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void fill usage, damage claims and shipping costs.
Work optimization tool: Lucas Systems, a Wexford, Pa.-based
provider of mobile work execution solutions for distribution centers, has introduced its Dynamic Work Optimization product, a
modeling tool that maximizes pick density and minimizes travel
distance for workers performing warehouse picking and other
tasks. Compared with a WMS-directed batch picking approach,
the software can reduce travel time up to 50 percent, leading to
significant jumps in fulfillment efficiency, the company says.
Dynamic Work Optimization is a component of Lucas Engage,
the company’s work execution software platform, and it complements Lucas Move, the mobile app used by workers on the DC
floor that allows pickers to interact with voice-directed picking
platform Jennifer and speech recognition engine Serenade.
(Lucas Systems, www.lucasware.com)
Wireless software transmission: The increasing technological
complexity of material handling equipment and the concurrent
challenges of acquiring, training, and retaining engineers and
technicians have created greater demand for easy motion control
solutions and machines that do not require complex programming. Lenze Americas, a manufacturer of electrical and mechanical drives as well as motion control and automation technology,
is responding to those trends.
The company has redesigned some of its controls based on
open standards and interfaces and standard components, and
has built them for intuitive operation. Lenze’s Smart Motor, for
instance, allows reduced commissioning time; quick, easy repairs;
and simple changes to operating parameters through the use of
modular plug-ins. Without any specialized tools or knowledge,
customers can swap out control units, memory chips, and power
units. When changes in operating parameters are needed, a
simple-to-use smartphone app allows operators to download
software and use near-field communication to wirelessly install
the new instructions in moments. In the past, such changes
would have required replacing the motor and reprogramming
the controls. (Lenze Americas, www.lenze.com)
Laser scanner: Sick AG, a manufacturer of sensors, safety systems, machine vision, encoders, and automatic identification
solutions for factory, logistics, and process automation, has
launched its microScan3 Core safety laser scanner.
The microScan3 Core is a compact safety laser scanner with a
5.5-meter range and an industry-first 275-degree scanning angle
ideal for area and access guarding. The microScan3 features safe
HDDM (high definition distance measurement) scanning technology that filters out nuisances like dust and ambient light.
In addition, the microScan3 Core features new, intuitive
software for easy configuration, as well as pushbutton diagnostics that ensure that troubleshooting has minimal impact on
production. The microScan3 Core also features M12 standard
plugs, a USB connection, and a system plug for easy configuration cloning, which reduces cabling costs and downtime in
the event of scanner damage and replacement. (Sick AG, www.
sickusa.com)
