RFID Solution Centre will be exhibiting at the show, providing specialist consultancy support for businesses looking to benefit from integrating RFID technology. It is the first authorised RFID partner of Intermec and has introduced an advanced RFID capability study to determine which companies can benefit from the technology. The company specialises in providing turnkey RFID solutions for retail, transport & logistics, manufacturing, and food and drink markets.
RedPrairie appears at the exhibition fresh from the announcement that John Lewis is to use its warehouse and workforce performance management solutions across its distribution centres by 2008. John Lewis has a network of 27 shops stretching from Aberdeen to Bristol and the company will be increasing its retail space significantly with the building of an additional 10 department stores from 2007. RedPrairie was chosen for its comprehensive functionality, out-of-the-box implementation, user-friendly interface and well-developed workforce performance management solutions.
Proteus Software has won a contract to supply Mitel Telecoms with a warehouse management and stock control solution. Mitel Telecoms, based near London, is a mobile phone distributor, supplying handsets, headsets and satellite navigation systems direct to retailers. After a period of rapid growth, it soon became clear that not only had it outgrown its current location, but they had also outgrown its stock control system. The contract was awarded to Proteus.
Warehouse automation exhibitors include Knapp and Welconstruct. Knapp UK designs, supplies and maintains automated logistics solutions. Knapp specialises in order fulfilment systems featuring intelligent conveyor, sorters, A-frames, mini-cranes and handling robots. Paperless picking – including RF picking, pick-by-light and voice-directed picking – is a particular speciality and integration of handling equipment and software is a key strength of all Knapp solutions. The company offers its own WMS and also integrates its logistics equipment with WMS products from other suppliers. Specifically designed for handling slow-moving products, the OSR combines AS/RS with pick-by-light technology to provide up to 1,000 picks per man-hour.
Welconstruct recently completed an installation for supermarket chain Morrisons at one of its fruit and vegetable facilities in Thrapston. A complete package was proposed resulting in a bespoke conveyor application which was installed and up and running within 6 weeks of the initial order date. The facility now allows packers to pick and pack items at a rate of 4,000 per hour.
LXE will be showing its MX7 hand-held terminal which designed to handle any scanning job, even intensive picking. It is light and compact so is easy for operatives to use and carry.
Control and automation specialists Keymas – Egemin will jointly exhibit details of its systems including the supply of integrated materials handling/ storage and IT solutions. Keymas is acknowledged for providing conveying and handling solutions with customised control systems, which can be fully integrated with an existing or new Keymas warehouse management system to provide and ensure full track traceability of production, sortation sequences, through to storage and despatch. Egemin specialises in materials handling and includes AGV and Towline systems as well as storage and warehouse distribution solutions.
Kardex will show the new Shuttle XPlus high-density component storage system which allows a single operator to load or access tens of thousands of individual items from more than 2,000 possible shelf positions in up to four 20m high storage towers.
Building on the speed and reliability of the Kardex Shuttle range of automated vertical storage and retrieval systems, the Shuttle XPlus uses a new multi-directional extractor system that moves in three dimensions within the unit to allow rapid delivery of components from any point to a single operator access position.
A 6 metre high Kasto Unitower storage and retrieval system with stock control capability will be demonstrated, illustrating how such multi-level cassette towers can create high density storage in a warehouse or on the shop floor. A slightly larger system was installed recently at the Rotherham factory of mechanical seal manufacturer, Aesseal, to improve its receipt, storage and distribution of stainless steel tube. In less than a minute, a gantry crane picks up a selected cassette and delivers it to an unload station at an ergonomic height in front of the tower. To minimise storage costs, a small system footprint was desirable. The 5 by 2 metre dimensions of the Kasto tower achieved this objective well, as it occupies an area nearly 10 times less than that previously needed for storage in conventional, fir-tree style racking.
CI Logistics which makes storage and materials handling systems throughout the world, has three key divisions; Conveyors International, Quodeck and Kaybe. With a manufacturing capacity in excess of 45,000 sq ft, a bespoke design capability and strategic alliances with key international suppliers of materials handling equipment, CI is well placed to provide a complete, committed service; from concept to realisation.
EXDS supply and support the complete range of CubiScan products throughout the UK. The CubiScan is an automatic measuring and weighing solution that captures accurate volumetric data for products and packages. This information is critical to an effective and optimised supply chain and ensures correct functioning of most warehouse management systems. EXDS has just installed the first CubiScan Vision System 1000 in the UK. It is a ceiling mounted, static volumetric scanning device that uses advanced laser (FDA class II) and camera-based sensing technology—both of which are safe for operators and can give accurate data for palletised products.
Racking and shelving
Linpac will be exhibiting its UK range of racking and shelving. Linpac’s adjustable beam pallet racking will form the centrepiece of the company’s exhibition stand. Uprights and beams can be made to a wide variety of sizes and the quality of the range sets the standard for European racking. Visitors to the company’s stand will also be shown Linpac’s most recent addition to its carton live storage range. Gravity tracks can be incorporated into either pallet racking or long span shelving to optimise the efficiency of picking by ensuring continuous replenishment to the pick faces.
