KardexRemstar, Inc. News and Press Releases

New Visual Picking Display Tool From Power Pick Global

Westbrook, ME (December 23rd, 2013) - When it comes to display monitors for picking, the bigger the better. Now available from Power Pick Global software, an enhanced picking display monitor can be integrated into a picking station to increase picking accuracy and speed. Traditionally, workers would take a paper pick list and walk up and down shelving searching for parts required to fill an order. As time goes on, companies are turning to new technology for maintaining all business functions whether it be picking and shipping in the warehouse, or order management in the office. Using paper just doesn’t make sense anymore. The new visual display monitor tool available with Power Pick Global integrates an additional monitor into the picking station to enhance the picking process. This additional monitor can display a variety of information including the order number, part number, part description, quantity to pick, lo...

Shuttle Xp 1000 Easy Handling Of Heavy Loads

Westbrook, ME (December 9th, 2013) - A new vertical lift module from Kardex Remstar can accommodate goods weighing up to 2,205lbs (1,000 kg) per tray. The Shuttle XP 1000 is the newest addition to the successful Shuttle XP vertical lift module series that includes the 250, 500 and 700 models. The new solution allows companies with heavy goods to organize their work processes with more flexibility, efficiency and ergonomics. The Shuttle XP 1000 allows the simple and ergonomic storage of heavy tools and large goods as well as a large number of small parts per tray. Providing stronger, greater, further capacity is the new “Super Strong” tray, which can accommodate up to 2,205lbs (1,000 kg) with a width of 4.1ft (1,250 mm) and up to 1764lbs (800 kg) with a width of 13ft (4,000 mm). For ease of use, the new tray uses castors instead of conventional plastic sliding shoes. The storage system can be used by a wide range of s...

Kardex Remstar To Display Expanded Product Line At Modex 2014

Westbrook, ME (November 25th, 2013) - The Kardex Remstar product line continues to grow with industry demand. Kardex Remstar will display an expanded product line of Shuttle® XP Vertical Lift Modules (VLM) and Megamat RS Vertical Carousels at Modex 2014 in Atlanta, GA March 17-20 in booth #9323. The extended product line fit into a variety of new applications, improving efficiencies and increasing profits. Now, the Shuttle XP VLM ranges from light duty storage in the 250 model to heavy duty storage in the new Shuttle XP 1000 model, boasting a 2,204 lbs. (1000 kg) capacity per tray. In addition, the Megamat RS Vertical Carousel spans a variety of applications with the 180 series, the 350 series and the 650 series storing light, medium and heavy duty loads, respectively. Integrating dynamic storage into material flow processes can have a positive quick and direct impact on an organizations profit. Systems are often ea...

Take Control Of The Warehouse With Power Pick Global Now On Rf Mobile Device

Westbrook, ME (November 11th, 2013) - Now accessible on a RF/Mobile Device, Power Pick Global can provide inventory control for the entire warehouse. Power Pick Global can manage SKUs stored in dynamic storage and retrieval systems as well as SKUs stored in other locations such as rack, shelving and drawer systems. Utilizing Power Pick Global warehouse management software can improve productivity, maximize storage density and increase inventory accuracy. Workers can view pick lists, inventory counts and part locations on the mobile device, eliminating the need for paper pick lists that slow workers down. With this mobile, handheld computer workers have multiple orders ready for picking. Just as a paper pick list, the device shows the SKU number, location, quantity to pick and order number. Power Pick Global sequences the picks and the mobile device leads the worker through the warehouse in the quickest, most optimal path;...

Kardex Remstar To Feature New Software Kiosk Function At Nada 2014

Westbrook, ME (October 31st, 2013) - A Shuttle® XP Vertical Lift Module (VLM) featuring a new kiosk picking function will be on display in Kardex Remstar booth #2601 at NADA 2014 in New Orleans, LA January 24-27. The new kiosk function available with Power Pick Global software simplifies the picking process to keep automotive dealership parts departments at maximum performance - improving productivity, saving floor space and increasing accuracy. Using the kiosk function, items are inventoried in a photo catalog. A touch screen PC mounted on or near the Shuttle VLM allows a worker to select the exact part or tool required by photo instead of part number. Items, parts and specialty tools can be cataloged by vehicle make and model to further speed the picking process. The Shuttle VLM is a highly flexible system of vertically arranged trays, an extraction platform and a machine based control center that stores and retr...

Jazz Aviation Carefully Manages Parts To Keep Airplanes Flying High

Westbrook, ME (October 14th, 2013) - Jazz Aviation is a regional carrier travelling to and from approximately 80 destinations all across Canada and the United States. Working under a commercial agreement with Air Canada, Jazz operates more flights and travels to more Canadian destinations than any other carrier. With flights to big cities, or small town communities, Jazz has a large presence in North America and is one of the largest regional airlines in the world. The Jazz operational base in Toronto, Ontario is responsible for maintenance and repair operations for 125 airplanes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The largest of six line bases, the maintenance stockroom supplies maintenance and repair parts to technicians on site as well as the other five line bases. This 6,900 square foot facility was limited on space and needed a solution that wouldn’t force them to relocate. “Space is a premium being next to an a...

New Purge Materials Feature Provides Better Cube Utilization

Westbrook, ME (September 24th, 2013) - A new feature from Power Pick Global software allows users to “purge” materials from inventory that are no longer needed. Keeping outdated materials in inventory can take up valuable cube space and inflate inventory reports. Purging materials regularly can create better cube utilization and increase inventory accuracy. With this new feature, materials can now be easily purged using any criteria. Previously, materials were purged one by one after manually sorting through inventory reports. Now, materials can be filtered by any criteria desired (such as expiration date) and easily purged. In addition, storage devices using fixed location storage will continue to reserve a location for a part number that has a zero quantity. This new feature allows the user to filter these locations and purge this material to free up the fixed location, making room for another part. Purging mat...

