Logistics Articles

Country Spotlight: Brazil
December 14, 2014
While the United States and Europe have been reeling with a cumbersome economic recovery, the South America’s largest country has steadily become the eighth-largest economy in the world.The history of Mecalux in Brazil begins in 2005, when it incorporated its 290,500 square foot production plant in Sao Paulo to meet the challenges of a booming economy,and becoming one of the fastest growing industry leaders to the South American region. The warehouse solutions Mecalux provides run the gamut to a wide array of industries throughout the country: wholesale, food and beverage, textile, construction, pharmaceuticals, transport, international logistics operation services, etc.
Nearshoring trends show offshoring
December 14, 2014
Nearshoring, the act of maintaining production or IT in a country in close proximity to your own, minimizes some of the logistics and problems associated with offshoring, such as product quality and the enhanced risk of miscommunication. Inexpensive land and labor forces are not as lucrative as they were in the last decade, so companies are reconsidering to relocate their factories and logistics centers back to near their home.
Product Spotlight: Cantilevers
December 14, 2014
Ideal storage system for optimizing storage space when large or bulky items are being handled: versatile (can also be mounted on mobile bases), reliable, secure, long-lasting usable, and economic, the cantilever system is perfect for industrial and consumer purposes.
Rash of earthquakes boosts demand for seismic resistant warehouses and racks
December 14, 2014
The number of “big box” stores in the United States has increased dramatically. Besides, a rash in natural disasters such as earthquakes has boosted the demand for seismic resistant construction. Although there are disaster elements beyond our control, stricter building codes for spaces in a facility’s architectural designs, could mean the difference between life and death. In this sense, manufacturers such as Interlake Mecalux strive for the highest level of safety when designing a seismic resistant facility and take many elements into consideration.
A turning point named crisis
December 11, 2014
Interlake Mecalux has taken the global population’s crisis mindset as a decisive moment to grow and expand, to be a bigger and better rack manufacturer in the face of economic hardships by means of synergy and cooperation between each part of the company (engineering, manufacturing, customer service, sales and marketing). From having one foot on the door when selling the first rack to executing the order on time, everything counts towards providing an excellent and outstanding service.
ALAN: Wired For Relief
December 11, 2014
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) is a not-for-profit organization that plays matchmaker between supply chain professionals and relief agencies in times of emergency. But it isn´t just an organization that looks for ladders and functioning trucks when the Red Cross is too swamped to do it themselves. It is one of the few organizations always preparing for disaster by wiring existing networks and tapping into groups or regions in which ALAN doesn’t have a strong presence.
Choosing the clean path
December 11, 2014
Manufacturers address their hazardous waste byproducts in a way that enhances productivity while still complying with environmental regulation. Interlake Mecalux owns vital environmental devices that are helping it make great strides in the fight against industrial waste. To give an example, at the Sumter and Pontiac facilities in the South Carolina and Illinois respectively, an “all-in-one” and “worry-free” pretreatment solution was put into practice to reduce, not only the amount of effluent and environmental hazards, but also the number of stages required in a pretreatment process.
QRC: The evolutionary barcode
December 11, 2014
Like the more recognizable Universal Product Code (UPC) or bar code, QRCs are scannable images that hold information. QRCs are everywhere, but few recognize their use and even fewer recognize their potential to recast the material handling industry’s preferred method of scanning and tracking. The information available in a QRC is not only more robust and accurate than any other label code, but also shares more advantages than any other label code, even when has been slowly implemented in the US industry.
Readers Between the Lines
December 11, 2014
The introduction of high-speed, superior- accuracy image-based ID readers (IBR) has compelled the trend for business owners to consider transitioning their business toward a more scanner-ready operation. Image-based ID readers work by taking a picture of the entire image and reconstructing any damaged or unclear sections in an effort to override issues associated with unreadable barcodes (faded, scratched, uneven, badly printed, warped, etc...). Furthermore, the increasing capabilities of image-based ID readers are capturing more than just the attention of the materials handling industry.
Semi-automatic solutions
December 11, 2014
Between 2000 and 2007 there was a period of widespread warehouse automation, but by 2008 the demand for automation decreased significantly, due to the financial crisis. Nowadays,we are seeing the first signs of recovery, instead of spending on full automation or sitting tight until the storm blows over, some warehouses are benefitting from creatively and systematically automating just portions of the facility.
Taking the Dents out of Bolted Rack
December 11, 2014
Until 2001, the United States was an entirely pro-weld country, primarily because of the belief that welded steel is stronger, more reliable and costs less to install. The differences between welded and bolted racks range from their structure and connections to their safety, affordability and resistance. Welded structures are quicker to install and they are hard to transport to the warehouse, and any repair must be done safely and costs much more than repairing/replacing a bolted rack. These differences, among others, make bolted racks more attractive for the upcoming North-American warehouse industry.
5 Easy Pieces
December 11, 2014
A recent study illuminating how the industry views its own economic recovery, suggests that companies are more focused now on making investments to succeed. As an answer to the current industry trends, Interlake Mecalux has developed a five-point approach to meeting its customers’ broad spectrum of needs through the Easy WMS, such as multi-site functionality and software on-demand.

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