Hardware, software solution
Intelligent Instrumentation Inc. (III) announced the completion of a hardware and software solution with Time Gathering System’s TGS/400 and VSSA Biometric Strong User Authentication to allow for remote fingerprint verification on central, secure IBM iSeries servers. With a single user enrollment anywhere on the enterprise, an employee can clock in and out from III’s LANpoint Time Clock equipped with award-winning SecuGen biometric sensors, the company says. Fingerprint authentication occurs on a central iSeries server. The LANpoint Time Clock along with TGS/400 system enabled with VSSA adds the benefits of secure, centrally managed employee credentials and a virtually unlimited user capacity, the company says. The solution protects personal privacy through use of secure biometric minutiae technology that never stores a fingerprint image and cannot be used to recreate a fingerprint image.

• Intelligent Instrumentation Inc., 3000 E. Valencia Road, Suite 100, Tucson, Ariz. 85706; 800/685-9911; instrument.com.

Door blanket
Zoneworks released the insulated Door Blanket to protect temperature-controlled items and finished products from spoilage or damage that occurs when powered doors on coolers or freezers unexpectedly shut down. The Door Blanket is designed to eliminate the exchange of air at the door opening when an air or automated door on a cooler or freezer won’t close, the company says. It allows coolers or freezers to maintain consistent temperatures through durable industrial fabric that surrounds multiple layers of recyclable, anti-microbial polyester batting, the company adds. Custom-designed to fit each individual door opening, the Door Blanket comes in a portable storage bag for ease of storage.

• Zoneworks, 8900 North Arbon Drive, Milwaukee, Wis. 53223; 800/553-4835; zoneworks.com.

Digital positioners
Spirax Sarco introduced its new SP400 and SP500 positioners. These new smart digital positioners consume approximately 1 percent of the air of a traditional electropneumatic positioner and have class-leading low impedance helping to save on controller power, the company says. The SP400 has a simple menu system and can perform an auto-stroke calibration at the press of a single button resulting in reduced commissioning time, it says. For those users who require more functionality, Spirax Sarco introduced the new SP500, a full-featured smart digital positioner with optional retransmission of valve position, software switches, ability to use a separate 24-volt DC power supply and communications protocols as well as diagnostics, the company says. The SP500 has a similar user interface to the company’s SP400 model.

• Spirax Sarco USA, 1150 Northpoint Blvd., Blythewood, S.C. 29016; 800/575-0394; spiraxsarco.com.

New labeler
Sidel Group released the new SL 90 rotary modular labeler with models for applying pressure-sensitive self-adhesive labels or cold-glue labels. The maintenance levels are low due to elimination of mechanical gears and transmissions, the company says. SL 90 offers labeling flexibility on packaging, including round and irregularly shaped containers, with fast changeover times and freedom in layout design, it says. The machine’s core is a carousel and the parts involved in transferring the containers (starwheels and screw feed) have no gears and no contact, the company says. The SL 90 can handle high-speed and very high-speed production and can label up to 60,000 bottles an hour (both self-adhesive and cold-glue labels), the company says.

• Sidel Group, 5600 Sun Court, Norcross, Ga., 30092; 678/221-3087; sidel.com.

Software applications
Datalogic Mobile announced the release of Pal software applications for mobile computers. The applications will provide out-of-the box functionality to the line of Windows CE and Windows Mobile based computers, the company says. The Pal software suite is four applications that provide businesses with basic functionality to automate core practices, it says. The Pal applications consist of the following: shelf inventory, order entry, asset tracking and shelf replenishment. The application suite also includes Pal Communicator, a PC application that allows the transfer of data between a PC and the Datalogic Mobile device.

• Datalogic Mobile Inc., 1505 Westec Drive, Eugene, Ore. 97402; 541/743-4900; mobile.datalogic.com.

Software upgrade
Westfalia Technologies Inc. will launch Version 2.3 of its Savanna.NET Warehouse Management Software at ProMat 2011 in March in Chicago. Key features include real time 3D visualization of the warehouse, a dashboard for tracking key statistics of warehouse operations, streamlined user rights management interfaces, and improvements to the order picking module for integrating third party picking solutions, the company says. Savanna 2.3’s 3D Visualization was developed with gaming software and it allows users to view the warehouse from any angle, including walking through it, the company says. Individual items and SKUs can be identified and filtered as can warehouse zones, it says.

• Westfalia Technologies Inc., 3655 Sandhurst Drive, York, Pa. 17406; 717/764-1115; westfaliausa.com.