Value Drug Mart Adds Value To The Supply Chain

Westbrook, ME (September 9th, 2013) - In 1978, thirteen pharmacy owners centralized their purchasing and distribution power to compete with the big chains, while still maintaining the spirit of independent ownership and community focus that neighborhoods had come to depend on. Today, there are 32 member shareholder stores under the Value Drug Mart banner, as well as 11 Apple Drugs stores, 8 Rxellence Professional Dispensaries, and approximately 300 affiliated stores—all served by a central distribution center in Edmonton, Alberta. The Value Drug Mart distribution center distributes front store items (everything from bedding and soap to pantyhose and chapstick) and pharmacy items; keeping the tradition of locally-owned, community-minded service alive and well throughout Alberta and British Columbia. With shareholder stores needing to expand their front store offerings to remain competitive, changes would also be requ...

Ergonomics Improves The Work Environment

Westbrook, ME (August 26th, 2013) - Repetitive actions such as bending, reaching and stooping over long periods of time can cause serious injuries which lead to serious worker compensation claims. These claims are no joke and can create hefty labor costs that can be prevented if ergonomic improvements are made. The Lektriever Vertical Carousel from Kardex Remstar creates an ergonomic work station for all users. When all files and items are 100% accessible for everyone, productivity and ergonomics are increased, risk of injury is reduced and worker compensation claims are diminished. In a traditional 4-drawer filing system, bending, reaching and stooping to search for files is a daily activity. Poor ergonomics can result in a great deal of work related injuries causing employees to be absent from work and increasing temporary labor costs and worker compensation claims. Ergonomics is the science of adjusting an individual...

Improve Throughput And Productivity With Power Pick Global Hot Pick Module

Westbrook, ME (August 20th, 2013) - Customer satisfaction is a top priority for many organizations. Providing the right parts to the right person at the right time is key. The Hot Pick Module from Power Pick Global increases customer response time while improving employee productivity and system throughput. The Hot Pick Module allows operators to suspend a batch picking operation in progress so individual items or orders can be picked from the storage and retrieval system. Once the individual operation is complete, the batch picking operation can be resumed where it left off, with no interruption in continuity. The Hot Pick Module uses the same intuitive operator interface as standard Power Pick Global order processing functions, for fast and simple integration. Use of the Hot Pick Module improves overall customer satisfaction in immediate response to customer’s calls, walk-ups, orders, and emergency situations. ...

Order Fulfillment At Hauni Richmond Is Smoking Fast

Westbrook, ME (August 5th, 2013) - Hauni is the world’s leading supplier of manufacturing technology for the international tobacco industry. With corporate locations around the globe, Hauni Richmond supports customers worldwide in the fields of tobacco processing as well as filter and cigarette manufacturing. They offer innovative technologies for all process stages from tobacco processing to the production of filters, cigarettes and special products through to final quality measurements. The Hauni facility in Richmond, VA focuses specifically on spare parts sales for North America, Canada and Mexico and machine remanufacturing for the world markets. At this facility Hauni specialists completely dismantle and remanufacture machines using state of the art technology with verified, overhauled and new OEM quality components providing customers tried and tested machines that are once again as good as new. When mana...

Automated Maintenance Stockroom Increases Manufacturing Up Time

Westbrook, ME (July 23rd, 2013) - Increased productivity on the manufacturing floor coupled with the large investment required in production line automation has made the maintenance stockroom a critical part of the manufacturing process. Implementing dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar in the maintenance and repair stockroom can improve manufacturing uptime. As manufacturers are using more and more automation to increase manufacturing productivity, having the parts in stock to service and maintain the production line directly impacts the bottom line. Losing days, hours, and even minutes in a high speed automated manufacturing line can cost thousands to a manufacturer. Every minute the assembly line is down is a minute of productivity that cannot be recovered. To prevent this, manufacturers are implementing automated storage and retrieval systems in the maintenance stockroom as an insurance policy. The use ...

Slotting Parts For Improved Performance

Westbrook, ME (July 1st, 2013) - Just as what goes up must come down… in distribution “what goes in must come out”. The process of receiving a part into inventory is just as important as picking or removing the part from inventory. A little extra thought on the receiving end leads to benefits on the picking end. A solid slotting plan to receive and store parts in a facility can lead to quicker and more accurate picking distribution. Slotting is the concept of using data analysis to create a logical process to assign every part a location based on specific attributes of the part. While the work involved in slotting items in a storage system can become very involved and complicated, at its core it can be broken into four steps. Determining what equipment will house a part is probably the most important step, but is too often answered in a rush early on in the process based on a company’s current storage pr...

George Harms Construction Co. Keeps Employee Safety A Top Priority While Increasing Filing Capacity And Doubling Productivity

Westbrook, ME (June 26th, 2013) - George Harms Construction Company Inc. has built an unparalleled track record of turning enormous construction challenges into large-scale success. Since 1960, George Harms Construction Co. has completed construction projects ranging from highways and bridges to landfills and runways, railroads and electrification, dams, pipelines, buildings, pole line construction, toll plazas and pump stations. The foundation of their success is a solid work ethic that fosters teamwork, inspires creativity, and rewards initiative at every level of their organization. With approximately 200 employees George Harms Construction Co. performs between $40 and $50 million dollars worth of work yearly. They have been ranked twice in Engineering News Record's top 400 construction firms in the United States. To remain at the top of the construction business George Harms Construction Co. relies on a dedicat...

Keeping Offices Organized And Files Accessible With Lektriever Pullout Trays

Westbrook, ME (June 12th, 2013) - When it comes to storage space, organization and space are key. The Lektriever Vertical Carousel can be equipped with carriers that store individual trays that can be removed from the unit and brought to an individual’s workstation. These pullout trays bring the work to the worker. This feature helps maximize storage capacity within the vertical carousel, improve worker ergonomics and increase organization. The Lektriever Vertical Carousel from Kardex Remstar can store a wide range of media. Multiple sizes of storage trays are available which can be used for storage of file folders, card media, optical boxes, photos, digital media storage devices, product samples, binders and a vast array of other items. As the unit reaches its maximum capacity, these pullout trays can be utilized in a multitude of ways to help keep materials organized. Unlike traditional filing cabinets that r...

New Megamat Rs 180 Vertical Carousel Now Available

Westbrook, ME (June 4th, 2013) - Kardex Remstar has extended its portfolio for the RS series, the latest generation of the proven vertical carousel, by introducing the new Megamat RS 180. This new model satisfies market demands for tailored solutions. The Megamat RS 180 is particularly well equipped for storing and retrieving small items; the weight capacity holds up to 397.8 pounds per carrier with a total unit load of 13,260 pounds. The vertical carousel can increase order picking efficiency on the factory floor, production line or in distribution centers to optimize processes and minimize costs. The Right Solution for Light Duty Operations As Marc A. Zenses, Manager Solution/Product Management at Kardex Remstar explains: “In terms of durability, functionality and user friendliness, the new Megamat RS 180 matches with the rest of the product family. With the RS series we now cover three load classes, with th...

