https://www.snackandbakery.com/rss/6049-warehouse-distribution en-us edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) Picking robots, automated storage and retrieval, and software that predicts future demand are among a host of technology, equipment and strategic changes that snack food and wholesale bakery companies are undertaking in their warehousing and logistics functions.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110571 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110571-snack-and-bakery-logistics-increasingly-inviting-automation-and-robotics Snack and bakery companies rely on a wide range of logistics and warehousing technology in their operations. 

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110560 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110560-thinking-logically-the-latest-in-warehousing-and-logistics-technology iOS-enabled indoor positioning system from EVS The iOS-enabled indoor positioning system from EVS (short for electronic verification systems) provide accurate locations within a facility in a way that standard mapping technologies do not, according to Nathan Brown, chief technology officer. Through this “digital twin” concept, workers within a warehousing and logistics location can see where they are—and where others are—under their facility roof.“Anybody using our system, we know where they are in the facility, “he says. “Where are people spending their time? How fast are they moving? What path are they taking from Point A to Point B? … When somebody drives across the facility, I can watch their icon move across the facility.” Such systems have been around for a while, he adds, “but they were expensive, and proprietary.” Odyssey Low Profile Pallet from Orbis The newly sized 40x48 version of the Odyssey Low Profile Pallet from Orbis provide the same stability and features of the original, with a 5.6-inch heights aimed to seamlessly integrate with alternative pallets found in existing pallet pools, the company says. The reusable pallet produces repeat performance, improving load stability with steel reinforcements and molded frictional elements, and designed to carry edge-racked loads of more than 2,800 pounds—yet featuring handholds for easy carrying, and smooth plastic surfaces free of nails and splinters.“We’ve tried to facilitate more of a conversion from one-way packaging to reusable packaging,” says Phil Biga, senior product manager – RPM. “We’ve had a few conversations with different bakeries and snack food suppliers looking to convert from wood to reusables, asking us, ‘How do we manage the reuse of packaging, tracking, maintaining, cleaning, and keeping it in our supply chain?’ … We have a full offering of core services to manage reusable packaging.” Wherefour Wherefour provides a full material traceability platform for companies that handle any sort of process manufacturing, says CEO Matt Brown. “Anything blended, mixed, formulated, products like that, our system is designed to track everything from the beginning to the final consumer,” he says. “We work with lots of different industries, but food and beverage, and bakery, are probably the top industries we are suited for.”Wherefour’s platform is cloud-based and works on local devices, Brown says. “It’s nice for bakeries that are of some scale, and need people to roam around facility, to be able to use the system,” he says. “We do have customers in warehousing, who use tablets and can take Wherefour with them as they go throughout the facility.”  The portable Robot S7 semi-automatic stretch wrapper The portable Robot S7 semi-automatic stretch wrapper from Robopac handles any weight, and most load lengths and widths, with CUBE Technology that cuts film usage between 30% and 55%, along with load containment, reducing potential damage to your product by 40%, the company says. The seven-inch touchscreen makes it easy to use, while the Power Drive system with brushless motors saves about 20% of your power consumption, with battery life of about 250 pallets per charge.Snack food and bakery facilities “have a lot of order picking—grab a pallet, order pick, fill a pallet,” says Derek Jones, marketing manager for Robopac. “They like the portability of the S7 to be able to take the machine to the loads, instead of taking the loads to the turntable stretch-wrapper, which becomes a bottleneck. They like the flexibility and portability of the stretch-wrapper.” The AS/RS system from AMF The AS/RS system from AMF is designed for storage of full pallets, including freezer systems, and it’s helpful with first-in, first-out correct order systems, says Wes Bryant, product manager. “We can assure you the correct pallet is pulled,” he says. “One of the problems, once the product is on a pallet, stretch-wrapped and labeled, is getting the operator to pick the correct product, and pick it in a first-in, first-out order, especially in a multi-level [storage] systems.”That leads to scenarios higher up in the stack where, for example, bar codes can be illegible, or labeling falls off, Bryant says. “We pick a product, assign it a location, and assign it a number, virtually,” he says. “We put it in a location and track that until it is removed—until an order calls for it—without the need for physical markings.” Nexterus and Warehowz Third-party logistics provider Nexterus has partnered with on-demand warehousing and services platform Warehowz to produce what Ryan Polakoff, president of Nexterus, refers to as the “AirBNB of warehousing space.” The tool searches through Warehowz’s inventory of 2,500 locations and 23 million feet of square footage in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Customers can enter specifications on location, size, and other factors like temperature control, Polakoff says.“Our team can search for the right location and size of a warehouse on the marketplace, negotiate contract terms, and set up automated invoicing,” he says. “Having the ability to find available warehouses from the extensive Warehowz database quicker means we improve efficiencies and lower costs by not having to do manual searches for warehouse space, and clients can get the space they need at the right time to improve inventory processes that lead to faster fulfillment and better customer service.” FlexiBake With direct integration into an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, FlexiBake’s online ordering portal enables company-owned shops or franchises to place and manage deliveries without having to call their central commissary kitchen where products are made and distributed to retail and wholesale accounts, says Wayne Ortner, general manager of FlexiBake. Users also don’t need full access to the back-end of the manufacturing facility’s ERP systems, he adds. Epson has rolled out Label Boost software Epson has rolled out Label Boost software that turns black-and-white shipping labels to color, which snack and bakery companies can use to leverage them for marketing and streamlining of warehouse operations, the company says. The software can help to highlight key information like parcel count or expedited shipping to improve the accuracy and timeliness of deliveries. Compatible with most Epson ColorWorks printers, the software retains the vast majority of the label creation process as it is, modifying the label at the very last step to reduce the hassle factor—and it works alongside existing shipping software. edfinkel@earthlink.net (Ed Finkel) Snack food and wholesale bakery companies are building varying levels of automation in their warehouse shipping and receiving areas, ranging from forklifts to autonomous vehicles, to traceability software and more, all in an effort to make their operations more efficient, effective, safer, and more profitable.