MX7 said to combine ease-of-use with ruggedness for tough warehouse conditions.
LXE Inc. today extended its line of rugged handheld computers with a Windows CE 5.0-based unit that is powered by Intel Corp.'s XScale PXA255 processor and is aimed at manufacturers with large pick-and-pack operations in a warehouse or distribution center.Designed to maximize comfort in repetitive scan-intensive applications, the operator of the MX7 can use one or two fingers when scanning. The system's molded rubber grip is said to be easy to handle, as well.
The unit's keyboard, moreover, features several programmable one-touch function keys, saving wear and tear on the operator. At the same time, the MX7 is built to withstand extremes of temperature, noise and vibration, the company said.
"For picking applications, the MX7 is a good combination of size, ergonomics, lightness, balance, easy operation and speed," said Mark Dessommes, marketing director for LXE in Norcross, GA. The MX7, which joins the MX5 and MX 6, has a minimum of eight hours of battery life and can go up to a maximum of 10-12 hours, the company noted.
The MX7 is also a fit for factory floor applications where the operator needs to manage inventory coming down the line, scanning the item's bar code before routing it to another location.
The unit has three modes of notification that the scan is complete. First, it beeps loudly enough to be heard in a high-noise environment. It can also be set to vibrate when the scan completes, and, lastly, a light flashes to signify that the scan is finished.
The MX7 has multi-range scanning capabilities that allow it to read bar codes from distances of four inches to 40 feet. This is handy in applications where folk truck operators have to scan items or palettes located on hard-to-reach shelves.
"You can scan from the seat of your fork truck," Dessommes said.
Thanks to the embedded LXE ToughTalk technology, companies can use the MX7 to combine <a href=" http://www.managingautomation.com/maonline/channel/exclusive/read/2719745" target="_blank">voice logistics</a> with traditional bar code scanning applications. ToughTalk contains advanced noise-canceling techniques that enable industrial-grade voice recognition applications.
So, one shift can use the MX7 to do voice-guided picking by attaching a headset to the MX7 (and running appropriate voice software), while a later shift can use it to do standard bar code scanning.
Like the other MX models, the MX7 is not yet equipped to handle RFID. LXE will eventually RFID-enable all of its handheld computers, said Dessommes, though he declined to specify when that capability would be available.
The MX7 will ship in the fourth quarter, with prices starting at $2,200 ($3,200 for a Wi-Fi-equipped model).
MX7 said to combine ease-of-use with ruggedness for tough warehouse conditions.