rollouts
NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY ERICA MAC DONALD AND SEAN MALONEY
Triple play: What’s the most
appropriate order fulfillment technology for your application: lights,
voice, or RF? In the past, you had
to choose one technology or the
other. Now, any two—or all three—
technologies can operate in the
same warehouse, while being controlled by one integrated software platform.
Systems integrator Dematic now offers a WCS (warehouse control system) software platform that controls and
directs all these devices in an integrated solution. This allows users to match the appropriate
technology to the application. That means, for
example, that an order fulfillment system can
utilize pick-to-light technology for fast-moving
items (which light-directed systems handle
more efficiently than voice), and use voice-directed technology for medium/slow movers—
applications where the cost of a lighted slot display may have a weak ROI.
Another configuration could include the use of pick-to-light technology for picking, and voice technology for replenishment, receiving, or shipping functions.
Or the operation could use
voice devices for picking an
SKU container, and then use
light technology to put the
SKUs to an order.
Users can mix and match as required. The WCS gives them the
flexibility to employ the optimal solution for each application, while
operating the system with one software platform that keeps each
sub-system in integrated synchronization. (Dematic, www.dematic.us, (877) 725-7500)
Filling a void: Sealed Air introduces the FasFil system, a paper-based void-fill packaging solution. The FasFil paper packaging system reliably delivers pad-shaped paper for void-fill packaging applications on demand. The system uses three pre-set speeds to create custom-length pad-like paper void-fill material from rolls of 100
percent recycled paper.
Capable of producing void-fill at up to 260 feet per minute, the
system easily adapts to on-demand workstations or high-volume
continuous feed environments with multiple packaging stations.
With the flexibility of choosing the weight, width, and length of
paper needed, operators can be assured of getting the material
that best suits their specific protection requirements.
Compared to other systems on the market, the FasFil solution
requires less manipulation by the operator and leads to more consistent material usage per package as well as a more predictable
package cost, according to the system’s manufacturer. The system’s easy drop-in front and back loading design allows for fast roll
changeovers.
The FasFil system is available in three height configurations.
(Sealed Air, www.sealedair.com)
Part monitor: Daifuku now offers its U.S. customers a part monitoring program for new Daifuku-branded or Daifuku-controlled
automated equipment, including automated storage and retrieval
systems (AS/RS), conveyor, sorting transfer vehicles (STVs) configured as shuttles, and automatic guided vehicles (AGVs).
DAGUARD (pronounced “day-guard”) is a software program that
monitors the life of equipment parts based on cycles and time in
use. The system, which is a preventative maintenance solution
with predictive maintenance functions, is programmed to notify
users when it’s time to maintain or replace system parts.
DAGUARD is a Web-based system with four modules:
Maintenance & Inspection, Part Life Expectancy, Diagnostics, and
Maintenance Support. The software forecasts the deterioration of
parts and components using a statistical method and experimental rules that have been established within the material handling
industry over time. DAGUARD users can view real-time information
about operation cycles, hours in use, and travel distances. (Daifuku
America, www.daifukuamerica.com)
They’ve got chemistry: Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk
Southern have announced a new service to transport chemical
shipments linking UP-served regions in southern Texas and
Louisiana with Northeast and Southeast U.S. destinations served
by Norfolk Southern.
The service, called Gulf Coast Flyer, “promotes expedited service for (chemical) customers between the Gulf Coast region and
major markets across the Northeast and Southeast,” the railroads
said in a joint statement. Eastbound and westbound shipments
between the two railroads connect at gateways in Salem, Ill., and
New Orleans.
The railroads said that from 2006 through 2008, they invested
$740 million in terminals, main lines, bridges, and sidings along
Gulf Coast traffic lanes. They said the improvements have
improved transit times by 20 percent on those lanes. (Norfolk
Southern, www.nscorp.com or Union Pacific Railroad,
www.up.com)
Raising the bar code: Data Systems International (DSI) has released
new versions of the Barcode 2000 multi-platform label printing solution developed by its recently acquired subsidiary, Unibar Inc. With
this new release, DSI has rebranded the products as part of the
Unibar Enterprise Labeling Software (ELS) product suite.
The new versions include Unibar ELS Standard and Unibar ELS
Enterprise. Unibar ELS Standard is label design and printing software that operates on UNIX, Linux, and Windows platforms, using
data from standard applications and databases to output bar-code
labels. Unibar ELS Enterprise adds advanced bar-code functionality and RFID label printing to Unibar ELS Standard, as well as
optional XML capabilities to support XML printing from the Oracle
Warehouse Management System, Oracle Mobile Supply Chain
Applications, and other XML applications.
This latest product release includes new bar-code symbologies
that give users more flexibility, capacity, and options for their bar-code and RFID labels. The release also includes enhancements to
the user interface and help systems. (Data Systems International,
www.dsionline.com)
