one in the back. Employees were pushing and pulling carts all day long, leading to fatigue. Hoists were available to move projectors from a station to a cart and vice versa, but not all employees utilized the hoists.

Each VLM is equipped with automatic tray extraction and hoist is mounted at the access point. The projectors are stored closely together on the trays, making it difficult to access the sub-assembled projectors without using the ergonomic hoist.

Once the tray is delivered to the access opening it is automatically extracted (pushed) out onto an extraction table to easy access. When a projector is ready for picking, the operator uses the hand held controls to position the hoist near the desired projector. The operator hooks the hoist onto the projector and again using the hand held controls lifts the projector into the air, moves it over to the cart and lowers it down onto the cart.

The operator confirms the pick and the tray is returned into the VLM. The hoist is unhooked from the projector and the operator wheels the projector over to the work table just a few feet away. Using the VLM automatic extraction feature combined with the ergonomic hoist eliminates heavy lifting when retrieving the projector.

Improving Efficiencies

Previously, four workers were required to pick and finish the sub-assembled projectors. Using a FIFO (first in, first out) picking strategy, it took a worker an average of 15 – 20 minutes to find a projector. "The sub-assembled projectors all look the same, so the operator would need to check each serial number until they found the correct one," said Hibberd. With the VLMs, only two workers are required and the required projector is delivered to the worker in under a minute. Christie is retrieving the projectors over 90% faster with half of the labor.

The VLMs have also allowed Christie to vary labor requirements based on demand. When orders increase at the end of the month, they can add another person to the VLM area quickly and easily. Variable labor provides Christie increased productivity when they need it to meet increased demand.

How It All Works

Now, after projector models are sub-assembled and tested, they are delivered to the Shuttle VLM work in process area for storage. Projectors are received into the VLM inventory and stored by serial number and sub assembly date so that they can be easily identified for FIFO (first in, first out) picking later in the process.

Customer orders are received and processed through JD Edwards software and sent to the FastPic inventory management software that manages the VLM workstation. The operator in the work in process zone is tasked with identifying the correct sub assembled projector to the order by serial number, finishing the assembly work and delivering it to final electrical testing.

When ready, the operator processes the order with the click of a button and the VLM automatically presents the projector required. Since each projector is stored by serial number and sub-assembly date, the software picks the projectors in FIFO order.

Upon delivery, the tray is automatically extracted (pushed) out onto a table so that the operator can use an ergonomic hoist to lift the projector from the tray onto an assembly cart. Each tray has 4 to 5 locations within the tray, each identified with a location number. The FastPic inventory management software screen identifies the exact position in the tray the operator should retrieve the projector from. The operator retrieves the correct projector, and moves it to a cart using the ergonomic hoist. The cart is then wheeled over to the workstation where the operator customizes the projector based on the options the customer requires.

The completed projector is then delivered to electrical testing. Once electrical testing is completed, a UL approved label is applied and the projector is sent to shipping, where it is shipped to meet the 24-hour turnaround time that customers expect.

A LEAN Fit

"The VLMs fit nicely into the lean flow in our facility. From sub-assembly to testing to storage to configuration to verification testing to shipping- we strive for a lean process- cutting wasted time and effort from the process," said Hibberd.

Briggs Equipment Names New Vice President National Accounts

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:06:00 +0100

Briggs Equipment, one of the largest dealers of industrial and construction equipment in North America, is pleased to name Ross Pruett the company’s new Vice President of National Accounts.

In his role, Pruett will lead a team of senior executives charged with international and strategic business development within North America.

Before joining Briggs, Pruett served as the Senior Border Trade Advisor for the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce where he led strategic definition for the department’s work along the U.S. / Mexico border in trade facilitation and promotion.

With more than 15 years experience in global logistics, Ross has held executive roles with CEVA Freight and Brightpoint Europe specializing in multi-country, raw materials supply chain design, cross-border vendor managed inventory (VMI) programs, and pan-European retail channel distribution.

“We need a strong leader to help us continue to grow the Briggs Equipment brand,” said Mike Winemiller, President, Briggs Equipment. “I am certain that Ross’ expertise in global logistics and international business relations will help us position Briggs Equipment as the leading materials handling equipment company in North America.”

Pruett began his career selling Raymond narrow warehouse equipment and systems installation services throughout the Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico.

Ross holds a Master’s of Science in Accounting and Information Management received from The University of Texas at Dallas as well as a Bachelors of Arts in Latin American Studies from Baylor University.

Ross is a decorated veteran having served in the U.S. Army as a Latin American Cryptologic Intelligence Linguist. He lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Ronda. They have a son Andrew who lives in Oregon.

MSE-Forks Opens Subsidiary in the U.S.A.

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:05:00 +0100

MSE-Forks is proud to announce the opening of a new fully owned subsidiary in the United States of America. MSE recently acquired the assets of Reachable Solutions, LLC which was originated by Mike Yacks in 2008. Mike and his wife, Jodi, have now joined the MSE team and will run the US operation under the new name, MSE-Forks, Inc.

Mike Yacks joins our organization having nearly 30 years of experience within the material handling industry, plenty of which has been with our products. Mike has been involved with sales of Kooi-ReachForks® since 1989! He created Reachable Solutions in 2008 and became the exclusive US distributor for MSE. Mike’s previous experience included over 20 years with Atlet and 5 years with BT, both forklift manufacturers. His wife Jodi joins our team with 30 years of administration and finance expertise. We’re pleased to have them working directly for our organization.

Sales of MSE products within the United States have increased dramatically over the past four years. “We’ve enjoyed an annual growth rate of over 35% since we began”, says Yacks, “and we don’t foresee it slowing down. After all, a weakened economy forces companies to take a closer look at the fundamental aspects of their operations and to seek out new ways to reduce costs. Products such as telescopic Kooi-ReachForks®, which can be used to increase storage density using conventional lift trucks or for multi-pallet transport, can help these companies drastically reduce their operational costs without heavy investment”.

MSE-Forks, Inc. is based out of Western North Carolina and is situated to serve America’s primary industrial States as well as the growing Southeast automotive and distribution corridor. Plans are already in the works for hiring additional personnel to serve the countries west coast.

Tiffany Jackson to Support WTS Membership Growth Worldwide

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:49:00 +0100

Tiffany Ann Jackson of Milwaukee, WI, has been hired by WTS International, the association for the advancement of women in transportation, as its Director of Chapter Development. With more than 16 years of association experience, Jackson is charged with bolstering the association’s current 49 chapters with enhanced support programs while seeking additional opportunities within the industry to implement WTS International’s global expansion strategy.

“With the proliferation of transportation and infrastructure initiatives throughout the US and the world, WTS has seen a 22% growth of its membership in just the past two years, despite this period of economic uncertainty and high unemployment overall. To keep pace with this growth, we’ve created the Chapter Development Director role and look forward to Jackson taking the lead,” said WTS President and CEO, Marcia Ferranto. For Ferranto, continuing to build value for members while simultaneously serving more regions where transportation projects are beginning or are well underway, as in Brazil and Johannesburg, South Africa, are an integral part of WTS International’s five-year growth plan.

Jackson has worked for both large and small associations in various capacities including membership management, volunteer-board relations, association branding, and conference development. Prior to joining WTS, Jackson was the Global Member Development Manager for ASQ Global, a subsidiary of the American Society for Quality (ASQ). While at ASQ Global she worked with volunteers and member-driven teams to develop international member units in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. She’s travelled to 25 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, and Qatar. She will be assuming her role with WTS on November 8, 2012.

WTS International, headquartered in Washington, DC, is an international organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the transportation industry. With more than 5,000 members, WTS seeks to attract, retain, and advance through its professional programs, networking opportunities, and unparalleled access to industry and government leaders. More information can be found at www.WTSinternational.org.

Indoff Welcomes New Sales Partners

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:47:00 +0100

After a successful third quarter, Indoff is proud to welcome 13 new Sales Partners to the company. So far this year, Indoff has added 51 Sales Partners to their team of four hundred. Indoff’s Partners are spread throughout the nation and make up five divisions: Business Products, Commercial Interiors, Commercial Printing, Material Handling and Promotional Products. They are happy to be adding to the team and are excited to see their Partners - new and old - continue to flourish.

Indoff is headquartered in St. Louis, MO and has Sales Partners located throughout the United States and Mexico. Indoff has been serving the needs of the industry and the office for 41 years and counting.

Exel Opens New Distribution Center In Laredo, Texas, To Support U.S. ...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:47:46 +0100

Exel, part of the supply chain division of the global logistics leader DHL, announces the grand opening of a 250,000-square-foot distribution center in Laredo, Texas to support the company’s Logistics Without Borders supply chain solution. The facility has produced nearly 100 jobs to date in the Laredo community. Grand opening activities are planned at the facility on Oct. 12, with an associate and family event on Oct. 13.

The Laredo facility is a half mile from the U.S./Mexico border, and serves as a hub for Exel and DHL Supply Chain’s Logistics Without Borders solution. This end-to-end supply chain solution incorporates several industry sectors and provides customers with one-stop access to the tools, expertise and services necessary for cross-border commerce. The facility is a multi-client, multi-industry operation that supports customer supply chains on both sides of the border. Current customers include Sensata, Flextronics, Daimler Truck, Vitromex and BOS.

“With the cost advantages of traditional offshoring increasingly offset by rising wages and transportation costs, U.S. companies are looking for opportunities to bring supplier operations closer to home. This facility is a major step in Exel/DHL Supply Chain’s strategy to do just that,” said Luis Eraña, Exel’s president for the technology, aerospace and service logistics industries. “With more than five million truck containers crossing the U.S./Mexico border per year, and with a historical growth rate of 3.9 percent, Laredo offers a perfect location for Exel and DHL Supply Chain.”

This new site, which averages 3,600 outbound loads per month, will bring further integration and expanded capabilities for Exel and its customers in an area of the world vital to global trade. Capabilities offered at the facility include comprehensive managed transportation services, cross-docking, U.S. and Mexico customs brokerage, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), and value-added services such as classification. These logistics services are backed by an integrated and bilingual information technology platform that tracks inventory, facilitates and exchanges documentation, and connects into the customs clearance process.

The Logistics Without Borders facility includes sustainability design elements such as energy efficient lighting, sky lights, low-flow plumbing, a white roof system, storm water runoff containment, and a recycling program. The company has applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the site. If received, it will be the first LEED-certified distribution center in Exel’s North American real estate network and in the city of Laredo.

“Moving goods across the U.S./Mexico border is a necessity for many of our customers, however, working across the border can present challenges with things like security, customs compliance and border congestion, to name a few,” said Eraña. “This facility gives us the opportunity to leverage our cross-border expertise, while at the same time, giving our customers a best-in-class option when it comes to supply chain services at the U.S./Mexico border.”

To read more about the challenges and opportunities associated with cross border logistics, visit exel.com to read Exel’s most recent white paper “Globally Local: The New Face of Right-Shoring.”

SencorpWhite Announces the introduction of an integrated RFID enabled MicroVert to their White ...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:16:35 +0100

SencorpWhite, the industry leading designer and manufacturer of advanced systems for secure packaging and logistics, announces the introduction of an integrated RFID enabled MicroVert to their White brand automated storage and retrieval system portfolio at Promat. Visit us at ProMat 2013, held January 21-24 at Chicago's McCormick Place in booth 4808, and discover our latest solutions to move your business forward.

The new MicroVert boasts integrated RFID hardware and software, automatic door, and ergonomic product counter. Integrated RFID provides two distinct operations including real-time put-and-pick verification and cycle counting. Utilizing the RFID enabled MicroVert, stock transactions can be securely and accurately monitored without operator intervention, and inventory can be audited on-demand in as little as 30 seconds. MicroVert’ RFID antenna is imbedded in the removable counter, offering real-time 24/7 automatic verification of all transactions in and out of the MicroVert, ensuring comprehensive control and continuous visibility of inventory transactions. A single panel automatic door slides open enabling access secured inventory. Our revolutionary carousel system and integrated software offer the health care industry the ability to manage inventory visibility, lot codes, serial numbers, product expiration, and recalls in real time, addressing the perpetual problem of managing consignment inventory, theft, misplacement, dispensing errors, and stock levels, virtually eliminating human error.

Please contact us for additional information at 508.771.9400 X 7348

Flight Systems Industrial Products And Navitas Vehicle Systems Inc. ...

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:28:50 +0100

Navitas Vehicle Systems Incorporated (NVS), a leading manufacturer of electric vehicle control systems for battery and hybrid powered vehicles, and Flight Systems Industrial Products (FSIP), a leading provider of remanufacturing services for electric vehicle control systems, have agreed to an Aftermarket Servicing Agreement, effective immediately.

Under terms of the agreement, FSIP will be the exclusive North American remanufacturing facility for NVS. Through this partnership, FSIP will supply the aftermarket industry with certified remanufactured NVS electric vehicle control systems. This will support and bring additional value to the OEM customers of NVS, having ready access to a lower-cost, high-quality remanufactured system and extend the legacy of their products.

ABOUT NVS
Accelerated Systems Inc. (ASI) purchased the Navitas controller line in 2009. While they have fine-tuned the name, (ASI products by Navitas) they will supply the same product, performance, quality and industry support that Navitas customers have experienced. NVS products and integrated systems are used in battery and alternative-powered vehicles across multiple applications. These include: industrial and commercial vehicles such as forklift trucks, aerial platforms (scissors and booms), airport ground support equipment (GSE), golf carts, scooters and other special-purpose industrial electric vehicles. Navitas produces patented controller products and software algorithms, as well as customized designs developed specifically for large, medium and small OEMs as well as a complete offering of electrical drive components.

ABOUT FSIP
FSIP has been a leading remanufacturer of industrial controls for over 40 years. With more than 6,000 part numbers available, the company annually remanufactures over 45,000 controls used on electric and gas-powered vehicles, primarily forklifts, aerial lifts, personnel carriers and golf carts, along with scrubber/sweepers, walkies, tuggers, wire guidance systems, scooters, mining cars, go-karts and electric boats.

These controls include SCR, transistorized, SX, AC, traction and pump controls, DC/DC converters, accelerators, dash displays, control handles, BDIs, VCMs utilizing CAN bus, accessory cards, battery chargers and ECUs for combustion engines.

CUSTOM DESIGN: American Crane & Equipment Corporation Completes Installation of Underhung ...

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 06:57:00 +0100

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has completed installation of a custom Underhung Crane System built for the new Boeing Manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina.

American Crane is located in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. American Crane is a custom crane supplier specializing in engineered products for aerospace, commercial nuclear, DOE nuclear, naval facilities, and automated systems, and is known for tackling unique “critical lift” applications. American Crane also performs repairs, inspections, retrofits, and on-site maintenance as well as the sale of spare parts and standard equipment.

This project included the design, manufacture and installation of an 80 ton capacity custom Underhung Crane System with multiple bridges. These bridges can be interlocked to allow the trolley (carrier) to be transferred from one bridge to another throughout the system. The 460 x 1000 ft. building is designed without columns, which allows 100% accessibility from the crane system.

Project Highlights:

Crane system has 14 bridges and three (3) trolleys (carriers).
The system has three (3) trolleys (carriers) that have the ability to rotate +/- 180 degrees. Each trolley (carrier) features two (2) single girder cranes supporting two (2) hoists each, for a total of ur (4) 10 ton hoists. Each hoist has its own trolley allowing for movement of the hoist in all directions.
The controls system has infinite position possibilities providing precision control. This allows lifting objects of various shapes with difficult centers of gravity.
The operator chair is located in the carrier, complete with color touch screen, providing critical real-time information about the crane systems to the operators.
Runway contains 3.6 million pounds of steel.
The system includes 1,216 bridge wheels.
Total length of flexible cables for the bridge and three (3) carriers: 34,200 ft (over 6 miles).
Complex installation was completed by assembling the bridge on the floor. A custom lifting device aided in lift actions and also served as a transport structure.

For more information visit www.americancrane.com

Equipment for Forklift Trucks: American Crane offers Detachable Vacuum Lifting Systems that can ...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:56:29 +0100

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, offers Cargo Lift detachable vacuum systems and free standing vacuum lifters that are ideal for industries including Steel, Automotive, Chemical, Cargo/Air-Freight, Furniture, Food, Beverage, Wine, Beer, and many more.

Vacuum Lifters and Manipulators can lift objects weighing a few pounds to several tons. Their smooth action with pads designed for specific applications, makes them easy to operate increasing efficiency and reducing the labor costs associated with production, lead and delivery time. Vacuum lifters be can be free standing or attached to a forklift truck and reduce the time spent loading boxes, pails, drums, sheets of material, kegs, barrels, and drums to a pallet; while ensuring the safety of the operator and load. Using vacuum power can considerably reduce the number of injuries suffered on the job.

American Crane & Equipment Corporation is located in Douglassville, Pennsylvania approximately 45 miles west of Philadelphia. This overhead lifting company is known for tackling unique “critical lift” applications and specializes in engineered products for aerospace, commercial nuclear, DOE nuclear, and automated systems industries. American Crane sells spare parts, manufactures standard and custom equipment, and also performs on-site equipment inspections, repairs, retrofits, and maintenance.

From complex custom overhead lifting equipment to standard equipment, components and parts, American Crane can meet all your material handling needs, large or small. For more information on our AL-VAC products visit us online at www.americancrane.com.

ESAB Brings New Products And Processes To 2012 IMTS

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:18:00 +0100

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products showcased several new products and innovative processes at the 2012 IMTS event in Chicago. Held September 10-15, 2012, more than 100,000 people attended the International Manufacturing Technology Show – one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world.

ESAB Cutting Systems featured the latest in plasma and CNC integration while demonstrating its unique under water plasma cutting capability. A Sabre DXG gantry shape cutting machine was equipped with the Vision T5 CNC and ESAB’s m3 Plasma™ system, and showed off the benefits of Precision Hole Technology, Smart Voltage Height Control, and the new SmartCycle Technology.

ESAB Automation showcased the MechTrac automated welding gantry equipped with the Integrated Cold Electrode (ICE) welding head, the AVPS Laser Seam Tracking System for positioning accuracy, and the new Aristo 1000 AC/DC power supply, which allows operators to switch from AC to DC on the fly. Other live demonstrations included ESAB’s new Swift Arc Technology (SAT) process and new Robotic RT welding torches – both new additions to ESAB’s robotic welding line of equipment.

At IMTS 2012, ESAB demonstrated a comprehensive product and process portfolio that provides solutions for nearly every industry and application. ESAB’s range of equipment and filler metals is suited for small job shops, large-scale production environments, and everything in-between.

With more than 100 years of experience, ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most skilled manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing customized solutions for their customers. For more information, visit www.esabna.com or call 1-800-ESAB123.

Steel King Hosts Annual Steel King University - SKU

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:24:15 +0100

Steel King Industries Inc., the industry’s leader in providing quality material handling solutions since 1970, recently held its second annual Steel King University (SKU) for Excalibur Dealers.

Steel King University’s (SKU) focus is on training Excalibur Dealers salesmen throughout the country on trends in the material handling industry, Steel King product lines and proven sales techniques. This year’s Steel King University was held the week of September 10th at Steel King’s headquarters in Stevens Point, WI.

Fifteen Excalibur Dealer salesmen from ten different states attended SKU. Attendees had a broad range of industry experience, from new in the material handling industry to veterans of many years. They were put through a rigorous three days of industry trends, product training, plant tours, product demonstrations, hands-on learning activities, and real world exercises. Steel King University culminated with a final exam and graduation.

In addition to the rigorous course work, attendees were treated to a private tour of historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

Feedback from participants of SKU has been fantastic. Graduates of the program left with increased knowledge of Steel King and market trends, while also making many new industry friends.

Steel King plans on running its SKU program on an annual basis. SKU is open to all Steel King Excalibur Dealers. For more information on Steel King or Steel King University, please contact Donald Heemstra, Director of Marketing, Steel King Industries Inc at dheemstra@steelking.com

Ingersoll Rand Launches Photo Contest to Find Oldest Compressor and Tool

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:22:54 +0100

Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, is looking to fill in their product family tree with photos of the oldest, still-functioning, Ingersoll Rand tools and air compressors. The submission of the oldest air compressor will win a Garage Mate Single-Stage Air Compressor, and the oldest tool entry will receive a new cordless drill.

To enter, go to the Ingersoll Rand Facebook page (facebook.com/ingersollrand) and click on the “photo contest” app to fill out the contest entry form. The photos will be added to the Ingersoll Rand online family scrapbook, and all participants with valid entries will receive T-shirts while supplies lasts.

The contest kicked off Monday, September 17, and officially ends Dec. 30, 2012. Participants may enter in one or both the air compressor and tool categories. Grand prize winners will be announced on December 31.

“From 1904 when Ingersoll-Sergeant drills helped build the Panama Canal, to 1927 when our air compressors helped build Mount Rushmore, our story has been intertwined with history,” said Jennifer Eckert, marketing manager – Americas service solutions, Ingersoll Rand. “We want to give customers a chance to share the stories behind the tools and air compressors that have been with them throughout the years. We will update the family scrapbook on a regular basis throughout the contest so that others can also see and read the stories and history behind these trusted products.”

For more details and contest rules, visit facebook.com/ingersollrand.

To view other fan-submitted photos in the family scrapbook, visit blog.ingersollrandproducts.com/blog/uncategorized/ingersoll-rand-family-scrapbook/.

Lista Showcases New And Improved Workspace Tool Storage And Workbench Solutions At IMTS 2012

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:17:00 +0100

Lista International Corporation announces that it will be showcasing an innovative lineup of new and improved workspace tool storage and workbench solutions at IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2012, to be held at Chicago’s McCormick Place Sept. 10-15, 2012. Find Lista products on display at booth W-2251. Lista helps manufacturing facilities operate at peak efficiency with a comprehensive range of workspace solutions, from perishable and CNC tool storage to a full line of workbenches.

On display will be a Mini Mezzanine that maximizes usable storage footprint, a Storage Wall®System featuring an entirely new aluminum slat tambour door, double bank Technician Series toolboxes, and Align®adjustable-height workstations with the Nexus system of above-worksurface accessories and modular components. Lista will also exhibit sturdy tool carts and mobile cabinets that combine versatile mobility with secure storage.

Lista’s Mini Mezzanine takes advantage of all available height in a storage area and is a cost-effective alternative to building an additional floor or adding square footage. Comprised of stacked Lista high density storage cabinets, it is ideal for storing everything from maintenance and repair parts and supplies to perishable tooling and CNC tooling.

Introduced at IMTS is the new tambour door for the Lista Storage Wall® System, with a double wall foam-filled aluminum slat design that increases door strength.The new aluminum slat design lowers door weight and makes it easy for operators to open and close the door.

The Technician Series of tool storage boxes on display offers the largest capacity, most durable boxes on the market, at an affordable price. The toolboxes feature a rugged design backed by a lifetime warranty. All drawers are full extension, with a 440 pound capacity.

Call or write to us at: Lista International Corporation, 106 Lowland Street, Holliston, MA 01746 USA; TEL 800/722-3020; FAX 508/626-0353; email sales@listaintl.com. Visit Lista’s web site at www.listaintl.com.

Wynright Client Care Team Expands World Class Aftermarket Services

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:16:00 +0100

Wynright Corporation, a leading independent, U.S.-based provider of intelligent material handling systems, today announced the launch of Wynright Client Care, a new business unit dedicated to providing aftermarket value-added services designed to enhance its clients’ post-implementation experience.

The Client Care Team operationalizes and enhances the aftermarket services Wynright has traditionally offered its clients. It will complement Wynright’s existing integration teams to build long-term relationships with IT, operations and maintenance staff at the facility level.

“Wynright has been providing market-leading engineering expertise and innovative solutions in intelligent material handling for our clients for 40 years,” said John Dillon, who will lead the Wynright Client Care Team. “With the launch of the Wynright Client Care Team, our clients’ IT operations and maintenance staff will be able to access our team’s expertise to get faster and more complete answers to support issues. We understand the importance of maximizing the productivity of their material handling systems.”

In the coming year, Wynright clients will be able to access a secure web-based dashboard that provides a single source for all of their aftermarket service needs. Permission-based access will even allow clients with multiple facilities to access custom data for each specific facility from the same dashboard. Currently, clients contact the Wynright Client Team directly through a toll-free number, 1-888-WYN-0099, for assistance with technical and parts support, as well as field and dedicated on-site services. A new feature, “Ask a Wynright Expert,” will also provide online help service and is accessible via email at Client.support@wynright.com

The Client Care Team will apply the latest technological advances through the Wynright support center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, including monitoring of client facilities through the use of on-site DVR camera systems and Wynright’s Guardian Pro-Active software. Wynparts.com, Wynright’s equipment parts marketplace, will also be expanded to address parts requests for Wynright-provided systems.

In addition to providing post-installation support, the Client Care Team will work with the Wynright integration teams during the project engineering phase, with responsibility for creating all client dashboard content in order to ensure a smooth transition from the implementation to support phases. The dashboard content is system specific and will include comprehensive information, including CAD and PDF files, the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) source code, parts lists, and other pertinent materials.

“The Client Care Team is just the latest example of how Wynright is committed to making our clients’ lives easier, from initial project implementation right through to completion, and beyond.” said Kevin Ambrose, CEO of Wynright Corporation. “Our goal is to provide a level of professional services that is unequalled in our industry. We continually work to help Wynright clients maintain and protect their material handling systems, thereby optimize the value of their investments.”

About Wynright
Wynright Corporation is the nation’s leading independent, U.S.-based provider of intelligent material handling systems. With more than 200 engineers in-house, the company designs, manufactures, integrates and installs the full spectrum of intralogistics solutions, offering both Wynright-branded and third-party equipment to meet customer needs. These include leading-edge conveyor and sortation systems, voice- and light-directed order fulfillment equipment, a suite of warehouse controls and execution software, robotics, mezzanines, and structures, all backed by critical round-the-clock service and support.

Since its founding in 1972, Wynright has been a trusted partner to some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies, showing them how to use their space more efficiently to deliver improved productivity, today and tomorrow. For more information on our services, technology and product portfolio, please visit www.wynright.com.

AEM Annual Conference: Equipment Industry ‘Difference Makers’ Share Strategies for Business ...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:15:00 +0100

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) upcoming annual conference will examine market challenges, economic trends, global pressures and changes in the political scene. The goal: help attendees strengthen their roles as difference makers.

The AEM Annual Conference will be held November 7-9 (Wednesday – Friday) at the Terranea Oceanfront Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Additional networking events are offered November 10 (Saturday).

The event is the leading education and networking gathering for senior executives in the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. Keynotes, presentations, panel discussions and breakout sessions will focus on the “= difference” conference theme.

Lend Ideas, Take Ideas: Keep the Difference Advantage Going

Brad Meltzer, New York Times best-selling author, opens the conference. As host of History Channel’s “Decoded,” he’s studied the stories of heroes and will explore how attendees can “attain your vision: tap the power to succeed.”

With the just-held presidential election, two White House confidantes with opposing philosophies will discuss results and ramifications: Robert Gibbs, longtime advisor to Barack Obama, and Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to George W. Bush.

Sam Allen, chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, will speak on the risks and rewards of serving a growing global population and the challenges manufacturers face in meeting those needs.

Industry economic experts on the “Be Prepared” panel will examine multiple economic trends affecting the off-road equipment industry: Don Johnson, chief economist, Caterpillar Inc.; J.B. Penn, chief economist, Deere & Company; Andy Kaplowitz, vice president, Barclays Capital/Lehman Brothers; and Matt Simon, Portfolio Manager, Global Equities.

Breakout sessions led by AEM member company executives include: Julian Archer of Infor on a holistic approach to manufacturing and aftermarket service, Brian Barlow of BMG on sustainability program developments that affect the construction supply chain and Jake Gaylord of Almon Inc. on proactive management of intellectual property assets.

Peter Zeihan of geo-political intelligence provider STRATFOR will share fresh insights into geo-politics, economic power and the changing world order. And Carl Cannon of the Peoria (Illinois) Park District will share his inspiring story of positive change: he helps at-risk children evolve into productive adults who contribute to reducing industry workforce needs.

Boosting AEM Member Engagement

A special education session and networking events will facilitate more member engagement and help companies get optimum value from their AEM membership.

During the conference, AEM will conduct its Annual Business Meeting, with election of directors, recognition of longtime member companies and progress reports on AEM’s business and advocacy programs and strategic plan initiatives to meet evolving member needs. AEM will also hold its annual AEMPAC fundraising gala and AEM Hall of Fame induction ceremony and celebration.

Details and online registration are available in the Education section of the AEM website www.aem.org.

Join the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:11:46 +0100

Following the success of last year’s Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, Cintas Corporation has launched a second annual campaign to recognize individuals in the U.S. and Canada who withstand the toughest winter working conditions. Contestants are encouraged to share their stories and explain why Carhartt workwear is essential to their jobs at www.cintas.com/carharttcoldcrew for their chance to win free merchandise and a grand prize trip for two.

Entries will be accepted now through February 28, 2013, at which time Cintas and Carhartt will select finalists and begin public voting at the contest website. The grand prize winner will be announced in April, and he or she will enjoy a trip for two to the 2013 CMA Music Festival. Check out the 2012 CMA Music Festival 8/7c on Sept. 17 on ABC.

About Cintas Corporation
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

About Carhartt, Inc.
Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium work wear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged apparel for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,400 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company‘s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.

Heavy Lift Leader Stertil-Koni Announces Five-Step Plan for Safe, Successful Vehicle Lifting in ...

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:46:00 +0100

As the mining industry – both surface and subsurface – becomes increasingly reliant on heavy-duty hydraulics for vehicle cleaning and maintenance, vehicle lift leader Stertil-Koni today announced a five-step plan to ensure that lifts are properly installed and will function properly for years. In a recent analysis of the mining industry, Peter Bowers, Technical Support Manager at Stertil-Koni, stated, “The mining industry is heavy by design and aggressive by environment. When dirt and debris adhere to large mining vehicles, they can overheat and breakdown much more quickly. Therefore, conducting routine maintenance and cleaning vehicles on-schedule will improve not only their fuel efficiency but keep them operational for a longer period of time.”

Based on its industry experience, Stertil-Koni recommends the following five-step program when planning for the implementation and use of heavy duty lifts in the mining industry:

Evaluate the fleet and determine how the vehicles are utilized in and around the mine: It is critical that maximum weight calculations are considered up front.
Conduct site evaluations above and below ground in advance: For subsurface lift use, understand how the lift or lifts will need to travel through a shaft to be subsequently assembled inside the mine.
Carefully inspect the location in which the lift will be installed: This ensures that the dimensions of the space are adequate. Pay particular attention to the ceiling height, thus permitting the lift to operate to full lifting height.
Conduct load tests: Ensure lifts are tested at the manufacturer to 150% capacity for added safety margin.
Ensure the lift machinery selected can safely withstand the rigors of the underground environment: Lifts with hot galvanized finish are recommended for use in mining operations to protect against corrosion.

Concluded Bowers, “To maintain a successful lift operation in both surface and subsurface mining there must be careful planning, close consultation with the mining operation and meticulous fabrication followed by routine maintenance of the heavy duty lifting equipment.”

About Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
Stertil-Koni is the global market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts – bus lifts and truck lifts – and is the preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. Stertil-Koni's breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes mobile column lifts, two-post, four-post, in-ground piston lifts, parallelogram lifts, half-scissors and the innovative axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor lift configuration. Stertil-Koni has recently introduced DIAMOND LIFT, a full rise telescopic piston lift designed to set new standards in precision heavy duty lifting performance, durability, ease of use and environmental containment. In the U.S., under the leadership of Dr. Jean DellAmore, Stertil-Koni USA, Inc. has achieved double-digit annual sales growth every year since its incorporation in Maryland in 1997. The company was recently awarded US Patent 8,191,865 for its innovative ECOLIFT heavy duty scissor lift. Stertil-Koni U.S.A. is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland and has a major manufacturing facility in Streator, Illinois.

