The World of Concrete® Show kicks off large-scale Las Vegas conventions
Officials at the World of Concrete® have rescheduled the 2021 show to June 8 to 10th, with education sessions starting on June 7th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. In a news release, organizers explained the decision to move the dates back several months was not easily reached, however, they feel it is the right choice for everyone involved. “We have a commitment to our exhibitors and attendees to provide a valuable and productive face-to-face experience at WOC each year,” said Jackie James, group director for World of Concrete. “This is the first time in our 46-year history we have been faced with circumstances that have caused us to reschedule the event. We feel the new June dates will provide everyone with the necessary time to plan effectively, and allows us to reimagine WOC for a different time of the year. Moving the event from winter to late spring this year will allow for additional outdoor activities everyone can enjoy in the great city of Las Vegas, including top-notch exhibits, new product demos, and exciting spectator events.” World of Concrete 2021 will adapt the Informa AllSecure Plan at the event. AllSecure is Informa’s approach to ensuring high standards of safety, hygiene, cleanliness, and quality for operating events for all our exhibitors, attendees, speakers, and press. In addition to the safety protocols in place for World of Concrete 2021, the Las Vegas Convention Center has been awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation by ISSA Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. The GBAC program is considered the gold standard for safe facilities and was designed to control the risks associated with infectious agents, including COVID-19. World of Concrete is also one of the first large-scale events to occupy The Las Vegas Convention Center’s $980 million West Hall expansion in June, which will add more than 130,000 square meters of space to the existing 300,00 square meter campus. In addition to the exhibit hall, the expansion will feature an outdoor plaza, a grand atrium, and state-of-the-art design and technology. “We look forward to continuing our role in driving the industry forward, connecting communities and supporting businesses,” World of Concrete 2021 said in a news release. “We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in June 2021. We will also continue to post updates on our website over the next few months.”
Women in Trucking Association honors 11 Yellow Leaders as “Top Women to Watch in Transportation”
The Women in Trucking Association has named 11 women from Yellow to its 2021 “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” list. These leaders represent nearly every function area across the Company, and this is the third time the Association has honored Yellow employees on its “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” list. The editorial staff of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine selected these individuals for their significant career accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months as well as their efforts to promote gender diversity. “It’s always exciting when a third-party recognizes the contributions of our employees, who in this case are among the trucking industry’s top professionals,” said Darren Hawkins, CEO. “The contributions of these women not only to Yellow but to our entire industry are truly remarkable, as they champion diversity and inclusion across all levels of the Company and in our communities. I’m so proud to work on their team and to celebrate their achievements, thanks to the Women in Trucking Association’s well-deserved recognition here.” Of the 70 “Top Women to Watch,” 11 are Yellow employees: Andrea Anderson, Equipment Manager Patrice Brown, Assistant General Counsel Heather Callaway, Audit Manager Leah Dawson, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Summer Dean, Talent Acquisition Director Lucia Dorr, Talent Development Specialist Maria Grasty, Operations Manager Tamara Jalving, Vice President, Safety Melissa Jass, Senior Organizational Development Business Partner Heather Noland, HR Director Deanna Parker, Payroll Director “This accomplished group of women represents a wide range of skill sets and expertise, and highlights how women bring diverse thought, value, and results to businesses in the industry,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “This impressive group of women has made a tremendous impact in their fields during this pandemic and are pushing the envelope for women in the industry. We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.” Yellow remains committed to attracting, developing, and retaining women in the transportation industry. Through its women’s leadership development program, the Company engages women across the organization by building a network of support and inclusion and providing the tools and training to develop the skills needed for career longevity. Yellow boosted its resources for women by creating a Women’s Inclusion Network, an employee resource group designed to foster relationships, enhance the employee experience, support women behind the wheel and develop a strong pool of future leaders in what’s traditionally been a male-dominated industry. “One of our Company’s top priorities is to attract, develop and retain top talent in the trucking industry,” said Sarah Statlander, Vice President, Human Capital & Talent Acquisition and a 2020 “Top Women to Watch in Transportation” honoree. “At Yellow, we recognize the value women bring to the table, and our newly expanded Women’s Inclusion Network offers mentoring, safety training, leadership development, and enrichment opportunities that help drive our recruitment and retention strategy for women.”
EP 161: ProMatDx is Coming!
