Industry Trends

In‑person event to feature over 1,000 exhibitors, 200 sessions and keynotes from Richard McPhail, Salim Ismail and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. WHEN THE LARGEST manufacturing and supply chain trade event of 2026, MODEX, returns to Atlanta on April 13, it will include over 1,000 exhibitors from leading solution providers and a comprehensive Educational Conference focusing on best‑in‑class solutions for manufacturing and ...

MHI and Oxford Economics release new insights into the material handling sector’s $266 billion GDP impact and its growing role in the national supply chain MHI, IN COLLABORATION with Oxford Economics, has released an updated “Handling the U.S. Economy: The Economic Impact of the Material Handling Industry” report. This in‑depth analysis explores how the material handling sector contributes to the ...

MHI News MHI RECENTLY ANNOUNCED its 2026 Board of Governors and Roundtable Advisory Committee. The Board of Governors consists of the Officers and Board Governors of MHI, plus the chief executive officer and general counsel of the corporation. The Board of Governors serves as the Board of Directors for MHI. 2026 MHI OFFICERS MHI Chair, Brian Reh, CEO, Gorbel Inc. ...

CEO Update In today’s global economy, supply chains are no longer just the backbone of commerce—they are the strategic battleground. As organizations face mounting pressures from geopolitical tensions, shifting tariffs and unpredictable disruptions, the need for end‑to‑end visibility and real‑time transparency has never been more urgent. This issue of MHI Solutions explores how forward‑thinking companies are reimagining their operations to ...

Executive Viewpoint BY BRIAN C. NEUWIRTH There might not be anything more valuable in business than true perspective. If you don’t have it as a leader—if your view is blinkered and narrow—then your work will suffer, as will your business. On the flip side, those who are able to gain a clear‑eyed view of their field and the broader world ...

Safer Handling BY TOM GRESHAM Protective guarding solutions are an essential component of creating and maintaining safe environments in a variety of industrial settings, helping to protect not only workers but the equipment, products and facilities themselves. Due to the vital nature of protective guarding, users need to have the utmost confidence that the solutions they choose are up to ...

Solutions Spotlight   BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT The Scan, Label, Apply and Manifest (SLAM) Industry Group of MHI offers automated solutions for packaging and shipping products from a warehouse—and now the group has established a new committee for automating inbound processes: Warehouse Automated Receipt and Putaway (WARP). WARP is almost an identical process to the SLAM outbound system, except it’s for ...

Product Spotlight The Advanced Energy Council provides education and training on advanced energy technologies and accessories. BY SANDY SMITH There is no doubt that the energy industry has undergone significant changes, and the energy needs of modern warehouses have evolved accordingly. It’s no giant leap, then, to see the need for the Advanced Energy Council (AEC), MHI’s two‑year-old industry group. ...

In 2025, MHI celebrates 80 years of leadership, innovation and connection in the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry. Founded in 1945 in the wake of World War II, the association has grown into a global leader in supply chain innovation, with more than 1,000 member companies shaping the equipment, systems and technologies that keep supply chains moving. From ...

1850—Sir William Fairbairn patents the Fairbairn steam crane. 1908—Hymie Goddard patents the first roller conveyor, allowing for the smooth transport of goods by means of internal ball bearings. 1913—Henry Ford introduces the moving assembly line. 1919—The automotive industry begins using free and powered conveyor lines, introduced by Jervis B. Webb, to handle mass production in factories. 1920s—Conveyors become the primary ...