Food Logistics serves the entire food supply chain industry with targeted content for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.
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28 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com time-consuming. A single Power over Ether- net cable powers both the access point and the heater. Since no AC is needed, installation is easier and less expensive. The WeightRight scale from Procat Distribution Technologies, based in West Berlin, N.J., produces bar code labels and uses the GS1 data standards. The system inte- grates a scale with a tabletop, touch-screen computer and label printer. It can be used as part of the picking or receiving process. The operator places the item to be labeled on the scale. The weight displays on the screen and the operator prints a GS1 label for the item. It can also capture a lot number, cus- tomer number or date and embed the infor- mation on the bar code label. 3PLs are on board with automation Material handling providers say all share- holders in the supply chain, including 3PLs, are investing in warehouse automation. Most solution providers give 3PLs high marks for staying abreast of the technology even if they don't deploy it in their own warehouses. 3PLs realize they need to manage warehouses equipped with automation. "It's a consider- able component of the requests that we're engaged in," says Cory Hypes, executive vice president at Power Automation Systems. "They (3PLs) are very much engaged mar- ket participants," says Eric Lamphier, senior director of product management at Manhat- tan Associates, the Atlanta, Ga.-based supply chain solutions provider. Many f&b; DCs, meanwhile, continue to reap benefits of voice recognition software and pick-to-light systems. Atlantic Dominion Distributors, the Virginia Beach, Va.-based retail grocery dis- tributor, gained labor savings using a Softeon WMS at its DC in Hope Mills, N.C. The WMS manages picking, put-to-store, put away, line loading, cycle counting, receiv- ing and inventory control. After finding the system paid for itself in labor savings in one year at the main DC in Virginia Beach five years ago, the company recently installed the system in its second DC, says David Carter, operations manager. In addition to reducing about 13 full-time positions in the first DC, Carter says order accuracy and traceability have improved and inventory can be fully counted in six hours instead of two days. "This is a time when the future is most unknown," surmises Witron's Sherman. ◆ Spoiled? Who's to blame? f you're looking to blame someone for spoiled food, it's usually the brand or the manufacturer who takes it on the chin. What if freshness could be a shared responsibility, such as a nearby lake or a favorite public park; a resource rather than a burden? Suppose measuring freshness could be something you want to use often because its benefts are so great? Imagine knowing just who and how and when spoilage happens, and not just a proximate, some- what arbitrary "sell by" or "use by" date, but a real indication of what and when and for how long? www.infratab.com (805) 986-8880 For more information: ABB LTD., 41-84-48-458-45, new/abb.com ALVEY, 32 (0) 55-33-57-57 , alvey.eu CASESTACK, 866-828-7120,ww2.casestack.com DEMATIC CORP., dematic.com, 440-526-2779 IFMC INC., 310-498-7991, tonyvercillo.com INTEGRATED LOGISTICS CORP., 330-264-0522, integrated-logistics.com INTELLIGRATED, 866-936-7300, intelligrated.com KANE IS ABLE, 888-356-5236, kaneisable.com KARDEX REMSTAR, 800-639-5805 , kardexremstar.com KNAPP LOGISTICS AUTOMATION INC. , 678-388-2880, knapp.com MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES, 877-596-9208, manh.com OPEX CORP., 800-673-9288 , opex.com POWER AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, 209-249-1616, powerautomationsystems.com PROCAT DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGIES, 856-767-8500, www.procatdt.com PSI TECHNICS, 925-287-0904, psi-technics.com RETROTECH INC., 585-924-6333, retrotech.com SSI SCHAEFER, 800-876-6000, ssi-schaefer.us SWISSLOG, 41-62-837-9537, swisslog.com VENTEV WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE, 800-851-4965, terra-wave.com W&H; SYSTEMS, 201-635-3493, whsystems.com VIASTORE SYSTEMS, 616-977-3950, viastore.com 1/2 Island Bleed