Episode 80 – Outrider Autonomous Yard Operations
In this episode, I was joined by the CEO of Outrider, Andrew Smith. Outrider has developed an autonomous yard operations solution that is not only a great autonomous feat but also an environmentally friendly one as well. We discuss how Outrider works, how it was developed, and the future of Outrider. Key Takeaways Outrider’s full solution consists of a robust yard management system, autonomous electric trucks, and on-site infrastructure that all work together to make your yard operations fully autonomous. They have worked to make the yard area human free and safer by eliminating the need for human presence. While safety is one of the biggest benefits, it also creates a lot more efficiency and also has a better environmental impact. Safety was one of the big drivers for Outrider to pursue when developing its solution. With so many moving vehicles, trailers, and blind spots in a yard it can be an incredibly dangerous place for humans to be. Many times truck drivers are distracted or looking in different directions because they are backing up to a door. This creates an incredibly dangerous situation for humans who need to be walking in the yard. Being able to eliminate the need for humans in the yard completely takes away the risk of anyone getting injured. Yard management software is also a part of Outrider’s solution which is what communicates to the autonomous trucks and gives you visibility to your yard from anywhere. Their cloud-based system helps to optimize moves as well as gives you the ability to indicate which moves are needed. It also can be integrated with existing supply chain software so that it complements all other aspects of your operation. One of Outrider’s original goals was to make sure that their solution would be environmentally friendly. Outrider has accomplished this by making their autonomous trucks electrically powered which eliminates the need for diesel and results in a zero-emission solution. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain overall and is a huge step in showing how electric vehicles can be used outside of just passenger usage. Additionally, from a maintenance standpoint, there are a lot less moving parts on an electric vehicle which reduces the annual costs of maintenance for these vehicles. While Outrider has just recently come out of stealth mode and is starting to roll out to customers, I believe the future of their technology is incredibly bright. Right now, they are focused on growing the yard operations solution but as Andrew discusses their team is incredibly talented, and moving outside of the yard is not out of the question. I am very excited to see what will happen next with Outrider. Listen to the episode below and let us know what you think of this new technology in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 80: Outrider Autonomous Yard Operations
Alta Equipment Group acquires PeakLogix
Alta Equipment Group Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PeakLogix, a national material handling systems integrator located in Midlothian, Virginia. PeakLogix specializes in the design and installation of warehouse automation and storage systems and is recognized for designing customer solutions using the latest equipment and technology advancements to deliver process improvement and automation to its customers. PeakLogix generated approximately $25 million in revenue and $2 million in operating income in FY2019. Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer of Alta, said, “The PeakLogix acquisition is a great strategic fit for Alta. The transaction is consistent with our strategy to grow our materials handling business, expand our geographic footprint, and increase profitability through accretive acquisitions. PeakLogix will provide innovative, high technology products and service solutions across our materials handling business. We are excited to expand our scope and expertise in the fast-growing warehousing and logistics sector and to help these customers drive efficiency and productivity. We welcome Bob and Sandy Giberson and their team to the Alta family.” The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June, subject to customary conditions.
