Supply Chain & LogisticsTechnology Showcase

MODEX—the biggest supply chain show of 2016

Caster-Concepts-Drive-Caster — Caster Concepts created what is said to be the first motorized industrial caster.

Cimcorp-Kroger — Cimcorpannounced the opening of its new Norcross, Ga., office, which will provide the sales and service team with a local home base in the Southeast market.

Clearpath-Robotics-OTTO-100 — Clearpath Robotics’ OTTO 100 self-driving operating system provides autonomous transport up to 220-pound loads at speeds up to 4.5 mph, while tracking along optimal paths and safely avoiding collisions.

Exide-Tubular-Battery — Exide Technologies launched its new *GNB*-branded *Tubular LMX* battery line, designed to fit a wider range of original equipment lift trucks than its predecessor, the Tubular LM product line.

Flexcon-container-solutions — Flexcon debuted new container solutions, designed to help protect and organize goods and optimize space utilization throughout the supply chain.

Flexspace-Poweracks — Storax America/Flexspace’s mobile racking system, Poweracks (as seen here), is an industrial mobile racking system comprised of a racking superstructure installed to a powered moving base.

Hatteland-AutoStore — Hatteland Display unveiled what is said to be the largest ever demonstration of its ultra-space-efficient, high-performance *AutoStore*automated warehousing system.

Hyster-new-truck-series — Hyster unveiled new H50XT truck, designed to outperform the competition in both fuel efficiency and productivity.

ifm-O3D-pallet-recognition — ifm’s new O3D smart sensor is a 3D-depth camera designed to benefit industrial robotics, material handling and packaging applications in image recognition.

Intelligrated-IntelliSort-tilt-tray-and-cross-belt-sortation — Ideal for high-capacity unit sorting applications, Intelligrated’s *IntelliSort* tilt-tray and cross-belt sortation solutions handle a variety of product and packaging types with maximum speed and accuracy.

Interroll-modular-conveyor-platform — Interroll’s new modular conveyor platform for material handling can be assembled to form a complete material handling solution that provides smooth flow of product.

JLT Mobile Computers’ 1214P logistics computer, for example, offers enhanced performance and improved responsiveness for logistics applications ranging from warehousing and food distribution to freezer storage and cross-docking.

Kardex-Remstar-carousel — Kardex Remstar’s newly redesigned horizontal carousel works on the goods-to-person principle, where goods are brought directly to the operator at the touch of a button.

KION-Linde-series — KION North America released a number of forklifts and lift trucks, including the Linde Series 1169 (as seen here), which is a 24-volt truck that features a Linde controller, sealed AC motor, sealed connectors, stability caster and residual capacity.

Millwood-Series-800-stretch-wrapper — Millwood’s new Liberty Technologies-branded Series 800 stretch wrap system is a conveyorized, fully automatic, high-speed rotary arm stretch wrap system equipped with dual film carriages that allow for optimal pre-stretch levels of up to 300%.

Muller-Yellow-Jacket — Muller’s Yellow Jacket orbital wrapper is ideal for companies looking to secure oversized, oddly shaped, palletized loads while the pallet remains on the forklift.

Numina-RDS — Numina’s latest web-based user interface for *RDS*, the web2 dashboard user interface, allows web-based applications to have the responsiveness of desktop applications, with the added capability of being able to operate on virtually any device.

PlugPower — Plug Power debuted a new class-3 pallet jack GenDrive 3340 fuel cell, which couples enhancements learned from over 100 millionhours offield runtimewith the company’sproprietary protonexchange membrane (PEM)fuel cellstack technology.

Portalink launched what is said to be game-changing technology that converts paper purchase orders, invoices, credit notes, statements and other documents into an electronic version that can be processed automatically and with unprecedented accuracy.

Raymond-iWAREHOUSE-reach-truck — **Raymond showcased its** iWAREHOUSE system on the *Raymond Reach-Fork* series (as seen here), which is said to be the first telematics solution to integrate multiple operational systems in a single, factory-installed display unit.

RM2-BLOCKPal — RM2 USA revealed its total pallet solution—the new *BLOCKPal* engineered composite pallet, designed for use in supply chains with high-volume traffic levels and/or demanding operating environments.

Schmaltz-Jumbo-vacuum-tube-lifter — Schmalz showcased a number of handling solutions, including the box gripper for the Jumbo vacuum tube lifter, as seen here, which allows for the ergonomic handling of standard small load carriers.

Seegrid-Subway-Platform — Seegrid’s Subway Platform displays are designed to reduce downtime in the supply chain by providing subway-style estimated-time-of-arrival projections and data collection capabilities at each station where Seegrid’s vision-guided vehicles retrieve or deliver materials.

