Day: 9 October 2019

Dutch system integrator VanRiet premiered its new small parcel sorter, the HC Smalls Sorter, at the Parcel+Post Expo last week. Tailored to the special needs of the courier, express and parcel industry, it is designed to enable the damage-free transport of small and light parcels in rough environments, such as parcel delivery.

‘With the rising volumes of smaller items, changing packages and ongoing need for short delivery times, we see that having an automatic solution for the sortation of smalls is no longer a wish, but a must-have for our customers,’ says Frank Engelen, Product Manager at VanRiet.

The HC Smalls Sorter’s special feature is its narrow-profile infeed belt, which transfers small packages smoothly to the sorting deck. The advanced design of the sliding shoes combined with rounded slats prevents thin packages from getting caught under the conveying elements, and the overflow conveyor belt can process the entire range of packages.

The technology used in the new system is based on VanRiet’s flagship HC Sorter. As a result, it is robust and also features the patented fully closed deck. This prevents dirt and cardboard pieces from getting stuck in the system. It also contributes to low noise levels and safe working conditions for distribution staff. The HC Smalls Sorter achieves its high throughput thanks to its maximum speed of 2.0 m/s. Due to the new switching system, it is possible to place outfeeds every 650 or 900 mm along the main conveyor line. With these short outfeed pitches less floor space is needed. Its modular design allows for easy customer-specific configuration of the standard components. Moreover, the sorting system can be extended and synchronized with other shoe sorters.

Dutch system integrator VanRiet premiered its new small parcel sorter, the HC Smalls Sorter, at the Parcel+Post Expo last week. Tailored to the special needs of the courier, express and parcel industry, it is designed to enable the damage-free transport of small and light parcels in rough environments, such as parcel delivery.

‘With the rising volumes of smaller items, changing packages and ongoing need for short delivery times, we see that having an automatic solution for the sortation of smalls is no longer a wish, but a must-have for our customers,’ says Frank Engelen, Product Manager at VanRiet.

The HC Smalls Sorter’s special feature is its narrow-profile infeed belt, which transfers small packages smoothly to the sorting deck. The advanced design of the sliding shoes combined with rounded slats prevents thin packages from getting caught under the conveying elements, and the overflow conveyor belt can process the entire range of packages.

The technology used in the new system is based on VanRiet’s flagship HC Sorter. As a result, it is robust and also features the patented fully closed deck. This prevents dirt and cardboard pieces from getting stuck in the system. It also contributes to low noise levels and safe working conditions for distribution staff. The HC Smalls Sorter achieves its high throughput thanks to its maximum speed of 2.0 m/s. Due to the new switching system, it is possible to place outfeeds every 650 or 900 mm along the main conveyor line. With these short outfeed pitches less floor space is needed. Its modular design allows for easy customer-specific configuration of the standard components. Moreover, the sorting system can be extended and synchronized with other shoe sorters.

Global 3PL Geodis has joined forces with French chemical industry giant Arkema to test potential post-Brexit customs arrangements on the French border. Geodis says it is now ready to support its customers for customs and transport operations involving the United Kingdom, whatever the Brexit scenario.

In the context of the restoration of a border between the United Kingdom and the European Union, French customs authorities have developed a computerised system known as the ‘smart border’ which automates the border crossing for freight vehicles. Since September, French Customs have been organizing a series of full-scale simulations with all the players concerned – including transporters, loaders, customs representatives and customs clearance software providers – to test the new system under the most realistic conditions possible.

Geodis and Arkema jointly participated in operational trials on 24 September, running a shipment of goods from the Arkema plant in La Chambre, south eastern France, to the United Kingdom under the conditions of a post-Brexit export operation. They had to evaluate the advance transmission of customs documents, the coordination of logistics, the matching of customs data with that of the vehicle, and the actual crossing of the border. All of these tests were successfully achieved, they say, enabling the shipment to cross the border safely and smoothly.

Industry wearables innovator ProGlove has launched the Reel, designed to be quickly accessible via a lanyard or belt-clip, making it ideal for those organisations with low-frequency scanning environments such as product returns or quality control. Its customisable attachment positions ensure there is no contact with the scanned items and therefore targets organisations that handle highly sensitive elements. Reel works with all scanners of the MARK product family, and sells for €89 Euros each.

Featuring a pull-to-scan function, Reel triggers the scan engine when the highly durable 70 cm Aramid thread is pulled. Additionally, the new wearable comes with an extra release button. Reel enables workers to quickly and easily scan items within their reach, without having to carry a heavy, bulky, conventional pistol scanner.

Fives, an international partner for automated intralogistics solutions, introduced a major innovation at Post-Expo last week.

The autonomous mobile robot (AMR), called GENI-Ant, can transport and sort both standard and extremely small, unstable items, while allowing high speed and capacity.

“We are the best in class for cross belt sorters and singulation solutions. With the GENI-Ant we accompany the evolution of the market and propose the first AMR able to be loaded automatically “on the fly” giving more efficiency to intralogistics operations, said Fabio SACCHI, New Application Director at Fives Intralogistics SpA

The parcels can be loaded onto the GENI-Ant manually by an operator or automatically with an automated induction line. GENI-Ant is free to move in the operational area according to a navigation map and optimized travel paths. It can adjust speed according to different needs like for unstable parcels or when it is approaching the parcel loading/unloading area.

The battery is recharged while vehicles run their operations thanks to an extremely innovative recharging system. This allows to work without spare robots to keep up operations when any recharge is needed.
Single or double cell

GENI-Ant can be equipped with one sorting cell (cross belt) or with two stand-alone cells to enable sorting of multiple items.