Subscribe

Month: October 2019

SIL to Make Latin America Debut in Colombia

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The special delegate of the State at the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) and President of SIL, Pere Navarro, together with the managing director of the CZFB and SIL, Blanca Sorigué, has closed an agreement with Corferias to organize a SIL America to take place in Barranquilla on October 22 and 23, 2020.

Corferias has expressed its interest in the CZFB’s know-how in the organisation of fairs, specifically referring to SIL, the Leading Logistics, Transport, Intralogistics and Supply Chain Fair in Southern Europe that has 22 years of experience. The contacting between both parties started at SIL 2019, that last year took place coinciding with the World Summit of International Trade and Supply Chain that brought together, in addition to SIL and eDelivery Barcelona, the World Free Trade Zones Congress, the MedaLogistics Summit, the ALACAT Congress and the AEO International Congress.

Corferias is a private company that promotes industrial, social, cultural and commercial development in the Andean Region, Central America and the Caribbean. Its main objective is to strengthen the cooperation links between Colombia and the world community through the organization of fairs, exhibitions, events and conferences.

Pictured from left : Andrés López, President of Corferias, Juan Esteban, Director of the Barranquilla’s fair venue, Guillermo González Larsen, President of FITAC, Pere Navarro, special delegate of the State at the CZFB and president of SIL, Blanca Sorigué, managing director of CZFB and SIL, and Miguel Ángel Espinosa, CEO of FITAC 

‘Phygital’ Solutions Launched by Automotive Specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

Automotive logistics specialist GEFCO has launched two so-called ‘phygital’ solutions (combining physical capabilities and digital technologies) – on demand services for in-life car logistics and a core freight marketplace.

These innovations are powered by the Group’s 70-year know-how in logistics and the digital skills of partners. Recently acquired by GEFCO, Chronotruck is a digital road freight marketplace that simplifies deliveries for shippers and carriers through robust algorithms that match demand with available supply. Moveecar is a digital platform created by GEFCO and external IT experts* to offer car logistics throughout a vehicle lifecycle for automotive and mobility players.

Innovation through digitalization and selected acquisitions are fundamental to GEFCO’s growth strategy. The introduction of Moveecar and Chronotruck are two solid examples of how the company says it is transforming the logistics sector and bringing new value to customers. “Moveecar is building on our experience in finished-vehicle logistics and end-to-end solutions to unlock the tremendous potential of the used car market,” confirmed CEO Luc Nadal (above). “In addition, Chronotruck’s agile, accessible digital platform ensures that customers have timely answers to their immediate needs.”

Chronotruck: access to the best available carrier at any time

“Chronotruck is a core freight marketplace,” explained Rodolphe Allard, CEO of Chronotruck. Chronotruck connects shippers and carriers through a digital platform using powerful algorithms. “We developed this high-performance solution for shippers and carriers that require timely, cost-efficient solutions. Our service reduces empty truck loads and limits carriers’ carbon footprints, while allowing smaller trucking companies to access bigger customers.”

Shippers can select a carrier for any of their general cargo, ranging from 50 kilos to 28 tons at the right price and the right time. Chronotruck offers access to nearby carriers and a portfolio of digitalised services, including instant price quotes, geo-tracking, proof of delivery and e-invoicing. For carriers, the digital platform offers an opportunity to optimise flows and run trucks at full capacity by taking nearby loads.

Today, truck capacity is hard to find and driver availability is an increasing challenge. When shippers make a request, carriers are geo-localised and respond with instant price quotes. Chronotruck’s marketplace solution enables businesses to choose a carrier at a price and time to suit them. 95% of customer requests find a solution.

“The platform allows all carriers to participate, opening opportunities for smaller carriers to access large customers,” confirmed Rodolphe Allard. “There are no barriers to entry and we do not reuse carrier data. The information we request from the carrier is the same as in traditional logistic transactions.”
Chronotruck serves over 9,000 customers in France and plans to expand its European footprint soon. The digital platform is currently available in seven languages: English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.

Moveecar: in-life car logistics in a click anytime, anywhere

Moveecar’s digital platform enables car-as-a-service (CaaS) players such as car makers, car dealers, fleet managers, rental and leasing companies, auctioneers, e-commerce pure players and mobility players to provide added-value car logistics throughout the vehicle life cycle.

“Not long ago, consumers would buy pre-owned cars through ads in newspapers,” stated Dominque Masutti, Moveecar’s CEO. “Consumers are now turning to the web to shop for new and pre-owned cars and Moveecar’s services will help automotive and mobility players meet customer expectations and generate higher margins.”

Emmanuel Arnaud, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GEFCO added, “There’s an exciting untapped market for Moveecar’s services. Forty-five million pre-owned cars are sold each year compared to 15 million new cars in Europe. Transporting these cars, often in small groups or single deliveries, is complicated. Moveecar leverages GEFCO’s expertise in finished-vehicle logistics to transport them seamlessly within countries and across borders.”

In addition to transporting used cars, Moveecar will roll out additional services that can be activated throughout a car’s lifecycle. Under Moveecar’s “STAART” umbrella, meaning Storage, Transport, Administration, Appraisal, Repair and Travel experience, customers can access services anytime, anywhere. Moveecar is building a network of local partners in countries to offer STAART services. These can be customised and offered under the Moveecar brand or as a plug in to the customer’s brand.

