Modern Materials Handling - April 2012

UP FRONT Breaking news you should know
CEMA: Conveyor industry NA
shipments break record
At the association’s 79th annual
meeting held in Miami, Fla., last
month, the Conveyor Equipment
Manufacturers Association‘s (CEMA)
president George Huber III reported
that 2011 shipments in North
America were up 28%. In addition,
CEMA estimates that shipments
totaled $8.50 billion for 2011, an
increase of $1.86 billion from 2010
shipments of $6.64 billion. CEMA
estimates that new orders totaled
$9.31 billion in 2011. New orders in
2011 were $2.28 billion more than
2010, representing an increase of
33.3%.
The executives representing CEMA
member companies who attended
the annual meeting expressed continued
optimism for 2012 and forecasted
a 10% increase in shipments.
How old is your palletizer
In honor of Columbia
Machine’s 75-year
celebration, a contest
is being held to identify
the oldest operating
Columbia palletizer.
The customer identified
as having the oldest
operating palletizer will
receive a $10,000 parts
credit as well as a free Columbia customer care visit. In
addition, there will be a “participation drawing prize”
given for a $7,500 parts credit. This will be rewarded
regardless of the manufactured date.
The oldest operating palletizer contest began on Mar. 1,
2012, and will run until July 1, 2012. To submit your machine
into the contest, visit palletizing.com/oldestpalletizer.
Southern Indiana Career and
Technical Center opens Motoman
Robot Laboratory
Evansville Vanderburgh
School Corporation (EVSC)
recently announced the
opening of the Motoman
Robot Laboratory at the
Southern Indiana Career and
Technical Center (SICTC). The
center received an advanced
manufacturing grant this
year, allowing it to purchase
eight HP3JC robots with NXC100 controllers. The robotics
program is one of several new programs SICTC has started
to better prepare students for careers in post-secondary
education related to manufacturing.
SICTC’s new Motoman Robot Laboratory will equip
students with the skills needed to support advanced manufacturing
in the southern Indiana region.
SATO America acquires Achernar of Argentina
SATO, a leader in the automatic identification and data
collection industry, announced that it has signed a
definitive agreement to acquire Achernar of Argentina,
a privately held corporation based in Buenos Aires and
one of the region’s most renowned providers of adhesive
labeling solutions.
By its industry diversification and ability to quickly
respond to changes in market demands, Achernar
provides specialty labels for the food, fruit, cosmetics,
pharmaceutical, electronic, lubricant and postal service industries. Founded in
1971, Achernar manufactures a range of labels including prime, promotional,
variable information, security and high durability label solutions.
“The acquisition of Achernar further illustrates our ongoing commitment to
the South Cone region of South America with best in breed for labeling and
identification solutions,” said Bob Linse, president of SATO America. “Our
acquisition of NODOS in 2010 and now Achernar strengthens our business
model of DCS and labeling in the region.”
FAST FACT
$
14.3
billion
Combined size of the
Top 20 Systems
Suppliers
revenue in 2011.
See story, page 28
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