Schlumpf Expands Internally With An Ergonomic Solution

Westbrook, ME (May 21st, 2013) - With an endless choice of products in the market today, one way manufacturers and retailers fight to grab your attention is through product packaging. With every new flavor, size or color variation comes different packaging; aimed at getting your attention and a piece of your wallet. At the manufacturing level, handling large rolls of product packaging presents quite a challenge; a single roll of packaging can weigh up to several hundred pounds. Schlumpf USA is a recognized leader in a the packaging industry for roll and shaft handling products, as well as machinery components for unwinding and rewinding packing materials and aerospace composites. Hoist based and portable ergonomic handling systems from Schlumpf lift, load, and turn the packaging rolls; minimizing the ergonomic stress on the operator as well as reducing the risk of damage to the roll. With business steadily growing...

New Software Features Improve Pick And Pass Operations

Westbrook, ME (May 9th, 2013) - Two new Power Pick Global software features improve pick and pass operations in organizations. Power Pick Global software can improve material flow by directing operators to the next pick within the pick zone reducing operator dwell time. In addition, orders can now be processed through multiple work zones with the scan of a barcode. These new features eliminate paper lists, minimize potential operator downtime as well as increase productivity and efficiency. Pick and pass order fulfillment allows organizations to pick in one zone and then pass to the next zone for further order fulfillment. Ideal for operations with a large number of SKUs, spread over multiple workstations, orders are downloaded into Power Pick Global software and ready for fulfillment. Orders can be grouped together by priority or delivery date, and then sent to the workstations for picking. In each pick zone, Po...

Vertical Carousels The Dark Horse Of Order Picking

Westbrook, ME (April 23rd, 2013) - The most common vertical carousel application today is product security. With lockable doors, automated security doors and a variety of inventory management software to provide traceability, it’s no wonder that the vertical carousel lends itself nicely to storing and managing high dollar value items; it’s quite a nice fit. While this is a great application, the most overlooked application for a vertical carousel is order picking. That’s right, plain good old fashioned order picking. When picking orders that average 4 lines per order or more, vertical carousels with inventory management software is an ideal solution. It offers fast retrieval times, provides good throughput and minimal operator travel time. Fast Delivery Using inventory management software, a vertical carousel will only rotate around one time to make all picks required for an order. This means the time it t...

Make The Smart Move To Dynamic Storage Solutions

Westbrook, ME (April 2nd, 2013) - Kardex Remstar dynamic storage solutions will be on display at Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2013 at Reliant Park in Houston, TX May 6-9 in booth #9044. A Shuttle Vertical Lift Module (VLM) will be on display with new QuickPick® Light Pointer technology and the new Logicontrol machine control. The light pointer consists of an LED or laser light mounted to a slider that moves horizontally on a guiding system. Located above the access opening in a Shuttle VLM, it navigates the operator to the exact part to be picked increasing pick accuracy. The Logicontrol machine control is designed specifically for smaller warehouses and stand-alone solutions. It combines hardware, basic software and an operator terminal into a new, innovatively designed touch-screen control. All Kardex Remstar solutions are designed on the goods to person principle. Bringing the goods to the worker increa...

Reducing Hospital Budgets Through Supply Chain Improvement

Westbrook, ME (March 26th, 2013) - Pressure is building on hospital executives and managers to substantially reduce operating costs, maintain a profit margin and improve the patient experience. The largest component of the hospital operating budget is the supply chain. Getting supplies when and where they are needed is costly and is quickly coming under the microscope of hospital administrators. Using Kardex Remstar automated storage systems for the storage and distribution of goods and supplies within the supply chain can help achieve the substantial reduction in operational costs and improve the patient experience. Very often hospitals are using outdated technology and antiquated processes in the flow of materials handling. For decades now other industries have been using automated storage and retrieval solutions such as horizontal and vertical carousels and vertical lift modules to improve productivity, save spac...

Joanne Fabrics Finds Room To Grow Hardware Business

Westbrook, ME (March 12th, 2013) - Joanne Fabrics Inc. is a family owned and operated company that has been operating as a wholesaler and distributor of decorative fabrics for 35 years. After firmly establishing itself in the Canadian market, Joanne Fabrics successfully ventured into the United States under the name J.F. Fabrics Inc. Joanne Fabrics distributes designer fabrics, wallpaper and decorative hardware from their 70,000 square foot facility in Toronto, Canada to retailers, designers, decorators, upholsterers, large department stores, hospitals, health care facilities, hotels, restaurants, furniture manufacturers, nautical and recreational vehicle manufacturers. Joanne selects, stocks and distributes fabrics from major mills around the world with a commitment to provide the highest level of quality and service. No Room to Grow With fabric sales steady, Joanne Fabrics looked to expand business into decorative...

Controlled Environments Within Kardex Remstar Storage Systems

Westbrook, ME (February 25th, 2013) - Kardex Remstar has developed industry specific solutions including: temperature controlled units, clean room storage units and dry room storage units. Companies are always looking for opportunities to speed up intralogistics processes and increase productivity in these unique applications. Storage at Constant Temperatures Many stored goods are vulnerable to temperature changes. This applies to a very vast range of products, from frozen food articles to hospital supplies to pharmaceutical products, all of which require storage at constant temperatures. For these applications, the Shuttle XP Vertical Lift Module (VLM) and the Megamat RS vertical carousel both come equipped with an integrated air conditioning system to protect stored goods. The available temperature range is from -25 to +65 degrees Celsius (-13 to +149 degrees Fahrenheit). A model of the Megamat RS vertical carousel...

