By Lorne Hull, Marketing Manager, Express Cube Systems - A Division of Global Sensor Systems
SubscribeThe office mailroom is one of the most neglected sources of potential cost savings in most large corporations. Personnel in the mailroom are often given items to delivery without the necessary information to determine the most economic way to deliver them.
ExpressCube is a manufacturer of state-of-the-art dimension & weighing equipment for use by the courier, freight, postal parcel services, their customers; and companies employing logistics to manage their warehouse, packaging, and shipping needs. The ExpressCube 150 by ExpressCube can form the cornerstone of an efficient office mailroom and also order fulfillment and point of sale operations. Packages containing documents can be weighed by the ExpressCube and parcels weighed & dimensioned. This enables the mailroom clerk to select the most economical courier based on the weight, dimensional weight (if applicable), destination and required delivery time. The ExpressCube countertop units have been designed to allow integration into third party courier software applications that will determine least cost courier routing, print labels and track shipments.
Some Background
This year major couriers began to charge for dimensional or "Dim" weight for ground shipments. The USPS will also be making a similar move with the shift to Shape-Based Pricing on May 14, 2007.
This is a big change, with potential increases of up to 75% for large packages (source: Freight International). Recent studies of a National Post Office found that 35% of its parcels had incorrect dimensioning and/or weights which resulted in lost revenue.
To determine the dimensional weight, it is important that mail room obtain the dimensioning factor (Dim Factor) that is going to be used by a particular carrier. This number is usually published on carrier websites. For example, the shipper would take a Dim Factor of 194 (a popular Dim Factor with large carriers) and use it to divide the volume calculation. Therefore, the Dim Weight equation is (L x H x W)/194. There are now two weights, the actual scale weight and the calculated Dim Weight. Carriers base their charges on the higher figure, and, for the lighter and bulkier items, it is usually Dim Weight. It looks simple enough, but it isn't. The variable is accuracy of measurement, particularly of a lighter and larger-sized pack¬age. When faced with different Dim Factors and application rules from the various carriers, selecting a cost-effective carrier and determining the actual charges can be a formidable task for most mail rooms. It's safe to assume that Dim weight will kill off the educated guesses and the old reliable tape measure.
ExpressCube is a division of Global Sensor Systems Inc. a successful veteran in the sensor development, manufacturing and marketing business. Recognizing the worldwide opportunity in the dimensioning and weighing of parcels, the ExpressCube division of Global was established. A team of innovative designers and engineers utilizing 30 years of experience and proven technology created the ExpressCube DIM weighing solution that is now considered the most advanced countertop system in the world.
Our ExpressCube 150 is a low cost dimensioning and weighing system solution for moderate volume shipping applications - perfect for mailroom applications. ExpressCube 150 delivers the answer for maximizing slotting, pick and pack, cubing, dimensioning and weighing of packages. Designed to fit on a 24" countertop, ExpressCube 150 will measure and weigh boxes with dimensions of 18"x24"x30" and weigh up to 70 lbs. Multiple communication ports on the rear of ExpressCube provide data input and outputs for integration to the customer's computer, WMS systems, bar code readers and digital data displays. The ExpressCube 150 has no moving parts, providing low maintenance and increased reliability. There are no lasers used in this device or noisy ultrasonic.
A very unique feature of the ExpressCube 150 is that it takes less than 5 minutes to set-up. The hinged back is lifted upright, 4 screws are inserted, tightened, the system is plugged in and after the power switch is activated. All the operator is required to do is place the parcel on the ExpressCube top, touching the back wall of the unit and sitting the item inside the outer edges of the system. They then scan the item SKU or waybill barcode, this command instructs the system to capture the actual weight off the scale, and the dimensions to memory. Dimensional weight is instantly displayed at your preset value. Once the results are displayed on the LCD Control Unit, the system can store the data to your PC using our SizeIt software or the operator can prompt the system to print a shipping label.
The key to this technology is a distributed microprocessor configuration that uses a combination of passive sensors and mathematical algorithms to quickly dimension boxes without moving parts or expensive laser technology. In addition to being relatively inexpensive, this approach provides a very robust device with very little maintenance required.
"We recently demonstrated the ExpressCube 150 at an open house," said Jim Spates, Partner, Innovative Mailing and Shipping Systems Inc., Long Island. "It generated a lot of excitement with potential customers."
Two larger models are also available:
ExpressCube 250
The ExpressCube 250 is a countertop dimensioning and weighing unit with an expanded dimensional measuring capability over the ExpressCube 150. Please click here for futher information concerning the Express Cube 250.
ExpressCube EC- 2448-CL-W2
The ExpressCube EC-2448-CL-W2 is a fast conveyor dimensioning unit that can individually scan*, dimension and weigh packages at a typical rate in excess of 500 packages per hour.
Further details on these products, associated accessories, software and systems integration services are available on our website.
ExpressCube is interested in all opportunities worldwide and will respond promptly to requests for further information, pricing, quotes and distributor inquiries.