Intelligrated, one of the leading manufacturers of automated materials handling equipment, has opened a new regional center in Irving, Texas, that will serve the Southwestern United States. The company — which is headquartered in Mason, Ohio — hopes the center will provide access to specialized engineering, projects management, and sales support for companies in southwestern … Read more
Norfolk Southern will purchase 282.55 mils of rail line between Sunbury, Pennsylvania, and Schenectady, New York, from the Canadian Pacific Railway for $217 million, the company announced recently. The rail line currently is part of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific. The sale is subject to the approval of the … Read more
Did it seem as if there were fewer shoppers busting doors and crowding aisles over the Thanksgiving weekend, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season? That’s because there were — 11% fewer, according to data released by the National Retail Federation. Sales in both stores and only totaled $50.9 billion between Thanksgiving Day and … Read more
The Chinese powdered milk company Synutra has hired a Michigan industrial equipment supplier to provide it with automated guided vehicles, conveyors and other automation to build what eventually will be the world’s largest powdered milk manufacturing facility. The facility, which currently is under construction in Carhaix, Brittany, in northwestern France, will use automation provided by … Read more
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel participated in the unveiling of a new pallet depot on the city Southeast Side last week. The grand opening was held Wednesday, December 3, at the PECO Pallet depot located at 2924 E. 126th St., in Chicago’s Hegewisch neighborhood, can process up to 500,000 pallets per month and stre up to … Read more
Here’s a special sneak preview of some of the stories you will find this week on the Bahrns blog: Black Friday may have been a bust for some retailers, according to industry observers. But that doesn’t mean overall holiday shopping will be down. We’ll explain why. The good news is that the US economy is … Read more
First, the good news: The US economy grew 3.9% in the third quarter — from July to September — according to a report issued last month by the US Commerce Department. That rapid growth rate comes on the heels of an even more astonishing 4.6% growth rate during Q2, from April to June. That rosy … Read more
The US Postal Service is projected to lose $5.5 billion during 2014, despite increasing operating revenues by more $569 million thanks to a January rate hike and the continued strong performance of its package handling group. But can the world’s oldest and most reliable postal service continue to operate at a loss, especially when fewer … Read more
Modern warehouses operate more efficiently by taking advantage of their vertical footprint, rather than expanding horizontally. Building up rather than out reduces floor space, decreases property taxes and reduces maintenance and care. But there are inherent risks with storing products one or more stories in the air. Without adequate safety devices, products and workers can … Read more
When the widening and deepening of the Panama Canal is completed next year, it will allow significantly larger cargo container ships — known as “Panamax” ships — to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But representatives of the union representing tugboat pilots working in the canal say one particular stretch known as the Gaillard … Read more
