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Vacuum lifter: The Mobi-Crane is
a vacuum-operated jib crane that
can lift boxes and bags weighing
up to 185 pounds. The system
uses an articulating arm with a
reach diameter of up to 13 feet,
allowing the operator to load or
unload across a large work cell
and lift as high as 9 feet 4 inches
with little effort.
The arm can be mounted to
the building’s structural beams
or a gantry crane. If portability is
desired, however, a portable beam mounted to a circular steel
base plate is available. The base plate is specially designed to
allow the whole system to be moved with a manual pallet jack.
The crane can be operated either with shop air or an onboard
vacuum pump. A 24-volt DC system with built-in charger or an
AC/DC converter system is available and requires only a standard
110-volt AC outlet for power. The charger can remain plugged in
for battery recharging while still operating the crane.
The jib crane is height adjustable every 4 inches and can range
from a height of 6 feet under the arm to 9 feet under the arm.
The overall height ranges from 6 feet, 5 inches to 9 feet, 4 inches.
Each unit is equipped with a leveling plate that is able to accommodate most uneven floors. The system uses a vacuum monitoring system with an accidental vacuum shutoff guard to assure
sufficient vacuum level for safe lifting operations. The system will
not lift and accidentally drop the product being lifted. (American
Sales Development, www.americansalesdevelopment.net)
iPhone peripheral for warehouses: The new Infinea X is a
peripheral device for warehouse, logistics, and supply chain
applications that is designed to attach to an Apple iPhone 5 or
iPod Touch.
The Infinea X can automate procedures and record data, which
then can be integrated with databases and inventory records.
The information can be transmitted securely and wirelessly to the
network in real time.
The Infinea X is a certified member of Apple Inc.’s MFi Program
(“Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad”), a licensing program for developers of hardware and software peripherals that work with Apple
devices.
Working with customized software, the lightweight, portable
Infinea X features a 2-D imager that’s capable of reading 1-D and
2-D bar codes; RFID read/write capabilities; multicolor LED visuals;
and a microphone/speaker system to allow for communication
through the iOS device.
The Infinea X has a ruggedized case featuring protective tempered glass and IP54+ dust/fluid protection, and a four-foot drop
impact rating. Hot-swappable batteries charge both the Infinea X
and the iOS device and keep the unit operational for entire shifts
with no downtime.
The device has programmable LED visual and audible alerts.
For example, a green light could indicate a correct bar-code scan
and a red light an incorrect scan. Or a green light could indicate
a new order, a yellow light could mean an issue has developed
with an order, and a red light could indicate a high-priority
order requiring instant attention. (Infinite Peripherals Inc., www.
ipcprint.com/ios-peripherals/infineax.html)
68 DC VELOCITY NOVEMBER 2015 www.dcvelocity.com
Supply chain consulting: Transplace has officially launched
its supply chain consulting practice, Transplace Supply Chain
Consulting, which is focused on improving end-to-end supply
chain performance.
Transplace Supply Chain Consulting includes the following
service offerings:
; Supply chain optimization: Consultants develop an integrated
suite of solutions and processes for optimizing the client’s supply
chain network.
; Transportation optimization: Transplace Supply Chain
Consulting provides analytics, process redesign, methodology,
tools, and technology for optimizing complex transportation
networks.
; Sourcing and procurement: Consultants assess current sourcing practices and procurement processes across all categories
of indirect spend and help optimize controlled spend, perform
category management, and build capabilities for continuous
improvement.
; Business intelligence and analytics: Transplace can provide
the business intelligence and analytics needed to manage and
monitor supply chain performance and analyze operational and
service issues, as well as monitor compliance and adherence to
operating plans and budgets.
; Enabling technology: Transplace can help customers determine
the optimal information network design—as well as supporting
technology—to enable and improve operational execution, visibility, and compliance. (Transplace Supply Chain Consulting, www.
transplace.com/supply-chain-consulting/what-we-do/)
