Preparing for Peak Season
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an influence on both e-commerce and distribution centers. All aspects of e-commerce have seen unprecedented growth since the beginning of the pandemic. Combined with record unemployment rates, there has been a tremendous need for more labor. What can employers do to attract and retain employees in the middle of a pandemic? To view the video, click here.
Cisco-Eagle announces new Director of Sales of Tenneesee
Cisco-Eagle is a material handling systems integrator, dealing in conveyor systems, storage, and automation for distribution/manufacturing clients has announced that Don Laux became Director of Sales for Tennessee effective October 1st. As the new Director of Sales for Tennessee, Don is responsible for maintaining and growing our Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia, and Florida markets. A 30-year material handling industry veteran, Don was previously Director of the Nashville office and has years of managing multi-distribution and manufacturing facilities in and outside the United States. “Don has managed major manufacturing operations and knows what it takes to succeed,” James Murphy, VP of Sales added. “He’s been a mentor and a leader before and after we were fortunate enough to have him here at Cisco-Eagle. He’ll do what he always does and make a difference in this new role.” Cisco-Eagle is 100% employee-owned and has been in continuous operation since 1970. The company’s customer base spans all fifty states, serviced by regional offices from Texas to Florida.
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc. integrates major material handling groups
Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc., the parent company for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) and UniCarriers Americas Corporation (UniCarriers), has announced its plans to integrate these group company operations within the Americas. With more than 100 years of combined experience, the Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group will provide a full range of material handling, automation, and extensive fleet solutions to customers across five leading brands—Cat® lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks, UniCarriers, Jungheinrich®, and Rocla. “Our goal is to have a stronger, more efficient business to support our customers and dealers,” said Ken Barina, president of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc. “As one unified operation, we will work together to further enhance our customer product offering and leverage the full strengths and experience of our collective employees and dealers to support customers in the future.” The group will continue to go to market utilizing current distribution channels and manufacturing facilities located in both Houston, Texas, and Marengo, Illinois. “We know that customers today have high expectations and rising business demands, and we are excited to provide an even broader range of services and solutions to support them in the years ahead,” said Barina. As part of this transition, the company launched its new corporate website today: www.LogisnextAmericas.com. Serving as a single source for the material handling industry, the site houses its complete portfolio of brands under one roof – including Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks, UniCarriers, Jungheinrich, and Rocla product lines. Redesigned and rebranded, the site provides customers with complete access to the full suite of solutions from material handling to automation and more. “The new Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas group website provides visitors with the ability to view our complete product and solutions offering in one central place,” said John Sneddon, executive vice president, sales and marketing at Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc. “From forklift and warehouse products to automation and fleet solutions, the site serves as a one-stop resource for customers. With the growing trend towards automation and digital fleet management solutions, the site also provides customers with additional educational resources and the ability to easily connect and learn more from our experienced team.” One of the largest lift truck providers globally, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas is part of the global Mitsubishi Logisnext group – Mitsubishi Logisnext Co. Ltd. – based in Kyoto, Japan. Mitsubishi Logisnext is also part of one of the world’s largest companies, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) group, whose engineering heritage stretches back to 1870. MHI draws on its technological leadership and breadth of knowledge to meet partners’ needs everywhere from the ocean to land, air, and even outer space.
Episode 116 – Vargo
In this episode, I was joined by Art Eldred of VARGO Solutions. Art is the Client Executive of Systems Engineering at VARGO and was a previous podcast guest during our ProMat series on Episode 11. We discuss VARGO’s COFE system, differences between WES, WMS, and WCS, benefits of being waveless, and also trends during COVID-19. Key Takeaways VARGO is a systems integrator which means they do not manufacture any components but what they do is put together the best solutions for fulfillment applications. This allows you, as a customer, to get the best of breed solutions and have the ability to put them altogether through VARGO’s experience and design knowledge. In addition to being a solutions integrator, they also provide software that helps all of these different technologies to work together and communicate. The COFE (continuous order fulfillment engine) system is VARGO’s Warehouse Execution System (WES) which helps to optimize and synchronize workflows within the warehouse. This allows all aspects of the warehouse to work together so that inefficiencies are reduced. Art gives a great background on how COFE was created and also what exactly a WES is. He discusses how the idea of a WES came from the original manufacturing execution system which allows all parts of manufacturing to operate in sync so that workflows continuously through the operation. WES, WMS, WCS, what does it all mean and what is the difference? Well, Art gives a great break down of what each system’s purpose is and how the WES is the overall system that helps to coordinate the others. Overall the differences are due to the type of decision making of the system and also the timeliness. Each plays a part in the overall process but the only one that can really coordinate all of the moving parts and do it with time in mind is the WES. There is also a great break down of the differences on VARGO’s site here. Since VARGO is working with multiple companies on helping them increase efficiency, I asked Art about what trends they are seeing due to the pandemic. Art discusses how the biggest thing they have seen is how companies are looking to be more capital conscious and help to mitigate issues with labor. Due to this, there has been an increased demand in companies looking for flexible automation solutions that can be set up right away. As you will hear, Art discusses how this has caused the popularity of the robots as a service model (RaaS), which we have discussed on the podcast before, to rise and give companies a real chance to get through this. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts on WES vs. WMS vs. WCS. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 116: VARGO
6 River Systems announces next wave of enhancements to its Wall-to-Wall Fulfillment Solution at FLOW 2020
6 River Systems (6RS), part of Shopify Inc., a global commerce company, announced during its second annual user conference, FLOW 2020, a series of enhancements to its wall-to-wall fulfillment solution to help senior-level warehouse operators further improve site management, gain more concrete business transparency across singular or multiple sites and accelerate their return on investment. “We have developed a strategic product roadmap at 6RS to find and address the next level of efficiencies to help our customers meet ever-changing demand and drive value to their own customers,” says David Vallance, Director of Product at 6 River Systems. “We’ve grown from providing picking robots to supporting inbound to outbound tasks within the four walls of the warehouse. Our latest set of enhancements are another exciting step forward in the evolution of our company and our industry.” To provide more visibility into operations and increase efficiency, 6RS developed The Bridge, an overarching tool that connects the data from what’s happening on the ground in a physical warehouse operation to an intuitive cloud-based control center. This tool gives customers the ability to fine-tune and control each aspect of their operation and optimize their warehouse to meet the unique needs of the business by leveraging the following features: SLA Management: Monitor how an operation is tracking to its SLA commitments through enhanced order management and order tracking functionality. Embedded Operational Dashboards: Visibility into key metrics and data that help operators understand and monitor the health of their systems, giving them the power to proactively fix issues to keep the operation moving smoothly. Exception Management: Resolve exceptions on orders with just the click of a button and a little help from Chuck. Additional updates to the system that increases visibility into warehouse operations include: Site Simulations: Improve labor planning and SLA compliance with simulation tools that show the impact of changes in demand and service levels. This service helps all clients quickly understand the benefits the solution could bring to their operation. Actionable Insights: Increase operations performance and realize continuous improvement. Order information from the customer’s system of record and operational performance data from 6RS are combined to enhance operations visibility. To further support all operations within the warehouse, 6RS has also announced the following wall-to-wall product enhancements: Inbound Dock Support: Leverage host system information to optimize the efficiency of receiving, article inspection, and putaway tasks by guiding associates through their work using intuitive software prompts. Count and Move: Access host system information to optimize tracking, counting, and move assignments. Optimized Packout: Improve packout efficiency and reduce outbound shipping costs. Cartonization functionality, made possible through 6RS’ partnership with Packsize, utilizes product size and weight information to ensure the most economical shipper box or envelope is used. Improved Picking: Achieve optimal productivity and SLA compliance through improved allocation algorithms that groups tasks more intelligently to minimize associate travel.
MHS launches series of virtual educational events for intralogistics operations
MHS Insider series provides insights on the latest trends, technologies, and strategies MHS, a single-source provider of material handling automation and software solutions, announces a new multi-part online experience scheduled to run October through November. The series includes a mix of live content formats to keep viewers engaged, from webinars to panel discussions, all focused on industry trends, technological advancements or workflow strategies, and includes a Q&A session to facilitate additional tailored discussions during live streams. Following each event, attendees receive exclusive access to supplementary resources like white papers, case studies, and infographics to continue their experience. “While the traditional in-person conferences and tradeshows are on hold, the world is not standing still – if anything the pace of change is only accelerating,” says Markus Augeneder, CEO of International, MHS. “With e-commerce and labor trends continuing to push supply chains, more operations than ever are looking for expert insights – and the MHS Insider series equips them with the informed perspective they need to optimize their operation.” The MHS Insider series includes: Thursday, Oct. 8 – Parcels, how to handle the growing volumes and variety? Wednesday, Oct 14 – Parcel+Post Expo Virtual Session: How to boost your sorting network Friday, Oct. 16 – Why predictive maintenance is the future Tuesday, Oct 20 – Get the most out of your last mile depot Tuesday, Oct. 27 – Open the gate for robotic parcel sortation Thursday, Oct. 29 – Livestreaming from MHS demo areas: Keep your material handling growing Thursday, Nov. 5 – Sort it out | How to handle non-regulars in your warehouse Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Maximizing added value | Automate your returns handling To register for the MHS Insider series, attendees can visit www.mhsglobal.com/insider-series. After the live stream, past events will be accessible on-demand via the MHS website.
