Corsight launches Global Operations with Advanced Facial Recognition Solutions
Autonomous AI Empowers any Surveillance Camera with Next-generation Analytics Corsight AI Inc. announces the launch of global operations to provide autonomous AI software solutions for professional security and business intelligence applications. At the helm of the new venture are industry veterans Gadi Piran, Mulli Diamant, and Yoav Millet, founders and executive members previously from VMS leader OnSSI. Corsight offers advanced facial recognition solutions with autonomous AI technology built on neural network technology that emerged from research at the world-renowned Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Headquartered in the United States with an R&D Center in Israel, Corsight recently raised $5 million from Awz Ventures, a Canadian fund focused on intelligence and security technologies. Unlike AI solutions based on deep learning, the autonomous AI employed by Corsight delivers a higher level of intelligence that mimics the way humans interpret sensory inputs to better anticipate and predict events and understand their surroundings. This allows Corsight technology to recognize different faces even at extreme angles with outstanding speed and accuracy even when presented in different perspectives under diverse lighting and environmental conditions. Corsight solutions are built on a foundation of over 250 patents registered to date. By leveraging the huge volume of data captured by today’s video surveillance cameras of all types, Corsight’s innovative autonomous AI facial recognition solution makes any video surveillance camera a portal for AI data analysis. Applications include real-time facial recognition analytics for identification and access control credentialing even when faces are concealed by face-masks, goggles, or plastic shields, as well as people counting, anomaly detection, and forensic analysis. With privacy as a primary charter, all Corsight autonomous AI solutions are developed with extensive provisions engineered to protect each individual’s privacy. “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the immediate demand for innovative security technologies. Just a few months ago we all believed that the new autonomous AI facial recognition solution we were preparing to launch was far ahead of its time. As it turns out, it is just in time,” said Gadi Piran, CEO at Corsight. “Corsight facial recognition delivers the power to unlock the massive volumes of data captured by any video source, organize it into comprehensible intelligence, and deliver actionable insights while setting new standards in performance and personal privacy. After years of expectation, it was this new level of facial recognition technology that drew Mulli, Yoav, and me back into the industry, and we are most excited to begin a new journey with Corsight.”
Moblico Technology is providing distributors the tools to adapt and thrive in a new economy
Recent events have proven the importance of innovation and modernization to keep businesses running remotely Moblico is transforming the business landscape for distributors, helping them stay always connected. With new ways to order remotely and engage with texting and mobile apps, Moblico is driving the shift that’s helping distributors secure the supply chain during times of unexpected crisis through curbside pick-up and remote operations. “Moblico’s technology has played a significant role in our ability to keep our business running smoothly amid the pandemic,” says Lauren Roberts, CEO of CFM Distributors. “Despite the new set of challenges we’re facing as a result of the pandemic, the technology, like what we have with Moblico, enables us to maintain the same levels of communication with customers while providing accurate and timely information.” Wholesale is a 5.7 trillion dollar industry, and the pandemic has exposed the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of the supply chain. Moblico saw a sharp increase in the use of its mobile ordering and engagement platform during the pandemic, nearly a 130% increase in March and a 76% increase in April. The post-pandemic economy will require innovative solutions to keep business moving no matter what situations arise. Many distributors have yet to adapt to the tech-driven, cloud-based economy of the 21st century; legacy methods that utilize limited communication and mobile commerce technology are not aging well, proven by recent events. Solutions such as Business Texting, also known as text-to-landline, are enabling seamless communication between sales and support teams and their customers anytime, anywhere, while leveraging distributor branches’ existing landline phone numbers. Business Texting enables text-based ordering, customer support, and visual communication through pictures, videos, and documents. Leveraging a platform also enables simpler tracking and management of text-based communications, while decreasing wait times and improving productivity. The mobile app designed for distributors creates a centralized platform to bring together an array of services, regardless of platform, in one convenient location. Customers can quickly order, build lists, and shop on their mobile phones. With Moblico’s Marketing Engine, distributors can deliver personalized content, communicate, and build deeper connections with customers. Among other use cases, the mobile app is used by distributors’ customers to scan products to shopping lists, search and order product parts, click-to-call, and click-to-text with branch locations able to lookup manufacturer warranties, and much more. Moblico is also creating new opportunities to engage with customers remotely, not only by messaging capabilities like SMS, MMS, email, TXT2CHAT, and in-app push notifications but also through marketing and content initiatives. Digital advertising, promotions, training, events, and loyalty rewards help to drive marketing campaigns and provide additional opportunities to interact with current and potential customers. Robust content pieces like videos, informative literature, calculators, and more, are helpful, practical tools that provide ongoing value for those same customers. In addition, Moblico’s promotional tool suite makes it possible for distributors to monetize their mobile communication programs. “Historically, our industry has lagged behind when it comes to adopting new technology,” adds Roberts. “But the situation created by this pandemic has proven the need and importance of evolving with new and innovative technologies. It’s enabling companies like ours to conduct business remotely, observe Federal guidelines, and keep our employees and customers safe.” Moblico’s roots are based in mobile business solutions, helping distributors accomplish more while on-the-go, enabling remote ordering, communication, content dissemination, and more. For distributors to thrive in today’s economy, it takes an exceptional customer experience, increased productivity, cloud-based operations, and targeted outreach, all of which Moblico’s technology provides.
