- The Sun breaks through. Suncoast Beverage Sales, a Fort Myers, Fla.-based beverage distributor, has implemented Dematic's PickDirector warehouse control software. The software provides voice-based control over Suncoast's warehouse activities, including picking, replenishment, quality assurance, manifesting, and truck loading.
- Stirring the Waters. Nestlé Waters has installed 32 GenDrive hydrogen fuel cells from Plug Power in the lift trucks used at its Dallas bottling facility. The GenDrive units are being used to power Yale class 1 electric lift trucks, which have replaced the facility's entire fleet of internal combustion trucks.
- Getting "acCustomed" to it. A.N. Deringer, a customs brokerage firm, is the first company to have filed a customs entry through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). The entry was filed using Kewill's Customs software, which accelerates the import clearance process by facilitating the submission of entry summary data directly through ACE.
- The future is plastic. PepsiCo is phasing out the use of wood pallets for its Quaker, Gatorade, and Tropicana business units in favor of plastic pallets from Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS). PepsiCo, which has been shipping products on iGPS pallets since June 2007, says it chose the plastic units for their handling and environmental advantages.
- Suite for the sweet. The Hershey Co. has chosen Optiant's PowerChain inventory and supply chain optimization suite. The PowerChain suite will help the chocolate maker reduce its inventory costs and free up working capital.
- On call. Cooper-Booth Wholesale Co., a wholesale distributor to convenience stores, restaurants, and universities, will implement the topSpeech-Lydia voice solution from Top-VOX at its Mountville, Pa., distribution center. The voice system will be used on VOXter hardware—Top-VOX's portable, dedicated PDA that operates on Microsoft Windows Mobile 2005 for Pocket PC.
- This Dow is up. Dow Corning Corp. has extended its contract with APL Logistics for transportation and warehousing services. Under the arrangement, APL Logistics will continue to manage Dow Corning's North American distribution center in Shepherdsville, Ky., as well as oversee ground-based transportation of Dow Corning's products within the United States and Mexico. The two companies have worked together since 2000.
- Faster food. European supermarket chain Delhaize has implemented RedPrairie's Transportation Management Solution. The software helps the grocer manage inbound deliveries more efficiently while optimizing dock usage at its five distribution centers.
- Powerful relationship. ABB, a power and automation technology company, has contracted with Exel for order fulfillment and assembly services at ABB's new North American Logistics Center in Groveport, Ohio. Exel associates will handle distribution for ABB's low-voltage business, which includes industrial control products, circuit protection devices, and motor starters. Exel will also provide value-added services like assembly, kitting, and final product configuration.
- Sea notes. Deutsche Bank and INTTRA have launched a partnership to provide financial payment solutions for the ocean container shipping industry. The arrangement will give customers on INTTRA's e-commerce platform access to Deutsche Bank's electronic invoice presentation and payment financial systems.
- On track. California Northern Railroad has been chosen to carry oversized loads of major components for the new Pacific Gas and Electric powergenerating station being constructed in Colusa County, Calif. Owned by RailAmerica, California Northern Railroad is a short-line railroad operating 250 miles of main track in three segments of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Napa valleys.
- Maple leaf alliance. Walmart Canada has signed a fiveyear contract extension with Supply Chain Management (SCM), Canada's largest retail logistics services organization. SCM provides dedicated transportation, logistics, and valueadded services from five distribution centers to Walmart's 312 stores and supercenters throughout Canada. The two organizations have worked together for 15 years.
- Road warriors. BASF's chemical division has contracted with Elemica, a B2B supply chain execution network, to facilitate BASF's collaboration with its carriers. The Elemica Logistics Road solution connects, standardizes, and automates logistics processes with more than 100 North American highway carriers.
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Wreaths Across America
