Modex 2026: Pulling It Together, Making It Work
The Modex 2026 trade show in Atlanta showcased a bustling warehouse technology landscape, signaling that automation is no longer experimental but being scaled across distribution centers. Operators are focusing on integrating robotics, AMRs, AI, and software platforms to deliver measurable value rather than isolated pilots. Economic uncertainty and labor volatility are prompting more disciplined tech choices, balancing short‑term cost control with long‑term transformation. The event highlighted advances in lights‑out warehousing, smarter rack design, and strategic unitizing as key levers for future efficiency.
60 Seconds With…Karl Zelik
Karl Zelik, an associate professor at Vanderbilt and co‑founder of HeroWear, explains that exoskeletons have moved from lab prototypes to real‑world deployments, enabling the first long‑term field studies. Data tracking workers for up to two years show significant back‑injury reductions...
Equipment Demand Hits Record High Despite Rising Uncertainty
Equipment leasing activity reached a record high in the first quarter, with total new business volume climbing to $10.8 billion in March, an 18.6% increase year‑to‑date. While overall demand remains robust across construction, healthcare and manufacturing, small‑ticket deals slipped 17.7% from...
Expo Pack México 2026 to Focus on Sustainability as a Driving Force in Packaging Innovation
Expo Pack México 2026, the premier Latin American packaging and processing exhibition, will run June 2‑5, 2026 in Mexico City. The event’s EXPO PACK Verde program will spotlight exhibitors offering recyclable, carbon‑reduction and biodegradable solutions, while the Innovation Stage delivers...
Regal Rexnord Corp. Announces Aamir Paul as Next CEO
Regal Rexnord Corp. announced that Aamir Paul will become chief executive officer by July 1, 2026, succeeding Louis Pinkham who will remain in place until the transition. Paul, currently Schneider Electric’s North America president, brings a record of double‑digit growth and experience...
EPG & Locus Robotics Announce Strategic Partnership
Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has forged a strategic partnership with Locus Robotics, fully integrating Locus’s autonomous mobile robot (AMR) fulfillment solution into EPG’s ONE warehouse management system (WMS). The combined offering is now demonstrated at EPG’s Logistics Solution Center in...
Magline Appoints Christine Walker as President and Chief Operating Officer
Magline, a manufacturer of material‑handling solutions, announced Christine Walker as president and chief operating officer effective April 13. Walker brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience from Dow Inc., where she oversaw multibillion‑dollar product lines, a $2 billion base business and a...
EASE Industry Group of MHI Announces Release of EASE 101 Document
The Ergonomics Assist Systems and Equipment (EASE) Council Industry Group of MHI has launched the free EASE 101 Document, a primer on industrial ergonomics. The guide explains core concepts, common risk factors such as force, posture and repetition, and links ergonomic...
Honeywell to Sell Productivity Solutions and Services Business to Brady Corporation
Honeywell announced it will sell its Productivity Solutions and Services (PSS) business to Brady Corporation for $1.4 billion in cash. The PSS unit, which generated about $1.1 billion in 2025 revenue, provides mobile computers, barcode scanners and printing solutions for warehouse and...
As Modex 2026 Closes, Attention Turns to ProMat 2027
Modex 2026 wrapped up in Atlanta, and the supply‑chain community is already looking ahead to ProMat 2027, which will run April 19‑21, 2027 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The three‑day show promises over 700,000 sq ft of floor space, 1,100 exhibitors, four keynote speeches, 200 educational seminars...
New MHI and Deloitte Report Finds AI Biggest Disruptor of Supply Chains over the Next Decade
A joint MHI‑Deloitte report released at Modex 2026 identifies artificial intelligence as the top disruptive technology for supply chains over the next decade. The survey shows 24% of leaders view AI as transformational and 48% rate its impact as significant...
EPG Collaborates with Microsoft on the Supply Chain of the Future
Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has teamed with Microsoft to launch its AI‑native supply‑chain platform, AURA, on the Azure cloud. The partnership adds a SaaS delivery model alongside EPG's private EPX hosting, enabling global scalability and robust security. Integrated interfaces to...
Modex 2026 Opens with Full Exhibit Halls and New Technologies
Modex 2026 opened in Atlanta with every exhibit hall sold out, featuring over 1,100 exhibitors and more than 200 education sessions. The show occupies more than 650,000 square feet, allowing attendees to see integrated robotics, AI, automation and software solutions...
SupplyOne Expands in New England with Acquisition of Specialty Packaging
SupplyOne, a value‑added distributor with corrugated converting capabilities, announced the acquisition of Specialty Packaging, a Connecticut‑based food‑packaging distributor. The deal, SupplyOne’s 47th acquisition, adds Specialty’s portfolio—including the proprietary SteamRight® microwavable packaging solution—to its national platform. Founders Chris Orsini and Keith...