On this episode of the podcast, I was joined by Daniel McKinnon who is the Executive Vice President of Exhibitions and Events at MHI the host of ProMatDX this year. You may or may not know that MHI is the great organization that puts on both Modex and ProMat which are some of the largest tradeshows in our industry and now due to the pandemic they will be taking ProMat virtual with a new experience called ProMatDX. Daniel and I discuss what ProMatDX is, what it will be like and some of the great benefits attendees will be able to enjoy. Key Takeaways ProMat has a special place in my heart as that was the first big thing I did when the podcast started and helped to get a lot of exposure to the podcast not only on the listener side but also on the guest side so I was a little sad to hear that ProMat would not be happening in person this year. However, after my discussion with Daniel, I am confident that ProMatDX will still be a great experience. The platform will be all virtual and you will still have tons of opportunities to connect with sponsors, see product demos and enjoy great educational sessions. Daniel discusses how difficult the decision was to go virtual due to the great gathering that happens at ProMat but ultimately MHI still wanted to provide something for the industry to connect which is how ProMatDX was born. The virtual experience will allow you to be set up with those sponsors that the virtual system believes will be a good fit for you which is a big help in figuring out how to navigate and where you want to navigate to. While the virtual setup itself will not be “live” it will still look live with pre-recorded videos and at the end of the sponsors’ presentations, there will be live Q&A sessions that will allow for attendees to not only interact with the sponsors but also interact with other attendees. I love that this component will still exist because you often get a chance to pick other industry peers’ brains on the show floor so this will recreate that in a virtual way. As we have heard on a few different podcast episodes during this pandemic there have been some positives that have come out of trying to pivot and get creative. With ProMatDX that is no different, Daniel and I discuss what future shows will look like. Daniel discusses how the ability to do virtual will allow for a more hybrid component to the in-person ProMat’s and MODEX’s which will give some flexibility to individuals who might not be able to make it in person. One thing is for sure, everyone is incredibly excited for 2022 to get back to in person and I am sure the show will be incredible because of it. Listen to the episode below and let us know if you’ll be attending in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 161: ProMatDX is Coming!
I wanna be a success! I wanna be a success!
What does it take to become a sales success? Why do some people make it to the top? Or, more to reality, why do some people who have the top talent, wallow in mediocrity? Big questions. While the answers to questions of what it takes to “make it” is subjective, there are some common characteristics and principles that are attributed to those who have achieved success. There are repeated patterns and actions of successful people. That’s not surprising. Even less surprising is, that as you read these actions, there won’t be any revelations. The difference is that successful people execute the attributes every day and you don’t. What seven attributes do high achievers have in common? And more importantly, are you a master of each of these characteristics? Self-belief…They have the mental posture for success believing they are capable of achieving it. This belief must extend to their product and their company. A strong belief system seems obvious but few people possess it. Too many salespeople look outside (for the money they can make) rather than look inside (for the money they can earn). Take advantage of opportunities… First, that they recognize it. (Often it shows up disguised in the form of adversity) Second, that they act on it. Opportunity is elusive. It exists all over the place, but very few can see it. Some people fear it because it involves change, most don’t believe they are capable of achievement. Have the right associations… Hang around the right people – other successful people. Network where their best customers and prospects go. Join the right associations. Make the right friends. Stay away from poisonous people, the ones who can’t seem to get anywhere. Have a mentor or three. Expose yourself to what’s new… If you’re not learning every day, your competition is. New information is essential to success (unless you’re like most salespeople who already know everything, lucky you). Have the answers your prospects and customers need…The more you can solve problems, the easier path you will have to sales success. Prospects don’t want facts, they want answers. In order to have those answers, you must have superior knowledge about what you do and explain it in terms of how the prospect uses what you do. Take responsibility…We all blame others to a degree. Blame is tied to success in reverse proportion. The lower your degree of blame, the higher degree of success you’ll achieve. Get the job done yourself, no matter what. Petty blame is rampant and the biggest waste of time Willing to risk…This is the most crucial factor. No risk, no reward is the biggest understatement in the business world. It should be stated no risk, no nothing. It is a vital part of #1, #2 & #3. Risk is the basis of success. If you want to succeed, you’d better be willing to risk whatever it takes to get there. 7.5 Have a positive attitude… Surprisingly this is not a common characteristic. By the time many make it to the top, they have developed irreversible cynicism. But a positive attitude makes achieving success much easier and more fun. See, I told you no revelations. OK, so if these characteristics seem so simple, how come they’re so difficult to master? Answer: your lack of personal self-discipline and a dedication to lifelong learning. Oh yeah, that. I am constantly amazed and disappointed at the small number of people willing to execute the simple daily self-disciplines needed to reach higher levels of success. They know it will bring them the success they dream about, yet they fail to execute. In sales, the person who will emerge victorious most of the time is the person who wants it the most. Victory does not always go to the swift (hare vs. tortoise), victory does not always go to the powerful (David vs. Goliath), and victory does not always go to the lowest price (Yugo vs. Mercedes). The victory we call success goes to the best prepared, self-believing, right associated, self-taught, responsible person, who sees the opportunity and is willing to take a risk to seize it, sometimes a big risk. Is that you? Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of twelve best-selling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, and The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude. His real-world ideas and content are also available as online courses at www.GitomerLearningAcademy.com. For information about training and seminars visit www.Gitomer.com or email Jeffrey at salesman@gitomer.com or call him at 704 333-1112.