Episode 78 – Spatial Intelligence with Locix
In this episode, I was joined by the CEO of Locix, Vikram Pavate, to discuss how they are utilizing their technology to now help track and trace individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discussed how Locix is utilizing their spatial intelligence technology to help track individuals movements within facilities, trace previous steps of potentially infected individuals and help to identify where individuals might be too close. Key Takeaways We have talked to Locix before on the show back at ProMat last year on Episode 11 and their technology was intriguing then as it is utilizing sensors to give you an idea of what is going on at your dock to help increase dock efficiency. Since that time they have expanded into utilizing spatial technology beyond the dock and inside of your facility to understand where assets are and movement patterns. Now that there has been an increase in the need for awareness of distancing due to social distancing they are pivoting their technology to be used differently. The spatial intelligence technology that they are using is now being utilized to help track movements of individuals. Vik jokes in the episode that it may seem a bit big brother but the reality is that this can help to determine what areas in your facility might be at risk if you have someone who tests positive. The ability to trace a person’s movements can give you an idea of where they spent time in the facility and who they may have potentially come in contact with. This can help to limit the spread and help you take further precautions and isolate certain individuals if needed. In addition to tracing individuals, the technology from Locix can also track assets. This is extremely helpful for any large facility that has a lot of assets to track. During the current times where hospitals are getting overloaded and resources overextended, this technology is incredibly helpful to keep track of different machines needed so that resources are being allocated and used as much as possible. As we move forward and try to figure out life post-COVID, when the time comes, one difficult hurdle is determining the work environment and how to ensure proper distancing. With spatial intelligence, you can track movements which over time can give you data to determine where there is a high frequency of movement and where there is a re-occurrence of multiple people getting close due to layout or traffic patterns. Using this data you can then determine layout changes or traffic pattern adjustments that can help to alleviate insufficient distancing. Listen to the episode below and view the video to see an example of their tracing technology. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 78: Spatial Intelligence with Locix
Episode 77 – Warehouse Engineers
In this episode, I was joined by Brandon Ashby who is the founder of Warehouse Engineers. I met Brandon at MODEX and he came by the booth to hang out for a bit and we also ended up having a discussion for the podcast. We talk about his background, how Warehouse Engineers was founded, and also about the importance of standard work. Key Takeaways Warehouse Engineers is an industrial engineer for hire that focuses on building a repeatable process that leverages your people and technology to its full extent. Brandon brings his corporate experience from working to bring standardization to multiple warehouses and also his education based in industrial engineering and lean-to help improve your operation overall. He is incredibly enthusiastic about continuous improvement, lean, and 5S. Brandon utilizes a lot of the principles of lean to implement the standardization of processes and to ensure that processes do actually exist within your operation. He discusses his background and how he began to learn about lean and then how he was able to start implementing it at a company he previously worked for which led to him eventually founding Warehouse Engineers to help other companies begin their lean journey and improve their processes. One of the biggest parts of lean and the 5S concepts is the standardization of processes and procedures. Brandon and I discuss just what this means and the importance of it. We both share the same ideal that standardization is such a key building block to optimizing your operation. There are many instances where processes are unknown by everyone within an operation and even worse there are instances where only one person knows a process or as Brandon says in the episode one person knows everything. This can be troublesome because when the individuals who know the process are absent then the process might not get done or even worse get done incorrectly. Having standard work ensures that the process is followed the same way every time and there is no chance for mistakes to happen. Listen and watch the interview with Brandon below. Let us know in the comments about how you create your standard work. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 77: Warehouse Engineers In this episode, host Kevin Lawton is joined by the founder of Warehouse Engineers, Brand Ashby to talk about his background, company, and also about the importance of standard work. For more information on Warehouse Engineers head to their website here. To connect with Brandon find him on LinkedIn here.
AI applications for Picking and Sortation
Picking and sorting are some of the most labor-intensive jobs in distribution centers. With e-commerce continuing to grow, systems quickly become more complicated. AI-enhanced robots are quickly becoming a feasible solution for picking and sorting in distribution centers. Click here to view the video.
MHS takes home gold Product of the Year Award
High-capacity sorter wins first place in material handling category MHS, a single-source provider of material handling automation and software solutions, has added another award to its portfolio, taking home gold in the material handling systems category of the 2019 Plant Engineering Product of the Year Awards. The HC sorter – the company’s first sliding shoe sorter – emerged from a field of five finalists to win the category, as voted on by the publication’s readers. The HC sorter debuted in August 2019, offering high throughput and versatility for the parcel, e-commerce, and retail distribution operations. It provides the fastest speed of any closed-deck sliding shoe sorter, at 9.8 feet per second, and can handle products weighing anywhere from 0.55 to over 110 pounds. The HC sorter has a modular design and can be equipped with single- or double-sided shoes, offering easy scalability and configuration to match operational requirements. With supply chains expanding their use of various packaging types to minimize shipping costs, the HC sorter can handle everything from bubble mailers and polybags to large corrugate cases, thanks to narrow slats and a fully closed-deck design. This helps prevent products from getting stuck and damaged while limiting the amount of dust and debris that can enter the sorter. “This is the second MHS sortation product to win a product of the year award in less than six months, and we appreciate the recognition from Plant Engineering readers,” says Rush Fullerton, vice president, MHS. “The award validates our commitment to solving our customers’ most pressing challenges.”
