CKF Systems celebrates 35th year of business in 2023 with record order intake
CKF Systems was delighted to reach the end of its 35th year of successful, thriving business operation in 2023 with the largest order intake in its history. CKF are a leading robotics and automation systems integrator based in Gloucester, UK. CKF is delighted to be celebrating three and a half decades of commitment to designing, manufacturing, and installing innovative systems that transform the operations of their customers in the manufacturing and logistics industries. This special anniversary has been made even more momentous due to two large central palletising systems orders which were bolstered with several orders for smaller automation projects demonstrating the varied scope of projects that CKF has the capabilities to complete for their customers. CKF has built many strong relationships with supplier partners and customers during this time with many customers returning time and time to meet their automation requirements. Here is a little bit of CKF’s history to celebrate this important landmark: CKF timeline: 1973 – The founding of CKF’s engineering predecessor – Charlton Kings Fabrications – a manufacturer of high-quality, high-end stainless-steel fabrications. 1988 – 15 years later, Charlton Kings Fabrications’ reputation for quality and reliability provided the ideal launch pad for establishing CKF Systems Limited, and the new company’s expansion into conveyor systems, primarily within the demanding food and beverage manufacturing sector. The quality of the equipment, systems, and services provided by CKF meant it rapidly achieved preferred supplier status with many of the major food manufacturers, including producers of dairy products, fresh vegetables, confectionery, and frozen goods. CKF’s reputation for delivering high quality led to overseas expansion and exports, with successful projects completed across continental Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, Far East, and the Americas. 2002 – Expansion and success drove the company to build on its ability to supply complex high-quality handling systems, leading to substantial investment in new equipment and services. This was combined with the focused recruitment of talented control engineers and enabled CKF to meet the manufacturing industry’s fast-growing demand for robotics and automation. 2013 – CKF Systems are one of the first three companies in the UK to be awarded ABB value provider status 2014 – The drive for growth required the purchase of a new 2,200 sqm factory, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for CKF’s engineering team. 2020 – An exciting new future for CKF begins as a mutually agreed management buy-out takes place and a new board of directors are appointed. 2023 – CKF continues to go from strength to strength and, because of the strong foundations of the last 35 years, is growing the team to meet increased demand from the industry. CKF are actively looking to add talented engineers to their team across a range of disciplines including Sales, Proposals (Concept Engineering), Projects, and Skilled Technicians.
Nano One announces Carlo Valente as CFO
Nano One® Materials Corp. (“Nano One”), has announced that Mr. Carlo Valente will be joining Nano One as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on January 15, 2024. Mr. Valente has over twenty-six years of experience supporting companies as they scale up with capital raising, M&A transactions, strategic and tactical planning, and effective finance structures. Most recently he served as CFO of a private, international renewables company where he gained expertise in commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, feedstock, government relations, and incentive programs while engaging in the decarbonization ecosystem that is relevant to Nano One. “I would like to welcome Mr. Valente to the Nano One team as a full-time CFO,” said Nano One CEO Mr. Dan Blondal. “We are confident that he will contribute significantly to shareholder value and to the execution of our licensing strategy, business objectives, and growth targets in the cathode sector.” With a distinguished career spanning over 26 years, Mr. Valente is a seasoned professional in international business development, corporate advisory, accounting and finance. His journey in the business world has been marked by a consistent track record of success, demonstrating exceptional skills across a diverse range of sectors, from nurturing local start-ups to navigating the complexities of multinational corporations. Mr. Valente has held the crucial role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for six companies, of which five were Canadian reporting issuers, where he was directly involved in corporate and project equity facilities totaling approximately $500 million. Notably, two of these companies earned recognition as TSX Venture 50 companies, a testament to his financial acumen and strategic leadership. Mr. Valente has significant M&A expertise, having actively contributed to over 100 mandates in North America and Europe. His financial stewardship and leadership along with a comprehensive understanding of capital markets, commercial agreements, and strategic business plan execution has been a driving force behind the success of numerous enterprises. Blondal added “I would also like to thank Mr. Dan Martino who has served effectively in the CFO role on a fractional basis since January 2020 through Donaldson Brohman Martin CPA, Inc. (“DBM”) where he holds other CFO positions for publicly traded companies. I would like to assure all our stakeholders that Mr. Martino remains dedicated to Nano One’s long-term business success and will serve as Vice President of Finance to provide continuity and support in financial reporting and finance-related projects.” Dan Martino said “It has been an incredible experience to be a part of Nano One’s growth story since early 2020. Since then, the team has grown significantly and we achieved the completion of three equity financings, two strategic financings, various government grants, the acquisition and successful integration of our Candiac operation, and graduation to the TSX, to name a few key milestones. As Nano One continues its growth trajectory, I believe Carlo to be an excellent fit to work alongside the executive team in bringing Nano One’s technology and growth to the next level, while I and DBM support this effort in the capacity as Vice President of Finance.” Mr. Carlo Valente said “I have followed the success of Nano One for some time now and I am honored to be joining this amazing team and company at a critical juncture on its path towards commercialization. I will draw on my past successes in helping companies grow by supporting and ensuring robust financial systems are in place. Dan Martino and the team have built a solid foundation that enables the executive team to readily advance Nano One’s strategic goals and increase shareholder value, and I look forward to contributing to the Company’s growth.”
