DC Velocity - September 2012

NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES

EDITED BY SUSAN LACEFIELD rollouts

Mobile computer: The new VC6090 vehicle-mount mobile computer from Motorola Solutions Inc. provides voice, data, and bar-code scanning capabilities in one rugged device. The VC6090 is good for lift trucks because its all-in-one design maximizes space utilization and minimizes driver obstruction, the manufacturer says.

With Wi-Fi support, drivers can connect to any available wireless local area network (WLAN) inside an enterprise campus or when in range of access points.

The VC6090 mobile computer can be viewed and operated in most warehouse environments. It has an integrated keyboard with large keys suitable for workers using gloves and an easy-to-read touchscreen display.

The VC6090 vehicle-mounted mobile computer is available with Motorola’s “Service From the Start With Comprehensive Coverage” program. This program provides coverage for normal wear and tear on the device as well as accidental damage to internal and external components. (Motorola Solutions, www.motorolasolutions.com)

Steerable wheel sorter: Dematic has expanded its Modular Conveyor System family of products to include a Steerable Wheel Sorter. The sorter is engineered to accommodate cases, cartons, totes, or trays weighing up to 110 pounds. The steerable wheel design supports applications that require sort rates in the range of 40–80 cartons per minute.

The Steerable Wheel Sorter is engineered for operations that may need to reconfigure their layout in the future. It is a modular device that mounts inside the side frame of the Modular Conveyor In the transport mode, the four rows of wheels turn forward, conveying product straight on the conveyor.

To divert a load, the control logic simultaneously rotates and increases the speed of all the steerable wheels of the sorter. The conveyed load is diverted from the conveyor at 30 degrees. Once the load has been diverted, the steerable wheels rotate back to the forward direction. (Dematic, www.dematic.com/na)

Daily airfreight service: DSV Air & Sea Ltd. has expanded its recently launched daily airfreight service, DSV Everyday, to include daily flights from Shanghai and Beijing in China to the United Kingdom.

The company is now offering DSV Everyday at three service levels: priority, classic, and economy. The priority service offers a fixed transit time of two days from Beijing and Shanghai to the United Kingdom. The classic service guarantees arrival in four days, while cargo shipped via the economy service takes seven days. (DSV, www.dsv.com)

Pallet shuttle: Automatic Material Handling (AUTOMHA), an Italy-based material handling and storage company, is now expanding into the North American market with its Autosat Shuttle pallet carrier. Designed for cold-storage warehouses, the Autosat pallet shuttle machine collects, stores, and arranges pallets in their proper storage locations.

Forklift drivers can control up to four Autosat pallet shuttles at a time with a remote control that has a range of up to 492 feet. The remote control can be used to program in preferred distances between pallets. This functionality helps prevent load overflows and collisions, and serves to protect the unit load as well as warehouse racking from damage, the company says. The remote control also displays the inventory count and can communicate any problems that the system is having to the operator.

The shuttle has a continuous unload function that allows the system to handle successive loads. If the first pallet in the queue has not yet been picked up by the forklift, the second pallet will wait in the queue until it has. Autosat also provides a good system for “first in, first out” (FIFO) and “last in, first out” (LIFO) loading and unloading methods, according to the manufacturer.

Because the Autosat delivers the load to its proper storage location, companies can reduce the number of forklifts, equipment, and operators they use. In addition, the system can increase storage density by 20 percent over drive-in racking, according to the company.

The Autosat pallet shuttle comes in seven models that are designed for different pallet sizes and weights with a maximum capacity of 3,300 pounds. The machine can handle different pallet depths located in a single channel as it immediately recognizes the need to adjust to various pallets.

The Autosat has been used by companies in industries such as food, manufacturing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. For the food manufacturing companies, the Autosat Shuttle is adaptable to different types of environments with a below-zero option for cold storage needs at - 30 degrees. (AUTOMHA USA, www.automhausa.com)

Cardless fueling technology: Comdata is now processing live customer transactions via its cardless fueling technology. The first transaction occurred at the Love’s Travel Stop in Pauls Valley, Okla.

The Comdata cardless solution uses an RFID tag to automate the fueling process and data-entry requirements. This automation allows drivers to spend less time at the pump and greatly reduces the risk of fraudulent transactions by automatically shut-ting the fuel pump off when the truck pulls away.