MODEX—the biggest supply chain show of 2016
Caster Concepts created what is said to be the first motorized industrial caster.
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 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 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 debuted new container solutions, designed to help protect and organize goods and optimize space utilization throughout the supply chain.
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 Display unveiled what is said to be the largest ever demonstration of its ultra-space-efficient, high-performance AutoStoreautomated warehousing system.
Hyster unveiled new H50XT truck, designed to outperform the competition in both fuel efficiency and productivity.
ifm’s new O3D smart sensor is a 3D-depth camera designed to benefit industrial robotics, material handling and packaging applications in image recognition.
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’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’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 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’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’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’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.
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 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 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.
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’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.
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 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’ OneSprintfeatures 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 completed a multi-million dollar test facility, which allows the company to test improvements and new software user interfaces.
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.
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 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.
Qimarox’s Prorunner mk10 allows companies to transport up to 60 pallets up to 2,000 kg. per hour 10 meters upwards.
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 developed PackRobot, a dramatic advance in intelligent systems for consumer delivery and pickup of parcels and packages.
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.
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 expanded its Intrepid intermediate bulk container product line, making it now available with or without a drop door in top or bottom discharge configurations.
Qimarox’s Prorunner mk10 allows companies to transport up to 60 pallets up to 2,000 kg. per hour 10 meters upwards.
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’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 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 introduced the LED Virtual Vision light communication system, designed to improve worker safety in and around high-speed doors.
NEW TESTING/TRAINING FACILITY, UPGRADED S/RM
Westfalia Technologies, Inc. showcased its upgraded storage and retrieval machine (S/RM) to provide clients with safer operations. The new S/RM features an independent moveable safety cab, or service lift, which allows operators to access storage levels without using a ladder. Also, the S/RM features more built-in, dual-safety processors and service components that are more accessible for easier maintenance.
Westfalia also completed a multi-million dollar test facility, located at its York, Pa., headquarters. This facility allows the company to test improvements and new software user interfaces to better its solutions and stay at the forefront of the technology. It will also serve as a training facility to provide customers with hands-on, improved training on using an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS).
Westfalia Technologies, Inc.
717-764-1115
www.westfaliaUSA.com
SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE FOR LIGHT-LOAD MATERIAL TRANSPORT
Canada-based Clearpath Robotics expanded its OTTO line of self-driving vehicles with OTTO 100, designed for autonomous light-load material transport in factories and warehouses.
The OTTO 100 system delivers dynamic and efficient light-load transport in increasingly congested industrial operations. OTTO does not rely on external infrastructure for navigation, making implementation hassle-free and highly scalable. Additionally, OTTO 100 uses Clearpath’s self-driving operating system to provide autonomous transport up to 220-pound loads at speeds up to 4.5 mph, while tracking along optimal paths and safely avoiding collisions.
OTTO 100 can be configured with a lift, bin carrier or cart, and integrates directly with ERPs via the OTTO enterprise fleet management system.
Clearpath Robotics
800-301-3863
www.clearpathrobotics.com
VISION-ENABLED MOBILE TERMINAL
Cognex, Natick, Mass., introduced the MX-1000 vision-enabled mobile terminal with a flexible modular design that marries industrial-class barcode scanning with a wide range of Android or Apple mobile devices.
The MX-1000 series of mobile terminals offers manufacturers, logistics providers and other organizations a revolutionary new method for performing tasks such as inventory management, logistics and field service. The MX-1000 combines the ease-of-use and flexibility of off-the-shelf smartphones with a rugged hand-held assembly that holds both the phone and a specially designed Cognex barcode reader.
Cognex Corp.
855-426-4639
www.cognex.com
SORTATION, DISTRIBUTION SOLUTIONS
BEUMER Group, Somerset, N.J., introduced its latest offering—the Rota-Sorter—suitable for handling a vast range of items on a single line at top speed. The Rota-Sorter boasts unique discharge technology that sorts a variety of items—large or small, tall or flat, of different weight categories and in different packaging—on one single line at 5,000 items per hour. The sorter can be expanded to up to three lines arranged above each other, thus achieving a maximum capacity of 15,000 items per hour.
BEUMER also exhibited a broad range of flexible, high-speed and low-maintenance energy-efficient sortation and distribution solutions, including its automated BS 7 cross-belt sorter and an interactive “video wall” featuring several BEUMER warehouse and distribution solutions.
