What's hot in material handling?

With a full slate of educational sessions, last month's North American 2010 Material Handling & Logistics Show offered plenty of chances to catch up on the latest industry developments. But the formal presentations were just part of the story. Some of the most thought-provoking comments came up in informal chats with exhibitors and attendees. Here are just a few of the tidbits we picked up as we walked the aisles:

• Demand for integrated solutions that "connect the dots" inside the warehouse is pushing vendors of complementary technologies to collaborate on the development of integrated products. Among the examples mentioned were voice picking technology and scanning, and forklift vehicle management systems and tracking technology.
• Vendors are producing scaled-down versions of their hardware and software systems. By offering basic products and services that require little to no customization and simplified installation, they are making their products affordable for small to mid-sized businesses.
• Grocery, food and beverage, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals are target markets for many of the material handling equipment and software vendors. One reason is that government regulations developed after a series of food-contamination incidents require manufacturers, distributors, retailers, carriers, and third-party logistics specialists to track and verify the chain of custody from raw materials to store delivery. Regulators were demanding capabilities that many companies did not have that; vendors saw a new market and have been hard at work developing products that will facilitate compliance.