Atlas Amplifier PDF - Atlas Van Lines

Specialized Transportation GroupTractionAtlas hasfor Attractions.PACKING AN ICE CHESTWITH HUNKS OF RAW MEAT...PILOTING A COLOSSAL RIGFILLED WITH ROBOTS...HOISTING A NEARLY ONE-TONBEAST INTO A TANK OF WATER.IT MAY ALL SOUND A LITTLE STRANGE,BUT FOR THESE ATLAS SPECIALIZEDTRANSPORTATION AGENTS,IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE OFFICE.If you see a super-sized tractor trailer with the nameMobile Mechatronics Lab tooling down the highway,you’re looking at a million-dollar investment. It’s acustom-made showroom filled with high-tech marvels,the brainchild of Festo, a leading world-wide supplier ofautomation technology.“Our mobile showroom features 22 dynamic displayswith fully functional operating machines, as well as 21 staticdisplays,” says Festo Exhibit Coordinator Andrew Wagner.“We had it made so we could take the trade show to ourcustomers... it’s designed to pull right up to the door, sothey can step in, like they’re stepping into another roomof their own building.”Since its Long Island debut in June, the showroom hasaveraged about two stops a day at customer and distributorlocations as it winds across the U.S. and Canada. Andrewsays it was important to find a transportation partner withthe experience to handle such a piece of equipment–aswell as the many details and the related red tape for a busyschedule of transit between states, territories, and countries.“We thought about setting up our own in-house logisticssystem and hiring an operator,” says Andrew. “But werecognized that’s not our area of expertise. We needed aturn-key solution.”Andrew got in touch with Joe McNamara, Certified VanService (598), who had helped him before with trade showtraffic. Joe in turn reached out to Atlas STG and its agentnetwork, connecting with Bill South at Avatar MovingSystems (444) and Professional Van Operator Paul Schmitt.“Paul is an awesome operator,” says Andrew. “Extremelyconscientious, and a real asset to our effort.”Paul says the work is different from typical STGassignments. Fewer miles per day and multiple stopsmeans less time behind the wheel, and more time onsetup and takedown. And he gets plenty of help when heneeds it. “The people at Festo are the greatest,” Paul says.“They work with me in any way they can.” Paul also enjoysthe interaction with people–lots of people. “During thefirst week in September, we took part in the World SkillsConference in Calgary...we estimate as many as 10,000people came through the exhibit.”The Mobile Mechatronics Lab will make approximately500 stops during its maiden year. It will see about 11 monthsof active sales duty, with scheduled time off for routinemaintenance and mechanical touch-ups for the displays.“In general, trade show attendance has fallen in theaftermath of 9/11,” says Bill. “Festo has taken an innovativeapproach to this challenge by taking the show right to theircustomers. I don’t know if this approach represents thefuture for other exhibitors, too. But in this case, it seems tobe working extremely well.”The Festo Mobile MechatronicsLab is a custom showroom onwheels built by FeatherlightTrailers. It measures 80 ft. long,13 ft. high, and 25 ft. wide withsides extended. It contains 43displays of Festo’s automatedprocess equipment andrepresents an investment ofone million dollars.16 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2009 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2009 17