For more information contact Stertil-Koni USA, Inc. at 800/336-6637 or visit

www.stertil-koni.com

Briggs Equipment Launches New Website

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:45:52 +0100

Briggs Equipment, one of the largest dealers of industrial and construction equipment in North America, has launched a new website that promises to enhance the visitor experience.

The new site, www.briggsequipment.com, offers dramatic improvements in appearance and navigation.

“As we continue to expand our offerings and our operations globally, we realized the need for an easy to use, high-quality website,” says Andy Pollock, Marketing Director, Briggs Equipment. “In addition to providing visitors with insight into our innovative materials handling and warehouse solutions, it also gives them instant access to our online catalog and makes finding a local distributor almost effortless.”

The new website also offers a multimedia section where visitors can access videos and blogs to learn more about the company, it’s culture and it’s offerings.

Enhancements to www.briggsequipment.com include:

Improved navigation
One-click distributor locator
Multimedia library
Easy access to Briggs Equipment online catalog
Detailed information about rental equipment and convention services offerings

Sunbelt Industrial Trucks and Narrow Aisle, Inc. acquired by SBNA Holdings, Inc. ...

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:44:13 +0100

Sunbelt Industrial Trucks and Narrow Aisle, Inc. announced today that they have been acquired by a newly formed holding company, SBNA Holdings, Inc. Coincidentally with the acquisition, 33.3% of SBNA shares were sold to the employees of both companies via an ESOP, 3% of the shares were sold to a management team, and original founders Warren Cornil and Bill Rowan hold the remaining shares, 31.85% each. Financial terms of the transaction were not made public.

Cornil and Rowan, both 62, remain fully engaged in the day to day business of both companies and will remain so for years to come. The leveraged ESOP is their long term strategy to exit the businesses. The deal was formally closed on the 27th of August, effective as of the 1st of April of this year.

About Sunbelt Industrial Trucks

Sunbelt was founded by Cornil and Rowan, and opened for business on 1 September, 1987 with each holding 50% of the shares. On the 1st of September of this year the company celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Sunbelt is engaged in the sale of new and used forklifts, locally, nationally, as well as internationally, and has been recognized as the largest Komatsu forklift dealer in the USA almost since inception. In addition to forklift sales, Sunbelt services all brands of forklifts, is a major distributor of forklift parts, and rents forklifts both short and long term. A branch was opened in Houston, TX in September of 2004. The company signed an agreement to represent the Nissan forklift line in North and Central, Texas, late in 2011. Other brands represented include Flexi, TCM and Big Joe. Sunbelt is 1 of only 22 dealers in the USA to be recognized as an MVP by MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association), an industry trade group, and the only dealer so recognized in Texas.

About Narrow Aisle, Inc.

Narrow Aisle was founded early in the year 2000 by Cornil, Rowan and two other associates. In 2004, Cornil and Rowan purchased 100% of the shares which were then held 50% each. Narrow Aisle purchased the exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights to the Flexi for North, Central & South America, from Narrow Aisle Ltd. of Great Bridge, UK, the original designer and manufacturer. The Flexi is an articulating, very narrow aisle forklift, which increases the cubic utilization of existing warehouse space by 25%-50% when compared to reach trucks or conventional forklifts. The Flexi is marketed from the company headquarters in Dallas through a dealer network in the Americas.

3 Managers Invest

Key associates Matt Maddock, George Munford and Joe Nolan each acquired 1% of the shares of SBNA. Maddock, a 17 year employee, has spent his entire career at Sunbelt and has an extensive background in forklift sales. Munford, a 5 year employee, has a very strong 23 year background in forklift dealership operations and service management. Nolan, a CPA, has been employed for a little over a year as the controller for both companies, but has known the founders for over 30 years in various capacities with public accounting firms. The three are expected to be the long term management team.

Why an ESOP?

In an interview, both Rowan and Cornil were candid about their decision to utilize an ESOP and their plans for the future. “It’s a trite expression, but the ESOP is a win for all parties concerned, our co-workers, our customers, our suppliers, and for Warren and me personally”, said Rowan. “Our co-workers, who helped us reach this milestone, will ultimately own the majority shares of the company which will allow them to prosper as they continue to provide the best products, the best service, and the strongest customer support available in the forklift industry” he went on to say. Cornil added “During our research into ESOPs, we learned that employee owned companies typically outperform their peers by 30% regardless of the industry involved, because each person has a personal stake in the business. From now on, anytime a customer or supplier speaks to any of our associates they will be dealing with an owner of the company.” Rowan and Cornil remain under employment contracts, and expect to be actively involved in the businesses over the next 8 years as they transition to the new management team, and sell the remainder of their shares in two more stages. Both Rowan and Cornil were profuse in thanking their many customers. They issued a joint statement to close their comments. “Many of our customers, and some of our employees and vendors, have been with us since the inception of our companies. We owe it to them as well as to our newest customers and vendors, to ensure that both companies continue to grow and prosper well into the future, so they can continue to count on us for support. The ESOP will do exactly that.”

To learn more about this transaction, please contact:
Warren Cornil or Bill Rowan
c/o Sunbelt Industrial Trucks or Narrow Aisle, Inc.
1617 Terre Colony Ct., Dallas, TX 75212
Office: 214-819-4150, extensions 2211 and 2205 respectively
wac@narrowaisleinc.com
browan@sunbelt-industrial.com

LEWCO Restructures Sales Team to Better Serve Customers

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:42:00 +0100

LEWCO, Inc. is pleased to announce, as part of the company’s growth initiative, it has restructured the sales organization to support the major strategic initiatives of the company.

LEWCO’s regional sales team will now be organized along the material handling and process heating product lines. This new focus will enable LEWCO to better serve all the needs of its customers.

As an ISO 9001:2008 registered company, this organizational change is part of the systematic approach of continually improving processes to better serve customer needs. The new approach will effectively support the company’s philosophy of delivering outstanding customer service.

“The new organizational structure will make it even easier for our customers to work with us,” says Ron Guerra, president of LEWCO, Inc. “We appreciate all the effort the sales team has committed to make this new direction a big success.”

LEWCO, Inc. is a world-class, ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturer of material handling conveyors and process heating equipment serving both national and international markets with quality products at competitive prices.

Breakthrough Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) Technology Drives Customer Value by Enabling ...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:41:00 +0100

Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ALSN), Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN), and Fallbrook Technologies Inc. today announced the formation of strategic relationships to develop, manufacture, and commercialize high-efficiency transmissions for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and off-highway equipment. These next-generation transmissions will be designed to increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve overall vehicle performance.

Fallbrook's NuVinci® CVP technology, which enables designers to reduce the complexity of transmissions, superchargers, and other powertrain systems and allows the engine to operate at more efficient speeds, will be licensed to Allison and Dana.

Through its licensing agreement, Allison gains the exclusive right from Fallbrook to utilize its CVP technology to develop and commercialize primary drivetrain transmissions for Allison's end markets, which could include commercial vehicles, military applications, and certain off-highway and large stationary equipment markets.

"As the premier global provider of commercial-duty fully automatic transmissions, Allison is committed to developing and implementing new technologies that meet the market need for improved performance, fuel economy, and durability," said Lawrence E. Dewey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allison. "For nearly a century, we have earned the trust of our customers through an unwavering dedication to quality, integrity, and innovation – core values shared by Fallbrook and Dana. Ours is the ideal collaboration for developing new technology optimized for the next generation of commercial-duty vehicles."

Under a separate agreement, Dana will hold an exclusive license from Fallbrook to engineer and produce transmission components and other advanced powertrain solutions with the NuVinci® CVP technology for passenger and certain off-highway vehicles in the end markets that Dana serves.

For end markets Allison Transmission serves, Dana and Allison have signed a letter of intent to explore a strategic alliance through which Dana would exclusively manufacture transmission components with NuVinci® CVP technology for Allison.

"Through the launch of these long-term, strategic relationships with Allison and Fallbrook, both recognized innovation leaders, we continue to leverage technology synergies across all the markets we serve – passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, and off-highway," said Roger J. Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dana. "This technology is a true leap forward in transmission design that highlights our growing portfolio of advanced drivetrain systems and comprehensive vehicle solutions that drive customer value."

Fallbrook's proprietary NuVinci® CVP technology is an award-winning, traction-based class of continuously variable transmission that is scalable and highly adaptable. It controls relationships of speed and torque and is applicable to mechanical devices that have a transmission or can benefit from speed or torque variation. The NuVinci® transmission uses a set of rotating balls between the input and output components of a transmission. Tilting the balls changes their contact diameters and varies the speed ratio. Compared to other current transmission technologies, Fallbrook's analysis indicates that its NuVinci® technology is less complex, scales and packages more easily, costs less to manufacture, and facilitates achieving optimum performance.

"Allison and Dana are transmission industry leaders and their investments in and adoption of our NuVinci® technology represent a powerful endorsement of its readiness and value for multiple vehicle markets and other powered applications," said William G. Klehm III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fallbrook. "These strategic relationships will complement our already successful bicycle drivetrain and auxiliary power unit businesses. Additionally, the further adoption of NuVinci technology is consistent with Fallbrook's growth plans for the commercialization of accessory drive and other industrial applications."

Full-scale production of off-highway transmissions with NuVinci-equipped components in Dana's served markets is expected within the next three to five years, while implementation in passenger and commercial vehicles is anticipated before the end of this decade.

About Allison Transmission Inc.

Allison Transmission is the world's largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. military vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school and transit), motor homes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy and mining) and military vehicles (wheeled and tracked).

Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 2,800 people. Allison has manufacturing facilities and customization centers located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Hungary, with a global presence, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. Allison also has more than 1,500 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com.

About Dana Holding Corporation
Dana is a world-leading supplier of drivetrain, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of passenger, commercial, and off-highway vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. The company's global network of engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities provides original-equipment and aftermarket customers with local product and service support. Based in Maumee, Ohio, Dana employs approximately 25,500 people in 27 countries and reported 2011 sales of $7.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.

About Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
Fallbrook Technologies Inc. is a privately held technology development company headquartered in San Diego, California and has its primary operations and product development activities located in Cedar Park, with employees and other operations in Michigan, Oregon, China and Europe. Current major investors are Robeco, NGEN Partners LLC, and Macquarie. Fallbrook has built an extensive portfolio of over 500 patents and patent applications worldwide. For more information, visit www.fallbrooktech.com.

ASTM International Forms New Subcommittee on Sustainable Manufacturing

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 06:32:00 +0100

To facilitate the development and use of sustainable manufacturing processes, ASTM International's Committee E60 on Sustainability has created a new subcommittee, E60.13 on Sustainable Manufacturing. The new group will hold its first meeting during Committee E60's October 2012 meeting in Atlanta, Ga.

Sustainable manufacturing has become an ongoing topic of discussion across a wide range of industries. Consisting of processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and other natural resources, sustainable manufacturing also incorporates economically sound processes that are safe for employees, communities and consumers.

According to Amy Costello, environmental sustainability manager, Armstrong World Industries, and E60.13 chairman, Subcommittee E60.13 evolved out of a presentation on the nature of sustainable manufacturing given by representatives of the National Institute of Standards and Technology during the April 2012 E60 committee meeting. The purpose of the presentation was to discuss the need for sustainable manufacturing standards and E60's potential role in developing those standards.

"As manufacturers embark on the journey of benchmarking and developing sustainability metrics, they will quickly realize that they are in uncharted territory," says Costello. "While there are many sources of information about sustainable manufacturing, few standards exist."

Costello notes that the subcommittee will develop standards that manufacturers can use to benchmark, assess, act on and communicate sustainability metrics, including standards for evaluating, improving and measuring gate-to-gate processes in the production of finished goods.

The following proposed new standards will be the first to be developed by new Subcommittee E60.13:

ASTM WK35702, Practice for Materials and Energy Information Modeling for Sustainable Products;
ASTM WK35703, Terminology for Sustainable Manufacturing;
ASTM WK35705, Guide for Sustainability Improvement of Manufacturing Processes; and
ASTM WK38312, Specification for the Classification of Manufacturing Wastes and Associated Claims.

Costello says that the standards will play an important role in helping manufacturers communicate the sustainability of their processes and increase consumer confidence in manufacturer claims.

"For example," Costello says, "is Company A's claim to be a net-zero waste facility the same as Company B's claim? How is waste determined within a manufacturing facility? Is it just the material that you send to the landfill or do you count material that is incinerated too? Standardizing this type of basic language and creating standards to evaluate and measure processes will help both manufacturers and consumers."

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

DuPont, Ansell Protect Workers’ Hands with New Technology

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:28:00 +0100

DuPont and Ansell, world leaders in protection technologies, have collaborated on Ansell’s newest ultra-lightweight and highly cut-resistant gloves to protect workers. The gloves, which feature DuPont™ Kevlar® yarns and Kevlar® in combination with reinforced stainless steel, are part of Ansell’s ActivArmr® portfolio.

Ansell’s range of new products include an 18-gauge lightweight cut-resistant glove, hybrid cut-resistant padded protection gloves and ergonomic durable general purpose gloves that will revolutionize the way gloves are viewed. Ansell’s new “Best In Class” gloves are available globally for construction workers and are specifically suited for specialty trade, such as the HVAC, plumbing, heavy labor sectors and general contractors. Other gloves in the portfolio are targeted specifically for use by the military.

“The uses of DuPont™ Kevlar® continue to grow in new, innovative ways. Our collaboration with Ansell is a great example of how Kevlar® can be spun with other materials to make another series of superior products to better protect people around the world,” said Thomas G. Powell, president, DuPont Protection Technologies. “This collaboration combined DuPont’s fiber and yarn technology with Ansell’s innovative glove design, tailored for specific applications. In this case, we developed a new manufacturing process to specifically produce ultra-lightweight steel-containing yarn, used in concert with our decades of experience in nylon, spandex and Kevlar® fibers.”

Leveraging Ansell’s more than 100 years of industry expertise and innovation in protective gloves, DuPont's decades of experience in fiber and yarn technology and DuPont patents in cut protection, the Ansell ultra-lightweight gloves are made with the latest technologies. They enable increased dexterity, flexibility, a closer sense of touch, stretch recovery and comfort without compromising safety, which is critical for workers who depend on the cut-protection of Kevlar®. Using combinations of Kevlar®, stainless steel, spandex and nylon, the new ActivArmr® gloves boast Intercept Technology® in a thin, 18-gauge design that is significantly lighter weight than the traditional 13-gauge version. Intercept Technology® using DuPont™ Kevlar® Stretch Armor was created using a unique combination of Kevlar® fiber and Ansell technology to deliver comfort, dexterity and high cut-resistance.

“Innovation and superior protection are the hallmark of Ansell’s hand protection solutions, including our ActivArmr® portfolio. We understand that workers in each sector face unique challenges to hand protection, and so each Ansell glove design is backed by months of end-user testing to determine the specific features workers need to protect their hands without compromising productivity,” said Thomas Draskovics, president and general manager, Ansell Specialty Markets. “With DuPont, we have developed a unique application of DuPont™ Kevlar® for our ActivArmr® gloves that workers across construction sectors can trust to deliver superior protection, comfort and dexterity.”

According to a recent U.S. Department of Labor study, injuries to fingers and hands rank highest in workplace accidents (at 27 percent), and hand and finger accidents rank No. 1 in preventable injuries. A recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study stated that more than 70 percent of arm and hand injuries could have been prevented with personal protection equipment (PPE), specifically safety gloves. DuPont and Ansell estimate the global construction market for gloves at more than $800 million annually.

DuPont has Kevlar® and Nomex® manufacturing and R&D facilities around the world, with glove testing facilities in Richmond, Va.; Meyrin, Switzerland; Shanghai, China and in Paulinia, Brazil. This is an example of how the company works closely with its trademark licensed glove manufacturers to develop innovative products with the most advanced materials for the industry.

Ansell is a world leader in providing superior health and safety protection solutions that enhance human wellbeing. With operations in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia, Ansell employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the industrial and medical gloves market, as well as in the sexual health and wellbeing category worldwide. Ansell operates in four main business segments: Medical Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Specialty Markets and Sexual Wellness. Information on Ansell and its products can be found at www.ansell.com. For more information on ActivArmr® gloves visit: www.activarmr.com.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

Working Safe Pays Off for Konecranes

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:25:00 +0100

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (SRNS) in Aiken, SC operates with an award-winning safety culture that is pervasive and all encompassing— good to know, since the Savannah River Site (SRS) houses one of the world’s most diverse nuclear storage facilities. SRS takes in used but still radioactive nuclear fuel from small reactors associated with research, universities, power plants and other sources as part of the nuclear non-proliferation program. When Department of Energy DOE Order 420.1B was issued, mandating new single-failure-proof requirements for overhead cranes, SRNS managers faced two challenges. First, to safely upgrade their 60-year-old Whiting crane in the receiving area to NOG-1 status, and second, get the work done in the shortest possible time frame.

The crane is absolutely critical to the operation of the facility. “Our sole purpose is to operate as an interim storage facility for used nuclear fuel,” says Chuck Kircher, SRNS lead site technical representative for general construction contracts. “That crane is required for us to unload fuel receipts. If the crane isn’t working, we can’t receive fuel from our customers.”

The project scope
Konecranes won the competitive bid to modernize the 85/30 ton crane with a complete replacement of the trolley and all of the hoisting machinery, a project with the potential to earn a one percent contract bonus on the $2.1 million project if the work could be carried out with no safety incidents.

In simple terms, the project involved removing the existing trolley from the crane, taking it out for disposal and putting up a new trolley on the bridge. In practical terms, there was nothing simple about it.

“The designers of this facility never considered that 30 years later, someone might need to come back in and do this work,” says Allan Remund, project manager at Konecranes Nuclear Services, LLC. Built in the 1950s, the ceilings were too low to bring in a mobile crane, and the access door was only 12 feet wide. In addition, the bay where the crane was located was a contamination area. The trolley that had to be removed weighed 40 tons, was covered in lead paint and was much too large to fit through the door. And, all of the NOG-compliant, modern trolley components had to be engineered to fit in the space of the old machinery.

According to Remund, SRS routinely offers safety incentives for its contractors because safety is their number one priority. “Given the complexity, duration and difficulty of the project, it was quite an achievement to work six days a week for 11 weeks without any safety issues,” says Remund. “This customer was very focused on safety. At every meeting, the number one topic was safety and number two was schedule, since receiving had to be shut down while the crane was being renovated. We were required to review our work scope and prepare specific safety plans outlining all of the tasks and procedures for the work. SRNS personnel spent as much time reviewing our safety plan as they did on our technical plan for the modernization.”

Because safety was such a major component of the project, Konecranes contracted with ATC Associates of Augusta, GA (ATC) to ensure that all of the SRS safety documentation and procedural requirements would be met. ATC also provided a safety professional who was required to be onsite at all times monitoring safety and industrial hygiene issues.

The team’s first challenge was to design a protocol to take the old trolley machinery down, in what was still a contamination area. Wearing protective clothing to shield them from residual contamination in the bay and on the crane, Konecranes brought in a mobile trilifter, their best option to lift the 40-ton trolley off the girders from below and rotate it to bring it down in the constrained space. The trolley was lowered in one piece onto a stand inside the building. Then the trolley was cut in half so that it would fit through the door. Once the trolley was outside of the building, Konecranes used a small mobile crane to load the pieces onto a truck for disposal.

According to Cassie Bayer, a former project manager for SRNS, the initial demolition phase was the most challenging in terms of radiation. “Radiological safety procedures include protective clothing and respirators for certain types of work, including the demolition and removal phase. A crane in a contamination area is subject to lingering radiation on the equipment that is either fixed or transferrable. Wire ropes and old hooks are an issue because of previous contact with radioactive loads and microscopic wear in places where contamination can linger. We conducted radiation checks on everyone and everything coming in and out of the door during this work.”

The trilifter that was brought in to take down the old trolley was also a concern. “That’s an expensive piece of equipment belonging to someone else, and we had to protect it from transferrable contamination,” said Bayer. “Konecranes and SRS employees covered the floor with plastic ahead of time to protect the wheels from contamination. We also had to protect against dust and flakes of old paint that were potentially contaminated when the trolley was being disassembled. Depending on the particular contaminant, you could have a problem for a couple of hours, or for hundreds of years.” According to Bayer, who has since become a project manager for Konecranes, there are limits and a range that are considered safe and dictate whether workers have to wear only protective clothing or whether a respirator is required.

Beyond the limited space and the potential for radiation contamination, a major industrial hygiene concern was the presence of lead paint on the original trolley. There was a potential for breathing lead fumes as the trolley was cut in half for disposal. ATC’s Matthew Parker, once an SRS employee himself, helped Konecranes evaluate the options to arrive at the best solution.

“There are many different ways to avoid lead fumes— either avoid producing them in the first place or remove the lead paint before cutting—which was not possible since Konecranes had to cut through the trolley to get it out,” says Parker. “Usually you remove the lead, but that’s a very time-consuming process. Because of the expediency of the project and regulatory compliance hurdles, we determined that the best solution in this case was to ventilate during cutting. However, this option required extensive equipment—ventilation controls and spot systems, as well as very sophisticated and expensive respirators. Helping Konecranes get that protocol approved by SRS onsite personnel was where our local knowledge and familiarity with the people there came in handy. We were able to talk shop with the enforcers to help negotiate the path forward.”

Because the old trolley had an 85-ton main hoist with a 30-ton auxiliary, getting it off the crane in one piece was a tricky operation because the load was unbalanced.

“We brought in special rigging experts from Fluor, one of the parent companies of SRNS, to work with rigging experts from Konecranes,” said Kircher. “Because weight on the original trolley wasn’t evenly distributed, it was difficult to calculate where the center of gravity was, so there was a lot of effort that went into making sure the 40-ton load would be brought down safely,” he continued. Kircher went on to state that the trilifter was definitely the correct piece of equipment for the job, because it was able to rotate the load to get it down in the space available.

Konecranes also had to be concerned with fall protection for workers on the girders, planning a pathway where bulky trolley components were taken out of the bay and avoiding slips, trips or falls. Each day, there were literally hundreds of opportunities for a safety incident that had to be anticipated and avoided by Konecranes.

After the old trolley was removed, the entire area was surveyed for radiation and decontaminated, rolling back all transferrable radiation so that the remainder of the trolley modernization could be done in regular work clothing. Since the work was taking place in April and May in the South, eliminating the need for hot and restrictive protective clothing was important for the well-being of the work force.

Working safely was not only the theme of this SRS operation, it was also the reason behind it, as evolving DOE safety regulations were the driver behind the project. New single-failure proof requirements for cranes that handle hazardous loads mandate that if any element of the machinery fails, there is a complete set of redundant machinery that will prevent the load from being lost. In a 100+ page document, NOG-1 specifications define each element that is needed, from the rigging, drives and control systems to the origin, properties and hardness of the steel used in construction. Wire ropes must be organized in a manner to ensure that if one rope breaks, the load remains safely suspended.

The new trolley provided by Konecranes was a full custom design, built and engineered to fit in the space of the old one. Its two space-saving 42.5-ton hoists were designed to provide balanced tandem lifts. The hoists can be operated independently or simultaneously. The crane is radio-controlled, with a pushbutton pendant for backup.

Based on the space available, the dimensional restrictions were in some ways contradictory and very challenging. The trolley had to be compact, but ‘stretched’ at the same time. The hoist hooks needed to be 18 feet apart horizontally, making the hoist units more widely spaced than normal. The hoists themselves had to be very compact to keep the overall length of the trolley as short as possible.

The hoist bottom blocks had to be unusually narrow to fit into an existing structure in the fuel pool, but they also needed to be rotated 90 degrees from what would be considered a normal bottom block orientation. The narrowness requirement mandated a tall bottom block to ensure structural strength, but at the same time the hooks needed to rise extremely high and operate close to the underside of the trolley to accommodate existing building structures. As a result, the hoist machinery had to be elevated to meet the “high hook” dimension, but the overall height of the trolley had to be less than six feet due to the low ceiling in the building.

In addition to the dimensional challenges of the trolley and lifting machinery, the bottom block was designed to include an unusual hook assembly that operates like two fingers that pinch together, allowing the crane to pick up specialized containers with trunnion handles resembling mushroom heads. The bottom block also has a removable custom clevis hook that enables the crane to lift containerized loads in a variety of different sizes and shapes, important for a facility dealing with hazardous loads from many different sources.

As part of the overall design, SRNS asked that Konecranes add platforms, allowing maintenance personnel to walk all the way around the trolley protected by a railing, conforming to current OSHA requirements.

When asked about the most challenging aspect of the operation, Kircher and SRNS Project Manager Susan Bell were in agreement. “Our challenge was how to get an ASME NOG-1-compliant trolley into an existing operating facility. The project had to be carefully designed and engineered, and Konecranes is the expert in the crane field. They pulled off a tremendous effort here to get something into our facility that would be NOG-compliant,” Bell said.

The Savannah River Site is a DOE Voluntary Protection Program site, and recently DOE conferred its 10th Star Status safety award on SRNS. Kircher explained how an outside contractor like Konecranes successfully interfaced with the safety culture.

“It’s not just a matter of what they are hired to do. It’s a matter of whether they are willing to accept our way of doing business safely,” says Kircher. “We have a mindset of knowing that all accidents are preventable—it’s part of our daily culture. If you are willing to work safely and to the stringent standards that we have, we welcome you here. Nothing else is acceptable. The bottom line on this project is that we have collectively installed a NOG-compliant crane that is functioning very well. It is a high-quality product, and we are very happy with this crane.”

For more information contact Konecranes, Inc. at 937/525-5533 or visit www.konecranesamericas.com

Industry Leaders Join Forces To Deliver A Unique Solution For Mobile Coil-Loading

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:15:00 +0100

Collaborating with one of the steel industry’s top specialists in material handling devices, Taylor “Big Red” has expanded its range of specialized attachments for steel mills and service yards.

Taylor’s popular TS-9972 Reach Stacker can now be equipped with a hydraulically powered 45 ton coil grab designed and built by Winkle Industries to load steel coils onto rail cars and trucks.

According to Pete Johnson, Account Manager at Taylor Machine Works, the new coil-handler was developed when a mill customer requested ideas for a mobile solution to replace its traditional lattice boom crane. “Our customer recognized that mounting a coil grab on a mobile platform would give them much more flexibility than their mill crane could offer,” Johnson explains. “A mobile loader allows them to use satellite loading docks instead of limiting their loading capability to one fixture inside the mill. Moving coils around the yard and loading them onto rail cars can be completed in one step by one piece of equipment. With Taylor’s Reach Stacker as the platform, they get a multi-use tool that can switch attachments to perform various tasks in and around the mill. The TS-9972 can go anywhere a truck can go to move or load material,” Johnson continued.

Two tracks to one solution
At the same time Pete Johnson was investigating potential solutions for this customer, Winkle’s Matt Wroblewski was having similar conversations at the same mill. As Regional Sales Manager for Winkle Industries, Wroblewski was very familiar with the many material-handling devices used in mill-duty applications. The mill described its plans to expand its facility, which called for removal of the lattice crane. Like Johnson, Wroblewski recognized that the Reach Stacker could be the ideal platform for a mobile alternative to the fixed crane. Their common interest quickly brought the two men together.

“We actually evaluated our entire range of lift trucks and material handlers before we zeroed in on the Reach Stacker,” recalls Johnson. “In the end, the TS-9972 was the clear choice. Its unique platform combines everything this application needs in high reach, lifting capacity, hydraulics and visibility for the operator. All we needed was the coil-grab attachment from Winkle.”

Combined expertise
The engineering departments of both companies collaborated closely to bring their specialized products together into a new solution for the mill. Paul Predagovic, the Director of Engineering for Winkle, could draw on vast experience in custom coil-handling equipment. “We have developed many, many electrically driven coil grabs over the years,” he says. “The challenge here was to provide a hydraulically powered grab that fit the existing capacities of the Taylor platform. It became relatively simple when we discovered that the TS-9972 was already equipped to provide the load rotation, sideshift movement, height and visibility to allow precise movement and placement of the 90,000 lb. coils.”

While Taylor’s Sales Engineer, Lamar Hailey, worked closely with the mill to detail the project’s requirements, he credits Denny Bucklew, their Design Engineer, for achieving a successful solution. The pair already had experience in customizing the Reach Stacker for heavy lifts. A previous project, in which the TS-9972 was used to assist with the assembly and installation of towers for wind farms, had led to a versatile lifting beam that nicely fit the needs of the coil grab.

Mobility, precision and safety
As Hailey describes it, “…as part of the tower assembly process this beam has a center hook and two hooks at opposite ends for moving tower sectors and steel plates respectively.”

Using Taylor’s lifting beam as a starting point, the Winkle team built on to it, making a coupler for the grab. It would supply the hydraulic routing and rotation capability. Limit switches were designed into both the engagement and disengagement circuits of the grab, adding an extra element of safety as well as reduced stress on the hydraulic components.

To ensure accurate placement of the steel coils onto rail car bunks and trucks, the cab provides operators with a 10 ft. high vantage point to see the target area directly. The cab can slide up to 96” along the length of the chassis, allowing the operator to sit back from the load when traveling or move up close to the rail car or truck when positioning the coil. The 3-point lifting beam provides up to 90o rotation to align coils as needed, either on the I-Horizontal or I-Vertical position to fit the orientation of rail car or truck saddles.

Versatile steel handler, and more
The lifting beam, attached to the Reach Stacker, uses a coupler to attach the coil grab. The lifting beam and the coil grab are easily interchangeable with other Taylor attachments such as its container handlers, C-hooks and probes. Pete Johnson reports, “For the coil grabs we didn’t have to add anything or do anything special to the Reach Stacker except make the adapter. The hydraulics, the 24 V electrical and the 3 point beam were already there. Any of our customers with a TS-9972 in their fleet could add this coil-loading capability without needing any changes to their existing equipment.”

With the addition of an onboard generator system, the TS-9972 and its lifting beam can also be adapted to attach one or multiple lifting magnets – another of Winkle’s material handling specialties.

Taylor’s Director of Sales, Donnie Woodruff, has also expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between the two companies. The Winkle coil grab is now offered by Taylor as a standard production item for the TS-9972. Within two weeks of the first unit going into service, Taylor was receiving orders for more of the mobile coil-loading systems, and several are already in operation.

Joe Schatz, President of Winkle Industries, agrees with Woodruff’s assessment of the partnership. “We are proud to be of service and honored to partner with the Taylor team. We see tremendous potential for mobile hydraulic grabs in other sectors including aluminum and paper. We look forward to expanding the versatility of the TS-9972 with more custom applications in mill facilities and service yards, rail yards and seaports. We work well together and there’s no shortage of opportunity.”

About Winkle Industries
Winkle Industries is a worldwide leader in engineered solutions for users of mill-duty material handling equipment. Winkle’s ISO 9001:2008 facilities provide end-to-end design, manufacture, service and aftermarket parts support for above-the-hook electrical and mechanical crane products, below-the-hook magnetic and mechanical lifting devices and on-the-ground material handling equipment. Winkle’s experience and resources are “raising customer expectations” on a wide range of needs, from innovative product design to customer process improvement.

For information, contact:
Mark Volansky, Director of Sales
2080 West Main Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601
Tel: (330) 823-9730 Fax: (330) 823-9788
sales@winkleindustries.com
www.winkleindustries.com

LiuGong Forklift Americas Announces Mayan Forklifts, S. de R.L. de C.V. ...

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:09:00 +0100

LiuGong Forklift Americas, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce that Mayan Forklifts, S. de R.L. de C.V. has joined them as a new dealer in Mérida, Mexico.

Mayan Forklifts is now the authorized distributor of LiuGong forklift products in the Mexican States of Yucatán, Campeché and Quintana Roo. Although in business for less than a year, Mayan Forklifts has already established a reputation for quality service with a focus on implementing quality maintenance programs for their growing customer base.