New “Intelligent Guided Vehicle” (IGV): Autonomous counterbalanced forklift is guided by swarm intelligence
After the “ONE” comes the “OCF”: AGILOX expands their line of intelligent guided vehicles by introducing a new autonomous omnidirectional counterbalanced forklift, operating with swarm intelligence. In doing so, AGILOX has entered a new area of application: classic intralogistics in inbound/outbound warehousing and storage. With the ONE, AGILOX’s ultralight, high-efficiency forklift product line, the company has reshaped the concept of AGVs. The fleets operate without a central control system, meaning the vehicles navigate the production facility or warehouse in a truly autonomous fashion. The exceptionally compact AGILOX IGVs organize their routes according to the decentralized principles of swarm intelligence, making them much more flexible than traditional AGVs. Additionally, programming or “teaching” the vehicles becomes significantly easier, while central software programs including maintenance, updates, etc. are rendered obsolete—an innovation that lowers operating costs. AGILOX is now expanding its range of IGVs to include the OCF—an abbreviation for “Omnidirectional Counterbalanced Forklift”. While the ONE is equipped with a scissor lift to function as a load handling device (and thus transports the load within the vehicle contour), the OCF is designed according to the principles of the counterbalanced forklift. Hence, it can pick up pallets, lattice boxes, and other load carriers with a maximum weight of 1500 kg (3300 lbs), transport them to the destination, and set them down at a height of up to 1600 mm (63 in). AGILOX’s intelligent and cost-saving IGV concept opens up new application areas. While the ONE vehicles are mainly used for material supply in production, the OCF enables classic intralogistics tasks in incoming and outgoing goods, order picking and storage, as well as in production—provided that the transport is pallet-bound. Just like the ONE, the OCF uses an omnidirectional drive concept. It can therefore also drive sideways through narrow aisles, turn on the spot, and maneuver in the tightest of spaces. The same lithium-ion (LiFePO4) battery technology ensures short charging and long operating times – just three minutes of charging allows for up to one hour of operating time. The IGV fleets can be connected to customer software systems (LVR, ERP, WMS, MES, etc.) via an open API interface. An optional IO box enables the integration of external infrastructures, such as rolling gates and stationary conveyor systems, in the intelligent control system. An analytics module provides the user with all relevant operating data and KPIs. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Franz Humer, M.A. Co-Founder and CEO of AGILOX, notes “The OCF is a logical addition to round out our product portfolio. With it, we open up opportunities in storage and order picking technology, and thus, a large market in which the IGVs can showcase their advantages over both AGVs and man-operated forklifts.” The combined operation of the ONE and OCF in a “swarm” also provides a great advantage. For instance, while the smaller vehicles carry out delivery services to assembly workstations or tend to e-Kanban shelves, the OCF can use the same control system and WiFi infrastructure, take over pallet transport. The OCF pilot series has already been successfully tested in Vorchdorf, Austria. Series production will begin shortly, with the first OCFs set to be delivered to customers in the first quarter of 2021.
SECORX-S expands to include ruggedized boxed receivers with convenient plug-and-play accurate positioning for logistics
Septentrio’s first-of-a-kind SECORX-S GPS/GNSS receiver product line offers sub-decimeter accuracy without the need for additional positioning service subscriptions Septentrio, a provider in high-precision GNSS positioning solutions, announced today an expansion of its SECORX-S product line. The multi-constellation multi-frequency GNSS* receivers of the SECORX-S family offer a novel approach to GNSS positioning. They conveniently deliver sub-decimeter positioning right out of the box, without the need for any additional correction service subscription or maintenance. Users benefit from always-on high accuracy provided by a PPP-RTK correction service integrated directly into Septentrio’s latest core GNSS technology. The SECORX-S product line, already known to offer top-performance GNSS OEM boards and modules, now also offers a ruggedized receiver in an IP68 chassis, AsteRx SB-SxTM . “By launching the SECORX-S product family a few months ago we have taken a ground-breaking step towards easy-to-use and accessible high-accuracy positioning.”, commented Francois Freulon, Head of Product Management at Septentrio. “Our SECORX-S product range now includes boxed receivers as well as compact modules and versatile OEM boards. With this expansion of the product family, our customers now have the flexibility to choose from a wider range of options a receiver which perfectly fits their needs.” By adding boxed receivers to the SECORX-S product line Septentrio brings its innovative approach of plug-and-play accurate positioning to logistic applications as well as precision agriculture and construction. Receivers of the SECORX-S family offer lifelong** sub-decimeter accuracy in U.S. and Europe. The PPP-RTK correction service integrated in these receivers uniquely combines near-RTK accuracy with short convergence time. AsteRx SB-Sx comes with built-in LOCK+ technology, maintaining a reliable positioning fix even during intense vibrations and mechanical shocks. For more product details visit the SECORX-S product page or contact sales@septentrio.com. To find out more about positioning correction services take a look at a recent insight article GNSS Corrections Demystified. * Global Navigation Satellite System including the American GPS, European Galileo, Russian GLONASS, Chinese BeiDou, Japan’s QZSS, and India’s NavIC. These satellite constellations broadcast positioning information to receivers which use it to calculate their absolute position. **Typical lifetime is five-year
