CES 2020 opens with innovation that will change the World
CES® 2020 opens today unveiling the next generation of innovation that will redefine industries, create jobs and solve many of society’s challenges. With more than 4,400 exhibiting companies, including 1,200 startups, CES 2020 features the latest transformative technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, digital health and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® , CES 2020 runs through Friday, January 10, in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The innovation on display this week at CES embodies the drive and passion that fuels our industry and furthers economic growth on a global scale,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “The entire tech ecosystem is here at CES 2020, and the products and technologies launching this week will inspire, connect and change lives for the better.” While the CES exhibit show floor opens today, the full week of innovation kicked off on Sunday and Monday with Media Days, CTA’s 2020 Tech Trends to Watch presentation, CES Unveiled Las Vegas, conference programming at the ARIA and preshow keynotes from Samsung and Daimler. Pre show keynotes Samsung Consumer Electronics President and CEO H.S. Kim delivered the first CES 2020 keynote. Kim focused on the “Age of Experience,” a decade of human-centric innovation that combines hardware and software to create personalized experiences to make life more convenient, enjoyable and meaningful. Highlighting the company’s latest advances in intelligent robotics, AI, 5G and edge computing, Samsung offered a snapshot of the future in which these technologies will come together to offer richer, more adaptive experiences for consumers. “In the Age of Experience, we need to re-think the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles,” said Kim. Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz, delivered a keynote address Monday evening, where he shared the company’s plans for a sustainable autonomous future. “When you come to CES you ask yourself ‘What’s Next’ and that question is what we have been asking ourselves for 130 years,” said Källenius. He was joined on stage by director James Cameron to unveil Mercedes Benz’s latest concept car, the Vision AVTR, a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Cameron’s film franchise. The car has no doors and 33 movable, multidirectional “bionic flaps” that are meant to look like scales on a reptile. The Vision AVTR detects your pulse and can sense your breathing. Mercedes designed the concept car to merge the passenger and automobile into a “symbiotic organism.” 2020 Tech Trends to watch presentation CTA’s Steve Koenig and Lesley Rohrbaugh presented 2020 Tech Trends to Watch on Sunday and gave an exclusive preview of the January U.S. Consumer Technology Sales & Forecasts. Skyrocketing popularity of streaming services along with 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices will drive revenue growth for the U.S. consumer tech industry to a record $422 billion in retail revenues in 2020 – nearly 4% growth over last year. For more visit CTA.tech/SalesandForecasts. Unveiled Las Vegas Sunday evening featured one of the largest CES Unveiled events in show history, with more than 220 exhibiting companies, including 98 startups from Eureka Park, the startup hub at CES 2020. More than 1,900 media gathered at CES Unveiled for a sneak preview of the innovation debuting this week at the show, including the Source Hydropanel, which can extract water from air and electricity; a smart bathmat that tracks weight, BMI and posture; a service robot for those with disabilities; AR/VR software that shows before and after workout results and a smart thermometer that measures and adjusts oven temperature. Check out all the highlights here. CES Media Days featured two days of preshow press events from CES exhibitors, including major brands and emerging startups. Twenty-nine companies announced products, including: AMD – The Ryzen 4000 Series mobile processor, the world’s first 7nm laptop processor. Bosch – Vivascope, a smart device that creates digital microscopic images of cells and analyzes them using AI. BrainCo – Showcased the final model of its AI-powered prosthetic hand, which works with an amputee’s brain waves and muscle signals. Brunswick Corporation – Debuted the SLX-R 400e, a 22-passenger yacht-certified watercraft capable of speeds of 65 mph. BYTON – Announced its first wave of content partnerships, including ViacomCBS, to be featured on its 48-inch digital dashboard screen in the M-Byte SUV. Continental Automotive – Natural 3D Centerstack display, offering drivers a 3D experience without the need for special glasses. HDMI – Ultra High Speed HDMI certification program that assures support for all HDMI 2.1 features, including 8K. Hisense – The dual-cell XD9G LCD TV layers two liquid crystal modules one on top of the other inside a single cabinet. Hyundai – Showcased a model of the S-A1, an electrically powered “personal air vehicle” capable of carrying up to four passengers. Impossible Foods – Introduced two new plant-based meat substitutes, Impossible Pork and Impossible Sausage. Intel Corporation – Announced Tiger Lake, the latest chip in the Intel Core mobile processor family. LG – OLED (LG Signature OLED 8K) and LCD (LG 8K NanoCell) TV models delivering a ‘REAL 8K’ UHD viewing experience. Living in Digital Times – Announced several lifestyle products including the mamaRoo sleep™ bassinet and NEUTROGENA’s Skin360™ app. Monster – MultiLink Bluetooth technology, enabling multiple Bluetooth devices to play audio in sync. Panasonic – Flagship HZ2000 OLED TV with support for the UHD Alliance’s Filmmaker Mode. POW Audio – Biz is a pocketable magnetic speaker offering superior teleconferencing with a 360° mic, echo cancellation, and noise suppression. Procter & Gamble – Charmin’s RollBot, a concept robot that brings you toilet paper and Oral-B’s new connected electric toothbrush, the iO. Qualcomm – Debuted the Snapdragon Ride autonomous-driving platform. Royole Corporation – Unveiled its Mirage Smart Speaker, an Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speaker featuring an 8″ AMOLED flexible touch display. Schneider Electronics – Launched Square D Connected Home suite for North America. Sony – Unveiled the Vision S electric concept car featuring 33 different sensors and a newly-designed EV platform. Taiwan Excellence – Showcased multiple innovations from Taiwanese companies, including Noodoe’s intuitive charging stations for electric cars. TCL Corp – Vidrian mini-LED display technology offers increased brightness, sharper contrast, and long-life performance. Toyota – Showcased Woven City, its “prototype city of the future”
Opto 22’s groov EPIC Firmware 1.5.0 adds new Visualization Features and External Mass Storage Support