“In today’s globalized world, service is not the only thing that matters” noted Juan Carlos Moreno, Director of Mayan Forklifts. “We were also in need of a good quality brand that responds to the needs of our customers.” Mayan quickly realized that LiuGong forklifts were the best match for their business. “Our customers are interested in new hard working machines, not trucks that just sit there waiting for someone to figure out how to be repaired.” said Juan Carlos. “That is exactly when we realized that LiuGong will be a brand that we can trust and depend on.”

Mayan Forklifts expands LiuGong’s forklift dealer network in Mexico which also includes AMMEX in Western Mexico, Grupo Amex in Northern Mexico and SME Forklifts in Mexico City.

LiuGong Forklift Americas operates within LiuGong Construction Machinery N.A. LLC which is a subsidiary of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd. Founded in 1958 in Liuzhou, China, LiuGong began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 1993 as a publicly held company. LiuGong is known for producing construction and material handling equipment that is easy to own and easy to operate, and features technologies with well proven reliability. LiuGong products therefore provide a great deal of value for the price, and are easy to maintain, even in rigorous and isolated environments.

To learn more about LiuGong, visit www.liugong.com

AEMP Launches Global Availability of Certified Equipment Manager Exam

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:21:42 +0100

The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) announces, beginning Nov. 5 2012, the Certified Equipment Manager (CEM) exam will be available four times a year at testing sites in more than 165 countries around the world and all 50 states in the U.S. This is the first time the exam is being offered nationwide and globally at a site other than one of AEMP’s two annual conferences.

“This is going to open up the CEM certification to those professionals who previously felt it wasn’t within their reach due to time or travel constraints,” Jim Phillips, AEMP vice-president of education, said.

The CEM exam will be available at secure testing sites offered through Pearson VUE, a leading provider of proctored, computer-based testing solutions. Test sites are listed at pearsonvue.com/vtclocator/. Numerous sites are available and Pearson guarantees a site within 50 miles of a potential test-taker in the U.S.

Along with the increase in test locations, AEMP is now offering the exam four times a year, for two full weeks each test quarter. It will also continued to be offered in conjunction with the Professional Development Institute (PDI) atAEMP’s two annual events for asset management professionals, the Management Conference and Annual Meeting, held each spring, and the Asset Management Symposium, which takes place in the fall. Those choosing to test at one of the two meetings can better prepare for the exam by taking advantage of peer-to-peer learning at the PDI, while global exam participants may choose to prepare online with the PDI Level 2 courses at AEMP University, aempu.org.

Phillips also spoke of the significance of the launch, from an internal perspective. “We have spent several years planning this. So many people – our dedicated committee members, partners and the AEMP staff – have put countless hours into the development of this program and we’re thrilled to see it come to fruition.”

The CEM is the industry’s only recognized standard for showing the qualifications of a manager of heavy off-road equipment fleets or municipal/government fleets. It’s based on the 17 core competencies identified by AEMP as necessary to being an effective fleet manager: benchmarking; customer service; employee training; environmental requirements as they apply to fleet management; financial management; human resources; life cycle analysis; outsourcing; parts management; preventive maintenance; procurement and acquisition; risk management; safety; shop/facilities management; specifications; technology; and warranty and performance guarantees.

In addition to the CEM program, AEMP offers two other industry-recognized, professional certifications. The Equipment Manager Specialist (EMS) credential is designed as an entry-level certification for those seeking to expand their skills and plan for a career in fleet asset management. New in 2011, the Certified Equipment Support Professional (CESP) is intended to educate equipment suppliers on the challenges equipment managers face when dealing with end-user business associates.

To learn more about the CEM program, contact Phillips at 970-384-0510 ext. 202 or jim@aemp.org, or visit aemp.org/aemp-education/certifications/cem/.

Yale® Dealer Riekes Equipment Company Opens New Full Service Branch through Acquisition

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:05:41 +0100

Riekes Equipment Company, a Yale® lift truck dealer headquartered in Omaha, Neb., has recently opened a new full service facility, including sales, rentals, service, parts and more in West Fargo, N.D. This location results from the acquisition of independent lift truck service provider Valley Forklift Services. Former Valley Forklift Services owner Terry Weigel has been appointed branch manager.

“Riekes Equipment has been active in North Dakota for years.” said Riekes President Duncan Murphy. “We are excited to finally combine Valley Forklift's 20 plus years of customer satisfaction with our personnel and product offerings. This move allows us to better solve customer problems by delivering complete material handling solutions—something Riekes has been doing for over 75 years.”

“It’s always great to see our dealers expand and grow,” said Bill Pfleger, President of Yale Distribution. “Yale strives to build lasting customer relationships through providing the best quality lift truck in the industry and unparalleled service, which is what Riekes Equipment Company consistently delivers. Riekes’ expansion to provide even better service in North Dakota demonstrates their commitment to customer satisfaction.”

Established in 1936, Riekes sells Yale® lift trucks, as well as used trucks and parts. Other services include forklift rentals and maintenance support. Winning the Yale® Dealer of Excellence award twelve times since 1995, Riekes also achieved Material Handling Equipment Distributers Association MVP status in 2011.

About Yale Materials Handling Corporation

Yale Materials Handling Corporation markets a full line of materials handling lift truck products and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks; narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorized hand trucks. Yale has a comprehensive service offering including Fleet Management, service, parts, financing and training. Its Berea, Ky., manufacturing facility was honored with Plant Engineering’s prestigious 2011 Top Plant Award. Yale® trucks are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility and range in capacity from 2,000 to 36,000 lbs. For more information, or to find the Yale® lift truck dealer nearest you, call 1-800-233-YALE or visit www.yale.com.

Voith Hydro Selects Eaton Cylinders to Help Increase Operating Efficiency of Rock Creek Powerhouse

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:07:00 +0100

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced that it was selected by Voith Hydro of York, Pa., to provide servomotor cylinders for the Rock Creek Powerhouse located in Plumas County, Calif., and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The Eaton cylinders, used on pressure regulating valves and wicket gates, will help increase operating efficiency of the hydroelectric plant located across the North Fork of the Feather River.

A complete system supplier for the hydroelectric power generation industry, Voith Hydro chose Eaton’s hydraulically activated servomotor cylinders based on their compatibility with new pressure regulating valves. The Eaton cylinders enable the valves to operate in specific pressure and force parameters, as well as with wicket gates powered by new high-pressure hydraulic power units.

By providing comprehensive cylinder design capabilities, Eaton engineers enabled their counterparts at Voith Hydro to concentrate on other aspects of the project, thereby reducing design cycle time, increasing overall efficiency and helping to meet budget goals.

“Eaton did a very good job accommodating all our requirements,” said Voith Hydro’s Glenn Kurowski, Professional Engineering (PE) mechanical engineer. “Eaton engineers were very responsive and worked hard to understand our needs.”

Upgrades at the Rock Creek Powerhouse began in spring 2012 and are scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Eaton’s Hydraulics business is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a comprehensive line of reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic systems and components for use in mobile and stationary applications. Mobile and stationary markets include agriculture, alternative energy, construction, forestry, manufacturing, material handling, mining, oil and gas, processing, transportation and utility equipment. Eaton’s Hydraulics Group provides customer-driven solutions under product names such as Aeroquip®, Boston®, Char-Lynn®, Eaton®, Hydrokraft®, Hydrowa®, Hydro-Line®, Integrated Hydraulics®, Synflex®, Vickers®, Walterscheid™, and Weatherhead®. For more information, visit www.eaton.com/hydraulics.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with more than 100 years of experience providing energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. With 2011 sales of $16.0 billion, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components, systems and services for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 72,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

Schneider Packaging’s Palletizer Line Simplifies Palletizing

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:16:02 +0100

Schneider Packaging Equipment’s latest line of standard palletizers are built to simplify the palletizing of cases, trays, display packs, bundles, bags and bulk product. These palletizers offer affordability while maintaining flexibility, rapid changeover, simple low cost operation and overall small form factors.

Ideal for single or multiple lines and/or multiple SKUs, the efficient designs utilize cost effective features and are offered in a variety of configurations tailored to the application, plant conditions, and operating environment. Available with manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic pallet exchange options including our unique floor level pallet transfer for tall unit load applications in low ceiling environments. Pallet dispensers are available for fork or fully automatic loading for continuous non-stop operation. Options for slip and tier sheet include manually or fork loaded magazines or dispensers for pre-cut sheets. Schneider’s optional built-in system for cutting sheets from roll stock to length as needed on-the-fly provides saving up to 20 percent over using pre-cut sheets. End-of-arm-tooling designs can accommodate any type of product or even a combination of products, for example, 50 pound bulk bags and cases can be palletized with the same tool.

Available in multiple layouts and configurations including; a single station 1-in-1-out, dual station 1-in-2-out, and up to 4-in-4-out multi-line configurations, each system can be fully automated with stretch wrapping, labeling, product and pallet transport conveyor, pallet dispensing, and slip sheet dispensing for a complete fully automatic turnkey integrated solution.

“Our palletizing solutions are designed for maximum operating efficiency ensuring our customers a rapid return on investment with a piece of equipment that is easy to own,” indicates Terry Zarnowski, Director of Sales and Marketing.

Whatever the requirements, Schneider works to provide the best solution for any unique need. Schneider Packaging is an Authorized Servicing System Integrator for FANUC Robotics and is a Machine Builder partner in the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™ program. For more information, contact our sales department by phone at 315/676-3035, fax at 315/676-2875, email sales@schneiderequip.com or visit www.schneiderequip.com.

Blue Giant Signs Up Two New Dealers in South Africa

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:50:38 +0100

Blue Giant Equipment Corporation is pleased to announce that two new dealers have been signed up to represent the company’s dock equipment and material handling equipment portfolio in South Africa and surrounding regions.

SA Vertical Lifting in Germiston, Gauteng, specializes in the planning and design of integrated dock solutions for warehouses and distribution centers in South Africa and the surrounding markets. Additional areas of expertise include overhead doors, residential elevators, and hoisting equipment.

Director Allen Lotter says, “We recognize the importance of an international brand and Blue Giant brings us that recognition as well as the quality docking equipment that we need to compete in our local markets.”

Liftsure Equipment CC in Jet Park, Gauteng, has been a major supplier of parts for South Africa’s industrial truck industry since 1999. The company is the local agent for Curtis instruments, PGDT controls, and Mastermover pedestrian‐operated tugs, and is also a primary distributor for Albright contactors. “The name Blue Giant still echoes throughout the South African market,” explains Director Donald Pharoah. “We are proud to be partners with a globally recognized company and expect great things to happen.”

“Global demand for Blue Giant dock equipment continues to accelerate, which necessitates our expansion,” says Steve Greco, Blue Giant’s Director of International Sales. “South Africa is a growth market with lots of opportunity, and through our partnerships with SA Vertical and Liftsure, we can ensure that Blue Giant’s premium dock solutions make warehouse operations there safer and more efficient than ever before.”

Blue Giant is the premier solutions provider of safe, effective, and technologically innovative loading dock and material handling equipment.

With a product line that includes dock levelers, vehicle restraints, intelligent dock controls, ground level scissor lifts, door seals and shelters, and a diverse range of material handling equipment, Blue Giant offers turnkey solutions for the most demanding freight handling needs.

For more information, visit www.bluegiant.com

Yale Materials Handling Corporation Unveils Problem-Solving Lease Program

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:48:37 +0100

Yale Materials Handling Corporation is giving fork lift customers a new custom leasing solution to better align with their business needs by allowing them to only pay for the hours the equipment is in use. The Power Advantage program allows customers to tailor a lease and enjoy a “pay-per-hour”-based finance solution with flexible end-of-term options.

“Power Advantage is a leasing solution unlike any other that provides customers with a program specific to their business needs,” said Tina Goodwin, Director of Financial Services for Yale. “Customers choose the lifetime based on total hours and time period needed for the use of the truck, which allows them to match expenses to operational cycles and minimize financial pressures. Power Advantage is a simple leasing program from start to finish.”

Power Advantage is ideal for seasonal or mixed-use operations looking to pay for actual usage only, locking in a per-hour rate at the lease outset and avoiding overtime charges.

With the flexible end-of-term options, if a truck reaches the end of the contract term length first, the customer can return the truck or continue using the truck at the original hour lease rate until the total hour usage is met. If the truck hits the total hour usage first, the customer can return the truck or can extend to the full contract term at 50 percent of the original hour lease rate.

For more details on Power Advantage, visit the Yale website or contact a local Yale® lift truck dealer.

About Yale Materials Handling Corporation
Yale Materials Handling Corporation markets a full line of materials handling lift truck products and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks; narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorized hand trucks. Yale has a comprehensive service offering including Fleet Management, Yale service, parts, financing and training. Its Berea, Ky., manufacturing facility was honored with Plant Engineering’s prestigious 2011 Top Plant Award. Yale trucks are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility and range in capacity from 2,000 to 36,000 lbs. For more information, or to find the Yale® lift truck dealer nearest you, call 1-800-233-YALE or visit www.yale.com.

Yale Materials Handling Corporation is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), which employs approximately 5,300 people worldwide. NMHG is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC).

2014 CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE Exhibit Space Sales Maintain Strong Pace

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 06:34:00 +0100

Exhibit space sales for the 2014 CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE expositions are still going strong and continue to outpace the previous two show cycles.

The co-located CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE shows will be held March 4-8, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, USA; they are the global gathering place every three years for the construction, construction materials and fluid power/power transmission/motion control industries.

“We’re absolutely ecstatic by this support and the importance the industry places on these events. Considering our industries are not fully back up to speed after the recession, we are gratified by the value placed on our shows by our members and exhibitors,” stated Megan Tanel, CONEXPO-CON/AGG show director and AEM vice president exhibitions and events. Tanel noted that exhibit space sales are tracking 40 percent ahead of a comparable time in the 2011 show cycle, and 20 percent ahead of the record-breaking 2008 (pre-recession) event.

Show Services Help Exhibitors Meet Sales & Marketing Goals

“Exhibitor engagement is key; we strive to develop a strong connection with our exhibitors and a fuller understanding of their exhibiting objectives,” explained Melissa Magestro, IFPE show director and AEM senior director exhibitions.

AEM offers exhibitors show education and planning information plus marketing and branding opportunities to help them more effectively reach customers and help ensure a successful show experience.

AEM outreach includes:

Multi-day Exhibitor Education Meeting in May 2013 in the centrally-located Chicago O’Hare airport area, supplemented by targeted education sessions throughout the show cycle
Sponsorship Program with new and multi-level – and customizable – options
Exhibit Suites – in Las Vegas Hotel (formerly Hilton) and Riviera - as another way to reach customers
Exhibitor Booth Promotion Kit with customizable tools including direct mail, banner ads, online listings, e-mails, show ads, post cards, and public relations and social media outreach
Monthly Exhibitor Insider newsletter with timely show information and planning tips
Online, mobile and other technology tools to better connect with attendees as well as track ROI from the events

Exhibitors will receive more information on these show features as the planning cycle progresses.

Show management attributes strong exhibitor interest not only to CONEXPO-CON/AGG’s and IFPE’s reputation of attracting a highly qualified buying audience, but also to the shows’ philosophy of being industry-run, with industry needs foremost.

At the last edition of the shows, exhibitors expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the quality and quantity of attendees. More than 90 percent said they were satisfied with their overall experience at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2011. More than 90 percent of exhibitors also said face-to-face customer contact was important or very important to the success of their company.

“We know our exhibitors have an increasing number of avenues for their marketing investment; that’s why we strive to continually improve upon programs and implement carefully-reviewed new options to help them achieve their sales and marketing goals while offering options to control their expenses,” added Tanel.

For more information on attending or exhibiting, phone +1-414-298-4141 or toll free North America +1-800-867-6060, fax +1-414-272-2672 or online at www.conexpoconagg.com and www.ifpe.com.

ASTM International Flexible Barrier Packaging Committee to Meet in Barcelona

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:32:00 +0100

ASTM International Committee F02 on Flexible Barrier Packaging will hold its next meeting on Sept. 26-27, 2012, at the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona, Spain.

At this meeting, participants will have the opportunity to contribute to the development and revision of a number of standards important to the use and evaluation of flexible barrier packaging.

One of the highlights of the meeting will include a review of the results of the recently completed interlaboratory study for the proposed Test Method for Detecting Leaks in Nonporous Packaging or Flexible Barrier Materials by Dye Penetration (ASTM WK25128) and a discussion regarding next steps. Once completed, this method will provide an inexpensive but sensitive approach for assessing the integrity of nonporous materials.

For those interested in dye penetration of porous packaging, ASTM F1929, Test Method for Detecting Seal Leaks in Porous Medical Packaging by Dye Penetration, has been updated to include two new testing techniques. The interlaboratory study and subsequent ballot results will be reviewed.

Additionally, the ballot results for the proposed standard ASTM WK30771, Test Method for Verifying Flexible Barrier Material Resistance to the Passage of Air will be presented. This standard will provide an indirect method for determining the ability of a material to block the passage of microorganisms into a package.

Also being discussed at the meeting will be an ongoing collaborative interlaboratory study being conducted for the comparison of three different but commonly used standard test methods on water vapor transmission rate. As an exciting supplement to the Barcelona meeting, F02 and its subcommittees have arranged for industry experts to speak on the following topics:

Future Trends in Permeation Measurements, presented by Franz Sturm, Lipke
U.S. FDA Perspective: The Use of Standards in Premarket Submissions and Auditing the Medical Device Packaging Process, presented by Pat Weixel, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Microbial Barrier Test Methods for Porous Sterile Barrier Materials, presented by Thierry Wagner, DuPont Medical and Pharmaceutical Protection
Toward a Package Durability Predictive Model, presented by Henk Blom, Rollprint Packaging Products
Package Integrity: Methods of Detection, presented by Wendy Mach, Nelson Laboratories
Use of Design Guide F2097 and U.S. FDA Recognition, Hal Miller, PACE Solutions LLC
Sterile Medical Device Package Performance Testing and the Nebulous Effect of Vibration in Transit, presented by Pat Nolan, DDL
ASTM International: ASTM Mechanics and Overview, presented by Diane Trinsey, ASTM Committee F02 staff manager

All are welcome to attend. Registration and meeting information, including abstracts describing the presentations shown above, can be found at www.astm.org/COMMIT/F02/Barcelona_Meeting_info.

Committee F02 develops standards on barrier materials, their properties and package design, development and production. Typical flexible barrier materials include papers, nonwovens, plastic films and metal foils.

ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.

Illinois Material Handling Acquires Scott Lift Truck

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:31:00 +0100

Otto J. Wolter, CEO of Wolter Group, announced that Illinois Material Handling, a division of the company, has acquired Scott Lift Truck. Founded in 1972, Scott Lift Truck is a full service material handling solutions dealership located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Its staff, including nine maintenance and repair technicians, will join Illinois Material Handling.

“This is a win-win for customers of Scott Lift Truck and Illinois Material Handling. Illinois Material Handling is a distributor for Hyundai, Komatsu, Big Joe, Genie, JLG, Lift King, Lowry, Noble and PowerBoss and offers the deep resources of one of the largest material handling wholesalers in the country. The Scott team of proven managers and technicians will strengthen our service and presence in the marketplace, now from two locations – Elk Grove Village and Rockford,” said Jerry Weidmann, president of Wolter Group.

The Scott Lift Truck executive management team will assume positions with Illinois Material Handling. Loren Swakow will serve as branch manager. Scott Swakow assumes the position of regional sales manager and Denise Bridges will serve as operations manager.

Illinois Material Handling (www.imhlifts.com) is a member of the Wolter Group of companies, which operates one of the nation's largest material handling distributors. Its mission is to enable customers’ success through value-added solutions supported by superior service and quality products delivered with a sense of urgency. The Wolter Group has a highly trained staff of over 340 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service, which helps accomplish this mission. The company delivers superior service to over 10,000 customers in its three-state service area.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts and energy systems; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com) a full service material handling distributor, and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

HILO Materials Handling Group Announces Additional Location Opening in Long Island City

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:31:02 +0100

Hilo Materials Handling Group, a full-service materials handling, forklift and warehousing supply company serving Long Island and the New York region, since 1977, will open a new 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Long Island City on September 18th. The new branch will be a Hyster factory authorized facility with fully-staffed sales, rentals, parts and service departments. “We are looking forward to our grand opening celebration where we have invited local dignitaries and our customers to mark our expansion into Long Island City,” explained Steve LoPiccolo, President of HILO. The new location is the next step in the company’s plans to expand; HILO acquired Viccaro Equipment Corporati on in 2011, further extending the company’s market reach and sales staff. Additional location announcements will come at a later time, as details are still being worked out.

HILO’s President, Steve LoPiccolo remarked, “It is our goal to bring more jobs to Long Island City. Our Hauppauge office has grown twofold in just over a year’s time. I anticipate a steady growth pattern in this location as well.” The company currently has over 80 employees at its headquarters with a service fleet of 26 vans supported by industrial carriers and boom trucks to handle the service and transportation needs of customers. “We are now better positioned to handle the Metro New York area with our Queens branch. Our goals are to support and grow Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, NYC and Westchester counties based on individual market size and opportunity,” he said.

About HILO Materials Handling: HILO is a factory authorized Yale dealer for Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk Counties and a factory authorized Hyster dealer for Long Island and Metro New York. HILO through its full service dock and door divisions performs installations, servicing and maintenance of loading docks and overhead doors representing such major brands as Kelley, Serco and TKO. HILO has an award winning commercial lighting division; Hi-Light Energy Systems. The lighting division has won an award in LIPA’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program for the last six consecutive years and was most recently recognized at the LIPA Trade Ally Recognition Breakfast in the first quarter of 2012.

HILO will now have two convenient locations in Suffolk County and Queens dedicated to providing Long Island and Metro New York with top-quality forklifts, industrial racking, scissor lifts, commercial lighting solutions, loading dock equipment, overhead doors and superior levels of service. The 35-year-old company was founded by Mr. Les Gobler, CEO who has been involved with materials handling for over 45 years. HILO currently employs over 80 professionals with annual revenues exceeding $22 million.

HILO Materials Handling Group
(800) 395-HILO
www.hilousa.com

The Rental Show’s return to Las Vegas is right on the money

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:49:00 +0100

In Las Vegas, it’s all about increasing your odds – and the same holds true for The Rental Show, which will be held there next Feb. 10-13.

Every aspect of the American Rental Association’s 57th annual convention and rental trade show is designed with one thing in mind: helping attendees make more money.

The Rental Show moves to a new venue for 2013, The Sands Expo and Convention Center, which is located in the center of the famous Las Vegas Strip. And while the new site provides new opportunities for dining and entertainment, the core factor of helping attendees be profitable remains the same.

“The Rental Show is right on the money for rental success,” said Allison Box, ARA senior administrative director for association services. “We’re using ‘right on the money’ as the tagline for The Rental Show 2013 because it’s true – this is the show

for people serious about profit. All elements of the show, from new rental products to fresh educational ideas from the seminars and relationships that develop in connecting with other rental business owners and suppliers, are designed to focus on making

Highlights of the 2013 schedule include:

A full day of 16 seminars on Sunday, Feb. 10, with topics that range from industry updates to Tier 4 engines and healthcare to being profitable in the new economy. Financial sessions with Steve Abercrombie also are on the agenda, as well as Internet marketing with David McBee. In addition, the rental town hall seminars return on Feb. 12. There also will be a new “Wednesday Wake-Up” session on Feb. 13 with Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman.
The keynote session featuring Captain Mark Kelly, who will share his story of courage and hope – from his space shuttle missions to his wife Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery from a January 2011 assassination attempt. His keynote address will touch on what he’s learned from his experiences including the importance of leadership and teamwork. The keynote session is sponsored by Ditch Witch.
Three days of trade show, Feb. 11-13, with the latest rental equipment for construction/industrial, general tool/homeowner and party/special event businesses.
New events including “A Night in Fabulous Las Vegas” at Harrah’s Las Vegas, which will transport you back to the Rat Pack’s vintage Vegas days, and the new ARA Young Professionals Network reception at FIRST Food and Bar that’s for rental professionals between the ages of 18 and 40 and their parents.
Other popular networking events will return, such as Lunch With ARA, regional receptions, the international reception and the Reception With a Purpose featuring the ARA Foundation charity auction.
Events & Tents will have a new full-day schedule on Feb. 9 and will include a Fabric Fashion Show that morning and a lunch session with wedding designer Sasha Souza, in addition to 16 seminars specifically for those in party/special event rental. A special reception will close out Events & Tents at Keep Memory Alive, a stunning Frank Gehry-designed venue that supports the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Registration for The Rental Show opens this Wednesday, Sept. 5, on the Show’s website, TheRentalShow.com. A special Internet-only registration rate of $119 per person for ARA members is available for a limited time. This rate is for full registration, which includes the seminars on Feb. 10, 12 and 13; the keynote session on Feb. 11; and the trade show Feb. 11-13.

Questions about The Rental Show can be directed to 800/334-2177, option 3, or registration@therentalshow.com.

AEM Publishes Updated Truck-Mounted Forklift Safety Manual

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:12:31 +0100

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has extensively updated its Truck-Mounted Forklift Safety Manual to provide machine operators, maintenance personnel and others on the jobsite with up-to-date industry safety and maintenance information.

The AEM Truck-Mounted Forklift Safety Manual outlines some of the basic safety situations that may be encountered during normal operation and maintenance of the machine and suggests possible ways of dealing with these conditions. The manual is not a substitute for the manufacturer’s operating manual(s).

The 48-page manual was developed with the help of AEM member manufacturers, including members of the association’s Truck-Mounted Forklift Committee. It uses an updated layout with the latest AEM pictorials for easier comprehension.

Significant content changes include:

More accurate information specific to different machine configurations
New guidance provided for travelling while unloaded
Expanded instructions for operating on uneven terrain
Expanded guidance for handling high loads
A new section explaining load stability factors

AEM's safety and training materials cover more than 40 types of equipment used in agricultural, construction, forestry and utility applications. The association initiated its safety-tools program more than 40 years ago to provide job-proven and time-tested suggestions that promote safety-conscious attitudes and performance. In addition to accident prevention, benefits include improved worker productivity and less equipment downtime for repairs.

The AEM Truck-Mounted Forklift Safety Manual, as well as the association’s other safety manuals, videos and related educational materials, is available online through the AEM Store at http://shop.aem.org. Some safety materials are offered in downloadable files or in DVD format. AEM members receive discounts on select materials.

New Video Series: The Secret To Intelligent Lighting

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:59:00 +0100

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) has produced a series of five videos exploring the practical integration of intelligent LED luminaires and digital controls for interior applications. The Smart + Simple Lighting Solutions video series provides insight on how lighting with embedded controls can be easily tailored to a specific application, while monitoring and responding to the immediate environment. This integrated approach can translate into a lighting solution that offers better lighting quality, improved energy management, and longer operational life than more conventional lighting systems.

“With the implementation of energy standards such as ASHRAE 90.1 2010, it has become essential for specifiers and end users to understand solutions for lighting that meet new mandates and effectively manage energy consumption,” said Neil Egan, Director, Communications, Acuity Brands Lighting. “These videos offer instruction on how ‘smart and simple’ solutions can help maximize lighting performance, while driving out waste and inefficiency.”

The video series is available on the Acuity Brands YouTube channel and covers the following topics:

Why Smart + Simple: Overview of integrated LED lighting and controls solutions that help users manage energy usage by optimizing lighting utilization and performance over time.
Smart + Simple Luminaires: How LED luminaires with embedded controls can manage lighting quality, power consumption and operational life.
Smart + Simple Controls: The role of smart controls and how they help facility operations manage energy consumption while providing an unprecedented level of design, installation and user simplicity.
Smart + Simple Sensors: A review of sensor technologies and network system devices available to integrate with LED luminaires.
Smart + Simple Toolset: A short demonstration of software options to program, modify and monitor lighting for improved energy savings.

For more information about Smart + Simple lighting and lighting controls solutions, visit www.acuitybrands.com/smartandsimple.

Sommer joins Shuttlelift as Marketing Communications Manager

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:14:00 +0100

Kristen Sommer is the Marketing Communications Manager at Shuttlelift as announced today by the Sturgeon Bay company. Sommer, a key member of the marketing department, will oversee the company’s communications needs and brand management.
Sommer comes to Sturgeon Bay following five years of related experience with Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation.

Shuttlelift rubber-tired gantry cranes are the preferred customer-inspired solution for heavy lifting requirements and are manufactured to specification for a multitude of applications, worldwide. The Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin-based company manufactures cranes with capacities ranging from 15 to 1,000 U.S. tons, all of which are supported by a global network of experienced dealers. Through superior engineering innovations, Shuttlelift has become one of the premier lines in the today’s materials-handling industry.

Shuttlelift
www.shuttlelift.com

Quantum Storage Wire Shelving – What You Need, When You Need It

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:13:48 +0100

Quantum Storage Systems is a nationwide provider of shelving systems in chrome, stainless, & epoxy-coated wire plus solid stainless and solid galvanized finishes. Quantum boasts a huge, in-stock inventory, available for immediate shipping nationwide from Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Configure your shelving system to meet your specific needs with Quantum’s wide array of bins, manufactured in the U.S.A. and available in many colors, sizes, and styles. Add casters for mobility or configure your shelving system as a stationary unit. Great storage products, delivered quickly at the guaranteed lowest prices – Quantum!

To order a new catalog, contact:
Quantum Storage Systems
Call toll-free: (800) 685-4665
sales@quantumstorage.com
www.quantumstorage.com

Wichita Clutch Receives “Texas Manufacturing Star Award”

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:37:58 +0100

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) recently honored Wichita Clutch with the Texas Manufacturing Star Award at the Texas Business Conference in Wichita Falls, Texas. TWC Commissioner Representing Employers, Tom Pauken presented the award to Wichita Clutch, a global leader in the design and manufacture of heavy-duty industrial pneumatic and hydraulically-actuated clutches and brakes.

The award acknowledges outstanding private-sector employers who contribute to the growing manufacturing base in Texas. “Wichita Clutch is always looking for better, more cost-effective ways to get their products produced,” said Pauken. “They are a vital participant in the overall health of the Wichita Falls community and its economic development.”

Businesses are selected for the award based on the economic impact they have on their communities, partnerships they develop with economic development organizations or training providers as well as their workforce training and development.

“We are very proud to receive this prestigious award,” said Mark Stuebe, VP and General Manager of Altra Industrial Motion’s Heavy-Duty Clutch Brake Group. “Our focus is on maximizing our resources and capital while contributing to the economic vitality of Wichita Falls.”

Hyster Company Asks “Why Pay for Equipment When You Aren’t Using It?” With Power Advantage

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:06:39 +0100

Hyster Company is giving lift truck users custom lease solutions with flexible end-of-term options and the ability to pay only for the hours used through its Power Advantage. The new leasing program bills for the actual hours of use during a given month, allowing customers to enjoy a “pay-per-hour”-based finance solution.

“Power Advantage is a pioneering effort in the lift truck industry, allowing our customers to choose the lifetime based on total hours and time needed for the use of the truck,” said Tina Goodwin, Director of Financial Services for Hyster. “The customer can match expenses to operational cycles and control their costs. At the end of the lease term, the truck can be returned for a new truck or the lease extended. It’s that simple. No hassle. No surprises. No overtime billing. No paying for hours not used.”

Power Advantage is ideal for seasonal or mixed-use operations looking to pay for actual usage only, locking in a per-hour rate at the lease outset and avoiding overtime charges. These operations would typically use a lift truck between 1,200 and 3,000 hours per year.

With the flexible end-of-term options, if a truck hits the contract term first, the customer can return the truck or continue using the truck at the original hour lease rate until the total hour usage is met. If the truck hits the total hour usage first, the customer can return the truck or can extend to the full contract term at 50 percent of the original hour lease rate.