IDEC enhances MicroSmart FC6A Plus CPU with EtherNet/IP
The EtherNet/IP update for IDEC MicroSmart FC6A Plus PLCs is also a free upgrade for existing CPUs, enabling interconnection with many types of I/O systems and other intelligent automation devices IDEC Corporation announces an update to add EtherNet/IP™ communications to the MicroSmart FC6A Plus PLC. This update provides more options for end-users, designers, and OEMs to integrate the FC6A Plus with many types of I/O systems and intelligent automation devices. Expanded Connectivity Options The FC6A Plus is already expandable to support up to 2,060 I/O, making it ideal for controlling machines or small-scale manufacturing operations. With the addition of industry-standard EtherNet/IP scanner capabilities, the FC6A Plus can now connect with, monitor, and control any I/O, variable speed drive, motor controls, or other intelligent automation devices using this popular industrial protocol. In addition, the FC6A Plus can be configured as an EtherNet/IP adapter, allowing it to interact with other peer and supervisory systems, such as PLCs and HMIs. Easy Upgrade Path All new FC6A Plus CPUs will ship with the latest firmware and EtherNet/IP connectivity already installed and ready for use. For FC6A Plus CPUs already in service, users can obtain the current WindLDR software (version 8.15.0 or later) for free and then use it to easily perform the upgrade. This ability to get the latest enhancements at no cost by field upgrading existing units is another benefit of using IDEC PLCs. More Flexibility Once a new or upgraded FC6A Plus CPU is deployed, Ethernet port 2 can be configured with the EtherNet/IP protocol. This enhanced connectivity gives users new options for architecting their machine and manufacturing operations. The already flexible FC6A Plus PLC platform can now interact with more industrial automation devices than ever before. As with all its products, IDEC offers free tech support for the FC6A family of PLCs, with no service or support contract required.
Equipment Depot announces dedicated EQ SOLUTIONS™ Group providing transformative warehouse and automation solutions
Equipment Depot has announced the formation of EQ SOLUTIONS™, their specialized division dedicated to engineering transformative warehouse and automation solutions for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution facilities. EQ SOLUTIONS helps businesses evolve their warehouse operations by designing and implementing integrated solutions with the right equipment, racking, automated systems, and advanced technology to maximize productivity and throughput, decrease labor costs, and enable businesses to easily scale up or down to meet demand. With the support of its parent company Mitsubishi Logisnext, Equipment Depot plans to considerably invest in the EQ SOLUTIONS division over the next several years, hiring top talent, expanding its product portfolio, and continuing to build upon the company’s current warehouse solutions expertise. Through EQ SOLUTIONS, Equipment Depot customers can transfer the burden of managing warehouse transformation projects to a specialized team and a single source for warehouse design, engineering, software integration, racking and storage, conveyors, automated equipment, material handling, implementation, training, and ongoing maintenance. According to Equipment Depot President & CEO David Turner, “Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, we were already seeing a growing number of companies considering semi- and fully automated solutions to increase efficiency and supplement their warehouse personnel, and that interest has only accelerated in recent months.” He further explained, “We are excited to launch our EQ SOLUTIONS division during this time of economic fluctuation. Equipment Depot is fortunate to have the stability and backing of Mitsubishi Logisnext, who understand our desire to provide the superior service and innovative solutions our customers need to future-proof their businesses.”
Applied Manufacturing Technologies announces strategic partnership with Autonomous Mobile Robot Manufacturer OTTO Motors
AMT and OTTO Motors partner to provide cutting-edge material handling solutions utilizing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) amid growth in eCommerce and food and beverage industry projects Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent full-service systems integration provider supporting manufacturers, robot companies, systems integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, today announced a strategic partnership with autonomous mobile robot (AMR) manufacturer OTTO Motors, a division of Clearpath Robotics. “We have seen tremendous growth in opportunities to provide ‘smart’ material transport systems, especially with the use of autonomous mobile robots for pallet and case handling in warehouse and product pack out applications,” said Vice President of Sales Rick Vanden Boom. “To meet that challenge, we have chosen to partner with OTTO Motors because of their customer-centric culture and leading-edge technology in moving heavy payloads.” “We are excited to partner with AMT to implement state-of-the-art industrial AMR systems and to augment the automation solutions that AMT offers to their customers,” said Hank Heupel of OTTO Motors. “Together we can provide robust material handling solutions using mobile robots in a wide variety of industries.” A leader in robotic and guided material transport solutions, AMT works closely with customers in the warehousing, eCommerce, food & beverage, and other industries to provide custom turnkey material transport systems for a variety of types of cargo. AMT specializes in material handling projects, ranging from hardware-based conveyor systems and robotic palletizing to GPS- and LiDAR-based “smart” material transport.