New groov View gadgets and functions come to groov EPIC along with external HDMI touchscreen management and USB file access As the groov EPIC® platform passes the year-and-a-half mark in its maturity, appropriately enough, Opto 22 releases version 1.5.0 of its firmware. This release broadens the palette of visualization and storage options for groov EPIC to suit an even wider variety of applications and hardware. The embedded groov View server is updated to version 4.2, with functions to create even more dynamic web and mobile HMIs, dashboards, and Andon boards. New shape gadgets allow users to create custom SVG images and animations directly in groov View, and to dynamically change their color and size (height and/or width) based on process variables or on any other data source connected to groov EPIC. This version also introduces tag-driven conditional formatting for other gadgets, allowing users to make elements visible or invisible, as well as change text color and formatting. These options could be used, for example, to enhance overhead displays for a bottling line by changing the color of text and numerical readouts to reflect line status or quality metrics stored locally in PAC Control™, CODESYS®, Node-RED, or Ignition®. For batch and continuous control applications, users could enhance situational awareness in operator interfaces by creating custom level and range indicators that change height and color in response to level, temperature, pressure, or alarm readings. With groov EPIC 1.5.0, OEMs can also choose from a broader range of external HDMI monitors and touchscreens, including models from DELL, Hope Industrial, SuperLogics and AIS. This makes it even easier to eliminate Windows PCs and OITs for local viewing and operator interfacing, significantly reducing material and maintenance costs and total cost of ownership. groov EPIC 1.5.0 supports both resistive and capacitive models via its built-in HDMI port, and makes it possible to calibrate and configure them through groov Manage. For engineers leveraging groov EPIC to implement distributed database, communication, and file servers, 1.5.0 now adds support for USB mass storage devices. This feature makes it possible to expand edge device servers beyond groov EPIC’s 6GB of SSD user space, further reducing the need for high-maintenance, general-purpose PCs in critical applications. This update also adds USB file access for PAC Control, CODESYS, Node-RED, and groov Manage, allowing engineers to programmatically manage files, like uploading recipe configurations from a thumb drive to a control application running on groov EPIC, or creating a rolling buffer that automatically archives old data logs to attached storage. groov EPIC has two USB ports that can support multiple drives, hubs, or serial adapters, as well as a single Netis USB WiFi adapter. Other enhancements in this upgrade include: Support for the new CAN bus integration module, GRV-CCANI-2. Upgrade to Node-RED 0.2, including editor, search, and core node enhancements, as well as under-the-hood changes for better debugging and more predictable flow logic. Version 1.5.0 is a free upgrade for all groov EPIC users. Current customers can log into manage.groov.com and simply download the file and update their EPICs. Complete upgrade instructions are available in the groov EPIC User’s Guide. For new customers, all groov EPICs now ship with this latest firmware version.
Dematic partners with Dot Foods on fully automated warehouse
Innovative technology to power future strategy for frozen food products Dematic has announced it will partner with Dot Foods, the largest food industry redistributor in North America, on Dot Food’s first fully-automated warehouse. The new 117,000 square-foot facility will be a key strategic asset for Dot Food’s frozen food distribution, providing new efficiencies and a path for future growth. “We’re taking our toughest picking job in our harshest work environment and transferring that to robots,” explained Joe Tracy, Dot Foods CEO. “This is a way to address our business growth and handle the volume we know will need to move through our Mt. Sterling warehouse in the years to come. We do unique things in our business that require human touches — that will not change. The combination of people and technology will be central to our future growth and allow us to provide exceptional service to our customers.” The facility operation will be directed by Dematic technology and feature an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) to manage inventory of full pallets, along with robotics to pick strategic layers of product for Dot Food customers. Bernard Biolchini, CEO, Dematic Americas stated, “Dematic was pleased to partner with Dot Foods to design a solution that increases their ability to deliver a superior level of service to customers by increasing efficiency, capacity and output. The new fully automated warehouse, powered by Dematic iQ software, will provide Dot Foods the flexibility to build and configure orders faster and more accurately, increasing order fulfillment capabilities for today’s dynamic demand.” Construction will begin in the new year with the facility becoming operational in 2021.
BluJay extends compliance coverage and drives global trade efficiency with latest Software releases
Multi-country Customs Management software provides customs brokers, freight forwarders, express carriers, and shippers with capabilities to remain compliant and increase automation in global trade BluJay Solutions, a leading provider of supply chain software and services, has released version 20.0 of its compliance software applications. BluJay’s latest updates enhance its U.S. and global customs and compliance management suite with wider country and procedures coverage, plus automation to help customers remove friction from their supply chains and adapt to a changing regulatory landscape. “With increasing trade tensions, unpredictable economic factors, and lack of standardization across countries, managing customs is challenging business. That is why organizations trust BluJay’s software, with its rigorous controls and automated processes for frictionless borders, supported by global, regional and local expertise,” said Nicolas Ethevenin, Director Product Management at BluJay Solutions. “The latest releases help our users stay agile and compliant amidst an increasingly dynamic supply chain market.” BluJay’s version 20.0 includes the following customs and compliance enhancements: Expanded Coverage for Frictionless Borders – BluJay’s multi-country, multi-language Customs Management solution enables trade across regions with a unified user interface. Country and procedures coverage have been significantly increased with the addition of New Computerized Transit System (NCTS) support for Denmark, France (for the future Delta-T platform), the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, and Latvia, as well as Export in France and the Netherlands. In addition, system updates have been made for Brexit, to the extent of what has been published by various customs authorities. As a leader in UK and global customs, BluJay continues to monitor and proactively address changes as required. In BluJay’s Customs Management-US application, the Auto Add 9903 feature aids users by inserting the trade remedy numbers when needed, to help keep users compliant. Improved Automation – New enhancements deliver better automation for users, such as automatic emails to assignees from selected status change and reception of customs documents, to upload of external documents in a declaration for compliance storage and/or customs submission. Supply Chain Integration – Version 20.0 includes an updated integration between BluJay’s Transportation Management for Freight Forwarders and the Automated Export System module in Customs Management to streamline exporting for forwarders in BluJay’s Global Trade Network.
