NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY ERICA MAC DONALD AND SEAN MALONEY
rollouts
Robot ready: Intelligrated has established the Alvey Robotic
Retrofit Program for its family of Alvey in-line case palletizers. The
program includes installation of one or more jointed-arm robots to
create a hybrid palletizer that combines robotic flexibility and
repeatability with the speed and reliability of conventional palletizer layer deposition. Benefits of the Alvey retrofits include gentler
positioning and rotation of product, automatic
line changeovers, pattern changing flexibility, and
extended operational life—all at a lower cost than
a new robotic palletizing solution.
Retrofits are completed on site by removing
the slat divider and existing case turners from the
Flexible pattern forming from the terminal screen allows operators
to handle changing packages and multiple SKUs quickly and easily.
With quick product reconfiguration and instant line changeovers, the
Alvey Robotic Retrofit achieves gentle packaging rates in excess of
100 cases per minute. (Intelligrated, www.intelligrated.com)
Push here: Hytrol Conveyor Co.
announces its newest conveyor
accessory, the Extenda Pusher. This
space-saving design is suited for systems where mounting space is minimal yet products require 90-degree sortation.
The construction of the Extenda Pusher lends itself to both speed
and strength. The robust cylinders—stabilized by tandem aluminum
guides—provide the power, while the lightweight aluminum pusher
face enhances the speed. Available in four stroke lengths, the device
mounts to units with overall conveyor widths of 18, 24, 30, and 36
inches. This style of pusher features proximity sensors for both extend
and return signals, which allow the user to adjust the stroke length.
The device includes an emergency stop as a standard feature.
When activated, it immediately empties air pressure stored within the
pusher, ensuring safe operation. (Hytrol Conveyor Co.,
www.hytrol.com)
Light ’em up: Next Generation Logistics Inc. offers a new release of
its flagship transportation management software suite, FreightMaster
TMS 5.0. The update takes advantage of the new Light Up features
of Microsoft Windows 7, including thumbnail previews, jump lists
with custom categories, progress bars, and icon overlays. (Next
Generation Logistics Inc., www.nextgeneration.com)