Motion Industries announces two acquisitions
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (GPC), announced two acquisitions. Motion has entered into agreements to acquire TRC Hydraulics, a Canadian-based supplier of hydraulic products and services, and F&L Industrial Solutions, Inc., a distributor of T-slotted aluminum extrusion components. Both transactions closed with an effective date of August 1, 2020. In business since 1986, TRC Hydraulics has served the Atlantic Canada region with several full-service sales and repair facilities in Canada. In 2019, TRC Hydraulics expanded by opening a facility near Spartanburg, South Carolina. Along with distributing many lines of hydraulic products, TRC designs, manufactures, and maintains hydraulic components and systems. TRC also engineers customized hydraulic and mechanical solutions and offers the additional services of experienced fabricators, welders, machinists, and hydraulic technicians. “This is a fantastic opportunity to grow our business with a leading company that shares the same core values as we do,” said TRC President and CEO Terry Coyle. “We look forward to leveraging the many resources that Motion Industries offers and enhancing our services to provide greater value to our customers.” Based near San Diego, California, F&L Industrial Solutions has served the southwest U.S. with full-service aluminum extrusion components since 2002. F&L offers local inventory including the 80/20 brand of aluminum, experienced staff of CAD designers, in-house machining, digital panel cutting, full assembly/manufacturing, on-site delivery, and installation. Custom-designed products include a wide array of enclosures, clean rooms, walls, platforms, cabinets, racks, sneeze guards, tool holders, electrical connections, robotics, specialized carts, and more. “It’s a perfect fit of our analogous visions and business cultures,” said F&L Industrial Owner, Mike Fanolla, who co-founded F&L. “We look forward to the growth opportunities, and with us joining Motion Industries, our customers can anticipate even greater high-quality service they’ve come to know from our company.” “We are pleased to welcome these outstanding organizations, TRC Hydraulics and F&L Industrial, to the Motion family,” said Motion Industries President, Randy Breaux. “TRC gives us the opportunity to expand our hydraulics business in the Atlantic Canada markets. And with its aluminum extrusion niche, F&L will nicely supplement our Mi Automation Solutions Group. We look forward to working with the talented people of both companies to grow our market footprint and build on our industry-leading position, creating even more value for our customers in the coming years.” Mi Automation Solutions Group offerings to customers include control panels, conveyors, machine vision, motion control, network connectivity, pneumatics, robotics, sensing I/O and other automation-related solutions.
Interroll´s second plant in Atlanta starts operation
Interroll has completed construction on its second plant on its campus in Hiram (Atlanta) Georgia. The 11-million-dollar investment gives Interroll a substantial increase in capacity for the region. At Interroll, the Americas region continues to see a high level of project activities. At the same time, the company is quickly introducing innovative solutions to the markets. Key business drivers such as increased automation for warehouses as well as the rise of e-commerce and high demand in the courier, express and parcel business continue to support this positive mid-term outlook in the Americas region and worldwide. We have raised capacities in order to ensure low lead times for our customers and end-users in the North American market in the years to come», says Richard Keely, Executive Vice President of the Americas region and member of the Group Management. “We continue to see high demand for Interroll solutions in the areas of conveyors and sorters. Therefore we have increased our fabrication footprint while creating several new lean-agile assembly cells.» The new building provides 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) of the manufacturing and warehousing area are as well as 25,000 sq ft (approx. 2,300 m2) of offices. It also includes training facilities as well as a Kaizen room and employee facilities such as a gym. The new building provides assembly lines for the Modular Conveyor Platform (MCP), as well as for all sorters, including the new high-performance crossbelt sorter (HPCS) as well as sorter chutes. In the near future, it will also house a production line for Modular Pallet Conveyor Platforms (MPP). Over the last few months, capacity is more and more critical as supply chains are challenged with lockdowns and other restrictions. Through this challenging period, we have continued to see new opportunities because of our commitment to short delivery times» says Keely. »Our team is fully committed to keeping this climate of excellence and looks forward to convincing more customers with our delivery performance in the future.
Episode 91 – Signode stretches it out
In this episode, I was joined by Joe Albert who is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Signode. You may remember Signode from our ProMat series last year where we discussed their Octopus automated stretch wrapper. We discussed Joe’s guitar skills, Signode’s different businesses, their automated solutions, and how the market has been during the pandemic. Key Takeaways Signode provides packaging and solutions to help your end of line packaging. As they say, “Our brands protect your brands.” They have multiple different arms to their company and recently, as Joe discusses, they have consolidated everything under the one Signode name allowing them to be in a more unified state in the market. They look downstream and upstream to determine where their customers need improvement in their packaging processes. The Octopus Series of wrappers is an automated wrapping solution that Signode offers. What is unique about the Octopus wrapper is that it is a ring style wrapper as opposed to the typical turntable style. The Octopus is able to be built directly into your line so as a pallet travels the conveyor the Octopus automatically wraps it. One of the great things about the Octopus and its ring style is that it reduces the number of revolutions needed to fully wrap the pallet because it does not need to gain momentum like a turntable. It can be a big efficiency improvement as well as cost savings due to using less wrap. Joe and I also discuss some differences in the wrapping industry between Europe and North America. The ring style wrapper is not necessarily something new to the European market but it is to the North American market. In North America, we are used to a turntable style or a rotary arm which is what has been pushed in the market. Joe comments on how that is slowly starting to change in North America as some competitors are offering ring wrappers as well. I believe that it will continue to grow as operations start to see the efficiency improvement and long term cost savings on wrap. Listen to the episode below and let us know what your current stretch situation looks like in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 91: Signode Stretches it Out For more information on Signode head to their website here. To connect with Joe Albert you can find him on LinkedIn here.