Women of STEM: Greene Tweed’s Natalie DuVall
Newly minted engineer urges others not to let anyone affect their aspirations Natalie DuVall may be fairly new to the engineering profession, but her passion for solving problems and understanding the technical aspects of processes is already apparent in everything she does. That includes cycling through four major departments in Greene Tweed’s Selma plant near San Antonio, Texas, with an eye to finding her true engineering calling. Already armed with a Six Sigma Green Belt, DuVall is extremely happy to have the opportunity to apply what she learned in college to solve real-world problems. “I love to learn and challenge myself,” she said. “The work I’ve been doing has allowed me to see firsthand the value of continuous improvement activities to eliminate waste and reduce variation.” Rotating for success DuVall graduated summa cum laude from the Honor’s College at Texas Tech University just a year ago in May 2018, with a B.S. in industrial engineering and a minor in mathematics. She is currently a rotational engineer at Greene Tweed, a 2-year program during which she serves 6-month stints in the plant’s manufacturing, quality, applications, and process engineering departments. Greene Tweed is a leading manufacturer of high-performance elastomers, advanced-engineered thermoplastics, high-performance thermoplastic composites, and integrated material solutions, with facilities across North America, Europe and Asia. “The rotational program is great, because it allows me to gain experience in a diverse set of engineering functions, while giving me the opportunity to make connections and work with cross-functional teams,” said DuVall. She added, “Once I get to test drive all the areas and complete the program, I will be able to identify what my true passion is and pursue it in a permanent role.” During her first rotation in the manufacturing department, DuVall piloted factory modeling using Simio simulation software for the entire company. Her work led to an invitation to join Greene Tweed’s manufacturing technology development (MTD) group as part of the company’s “Right FITT™” initiative. The Right FITT™, or Factory Innovation and Technology Transformation, is focused on updating factory equipment and production processes in all of Greene Tweed’s manufacturing locations with the most advanced and current technology. This enhances the company’s visionary approach to Industry 4.0 standards and future growth. She is extremely proud of the results, saying “I was able to replicate a portion of our Chemraz® value stream in the Simio simulation software to provide greater visibility of our processes and illuminate areas of opportunity through more granular resource analysis and scenario planning.” She also noted that using the software, along with current controls and other automation, will help the team make more informed decisions regarding overall production. While using the software, she identified a bottleneck and discovered that investing in a few more tools could significantly improve resource utilization and throughput while netting savings of just over $600,000 a year. When she shared these results with the team, DuVall got buy-in from all the sites to launch the software company wide. She kept up the pace after rotating over to the quality department, where she led several root-cause corrective action analyses, using the eight disciplines (8D) problem-solving approach to identify, correct, and prevent recurring problems. In addition, during her quality department rotation, she has been working to develop inspection criteria, support metrology development, and ensure operational readiness for Greene Tweed’s new ONX™ 600 product line. ONX™ 600 is a fluoropolymer-based, carbon-fiber-reinforced composite. This high-strength, high-purity material withstands strong acid chemistries at high temperatures in wafer cleaning applications in the semiconductor industry. STEM is in the family DNA DuVall credits early exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with her ability to hit the (engineering) ground running. She grew up in a STEM family, with her mother, father, grandfather, uncle, aunt, and sister all in technical fields. She remembers growing up hearing stories of how her mother and uncle built and raced go-carts in their college Grand Prix competition. When she was old enough, she helped her grandfather build carts and race them for family fun during the summer. “But most importantly, I am so happy that I was able to grow up seeing my mother’s dedication to her work and drive to succeed because I would not be where I am today without her as my role model,” she said. DuVall strongly believes that there should be more women in engineering. In her view, diversity provides alternative perspectives to problem solving, which ultimately leads teams to make better decisions and bring maximum value to customers. To increase the numbers, she says it is important for young girls to have strong female role models and be exposed to STEM fields growing up so that they are aware of all the opportunities available to them. For instance, DuVall attended a summer camp in high school that helped her decide her specialty before entering college. She is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). In college, she participated in the organization’s “Catch the Engineering Bug,” during which young girls from nearby schools participated in student-led activities and games within each engineering discipline. The goal was to increase their exposure, show them how much fun engineering can be, and hopefully inspire them to pursue STEM fields. DuVall concluded, “My advice to young girls is to not let others’ ideas about what women should do affect your aspirations. Surround yourself with people who support you, because with hard work anything is possible.”