Massive Bi-Directional accumulation for super high-speed filling
Multi-Conveyor recently modified the layout of a high-speed canning line by adding intermediate sections and adding a massive stainless steel bi-directional accumulation table. The modification included a 51′ mass flow transport conveyor section and a 54′ long by 10’ wide accumulation table to hold backed-up or accumulated product to nearly 14,000 cans at a required rate of 900 cans per minute (CPM). NOTE: This video has been intentionally blur-time-lapsed for proprietary purposes.) Accumulation tables increase line uptime by allowing conveyor systems to store products so that the upstream equipment, in this case, a filler, can remain operational at full speed if downstream equipment is stopped. When clear, the table automatically reintroduces the accumulated product to match the down-line equipment surge rate until the table is emptied. This project incorporated a raised rib chain to provide a smooth transfer onto and off of the table and a heavy solid stainless steel floating sweep arm to assist in table filling and emptying. Mass flow to bulk accumulation systems like this one is easily adaptable to almost any round product, minimizing change over requirements. The amount of increased filler run time is several hours per day and is expected to provide a full return on investment (ROI) in less than a year’s time for this particular project. Accumulation volume and buffer times are application-specific and should be discussed upfront with your account manager or Multi-Conveyor regional sales partner.
Sun Automation Group celebrates 35 years of success
Supporting the Corrugated Industry with 35 Years of Growth and Innovation SUN Automation Group®, a global provider of innovative equipment to the corrugated industry, celebrates 35 years of continuous operation this week. The company, founded in 1985, plans to virtually celebrate its 35 years with its employee-owners around the globe and continuing to provide the highest level of support and service to its customers stretching across six continents. What began in a small townhouse in northern Baltimore County, Maryland, has grown into one of the most well-respected equipment and product development companies serving the global corrugated industry. SUN was founded in 1985 by corrugated industry veterans Lou Sardella and Pat O’Connor with a mission to provide innovative corrugated-industry product solutions. Among SUN’s most notable achievements are the 1987 introduction of the Lead Edge Feeder to the corrugated industry. This innovation helped revolutionize corrugated sheet feeding by providing increased accuracy, efficiency, and precision. By working directly with corrugated converters and global equipment partners (OEM customers) for more than three decades, SUN has been able to adapt this technology to over 11,000 machines around the globe. Building on the success of the Lead Edge Feeder, SUN developed unique printing innovations in the years that followed, including its introduction of Rainbow Graphics and its Spectrum Color Unit to the corrugated market. In 2000, SUN introduced the MicroGrind Die Cut Accuracy Trimmer and acquired the Langston Corporation in 2001 which more than doubled the company’s size. Following other notable innovations, like its ColorMaster Blade System and several other retrofit solutions like the SunTrac Vacuum Transfer and SunSet Control Systems, SUN transitioned to an ESOP in 2003 and officially became an OEM in 2012 with the introduction of the SUN625 Rotary Die Cutter. In 2016, SUN expanded to a 180,000 square foot facility in Glen Arm, Maryland, and installed the world’s first Aqueous Ink Single Pass Digital Printer for Corrugated which is still in full production today. In 2019, SUN partnered with Latitude Machinery Corporation to become its exclusive representative and service provider throughout North and Central America. SUN has built locations and partnerships around the globe, with SUN facilities in Guangzhou, China; Bristol, UK; and its headquarters in Glen Arm, Maryland. “As we step into our 35th year amidst a global pandemic, SUN reflects on the resilience of its employees, the company, and the corrugated industry,” says Chris Kyger, president, SUN Automation Group. “It’s remarkable to consider that since 1985, SUN Automation has supported corrugated converters through three wars, two recessions, many natural disasters, and now the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. We intend to continue to support the industry for years to come.” In 2016, SUN adopted its new “Where You’ll Find Everything Corrugated Under SUN” tagline. With a strong foundation, committed employee-owners, and a robust understanding of the corrugated industry of the past, present, and future, it is clear that the future of SUN is bright.
