rollouts
NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY SUSAN LACEFIELD
Flexible AS/RS: Intelligrated, a
North America-based automated
material handling solutions provid-
er, has introduced the Intelligrated
OLS shuttle system. This automat-
ed storage and retrieval system
(AS/RS) is designed for operations
with high-turn inventory storage
and short order cycle times. It provides quick access to individual
cartons, totes, and trays in a minimal footprint for high-volume
distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing environments.
The Intelligrated OLS shuttle system provides easy access to
a variety of product types for goods-to-operator fulfillment and
just-in-time inventory management. It can also provide product
sequencing and buffering to support mixed-unit load, full-case,
and break-pack order fulfillment, order consolidation, and route-based delivery.
The Intelligrated OLS can handle a wide range of product sizes
and types, including cases, totes, and trays. The system is scalable. If throughput and/or storage requirements increase, users
can add racking height or shuttles to their existing system.
Intelligrated designs, integrates, controls, installs, and commissions each OLS system. It also provides 24-hour, seven-days-a-week after-sales support through its nationwide network of local
support centers. (Intelligrated, www.intelligrated.com)
Label printer: Sato’s new CL4NX industrial label printer is a sleek
thermal printer that was designed based on feedback from customers, technicians, integrators, and its own worldwide service
organization.
The printer’s features represent a veritable wish list of improvements that make the unit easy to use, maintain, and deploy
anywhere in the world. Among them: a full-color LED indicator
light and LCD screen that are bright blue when in operation and
bright red when the printer needs service—both clearly visible
from across a busy warehouse or factory floor. The print head,
platen roller, and other parts can be replaced without tools,
and a 60-degree-wide print-head opening—the widest in its
class—allows for fast and easy maintenance. Operator keys, a
power button, and a USB port are on the front of the machine
for instant access.
Several innovations make the printer intuitive and universal for
use anywhere around the world. The familiar-looking operator
keys are similar in design to those used on consumer electronics,
and the icons that appear on the screen were tested for easy
recognition and comprehension worldwide. The printer comes
with highly readable displays in 30 languages as well as 47 print
languages, and switching languages is as simple as selecting from
a drop-down menu. In addition, the printer comes with a suite of
instructional videos with pause and replay capability that demonstrate how to set up the unit, replace parts, and troubleshoot.
Standard emulations on the machine automatically detect other
manufacturers’ print languages and enable “plug and play”
operation when switching from Sato legacy models or another
brand of printer. (Sato, www.satoamerica.com/)
Vehicle-mounted computer: I.D. Systems Inc., a developer
of wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) asset management
solutions, has introduced its fourth-generation Vehicle Asset
Communicator (VAC), an intelligent RFID-based vehicle-mounted
computer. The VAC forms the backbone of I.D. Systems’ wireless
Vehicle Management Systems (VMS), which help ensure that lift
trucks and other vehicles are being used in the right place at the
right time, while also recording key metrics and key performance
indicators.
The new VAC is simpler to install than other devices, according
to I.D. Systems. For one thing, its universal electrical architecture
works on any brand of lift truck, from 12-volt internal combustion (IC) vehicles, to 48-volt AC electric vehicles, to 100-volt DC
electric vehicles. For another, its mounting bracket is capable
of affixing to both flat and curved surfaces, and is designed
to protect the unit’s connecting cables. It also has a simplified
wiring harness, which helps to minimize installation time. In
addition, the VAC has an Installation Wizard, which guides the
user through the installation process and instantly verifies the
accuracy of vehicle sensor interfaces.
The new version of the VAC has a smaller overall hardware
footprint than earlier versions, so it can be mounted easily on
even the smallest vehicles, like pallet jacks.
The new VAC has a phone-type, alphanumeric keypad and a
larger, more versatile display. An operator can view up to nine
menu options simultaneously, and any menu option can be
selected by pressing a single button, without toggling or scrolling. New onscreen iconography and animations also make it easier for the operator to see, understand, and interact with different
types of system information and alerts. The new VAC displays
real-time status of various functions, like wireless connectivity
and device diagnostics. (I.D. Systems, www.id-systems.com)
Three-wheel electric lift truck: Yale Materials Handling Corp.
has added a new three-wheel sit-down electric series lift truck,
the ERP025-030VC. Designed with a narrow width and tight
turning radius, the new lift truck allows operators to maneuver
in constricted areas and on congested
loading docks.
The truck is available in two models: a 2,500-pound capacity version
with a 55-inch turning radius and a
3,500-pound capacity model with a
turning radius of 57. 2 inches. Both
of the trucks measure 39. 2 inches
wide and are powered by AC rear-wheel drive motors.
The trucks feature a single
steer tire, drum brakes, and
a manual parking brake. The masts
on the ERP-VC models feature a variable lap
design to improve mast rigidity and forward visibility through
decreased channel stack width. (Yale Materials Handling Corp.,
www.yale.com)