Seeq Corporation announces AWS Industrial Software Competency achievement
Seeq’s advanced analytics solution now available as SaaS application in the AWS Marketplace Seeq Corporation, advanced analytics applications for process manufacturing data, announced it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Industrial Software Competency status. This designation recognizes that Seeq has demonstrated technical steps proficiency and proven customer success building solutions targeting one or more of the primary steps in discrete manufacturing or process industries in Product Design, Production Design, Production/Operations. These specialized software solutions enable companies in process and discrete manufacturing industries to increase the pace of product innovation while decreasing production and operational costs in their value chain. Achieving the AWS Industrial Software Competency differentiates Seeq as an AWS Partner Network (APN) member that has delivered proven customer success providing specialized solutions aligning with AWS architectural best practices to support the Production and Operations category in the AWS Industrial Software Competency. “Seeq is proud to be one of the APN Partners to achieve AWS Industrial Software Competency status,” says Steve Sliwa, CEO of Seeq. “By leveraging the agility of AWS, Seeq enables process engineers, managers, teams, and data scientists to derive more value from data already collected by accelerating analytics, publishing, and decision making.” AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, AWS established the AWS Partner Competency Program to help customers identify Consulting and Technology APN Partners with deep industry experience and expertise. To receive the AWS Industrial Software Competency designation, APN Partners undergo rigorous AWS technical validation related to industry specific technology as well as an assessment of the security, performance, and reliability of their solute Seeq’s advanced analytics solution is also now available in the AWS Marketplace, enabling customers to rapidly investigate and share insights from process manufacturing data stored either on premise on in the AWS cloud. This announcement caps an impressive year for Seeq. The company recently ranked #369 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and #43 on this year’s Entrepreneur 360 list. In October Automation World included Seeq in its list of top technology startups to watch. “Leveraging both the expertise of the engineers and machine learning innovations, leading-edge solutions like Seeq enable organizations to gain intelligence from operations and obtain business value very quickly,” observes Janice Abel, Principal Analyst at ARC Advisory Group. “Seeq is designed for ease of use by a variety of plant employees, making it simple and quick for them to find and share insights in their data.”
Numina Group welcomes Bob Fischer to Warehouse Automation Technology team
The Numina Group, a supplier of automated warehouse execution and control systems, announced today that Bob Fischer, an industry-recognized leader in logistics technology, will be joining its system engineering and delivery team. Fischer brings more than 30 years of logistics and transportation technology experience to his role at Numina Group. He began his career selling mobile computing solutions and logistics and shipping software in the mid-80’s and 90’s. In 1997, he founded Advanced Distribution Solutions Inc. (ADSI), a company specializing in multi-carrier shipping software, and sold it in 2017. During his career he has helped hundreds of companies solve their supply chain automation challenges by leveraging process and technology improvements. In joining Numina Group, Fischer will focus on expanding Numina Group’s west coast customer install base for the firm’s Real-time Distribution Software (RDS™) pick by voice and family of warehouse order fulfillment automation technologies. Numina Group is a leader in assisting companies to define, design, and implement distribution process improvements that make the business more efficient and profitable. “I’m extremely excited to be joining an industry leader in helping companies achieve measurable financial and labor savings managed with the right blend of warehouse automation,” said Fischer. “Numina Group has earned a stellar reputation with its customers and I’m honored to become part of the team.” “Bob has been a valued partner to Numina Group over the years, and we’re thrilled to add his considerable knowledge to our team,” said Dan Hanrahan, CEO of Numina Group. “His focus has always been on ensuring that a client obtains a tangible value by investing in automation technologies, and his experience will be invaluable to Numina Group’s continued growth.”
IWLA hails EPA Risk Management Program changes
The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), the trade association for the third-party warehousing industry, supports recent changes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made to its Risk Management Program Reconsideration Rule as it pertains to first responders. “This rule directly addresses very important safety issues. And any decisions and regulatory changes that facilitate the exchange of pertinent information during a time of crisis are always better,” says IWLA President & CEO Steve DeHaan. “But broadcasting the materials in question could open safety concerns in its own right. IWLA applauds the new RMP Reconsideration Rule as it cuts away barriers to quick and timely communication with key players while being mindful of the sensitive nature of that information.” The association has a subset of warehouse members that handle chemicals and other hazardous materials for their customers – manufacturers and retailers. “One reason IWLA exists is to help ensure U.S. warehouses remain safe places to work and serve as contributing members of their communities,” DeHaan says. “We recognize that issues may arise that require emergency response and this rule ensures that our members can work more effectively with first responders. The EPA rule directly addresses this issue.” IWLA will continue to work as requested with EPA officials to keep the safety of warehouse workers and their communities at the forefront while facilitating the business of keeping the U.S. supply chain moving.