Kardex Remstar Introduces A New Control For Dynamic Picking Systems

Westbrook, ME (February 12th, 2013) - The new Logicontrol machine control is designed specifically for smaller warehouses and stand-alone solutions. For use with Shuttle Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) and Megamat RS vertical carousels, the Logicontrol combines hardware, basic software and an operator terminal into a new innovatively designed touch-screen control. Depending on the needs of the user, Logicontrol is available in two different versions. “Our goal was to develop a simple and efficient control that is easy to handle and ergonomically designed,” explains Marc Zenses, Director of Product Management at Kardex Remstar. The outcome is a new and innovative machine control with low levels of complexity making pen and paper in the warehouse a thing of the past. The new solution provides users not only with a reliable and safe machine control but also with a simple and convenient inventory management system that a...

The Vertical Carousel A Look Back In Time

Westbrook, ME (January 29th, 2013) - First introduced in the 1950’s the vertical carousel is probably the most well known automated storage and retrieval system. Some critics might say the vertical carousel is “old” or “outdated”, but that’s simply not true. Besides, don’t most things get better with age? Like a fine wine that gets better each year, so does the vertical carousel. The vertical carousel on the market today is not the same vertical carousel that was introduced over 60 years ago. Although the basic concept remains the same; a motor drives a number of carriers attached to a chain around like a ferris wheel to deliver the desired product to the operator at an access opening; many improvements have been made to improve efficiency and overall usability of the vertical carousel. Not only has it become more efficient; but it also boasts greater storage flexibility, safety advancements, security im...

13 Ways To Do More With Less In 2013

Westbrook, ME (January 8th, 2013) - With slow growth predicted for many industries in 2013, organizations are taking a minute to review their current material handling strategies and operations, asking themselves “how do we do more with less?”. A little more of “this” and a little less of “that” can be the perfect recipe to maximize material handling efficiencies; leading to reduced operational costs and higher productivity rates. Here are 13 tips to help get the most out of your material handling operations in 2013. One: More Parts in Less Space: There aren’t many organizations building new facilities these days- the trend is to do more with the existing space. Organizations trying to utilize every inch of space often consider vertical carousels and vertical lift modules (VLMs) because of the high storage density they provide- often saving up to 85% floor space. Two: More Productivity & Efficiency w...

New Light Pointer Increases Pick Accuracy In Shuttle Vlm

Westbrook, ME (December 19th, 2012) - The light pointer now available with a Shuttle Vertical Lift Module (VLM) from Kardex Remstar directs an operator to a specific part location using a laser or LED spot. This new pick to light system can increase accuracy, productivity and overall picking speed. The light pointer consists of an LED or laser light mounted to a slider that moves horizontally on a guiding system. Located inside over the access opening of a Shuttle VLM, the LED or laser light pointer swivels in depth direction to illuminate any position within the tray. The light spot immediately identifies the exact location of the item to be picked or replenished. The light pointer navigates the operator to the exact part to be picked increasing pick accuracy. This eliminates any hesitation or guessing when retrieving a part. In a manual system, there is a greater chance of error. The light pointer eliminates the ...

Let Fastpic5 Area Handling Do The Planning

Westbrook, ME (November 26th, 2012) - Wasting time walking up and down shelving searching for inventory can be exhausting. FastPic5 inventory management software introduces a new feature called area handling. This function manages all of the inventory within a warehouse and plans all picking and put away processes. When a pick list is created, FastPic5 devises a strategic walking pattern to increase productivity. FastPic5 inventory management software can manage an entire warehouse, reduce walk time and increase overall productivity. The concept is simple. Using multiple inventory methods to manage individual zones can be costly, time consuming and cause errors across the board. FastPic5 software can manage not only automated storage and retrieval systems, but also static rack and shelving. Using one inventory management software package can simplify processes and organize the warehouse to work more efficiently, saving ti...

Kardex Remstar To Display New Quickpick Technology At Promat 2013

Westbrook, ME (November 12th, 2012) - New QuickPick� Light Pointer technology from Kardex Remstar will be on display at Promat 2013 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL January 21 - 24 in booth #3623. The light pointer consists of an LED or laser light mounted to a slider that moves horizontally on a guiding system. Located above the access opening in a Shuttle VLM, it navigates the operator to the exact part to be picked increasing pick accuracy. In addition, a Megamat RS Vertical Carousel will be on display. All Kardex Remstar solutions are designed on the goods to person principle. Bringing the goods to the worker increases worker efficiency and picking productivity. Eliminating wasted walk and search time commonly associated with standard picking and distribution applications, dynamic storage systems can increase productivity up to 2/3. Utilizing vertical storage space from floor to truss, dynamic storage systems can...

Megamat Rs Vertical Carousel Dual Access Now Available

Westbrook, ME (October 29th, 2012) - The Megamat RS Vertical Carousel allows multiple departments or work zones to maximize material handling capabilities by consolidating all materials into one system using multiple pick windows. Consolidating inventory into one system with access on multiple floors or zones eliminates wasted time transporting and searching for material; increasing productivity, enhancing material flow, and reducing overall costs. Further, the ability to add an additional pick window post installation provides organizations the flexibility to change. A dual access Megamat RS Vertical Carousel consists of two or more access points on one unit, allowing access to the same stored materials from multiple access points in the facility. With an access window on the first level and the fifth level, for example, multiple floors, departments or work zones have access to the same material without having to travel...

Christie Provides Custom Built Solutions In 24 Hours By Improving Manufacturing Efficiencies

Westbrook, ME (October 15th, 2012) - If a picture is worth a thousand words, the visual displays created with Christie visual display solutions are immeasurable. Combining innovative engineering, advanced manufacturing and eight decades of experience Christie has a reputation of delivering superior, dependable visual display solutions and providing unprecedented levels of customer service and support. Christie is a global visual technologies company offering diverse solutions for business, entertainment, visual environments and medical industries. With over 100,000 projection systems installed worldwide, Christie technologies include solutions for cinema, large audience environments, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and virtual reality, simulation, education, media and government. The manufacturing facility in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada is the worldwide center for advanced manufacturing ...

Batch Put Away Makes Replenishment A Whole Lot Easier

Westbrook, ME (October 1st, 2012) - Replenishing stock just got a whole lot easier. FastPic5 inventory management software is now available with a batch put away function. Instead of replenishing inventory one part at a time, FastPic5 allows multiple parts to be replenished at one time. This improves not only the speed of the replenishment process but increases productivity and accuracy. Batch put away is the process of putting away multiple parts simultaneously. Selected restock parts are batched and are put away concurrently. Each replenishment item is treated as an order and is assigned an individual tote before the process begins. The machine will move to the first put away location with pick to light technology indicating the quantity and location of the items to be replenished. The operator then presses a confirmation button indicating the part has been replenished. Using FastPic5 to manage replenishment can in...

