- The cream rises to the top. Cabot Creamery Cooperative, an 89-year-old cooperative of dairy farmers, has gone live with RedPrairie's Warehouse Management solution. The software has been installed at the co-op's 60,000-square-foot distribution center in Montpelier, Vt., from which some 450,000 pounds of cheese ship each day.
- Turn key. FKI Logistex has been awarded a contract for an automated material handling system at the new Gordon Food Service distribution center in Kenosha, Wis. The multi-temperature facility will include five pick modules, multiple slapper lines, 30,000 feet of conveyor, and a sliding shoe sorter.
- Robot ready. Kiva Systems, a manufacturer of robotic material handling solutions, will be installing its Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System at Gap Inc. Direct to support its growing e-commerce business. Gap Inc. Direct sells clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories from Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Piperlime.
- Pass the pasta, please. Third-party logistics service provider Saddle Creek has opened a new 150,000-squarefoot distribution center for Riviana Foods Inc. and New World Pasta Co., both of which are subsidiaries of Spanish food processor Ebro Puleva, S.A. The new facility is on Saddle Creek's distribution campus in Lakeland, Fla., which now has more than 2.3 million square feet of distribution space.
- Jackpot. Southwest Airlines has contracted with Siemens for a turnkey baggage handling system at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. The system, which includes 11 high-speed diverters, 3,000 feet of belt conveyors, and other hardware and software, is expected to handle up to 2,000 bags per hour.
- Pharming it out. Merck & Co. has selected UPS to manage a significant portion of its U.S. distribution of pharmaceuticals and vaccines as well as provide package transportation services. Under the agreement, UPS Supply Chain Solutions will manage two Merck distribution centers in Atlanta, Ga., and Reno, Nev.
- Setting the pace. ASAP Automation has installed its Exacta Pacing Screens at Japanese Food Corp. (JFC) in California. The Pacing Screens are placed in the distribution center's pick areas to help pickers gauge whether they're keeping up with the current pick wave—essentially, the screens help the workers pace their activities so that items arrive at shipping lanes at the correct time. The solution has already led to a 20-percent increase in wave picking efficiency at the facility.
- Want fries with that? Westfalia is providing equipment and software systems for what will become the largest cold storage facility in France. The building in Harnes will be home to McCain Foods, the Canadian supplier of french fries and other frozen goods, and will be managed by Dutch 3PL Kloosterboer. Westfalia will provide a 68,000-position automated storage and retrieval system, a SpeedLoader automatic unloading system, and its Savanna.NET warehouse management software.
- A fork in the load. HK Systems has installed its HK3000/Rotating Fork automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) at the CHEP Innovation Center in Orlando, Fla. The facility, run by the CHEP pallet pooling company, is used to demonstrate the suitability of CHEP pallets for automated systems and help the company solve any pallet-related problems that may arise with the AS/RS in high-volume operations. The HK3000/RF is a fully automated fork-type retrieval system.
- Two for one. Two Baltimore-based transportation companies have entered into a strategic partnership to give their customers improved access to U.S. and international logistics services. TBB Global Logistics is a third-party supply chain management firm that specializes in domestic and international transportation solutions. Its new partner, Samuel Shapiro & Co., provides customs clearance, compliance, consulting, and international and domestic transportation services.
- Jump in. Bon-Ton Stores, a chain of department stores in 23 Eastern and Midwest states, has implemented HighJump software at two distribution centers. The installation, which was completed in time for the recent holiday season, included warehouse management, yard management, and slotting software. Bon-Ton operates under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, and Younkers store names.
- Making the right Choice. Jabil, an electronic products solutions specialist, has selected Choice Logistics to handle its time-definite, two- and four-hour service parts management. Choice Logistics, a specialist in outsourced service parts logistics, has more than 400 strategic stocking locations worldwide.
- Moving forward. DHL Global Forwarding, the world's largest global forwarder, has selected Kewill ISF (Importer Security Filing) software to support its customers in meeting the new U.S. Customs 10 + 2 requirements. The software will provide DHL Global Forwarding with improved visibility of import-related business processes.
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Wreaths Across America