Things are happening
I hope you took advantage of the JOB SHOCK comments prepared by Edward Gordon I referred to in last month’s column. Be sure to share it with the younger members of your family, especially those close to entering the job market. Dean kindly attached the article to the MHW website to give you access. And after reading it you may find yourself saving some money. I am not going to get into the details here because you really need to read the entire article and pass it around to those you feel may benefit from the information. What is currently available is Part 1 of this story and I will make sure you have access to Part 2 and so on as they become available. What is discussed in JOB SHOCK will impact both your personal and business world. What else is happening is that interest rates are starting to increase along with a weaker dollar. Not good for highly leveraged companies, especially those who import their product line. And who knows how these metrics will move once the Stimulus money hits the streets. Since there is no time like the present it may be prudent to spend a little time thinking about interest-bearing obligations, banking arrangements, and how competitors without the import issues will impact your business. If the dollar value increasingly gets weaker there could be pushback about equipment pricing. I was thinking about this and wondered what I would do if a major customer were negotiating a $1 million dollar transaction, and as you were about to close the deal, he/she say they plan to pay with Bitcoin? Think about that, because it is entirely possible for a large transaction to fall into this arena at some point and you need to be able to handle it or maybe lose the deal to someone who can execute with Bitcoin. Maybe your OEM should put together a white paper about non-dollar transactions. Could not hurt and you would have another value-added cookie to offer up. Is your vault big enough to handle 20 Bitcoin (only kidding)? We all probably spend time trading or investing in stocks, and if you do you probably pay attention to the Q4 and year-end financial reports related to your portfolio and the industry you are in. I was just doing that last week when I heard three reports: one from GM, one from Ford, and one from JLG. All three noted that they have definite plans to switch to products using cleaner energy…..electric vehicles. I was most surprised concerning construction equipment, but it is happening. It appears that advanced battery technology is taking the front stage with these companies investing in this technology. What does this mean for you? Plenty. Based on what I have been hearing the demand for electric lift trucks using lithium-ion batteries is sure to increase above the norm and as a result will change many aspects of your business. Inventory investments will probably increase because you must maintain inventory to cover more and more for the electric business while also maintaining inventory related to lines or products you had pre-electric. Could be a substantial investment because battery technology as of today is not cheap. And part of this inventory issue may deal with non-electric used units coming off rent that may not be worth as much as you planned when the original lease was put into place. Technology and training will also add to your cost to own and operate this type of equipment. The major planning issue regarding battery technology is having the right partners to help carry the load and make the transition. There are only so many “partners” out there to work with. So, the sooner you find who you want to work with the better. OEMs should assist with this process. The American Rental Association (ARA) offered up a webinar entitled Rentalytics that was quite good. It was scheduled for 60 minutes which turned out to be 90 minutes. They covered how OEMs, rental companies, and end-users see ’21 and ’22 unfolding. Three industry experts and economists also provided estimates regarding the Cap-X spend in ’21 and ’22. This Rentalytics is somewhat new to me but offered up projections and estimates that were of interest. They even had a section on the material handling industry and expect 4% growth in ’21 after being down 4% in ’20. Not bad compared to other types of dealers or rental companies. On the OEM front, the Manufacturing HMI index expects a 6% increase overall in ’21, with durable goods at an 8,5% increase and non-durable goods at a 5.8% increase. Again, not bad. It seems your business life will keep you hopping over the next couple of years. Time to get things under control and plan for the coming changes. Garry Bartecki is a CPA MBA with GB Financial Services LLC. E-mail editorial@mhwmag.com to contact Garry
The Electric Future
When I got into this business 40 years ago, my first manager told me something that I am often reminded of. He was convinced that whatever the automotive industry was doing today, would be repeated by the forklift industry, 10-15 years later. He always said: “Ignore the car business, and miss your opportunities”. He could not have been more accurate. From sales strategies to financial merchandising, to aftermarket options, we have continued to follow the example and the path forged by our automotive counterparts. The reasons are simple. Like us, the auto industry is competitive. It is also dependent on the same functional mechanisms. Sales, Parts, and Service departments, as well as financing, leasing, and equipment demonstration (test drives), are all component parts of their operational model. We also both sell and service vehicles powered by both internal combustion engines as well as electric motive power sources. The differences between our business models come down to marketplace and capitalization. The consumer marketplace is wide and vast, and the demand for automobiles is voracious. The underlying financial stake is enormous. We, fortunately, have the long-term benefit of watching what they do, and if it works, we find a way to scale it for the marketplace, and naturally adopt what appears to be an effective and profitable practice. My point here is to try to illuminate the pathway to the next trend and attempt to pre-determine what investments will be needed to prepare for our future. Motive Power’s Slow Evolution Since the first electrically powered platform trucks were manufactured in 1913, the lead/acid (LA) battery has been the mainstay of motive power in our industry. Stable direct current, stored in a rechargeable steel tray provides emission-free power for use in enclosed environments. Through the decades, even as technology evolved on other parts of the machinery, the LA battery was really the only option that provided the power, torque, and long-term service life required of a forklift truck. Over the years, the materials and manufacturing methods involved in creating LA batteries improved, but the basic method of creating electrical current still relied on lead, lead dioxide, lead sulfate, and sulfuric acid. Meanwhile, over in the automotive industry, the use of the lead-acid battery was limited to the 12 volts of power needed to start an internal combustion engine. This was one area where our industries diverged. One natural feature of the LA battery is that it has a very high weight-to-energy density ratio. This weight serves as a benefit for our industry, as it provides the primary counterweight on an electric forklift. On a passenger vehicle, however, the weight to energy ratio eliminated using LA batteries as an acceptable motive power source. This is not to say that the automotive engineers abandoned motive power altogether. Throughout the ’70s ’80s and 90s, many attempts were made at powering vehicles with lighter battery materials made of nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, zinc-air, and sodium nickel chloride. None of these experiments however could provide the speed, range, temperature sensitivity, and recharge flexibility needed to convince the general public to switch over from