New Megamat Rs Vertical Carousel Heavy Duty Model 650 Now Available

Westbrook, ME (September 21st, 2012) - For operations with heavy parts, Kardex Remstar introduces the new Megamat RS Model 650 Vertical Carousel. With a carrier weight capacity nearly double the Megamat RS 350 unit, the Megamat RS 650 holds up to 1,433 pounds per carrier with a total unit load of 41,887 pounds. Available in a variety of widths from 10.42 feet to 13 feet, depths from 5.14 feet to 5.62 feet and heights from 7.75 feet to 32.85 feet; the Megamat RS 650 is designed for heavy duty operations storage. Carriers can be equipped with inserts, rollout drawers, intermediate shelves, partitions, dividers and specialty holders to create an ergonomic solution for storing and retrieving heavy parts. The Megamat RS Vertical Carousel works on the goods to person concept, presenting stored goods to the operator eliminating walk and search time associated with standard shelving. With the push of a button carriers within t...

Kardex Remstar Helps Meet Executive Order 13423

Westbrook, ME (August 20th, 2012) - The year 2015 is fast approaching and federal agencies are required to be in full compliance with Executive Order 13423. Instated in 2007, Executive Order 13423 � Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management is all about sustainability for the future. By the year 2015, Federal Agencies are required to improve energy efficiency and utilize sustainable building design to reduce the current carbon footprint. With only three years left, federal agencies need to put plans into action. Kardex Remstar dynamic storage solutions can reduce energy requirements and minimize carbon footprint while saving time and money. Kardex Remstar systems have a positive impact on an organizations Triple Bottom Line: people, planet and profit. The Triple Bottom line captures the essence of sustainability by measuring the impact of an organizations activities on the world. By prote...

Dynamic Storage Protect Fda Regulated Labels

Westbrook, ME (August 6th, 2012) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to protect and promote consumer health with regulations helping manufacturers and distributors improve production processes. The complexity of storing and retrieving packaging labels for drugs, vaccines or medical devices can vary greatly depending on the industry, FDA regulatory requirements and individual business models. Kardex Remstar dynamic storage solutions can makes these processes easier with security, inventory control, damage prevention and temperature control. The FDA regulates and ensures the safety of food as well as drugs, biological products and more. Packaging labels for these goods must be kept in a clean and secure environment to eliminate tampering from natural elements causing a label to be illegible, or damaged to the label due to mishandling, deeming the label unusable. If a label is misplaced or picked out of se...

Fastpic Introduces Client Management

Westbrook, ME (July 23rd, 2012) - FastPic5 inventory management software introduces a new feature to help organizations segment inventory. The client management feature allows businesses to segment inventory by functional area or by client ownership. This organization tool allows for more security, visibility and ownership of goods. With the new client management feature each user can be assigned to a specific category of inventory. This is particularly helpful for organizations that handle inventory for multiple clients. For instance, specific users can be authorized to only view and manage inventory assigned to Client A, while another set of users can be authorized to view and manage inventory assigned to Client B. This segmentation ensures that if inventory is short for Client A, it is not supplemented from inventory that belongs to Client B. Inventory can also be segmented by functional area. For example...

The Vertical Lift Module - The Most Flexible Storage System

Westbrook, ME (July 9th, 2012) - With so many choices on the market today what makes one storage technology better than the other? In today�s economy, flexibility. With organizations constantly changing, growing and shrinking flexibility in storage system isn�t an option, it�s a requirement. The vertical lift module (VLM) is the most flexible storage system on the market today. It can be altered and adapted as business processes change. A VLM is an enclosed system of vertically arranged trays, controls and an extraction platform that delivers goods to a workstation, but that�s not what makes it the most versatile storage system. There are five features of a Shuttle� VLM that make it the most flexible storage device around. 1. Modular Design- VLM�s have a modular design allowing the location, height, and configuration to be easily changed as an organizations business evolves. VLMs can be relocated throughout the...

Osha Standards Create A Smart And Safe Work Environment

Westbrook, ME (June 20th, 2012) - OSHA Standards focus on designing a safe, productive and efficient work environment. Creating a safe work environment in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Standards can improve ergonomics resulting in an increase in productivity and efficiency and a reduction in labor costs. OSHA Standards should be implemented in all areas of a facility including manufacturing, distribution and administration. Designed with worker ergonomics in mind, dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar can help organizations implement OSHA Standards by creating a safe and ergonomically friendly work environment. OSHA was created by Congress to help enforce health and safety conditions in work environments for women and men alike. These standards protect not only the employees but employers as well. Per OSHA Standards, a work environment must be safe, clean and clear of an...

Dynamic Storage Keeps Inventory At Your Fingertips

Westbrook, ME (June 4th, 2012) - From small parts to large, heavy tools and dies; keeping inventory accessible and easy to locate in a compact footprint can be quite the challenge. Dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar allows organizations to retrieve inventory with the push of a button, increasing accuracy up to 99.9% and recovering up to 85% of currently occupied floor space. The Shuttle XP Vertical Lift Module (VLM) and the Megamat RS vertical carousel, will be on display at IMTS 2012 in Chicago, IL September 10-15 in booth #W-1617 at McCormick Place. Operating on the �goods to person principle�, the Shuttle XP VLM delivers parts directly to the operator at an ergonomic height, with the push of a button. The Shuttle XP VLM is simply two large sections of racking with an extractor that runs up the center to store trays in the racking and deliver them to an access opening at the operators request. With a max...

Fastpic Software Makes A Vlm Even Smarter

Westbrook, ME (May 21st, 2012) - FastPic5 inventory management software saves time, increases efficiencies and maximizes storage density by managing height and weight restrictions. While the unit can control these features, FastPic5 inventory management software is designed to proactively supervise this function resulting in an even smarter Shuttle Vertical Lift Module (VLM). Using the height restriction feature in FastPic5, each tray can be preset with a maximum height for stored goods. To maximize storage density within a VLM most efficiently, each tray should contain parts of the same approximate height. Using FastPic5 prevents the operator from increasing the overall tray height, restricting the operator from creating wasted cube. For example, if a tray has been loaded with parts all 8� high, the tray could be set to store goods at a height of 8�, and 8� only. This will prevent the operator from loading that 8...