Harpak-ULMA announces Packaging Design & Prototyping Services
Harpak-ULMA, the North American arm of ULMA Packaging, announced a new suite of packaging design & prototyping services to help producers more rapidly and cost-effectively develop and operationalize innovative packaging concepts. Harpak-ULMA’s new suite of services enables marketing and packaging engineering teams to now access a combination of conceptual design, prototypes, and implementation guidance from a single source— the $1B industry leader in complete packaging line solutions. As a result, marketers, and engineers can more readily visualize and evaluate multiple designs by easily producing high-quality, photo-realistic 2D/3D renderings complete with branding and graphics, as well as the rapid iteration of cost-effective prototypes. Employing Harpak-ULMA’s new agile-based approach enables producer teams to compete more effectively by streamlining the delivery of tangible, realistic, production-ready concepts to their customers. The service means marketing and packaging engineering teams can now access a combination of conceptual design, prototypes, and implementation guidance from a single source. Harpak-ULMA promises to help marketers and engineers more easily visualize and evaluate multiple designs by easily producing high-quality, photo-realistic 2D/3D renderings complete with branding and graphics, as well as the rapid iteration of cost-effective prototypes. Employing an agile-based approach enables producer teams to compete more effectively by making it easier to put tangible, realistic, production-ready concepts in their customers’ hands. Traditional package design initiatives can include any combination of in-house or outsourced design, prototyping, and packaging OEM organizations. This typically is executed as a waterfall development process that essentially silos each phase, often with multiple supporting companies or teams. Such an approach to developing new packaging may not only take longer but result in a final approved design that doesn’t sufficiently account for production limitations. If a marketing team, design firm, or engineering team does not recognize and incorporate underlying machine constraints in the design phase, an approved concept may face significant production challenges. In fact, settling on the design prior to seeking operational input opens the door to potentially expensive errors. That can include package or material characteristics that aren’t reflective of the original design intent, or worse – implementation delays, redesigns, or additional costly equipment configurations. Carlo Bergonzi, Harpak-ULMA’s Product Manager for Tray Seal, explains, “A common facet that we see design teams overlook is the effect of packaging geometry on tray rigidity and feel, as well as consistent material thickness. For example, a custom multi-cavity tray design can result in as much as a 50% reduction in material gauge between the tray flange and floor. We’d recommend some changes in package geometry to alleviate this kind of production issue. Unfortunately, if the design team is not aware of material deformation induced by a tray production process, this may not be evident until after the cost of a developing a prototype has been incurred. “We also see companies limit their prototype options and stick with standard tray designs due to the expense associated with asking their standard tray vendor to produce a custom mold. This can easily run into low-to-mid six-digit figures. Our Mondini Platformer line enables producers to create custom trays with a one-year payback on that investment,” Carlo added. Dave Favret, Harpak-ULMA TFS Product Manager, cites another example, “We’ve also seen unique package designs from marketing teams which unfortunately require a specific thermoforming sealing process that’s incompatible with required throughput rates.” In both scenarios, an understanding of pragmatic material and production constraints in the design phase makes it far easier to drive incremental design change without sacrificing the original marketing intent. The package design consulting service introduced by Harpak-ULMA utilizes agile development concepts. Enabling a more collaborative process between production engineering and marketing during the design phase is the key to optimizing prototyping and implementation time and cost while encouraging design innovation. Harpak-ULMA’s iterative design process utilizes deep knowledge of equipment capabilities and digital prototyping techniques (CAD and 3D Printing) to enable rapid evaluations of functionally pragmatic packaging design features and even graphic-intensive printing options. “Historically, we’ve often helped customers bring a new design into production, including assisting them in the ideation process. We’ve always been able to work with CAD and CNC new molds for prototype production, and we have multiple pieces of equipment to produce samples. Adding 3D printing to that mix accelerates that process and offers some interesting customer alternatives for back-up molds in a pinch,” said Favret. “Over the last 40 years, we’ve developed the knowledge, resources, and tools to address the entire packaging development cycle.” Kevin Roach, Harpak-ULMA’s CEO, expressed confidence that customers would perceive substantial value in the new service. “Formalizing our capabilities into a one-stop service offering designed to help producers bring new concepts to market faster, at less cost, is consistent with our emphasis on driving innovation in this market space,” said Roach. “While producers have options available to them already, we believe we are uniquely suited to help them incorporate functional design aspects upfront while avoiding the time and expense of innovative concepts incompatible with production capabilities or expectations. “Combining our operational experience with advanced design tools allows us to present detailed, photo-realistic renderings of retail-ready presentations based on actual production parameters. We can even execute shipment and shelf-life testing using production-quality prototypes. Producer marketing teams value the ability to quickly visualize new packaging renderings and real package samples because it helps them win more business. Our service offers them an alternative to more traditional approaches for introducing new packaging –not only making the ideation process more tangible but decreasing NPI risk by avoiding costly design mistakes early on,” Roach said.