SYNAOS Scales NA Operations as Demand for Interoperable Intralogistics Accelerates
SYNAOS, a provider of intralogistics orchestration software, announced a major expansion of its North American operations to meet rising demand for vendor‑agnostic automation. The move follows its collaboration with Rockwell Automation and OTTO Motors to advance the VDA 5050 standard for mixed‑fleet...
ALAN Launches 2026 Survey on Disaster Logistics Gaps
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has launched its fourth annual Humanitarian Logistics Survey, running through May 31, 2026. Open to nonprofits, government agencies, logistics providers and private firms, the survey seeks to map current collaboration and pinpoint gaps in disaster‑relief...
Exol Launches U.S. Robotic Fulfillment Network with Six Sites
Exol announced the launch of a U.S. robotic fulfillment network, beginning with a fully‑occupied California site and a one‑million‑square‑foot facility in Atlanta. The company plans to operate six locations totaling six million square feet, backed by SoftBank Group and Symbotic...
Dematic FIRST Scholarship Applications Open for 2026
Dematic has opened applications for its 2026 FIRST scholarship program, offering two $5,000 awards and ten $1,000 awards to high‑school students who have participated in FIRST Robotics Competition or FIRST Tech Challenge. Applicants must submit a transcript, optional recommendation, and...
Attabotics Announces Integrator Partnership Program
Attabotics announced an integrator partnership program to extend its 3D robotic cube storage technology through third‑party distributors. The first partner, SAVOYE North America, will combine its automated storage expertise with Attabotics’ hardware and software to deliver end‑to‑end fulfillment solutions. The...
Lift Truck Tips: How to Right Size Your Fleet Through Utilization Metrics
Lift‑truck fleet right‑sizing has moved from guesswork to data‑driven decisions, leveraging telemetry and warehouse management systems to capture real‑time utilization metrics. Key performance indicators such as overall utilization, lift‑to‑travel ratios, and maintenance histories enable managers to match equipment type and...
Packaging Corner: The Wood Pallet Vs. Plastic Pallet Conversation
Wood pallets have long been the supply‑chain workhorse, but plastic alternatives are gaining traction as automation expands and hygiene standards tighten. IMARC Group projects the global plastic‑pallet market to grow from $7.1 billion in 2025 to $10.4 billion by 2034, driven by...
Inside the 4 Walls: The Importance of Being Standardized
The article emphasizes that standardizing warehouse processes transforms chaotic daily tasks into predictable, measurable operations. It outlines benefits such as higher quality, productivity, cost control, safety, and improved customer satisfaction. Implementation requires phased rollouts, strong change‑management communication, and ergonomic alignment...
Inside Modex 2026: Learning, Networking and the Show Floor
Modex 2026 brings together supply‑chain and logistics professionals for a comprehensive mix of education, networking, and product showcases. The event features keynote sessions and seminars on robotics, artificial intelligence, workforce strategy, and sustainability, delivering actionable insights. New social hubs—the Modex...
Green Cubes Technology Marks Its 40th Anniversary
Green Cubes Technology celebrated its 40th anniversary, underscoring two decades of lithium‑ion power system leadership. The company highlighted its latest SAFEFlex battery platform and the MAESTRO IoT asset‑management solution, which now monitors over 38,000 batteries worldwide. With more than 90,000...
Best Practices: Depalletizing Moves Into the Automation Era
Lakeside Book Company partnered with FANUC, APT Manufacturing and FlexPAC to replace manual depalletizing with an AI‑driven robotic system. The solution eliminates the handling of more than 45 million pounds of product each year—about $58 million in lifted weight—and now processes over...
Equipment Report: Half Pallets Streamline Direct-to-Store Delivery
Half pallets are gaining traction as a purpose‑built solution for direct‑to‑store deliveries, allowing distributors to navigate narrow aisles and front‑door loading more efficiently than full‑size pallets. Their reduced footprint and lighter weight improve driver ergonomics, enable mixed‑SKU loads, and support...
Digital Twins Come of Age in the Warehouse
Digital twins have matured from static CAD models to AI‑driven, real‑time replicas that mirror every aisle, robot and inventory item in modern warehouses. By ingesting sensor data, WMS feeds and machine‑vision scans, these twins provide continuous ground‑truth visibility, enabling dynamic...
Productivity Solution: Moen Boosts Throughput with Automated Storage
Moen, a leading North American faucet brand, overhauled its West Coast distribution by consolidating operations into a new Las Vegas hub built with FORTNA. The facility employs an AutoStore high‑density robotic storage system and integrated warehouse execution software to streamline receiving,...
Exploring the Many Dimensions of Today’s Warehouse
Today's warehouses are evolving beyond pure automation, emphasizing employee experience, digital twins, and targeted robotics. A new Modern issue highlights that 74% of warehouse firms face talent shortages, prompting operators to improve lighting, ergonomics, and temperature control to retain staff....
Ancra Cargo Earns OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Certification for Safety Excellence
Ancra Cargo’s Hebron, Kentucky plant earned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification, recognizing its superior safety and health management system. The award highlights injury and illness rates that sit well below industry averages and...