BEUMER Group
732-893-2800
www.beumergroup.com
3D SMART SENSOR FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION
ifm efector, Malvern, Pa., introduced the O3D smart sensor for industrial automation applications
The O3D smart sensor is a 3D-depth camera designed to benefit industrial robotics, material handling and packaging applications.
This 3D imaging solution enables an automated machine to perceive its environment the way a human does—in 3D—and includes two “pre-built” applications—case completeness and box dimensioning.
The case completeness application is designed to verify that a case contains all necessary products and that all contents are properly placed in the case, eliminating the potential for short shipments and damaged products. It is also color independent, making it ideal for detecting different packaging varieties. The O3D smart sensor can also digitally change between application “recipes,” making it an ideal fit for today’s flexible packaging lines.
Box dimensioning obtains the dimensions of a case and uses them to confirm sequencing of products for mixed-case palletizing or sized-based sortation. The O3D smart sensor can dimension boxes/cases to an accuracy of+/-10mm.
ifm USA
800-441-8246
www.ifm.com/us/O3Dsmartsensor
HANDLING SOLUTIONS FOR INTRA-LOGISTICS APPLICATIONS
Schmalz Inc., Raleigh, N.C., showcased handling solutions for a multitude of intra-logistics applications.
The box gripper for the Jumbo vacuum tube lifter, for instance, allows for the ergonomic handling of standard small load carriers. Ideal for picking workplaces, small load carriers are moved quickly and in large quantities. The integrated lifting slots in the crates pick them up with maximum reliability. At an average weight of 20 kilograms per small load carrier and 50 picks an hour, the vacuum tube lifter transports a total load of 8 tons per shift.
Schmalz also showcased the FXP vacuum area gripping system, which ensures maximum flexibility and reliability when handling workpieces of different shapes and sizes. Just one gripper can handle multiple workpieces with a width up to 20 mm simultaneously with speed and reliability. The vacuum generation occurs directly in the gripper, providing increased energy efficiency. Thanks to its low weight, the FXP area gripper is ideal for use on robots.
Furthermore, the SPZ-M layer gripping system with mechanical gripping support allows the user to handle intermediate layers, pallets, cardboard boxes, crates and film packaging with maximum efficiency. The suction area is available either as flexible foam or single suction pads, and fully adapts to the structure of the workpiece and the task. By handling whole product layers rationally, the cycle time can be drastically reduced to a minimum.
Schmalz Inc.
919-713-0880
www.schmalz.com
MOTOR-POWERED CASTER
Caster Concepts Inc., Albion, Mich., created what is said to be the first motorized industrial caster.
The Drive Caster integrates an electric motor with an industrial caster to create a single unit that can be easily added to carts, racks or just about anything that rolls on casters. With a mere flip of a switch, operators can effortlessly move heavy loads without fear of injury.
The Drive Caster boasts a quarter horsepower or a half horsepower motor, powerful enough to move loads up to 6,000 pounds at up to 5 miles per hour. The Drive Caster also eliminates the need for manual pushing or pulling, reducing the risk of injury and the need for multiple operators.
Caster Concepts Inc.
888-781-3379
www.casterconcepts.com
WALKIE REACH TRUCKS FEATURING POWER STEERING
Big Lift LLC, the Lombard, Ill.-based makers of Big Joe equipment, introduced the J1-190 and J2-72 as well as the new PDSR30 walkie reach truck featuring power steering.
The J1-190 is the latest and tallest version of the J1 series, reaching a working height of 22 feet and able to accommodate a larger battery for extended run times. The new J2-72 Joey is a low level order picker that features a 2,000-pound total vehicle capacity and the ability to lift 1,500-pound pallets up to 72 inches. The J2 comes with power steering, an ergonomic mini-mast and an industrial battery compartment. Optional features include an overhead guard and a choice of guard rail mounted or front-mounted controls to conform to application needs.
The new walkie stackers with power steering—the CB-33 Counterbalanced walkie stacker and the PDSR30 walkie reach truck—boast AC power, integral tilt and proportional controls for lift, lower, extend and retract. Both units also deliver lengthy run times, low-cost operation and the ability to perform in a wide variety of material handling tasks in small spaces.
Meanwhile, the new T15 walkie tugger—the D40M electric pallet truck—is able to handle both standard pallets and half-pallets.
Big Lift LLC
630-916-2600
www.bigjoeforklifts.com
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