Wholesaler podcast: Episode 73 – Inspekto at MODEX 2020
In this episode, I was joined by Harel Boren who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Inspekto. Inspekto uses machine learning to do quality checks and brings a plug and play setup to the industry. Harel and I spoke at MODEX 2020 via video chat while he was about 12,000 miles away due to COVID-19 regulations just beginning at that time. It was a great discussion and a really interesting product. Key Takeaways While machine vision has been utilized for inspections for a little bit, what has been missing is a plug and play application. That is where Inspekto comes into the industry. They provide an application that can easily be set up in your operation without the need for integrators or other assistance. Harel discusses how vision systems like this have typically been for projects involving integrators but Inspekto saw the gap in the market and has been able to change that notion with their solution, the S70. I was able to try out the system in their booth at MODEX and see just how effective their system works. The system was very simple and took up just a small footprint. When they explained how to set it up and how it arrives I was really amazed at how simple the setup was. In just 30-45 minutes you can be set up with the system and it only takes about 30 captures for the system to learn the item. The great thing about the system is the use of machine vision that continues to learn the items it is seeing. As it learns it quickly catches any defects in the item. It was incredibly interesting to see at the beginning of the show how they were setting up the systems and having it learn the demo items and then to see it recognize just a little bit later defects in the items that it had learned. Definitely a great system to help with increasing QA checks and address labor shortages. Listen to the episode below and also take a look at the video showing how the Inspekto S70 learns new items. The New Warehouse Podcast Inspekto at MODEX 2020
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 62 – Quadient at MODEX 2020
Episode 62 – Quadient at MODEX 2020 In this episode, I am joined by Bas van Steenoven of Quadient. Bas is the Global Director of Marketing for Quadient and stopped by The New Warehouse booth at MODEX 2020 to discuss their solutions, how they help to improve efficiency, reduce costs and also help to make the supply chain more sustainable. Key Takeaways Quadient (formerly Neopost) operates in a wide range of different solutions all with the focus on allowing its customers to create a stronger connection with their customers. They do this through a few different approaches but what my discussion with Bas was focused on was their automated packaging solutions which help to improve efficiency and reduce costs for your operation. They have two different automated packaging solutions in the CVP Everest and CVP Impack. The CVP Everest is focused on high-velocity output with the capability to package 1,100 packages per hour. The CVP Impack is also focused on having high output volume but also customization of your packaging to create a better customer experience. Automated packaging is a huge efficiency improvement and costs savings because it takes the guesswork out of what packages to use for each order. The system will make packaging to fit the order specifically so there is no void where space is waste and essentially money wasted on void fill or extra corrugate. Additionally, the big savings is on reduction in labor costs because the machine is doing the packaging and there is less labor allocated to your packaging process. As you can imagine, these are huge savings and Bas discusses just how big the impact can be in this episode. Bas also discusses how their system can help to tackle the optimization of dim weight charges when it comes to shipping parcel through FedEx, UPS, or others. It can communicate with shipping software to tell what the calculated dim weight is at the time of packaging so that further down the line the best option for the lowest cost shipping will be selected. One of the other important points that we discuss in this episode is the important environmental factor that automated packaging helps to address. With these solutions, less waste is created because less material is used. Also, less void fill is used, which oftentimes is not so environmentally friendly. I believe this is a big deal because as we look at the future of our industry technology is important but so is being environmentally and socially responsible. Check out Quadient’s automated packaging solutions in action below. Episode and Video Interview The New Warehouse Podcast EP 62: Quadient at MODEX 2020
Episode 67 – Six15 Technologies at MODEX 2020