Softeon Launches Innovation Lab to support companies with hands-on experience with the latest technologies
Softeon’s Warehouse Management and Execution Systems at the Lab Power Put Walls, Mobile Robots, RTLS, and more Softeon, an innovative provider of supply chain software with the industry’s best record for customer success, announces the opening of its new, expanded Warehouse of the Future Innovation Lab, under which it will continue the company’s strong track record of innovation in Warehouse Management and Warehouse Execution Systems (WMS and WES) and beyond. The new 2200-square-foot lab has been opened in an office complex close to Softeon’s Reston, VA headquarters, replacing a smaller lab that Softeon had opened inside its headquarters building in 2008. Softeon made significant investments in distribution technologies and tools to power this new lab. The facility features a small sortation system with an integrated weigh scale and label print and apply; Voice applications; smart carts; pick-to-light systems; mobile robots, put walls and more. All of these technologies are powered by Softeon’s WMS and WES solutions, which provide direct management and optimization of the systems without the need for any additional third-party software, as is typically the case with other WMS providers. The lab serves multiple purposes, including: A unified testing bed for Softeon engineers to develop and commercialize new distribution capabilities and technology The chance for customers and prospects to interact with Softeon subject matter experts The opportunity for companies to gain hands-on experience with a variety of software and materials handling technologies and to craft solutions to distribution challenges and opportunities “The new Innovation Lab both illustrates and supports Softeon’s position as the leader in warehouse software innovation, as industry analysts have recognized,” says Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon, adding “We continue to push the envelope in WMS and WES, and now have a world-class facility for our own R&D efforts and for customers to experience and explore ideas.”
Episode 68 – MHS at MODEX 2020
Episode 68 – MHS at MODEX 2020 In this episode I was joined by Dean Terrell of Material Handling Systems, Inc. (MHS). Dean is the Senior Vice President of Development at MHS working on their research and development. You may remember MHS from previous episodes like Episode 31 but over the course of the last year, MHS has grown in many ways. I speak to Dean about what is in development for MHS and also how they have grown over the year. Key Takeaways MHS has an extensive portfolio of offerings that is in line with its mission to be the most trusted and reliable global partner in intralogistics. They cover parcel, distribution, fulfillment, and eCommerce. As mentioned above, they have been growing pretty rapidly and their booth at MODEX is certainly a testament to that. You can see a video of their light installation below but overall it was one of the coolest booths at MODEX, in my opinion. Right now, Dean tells us that one of their big focuses from a research and development perspective is around robotics. Specifically looking at the tasks that are in between the big processes that we initially think of when it comes to our process flows like picking. The robotics they are now looking into is for those tasks that get the product to where it needs to be picked from. As Dean mentions, a lot of these in-between tasks are still very manual. I agree and think that the industry as a whole needs to start focusing on automating more of these in-between tasks especially as automation picks up in other tasks and potential bottlenecks might occur on the manual side. Dean also talks to us about one of the biggest pain points their customers are experiencing which is a shortage of labor. As we know in the current state unemployment has jumped up significantly but at the time of MODEX unemployment was incredibly low. Due to the low levels of unemployment, the ability to get enough workers to keep up with fulfillment demand is quite difficult. Coming out of the pandemic I believe it will still be a similar case. As Dean discusses, automation is getting higher demand due to this issue and the need to be able to complete all of these tasks with limited labor. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 68: MHS at MODEX 2020
Raymond’s MODEX seminars chosen as Top Education Seminars by MHI
Two of The Raymond Corporation’s MODEX 2020 seminars have been chosen by MHI as MODEX 2020 Top Education Seminars. Raymond’s “Optimize Before You Automate 2.0” and “Trucks, Energy, Solutions – The Winning Trifecta” seminars provided industry-leading intelligence on how material handling operations can leverage existing resources to achieve increased productivity. Optimize Before You Automate 2.0 detailed the need for optimization before the implementation of new technologies, such as alternative energy, semi-autonomous and fully autonomous solutions, intralogistics solutions, and other integrated solutions. The seminar explained how factors like productivity, cost advantage, workforce development, and flexibility should all be considered when evaluating automation options. The speakers leading this seminar were Jason Fiume, iWAREHOUSE® professional services senior manager, Stacey (Patch) Barton, iWAREHOUSE professional services manager, and John Slavik, iWAREHOUSE national accounts sales manager. Trucks, Energy, Solutions – The Winning Trifecta discussed how misconceptions in the material handling industry can lead to missed opportunities for growth, compromising productivity, and efficiency. This presentation focused on how prioritizing and educating yourself on trucks, energy, and warehouse solutions will help when utilizing new technologies. Speakers for this seminar were Damon Hosmer, energy solutions product manager, and Jack Kaumo, iWAREHOUSE director of sales. “We are honored that MHI recognized these incredibly informative seminars,” said Michael Field, president, and CEO of The Raymond Corporation. “We pride ourselves on offering thought-provoking, critical conversations that lead to innovative solutions.” MODEX 2020 seminars are available to view online at modexshow.com/seminars.