Fleet management system
Crown Equipment Corp. released the Crown InfoLink 3.0 fleet and operator management system. The new features are designed to improve customer productivity and reduce costs throughout warehouses, the company says. InfoLink 3.0 increases visibility into operator productivity as well as fleet energy use and service history, it says. Customers also can view warehouse management systems and forklift information via a single-mount computer. InfoLink 3.0 is equipped with six dashboards covering areas of operator and fleet performance – compliance, impacts, productivity, utilization, energy and service. The InfoLink interface uses color-coded opportunity indicators that provide managers an easy-to-understand look at whether their trucks meet established goals (green), require attention (yellow), or need immediate action (red). The new productivity dashboard reports metrics such as average lifts per hour, average speed, average travel distances and operator log-in status. The energy dashboard provides key information for both electric and IC forklifts, the company says.

• Crown Equipment Corp., 44 South Washington St., New Bremen, Ohio 45869; 419/629-2311; crown.com.

Seam thickness gauge
Wilkens-Anderson Co. (WACO) offers the Seam Thickness Gauge for beverage cans. The gauge features a design that aligns the position of the digital indicator precisely with the chuck wall angle and offers a more accurate and correct seam thickness measurement, the company says. The equipment also features a gauge resolution of 0.0005 inches and easy positioning of cans, it says. Suited for can diameters from two to three inches, the measurement readings can be transferred automatically into the WACO Accuseam system.

• Wilkens-Anderson Co., 4525 W. Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60651; 773/384-4433; wacolab.com.

Thermal imaging camera
Wahl Instruments Inc. announced the addition of the HSI3000B to its line of Wahl Heat Spy Thermal Imaging Cameras. The new thermal imaging camera was developed for building diagnostics, thermographers and building maintenance, the company says. The Wahl Heat Spy HSI3000B has a temperature sensitivity of 32.1-degrees Fahrenheit and a screen resolution of 160 by 120 pixels. With a temperature range of -4 to 257 degrees Fahrenheit and a rechargeable battery life of six hours, the HSI3000B is ideal for performing all building and maintenance surveys and analysis, the company says. The camera also features an auto on-screen temperature lock to the highest and coolest points in the image being analyzed. The company says up to 1,000 high-quality digital images can be saved on the provided SD card. The camera also allows for analyzation and presentation of images using the Wahl report writing software package.

• Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group, 234 Old Weaverville Road, Asheville, N.C. 28804; 800/421-2853; palmerwahl.com.

Conveyor line expansion
Following the acquisition of Dynamet Inc. and combined with in-house development, Spiroflow Systems Inc. added two types of Tubular Drag Conveyors. They are the Cableflow Tubular Drag Conveyor and Dynaflow Tubular Chain Drag Conveyor. Cableflow conveyors are designed for gentle handling applications and installations requiring conveying in multiple planes, the company says. It can transfer friable bulk products from single or multiple in-feed points to single or multiple discharge points with little or no damage, it says.

• Spiroflow Systems Inc., 2806 Gray Fox Road, Monroe, N.C. 28110; 704/291-9595; spiroflowsystems.com.

Support solution
Rockwell Automation has reconfigured its TechConnect remote support solution. It will provide customers with improved troubleshooting, easier programming and product configuration, and more seamless support experience for improved plantwide optimization, the company says. The offering is available at four different levels of support: self-assist, product, system and application. Users also can add a la carte options to their standard support level, allowing for customization.

• Rockwell Automation Inc., 1201 S. Second St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53204; 414/382-2000; rockwellautomation.com.

Stainless steel valve
Ross Controls introduced its new Stainless Steel L-O-X energy isolation valve. The Stainless Steel L-O-X can be applied where corrosion or contaminants are a concern, the company says. The valve is lockable only in the off position with a tamper-proof locking mechanism and has a large exhaust port for rapid pressure relief, the company says. It is available in port sizes of a quarter-inch to two inches. With its stainless steel construction and self-draining capability, this rugged valve is an excellent solution for washdown applications, it says. Its standard Viton seals provide reliable protection against contaminant ingression.

• Ross Controls, 1250 Stephenson Highway, Troy, Mich., 48083; 800/438-7677; rosscontrols.com.

Lift trucks
Linde Material Handling-North America Corp. introduced its new RX60 series of electric counterbalanced sit-down lift trucks. The eight models in the series have capacities ranging from 5,000 pounds (RX60-25C and RX60-25L) to 10,000 pounds (RX60-50). They are ideal for manufacturing, storage, distribution and logistic businesses where there is a need for emission-free high-performance trucks, the company says. The RX60-25C and RX60-30C feature cushion drive and steer tires while the six remaining trucks in the series have SE drive and steer tires as standard feature.

• Linde Material Handling-North America Corp., 2450 West 5th North St., Summerville, S.C. 29483; 843/875-8000; lindelifttruck.com.