Episode 67 – Six15 Technologies at MODEX 2020 In this episode I was joined by Rich Ryan who is the CEO of Six15 Technologies. You may be familiar with the HD4000 heads up display from Zebra Technologies from previous episodes of the podcast (Episode 40) where we discussed the HD4000 and Fulfillment Edge, Six15 is the creator behind the heads up display technology. Rich and I discuss the background of Six15, how the partnership came about with Zebra, and the future of using their heads up display technology. Key Takeaways Similar to logistics, Six15 Technologies has its roots in military applications. They began to develop their HUD technology for the defense sector and as they looked to address some pain points of the most demanding environments they realized that the technology would apply well to the warehousing environment. When looking at applications for their technology, they were able to recognize how the HUD could increase productivity, reduce safety incidents, and give workers an overall improvement to their comfort level when picking. As I have previously mentioned about this technology, allowing the picker to be truly hands-free is a huge advantage to the improvement of workflow and allows the worker to be more focused on their task without having to pick up a device to verify the information. Bringing their ST1 Head-Up Display hardware to the Zebra HD4000 is what allows Zebra to deliver such a fine-tuned, truly hands-free picking device. As Rich discusses in the episode, Zebra’s Fulfillment Edge platform allows for the HUD hardware to be fully optimized for the picking environment. Fulfillment Edge streamlines what the operator sees in the HUD optical while the ST1 projects the information clearly in the operator’s view and senses the operator’s movements. Rich also talks about the future of the technology which is already partly built into the device. There is a head tracker, microphone, and camera already built into the HD4000 which can allow the device to give you a true augmented reality experience through the optical. One of the really interesting applications that Rich discusses is how the device can be paired with a Zoom or GoToMeeting so that those on the other end of the conference line are able to view what the operator is seeing and pictures are able to be captured and sent back to other remotely. This is a great application for remote training or even remote guidance for technicians or other types of maintenance roles. Listen and watch the episode below. Let us know in the comments what you think about the future of this HUD technology. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 67: Six15 Technologies At MODEX 2020
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
Episode 71 – SnapFulfil at MODEX 2020
In this episode, I am joined by Don White who is the CEO of SnapFulfil. SnapFulfil is a cloud-based WMS provider that allows a lot of flexibility for operations that need a top tier WMS but also need a budget-friendly and quick implementation option. Don and I discuss SnapFulfil’s WMS, how it works, and their new SnapCart. Key Takeaways SnapFulfil is a software as a service (SaaS) product which makes the adoption of the system and implementation very easy. Don mentions that due to the way the software is built it is more configuration than custom coding so even the most complex customers can get up and running in under 80 days. When it comes to customer requests, Don tells us what they see from SnapFulfil’s customers is that they all have a unique situation. Even though warehousing is a standardized overall process throughout the industry, there is a lot of variabilities depending on the products you distribute and the customers you serve and SnapFulfil has taken all of this into consideration in order to make the most robust WMS possible so it can adapt to all these different needs. As mentioned in previous MODEX posts, partnerships are playing such a huge role in pushing our industry forward. SnapFulfil has partnered with Jitterbit which is a SaaS integrator that allows SnapFulfil’s WMS to better communicate with other systems and integrate with them more easily. This helps to increase the implementation time even more. Don also talks to us about their new innovation which is the SnapCart. The SnapCart is a new robotic picking cart that can hold up to 48 totes. Much like the cost differentiator on their WMS, the SnapCart costs 1/3 of some other robotic solutions. The cart utilizes pick to light technology to help pickers determine which tote their pick should be placed in. With the cart moving from picker to picker it creates higher efficiency in the warehouse and reduces fatigue on the pickers because of less walking time. At the time of MODEX, the SnapCart was just starting to be publicly displayed so stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. Listen to and watch the episode below. Let us know in the comments what some of your biggest pain points with your WMS are. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 71: SnapFulfil at MODEX 2020
FlytWare launches Solution Partner Program for Drones in Warehouses