Kubota Fulfills Parts Promise To Customers Keeping Parts Available

Westbrook, ME (May 7th, 2012) - Kubota Canada has been introducing groundbreaking tractor and utility vehicles for construction, commercial and residential use for 36 years. With an industry leading reputation for equipment that lasts; Kubota�s parts promise is what keeps customers coming back. Kubota is committed to keeping parts available for 20+ years; assuring the local Kubota dealer has quick access to the parts their customers need. That�s great news for Kubota customers, but presents quite a challenge for Kubota�s 60,000 square foot parts distribution center. With 20+ years of legacy parts and additional inventory for new models introduced every year the parts inventory at Kubota�s part center in Markham, Ontario has steadily grown to over 78,000 SKUs. �Our parts promise to our customers presents a challenge as we have to inventory quite a few slow moving parts that are only picked a few times a year or in ...

A New Year Brings New Warehouse Strategies

Westbrook, ME (April 23rd, 2012) - As we say goodbye to 2011 and start 2012 organizations are reviewing current processes and asking �how can we do this better?�. To stay competitive in these tough economic times companies are looking for solutions that will positively impact the bottom line. Implementing new strategies for warehousing and distribution will not only improve your current process, but they can give you a competitive edge over your competition. Here are a few warehouse strategies that can kick start 2012. Bring the work to the worker to increase efficiencies. The principal is simple- the less time a worker spends walking and searching, the more time the worker spends picking. Using a pedometer or charting the amount of time a worker spends walking and searching instead of picking can provide organizations an eye opening assessment of picking productivity. Keeping workers in their assigned work stations d...

Office Space That Works Harder Or Hardly Works

Westbrook, ME (April 23rd, 2012) - Given the economy today, everyone is being asked to do a little more and work a bit harder. The same should be expected of the storage space � it should be working a little harder too! Kardex Remstar dynamic filing solutions can optimize office space creating more meeting rooms or work stations to increase efficiency which can pay dividends in the long run. Two main factors to consider when analyzing current storage solutions are space performance and filing productivity. The number of filing inches that can be accommodated within the footprint of the storage system is a key performance efficiency indicator. By taking advantage of cubic volume and not square area, the Kardex Remstar Lektriever Electric Lateral Filing (ELF) system optimizes floor space. The unit can be constructed right up to the ceiling, maximizing floor to truss space to provide increased filing density. One Lekt...

Automate Accuracy With Fastpic5 Cycle Counting

Westbrook, ME (March 26th, 2012) - Keeping inventory accurate is always a challenge, especially in a fast paced work environment. No matter how your materials are stored, cycle counting is necessary to ensure accurate inventory. FastPic5 Inventory Management Software from Kardex Remstar offers a cycle counting feature to quickly and easily verify the physical inventory. Regular cycle counting minimizes inventory discrepancies and prevents inventory shortages. FastPic5 inventory management software has a built in cycle counting feature allowing inventory to be counted and verified on demand. Users have the ability to cycle count an individual part, a group of parts or an entire storage device. Cycle count orders can be scheduled to automatically run on a pre-determined frequency. Users can also specify the time of day the cycle count will be run, minimizing interference with day to day activity. FastPic5 can also b...

Kardex Remstar Launches New Website

Westbrook, ME (March 14th, 2012) - Kardex Remstar has just revised their website: www.kardexremstar.com. With an updated design, the website is easy to navigate and provides visitors with current information on storage and retrieval solutions offered by Kardex Remstar. Visitors can easily navigate through Kardex Remstar solutions, products, services, support, customer references, industry sectors and recent news. Solutions and product pages contain videos of Kardex Remstar products in use. For more detailed product specifications, visitors can now download product literature directly from the website. The industry sector section details how Kardex Remstar solutions can be applied to and benefit specific industries. The customer references section provides several customer case studies, detailing the results of implementing Kardex Remstar solutions into their facility. Video case studies are also available for some...

Effortless Filing Access For Everyone

Westbrook, ME (March 2nd, 2012) - Creating an equal work environment for all workers and providing 100% accessibility can be a difficult task for employers. Proper ergonomics requires the job to 'fit the person' in all respects, and the work situation should not compromise human capabilities and limitations. Employers must also ensure that work tasks do not cause repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. Using equipment and work arrangements to improve working posture and ease the load on the human body reduces instances of repetitive strain injury or work related upper limb disorder. Designed to meet both disability standards and health and safety requirements, Kardex Remstar dynamic storage systems are not only ideal for staff with disabilities but also prevent future repetitive strain injuries. The high density automated Lektriever Electric Lateral Filing (ELF)...

Picking Fifty Two Million Pieces A Year Is No Small Task For Childrens Hospital Colorado

Westbrook, ME (February 15th, 2012) - Managing the supply chain in any organization can be a tough job, but at Children�s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO the materials management department is directly related to patient care; making it a critical function within the hospital. With 298 beds, getting supplies to the right place on time takes coordination, teamwork and a little technology. With the help of three Kardex Remstar horizontal carousels integrated with pick to light technology and FastPic order processing software, the materials management stockroom picks over 141,000 pieces a day, delivering them throughout the hospital and on time. Founded in 1908 in Denver, Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado set out to be a leader in providing the best healthcare for children. They have consistently landed in the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation and have become a place parents across the Rocky Mountain region tr...

Kaiser Permanente Lab Increases Efficiencies With Fastpic Inventory Management Software

Westbrook, ME (January 31st, 2012) - When Kaiser Permanente�s Mid-Atlantic region decided to consolidate its regional testing laboratory operations, management looked at different inventory management solutions for storing specimens, biopsy slides, tissue blocks, reagents and laboratory supplies. Kaiser Permanente is the largest integrated health care and health maintenance organization in the U.S., serving some 8.2 million members per year. The Mid-Atlantic Region, the fourth largest of the eight geographic regions served by the organization in the U.S., handles medical testing for members located in Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; southern Maryland and northern Virginia. It�s a very large operation, and prior to the consolidation, regional testing was conducted in four separate facilities. Because operations were dispersed, so was inventory management. There was duplication in ordering supplies, and, since storage an...

