New UK Engineering Centre for Curtis Instruments

Curtis Instruments Inc. has announced the establishment of the Curtis UK Engineering Centre (UKEC). The UKEC is a new Research & Development Engineering facility that will be located in the Newcastle / Sunderland area of England, a region that is rapidly developing into a high-technology hub.

The UKEC aims to expand Curtis’ industry-leading position as an expert electrification partner to OEMs and EV system suppliers. The UKEC will also significantly strengthen Curtis’ ability to provide first-class systems engineering services to the major UK & European vehicle and mobile machinery manufacturers.

This new engineering facility will work closely with existing Curtis global engineering teams in California, New York, Switzerland, and China, deepening the company’s powertrain electrification competencies. Ties with local colleges and universities will provide opportunities at the vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The UKEC will be a business unit of Curtis Instruments UK Ltd. in Northampton, England. Founded in 1974, Curtis UK is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and operates as the sales, technical support and logistics hub for Curtis in the UK and Ireland.

Curtis is now actively recruiting innovative and capable engineers with mobile electronics experience to join the UKEC team. Further information on the opportunities available can be found in the careers section on our website www.curtisinstruments.com

Germany, France and Benelux Feeling Economic Headwinds, Says Timocom

Germany, France and the Benelux states are feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown. So say the current numbers on the Timocom transport barometer which the IT company uses every quarter to document the development of transport offers and requests on Europe’s largest freight exchange.

The number of freight offers made on the market via Timocom from the beginning of April to the end of June 2019 was 20 percent lower than in the same quarter last year. “The US government’s protectionist economic policies are hampering global trade, which in turn reduces the amount of goods exported. Export oriented countries such as Germany, France and the Benelux states are suffering the worst effects,” says Timocom Business Analyst David Moog.

In total, the freight smart app, which companies can use to place and manage their freight transport offers on the freight exchange, hosted 21,817,810 offers in the second quarter; the number of offers for the same period last year was 27,565,605. Moog reports that the decline is largely affecting the transport of industry and investment goods, from the supplier industry among others.

The impending Brexit is also taking its toll. “After transport to Britain increased in the first quarter as companies increased the amount of goods in stock, we are now seeing a market downturn,” reports Moog. For example, the number of exports from Europe to Britain in the second quarter decreased by 56% in comparison to the same quarter last year, according to Timocom.

This despite the export developments in Southern Europe. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece transported significantly more goods to other European countries this quarter than in the previous year, with a growth of 21%. Moog: “The fruit and vegetable season in these countries is in full swing.”

The transport barometer is an instrument used by the IT company to analyse, per quarter, trends in transport offers and demand as found on the freight exchange, part of the Timocom Smart Logistics System. With more than 130,000 users and up to 750,000 international freight and vehicle offers daily, Timocom is the largest digital system for road transportation of goods in Europe.

Inkjet Printing Allowed on EPAL Pallets From Next Month

EPAL has decided to allow EPAL pallets to be marked using inkjet printing from August 1st – marking using branding continues to be applicable.

Inkjet printing will be permitted for marking corner and central blocks and has been included in the EPAL Technical Regulations. Until now the marking on the corner blocks (EPAL in oval) and on the central blocks (IPPC/ISPM 15 and EPAL ID number) has been applied exclusively by branding. Jens Lübbersmeyer, Head of the Technical Department at EPAL reports, “Inkjet-printing technology on wood and woodchip blocks has continuously improved in the past few years. The quality of inkjet printing now meets EPAL’s requirements for printing pallet blocks.”

With the introduction of the new EPAL CP pallets it has become essential that the marking can be applied to smaller blocks and blocks with differing sizes. The newly approved inkjet printing ensures the quality of the marking matches the quality of the pallets and can also be used for marking the intelligent pallets being developed in the EPAL Lab.

“The approval of inkjet printing is an important component to help in the research project with the Fraunhofer IML, which we got off the ground in the last year.” says Christian Kühnhold, EPAL CEO. “In the future, inkjet printing can open up new and different possibilities in marking, which can help achieve users’ requirement for clear marking on EPAL pallets.”