FlytBase, Inc. has launched the FlytWare Solution Partner program, designed for win-win partnerships in the supply chain industry, with a focus on inventory automation in large warehouses and distribution centers. By harnessing the power of fully autonomous drones, FlytWare Solution Partners can now create sustainable business value for their customers – by saving time, effort, and costs spent on manual inventory counts. Inventory cycle counts, and wall-to-wall counts, are a critical part of warehouse & DC operations, yet remain largely manual – despite the rapid automation of inventory movement inside large warehouses. Aerial inventory scans, using cost-effective, off-the-shelf drones, are about to disrupt these manual counts – driven not only by e-commerce and fast supply chains, but more so by concerns related to labor availability, drop-in profit margins, and public health. FlytWare, with intelligent automation software at the core, has successfully demonstrated the technical and commercial feasibility of automatic aerial inventory scans – across warehouses in US, Europe, and Asia. These deployments are now ready to be scaled across sites, sectors, and geographies – powered by FlytWare partners. Intelligent inventory drones can create a 10X impact on inventory counts – and offer intangible benefits in the form of improved worker safety, live video feeds, location-wise image data for audits, and high-frequency wall-to-wall counts. As autonomous navigation, object recognition, AI/ML and machine vision techniques improve, such aerial scans are becoming relevant for an increasing array of inventory use-cases, such as counting items in broken pallets, estimating space utilization of rack locations, etc. The Solution Partner program provides partners the ability to demonstrate inventory automation leadership, and thus differentiate themselves from in a competitive industry. With access to market & customer insights, the FlytWare solution roadmap, marketing collateral, product training, and RoI calculators, Solution Partners can rapidly climb the ‘drone learning curve’. They can access multiple revenue streams across the journey of aerial inventory adoption, from lead generation to post-deployment maintenance and support. With successful deployments in traditional as well as very narrow aisles (VNAs), rack as well as bulk storage, and one-deep pallet reserves as well as one-deep case reserves, FlytWare is ready for broader market adoption – with Solution Partners leading the way. The multi-billion-dollar opportunity for warehouse inventory automation can be made a reality only via strong partnerships and seamless technology integration. As Nitin Gupta, FlytBase CEO pointed out, “The importance of B2B partnerships has only increased amidst the ongoing pandemic; restrictions on travel, e-commerce & human involvement have highlighted the importance of remote collaboration and automation. Since last year, we have worked closely with not only our enterprise customers but also members of the warehouse inventory ecosystem such as WMS vendors, supply chain consultants, inventory service providers, pallet suppliers, and so on. These interactions clearly highlighted the need to help our customers navigate the journey of automation in their inventory search, count, and audit processes. We now wish to accelerate our FlytWare partnership activity, across countries, and across the customer life cycle.” With continuous improvement and operational efficiency at the core of inventory management, the benefits of autonomous drones, versus manual counts, are too significant to ignore. FlytWare Solution Partners have the opportunity to engage in this industry disruption at its early stages, and thus capture tremendous value for themselves and their customers.
Cognex introduces world’s first Industrial Smart Camera Powered by Deep Learning
In-Sight® D900 provides an all-in-one solution for complex in-line inspection challenges Cognex Corporation, a provider in industrial machine vision, introduces the In-Sight® D900 embedded vision system. A first-of-its-kind solution, the In-Sight D900 features Cognex’s ViDi™ deep learning software inside an In-Sight industrial-grade smart camera. The self-contained system is designed to solve a broad range of complex in-line inspection applications including optical character recognition (OCR), assembly verification, and defect detection. “Sophisticated manufacturers are increasingly turning to deep learning vision to solve inspections that are too complicated, time-consuming, or costly to program using human or rule-based machine vision,” said Joerg Kuechen, Senior Vice President of Vision Products at Cognex. “By embedding our ViDi deep learning software in In-Sight, customers can solve even the most complex visual inspections quickly, easily, and more cost-effectively.” Combining the self-learning ability of a human inspector with the robustness and consistency of a vision system, the In-Sight D900 expands the limits of what can be inspected in factory automation. The system, which can be set up using a small number of image samples, leverages Cognex’s familiar and easy-to-use spreadsheet platform and does not require a PC or deep learning expertise to deploy. The In-Sight D900 is ideal for automating complex inspection applications across a range of industries including automotive, consumer electronics, consumer products, packaging, food and beverage, medical devices, and logistics.
