Modern Materials Handling - November 2012

will also get free entry into Automate2013, held in McCormick Place North.Like ProMat, Automate (formerly theInternational Robots, Vision & MotionControl Show) is held just once everytwo years. The event is sponsored by theAssociation for Advancing Automation(A3) and its trade associations,which include the Robotic IndustriesAssociation (RIA); AIA, the global associationfor vision and imaging; and theMotion Control Association (MCA).Automate will showcase the full spectrumof automation technologies andsolutions.“It’s a natural fit for the associations,”Prest said. “In our industry, automationrepresents a large area of growth, andit’s at the top of everybody’s agenda rightnow as companies continue to seek toimprove efficiencies.”To make it easier for attendees tofind the solutions they are looking for,the ProMat 2013 show floor is dividedinto four solution-specific sections:• Manufacturing & AssemblySolutions Center: Featuring automatedassembly support, intelligentdevices, robotics, ergonomic and safetyequipment, work stations, light-rail andother assembly assist equipment andsystems for the manufacturing environment.• Fulfillment & DeliverySolutions Center: Showcasingsolutions for traditional or e-commerceorder fulfillment, order pickingand packaging, third-party logistics,warehousing, distribution or transportation.• Information Technology (IT)Solutions Center: Highlightingsupply chain software solutions,RFID, auto ID and data collection,transportation management systems,manufacturing execution systems,logistics execution systems, enterpriseresource planning and ordermanagement systems.• The Knowledge Center(Including the educational conference):Offering resources to educateand build awareness of what the materialhandling and logistics industry hasto offer the supply chain as a whole.KeynotesProMat will feature three keynote presentations,each offering insights fromexperts into future developments inrobotics, business and the supply chain.On Monday, Henrik I. Christensen,KUKA chair of robotics and director ofrobotics at Georgia Tech, will deliver thefirst keynote. In a presentation entitled“The Impact of Robotics on EconomicGrowth,” Christensen will detail howadvances in robotics are revolutionizingCelebrating innovationProMat 2013 will host the first-ever ProMat InnovationAward competition. The ProMat Innovation Award serves toeducate and provide valuable insights on the latest manufacturingand supply chain innovative products and services toProMat attendees. This award will begiven to winners in two categories:Best New Innovation and Best Innovationof an Existing Product. OnlyProMat 2013 exhibiting companiesare eligible for the award.The contest defines innovationas a new product, product line,technology or service or new applicationof existing products or technology that createquantifiable and sustainable results in terms of ROI, costsavings and customer satisfaction.Finalists must also participate in an on-site demonstration.Between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013,selected finalists will present and demonstrate their innovationin their booth on the ProMat show floor. A panel of judges willevaluate the selected product or service and choose the winnersin each category.Submissions are now being accepted. Finalists will be judgedby a committee of judges on the morning of Jan. 21, 2013, andthe award winners will be announced during a press conferencein The Hub on the show floor on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.mmh.com Modern Materials Handling / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 27