Stay-Rite-stackable-racks — The *STAY-RITE* universal platform stacking device from Stay-Rite Solutions is made with recycled plastic material and is a reusable and economical material handling solution.

Swisslog-AutoStore — Swisslog North America demonstrated its goods-to-person technology, AutoStore(as seen here), as well as a fully automated picking station, a new high-performance shuttle system and Automated Item Pick (AIP), a fully automated picking station that teams humans with robots.

TECSYS-OneSprint — TECSYS’ *OneSprint*features advanced warehouse management system capabilities synchronized to help operators achieve fulfillment and on-boarding objectives.

Voxware and Buton eBusiness solutions form a value-added-reseller (VAR) agreement to supply Voxware’s cloud voice management software and Intellestra solutions to the EMEA market.

Westfalia-Testing-Facility-2016 — Westfalia completed a multi-million dollar test facility, which allows the company to test improvements and new software user interfaces.

Wildeck-JiffyStair — Wildeck demonstrated its new *JiffyStair* modular knock-down stair system, a fully-palletized stairway system, ideal for access in tight places such as pick modules and to elevated equipment platforms or mezzanine structures.

Lithium-ion-Battery — Yale Materials Handling Corp. featured what is said to be the first Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-recognized lithium-ion battery pack available in the forklift industry.

Zebra-ultra-rugged-scanners — Zebra Technologies announced its 3600 ultra-rugged seriesof scanners, purpose-built for durability, scan performance and manageability in demanding industrial environments such as warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturingshop floors and do-it-yourself retailstores.

Ametek-TruBID — Qimarox’s Prorunner mk10 allows companies to transport up to 60 pallets up to 2,000 kg. per hour 10 meters upwards.

Automation-Plus-Pallet-Return-Device — Automation Plus developed the Pallet Return Device, designed to operate in distribution center pick modules and make handling pallets safer and more efficient without using any outside energy source.

Bell-and-Howell-PackRobot — Bell and Howell developed PackRobot, a dramatic advance in intelligent systems for consumer delivery and pickup of parcels and packages.

BEUMER-Rota-Sorter — BEUMER Group’s new *Rota-Sorter* is designed to sort a variety of items—large or small, tall or flat, of different weight categories and in different packaging—on one single line.

Big-Joe — The new J2-72 Joey from Big Joe, LLC is a low level order picker that features a 2,000-pound total vehicle capacity, the ability to lift 1,500-pound pallets up to 72 inches, power steering, an ergonomic mini-mast and an industrial battery compartment.

Buckhorn-Bottom-Drain-Bulk-Box-Door-Down — Buckhorn expanded its Intrepid intermediate bulk container product line, making it now available with or without a drop door in top or bottom discharge configurations.

Qimorex-Mk10-pallet-lift-feature — Qimarox’s Prorunner mk10 allows companies to transport up to 60 pallets up to 2,000 kg. per hour 10 meters upwards.

Orbis-Pally combines the mobility of a dolly and functionality of a pallet — ORBIS launched the Pally, which combines the mobility of a dolly with the functionality of a static pallet to enable new and enhanced material handling capabilities.

Cognex-MX-1000 — Cognex’s MX-1000 vision-enabled mobile terminal features a flexible modular design that marries industrial-class barcode scanning with a wide range of Android or Apple mobile devices.Cognex’s MX-1000 vision-enabled mobile terminal features a flexible modular design that marries industrial-class barcode scanning with a wide range of Android or Apple mobile devices.

Egemin-Egv-compact-tugger — Egemin developed the second attachment for the *E’gv* compact tugger’s base—the counterbalance fork—designed to work in many common material handling areas and for replacing manual trucks to reduce product damage and increase throughput.

Rite-Hite-LED-Virtual-Vision — Rite-Hite introduced the LED *Virtual Vision* light communication system, designed to improve worker safety in and around high-speed doors.

UL-RECOGNIZED BATTERY PACK FOR WALKIE PALLET TRUCK

Yale Materials Handling Corp., Greenville, N.C., featured an assortment of scalable automation, comprehensive power solutions and enterprise asset management designed to solve the toughest challenges facing today’s distribution and warehousing operations.

For example, its MPB045VG walkie pallet truck is said to be the first Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-recognized lithium-ion battery pack available in the forklift industry. With an extended run time, excellent charging capabilities and small footprint, the new lithium-ion battery offers an efficient and productive power alternative for retail, beverage and food delivery applications. The lithium-ion option is designed to last up to five times longer than traditional lead acid batteries, and can be repeatedly charged to 100% capacity without an equalization charge, allowing operators to spend more time moving products and less time charging. The battery is also intended for convenient opportunity charging with no negative memory effects, and is completely maintenance free.

