NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY DAVID MALONEY
rollouts
Schaefer Quad Shuttle:
The new Schaefer Quad
Shuttle (SQS) is designed
for container transportation and single-deep storage. It is intended to provide a buffer system in the
shipping area. It can also
conduct high-perform-ance order picking from
an automatic small-parts
storage system (miniload).
The SQS features a rail-guided shuttle with all-wheel-drive that travels in
the miniload aisle. The
shuttle’s load-carrying
device (LCD) is equipped
with four extracting devices. The system is designed so that both
individual containers and groups of two, three, or four can simultaneously be picked up or delivered. The integrated hoist unit
enables retrieval operations at a height of up to 3 meters.
The individual levels are connected via lift systems, which are
equipped with identical LCDs. Here, the rack compartments are
used as transfer positions. Retrieval operations by the lift and
those by the vehicle are carried out independently of one another, so that sequencing functions are feasible. Discharge, for
instance, does not take place in front zones without sequence
buffers, but the lift puts the containers directly onto the conveyor system.
Each shuttle vehicle is designed to have quadruple load-carrying devices and a high container exchanging speed. The shuttle
has a maximum traveling speed of up to 5m/sec with an acceleration of 2. 8 m/s². Because of these design features, the shuttle has a throughput rate that is two to 10 times as high as that
of conventional storage and retrieval machines (SRMs), according to the manufacturer. (SSI Schaefer, www.ssi-schaefer.us)
Prophesy Transport TMS, v. 4.2: Prophesy Transportation
Solutions, a developer of trucking and logistics software, has
released version 4. 2 of its Prophesy Transport TMS. The release
features a number of enhancements and additions.
The new version integrates Microsoft Bing Maps with the
Accellos Prophesy Mileage module for easier route planning. It
also integrates with Accellos Image and with Acordex Document
Imaging for seamless document imaging and rendition billing.
The software features rules for carrier tendering, first acceptance, and lowest bid. These rules are based on an initial mass distribution to multiple carriers. It also offers enhanced communication integration with Qualcomm and Peoplenet Web services,
expanded macros functionality, and landmarks. The solution features Microsoft Bing Geocoding, which targets the latitudes and
longitudes of destinations. (Prophesy Transportation Solutions,
www.mile.com)
FedEx Trade Networks’ ocean choices portfolio: FedEx Trade
Networks, FedEx’s international ocean and air-freight forwarder
subsidiary, is now offering three distinct international ocean
freight forwarding solutions via its new ocean choices portfolio.
The three solutions are designed to allow customers to choose
the option that best suits the products being shipped.
The FedEx International Direct Economy Ocean option offers
traditional freight forwarding services to and from major worldwide locations for products that have a flexible delivery schedule.
The FedEx International Direct Distribution Ocean option provides ocean shipping solutions to destinations in the United
States, Canada, and Puerto Rico from origins in Asia, Latin
America, the Middle East, India, and Europe. A third new service,
FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean, provides ocean delivery
solutions for both less-than-containerload (LCL) and full-contain-erload (FCL) cargo. This new option, which serves the Los
Angeles and Long Beach ports from origins in Yantian/Shenzhen,
Shanghai, and Hong Kong, offers delivery for LCL shipments via
FedEx Freight and delivery for FCL shipments via the FedEx Trade
Networks preferred carrier portfolio. (FedEx Trade Networks,
www.ftn.fedex.com)
