Ever since Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, appeared on the CBS television show 60 Minutes in December 2013 showing off the feasibility of drones as a way to deliver packages to Amazon customers, the country has become infatuated with the flying gadgets. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. government agency that supervises the use … Read more
The use of robots in distribution centers is expected to ramp up substantially in the coming decade, but a leading industry analyst said recently that the first wave will probably look more like driverless forklifts than R2D2 or The Terminator. Tom Bonkenburg — a partner with St. Onge Co., a leading consultancy firm that works … Read more
Traditionally, engineers live and work in an abstract world that is composed of mathematical equations, physical laws, and other academic entities. Operators of heavy equipment like bucket loaders and dump trucks have a better understanding of how materials as coal, ores and soil actually behave and “feel” in real world applications. New co-simulation software created … Read more
An increasing number of manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centers are discovering the cost and productivity benefits of using Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to move materials throughout their facilities. So it’s not surprising that the number of companies offering these robotic devices that don’t require humans to operate or control them is growing. The newest player in … Read more
A new tank design system created by Lipp Systems — a leading UK manufacturer of anaerobic digestion (AD) tanks — improves corrosion resistance and reduces the tanks’ total life costs. A technical overview document released recently by the company explains the advantages of its new double-fold Spiral Seam tank (SST) construction system as well as detailing … Read more
A cleaner, “green” excavator that substantially reduces pollutants is being used by a company in England that is expanding London’s rail network. The Caterpillar 311F Euro Stage 4 Engine Excavator is one of the first pieces of heavy equipment to be compliant with the European Union’s new legislation that mandates a reduction in Oxides of … Read more
If you are interested in milling and materials handling for the chemical, food, pharmaceutical and mineral industries, you might want to consider attending a free demonstration being conducted next month by Coperion K-Tron Howokawa Powder Micron Systems. The complimentary in-house demonstration will be offered on Oct. 14 and again on Oct. 15 at the company’s … Read more
The conveyor belts and rollers that make production lines and manufacturing facilities run efficiently also present a potential to hazard to workers. Even slow-moving conveyors or rollers can catch clothing, fingers and even limbs inside their moving parts, often resulting in crushing or mangling injuries. But a UK engineering firm has designed a new roller … Read more
It seems like people do everything on their smart phones these days — from watching their favorite TV shows to exchanging text messages with friends to ordering a pizza. All you need to do is touch an app on your mobile device’s screen and you can do practically anything! Now there’s a new app that … Read more
In our consumer culture, we’re obsessed with buying new-not buying new things-just buying things that are new. We’re talking about necessary purchases-in the material handling industry it can mean any part of your packing line. We want the latest and the greatest, which in the past always meant buying new equipment. Supply Chain Digest tells … Read more