Riekes Equipment and Pallet Shuttle Automation enter into strategic partnership
Riekes Equipment and Pallet Shuttle Automation are pleased to announce they have entered a partnership to provide automated warehouse solutions to the manufacturing, food and beverage, cold storage, and warehousing industries throughout the Midwest Region of the United States. “We’re excited to combine our consultative, solution-driven approach with Pallet Shuttle’s innovative and breakthrough warehouse-automation technology. Together, we’ll offer solutions that provide greater profitability and productivity to our customers,” said Dave Harnett, Riekes Executive Vice President. “With robotics and automation playing an increasingly important role in our customers’ success, we recognize the need to proactively seek out partners with innovative solutions that can help our customers reach their productivity and financial goals. We are excited to partner with Pallet Shuttle and to share their great solution with our client base.” Through this partnership companies can take advantage of the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the Pallet Shuttle® “Omni-Directional” automated storage and retrieval system. Leveraging the computer-controlled retrieval system allows companies to automatically place and retrieve loads from storage locations with precision, accuracy, and speed. Not only does this improve inventory tracking, but it also reduces warehouse accidents by decreasing the need for redundant manual labor in the inventory retrieval process. The Pallet Shuttle system eliminates the need for warehouse aisles by replacing large areas of shelving and dramatically increasing the cubic space which is vital to profitability. Steve Cappella, President of Pallet Shuttle Automation, LLC says, “We have selected Riekes Equipment as our Pallet Shuttle Midwest partner based upon an outstanding reputation in the marketplace and their extensive parts and service capability and support.”
SJF Material Handling starts “Eat Local” movement
When times get hard, living in a small close‐knit community can oftentimes have a huge advantage. In following in their late father Jerry Sterner’s legacy for love and pride in our local community, the Stafford and Frank Sterner families, owners of SJF Material Handling Inc., would like to begin a movement encouraging other local businesses to daily patronize local restaurants and other businesses in and around their own community, in support of our neighbors and friends. For as long as Minnesota’s executive order restricting business operations is in effect due to COVID‐19, SJF will be purchasing lunches from different local restaurants in Winsted, Minnesota, for all SJF employees working on‐site. Frank and Stafford’s hope is that other businesses will follow suit and come together in their own communities to boost sales to local restaurants and businesses. SJF is committed to doing everything possible to help our community family through this difficult time. At the same time, this movement also rewards employees for their hard work in continuing to keep essential businesses running smoothly. SJF encourages all businesses to show their support in this way. Let’s work together to become an example to other communities so that they may do the same. Together we can make it through this difficult time and strengthen our own communities in the process.
