NEW LOGISTICS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
EDITED BY SUSAN LACEFIELD rollouts
Automatic guided cart: The new
300TT (tunnel/tugger) SmartCart
automatic guided cart (AGC) from
Jervis B. Webb Co. is capable of towing up to 4,000 pounds and carrying up
to 2,400 pounds. AGCs travel on magnetic
paths that can be quickly installed and modified to meet changing needs.
The Model 300TT is available with a 1.25-inch-diameter pop-up pin that enables trailers to be towed from underneath, commonly referred to as “tunneling.” This feature allows users to
automatically couple and decouple trailers.
The 300TT is a larger version of Jervis B. Webb’s most popular
AGC, the Model 100TT, which can handle loads of up to 1,950
pounds and helps dozens of businesses move products and
materials on a smaller scale. The 300TT is designed to meet the
needs of customers that want to move loads heavier than 1,950
pounds.
A subsidiary of Daifuku Webb Holding Co., Jervis B. Webb has
designed and manufactured automatic guided vehicles (AGVs)
for over 50 years. More than 3,000 SmartCart AGCs have
been installed around the globe since 2001. Webb also designs
and manufactures heavy-duty AGVs that move loads of up to
150,000 pounds. (Jervis B. Webb Co., daifukuwebb.com/)
Electric walkie: Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has added a new
8,000-pound capacity electric walkie end rider truck to its existing product line. The new larger-capacity PWR40 model also
delivers industry-leading travel speeds of up to 9. 3 miles per
hour and can be used for a wide variety of applications, including
long-distance transporting and low-level order picking.
The new end riders feature regenerative braking, which allows
a vehicle to come to a stop before the electromagnetic brake is
applied. This results in less wear on the system and lower overall
maintenance costs, while allowing the operator to remain in
control.
The motor and high output controller provides the truck with
high levels of performance and control on slopes.
The PWR40 series features the thickest fabricated forks in the
industry, according to Mitsubishi. The cast-steel fork tips are
designed to withstand the harshest environments, resulting in
less wear and tear.
A spacious operator platform and foot alcove allow operators
to adjust their position throughout the shift. Optional features,
such as a suspended platform, can be added to help reduce stress
during long runs.
Additional options include an electric coast control feature,
which eliminates the need for the operator to step back onto the
truck to move on to the next order. Another is the corrosion-pro-tection package, which increases the truck’s durability by including galvanized frames, pull rods, load wheel linkage, and lift
linkage and forks. (Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, www.mit-lift.com)
Rugged mobile computer: Motorola Solutions says its new
Symbol TC70 mobile touch computer combines the usability of
consumer electronic devices with the durability, reliability, and
performance required of industrial-grade devices.
Motorola sees three main applications for the device: retail
environments with tough conditions (such as outside or in the
backroom), manufacturing, and logistics. Motorola adds that
the device is suitable for mobile workers delivering and repairing
products as well as those working in production. The TC70 is
supported by more than 50 certified applications, including price
and inventory checks, assisted selling, workforce management,
and inventory management.
Motorola says the TC70 is the industry’s first enterprise-class
mobile computer that runs the latest update to the Android operating system, known as KitKat. Unlike consumer devices that run
on the Android operating system, however, the TC70 is designed
for an industrial environment. Tests have shown that this rugged
device can withstand 2,000 three-foot drops. It is also sealed
from dirt and dust, and can be used in extreme temperatures.
The display is made out of highly protective 4.7-inch Corning
Gorilla Glass 2. The device runs on high-capacity PowerPrecision
batteries that last four times longer than a normal battery and
can be quickly swapped out.
The device comes with advanced imaging
and data capture technology to help mobile
workers quickly capture signatures, photos,
videos, and virtually any 1-D or 2-D bar
code at an extended range. Furthermore,
Motorola’s Workforce Connect Push-To-Talk
Express functionality enables the device to
serve as a two-way radio.
The TC70 is equipped with Extensions
(Mx) by Motorola Solutions, which provide
an added layer of security, data capture,
and wireless software features. The Mx Data
Capture makes it easy for application developers to integrate bar-code scanning, signature capture, image capture, and payment
processing. Mx Security helps protect business data and network
access with URL filters, communication management, and sensor
lockdown.
The TC70 is designed to be a shared device. In other words,
one device is not dedicated to a single user. Instead, it is meant
to be used by multiple employees. When users arrive at work,
they pick up a device and scan their ID badge or enter a personal
identification number. The device then shows them only the specific applications needed for their job.
One unique feature of the TC70, according to Motorola, is
that the touchscreen can automatically adjust to the different
ways a user may interact with it. This means that it can be used
with bare or gloved hands or with a stylus. Likewise, it can be
used with wet and dry fingers. Unlike other industrial mobile
computers, users do not have to tell the device beforehand
whether they will be using bare fingers or gloved fingers, and
they can easily switch back and forth. (Motorola Solutions Inc.,
www.motorolasolutions.com)