Seeq recognizes 2023 Partners of the Year
Seeq, an advanced analytics and industrial AI, announced its 2023 Partners of the Year. These partners have been recognized for their excellence in providing value to customers, their continued investments in technical expertise with Seeq-certified employees and training professionals, and for creating awareness for Seeq through collaboration in marketing activities and events. Seeq delivers a self-service, advanced analytics and industrial AI platform that accesses and leverages vast amounts of historically underused data. By incorporating leading-edge technologies, including AI, machine learning, and other capabilities, into its platform and leveraging its global partner network, Seeq powers a range of use cases for employees across the enterprise to accelerate digital transformation outcomes such as operational excellence and profitability, workforce upskilling, and sustainability. “In 2023, our global, diverse partner ecosystem helped our shared customers scale, empower, and maximize access to data to solve operational challenges,” said Megan Buntain, VP of Global Partnerships and Ecosystem. “We congratulate these outstanding partners for their dedication to delivering the next generation of industrial manufacturing improvements while providing unmatched value to our joint customers.” Partner of the Year winners are selected from both partner submissions for the Workforce Empowerment, Operational Excellence and Sustainability Changemaker categories, and Seeq nominations for the Rising Star, Training & Adoption, Technology Innovation and Top Value-Added Reseller categories. The 2023 Seeq Partner of the Year recipients include: Workforce Empowerment Crucial Solutions and Services (CSS) is the 2023 Seeq Workforce Empowerment Partner of the Year recipient. CSS was selected for developing scalable training and adoption programs, which the company has leveraged across several customers. Using comprehensive training and engagement planning materials, CSS has helped execute training throughout organizations and maximize value. The company provides a variety of technology offerings to its clients in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and power and utilities industries. Operational Excellence Nukon is a 2023 Seeq Operational Excellence Partner of the Year recipient. A four-year Partner of the Year recipient, Nukon built a comprehensive training program for process engineers and data scientists to easily collaborate and build predictive analytics. Knowledge sharing across the teams led to accelerated Seeq expansion and optimized performance across several assets. With multiple Seeq customers across food and beverage, mining, metals, and materials, utilities, and specialty manufacturing, Nukon delivers exceptional analytics support and insight across a broad spectrum of use cases. Vertix is a 2023 Seeq Operational Excellence Partner of the Year recipient. Vertix was selected for its dedication to working with customers to grow their Seeq predictive capabilities, resulting in improved decision-making for critical adjustments and increased production efficiency. The company provides a variety of digital solutions and services to support digital transformation journeys across the oil and gas, mining, pharmaceutical, and pulp and paper industries. Sustainability Changemaker BKO Services LLC is the 2023 Seeq Sustainability Changemaker Partner of the Year recipient. BKO is recognized for providing a customer-centric approach, including hands-on analytics engineering support, that yields consistent and valuable customer outcomes. In 2023, BKO created real-time monitoring dashboards on critical assets for TexGen that reduced resource usage, resulting in operational efficiency and accelerated sustainability outcomes. The company provides data engineering and machine learning services for the oil and gas, power, and other process manufacturing industries. Rising Star e-matica is the 2023 Seeq Rising Star Partner of the Year recipient. e-matica has played a pivotal role in expanding Seeq’s presence in the EMEA region, including hosting regional events that facilitated key customer presentations and networking opportunities. The company provides a variety of digital solutions and services for industrial real-time data management across the pharmaceutical, chemicals, oil & gas, food and energy and utilities industries. Training & Adoption Werusys is the 2023 Seeq Training & Adoption Partner of the Year recipient. Werusys was selected for delivering high-quality training and implementation services to customers. Throughout 2023, Werusys completed the most training hours across the Seeq global partner network. The company implements design, development and support of open IT infrastructure solutions for the process industry. Technology Innovation Werusys is the 2023 Seeq Technology Innovation Partner of the Year recipient. In 2023, Werusys developed the Werusys PI Vision Suite, a bi-directional integration with AVEVA PI Vision that delivers new data visualizations and widgets, improving workflows and productivity for Werusys and Seeq shared customers. Top Value-Added Reseller Swan-Black is the Top Value-Added Reseller Partner of the Year recipient. Swan-Black demonstrates consistent partner excellence with significant global account expansions and wins and continued delivery of top-tier customer support. Swan-Black has expertise across food and beverage, bionutrition, and industrial process-data infrastructure, with a focus on applying advanced analytics to improve business outcomes. Seeq’s global growth is accelerating through ecosystem partnerships and commitment to cloud-based computing. Seeq is available worldwide through a global partner network of cloud service providers and system integrators, which provides training and other value-added services in addition to resale support for Seeq in over 40 countries.
Raymond builds on its legacy of innovation excellence with new accolades
The Raymond Corporation continues its legacy of innovation with a host of awards and recognitions from Forbes, Inbound Logistics, New Equipment Design (NED), and other organizations. “The focal point of our business has always been the customer,” said Mike Field, president and CEO, The Raymond Corporation. “The recognition from these esteemed organizations validates our commitment to a continuous improvement business model that revolves around assisting our customers in optimizing, connecting and automating their processes from end to end.” Among the honors Raymond has recently received are: Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers List — Forbes has honored Raymond as one of America’s best midsize employers from the engineering and manufacturing sector for three consecutive years. Plant Engineering’s Product of the Year award — The Raymond® High Capacity Orderpicker earned a gold award in the Actuators, Motors, Drives category in Plant Engineering’s 2023 Product of the Year program. This award recognizes new products that advance innovation in the manufacturing industry. NED Innovation Awards — NED selected the Raymond High Capacity Orderpicker for a 2023 Innovation Award in the Material Handling & Packaging category. Recognizing pioneering products that epitomize market potential and substantial advancements in the industry, the NED Innovation Awards celebrate the notable achievement of this cutting-edge equipment. Eventex Award, bronze — Eventex Awards recognized Raymond’s 100th anniversary celebration exhibit with a bronze award for innovation in event marketing. Material Handling Product News’ Readers’ Choice Products of the Year Award — iWAREHOUSE® FieldSense (iW.FieldSense) Proximity Notification System won the Readers’ Choice Product of the Year Award for the Supply Chain Software category. IFOY Award Finalist — IFOY named 8910 End Rider Pallet Truck as a finalist for the IFOY Award, which recognizes the industry’s best intralogistics products from around the world. “We’re proud to be honored once again as a finalist for the IFOY Award,” Field said. “The 8910 is the product of Raymond’s 100th-year history of innovation and our commitment to designing equipment that helps customers optimize their distribution and warehousing operations and enables an unmatched level of productivity.” Food Shippers of America (FSA) 2023 Top Food Chain Technology list — Food Chain Digest, the official magazine of FSA, honored Raymond and iW.FieldSense as a 2023 Top Food Chain Technology. This program acknowledges exceptional technologies in food transportation, logistics, distribution and supply chain management, a distinction made possible through the votes of 1,500 industry professionals. 2023 Pros to Know award — Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) magazine recognizes Jennifer de Souza from The Raymond Corporation as a pro to know. Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner — Inbound Logistics selected Raymond as a 75 Green Supply Chain Partner (G75) for 2023. The G75 list highlights the foremost companies the Inbound Logistics audience can rely on when searching for environmentally conscious supply chain management and logistics partners. Food Logistics/SDCE Top Software & Tech — iW.FieldSense was recognized with the Top Software & Technology Providers Award for 2023. Food Logistics’ Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award — Food Logistics named The Raymond Corporation’s Shannon Curtis a Rock Star of the Supply Chain. The Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work and vision have shaped the global cold food supply chain. “We are immensely proud to be recognized for our commitment to innovation, quality and service through our products, people and facilities,” Field said. “We are committed to honoring Raymond’s legacy of innovation for the next 100 years to come to ensure our customers have the products and solutions they need for continued optimization of their operations.”
