- Driving forward. Vargo Material Handling has completed the design and installation of rack and storage solutions for Subaru of America's new regional distribution and repackaging center in Whitestown, Ind. In addition to providing the new storage equipment, Vargo also removed and relocated old racking from Subaru's previous DC in Peru, Ind.
- Data good thing. O'Neil Data Systems reports that it has seen improvements in accuracy and inventory management at its 200,000-square-foot facility since installing Motek's Priya Warehouse Management System. O'Neil, a data management and printing company, also provides clients with third-party logistics services.
- Finishing first. The Finish Line is implementing RedPrairie's Workforce Management application to help manage its retail operations. The sporting goods company also plans to install RedPrairie's Execution Management application in the near future. The combined applications will improve The Finish Line's ability to forecast the labor and project execution needs of its stores.
- Going for a spin. American Crane & Tractor Co., a manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket parts for Caterpillar equipment, has replaced its shelving and pick carts with six automated horizontal carousel units from Remstar. The new equipment has enabled American Crane to double its daily picking volume.
- Fit for a king. Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. has entered into an OEM agreement with Crown Equipment Co. Under the deal, Komatsu will supply internal combustion-powered forklifts to Crown for distribution through the 40 Crown-owned dealerships in the United States and Canada. These IC-engine trucks will be marketed by Crown under the Hamech brand name. Crown will also handle aftermarket parts, service, and warranty support. Other independent Crown dealers will also have the option to distribute the Hamech trucks if they wish.
- Good pickup. Lightning Pick has announced its continued commitment to Manhattan Associates' Alliance Partnership Program. The two organizations have collaborated to support customers using both Lightning Pick's order-selection products and Manhattan's extensive software offerings.
- Voices becoming a chorus. Vocollect announces the successful collaboration with leading manufacturers of handheld and wearable devices for delivering the company's voice-directed applications. LXE's MX7 handheld and HX2 wearable devices are able to run Vocollect Voice, as is the Psion Teklogix Workabout Pro multi-purpose data collection terminal. In addition, the company is continuing to collaborate with Motorola, which offers Vocollect Voice in its MC9090 rugged mobile computers and WT4000 series of wearable computers.
- On Target. Swisslog has announced two new alliances. The company has formalized an agreement with Target Corp. to design and implement a new picking and storage system for the national retailer at an undisclosed location.
And Swisslog will act as general contractor on a new distribution center for German drugstore chain dm-drogerie markt. The new facility, which is located near Cologne, Germany, will combine the operations of two existing distribution facilities in Weilerswist and Meckenheim, Germany. - Good booking to have. Eurosort and the Numina Group have partnered on a new automated returns processing system for American Wholesale Book Co. The installation in the returns area at the book company's Florence, Ala., DC includes a Eurosort automated sorting system combined with Numina Group's RDS software.
- Peyton's place. Peyton, the grocery supplier to Kroger stores, has selected Witron to redesign the distribution systems at its DC in Bluffton, Ind. Included in the new design is Witron's Dynamic Picking System, which is an IT-controlled automated warehouse and picking system for toteable articles. The same DPS technology is already in place at Peyton's distribution center in Cleveland, Tenn.
- Waste not, want not. Casella Waste Systems, a company that provides solid waste and recycling services in the Northeast, is outfitting 850 of its fleet vehicles with the OPS1 on-board oil refiner technology from Oil Purification Systems. The OPS-1 system is expected to save Casella 200,000 gallons of oil and $600 per vehicle each year.
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