To start with, inkjet printing is limited to the production of EPAL pallets only. The individual approval procedure for inkjet printing starts in August 2019. Both the approval of inkjet printing and the continuous monitoring of pallet- and marking quality is part of EPAL’s quality assurance system: nearly every licensee – from a total of more than 1,500 worldwide – is inspected at least once a month.

Doosan Leads with Six Industry Zones at IMHX

Doosan, the leading manufacturer of robust high performance forklift trucks, is to create six industry zones on its huge 658 sq m stand at IMHX 2019 (Hall 19, Stand 19G80).

Set to be one of the largest stands at the show, each zone – spanning Manufacturing, Construction, Agriculture, Transport, Warehousing and Aviation – will display Doosan’s best-in-class solutions specific to the sector. The machines on show will be kitted-out with attachments appropriate to typical industry applications, offering visitors the chance to see the optimum handling solutions for enhancing performance in each industry.

The very latest counterbalance and warehouse truck models will be available to see, from the new feature-rich B15R-7 three-wheel and B45X-7 four-wheel series of electric forklift trucks, right up to Doosan’s powerful, heavy-lifting diesel and gas models – including Doosan’s giant 25 tonne capacity counterbalance forklift, the DV250S-7, which will be hard to miss. However, there will be more than just counterbalance trucks to see.

In advance of the highly anticipated launch of its new range of warehouse trucks, Doosan will be offering a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come by debuting three new models in the walkie and stacker powered pallet truck range – the BPL18/20S-7 with lateral drive, the BPM20S-7 with middle drive, and the BDL13S-7(H) double stacker. All three pedestrian operated trucks reflect Doosan’s renowned design characteristics of compact functional form, high maneuverability, durability and rugged, reliable performance.

Also making its debut at IMHX in September will be Doosan’s new versatile, 1,500kg capacity electric pallet truck – the BPSC15E-7 lateral drive, which has a built-in charger, long-life batteries and a compact chassis for extra maneuverability.

As a rapidly growing part of Doosan’s UK business, Rushlift GSE – the specialist airport ground support equipment subsidiary – will have a strong presence on the Doosan stand in the Aviation zone. Representatives from the Rushlift GSE team will be available to discuss both long and short-term rental and leasing arrangements for airport ground support equipment.

In the Future Zone, visitors to the Doosan stand will be given the opportunity to see the future of materials handling, with a large-screen video display highlighting some of the transformational technologies Doosan is working on to drive productivity in the warehouse and in the yard. Automation and lithium-ion power are just two aspects of a journey of discovery that will highlight the scale and scope of Doosan as a $21 billion global engineering business, involved in everything from power plants, engines and construction equipment to consumer goods.

Electric power may be gaining wider acceptance in heavy-duty applications, but diesel is set to remain a significant power source for heavy handling tasks for some time to come. Demonstrating Doosan’s commitment to clean diesel performance, the company is to show, for the first time in the UK, its new Euro Stage 5 engine – designed by Doosan to comply with the latest stringent EU emission standards.

Visitors to the stand will also get the opportunity to see, first hand, Doosan’s new B15R-7 Series advanced 3-wheel electric counterbalance truck, with a capacity range from 1.25 – 1.6 tonne. The compact and versatile truck is particularly well suited to the diverse needs of the small business – and being battery powered, offers the clean handling performance demanded by the Food & Drinks sector.
As a tough all-rounder, durability for outside duty is assured with a rugged rear-drive axle, IP65 rated Curtis controller and IP20 PAL brushless AC motors – offering maximum resilience to water and dust. It has a tight turning circle, smooth and responsive acceleration, and a conveniently placed direction switch on the hydraulic control lever for switching direction of travel quickly and easily.
Doosan’s powerful new range of four-wheel electric counterbalance forklift trucks – the B45X-7 Series – will also be available for close inspection on the stand. The new model offers greater durability, enhanced productivity, increased visibility and an extensive range of safety features as standard.