Columbia Machine, Inc. remembers Fred Neth Jr.
Columbia Machine is mourning the passing of Fred Neth Jr. Fred a proud member of the Columbia Team for 57 years, retiring as Chairman of the Board in December of 2019. Fred held multiple positions with Columbia, playing a critical role for the Company as it grew over the last 86 years and transitioned through the first three generations of family ownership. Many of the factory automation solutions that were designed and built during Fred’s long tenure with the Company is still in operation today. “Fred was very dedicated to the success of our customers and employees. Up until he retired you would regularly see him on the shop floor asking about orders that were getting ready to ship and checking in with employees he had worked with for many years,” said Rick Goode, Columbia Chairman and CEO. “Fred had a deep loyalty to the long-term success of the Company his father founded in 1937. He cared passionately about his Columbia Family and will be missed.” Fred is survived by his wife Michele and sons Gary and Bryan. Fred will be deeply missed by the Columbia Team and the extended Neth Family.
Emerson introduces cost-effective upgrade path to energy-efficient LED lighting
Appleton Retromaster™ luminaires convert legacy incandescent and HPS lighting fixtures in C1D2 locations to LED without need to rerun wires or cut conduit Emerson has introduced the Appleton™ Retromaster™ Series of LED luminaires, the fastest, most cost-effective upgrade path for converting legacy Appleton incandescent and HPS (High-Pressure Sodium) lighting fixtures installed in Class I, Division 2 (C1D2) hazardous locations to economical and sustainable LED technology while keeping the original fixture’s certification. Appleton Retromaster luminaires are directly compatible with the installed base of Appleton V-51™ incandescent luminaires, Appleton Stylmaster™ incandescent luminaires, Appleton Stylmaster-C incandescent luminaires (Canada), Appleton V incandescent luminaires (Canada), Appleton Mercmaster™ Jr. HPS luminaires, and Killark™ V Series incandescent luminaires. Colored polycarbonate globes and stainless-steel wire guards can be ordered to make a new Retromaster luminaire indistinguishable from the legacy fixture. “For decades, facilities have relied on Appleton ‘jelly jar’ incandescent and HPS light fixtures to safely illuminate their Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations,” said Christine Buttner, Lighting Marketing Manager for Appleton. “With our new Retromaster LED Series, these same customers have the unprecedented opportunity to take advantage of LED’s reduced energy consumption, improved lighting quality, and long life with minimal maintenance requirements, while supporting their organization’s environmental initiatives, all in one quick and simple upgrade.” Requiring no time-consuming rewiring or cutting of conduit, Appleton Retromaster luminaires typically take only a few minutes to install onto an existing mounting hood, dramatically reducing labor and material expenses. The luminaires are available in an output range from 1000 to 5000 lumens, and each of the four models comprising the Retromaster Series offers the unique versatility of selectable dual lumen outputs, ensuring that the illumination level of the new LED fixture is identical to the one being replaced — a first for hazardous location rated lighting. Once installed, the Appleton Retromaster requires only 7 to 38 Watts to create the same level of illumination as an incandescent drawing 60 to 300 Watts, representing a huge improvement in energy efficiency. Another customer problem that the Appleton Retromaster LED Series solves is eliminating the frequent need to replace bulbs in legacy incandescent fixtures. Incandescent light bulbs last approximately 1,200 hours, while Retromaster LED lighting has been tested to perform 60,000 hours (L70) and will not have to be changed for at least seven years. As of August 2023, incandescent bulbs were effectively banned from sale in the United States by the Department of Energy, leaving maintenance departments with only those in inventory.
2024 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award open for nominations
Women In Trucking Association (WIT), Truckstop, and Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) are seeking nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award (DWLA). “We are proud to recognize the talents and passion of women leaders in the logistics industry, not only for their career accomplishments but their desire to grow future leaders as well,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of Women in Trucking. Supported by Truckstop and TIA, the award is open to high-performing women in any field related to logistics, including supply chain management, third-party logistics, and trucking. “In an industry dominated by men, it is important to acknowledge the impact women have on the trucking industry,” said Anne Reinke, president & CEO of TIA. “Since its inception, this award recognizes the accomplishments and hard work of women in this industry and we are proud to be a continued partner in celebrating their achievements.” The award selection committee includes representatives from WIT, Truckstop, TIA, and academia. “The Women In Trucking Association continues to be a leading organization in driving the advancement of women in transportation and logistics,” said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer, Truckstop. “We proudly support The Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award and are looking forward to showcasing the accomplishments of these remarkable leaders.” The award originated in 2015 to recognize exceptional individuals for their achievements and leadership in logistics and is given annually during TIA’s Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition. The winner of the 2024 DWLA will be announced during the TIA 2024 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition, on Friday, April 12 in Phoenix, Ariz.
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. completes acquisition of Precision Rentals
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of the business of Precision Rentals. The acquisition improves H&E’s branch density in the Phoenix and Denver metropolitan areas and adds a young and attractive mix of equipment totaling approximately $70 million in original equipment cost. Brad Barber, chief executive officer of H&E, noted, “Over the last twelve months, our focus on strategic expansion has led to a 16% increase in H&E’s branch network. This strong growth has been accomplished through our successful warm start program and the acquisition of attractive and well-managed companies, such as Precision, with its excellent operations in Phoenix and Denver, and the surrounding areas. These two promising geographic regions are identified among the 20 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. and represent excellent non-residential construction potential. We look forward to growing our presence in these attractive areas as we combine our collective strengths in the equipment rental business.” Following the closing of the transaction, H&E operates 139 branch locations across 30 states.
