CSS Celebrates 50 Years of Service

The Conveyor and Sortation Systems (CSS) Industry Group of MHI is pleased to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2022.

Founded in 1972, the mission of the CSS Industry Group is to promote the market growth and effective use of conveyor and sortation systems in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and other key markets. CSS also features a Vertical Reciprocating Conveyer (VRC) subcommittee that is comprised of the industry’s leading suppliers of material lifts intended to meet the safety requirements of ASME B20.1—Safety Standard for Conveyors and Related Equipment.

“CSS has given me the opportunity to increase my industry reach (networking) and expand my knowledge,” said Dan Barrera, segment manager at Carter Intralogistics. “More importantly, CSS is allowing me the opportunity to provide a positive impact in our industry. In other words, it allows me to participate with a group of professionals to solve problems, set standards and improve conditions within material handling.”

Satyen Pathak, account executive for Designed Conveyor Systems, added, “Being part of the long-standing CSS group within MHI has been a rewarding experience. The collaboration over the years with varying industry experts has widened the reach and produced great educational content. With the build-out of the new app and content derived from several SMEs, the group will continue to be a staple where folks can educate themselves on general conveyors, sortation solutions and multiple types of material handling aspects.”

“With the momentum and team driving CSS today, I am glad to be involved,” explained Mike Drolet, industry development manager of logistics and packaging at Murrelektronik. “Quite frankly, the forward-thinking CSS group is setting trends that other industry groups will surely follow.”

Chuck Cobb, vice president of sales, marketing and product support at PFlow Industries Inc. noted, “Over the past 50 years, the MHI CSS committee and its members have worked together to support and promote the conveyor industry and monitor outside industry and regulatory threats. Without such vigilance and unified CSS member support and proactive advocacy for the ASME B20.1 code standard, bringing conveyor products to market and keeping them running in a cost-effective manner, would have been difficult, at best. Together, we have overcome many regulatory hurdles, removing roadblocks to the creation, installation and use of innovative, safe and efficient material handling conveyor solutions.”

Louis Coleman, senior director of sales and marketing at Autoquip, added, “This group has connected us with other VRC manufacturers to ensure we all work toward identifying product standards and to promote the safe use and awareness of VRCs in our industry. It also allows for great dialogue and understanding of the overall conveyor industry.”