their ultimately user-friendly internal combustion alternative. Technology however keeps evolving. In 1996, Toyota improved the nickel-metal hydride battery and introduced the Prius, as the first widely accepted mass-produced hybrid automobile. In 2000 they improved both range and recharging capability in their GEN-2 Prius. The Holy Grail – Li-ion Here is where the paths once so distant, finally cross once again. In the late 2000’s engineers finally found the holy grail of electric motive power: Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) technology. This battery uses a positive electrode made of lithium/cobalt oxide and a graphite-based negative electrode. Significant electrical power is produced and stored in a lightweight package. Quickly charged, half the weight of the nickel-metal alternative, with high resistance to the elements, this technology checked all of the boxes. The range, charging speed, service life, and power delivery made Li-ion the comprehensive answer to the automobile conundrum. So, we watched and we waited and (lo and behold) starting about 2-3 years ago (10 years after the auto industry perfected the method), the forklift industry is now awash in Li-ion technology. Everything this battery does for the car business is ultimately applicable to our customers and their applications. No longer will customers need to buy multiple batteries, with charging rooms, gantry cranes, and watering equipment. Charged in as little as an hour, the Li-ion battery stores three times the power of an LA battery. Low heat, means no cooling cycle is required for use in high cycle operations A flat discharge curve provides consistent power and performance What happens from here? My old manager’s axioms once again ring true. So, what can we infer from these developments? What will the future hold? I think it pays to consider the following: Is this a fad? Is it the long-term solution? Let’s look at the auto industry’s commitment to electric vehicles (EV). I used to believe that the car manufacturers only invested in electric vehicles because the government constrained them to do so. Not to say that these mandates are not in place, but I now see a trend toward investments based on MARKET FORCES, instead of investments based on MANDATE. In the next four years, GM will invest $27B to launch 30 EV’s (over 20 in the USA). By 2035 the entire Chevrolet product line will be EV. In 2021 GM will introduce EV trucks and SUVs. Within the next year, Ford will introduce EV versions of an F-150 truck, a Mustang, as well as “all-electric” versions of their Transit cargo van. (Yes, your next service van could be electric!). GM has partnered with LG Chem to further improve Li-ion technology, replacing a majority of the cobalt in the battery with aluminum, thereby lowering costs, improving recyclability, and enhancing performance. No. This is not going away. The impact of these technologies is changing electric power from what you CAN do, to what you SHOULD do in order to be profitable and
Webinar on Automation & Innovation in Third Party Logistics (3PLs)
With the significant growth in e-commerce, the market potential for third-party logistics services is growing rapidly across the world. In order to provide comprehensive fulfillment and meet ever-increasing customer expectations, 3PLs are keen to adopt automation into their operations. According to Global Market Insights Inc., the global 3PL market is likely to cross $1100 billion by 2024. As companies look to 3PLs to provide a competitive advantage, logistics service providers must in turn deploy sophisticated technologies centered around warehouse automation. For 3PL leaders looking to innovate via automation, this FlytWare webinar seeks to shed light on techno-commercial aspects of warehouse automation technologies and the business considerations involved along the journey to full automation. The webinar is scheduled for March 31, 2021, at 11:00 AM CST (16:00 GMT). The Webinar will feature Gwynne Richards, Director at Apprise Consulting in the UK. Gwynne has over 35 years of experience in logistics and supply chain. He is the author of books like Warehouse Management, Logistics outsourcing, and Logistics and Supply Chain Tools. Book your seat by registering at https://flytware.com/webinars/automation-innovation-in-3pls/. Also, browse (for free) the recorded versions of past FlytWare webinars at https://flytware.com/webinars/ – these covered topics such as inventory counts in very narrow aisles (VNAs) and digital twins for warehouses.
Safe + Sound Week announced
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced the date for Safe + Sound Week. This year it will take place on August 9-15, 2021. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August to show your business’s commitment to keeping workers safe year-round. Safe + Sound Week is also a time when information and ideas are shared to help get your safety and health program started or improve an existing program. Download the Save the Date and share that you’ll be participating in Safe + Sound Week on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork. Registration opens in July and details will be on the website.
University research program accepting research proposals to advance Next-Generation Industry Technology
The research program adds new concept paper review to support professors and researchers prior to submitting final proposals The University Research Program will be accepting proposals beginning April 12, 2021, through November 5, 2021. The Raymond Corporation, a Toyota Industries Company, is sponsoring the University Research Program which was created to encourage and support professors and student researchers to apply their engineering and technical research to discover innovative solutions for the material handling industry. The sponsored research program is in its fifth cycle of accepting applications for grant funding that can reach up to $500,000. Applicants from North American universities will be evaluated on several criteria, including their possible impact on the future of the material handling industry, timeline, and feasibility of budget. Applicants with selected proposals will be announced at MODEX 2022, March 28-31, 2022, in Atlanta. “We believe new technology and innovative approaches from academia’s brightest and most innovative minds can inspire the supply chain of the future,” said Michael Field, president and CEO, The Raymond Corporation. “Raymond’s investment in the University Research Program is just one way we’re showing our commitment to the next generation of material handling leaders.” Winning proposals from previous years included projects surrounding automation, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), energy infrastructure, the internet of things (IoT), and Industry 4.0. Proposal themes for the 2021-2022 research submissions in the following areas are encouraged, however, given the broad nature of material handling, alternative themes are welcome. The Future of Logistics Material Handling in an Uncertain Future Material Handling in a “Smart City” Warehouse Design Urban and Suburban Package Delivery Improving Material Handling Automation and Material Handling Advanced Sensors for Material Handling Advanced Vision Systems and Material Handling Truck and Operation Evolution Industrial Design of Vehicles Operator Ergonomics Neurotechnology Applications in Material Handling This year, the University Research Program has added a new optional concept paper step in the process. This step is a way that professors and student researchers can connect with the University Research Program reviewers for initial input of their submission. Professors and researchers are encouraged (but not required) to submit a one-page concept paper explaining their proposal. Concept papers must be submitted between April 12, 2021, through August 27, 2021, in order to be reviewed. For more information on the University Research Program, visit www.universityresearchprogram.com.
