Experience all the latest ideas for intralogistics at IMHX 2013

Jan 13, 2013 Warehousing Ireland News 0

---

The International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX) – which takes place 19-22 March at the NEC – will showcase everything that is new in the intralogistics industry. Registration is now open at www.imhx.biz.

Sponsored by BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, IMHX 2013 will feature over 400 exhibitors, many of which will use the show as the launch pad for new products and services. Visitors will enjoy an informative and exciting experience, with the exhibition having a number of feature areas as well as free conference sessions, product launches, live demonstrations and prize competitions. The IMHX ‘Logistics Excellence’ Conference will have two streams: a themed series of seminars at strategic level delivered by renowned industry experts plus a variety of fascinating case study presentations at operational level to demonstrate examples of logistics best practice. The supersonic Bloodhound vehicle will be wowing visitors to the stand of its sponsor, Linde Material Handling, in the show’s first ever Skills & Apprenticeships Zone. Situated in Hall 17, the zone – spearheaded by the BITA Academy, a dedicated apprenticeship training facility operated in conjunction with City of Bristol College – will aim to bring together talented young people and companies needing new recruits. Also brand-new at IMHX will be the UKWA 3PL Zone, hosted by the United Kingdom Warehousing Association, and the International Visitors’ Lounge, where visitors from overseas can relax in comfort or hold meetings with clients or suppliers.

As well as these new activities, many features will be making a welcome return to the show. The Design 4 Safety Competition will be held once again, recognising the importance of product design in improving safety throughout the materials handling industry. The winners in seven award categories will be celebrated in the Design 4 Safety Zone at the show and visitors will be invited to vote for an overall ‘People’s Choice’ award, to be announced at the exhibition. The heats of what promises to be another hotly contested RTITB Operator of the Year Competition will also take place at IMHX 2013. Over the four days of the show, forklift operators from across the UK and Ireland will compete in a special arena designed to test their skills to the full, with the best then moving forward to the Grand Final – to be held at RTITB’s headquarters in Telford in September – where they will have the chance to win a brand-new car. IMHX will once again feature the AMHSA Pavilion, hosted by the Automated Material Handling Systems Association, with a number of AMHSA member stands clustered around a hospitality and presentation area. AMHSA members will be giving short ‘Meet the expert’ presentations on key automation topics including Augmented Reality Systems, Smart Procurement, Software as a Service and Automated Guided Vehicles. The organisers of IMHX will once again be teaming up with leading independent supply chain consultants, OPS Logistics Consultancy, to offer an advice surgery at the show. Visitors will be able to take advantage of a free, 30-minute consultation with one of the industry experts from OPS to explore ways of increasing revenue, reducing costs, optimizing operational performance and improving customer experience. Finally, the exclusive VIP valet parking scheme will also operate once again, allowing top executives to drive straight up to the show’s entrance, have their vehicle parked securely by a professional driver and enjoy access to the VIP Lounge with complimentary refreshments and Internet facilities.

Thousands of new products on display
Among products to be unveiled at IMHX 2013 will be the 7-Series, the latest generation of reach trucks from Doosan. The range – which features 360-degree steering as standard and auto drive-wheel centring on start-up – will make its UK début on stand 19H120. Crown Lift Trucks (19J90) will not only be displaying the nine new products it has introduced in the UK during the past year but also launching a brand-new range of moving mast reach trucks, a technology solution for low-level order picking and several new pedestrian and platform stacker trucks. In addition, Crown will unveil the latest version of its InfoLink wireless fleet and operator management system at the show. With the largest stand at IMHX, Toyota Material Handling UK (20F70) will have an impressive demonstration area in which to showcase key models from its range of counterbalance and warehouse trucks, including the BT Reflex reach truck with tilting cab and the award-winning BT Pro Lifter hand pallet truck with Pro Start Technology to reduce starting effort by up to a third. A new forklift brand to appear at the show will be Manitou (20B43). Well known in the construction and agriculture industries, Manitou will be showcasing its offering for the UK material handling industry for the first time at IMHX. Yet another new brand at the show will be HC Forklifts UK (18M160), recently established to import and distribute the HC range of forklifts from the Chinese manufacturer, Hangcha. The newly branded trucks – which will be supplied through a nationwide dealer network – will be launched to the UK public at IMHX 2013.

