Editor Allan Leibowitz comments on the news of the week

We recently noted the large volume of new products hitting the market, and it looks like the trend is continuing. This week, we again highlight a few new offerings in various materials handling categories, showing the resilience and resourcefulness of the industry. Despite slowing orders and sales in many markets, it looks like the manufacturers are planning for the future - continuing their R&D and maintaining the pace of their model roll-outs. One has to wonder, however, if the pace of product announcements is also influenced by the cancellation of many trade shows. In the absence of deadlines attached to the shows, manufacturers are free to release new models when they are ready, rather than at a time determined by the events calendar.