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Supply
Chain by the Numbers |
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- July 2, 2015 -
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Unilever Collaborates on Network Design; Solar Energy Expected to Rise Rapidly; Transports Costs have been Headed Up Sharply for CPG Companies; Breakthrough Advance in 3D Printing? |
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100
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That's how many times faster a new 3D printing technology from researchers at the UK's University of Sheffield can be in some applications versus the current state of the technology, according to reports from the research team there. The new approach, called high-speed sintering (HSS), uses an infrared lamp and an ink-jet print head. The print head rapidly and precisely delivers patterns of radiation-absorbing material to the powder bed. Subsequently exposing the powder to infrared light melts and fuses the material into shapes as controlled by the 3D design. That is similar in a sense to the current laser sintering technology operates, but it is much faster, holding the promise for making large quantities of parts cost effectively, which really isn't possible today. Last Fall, HP announced it was developing new 3D printing technology that may deliver similar improvements in speed.
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14% |
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That's the average rise in logistics costs just since 2012 for consumer packaged goods companies, according to a new study from The Boston Consulting Group and the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Rates are rising in the trucking sector due to a combination of asset discipline by carriers in the face of growing freight volumes and the continuing driver shortage. In addition to rising costs, survey respondents indicated that the growing capacity tightness is also impacting customer service, saying they're finding it increasingly difficult to meet demand because their products simply can't get to where they need to be on time. Congestion issues are also playing a role, respondents said, with on-time arrival industry-wide falling by nearly 5% from 2012 to 2014, according to the survey.
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