U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders increased in February 2020: Covid-19 Pandemic upends U.S. Economy and Manufacturing Industry
U.S. manufacturing technology orders increased 3 percent in February from the previous month to $277.9 million, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. New orders were 16.5 percent lower than in February 2019. Total orders through February 2020 are $547 million, 26.2 percent lower than YTD 2019 orders. “Before the pandemic hit, we had predicted lower manufacturing technology orders in the first half of the year with a pickup in the second half,” said Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT. “Clearly the downturn will be much more severe than could have been anticipated. While we still expect a rebound later this year, this recovery is likely to take an extended period of time to get to pre-crisis levels as the global economy, the U.S. economy, and the manufacturing industry slowly regain their momentum.” “While all industries are being affected, and some more than others, with cancellations of orders or postponement of expected orders, due to long lead times of some industrial equipment and urgent retooling to meet crisis-related production some pockets of investment are continuing. As we progress out of this crisis the manufacturing technology industry will be critical in scaling up the products and equipment our economy needs going forward such as air filtration equipment, laboratory and medical equipment, automation, pharmaceuticals, PPE, defense and other products. These opportunities will create momentum in the manufacturing technology industry well into 2021 and beyond supplying both domestic and global needs.” “The pandemic has clearly exposed the risks of excessive reliance on non-diversified, global supply chains to produce the necessary products and equipment in a time of crisis—be it an outbreak of a disease, an economic crisis, or a large military conflict. Centralized supply chains in foreign countries have proved to be detrimental to the ability of the U.S. to effectively react to a global crisis. Revitalizing America’s manufacturing sector would provide the U.S. with “self-manufacturing-sufficient” supply chains to support our industrial base in a crisis.”
BluJay and Loadsmart announce strategic partnership to improve efficiency
Integration offers shippers new tools to improve efficiency and gain superior visibility for their shipments BluJay Solutions, a provider of global supply chain software and services, and Loadsmart, a digital freight technology company, just announced a strategic and technical partnership that delivers greater transportation efficiency and visibility to shippers. The API-enabled integration of Loadsmart’s digital freight platform with BluJay’s cloud-based transportation management software (TMS) allows customers access to Loadsmart’s offering of instantly bookable truckload rates and guaranteed capacity directly within the BluJay platform. “Loadsmart and BluJay share a passion for innovation and a commitment to putting customers first, making this partnership a natural fit,” said Felipe Capella, president and co-founder of Loadsmart. “The integration of our industry-leading platform with BluJay’s first-of-its-kind cloud-based TMS delivers tangible value to our shared customers, who now can more seamlessly and efficiently lock in rates and capacity through a single UI.” Customers benefit from improved efficiency and reduced transportation costs. The integration allows for Loadsmart’s real-time, bookable rates to appear within BluJay’s Transportation Management application in the Carrier Shop, Routing Guide, or both. As a result, shippers can automatically tender the load and receive status updates from pickup through delivery, with near-real-time tracking. “Our partnership and integration with Loadsmart couldn’t come at a better time for BluJay and our customers. The current pandemic has had a tremendous impact on freight rates and capacity. The Loadsmart solution, combined with the advanced capabilities of the BluJay TMS, will help our shippers rapidly secure capacity at a competitive rate. Even once the environment settles, Loadsmart will provide our customers with the tools needed to improve visibility, control costs and improve operational efficiency,” said David Landau, chief product officer at BluJay.
