Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

inbound

Forklifts earn design accolades, inspire artwork

One manufacturer's lift trucks are recognized for their sleek design; another company's new model inspires an unusual piece of art.

Anyone who's roamed the aisles at a ProMat Show knows that material handling professionals can get pretty excited about a shiny new lift truck. But apparently they're not the only ones who appreciate excellence in forklift design. Lift-truck maker Crown Equipment Corp. recently earned accolades from an organization of professional industrial designers for one of its vehicles.


In July, the Industrial Designers Society of America presented Crown with an International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) in the Commercial and Industrial Equipment category for its ESR 5000 Series of narrow-aisle reach trucks. Although judging criteria included visual appeal and appropriate aesthetics, the ESR 5000 didn't earn the award solely for its "pretty face." The selection criteria also included innovation, benefit to the user, benefit to society and natural ecology, and benefit to the client. This is the fifth consecutive year and 18th overall that Crown Equipment has received an IDEA.

To Kazue Sasaki, chairman of Toyota Material Handling North America and president of Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM), a forklift is also a worthy subject for artistic endeavor. Sasaki commissioned a stained-glass "portrait" of his company's 8-Series AC electric forklift (at his own expense) and presented it at a ceremony introducing the new model in August. The detailed design was judged "anatomically correct" by those in attendance. According to one of Sasaki's associates, the Toyota executive closely monitored every step of the design and production process to make sure the image was accurate—no surprise given his background in mechanical engineering and lean manufacturing.

The Latest

More Stories

person using AI at a laptop

Gartner: GenAI set to impact procurement processes

Progress in generative AI (GenAI) is poised to impact business procurement processes through advancements in three areas—agentic reasoning, multimodality, and AI agents—according to Gartner Inc.

Those functions will redefine how procurement operates and significantly impact the agendas of chief procurement officers (CPOs). And 72% of procurement leaders are already prioritizing the integration of GenAI into their strategies, thus highlighting the recognition of its potential to drive significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, Gartner found in a survey conducted in July, 2024, with 258 global respondents.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Report: SMEs hopeful ahead of holiday peak

Report: SMEs hopeful ahead of holiday peak

Businesses are cautiously optimistic as peak holiday shipping season draws near, with many anticipating year-over-year sales increases as they continue to battle challenging supply chain conditions.

That’s according to the DHL 2024 Peak Season Shipping Survey, released today by express shipping service provider DHL Express U.S. The company surveyed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to gauge their holiday business outlook compared to last year and found that a mix of optimism and “strategic caution” prevail ahead of this year’s peak.

Keep ReadingShow less
retail store tech AI zebra

Retailers plan tech investments to stop theft and loss

Eight in 10 retail associates are concerned about the lack of technology deployed to spot safety threats or criminal activity on the job, according to a report from Zebra Technologies Corp.

That challenge is one of the reasons that fewer shoppers overall are satisfied with their shopping experiences lately, Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Zebra said in its “17th Annual Global Shopper Study.”th Annual Global Shopper Study.” While 85% of shoppers last year were satisfied with both the in-store and online experiences, only 81% in 2024 are satisfied with the in-store experience and just 79% with online shopping.

Keep ReadingShow less
warehouse automation systems

Cimcorp's new CEO sees growth in grocery and tire segments

Logistics automation systems integrator Cimcorp today named company insider Veli-Matti Hakala as its new CEO, saying he will cultivate growth in both the company and its clientele, specifically in the grocery retail and tire plant logistics sectors.

An eight-year veteran of the Georgia company, Hakala will begin his new role on January 1, when the current CEO, Tero Peltomäki, will retire after a long and noteworthy career, continuing as a member of the board of directors, Cimcorp said.

Keep ReadingShow less

Securing the last mile

Although many shoppers will return to physical stores this holiday season, online shopping remains a driving force behind peak-season shipping challenges, especially when it comes to the last mile. Consumers still want fast, free shipping if they can get it—without any delays or disruptions to their holiday deliveries.

One disruptor that gets a lot of headlines this time of year is package theft—committed by so-called “porch pirates.” These are thieves who snatch parcels from front stairs, side porches, and driveways in neighborhoods across the country. The problem adds up to billions of dollars in stolen merchandise each year—not to mention headaches for shippers, parcel delivery companies, and, of course, consumers.

Keep ReadingShow less