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110034 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/110034-automated-technology-can-help-increase-efficiency-in-snack-and-bakery-warehouses A manager from Orbis weighs the benefits of opting for plastic rather than wood pallets.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/109555 Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/109555-plastic-pallets-can-help-drive-supply-chain-speed-resiliency-and-agility The secondary packaging machine is suitable for snack, bakery, and other applications.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/108635 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 10:17:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/108635-sidel-introduces-robotic-cobotic-palletizing-unit Traceability is an important facet of warehouses, especially for snack and bakery companies.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/99276 Thu, 18 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/99276-traceability-software-for-snack-and-bakery-companies SFWB_Logistics_0822_slideshow02.jpg courtesy of Axele SFWB_Logistics_0822_slideshow01.jpg courtesy of FoodLogiQ SFWB_Logistics_0822_slideshow03.jpg courtesy of FactoryEye OnRobot Palletizer is a powerful, automated palletizing hardware and software solution that combines affordability, performance, and fast integration with a small footprint to deliver flexible palletizing automation to companies of all sizes.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98854 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:10:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98854-onrobot-releases-new-palletizing-solution Warehouse software is important for snack and bakery companies, in order to keep track of the comings and goings of products inside their warehouses.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98795 Fri, 20 May 2022 10:42:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98795-warehouse-software-challenges-for-snack-and-bakery-companies SFWB_Logistics_0522_slideshow01.jpg courtesy of AutoScheduler.AI SFWB_Logistics_0522_slideshow02.jpg courtesy of FlexiBake ERP SFWB_Logistics_0522_slideshow03.jpg courtesy of Deacom Inc. SFWB_Logistics_0522_slideshow04.jpg courtesy of EVS LLC SFWB_Logistics_0522_slideshow05.jpg courtesy of Körber http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98620 Wed, 20 Apr 2022 14:54:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98620-using-industry-40-during-the-covid-19-pandemic Using Industry 4.0 during the COVID-19 pandemic courtesy of: Axele Using Industry 4.0 during the COVID-19 pandemic courtesy of: tna Solutions Suterra releases world’s first indoor aerosol mating disruption product for commercial food processing industry.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98603 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:59:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98603-suterra-releases-new-sustainable-solution-for-indianmeal-moth-control http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98436 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:46:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98436-cold-chain-solutions-adapt-to-meet-companies-needs Cold chain solutions adapt to meet companies’ needs Bluline Solutions Cold chain solutions adapt to meet companies’ needs Emerson Cargo Solutions Cold chain solutions adapt to meet companies’ needs Logix Controls Cold chain solutions adapt to meet companies’ needs Savoye Cold chain solutions adapt to meet companies’ needs Traceable Wooster Products' StairMaster safety renovation treads provide sure footing on interior and exterior stairs and landings.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98270 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 15:56:00 -0500 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/98270-stairmaster-renovation-safety-treads-for-modernization-and-restoration-of-stairs-and-landings Now more than ever, in the midst of a global pandemic, it is imperative for companies to have stringent maintenance and sanitation protocols, prioritizing employee safety. Luckily, many companies are upping their game, and even installing new maintenance and employee relief areas.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97904 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:23:00 -0500 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97904-snack-and-bakery-facilities-search-for-best-air-handling-equipment Snack and bakery facilities search for best air handling equipment Courtesy of Air Management Technologies Snack and bakery facilities search for best air handling equipment Courtesy of Camfil Snack and bakery facilities search for best air handling equipment Courtesy of Dynamic Air Quality Solutions Snack and bakery facilities search for best air handling equipment Courtesy of RoboVent http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97696 Wed, 20 Oct 2021 10:54:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97696-cooling-and-freezing-technologies-for-better-cold-chain-logistics Cooling and freezing technologies for better cold-chain logistics Cooling and freezing technologies for better cold-chain logistics Courtesy of Ashworth Bros., Inc. http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97560 Wed, 29 Sep 2021 09:26:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97560-food-safety-software-in-the-snack-and-bakery-industry-changes-and-updates Food safety software in the snack and bakery industry: Changes and updates Courtesy of Wherefour Food safety software in the snack and bakery industry: Changes and updates Courtesy of KPM Analytics Food safety software in the snack and bakery industry: Changes and updates Courtesy of InfinityQS Food safety software in the snack and bakery industry: Changes and updates Courtesy of Fortress Technology http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97336 Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/97336-cloud-kitchen-bakery-opportunities Cloud kitchen bakery opportunities Courtesy of Melpomenem / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Cloud kitchen bakery opportunities Courtesy of Oracle Food and Beverage Applied Manufacturing Technologies has introduced a new product: R-Palletize, a flexible robotic palletizing station.