New IMPULSE®·Link 5 Professional Software provides faster Crane Diagnostics and Troubleshooting from your PC
Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of motion control products, technologies, and services for material handling, has announced the new IMPULSE®·Link 5 Professional software as the latest addition to its portfolio of drive diagnostics tools. IMPULSE·Link 5 enables easy programming, monitoring and troubleshooting of industry-leading Magnetek® brand AC and DC drives from a PC. “IMPULSE·Link 5 provides easy-to-access system monitoring and diagnostics information no matter where you are, whether a single crane or multiple cranes are operating,” said Casey Cummins, product manager for Magnetek controls. “Utilizing the Professional version of our IMPULSE·Link 5 drive diagnostic tool means customers will be able to remotely monitor, diagnose, or reset an AC or DC drive fault in real time from the factory floor.” Available in two versions, Professional and Viewer, IMPULSE·Link 5 is a Windows-based interactive drive software that supplies critical information to keep systems functioning effectively. Ethernet communication is 50% faster than previously available tools, providing actionable information quickly. System feedback means maintenance can be planned to minimize downtime and enhance drive efficiency. Offering a direct connection to Magnetek brand drives, IMPULSE·Link 5 Professional includes a new automatic drive discovery tool for simple setup, operating over wireless industrial communications and hardwired serial COM ports. This the one-to-one link between drives and a PC is a key factor in improving safety and performance. IMPULSE·Link 5 Professional enables a comprehensive set of interactive features that can be unlocked with a low-profile USB key. Plus, troubleshooting is quick and easy, eliminating the need to diagnose and reset a fault from the crane itself. The free Viewer version offers basic features such as viewing parameter, trend, and event files, and interfacing with the DataLogger Series 4 (DLS4). Optional Wireless Diagnostic System (WDS) hardware is available to connect to and monitor drives wirelessly. WDS enables connection of up to 31 drives to a single remote unit. Multiple remote units can connect to a single base unit. IMPULSE·Link 5 supports IMPULSE®·G+/VG+ Series 3 and 4, IMPULSE®·G+ Mini Variable Frequency Drives, IMPULSE®·D+ HHP, OmniPulse™ DDC Series 1 and 2, OmniPulse™ DSD, and MagnePulse™ DMC Series 1 and 2.
New Automated Wire Cutting Management gives Electrical Distributors a competitive edge
Advanced feature set expands upon Latitude WMS’s existing wire cutting management capabilities and provides valuable solution to control remnants PathGuide Technologies, a provider of warehouse management system (WMS) and shipping solutions for industrial and retail distributors, just announced the availability of a Wire Cutting Management module that integrates seamlessly with the company’s Latitude WMS solution. The new module is a precise way to electronically prioritize, group and plan wire cuts. Now Latitude users can define wire cuts that go together, along with the containers and grouping required, eliminating the need for cut operators to manually manage this process. For distributors struggling to track remnants, the module provides an essential new tool to maximize existing remnants and avoid the need to take cuts from a new spool. “This advanced module was specifically designed to effectively manage, control and ship high value wire assets sold by electrical distributors, allowing them to increase productivity and efficiency while reducing the manpower required for the wire cutting process,” said Eric Allais, president and CEO of PathGuide. “It’s a robust planning tool that provides the flexibility needed to quickly fill orders accurately and reduce waste thanks to the visibility of precise wire inventory lengths.” PathGuide’s Wire Cutting Management module allows electrical distributors to: Define and direct wire cuts and groupings (e.g., parallel reels, etc.) at the point of order entry to the ERP. Automatically batch and prioritize cuts upon order import and tailor them as needed. This effectively (and simply) drives order picking of these items. Tag and identify specific cuts and groupings, ensuring orders are picked and shipped error free.
Vanderlande to present innovative concepts and solutions at PARCEL Forum
Vanderlande will share a number of market insights relating to automation and storage solutions at this year’s PARCEL Forum at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The company’s Postal and Parcel Market Director, Rob Qualm, will be a featured speaker at the event on October 30 and discuss the need to reshift storage to multi-functional hubs. Consumer demand is at an all-time high and parcel companies must cope with the increasing demand for speed, flexibility and higher service levels. In addition, building space in urban areas is already at a premium and labor is increasingly hard to find. Until a few years ago, the ‘push’ concept was the standard procedure, in which products were pushed through the supply chain to be sent out for delivery. However, this led to high levels of consumer dissatisfaction due to the limited delivery options available. In the ‘pull’ concept, the buyer is firmly in control by demanding convenient delivery windows and keeping track of items at all times. Automation is essential in realizing these new requirements and Vanderlande has vast experience in the smooth integration and installation of automated storage and retrieval systems. The inherent flexibility of such sorting solutions will allow parcel hubs to seamlessly move away from traditional ‘pull’ methods, embrace new business models and rapidly respond to changes in the market. “Adaptability within the supply chain is needed to support this new approach and parcel center operations must change to remain as efficient as possible,” says Sean Wallingford, President Warehouse and Parcel North America. “Market trends predict that more delivery routes, additional local storage near consumers and multi-functional hubs are necessary to meet the increasing requirements for final-mile deliveries and to manage costs more effectively.” “Modular sort-on-demand solutions offer the potential to create a temporary storage option to quickly adapt to changing delivery times or locations,” adds Qualm. “Hubs will benefit from higher levels of service, flexibility and operator efficiency, as well as shorter loading times, the effective consolidation of orders and enhanced route planning. In addition, integrated and intelligent automation software can provide full control over the entire process.”