Bobcat showcases newly available worksite solutions at World of Concrete 2024
Booth to feature company’s latest machines to maximize profitability and productivity for concrete professionals From battery-powered equipment to portable power solutions, and light compaction to industry-leading concrete attachments, Bobcat Company is showcasing its vast lineup at World of Concrete 2024. Located in booth C5347 in the Central Hall, the Bobcat booth will feature solutions for concrete customers’ toughest jobs and most challenging worksites. Booth highlights include: Bobcat Rebranded Portable Power Lineup The exhibit will showcase the newly rebranded portable power lineup from Bobcat. In 2023, the company announced its global brand strategy to expand its product offering under the Bobcat name, giving customers more options for their worksite needs. Products at the show will include the PA185v portable air compressor and PG25 portable generator. E40 Compact Excavator – Latest Addition to the Bobcat Excavator Lineup Launched in September 2023, the Bobcat E40 compact excavator joins Bobcat’s impressive compact excavator lineup. With this machine, operators get high performance, fast cycle times, and optimal maneuverability with practical features and pricing to match. It’s a minimal tail swing excavator, with less than two inches of overhang and a standard long arm. The E40’s lift capacity is among the best in its class. It delivers an over-the-blade lift capacity and over-the-side lift capacity that competitors can only achieve – or come close to – with conventional tail swing models. The E40 is an ideal job site solution for those who demand leading performance and the maneuverability to complete challenging work in confined job sites. The E40 offers premium performance with simplified option packages and pricing to match. Features of the new E40 include: Powerful non-DPF, turbocharged Bobcat engine Standard long arm High lift capacity and powerful slewing performance Dual-flange track roller system for improved lift performance and a smoother ride Standard low-effort joysticks, LED lights, and integrated lift eye Extensive attachment versatility L95 – Most Powerful Compact Wheel Loader from Bobcat The Bobcat L95 provides exceptional material-handling capabilities with large bucket capacity, high lift height, swift travel speeds, and the maneuverability operators need to accomplish more. The L95’s compact size, tight turning radius, and Power Bob-Tach interface enhance the machines’ versatility, ensuring maximum performance and making it ideal for construction and concrete applications. With a standard bucket capacity of 1.2 cubic yards and 10.5 feet of lift height, the L95 excels at material handling. Its electronic hydrostatic transmission (E-HST) delivers easy direction changes, efficient acceleration, and low-effort speed control that helps operators tackle tough tasks on jobsites big and small. A powerful combination of the E-HST transmission and horsepower management automatically adjusts the loader’s drive system to maximize pushing and loading power. Additional Equipment and Solutions on Display Bobcat will also have the following equipment and solutions on display at the booth: MT100 mini track loader and new GPX bucket with greater capacity Platinum T76 compact track loader with a 96″ grader attachment and fully integrated TopCon laser receivers for on-grade accuracy every time S86 skid-steer loader with 84″ HD box blade with Trimble LR410 receiver E10e battery-electric excavator with HB280 hydraulic breaker attachment Light Compaction R68P rammer 50 forward plate compactor 50 reversible plat compactor TR75 trench roller Machine IQ telematics demonstration Bobcat collision warning and avoidance system
Linde Material Handling launches the reimagined Linde Series 391-02 Hydrostat Truck
Linde Material Handling launches the Linde Series 391-02 Internal Combustion Counterbalance Truck, including models H16 – H20, with a powertrain enhancement, adding the proven Deutz LPG engine to its product portfolio line. This truck offers versatility on a new level with an exceptional driving experience customers expect with this updated truck. As business goals evolve and change, equipment that will adapt to agile environments is critical. In the past, operations have had to choose forklift trucks for specific applications and environments, which meant ordering multiple pieces of equipment. The H16 – H20 truck offers the optimal solution, building on its already-established compact footprint and capabilities by adding the proven Deutz LPG engine – this highly engineered truck strikes an ideal balance between robust performance and streamlined design. “The Linde Series 391-02 ensures a strong, fast, and precise power delivery with the Linde Hydrostatic Drive, Twin-Power Control, and Linde Load Control. This truck thrives in any environment and situation, including the most demanding applications, dusty conditions, and multi-shift operations,” stated Jena-Christine Lawrence, Director of Product Management & Product Strategy. “Although the H16 – H20 models thrive during challenging industrial demands, the minimal footprint easily navigates narrow aisles, retrieving and storing products on shelves and maneuvering tight corners while transporting goods. This versatile truck bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor applications and keeps operations effective and efficient.” The Linde Series 391-02, available from 3140 lb. – 4500 lb. capacity, is crafted with durable components to withstand environmental impacts. However, its thoughtful design also incorporates features of dependable confidence with the Linde Driver Assist, which works in harmony with the Linde Curve Assist. These technologies automatically reduce travel speed proportionally when cornering, reducing the likelihood of loss of stability while the operator focuses on tedious maneuvering. In addition to mechanical features that safeguard the operator, this series boasts a sleek, slim lift mast profile design that enables all-around optimal visibility, preventing unnatural, strained positioning. Relative to the unencumbered view, the structural design of the workstation keeps operators alert and comfortable. A low-entry anti-slip step enables easy access that leads to a spacious cabin, displaying ample legroom and adjustable seats and armrests for relaxed posture and excellent arm positioning. Lawrence added, “All of these features assist in lowering fatigue and discomfort while operating the truck. The truck’s movement also limits strain on the operator’s body with nearly vibration and shock-free operation due to the mast and drive axle being isolated from the chassis incorporating durable and maintenance-free neoprene mountings.” Having versatile equipment also means having the tools to count on that will keep an operation running continuously. Those characteristics include knowing the availability of equipment and anticipating planned downtime. The H16 – H20 truck continues the heritage of extended reliability with 1,000 operating hours and maintenance-free mounting axles and tilt cylinders for minimal downtime and decreased operational costs. Rapid diagnostics are also immediately available via laptop for on-demand truck diagnostics, keeping operations aware of potential issues. This powerful forklift boasts a hydrostatic transmission, resulting in lowered service expenses during regular maintenance and enhancing cost-effectiveness. In addition, scheduled downtime is efficient, with easy access to maintenance components. The hydrostatic transmission also eliminates the need for a differential, torque converter, and mechanical transmission gears. This design contributes to fewer mechanical components, reducing wear and potential points of failure. The hydrostatic service brake system is wear-free by relying on hydraulic pressure rather than friction components, enhancing longevity and reducing maintenance needs. The standard LEPS (Linde Engine Protection System) safeguards your investment by monitoring engine operational conditions. It promptly issues alerts and, when required, intervenes with alarms or implements speed reduction to mitigate adverse engine operational parameters. Monitored areas are engine oil level, engine oil pressure, engine temperature, engine coolant levels, hydraulic oil temperature, and air filter condition. Warning levels escalate from light signals and buzzers to reduced travel speeds. The Linde Series 391-02 is available in various models (H16 – H20), with a comprehensive range of standard equipment, additional options, and customer-specific solutions for maximum versatility.
