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| HVAC
INDUSTRY
NEWS |
HVAC Leader Looks Overhead to Solve Floor Label Problem.
CASE STUDY: Sky-Marx Overhead Labeling System
Like most large distribution centers with bulk storage areas, the R.E. Michel Company, Inc., a
national HVAC supply firm with 202 stores, has struggled with location labeling at its 820,000
square foot distribution center in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Over the past eight years Beau Michel,
Director of Distribution, has evaluated many floor labeling solutions including paint, adhesive
labels, and imbedded floor tags, before settling on Sky-Marx™, an overhead location
labeling system from Sky-Trax Inc. Sky-Marx labels are  attached to lightweight strips of plastic netting, installed at ceiling level
directly over the storage bins. Sky-Marx places human readable and bar code
location data overhead for unobstructed line-of-sight viewing and scanning. Beau
Michel explains “It just
seemed to be the right solution. Sky-Marx was very
appealing, as the location data is inconspicuous, out of the way, and right where it
needs to be”. “Accurate and quick determination of location information is very
important in our operation” Michel asserts, and he reports a 50%
reduction in receiving errors since switching to Sky-Marx. He also
reports that the system has increased inventory accountability and
productivity, improved put away speed, and significantly reduced
inventory corrections. “And my employees feel better, because it’s
made their job easier”, he says.
Since no follow-on maintenance is required, the system pays for itself
very quickly. With an anticipated direct ROI of less than three years,
plus all the intangibles, Michel felt that Sky-Marx was the best solution
for the floor location identification problem. Sky-Marx strips were manufactured at Sky-Trax in New Castle, DE using location ID and bin
width data provided by R. E. Michel. Once delivered to the distribution center, the strips were
hung on the underside of ceiling trusses by a team of Sky-Trax installers. Installation was done
during normal operations and without any disruption. “I didn’t even know the installers were
there most of the time,” says Michel. Prior to choosing Sky-Marx, R. E. Michel had tried many other solutions. Originally the company
painted bin location data on the floor, but the paint constantly wore off, making reading difficult
and resulting in increased data entry errors in the WMS. Repainting was scheduled six times per
year at an annual cost approaching $10,000.
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Standard “glue-on” labels were tried next, but were quickly rejected as life expectancy was too
short. Adhesive labels required a monthly assessment and replacement cycle.
The company also evaluated mechanically attached metal labels and embedded labels.
Both solutions were rejected due to cost and the safety risk associated with embedded objects in the
facility floor, and concern over tripping hazards. Two other options considered were hanging signs and placards attached to PVC piping. When
evaluating the hanging signs, Michel determined that airflow in the warehouse caused the signs
to swing and made them difficult to read. With the placards on PVC piping, the company was
concerned about the placards being struck by fork lifts and by product. Michel felt this was
potentially dangerous, would create difficulty for operations, and was aesthetically undesirable.
“The Sky-Marx Floor Label Replacement System was designed specifically for operations like R.
E. Michel’s”, says Larry Mahan, General Manager for Sky-Trax Inc. “Over the years many of our
clients have struggled with finding a durable and reliable way of marking bin locations in bulk
storage areas. The floor is the absolute worst place to put a label in a warehouse – particularly a
bar code label. Even if the label survives undamaged, it will be frequently obstructed and
unreadable”. According to Mahan, the Sky-Marx™ tags are easily readable at up to 40 feet and can be readily
scanned by extended range bar code scanners. By attaching the labels to durable lightweight net
strips, location markers can be installed quickly in the correct locations. The net support method
allows the Sky-Marx system to be hung in any area of a warehouse.
Sky-Trax reports that the patent-pending Sky-Marx product, introduced only eighteen months
ago, has been a big hit in the market, and several of America’s largest companies have already
adopted the system. The company supplies complete custom-assembled Sky-Marx strips as well
as component parts for do-it-yourselfers. Requiring no special tools or skilled
labor, installation can be done by customers or can be provided by Sky-Trax for a turnkey solution.
Sky-Trax is an engineering technology company providing industry with sensors, software, systems,
services, and solutions to serve a wide range of safety, process optimization, and productivity needs.
www.Sky-Trax.com
Contact:
Kurt Godwin
VP, Sales
(866) 927-4927 x 811
(410) 707-9579
Kurt.Godwin@Sky-Trax.com
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