BEUMER Group: Technical Report: The start-up company Codept is developing a productive logistic platform
BEUMER Group supports the start-up company Codept in developing a productive logistic platform BEUMER Group has declared digitization a top priority in order to maximize customer satisfaction while remaining competitive. How can this be achieved? The system supplier relies on the support of start-up companies to bring digital projects into the group. Felix Ostwald and Jonas Grunwald with their company Codept GmbH belong to the so-called “Young and Wild”. Their newly developed logistic platform simplifies the data interchange between retailers and fulfillment service providers. This saves time and money for both parties, provides more flexibility, and allows warehouse logistics operators to better use their capabilities. The idea was born out of an acute experience. “The logistics sector clearly lacks what has long been the standard in payment transactions or online advertising: an integrative platform which offers simple access to a wide variety of different service providers and develops optimization services that are too complex for retailers and logistics providers individually”, Felix Ostwald describes their solution that will considerably simplify the connection between fulfillment providers and e-commerce retailers. The 31-year-old co-founder and managing director and his partner Jonas Grunwald, 34 years old, have founded the company Codept. But not alone. They are supported by the company builder Beam, a spin-off of BEUMER Group based in Berlin. “We try to solve big problems in logistics together with the start-up teams”, says managing director Robert Bach. “My job is to find young companies with business ideas that are relevant for us and to support them in their establishment. We want to create three start-ups per year and transform them each into a separate company under the umbrella of Beam – like the Codept GmbH.” The aim is to open new business areas in logistics together with these companies. The simplification of application programming interfaces “What made us come up with the idea?”, Jonas Grunwald repeats the question. “It started out of an acute experience. Fulfillment providers often lose potential customers because they lack the resources for an IT connection or because the initial costs are too high. We simplify the application programming interface of our customers’ systems considerably so that they can concentrate on their core business.” This becomes more and more important especially considering growing internationalization. E-commerce retailers increasingly must be able to dispatch goods to France, Italy or the Netherlands. Big online sellers like Amazon or Zalando manage it within 24 to 48 hours. If a mid-sized company is not able to achieve this, it quickly loses potential customers. In order to meet this standard, the company not only needs warehouse locations in Germany but throughout Europe. “Integrating operators into your own system landscape has so far been extremely time-consuming”, says Felix Ostwald from his own experience. If a retailer, for example, needs five logistic service providers for storage, packaging, dispatching or also for processing returns, they must set up five interfaces. A programmer is on duty for at least one month both on the dealer’s side and on the service provider’s side, which is both time and cost-intensive. “Our new logistic platform offers homogenous interface management as well as reliable data management”, promises Grunwald. “We take care of this connection for the customer. Our platform allows quick and simple integration of a new partner into the customer’s system without additional efforts.” Motivation and at least two years of experience Not everyone is suitable to be a founder, says Robert Bach, managing director of Beam GmbH. “We require at least two years of experience – ideally in a start-up company. If you’re fresh out of college you’re probably not the best fit for us.” Felix completed his business studies with a bachelor’s degree and worked at Contorion, an e-commerce platform for industrial needs. There, he met Jonas in 2015. At that time Felix selected the corresponding logistics providers and took care of their integration – a good basis for his future company. He graduated with a master’s degree in Global Supply Management at the Cass Business School in London and then started working at Zalando. Afterward, he started to work at Otto Group as Supply-Chain project manager. “As part of a project, I developed a new material flow software for Otto Group in cooperation with Siemens Digital Logistics,” he describes. “But no matter where I worked, interfaces were never standardized; the integration was always a challenge.” Jonas also has quite some experience to look back on – especially in the start-up scene. In Copenhagen, for example, he helped set up a fish import company. “In the food industry, I went through three start-up-like companies”, he says. At 24, he went back to university to study business administration and sociology. After his bachelor’s degree, he went to the London School of Economics and Political Science, an elite university, and studied economic sociology. “This was the very right place for me”, he says. He is a passionate nerd and points laughingly to his Microsoft socks. “Besides risk analysis, I am interested in game theory, logic, and systems theory. The road to software was then not far away.” He first worked as a project manager in a start-up company in London. Then he came to Berlin and worked for the same employer as Felix. Among other things, he developed and improved logistic systems. One task, for example, was to automate the process and integrate the service providers. Very early on, both colleagues felt the desire to create something of their own. “We were in Berlin in the middle of a start-up environment. If you are young and more or less dynamic, crazy ideas come up very quickly”, Felix says. We had ants in our pants;” it was 2015. They never lost sight of each other after that. In 2018 Jonas got in touch with the company builder Beam. He had to face a video interview and convincingly show his motivation and passion. “We spent four months looking exactly were the focus was”, says Robert Bach. “Is he making any progress? How seriously
Dematic cancels MODEX 2020 participation
Health and Safety comes first for Employees and Customers In a press release sent to customers of Dematic today, Scott Knight, Dematic Marketing Manager said with the recent developments related to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Dematic and KION North America have decided to limit their direct participation in the MODEX 2020 tradeshow next week, March 9–12 in Atlanta, Ga. Both Dematic and KION North America will retain their booth space at MODEX 2020 in support of MHI, MODEX, and the overall industry in this difficult time. However, company personnel from both organizations will not participate in the show or staff the booth. Required booth staffing will be provided by non-company personnel. Dematic and KION wish all attendees a safe visit to MODEX and welcome participants to visit their respective websites to learn more about their solutions. Dematic will continue to monitor the public health situation and update you accordingly on our plans and decisions. We very much appreciate your understanding and look forward to continuing to help you power the future of commerce.
