Tag Archives: payback period

What information is relevant when deciding whether to laser tattoo fruits and vegetables instead of using paper or plastic stickers?

Every piece of fruit and vegetables sold in U.S. grocery stores has a small sticker on it. These stickers include food type, origin, and whether it was grown organically. Laser Food is a company based in Spain that makes laser marking machines. These Laser Mark machines tattoo every piece of fruit and vegetable with identifying […]

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What information and tools would Delta Air have used when it decided to invest in an RFID-based luggage tracking system for preventing lost bags?

On average, it costs an airline $70 to get a lost bag back to its owner. The airline industry as a whole lost $2.3 billion to mishandled luggage in 2015. Currently, when you check at bag with an airline, a barcode sticker is printed out and stuck on your bag.  On a good day, only […]

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What would the payback period be for a robotic arm used by McDonald’s for food preparation?

A variety of robots were featured at the 2016 National Restaurant Show that could be used for a variety of tasks in restaurants. These robots are being introduced at the same time that we are experiencing an on-going debate in the U.S. about the merits of a national minimum wage of $15 per hour for […]

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How does Washington Township analyze its potential equipment purchases?

Washington Township in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, operates a Transfer Station and Recycle Center that individuals and businesses can use to recycle a variety of items, including electronics, bottles, and cardboard. At the township’s Transfer Station and Recycle Center, a baler is used to compress and bale certain recyclable items for transport.  Typically, balers might produce […]

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