The staff of training provider, Mentor FLT Training, will be celebrating 25 years in business by inviting visitors to join them on stand 19J117 for drinks, giveaways and a touch-screen safety challenge – an interactive service offered by Mentor – to test their safety awareness. Visitors to the stand of GNB Industrial Power (19L120) will not only see Tensor, its new high-power, lead-acid battery for demanding applications, but also a Porsche GT3 Cup Car, sponsored by GNB’s parent group, Exide Technologies. Jonas Gelzinis, its 24-year-old driver, will be on hand to chat to visitors and there will be a daily competition to win two hospitality tickets to a Porsche Carrera race meeting. Motorsport fans will also be flocking to stand 20C30 where Pirtek – leading supplier of hydraulic hoses, pipe fittings and couplings – will be hosting British Touring Car Independent Drivers’ Champion, Andrew Jordan, and his Honda Civic race car.

Amongst a whole host of accessories for forklift trucks on show at IMHX will be on-board weighing systems from RDS Technology (19J85), a new product being launched by Chaintec (20F85) that aims to revolutionise forklift chain inspection and the iTEch range of electronic systems to enhance forklift safety, efficiency and security from Transmon Engineering (19J115). Two new products will be launched at the show by B&B Attachments – Conveyer Belt Forks and the 2T156 Fork Positioner – on stand 18M90. EnerSys Motive Power will be promoting its new Hawker XFC-Li Lithium-Ion battery, which offers greater power density, longer pack life and excellent performance at low temperatures, on stand 20F30. Meanwhile, Austrian battery charging specialist Fronius will be unveiling its new generation of chargers on stand 20G127. Its Selectiva range is still based on Active Inverter Technology but now also features the innovative Ri charging process which continuously monitors battery temperature and discharge level and adjusts the charging phases to make each charging cycle unique, thereby improving energy efficiency and battery service life. The Canadian company Flow-Rite Safety Solutions (19L72) will be promoting Crossing Guard, an intelligent forklift collision awareness system. Designed to minimise false alarms, the system requires two separate detections to trigger an alarm, yet is also able to detect motionless people. Visitors to IMHX will be able to compare this solution with the Collision Sentry system from American competitor Sentry Protection Products (19H127), which provides a visual warning of approaching traffic when motion is detected by infrared sensors on both sides of a corner. Visitors to stand 18M140 will be able to experience a dynamic and lively demonstration of the science of an explosion from Pyroban, which converts forklift trucks and other mobile equipment so that they can be used safely and legally within hazardous areas.

APEX Linvar (18N154) will be giving visitors a chance to win an iPad in a special competition, as well as displaying its racking solutions including pallet live and carton live storage, drive-in systems, shuttle storage, hanging garment solutions and mezzanine floors. BITO Storage Systems (18M102) will be showing PROflow, its new pallet live storage system that features an innovative load separator, called M-Stop, to enable a mix of different pallet types on a single flow lane. Sperrin Metal Storage Solutions, which will be celebrating its 50th year of business in 2013, will exhibit its range of pallet racking, lockers and other storage products on stand 19L127. Other innovative storage solutions on show at IMHX include the heavy-duty, ergonomically designed Cubio range from Bott (20C130) and the highly energy efficient Hänel automated storage units from Industore (18M170).

The new CleanTrax system from Unisan Products (20B28) will also have its UK launch at IMHX. This brush system is highly effective in cleaning both vehicle wheels and people’s feet at the entrances to factories, warehouses and production areas. Palletower (GB) Ltd (20G125) will introduce an industry first – a roll pallet with a plastic base – at IMHX, and Hart Door Systems (19H134) will be launching an exciting new variant of its Speedor range of automatic, high-speed, industrial doors. Goplasticpallets.com will unveil its HyRack pallet for the first time on stand 19K127. The pallet’s rigid base offers easy four-way access for forklifts and pallet trucks and, due to its rigidity, is also well suited to conveyor systems. Other general handling equipment at the show will include ‘Workgear’ – a new sales catalogue and webshop package for distributors featuring over 3000 products including steps, sack trucks, pallet trucks, shelving, racking, lockers and benches – from Redhill Manufacturing (20A16) and a variety of load-handling equipment from Penny Hydraulics (20B62) including its new SwingLift FV995 vehicle-mounted crane. Chinese manufacturer, Eastfound Material Handling Products Co Ltd, will promote its range of welded wire mesh containers, pallets and racking protection posts on stand 20G126, while returnable transit packaging specialist, PHS Teacrate, will display its wide range of crates and packaging for rental or purchase on stand 18M100. Another innovative product on show will be the BlackCurrent Power Pack from Lancashire-based UK Powertech (20C140), stockist of all major branded industrial battery-related parts. Designed for small and medium enterprises, this clever box will maintain energy to keep a business running in the event of a power cut. Plastic Extruders Ltd (19H123) will be displaying its range of slip resistant floor coverings with anti-fatigue properties, some of which are manufactured using recycled material and are fully recyclable. The company’s new Heronair Photoluminescent matting features a photoluminescent centre strip which enables it to highlight an effective escape route in the event of light failure.