For more details on Power Advantage, visit the Hyster website or contact a local Hyster® lift truck dealer.

Hyster Company is an operating division of NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), which employs approximately 5,300 people worldwide. NMHG is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NC).

Associated Announces Their New Strategic Partnership with TZA

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:04:52 +0100

Associated, a leader in providing customers with integrated supply chain solutions, announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with TZA, a technology, consulting, and engineering company specializing in the optimization of labor performance.

This partnership will enable Associated to leverage TZA’s expertise and experience in implementing labor management solutions, which encompass people, processes and technology, to enhance the value Associated brings to its customer in increased workforce productivity, efficiency and operational cost reductions.
Michael Romano, President/CEO of Associated said “As we look toward the future we are committed to developing new and innovative methods to provide value to our customers. In today’s environment, labor costs comprise the largest part of a warehouse's controllable operating expenses. The ongoing challenge many of our customers face is how to manage labor costs without jeopardizing customer service. Our partnership with TZA will allow us to provide our customers with market-leading technology and tools to help them leverage the true potential of their workforce.”

For more information on Labor Management Programs and how Associated can be of assistance in making recommendations that will boost labor productivity, visit their website at www.associated-solutions.com.

Cat Lift Trucks Donates Hand Pallet Truck To Houston Habitat For Humanity

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:12:06 +0100

Houston-based manufacturer Cat Lift Trucks recently donated a Cat® lift truck hand pallet truck to Houston Habitat for Humanity. Habitat will use the 5,500 lb. capacity truck at the organization’s Houston headquarters to assist with the lifting and moving of floor tiles, paint, drywall and other construction materials.

“Cat Lift Trucks’ donation will help Houston Habitat for Humanity accomplish our goals as an organization,” said Jerry Kovaly, Houston Habitat for Humanity Construction Director. “Every penny that we save, rather than spending on equipment, can be put back into a house for a family in need.”

About Cat Lift Trucks
Cat Lift Trucks - Everything You’ve Come to Expect.
Cat Lift Trucks offers reliable lift trucks backed by industry-leading customer service and support through one of the most extensive dealer networks in North, Central and South America. With capacities ranging from 2,500 to 36,000 pounds, the company is recognized for its solutions-oriented and durable line of material handling equipment for commercial and industrial applications. Cat® lift trucks are manufactured and distributed by Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a leading manufacturer of forklifts in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.cat-lift.com or call 1-800-CAT-LIFT (1-800-228-5438).

About Houston Habitat for Humanity
Since 1987, Houston Habitat for Humanity, along with thousands of sponsors and volunteers, has built more than 900 affordable homes for purchase by hard-working, low-income Houstonians. Mortgages are purchased on a zero-interest basis, often with little or no down payment. Houston Habitat homebuyers contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” by working on their own homes or the homes of their neighbors and are offered classes in money management and home maintenance. More information about Houston Habitat and its “ReStore” discounted building supply store is available online at www.houstonhabitat.org or by calling 713-671-9993.

Association of Diesel Specialists 2012 – 2014 Leadership Takes the Reins

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 06:57:00 +0100

Andy Girres, owner/president of Diesel Specialties Inc. of Sioux City, Ia., was recently elected president of the Association of Diesel Specialist (ADS). He began his term Aug. 1 during the ADS International Convention & Tradeshow.

Diesel Specialties, Inc. has been working on diesel fuel systems for over 40 years. Its factory trained staff is authorized to work on Robert Bosch, Delphi, Stanadyne, Zexel and Ambac fuel systems as well as Garrett and BorgWarner turbochargers. They also maintain one of the largest inventories of exchange pumps, turbo’s and nozzles in the country.

Andy Girres graduated from technical school in 1984 in farm equipment mechanics. He worked for Diesel Specialties Inc. in Sioux City, Ia., from 1984 to 2009 as a technician, service manager and then as general manager. In 2009, Girres purchased Diesel Specialties Inc. and now serves as the president but is still very active in all aspects of the business. Girres has achieved master-technician status with Robert Bosch and through ADS’ Tech Cert program. He currently serves on the ADS Technical Education Committee and on the ADS Board of Directors holding several positions, now including the role of ADS president.

Other ADS officers include some of the industry’s leading diesel specialists: Chuck Oliveros (ADS vice president) owner/president of Williams Diesel Service Inc. in Ocala, Fla.; Carl Fergueson (ADS secretary) general manager of the Taylor Diesel Group in Nashville, Tenn.; Laura Rountree (ADS treasurer) owner/president of Industrial Diesel Inc. in Norfolk, Va.

The ADS officers are joined by the 16 members of the ADS Board of Directors who include: Franklin Chu, Electro Inyección Diesel Chú S.A. in Panama City, Panama; Greg Coryell, Power Distributing Inc., Seattle, Wash.; Eduardo Drexel, Combustion Diesel de Monterrey S.A., Monterrey, Mexico; Jaime Goncalves, Stanadyne Corporation, Windsor, Conn.; Jerry Harris, Diesel Equipment Company in Greensboro, N.C.; Chuck Hess, H.G. Makelim Co., South San Francisco, Calif; Diane Kenny, DENSO Sales California, Inc. in Long Beach, Calif.; Simon Lynch, Delphi Diesel Systems, Troy, Mich.; Cam Mandel, Hydraulic Injection in Taber, Alberta, Canada; Paul Marek, Superior Turbo & Injection in Detroit, Mich.; Tom Novak, Robert Bosch LLC in Broadview, Ill.; Ken O’Brien, Cadel in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Gord Reid, N.W. Fuel Injection Service, Ltd., Surrey, BC, Canada; Al Roberts, Turbo Diesel & Electric Systems, Inc., Forest Park, Ga.; Patrick Sessions, Master Tech Diesel Injection, Inc., Boise, Idaho; and Nicole Tucker, Diesel Injection Service, Inc, Madison, Wis.

The ADS Board of Directors will guide the association through its various programs that assist diesel specialist members. Programs include meetings, training and education, business support and more. The association also assists its members by providing a network of support for personal and professional growth.

ADS members are primarily independent repair shops and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of fuel injection equipment, governors, superchargers or turbochargers. For more information visit the ADS website at www.diesel.org or contact ADS Headquarters at 816/285-0810 or info@diesel.org.

Miller Family Farms Wins Free Use of a Gehl 5640E Skid Loader

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:56:00 +0100

Gehl, a leading manufacturer of compact equipment for construction and agriculture applications presented Rob and Kristi Miller of Bear Creek, Wis. with the free use of a Gehl model 5640E skid loader. The Millers registered for the “Give-away” (for three months or 150 hours) at the Gehl booth at the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, held July 17-19 in New London, Wis. The machine was delivered on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 by Gretzinger’s Sales and Service in Clintonville, Wis.

“When I got the news we had won, I was shocked. I thought I had won a toy!” said Rob Miller. “The Gehl 5640E has been a great addition to the farm. Its versatility is a great asset…I couldn’t imagine going back to the tractor.”

Miller works a 280-acre farm with 60 milk cows and 60 young cows with his wife, Kristi, and their children. Rob and Kristi purchased the farm from his parents three years ago. They have been working to increase the efficiency of the operation and make updates, something the use of the 5640E skid loader will help them achieve.

“The two-speed on the Gehl [5640E] is a time-saver,” said Miller. “The hand controls allow me to feather the loader into tight areas and the cab is really comfortable.”

Manitou Group is headquartered in Ancenis (West of France). Manitou Group designs, assembles and distributes Gehl branded compact equipment for the construction and agricultural markets worldwide. In 2010, Manitou Group reported €838 million of revenue, two-thirds of which was outside France. Business is conducted under the Manitou®, Gehl®, Mustang®, Loc® and Edge® trademarks, through 1,400 independent dealers in more than 120 countries. As of December 31, 2010, Manitou Group employed 2,800 people, 40% of which are located outside France.

Corporate information is available at: www.manitou.com

NMHG Donates Lift Truck to First Born Community Development Center

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:54:00 +0100

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG) donated a lift truck to First Born Community Development Center (FBCDC) of Pitt County last week in order to assist the charity’s warehousing needs. FBCDC is a member agency of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina that provides food boxes to individuals and families in need.

“We are so grateful to NMHG for their donation,” said Carolyn Spencer, executive director for FBCDC. “The truck will help us work more efficiently and accomplish our mission to serve the community. It’s always great to see a local company that cares as much about the community as we do.”

“At NMHG, the community is very important to us,” said Colin Wilson, COO of NMHG. “We look for ways to help where we can directly, but also help charities like First Born be as effective as possible in their efforts to serve our neighbors.”

FBCDC owns a 2,600-square-foot building to house the food operation, which contains freezers for perishable goods and storage space for non-perishable items. NMHG previously supplied the charity with an electric lift truck, but after reviewing the facility’s needs, NMHG decided a different model would better suit the terrain surrounding the warehouse. The electric lift truck was replaced with a 2005 Yale ® GLP040 lift truck. Dougherty Equipment Company, the local Yale lift truck dealer, assisted with the delivery and installation of the new lift truck.

Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, FBCDC warehouse volunteers distribute food boxes to onsite individuals and families. Besides distributing food boxes from the warehouse, volunteers also deliver food boxes to homebound elderly and handicapped. Each food box contains a variety of canned, fresh and frozen meats, along with bread, fruit, vegetables, dairy products and beverages. FBCDC also operates a free clothes bank that is available during operational hours.

A world leader in the lift truck industry, NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG) designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally primarily under the Hyster® and Yale® brand names. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, NMHG employs approximately 5,300 people worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NC).

McCarran International Airport Brings Gen2 RFID Technology to New Terminal

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:50:00 +0100

June 27 marked the grand opening of the new international section of Terminal 3 at McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. Terminal 3 features Gen2 radio frequency identification (RFID) technology as part of its baggage tracking system and is the largest Gen2 installation to date in North America. In 2004 the decision to implement this type of tracking system made McCarran one of the first airports to use RFID technology airport-wide. An RFID chip is incorporated into each bag tag produced for all of the airlines and it emits a unique signature which sensors detect to locate the tagged object. Standard bar code reading bag tags can be misread forcing bags to be hand-sorted and increase the chance of problems. However, RFID tags are 99% accurate which allows airports to easily organize baggage loading, locate misplaced baggage and check the status of certain baggage. All in all this technology helps improve customer satisfaction and safety and reduces cost related to misplaced baggage.

Design and installation of the new baggage handling system for Terminal 3 began in 2008. Vanderlande Industries was awarded this $92 million baggage handling system which includes 30,000 feet of conveyor, more than 10,000 feet of catwalk, 73 high speed diverters, 32 carousels, 20 Vertisorters, and 55 Over Belt RFID readers. The initial deployment has 16 in-line screening machines with installed availability for up to 20 machines. For in the inbound control system, Vanderlande used its own baggage handling software, VIBES. The VIBES control software suite is compliant with the latest TSA regulations and handles all processes from routing, tracking and tracing to gathering and visualizing process information. For the outbound control system Vanderlande worked in conjunction with Alliant Technologies.

Ian Horrigan, Project Manager at Vanderlande Industries, explains, “the project presented many challenges due to its large scale and wide spread use of 2nd generation RFID technology. The system itself was vigorously tested for many months, processing over 500,000 test bags to ensure a smooth transition to live operations on June 27th as scheduled.”

The domestic section of Terminal 3 opened on July 31 with the entire project to wrap up by the middle of August.

Vanderlande Industries serves the airport baggage handling market as well as materials handling for the distribution, parcel and post markets. Baggage handling systems include self check-in, high-speed transportation, integrated hold baggage screening, baggage carousels and more. Vanderlande Industries is the 5th largest material handling supplier in the world.

Vanderlande Industries Inc
770-250-2800
www.vanderlande.com

Dynamic Storage Keep FDA Regulated Labels Out Of Harm’s Way

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:11:00 +0100

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to protect and promote consumer health with regulations helping manufacturers and distributors improve production processes. The complexity of storing and retrieving packaging labels for drugs, vaccines or medical devices can vary greatly depending on the industry, FDA regulatory requirements and individual business models. Kardex Remstar dynamic storage solutions can makes these processes easier with security, inventory control, damage prevention and temperature control.

The FDA regulates and ensures the safety of food as well as drugs, biological products and more. Packaging labels for these goods must be kept in a clean and secure environment to eliminate tampering from natural elements causing a label to be illegible, or damaged to the label due to mishandling, deeming the label unusable. If a label is misplaced or picked out of sequential order, it must be reported to the FDA. Storing labels on traditional shelving in an uncontrollable environment can be costly.

Shuttle Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) and Megamat RS vertical carousels can ensure secure label storage. Labels are stored in an enclosed unit, requiring the operator to login before retrieving a label. Units can be closed and physically locked, providing maximum security when necessary.

FastPic5 inventory management software improves inventory control by user, providing a complete transaction history. Pick lights automatically direct the operator to the correct label to pick, ensuring each label picked is in sequential order and numbers are not skipped. Full track and traceability is also available. If the FDA recalls a packaging label, the inventory management software can track when the label was picked and trace where the label was used.

Kardex Remstar units can be temperature controlled, heating and cooling the unit to control humidity, ensuring all labels are fully functional. This prevents reporting damaged labels to the FDA, eliminating wasted time and paperwork. Temperature control features are unique to each machine as set by the user.

With the FDA regulating labeling materials for drugs and biological products, it is essential to keep them in order and secure. Kardex Remstar automated storage and retrieval systems can keep these labels secure and safe from damage while improving accuracy and increasing productivity. Automating the storage and retrieval of this once complex process is now as easy as the push of a button.

Kardex Remstar, LLC, a company of the Kardex Group is a leading provider of automated storage and retrieval systems for manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, offices and institutions. For information about our dynamic storage solutions, call 800-639-5805 or visit www.KardexRemstar.com

Georgia Governor Strengthens Business Ties with The Netherlands

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:50:11 +0100

Vanderlande Industries was pleased to host the Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, at its global headquarters in Veghel, Netherlands. The trip was part of an economic development mission which focuses on expanding and strengthening business relationships with The Netherlands. Deal was accompanied by several representatives of the Georgia Department of Economic Development including Commissioner Chris Cummiskey, as well as Michiel Peters, Global CEO of Vanderlande Industries and Ewout Cassee, President of Vanderlande in North America. A major highlight of the delegation’s trip was visiting Vanderlande’s Innovation Center, a top notch R&D, testing and training facility. At the Innovation Center customers and visitors receive a comprehensive overview of Vanderlande’s full product offering and observe live demonstrations of current solutions and capabilities.

Vanderlande Industries is a leading global supplier of baggage handling systems for airports and material handling systems for distribution, parcel and post. The company is at the forefront of material handling technology and ranks fifth in the world amongst its competitors. Vanderlande has had operations in Georgia since 1998 and has brought $1.8 billion in revenue to the state and over 400 jobs. Another major contribution to Georgia includes establishing additional manufacturing facilities and jobs. The majority of Vanderlande’s equipment for the North American market is produced in Calhoun and Dawsonville, Georgia.

Overall Dutch companies have established more than 250 facilities in Georgia, representing 27,900 jobs and $2.5 billion in investment. The Netherlands ranks fourth among European investors in Georgia. The Netherlands is the 15th largest export market for Georgia, and 19th largest import market. In 2011, the value of trade between Georgia and The Netherlands totaled $1.25 billion.

"This trip is a great opportunity to grow our relationship with the State of Georgia. So much of business is based on relationships and nothing is better than doing that in person. We wanted Governor Deal to see firsthand who we are as a company and what we bring to the state of Georgia," said Ewout Cassee.

Vanderlande Industries Inc
770/250-2800
www.vanderlande.com

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Adds Product Support Representative

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:44:17 +0100

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. announces the addition of Ed Bender to its product support staff in its southern Wisconsin region. Ed comes to Wisconsin Lift Truck with experience in the automobile industry and a great deal of enthusiasm.

His field responsibilities will include working closely with equipment sales representatives to develop new business as well as analyze customer needs, demonstrate new products, initiate proposals, and recommend services or equipment for any special applications customers may present.

Bender is a graduate of Pulaski High School and currently resides in the Burlington area.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com), celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It is one of the nation's largest material handling distributors and a member of the Wolter Group of companies. Its mission is to enable customers’ success through value-added solutions supported by superior service and quality products delivered with a sense of urgency. A highly trained staff of over 325 employees with an average tenure of 16 years of service helps accomplish this mission. The company delivers superior service to over 10,000 customers in its three-state service area.

Other Wolter Group companies include Wolter Power Systems (www.wolterps.com), which specializes in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts and energy systems; Wolter Material Handling (www.woltermh.com), offering new and used sales, parts, service and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment in western Wisconsin; Contractor Equipment Services (www.ceswltc.com), which offers new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, and sweepers and scrubbers; Illinois Material Handling (www.imhlifts.com), a full service material handling distributor, and Fleet Services (www.fmswlt.com), which offers ways to improve fleet performance to reduce the cost of materials handling.

Briggs Equipment Helping New Orleans Get Back to Business

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:44:00 +0100

Nearly seven years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and forced one of the largest cold storage facilities in the country to close, Briggs Equipment, is honored to supply state of the art electric forklifts to New Orleans Cold Storage company’s new $40 million facility at the Port of New Orleans.

The 142,000 square foot warehouse is the largest in the country. Briggs is contracted to provide and service 18 new electric forklifts inside the building and 15 others that will be used to move product from the facility to waiting ships at the port.

“The warehouse was constructed to be environmentally sound and energy efficient,” says Paul Pressler, Briggs Equipment New Orleans Branch Manager. “That’s why our innovative, eco- friendly electric forklifts are a perfect match for the facility.”

New Orleans Cold Storage is the oldest cold storage company in North America. It’s one of the largest suppliers of beef, poultry and pork exports in the nation. Among other products, the facility handles nearly half of the poultry exported from Louisiana farmers to foreign destinations.

“This is a new chapter for New Orleans Cold Storage, the port and the city,” says Mike Winemiller, President Briggs International. “We are proud to partner with this legendary company and this facility to help put New Orleans back on the map as a worldwide player in the cold storage industry.”

No Margin for Error

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:46:00 +0100

When Dead Sea Works Ltd, (DSW), one of the world’s largest producer and supplier of potash products, decided to expand its Dead Sea facility product line to include potassium chloride suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications, Project Manager, Vlad Golick, was tasked with developing a proper area to package the pharmaceutical product into 55 lb and 2000 lb super sacks, and also a material handling system to transfer the product to the packaging equipment.

Because the plant operates 24/7 there is no margin for error and Golick had to ensure that the equipment could withstand constant operation in the harsh desert environment, was user friendly, and interact flawlessly with the hydroscopic nature of the product. The solution was a semi-custom engineered vacuum conveying system.

Prior to completing the project the product was manually bagged into 55 pound bags in an environment, which did not completely meet strict GMP requirements.

“To accommodate the new product, a sanitary room was constructed 30 feet from the old packaging area and we required a conveying system that could move the product horizontally 30 feet and 14 feet vertically,” says Golick.

Golick and his team investigated several material handling solutions, including belt conveyors and bucket elevators, to move the material but those methods exposed the product to the environment and were problematic for moving material vertically. Pneumatic conveying seemed like the right choice, but because potassium chloride is highly hydroscopic and tends to clump Golick was concerned that ambient air would come into contact with material during the conveying cycle and cause the product to solidify.

In very simple terms, pneumatic conveying is the method of using air to move bulk dry product from place to place within a factory. There are two types of pneumatic conveying, vacuum and pressure. Vacuum is where the system is sucking the material through the tube and pressure is where material is blown through the tube.

While ambient air does come into contact with the product when pneumatically conveying materials, conveyor experts know how to minimize the effects so that it does not affect materials.

“We contacted suppliers in Europe, and VAC-U-MAX in the U.S. Its systems are well known in Israel, and the company had the technical expertise we were looking for,” says Golick.

Belleville, New Jersey-based VAC-U-MAX, an expert in the design and manufacture of pneumatic systems and support equipment for conveying, batching, and weighing of dry materials, couples its proven pre-engineered conveying solutions with industry expertise to design custom solutions for processors.

Recognizing that materials behave differently under various conditions, the conveyor manufacturer has a long-standing practice of offering no obligation test runs of customers’ materials in their testing facility, and DSW sent samples of its product for test with the equipment.

Before running any tests, the conveyor manufacturer had to first consider the unique location and environment of the application and design the system using high temperature materials and also materials that are corrosion resistant—which is a whole subject in itself. It was decided that a conveying system built from 316L stainless steel could withstand the harsh desert temperatures and corrosive atmosphere at the Dead Sea.

With the equipment material decided, VAC-U-MAX tested the hydroscopic material to ensure it would not absorb moisture and clump in the conveying tube and packaging equipment. To prevent this, the conveyor manufacturer tested and employed flow promotion devices such as aeration, agitation or vibration to keep the material moving with a transport weight of 5.5 tons per hour.

Beyond environmental factors, Golick says, “the equipment needed to be user friendly so that different language groups can operate it.” The national language of Israel is Hebrew and Arabic, and English and Russian are the most popular unofficial languages in Israel. Therefore, the system is fully automated to run 24/7 with 30 operators rotating off with no operator attention required except to push a start button.

After running extensive tests in its facility to ensure the system performed according to DSW specifications, a team from DSW visited the VAC-U-MAX test facility to witness the equipment in action. Golick says, “we saw that the system could do its job and we issued a purchase order. The cost difference and technical assistance is where VAC-U-MAX had an advantage.”

For the installation, a VAC-U-MAX team traveled to the Dead Sea facility. “The team worked crazy hours and didn’t mind,” says Golick. “We had more assistance than we expected from them.”

“The two systems have been up and running since the beginning of the year and they are working without any problems so far,” says Golick.

VAC-U-MAX offers a wide range of standard pneumatic conveyor systems, weighing systems and accessories, plus semi-custom systems, as well as totally custom-engineered systems. They offer factory testing of trial materials, as well as installation assistance and full maintenance documentation. They are the provider of choice of many well-known companies in the food, drug, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

For more information about VAC-U-MAX pneumatic conveying systems, or to learn about the company’s industrial vacuum cleaners write to them at 69 William Street, Belleville, NJ 07109; call 800/822-8629 or 973/759-4600; e-mail info@vac-u-max.com; or visit their website www.vac-u-max.com.

Valley Craft, Inc. acquired by Minnesota Businessman Dennis Campbell

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:48:00 +0100

Valley Craft Industries, Inc., a company newly formed by Minnesota businessman Dennis Campbell, announced today that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Valley Craft, Inc., a former division of Liberty Diversified International (LDI).

Valley Craft, a leading metal fabrication company, produces a portfolio of custom and proprietary material handling and storage solution products used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. Valley Craft also works with Original Equipment Manufacturers as a supplier of fabricated metal components and sub-assemblies.

“With its great location, experienced and committed employees, and loyal customers – many of whom have been with them for more than 30 years – Valley Craft is a great example of what’s right with manufacturing in America,” new owner Dennis Campbell said.

Under its new leadership, Valley Craft Industries will focus on growing the business by: 1. Producing quality products that make life better, safer, and more efficient; 2. Introducing innovative new products that satisfy customer needs; 3.Developing new channels into new markets; and 4. continuously improving all aspects of the business.

Campbell confirmed that all presently active employees of LDI’s Valley Craft Division have been offered employment with the new company.

“This is a terrific opportunity to unlock the potential of a great brand that has been struggling for oxygen as a non-core asset inside a larger growth oriented parent where the most precious resources - capital and executive mind share – have been focused elsewhere,” said Campbell. LDI, which owned the business since 1979, recently determined that Valley Craft was not well aligned with its strategic vision.

Campbell brings extensive experience to the company having managed domestic and international businesses in a variety of industries including automotive, power generation, aerospace, electronics, plastics, capital equipment and visual communications.

“Having been responsible for durable goods business operations in over 20 different countries, l know what it means to be ‘American Made,’ and I know what it takes to be competitive. I’m committed to making Valley Craft Industries a model of success and a wake-up call for anyone who thinks America’s best manufacturing days are behind us.” said Campbell.

About Valley Craft Industries, Inc.
Valley Craft Industries, Inc., based in Lake City Minnesota, was founded in 1952 with the introduction of the first hand truck with a brake. A manufacturer of high quality custom and proprietary products, Valley Craft Industries is known for its variety of rugged hand trucks, trailers, carts, drum handling devices, and storage solutions. Please visit www.valleycraft.com for additional information.

U.S. Manufacturer Protects Its Growth and Storage Rack

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:29:04 +0100

Nordic Ware, a manufacturer of quality cookware, bakeware, barbecue, microwave, and specialty kitchenware products, had outgrown its facilities. The St. Louis Park, Minn.-based manufacturer, best known for its nearly 60 million Bundt pans in kitchens across America, needed to consolidate warehousing, add storage, and improve distribution to continue growing its business, according to Bob Clifford, Nordic Ware’s Plant Manager.

“After years of double digit growth, we were overcrowded at the main plant and inefficiently running parts to and from offsite warehouses,” says Clifford. “To beat overseas competitors and meet Just-In-Time demands, we sought a more efficient order fulfillment, warehousing, and distribution process.”

Nordic Ware decided to consolidate its offsite warehousing in a new 60,000 sq. ft. distribution center that it equipped with the help of Skarnes, a Plymouth, Minn.-based material handling systems distributor. For high storage density of select, fast moving items, Skarnes suggested pushback rack. To take advantage of the new distribution center’s almost 30-foot ceiling and position Nordic Ware for long-term growth, Skarnes suggested using a rugged, 23-foot high pallet rack system. All the storage rack, however, would need to resist damage from a high-volume of fork truck traffic.

“We wanted to protect our ability to grow business and our storage rack in the new distribution center,” says Clifford. “We wanted a lasting showcase, fit for tours, with minimal downtime or repairs due to fork truck-caused rack damage.”

To maximize storage and selectivity for a limited number of Nordic Ware’s fast moving items, the company chose Steel King’s SK3600® two-deep pushback rack system, which offers more dense storage than selective rack systems and more selectivity than drive-in racks.

Unlike static, single-deep selective pallet racks, a dynamic pushback rack system allows storing pallets two to five deep while providing easy access to a variety of different SKUs. Pallets are stored behind each other in a series of nested carts and are loaded and unloaded from the same side of the system, eliminating separate aisles for each function. Composed of a stable pallet rack structure along with a series of inclined rails and carts, when one pallet is pulled out, the one behind it rolls forward.

To meet strength, durability and maintenance goals, Jim Menges, the Skarnes’ sales engineer who oversaw the project, recommended and Nordic Ware chose SK3000® pallet rack, a rugged bolted rack with structural channel columns, by Steel King, a leading manufacturer of storage rack and material handling products.

Compared to typical racking, the SK3000 pallet rack, constructed of hot-rolled structural channel column with full horizontal-diagonal bracing, offers greater frame strength, durability and cross-sectional area. All grade-5 hardware provides greater shear strength, and a heavy 7-gauge wrap-around connector plate ensures a square and plumb installation with a tighter connection and greater moment resistance.

“For our fastest moving retailers with the shortest delivery windows, our pushback rack increases storage density and speeds pick rates,” says Clifford. “The structural channel steel withstands the inevitable wear-and-tear and impact of high-volume fork truck use.”

To provide necessary selectivity for most stored items in the new distribution center, Menges recommended and Nordic Ware chose SK2000® pallet rack, a boltless, closed tubular upright product also manufactured by Steel King.

"A closed tubular upright design like Steel King's provides 250% greater resistance to frontal impact and increased strength to side impact," says Menges. A number of other pallet rack features helped Nordic Ware meet its strength, durability, and maintenance goals.

Compared to open back roll formed columns, Steel King’s SK2000 closed tubular uprights are 44 times more torsion/twist resistant, with 250% greater frontal impact resistance and 68% greater side impact resistance. All beams are constructed of high-strength (55,000 p.s.i. minimum) steel, and holes are placed on the column's face, not the corners, minimizing strength loss.

“While impact-resistant rack is vital in high-volume operations to reduce downtime and repair, it’s essential to protect the first column, upright, and end from fork trucks,” says Menges. “Most of the damage to the outside of a rack bay occurs in these places when a fork truck enters the bay.”

To make their storage racking system even more fork truck resistant, Nordic Ware opted for Column Core® column reinforcements, which can make the SK2000 rack five times more impact resistant at the front corners and sides where the upright is the most vulnerable.

According to Menges, column reinforcement on the bottom 18" of the rack provides additional protection from fork truck damage without interfering with product put away or picking. Unlike sheet metal placed in front of a rack, Column Core® adds structural integrity that can help prevent downtime for rack repair or replacement.

“Because rack inside each bay is also vulnerable to fork truck impact, it’s also important to protect it in high-volume operations,” says Menges.

To protect both upright columns and the vulnerable interior areas of rack rows from fork truck impact, Menges recommended and Nordic Ware selected Steel King’s Guard Dawg® Protective Guarding along each row. These 5” x 3” x 3/8” right, left, or double ended steel guards protect upright columns from the ends to the interior of rack rows. “The low elevation guarding wraps around the end column and goes all the way back to the end of the bay, protecting all the uprights,” says Menges. “This further prevents costly rack damage and repair while improving warehouse uptime and productivity.”

Nordic Ware’s investment in its new distribution center and rack safety has paid off and is continuing to do so, according to Clifford.

“With the efficiency gains provided by our new distribution center and racking, we’re meeting ever shorter delivery windows for major retailers across America and overseas,” says Clifford. “By preventing damage with the impact-resistant Steel King rack and guarding, we’ve reduced the need for repair and increased uptime. After applying some of these protective measures plant wide, we’ve significantly reduced fork truck-caused rack damage and improved production. These improvements helped contribute to our fifth straight year of double-digit growth.”

Besides improving Nordic Ware’s productivity, the new distribution center with its 23-foot high rack systems are proving to be a fitting showcase. Because the rack is powder coated rather than painted with enamel, it's 94% more resistant to chips and scratches.

“It’s quite a sight for tour groups to enter our new distribution center with its racking decked out in Nordic blue,” says Clifford. “The racking still looks new after almost three years, and we look forward to many productive years to come.”

For more info, contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; call 800-826-0203; email: dheemstra@steelking.com or visit the website www.steelking.com.

MPI names Bob Wolf as regional sales manager for western U.S., Canada

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:53:00 +0100

Magnetic Products, Inc. (MPI), a worldwide provider of both magnetic and nonmagnetic material handling solutions, announced it has added Bob Wolf to its growing sales team as western region sales manager.

Wolf brings over 20 years of industrial sales experience with a number of manufacturing companies where he grew accounts, provided technical support and managed sales representatives. In his new role, Wolf will have sales responsibility for the entire MPI product line throughout the western United States and Canada.

“Today’s manufacturers are faced with a number of challenges,” said Jack Smylie, director of sales and marketing, MPI. “Bob’s proven ability to quickly grasp the complexity of our customers’ issues, whether an industrial or magnetic separation application, will help MPI to provide the best solution.”

“I’m excited to be joining the MPI team,” Wolf said. “I look forward to building strong relationships with our customers and sales channel partners.”

For further information, contact MPI at www.mpimagnet.com.

New Product Offering: American Crane expands its offerings to include AL-Vac Vacuum Tube ...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:46:21 +0100

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, a manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoists, has recently added AL-Vac Vacuum Tube Lifters and Manipulators to its list of distributed products.

AL-Vac Vacuum Lifters and Manipulators are utilized in many industries to lift objects weighing a few pounds to several tons. Their smooth action makes them easy to operate, increasing efficiency and reducing the labor costs associated with production, lead, and delivery time. In addition, a wide variety of accessories and end effectors are available for each unique application, ensuring the safety of the operator and load. Using vacuum power can considerably reduce the number of injuries suffered on the job.

