New Products and Services
By Staff -- Logistics Management, 8/1/2004
Safely secure your pallet loads
A fully automatic stretch-wrap machine secures high-volume shipments of bundled loads without operator involvement. Three different wrapping capacities are offered: 87 inches, 10 feet, and 15 feet. The different models can be matched with fully automated or manual conveyor systems.
The units are best suited for wrapping long, narrow loads such as tubing; larger products such as building and construction materials; and for production line jobs requiring a high-speed wrap process. It is simple to operate and can easily be maintained and repaired with standard, off-the-shelf parts, says the manufacturer.
Yellow Jacket LLP 800-387-5001 www.yellowjacket110.com
Trailer fans keep workers cool
Increase employee comfort and productivity at loading docks with the CoolMan 2500 trailer fan. The fan moves the air inside trailers, creating a cooler and more comfortable environment for workers who are manually loading and unloading trailers in the heat. Alternatively, the fan can warm freezer environments. It comes with a one-half horsepower, three-speed motor that is enclosed in a heavy-duty polyethylene housing, and a 25-foot cord that plugs into standard 100-volt outlets.
The fan includes an 11-gauge steel positioning arm with a unique bracketing system that allows the fan to service two loading dock openings. The bracketing system lets dock workers position the fan vertically or horizontally to move the air at the rear or at the front of the trailer as needed. The fan can operate at three speeds: 1,600, 2,000, and 2,500 cubic feet per minute.
Rite-Hite Aftermarket Corp. 414-355-2600 www.ritehite.com
All-digital distribution center
The Digital Distribution Center is a one-source, all-digital technology concept that integrates a variety of Siemens Dematic products for distribution, warehousing, and retail enterprises. Offerings include: telecommunications, IT, logistics management, security monitoring, building automation, energy conservation services, WMS, RFID integration, material handling automation, lighting, power distribution, project financing, and building construction from the ground up.
The manufacturer can offer complete integration with both upstream and downstream supply chains while improving customer service, reducing costs, and avoiding start-up risk. Users benefit from having a single point of contact and accountability while minimizing the costs, scheduling challenges, and risks associated with managing multiple suppliers.
Siemens Dematic 616-913-7287 www.usa.siemens.com
Lift-truck attachment handles heavy drums
Designed for heavy-duty, high-volume applications, the model 2-DCM automatic drum-handling attachment is well suited for use on a shipping dock, for loading containers or trucks, and for flatbed operations, along with general fill-line use. The unit's "Parrot-Beak" mechanical drum-clamping gripper safely lifts steel, fiber, and plastic drums weighing up to 2,000 pounds.
This attachment fits any forklift truck without needing electrical or hydraulic connections or requiring tools for installation. A rubber belt cradle on the lower end of the unit cushions the side of the drum during pick up and transport, protecting labels, printing, and bar codes against scratching. Other features include rugged all-steel construction and a safety-chain retention system to keep the unit on the forks of the lift truck at all times.
Liftomatic Material Handling Inc. 800-837-6540 www.liftomatic.com
Track temperature and air quality of containers
The Electronic Chart Recorder (ECR) and Auto Vent Logging (AVL) from Thermo King offer safer cargo quality monitoring for current Thermo King unit owners. The fully-electronic ECR, which can be bolted onto all Thermo King units, graphs live temperature data from the container using electronic sensors.
The AVL logs fresh-air exchange settings, allowing employees to preemptively identify potential sources of cargo loss. This record of the air-exchange rate protects companies from erroneous cargo spoilage claims. The AVL system is only available for the new CRR and MAGNUM units.
Thermo Kingwww.thermoking.com 952-887-2200
Activity-based costing for carriers
A new analytical software tool helps regional and private carriers itemize their costs and better identify the sources of expenses. TruCosting allows users to price each element involved in freight movement through activity-based costing, thus carriers no longer need to rely on financial accounting reports that are only available periodically and give averages. Each expense—including variables such as fuel or driver mileage pay, and fixed expenses such as parts depreciation and maintenance costs—can be calculated on an hourly or daily basis by assigning a burden rate to each truck.
TruCost Systems, LLC 877-TRU-COST
Convenience and security in data collection
The Nordic ID RF650 builds on existing wireless data-collection tools to create a more secure model that uses Bluetooth encoding protocols. The RF650, with options for bar-code scanning and RFID, requires just a single PC or an existing company business system on which to run. It comes with application software, eliminating the need for custom programming of the handheld units. Because the RF650's ease of setup reduces users' setup costs, the manufacturer anticipates that the unit will be suitable for use by both large and small companies for monitoring inventory and tracking the flow of goods.
Nordic IDwww.nordicid.com +46 31 720 86 46
Stretch-wrap security with Pallet-Grip
The Pallet-Grip stretch-wrap system meets the latest requirements from big-box retailers and mass merchandisers for locking a load to the pallet, according to the supplier, Lantech. Bottom wraps of film twist into a film cable that is secured below the deck of the pallet. Meanwhile, the film web above secures the load above the deck. This eliminates the need to lift the load in order to wrap film underneath a pallet. The wrapping also facilitates forklift use by leaving the through holes in the pallet open.
Lantechwww.lantech.com 800-866-0322
Truck simulator promotes safer drivers
J.J. Keller & Associates has introduced the SAFE·Sim Truck Driving Simulator to provide a realistic training experience for future drivers. The software allows users to simulate driving a tractor-trailer, tank, or straight truck through virtual routes based on U.S.Geological Survey maps.
Complete with a steering wheel and pedals, the software tests drivers' abilities to negotiate emergency situations such as roadblocks, brake failure, shifting cargo, icy roads, tire blowouts, and even aggressive motorists. In addition, the system tests how drivers handle varied terrains such as busy city streets, highways, construction zones, and mountain roads.
The software records driver errors, which allows evaluators to assess deficiencies in areas such as mirror usage, emergency maneuvering, and situational awareness. Companies can then use these scoring features to set standards for current drivers and screen potential new hires.
J. J. Keller & Associateswww.jjkeller.com 920-722-2848
Are birds invading your warehouse?
Bird droppings have a way of ruining shipments and dirtying up work spaces. Bird-X offers a solution—the QuadBlaster QB4 ultrasonic bird repellent. The system consists of speakers that project ultrasonic sound waves in all directions to drive birds away from employees and goods. Two red diodes indicate rate of "warble" and speaker sequencing. Anticipated benefits include improved sanitary conditions and reduced clean-up costs.
Bird-X, Inc.www.bird-x.com 312-226-2473
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