AIM Global to Develop Item Identifier Lookup Service
AIM Global, the ISO International Registration Authority for ISO/IEC 15459, is creating an online IAC‑CIN Lookup Service to replace the current paper‑based Issuing Agency Register. The service will provide a searchable, open, federated database of globally unique identifiers for physical...
Veritiv and Packsize Expand Partnership to Advance Automated, Right-Sized Corrugated Packaging Solutions
Veritiv has broadened its strategic partnership with Packsize to accelerate automated, right‑sized corrugated packaging solutions. The collaboration blends Packsize’s on‑demand box‑making technology with Veritiv’s distribution network, promising faster turnaround for niche orders and reduced material waste. Customers will benefit from...
Hyster Honors 2025 Dealers of Distinction
Hyster announced its 2025 Dealer of Distinction winners, highlighting twelve lift‑truck dealers that excel in performance, leadership, and customer satisfaction. The award recognizes dealers that meet rigorous, annually updated business practice standards across sales, service, finance and training. Recipients span...
UgoWork Appoints David Mucciacciaro as Chief Executive Officer
UgoWork announced David Mucciacciaro as its new chief executive officer, effective March 2, 2026, while co‑founder Philippe Beauchamp shifts to the chief technology officer role. Mucciacciaro brings senior commercial experience from automotive, clean‑tech, and material‑handling sectors to accelerate the company’s...
Pack Expo International Returns in October, Largest Installment Its History
Pack Expo International 2026 returns Oct. 18‑21 in Chicago, marking the event’s largest edition ever. The show will span 1.3 million net square feet, host more than 2,600 exhibitors and attract roughly 48,000 professionals across 40 vertical markets. Organisers highlight a...
From Strategy to Speed, Modex 2026 Keynotes Set the Pace
Modex 2026, the premier manufacturing and supply‑chain conference, featured a high‑profile keynote lineup that blended corporate strategy with cutting‑edge technology. Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail discussed nearshoring and digitization as critical levers for supply‑chain resilience. Exponential strategist Salim Ismail illustrated...
Packaging Corner: The Digital Wolf Whistle for Returnable Containers
Digital Matter’s CEO Loic Barancourt outlines a hybrid IoT tracking system that combines cellular and Bluetooth tags to monitor returnable containers. By tagging only a fraction of assets, companies can slash loss rates from roughly 20% to under 1% and...
Lift Truck Tips: Attachments Make Odd Jobs Faster and Safer
Lift‑truck attachments, especially paper‑roll clamps, are transforming material handling by reducing damage and speeding up transport. Bolzoni emphasizes custom‑engineered solutions that match each roll’s dimensions, allowing operators to move products faster with fewer workers. The company highlights safety gains from...
System Report: VLMs Unlock Efficiencies for All World Machinery
All World Machinery Supply, a Roscoe, Illinois distributor of 15,000 machine‑part SKUs, tackled a storage crunch and labor bottlenecks by installing four Kardex vertical lift modules (VLMs) and an in‑house conveyor system. The VLMs cut the warehouse footprint by 75%...
Special Report: 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards
Modern's 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards recognized top performers in warehousing/distribution, innovation, and e‑fulfillment. Performance Health won Warehousing/Distribution for a streamlined distribution center, reduced packaging waste, and improved KPI tracking. Staples earned the Innovation award for its integrated robotics platform, autonomous...
Productivity Solution: Andrews Streamlines Beverage Delivery
Andrews Distributing partnered with Big Joe Forklifts to deploy the LPT40 DSD, a pallet truck that integrates a scale for delivery‑by‑weight verification. The system replaces manual case counting, cutting stop times by up to 43% and easing navigation in tight store...
Brightpick Partners with NAPA on Robotic Fulfillment Deployments at DCs
Brightpick announced a strategic partnership with NAPA to roll out AI‑powered robotic fulfillment across the retailer’s distribution centers. After a successful 2025 pilot, the 2026 agreement will see more than 100 Brightpick goods‑to‑person robots deployed at an initial site, with...
Modex 2026: MHI Innovation Award Finalists Announced
MHI announced the finalists for its 2026 Innovation Awards, selecting twelve solutions from 220 submissions. The entries span four categories—Best New Innovation, Best Robotics Innovation, Best IT Innovation, and Best Sustainability Innovation—each judged by eight industry practitioners. Finalists will present...
German Grocery Retailer REWE Deploys Cimcorp Solution for New Automated Fulfillment Center
German retailer REWE has opened an automated fulfillment center in Oranienburg, deploying Cimcorp’s robotic handling and Warehouse Control System to manage fresh produce distribution. The facility serves over 370 supermarkets and 580 shops in the Berlin region, processing roughly 29,000...
Attabotics Technology Revives as Part of LaFayette Systems
Attabotics, the robotic cube‑storage specialist, is restarting operations after its September 2025 acquisition by LaFayette Systems. The privately held LaFayette group will provide a stable financial base and engineering expertise, allowing Attabotics to retain its Calgary engineering, business, and manufacturing...