From complex custom overhead lifting equipment to standard equipment, components and parts, American Crane can meet all your material handling needs, large or small. For more information on our AL-Vac products visit us online at AmericanCrane.com/AL-Vac or contact Thomas Benfield at tbenfield@americancrane.com (1-877-503-2972 Ext. 158).

RedPrairie and Sony of Canada Recognized as Supply Chain Innovators in Inventory Forecasting ...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:43:00 +0100

RedPrairie Corporation, a global supply chain and retail technology provider, and customer Sony of Canada Ltd., have been selected as finalists for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and SupplyChainBrain’s Supply Chain Innovation Award™. The award recognizes the best and most innovative solutions and ideas in the supply chain profession.

RedPrairie and Sony of Canada were nominated for this award based on a case study detailing the challenges, new ideas and successful implementation of a Collaborative Flowcasting/store level distribution resource planning (DRP) solution for Sony of Canada. RedPrairie and Sony of Canada’s case study was selected as one of eight finalists from among 50 submissions.

In 2009, Sony of Canada implemented RedPrairie’s store level DRP system to help profitably manage its retail supply chain, including many specialized “slow-selling” items with high price points, which create hard-to-forecast, intermittent demand patterns. Unlike traditional “bottom-up, top-down” historical-based approaches to demand forecasting that add complexity and do not account for seasonality, RedPrairie’s solution uses integer forecasting to intuitively model how demands will actually occur.

For the year 2010, Sony of Canada had achieved the following results:

Improved store level forecast accuracy by 30 percent (on an annualized basis)
Improved store in-stock from 87 percent in 2009 to 95-97 percent in 2010, including the holiday season
Reduced supply chain inventory by 20 percent
Reduced obsolete inventory from 14 percent to 9 percent of total inventory

“This was a relatively simple implementation with quick results,” said Rick Courtin, business process manager at Sony of Canada. “Store level DRP gave us the ability to improve store in-stocks and reduce inventory quickly, while at the same time providing us with the ability to automate many tasks that were manual and very cumbersome in the past. Thanks to the new system, we can now focus on fire prevention activities instead of being in a constant state of firefighting.”

“The farther from the consumer that forecasting takes place, the less accurate forecasts are likely to be,” explained the “father of DRP,” Andre Martin, co-founder of RedPrairie’s Collaborative Flowcasting Group. ”The retail store is both the beginning and the end of retail supply chains. It’s the beginning of the information flow and the end of product delivery. Our approach is to create a computer-based model of the actual retail business; a representation of the real world, which can be used to intuitively model how demand will actually occur.”

RedPrairie’s Andre Martin and Sony of Canada’s Rick Courtin will co-present their case study to the panel of judges and the live audience of attendees at the CSCMP Annual Global Conference in Atlanta, Ga., September 30-October 3, 2012. The award winner will be announced onstage at the conference’s closing session on Wednesday, October 3.

More about RedPrairie’s ground-breaking approach to Collaborative Flowcasting can be found in the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions (VICS) Best Practice Guideline: The Ultimate Retail Supply Chain Machine: Connecting the Consumer to the Factory.

About RedPrairie
For more than 35 years, RedPrairie’s best-of-breed supply chain, workforce, and all-channel retail solutions have put commerce in motion for the world’s leading companies. Installed in over 60,000 customer sites across more than 50 countries, RedPrairie solutions adapt to help ensure visibility and collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. RedPrairie is prepared to meet its customers’ current and future demands with multiple delivery options, flexible architecture, and 24/7 technical and customer support. For a world in motion, RedPrairie is commerce in motion.

To learn more about how RedPrairie solutions can optimize your inventory, improve employee productivity, or increase sales, visit RedPrairie.com or email info@redprairie.com.

RedPrairie is a registered trademark of RedPrairie Corporation. © 2012 RedPrairie Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

PPMA – the UK´s leading processing and packaging machinery exhibition! Visit Logitrans at ...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:10:49 +0100

When focusing on efficiency and cost-savings, the internal transport and handling of goods are worth taking a look at! In a time where many companies are still influenced by the financial crisis, it is very important that transport and handling of goods in the companies are carried through as efficient as possible.

At the PPMA fair, taking place from 25 to 27 September 2012 in Birmingham, the Danish manufacturer of material handling equipment, Logitrans A/S, presents a unique selection of the Logitrans products. Logitrans has a large dealer network in the UK, dealing with enquiries and orders from UK customers.

Logitrans offers solutions for all imaginable transport jobs and all handling needs of pallets, reels, drums, boxes etc. The company is specialised in customer-adapted solutions, tailor-made for the individual requirements and application situations of the customer. The Logitrans focus is to increase efficiency and work satisfaction of the users. All Logitrans products give the users an easier workday and make it possible for them to carry through their work quicker and more efficient!

Erling Pedersen, President at Logitrans, invites visitors to stand F55, which Logitrans shares with Packline Materials Handling Ltd. On the stand visionary handling solutions and creative innovation will be highlighted – and Erling Pedersen promises the visitors that they will leave the stand with new ideas and options. “We want to show our visitors that we have the answers and solutions for even the most special handling situation”.

You find Logitrans A/S and Packline Materials Handling Ltd on stand F55

Our stand is worth visiting!

LiftOne to Represent Yale® Forklifts in Central Tennessee

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:45:42 +0100

LiftOne, LLC (“LiftOne”) will become the authorized dealer for Yale® materials handling equipment in the Tennessee markets previously serviced by KMH Systems. LiftOne has announced its intent to purchase certain new Yale inventory and aftermarket parts from KMH Systems Inc. (“KMH’). KMH presently is an authorized dealer of Yale® Brand forklifts in portions of central Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana. LiftOne is an authorized dealer of Hyster® brand forklifts in portions of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. The purchase is expected to be completed on or before July 31, 2012.

“The opportunity to add Yale® forklifts to our Hyster® product offering will better position us to enhance our leadership position in providing comprehensive solutions for our customers in the materials handling industry,” said Edward Weisiger, Jr., CEO of Carolina Tractor, the parent company of LiftOne. “The Yale® brand in addition to our full suite of materials handling equipment and systems will allow LiftOne to meet the needs of more customers within select markets of Central Tennessee. LiftOne’s dedication to parts and service, focus on customer efficiency and low cost of ownership remains unfaltering. Our highly trained technicians will continue to service and support all brands of materials handling equipment. We are both honored and energized by the prospect of becoming an authorized dealer of Hyster® and Yale® products in portions of the Tennessee market.”

“We are excited to merge the unique strengths and capabilities of the Yale® product line with LiftOne’s outstanding history of sales and service support,” said Bill Pfleger, President of Yale Distribution. We look forward to the advantages LiftOne will bring to longstanding Yale customers as well as the opportunity for developing new customers in portions of Central Tennessee.”

WPRP Wholesale Pallet Rack Products Expands Quick Ship to Erie, PA.

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:43:00 +0100

Minnesota based pallet rack distributor WPRP Wholesale Pallet Rack Products (www.wprpwholesalepalletrack.com) has expanded, opening up another pallet rack quick ship location in Erie, Pennsylvania 16502. This additional quick ship location will offer Ridg-U-Rak Teardrop pallet rack, J&L Wire Decking and accessories. With the ability to ship LTL shipments as well as truckloads in 24 - 48 hours, WPRP provides a convenient location for customers to get all their pallet rack requirements in one place.

In addition to quick ship material, WPRP also offers distributors the ability to order custom sizes to ship from the Erie, PA location. This is a significant benefit to be able to order custom sizes with or without quick ship material. WPRP can now offer several options to their customers utilizing both the Maple Grove MN and Erie PA quick ship locations.

Pricing and more information can be found by calling 888/578-1579 or emailing sales@wprpwholesalepalletrack.com

Sustainable Molded Fiber Packaging: Package Your Product in Newspaper and Water

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:42:00 +0100

As trendsetters such as Walmart have shown, working with suppliers to create sustainable packaging is vital for retailers and manufacturers looking to reduce input, transport, storage, and disposal costs, as well as promote their concern for the environment to consumers. The issue of disposal difficulties with many non-renewable materials has only served to heighten interest in this field and accelerate adoption of sustainable packaging.

According to a 2011 DuPont global survey of consumer packaged goods companies and packaging converters, sustainability is the top challenge facing the global packaging industry. Thirty-nine percent of the almost 500 packaging professionals surveyed cited sustainability as the number one issue, followed by 33 percent citing cost. Of the survey respondents working on sustainable packaging, 65 percent said their focus was on design for recyclability or use of recycled content.

Fortunately, with sustainability as their mantra, packaging developers are expanding the possibilities available with advanced, economical molded fiber packaging applications. As a result, more and more retailers, manufacturers, and consumers in markets ranging from the wine and candle industries to health & beauty to consumer electronics are adopting sustainable molded fiber packaging.

Today, molded fiber’s packaging capabilities range from shipping wine bottles and retail packaging for cosmetics to protective packs for jarred candles, cushions for computers and inserts for mobile phones.

Newspaper and Water

Molded fiber packaging is made from 100% recycled newspaper, made into a slurry with water, and converted into custom packaging after it is vacuum formed on screened molds. Because it is made entirely from recycled paper and water, molded fiber packaging is 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and sustainable. This reduces input and disposal costs compared to less recyclable, petroleum-based materials.

Molded fiber’s natural resilience and its blocking and bracing capabilities enable it to perform as well as most vacuum-formed plastic, expanded polystyrene (EPS), and corrugated designs. Not only is molded fiber packaging often less costly than EPS or other foam products but also it requires less space to ship and store, so it frequently reduces transport and storage costs.

Although the demand for recycled packaging has been growing for years, molded fiber has traditionally been associated with items like box inserts, cup carrying trays, and egg carton packaging that had limited consumer appeal.

Recently, however, some packaging industry providers have added specialty equipment and techniques that have significantly expanded the capabilities of traditional molded-fiber packaging. For instance, UFP Technologies, the largest custom converter of molded fiber in the U.S. for over 20 years, has added high tonnage presses, capable of producing after-pressed parts with more aesthetic appeal than traditionally formed molded fiber.

When Philips Consumer Lifestyle, a business unit of Royal Philips Electronics, the global diversified health and well being company, chose molded fiber, the goal was to align the packaging with its EcoVison5 corporate sustainability target to “double global collection, recycling amounts and recycled materials in products by 2015 compared to 2009.”

Philips Consumer Lifestyle previously packed large protective PET blisters inside retail cartons for Norelco shavers and Sonicare toothbrushes. The change to smaller PET blisters combined with protective molded fiber packaging has improved sustainability and branding and reduced costs.

“The molded-fiber packaging is made from 100% recycled newsprint, so it’s a more renewable, environmentally friendly material than petroleum-based plastics,” says Jeff Wood, senior commodity manager for Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Packaging and Print.

“Switching from large to small PET blisters, along with custom protective molded-fiber packaging from UFP Technologies, has reduced our use of plastic packaging content by 75% and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in material costs,” adds Wood. According to Wood, after-press operations provide a smooth, precise finish to the molded-fiber, improving the aesthetic and the “out of the box” experience of the consumer.

Unlike most molded fiber manufacturers, UFP Technologies is not limited to the production of standard end caps, trays, and box inserts. Its after-press capabilities allow for a smooth finish on two sides and the ability in manufacturing to hold a design’s tolerance much more closely. This enables the creation of retail friendly packaging options like folding cartons and clamshells with high aesthetic appeal that conveys a sustainable cachet.

Using color to accentuate branding is possible, as was done when dark purple was added to molded fiber trays for the BlackBerry smart phone. Other packaging applications that have fueled growth have been after-pressed trays, clamshells and inserts featuring not only color but clearly embossed customer logos.

Today, molded fiber packaging is winning awards and promoting the environmental concern and image of the manufacturers who use it.

Recently, for instance, Grafcor Packaging, a Rockford-Ill.-based designer, developer, manufacturer, and distributor of packaging materials for the food, beverage, healthcare, and beauty markets won a prestigious packaging award, the Ameristar, in the Beverage category for a unique 12 bottle molded fiber wine shipper that passed UPS and FedEx tests.

To create a wine shipper that combines the sustainable, protective cushioning of molded fiber with the tough, vibration resistance of corrugated, Grafcor Packaging partnered with UFP Technologies. The wine shipper, called “Bottoms Up”™, allows wine bottles to be safely shipped cork down to prevent cork drying (which prevents oxygen entry to the bottle).

“Unlike bulky, petroleum-based EPS, molded fiber is completely sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable,” says Bill Hall, Owner of Grafcor Packaging. “Because the molded fiber ships at about a 4:1 ratio by truckload compared to EPS, it can also save in transport and storage costs.”

“In working with thin-walled custom molded fiber, getting the depth of the draw and the size of the part right was challenging, and we wouldn’t have succeeded without engineering and production help from UFP Technologies,” says Hall.

“Their willingness to ramp up production in late October, in the midst of the busy holiday season, also helped us to meet strong demand in the marketplace.”

Based on the success of the molded fiber wine shipper, Grafcor Packaging is adapting designs to ship beer, spirits, and coffee syrup, which often must protect glass bottles from breakage.

Because of molded fiber’s sustainability, unique look, and environmental cachet among consumers, Hall also thinks that the material would work with health and beauty applications. He sees molded fiber’s applications expanding to include folding cartons or clamshells that use after- pressing for a smooth finish, and embossed logos for enhanced branding.

“Retailers, manufacturers, and consumers are responding to molded fiber’s sustainability and unique look,” concludes Hall. “Its craft fiber appearance accentuates the fact that it’s made from 100% recycled paper. With the help of custom developers like UFP Technologies, what’s possible is expanding to the point where everyone should take a look.”

For more info, phone 877-868-0176; email moldedfiber@ufpt.com, visit www.ufpt.com/moldedfiber; or write to UFP Technologies Inc. at 172 E. Main Street, Georgetown, MA 01833

Another ADS Achievement

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:26:00 +0100

Technical training, seminars, a tradeshow and social events made up the program for the ADS Latin American Regional event recently held on April 29-May 3 at the Marriott San Jose in Costa Rica. A total of 148 attendees participated in the event from 73 different companies representing 19 countries from Mexico to Argentina as well as the United States and Europe.

Prior to the start of the event, ADS sponsored a three-day training course on “Advanced Common Rail Injectors.” Fourteen ADS members participated in this class, which combined theory as well as hands-on training.

The ADS Latin American General Committee celebrated its 51st anniversary. In 1961, Alfredo Christlieb Ibarrola, together with several other visionaries, started the group which has thrived and grown since then. As is customary, the meeting started with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and welcome reception in the trade show, which gave the attendees an opportunity to renew acquaintances. Thanks to the 24 exhibitors and their support of this meeting, once again, we had a sellout tradeshow where exhibitors were able to demonstrate their latest products and services.

The opening introduction, made by Latin American Committee Chair Eduardo Drexel, informed the delegates of the committee’s activities over the last year, which included a significant increase in Latin American members and other developments that were planned out at last year’s ADS Latin American Regional in Bogota, Colombia. Following the opening were presentations from various manufacturers and suppliers on their new products and services, especially those specific to Latin American region.

On the evening of April 30, ADS member LTD Central Turbo Diesel, S.A. hosted an “open shop/house” where attendees were treated to shop tours, refreshments and a full evening of entertainment by owners, the Oconitrillo family and all shop employees.

All attendees were treated to a visit on May 1 to The Rainforest Adventures Park, an expansive 1,200-acre private ecology reserve—the ultimate combination of Costa Rica’s rain forest, bird watching and zip line experience. The day was highlighted by a high-flying canopy aerial tram tour through the treetops, highlighting pristine flora and fauna that gave attendees a special opportunity to learn and better appreciate the rainforest conservation.

The Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS) is the diesel industry’s leading trade association with hundreds of corporate and individual members worldwide. Its mission is to provide programs and services to its members, which will assist them in achieving success in the operation of their businesses in the diesel industry throughout the world. ADS members are primarily independent repair shops and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of fuel injection equipment, governors, superchargers or turbochargers. For more information visit the ADS Web site at www.diesel.org or contact ADS Headquarters at 816.285.0810 or info@diesel.org.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2014 set record pace for exhibit space sales

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:25:00 +0100

Exhibit space sales are already at a record pace for CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2014 - more than 30 percent ahead of the 2011 expositions at the same time in the show cycle. Organizers say many returning exhibitors are taking more space to bring more equipment to the shows and introduce new products. New exhibitors are also signing up as they too realize the value of the shows to cost-effectively reach a wide range of qualified buyers and specifiers.

Deadline is August 15, 2012 to be included in the first round of exhibit space assignments. Space will then be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Held every three years, the co-located CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE shows will next take place March 4-8, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, USA - CONEXPO-CON/AGG with a focus on the construction industries and IFPE with a focus on fluid power/power transmission/motion control.

"Attendees will find the newest product innovations to help them work smarter. From large companies to specialized businesses, from North America and around the world, it will all be here," stated Megan Tanel, CONEXPO-CON/AGG show director and AEM vice president exhibitions and events.

New for 2014 is a virtual priority space selection: all exhibitors submitting a space application and deposit by the August 15 deadline can take part in selecting their exhibit space.

For added exhibitor value, the shows bundle a variety of services such as drayage into the exhibit space rate. Exhibitors have access to a wide range of sponsorship programs, including customized options, to extend their brand messages. The shows also provide complimentary marketing materials and exhibitor training sessions, especially useful for companies new to exhibiting or first-time IFPE or CONEXPO-CON/AGG participants.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is known for industry-run trade shows with superior customer service. "Our goal is to provide a quality experience for both exhibitors and attendees, one that delivers the biggest return on their investment of time and money," added Melissa Magestro, IFPE show director and AEM senior director exhibitions.

For more information go online to www.conexpoconagg.com or www.ifpe.com

Konecranes Acquires Ameratronic Industries, Inc.

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:24:00 +0100

Konecranes, a global leader in the manufacturing and servicing of overhead cranes and lifting equipment, announces the acquisition of Ameratronic Industries, Inc., of Portage, Indiana, effective June 21, 2012.

In June 2012, Konecranes acquired the assets of Ameratronic Industries, a Northwest Indiana firm that has been providing crane and hoist service to process duty customers in the area for 17 years. The owners will be retiring. The business operations and five skilled employees will be incorporated into Konecranes' nearby existing branch, located at 1255 Erie Court #B, Crown Point, IN, 46307.

"We're very excited about this acquisition," said Bernie D'Ambrosi, Vice President and Director, Region Americas Service, "and we look forward to continuing the high standard of service that Ameratronic Industries has established."

For more information regarding the crane and hoist services that Konecranes provides, please visit www.konecranesamericas.com/service/.

Indoff adds 38 new Sales Partners in first half of 2012!

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:23:00 +0100

Indoff welcomes 14 new Sales Partners to their team in the second quarter on top of the 24 they added in the first. The 38 new Partners join hundreds of others in five divisions across the nation: Material Handling, Commercial Interiors, Commercial Printing, Business Products, and Promotional Products. Indoff is excited to bring these new Partners on board and is looking forward to adding even more in the near future.

Our Partner Program allows our Partners to provide many different solutions to their customers with our continuous financial and technical support. Our Partner’s knowledge and expertise of the industry, access to thousands of vendors, and competitive pricing are just a few characteristics that make our nationwide network so successful.

Indoff is headquartered in St. Louis, Mo and has Sales Partners located throughout the United States and Mexico. Indoff has been serving the needs of both the industry and office for over 40 years.

Scott Parish Joins LEWCO Operations Team

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:23:15 +0100

LEWCO, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Scott Parish as Purchasing Manager at the corporate headquarters. Parish has an extensive background in industrial purchasing and supply chain management. His overall responsibility includes the management and continual development of the purchasing team and the implementation of industry best practices in supply chain management.

Parish holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in accounting and finance, from the University of Phoenix. He is a certified internal auditor in ISO 9001 3C Technologies and has completed SPC technical training at Lima Technical College. Parish is also a member of the ISM (Institute for Supply Management). His family includes wife Tina and they are a residents of Sandusky OH.

“Parish brings a disciplined purchasing and supply management approach that is crucial for our customers and LEWCO’s strategic direction,” says Mark Parker, director of operations at LEWCO, Inc. “We are confident he will effectively support our commitment to continuous process improvement and outstanding customer service.”

QC Industries AS40 Conveyors Featured in The Amazing Spider-Man

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:21:49 +0100

With the release of The Amazing Spider-Man this week, QC Industries conveyors are taking on a new role: movie stars. The firm was chosen to provide low profile conveyors for lab scenes in the movie.

Several AS40 Automation Series Conveyors move vials through the spider nursery that are then transferred using robots built by FANUC.

Rather than building his own futuristic, high-tech conveyors, art director Page Buckner said he decided to use QC Industries' aluminum extruded AS40 conveyors because they helped "ground viewers to reality" by showing something that looks "familiar and real" while still providing the high-tech look the scene required.

One of the conveyors used in the film was returned to QC Industries autographed by the cast, including Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary and director Marc Webb. The conveyor will be exhibited at events and trade shows, including October’s Pack Expo International in Chicago.

QC Industries turned to long-time partners Habasit America and Oriental Motor to provide belts and motors, respectively, that appeared on the conveyors in the film.

About the Film
The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his aunt and uncle. Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.

As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

About QC Industries
Privately held QC Industries is leading builder of low profile belt conveyors based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information on QC Industries products or services, visit them online at www.qcindustries.com. You may also reach them via e-mail at sales@qcindustries.com, via phone at 513/753-6000, or through the mail at QC Industries LLC, 4057 Clough Woods Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45103.

Shelving Concepts Launches Amoruso Racking

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:56:00 +0100

Shelving Concepts, a provider of business storage systems for warehouses and offices, launched Amoruso Racking, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on manufacturing heavy-duty teardrop pallet rack systems, cantilever racks, industrial shelving and components. The racking systems designed and manufactured by Amoruso Racking are expected to have a major positive impact on operational efficiency and keep industry in motion.

"Today's demands for real-time inventory management and the associated productivity gains depend on the systems that support the movement, storage, control and protection of everything from raw materials to finished products," said Tom Amoruso, founder and CEO of Shelving Concepts.

The foundation of Amoruso Racking's manufacturing process is a newly acquired Rafter rollformer, featuring a 3-inch axel that drives each of the 14 stations with a 75 HP motor. It, along with a 300-ton Minster HeviStamper and other heavy industrial equipment used in manufacturing teardrop pallet racks, cantilever racks and industrial shelving, had previously been part of the production line at Excel Storage Products, which, prior to bankruptcy, had been one of the largest rack systems manufacturers in the U.S.

"Our investment in Amoruso Racking illustrates our commitment to the future of U.S. manufacturing, which can remain competitive by focusing on superior quality, excellent service and cost-saving efficiency," said Amoruso. "By producing our own teardrop pallet rack systems, cantilever racks, industrial shelving and components through Amoruso Racking, Shelving Concepts will be able to help customers across the U.S. improve operational efficiency and productivity, and satisfy the increasing demands of real-time inventory management."

Amoruso Racking will share space with Shelving Concepts' existing manufacturing line at 944 Fisher Street in Houston, where they produce high-strength Dixie Shelving components. Dixie Shelving uses leading edge computer-controlled production lines to turn out an extensive product line that serves the needs of customers ranging from warehousing and manufacturing to professional service firms, schools and health-care organizations.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumption of material handling and logistics equipment and systems in America currently exceeds $156 billion per year, with employment topping 700,000 workers. Continued industrial restructuring and realignment will provide substantial growth potential for Amoruso Racking and Shelving Concepts' other brands, helping to keep the industry one of America's largest and fastest growing.

About Shelving Concepts
Founded by Tom Amoruso in 1987, Houston-based Shelving Concepts' storage solutions include industrial metal shelving, warehouse pallet rack, office filing systems, mobile filing and storage systems and cantilever racks. Shelving Concepts designs, manufactures and markets business storage solutions that make a major impact on its customers' operational efficiency and keep industry and offices organized. Get more information at www.shelvingconcepts.com or call 800/474-3531.

2012 Supply Chain Leadership Forum Set for August 27-29 in Denver, Colorado

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:13:00 +0100

Global supply chain executives will meet to discuss the latest strategies in logistics, distribution, inventory, transportation, and benchmarking and best practices at the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium’s eighth annual Supply Chain Leadership Forum, August 27-29 in Denver.

“The agenda is packed with small group education sessions, and our tour of MillerCoors Brewery promises an entertaining look at the logistics behind beer making and packaging,” says Bruce Tompkins, Executive Director of the Consortium. “Attendees will leave with fresh ideas for creating higher value in their supply chains.”

The event is being held at the Grand Hyatt Denver and runs from the evening of August 27 to midday August 29. Vice presidents, chief supply chain officers and other directors of leading retail, consumer products, manufacturing, distribution and service provider companies will learn new ways to optimize and transform their supply chains.

“Each year, our event creates a distinct and enjoyable learning experience, bringing participants back for more information on the latest and upcoming supply chain strategies,” adds Tompkins.

Other highlights of the forum:

A special keynote speech, Business at a Crossroads, by Dr. James A. Tompkins;
A panel discussion on Factors Driving Today’s Supply Chain Networks; and
Breakout sessions on hot topics including demand-driven supply chain, sales and operations planning, trucking regulations and supply chain technology trends.

To register or learn more about the event, visit: www.supplychainconsortium.com/Seminars/2012/overview.asp.

Stretch wrapper manufacturer named “World’s Greatest,” capping company’s 40th anniversary

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 06:55:00 +0100

As Lantech celebrates its 40th anniversary, it is also enjoying national recognition as the “world’s greatest manufacturer of stretch wrapping equipment” by the television program “World’s Greatest!....” Lantech invented stretch wrapping in 1972, and the traits that made the company an instant industry leader, and allowed it to remain at the top for 40 years, are also what caught the attention of the “World’s Greatest!...” producers. “Most every innovation in the stretch wrapping equipment industry can be traced back to Lantech,” said Gordon Freeman, Executive Producer at How2Meida, producers of the show. “That’s what leaders do, they pioneer, grow and lead. And, that’s why this story is meaningful to our viewers.”

With more than 65,000 machines in the field worldwide, Lantech is the premier name in stretch wrapping, something the producers of “World’s Greatest!...” discovered when researching the industry. “When the producers contacted us, they said they asked users to name the best stretch wrapping company, and everyone said they should speak with us,” said Derek Jones, promotions manager for Lantech.

As part of the show, How2Media sent a film crew to the company’s Louisville, KY facilities to find out the story, and show viewers why Lantech was selected as the best in its category. “World’s Greatest!...” is a thirty-minute show dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places and people. The episode featuring Lantech aired on the ION network in May, however you can see the clip on Lantech’s website at www.lantech.com.

What it takes to be “World’s Greatest”
Recognition as the leader in stretch wrapping is nothing new to Lantech. The company invented the now-standard shipping process of unitizing products on a pallet when it introduced the first commercially successful pallet stretch-wrapping machine at what is now known as Pack Expo, in 1973. The company estimates that approximately 3 billion loads per year are shipped using this technology. Today Lantech holds 175 U.S. and foreign patents for stretch-wrapping, shrink-wrapping and case-erector equipment.

Started in 1972 by brothers Pat and Bill Lancaster, Lantech’s impact on the packaging industry was felt from day one, and little has changed since, as innovation and the development of high-quality, high-efficiency machinery are still driving forces at the company today. Lantech’s 200,000 sq.-ft. headquarters in Louisville is home to one of the largest R&D programs in the industry. In 1992, it was the first packaging machinery manufacturer to institute lean processes in its operations, something that earned it a featured spot in an INC. Technology cover story.

“Our product development focus has always been aimed at improving the customer’s uptime, labor utilization and material reduction,” said Jim Lancaster, CEO. “We have people in customer plants every day, studying their operations to help us stay ahead of changing trends, and help our customers increase productivity.”

Resource conservation is a main driver in stretch wrapping technology today, along with speed and labor reduction. To reduce film usage, the company invented and patented prestretch, which triples the yield on a roll of film, turning one foot of film into three feet. The economic impact of prestretch has made it a standard feature on almost all stretch wrappers.

In November 2006, the company once again amazed Pack Expo attendees when it introduced the fastest stretch-wrapping system in the world, capable of wrapping three pallets per minute.

The most recent innovations from Lantech include LeanWrap technologies like Pallet Grip®, Machine Generated Performance Data, Load Seeking Clamp 4.0 and Metered Film Delivery. The patented Metered Film Delivery system is a new way to dispense stretch film as it’s applied to the load during the wrapping process. Metered Film Delivery overcomes many of the technical problems associated with conventional stretch wrapping. It focuses on the quality of the stretch wrapping while addressing the sustainable packaging initiatives of major retailers who want to make a positive environmental impact with packaging that delivers equal or better functionality, with material and cost savings.

“One of the major benefits of metered film delivery is that it excels at delivering and managing containment force – which is critical to shipping a load successfully – while using less film,” said Jim Lancaster. “This system delivers twice as much wrap force per revolution of film, without crushing or twisting the load.”

Under Jim Lancaster’s management, Lantech has made strategic and complementary additions to its product technologies, and broadened its global footprint for sales and sourcing. The company has nearly 400 employees and operations in the U.S. Canada, England, France, Germany, Australia, Singapore, China and The Netherlands, as well as a 60-company distributor network, to serve customers globally.

“We continue to pursue initiatives that will expand our core technologies and global exposure,” Lancaster said. “Our goal is to complete what my father and uncle started in 1972, by being the dominant global brand in secondary packaging machinery.”

Associated Announces the Opening of New South Bend, Indiana Location

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 06:54:00 +0100

Associated has expanded their presence in the Indiana by opening a new facility at 4325 North Mayflower Drive in South Bend, IN.

Driven by increased demand in St. Joseph County and the surrounding Michiana area, this new space will be fully staffed and equipped to handle all of their customer’s needs.

Michael Romano, President/CEO of Associated said, “This new facility is a testament to the growth and development of our organization. Over the past 50 years, our success has been driven by our employee’s individual and collective efforts which have earned our customer’s loyalty and dedication. We are excited that this new location will enable to us better support our customer base in and around South Bend and Elkhart, IN and provide us with a greater ability to ensure all of our customers receive prompt, efficient, courteous and professional attention.”

About Associated:

Celebrating over 50 years of providing customers with innovative solutions that optimize storage and order fulfillment operations within their supply chain, Associated understands that handling materials in the supply chain should be more than material handling. By utilizing their unparalleled experience and industry best practices they are able to evaluate current methods and processes for storage, order fulfillment and equipment utilization and recommend practical strategies to enhance its effectiveness and reduce overall cost.

Featuring leading edge engineering and fleet management services to complement industry leading sales, service, rentals and parts, Associated has been the recipient of multiple awards in recognition of being a premier organization in the material handling industry.

For additional information about Associated, visit the company Web site at www.associated-solutions.com or call 800/755-7201

Dan Oriente Promotion

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:40:40 +0100

Dan Oriente has been promoted within TVH Americas to Business Development Manager for the Material Handling Division. In his new position Dan will focus on the development and growth of our customers across the US. He will be travelling with his team of Regional Managers to work with customers at their facilities to provide solutions to problems and offer opportunities by working with our customers on an individual basis.

Dan joined TVH in May 2005 as Regional Manager for the Northeastern Region. Prior to joining TVH, Dan worked for nearly a decade for a dealership in New Jersey. His entire career has been spent in the Material Handling industry in both the Parts and Service sectors. Dan will be relocating to the Corporate Headquarters in Olathe, Kansas.

TVH is the industry leader designing, manufacturing and distributing TotalSourceâ parts and accessories for over 100 brands of material handling and industrial equipment vehicles. TVH’s Information Resource Management Networkâ offers 24/7 online part look-up, information and ordering access to the industries largest inventory of more than 5,800,000 part numbers. TVH also offers same day shipping, 9 strategically located distribution centers throughout the US, Canada & Mexico with the most next day ground delivery points available.