Stow UK has won major contracts from; KEA, Honda, Debenhams and Britvic. Stow UK has operated in the UK over ten years. The company has the full range of racking products available.
Kent-based mezzanine floor manufacturers Gardner Engineering, is looking for distributor partners to represent its interests. Its mezzanine floor systems are individually tailored to meet customers’ needs.
Schoeller Arca Systems will be exhibiting a selection of products from its new plastic pallet range, as well as a new Magnum foldable container. The benefits of plastic pallets include excellent hygiene, constant quality and dimension, no splintering or nails, no water absorption and they are relatively light. SA Systems’ BIPP 1200 x 1000 medium duty pallet will be on display. The 800 x 600 Heavy Duty (HD) Magnum has a 700kg load capacity. 100 per cent recyclable, the container increases safety in transport and improves hygienic handling.
On display at goplasticpallets.com will be new products including a lightweight, one-trip pallet which provides an economic option for export and airfreight and a medium weight, rackable one-trip pallet made from recycled plastic. For closed loop operations a durable medium weight pallet and a hygienic collapsible box on a pallet designed for loose goods.
Hako Machines has been a specialist key supplier of cleaning equipment for over thirty years. A subsidiary of Europe’s largest manufacturer of cleaning machines its long term success is based on the supply of quality manufactured and modern ergonomic equipment.
Translyft Lifting Technology is a manufacturer of lift tables for a range of handling solutions. The standard range of pallet and conveyor positioning tables (manufactured since 1978) has been adapted to produce lifts for loading bays, up to mezzanine floors and between levels in buildings.
Addgards will be launching ‘The Column Protector’. It offers considerable resistance to impact for both the driver and the column resulting in fewer injuries and repairs needed. Design features include an audible warning sound when the protector is struck by any great force and a special design that allows the one protector to be used on two different sized columns.
A new concept in lift-table design will be exhibited in the UK for the first time at Materials Handling Live! Using a patented Z-Mechanism Scissor, Edmolift’s ART Series combines all the advantages of a Scissor Lift with the added benefit of a Tilt Table with a 200mm Forward Extension Facility.
The latest range of Mil-tek Balers will be on display. New editions to the range include the X-Press Model 100 and 200 which efficiently compacts general waste. Mil-tek pneumatic balers are ideal for compacting cardboard and plastic waste and are currently providing waste cost reducing solutions for many high street names. With 7 regional depots, this international company has true local and National presence.
Thorworld Industries has introduced a low cost Economy model (Type 7) mobile yard ramp, as well as announcing a significant reduction in the cost of its ramp maintenance service. The Economy ramp provides a slightly shorter and lighter weight, affordable alternative to its existing Deluxe models (Types 5/6). Available in 7,000 and 10,000kg capacities, the Economy ramp has been purpose-designed by Thorworld for fast, efficient and cost-effective loading and unloading of trailers by fork truck where there is no loading dock.
Mobile technology
VSc Mobile Solutions provides a scalable on-board vehicle monitoring system, seamlessly integrated into operational dispatch planning and execution technologies; providing real-time operational support, data analysis and exception alerting. Integration with routeing and scheduling partners and load security systems, together with a comprehensive range of capabilities from POD and temperature monitoring through to route navigation. Truckcom’s display will include elements of the company’s transport management system, hands on demonstration of the system and an opportunity to delve into how the company can provide key pieces of the haulage operational management jigsaw puzzle.
Translift Bendi will be holding live demonstrations of the Bendi B3 at Materials Handling Live. The Bendi can operate in aisles just 1.6m wide.
It was originally conceived in the early 1980s and has gone on to win nine design awards (notably the Queens Award for Innovation) with its multi patented features.
Although it was originally designed to compete in reach truck aisles of about 2.4m in the early 1980’s, customers demanded greater performance so the design was enhanced to work in smaller aisles. Now with a capability to work in 1.6m aisles the truck even outperforms most VNA (very narrow aisle) machines.
Belgravium will be showing the Atlanta 8000 which is now optionally equipped with a 12 channel GPS receiver and SiRFstarII chipset. The GPS module receiver version of the Atlanta will track up to 12 satellites at once, while providing fast time-to-first-fix and one second navigation updates. An in-vehicle cradle is also available, specifically designed to support mobile GPS communications. The cradle has a number of communication options, namely USB client, RS232 serial and GPS external antenna interfaces.
Property
Gazeley, one of Europe’s biggest developers of logistics space, is expanding into new regions. It has buildings already constructed and ready to lease. It has created EcoTemplate, a eco-effective model for developing distribution warehouses in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Mar-Key Marquees and its newer companion Mar-Key Industrial are an ISO 2001 accredited company and operate from its base at Bournemouth International Airport. It has grown from humble beginnings to become a major supplier of temporary structures that covers the whole spectrum of events and industrial scenarios. These range from the film set of “Saving Private Ryan” to that of a new and innovative steel roofed temporary structure, for the Tesco superstore chain.
Investors in People certification ensures that all Mar-key Marquee staff are motivated towards helping to identify and realise the customer’s needs.
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