ROVA names Chuck Moyer to position of President
ROVA, a revolutionary on-demand delivery platform headquartered in the Boston market, has named Charles (Chuck) Moyer of Franklin, TN to the position of President. In this capacity, Moyer will work with company CEO Thomas McGrath as the firm takes its unique concept of pairing independent contract drivers to businesses in need of deliveries to a national audience. He brings an extensive resume of service to his role with ROVA, which spans 42 years in the transportation industry. He has served as a Senior Executive in a number of Supply Chain Management capacities. Thirty-six of those years were spent in Final Mile (hub to destination) logistics, four years were in regional trucking/warehouse operations, and two years air freight. His background also includes fifteen years in private equity/M&A (mergers & acquisition) experience. Most recently, Moyer served as president of the Birmingham, AL-based PACE USA, a provider of versatile ground transportation logistics solutions. For nearly three years, he worked with the organization to help diversify the company’s client base. He was also CEO of Express Courier International (a Riverside company), from 2006 to 2014. He has been in the field of transportation logistics since his days at Northern Kentucky University. His early background also included serving as an independent contractor driver, so he understands the industry well. His work at that time was with Priority Dispatch in Cincinnati, OH. Moyer served as the president of the CLDA (Customized Logistics and Delivery Association) from 2018 to 2020, formerly known as the Messenger Courier Association of America, and is a 14-year member of the organization’s Board of Directors. He is a previous member of the National Pharmaceutical Distributors Task Force, and represents the industry with government affairs, lobbying for the organization at the state and federal levels. He has served in an advisory capacity to industry software firms, vendor companies, legal firms, state legislators, shippers, and carriers. He has spoken at numerous national events, has been quoted in trade publications as well as the Wall Street Journal and SiriusXM Radio. He said that he has known ROVA CEO Tom McGrath for years, through the CLDA. He said, “I’m excited about this opportunity. The industry continues to evolve, and Tom and his team have done a great job building out the technology that will drive this concept and is a much-needed solution within today’s supply chain.” Moyer, who has strong connections with shippers and carriers alike. Stated that the ROVA solution is timely and what many companies need to remain competitive relating to the Final Mile (hub to destination) delivery, Moyer said that he plans to work with McGrath to develop a number of additional markets, including healthcare, auto parts, mall management groups, and financial, among others. He said that they plan to take the concept nationally, and Nashville will be one of their immediate expansion markets. Moyer is a native of Highland Heights, KY, and now resides in Franklin with his wife, Pam. They have three sons and four grandchildren. Tom McGrath, CEO of ROVA, said, “We are extremely fortunate to have someone of Chuck’s caliber and breadth of industry knowledge and experience on our ROVA team. His background in supply chain management, operations, logistics and more will be of great value to us as we continue to expand. His is a hands-on, results-oriented industry leader and we are all delighted to welcome him to our family.”
Vanderlande introduces HOMEPICK for fast and efficient online grocery fulfilment
As part of its next generation of scalable solutions (evolutions), Vanderlande is introducing HOMEPICK. It is a solution that seamlessly integrates the company’s innovative systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services to create a cutting-edge concept that will support food retail operations. HOMEPICK facilitates the fast and efficient processing of online grocery orders. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for online groceries has increased with a more diversified group of consumers discovering such services. Shoppers demand a wide assortment of high quality and fresh products, and rapid deliveries, as well as maximum convenience and service at competitive prices. At the same time, food retailers are continuously facing new competitors entering the market. In response, Vanderlande has created its latest evolution. At its core, HOMEPICK is based on a goods-to-person (GtP) picking solution that makes use of ADAPTO, Vanderlande’s unique 3D, shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). It is the ideal solution for food retailers that want to realise economies of scale through centralised fulfilment centers (CFCs). The cohesive system design is modern and straightforward, and the operation is easy to understand. By using ADAPTO and modular workstations, HOMEPICK’s scalability also makes it future-proof. The sequenced flows of orders ensure the right order per delivery route and maximum delivery performance, which results in significant time and cost savings. Owing to its state-of-the-art configuration, HOMEPICK guarantees a high picking efficiency, shorter lead times, higher accuracy, improved levels of consumer satisfaction, and an excellent ROI. It also supports an omnichannel approach and can seamlessly match any desired growth strategy. “The drive towards automation has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the demand for online groceries has soared and the overdependence on labour has become more evident,” explains Vanderlande’s Executive Vice President Warehousing and Parcel, Terry Verkuijlen. “Many food retailers are redefining their strategies for online groceries, and in such an environment, HOMEPICK is the ideal choice to improve their operational performance. In addition, HOMEPICK not only showcases Vanderlande’s capabilities as an innovator, but also how we listen to the market, and seek to further enhance our offering in close partnership with our customers.”