TVH, 16355 South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, KS 66062, toll free phone 800/255-4109, phone 913/829-1000, fax 913/829-6206, www.tvh.com.

LEWCO Develops Conveyor Belt Training Video

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:38:10 +0100

LEWCO, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of a new conveyor training tool. This instructional video is hosted by one of LEWCO’s conveyor belt experts, John Kennedy. It provides customers with an easy to follow process for achieving proper tension and tracking of their conveyor belts. The video can be viewed at www.lewcoinc.com and You Tube.

As an ISO 9001:2008 registered company, this educational effort is part of the systematic approach of organizing processes which result in products and services that consistently meet customer expectations. Customers have expressed a need for this type of product knowledge in order to maximize the productivity of their belt conveyor systems.

“Kennedy’s presentation builds confidence and makes it easy for our customers to achieve success with their belt conveying systems.” says Mark Parker, director of operations at LEWCO, Inc. “We appreciate his commitment to continuous process improvement and outstanding customer service.”

National Bulk Equipment, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of General Processing Systems, Inc. ...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 06:38:00 +0100

National Bulk Equipment, Inc. (NBE). National Bulk Equipment, Inc., announced that they have completed the acquisition of General Processing Systems, Inc., makers of ProductSaver® packaged material reclamation systems.

The acquisition of General Processing Systems, Inc., located just west of Chicago, IL, brings to NBE three new product lines that will each serve as complimentary product offerings to the full line of NBE bulk material handling systems. “ProductSaver packaged material reclamation enables processing and packaging operations to recover not only packaging material but also the dry or wet contents from packages that may be off-spec, mis-labeled, or for other reasons, unsalable,” said Todd Reed, president of NBE. “The ProductSaver product lines provide two primary advantages for processing and packaging operations. ProductSaver systems reduce process material loss levels, beyond what even inline systems can do. And, ProductSaver systems are recognized for making significant contributions to sustainability scoring initiatives,” Todd added. “We are very please with the way the NBE existing customer base has quickly recognized the total process contribution ProductSaver systems can make to their operation,” stated Dave Denhof, general manager/EVP of NBE. “Jeff Swiatlo, former president of General Processing Systems, is now directing the sales activity for the ProductSaver line, and his extensive applications knowledge and market experience have already identified many new customer and market opportunities for NBE. NBE will continue to move forward with a very tactical acquisitions strategy. ProductSaver is a great addition to the capabilities and resources of NBE,” Dave said.

Visit: www.nbe-inc.com/productsaver for product-specific information and in-use videos.

National Bulk Equipment, Inc.
12838 Stainless Drive
Holland, MI 49424
P: 616.399.2220
W: nbe-inc.com

ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. Promotes Two Managers at ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials, ...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:37:47 +0100

The ALL Family of Companies announces father-and-son promotions at ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials, reinforcing the company’s success at nurturing their legacy of generational excellence in their fleet, operations, and sales management. Jason Hanna, former Operations Manager for ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials, has been named General Manager, responsible for the day-to-day operations of all four Canadian branches. Robert (Bob) Hanna, Jason’s father and former General Manager of ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials, has been named Vice President of Subsidiary Operations–Canada, overseeing all corporate operations in Canada. Bob is specifically charged with advancing sales and bridging opportunities between the branches. Both positions are effective immediately and report directly to Michael Liptak, President of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.

“Many of our employees have grown up in our business, lending a lifetime of experience and expertise. Fathers bring their sons into the fold because they’re crane people, born and bred,” says Liptak. “Jason and Bob are excellent people — not just business people—but smart and full of integrity. They personify what we hope for when we preach the benefits of ‘Generations of Excellence.’”

The ALL Family of Companies is made up of 33 North American branches with cohesive regional management. Strong regional leadership is the company’s lifeline and contributes to the vitality of the enterprise as a whole. “Bob’s new position and Jason’s natural progression into the General Manager role makes the entire enterprise better as we grow our Canadian footprint,” explains Liptak. ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials recently added two new branches, the first in 2010 in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the newest just this year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

About ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials, Ltd.
For more information, please contact ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials at 7215 Torbram Road, Mississauga, ON L4T 1G7. Phone: 905-795-1090. Toll free: 800-989-4845. Fax: 905-795-1121.

Also in Ontario: 1648 Pioneer Road, Sudbury, ON P3G 1E2. Phone: 705-522-1941. Fax: 705-522-1942.

In Newfoundland and Labrador: 111 Glencoe Drive, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 4S7. Phone: 709-747-0306. Fax: 709-747-0268. In Saskatchewan: Comp 12 Site 414 RR4, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J7. Phone: 306-373-2250. Fax: 306-373-2358.

About the ALL Family of Companies
Since 1964, the ALL Family of Companies has grown to become one of the largest crane and equipment rental companies in North America. The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis to help customers get the right equipment for the job. An important measure of their commitment is meeting or exceeding all pertinent regulatory and safety standards. For more information, contact ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., 4700 Acorn Drive, Cleveland, OH 44131. Phone: 216-524-6550. Toll free: 800-232-4100. Fax: 216-642-7633. On the Web: www.allcrane.com

Lapp Tannehill Releases New Master Catalog

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:33:00 +0100

Lapp Tannehill, a national full-line wire and cable distributor, has released a Master Catalog. The Lapp Tannehill Master Catalog features different types of wire, cable, tubing and sleeving, along with wire management products, and value added services. Lapp Tannehill’s trusted experience, combined with the quality and reliability of their products, makes it easy for customers to choose the right products for their existing and emerging connectivity challenges.

The 2012 Catalog includes products featured by some of Lapp Tannehill’s valued suppliers: Lapp Group, Alpha Wire, Harbour Industries, CCI, Prestolite Wire, Honeywell and Conta Clip Inc.

For additional information, contact Lapp Tannehill at 800/633-6339. To view, download or order the Lapp Tannehill Master Catalog, visit www.lapptannehill.com, or contact sales@lapptannehill.com

Anheuser-Busch Recognizes Florida East Coast Railway as Intermodal Carrier of the Year

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 08:32:00 +0100

Florida East Coast Railway (“FEC”) is pleased to announce that it has been named Anheuser Busch’s 2011 intermodal carrier of the year. This award is based on the cumulative ranking of key transportation and operational metrics as measured by Anheuser Busch that includes on-time pickup percentage, average payload per shipment, trailer pool compliance, loaded trailer aging, and award compliance. FEC was ranked number one across all award metrics.

FEC provides door-to-door intermodal service from Anheuser Busch’s Jacksonville brewery to multiple south Florida wholesaler locations. FEC is Anheuser Busch’s largest intermodal carrier and performed nearly 8,000 beer and trade return loads in 2011. FEC President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Hertwig commented, “We are very pleased to receive this prestigious award from one of our largest customers. This recognition from one of North America’s largest shippers aligns with our core values of providing customers safe, reliable, and best-in-class service. Our success with Anheuser Busch proves there is value in short-haul intermodal moves and challenges the belief that intermodal moves can only be successful on long-haul routes.”

About Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C.
Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C. is a 351-mile freight rail system located along the east coast of Florida and is the exclusive rail provider for PortMiami, Port Everglades, and the Port of Palm Beach. FEC connects to the national railway system in Jacksonville, Florida, to move cargo originating or terminating in Florida. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, FEC provides end-to-end intermodal and carload services to customers who demand more cost-effective options and premium service.

Georgia-Pacific Achieves Recognition from AIB International

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:31:00 +0100

Georgia-Pacific, a leading manufacturer and marketer of corrugated materials, today announced that its corrugated facility in Chicago, Ill. has fulfilled the requirements of the International Consolidated Standards for Food Contact Packaging from the American Institute of Baking (AIB). The facility received recognition of accomplishment after its February 2012 inspection, joining the ranks of more than fifteen other Georgia-Pacific Packaging facilities throughout North America that have met these rigorous food safety criteria.

“Safety and customer focus are part of our DNA and everything we do,” said Robert Frazier, Quality Manager at Georgia-Pacific Packaging. “We understand the important role our packaging plays in the safety and quality of our customers’ products. We have worked hard to achieve this goal as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.”

AIB’s Food Contact Packaging recognition of accomplishment signifies that Georgia-Pacific Packaging’s Chicago facility meets industry best practices and strict regulatory requirements. The facility has been deemed to be safe for the manufacture of packaging that may come into contact with food.

As part of its strict standards in Food Contact Packaging, AIB evaluates operational methods, employee practices, maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, and pest control. This comprehensive approach is designed to provide enhanced criteria to compliment government regulatory standards.

About Georgia-Pacific
Georgia-Pacific Packaging is a recognized leader in customer-focused packaging solutions. The company manufactures high graphic and traditional corrugated packaging with brands such as Greenshield® and Color-Box®. The business’ Innovation Institute® simulates retail and packaging environments, allowing customers to experience sustainable innovation and novel package design solutions in action. For more information visit www.gp.com/packaging.

LiuGong Forklift Americas Announces Grupo Amex SA de C.V. as New Dealer – Northern Mexico

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:51:00 +0100

LiuGong Forklift Americas, headquartered in Katy, Texas, is pleased to announce that Grupo Amex SA de C.V. has joined them as a new dealer in the three northern states of Chihuahu, Coahuila and Durango, Mexico.

Grupo Amex, which is headquartered in the city of Chihuahua, has two additional branches in the cities of Ciuadad Juarez and Torreón. The company has more than 27 years in the materials handling industry in northern Mexico. In business since 1985, Grupo Amex is a privately held company that includes several divisions, all focused on providing quality services and products to the industrial sector. As a solutions provider in the forklift and material handling industry, Grupo Amex has developed a reputation as a client-focused company that puts customer service to the forefront. Its customers are supported by a solid technical, operational and sales infrastructure. Grupo Amex also has a dedicated parts department with a certified service shop to maintain and service the equipment as needed.

“We are very excited to have this caliber of dealer join LiuGong” noted Ken Biediger, Manager of Product Development and Product Marketing for LiuGong Forklift Americas. “Their enthusiasm and professional capabilities make them an outstanding partner for us. We expect that Grupo Amex will soon become one of LiuGong’s top Latin American dealers.”

Grupo Amex will feature the entire line of LiuGong forklifts which includes 10 battery powered models and 15 internal combustion models powered by diesel or propane fueled engines. Capacity ranges from 1.5 tons to 16.0 tons in two distinct product lines. The “Advanced Series” models focus on operator ergonomics and performance to offer a better value than other global competitive brands. The “Basic Series” targets price conscious customers who prefer a simple, reliable lift truck at a great price. All models are supported by LiuGong’s superior parts and service support network.

To learn more about LiuGong, visit www.liugong.com

Stertil-Koni USA Receives United States Patent for Innovative ECOLIFT Heavy Duty Scissor Lift

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:26:00 +0100

Stertil-Koni USA, the leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, is pleased to confirm the official release and issuance of US Patent 8,191,865 on June 5, 2012. Stertil-Koni has been awarded this patent for its innovative ECOLIFT heavy duty scissor lift. US Patent 8,191,865, which can be found online at www.freepatentsonline.com/8191865.pdf, covers the ECOLIFT system, including the combination of the scissor mechanism, carriage, cover, and other parts.

In making today’s announcement, Stertil-Koni noted that the release of the ‘865 patent further solidifies the role of Stertil-Koni as one of the premier suppliers and creative inventors of heavy-duty lifts to the North American market. The issuance is also part of a precedence of innovation in U.S. history.

The patent system was created through the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of promoting the “.... progress of science and the useful arts....” The origin of patent law dates back to 1790 and was one of the first acts of the new Congress. Essentially, a patent is an exclusive right granted by a country to an inventor (or inventors) allowing the inventor to exclude others from making, using or selling his or her invention in that country during the life of the patent.

The importance of the patent system in promoting innovation in engineering was well known to Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison and many other great American leaders. Abraham Lincoln, in fact, specified the existence of patents as one of the three leading elements contributing to the expansive growth of the United States during his era. Over the last two centuries, the role of the patent system in terms of spurring innovation in American industry has grown significantly, especially in view of the rapid expansion in technology.

About Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
Stertil-Koni is the global market leader in heavy duty hydraulic lifts – bus lifts and truck lifts – and is the preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. Stertil-Koni's breadth of lift products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes mobile, two-post, four-post, in-ground lifts, parallelogram lifts, half-scissors and the innovative axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor-style heavy duty hydraulic lift configuration. In the United States, under the leadership of Dr. DellAmore, Stertil-Koni USA, Inc. has achieved double-digit annual sales growth every year since its incorporation in Maryland in 1997. Today, the company is recognized as the leading provider of mobile lifts and the fastest growing heavy-duty lift company in North America. Stertil-Koni U.S.A. is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland and has a major manufacturing facility in Streator, Illinois.

Please direct questions to: Jean DellAmore 800/336-6637 Jean@Stertil-Koni.com

New Hybrid Power Pack completes Konecranes’ full range of power options for RTGs

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:23:00 +0100

Konecranes has introduced a Hybrid (diesel/electric) power option for its Rubber Tired Gantry cranes (RTGs), which can reduce diesel fuel consumption by over 60 %. With the addition of this new power option, Konecranes now provides a full range of solutions for RTGs: Hybrid Power Pack, Diesel Fuel Saver, and two electric power options, the Cable Reel and Busbar.

Customers can thus choose either a diesel or electric solution, depending on their business requirements. The Hybrid Power Pack and Diesel Fuel Saver provide the flexibility of diesel power, while the two electric options provide the benefits and convenience of electricity – no diesel, less maintenance, less noise and lower emissions.

Complete range, full power:

The Konecranes Hybrid Power Pack turns a fully-diesel RTG into a diesel/electric hybrid RTG. Whenever possible, the crane is operated with electrical power drawn from the energy store. Like a hybrid car, it takes the energy generated during braking and converts it into electricity to recharge the batteries. Depending on usage, this solution can significantly reduce diesel fuel costs. Put another way, the RTG can operate much longer on a tank of fuel.

The Diesel Fuel Saver provides power-on-demand, matching the RPMs of the RTG engine to the work the machine is doing. It ensures that the diesel engine is running at maximum efficiency at all operating points, without high-speed idling. Compared with conventional diesel engine operation, the Diesel Fuel Saver can considerably reduce fuel consumption, resulting in cost savings of tens of thousands of euros per RTG per year in typical operation.

The Cable Reel and Busbar options convert the RTG to fully-electric operation, eliminating diesel exhaust emissions and ensuring quiet RTG operation. The latter is an important consideration when the container terminal is located near a residential area. There is no downtime for refueling, so the RTG can spend more time in productive operation. The time saved by not refueling can amount to up to one working week per year.

For more information, please contact:
Svend Videbæk
Konecranes Finland Corporation

Mob. +358 40 729 3953
svend.videbaek@konecranes.com
www.konecranes.com

Award-Winning Herrington Harbour North Marina Adds Marine Travelift 50 BFM II Mobile Boat ...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 06:54:00 +0100

Marine Travelift Inc. has announced that Maryland-based Herrington Harbour Eco-Lifestyle Marina Resorts has purchased a new 50 BFM II mobile boat hoist. The machine, delivered to Herrington Harbor North Marina in late 2011, brings the facility’s total number of Marine Travelift mobile boat hoists to four.

Voted “Best Marina on the Bay” and “Best Boatyard on the Bay” by Chesapeake Bay Magazine readers, Herrington Harbour provides the closest deepwater access to the Chesapeake Bay from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It boasts 1,200 slips at its north and south marinas — 600 each at Tracy’s Landing and Friendship, respectively.

The yacht yard at Herrington Harbour North is one of the East Coast’s most comprehensive repair and maintenance facilities. It also has the capacity to store 1,200 boats.

According to co-owner Hamilton Chaney, Herrington Harbour first became a Marine Travelift customer in 1982, when it purchased one of the manufacturer’s 25-ton mobile boat hoists. Over the years, the facility has gradually increased its hauling capacity; today, it operates two 35-ton machines, one 70-ton and the new 50-ton.

“We operate all four concurrently in the spring and fall,” Chaney explained. “These machines work well in high-volume operations, because they’re low maintenance, high quality and very reliable. We move a lot of boats; the machines have to turn on every single day. We cannot afford to have downtime.

“Marine Travelift’s equipment is built so well, we don’t have to replace them,” he continued. “We’ve had one machine in service for 30 years!”

Jason Johnson, Marine Travelift’s North American sales manager, said many yards are taking delivery of new mobile boat hoists so they can work alongside their predecessors. It is, he said, evidence of a larger trend in the industry.

“We make a machine that is known worldwide for holding its value, and for continuing to provide reliable, efficient, top-quality service for many years,” Johnson explained. “That’s a huge benefit for yards that plan to expand their facilities and capabilities; they can continue to use their older machines while investing in new ones to help grow the business.”

And Herrington Harbour is definitely planning to grow its business. Chaney said a yacht yard expansion will be completed this summer, and as part of that expansion, the new 50 BFM II will get its own piers.

“That’ll put it in the sweet spot for handling 35- to 55-foot boats,” he said. “We’ll have everything ready for fall haulout.”
What’s more, the new 50-ton machine is able to fit into work bays that can’t accommodate the 70-ton hoist.

“That’s definitely going to make our operation more efficient,” Chaney said. “The 50-ton can get into those bays but still can manage the heavier boats that the 35-ton can’t do. It’ll allow us to utilize our space much better, and it’ll make our buildings more useful as well.”

Marine Travelift’s reputation for reliable, high-quality machines and an improved use of yard facilities weren’t the only reasons Herrington Harbour chose this particular machine, however. The new 50 BFM II has a few key features that, Chaney said, will improve operational efficiencies at the yacht yard.

The first is the sailboat top beam extension. During sailboat lifting, the backstay or forestay can interfere with a mobile boat hoist’s top beam. With the innovative sailboat top beam extension, the top beam is moved forward, providing additional clearance while the boat is suspended in the slings. With this feature, a yard can lift a much larger number of sailboats without needing to adjust the vessels’ rigging; plus, leaving the stays in place will reduce stress on the mast and provide greater ground clearance for the keel during lifting.

Since approximately 50 percent of Herrington Harbour’s customers have sailboats, these are major benefits. The top beam extension can prove equally useful, however, with large power vessels with forward-mounted superstructures, large radar arches and tall antennas.

“The extension saves money for the customer and time for us, since we can still lift sailboats and taller vessels without having to take pieces off,” Chaney explained. “We had Marine Travelift add extra height to the machine’s structure during manufacturing as well.”

In addition to the top beam extension and additional column height, the new 50-ton hoist also features a wireless remote control with a range of 300 feet. To maintain consistency and provide an extra measure of efficiency and safety, the unit is laid out in the same format as the operator-cab controls. Chaney said it’s been a really nice addition.

“It really allows operators to see the boat and work area from every angle,” he explained.

“We’ve designed our options to maximize a Marine Travelift hoist’s overall flexibility, reliability and performance based on a customer’s unique needs,” Johnson commented. “It’s all about efficiency. A streamlined operation means everything in terms of capacity, turn-around and the bottom line.”

Finally, Chaney said that Marine Travelift was the perfect “green” fit for Herrington Harbour, which has been an eco-lifestyle resort since 1978.

“We’re very proactive with environmentally friendly initiatives,” Chaney said. “We look at everything we do, and Marine Travelift is a great fit, because you don’t run through the machines. If you maintain them properly, they last.”

To ensure that the machines remain in top-performing condition, Herrington Harbour has outstanding local service support through Shul-Mar Equipment Inc., a Marine Travelift dealership that serves the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to South Carolina. Not only does the Virginia-based business offer new machines with capacities from 15 to 1,000 tons, it provides used equipment, parts and service for all Marine Travelift mobile boat hoists.

For details about Herrington Harbour and Shul-Mar Equipment Inc., visit www.herringtonharbour.com and www.shul-marequipment.com.

For more information about Marine Travelift and its full range of mobile boat hoists, call 920/743-6202, e-mail the sales team at sales@marinetravelift.com or visit www.marinetravelift.com.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. Hires Account Manager

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 06:22:00 +0100

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. announces the addition of Arthur “Chad” James to its sales staff in the southern region of the state. Chad’s responsibilities will include developing new business and maintaining existing customer relationships. He will analyze customer needs, demonstrate products, initiate proposals, and recommend services and equipment for special applications.

Chad comes to Wisconsin Lift Truck with experience and a great deal of enthusiasm. Armed with an associate degree in marketing & sales from Blackhawk Technical College and a BS in kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, he is anxious to get out in the field. He most recently was a sales and leasing consultant with Symdon Chevrolet in Evansville.

Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp. (www.wisconsinlift.com), a member of the Wolter Group of companies and one of Wisconsin’s largest privately held firms, is a full service material handling distributor headquartered in Brookfield, with branches in DePere (Green Bay), Janesville, Madison, Wausau and Eau Claire. It offers sales – both new and used, parts, service, and rentals of lift trucks and construction equipment.

ESAB Launches Upgraded Website

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:20:00 +0100

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has added several new features to the www.esabna.com website.

Customers are now able to view or download product literature online, free of charge. Using the site’s “quick link” drop-down menu, customers can access literature for plasma, arc, gas apparatus, filler metals, cutting systems, and welding automation products. Customers may still request hard copies to be mailed.

ESAB also offers two new Savings Calculators. The Energy Savings Calculator allows customers to compare the savings of using ESAB products versus products from other manufacturers.

The Weld Metal Cost Calculator allows customers to compare weld metals and welding processes and to calculate the savings realized by varying the metal and process.

ESAB will continue to enhance the website throughout 2012.

For more information, visit www.esabna.com or call 800/ESAB123.

Jamco Inc. doubles its size with new facility

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:14:00 +0100

Jamco Inc. announces the addition of their new facility in Sanford, Fla. The addition of this facility will double the size of Jamco's current space. With this expansion, it will increase the product offerings and inventory to save their customers time and money on shipping and product availability.

“We are very excited about adding this new facility which opens mid-June in the Orlando area" says Tim Jamal, Jamco's Vice President. "We will double the inventory of our motive power battery chargers, stock a full range of Class II, III and IV hook type forks, continue to stock all sizes of our Eagle55® Pallet Jacks and increase the inventory and selection of used forklifts and attachments to help with our growing U.S. and South American customer needs". Jamal adds, “Jamco will expand its line of battery chargers and will be offering more high frequency, IGBT and multi frequency chargers to meet all of our customer's charger demands.”

"With our primary business coming from United States it makes sense to expand our offerings and with the growing market in South and Central America, the Florida location gives us the ability to meet our customer's needs more efficiently." states Ali Jamal, Partner and VP of Marketing at Jamco.

The Jamco Florida location target move in date is June 15th. The address is 3800 Enterprise Way, Sanford, Fla. 32771. The telephone numbers will not change. The toll-free number is 866/848-5400 and web address is www.jamco1.com and www.eagletronicchargers.com

About Jamco:
Jamco has been in the material handling industry since 1986 and were one of the first used truck wholesalers in the Canada. All their used equipment is stored in their clean heated warehouse. They take pride in the used forklifts we supply to forklift dealers all over the world and firmly stand behind the quality of equipment.

Sevcon and Flight Systems Industrial have agreed to an Aftermarket Service Agreement

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:16:00 +0100

Sevcon, a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of electric motor control systems for electrically powered vehicles and Flight Systems Industrial Products (FSIP), a leading provider of remanufacturing service for electric vehicle control systems, have agreed to an Aftermarket Service Agreement, effective immediately. Under the terms of the agreement, FSIP will be the exclusive remanufacturer of Sevcon electric motor control systems in the US. Sevcon and FSIP will begin sharing data, test capabilities and other important control functions to further develop this partnership.

About Sevcon
Sevcon has been at the forefront of electric vehicle control technology since established in 1961. They have continually pushed the boundaries of technology, delivering new products that match the need for greater power and control.

Working alongside other world-class suppliers and OEMs, Sevcon is challenging technological boundaries as demand grows to generate greater power and efficiency from smaller, lighter components. The design of their motor controllers now complements and integrates with other electric vehicle components to offer the best possible performance and value to a vehicle, bike or scooter.

About FSIP
FSIP has been the leading remanufacturer of industrial controls for over 40 years, providing a remanufactured product with superior quality, reliability and turnaround. With more than 6,000 part numbers available, the company annually remanufactures over 45,000 controls used on electric and gas-powered vehicles, primarily forklifts, aerial lifts, personnel carriers and golf carts, along with scrubber/sweepers, walkies, tuggers, wire guidance systems, scooters, mining cars and electric boats.

These controls include SCR, transistorized, separately excited, AC, traction and pump controls, DC/DC converters, accelerators, dash displays, control handles, battery discharge indicators, vehicle control units utilizing CAN bus, accessory cards and ECUs for combustion engines.

For FSIP, this agreement aligns with the strategic focus of nurturing alliances with industry-leading manufacturers of electric vehicle components and systems to provide the most recent upgrades to the control hardware and software. These alliances enable FSIP to truly remanufacture the control and not just repair it or “swap it out” as may be the case with other repair facilities. It also provides the market with an alternative to new, while maintaining the integrity of the control as a remanufactured product.

This partnership will bring additional value and support to Sevcon’s OEM customer’s aftermarket businesses in North America. These customers will have ready access to a lower-cost, high-quality remanufactured control solution through FSIP, directly supported by Sevcon through revision control and testing.

For more information visit www.sevcon.com or www.fsip.biz

Camoplast Solideal Announces Acquistion of Forklift Tires of Florida

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:21:00 +0100

Camoplast Solideal through its US subsidiary Solideal USA Inc. announced the acquisition of assets of Forklift Tires of Florida. Forklift Tires, located in Jacksonville, Florida since 1978, services include forklift and OTR tires. This acquisition will strengthen Camoplast Solideal’s market position in Florida.

“We are happy to welcome Forklift Tires of Florida to the Camoplast Solideal family,” said Bob Bulger, VP of Americas. “They bring over 77 years of cumulative tire industry experience, along with employee loyalty and experience rare in this day and age.”

“Camoplast Solideal is excited by the potential to expand both its footprint and service capability in Florida with the acquisition of Forklift Tires of Florida," said Mr. Bulger " This acquisition provides our customers with more product options along with improved service/response capabilities."

Forklift’s services include tire repair and replacement, onsite and road service, fleet checks and quality replacement tires. They offer Poly Tires, OTR products, forklift tires, and load wheels. They are also the exclusive northeast Florida dealer of Amerityre products.

Camoplast Solideal, with its subsidiaries worldwide, is the world leading specialist in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of off-road tires, wheels, rubber tracks, undercarriage systems, body dressing parts, under-the-hood plastic components and assemblies, molded skis, engine covers, in addition to thermal and air induction systems, to serve the material handling, construction, agriculture, powersports, automotive and defense industries.

For more information contact Camoplast Solideal at 704/374-9700 or visit www.camoplastsolideal.com

Siemens Enhances Security Of Industrial Networks Through Integrated Security Functions

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 05:44:00 +0100

Siemens Industry Automation announced today new versions of its Simatic NET CP 343-1 Advanced and Simatic NET CP 443-1 components with integrated security functions to enable companies to enhance the security of their networks in process automation and production automation. These advanced communications processors contain a firewall, as well as a VPN function (Virtual Private Network), which provides secure access to the Simatic S7-300 and S7-400 controller series.

The Industrial PCs can also be equipped with a firewall and VPN client by means of the Simatic NET CP 1628 module. The security module Scalance S623 is also new; with an additional DMZ port for service access, as is the UMTS router Scalance M875 for secure access to plant units via a 3G cellular network using UMTS.

Through its Security Integrated product portfolio, Siemens is offering network components that provide extended security features. The Simatic NET CP 343-1 Advanced and Simatic NET CP 443-1 Advanced communications processors with extended functional scope enable connection to the S7-300 or S7-400 controllers via VPN. It is also possible to define more detailed security settings and access rights via the integrated firewall. Through this function, the communications processors secure access across the entire plant network. The integrated switch also supports secure connection of the lower-level controllers and HMI and I/O devices.

The Security Integrated range includes the new Simatic NET CP 1628 module for industrial PCs. It supports secure connection of industrial PCs to the network via a VPN and firewall. Computers equipped with the module can be connected to protected cells. It is also possible to access an industrial PC with an integral CP 1628 using the Softnet Security Client application over the Internet or a company-internal network via remote access.

Two more new products in the security portfolio of the Industry Automation Division are the security module Scalance S623 and the UMTS router Scalance M875. With the Scalance S623, the thoroughly revised range of Scalance S modules is supplemented by a variant with a DMZ port (Demilitarized Zone). This port opens up a separate and, if required, restricted access point to the network for service access. A DSL modem can be connected to the DMZ port for service work via remote access. In the case of Scalance M875, this is a UMTS router with integrated security functions. The router is ideal for secure communication to and from distributed automation cells via VPN, such as the supply stations of a water utility company or mobile plants that have to be centrally monitored or controlled remotely from a control center.

Due to the increased use of Ethernet connections penetrating the field level, security issues are gaining in importance in industry. For comprehensive plant protection, a variety of different measures must be implemented. These range from the company organization and guidelines regarding protective measures for PC and control systems through to protection of automation cells by segmenting the network. Siemens follows the cell protection concept and offers – with the modules of the Scalance M, the Scalance S and the security communication processors – numerous components for building up protected cells. With the cell protection concept, a plant network is subdivided into protected automation cells within which all devices are able to communicate with each other securely. The individual cells are connected to the overall network protected by a VPN and firewall. Cell protection reduces the susceptibility to failure of the entire production plant and increases its availability.

For more information about Siemens portfolio of industrial security products, solutions and services, visit www.usa.siemens.com/industrialsecurity.

Audi Expands Use of I.D. Systems’ Wireless Vehicle Management Systems

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:44:17 +0100

Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDSY), a leading provider of wireless solutions for securing, tracking and managing high-value enterprise assets, has received a series of follow-on purchase orders from Audi AG to expand deployment of I.D. Systems’ PowerFleet™ Vehicle Management System on industrial trucks at Audi’s flagship manufacturing plant in Ingolstadt, Germany.

The Audi Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium cars, including the Audi and Lamborghini brands, is a fully-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest auto maker. In 2011, Audi sold more than 1.3 million vehicles, generating revenue of €44.1 billion.

Wireless Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) help improve supply chain productivity by establishing accountability for the use of industrial trucks, such as forklifts, ensuring equipment is in the proper place at the right time, streamlining material handling work flow, and providing unique metrics on vehicle utilization.

A wireless VMS also helps reduce fleet maintenance costs by automatically uploading vehicle data, reporting equipment problems electronically, scheduling maintenance according to actual vehicle usage rather than by calendar or manual data entry, and helping determine the optimal economic time to replace equipment. In addition, a wireless VMS helps improve workplace safety and security by restricting vehicle access to trained, authorized operators, providing electronic vehicle inspection checklists, and sensing vehicle impacts.

“We are gratified that Audi is again expanding its use of our VMS technology,” said Alexander Glasmacher, I.D. Systems’ Managing Director, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). “We see this expansion as a reflection of the ongoing value that PowerFleet has for Audi in its efforts to make its material handling operations safer, more cost-effective, and more productive.”

About I.D. Systems
Based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with subsidiaries in Germany and the United Kingdom, I.D. Systems is a leading provider of solutions for securing, controlling, tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, including vehicles, powered equipment, trailers, containers, baggage, and cargo. The Company’s patented technologies address the needs of organizations to monitor and analyze their assets to improve safety, security, efficiency, and productivity. For more information, visit www.id-systems.com.

Linde Oregon Plant Receives Grant From County to Create Jobs

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:42:36 +0100

Linde Electronics and Specialty Gases has received a $12,000 grant from Jackson County to help create six new jobs at the Linde plant in Medford, Oregon. The grant is part of the County's Economic Action Initiative (EAI) program, and Linde's application was recently approved by the Jackson County Commissioners.