With four new models covering a capacity range from 4.0 – 5.0 tonne, businesses across a broad spectrum of industry – from manufacturing, wholesale distribution and food & drink to engineering, building supplies and transport & warehousing – will benefit from the improved capability, power and performance of Doosan’s latest mid-range electric trucks. The versatility of electric power is now available in a durable and reliable vehicle, built for working long-shifts outdoors in wet or dusty conditions – making it a viable alternative to increasingly regulated IC Engine equivalents.

Brian Grady, Sales and Marketing Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicle UK Ltd, says: “This year at IMHX, we hope to demonstrate to our fast-growing UK customer base that Doosan has an established and rapidly expanding portfolio of materials handling equipment, designed and built to drive performance in just about every industrial sector. IMHX gives us a valuable platform to display our latest product advances, and allows visitors to see first-hand, the strong design features that make Doosan products the robust, reliable, high-performance workhorses favoured by a broad cross-section of industries.”

Spanish Storage Systems Expert AR Racking Confirms for IMHX

Spanish storage systems expert AR Racking has confirmed it will be present at IMHX, the largest event within the logistics and supply chain industries in the UK. This year, more than 400 companies will be present.

AR Racking – with a commercial presence in more than 60 countries – confirms its commitment to the UK market with a continuous growth in the investment made in business infrastructure. The company has recently expanded its sales team at the UK with the addition of Ian Humphries as National Key Account Manager.

It will display its wide range of solutions and services ranging from the design and planning of storage systems to its installation and implementation at the Stand L100 in Hall18, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. AR guides all phases of the project to increase the competitiveness of the client’s facilities and equipment through effective solutions with high quality standards.

For AR Racking it is important to keep in touch with its current customers in the UK by constantly proposing solutions that help them meet their growth goals. At the AR Racking Stand at IMHX, AR’s UK team will advise visitors on the best solutions to cover different types of storage needs, offering a specialized service that covers all the project phases.

AR Racking is part of the Arania Group, an industrial group of companies of great experience and scope, with a multi-sectoral activity based on the transformation of steel that dates back more than 75 years. AR Racking provides the market with a wide range of solutions with high certified quality standards. It has a fully automated production plant and its own R&D&I technology centre. AR Racking has developed an innovative traceability procedure which means that beams and uprights have a unique identifying serial number. It also produces as standard all its racking in a pre-galvanised finish to ensure optimal storage even in extreme temperatures. Being part of a large steel group and having an in-depth knowledge of the composition and behaviour of materials give AR Racking high reliability when it comes to meeting delivery deadlines.

Austria Tool Specialist Kellner & Kunz Expands with TGW

Kellner & Kunz, an Austrian specialist for tools, fastening technology and C-parts is preparing its central logistics in Wels, Upper Austria, for the future – with the help of TGW know-how. The European hub of Kellner & Kunz is located in the immediate vicinity of TGW: Both companies have a long-standing business relationship. In establishing the basis for future growth, Kellner & Kunz has decided to expand the existing warehouse by adding state-of-the-art automation. Construction work in Wels has already begun, and by April 2020 a high-performance solution through combining an automated mini-load warehouse with the shuttle system will be in place.

Kellner & Kunz AG was founded in 1922 and is now a leading supplier of tools, fastening technology, and C-parts. The company supplies craftsmen, manufacturing companies, and the automotive sector. In 2018, the company, which is part of the international RECA-Group, showed a turnover of more than EUR 273 million and a workforce of about 1,300 employees. Customers in Austria and Europe are supplied from the Wels headquarters with over 120,000 products. Speed and short throughput times are crucial for this.

Customised logistics concept

The growth of recent years has increasingly pushed intralogistics to its capacity limits. Therefore, Kellner & Kunz decided to extensively expand the existing plant with a powerful and at the same time flexible combination of a miniload warehouse and a shuttle system. This solution allows for high throughput and fast throughput times – thereby laying the foundation for efficient delivery. TGW technology ensures optimum performance through smooth interoperability.

“The order is a great vote of confidence for TGW, and a further step in our long-standing partnership,” confirms Johann Steinkellner, CEO Central Europe at TGW. “Kellner & Kunz will benefit from significantly increased performance thanks to the custom-made system and is thus ideally positioned for the future. We are particularly pleased that the new system will be working in the immediate vicinity of TGW.”