JLT Mobile Computers offers free guide on how to increase productivity in the warehouse
A supplier of rugged mobile computing devices and solutions for challenging environments announces first in a series of ‘how-to’ guides to address strategic technology implementation issues in various markets and industries After 25 years in business, JLT Mobile Computers, a supplier of reliable computers for demanding environments, is making available the benefits of its expertise in a series of ‘how to’ guides designed to help new and existing customers make the right strategic technology decisions to optimize their operations. The first guide in the series covers increasing productivity in the warehouse and is available for download now here. Technology has changed warehousing and the pace of change is accelerating. What once was a relatively simple matter of storing and retrieving goods is now a high-stakes quest for speed, accuracy, reducing inventory cycles, and eliminating error and waste. Sustainably increasing capacity, efficiency, and throughput to meet ever-rising customer demands have become a science. And one important aspect of that science in any warehousing operation is the performance and efficiency of mobile computing systems and the networks they operate on. “Warehouses are complex operating environments that present unique challenges to networks and computing systems,” said Per Holmberg, CEO of JLT Mobile Computers Group. “No two warehouses are the same. Goods change, loading patterns change, everything changes all the time. That puts an enormous burden on networks and computers on the floor. Having worked with warehouse customers for decades we’ve learned what to look out for, how to get the most out of systems, and how to do it just right. That’s why we’re now making the benefits of our experience available in a series of guides geared towards helping our customers optimize the efficiency of their operations.” The first guide in the series – How to Increase Productivity in your Warehouse – discusses the four major challenges warehouse operators are battling with: Connectivity issues such as dead spots, access point placement, and the hand-off and roaming glitches inherent to warehousing structures. Computer breakdowns that seem inevitable in demanding environments (but don’t have to be). Technological obsolescence, incompatibilities, and reliability issues. And finally, the impact unsuitable technology has on workforce efficiency. All of this amounts to overt and hidden losses in productivity that can make or break profitability and competitiveness of a warehouse operation. The guide shows how to address these issues one by one: How network surveys and suitable devices help arrive at a robust wireless infrastructure with seamless roaming even in complex settings. How equipment breakdowns can be minimized or eliminated by choosing equipment designed for the job. How to stay clear of inflexible systems and technologies that work against, and not with, your workforce. And how to get the most out of your technology investment by partnering with your workforce in systems selection, configuration, testing, and operation. The guide highlights five important key take-aways in the quest for success: Involve your workforce. Invest in your network. Get high-quality rugged devices that get the job done. Keep your technology up-to-date. And never neglect to look at the total cost of ownership.
3PL-provider Romark Logistics automates inventory counts with drones
The biggest impact of the ongoing pandemic, by far, has been the disruption in supply chains – from farm to fork, and from shop floors to shop fronts. This public health crisis has highlighted the need for resilient supply chains, powered by digital transformation. Warehouses and distribution centers (DCs) are an integral part of the move towards intelligent automation. It is a trend that will accelerate, as the world responds to the normalization of consumer demand. Romark Logistics (Romark), a pioneer in technology adoption within the third-party logistics (3PL) ecosystem, has been at the leading edge of this trend. From very narrow aisle (VNA) racking and swing reach trucks to robots and cloud-connected information systems, Romark has constantly innovated, to continuously improve its operating metrics, including the traceability, granularity, and accuracy of warehoused inventory. Marc Lebovitz, President & Owner of Romark Logistics, highlighted this industry-wide challenge. “As a 3PL, we are faced with higher velocity supply chains, dynamic service level agreements with our customers, and their expectations of same-day delivery,” Lebovitz said. “Frequent, accurate, and in-depth inventory data is key to our ability to manage customer inventory efficiently, minimize inaccuracies, avoid adjusting orders, and differentiate ourselves in a highly-competitive marketplace.” Romark pursued this innovation by evaluating drones for automated scans of pallet barcodes at its DC in Lancaster, TX. Since frequent inventory counts consumed valuable resources and equipment, yet were necessary to meet customer expectations, Romark wanted to invest in inventory drones that could aerially and autonomously scan front-facing barcodes across all the VNA racking at the Lancaster-based DC. Romark established key principles for replacing manual counts. For example, a drone-based inventory solution must first ensure the safety and security of Romark’s warehouse workers. Moreover, it must be extremely user-friendly, cost-effective, and autonomous, requiring no human intervention. In 2019, Romark engaged FlytBase, an enterprise drone software company whose mission is to help businesses automate and scale drone operations. FlytBase’s aerial inventory scanning solution, FlytWare, was deployed in six-feet wide VNAs. End-to-end automation was the key to success; this required not only autonomous navigation within and across the aisles, but also precision landing, autonomous charging, and 100% accurate barcode scans and localization. Continuous interactions with the warehouse operations, inventory, IT and innovation teams at Romark unveiled adjacent use cases, such as empty bin audits, put-away audits, aerial scans of bulk storage, and even outdoor applications, such as identifying containers and trailers in the yard. Nitin Gupta, CEO of FlytBase said the deployment at Romark’s warehouse helped refine the FlytWare production roadmap, to ensure that this solution can be reliably deployed on weekends, nights, and in-between shifts. “The thought leadership and resourcefulness of the management team at Lancaster DC were instrumental to the success of this engagement,” Gupta said. “We expect to create sustainable business value for Romark and their customers, not only from savings in time, effort, and costs but also by conducting frequent inventory counts without impacting the core warehousing operations.” The availability of live video feeds and location-wise images, coupled with seamless WMS integration, make FlytWare a highly compelling alternative to manual inventory counts, he added. The solution is now being readied for production deployment at Romark’s Lancaster DC in the coming months, with the intent to scale to all relevant sites. A detailed case study has been published to showcase inventory drone adoption at Romark’s Lancaster facility. It can be viewed at https://flytware.com/romark-logistics-case-study/.
