OPTIMIZATION TOOL FOR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

enVista, Carmel, Ind., released the latest version of its proprietary software, Model DC, a material flow analysis tool that analyzes a client’s distribution center and defines opportunities for improvement.

Model DChelps customers better understand order profiles, the velocity of product movement and on-hand inventory, features 75 different charts and graphs and allows data to be modeled in hours instead of days or weeks. 

enVista Corp.
317-208-9100
www.envistacorp.com

VISUAL METRICS PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SUITE

TECSYS Inc., New York, unveiled Visual Metrics Performance Measurement Suite, a management tool that provides performance analytics and dashboards for the full spectrum of an organization’s supply chain.

Visual Metrics Performance Measurement Suite provides visibility and tracking on:

• Vendors—shipment performance and how to engage with various vendors.
• Inventory and planning—forecasting performance to streamline inventory levels and which items are most important to the bottom line.
• Warehouse—warehouse effectiveness with insight into current activities, overall warehouse performance and labor productivity to compare with industry benchmarks.
• Customers—sales and accounts receivables and how to stratify various customers.
• Consumption—in a point-of-use setting, consumption and movement of supply and management of inventory levels.
• Distribution—outbound shipment activities, shipping costs and volumes and distribution performance.
• Finance—how all supply chain activities affect the bottom line.

TECSYS Inc.
800-922-8649
www.tecsys.com

LED-BASED DETECTION TECHNOLOGY

LeddarTech, Canada, released Leddar One sensing module, a more compact alternative to providing sensing, security and surveillance detection.

The module’s small form factor easily integrates using low power consumption, and comes with Leddar Configurator, the company’s patented configuration software, and Leddar Enabler SDK, a development kit that contains libraries and examples for easy application.

LeddarTech
418-653-9000
www.leddartech.com

WORKER SAFETY SYSTEMS

McCue Corp., Peabody, Mass., unveiled the new pedestrian barrier, designed to keep warehouse workers safe from heavy, fast-moving equipment.At the center of the pedestrian barrier is a high-strength, 14-inch steel core—elliptical in shape to withstand direct impacts from heavy equipment—attached to an industrial shock absorber. The core is then sheathed with a high-density polyethylene shell to eliminate dangerous snag points that can damage tires or shear off. The three bright-yellow extruded polypropylene rails’ curved top and bottom and flat sides ensures they can’t be rotated and provides more surface area to absorb impacts.

Meanwhile, the crash barrier stops impacts from forklifts, pallet jacks and other heavy equipment at the base with a polypropylene and steel hybrid structure. When hit with a forklift, the combination of polypropylene and the profile geometry absorbs the impact energy, and the system deflects with a calculated displacement—protecting equipment, merchandise and people. It also features a universal hardware-covering cap that keeps all the hardware hidden.

The goal post protects not only doorway sides but also overhead, where the most costly damage can occur on roll-up doors. Vertical steel uprights connect to the horizontal crossbar using nylon cups for the perfect connection every time. When forklift drivers misjudge, the goal post’s polyethylene shell rolls to deflect the forces. The steel uprights mount to the warehouse floor with common tools, the cover slides into place and the horizontal top rail is guided by the nylon cups and bolted in place.

McCue Corp.
800-800-8503
www.mccue.com

ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL DRIVES

Lenze Americas, Uxbridge, Mass., showcased a number of automation and mechatronic drive solutions.

For example, FAST robotics module allows for a pick-and-place or complex movement to be accomplished in a single-axis movement task. FAST modules eliminate requirements for proprietary systems and complex interface programming for path planning.

Smart Motor offers a highly versatile package by reducing up to 70% the number of different motor variations customers may need. Equipped with control intelligence in the terminal box, the Smart Motor is capable of 500 to 2,600 rpm, while maintaining constant torque. This easy-to-install motor complies with IES2, maintains a small footprint, enables speed switchovers and allows users to set individual start-stop ramps. It also features full motor protection, an eco mode for energy savings and digital outputs for speed selection, direction and status messages.

