- Dynamic debut. Illinois-based Dynamic Handling Concepts (DHC), a newly formed distributor of sideloader equipment, is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for Fantuzzi Reggiane SpA, an Italian manufacturer of side lifters and parts. DHC will provide sales and technical support for the equipment from its warehouse near Houston.
- Location, location and location. LXE and RF Code Inc. have teamed up to provide a hybrid real-time locating system (RTLS) based on LXE's RX1 lift-truck-mounted RFID reader. The locating system combines a truck-mounted RX1 reader with an onboard terminal running RF Code's software, enabling lift-truck operators to pinpoint the location of specific pallets and assets. RF Code, which provides asset-tracking solutions, also becomes a Certified LXE RFID Integration Partner.
LXE has also announced that Peak Technologies, which provides automated identification and data collection systems, has earned LXE RFID Integration Partner Certification. - Dressed for success. VF Corp., an apparel company whose brands include Vanity Fair, Lee, Wrangler, Nautica and Timber Creek, has selected Averitt Express to provide transportation and supply chain management services. Averitt will use a merge-in-transit system to deliver VF's merchandise directly to company outlet stores in the Southeast and Midwest. This service will eventually be expanded to retail stores in those regions.
- Juiced-up operation. RedPrairie has installed its automated RFID labeling solution at Ocean Spray's facility in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The system is used to tag cases of juice following manufacturing. The labels are affixed to cases with a Weber Print Applicator as they run past on a conveyor. The RFID system was installed to comply with Wal-Mart's tagging requirements.
In another deal, RedPrairie has reached an agreement to embed voice solutions from Voxware into its Warehouse Management product suite. - A deal of Olympic proportions. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games plans to use an industrial park being developed by ProLogis for its main logistics and distribution operations. The 1.8 million- square-foot park, located at the Beijing Airport, will be used to distribute equipment, materials and supplies. The site currently contains a 283,000-square-foot distribution facility. Three more buildings totaling 793,000 square feet will be added to the site in time for the Olympics.
- Big Blue's clues. IBM has signed a multi-year deal to develop and implement an integrated supply chain strategy for British Energy, the United Kingdom's largest electricity generator. The agreement builds on an existing two- year-old working relationship between the two that has cut costs and improved supplier performance.
- Central services. Wal-Mart has signed a warehousing agreement with American Port Services, a subsidiary of Schneider National. Under the deal, American Port Services will open a 3.4 million-square-foot import DC in Elwood, Ill., that will process freight arriving from West Coast ports by rail and distribute the merchandise to Wal-Mart's DCs and stores throughout the Midwest. This contract follows an agreement inked earlier this year that calls for American Port Services to provide trans-loading and warehousing services for Wal-Mart at its facility in Mira Loma, Calif.
- Tires tracked. Bridgestone Firestone has selected HighJump Software's supply chain execution solutions for its sites across North America. As part of the deal, supply chain specialist enVista will implement the HighJump Supply Chain Advantage suite in the tire manufacturer's facility in Ontario, Calif. Bridgestone Firestone expects the software to provide greater visibility into its supply chain operations while improving customer service.
- Rallying around Transplace. Automotive parts retailer and service chain Pep Boys has selected a new transportation management system (TMS) from Transplace. The Web- native TMS will be used to manage inbound transportation from domestic vendors to Pep Boys' DCs and cross-dock facilities.
- In sync. JDA, a company that provides demand chain optimization solutions for retailers, has teamed up with data synchronization specialist GXS to offer new services to retailers and suppliers. The services are designed for customers seeking to capitalize on emerging technologies, such as RFID and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN).
- Sound solutions. Symbol Technologies has named Vocollect a PartnerSelect Premier Independent Software Vendor. As a result, Symbol customers can now use Vocollect Voice software on Symbol devices. Together, the two companies will develop products and market voice- directed applications that will operate on Symbol mobile computers.
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