Episode 83 – Manhattan Associates at MODEX
In this episode, I connected with Adam Kline of Manhattan Associates at MODEX 2020. Adam is the Senior Director of Product Management for Manhattan and has been with the company for over 23 years. We discuss how Manhattan is working to ensure that the integration of multiple automation providers is easy for companies to tackle. Key Takeaways Manhattan Associates is incredibly prevalent within our industry as you may be familiar with. They offer a large portfolio of systems to allow your operation to function more efficiently and track what is going on in your operation. Manhattan’s main offering is their warehouse management system (WMS) but they also have solutions that help to enhance your overall business from point of sale to transportation management. Adam discusses what he believes to be some of the driving factors behind what makes Manhattan Associates such a big choice and what the differences are from other companies. One of the big factors that he discusses is the background of their talent as they are individuals who come from the environments that Manhattan is servicing. Additionally, they are big on listening to their customers and this helps to give them chances to improve their customer experience and make modifications to their programs in order to better serve all customers. As you have heard on some of the other MODEX episodes, one of the big themes at MODEX was partnerships and flexibility. Manhattan is working to make sure that their platform can easily integrate with all of the new automation that is out there. They had featured multiple robotics solutions including Locus in their booth in order to highlight how they are working together with these companies. Adam discusses how they are putting things in place so that when companies are looking to upgrade their infrastructure they will not have difficulty integrating with their system. This is incredibly important as operations are adopting new innovations that need to all function together to have the best impact. One of the big things to tackle when starting to automate your operation is how to get everything to work together and communicate. Manhattan has worked on its warehouse execution system (WES) to allow multiple automation solutions from different providers to work together in synergy with no issues. This is huge as it does not limit you from the different solutions you can use and gives you ultimate flexibility which is the key to a successful operation and implementation. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 83: Manhattan Associates at MODEX
AGILOX Autonomous Mobile Robots are substantially saving costs by applying Artificial Swarm Intelligence
Swarm Intelligence (SI) and bio-inspired computing have attracted great interest in almost every area of science and engineering, including robotics, over the last two decades. Being an innovative manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), AGILOX directs most of its effort into developing one of the most unique robotic material handling features on the market – completely decentralized autonomy. AGILOX Intelligent Guided Vehicles (IGVs) are completely independent, self-controlled, and intelligently designed to handle failover, recovery, and deadlock prevention perfectly. Our SI system can provide real-time solutions to impossibly complex optimization problems in the most efficient way possible, often in ways that a human designer could never anticipate. The swarm can also handle unexpected changes in dynamic environments without any human intervention. AGILOX vehicles automatically exchange information about the environment and the current work order situation with each other via WiFi several times per second. Based on virtual transport costs, which each participant constantly recalculates for all pending orders, it is automatically decided which vehicle fulfills an order and which path that vehicle can take to fulfill this order in the shortest amount of time. All of this is possible with almost no overhead cost to the end-customer. There are no expensive server systems, no wires added under the floor, no reflector or beacon installations – no hardware of any kind, other than your regular 2.4 or 5 GHz WiFi network and the charger. There is no software to install or maintain, no version numbers to keep up with, and no licenses with ongoing subscription fees. The nature of our Swarm Intelligence also provides another massive advantage in terms of setup cost. Once the first AGILOX unit learns its environment and workflow details, the system becomes immediately infinitely scalable. Adding additional vehicles to the swarm to increase throughput is as simple as turning on the power and assigning an IP address. Within minutes, the new vehicle will automatically download all of its configuration information from the swarm and begin working, no additional commissioning or programming required. AGILOX represents a total departure from the traditional approach to material handling processes. We apply the principles of our decentralized IGV system to our entire business model from top to bottom as well, by providing our customers with the training and tools to perform their own maintenance and expand or modify the system as they see fit. With open interfaces, infinite flexibility, and unrivaled collective intelligence, the possibilities for your AGILOX implementation are limited only by your imagination. Welcome to the future of logistics automation.