SAM, LLC first in North America to deploy advanced Aerial Scanning Technology
SAM, LLC, (Surveying And Mapping, LLC) a provider in providing geospatial data solutions, will be the first company in North America to acquire and deploy the most recent major advance in aerial scanning technology, the RIEGL VQ-1560 II. The sensor will be installed in SAM’s new fixed-wing aircraft, a 2019 Cessna Grand Caravan EX, to further expand SAM’s national aerial mapping capabilities. “SAM has always been an industry leader when it comes to adopting new technology,” said SAM President and CEO, Chris Solomon. “By combining this RIEGL scanner and new Cessna with our deep experience in aerial mapping, we continue to expand our capabilities and increase the value we deliver for clients.” The RIEGL VQ-1560 II is equipped with a 4 megahertz, dual-channel airborne mapping system that can collect High Density (HD) LiDAR at up to a 2,450 meter swath or a density of 60 points per square meter from a fixed-wing platform. The sensor features two integrated 150-megapixel digital cameras that collect vertical photography simultaneously with HD LiDAR. One camera acquires RGB imagery to generate orthophotos at 2-inch ground sample resolution, while the second camera acquires imagery in the Near Infrared (NIR) band for multispectral analysis. This combination of enhanced capabilities will be beneficial for many different client types, including electric transmission clients needing richer, more detailed data for infrastructure and right-of-way analysis, or forestry and vegetation management clients needing to identify hazards and unhealthy trees. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX housing the scanner is extremely well-suited for aerial mapping. Its ample payload allows it to transport a significant amount of equipment, and it can land on shorter runways than many aircraft, giving it access to more airports. Also, its ability to fly safely at 90 knots allows for the acquisition of denser point clouds and collecting greater detail of our clients’ assets. The dual port aircraft allows for the installation of the HD LiDAR and vertical facing cameras plus two oblique sensors. These enable the simultaneous collection of oblique photos in a single flight. This innovative approach and leading technology efficiently acquires four datasets, providing advanced survey capability and quality for SAM clients. SAM Vice President, Geospatial, Bob Williams emphasized how the new system will benefit SAM clients “The combination of this aircraft and aerial sensor will allow SAM to strategically place multiple systems throughout the country to reduce mobilization and response time,” Williams said. “This system allows SAM to efficiently acquire high-quality datasets that exceed industry standard specifications for remote sensing data acquisition on electric transmission and distribution, renewable energy, transportation, and oil and gas mapping projects. With direct control of its own aircraft, SAM has greater ability for rapid deployment to critical sites.” SAM’s plans to deploy the Cessna Grand Caravan EX with the new RIEGL VQ-1560 II aerial scanner beginning in the first quarter of 2020.
Precise control of double-depth positioning processes
The new IPS 400i from Leuze electronic is the smallest camera-based positioning sensor on the market for double-depth compartment fine positioning. It helps high-bay storage devices to quickly and easily find the right rack. With the new camera-based IPS 400i positioning sensor for high-bay storage devices, Leuze electronic – the expert for sensor solutions for intralogistics – is expanding its IPS range of products with a new model for optical compartment fine positioning. About a year ago, Leuze electronic introduced the IPS 200i, the smallest camera-based positioning sensor for single-depth, which is used for single depth pallet high racks and small-part container storage. The new IPS400i is just as compact as its sibling, the IPS 200i, and thus requires little space on the high-bay storage device – however, it detects round holes or reflectors not only in single-depth, but also double-depth bars and thus determines the position deviation relative to the target position in the X and Y directions. This makes the new camera-based IPS 400i positioning sensor particularly suited for use in double-depth pallet high-bay warehouses. A model with integrated heating for use in refrigerated warehouses down to -30 °C is also available. Both variants – IPS 200i and IPS 400i – offer the user simple and fast commissioning and operation. The sensors are put into operation using a web-based configuration tool with a user-controlled installation assistant (wizard). Printed configuration codes are read in without a PC via “Code Generator,” which means that configuration adjustments can be made directly on the high-bay storage device. An alignment system consisting of four feedback LEDs further facilitates the commissioning process. Due to its powerful, ambient-light-independent IR LED lighting, fault-free use in warehouse technology is possible with just one single device for a working range of up to 2400 mm. With the integrated TCP/IP interface and PROFINET RT, the IPS 400i can be directly integrated into the network environment and enables quick, location-independent diagnostics. Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance take place using a quality score that detects deterioration in the reading performance of the sensor at an early stage. This minimizes downtime and increases the availability and cost-effectiveness of the systems.
KHS helps Portuguese brewery on its way to a sustainable future
Reliability, environmental friendliness and viability for the future are values held by KHS that Portuguese brewery Sociedade Central de Cervejas E Bebidas S.A. (SCC) greatly appreciates – and has done for decades. The commissioning of the new glass line is a further milestone in the long-term partnership between the two companies. By employing up-to-the-minute technology from the systems supplier the beer producer from Vialonga has minimized both its water and energy consumption and its CO2 emissions. SCC has placed its trust in plant technology from the Dortmund systems specialist for more than 34 years. “Back then we heard that KHS was an exemplary supplier of future-proof filling systems,” says Nuno Pinto de Magalhães, head of Corporate Affairs at SCC. Over the decades a close and trusting relationship has been built up. “KHS has always convinced us with its excellent state-of-the-art technology and outstanding service,” smiles Pinto de Magalhães. First choice for technology and service The brewery, which is chiefly famous for its Sagres brand, has thus continuously invested in new lines and systems in the last years, including a keg line in 2016. “Today, all of the key filling and packaging machines in Vialonga have been constructed by KHS,” reports Frank Schneidermann, sales director for Portugal for the German engineering company. At the beginning of 2018 he and his team were awarded a contract for a new glass line. “After 20 years the old one simply wasn’t state of the art anymore regarding its energy consumption,” he explains. The initial situation was challenging as the brewery could only fill its one-liter bottles on this particular line. Therefore the old line had to be dismantled and the new glass line installed very quickly in order to keep production loss down to a minimum during this time. “Thanks to the extremely precise advance planning and professional teamwork machine replacement went very quickly and without any hitches,” states Jose Luis da Mata Torres, supply chain director at SCC. Glass line convincing with its high capacity and low use of resources A KHS Innofill Glass DRS glass bottling machine forms the heart of the new line. With its computer-controlled filling system the Heineken subsidiary has an increased output of up to 55,000 0.33-liter bottles per hour. The multiple-format system can process bottles holding between 0.25 and 1.0 liters. The hygienic QUICKLOCK fast-acting locking system cuts changeover times down to a minimum. The proven filling system’s low consumption of resources is also compelling. The new vacuum pump reduces the amount of water used by up to 96%, for example. “That’s more than 32 million liters of water a year,” claims Schneidermann. The new line further saves on resources with its low energy consumption and CO2 emissions which amount to up to 12,600 kWh or 80 metric tons less per year than on a standard setup. In addition to the DRS the new glass line also includes a rinser and two closure systems blocked with the glass filler. The brewery, founded in 1934, can now seal its bottles not just with crown corks but also with roll-on and ring-pull closures (pull-tab caps). The brewers also invested in a tunnel pasteurizer, labeler and wrap-around shrink packer from KHS. A palletizer and depalletizer round off the line. “With our new glass line we’re perfectly set up for the future, regarding both efficiency and sustainability,” Pinto de Magalhães concludes. KHS systems dominate the Portuguese beer market The beer market in Portugal is very important for KHS. “About 90% of all beer is filled on our machines,” Schneidermann reports. The turnkey supplier works closely with Portugal’s biggest breweries, with which SCC is also affiliated. This is why Dr. Johannes T. Grobe, CSO for KHS, and Portuguese deputy prime minister and minister of the economy Dr. Pedro Siza Vieira were both present at the opening ceremony for the new line. In his speech Dr. Grobe praised SCC as “a company which perfectly masters the balancing act between tradition and future-oriented technology”.