Linde Electronics and Specialty Gases is part of Linde North America, an affiliate of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company. Jackson County formed its Economic Action Initiative to develop and communicate its commitment toward economic recovery.

"The opportunity to help create these six excellent jobs will go a long way to helping six families that might not otherwise get that chance," said Jackson County Commissioner John Rachor. Wages for the six new positions will be higher than the average for other workers in Jackson County, one of the criteria for the grant.

Linde has been operating the plant in Medford since 1998, producing high purity gases and chemicals for semiconductor, environmental, and solar customers in the U.S. and overseas.

Art Pernsteiner, Linde plant manager, said, "We appreciate the support of Jackson County, and the specific role of the county commissioners in approving our grant request. We currently employ 36 local residents at our facility and have been growing rapidly over the past 12 months. This grant will help us to continue that growth, and sends a strong message to Linde executive leadership that Jackson County is serious about partnering with industry."

Jackson County Commissioner Don Skundrick said, "Programs like this speak volumes to companies looking to expand and to companies looking to relocate all or a portion of their existing businesses to Jackson County. It is impressive that a company like Linde, a company doing business here already, is committed to remain here and grow. All of us need to do whatever it takes, responsibly, and retain and attract just this type of business to Jackson County."

The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,500 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 13.787 bn (USD 18.1 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment -- in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The Linde Group is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com

Crowning Glory for ByBox

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:56:32 +0100

ByBox, the UK market leader in field service solutions, is helping one of the world’s largest forklift truck manufacturers to keep ahead of the competition by maximising the up-time of its award-winning products.

ByBox has developed a bespoke inbound Europe service to transport parts for forklift manufacturer Crown, whose European headquarters are in Germany, direct to its UK customers.

In today’s competitive business environment where Crown’s customers use their forklift trucks intensively, it is essential that the amount of time a vehicle is out of operation for repair is kept to a minimum.

Crown prides itself on engineering each forklift truck for optimum and economic productivity throughout its working life. However to achieve premium performance, each vehicle requires regular, scheduled maintenance.

With its European parts centre in Munich, Germany, Crown required the assurance that parts would reach its UK customers on time, every time, so it turned to ByBox which operates a successful delivery model in the UK, France and Benelux countries.

ByBox delivers overnight, pre-8am, to a national network of more than 18,000 drop boxes at 1,400 locations in the UK, ready for an engineer to collect before the start of the day’s work. The service runs 365 days a year, with an enviable 99.77% pre 8am delivery success rate.

ByBox collects components from Crown’s parts centre in Munich, transports them to Frankfurt, then flies them into Birmingham, UK, for onward delivery to ByBox’ central hub in Coventry.

Once sorted, parts are then delivered overnight to Lock Boxes which ByBox has installed on Crown’s own customer sites so that engineers can pick up the parts with the utmost convenience. Engineers are sent a text message when the items are ready to collect and use a unique key to gain access to the secure locker.

Mike Knowles, UK Operations Director of Crown said, “Despite the economic downturn Crown has experienced tremendous demand for its products and services; as such Crown had to revaluate its parts delivery and ensure a supply chain process that could meet the expectations of our customers. ByBox have been able to provide Crown with a daily pre 8am next day delivery from our European Parts Centre to all Crown engineers and customers with ByBox locations in the UK. The whole project was delivered on time, within cost and most importantly without any disruption to Crown's customers."

Mark Garritt, Managing Director of ByBox said: “We work closely with our customers to provide them with solutions that best meet their needs.

"Our work for Crown is an example of how we can tailor our services depending on particular requirements and we are very pleased with how our partnership continues to grow from strength to strength.”

The whereabouts of parts are tracked at all times using ByBox’ unique software platform Thinventory™, facilitating optimal use of stock, and engineers can return parts easily by placing them in the drop box.

The ByBox network is continually expanding, with drop boxes now introduced to France, the Republic of Ireland and the Benelux countries, and ByBox has recently moved into the consumer market.

Some retailers such as figleaves.com and Jokers Masquerade have offered customers the option of next-day delivery to the ByBox network. The service allows customers to collect their internet orders at a locker if they are unable to receive deliveries at home or at work; ensuring they never miss a delivery.

Founded in 2000, ByBox has swiftly grown to turnover £51 million this year, delivering more than 20 million packages a year and more than 20,000 mobile engineers use the ByBox platform daily.

TotalTrax Wins 2012 Award for Excellence in International Trade

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:07:43 +0100

At the World Trade in Motion event, hosted in Wilmington, DE, TotalTrax, Inc. (TotalTrax), the leading provider of real time vehicle, driver and inventory tracking technologies and fleet management solutions for the materials handling industry, was awarded this year’s award for Excellence in International Trade for its achievements in growing through international trade.

The award for Excellence in International Trade is an annual award presented to a Delaware based company who has made significant steps in the international market in the past few years – A company who has managed to succeed despite the global economic challenges.

The award was presented to Philip Van Wormer, Executive Vice President and Mike Kinnard, President and CEO of TotalTrax, Inc. at the World Trade in Motion event. “This award recognizes and rewards the effort put forth by our TotalTrax employees and partners to provide our innovative products and services to customers around the globe. Developing an effective international network has been a strategic focus of ours since many of our largest customers are global enterprises. As they experience the benefits of our products and services at one site, they expect us to provide those same benefits at their other international sites,” said Mr. Kinnard. “We are very appreciative of this recognition and want to specifically thank the World Trade Center of Delaware, the US Department of Commerce, the US Commercial Service and the State of Delaware International Trade and Development office for their support of our efforts.”

TotalTrax has offices in Delaware and Texas, a newly opened European office in The Netherlands and a worldwide network of 30+ partners that are selling and supporting the TotalTrax portfolio of products across six continents. To help grow their international business, TotalTrax has utilized services from the US Department of Commerce, including the Gold Key Service and the EX-IM Bank credit agency of the United Stated to assist in financing the export of US goods and services to international markets and partners.

The company’s first international sale was to a Kiwi Packing plant in New Zealand in 2008. This highly successful installation became a spring board for TotalTrax to expand its international footprint. Most recently, TotalTrax has been focusing on opportunities in Asia and participated in a trade mission to China hosted by the State of Delaware, International Trade Office to visit with business contacts in Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou, and Beijing.

About TotalTrax, Inc.
TotalTrax, Inc. is the leading provider of real time vehicle, driver and inventory tracking technologies and fleet management solutions for manufacturing and warehouse operations. Offering a complete technology platform that transforms traditional material handling vehicles into “smart trucks”, TotalTrax provides solutions that monitor equipment usage and automate data collection and reporting for materials handling operations. With patented hardware, software, reporting and business intelligence tools, TotalTrax delivers substantial value in safety, fleet utilization, labor productivity and inventory accuracy. By automating vehicle usage, maintenance, impacts and lift truck load and location visibility data, customers are able to reduce or eliminate the inaccuracies normally associated with operator input. The resulting business intelligence provides the insight needed to implement immediate improvements resulting in documented productivity gains.

TotalTrax, Inc.
302/514-0600

Voxware Announces New SAP Certification

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:08:00 +0100

Voxware, a leading provider of voice solutions, today announced that its WMS Adapter for SAP satisfies requirements for full SAP WM-LSR certification. The SAP Adapter enables easy integration with SAP solutions, helping SAP customers enhance the productivity and accuracy of their warehouse operations.

“Our strategic partnership with Voxware gives SAP customers the tools and expertise they need to quickly and successfully implement voice communication throughout their operations,” comments Jim Boler, Executive Vice President of Sales at The Baer Group, an SAP Preferred Services Partner in North America. “The Baer Group is committed to providing our customers with SAP consultants whose credentials match the specific needs of each company. The combination of our experience and Voxware’s proven, high quality voice solutions enable businesses to significantly boost productivity while reducing costs.”

Voxware’s SAP Adapter and other adapters are produced by VoxConnect, Voxware’s SOA compliant integration toolset. Because VoxConnect provides a defined bridge between the voice solution and existing IT systems, it enables the systems to easily interact with one another while protecting the integrity of each. This capability significantly reduces and simplifies integration efforts and allows customers to deploy future releases of systems without the need for major re-work to the integration. It also allows customers to smoothly adapt to technology and business changes as their needs evolve over time.

“Voxware’s certified offering ensures that SAP customers can quickly integrate and deploy our voice-enabled supply chain solution,” states Keith Phillips, CEO, Voxware. “The flexibility of our solution gives organizations freedom to make changes as their demands shift, allowing them to achieve better results in less time and at lower costs.”

Further, the speed and accuracy of Voxware voice solutions allow organizations to more readily and thoroughly address the needs of their customers, helping them enhance their brand reputation and ultimately drive profitability.

About Voxware
Voxware helps organizations with teams who are on the move to more effectively receive, act on, and communicate information critical to their work. Our hands-free voice solutions enable employees to safely and accurately speed through tasks, thereby boosting operational productivity and improving customer experiences. What’s more, Voxware easily adapts to changes in technology and processes, enabling organizations to quickly address shifting demands without disruptions to the operation. Our innovative approach to voice communication has proven to help our customers increase profitability by cutting costs and enhancing brand loyalty. For more information, please visit www.voxware.com.

NMHG Presents United Way of Pitt County with $6,250 Check

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:29:15 +0100

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG) presented a $6,250 check to United Way of Pitt County during the East Carolina University (ECU) baseball game versus High Point University on Tuesday, May 15. The donation was given for every homerun hit this season by the Pirates, who pounded 25 homeruns.

“Along with our football and basketball partnership, NMHG has now donated $69,850 to United Way of Pitt County this academic year thanks to the athletic teams at ECU,” said Brett Schemerhorn, VP, Marketing for NMHG. “We are honored to be able to make these donations, which we know will make our community a better place through helping those around us.”

Jim Cieslar, executive director of United Way of Pitt County, was present to receive the check from NMHG’s Thom Peebles, Director, Brand Management, and Mike Moran, Director, Warehouse Product sales.

“We are grateful for the continued partnership with NMHG through the ECU baseball team,” said Cieslar. “NMHG’s generous support and the Pirates hitting prowess have combined once again to serve our community.”

“Give me a lift!” Hyster Company Donates Reach Truck to Portland Art Museum

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:25:00 +0100

NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. (NMHG), in cooperation with its local dealer, Papé Material Handling, Inc. – Portland, has donated one of its Hyster® electric reach trucks to the Portland Art Museum. Hyster Company donated the electric reach truck and Papé Material Handling, Inc. donated the battery and charging unit.

The Hyster® electric reach truck will be used in the museum’s storage facility to help move and store the valuable works of art displayed at the museum.

“This is a small token of our appreciation that the Portland Art Museum brings to the community of Portland and the people of the Pacific Northwest.” said Jonathan Dawley, President of Hyster Distribution.

“Like our friends and partners at the Hyster Company, we too are members of this community and are happy to give back.” said Shirley Papé. “I am excited to know that it will be Papé products that are helping to share these works of art with members of our community.”

“We are very grateful to Papé and Hyster Company for this donation,” said Beth Heinrich. “They are both wonderful corporate citizens. Thanks to them, we will safely and confidently be able to move and lift precious works of art that we can share with our visitors.”

About Portland Art Museum
Founded in late 1892, the Portland Art Museum (www.portlandartmuseum.org) is the seventh oldest museum in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions, drawn from the Museum’s holdings and the world’s finest public and private collections.

The Museum’s collection of more than 45,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of art of the native people of North America, English silver and the graphic arts. An active collecting institution dedicated to preserving great art for the enrichment of future generations, the Museum devotes 90 percent of its gallery space to permanent collection.

About Papé Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Eugene, OR, The Papé Group, Inc. is a holding company for capital equipment with dealerships throughout the West. The businesses of the Papé Group sell and service the premier brands of capital equipment used in construction projects, forestry, trucking, warehousing/materials handling and private aviation. The Papé Group businesses are Papé material Handling Inc., Bobcat West, Ditch Witch Northwest, Engineered Products, Flightcraft, Inc., Papé Rents, Papé Kenworth and Papé machinery, Inc. The operation serves seven western states – from Alaska to California. The cornerstone of all Papé Group operations since the first dealership was founded in 1938 has been their commitment to providing high quality products backed by consistent, high quality customer service whenever and wherever needed. For more information about The Papé Group Inc., visit www.pape.com.

Stertil-Koni USA Awarded United States Patent for Innovative ECOLIFT Heavy Duty Scissor Lift

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:39:00 +0100

Stertil-Koni USA is pleased to announce that Stertil-Koni has been awarded United States Patent Number 8,191,865 for its innovative ECOLIFT heavy duty scissor lift. The ‘865 patent will issue from the United States Patent & Trademark Office on June 5, 2012. It will cover the ECOLIFT system, including the combination of the scissor mechanism, carriage, cover, and other parts.

The 865 patent will grant to Stertil-Koni the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, importing and offering for sale scissor lifts that are covered by the patent claims. In an enforcement proceeding, Stertil-Koni would be entitled to seek money damages for past infringement and an injunction prohibiting others from making, using, selling or offering for sale scissor lifts covered by the patent claims. In some cases, Stertil-Koni would also be entitled to enforce its patent against those who maintain or sell parts for scissor lifts that have been determined to infringe its patent.

We are pleased and proud that the Patent Office has recognized the inventiveness of the Stertil-Koni ECOLIFT scissor lift.

About Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.

Stertil-Koni is the global market leader in heavy duty hydraulic lifts and is the preferred supplier to the world’s leading companies in the truck and bus industries. Stertil-Koni's breadth of lift products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes mobile, two-post, four-post, in-ground lifts, parallelogram lifts, half-scissors and the innovative axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor-style heavy duty hydraulic lift configuration. In the United States, under the leadership of Dr. DellAmore, Stertil-Koni USA, Inc. has achieved double-digit annual sales growth every year since its incorporation in Maryland in 1997. Today, the company is recognized as the leading provider of mobile lifts and the fastest growing heavy-duty lift company in North America. Stertil-Koni U.S.A. is headquartered in a modern 25,000 square foot combined office and warehouse facility in Stevensville, Maryland and has a major manufacturing facility in Streator, Illinois. The company proudly guarantees to maintain 25 years parts and availability for all product models that it offers for sale.

Pneumatic Conveyor Provides Competitive Edge for New Bio Based Detergent Expansion

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:39:22 +0100

Sticky powders present manufacturers and processors with unique material conveying challenges involving volumetric auger fillers that dispense powders, granulars, and flakes for packaging.

When the US government decided to switch to a bio based laundry detergent for the military and other government entities, the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) had the potential to expand its manufacturing and fulfillment division by coming up with a system where it could produce the detergent in an efficient and economical manner.

ABVI’s manufacturing and fulfillment division employs approximately 60 individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Its mission is to prepare and empower people who are blind or visually impaired to be self-sufficient and contribute to their families and the community.

ABVI employees convert, assemble, package, and distribute a wide range of high-quality products for federal and state government use and partners with companies like 3M and Ecolab.

“This was a totally new process for us,” says Leon France, Quality Manager at ABVI. “Our first step was to work with a soap manufacturer that could develop a bio based product that met government specifications, and then create a production line that could give us the competitive edge.”

After successfully developing a detergent with a supplier manufacturer, France contacted Per-Fil for an auger filling station to dispense the detergent into boxes containing two 13-pound cartons. However, he still needed a system that would deliver the detergent to the auger filler from 2000-pound super sacks, and “Per-Fil recommended we contact VAC-U-MAX for a solution,” says France.

VAC-U-MAX, an early pioneer of vacuum technology best known for handling free and non-free-flowing powders, specializes in design and manufacture of pneumatic conveyor systems and support equipment for conveying, weighing and batching of dry materials. The primary technology for conveying is vacuum, but positive pressure pneumatic conveying systems as well as mechanical conveyors, like flexible screw conveyors, are used as applications dictate.

Detergents are challenging to convey due to their adhesive characteristics and because moving and dispensing powder at high volume can potentially change the density, component blend and texture, producing inconsistent fill rates or volumes, causing production interruptions, and possible degraded particle size that compromises quality control standards.

With a vacuum conveying system, powder isn’t forced mechanically and there are no moving parts to come in contact with the powder to disrupt it.

France says that when he contacted the conveyor manufacturer and explained what ABVI was trying to accomplish and the nature of the product the company requested material samples to ensure particle size distribution didn’t change upon vacuuming from a super sack into the hopper.

The conveyor manufacturer has a fully functional test and demonstration facility equipped with a multitude of equipment configurations and vacuum conveying tests to simulate actual conditions at customer’s sites and performs testing at no charge to potential customers.

Because the powder can change density in the auger filler head, leading to improper fills, keeping the head full and at proper density is critical. VAC-U-MAX utilizes a variety of methods such as specialized finishes and a proprietary designed coneless vacuum receivers that reduce powder sticking inside the system eliminating the need for external flow promotion.

France says, “we decided upon this system because the manufacturer invited us to their facility to demonstrate their equipment with our product, offered us a couple different options based upon our product needs, and we were able to make a decision of which way to go.”

Pneumatic conveying systems are flexible, and when working with an expert that has intimate knowledge of material characteristics and manufacturing processes, users can have semi-custom pneumatic conveying systems using standard components that are adapted to fit manufacturing needs.

Once ABVI was granted the contract, it commenced building a room with proper ventilation for the process and ordered the equipment.

Because the controls from the two systems needed to be integrated to signal the vacuum system to convey more detergent when the auger filler hopper emptied, France says, “we wanted to make sure that when we got the whole system on site, the line would be fully functional and everything worked properly.”

To confirm this, the conveyor manufacturer set up its system at Per-Fil’s facility and demonstrated to ABVI representatives that the two systems were fully integrated and operational.

“We really appreciate the fact that VAC-U-MAX was willing to send someone to the auger filler manufacturer to guarantee their equipment was able to interface properly with the other equipment,” says France.

The conveying system vacuums the detergent from super sacks at floor level using a large wand that an individual moves around inside the sack when necessary, into the hopper of the filling machine.

The filling system has been designed so that individuals who are blind or visually impaired can operate the line. Audible alarms on the auger filler alert operators that they need to move the wand to a different location within the bag in the event that the conveying system is not sucking detergent into the hopper.

When the boxes are full, an audible signal lets operators know they can move it away from the filling station to another location where the box is sealed and packaged. The system also utilizes a touch screen for further assistance that provides audible explanations of whether the process is working properly or not.

The production line has a demonstrated daily capacity of 200, two-carton boxes and is staffed with three operators.

“The system runs very clean,” says France. “Overall we are impressed with the system and the expertise that VAC-U-MAX provided in the process.”

For more information about handling difficult or adhesive materials, or VAC-U-MAX pneumatic material handling or industrial vacuum cleaning solutions, write to them at 69 William Street, Belleville, NJ 07109; call 1-800-VAC-U-MAX 800/822-8629 or 973/759-4600; e-mail info@vac-u-max.com; or visit their website www.vac-u-max.com.

Bauer Supplies Gear Motors for Crane Used to Construct World’s Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:48:00 +0100

Russky Island is located just off of Vladivostok, Russia, with the Eastern Bosphorous strait separating the island from the Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula. As part of a massive regeneration project, development work began to turn the island into a large-scale, state-of-the-art tourist resort.

Plans were drawn up for the construction of a bridge that would link the island to the mainland. That same year, it was announced that these new facilities would host the APEC summit in September 2012. A fast-track construction schedule was initiated resulting in the last section of the central span being lifted into place on April 2, 2012. The bridge is expected to be opened for traffic by July 2, 2012.

With Vladivostok being the largest Pacific port in Russia, the bridge had to be high enough to allow passage for any class of vessel. In addition, the Eastern Bosphorous strait is 1460m wide in the bridge project area. The finished bridge breaks numerous world records, rising more than 70m above the high water level, with a central span 1104m long. Pylons 320m high will hold stay cables 580m long.

One of the most demanding phases of construction was the assembly of the central span, made up of 103 panels, each 12m long, 26m wide, and weighing a total of 23,000 tons. The panels are aerodynamically designed to give the bridge maximum stability in the high winds for which the region is renowned. The panels were delivered by barges which were carefully positioned under the installation using GLONASS, a Russian global satellite navigation system.

Lifting the enormous panels from the barges to an elevation of 70m and into position was a precision operation taking about one and a half hours to complete. A special crane needed to be developed for this unique application. That development was put in the hands of the Mostovik Crane Factory, which specializes in the manufacture of large-capacity cranes for the most challenging applications.

A custom-designed Mostovik derrick crane was installed on the bridge center span deck, cantilevered over the nose and facing toward the strait. The crane was equipped with a wind gage, a lifting height indicator, and an indicator that shows precise panel position during the lift.

The application requirements for this particular crane were especially demanding. Not only would it have to lift and safely position panels weighing more than 300 tons each, but it would have to operate reliably in extreme temperatures. Winter temperatures in the region can drop as low as -30°C. To meet these requirements, Mostovik Crane Factory turned to Bauer Gear Motor, an Altra Industrial Motion company, for suitable geared motors.

Bauer supplied BF Series geared motors, with torques from 10100-13400Nm. Setting new standards for reliability, efficiency and economy, BF Series geared motors can be mounted in any required position – horizontally, vertically or suspended – to meet any application requirement. Total flexibility in mounting options includes shaft, foot, face and flange solutions. The motor terminal box can be mounted in alternative positions rotated in 90-degree steps around the motor frame, providing for unparalleled integration possibilities.

Generously dimensioned ball or roller bearings, case-hardened forged and ground gears, and internally and externally reinforced gearboxes ensure a long, low-maintenance service life. A hardened wear sleeve and spray ring at the rotor seal allow for reduced sump capacity, reliable lubrication and many years of leak-free performance.

For absolute reliability, the BF Series geared motors are completely enclosed and sealed to IP65 as standard (IP66 optional) against dust and water spray. Important for use in the Russky Island bridge application, the geared motors also provide comprehensive corrosion protection.

Bauer is a leading manufacturer of high-quality gear motors, offering engineered solutions to a variety of industries, worldwide. For more information, visit www.bauergears.com.

The Rental Show ranks in Top 100 U.S. trade shows

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:47:53 +0100

Trade Show News Network (TSNN) released its latest TSNN Top 250 Trade Show rankings of the largest shows in the U.S. for 2011. The Rental Show was No. 99.

The TSNN rankings are based on net square footage of exhibit space.

The Rental Show 2011 was Feb. 27 – March 2 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The trade show occupied 219,400 net sq. ft. of exhibit space. There were 610 exhibiting companies.

Las Vegas was the most popular city on the TSNN Top 250, with 55 shows held there including the top two – CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Consumer Electronics Show.

February and March tied for second on the list of busiest months in 2011, with 28 shows in each. January ranked No. 1 with 32 shows.

TSNN is a leading online resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry. Its website, TSNN.com, owns and operates an event database that contains data about more than 19,500 trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences. This is the second year for the TSNN Top 250 Trade Show rankings.

About ARA: The American Rental Association (www.ARArental.org) is an international trade association for the owners of equipment rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment. ARA members, which include more than 7,500 rental businesses and nearly 900 manufacturers and suppliers, are located in every U.S. state, every Canadian province, and more than 30 countries worldwide. Now in its sixth decade of operation, ARA is the source for information, advocacy, business development tools, education and training, networking and marketplace opportunities for the rental equipment industry throughout the world. The Rental Show (www.TheRentalShow.com) is owned and managed by the American Rental Association.

Cerrowire Introduces Max Print® Extra Large Print Labeling System For True Sequential ...

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:46:44 +0100

Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, announces its large print Max Print® wire labeling system, available now on all sizes of its True Sequential Footage™ sequentially printed cables. Max Print enables contractors to easily identify the wire manufacturer and size and view the sequential footage in large print, making installation and inspection easier and faster.

With Max Print, gauge size is printed 300 percent larger than standard labeling. This makes it easier and quicker to read gauge size which reduces errors and aids in the inspection process. It is ideal for use in warehouses and job sites where lighting is an issue. Max Print is available on 1 AWG – 750 MCM THHN-2/THWN-2 products.

Max Print is used in conjunction with Cerrowire’s True Sequential Footage™, a sequentially printed cable reel that provides accurate wire length with each cut. True Sequential Footage prevents the need to carry excess cable inventory, providing precision length, accurate footage, and cost control.

True Sequential Footage uses a footage mark to document remaining wire, beginning with zero at the bottom of the reel and ending with the finished length at the top. The accurate footage mark allows for quick identification of the re-order point, guaranteeing the full purchased wire length and reducing random lengths. This better controls end-of-reel scrap.

The need to carry excess inventory is reduced with precision cutting allowed by True Sequential Footage. Wire normally lost on each cut made with less accurate counting systems (3 to 8 percent) is saved when True Sequential Footage’s precision footage marking system is used.

True Sequential Footage uses Doppler lasers to ensure precision far more accurate than a mechanical counter. The non-contact capabilities allow for zero slip and zero wear compared to a contact counter during the cutting process. Rigorous accuracy tests show that Cerrowire’s measurement system produces an accuracy of better than plus or minus one half of one percent.

“Cerrowire developed True Sequential Footage to address a problem that plagues every electrical distributor – the need to carry more inventory to cover wire cutting inconsistencies,” says Rick McDonald, President of Cerrowire Electrical Distribution. “Adding Max Print improves the product further, eliminating problems and errors associated with printing wire size and footage in very small print.”

About Cerro Wire LLC
Cerro Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, supplies its products to wholesale electrical distributors and retail home improvement centers across North America. Cerrowire’s Electrical Distribution Division offers building wire for residential, commercial and industrial use. Our operating philosophy focuses on customer service, low cost operations, simplification and innovation. Our employees operate manufacturing and distribution facilities around the United States. Cerrowire is a Marmon Wire & Cable/Berkshire Hathaway company.

To get the latest industry news and updates, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more information, please contact Dale Crawford at 256/773-2522, or via email at dcrawford@cerrowire.com.

GRAPHALLOY® Bushings Outperform Metal Wear Parts in CO2 Service

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:44:00 +0100

GRAPHALLOY® wear rings and bushings from Graphite Metallizing Corporation provide performance superior to standard metal stationary and rotating wear parts in pumps for CO2 service in oil field applications. Self-lubricating GRAPHALLOY®, a graphite/metal alloy, eliminates concern about bearing failures or possible flashing of CO2.

The ability to operate without additional lubrication is important in CO2 injection applications because CO2 has low lubricity. Standard metal wear parts rely on the lubricity of the liquid being pumped for proper operation so they are prone to failures in pumps used to inject CO2. In addition, due to high suction pressure required to keep CO2 as a dense phase liquid, flashing is always a possibility.

CO2 injection in older, low flowing wells is becoming an increasingly popular method for permeating rock formations and forcing more oil to the surface. Many older wells still contain vast amounts of oil locked in the pores of rock layers deep underground. CO2 injection often releases more oil in older wells than can be released by water injection.

"Use of self-lubricating, non-galling GRAPHALLOY® materials in pumps for CO2 service provides substantial cost savings by avoiding expensive downtime and field repairs caused by wear part failures," said Eben Walker, General Manager of Graphite Metallizing Corporation. "GRAPHALLOY® is currently the material of choice for many oil field applications in North America and around the world."

GRAPHALLOY® wear rings and bushings operate at longer intervals without the need for replacements or maintenance which helps reduce downtime and maintenance expenses. GRAPHALLOY® is an excellent choice for any application where service and maintenance tasks are cumbersome or difficult to perform. GRAPHALLOY® is a proven solution for even the most challenging plant maintenance and new equipment design applications.

For more information about GRAPHALLOY® products, visit www.graphalloy.com or call 914/968-8400 or e-mail us at sales@graphalloy.com

Bulk Bag Filler Operation Uses Integrated Bulk Bag Unloader and Bag Dump Station to Supply ...

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:42:00 +0100

National Bulk Equipment, Inc. (NBE). This bulk bag filler system; receiving input material from an integrated bulk bag unloader, an integrated bag dump station, and a vibratory conveyor system, enabled the material processing operation to effectively transition to an automated, 20,000 lb./hour, bulk bag filling process from a relatively low-capacity, operator-intensive, 50 lb. bag filling system.

Multiple materials, all with differing characteristics, including: fast-flowing, dusty, sticky, and static-charged, enter the process operation based on the specific recipe selected at the system HMI by the operator. The NBE bulk bag unloader, receiving bulk bags of severely agglomerated material, starts an integrated, automated material conditioning sequence, including: massage paddles with 2,200 lbs. of paddle pressure, and an agitator hopper to prepare the material for supply, via screw conveyor, to the bulk bag filler. For secondary ingredients, a bag dump station, integrated to the bulk bag unloader, enables manual introduction of material to the agitator hopper for conditioning, blending, and supply to the bulk bag filler. The primary ingredient, supplied from downstream pneumatic conveying, is introduced to the bulk bag filling process through a 24” wide, 304-2b stainless steel, vibratory conveyor with a total material supply capacity of 20,000 lbs./hour.

This automated, bulk bag filler and bulk bag unloader system was built to be compliance-ready at start-up and to conform to the specific, regulated processes and practices of the Class II, Div. 2, Group G process area, as well as explosion protection and control features for venting, directlng, and releasing overpressure. NBE was the single-source provider of the system’s controls and automation, and was singularly responsible for integration of the system controls to the facility’s supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA). This NBE bulk bag filler and bulk bag unloader system significantly increased line capacity, improved resource management, reduced operating burden, increased labor efficiency and safety, and extended equipment contribution and performance lifecycles.

National Bulk Equipment, Inc.
12838 Stainless Drive
Holland, MI 49424
P: 616.399.2220
W: nbe-inc.com

Logistics Link Live Returns To The NEC Birmingham

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:40:00 +0100

Logistics Link Live, taking place 13-14 June 2012 in the NEC Birmingham is the perfect platform for attendees to plan the next phase of intelligent cost-savings for their warehouse and supply-chain.

There will be over 100 leading companies exhibiting at the Show covering all areas of logistics with many live demonstrations taking place both on stands and in the live demo arenas. All of this will mean visitors will be able to compare the latest products and solutions and see for themselves how they can be used to optimise their operations.

There will also be extensive educational content with the Logistics Manager Conference and Technology Supplier Seminars taking place both days of the exhibition. The Logistics Manager Conference will feature many end users and industry experts sharing their knowledge on topics including Supply Chain 2020, logistics collaboration, multi-channel e-commerce fulfilment solutions, networking for logisticians and much more.

The Technology Supplier Seminars will feature many practical ideas and are a great opportunity for delegates to see a Showcase of the latest solutions including RFID, Voice picking, the latest Cloud technology and much more, repeated each day of the Show.

Visitors to the Show will also have the opportunity to network with their peers in the buyers only Networking Lounge. As well as this Women in Logistics will be holding a meeting on the 14 June at 11.30 which is a great opportunity for members and other visitors to meet, network and exchange views.

Logistics Link Live will also be co-located with the Subcon Show so visitors can get even more out of their day away from the office. Subcon is the only UK show dedicated to contract and subcontract manufacturing and offers you the best platform to source everything from design and prototyping to finishing and testing.

To find out more and register for fast track entry to the Show visit www.logisticslink.co.uk

Combi Rolls Out New Demo Trailer II

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:35:00 +0100

Later this month Combi Packaging Systems will proudly roll out their second Demonstration Trailer. Relationships matter in business and, despite the worldwide reach of the internet, a relationship must be personal. For the past 5 years Combi has been supporting its network of distributors by traveling across the United States and Canada providing live demonstrations of their affordable, custom end of line packaging equipment.

Customers can see firsthand the quality workmanship that goes into Combi’s unique Ergopack®, an ergonomic hand packing station that automates case erecting and sealing while placing the open case and product at an optimal height for comfortable manual case packing. Also equipped on the trailer is Combi’s 2-EZ®SB side belt driven case erector. This 15 cpm erector features fast changeovers, vacuum blow-off, positive four flap closing and an open design.