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
Interroll´s modular solutions for automated pallet conveyance now available in the Americas
Based on its successful Modular Conveyor Platform (MCP), Interroll is now introducing a modular platform for driven pallet conveyance in the Americas region. The Modular Pallet Conveyor Platform (MPP) system makes use of a number of components, including technical products that have been tried and tested hundreds of thousands of times by users. The new conveyor platform is an ideal addition to the Interroll Pallet & Carton Flow flow storage system. Reliable and efficient pallet handling is becoming increasingly important in modern goods flows. In many cases, this hinges primarily on keeping the transport times between goods receipt and goods dispatch, or between storage, production and commissioning facilities in a business to a minimum and ensuring that these transport processes are highly efficient by means of automation—and keeping planning processes streamlined, assembly requirements low and expansion options flexible. Ideal for automated pallet transport Interroll’s new solution for system integrators and plant constructors offers all this and more. The MPP is an exceptionally versatile pallet conveyor system, distinguished by its highly flexible modular design¤ In conjunction with Interroll’s tried-and-tested Pallet & Carton Flow flow storage system, the new pallet conveying platform is an ideal foundation on which to build comprehensive pallet storage and conveying solutions of any type and for any application. Unlike the flow storage system, in which pallets are buffered in intermediate storage areas on inclined belts due to the force of gravity, the MPP is a driven conveying system for pallets. Depending on the application scenario, the drive is powered by gear or drum motors, which even enables the creation of zero-pressure-accumulation conveyors. Simple planning, flexible design The fully modular system can be planned and arranged extremely simply and conveniently using Interroll’s popular Layouter tool. The MPP consists of chain or roller conveyors, as well as additional modules such as transfers and turntables. Unique modules for special functions are also available on request. The modules are optimally coordinated and fully preassembled on delivery in order to make installation as easy as possible. Additionally, the system can be modified or expanded incredibly easily and cost-effectively at a later date. Depending on the conveyor design and the chosen modules, pallets weighing up to 1,200 kg can be transported at a top speed of 0.5 metres per second. The elements in the system are guaranteed to function perfectly within a temperature range of -28 to +40° C., meaning that the MPP can also be used in low-temperature applications. Depending on the control system used, the system can be designed differently—for different weights, with a variable speed or with an integrated positioning function, for instance. Pallet inspection stations can also be installed along the conveyor upon request. These enable the dimensions, weight, intactness or suitability of the pallets on the conveyor to be checked. Optionally, further inspections can be carried out: for example, in order to guarantee that only complete pallets with intact goods are transported on the conveyor. In all of this, however, Interroll has placed great importance on optimum workplace safety and a healthy work environment. The new MPP was extensively tested and subjected to extreme endurance tests and load tests before being introduced onto the market. It complies with all applicable safety regulations and generates a noise level of just 68 dB(A) during operation.
Qimarox strengthens grip on the chain with Tradecloud platform
Qimarox has strengthened its collaboration with suppliers by implementing the Tradecloud Supply Chain platform. Through this platform, Qimarox communicates with suppliers about the rapidly growing number of orders and deliveries. Because Qimarox expects to continue to grow, digitalization of the supply chain was an important wish. Purchasing manager Hendri de Ruiter: ‘We can only maintain our high level of delivery reliability if our suppliers also maintain a high level of delivery reliability’. Tradecloud is a digital platform that supports buyers and their suppliers by increasing speed and flexibility and wasting less time and resources. The standard platform is specially developed for the manufacturing industry, runs in the cloud and communicates with any ERP system. Qimarox has been using the platform since January of this year to automatically share orders from its own ERP system with eleven suppliers. They, in turn, send an order confirmation directly from their own ERP system or via the platform. ‘Our suppliers see it immediately when a new purchase order is ready and can import it directly into their own ERP system without having to enter any data manually. That makes for a much more efficient process, both at Qimarox’s end as well as of the suppliers,’ says purchasing manager Hendri de Ruiter of Qimarox. He mentions the following advantages: more insight into deliveries and better calculations of material requirements. Full chain integration Qimarox signed the contract with Tradecloud in February 2019. One month later the project started, after which the platform was implemented in six months. Qimarox connected the first supplier to the platform in September. The platform has been fully live since January 2020 and eleven suppliers are now connected. For them, connection to the platform is free, while they also benefit from full chain integration thanks to the standard ERP connectors. Because the manual procurement tasks such as processing order confirmations are now automated, Qimarox spends half the time on order administration. Automation also leads to more speed and fewer errors. Because Qimarox’s purchasing staff can now concentrate only on the orders that require attention, supplier delivery reliability has increased. ‘We now have fewer rush orders as well as less problems with orders. We are now all on the same page.’ Everything in one place All communication between Qimarox and suppliers is now in one place. Not only De Ruiter but also other parties within Qimarox and the suppliers can easily see what has been agreed. ‘Our goal is to capture as much knowledge as possible in systems. We go quite far in defining the specifications with which the purchased parts must comply. This prevents mistakes and misunderstandings. Especially in these times with a shortage of technical personnel, it is important to communicate clearly and efficiently, so that companies are able to make optimal use of the competencies of their employees’, says De Ruiter. Qimarox is currently using the Tradecloud modules Orders, Workflow, Communication, and Basic Supply Chain Analytics. De Ruiter: ‘This year we want to connect even more suppliers. We are also thinking about expanding the processes we want to facilitate with Tradecloud. Consider, for example, the modules Forecasts and Article management.’