OSCO Controls will be exhibiting at MODEX 2024 for the first time
Innovative Control Solutions: OSCO Controls, an Autoquip Company Showcases State-of-the-Art Integrated Control Systems for business excellence The show is taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA from March 11 – 14. This will be the company’s first time exhibiting at the highly regarded material handling trade show. Visit Booth B7022 to connect with the company’s team of seasoned industry experts who specialize in developing and implementing control solutions for material handling. From optimizing processes to enhancing efficiency, the team of experts will be available to discuss the unique needs of your business and provide insights into industry best practices. “As a division of Autoquip Corporation, we are familiar with the opportunities MODEX can offer to manufacturing and supply chain industries,” commented Collin Prock, General Manager of OSCO Controls. “We have a lot of experience to share with attendees of successful projects in the field; and real-time results of companies who have benefited from our solutions. We are looking forward to networking and sharing our capabilities.”
PS Logistics acquires Buddy Moore Trucking
PS Logistics, one of the largest privately held transportation and logistics companies in the United States, has acquired Buddy Moore Trucking of Birmingham, Alabama. The transaction enhances PS Logistics’ flatbed, dedicated dry van, and brokerage operations, and it diversifies its modal and service offerings in the Southeastern United States. Buddy Moore Trucking was founded in 1999 by E. H. “Buddy” Moore Jr. with two primary goals: to provide outstanding customer service and to provide a great place to work for its drivers and employees. Operating nearly 25 years as a family-owned business, Buddy Moore Trucking has strategically grown to include a 130-truck flatbed division, 120-truck dedicated van division, and fast-growing non-asset logistics division. “We are very proud to welcome Buddy Moore Trucking to the PS Logistics family,” said Scott Smith, chief executive officer and co-founder of PS Logistics. “I have personally known the Moore family for decades and have tremendous respect for them and the company they’ve built over the last 24 years. BMT will complement PSL’s best-in-class ‘asset-right’ operating model with expanded flatbed and dedicated dry van capacity, diversified geography, and new end markets. In addition, Buddy Moore Trucking’s emphasis on providing outstanding customer service and a great place to work for its employees and drivers perfectly aligns with PS Logistics’ mantra to ‘deliver great’ while simultaneously maintaining a driver-first culture.” “PS Logistics will be a great partner for our business,” said Buck Moore, president and CEO of Buddy Moore Trucking. “Over the years, I’ve witnessed how well they execute acquisitions and deliver value to their customers, drivers, and employees, and I look forward to what we will achieve together now that Buddy Moore Trucking has access to a larger freight network, additional capital, and wider array of customer solutions. Our family is very pleased that this transaction will continue to honor the legacy of Buddy Moore in this industry.” Organizationally, Buddy Moore Trucking will operate as a stand-alone division of PS Logistics and continue to be managed by Buck Moore. The transaction continues PS Logistics’ acquisition strategy of partnering with families and quality owners within the transportation and logistics industry. Since 2016, PS Logistics has successfully acquired 25 trucking operations and five non-asset logistics operations across the United States.
Mark Moffat appointed as CEO of IFS
IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, announced that Mark Moffat has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Moffat takes over from Darren Roos who has been appointed as the company’s Chair of the Board. Both appointments are effective immediately. The transition provides great continuity for the business by building on the successful strategy that has seen IFS transform into the leading vendor for Asset & Service Management software. Moffat, Roos, and the IFS Executive Team have been working on the transition over the past six months as part of the Board’s succession planning process. Moffat, who was previously IFS Chief Customer Officer, is a well-known and respected technology leader having held several senior positions at PwC before joining IFS. Commenting on his appointment, Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, said: “It is a great honor for me to lead IFS as we embark on this next chapter of growth. The business has immensely strong foundations to build upon and we have been putting all the right ingredients in place to continue to deliver on our strategy: a differentiated proposition, a hugely advanced and capable AI-based product, an engaged customer base, a motivated partner ecosystem, and of course our talented employee base.” Moffat continued: “I want to recognize and thank Darren for the impact he has had as my predecessor. I look forward to working with him in his new capacity as IFS Chair of the Board.” Under Roos’ tenure as CEO, IFS has more than tripled its overall revenues and transformed into a true Cloud business, from both a product and revenue perspective with 79% of total revenue now recurring (up from 36% when he joined). Thanks to sustained organic growth and customer satisfaction scores that set the industry benchmark, IFS has become the trusted vendor for industry focused applications that help manage assets, people, and customers. Darren Roos, Chair of the Board at IFS, commented: “I am thrilled to appoint Mark as my successor. He has a proven track record, brings a strong network, and is a great leader that people want to follow. I am proud of all that has been achieved since I joined IFS and want to thank the thousands of women and men throughout the business who have lived our shared values and made our customers successful. I am pleased to be continuing my journey with IFS, albeit in a different capacity. There is so much opportunity in the market and, together with the Board, I will work with Mark and his team to ensure we effectively capture it.” Roos concluded: “I take over as Chair of the Board from Jonas Persson, who I want to thank for his great governance and counsel over the years.” Johannes Reichel, partner at EQT (majority owner of IFS), added: “Darren and the leadership team have delivered phenomenal results in turning IFS into one of the fastest growing software businesses operating at scale. Mark has the right background and ambition that will enable IFS to take advantage of the opportunity ahead, and we look forward to him partnering with Darren as our new Chair of the Board.” Reichel added: “I also want to thank Jonas Persson who leaves the IFS Board, having been the Chairperson since EQT acquired the business. He will continue to serve as a Senior Advisor to EQT and is the Chairperson at several other EQT-owned software businesses.” IFS is backed by investors EQT, Hg and TA Associates, a group of world-class investors that have been invested as a trio in IFS since 2022 in a transaction valuing IFS at over $10bn. Together they bring decades of software experience, backing IFS for its next wave of growth. IFS plans to release its financial results for FY2023 on 30th January 2024.
