Port of Rotterdam Introduces Track & Trace Containers

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has today launched ‘Boxinsider’, an application allows shippers and freight forwarders to see where their containers are located at any given moment. Not only is this much more reliable than the approach used until now, it is also much more user-friendly and efficient than collecting information yourself from all kinds of sources.

‘When I order a book online, I can almost follow the package live,’ explains CEO Allard Castelein. ‘With Boxinsider, we are now presenting a similar solution for containers. By developing digital applications, we are making our port even more efficient, safer and more reliable. Solutions like Boxinsider are good examples of this transition and so they are a perfect match with our ambition to be the world’s Smartest Port.’

Time-consuming and error-prone Most shippers, freight forwarders and other users still collect information manually from a range of websites about where their containers are located. That is timeconsuming and error-prone. It can also cause planning errors and have costly consequences. Boxinsider puts an end to all that. Drawing on status information from container vessels and inland and deep-sea terminals, it can track containers, and determine expected and actual arrival and departure times for vessels, as well as container unloading and departures at container terminals. Users are warned about any delays or disruptions.

Clear picture ABC Logistics from Poeldijk is one of the ‘launching customers’ and it has seen the benefits of the system. ‘Boxinsider gives us – quickly and with minimal effort – a clear picture of the containers that we can expect at the various Rotterdam terminals,’ says account manager Remco Verwaal. ‘It really is a very user-friendly application.’

Boxinsider works as a stand-alone application but it can also be integrated with existing systems using a link.

Port of Rotterdam Introduces Track & Trace Containers

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has today launched ‘Boxinsider’, an application allows shippers and freight forwarders to see where their containers are located at any given moment. Not only is this much more reliable than the approach used until now, it is also much more user-friendly and efficient than collecting information yourself from all kinds of sources.

‘When I order a book online, I can almost follow the package live,’ explains CEO Allard Castelein. ‘With Boxinsider, we are now presenting a similar solution for containers. By developing digital applications, we are making our port even more efficient, safer and more reliable. Solutions like Boxinsider are good examples of this transition and so they are a perfect match with our ambition to be the world’s Smartest Port.’

Time-consuming and error-prone Most shippers, freight forwarders and other users still collect information manually from a range of websites about where their containers are located. That is timeconsuming and error-prone. It can also cause planning errors and have costly consequences. Boxinsider puts an end to all that. Drawing on status information from container vessels and inland and deep-sea terminals, it can track containers, and determine expected and actual arrival and departure times for vessels, as well as container unloading and departures at container terminals. Users are warned about any delays or disruptions.

Clear picture ABC Logistics from Poeldijk is one of the ‘launching customers’ and it has seen the benefits of the system. ‘Boxinsider gives us – quickly and with minimal effort – a clear picture of the containers that we can expect at the various Rotterdam terminals,’ says account manager Remco Verwaal. ‘It really is a very user-friendly application.’

Boxinsider works as a stand-alone application but it can also be integrated with existing systems using a link.

Data Capture Solution Adds Zest to Spanish Citrus Giant

Spanish citrus giant Fontestad claims that Datalogic Matrix 300N cameras have enabled the company to improve quality objectives while saving resources and time at its processing facility. The new solution unifies all Fontestad’s processes into a single automated system and provides real-time information about production, including the location and productivity of their operators, who help the company to produce over 160 million kilograms of oranges per year.

Due to growth in the volume of pallet traffic and a constant rise in production, Fontestad was looking to implement additional automation into its production facility. The desired solution needed to eliminate existing manual processes, which had a high risk of information loss, and allow production information to be associated with individual operators.

In addition to seeking a solution that would allow them to monitor operator productivity, Fontestad needed a solution that would cope with changeable ambient lighting throughout the day, a challenge that complicated the decoding of barcodes. It was also important that the new solution could be integrated with its existing automation system, used for the accurate tracking and tracing of produce throughout the facility. Datalogic proposed Matrix 300N fixed 2D readers as the most versatile solution for different reading and data capture points throughout the production process.

As soon as boxes filled with fruit arrive from the field, they are labelled with all the details about their origin and other information necessary for their traceability. Then the fruit is pre-calibrated and stored in cold rooms, or vice versa. Once pre-calibrated the fruit is re-labelled with the quantity and date ready to make the different types of products for sale. Once the boxes are made, they are labelled once more and ready for order preparation. The Datalogic Matrix 300N cameras also allowed easy integration with Fontestad’s existing system and the programmable reader meant that Fontestad’s own IT department could configure the devices to meet their needs.

The liquid lens embedded within the Matrix 300N and autofocus functionality allows greater depth of field to capture data accurately at variable reading distances, and its high capacity and speed of decoding barcodes frees up the resources of the Fontestad computer system. In addition, integrated, self-adapting lighting eliminates image capture problems and ensures successful reading regardless of ambient light changes throughout the day.

Fontestad now has a unified system with integrated Datalogic cameras, allowing them to control all processes, from stock management to production and productivity control. With the aid of the Matrix cameras, Fontestad can track what each operator has produced and analyse of the cost of labour. Operators control a screen that indicates the stock level, assigns stock to orders before they start producing and allows them to see what they have left to produce. In addition to capturing data, the automated system at Fontestad has built-in Datalogic safety curtains to guarantee the protection of each operator throughout every stage of the production process.

“Datalogic devices have helped us reduce the resources used and improve the results. The solution allows us to have real time information of our processes and to know the location and productivity of the operators,” comments Fontestad’s Director of Production.

