Supply Chain Trends and Issues: Our Weekly Feature Article on Important Trends and Developments in Supply Chain Strategy, Research, Best Practices, Technology and Other Supply Chain and Logistics Issues
- Feb. 9, 2012
Supply Chain News: MODEX 2012 Video Review Individual Clips (Con't)
Watch the Full Videos, or Select the Clips that Meet Your Interests
by SCDigest Editorial Staff
A relatively new conveyor provider named Conroll, whose founder Chuck Agnoff says he invented the concept of Motor-Driven Roller technology years ago that has been really catching on in reccent years, expands on that idea with a new product line based on External Motor Drives (EMD) that looks like something of a breakthrough in the industry.
Conroll's New EMD Approach to Conveyor Technology
SSII Schaefer was back with another intersting new solution, the "Fulfillment Factory," which uses unique hanling plastic carriers that drop picks into cartons, similar in a sense to tilt tray sorters, but at lower cost and the ability to handle more varied products.
SSI Schaefer's Intriging New "Fulfillment Factory" Solution for Eaches Picking
Motorola not only introduced the new nice looking ET1 ruggedized Android tablet computer, shown at the show running WMS software from RedPrairie, it also introduced a new scanner that can do both short range and long-range in a single device. That included a demonstrated of how use of a 2D bar code can greatly extend the scanning range versus a traditional linear bar code - who knew? It could just be 2D codes will gradually replace use of linear bar codes for location labels in distribution.
Motorola's New Android Tablet and Use of 2D Bar Codes for Location Labels in the DC
(Supply Chain Trends and Issues Article - Continued Below)
A company called Juniper Systems specializes in customized and highly ruggedized data collection devices for outdoor and indoor applications. They build nice-looking gear, but what sets them apart is that they will build customized devices for just what a customer needs at very small volumes, which most larger providers will not do.
Rugged, Customized Data Collection Devices from Juniper Systems
A company called Ranpack introduced at the show a new technology for replacing bubble pack in packing operations with a paper-based solution made of 60-70% recycled paper. The Ranpack machine spits out the product by combining and crimping two paper sheets in the back, delivering the packing material in the front on-demand, at whatever precise lenth is needed for that pack. Looks like a winner to us.
Ranpack Offers New Paper-Based Alternative to Bubble Wrap
There is growing interest in hydrogen- based fuel cell technology for lift trucks in manufacturing and distribution, but most attention has focused on the trucks themselves, less so on the infrastructure needed to run this kind of operation, from how the hydrogen is produced to the options for getting into filling stations in your facility. A spokesperson from Air Products clears much of that up.
Air Products Explains the Infrastructure Needed for Fuel Cell For Trucks
What do a couple of logistics managers who have never been to any type of major trade show think about MODEX 2012? Eric McGregor and Tim Staffanson of Tacoma Screw Products with some interesting thoughts.