Modern Materials Handling - October 2011

UP FRONT Breaking news you should knowManufacturing grows forthe 28th consecutive monthThe manufacturing sectorexpanded in September for the 26thconsecutive month and the overalleconomy grew for the 28th consecutivemonth, according to the latestedition of the Institute for SupplyManagement (ISM) report.“The PMI registered 51.6%, anincrease of 1 percentage point fromAugust, indicating expansion in themanufacturing sector for the 26thconsecutive month, at a slightly higherrate,” said Bradley J. Holcomb,chair of the Institute for SupplyManagement Manufacturing BusinessSurvey Committee. “Commentsfrom respondents generally reflectconcern over the sluggish economy,political and policy uncertainty inWashington, and forecasts of ongoinghigh unemployment that willcontinue to put pressure on demandfor manufactured products.”A PMI reading above 50%indicates that the manufacturingeconomy is generally expanding;below 50% indicates that it is generallycontracting.iGPS names Richard DiStasio CEOIntelligent Global PoolingSystems (iGPS) recently announcedthat Richard “Dick” DiStasio has beenappointed chief executive officer of thecompany. DiStasio brings more than 30years of executive-level experience atleading manufacturing, distribution andservice companies.“iGPS’ innovative pallet and its associated tracking andtracing capabilities are truly revolutionizing how productsare being shipped in North America,” DiStasio said. “Themarketplace’s enthusiastic response to iGPS is a tremendousbase from which to accelerate the company’s growth.”DiStasio has served as president, CEO and chairmanof USF, formerly known as USFreightways, and CEO forGlobal Operations of Martin-Brower, the world’s largestdistributor of products to McDonald’s. Prior to joiningiGPS, DiStasio served as an operating advisor to ArborInvestments, a Chicago-based private equity firm.Crown builds 500th newfuel cell-powered forkliftCrown Equipment Corp. announced that it has built its 500th newforklift to be operated with fuel cells. This is in addition to the Crownforklifts already in operation that have been retrofitted during the lastfew years to accommodate fuel cells. The achievement represents anotable milestone signifying the increased adoptionof this technology in the materials handling industry.A Crown SR 5000 Series moving-mast reach truckwas the 500th truck to be built with a fuel cell. Thetruck designed for fuel cells, which will be deliveredlater this year as part of a larger order, maintains similarfeatures and benefits presentedby the standard model.Conveyor industry orders up38.28% in first six monthsThe ConveyorEquipment ManufacturersAssociation (CEMA) recentlyreported that overall industryorders (bookings) forthe first six months of 2011increased 38.28% comparedto the same period in 2010,with total orders of $4.58billion. CEMA estimatesindustry billed sales (shipments)for the first six months of 2011 increased 39.51%compared to the same period in 2010, with total shipmentsof $4.13 billion.The executives representing CEMA member companieswho attended the Fall Meeting expressed cautiousoptimism for the remainder of 2011 and forcasted an18% increase in shipments for 2011 (changed fromMarch 2011 forecast of an 8% increase).FAST FACT45Percentage of readers whosay their pallet usage hasincreased over the last twoyears (See Pallet ReaderSurvey, p. 24)Source: Peerless Media Research Groupmmh.com Modern Materials Handling / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1 3