MHS launches software solution for e-commerce-driven warehouses
MHS has announced the launch of a new warehouse software solution built to address the challenges distribution and fulfillment centers face as a result of e-commerce growth. MHS Helix consists of template-based modules for equipment control, inventory management, and order fulfillment functions, designed to work together in customized configurations according to each facility’s unique requirements. “With distribution centers becoming increasingly complex, getting all the processes aligned using traditional warehouse software systems can result in runaway complexity, with several layers of software, redundancy, and one-off customizations,” says Tab Fischbach, senior vice president of business development for distribution and fulfillment, MHS. “Our approach with Helix is to keep things simple, with ready-made modules that allow businesses to scale with new functionality while maintaining a single, lean platform.” The ability to grow the software platform to match business requirements is an ideal fit for operations characterized by fast growth and change. As inventories swell and order volumes grow, businesses must adapt warehouse infrastructure, implementing new automation and guided work technologies, inventory management processes, order fulfillment workflows and more. Helix is designed for this ongoing evolution, allowing users to simply add the corresponding module as business dictates. MHS Helix works seamlessly and securely across enterprise systems and machine-level controllers alike, providing the split-second response and information accessibility to keep operations moving. A variety of features get information to key stakeholders when and how they prefer, including email and SMS alerts, extensive logging, and informative status display interface and more.
Delmar International Inc. deploys Tecsys Software to improve 3PL Warehouse Operations and Value-added Services
Tecsys Inc., an industry supply chain management software company, just announced that Delmar International Inc. has introduced operational and functional improvements to their 3PL warehousing and distribution business through deployment of Tecsys software and business intelligence solutions. The company is leveraging Tecsys’ warehouse management platform and extended capabilities across its two largest fulfillment centers. Founded in 1965, Delmar International is now Canada’s largest logistics service provider, offering cargo management and supply chain services locally and around the world. In order to grow their business and provide value-added services to their 3PL customers, the company has invested in top-tier technology that improves operational efficiency, streamlines information systems, and preserves Delmar’s world-class customer service. Following Delmar’s 2016 acquisition of a 3PL business running legacy software, the company identified an opportunity to outfit its warehouses with Tecsys’ modern software system and integrated platform to improve operations and be able to scale with Delmar’s growth trajectory. Implementation of the Tecsys solution enabled Delmar to provide comprehensive 3PL services to their warehousing and distribution customers while offering unique value-added services to attract new business. “This is an important and expanding business unit for Delmar International, and we are focused on delivering warehousing and distribution services that rise above the fray,” explained Managing Director of Delmar Logistics Jamie McLoughlin. “In Tecsys, we find a reliable software partner with a platform that can scale and adapt to the 3PL market and to our business needs.” “In a fiercely competitive 3PL market, providers are being challenged to run razor-sharp operations that are nimble and connected,” said Bill King, chief revenue officer at Tecsys. “It is in that environment that Delmar continues to outpace their competition and win customers. We are impressed by Delmar’s attention to customer service and an enviable reputation, and we are delighted to serve as a critical piece of that puzzle in their 3PL operations.”
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.
DMW&H expands executive team with two key hires
DMW&H welcomes Mark Breznak as COO and Francis Said as Vice President of Integration and Engineering DMW&H, a full-service material handling solutions provider, announced today the addition of Mark Breznak in the key position of COO and Francis Said in the position of Vice President of Integration and Engineering. These two positions expand the company’s leadership team to keep pace with their accelerated growth. Mark Breznak has over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing and service industries and has expertise in process improvement, team building, ERP, Software, and Controls. He has repeatedly proven his ability to create tangible results in fluid and fast-paced business environments. As COO of DMW&H, Mark will provide the leadership, management, and vision necessary to ensure DMW&H has the proper operational controls, people, systems, and administrative/reporting procedures in place to strengthen DMW&H’s infrastructure to handle current and future growth. Mark has a BS in Computer Science and an MBA in Finance. Joe Colletti, President & CEO of DMW&H, says “I am excited to have Mark join our executive team as COO. Mark has a proven track record of running companies, leading engineering teams, and improving processes to create solid infrastructures for long-term growth. He’s joining an already successful team at the perfect time to keep up with our company’s growth.” Francis Said joins DMW&H from Swisslog where he most recently served as Senior Director of Integration Management. With almost 30 years of experience in software, controls, and integration within the material handling industry, Francis’ experience will help shape those areas of DMW&H’s business for their next phase of growth. His role of Vice President of Integration and Engineering at DMW&H will ensure the quality and consistency of engineered systems, devices, drawings, and standards. “Francis’s extensive knowledge of the material handling industry matched with his expertise in leadership and software/controls integration will be key elements to DMW&H’s continued success,” says Joe Colletti.