Combi Packaging Systems LLC is a leading US manufacturer of end of line packaging equipment, including case erectors, case sealers, case packers, tray formers, ergonomic hand packing stations and case labeling machines. Combi Packaging Systems LLC was formed as a joint venture with 3M and MJ Maillis Group in 1999.

For more information contact Combi Packaging Systems LLC at 800/521-9072 or visit www.combi.com

Doosan Infracore Selects Servigistics Service Parts Pricing

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:27:00 +0100

Servigistics, the world's leading enterprise software solution provider for Service Lifecycle Management (SLM), announced today that Doosan Infracore, one of the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturers, has selected Servigistics Service Parts Pricing to optimize and manage pricing globally.

Part of Korea's Doosan Corporation, Doosan Infracore manufactures a wide selection of construction equipment, attachments, machine tools and engines sold under the Doosan, Bobcat, Montabert, Geith, and Tramac brands. With large global operations in more than 100 countries and a hub for global parts distribution in Seoul, Korea, Doosan Infracore is focused on increasing the growth of its parts business. Servigistics Service Parts Pricing will enable Doosan Infracore to move from a cost-based pricing approach to market-based pricing; to integrate global pricing to ensure consistency among regions; and ensure active management of part pricing.

“We continue to expand our global operations and maintaining consistency in price alignment among our regions has been a challenge,” says Seong Yeon Lee, Executive Managing Director, After Market (AM), Doosan Infracore. “Servigistics Service Parts Pricing will help us improve our parts pricing while increasing the value and service we offer to our customers through our parts (AM) business. Moreover, we believe that this would be the first step to reach the top-tier level in operation of the entire After Market value chain.”

Servigistics’ Service Parts Pricing optimization software will provide Doosan Infracore with the tools to simulate and identify the optimal price for every new and existing service part, considering geographic region and/or market situation. Built on service-specific algorithms, Service Parts Pricing uses the right combination of three advanced pricing approaches – price alignment, competitive positioning and price elasticity – to recommend optimal parts prices that consider part lifecycles and stock inventory levels in light of changing market dynamics. The implementation will be a joint effort with EXE C&T, a Servigistics partner in Korea.

Hiroshi Shimizu, general manager of Servigistics APAC, says, “Service parts pricing provides a critical competitive differentiation factor and will optimize Doosan’s global pricing strategy. This project will not only improve Doosan Infracore’s parts pricing among its regions but will also drive their overall growth and strengthen market competitiveness in the aftermarket worldwide.”

About Doosan Infracore
Doosan Infracore is a world-class machinery manufacturer, offering top-quality products and services in areas of construction equipment, machine tools, engines, and attachments. The company leads Doosan Corp’s ISB (Infrastructure Support Business) segment, bolstering overall product competitiveness and market position through ongoing technology and quality enhancement.

Doosan Infracore represents world-renowned brands - Doosan, Bobcat, Montabert, Geith, Tramac and operates a broad global business network including local sales subsidiaries, branches, parts centers and technical centers in different locations of the world as well as the dealer network extended worldwide. In addition, the company has plants in Korea, China, the US, Belgium, Germany, France, Hungary, and Norway producing various kinds of construction equipment and machine tools to meet the diverse needs of local customers. www.doosaninfracore.com

About Servigistics
Servigistics is the world's leading enterprise software solution provider for Service Lifecycle Management (SLM). The company's award-winning SLM solutions suite enables market-leading companies across diverse industries to successfully execute a service-led growth strategy that delivers value across the entire global service supply chain. Servigistics’ Oracle Fusion and SAP Netweaver-certified solutions address all the key post-sale service areas including service parts planning and pricing, field service management, service logistics, warranty management, service knowledge and content management. Servigistics is a privately-held company headquartered in Atlanta, with regional headquarters in the UK, Japan, and India, and sales and service professionals around the world. Please contact Servigistics at 888/942-8623 or 770/565-2340, via e-mail at info@servigistics.com, or via the Web at www.servigistics.com

Lista International Corporation Will Exhibit Arlink® Modular Workbenches At Assembly Tech Expo 2012

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:22:00 +0100

Lista International Corporation announces that it will exhibit at the 2012 Assembly and Automation Technology Expo, to be held June 19-21 at McCormick Place North in Chicago, IL. Lista will be featuring its Arlink® 8000 modular workstation in booth #1030.
Lista’s Arlink® 8000 workstation is ergonomically designed to offer unlimited flexibility to accommodate changing or future needs. Ideal for a variety of assembly and automation applications, Arlink® 8000 workstations can be assembled and reconfigured faster than other workstations, saving time and money.

Each Arlink® 8000 Modular Workstation can be configured in a variety of heights and lengths to best suit specific needs. These workstations are available in five standard industry widths and in three different heights up to 84”. The unique “starter and adder” system, with the option of back-to-back configurations, enables unlimited layout possibilities to adapt to any space or support any process requirements.

The Arlink® 8000’s Definite Positioning Systemâ makes relocating or adjusting worksurfaces, storage, shelving, lights, power beams, footrests, etc. fast, easy, and safe. The virtually tool-free assembly and reconfiguration process allows the user to make unlimited changes to the workstation with minimal effort or cost.

Worksurfaces are available in standard laminate or static dissipative. The Arlink 8000 system is also available on casters to create mobile workstations or parts carts.
Call or write to us at: Lista International Corporation, 106 Lowland Street, Holliston, MA 01746 USA; TEL 1-800-722-3020. FAX 508-626-0353; email sales@listaintl.com. Visit Lista’s web site at www.lista-elecassembly.com.

Floor Mounted and Freestanding Stainless Steel Enclosures

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:23:00 +0100

Hammond Manufacturing offers a number of versions of floor mounted and freestanding stainless steel enclosures designed to house electrical, electronic, hydraulic or pneumatic controls and instruments. The units will typically be installed in oil and gas facilities, water treatment plants, food manufacturing plants, pharmaceutical production and other industries where equipment may be hosed down or otherwise be very wet, or in applications where corrosion is a serious problem.

Hammond’s 1418, 1422 and the HN4SS series are all manufactured from 304 or 316 grade stainless steel with a smooth brushed finish. All seams are continuously welded and ground smooth and the units are sealed to NEMA 4X rating. All units include heavy-duty stainless steel lifting eyes. Doors are mounted on continuous hinges and sealed with a seamless poured-in-place gasket. Users have a choice of closure options, traditional clamp covers can be specified for applications where access to the inside is not regularly required or three point locking handles or quarter turn fasteners are available when the doors need to be frequently opened. The enclosures are available from stock in a wide range of heights, widths and depths.

A wide range of accessories such as windows kits, breathers, anti-condensation heaters, thermostats and drip shield kits are available and CAD drawings that simplify specifying factory modification and customization are downloadable from www.hammondmfg.com.

enVista Makes 2012 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:21:00 +0100

enVista, a leading enterprise and supply chain consulting services firm, announced today that it was selected for Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine’s 11th annual listing of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 which highlights “100 Great Supply Chain Projects."

Launched 11 years ago, Supply & Demand Chain Executive announced its first "100" list of supply chain solution providers, consultants and other organizations that were helping lead the way in transforming companies' supply and demand chains. This year, the magazine focused the criteria for its "100" feature on supply chain transformation projects that have had a significant impact on the companies going through the implementations.

"Our readers count on Supply & Demand Chain Executive for intelligence and decision-making information on solutions and best practices for supply chain transformation," said Barry Hochfelder, Editor of Supply & Demand Chain Executive. "With this year's Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, we are featuring '100 Great Supply Chain Projects' that demonstrate the broad spectrum of opportunities for enabling excellence in the supply chain."

Through an online submission process, Supply & Demand Chain Executive collected information on supply chain transformation projects, including information on the objectives, scope, timeline and results of the project. The submissions were evaluated by the magazine's editorial staff primarily based on: ambitiousness/scope of the project; creative application of technologies/solutions/services used; extent of the business results/impact; and clarity of submission.

"Our goal with this year's '100' is to put the spotlight on successful and innovative transformation projects that are delivering bottom-line value to small, medium and large enterprises across the different functions that comprise the supply chain," Hochfelder added. "The projects featured in the '100' article can serve as a roadmap for supply chain executives looking for new opportunities to drive improvement in their own operations."

After receiving nomination forms, the Supply & Demand Chain Executive editorial staff identified applicants that best fit the stated criteria for the "100." The complete listing of the 2012 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 award winners is available at www.SDCExec.com. Extended coverage of the SDCE100 will appear in the June 2012 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine and online thereafter.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive
Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. Visit us on the Web at www.SDCExec.com.

About enVista
enVista is a leading enterprise and supply chain consulting services provider, delivering innovative solutions that improve profitability, enhance customer service and reduce waste from source to consumption. enVista provides exceptional value in its unique ability to consult, implement and operate. These capabilities, in combination with enVista’s deep domain expertise, enable world-leading manufacturers, distributors and retailers to leverage one experienced partner for all matters related to supply chain, transportation and ERP. www.envistacorp.com

For more information about enVista, please call 877-684-7700 or contact inforequest@envistacorp.com.

Minimize Downtime with Industrial Parts Storage that Evolves as Production Does

Wed, 09 May 2012 06:19:00 +0100

When production equipment breaks down, every minute it takes to get back up and running can cost thousands of dollars in lost production and idle labor. While technicians strive to reduce downtime, if they spend precious minutes searching for the right replacement parts in inefficient parts storage then, despite their best efforts, many thousands of dollars in production and labor will be lost.

Whether a company manufactures machinery or food products, whether it drills for offshore oil, refines petrochemicals, processes wastewater, or produces electricity, to stay competitive production must be extremely efficient and minimize downtime. Yet traditional, inflexible, restricted parts storage space can increase downtime and negatively impact production, operations, and maintenance efficiency.

Too often parts storage and maintenance capacity does not evolve, even as new part sizes, shapes, weights, quantities, and configurations are introduced. The challenge increases when multiple generations of products or equipment must be manufactured or promptly serviced using the same unchanging storage and service space. Changing demand and products, along with line expansion, parts consolidation, facility renovation, and a host of other factors can also require a flexible parts storage capacity that evolves as production does.

Fortunately, a new flexible type of storage system that starts from raw shelving and evolves as needed is allowing parts managers to create denser, more space and labor-efficient parts storage capacity as market, budget, or storage needs change.

While traditional modular drawer cabinets on casters are fine for some applications, their main drawback is that they are essentially unchangeable steel boxes, unable to efficiently accommodate changing part sizes, shapes, weights, quantities, or configurations. Once the size of the drawers and box frame is set, modular drawer cabinets have virtually no future adaptability. As storage needs change, for instance, storing washer-sized parts in 6” drawers wastes a lot of storage space.

Traditional storage shelves offer more space than modular drawer cabinets, but a tremendous amount of storage space can be wasted if, for example, 3”-high parts are stored on 24”-high shelves. Because moving a shelf to create more storage space often requires removing and reassembling 10 or more nuts and bolts, this is practically never done on a large scale.

When parts storage capacity lags behind the need, clutter results with parts too often stored on the floor, on top of cabinets, and stacked in boxes—which can lower productivity if parts are not easy to store and retrieve.

“The goal in maintenance is to strive for zero production downtime, but that depends on getting the right parts into the hands of technicians for needed repairs as soon as possible,” says Jeremy Miller, a DC Maintenance Foreman for JBS USA LLC’s Marshalltown, Iowa facility, a subsidiary of JBS, the largest animal protein processing company in the world. “Delay in locating the right parts in storage translates into unnecessary downtime.”

The Marshalltown facility carried a production parts inventory of over $1 million, mostly in a central parts area, with parts ranging from tiny nuts, bolts, and screws to gears, sprockets, and cabling to motors, chain drives, and sensitive electronic boards.

While the facility had initially used an open rack, cabinet, and bin storage system for parts storage, Miller knew there was room for improvement.

“We felt trapped by our old system of parts storage because it forced us to adapt to it,” says Miller. “The shelves on our open rack were essentially fixed. So too were the cabinets and bins. Because nothing would fit the storage space exactly, we constantly had to search for a spot to put the items. If the parts didn’t fit, we had to store the items in multiple locations, or buy entire new racks when all we may have wanted was a larger drawer to keep related parts together.”

“Parts for certain equipment ended up being scattered in as many as ten different locations,” adds Miller. “This made the parts hard to locate. It could take ten minutes or more to retrieve all the needed parts for some repair jobs. The inefficiency of our storage space crowded our parts area.”

Miller turned to a flexible modular storage system called V-Grip by Equipto, a Tatamy, Pa.-based supplier of industrial storage designs and solutions.

What makes the V-Grip storage system unique is that it starts as raw shelving and allows parts managers to adapt and create denser and denser storage capacity as marketplace, budget, or storage needs change. The modular storage system is more flexible than modular drawer cabinets or traditional shelves because it is designed so shelves, drawers, and other accessories can be interchanged in the shelf cavity. Since each shelf, drawer, or accessory is individually mounted to upright posts using a proprietary bracket system, they are individually adjustable and can be added at any time without disassembly of the unit.

The modular storage system begins with heavy-duty uprights, and top, bottom, back, and side panels. Shelves from 400 lbs. to over 1000 lbs. capacity can be added and adjusted at 1 ½” increments for storage of bulk items and items of different sizes. For more efficient storage of small to medium sized parts, drawers 3” to 13 ½” in height can be added, along with in drawer divider sets or shelf dividers to keep small parts from mixing. For more security, locking steel and see-through doors (for visual inventory capability) in various combinations can be added anytime.

“Since the V-Grip storage system adapts to our needs, we can quickly add, move, remove, or change the size of drawers or shelves to fit the size of our parts,” says Miller. “Adjustable dividers also help to separate items and maximize storage space within drawers. Because of this, we were able to consolidate our spare production parts in equipment-specific locations in a small central parts room. This left enough room for me to build a small office inside, which further improved inventory control.”

“Now instead of our techs having to search for spare parts in 10 or more spots for a single repair job, they can go to one equipment-specific location to get the parts they need for a job,” adds Miller. “It has cut part retrieval time for repair jobs about 70%, from about 10 minutes per job down to about 3 minutes per job. Faster job repair translates into less production downtime, which can add up to tens of thousands of dollars or more in annual savings.”

If adequate ceiling clearance is available, increasing storage capacity with a freestanding or shelf supported mezzanine is straightforward. Due to engineering and design innovations, no attachment to existing structures is necessary other than floor anchors.

If existing V-Grip shelving is to be utilized for mezzanine support, often all that is required is minor reconfiguration allowing a second floor to be placed right on top of the shelving. This capability alone can virtually double storage space.

“We’re looking at increasing our flexible parts storage capacity even more by using more of our vertical space,” says Miller. “Once you’ve switched to flexible parts storage that adapts to your needs, you won’t go back to inflexible, fixed storage.”

For more info call 800-323-0801; Fax 888-859-2121; email info@equipto.com; visit www.equipto.com; or write to Consolidated Storage Companies/Equipto at P.O. Box 429, 225 Main Street, Tatamy, PA 18085.

enVista Partners with GENCO ATC to Present Labor Management Best Practices at Momentum 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:18:36 +0100

enVista, a leading enterprise and supply chain consulting services firm announced that it is teaming up with its client and North America’s second largest 3PL, GENCO ATC, to present at Manhattan Associates’ annual user group conference, Momentum 2012. Held in Orlando, Florida, May 6-9, Momentum 2012 will draw an audience of more than 1,000 supply chain leaders and decision-makers.

“Labor Management Systems provide a powerful means of improving labor productivity and savings,” said Ken Mullen, senior managing partner at enVista. “However, maximum results are achieved when companies take a strategic, ongoing labor management approach to support their business objectives. Our presentation will help attendees understand how to develop and implement a successful labor management strategy for their own business.”

Mullen and GENCO ATC’s Director of Labor Management Services, Melinda Laake, will present Labor Management Success: How GENCO ATC Took a Strategic Approach to Labor Management to Drive Maximum ROI/Productivity Gains to Momentum attendees on Monday, May 7 from 3:15-4:15 p.m. The presentation will highlight how GENCO ATC developed a comprehensive labor management strategy that incorporates analysis, engineered labor standards, best-in-class systems and change management in order to support their business goals and drive maximum results. Manhattan Associates’ Labor Management System was implemented across GENCO ATC sites as part of the project.

“We are really looking forward to co-presenting with our valued client, GENCO ATC,” said Mullen. “Labor management remains an important area of focus for GENCO ATC’s continuous improvement efforts. Supporting multiple clients with varying distribution requirements results in significant operational complexity for most 3PLs, requiring a disciplined labor approach for optimal order accuracy, efficiency and consistency. Labor management programs help all companies improve customer service, labor productivity and profitability, and enables logistics service providers to better understand the actual cost of value-added services for each client.”

Momentum 2012 will take place at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida from May 6-9, 2012. More information on this convention and registration can be found at www.manh-momentum.com

Crown Equipment advances global fuel cell initiatives

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:17:54 +0100

Crown Equipment Corporation, one of the world’s leading forklift manufacturers, today announced a couple of initiatives supporting its customers’ exploration and deployment of fuel cell-powered forklifts. Developments include qualification of sit-down counterbalanced forklifts to operate with fuel cells and deployment of France’s first fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts.

Known as the multipurpose workhorse for warehouse applications, the Crown SC 5300 Series has met approval within the company’s Fuel Cell Qualification Program that analyzes Crown electric forklifts for use with fuel cell packs. It is a member of Crown’s line of sit-down counterbalanced forklifts, which are equipped to handle multiple applications from dock work to transporting and stocking. The truck designed for fuel cells maintains similar features and benefits presented by the standard SC 5300 model. More than 20 of the company’s forklift models have been qualified for use with fuel cells.

“With numerous companies in the United States successfully integrating fuel cell-powered forklifts into their fleets and facilities, we are beginning to receive an increasing number of inquiries and interest on the technology from many of our European customers,” said Ernst Baumgartner, fuel cell project manager, Crown Equipment. “The fuel cell-powered Crown SC 5300 is a major accomplishment toward making fuel cells a viable strategic option for European customers looking to bolster the sustainability of their warehouses.”

Baumgartner is a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s (IEC) Technical Committee (TC) 105, Working Group 6, which has been charged with preparing international standards regarding fuel cell technologies for electric forklift fuel cell applications. The primary focus of the standards is on performance and safety criteria, as well as interchangeability of components and parts.

Air Liquide, the leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, became the first customer to install the Crown trucks in the European market and the first operation in France to use fuel cell-powered forklifts.

“Air Liquide applauds Crown’s continuing initiative to facilitate the use of fuel cells with their forklifts. It presents a promising business potential among Crown, HyPulsion – the newly created joint venture between Axane (an Air Liquide subsidiary) and Plug Power – and Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy,” said Pierre Etienne Franc, director of technologies of the future, Air Liquide. “We are fully satisfied with this first hydrogen forklift operational deployment at the Air Liquide European Logistic Center in Vatry, France. It demonstrates our commitment to promote hydrogen energy solutions for logistic operators, a new clean and productive energy solution for captive fleets.”

About Crown Equipment Corporation
Crown is one of the world’s largest lift truck manufacturers. Crown’s award-winning line of lift trucks maintains a reputation for exceptional product design, engineering and manufacturing. From the smallest hand pallet truck to the highest lifting turret truck, Crown seeks to provide users with safe, efficient and ergonomic lift trucks that lower total cost of ownership and maximize uptime. Headquartered in New Bremen, Ohio, Crown manufactures lift trucks that are sold throughout the world. For more information, visit www.crown.com.

Crown Equipment acknowledges the contribution of the State of Ohio, Department of Development and the Third Frontier Commission which provided the funding in support of the qualification of lift trucks for battery replacement fuel cell projects.

2013 GEORGIA LOGISTICS SUMMIT - Save the Date: MARCH 19-20, 2013

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:15:00 +0100

We are pleased to announce that the State of Georgia will hold its Fifth Annual Georgia Logistics Summit on March 19 - 20, 2013 hosted by the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics.

This event has grown rapidly and in 2012 hosted 1,600 attendees from 28 States and 7 Nations who came together to learn, network and explore new opportunities to grow their business.

By listening to you, every year we hear many ideas and ways to help make YOUR summit even more valuable…

In the coming months we will be sharing this year’s focus/theme, along with expert industry speakers, new sponsorship opportunities, new website, and improvements to the format to help make 2013 the best Summit yet.

For now, please just mark your calendars for the 2013 Georgia Logistics Summit, we hope you will join in…

2013 Georgia Logistics Summit

March 19th & 20th, 2013

Georgia World Congress Center – Atlanta, GA

ProMat 2011 recognized among top 250 U.S. trade shows

Mon, 07 May 2012 09:03:50 +0100

ProMat 2011 has been named to the 2011 Trade Show News Network’s (TSNN) U.S. Top 250 Trade Shows list. TSNN’s list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. ProMat 2011 was ranked 80th among the top 250 trade shows.

“Being recognized on such a prestigious list is not only a great accomplishment, but a great reminder that ProMat continues to be the largest and most relevant event in the material handling, supply chain and logistics field in North America. We’re thrilled to be included again this year and are looking forward to an even more successful ProMat event in 2013,” said Tom Carbott, MHIA Senior Vice President of Exhibitions.

TSNN is an online resource and authority for the trade show, exhibition and event industry. The organization operates an event database that includes more than 19,500 trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences. A full list of TSNN’s top 250 trade shows can be found at TSNN.com/datasite.

ProMat 2013 will be held January 21-24, 2013 at Chicago's McCormick Place. For more event information, visit www.ProMatShow.com.

ProMat is produced by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA). MHIA is an international trade association that has represented the material handling and logistics industry since 1945. MHIA members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHIA a strong national and international representative for the material handling and logistics industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product-specific Industry Groups. The association sponsors trade events, such as ProMat and MODEX to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing, distribution and supply chain professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.

Southern Hospitality: Briggs & LiftOne to Open Doors in Southeast US as New Hyster® Dealers

Mon, 07 May 2012 08:57:49 +0100

Briggs Equipment and LiftOne will open their doors as authorized Hyster® lift truck dealers in Atlanta and Charlotte, respectively. This follows a late January announcement where Barloworld announced that it had executed letters of interest regarding the sale of its US assets to Briggs and LiftOne pending a due diligence process.

The additions make both Briggs and LiftOne two of the largest Hyster dealers in the United States, both responsible for the majority of the southeastern United States. Briggs’ territory to sell and service Hyster® brand lift trucks includes Florida, Arkansas and Atlanta, and portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. LiftOne will be responsible for portions of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

“Briggs is excited to expand both its footprint and product offering in the United States with the addition of the Hyster brand,” said Mike Winemiller, President of Briggs International. “The growth of our materials handing business brings more opportunities to our employees and better service to our customers. This acquisition provides our customers with more product options and quicker response times.”

“With the change to Hyster products, LiftOne’s focus on being our customers’ ‘trusted partner’ for their parts and service solutions remains unchanged,” said Edward Weisiger, Jr., CEO of Carolina Tractor, the parent company of LiftOne. “Our award winning service staff of more than 350 highly-trained technicians will be able to service all brands of material handling equipment for our customers. LiftOne will continue to provide our customers with equipment solutions to help them increase efficiency and support their operations. We are committed to exceeding customer expectations for quality, dependability and responsiveness.”

“We are confident Hyster products, combined with Briggs’ and LiftOne’s sales and service support, will deliver excellent customer satisfaction,” said Jonathan Dawley, President of Hyster Distribution. “We look forward to maintaining our long relationship with current Hyster customers, as well as developing a solid relationship with new customers.”

About Briggs International, Inc.
Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Briggs International, Inc. and its subsidiaries are leading providers and renters of premium, materials handling equipment, currently with locations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico. In addition to providing Hyster® brand lift truck and fleet management services, Briggs also represents a variety of other materials handling equipment manufacturers. Offering full-service solutions to customers, Briggs supports its customers with financing, safety training, a market-leading parts inventory and 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week service programs. The company's 1,000 service technicians are situated in 31 locations. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.briggsequipment.com. Briggs International, Inc. is a Sammons Enterprises, Inc. company. Briggs employs approximately 1,700 people.

About LiftOne
Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, LiftOne (liftone.net), a subsidiary of Carolina Tractor, is a full-service material handling dealership with branch locations in North Carolina, South Carolina and now Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Carolina Tractor has been in the material handling business for over 50 years and is the third longest serving Caterpillar earth moving equipment dealer and it celebrated its 85th year in business in 2011. In addition to offering a full line of material handling equipment, LiftOne is also a Caterpillar dealer in construction, forestry, paving products, and power generation systems, truck engines and LinkBelt cranes. Since 1926, the company has been committed to the needs of its customers by providing superior parts, service, and sales. LiftOne sells, rents and services a wide range of equipment solutions to fill its customers’ specific needs. LiftOne’s service staff of highly trained technicians can service all brands of material handling equipment for our customers. LiftOne has been awarded the prestigious Five Star Service Excellence Award and its sales staff has earned multiple awards from manufacturing partners over the years.

Lift'n Buddy Awarded Gold at the Edison Awards 2012

Mon, 07 May 2012 08:55:00 +0100

The Edison Awards, celebrating 25 years of honoring the best in innovation and excellence in the development of new products and services, announced that Lift’n Buddy was voted a gold winner. At the sold-out April 26th event in NYC, Aaron Lamb joined hundreds of senior executives from some of the world’s most recognized companies to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all of the 2012 Edison Award winners.

It’s an honor to be recognized as a gold winner for the 2012 Edison Awards in the category of Industrial Design,” said Aaron Lamb, president of Ergologistics.

“As the pace of innovation quickens and the “race to next” becomes ever more competitive, it’s increasingly important to take a moment out of our hectic lives to recognize excellence in innovation and greatness in the teams of innovators who make our future. We are honored to present Lift’n Buddy with an Edison Award as one of the leading innovators of today and tomorrow,” says Thomas Stat, 2012 Edison Awards Steering Committee Chairman.

The ballot of nominees for the Edison Awards™ was judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives including past award winners, members of the Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG), academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medical.

The award honors innovation leaders and business executives who have made a significant and lasting contribution to innovation throughout their careers. The Edison Achievement Award serves as inspiration to future innovators and to the world at large.

Lift'n Buddy is the revolutionary mobile lifting device that combines the best of a standard two-wheeler's durability and functionality, with automatic lifting and lowering capabilities. The Lift'n Buddy has been designed with proper ergonomics and safety in mind for any person and any moving and lifting job. These mobile lifting devices, fabricated of durable, lightweight, extruded aluminum, help companies avoid the exposure of employee injury, litigation, and workers’ compensation claims.

Lift’n Buddy is committed to reducing injuries from repetitive lifting, lowering, and moving. The cost of back injuries alone costs millions of dollars each year. Lift'n Buddy is ergonomically safe and environmentally friendly since the electric hand trucks require no oil, gas, hydraulic fluid, or maintenance of any kind.

Ergologistics manufactures innovative products for the health and welfare of material handling workers. Lift'n Buddy is designed and distributed by Ergologistics, LLC; manufactured in Fargo, North Dakota.

For more information contact Ergologistics, LLC at 701/499-5270 or visit www.liftnbuddy.com

Boston Gear to Celebrate 135th Anniversary

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:29:00 +0100

This year Boston Gear celebrates 135 years in business, longer than such venerable companies as I.B.M., Coca-Cola, General Electric and Ford. It’s been around longer than the light bulb, radio, movies, automobiles, and the airplane.

Boston Gear, part of Altra Industrial Motion, is a leading global supplier of quality power transmission products to most major industrial markets including food processing, packaging machinery and material handling. From its 193,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, Boston Gear offers a wider range of products than any competing company in its field. Many companies worldwide rely upon Boston Gear as their single-source supplier of motion control products.

An Industry Leader and Innovator from the Beginning

Boston Gear was founded in 1877 as a small machine shop manufacturing gear-cutting machines. But the company quickly became recognized as a dominant, pioneering leader in its field. Early on, Boston Gear introduced the concepts of gear standardization and stock gears – innovations of enormous benefit to power transmission designers, specifiers and users. By 1929, Boston Gear was established as the world’s largest manufacturer of stock gears. And the company pioneered the concept of enclosed drives, a category it still dominates with its dependable, high-performance worm, helical and bevel gear drives.

The spirit of innovation that vaulted Boston Gear into a position of industry dominance many decades ago is still alive and well. Products like the new 2000 Series gear motors help Boston Gear maintain its position as the go-to company in its field. The 2000 Series, sets new standards in performance and design flexibility. And Boston’s 700 Series speed reducers, available in both cast iron and stainless steel, have long been the industry standard for food processing and material handling applications.

A Survivor

Though Boston Gear has been an innovative leader in its field for more than a century, the company has endured some tough times. The company survived a national depression in the late 1800’s, the Great Depression of the 1930’s, numerous recessions, and several changes of ownership. And during World War II, the company worked round the clock, contributing to the U.S. war effort. In appreciation, the employees of Boston Gear were awarded the Army-Navy Production Award for high achievement in 1943.

More recently, Boston Gear has faced radical changes in the global marketplace. “Just 20 years ago we competed primarily with companies based in North America,” said Vice President & General Manager Ed Novotny. “But now we face competition from companies worldwide. This globalization has opened up many new opportunities for us.”

What's The Secret?

Any person who lives to the ripe old age of 100 is inevitably asked about the secret to longevity. But since not many companies survive to their 100th birthday, that’s a question that’s also worth asking of a company like Boston Gear.

Carl Christenson, President & CEO of Boston’s parent company, Altra Industrial Motion, has an answer to that question. “We're an extremely customer focused company,” Christenson said. “Our associates are committed to satisfying the customer. We service the marketplace with above average industry performance standards in quality, delivery, and product innovation.”

Christenson explained that the driving force behind their record of consistently providing world-class customer service is the Altra Business System, a unique company-wide business management system. “Focusing upon the customer and continuously striving to align quality, delivery, and cost with our customers’ wants and needs – that’s the Altra Business System,” Christenson said. “Because of our absolute dedication to customer satisfaction, sales growth takes care of itself.”

Longtime customer Pat Hantz, Engineering Manager for Omni Metalcraft agrees that Boston Gear consistently hits the mark with superior customer service. Hantz said. “We specify Boston Gear reducers as standard equipment on our machinery. With their diverse line of quality products and excellent service, Boston Gear has proven to be a partner we can count on.”

Of course, world-class customer service is not possible without world-class employees. “It's all about your people,” Ed Novotny said. “A company is no better than all of the people who dedicate years, even decades of their lives to the success of that company. With good people, a company can accomplish anything – even 135 years of success.”

The ability to change with the times must be part of a company’s culture, as it is with Boston Gear. “We reinvest a fixed percentage of sales revenue each year in continuously upgrading our manufacturing equipment and processes,” Novotny said. “These funds are also used for new product development and new product launches.”

Novotny also noted that the company operates with a sharp focus on their strategic plan which is updated annually, helping to keep the company’s vision and strategy aligned with market realities.

"We Try to be Good Neighbors"

Most people have moved a few times in their lives, and the same is true of many companies. Boston Gear has been in its Charlotte, NC headquarters for 10 years, but the company has had several homes throughout its history.

But wherever the company has been located, it’s always been focused on being a good neighbor. Dana Williams, Human Resources Manager for Boston Gear, said, “Our community involvement is pretty broad, both organizationally and individually by our associates.”

Williams said that the company makes direct financial contributions to many charities such as the Special Olympics, The Salvation Army, Crisis Ministries, Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, and others. On the community level the company is involved with many organizations such as the local Food Bank and Blood Bank.

Looking Forward

One thing that people and companies have in common is that it's fairly rare for either to live to the age of 100. But a company with such a storied past surely holds a claim to the future, and Boston Gear looks forward to many years of eclipsing past achievements with future successes.

Altra Industrial Motion
Tel 815-389-6227
www.AltraMotion.com