Yale uses technology from Balyo, a French robotics company that specializes in solutions to automate pallet transportation, to enable its end rider model to operate as a self-guided truck, an ideal solution for delivering products in a wide range of applications. The infrastructure-free navigation requires no tape, wire or magnets for guidance, and uses structural features such as walls, columns or racks to manage a single truck or an entire fleet. Plus, the built-in smart management system helps the truck anticipate and react to its immediate environment. Its advanced obstacle-detection feature controls truck speed in real time, affording smooth movement while minimizing unnecessary stops and shocks, allowing up to 20,000 hours of use.

Zero-emissions fuel cell technology and on-site hydrogen generation from Nuvera Fuel Cells LLC, Billerica, Mass., combined with Yale’s material handling industry expertise enables a turnkey solution to help reduce emissions and improve performance. Fuel cell-powered lift trucks can be used to help increase efficiency, lower lifecycle cost, reduce operational disruptions and minimize environmental impact.

Fitted to a very narrow aisle truck, Yale A-WARE, a location-based performance control solution, uses RFID tags fitted in each aisle, rather than magnets or reflectors, to automatically enforce speed and lift limitations. This allows operators to focus on meeting operational goals, reduce downtime and extend equipment life through reduced mechanical wear and impacts. Yale A-WARE can also adjust to the nuances of each aisle, with multi-zone functionality to identify high traffic areas and automatically detect dead-ends, reducing the risk of collisions and decreasing operational downtime. The RFID tags also offer faster installation and cannot be covered up, ensuring maximum reliability.

And,Yale Vision helps operations manage costs, protect assets and optimize productivity by monitoring equipment, truck and driver performance to illuminate total cost of operation.

Yale Materials Handling Corp.
252-830-0261
www.yale.com

HIGH-DENSITY WAREHOUSE STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Storax America/Flexspace, Charleston, S.C.,showcased its high-density, mobile, industrial storage solutions aimed at increasing storage capacity, accessibility and productivity while decreasing a facility’s footprint.

Its mobile racking system, Poweracks, is an industrial mobile racking system comprised of a racking superstructure installed to a powered moving base. Poweracks replaces conventional static aisles with one moving access aisle.

The high-density pallet shuttle, Ranger, is a modern storage solution that automatically circulates pallets on a shuttle system by handheld remote control or a WiFi PDA device. Utilizing advanced photocell technology, the Ranger detects and positions itself underneath a pallet, delivering and extracting pallets with a deep lane tunnel system.

Storax America/Flexspace
512-771-6715
www.storaxsolutions.com

NEW LIFT TRUCK MODELS

Big Lift LLC, Lombard, Ill., launched two new lift truck models.

The Big Joe PDSR walkie reach truck, for example, boasts a 3,000-pound load capacity with lift heights up to 157 inches, and features power steering, side-shift, integral tilt and proportional controls for lift, lower, reach and retract as standard. The PDSR is an AC-powered vehicle whose powertrain delivers lengthy run times, while its compact chassis allows the unit to perform a wide variety of material handling tasks in small spaces.

The Big Joe J2 Joey low level order picker features a 2,000-pound total vehicle capacity and the ability to lift 1,500-pound pallets up to 72 inches. The J2 Joey includes power steering, an ergonomic mini-mast and an industrial battery compartment. Optional equipment includes a choice of guardrail-mounted or front-mounted controls based on application needs and an overhead guard upon request. A

Big Lift LLC
630-916-2600
www.bigjoeforklifts.com

TURNTABLE WRAPPING MACHINE

Muller, Glenview, Ill., introduced the new Raptor HPL turntable wrapping machine with Muller’s Logo Wrap enhancement, which enables users to protect pallet loads while simultaneously covering the product in custom messaging. The Raptor HPL is a heavy-duty, semi-automatic turntable that can wrap up to 35 loads per hour, and boasts an easy-to-use control panel that creates customized wrap patterns for each unique application. In addition, patented strain gauge technology enables electronic film feed and corner compensation. A motorized power pre-stretch system with adjustable film tension control guarantees users optimal film usage. Film tension control ensures superior load containment and helps eliminate film breaks and product damage.

Also on display was Mullers’ Octopus 1717C automatic rotary ring stretch wrapper, and the Yellow Jacket orbital wrapper, for attendees looking to secure oversized, oddly shaped, palletized loads while the pallet remains on the forklift. The orbital wrapper is a horizontally positioned stretch wrap machine that moves around and under a load, as the Yellow Jacket manually advances across the length of the load. Typically it takes two workers roughly 10 minutes to wrap a similar load by hand. Yellow Jacket can wrap a similar load with one worker in 1 minute.

Muller also displayed its Lock N’ Pop cohesive applicators and LDX-RTB case packer, which is manufactured by Muller’s sister company Loveshaw Corp., South Canaan, Pa.

Muller Load Containment Solutions
800-628-6787
www.mullerlcs.com