Modern Materials Handling - April 2011

VOL. 66, NO.4®PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION,WAREHOUSING AND MANUFACTURINGMike York, director of operations (left);Larry Williams, president of operations,Otis TechnologyCOVER STORYSYSTEM REPORT16 Otis Technology goes lean withmaterials handlingMobile robots, an AS/RS and supply chain software transformed thismanufacturer’s processes.20 Mobile robots bring flexibility to lineAt Otis Technology, the laser-guided vehicles shaved over an hour ofwalk time per employee.FEATURESSPECIAL REPORT22 Top 20 systems suppliersModern’s 14th-annual survey of leading materials handling systemssuppliers from around the world shows that business in general isheaded in a positive direction and revenue is growing again.INFORMATION MANAGEMENT26 MES at a crossroadsThe time may finally be right for manufacturing execution systems tofind a home in the marketplace.EQUIPMENT 101 SERIES30 Conveyors keep materials movingCartons, totes, pallets, components and finished goods can travel formiles on conveyor through manufacturing facilities, warehouses anddistribution centers.PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTION36 AGVs drive productivityHonda equips distribution center with automatic guided vehicles toimprove transport and handling of spare parts.37 Vision-guided robot lends handCoffee roaster uses robotic solution to solve in-feed problems anddouble throughput.60 Seconds with... John SouthcottDEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS3/ Upfront7/ This month in Modern14/ Lift Truck Tips: Batteries45/ Supplement: Warehouse & DC52/ Focus On: Racks58/ 60 Seconds with...38/ SHOW IN REVIEWProMat 2011 rocks ChicagoShow sponsor the Material Handling Industry ofAmerica greeted more than 30,000 attendeesand exhibitors to ProMat 2011 in March. Moderncovers some of the products and services thatwere on display.NEWS9/ Materials handling industry rebounds10/ Materials handling in Japan11/ Is the AGV of the future a lift truck?Modern Materials Handling ® (ISSN 0026-8038) is published monthly byPeerless Media, LLC, a Division of EH Publishing, Inc., 111 Speen St, Suite200, Framingham, MA 01701. Annual subscription rates for non-qualifiedsubscribers: USA $119, Canada $159, Other International $249. Singlecopies are available for $20.00. Send all subscription inquiries to ModernMaterials Handling, 111 Speen Street, Suite 200, Framingham, MA 01701USA. Periodicals postage paid at Framingham, MA and additional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Modern MaterialsHandling, PO Box 1496, Framingham MA 01701-1496.Reproduction of this magazine inwhole or part without written permissionof the publisher is prohibited.All rights reserved. ©2011 PeerlessMedia, LLC.mmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / A P R I L 2 0 1 1 5