Carolina Handling approved as DOD SkillBridge partner
Carolina Handling has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense as a DOD SkillBridge Authorized Organization to provide job training opportunities for military service members transitioning to the civilian workforce. DOD SkillBridge allows active-duty service members and select groups of the National Guard and Reserves within 180 days of their separation date the opportunity to gain civilian work experience through job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships, and internships and gives industry partners access to a highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost. “Being approved as a DOD SkillBridge partner is an exciting step for Carolina Handling and our recruiting team,” said Corporate Recruiter Catie Beth Bishop. “Hiring continues to be a challenge in all verticals, but especially competitive in the field service technician position. DOD SkillBridge is a cost-effective talent acquisition pipeline that provides access to highly trained individuals with technical skills and strong teamwork and leadership experience.” Service members participating in SkillBridge programs continue receiving their military compensation and benefits, allowing employers time to evaluate the service member’s suitability for future employment. Service members can be granted up to 180 days of permissive duty to focus solely on training full-time with approved industry partners. Almost 13 percent of Carolina Handling associates served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. In November 2023, Carolina Handling was named a veteran-friendly employer by the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs. Also in 2023, the company became a participant in Recruit Military, a national platform that connects employers to military job seekers via services such as contingency recruiting, career fairs, and job boards.
New piCOBOT® plug & play configuration for FANUC CRX cobots
Piab continues the journey to make our foremost cobot tool family available to all end users. We now offer piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L in completely FANUC CRX adapted versions. Plug & Play in every aspect. Piab‘s clever end-of-arm-tool piCOBOT® has so far had almost a decade of prosperity on the market for cobot equipment. Parts of the success relate to the unit itself – its compact yet user-friendly design and unparalleled precision. And of course, its capacity. Despite its limited weight, only 1.5 lbs [720 g], this EOAT can lift objects of up to 15.4; bs [7kg]. In 2022, the success was followed by the even more powerful model piCOBOT®L, with a lifting capacity of up to 135 lbs [6 kg]. Since their respective premieres, piCOBOT®® and piCOBOT®L have been suited to fit several different cobot manufacturers specifically, one of which being FANUC – partner from some previous adaptations. “Following our certified piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L adaptations for FANUC’s CR4/CR7 and LR Mate 200 robots, it was natural to apply the same matched setup on their CRX range. And it’s exactly where we have landed today – true plug and play!”, says Madeleine Sheikh, product manager of Piab Vacuum Automation division. The new Fanuc CRX configuration is a full package including a software plug-in, mechanical interface, specified cabling and compressed-air hosing, which as a whole will support safe and easy-to-use cobot interaction for the end customer. Naturally, when it comes to Piab solutions, the setup is accompanied by our ever-expanding range of suction cups and accessories, ensuring tailor-made applications for any context. “Our fresh piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L packages are fully tested, approved, and certified by FANUC as CRX devices and will be sold as such”, concludes Madeleine Sheikh. Apart from being cobot equipment marketed by FANUC, piCOBOT® and piCOBOT®L are available on piab.com, fully configurable with the CRX package as a complement to previous adaptations.
SupplyOne expands beyond the U.S. with its acquisition of Crownhill Packaging
SupplyOne, Inc., an independent supplier of corrugated and other value-added packaging products, equipment, and services in the U.S., announced that it has acquired Crownhill Packaging, a North American packaging distributor headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Crownhill Packaging was founded in 1986 and is one of North America’s largest full-service packaging distributors. It has grown to include four locations in Canada and the U.S., including the Chicago area. Crownhill offers a full portfolio of customized packaging solutions to customers and is highly regarded for its custom packaging capabilities, sustainable product offerings and customer-oriented service. Key customer segments serviced by Crownhill include public sector agencies, industrial products, consumer goods and e-commerce. “The acquisition of Crownhill Packaging is an exciting step in the execution of our growth strategy,” said Todd Renehan, President and CEO of SupplyOne. “As our first international acquisition, the company’s go to market strategy offers a significant opportunity to grow and expand in one of the largest metro areas in North America. We are delighted to welcome Crownhill Packaging’s capable employees into the SupplyOne family.” “Our service-oriented approach to customers aligns perfectly with the culture of SupplyOne, and we are delighted to be able to expand our product offering and geographic reach as part of the SupplyOne family,” said Rodney Taylor, Vice President of Crownhill Packaging. This acquisition represents the 39th addition to the SupplyOne portfolio in its 25 years in business. With 18 corrugated production facilities and 45 distribution centers across North America, the company offers a national (and now international) footprint of corrugated and packaging capabilities under one roof with a dedicated focus on local marketplaces. Each region services its customers directly, offering in-person sales support, inventory management and equipment service. “SupplyOne’s service platform delivers personalized support with a robust manufacturing and distribution foundation. We’re enthusiastic about expanding our customer and vendor relationships, diversifying our product offerings, and pursuing further growth through acquisitions in Canada,” said Ken Wong, Vice President of Crownhill Packaging.
