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Supply Chain: Tech Trends Five tech trends for 2010 To stay competitive, companies are embracing the most innovative technology. Below are five new products and/or trends that could make your work life a little easier. 1. Battery-changing robot. You can now turn to a robot to change batteries. Intell-A-Changer, a microprocessor-controlled system, automatically charges, changes and helps maintain industrial batteries. Materials Transportation, Co., has come out with the all-electric, customized system, which is equipped with PLC control of the system’s robotic movements that load and unload batteries without any human help. The Laser technology has a variety of safety features and the system including proprietary system software that maintains records of battery activity, including service and life cycles, maintenance intervals and vehicle usage. www.mtcworldwide.com 2. New management system by SmartTurn. Based on the concept of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), SmartTurn™ Inventory and Warehouse Management System and the SmartTurn Inventory Grid™ offers an on-demand warehouse management system that provides enterprise-class functionality at a fraction of the cost of traditional license and install software. The centralized system provides companies with real-time visibility and control into the movement of inventory across multiple warehouses or within a single location. And with a pay-as-you-go model providing unlimited users and transactions per facility, the company says a typical warehouse can save money and produces a positive ROI in as little as 30 days. www.smartturn.com 3. RFID tags that work with metal. RFID tags and metal have, until recently, been a little like oil and water. Metal can detune the reader and tag antenna. Also, at some frequencies the energy reflected by metal can create interference between the tag and reader. Now companies can use non-contact, ISO 15693 compliant passive data carrier technology. Balluff’s M-M RFID direct metal-mount system allows you to mount the tag on any alloy or metal surface without interference or loss in range. The rugged tags are ideal for track-and-trace in manufacturing, assembly or closed-loop processes. www.balluff.com 4. Gartner’s top ten technologies for 2010. Garnter Inc, an information technology research and advisory firm, has chosen it’s top 10 strategic technologies for 2010. Some may surprise you. Cloud computing Advanced analytics. Client computing. IT for green. Reshaping the data center. Social computing. Security activity monitoring. Flash memory. Virtualization for availability. Mobile applications. www.gartner.com 5. Voice+ laser Trucks — new level of productivity for DCs. You have to see the video to believe it. Dematic Northern Europe introduced a laser guidance technology that allows the pickers in a DC to walk alongside their driverless pallet trucks and focus on picking versus getting on and off their vehicles. Manufacturing & Logistics IT reported that, “At the start of an order the Laser Truck delivers a new pallet directly to the picker, automatically moves with the Voice-equipped picker as they verbally confirm picks, and transports the completed pallet to dispatch, while the next Laser Truck brings a new pallet to the picker. The picker’s productivity literally doubles.” You’ve got to see it in action to believe it. www.yourtechtv.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=813&title=Dematic_introduces_Voice__Laser_Trucks	In This Issue Up Front News, Trends & Analysis New Items Transport Economics: Don’t be so gloomy Capitol Watch: From cargo screening to roadability equipment Trade Tools: A different world of trade in 2010 Supply Chain Chris Steele: The corner and what’s around it Compliance Corner: Hot trade compliance issues for 2010 Tech Trends: Five trends for 2010 Commentary David Bennett: Five predictions for 2010 Gateway Glance Georgia Vietnam The Port Community East Coast Ports 2010: Five things to watch for West Coast Ports 2010: The future of West Coast port productitivy? The Shipping Environment: Five sustainable trends for 2010 Product Review: Cranes Casualties Triple-deck trailer barge snaps towline, tankers leak, Coast Guard ice breaker runs aground ... and much more Final Say Your supply chain dynamics: 2010 crisis? Or oppotrunities?
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Supply Chain: Tech Trends