XPO Logistics has finalized its purchase of Pacer International for $335, the company announced in a news release. The acquisition of the Dublin, Ohio, trucking company makes XPO North America’s largest intermodal services provider and the largest cross-border Mexico provider. The company has contracts with rail carriers tha allow it to provide access to more … Read more
How can you determine if a manufacturing company is legitimate and trustworthy? Networking with other professionals within your industry is one of the best first sources for learning about new, trustworthy manufacturers. Keep in touch with peers you meet at trade shows, conventions and other industry events, as well as current and former coworkers and … Read more
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) trackers are quickly replacing bar codes as the standard tracking method in many materials handling applications. That’s because they offer broad range of benefits, including faster inventory tracking, more efficient safety inspections, and more accurate data collection. RFID is a tiny wireless tracker that is about the size of a grain … Read more
A new report issued this month by AlixPartners indicates that the number of companies providing ocean cargo container shipping is shrinking and that many international firms face continued distress and even possible bankruptcy. The report— which was compiled by AlixPartners, a leading global business advisory firm — says demand for cargo services is weak, many companies … Read more
Often, when an accident occurs in a warehouse or manufacturing facility, the culprit is distraction. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy or major distraction to make a difference – a recent study from Michigan State University determined that a distraction or interruption of only 3 seconds is enough to disrupt a manual task and … Read more
Here’s a sneak preview of just some of the articles you can expect to see on this week’s Bahrns blog! Are bar codes being replaced with a new technology that is smaller than a grain of rice and can be embedded into practically any material? We’ll take a look at Radio Frequency Identification chips and … Read more
Keeping your work space organized — whether it is a retail operation, a warehouse or a manufacturing facility — is the best way to increase efficiency, reduce costs and boost productivity. A messy, disorganized work area will result in messy, disorganized work, which in the long run will cost you money. The key to keeping … Read more
Intelligrated, an automated material handling solutions provider based in Mason, Ohio, announced that it is planning to open a sales and engineering office in Shanghai, China. The purpose of the new office is to “strengthen local partnerships and connect regional customers with best-of-breed automation and software solutions to increase operational efficiency,” according to a company … Read more
Two of the nation’s fastest-growing transportation third-party logisitics service providers have announced that they are merging. Chicago-based Coyote Logistics is combining its forces with Access America Transport, which is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Terms of the deal were not made public. Coyote, which posted earnings of $559 million in 2011, specializes in the brokerage of … Read more
CeMAT 2014, Europe’s largest materials handling trade show, will be held in Hanover, Germany, from May 29 until May 23, show organizers announced in a news release. The expo is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors from 40 nations and will occupy nearly 1.3 million square feet of exhibition space. The theme of this … Read more
