New Products and Services
By Staff -- Logistics Management, 10/1/2000
Versatile FACTORYpoint Pro Computer Supports a Variety of Functions
DATA-COLLECTION SYSTEMS
The FACTORYpoint Pro is the latest addition to Intelligent Instrumentation's FactoryView product line. Designed for dusty, dirty, and wet conditions, the data-collection PC has a chemical-resistant, rubber-like coating with a solid steel plate behind the keypad as well as a sealed display. The keypad also features enlarged spacing between keys for use with gloves.
Two backlit LCD displays are available, either a 2-line by 40-character display with 1/2-inch characters or a 4-line by 40-character display. The unit is a standard 486DX PC and has a built-in 10BaseT EtherNet adapter and bar-code decoding abilities. It also comes standard with Type II and Type III PCMCIA slots, a PC/104 slot, and one MB of memory. Because the unit has two PCMCIA card slots, users can install a hard disk or SRAM card, wireless EtherNet or token ring network card, or FAX/modem card. The computer also features a PC/104 ISA bus expansion slot to support functions including VGA video, floppy/hard disk controller, and network interfaces.
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TI Announces New Smart-Label Inlay
Texas Instruments has added a miniature radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart-label transponder to its Tag-it family of inlays. The rectangular miniature inlay-essentially an integrated circuit with an antenna-can be incorporated into smart labels or embedded into plastic cards for access control or applied to containers and totes for logistics automation.
Like previous Tag-it inlays, the new miniature model is paper-thin, reprogrammable, flexible, and capable of being read simultaneously by fixed-position readers or handheld scanners. It has a maximum thickness of 0.360mm and can be laminated between layers of paper, film, or plastic for labels and cards that can be customized using ordinary print-on-demand printers. The units can also be directly embedded into materials such as plastic, wood, and fiber to create a hidden and durable ID tag. The rectangular miniature inlay, the third member of the Tag-it family, measures 22.5 by 38mm (0.9 by 1.5 inches). Also available are a large rectangular inlay measuring 45 by 76mm (1.8 by 3 inches) and a square inlay that is 45 by 45mm (1.8 by 1.8 inches). All models can be read with the same reader systems.
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Apex III Has Voice-Prompting Capabilities
Compsee, a provider of automatic data-capture systems, has released the Apex III, a water- and dust-resistant hand-held terminal for warehousing, manufacturing, and route automation environments. The Apex III has two PC card slots, which allows the user to simultaneously use two Type II devices, such as Flash Memory Card, EtherNet adapter, cellular or conventional modem, Smart Card reader adapter, or Wavable Sound Card.
The unit now features voice-prompting capabilities via a PC Card voice card and built-in speaker, which allows users to focus on the task at hand rather than checking the terminal constantly for the next step. The terminal also can operate in temperatures ranging from 14 to 122 degrees F and can withstand multiple four-foot drops as well as run for eight hours without a battery change. The Apex has a reading range of 18 feet on a 100-mil reflective bar code and a daylight readable scanner.
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New PSC Scanners Built for Versatility
PSC has introduced the PowerScan LR and XLR industrial bar-code scanners. The Long-Range and Extra Long-Range scanners have an operating range of up to 36 feet. The LR can read a standard 13-mil UPC label as close as 7 inches and a 100-mil reflective label 22 feet away. The XLR model can read 15-mil labels as close as 28 inches and 100-mil reflective labels as far away as 36 feet. PSC says that if the scanners are used along with its new QuadraLogic decoding software, they can read most dirty, smudged, and damaged labels.
The units have been designed with an impact-resistant material and protective rubber cushioning to withstand repeated drops to concrete from 6.5 feet. The scanners can also withstand dust, moisture, and temperatures as low as -22 degrees F and as high as 122 degrees F. The scan window is said to be shatterproof with a patented diamond coating to resist scratching. Other features include a positive trigger feedback for gloved-hand operation and a programmable beeper tone.
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PictoRL 4.0 Has 200 New Features
PictoRL Software Group (PSG) has announced the release of PictoRL 4.0, a development suite for the bar-code community. The updated version has more than 200 new features, which were prompted by specific requests PSG has received over 15 years in the industry.