Evaluating systems with digital modeling
Companies are now turning to robotics and other automated technologies to meet customer demands. Updating facilities with new equipment used to involve purchasing and installing systems to see if they worked in your operation. Now companies are able to see and evaluate their options using digital modeling and virtual commissioning. Click here for the video. Tags: AI automation data digital modeling distribution predictive analytics robotics software update virtual commissioning
Specialized Storage Solutions releases new warehouse mezzanine product line
Designed with growing businesses in mind, Strongbox Mezzanine systems are customized to enhance durability and maximize efficiency Specialized Storage Solutions, a manufacturer and distributor of warehouse storage and optimization products, announced today its release of a brand-new mezzanine product, Strongbox Mezzanines. The product was developed as a result of 35 years of experience in material handling, taking into consideration the best features of industry competitors and combining them into one. These mezzanines are an innovation, manufactured and designed to help business owners maximize space, efficiency, and productivity in their facilities. Strongbox Mezzanine systems are engineered to provide safety, strength, and flexibility. They are completely custom modular systems that can be configured to any unique building requirements. Manufactured to meet AISC standards, designed to support up to 300 pounds per square foot and built using high-strength bolt connections, these systems offer the industry’s strongest option for economical storage. Each mezzanine system is installed completely independent of building walls and their components can be dismantled simply and quickly when relocation is necessary or inventory needs to be moved. “Strongbox Mezzanine systems are our answer to new customer demand for a stronger, more durable mezzanine structure,” says Bill Bavagnoli, President of Specialized Storage Solutions. “The need for large equipment and streamlined technologies has become paramount for growing businesses to keep up with consumer demand. Adopting and implementing a solution that acknowledges this need and accommodates it, like our Strongbox system, is crucial to their success.” These systems are the result of our years of experience in fabrication, facility design, and layout implementation gained through solving space problems for a variety of diverse industries. The company’s solutions have been implemented in hospitals, R&D facilities, automobile dealerships, pharmaceutical companies, flavor and fragrance manufacturers, contractors warehouses and data centers, utilities, 3PL distribution centers, and storage facilities. “This level of diversity allows us to learn about every unique need and requirement in the marketplace,” states Bavagnoli. “With this information, we design solutions that address virtually every facility design issue imaginable.” Delivered and installed in as little as six weeks from the initial order, Strongbox Mezzanine systems address the everchanging needs of growing businesses. Every aspect of this product line is intended to benefit these businesses, providing efficiency and agility. The company is even including professionally-sealed, detailed installation drawings with each system design. This enables business owners to secure the necessary permits quickly and economically without delaying project completion.
Centerpoint acquires industrial space in Baldwin Park
CenterPoint Properties is proud to announce the acquisition of a 22,987-square-foot building at 12905 Garvey Avenue in Baldwin Park, California. The asset is strategically located at the intersection of I-10 and I-605, making it a premier low-coverage Southern California offering with a long-term credit tenant. “We are strategically focused on building low-coverage mass in the Baldwin Park submarket. Albeit a smaller transaction, this acquisition is critically important in our greater 605 corridor strategy,” said Greg Pearson, CenterPoint Vice President of Investments. Building features include a solar panel system, 22‛ clear height and four drive-in doors. Situated on 3.4 acres, the property can accommodate up to 63 trailer positions and offers ample space for future development. “As supply chains evolve and reorient toward infill distribution, sites with these attributes should garner premium revenue streams,” said Ryan Dunlap, CenterPoint Senior Vice President of Investments. Just five miles southeast, CenterPoint recently executed a five-year lease at 13260 East Amar Road in City of Industry, California. The building, which was purchased last year with two short-term leases in place, was vacant for only 45 days and leased to the next-door neighbor. In the acquisition of 12905 Garvey Avenue, CenterPoint was represented by Jim Linn and Bret Hardy of Newmark Knight Frank. The seller was West Harbor Capital.