Softeon introduces Warehouse Management and Execution System Capabilities at MODEX 2020
After 20 years of incremental WMS Progress, Softeon Warehouse Execution System delivers step-change improvements in distribution performance Softeon, a global supply chain software provider with the industry’s best record of customer success, announced it will be featuring its new Warehouse Management and Execution System capabilities at the MODEX 2020 trade show in Atlanta, Ga on March 9-12. This powerful solution combines Softeon’s advanced Warehouse Management System (WMS) with the new Warehouse Execution System (WES). The WES provides visibility, orchestration, and optimization of order picking and related processes, which include maximizing materials handling system utilization, leveraging capabilities far above what is available today – even in advanced WMS. As a result, Softeon’s WES enables companies to minimize total fulfillment costs while meeting customer demand and service commitments. Softeon’s WMS and WES solutions are available stand-alone – or for the first time in the industry, deployed together as a powerful Warehouse Management and Execution System. In stand-alone mode, the WES can work with almost any existing WMS, from ERP to legacy to best-of-breed providers, with flexible integration and process models. Uniquely, the Softeon WES delivers significant value, not only for automated DCs but also in operations with medium levels of automation or even completely manual processes. This approach can bring new life to aging WMS environments without the need for a full WMS replacement. New WES capabilities include: Real-time visibility to throughput, bottlenecks, and events Direct management and optimization of picking sub-systems Advanced, configurable optimization for order batching, release, picking and replenishment Workload balancing to maximize equipment utilization and flow Automated order release based on service commitment, shipping schedules, and real-time condition monitoring Use of simulation to plan, re-plan and allocate resources Benefits of the new solution include double or even triple-digit improvements in productivity; reduced supervisory labor, increased distribution throughput, improved material handling system utilization, and significantly enhanced labor planning. “This truly is a game-changer in distribution Software, with Softeon now delivering on the promise of the autonomous WMS,” says Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon. Softeon will feature the new WES capabilities at MODEX Booth #7466.
Hy-Tek Material Handling acquires Johnson Stephens Consulting
Hy-Tek Consulting division formed Hy-Tek Material Handling, Inc., a single-source provider of material handling solutions, has acquired Atlanta-based Johnson Stephens Consulting, Inc. (JSC), a supply chain operations consultancy serving retailers, wholesalers, and distributors nationwide. The acquisition was announced by Hy-Tek CEO Sam Grooms. “The acquisition of JSC and formation of the Hy-Tek consulting division enable us to provide turnkey supply chain solutions to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and boost profitability for our customers,” said Grooms. The Hy-Tek consulting division is headed by JSC Managing Principals Steve Johnson and Sandy Stephens. JSC provides supply chain solutions to Neiman Marcus, The Home Depot, and Dick’s Sporting Goods among other retailers, wholesalers, e-commerce/direct-to-consumer companies, 3PLs, and consumer products distributors. JSC professionals, including 20 engineering consultants, have completed over 400 projects for more than 200 organizations since 2003. JSC has been recognized by Inc. as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. and named a supply chain technology leader by Gartner’s Warehousing and Fulfillment Vendor Guide. “JSC is thrilled to now offer an end-to-end supply chain solution. Hy-Tek’s integrated systems and industrial equipment expertise align perfectly with our engineering experience to deliver unsurpassed value,” said Stephens. “Hy-Tek shares JSC’s values, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit. Not satisfied with merely providing recommendations, we work hand-in-glove to implement top-notch supply chain solutions,” said Johnson.