PTDA brings Industry together to Connect, Learn and Share Knowledge through PTDA Community Conversations
The Power Transmission Distributors Association or PTDA is bringing the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry together to connect, learn and share knowledge through PTDA Community Conversations. These conversations are scheduled throughout the year to allow PTDA members to discuss important topics with their peers in the PT/MC industry. Starting with a two-part series on sales transformation, PTDA members will gather on March 19 to discuss evolving sales teams. The second conversation on April 19 will focus on the skillset sales teams need and how to train staff and identify skills when hiring new staff. A conversation on technology for a PT/MC business will be held in May and one on business climate is scheduled for September. The Women in the Industry Community holds quarterly community conversations for a frank and open conversation about succeeding as a woman in the industry. Their first call in February focused on keeping relationships relevant in a virtual environment. Their next call on May 20 is co-hosted with PT WORK Force® to discuss employee motivation strategies. In August, the women will gather to discuss breaking the glass ceiling and they will finish the year co-hosting a call with the Next Gen Community on how to hustle without burning out. The Next Gen Community holds calls for open discussion about succeeding as a younger member of the industry. Their first call this year is on April 8 to discuss tips for staying healthy and productive while working remote. The Next Gen will also co-host a call with PT WORK Force in June about how to retain Next Gen employees. “No one understands our industry and its challenges better than the wide-ranging group of PTDA distributor and manufacturer members. I appreciate that we can all come together to share and learn from one another to keep our industry relevant and strong,” said Rob LaRue, Baldwin Supply Co. For more information about the PTDA Community Conversations, please visit ptda.org/CommunityConversations.
Plastics creates William R. Carteaux Leadership Award to honor outstanding plastics professionals
At its Annual Meeting and Fall Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) will present its inaugural William R. Carteaux Leadership Award to an industry professional who has achieved distinction working for the betterment of the plastics industry. The event will take place on the evening of Thursday, October 7th, at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort. Any employee of a PLASTICS member company, who personifies the values Bill Carteaux made the hallmarks of his career – unity, dedication, perseverance, and selflessness – is eligible for the award, named for the former PLASTICS President and CEO. “Bill Carteaux was the type of guy who could fill a room with his presence, and he used his passion and dedication to build bridges within the industry,” said Tony Radoszewski, current PLASTICS President and CEO. “His selflessness in his career and private life were never more obvious than when he continued to lead PLASTICS, chaired major events, and raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, all while battling the disease himself.” “Receiving this award will be a great honor for the man or woman who best reflects Bill’s personal and professional values. As a close friend to Bill, I look forward to celebrating that special person and our entire industry this fall.” Radoszewski added Radoszewski will present the new award as part of the Plastics Hall of Fame Ceremony during the Board Dinner, where the recipient will stand alongside 2021 Hall of Fame inductees. Prospective candidates can be nominated by their peers, family, or friends. The Plastics Academy, which administers the Plastics Hall of Fame, will serve as a Screening Committee, with officers of PLASTICS making the final selection. Nominations should include basic information about the nominee, as well as a brief description of his or her merits. Supporting letters will be accepted as well. Nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, June 30th, 2021. Nominations can be sent to jgardiner@plasticsindustry.org.
KION Group management trainee program continues
KION GROUP AG, a global provider in logistics and intralogistics, is continuing its world-class management trainee program for graduates with a master’s degree. The next round of the tailored training program in various specialisms starts on October 1, 2021. The traineeships in intralogistics aftersales, project management, research & development, HR management, and mobile automation include a varied 18-month program with a strong international focus within the global KION Group. Participants will quickly assume responsibility in their own specialist area and also get to know the various facets of the multi-brand Group and understand key interfaces within it. The trainee position in intralogistics aftersales is at KION’s subsidiary Linde Material Handling in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg. The project management traineeship is at Dematic, a KION subsidiary and global material handling specialist offering intelligent software, supply chain, and automation solutions, in Heusenstamm near Frankfurt. A further placement in research & development is available in the internal unit of KION’s Chief Technology Officer, the CTO organization in Hamburg. There is a placement in HR management at the KION GROUP AG headquarters in Frankfurt, while the traineeship in the mobile automation unit, which produces automated guided vehicle systems, is also at KION GROUP AG, this time at the site in Aschaffenburg. The traineeships are divided into four blocks of four to five months with the third block being a five-month placement at a site abroad – pandemic situation permitting. This will give the management trainees the opportunity to quickly get to know other international sites and to broaden their horizons. Joint five-day workshops will be held at the beginning and at the half-way point of the program, focusing on basic KION Group knowledge, methodological training, and networking. “Our management trainee program gives motivated young managers with an international outlook an attractive start to their careers,” says Anke Groth, CFO and Labor Relations Director of the KION Group. “We offer them the perfect environment to unleash their potential and realize their own ideas, while at the same time we are recruiting young people with whom we want to continue our success story and shape the future of intralogistics.” In addition to exceptional career opportunities and varied tasks in a fast-moving, future-focused industry, the management trainees can look forward to working in friendly teams and to attractive remuneration. The application process is conducted entirely in English and comprises four stages: submission of application documents, a telephone interview, an online test, and an assessment center.