Körber acquires majority stake in Cohesio Group
The international technology group Körber strengthens its Business Area Logistics Systems by acquiring a majority stake in Cohesio Group Ltd. The Australian-based company is a leading integrator of voice-directed and autonomous mobile robotics (AMR) solutions for logistics. The acquisition was completed effective September 20, 2019. The Cohesio Group, headquartered in Melbourne, within just a few years established itself as one of the leading providers of voice-controlled and robotics software solutions for the logistics industry, particularly in the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Cohesio will complement the Business Area’s existing voice solutions business with its market-leading brand Voiteq. This strengthens one of the world’s largest and most experienced Honeywell Vocollect voice integration teams. Cohesio has also pioneered the deployment of autonomous mobile robotics solutions in the region. “With Cohesio, we are underpinning our claim to ‘market leadership through technology leadership’ in the future-oriented fields of voice and robot technology,” says Stephan Seifert, Chairman of the Group Executive Board at Körber AG. “We are also expanding our presence in the particularly fast-growing markets of the APAC region, where we are able to inspire and support our customers with the best products and solutions for the supply chain”. Dirk Hejnal, CEO of the Körber Business Area Logistics Systems, adds: “With its broad, technology-oriented product and service portfolio, Cohesio is an ideal fit for us and our growth ambitions. By adding Cohesio, we are in an even stronger position to offer customers the right supply chain technologies and service them on a global level. The Cohesio team is characterized by entrepreneurship, years of experience with logistics technologies, and a history of good partnership with its customers”. Nishan Wijemanne, CEO of Cohesio Group Ltd. says: “We feel fortunate to have found a partner in Körber that can help accelerate the next stage of growth for Cohesio. Körber offers us an innovative culture, a broader portfolio of complementary supply chain technologies and access to customer relationships on a global scale. The Cohesio founders and the entire Cohesio team are very excited to be part of this international technology group”.
IKEA Canada expands distribution network with grand opening of Kleinburg Customer Distribution Centre
IKEA is pleased to announce the grand opening of its 550,000 square foot Customer Distribution Centre in Kleinburg, Ontario. In partnership with DHL, the new location will further enable IKEA to have its products in the right place, closer to its customers, while also providing increased capacity for future growth. “Today’s opening in Kleinburg is an important step as IKEA Canada continues its transformation journey to become the leading multichannel home furnishings retailer,” said Liz Wilson, Country Customer Fulfilment Manager, IKEA Canada. “By continuing to grow and optimize our distribution networks, we ensure the IKEA business is fit for long-term growth and we are better able to meet our customers’ needs for convenience and speed in this fast-changing retail landscape.” The Kleinburg Customer Distribution Centre will focus on last mile delivery directly to customers’ homes and will complement the retailer’s four stores and Mississauga Customer Distribution Centre in the Greater Toronto Area. Customers served by the new centre are expected to see shorter delivery lead times, which will support the retailer’s expanded service offering, including new lower pricing for parcel and truck delivery. The site has created approximately 120 indirect jobs and is operated by DHL Supply Chain, the Americas leader in contract logistics and part of Deutsche Post DHL. “Through our deep industry and market expertise, we’re well-positioned to help IKEA increase productivity and meet the ever-changing expectations of every customer, every time,” said Jennifer Askew, Vice President Retail Operations Canada, DHL Supply Chain. “Our culture of continuous innovation also enables our team to bring productivity-enhancing technology and data-driven insight to drive even greater agility and flexibility needed throughout the retail industry.” IKEA wants to have a positive impact on people and the planet. Opening this new distribution location in the Toronto area brings the retailer closer to the customer, reducing transport distances and emissions. IKEA has also made the bold commitment globally to have 100 percent electric or zero emission vehicles by 2025. The new Kleinburg location is IKEA’s fourth customer distribution centre in Canada. The retailer opened its first centre in the Vancouver area last year and also operates facilities in the Montreal and Toronto areas.
Beumer completes modernization and expansion of L.L. Bean Distribution Center
BEUMER Group, an industry provider in the design and manufacture of intralogistics systems, has successfully completed a nine-month modernization project at L.L.Bean’s Freeport, ME distribution center. BEUMER’s ongoing relationship with L.L.Bean includes providing maintenance, IT and operational training and customer service support for the upgraded packing sorter. Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its legendary customer service and high-quality gear and apparel that help to further people’s enjoyment of the outdoors, engaged BEUMER for the modernization and expansion project with a goal to increase order capacity and maximize system capabilities and prepare for future growth. “L.L.Bean wanted to maximize their facility rather than expanding into other real estate and other parts of the country,” said Bill Fredrikis, BEUMER Logistics Service Manager. “Through this project they were able to increase their capacity from approximately 18,000 units per hour to nearly 37,000 units per hour.” Installed in the mid-1990s, the existing operating system experienced delays and shutdowns due to operational limitations. BEUMER’s approach centered largely on improving the architecture of the packing sorter’s control system. “We gutted the control system and reconfigured the entire electromechanical layout of the system to provide four virtual sorters built into one,” continued Fredrikis. “We transformed a pre- and secondary sort system into a four-virtual-sorter system with large compartmental chutes.” In addition to greater sort capacity, the upgrade improved the work environment for L.L.Bean operators. New workstations, for example, provide a better view of the packing chutes, allowing operators to quickly observe and handle the packout process quickly and efficiently. “Our transformation over the last few years has really extended the life of this facility. It’s allowed us to, essentially, double the capacity of this facility and do it cost-effectively,” noted Wayne Steele, L.L.Bean Director of Fulfilment & Logistics. As the Maine-based retailer plans for the future, L.L.Bean and BEUMER Group continue to collaborate on future upgrades to maximize sorter system capabilities.