Finnish robotics specialist, Cimcorp, will be launching and demonstrating its Cimcorp 3D Shuttle solution on stand 17Q127. Combining proven gantry robot technology with an integrated shuttle device in order to store and retrieve totes required for order fulfilment, the solution’s use of independently operating shuttles for the retrieval of required totes allows the robots to return to storage tasks sooner, thereby boosting efficiency. On stand 18M125, SDI Group will have live demonstrations of two automated solutions – its Push Tray Unit Sorter and a Garment Hanging Sorter. Warehouse automation specialist, KNAPP, will be exhibiting with sister company, Dürkopp Fördertechnik, on stand 20D30 and will have a live demo of its Pick-it-Easy workstation, while the Pick-it-Easy Pocket solution for multichannel distribution centres – which combines overhead conveyor and a matrix sorter – will also be on display. RediGroup will be demonstrating a fully working version of its award-winning RediTechniX automated pallet storage, retrieval and sequencing solution on stand 20F82, while Dutch sortation specialist, DistriSort, will have a working split tray sorter on its stand (18N163) and will also be promoting its new E-sort solution for e-commerce applications. Conveyor Units will be launching its new aluminium range of conveyors – which has the benefits of high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and ease of recycling – and visitors will be able to see an aluminium carousel system in action on stand 20F80. Meanwhile, the stand of PSB Intralogistics (18M173) will feature a live demonstration of the company’s MTR Micro Trolley System for efficient handling of hanging and flat-packed goods in e-commerce applications. Other automated materials handling solutions on show will include award-winning AGVs from Egemin Automation on stand 18N153, storage and handling solutions from SSI Schaefer (18N100), order picking and logistics systems from Dematic (18N110) and laser-guided vehicles from OCME (19L117).

There will also be a wide variety of software and hardware solutions on show at IMHX. Inventory and warehouse management solutions provider Proteus will be providing a free WMS Advice Centre on stand 18N161, giving visitors impartial advice on how to improve their warehouse processes. Panasonic will be demonstrating its range of rugged tablet computers – including the new Toughbook CF-H2 models – on stand 19H125 and Chess Logistics Technology will be promoting its range of integrated, real-time warehouse management systems on stand 19J120. Snapfulfil SaaS WMS (20C43) will be demonstrating its new ‘Mobile Manager’ reporting tool app, designed to display data from the warehouse management system in customisable ways on an iPad whilst on the move around the warehouse – or anywhere in the world. Gemini Data Loggers will be exhibiting at IMHX for the first time, on stand UK10 as part of the UKWA 3PL Zone in hall 17. The company will be promoting its range of battery-powered Tinytag data loggers – manufactured in the UK – that monitor temperature, humidity, shock, vibration and other environmental parameters for goods in storage or transit. Meanwhile, Mandata will be promoting its new in-cab scanning solution, which enables delivery drivers to scan and upload PODs instantly as deliveries are made, on stand 17R88.

Pre-register now for FREE to attend IMHX 2013
IMHX 2013 is the number one place to see new products, meet suppliers and network with new and existing contacts. Visitors who pre-register for IMHX 2013 will receive an exclusive Priority Pass pack containing everything needed to maximise the benefits of a visit to the show – a delegate name badge, the Little Black Book of handling industry contacts, a fold-out exhibition floor plan and key details of the show’s seminars. Pre-register now for free tickets to attend IMHX by visiting www.imhx.biz.

---