Although many people think of the automotive industry first when they hear the phrase “aftermarket parts,” almost every industry has some form of aftermarket presence, and the beverage industry is no exception, says Joseph Stroup, director of business development for FBN Inc., Plainwell, Mich.

Accumulating 130 additional SKUs within the last five years to reach nearly 500 total SKUs, Beverage Industry Bottler of the Year Swire Coca-Cola USA was pressed to find a warehousing solution to accommodate this proliferation.

As beverage-makers continue to expand their brands with new variations and launch new products into the marketplace, lab testing equipment retains its ever-important role in the industry.

American retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. has made millions by allowing children to create their new best friend in-store. However, the fun, frivolity of kids “stuffing” their fuzzy companions sometimes can result in toys that are busting at the seams.

Before finalizing new beverage product concepts, beverage-makers need to consider the capabilities of the contract manufacturers and packagers (co-packers) with which they work, according to experts.

Just like Rosie the robot maid from the 1960s cartoon “The Jetsons” helped the Jetson family with the housework and sometimes the parenting to ease the pressures of home life, robots in the beverage industry are helping to make industrial life a bit easier.

Distribution centers are losing an average of nearly $390,000 every year due to mis-picks, according to a study conducted by Everett, Wash.-based Intermec Inc.

According to Dow Water and Process Solutions, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., water makes up 90 percent of most beers and can determine the type of beer brewed.

In the game of Jenga, players have to be nimble in order to keep the wooden tower from collapsing. In a beverage warehouse, forklift operators must possess this same quality for a more serious purpose — transporting product without causing damage. And just like Jenga, in the game of material handling, every move counts.

In the interest of creating a more efficient warehouse, reducing cost, and improving speed, 74 percent of warehousing, manufacturing and distributing professionals surveyed last fall by the MHI Automation Alliance said they are planning or considering an automated project for their facility, according to MHI, Charlotte, N.C.