Monitor upgrade
Mobile Awareness LLC announced a high-resolution digital monitor upgrade for all VisionStat Camera Systems. The digital VisionStat monitor presents an upgrade in picture quality found on both wired and wireless color camera systems offered for vehicle blind spot detection, the company says. Each of the digital VisionStat systems is a rugged and easily installed video solution available with either a 5.6-inch or the 7-inch color LCD monitor, it says. The digital monitor is configurable with up to four infrared night vision CCD cameras and offers higher resolution, greater image clarity and automatically backlit buttons.

• Mobile Awareness LLC, 31200 Solon Road, Suite 12, Solon, Ohio 44139; 440/248-5523; mobileawareness.com.

Greener solutions
Flexcon introduced “greener” alternative for at-retail applications for windows and counter mats Windowdeco and indoor floor advertising Flexmark floor art. Flexmark floor art 6673 (base film) sold as a system with approved overlaminate and Flexmark floor art OP6607 supports the same performance and applications as traditional vinyl options, the company says. These new greener products deliver comparable adhesive performance, opacity, printability and aesthetic appeal, the company says. Both Windowdeco and Flexmark floor art non-vinyl greener products are phthalate free and are produced with less solvent, the company says.

• Flexcon, 1 Flexcon Industrial Park, Spencer, Mass. 01562; 508/885-8200; flexcon.com.

Shrink sleeve applicators
Axon, a division of Pro Mach, introduced a new generation of mandrel-style shrink sleeve applicators. The Aurora Prime model offers 150 sleeves a minute speed and Aurora Premium provides 300 sleeves a minute, depending on the size and shape of the container, the company says. Lay flat sleeve size for both machines is from 50 to 200 mm. and cut length is from 35 to 200 mm. The applicators use Allen-Bradley color-touch screen human machine interfaces, programmable and communication hardware.

• Axon Styrotech USA, 3080 Business Park Drive, Suite 103, Raleigh, N.C. 27610; 919/772-8383; axoncorp.com.

Crane expansions
Ingersoll Rand launched its new line of jib crane products with 275-, 350-, 550- and 1,100-pound capacities designed to meet overhead support needs. Ideally suited to applications with low ceilings or overhead obstructions, the no tie-rod design supports both air balancers and hoist applications, the company says. Jib cranes with the rail option use precision aluminum Ingersoll Rand Enclosed Track rail for the boom, resulting in an ergonomic, lightweight boom with rolling resistance, the company says. During the next few months, Ingersoll Rand will launch additional models in both I-Beam and aluminum rail, in boom lengths ranging from 8 to 16 feet with underclearance of 10, 12 or 14 feet.

• Ingersoll-Rand, 1 Centennial Ave., Piscataway, N.J. 08854; 732/652-7000; ingersollrand.com.

Keeping things clean
Graco Inc. introduced its new SaniForce line of sanitary transfer pumps, including drum and bin unloaders. These products can easily move a broad range of viscosities, the company says. The piston pumps have pressure ratios up to 12:1 and are ideal for low- to medium-viscosity materials. The air-operated double diaphragm pumps have flow rates up to 150 gallons a minute and are best suited for low- to medium-viscosity materials. Drum unloaders can evacuate medium- to high-viscosity products from their original 55-gallon containers, without diluting the material. Bin Evacuation Systems are designed to eliminate manual scooping and bin dumping by unloading materials efficiently from 300-gallon bag-in-bin containers.

• Graco Inc., 88 – 11th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, Minn. 55413; 612/623-6000; gracosaniforce.com.

Added functionality
Columbia Machine’s latest addition to its line of heavy-duty palletizers is the FL1000-SW, which combines a heavy-duty, small footprint palletizer with a fully integrated stretch wrapper. The FL1000-SW can simultaneously stack and stretchwrap a wide variety of package types, including cases, trays, totes, film and display packs for a variety of industries including beverage, the company says. As a fully integrated feature, the stretch wrapper includes film grip, cut and wipe down, maintaining the palletizing speed and providing a compact footprint, the company says. The FL1000-SW can palletize 10 cases a minute with 10 cases in each layer pattern or more depending on the case size and pallet pattern, the company says.

• Columbia Machine Inc., 107 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, Wash. 98661; 800/628-4065; palletizing.com.

Distribution carts
Cannon Equipment unveiled two CannonCarts for distribution, stocking and work-in-process applications for retailers and manufacturers. The V-Nest Distribution Cart combines the hauling features of a heavy-duty distribution cart with 1,200 pounds of load capacity with the locking features of a security cart, the company says. It is a four-sided cart with four doors, two on top and two on the bottom. The Z-Nest Stocking and Distribution Cart is designed to combine distribution and security requirement, but is intended for smaller loads, the company says. It features a “Z” base design for compact storage and an intermediate wire shelf. Other features include a 1,000-pound load capacity and four doors, accessed from either side for security and product containment.

• Cannon Equipment, 15100 Business Parkway, Rosemount, Minn. 55068; 651/322-6300; cannonequipment.com.

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