The automated miniload system is equipped with 15 Mustang Evolution storage and retrieval machines in an anti-pendulum version. The solution is supplemented by a shuttle system with four aisles, 62 Stingray shuttles, and 17,000 storage locations. The functional areas are connected to energy-efficient KingDrive® conveyor technology, and TGW Commander handles control of all processes. The scope of supply also includes six high-performance TGW PickCenter.

Full service contract for 10 years

Kellner & Kunz will also rely on TGW’s expertise for Lifetime Services support – within the framework of a 10-year service contract. The package includes hotline, maintenance, on-site technicians as well as spare parts management.

Hiab Signs Record-Breaking €60 Million Moffett Deal with US Customer

Hiab, part of Cargotec, has signed a record-breaking agreement to supply MOFFETT M8 55.4 NX truck mounted forklifts with one of the largest home improvement chains in the USA. The deal includes five year ProCare Essential service contracts and HiConnect equipment for each unit. Total order value is over EUR 60 million. In the second quarter, EUR 31 million was booked in the order entry with EUR 29 million booked for the third quarter.

This is Hiab’s largest ever commercial deal and ProCare contract agreement, as well as the biggest single order for the Truck Mounted Forklift Business Line. Deliveries are expected to start in the third quarter 2019 and continue until May 2020. When complete, the customer will have updated a significant portion of their fleet with new connected equipment. This will enable them to collect data from a substantial part of the fleet to improve productivity, safety and get service alerts based on actual usage.

“I’m really proud that Hiab US has secured the biggest commercial order in Hiab’s history, and humbled by the confidence that has been shown in the team, our truck mounted forklifts and service excellence. We look forward to continuing to provide our long standing customer with world class products and services, so they can deliver on their promises,” says Barry McGrane, Vice President North America, Hiab.

“This is a true milestone for MOFFETT. Hiab US has landed a fantastic agreement in cooperation with the MOFFETT assembly site Dundalk. I would like to thank everybody involved from sales, to planning, and to the assembly line,” says Alexander Gelis, Director Sales and Product Business Truck Mounted Forklifts, Hiab.

MOFFETT M8 NX can transfer heavy loads quickly and safely, even across challenging terrain. While the M8 NX is incredibly powerful, it is still compact enough to be carried on almost any truck or trailer. All MOFFETTs are compliant with Tier 4 emission standards in North America & Canada and European Stage V regulations.

fulfilmentcrowd Signs First International Logistics Partner

The UK’s leading provider of fulfilment services and technology, fulfilmentcrowd, has laid the foundations for its own international ambitions and those of its eCommerce clients with the opening of a new partner fulfilment centre in Germany.

The brand-new facility is operated by FairPack GmbH and strategically located in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia on the Netherlands border, which is within easy reach of all major European transport hubs.

Compared to the UK, the German eCommerce market is currently worth £57.9billion (€64.7billion). With a population that exceeds 81 million people, compared to the UK’s 67 million, the eCommerce market in Germany, and its surrounding European countries, is expected to grow 9.7 per cent over the next 12 months alone.

With a well-established and proven fulfilment sharing model, entry into the fast-growing German eCommerce market is a logical step for the Lancashire-based company, as sales & marketing director, Lee Thompson, explains: “We’ve been researching emerging markets for some time and every study suggested that Germany was the right place to start our international development. It is already the most popular export destination for our clients and despite 85% of the population having access to the internet, the eCommerce market is still only a third size of the UK. This growth potential presents huge opportunities for service providers like ourselves and FairPack, and lays the foundation for exciting international expansion plans.”

All sales and operations for the new centre will be managed in Germany, whilst onboarding and technical support will be provided by staff at fulfilmentcrowd’s Chorley HQ in the UK.

A new German-language website has also been launched (www.fulfilmentcrowd.de) and all finances will be transacted through a new group company, fulfilmentcrowd GmbH.

The new centre offers existing fulfilmentcrowd clients the opportunity to locate stock, handle returns and cost-effectively deliver next day into Germany. The local market also provides significant growth opportunities in the onboarding of new German eCommerce clients that are searching for a fulfilment partner with the scalability and infrastructure to meet their own growth strategies.