BluJay Solutions acquires Australian Customs and Forwarding Technology provider
BluJay Solutions, a global provider of supply chain applications, networks, and data solutions, today announced it has acquired Expedient Software. Expedient is a leading provider of customs and forwarding software for the logistics market in Australia and New Zealand. With the acquisition, BluJay broadens its customs and forwarding technology offerings, along with its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. “We continue to strategically invest in technologies that enable frictionless supply chains for our customers. As a major player in the Australian customs and forwarding market, Expedient brings highly complementary technology to BluJay’s portfolio, along with a knowledgeable team to bolster our presence and expertise in the Asia-Pacific market,” said Andrew Kirkwood, CEO of BluJay Solutions. “We are delighted to welcome Expedient Software’s team and customer base to BluJay.” Scott Craven, Expedient Software’s Managing Director adds, “As part of BluJay, we will continue to provide efficient software for our customers while gaining the strength of a global company. Our customers will benefit from an expanded footprint in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the region, plus world-class support and infrastructure community, to best serve their needs. We are excited about the future with BluJay.” Expedient is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and counts among its customers many of the top couriers, multi-national logistics companies, and mid-market freight forwarders in the region. Day-to-day, customers will experience no changes. The company will integrate with the global BluJay team, which has Asia-Pacific offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and India. “This region, Australia and New Zealand in particular, represents a significant market for global trade,” said Doug Surrett, Chief Strategy Officer at BluJay Solutions. “Joining forces with Expedient not only expands our customs connectivity in these countries but also demonstrates our commitment to serving multinational companies and domestic forwarders in this region.” Expedient Software has been in operation for 30 years. The company was the first logistics software supplier in Australia to provide a cloud-based solution. Expedient offers several modules including customs clearance and forwarding software, with transport and container management, workflow, and track and trace functionality.
Columbus McKinnon expands Unified Industries brand enclosed Track Aluminum Rail Offering
New ETA-3 Series Rail Provides Versatility and Improved Ergonomics for Light-Duty Applications To help improve ergonomics and equipment safety for lifting applications, Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of motion control products, technologies, and services for material handling, has expanded its family of Unified Industries brand Enclosed Track Aluminum (ETA) Rail Profiles. Joining the existing product portfolio, the new ETA-3 Series is a flexible solution for light-duty applications. “ETA-3 is ideal for any light-duty application in our customers’ facilities,” said Tony Alessi, product manager for the Unified Industries brand. “This means that ETA-3 rails can be used in a variety of configurations, including as tool rail for weld guns, light fixtures, weld curtains, spring balancers, and workbenches, or as a side-by-side rail to carry additional equipment on a crane.” Designed to reduce strain and fatigue, ETA-3 rails provide ease of movement with a lightweight aluminum trolley body, precision bearing load wheels, self-lubricating bronze bushings, dual bearing guide rollers, and integrated rubber bumpers. This new profile can also be attached to the mainline rail system as a festoon rail. This allows festooning trolleys and filter, regulator, and lubrication (FRL) equipment to move on a separate rail, helping to extend bridge and runway distances. ETA-3 rails are an ideal choice for automotive, aerospace, and heavy manufacturing applications. ETA-3 has a maximum capacity of 442 lbs., with lengths up to 25 feet, and is extruded from high-grade 6005-T5 aluminum.
Multi-Conveyor accumulates non-rounds using Pneumatic Sweeper Arm
Multi-Conveyor recently designed and engineered this stainless-steel constructed table-top and plastic belt conveyor system featuring pneumatic pusher “sweep arm” accumulation tables designed for “non-round” plastic bottles. The plastic bottles will travel from a customer supplied labeler through over 100 feet of conveyor including elevation changes of up to 21” in some areas, side transfers, and pneumatic merges, diverts, clamps and stops handling both empty bottle and full bottle accumulation along the way – ultimately ending at a case packer. The distinctive bi-directional accumulation tables include pneumatic stops to form a row of products at the face of the table. A pneumatic “sweep arm” will push a single row at a time onto the table when the system is in “Accumulation Mode.” The bi-di tables are designed to index with every row of the product then discharge in the same method, using a “pneumatic puller” to extract each row. The system provides both inline and off-line accumulation on two (2) 200 sq. ft. accumulation tables. The challenge was to accumulate quart, gallon 2.5 gallons and 11 liter nearly rectangular bottle designs in one system. Standard bi-di accumulation table conveyors are used almost exclusively for round shaped products – which makes this system completely unique. NOTE: The conveyor system has the ability to merge accumulated products back into the mainline during normal production flow using the Multi-Conveyor engineered and manufactured control system of devices, sensors, HMI screens, and UL listed panels.