PTDA Foundation now accepting nominations for 2021 Wendy B. McDonald Award
On International Working Women’s Day, the PTDA Foundation is seeking nominations for the Wendy B. McDonald Award. This award recognizes a woman who has established herself as an integral contributor to her company’s success and brought positive change to the power transmission/motion control industry. The PTDA Foundation established the award in 2014 to honor the memory of Wendy B. McDonald, one of the power transmission/motion control industry’s true pioneers. An innovative woman business owner, Mrs. McDonald left many legacies through her long career in the industry. Her charm and grace are legendary as well as her philanthropy and commitment to give back to the industry and the communities that led to her success. The 2020 recipient of the award was C.C. Vest, Midpoint Bearing. Previous recipients include: Ellen Holladay, Motion Sandy Sullivan, formerly of Nidec Motor Corporation/U.S. Motors Tribby Warfield, formerly of Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation Linda Miller, B&D Industrial Elizabeth (Liz) Moon, Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation Pat Wheeler, Motion (Canada) These deserving women have made their way in the power transmission/motion control industry (PT/MC) and contributed to the industry’s success. The Wendy B. McDonald Award is presented annually when merited. Nominations are now being accepted through June 11, 2021, and will be judged by the following criteria: Nominees must be female and employed by a PTDA member company within the calendar year for which the nomination is being made. Nominees must exemplify leadership and integrity in all business relationships. There are no criteria with respect to title, position in the company, or years of experience. Download the criteria and nomination form at ptda.org/WBMcDonaldAward. The Award will be presented at the PTDA Industry Summit in October. The PTDA Foundation, whose work is funded solely by donations, was founded in 1982. Its core purpose is to champion education, outreach, and research initiatives relevant to the PT/MC industry that enhance the knowledge and/or professionalism and productivity of industry stakeholders. PTDA Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation; contributions are tax-deductible to the full amount allowed by law. For more information, visit ptda.org/Foundation.
Getting the most out of the Home Office Deduction
Over the past few months, nature has forced many working Americans and small business owners to work from home. Whether it be due to COVID-19, natural disasters, or the recent snowstorm that impacted almost all of the lower 48 United States, more Americans are working from home than ever before. A small consolation to working from home is that taxpayers can count part of that heating bill as a home office expense on their tax return. A taxpayer can do the same if they qualify for the home office deduction. Basically, the taxpayer gets to count a portion of home-related expenses that typically aren’t deductible. This includes certain residential maintenance and operational costs, such as utilities. Before cranking up their heat/air conditioning, a taxpayer needs to note a particular portion of the previous sentence: count a portion of home-related expenses. For example, a taxpayer’s house is 2,500 square feet. A taxpayer’s home office is a 250-square-foot room. A taxpayer can then claim 10 percent of a taxpayer’s annual heating, air conditioning, and water bills, as well as other common housing expenses, that make it possible for a taxpayer to do their work from there. People can only deduct the number of their residence expenses that apply to their home office. A home office is usually either a separate room or a portion of a room that meets the Internal Revenue Service qualifications. Notably, a taxpayer uses the area/room exclusively and regularly to conduct their business. Most of all, it should be noted that the home office deduction is not available to W2 employees. A taxpayer can usually deduct the business percentage of their utility payments and other services that pertain to the entire house. In addition to the heat, cooling, and running water, this may also include trash collection, security services, pest control costs, and even cleaning services. Keep in mind however that if a taxpayer is a DIY type of person, a taxpayer can only deduct the cost of the material and not the cost of their labor. If a taxpayer pays for a service that is not related to the business in any way, it is not deductible (i.e., painting their bedroom). However, so long as the service is related to the business (i.e., painting their office) then the direct expense is allowable. The type of home expense that a taxpayer claim is particularly important. The IRS breaks the type of home expenses down into three categories: (1) Direct expenses are expenses only for the business part of a taxpayer’s home (i.e. painting their office) and they are fully deductible; (2) Indirect expenses are expenses for keeping up a taxpayer’s entire home (i.e. insurance, utilities, and general repairs) and they are deductible based on the percentage of a taxpayer’s home used for business: and (3) unrelated expenses are expenses for only the parts of a taxpayer’s home not used for business (i.e. lawn care) and these expenses are not deductible. A taxpayer’s monthly mortgage or rent payment is probably a taxpayer’s largest home-related expense that can be counted toward the home-office deduction. Many homeowners already itemize and claim their home’s mortgage interest payments, as well as property taxes on Schedule A. If a taxpayer has a home office, a taxpayer can apportion part of these payments, again using the square footage percentage, toward their home office. A taxpayer’s Schedule A deduction amount then will be reduced. For most homeowners who work from home, it is more advantageous to claim at least part of the cost as a business expense. Homeowners know that home maintenance and repairs are treated differently for tax purposes. This is also true with regards to claiming the home office deduction. If a taxpayer can claim the home office deduction, then a taxpayer can deduct a portion of the taxpayer’s repairs. These are actions that keep a taxpayer’s home in ordinary and efficient operating condition. And, per the earlier discussion and IRS expense type table, just how much is deductible again depends on whether it is a direct or indirect expense. Generally, repairs include things like fixing interior walls and floors or exterior components like roofs and gutters; painting the whole house; and repairing a furnace or air conditioner that was worn out, for example, by extreme weather events. Again, the home office deduction amount uses the percentage of space calculation. Capital improvements, however, are added to the basis of the property. These are things that add to the value of a taxpayer’s home or considerably prolong its useful life. They also help home sellers realize a smaller profit and possibly escape tax on the proceeds. But when it comes to a taxpayer’s home office, a taxpayer can claim depreciation on the portion of a taxpayer’s home that serves as a taxpayer’s home office. This allows a taxpayer to account for costs over the years of such things as a taxpayer’s payments toward their mortgage principal. There is no denying that during these uncertain times, it is crucial for small business owners and self-employed individuals to receive every dollar that may be owed to them come tax time. If a taxpayer owns a small business or is a self-employed individual with questions about the proper deductions to take, including the home office deduction, please reach out to the professionals at The Center for Financial, Legal and Tax Planning, Inc.
