DC Velocity - October 2010

inbound

If there’s one type of material handling equipment that could be called “global,” it’s the forklift truck.

You can find them in warehouses, Take the Class IV cushion tire, internal combustion (IC) engine counterbalanced truck, for example. These models are used primarily in North America, according to Martin Boyd, vice president of product planning and marketing for Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. That’s because they’re best suited to indoor applications, where there’s little worry about operator discomfort or damage to the cushion tires.

In Japan, by contrast, Class V trucks with pneumatic tires are the norm— and for an interesting reason, as Boyd explained during a recent interview. Instead of driving directly from a dock into the back of a trailer, as drivers typically do in North America, Japanese operators almost always load trailers outdoors. Because of that, pneumatic tire models are a better fit than their cushion tire counterparts. They provide a more comfortable ride over uneven, bumpy surfaces, and the tires can better withstand the wear and tear of outdoor use. Incidentally, most Japanese trailers open from the side, with fold-up “clamshell” sides (photo).

Mexican buyers also prefer pneumatic tire IC trucks because of loading conditions in that country, while customers in Eastern Europe are interested in very basic models for use in low-volume, one-shift operations, Boyd said. ;

the wide (and diverse)
world of forklifts
summer camp offers
training for the trainers

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING, USA, INC.

We’ve all seen those ubiquitous bumper stickers that say “I;New York” or
“I;my German Shepherd.” But keep your eyes peeled: Soon, we might be
seeing bumper stickers that say “We;Logistics.”
Atlanta-based UPS has launched an advertising campaign that’s built
around the theme “We;Logistics.” The campaign, which kicks off in the
United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, is designed to
emphasize Big Brown’s transformation to a provider of what it says is the
“broadest range of logistics services in the industry.” That message will be
carried through television, print, digital, and social media.

The fact that a logistics-themed communications campaign will be broadcast to the general public as well as industry professionals suggests that familiarity with the concept is growing among smaller and medium-sized businesses.

The campaign’s focus reflects UPS’s desire to highlight the conglomerate’s expansion beyond its core parcel delivery business, but with a more narrow focus than the now-jettisoned slogan “What Can Brown Do For You.” Since going public in 1999, UPS has acquired more than 40 companies, including specialists in retail shipping, finance, and international trade services. ;

UPS ditches “Brown,” declares love for “Logistics”

Material handling education is set to expand across the country, thanks to an industry-supported training initiative that is helping high schools and community colleges develop programs for their students. In June, teachers and administrators from schools in eight states attended the annual “Train-the-Trainer Summer Camp” at the Don Frazier Technical Supply Chain Training Center in Rock Hill, S.C. At the “camp,” instructors received guidance on how to set up a program, develop instructional materials, and provide opportunities for hands-on training, among other topics. The center is sponsored by the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) and the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).

One of the purposes of the local training centers is to provide “ laboratories” where students can gain practical experience. The Frazier Center does that while also helping others: Students provide services for First Book, a non-profit that encourages children to read by giving them age-appropriate books, and Pack-the-Back, a non-profit that provides food and backpacks for low-income children.

To help in this endeavor, MHIA member RedPrairie recently donated its SmartTurn warehouse management system to the Frazier Center. Other companies have also donated equipment, software, and services to material handling education programs through MHEFI.