One of North America's biggest materials handling events, MODEX 2016, is starting its last day at the Georgia World Congress Centre. It has attracted around 25,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors.

There were a host of new product debuts at MODEX and here are some of the highlights.

Yale incorporated equipped with Nuvera's PowerEdge fuel cells

Yale Materials Handling Corporation unveiled robotic forklift technology in the form of its MPE080VG end rider Driven by Balyo .
The infrastructure-free navigation technology requires no tape, wire or magnets for guidance. Instead, it relies on existing structural features such as walls, racking and columns to self-locate and navigate.
The truck is equipped with both manual and automatic modes for efficient operation in shared environments alongside employees and manually operated trucks. The Balyo architecture can also scale according to operational demands, providing the flexibility to manage a single truck or an entire fleet.
Yale also showed its comprehensive suite of alternative power solutions, including lithium-ion battery technology, hydrogen fuel cells, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Attendees got to see Yale's lithium-ion battery pack with extended run times, excellent charging capabilities and a small footprint. The batteries last up to five times longer than traditional lead acid batteries, reducing downtime and expensive battery replacements.
"Alternative power solutions for lift trucks are the wave of the future, not only reducing environmental impact, but offering significant value in terms of reduced operating costs and increased productivity," says David McNeill, manager of product strategy for Yale.

Hyster also showed a variety of power sources, from hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts to lithium-ion batteries.
The display included a Hyster E50XN electric truck with a Nuvera PowerEdge hydrogen fuel cell. Nuvera PowerEdge fuel cells provide a clean, safe and efficient power option for electric lift trucks, with water and heat as its only byproducts.
Hydrogen-powered forklifts can operate almost continuously, only having to stop periodically to refuel. For operations with onsite hydrogen generation, refuelling can be achieved in about three minutes, compared to changing out a battery, which can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
The Hyster W45ZHD walkie pallet truck, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, was also on show, along with a H360-36/48HD big truck with Tier 4 Final Cummins QSB 6.7L diesel engine. The H360-36/48HD series features an integrated drivetrain with emission reduction package.
Hyster's PSI engine was also on show, powering the new H50XT truck.

Baoli D+ Series KBG25

KION North America Corporation showed off three new Baoli brand products: the EP15 Citymover and EP20 pallet lift trucks and the KBET18 three-wheel electric counterbalance forklift.
Baoli entered the US market late last year with the D+ Series Model KBG25.
The Baoli EP15 is a 3,000 lb. (1,360 kg) capacity pallet lift truck, powered by a 24 v battery, and ideal for light-duty jobs.
The Baoli EP20 model, equipped with an AC drive motor, offers a more substantial load capacity of up to 4,000 lb. (1,815 kg). It delivers the power and performance needed for a warehouse truck.
The Baoli KBET18 48 v counterbalance forklift is the brand's first electric forklift to be introduced in North America. The AC dual-drive motors with SME controllers provide excellent power and increased productivity, allowing for continuous operation during day-to-day jobs.

KION also showed off two new Linde forklift series - the Series 1169 Electric Walkie Stacker and the Series 1276 80 v electric truck.
Designed specifically for the needs of the North American market, these new products are part of KION's long-term strategy to develop a more comprehensive product portfolio.
The Linde Series 1169 24 v truck features a Linde controller, sealed AC motor, sealed connectors, stability castor and residual capacity that can outperform the competitors.
The Linde Series 1276 is the latest addition to the company's electric counterbalance line-up. It includes twin drive motors, a combi axle and an 80-volt AC electrical system.

Big Joe displayed two additions to its Joey family of vehicles, the J1-190 and J2-72 and a new PDSR30 walkie reach truck.
The J1-190 is the tallest version of the J1 series, can reach a working height of 22 ft. (6.7 m) and is able to accommodate a larger battery for extended run times. The new J2-72 Joey is a low-level order picker that features a 2,000 lb. (907 kg) total vehicle capacity and the ability to lift 1,500 lb. (680 kg) pallets up to 72 in. (1.8 m).

Plug Power showed its latest GenDrive fuel cell system.

Plug Power, a leader in clean, reliable energy solutions, showcased its next-generation GenDrive 3340 class-3 pallet jack fuel cell solution.
The latest GenDrive fuel cell system features a new advanced control system, improved system fuel efficiency, and real-time communication capability when paired with Plug Power's intelligent GenFuel hydrogen infrastructure products.
The GenDrive 3340 fuel cell holds enough fuel to sustain a pallet jack for an eight-hour shift. Fuelled in approximately 90 seconds, GenDrive reduces vehicle and personnel downtime. Power remains consistent during the shift and throughout the life of the product.
The GenDrive 3340 has a wide operating temperature range and is designed for use in freezer applications as low as -30 °C.

Automated materials handling solutions and software supplier Intelligrated showcased its comprehensive line-up of order fulfillment solutions including Intelligrated pick- and put-to-light systems, GoKart mobile picking carts and its GoalPost LMS software that "enables managers to implement a culture of accountability and continuous improvement and create an attractive work environment that incentivises performance".
"The volume and complexity of today's e-commerce operations requires a variety of flexible fulfillment technologies working together to deliver maximum speed and accuracy," says Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager, Intelligrated Software. "Intelligrated Software is in a unique position to deliver a single-source solution with simplified support and accountability, backed by the technical and integration expertise necessary to drive consistent results."

Together with iWAREHOUSE, Raymond showed an integrated multifunctional display

iWAREHOUSE teamed up with Raymond Corporation to unveil the first truck model featuring an integrated display for its telematics functionality. The display offers operators the ability to toggle between forklift operations information, a height-tilt indicator and the Raymond Vantage Point operator camera system displays. The display effectively streamlines multiple display hardware on forklifts into one unit, thereby increasing operator visibility and minimising the number of instruments with which the operator needs to interact.
"Since launching in 2008, iWAREHOUSE has pushed the materials handling industry forward by unleashing the power of data-driven insights to help make operations more accountable, productive and effective," says Jim O'Brien, vice president of telematics with The Raymond Corporation. "Now, we've put our unmatched industry understanding to work by enabling the iWAREHOUSE display to integrate with other display systems. It is an ideal solution for managers who want to get the most from their operations with minimal setup time."
The updated iWAREHOUSE display is a factory-installed, user-friendly 7 in. (17.5 cm) full-colour touch screen.

Rugged computer manufacturer JLT Mobile Computers showed its latest innovations at MODEX 2016. These included the JLT 1214P logistics computer with virtually unbreakable touch screen, the JLT VERSO+ 10 computer with logistics dock and the MT1010 rugged Windows tablet, a device slightly larger than a Microsoft Surface tablet, but able to withstand a drop of up to 6 ft. (1.5 m) onto concrete.

Forkliftaction News will include a wrap-up of the event next week.