Supplier’s Marketplace

Lucas Systems provide pallet-building technologies for warehouse efficiency

Distribution center technology provider Lucas Systems announced its Dynamic Pallet Builder technologies. These technologies offer a dynamic and automated way for workers to build better pallets with optimal efficiency and tailored to specific warehouse needs, the company says. This sophisticated software solution sifts through a myriad of requirements and data points. It makes thousands of calculations a minute, looking across relevant warehouse operations to determine the appropriate trade-offs needed to optimally pick, group, sequence and stack items on one or more pallets at a time, the company notes. Pallet-building recommendations consider a wide variety of variables, including product size, weight, stacking rules, shipping regulations, worker travel distance, safety, route order, order priorities and more, it says. The software solution seamlessly integrates with a wide variety of warehouse management systems is unique because it is highly configurable, aligning with a company’s specific operations and priorities. The software solution also recomputes optimal pallet builds in response to orders continually flowing into the warehouse. “It’s constantly and dynamically optimizing through the day,” said Ken Ramoutar, Lucas Systems’ chief marketing officer, in a statement. Dynamic Pallet Builder’s dynamic attribute aids warehouse operators stay as agile and responsive as possible, which leads to not only smart-built pallets, but also overall productivity gains and reduced damage, the company says. “Smarter pallet building also means smarter picking,” Ramoutar added. “Building better pallets can have a significant impact on reducing damage, minimizing worker travel, reducing transportation mileage and improving productivity.”

EMQ launches EMQX Enterprise 5.10 with AI-driven workflows

Global provider of MQTT messaging and edge-to-cloud IoT connectivity EMQ announced the release of EMQX Enterprise 5.10. This release marks a major announcement to its flagship MQTT platform, which is built for industrial, automotive and AI-enabled IoT applications. The release introduces powerful new features that aid organizations to build more intelligent, scalable pipelines for connected device data, the company says. With native integration for large language models (LLMs), an AI-powered SQL generator, a new NATS protocol gateway and expanded support for Amazon S3 Tables and Apache Doris, EMQX Enterprise 5.10 brings unprecedented flexibility to IoT data infrastructure, it adds. The Flow Designer in EMQX now supports integration with LLMs such as GPT-4, Claude and local models, it notes. This allows users to analyze or summarize MQTT messages using natural language, without writing any code. The EMQX Enterprise 5.10 features a natural language SQL rule generator, which converts plain English descriptions into valid SQL statements for the Rule Engine. It also has native support for NATS, a lightweight messaging system used widely in microservices and cloud-native applications. “The gateway enables bi-directional communication between MQTT and NATS clients, supporting wildcard topics, queue groups and request/reply patterns,” the company notes. The messaging makes it easier to unify diverse architectures under a single messaging backbone, it says. EMQX Enterprise 5.10 now is available for download through the EMQ website.

Sidel aims to set new industry standard with CoboREEL

Sidel recently presented CoboREEL, an automated reel loading solution for beverage packaging labels with three times the reel capacity of any other solution on the market, it says. By integrating cobots to automate the reel loading process, CoboREEL features an 18-reel capacity to ensure 100% accuracy, optimized efficiency and boosted productivity, which increases profitability, the company notes. The global demand for packaged water is forecast to have risen by 3.5% to more than 350 billion liters by 2029, it adds. This is largely due to the growing scarcity of clean drinking water in many regions, increasing tourism and the rise in on-the-go consumption, according to the company. Others in PET packaging are on the same trajectory, Sidel notes. As cutting costs and improving efficiency are essential in high-volume segments, the company created CoboREEL as an innovative solution to boost the labeling step. By automating this simple, repetitive task with integrated cobots, manufacturers achieve 100% accuracy and maximum precision, Sidel says. Cobots can minimize errors, delays and misplacements that can lead to unexpected downtime and lost productivity, it adds. It also eliminates the need for manual label reel changes, further reducing disruption to operations. “Our customers are looking for ways to work smarter, with fewer resources and in a more efficient and intelligent way,” said Antonio Mancino, product manager of labeling at Sidel, in a statement. “Thanks to our five decades of packaging expertise at Sidel, we are constantly developing easy-to-use solutions that reduce costs, speed up daily operations and require minimal training. With CoboREEL, automating reel uploading not only frees workers from repetitive tasks, but also allows them to focus on value-added activities where their input is critical.”

Croxsons unveils exclusive premium spirits bottle range to UK market

Glass packaging supplier Croxsons announced the launch of an exclusive new range of premium spirits bottles. The new bottles are available to producers across the U.K. and were developed through a strategic partnership with a trusted international manufacturer. The new collection responds to a growing demand for distinctive, high-quality packaging within the country’s spirits sector, the company says. The newly introduced range consists of nine unique bottle designs, housed in Croxsons’ U.K. warehouse, which facilitates swift and adaptable delivery with shorter lead times and lower shipping costs. With a minimum order quantity of just one pallet, Croxsons notes that the range is accessible to both established spirits brands and emerging producers. With its variety of styles, the bottles range from sleek and contemporary to classically shaped and vintage inspired. The portfolio caters to a wide array of premium spirits, including whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, liqueurs and more, the company says. Each bottle is manufactured from “extra flint” crystal glass to provide clarity and on-shelf impact. “We’re delighted to be the exclusive U.K. partner for this premium spirits bottle range,” said Paul McGrane, Croxsons’ sales director, in a statement. “The collection brings something new and exciting to the market, combining style, quality and flexibility that Croxsons is known for. With stock now held locally, we can supply on demand, helping customers respond faster to opportunities while also saving on logistics.”