The current state of the supply chain industry In a December 2023 issue of DC Velocity, leading executives from Old Dominion, C.H. Robinson, and others indicated that a multitude of factors have contributed to decreases across the board for the entirety of the logistics industry. While not overly shocking, since the pandemic propelled supply chain services and operators to unforeseen heights, the adjustment isn’t as simple as the market returning to nominal levels. While 2024 isn’t expected to be a slump – a few factors currently in play have led analysts and operators to believe it won’t b ..read more

Background The client is a packaging company that provides a multitude of services for a variety of industries that redefines supply chains with innovative tote handling to creative container design and e-commerce fulfillment; the client offers specialized supply chain solutions for any packaging operation. Century Conveyor Systems was selected by the client to engineer a corrugate takeaway system for a co-packing plant in New Jersey after identifying areas of improvement in its facility. Challenge The client experienced increased co-packing demand and the number of empty cartons being ..read more

Auto-mate In the dynamic world of the automotive product and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts distribution industry, efficiency and precision are critical to success. Conveyors and material handling systems have revolutionized these sectors by optimizing processes, reducing operational costs, and ensuring seamless supply chain management. By far, the most important factor Century has encountered pertaining to automating an auto parts and products distribution center is the ability to handle product of extensively variable sizes. It should come as no surprise that auto part & ..read more

Conveyors, while simplistic in function, are constituted of a multitude of mechanical parts that enable durable, stable, and efficient movement. Much like a car, in its most basic form, a material-handling conveyor uses a motor (engine) and gearbox (transmission) to provide power in a continuous motion. If you’re considering a conveyor unit or system in your facility, understanding its critical components and operations can assist in routine maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and future system integrations. Each part plays an important role, and grasping the mechanical basics can help you iden ..read more

DC Operations The average hourly cost of warehouse labor in 2022 is $14.97, an almost dollar increase from 2021. (source) Management positions average a $52,700 salary a year. (source) Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers account for an employment force of 144,640 in 2022 (source) The average age of an employed distribution center manager is 45 years old (source) B2C pick and pack fees remained the same rate as 2021, at $3.13 per item, while B2B fees increased to $4.33. (source) 80% of the United States’ warehouses are still manually operated. (source) The average ..read more

Increased adaption of automation Much like last year, and the year before, distribution centers are continuing to integrate and enable various forms of automation. While the pertinent supply chain issues from 2021 and early 2022 have waned slightly, they certainly still exist, and distribution facilities are looking to ensure a similar event can be avoided or curtailed in the future. The 2022 Annual Warehouse and Distribution Center (DC) Equipment Survey documented by Peerless Research Group reports growing interest in material handling solutions and automation from 2020, 2021, and 2022 ..read more

An automation or material handling integrator is a B2B service that plans, engineers, and manages system projects for a distribution facility or warehouse. Systems can span from simple racking installations to complex distribution center layouts with multiple lines. Automation integrators work closely with clients to design a system that fits their facility limitations, handled product, operational goals and needs, budgetary considerations, and return-on-investment requirements The need for integrators began as the gap between material handling equipment and automated systems became larger ..read more

When the topic of integrating automation comes up, many warehouses are quick to say “too expensive”, and then proceed to purchase another forklift for $100,000. Automation systems have advanced to the point that many solutions can be deployed inexpensively as a single addition, and are flexible enough to integrate with existing systems. The material handling industry itself has exploded in recent years, with hundreds of new automation solutions being developed and utilized. With new innovations, each use case becomes more specific, ensuring that there’s a solution out there that fits your b ..read more

Background Capital Candy’s history dates to 1938, when a couple from Montpelier, Vermont, opened a penny candy operation from their home. Over time, the operation offered new product lines, became incorporated and expanded into new territories. Today, Capital Candy operates six days a week, 24 hours a day to provide grocery and convenience store products to 3,000 customers across six states. “We pick, pack and deliver 55,000 packages a week. Our trucks make 33 trips every night,” says Jim Thibeault, Operations Manager. The operation houses mostly perishable items, such as dry grocery prod ..read more

When it comes to increasing the efficiency of your distribution center, few solutions match the benefits of an automation system. But, therein lies the question of WHICH automation system. Between all the advances in material handling tech and how specialized automation has become, it can be a massive undertaking in finding the right system for your DC. One solution does maintain a consistent presence in today’s modern distribution center- conveyors. Throughout the years, conveyor systems have been a staple automation choice for quick and stable movement of goods. The reason for its prolife ..read more