The g500 gearbox delivers motor speed transformed into torque, enabling energy efficiencies of 94% across the entire transmission range. Plus, these new gearboxes generate less energy.

Lenze Americas
800-217-9100
www.lenzeamericas.com

STORAGE INNOVATIONS, ORDER FULFILLMENT SOLUTIONS

Frazier, Long Valley, N.J., introduced a host of storage innovations and order fulfillment solutions.

The Ergo-Label Beam, for instance, is a blended design of two Frazier order picking solutions, offering comfort, ergonomic order selection, abuse resistance and barcode label protection.

The Pallet Mole is a high-density storage unit that stores up to six high and 50 pallet positions deep, thus maximizing floor space and maintaining SKU selectivity.

The SelecDeck Carton Flow is the ideal solution for rising SKU counts and slow moving items. With this system, users can increase floor pick locations by 25%. Plus, its universal shelf bed accommodates cases of all shapes and sizes for easy product mix changes.

Frazier Industrial Co.
800-614-4162
www.frazier.com

FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS

FMH Conveyors, Suwanee, Ga., debuted the NestaFlex 226, a light-medium duty gravity conveyor designed to handle multi-sized cartons in low-to-medium volume applications. This conveyor moves product to different locations and positions.

The NestaFlex 376 AL/FL is a durable, heavy-duty gravity conveyor that handles heavy cartons in high-volume applications. The legs are supported by a well-designed connection with steel bolts to secure the parts together.

The NestaFlex 376 PL is an expandable conveyor equipped with guide track, herringbone transition, fixed-height legs and a “one-touch” approach to loading trailers. The leg brackets are designed to keep the legs perpendicular to the floor.

The Best/Flex powered conveyor can handle hundreds to thousands of packages a day. Both 1.5 and 1.9 models can service multiple docking doors.

BestReach belted rigid conveyors are built to handle heavy volume and high-impact shipping jobs. Made with “bulletproof” steel construction, these conveyors can service 53-foot trailers and pup trailers, and can easily power in and out with no operator interference.

Meanwhile, the BestReach drive-out conveyors include accumulation options to maintain throughput of zone-controlled packages. They also reduce recirculation on the shipping sorter by bringing packages in from the nose of the trailer back to the feed system.

BestConnect reconfigurable rigid conveyors are designed to provide rapid assembly of conveying solutions. With a simple power supply and latching connection, this conveying system incorporates photo electronics to provide automated flow control, readings of the product shapes and materials and signals when the downstream zone is empty.

The Maxxreach telescopic conveyor provides is ideal for large-volume shipping and receiving applications for distribution centers. With its narrow footprint, long reach and touch-free extension, this state-of-the-art design allows users to automate loading and unloading areas. Plus, it conveys a variety of products from large to small cartons.

Most of these conveyors contract and can be stored, thus saving floor space.

FMH Conveyors
678-745-3720
www.fmhconveyors.com

LITHIUM BATTERY FOR END RIDER FORKLIFTS, PALLET JACKS

Flux Power, Vista, Calif., announced the beta version of its 500Ahe LiFT Pack lithium-ion battery for end rider pallet jacks.

This high-power lithium storage alternative to legacy lead-acid batteries offers longer run times, sustained high-power performance, limited maintenance and a greener solution. 

Flux Power Holdings, Inc.
877-505-3589
www.fluxpwr.com

ROBOTIC GRIPPERS

Grabit, Santa Clara, Calif., launched a new line of robotic grippers based on the company’s electroadheshion technology, which is a highly-flexible, ultra-low energy technology that enables the handling of delicate and difficult-to-grasp parts.

The P-Series of grippers are ideal for a variety of applications, such as solar cell components, printed circuit boards, flex circuits and glass displays. Plus, the electroadhesion technology eliminates the need for part-specific grippers and minimizes gripper changeover.

Grabit, Inc.
408-642-1830
www.grabitinc.com