Women In Trucking announces its March 2021 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Liz Imel as its March Member of the Month. She is an Over-the-Road (OTR) professional driver for Maverick Transportation out of Little Rock, Ark. Imel grew up on a farm and started driving tractors when she was just five years old. Her neighbor was a grain hauler. As a teenager, she earned money by washing his bicentennial painted long nose Pete every Saturday. This was the start of her love for big trucks. After working seven years in a farm repair shop, she went on to work at a hardware manufacturer. There, she started out on the packaging line and worked her way up to the machine setup. She continued to advance in the company to a press operator and then assistant foreman. After 13 years with the company, they closed due to foreign trade. The company’s closure was just the beginning of Imel’s professional truck-driving career. As a severance, she was given money for continuing education. With her oldest daughter out of school and her youngest almost out of high school, she thought, “this is my chance!” Imel started truck driving school at her local community college to earn her CDL. Imel has been with Maverick Transportation as an OTR driver for over eight years. The first seven years with the company, she pulled refrigerated foods. Now, she is pulling boats and loves it. “Unloading is a great workout. I also love that I get to go all over the United States,” she said. Maverick has recognized Imel for her high level of customer service and commitment to safety by selecting her as Driver of the Month in October 2014 and February 2019. In fact, she was also selected as the 2019 Driver of the Year for the company, which was a great honor. As Imel reflects back on this past year and dealing with the pandemic, she is optimistic about the image of the trucking industry. “One good thing that came out of this pandemic, is that the general public has a newfound respect for professional truck drivers. I challenge every driver to maintain and keep that respect by being true professionals out there—while driving and parked!” she said. Imel also encourages women to join the industry. “This is a great career if you are self-motivated and have a driven personality. If you are able to make split-second decisions, are kind to others, and keep a smile on your face, this is a good career for you,” she said.
MHEDA’s 2021 Virtual Showcase is live
The Material Handling Equipment and Distributors Association (MHEDA) 2021 Virtual Showcase is now live. The Virtual Showcase is where you can connect with material handling exhibitors in one place. This is a modern way to “walk” the tradeshow floor to learn about and research material handling products from the comfort of your home or office. There is no cost for visitors and no need to travel. You can access the Showcase by clicking here.
MHI announces finalists for the 2021 MHI Innovation Awards
MHI is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2021 MHI Innovation Awards. After receiving 92 submissions for this year’s awards, eight independent judges comprised of professionals from the material handling and supply chain industry completed the initial vetting process. Ten finalists were chosen as the most innovative products in each category – Best New Innovation; Best Innovation of an Existing Product; and Best IT Innovation based on the concept, value, and impact. The winners will be announced during the April 12th keynote at ProMatDX. The finalists are: Best New Product AutoStore for Router™ from AutoStore Big Ass Fan for Clean Air System Fives Intralogistics Corp. for GENI-Flex™ Modular Solution Geek+ for Geek+ RoboShuttle C200M robot SVT Robotics for SOFTBOT™ Platform SIERA.AI (Stocked Robotics, Inc. dba SIERA.AI) for SIERA Forklift Safety System S3 ThruWave, Inc. for ThruWave X2 mmWave Imaging System Vecna Robotics for Autonomous Counterbalanced Fork Truck Waypoint Robotics, Inc. for Waypoint Robotics/Productive Robotics 7 DOF Omnidirectional Mobile Manipulator Wiferion GmbH for etaLINK 3000 – wireless charging system Best Innovation of an Existing Product AutoStore for AutoStore Micro-fulfillment Center for Grocery Banner Engineering Corporation for Q5X Jam Detection Sensor Georg Utz, Inc. for Attached Lid with Bag Hooks Ideal Warehouse Innovations, Inc. for AutoStand Wide LogistiVIEW for OnSite™? Remote Collaboration Numina Group Inc. for RDS Batch Bot Packsize International LLC for Packsize X7 Automated In-line Packaging and Fulfillment Solution Quadient for CVP Everest Automated Packaging Solution Valley Craft, Inc. for The Hydraulic Powered Self-Dumping Hopper Forklift Attachment Wieland Electric Inc. for podis power distribution system Best IT Innovation 4Front Engineered Solutions for 4SIGHT Connect Digital Gate BEUMER Corporation for BG INSIGHT Real-time Data Analytics Damotech, Inc. for The Damotech Platform: Rack Safety & Inspection Cloud Software Fascor for Advanced Cartonization Geek+ for FleetSort – Autonomous Goods Sortation with S20 New Dawn for Horizon Warehouse Execution Software (WES) Optimal Discovery LLC for Optimal Picking SmartBOL for Mobile Driver Check-in & Check-out Softeon for Softeon Warehouse Management + Execution System Yard Management Solutions Yard Management Solutions 2021 Innovations The MHI Innovation Award serves to educate and provide valuable insights on the latest manufacturing and supply chain products and services to ProMatDX attendees. ProMatDX sponsors were called to submit a new product, product line, technology or service, or new application of existing products or technology that create quantifiable and sustainable results in terms of ROI, cost savings, and customer satisfaction. The winners of the 2021 MHI Innovation Awards will be announced during a ProMatDX keynote session at 11:00 AM CT on April 12 at promatshow.com. View all submissions for the 2021 MHI Innovation Awards.