Measuring Sustainability And An Organizations Impact On The Environment

Westbrook, ME (January 31st, 2012) - Planet � People � Profits: also known as the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) captures an organizations sustainability by measuring the impact of its activities on the world around it. A positive TBL reflects an increase in the company�s value, including shareholder value and its human and environmental capital. The affect an organization has on the planet can be measured through the environmental impact the organization�s activities have on the air and water quality, its energy usage and the waste it produces. An organizations treatment of its staff and the impact the business has on the community contribute towards the impact on people, or the organizations social impact. Lastly, the jobs created, taxes paid and sales account for the profit of the organization and impact on the economy. Dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar can play a key role in helping organizations add value to ...

5 Ways To Increase Productivity In A Picking Operation

Westbrook, ME (January 31st, 2012) - Organizations often implement new picking techniques, new order picking equipment or new processes in an attempt to gain productivity in their operations. While these endeavors are successful and lead to big jumps in productivity, there are ways to achieve smaller productivity gains without revising your entire picking operations. Here are five ways you can improve productivity in your picking operation today. Slot Your Parts. A fast moving SKU can become a slow moving SKU next month. Matching the part by velocity, size and stored quantity to the storage location can increase productivity. Often organizations fail to reorganize parts as order profiles change and the slower moving SKUs end up stored in the prime picking locations while faster moving SKUs are added to inventory and stored less accessible locations. By re-slotting SKUs on a regular basis picking times can be improved. ...

Kardex Remstar Solutions Solve Warehouse Overcrowding

Westbrook, ME (October 27th, 2011) - Dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar can solve warehouse overcrowding. Warehouses become overcrowded when organizations experience rapid growth, slow sales cycles or seasonal trends. An overcrowded warehouse makes doing business difficult and can have a serious negative impact on an organization�s productivity, ergonomics, accuracy, warehousing costs and inventory control. Using vertical storage technology such as vertical lift modules or vertical carousels provides true floor to ceiling storage, maximizing warehouse space. When replacing standard shelving with vertical storage technologies organizations can recover up to 85% of occupied floor space and eliminate warehouse overcrowding. The use of vertical storage technology can also eliminate the need for offsite storage facilities, additional warehouses and parking lot storage containers; reducing overall storage and mater...

Do Not Leave File And Document Security To Chance

Westbrook, ME (October 27th, 2011) - When lost files and documents can expose your organization to potential litigation or losses in time, money or customers - don�t leave your file security to chance! Businesses in every industry need to consider carefully the creation and management of records and documents. File security can have a real impact on an organizations bottom line and it is becoming more important than ever to protect files and documents from unauthorized access. Managing files and documents to ensure their usability, reliability, authenticity and preservation for the mandated time period can be a costly and overwhelming task. Dynamic filing solutions from Kardex Remstar provide secure file storage saving space, time and money. The Kardex Remstar Lektriever Electric Lateral File (ELF) is a series of vertically arranged rotating shelves (carriers) controlled by an electronic keypad automatically deliver f...

Zone Handling Provides Inventory Control, Improved Productivity And Ergonomics

Westbrook, ME (September 22nd, 2011) - The zone handling feature of FastPic5 inventory management and control software from FastPic Systems offers inventory control, improved productivity and ergonomics. The zone handling feature allows users to define zones within a warehouse or storage unit and then assign specific inventory to the defined zones. Zone handling is different than dedicated storage. With dedicated storage a specific part is assigned to a specific location. While this maximizes control, it decreases storage density. Zone handling offers the best of both worlds offering random storage within dedicated zones. Identifying zones within a warehouse such as a receiving zone, bulk zone, picking zone and shipping zone allows the user to then assign specific products or product types to a specific zone. For instance if slow moving parts should always be assigned to the outdoor storage zone the software can be conf...

Intelligent Drive Design Provides More Reliability With Less Maintenance And Lower Energy Requirements

Westbrook, ME (September 8th, 2011) - The new Megamat RS Vertical Carousel features a new intelligent drive design, providing operations a more reliable vertical carousel requiring less maintenance and lower energy requirements. The new intelligent drive design is made up of a drive track, carrier arms, transportation chain, drive motor, drive chain and hand crank. Working together these components reduce the wear and tear on the unit and require less energy to move the carriers around. In other standard vertical carousels, the motor is mounted to a fixed location. As weight is added or removed from a carrier the drive chain loosens or tightens requiring frequent adjustments and maintenance. The Megamat RS Vertical Carousel is designed with an automatic chain tensioner system. The drive chain is automatically tensioned using the weight of the motor, eliminating the need for frequent chain retentioning that is common ...

Goods To Person Principle Increases Productivity And Ergonomics

Westbrook, ME (August 18th, 2011) - Changing the order picking process to utilize a goods to person principle can increase productivity by 2/3 and improve worker ergonomics. Dynamic storage systems from Kardex Remstar brings the work to the worker; eliminating the time spent to walk to the specific location to retrieve the item. Using a standard shelving system workers walk up and down the aisles searching for the items they need, very similar to grocery shopping. They take their cart and their shopping list and walk up and down the aisles gathering everything into their cart. This works well at the grocery store because everyone is picking one order and going home. When picking a high volume of orders throughout the day, the grocery cart shopping method is not efficient. The largest waste of time in this process is the travel time; that is the time it takes for the worker to travel to the location to pick the it...

Interchangeable Carrier Design Provides Storage Flexibility

Westbrook, ME (July 20th, 2011) - The new Megamat RS Vertical Carousel features an interchangeable carrier design, allowing operations to mix, match and change storage configurations easily at any time. With a standard multipurpose carrier organizations can add partitions, dividers, intermediate shelves, rollout drawers as well as a variety of front lip height and depth clips to customize the unit to meet their storage needs now and in the future. Changing carrier configurations is easy. Simply remove the stored goods from the carrier, add the carrier insert (partitions, dividers, intermediate shelves or rollout drawers) and replace the stored goods. In other vertical carousel designs, the addition of drawers or shelves requires the entire carrier to be removed and replaced. This can be a time consuming and expensive effort. Each carrier comes standard with a 0.3 inch front lip to prevent stored goods from migrati...

