Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) Industry Group of Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) announces the publication of the latest version of the Carousel & VLM Planning Tool. This space requirement and throughput tool for Horizontal and Vertical Carousels and Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) now has the capability to consider the tax implications of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (including the Section 179 boost for small businesses.)
The computerized tool was first developed at Virginia Tech for the Carousel/VLM Working Group of the AS/RS Industry Group. The tool covers three semi-automated order picking technologies--Vertical Carousels, Horizontal Carousels and Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs). The purpose of the tool is to quickly determine space requirements and throughput capabilities for various system configurations suggested by the user.
The tool also provides results for a comparable manual shelving system. Additional capabilities have been added at the University of Arkansas to facilitate an evaluation of a return on investment (ROI) for the Carousel/VLM system configurations as compared to a comparable manual shelving system. The latest version, version 5, adds the capability to consider the tax implications of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (including the Section 179 boost for small businesses).
The package contains an overview of the program and a computer-based program imbedded within an Excel spreadsheet and is available for download at no cost at MHIA.org.
MHIA is an international trade association that has represented the material handling & logistics industry since 1945. MHIA members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHIA a strong national and international representative for the material handling industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product-specific sections, councils and affiliates. The association also sponsors trade events, such as ProMat and NA 2010 to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate industry professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.
Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) is an Industry Group of MHIA. AS/RS members are the Industry's leading suppliers of automated storage/retrieval systems. They supply systems worldwide and in virtually every major manufacturing and distribution sector.
Contact: Carol Miller, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) (704) 676-1190/800-345-1815.
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