DC Velocity - October 2013

r o l l ou ts

Trailer refrigeration unit:

Carrier Transicold’s new Vector 8500 single-temperature hybrid trailer refrigeration unit weighs less than previous versions while also improving fuel economy and refrigeration capacity.

Compared with its predecessor, the new Vector 8500 weighs 210 pounds less, a 10-percent weight savings, which also makes the Vector 8500 unit between 3 and

15 percent lighter than competitive units designed for 2013 EPA Tier 4 compliance. It also provides up to 4 percent higher cooling capacity and consumes up to 26 percent less fuel, the manufacturer says.

According to Carrier Transicold, the Vector 8500 reduces engine runtime by up to 14 percent and uses 20 percent less engine power than previous Carrier Transicold models. As a result, the Vector 8500 unit’s engine is certified for “evergreen” compliance with the 2013 EPA Tier 4 standard for engines of less than 25 horsepower. For fleets operating in California beyond seven years, the Vector platform’s standard electric standby capability provides an in-use compliance option for the California Air Resources Board (CARB). (Carrier Transicold, www.carrier.com/ecoforward)

Authentication software: Manufacturers and distributors that want to protect their supply chains from potentially dangerous counterfeit and illegal chemicals have a new solution—Verify Brand’s advanced serialization, traceability, and authentication software, the Verify platform.

The Verify platform uses secure unique identifiers (sUIDs) and product traceability features to give manufacturers complete chain-of-custody tracking. This creates a secure audit trail and alert system from the point of production to end-user delivery. The Verify platform catalogs all events to provide enterprise reporting tools. A secure website and mobile apps allow users to access real-time data and analytics at any time. This enables chemical manufacturers to identify counterfeits as well as track potential diversions of legitimate products from their supply chain. (Verify Brand, verifybrand.com)

Ocean shipping from India: FedEx Trade Networks, the freight forwarding arm of global shipping giant FedEx Corp., has launched its FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean service in India.

With FedEx International Direct Priority Ocean, cargo is shipped from the origin to North America, with final delivery available throughout the contiguous United States. This specialized service includes premier ocean freight forwarding, U.S. customs brokerage, online visibility, and reliable delivery for both less-than-containerload (LCL) and full-containerload (FCL) cargo.

This end-to-end ocean solution is now available from four India origins: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai. The addition of these new India origins extends the reach of the specialized ocean service and provides customers who export to the United States with additional ocean freight forwarding options. (FedEx Trade Networks, www.ftn.fedex.com/)

Warehouse control software: Wynright Corp., a provider of intelligent material handling systems, has launched a new Web-based Wynsoft software suite. The software bridges the gap between traditional warehouse control systems (WCS) designed to direct real-time activities in the warehouse or distribution center, and warehouse management systems (WMS) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that control the overall operation.

The software solution consists of integrated modules, which allow smaller operations to begin by addressing a few specific areas of need. These interoperable modules work within the controls, workflow, and operations layers of the facility. They provide time-sensitive statistical data to the visibility layer, which, in turn, delivers the business intelligence required to make smart, informed decisions. The Wynsoft modules include: Decant, Fulfillment, Labeler, Auditor, Guardian, Convey, Transporter, and Communicator. Future modules will address additional operations, workflow, and controls scenarios typical of most distribution and fulfillment facilities.

The user interface for the software is modeled after contemporary smartphone/tablet “tile” designs. Users can create live tiles that provide instant alerts on their home screens. The Web-based interface allows users to check and control their material handling system quickly from anywhere they have an Internet connection.