DC Velocity - November 2014

r o l lo u ts

Product testing documentation: Global supply chain risk management company icix has designed a cloud-based application for product safety compliance called Direct Test.

The solution automates the collection and management of third-party product tests to efficiently monitor and address safety and regulatory requirements.

Direct Test integrates directly with the leading testing laboratories to automate and streamline the management of product testing and regulatory documentation. The application matches purchase orders to existing documents, and then notifies trading partners and testing labs when documents or certificates are missing. Direct Test generates regulatory paperwork for imported products and automates the identification of products at risk of shipping without proper supporting documents. The automated monitoring enables trading partners to manage by exception.

Direct Test, which has been in soft launch with selected partners, is now widely available to retailers and manufacturers in the food, general merchandise, and apparel and footwear industries. (icix, www.icix.com/cloud-apps/direct-test/)

Pallet retrieval and delivery:

Power Automation Systems (PAS) has upgraded its robotic pallet retrieval and delivery system, Row Bot S- 2 (RB-S2), which is a key part of its PowerStor automated storage and retrieval system. The RB-S2 performs all of the critical product-transferring movements in PowerStor.

The improvements have increased the RB-S2’s reliability, reduced maintenance costs, and improved energy consumption, according to PAS. The Row Bot S- 2 is equipped with four-wheel drive, absolute positioning, and lithium-ion battery power. It does not have any chains, sprockets, or gears.

The absolute-positioning laser sensor provides improved inventory accuracy, better system reliability, and a pallet retrieval and delivery system that has 60 percent more torque and greater drive mechanism than similar technology on the market, according to PAS. With a six-month maintenance cycle and three-year battery life, the RB-S2 is designed to cut long-term costs. (Power Automation Systems, www.powerautoma-tionsystems.com/)

Leak-detection flashlight: Spectronics Corp. has introduced the Spectroline Opti-Lux 400, a rechargeable leak-detection flashlight. The flashlight locates industrial fluid leaks by their bright fluorescent glow, saving technicians valuable diagnostic time and money.

The Opti-Lux 400 features a high-output violet-light LED that causes dyes to fluoresce more brilliantly and with greater contrast than with standard blue-light inspection lamps. It has power comparable to high-intensity 150-watt lamps.