Brian Nowak and Andrew A.O. Brown leading PTDA in 2024
The recently-elected 2024 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) begin their leadership terms. Brian Nowak, president & CEO, Kurz Industrial Solutions (Neenah, Wis.) assumes the leadership of the association as President. Nowak began volunteering for PTDA in 2015, serving on the Education & Training Committee. Since then, he has joined various committees and task forces and has been a member of the Board since 2020. “I look forward to leading PTDA in continuing conversations addressing the changing needs of our membership,” says Nowak. “Following the launch of several pivotal programs in 2023, we have a great foundation on which to continue to develop and deliver essential resources to help those in our industry achieve success.” Joining Nowak on the 2024 PTDA Board of Directors are: Immediate Past President Mike McLain, vice president, Allied Bearing & Supply, Inc. (Harahan, La.) First Vice President Bill Shepard, vice president, BDI (Cleveland, Ohio) Second Vice President Jim Jeffiers, vice president, Central States Area & U.S. Energy Subsidiaries, Applied Industrial Technologies (Cleveland, Ohio) Treasurer JP Bouchard, vice president, General Bearing Service, Inc. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) Manufacturer Council Chair Andrew A.O. Brown, vice president, Whittet-Higgins Company (Central Falls, R.I.) Manufacturer Council Vice Chair Sara Zimmerman, vice president business development, Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America (Chesapeake, Va.) PTDA Foundation President Matt Pavlinsky, director PT Products, Applied Industrial Technologies (Cleveland, Ohio) EPTDA President Luca Martelli, CEO, TRM (Bologna, Italy) Directors: Jeff Cloud, president & CEO, IBT Industrial Solutions (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) Chester Collier, senior vice president, Walter Surface Technologies (Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada) Tom Holtry, senior director, strategic sales support, Motion (Birmingham, Ala.) Sarah Musser, president, Barlett Bearing Co., Inc. (Philadelphia, Penn.) Craig Pirie, president, Daemar, Inc. (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) Joe Savage, president, Bearing Service, Inc. (Livonia, Mich.) Brown became active in PTDA committees in 2009 when he joined the Electronic Transmissions Standardization Task Force. For the past 15 years, Brown has served on various task forces and committees. He joined the Manufacturer Council in 2017 and served as vice chair in 2023. “We have a tremendous group of volunteers who bring not only a wealth of knowledge and experience, but a deep desire to better our work and industry,” says Brown. “The landscape of the PT/MC industry is dynamic, and I’m excited to be around the table with forward thinking people who are eager to bring about change when and where needed.” Joining Brown on the Manufacturer Council is: Immediate Past Chair Tammy Balogh, chief people officer, Flexco (Downers Grove, Ill.) Manufacturer Council Vice Chair Sara Zimmerman, vice president business development, Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America (Chesapeake, Va.) Council Members: George Basel, director marketing & product management, U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission LLC (Wheeling, Ill.) Kristian Campbell, industrial sales manager NA, Dayco Products (Roseville, Mich.) Maxine Gomez, sales manager, Belden Universal (Hillside, Ill.) Chris Gumas, director marketing, Ruland Manufacturing Co. (Marlborough, Mass.) Chris Keyser, vice president channel & segment sales, ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc. (Fort Smith, Ark.) Michael Moonan, senior vice president sales, Solve Industrial Motion Group (Charlotte, N.C.) Paul Phillips, president, Maxi-Lift, Inc. (Addison, Texas) The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) is the leading global association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel. Headquartered in Chicago, PTDA represents power transmission/motion control distribution firms that generate more than $19 billion in sales and span over 2,500 locations. PTDA members also include manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry. PTDA is dedicated to providing exceptional networking, targeted education, relevant information and leading-edge business tools to help distributors and manufacturers meet marketplace demands competitively and profitably.
Caldwell hires Berman, Schroeder returns
The Caldwell Group Inc. has made two significant appointments in Teddy Berman and Jay Schroeder. Berman, regional sales manager, joins Caldwell as it’s first ever hire as a direct employee in a territory; until now, the company has worked via sales agents. Schroeder, western sales manager, returns to a business he left last March, with a focus on Caldwell’s RUD line of material handling and lifting devices. Berman brings over 10 years of sales and business development experience from leading companies such as Konecranes America. He will work primarily from his home office in South Carolina with frequent travel to customers. He will be spread across Caldwell, J.C. Renfroe, and RUD brands. Berman, who will cover the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, said: “I came to Caldwell for the exciting opportunity to be a part of the organization’s growth, especially with their clear focus on the continuous improvement of the customer experience. The strong reputation of these three brands in the material handling industry is also something I look forward to representing and helping to build. “I’ll work hard to support both our distributors and end users alike, depending on the specific case requirements and project complexity. The wide-ranging product lines represent endless opportunities for new applications and solutions to make our end users’ operations safer and more productive.” Darrin Noe, director of sales and marketing, said: “Teddy is charismatic, bringing to the company a perfect blend of personality, energy, and technical ability. Significantly, he is our first hire as a direct Caldwell employee in a territory.” Schroeder will be laser-focused on the RUD line, further raising the U.S. profile of a range of rigging products that is already considered best-in-class in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Caldwell already partners with the RUD Group to unite their sales and marketing activities in North America for RUD material handling and lifting devices within a common organization. The RUD portfolio includes slings and lifting points for the most complex tasks for integration into almost any application. Schroeder said: “The reason I came back is the culture at Caldwell and the ability to go back to selling RUD products. They are the best lifting points in the industry, and they allow me to help customers solve their lifting concerns. I think the biggest challenge is to let the distributors and end users know that Caldwell has made a significant investment in inventory, supported by our in-stock program. “RUD is a high-quality, Germany-manufactured product, so it takes a certain type of company to be able to deliver it here in North America, keeping lead times short and stock levels high, close to the point of use. The timing is perfect to reintroduce RUD to the market with the emphasis on telling everyone we are here—and here to stay.” Noe added: “High-level technical knowledge on the RUD product is something we sorely missed after Jay’s departure. He has immediately stepped back in and helped our organizational efforts, with a sharpened focus on the broad RUD catalog.” Meanwhile, Caldwell has also recruited to several other sales-focused positions, as Noe enthused: “We are excited about plans for the year and ownership continues to invest in many facets of the organization. “In 2024, we are upping the ante for every customer-facing interaction, making sure distributors and end users find it easier to do business with Caldwell than any other lifting manufacturer. Assembling the right team is a critical piece of that mission, and Teddy, Jay, and other recent internal sales team hires, fully support that mission.”
