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Ocean shipping software: As of July 2016,
the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention
requires verified gross mass (VGM) to be submitted for all containers. To facilitate the sharing of this information, Trade Tech has rolled
out its Solas VGM solution, Syrinx e-Shipping
Portal. Syrinx leverages embedded workflow
technology in a cloud-based environment to
distribute the collection of vital VGM data to
the vendors who are the source of the information, such as the load facility, the scale, or the
trucker. Syrinx’s collaborative platform connects
parties in an environment that works much like
social media sites, where vendors are invited by
shippers and freight forwarders to participate in
the collection and sharing of essential container
details. This empowers vendors to transmit the
entire VGM to the carrier as soon as the trucker
leaves the load facility or the scale.
Since shippers and freight forwarders typically work on different schedules than truckers,
loading facilities, and freight terminals, the
movement of cargo can be slowed down by a
bottleneck of data on evenings and weekends.
Syrinx addresses this issue by using mobile technology that enables load facilities, truckers, or
scales to input and transmit VGM data directly
to carriers and terminal operators from a tablet
or smartphone on behalf of the shipper. At the
same time, there is a significant opportunity for
gains in efficiency by automating collaborative
workflows between parties. (Trade Tech, www.
tradetech.net)
AGV wireless remote: AutoGuide, a provider of automated guided vehicles (AGVs),
has introduced a new wireless pendant with
remote route programing and diagnostics for
its TV Series of AGVs. The wireless pendant can
be run on a tablet computer, giving users complete programming capability, remote access
to diagnostics and reports, and the ability to
drive the AGVs without having to stand next
to the vehicles.
AutoGuide TV Series vehicles follow programmable routes along flexible magnet-ic-tape–guided paths. When paired with the
remote wireless pendant, routes can be set up
and changed quickly and effortlessly from any
connected tablet computer.
The wireless pendant utilizes the industry
standard Android operating system, which
allows for secure communication between
the vehicle and the tablet. The pendant display shows multiple status readings, including
alarms, path parameters, battery voltage, last
RFID tag read, and I/O status. (AutoGuide,
www.autoguideagvs.com)
Versatile lift truck: Whether paying for
unnecessary features or sacrificing quality
in the name of cost reduction, operations
can struggle to find the lift truck that’s
perfectly suited to their application. From
manufacturing to retail to distribution, the
new Yale GP040-060MX offers the versatility, durability, and efficiency to thrive in
a range of applications and industries, the
company says. With over a trillion possible configurations, the Yale MX is a customizable best-fit solution that provides
productivity, operator comfort, dependability, ease of maintenance, and low total
cost of operation.
The truck’s PSI engine, available in LPG or dual fuel, is designed for industrial
applications, providing maximum performance and reliability, with extended service intervals and advanced diagnostics to keep service time to a minimum. (Yale
Materials Handling Corp., www.yale.com)
Expedited freight service: Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. has expanded its less-than-truckload (LTL) service to include expedited freight service to the
Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas metro areas from Chicago. The new service is
offered under the company’s Roadrunner Guarantee program, a solution for
time-sensitive LTL freight shipments.
The expedited freight service offers transit times that are one to two days
shorter than standard delivery with 100 percent on-time complete delivery, the
company says. (Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc., www.rrts.com)