Data Capture Solution Adds Zest to Spanish Citrus Giant

Spanish citrus giant Fontestad claims that Datalogic Matrix 300N cameras have enabled the company to improve quality objectives while saving resources and time at its processing facility. The new solution unifies all Fontestad’s processes into a single automated system and provides real-time information about production, including the location and productivity of their operators, who help the company to produce over 160 million kilograms of oranges per year.

Due to growth in the volume of pallet traffic and a constant rise in production, Fontestad was looking to implement additional automation into its production facility. The desired solution needed to eliminate existing manual processes, which had a high risk of information loss, and allow production information to be associated with individual operators.

In addition to seeking a solution that would allow them to monitor operator productivity, Fontestad needed a solution that would cope with changeable ambient lighting throughout the day, a challenge that complicated the decoding of barcodes. It was also important that the new solution could be integrated with its existing automation system, used for the accurate tracking and tracing of produce throughout the facility. Datalogic proposed Matrix 300N fixed 2D readers as the most versatile solution for different reading and data capture points throughout the production process.

As soon as boxes filled with fruit arrive from the field, they are labelled with all the details about their origin and other information necessary for their traceability. Then the fruit is pre-calibrated and stored in cold rooms, or vice versa. Once pre-calibrated the fruit is re-labelled with the quantity and date ready to make the different types of products for sale. Once the boxes are made, they are labelled once more and ready for order preparation. The Datalogic Matrix 300N cameras also allowed easy integration with Fontestad’s existing system and the programmable reader meant that Fontestad’s own IT department could configure the devices to meet their needs.

The liquid lens embedded within the Matrix 300N and autofocus functionality allows greater depth of field to capture data accurately at variable reading distances, and its high capacity and speed of decoding barcodes frees up the resources of the Fontestad computer system. In addition, integrated, self-adapting lighting eliminates image capture problems and ensures successful reading regardless of ambient light changes throughout the day.

Fontestad now has a unified system with integrated Datalogic cameras, allowing them to control all processes, from stock management to production and productivity control. With the aid of the Matrix cameras, Fontestad can track what each operator has produced and analyse of the cost of labour. Operators control a screen that indicates the stock level, assigns stock to orders before they start producing and allows them to see what they have left to produce. In addition to capturing data, the automated system at Fontestad has built-in Datalogic safety curtains to guarantee the protection of each operator throughout every stage of the production process.

“Datalogic devices have helped us reduce the resources used and improve the results. The solution allows us to have real time information of our processes and to know the location and productivity of the operators,” comments Fontestad’s Director of Production.

Providers Agree Roaming Partnership for UK and Nordic EV Drivers

A group of Europe’s leading smart charging solutions providers have pledged to open their networks for drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Nordic countries through a roaming partnership by the end of 2019. Initiators of this initiative to open up their charging infrastructure are Allego, EVBox and NewMotion. Together with Charge4Europe, Chargemap and ChargePoint they want to make a statement on how easy access to charging infrastructure will help improve the switch to e-mobility for drivers in the Nordic countries and the UK.

When implemented, the agreement will mean EV drivers in the region only require a single subscription to access public charging stations operated by any of the signatories. In addition to accepting each other’s subscribers, the operators will share charging station information so data can be used to improve the charging experience for customers. This will make it easy for EV drivers to see where and if a charge point is available for charging and what a charging session will cost at the specific charge point.

The Nordic countries and the UK currently trail behind other European markets in terms of interoperability agreements. Currently, EV drivers need memberships to multiple different operators to be able to fully access every available public charge point. This has created an inconsistent experience for customers, whereas a more joined-up, consumer friendly public charging network could make EVs more desirable. Moreover, interoperability agreements in markets such as the Netherlands, France and Germany have been accredited with fuelling the switch over to EVs.

Creating a more joined-up and coherent public charging network is especially critical for the UK, which has stated an intention to remove traditional combustion engine vehicles from its roads by 2040. On a European level it is expected that by 2025 there will need to be at least 1.2 million public charging stations to meet the growing need for EV charging.

Providers Agree Roaming Partnership for UK and Nordic EV Drivers

A group of Europe’s leading smart charging solutions providers have pledged to open their networks for drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Nordic countries through a roaming partnership by the end of 2019. Initiators of this initiative to open up their charging infrastructure are Allego, EVBox and NewMotion. Together with Charge4Europe, Chargemap and ChargePoint they want to make a statement on how easy access to charging infrastructure will help improve the switch to e-mobility for drivers in the Nordic countries and the UK.

When implemented, the agreement will mean EV drivers in the region only require a single subscription to access public charging stations operated by any of the signatories. In addition to accepting each other’s subscribers, the operators will share charging station information so data can be used to improve the charging experience for customers. This will make it easy for EV drivers to see where and if a charge point is available for charging and what a charging session will cost at the specific charge point.

The Nordic countries and the UK currently trail behind other European markets in terms of interoperability agreements. Currently, EV drivers need memberships to multiple different operators to be able to fully access every available public charge point. This has created an inconsistent experience for customers, whereas a more joined-up, consumer friendly public charging network could make EVs more desirable. Moreover, interoperability agreements in markets such as the Netherlands, France and Germany have been accredited with fuelling the switch over to EVs.

Creating a more joined-up and coherent public charging network is especially critical for the UK, which has stated an intention to remove traditional combustion engine vehicles from its roads by 2040. On a European level it is expected that by 2025 there will need to be at least 1.2 million public charging stations to meet the growing need for EV charging.

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