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96923 Sat, 05 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96923-applied-manufacturing-technologies-releases-r-palletize-a-configurable-robotic-palletizing-station http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96834 Wed, 19 May 2021 10:34:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96834-advanced-warehouse-software-solution-for-snack-and-bakery-operations Advanced warehouse software solution for snack and bakery operations Courtesy of FlexiBake Advanced warehouse software solution for snack and bakery operations Courtesy of EVS Advanced warehouse software solution for snack and bakery operations Courtesy of FlexiBake Advanced warehouse software solution for snack and bakery operations Courtesy of Koerber http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96686 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:44:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96686-distribution-strategies-to-preserve-product-quality http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96662 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:07:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96662-new-technologies-streamline-delivery New technologies streamline delivery New technologies streamline delivery Courtesy of Ryder System, Inc. New technologies streamline delivery Courtesy of Optym Piab's MX suction cup can work across an array of applications such as bin picking, order fulfillment, box depalletizing, and parcel sorting.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96469 Sun, 21 Mar 2021 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96469-piab-mx-suction-cups http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96299 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:22:00 -0500 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/96299-expanding-cold-chain-logistics-technologies Expanding cold chain logistics technologies Expanding cold chain logistics technologies Crown Equipment Expanding cold chain logistics technologies Swisslog http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95340 Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95340-snack-and-bakery-companies-look-for-new-efficient-fleets Snack and bakery companies look for new, efficient fleets courtesy of Aptean Snack and bakery companies look for new, efficient fleets courtesy of Motiv Power Systems Snack and bakery companies look for new, efficient fleets courtesy of Roush CleanTech Snack and bakery companies look for new, efficient fleets courtesy of Workhorse Group Inc. http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95160 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:19:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95160-companies-search-for-new-and-improved-warehouse-software Companies search for new and improved warehouse software courtesy of EVS LLC. Companies search for new and improved warehouse software courtesy of FlexiBake Companies search for new and improved warehouse software courtesy of DEACOM Inc. SIERA.AI and UniCarriers Americas are pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic relationship to combine SIERA.AI’s innovative safety and autonomy technologies with UniCarriers’ expertise as a leading manufacturer and distributor of material handling equipment.  

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95092 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95092-sieraai-reveals-new-strategic-relationship-with-unicarriers-americas-to-expand-its-revolutionary-technologies If there’s one thing the last few months have shown us, it’s that business-as-usual can be uprooted without warning.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95121 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 12:16:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/95121-recent-challenges-provide-opportunity-for-bakery-delivery-fleets-to-expand-knowledge Recent challenges provide opportunity for bakery delivery fleets to expand knowledge Recent challenges provide opportunity for bakery delivery fleets to expand knowledge Recent challenges provide opportunity for bakery delivery fleets to expand knowledge Recent challenges provide opportunity for bakery delivery fleets to expand knowledge Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery recently was able to talk to Marc Kuo, CEO and co-founder, Routific, about SMBs and non-traditional delivery methods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94778 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:56:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94778-exclusive-interview-qa-with-routific-on-smbs-during-covid-19 http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94675 Fri, 15 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94675-third-party-logistics-helps-streamline-snack-and-bakery-distribution Third-party logistics helps streamline snack and bakery distribution courtesy of Nolan Transportation Group Third-party logistics helps streamline snack and bakery distribution courtesy of Saddle Creek Logistics Services The transport of food and health/sanitary items such as cleaning supplies and paper towels have placed significant strains on the supply chain. Food distributors have to scrutinize significant preventative measures needed to ensure the health and safety of customers, drivers, and everyone that is in contact with goods that are transported and delivered.

]]> http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94655 Wed, 13 May 2020 09:49:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94655-tips-for-truck-fleet-utilization-and-driver-safety-during-covid-19-pandemic pinballelite@comcast.net (Neal Lorenzi) http://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94490 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 11:47:00 -0400 https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/94490-sustainability-and-robotic-innovations-in-warehouse-equipment Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Hyster Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Soft Robotics Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Cimcorp Automation Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Crown Equipment Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Ryder Systems Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Westfalia Sustainability and robotic innovations in warehouse equipment courtesy of Yale