Applied Manufacturing Technologies hires Industrial Control Systems expert Steven R. Johnstone
AMT hires Steven R. Johnstone as Director – Controls Application to support an increase in demand for the company’s engineering services and control system integration solutions Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent automation engineering company supporting manufacturers, robot companies, systems integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, today announced the hire of Steven R. Johnstone as Director – Controls Application. “Steve is an industry professional with a proven track record of leadership in automation and brings added strength to our controls and automation team as we continue to grow,” said Chief Operating Officer Craig Salvalaggio. “With AMT’s growth in systems integration and controls solutions, Steve will work to provide additional group and project leadership as we grow our presence within new industries. In addition to his business leadership, he will support the sales team with estimating and the execution team with project management. Steve is an industry pro and will work to represent AMT’s technical ability and ethics to serve our industry.” Johnstone brings nearly three decades of experience in a wide variety of roles in the industrial automation and control systems industry to his new role at AMT. Johnstone’s most recent position was a senior electrical engineer at a large packaging products and systems company where he oversaw capital projects and supported plant operations. For 25 years prior to that, Johnstone owned and operated JS Controls, Inc., which specialized in automation and systems integration for the Southeast Michigan region. Johnstone holds a variety of certifications and training, including Schneider Unity Pro PLC Programming certification and Horner Automation’s OCS Training for PLCs / HMIs, as well as being a member of the Sandler Sales Institute’s President’s Club. To his new role at AMT, Johnstone experience with all major industry brands, including Rockwell Automation, Allen Bradley, Siemens, SquareD, Modicon, Telemecanique, General Electric, Horner, and Unitronics.
Port of Long Beach Rail Project meeting set for March 3
The Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project team will update the public during a virtual community meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 3. You can join this virtual meeting from a computer, phone, and other mobile devices. Click here to register. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the Pier B project page for those unable to attend. The planned Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility is the centerpiece of the Port of Long Beach’s $1 billion rail capital improvement program. It will shift more cargo to “on-dock rail,” where containers are taken to and from marine terminals by trains, significantly reducing truck trips throughout the region. No cargo trucks would visit the facility. Instead, smaller train segments would be brought to the facility and joined together into a full-sized train. Construction is set to begin in 2023. The first arrival, departure, and storage tracks are expected to be completed in 2024, with additional tracks coming online in 2030, followed by project completion in 2032. View the project fact sheet and more information at www.polb.com/pierb. The Port of Long Beach is one of the world’s premier seaports, a gateway for trans-Pacific trade, and a trailblazer in goods movement and environmental stewardship. With 175 shipping lines connecting Long Beach to 217 seaports, the Port handles $170 billion in trade annually, supporting more than 575,000 Southern California jobs.
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending February 20, 2021
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 20, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 377,904 carloads and intermodal units, down 21.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending February 20 were 171,642 carloads, down 26.3 percent compared with the same week in 2020, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 206,262 containers and trailers, down 17.4 percent compared to 2020. None of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2020. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2020 included coal, down 14,856 carloads, to 48,745; nonmetallic minerals, down 13,765 carloads, to 16,088; and chemicals, down 9,400 carloads, to 23,864. For the first seven weeks of 2021, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 1,539,758 carloads, down 6.3 percent from the same point last year; and 1,917,967 intermodal units, up 6.5 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first seven weeks of 2021 was 3,457,725 carloads and intermodal units, an increase of 0.4 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending February 20, 2021, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 257,127 carloads, down 22.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 286,467 intermodal units, down 11.9 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 543,594 carloads and intermodal units, down 17.1 percent. North American rail volume for the first seven weeks of 2021 was 4,725,082 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.4 percent compared with 2020. Canadian railroads reported 67,877 carloads for the week, down 11.1 percent, and 63,968 intermodal units, up 13.8 percent compared with the same week in 2020. For the first seven weeks of 2021, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 1,034,601 carloads, containers, and trailers, up 4.6 percent. Mexican railroads reported 17,608 carloads for the week, down 16.5 percent compared with the same week last year, and 16,237 intermodal units, down 14.8 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first seven weeks of 2021 was 232,756 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, down 14.3 percent from the same point last year. Click here for the weekly rail traffic charts.