EoW May 2009

Feature

Materials handling & equipment A strand of wire may be a powerful channel for data transmission; it is also a thin skein whose utility for any purpose can be destroyed in a moment. Because mischance at any stage – from procurement to delivery of the finished product – would be ruinous to productivity, handling is a vital concern throughout the cycle of wire manufacture. In a modern, high- speed wire and cable plant, the caution“Handle with Care”will not be found posted on walls or stenciled on packing cases. It is understood to inform every process of the operation. From the most sophisticated conveyors and carousels to the most workaday racks, jacks, and pallets, equipment and methods for the care and handling of wire and cable are top priority, from the receiving dock to the shipping bay. The products and services reviewed here come out of that tradition.

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EuroWire – May 2009