February - Modern Materials Handling

2009 and by 3% in 2010.• MHEM consumption grew 5.3% in 2008: Domesticdemand (shipments plus imports, less exports) willcontract approximately 15% in 2009. After a period ofsignificant expansion, exports are forecasted to declinein 2009 and 2010 as demand in the global economycontracts.Industry newsHal Vandiver, executive vice president of business developmentfor MHIA and association liaison to the CraneManufacturer’s Association of America (CMAA), the HoistManufacturer’s Institute (HMI) and the Monorail Manufacturer’sAssociation (MMA), shared three new developmentsfrom these groups.• The Overhead Alliance—comprised of CMAA,HMI and MMA—has been formed to promote overheadmethods of lifting and moving materials. The alliancepromotes the crane, monorail and hoist industriesas alternative lifting and moving solutions that canreduce accidents, improve workplace health and safety,reduce product damage, improve workflow and lowercosts. Representative technologies include overheadbridge cranes, electric chain hoists, workstation bridgecranes, below-the-hook devices and radio remotecontrols. More information can be obtained at www.overheadalliance.org.• MMA introduced the MMA-Certified Program forenclosed track workstation cranes, monorails and patentedtrack systems.• HMI introduced the HMI-Certified Program formanual hoists, manual and powered trolleys, poweredchain hoists and powered wire rope hoists.Déjà NewsPROMAT 1999“Over 42,000 industry professionals attended ProMat 99in Chicago this past February. Exhibitors and attendeesfrom all over the U.S. and nearly 80 countries participatedin the materials handling industry’s premier tradeevent. ‘This is the largest material handling exhibitionever held in the United States,’ said A.L. Leffler, MHIA’schief executive officer, at the onset of the show. Attendancethis year increased 7% from ProMat 97. Morethan 650 exhibits covered over 290,000 square feet—a12% and 15% increase, respectively, over ProMat 97.”–From April 1999 issue of Modern Materials Handling.www.mmh.com/article/CA121353.html