PictoRL 4.0 is used for producing professional programs for bar-code readers. If the software is used in unison with ExComms, PictoRL's companion product, applications can be written quickly, the company says. The graphical drag-and-drop interface is designed to make programming easy.
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New Tool Lets Users Create Data-Collection Apps in NT
HydraVB, Applied Tactical Systems' new technology, works in Visual Basic to build Windows NT data-collection applications for bar-code terminals. Corporate developers can use the standard Visual Basic development environment to build applications that will be accessible from current-generation character mode terminals or next-generation CE terminals. Programming can be done without changing any code and without installing any proprietary clients on the terminals. Programmers can build applications using the Visual Basic tools they already know.
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Plastic Pallets Available in All Sizes
Plastic Pallet & Container Inc. now offers plastic pallets in any size or configuration, custom-designed for each customer's individual requirements.
The pallets resemble their wooden counterparts and can be used with the same materials-handling equipment. They are assembled with self-tapping screws that can be quickly removed and reused to repair any boards that become damaged during use.
Plastic pallets offer several advantages for companies with closed-loop distribution systems. Their increased durability reduces product damage. The units also help keep facilities clean because they are free of sawdust and insects, and will not splinter or crack under pressure. Unlike wooden pallets, plastic pallets do not absorb moisture or chemicals. If they are contaminated, they are easily cleaned with steam or detergents. The pallets are made from recycled materials and are completely recyclable.
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Pallet Carousel Saves Warehouse Space
White Systems Inc. offers a pallet carousel system to ease selection of bulk items from pallets or cases. The system enables 100-percent discrete selectivity, while its small footprint allows for high-density storage. It also helps eliminate wide aisles while retaining fork truck access to every pallet on the carousel, reducing deadheading and increasing throughput.
Particularly useful in refrigerated areas, the pallet carousel system is used to store heavy-duty pallets for picking, buffering, work-in-process, and building mixed pallet loads as well as for manufacturing applications. The system can handle up to 3,000 pounds per position, with six to 50 positions per carousel.
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Stencil Machine Makes Quick Work of Labeling
The Associated Bag Co.'s Marsh stencil machine allows companies to label shipments, identify company property and equipment, and mark safety hazards quickly.
The stencil machine creates precise letters, numbers, and Roman numerals on all lengths of oilboard. An oilboard release lever and lock-in button on the machine speed up cutting and maintain accurate spacing. Big characters on the selector dial are easy to read. The sturdy metal unit does not need to be bolted down.
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Lift Tables Lighten Heavy Loads
Southworth Products Corp. has introduced Backsaver Lite lifts to increase worker safety for applications involving loads weighing between 500 and 1,500 pounds. The lifts are available in three different models: stationary, portable with DC power, and compact.
Additional features include oversized low-pressure hydraulics; fully adjustable down speed; fast raising and lowering; lubricated pins, rollers, and bushings; heavy-duty torque tubes; full-width straight axles; and built-in safety chocks.
The Backsaver Lite Compact is ideal for lifting in tight spaces, with footprints as small as 12 inches by 24 inches. Its double-scissor mechanism provides a full 36 inches of lifting height. The Backsaver Lite Portable features 5-inch phenolic coasters for almost effortless movement between work areas.
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Shoe Sorter Ideal for High-Volume Orders
ESKAY's sliding shoe sorter is a new solution for sorting large numbers of small and medium-sized items, totes, and boxes that typically are used in e-commerce distribution applications.
Featuring speeds of up to 427 feet per minute, ESKAY's shoe sorters can process up to 9,000 pieces per hour-a decided advantage for businesses that promise to ship orders the same day they are received.
Designed to process loads measuring between 8 and 40 inches in length and weighing up to 220 pounds, the sliding shoe sorter uses a smooth sorting action that prevents product damage while supporting high-speed operation. Bi-directional shoes allow items to be off-loaded to both sides of the sorter, improving space efficiency while providing design flexibility.
The shoe sorter is available in a range of lengths depending on the application requirements. The unit is designed for seamless integration with other automated materials-handling equipment and real-time inventory-control software.
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