Expand Operations Internally Without Construction

Westbrook, ME (June 30th, 2011) - The newest addition to the Kardex Remstar Vertical Lift Module family, the Element� VLM , saves up to 80% floor space when compared to standard shelving. Designed with simplicity and quality at its core, the Element VLM allows operations to expand internally without construction or relocation. The Element VLM squeezes the wasted air space out of shelving, providing increased storage density. An enclosed system of vertically arranged trays, an extraction platform and a series of computerized controls that delivers items to an ergonomically positioned workstation; the Element VLM automatically locates and retrieves stored items with a push of a button or a scan of a bar code. Using CubeStarTM technology, upon putaway the height of the product stored on the tray is scanned allowing the Element VLM to store the tray in the least amount of space required. Using 4 inch storage increme...

Automotive Service Departments Plan For Service And Maintenance Growth

Westbrook, ME (June 3rd, 2011) - As consumers gain confidence and return to showrooms, parts and maintenance departments are planning for the added service and maintenance work that follows sales growth. In order to maximize service profit associated with the steady increase in car and vehicle sales, dealerships and service centers are looking for ways to increase service technician efficiency, improve customer service and reduce the costs of operations. Very often a change or reorganization in parts operations can make a big impact on the overall bottom line of the service center. Increasing Service Technician Efficiently Service technicians waiting around for parts are not productive and they cost the service center money. The ability of the parts department to get parts to technicians in a timely manner impacts overall customer satisfaction and service center profit. Most service centers, while recognizing the i...

Kardex Remstar Lewistown Plant Listed As Approved Manufacturing Location For Lektriever Elf

Westbrook, ME (May 27th, 2011) - The Kardex Remstar T�V certificate now lists the company�s Lewistown, Pennsylvania plant (#73491) as an approved manufacturing location for the Lektriever� Electric Lateral File (ELF) system. Technischer �berwachungs-Verein, or Technical Inspection Associations, are German organizations that work to validate the safety of products of all kinds to protect people and the environment against hazards. T�V certification indicates that the product has been evaluated against a wide range of standards, including NFPA, UL, ANSI, CSA, EC, EN ISO, and EN. A label from the Lewistown plant will be applied to Lektriever ELF models 115 and 120 showing basic compliance to the standards with an adjacent secondary label showing all of the standards for which the specific machine has been tested or certified. The Lektriever ELF is a series of vertically arranged rotating shelves controlled by a...

Kardex Remstar Vertical Storage And Retrieval Systems Help Medical Device Companies Meet Quality System Regulations

Westbrook, ME (May 10th, 2011) - The Food and Drug Administration�s concern for the safety and effectiveness of Class II and III medical devices is described in 21 CFR Part 820, which details quality system regulation for medical device manufacturers. Record keeping requirements and mandated quality control processes are described in Subpart L, Handling, Storage, Distribution and Installation. These sections direct medical device manufacturers to establish and maintain procedures to ensure that mixups, damage, deterioration, contamination or other adverse effects to products do not occur during handling. The regulations go on to require control of storage areas to ensure that no obsolete, rejected or deteriorated product is used or distributed and that items be stored in a manner to facilitate proper stock rotation. In addition, procedures must be established to ensure that only those devices approved for release are...

Utilizing Kardex Remstar Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems In Maintenance Operations Increases Production Machine Uptime

Westbrook, ME (April 12th, 2011) - Gone are the days with one eight hour manufacturing shift, many automated facilities today run production machines through the night with very few machine operators, making machine maintenance and repair a valuable operation. Kardex Remstar automated storage and retrieval systems increase production machine uptime by improving technician efficiency, increasing accountability and eliminating part shortages in maintenance operations. Having maintenance and repair parts in stock and readily accessible at all hours is critical. Every minute a machine is down is a minute of production time that cannot be recovered. The ability to react quickly to repair the machine and minimize downtime can have a major impact on the bottom line. Using a Kardex Remstar Shuttle VLM or automated drawer carousel, maintenance and repair parts can be inventoried, stored and retrieved from one location providing...

Oil And Gas Company Leans Warehouse Using Vertical Lift Modules

Westbrook, ME (October 6th, 2010) - National Oilwell Varco is dedicated to providing the highest quality oilfield products and services. For more than 140 years, National Oilwell Varco has been providing customers everything from spare parts to comprehensive drilling systems; including rig equipment, integrated systems, downhole tools and supply chain solutions. Committed to improving their customer�s performance, the National Oilwell Varco-Sam Houston Parkway Facility (SHP) was continually developing new and innovative products. As plant capacity increased to meet customer needs, so did the number or parts required in warehouse inventory. Keeping the warehouse organized and stocked with the right parts was becoming a challenge, and National Oilwell Varco SHP implemented the Lean 5 S Program. To maximize efficiency, the warehouse was redesigned to include three Shuttle Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) from KardexRemstar. ...

Kardexremstar Systems Help Organizations Meet Green Goals

Westbrook, ME (August 10th, 2010) - Automated storage and retrieval systems from KardexRemstar can help companies build sustainable green buildings or redesign existing buildings to meet green standards. KardexRemstar carousels, Shuttle� Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs), and the Lektriever� Electric Lateral Files (ELFs) improve space utilization, increase productivity and provide safe, ergonomic operation to help organizations support green initiatives by meeting environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity objectives. Such automated storage and retrieval systems reduce the amount of space required for storage and retrieval operations, allowing companies to construct smaller, more energy efficient buildings, reducing the construction footprint by up to 15% in some cases, conserving natural resources and reducing maintenance costs. In existing buildings, over...

Advanced Picking Techniques Pay For Themselves

Westbrook, ME (June 3rd, 2010) - When it comes to improving the picking process for /operationkeyword/ organizations, accuracy & efficiency are two major components. By applying picking strategies such as pick and pass, parallel picking and batch picking techniques, companies are able to increase throughput up to 500% over manual systems and reduce capital acquisition costs by decreasing labor needs and utilizing less floor space. The need for understanding an organizations business plan, objectives and financial realities are required to determine the best integrated solution and picking strategy. There are three key techniques that can be implemented. Pick & pass, parallel picking and batch picking processes can be applied to almost any facility by determining the equipment needed for each picking zone, the available floor space and return on investment. The pick and pass proces...