Lee Thompson continues: “I’m confident that online retailers in Germany will be attracted to our unique proposition of consistent pricing, simple contracts and guaranteed service levels and we’re fortunate to have found a partner in FairPack who shares our values, culture and entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Joining the fulfilmentcrowd alliance is a positive step for FairPack, as director, Patrick Vonk, explains: “The world of eCommerce is getting more competitive by the month, and we felt it was important for us to be part of a larger group in order to access the best technology, expertise and economies of scale. We are both proud and excited to be a fulfilmentcrowd network partner.”

Clark Europe Expands Sales in Barcelona with New Partner

With Serema S.A., Clark Europe GmbH has found a new sales partner for Spain. The experienced materials handling specialist based in Rubí, Barcelona is taking over the sale and service of Clark materials handling equipment in the Barcelona region.

On the occasion of signing the contract, Rolf Eiten, President & CEO of Clark Europe GmbH, said: “We are delighted to have found in Serema a partner with many years of experience in the materials handling business who can competently support our customers in the Barcelona region. With this strategic partnership, we can further expand our presence in Europe and explicitly in the Spanish market.” With Serema, Clark now has a total of 10 dealers in Spain.

Montse Padrós, CEO of Serema S.A., commented on the partnership with Clark: “We are delighted to be part of the Clark family now. Clark has not only made a name for itself with more than 100 years of know-how in the field of materials handling equipment, but today also stands for a wide range of counterbalance and warehouse trucks as well as a high degree of professionalism. Clark’s striving for high product quality and durability is perfectly in line with our principles of working closely with our customers, providing them with professional and efficient advice and always offering them a high quality technical service.”

Competent partner with high quality standards

Serema S.A. was founded in 1986 and has its headquarters in the Catalan city of Rubí in northeastern Spain, about 32 km from Barcelona. The company premises include an office building with offices for employees and a training room, a modern workshop, a warehouse for the rental fleet of around 200 trucks and a spare parts warehouse with around 6,000 parts. With a total of 17 highly qualified and committed employees – including seven service technicians – the company is a reliable and competent partner for its customers. Its core business includes the sale, rental and servicing of new and used industrial trucks. Serema is an ATEX specialist and has an ATEX-certified technical team that specializes in carrying out professional repairs on explosion-protected trucks. As a Clark dealer with more than 30 years of experience in the market, Serema will offer its customers not only complete materials handling solutions, including the delivery of test trucks, but also sound advice and a comprehensive range of services relating to Clark materials handling vehicles.

Synergy to Debut Robotic Fulfilment Cart at IMHX

Synergy – the company behind the award-winning SnapFulfil WMS – is debuting its innovative robotic fulfilment cart at IMHX (Stand 6E178).
SnapCart is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that can significantly reduce pickers’ daily walking distance from as much as 15 miles to 1 mile.

Adopting a ‘man-to-goods’ approach to multi order picking and automation, SnapCart is a low-cost and low-risk solution. Warehouses can gradually integrate the collaborative robots without making any costly infrastructure changes.

Synergy chairman, Hugh Stevens, explains: “SnapCart utilises an intuitive ‘cellular picking’ method whereby the picker is allocated a confined cell in the picking area. Similar to Uber, the nearest picker is assigned to SnapCart and instructed to perform the picks just for this cell. A unique light-bar, controlled by the SnapFulfil WMS, displays which items are required ensuring high productivity and accuracy.

“Whereas many AMRs have been developed from a robotics standpoint, SnapCart is application led and has been specifically engineered for the demands of a featureless warehouse environment.

“At 48 totes, it carries more than any other man-to-goods cart on the market. The motors and sensors are engineered to automotive industry standards, while Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) navigation technology ensures safe and efficient manoeuvring at all times.”
Designed to enhance picking, rather than replace warehouse operatives, SnapCart has an easy-to-use interface, so staff can be trained within minutes. Carts can be added as needed to manage start-up costs and scalability.

Visit https://www.snapfulfil.com/solutions/snapcart/

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