Change your thinking and create a culture that people don’t want to leave
Five steps to turn negative thoughts into positive actions Do you have a Negative Nancy (NN) or Toxic Tim (TT) that you’re keeping longer than you should? Would you let them go if you weren’t so short staffed? One Negative Nancy or Toxic Tim infiltrates the whole company and it spreads throughout, affecting everyone. Think of it like this: You attend a meeting that NN was in. When you leave, you approach Positive Polly and share with Positive Polly, “It’s so frustrating dealing with NN. Why is she still here? All we do is constantly listen to her babble and unhappiness.” Before you know it, you become a Negative Nancy, and Positive Polly sees the impact the original NN has made on you and the team. It only takes one person thinking negatively to bring the whole environment, culture, and team down. In order to help you, Positive Polly shares the following. You have 60,000 thoughts a day and 80% of them are negative. These come in the form or doubt, worry and stress and are linked to poor attitudes, declining engagement, and poor performance. Most people think they are positive and optimistic, yet negativity shows and they don’t recognize it. In fact, 95% of your thoughts are repetitive. So, all of the negative thoughts keep getting repeated, impacting how you show up, speak out, lead, and live. Your thoughts are the fundamental foundation of everything you do and everything you don’t do, yet often times you don’t think about them. When was the last time you thought about what you thought about? If you’re like most people you think the same way you’ve always thoughts, resulting in the same behaviors, actions, and results. If you want to change relationships, communication, interactions, your confidence, you must first change how you think. Once you change that, then everything else will change as well. Here is a five-step process to help you change your thoughts to invoke different actions, behaviors and results and develop a positive work environment. Identify—Recognize your thoughts. There’s an exercise to help you very specifically identify your negative thoughts. It’s called the Stand up/Sit down exercise. This is a great exercise to do as a team. Have someone read a set of statements. For every statement you agree with, you will move your body. Everyone starts in a stand-up position. For example, if the first statement is “If you’re ever thought you’re not smart enough,” and you agree, you’ll sit down. If you disagree with the statement, you’ll remain as you were. If the next statement is, “If you’ve ever thought you don’t have enough time,” and you agree, you’ll move (either stand up or sit down depending on what you did for the first statement). This repeats for every statement read (there should be about 15 statements read). During this activity, you can expect to hear laughter evoke from your group, as they are moving for most of them, which shows that negative thinking arises without you consciously knowing. And you have a lot more of them than you believe. Write it—Once you’ve identified your negative thoughts, it’s important to write them down. Something happens in your brain when you write things down. They tend to become real, and you remember them more. So, when you write down your negative thoughts, you become more mindful when they arise. Follow the rest of the process with just one of your negative thoughts. Once you have mastered one, work on another (you don’t want to overwhelm you or burn you out on doing too many at once). Triggers—What are your triggers for your negative thinking? Triggers can be a place, situation, mood, experience, or thing. If you’ve ever had a conversation with someone and walked away saying to yourself, “Why do I even bother,” then you also know a trigger can be a person too. And many times, it is a person. Write down all of your triggers. When you’re aware of your triggers, you can be on the lookout for them. When they come up, as they will, you are armed to not allow the negative thoughts to follow. Reframe—List all the ways to reframe the negative thought. There are two ways to do this reframing. First, you can say the opposite of the negative statement. Instead of staying I’m not a good enough leader, you can say, “I’m an awesome leader.” The second way is to ask questions. For instance, what courses do I need to take to become a better leader, what leadership book should I read to improve my leadership skills or who can mentor me into being a better leader. Your brain is constantly talking to. If you say you’re not a good enough leader, your brain will validate it with all the ways that it’s true. If you say you’re an awesome leader, your brain will validate it with all the ways that it’s true. So, listening to the positive part of your brain will make all the difference in your work and life. Action—Once you have your reframing options, pick one to take action on. Nothing changes until you take action on it. Small action makes a huge difference. If you want to know the best leadership book to read, you may initially think you do not know any, however, your brain can solve that dilemma. It’ll reply with ideas to look up leadership books on Google, put a post on Facebook asking your friends for their recommendations or look up Amazon book reviews. Then it’s time to decide which action you will take (which book to order and order it). Small consistent action is key to eradicating negative thinking. The more you work through this process the more positive thoughts you have. You’ll soon recognize negative thoughts in others and can help them master their own mindset. You’ll become the Positive Polly and help develop a positive work environment that no one wants to leave. About the Author: Jessica Rector,
TIA enhances education programming with SYNC Training
The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), the only organization exclusively representing transportation intermediaries of all disciplines doing business in domestic and international commerce, is excited to announce a collaboration with Metafora’s SYNC Logistics Training to enhance TIA’s education programs, New Broker Certification and New Employee Orientation, by adding live simulations for students. With the addition of SYNC Training’s live simulations, students now have the opportunity to implement what they are learning practically without worry before reaching out to potential clients, customers, and drivers. “TIA’s Research and Education arm is always on the hunt for the best instruction so that our members can learn how best to operate and grow their businesses,” said Anne Reinke, president & CEO of TIA. “We are delighted to have added Sync Logistics Training to our team of world-class instructors. Sync will provide practical knowledge and real-life examples of how best to work with carriers, shippers and all freight stakeholders.” Students will have access to the SYNC training platform via TIA’s Learning Management System, which will improve the overall learning experience for each student to help ensure they are prepared to start scaling their business after graduation from the course. The program also corresponds and works in conjunction with best-in-class asynchronous learning modules designed by industry experts, industry-leading coaches that offer live training weekly on a myriad of topics pertinent to new brokers, as well as proven training delivery methods by TIA Education staff that helps to ensure students have the skills they need to be successful within the brokerage industry upon completion of the course. “We are excited to partner with TIA to add additional value to their already strong training by providing some of our scenario-based training,” said Ryan Schreiber, vice president of Growth & Industry at Metafora. “The scenario-based training that Sync offers helps brokers practice the skills they learn in training in a low friction environment and accelerates their ramp.