Plastic Pallet Specialist Reels in Tasty New Catch

Posted on by David Priestman

When Goplasticpallets.com was approached by local fishermen in its hometown of Eastbourne who were seeking a durable and all-weather resistant storage solution for their fishing gear, the plastic pallet experts were eager to help.

In Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour there are approximately 32 family owned fishing boats each operating their own static fishing nets, ropes, pots and other kit. With no defined area for storing their fishing gear, a group of the local fishermen recently formed a Community Interest Company (CCI) to purchase and develop an area of land behind The Harvester restaurant in the harbour, which they’ve named Fisherman’s Quay. Building is due to commence next month and once complete the Quay will include workshops, offices, a fish market and shop, a full processing plant and a fishing ‘learning centre’.

Third generation Eastbourne Fisherman, Graham Doswell, contacted Goplasticpallets.com seeking large storage containers that were both big enough to hold a large volume of fishing equipment and completely weather resistant, as they would be stored outside. Goplasticpallets.com recommended its GoPalletBox 1311S 3R Black, the largest plastic pallet box available in Europe measuring 1300mm (L) x 1150mm (W) x 1250mm (H) and offering a whopping 1400 litres of storage space.

Last November Graham ordered 100 of the large pallet boxes with lids and has since ordered eight of the company’s smaller 610 litre GoPalletBox 1210S 3R Blue for transporting fish from the boats straight to the fish market.

Speaking to Graham a year on he said: “In order to develop the site at Fisherman’s Quay, we needed to tidy up the area, and the plastic pallet boxes have allowed us to do just that. We’ve purchased a second-hand forklift telehandler to help move and stack the boxes, which can stack up to eight high, which is ideal to maximise space for the development.

“The large plastic pallet boxes are made from recycled plastic, which is important to us, as we seek to improve the sustainability of the harbour. For instance, all the traditional black net huts being built will be made from sustainable and considerate materials, plus we ensure we recycle all of our fishing net.”

Goplasticpallets.com is just in the process of getting Eastbourne Fishermen signed up to its recycling scheme, which the plastic pallet experts introduced earlier this year to ensure that all the products they supply are responsibly recycled at the end of their use.

For expert advice or to find out more about the company’s recycling scheme, call Goplasticpallets.com on 01323 744057 or email the team at sa***@**************ts.com.

Tails Wagging at US Pet Food Retailer Thanks to New WMS

Posted on by David Priestman

A US pet food and treats retailer has more than doubled its active SKUs to 10,000 and is competing against market leaders Chewy.com and Amazon’s pet e-commerce site Wag since switching to a cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS).

New York-based Petflow, which has distribution centres on both coasts in New Jersey and Nevada, has used SnapFulfil to optimise inventory management, work flow prioritisation and pick paths amongst other things. It now ships quickly and efficiently nationwide direct to shoppers’ doorsteps, either as a one-off or through a convenient subscription commerce model based on an auto-ship delivery schedule.

PetFlow has used the SnapFulfil cloud WMS since 2011 to ensure efficiency and accuracy throughout its order fulfillment processes.

However, in 2017 the scalability and flexibility of the WMS solution came into its own when Phillips Pet Food & Supplies acquired them and SnapFulfil helped to seamlessly leverage PetFlow’s SKU base to deliver an “endless aisle” option.

With orders coming in from pet stores across the US, SnapFulfil helps route Phillips-related orders separately and can dynamically change the return address on shipping labels – allowing all orders to appear as if they’ve come from the Phillips customer directly.

Bryan Abbott, Industrial Engineer at PetFlow, says: “SnapFulfil has essentially seen PetFlow through every phase of our growth. It’s affordable and the ability to scale with our business and customize to our needs has allowed us flexibility and enabled us to sustain high quality results. We’ve made a number of successful process changes through the years and SnapFulfil has been key in each one.

“Implementing a WMS can be daunting, but SnapFulfil is very intuitive and simple to walk through. We’ve had a very easy time onboarding our new employees because of the user-friendly interface design on the RF devices and the pack stations. It also integrated seamlessly with our proprietary system and ERP, which means employees can access critical order fulfillment information in real-time from a central application.”

Through SnapFulfil, PetFlow has established a replenishment system to prevent inefficient picking from higher locations in its warehouse, which are up to 30 ft. It also helps the company know when to increase the batch size of a pick assignment based on the height of the pick tasks.

In the event of an order delay or replacement order, SnapFulfil gives PetFlow the ability to expedite exception work – prioritising at the shipment level and assigning specific orders to specific operators.

More recently, SnapFulfil is helping PetFlow optimise pick paths and batching logic and minimise travel distance on each route. It’s also implemented putaway logic, allowing PetFlow to see optimal slots based on a set of given criteria and to ask for alternate locations.

Tony Dobson, MD at SnapFulfil, adds: “We are looking at a number of exciting initiatives with PetFlow, like developing a way for them to send a message to pack stations based on the order type and telling a packer to put a certain insert or promotional material into a specific order. These enhancements will allow PetFlow to specifically target marketing efforts based on individual customer needs to provide even greater value and a personalised shopping experience.”

New Dolly System Claims to Cut Handling Times by Almost Half

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Alison Handling, which describes itself as the UK’s largest stockist of recyclable plastic storage systems, has launched what it calls a revolutionary new handling system, designed to cut transport times between the warehouse and the shelf. Having worked with a major retailer on the trials, Alison Handling is confident that by using the new systems it will potentially cut staff handling times between the warehouse and the store by approx. 46%.

The new A-Link Dolly is a rack to shelf solution, cutting the need for cage trolleys, and inefficient storage systems.
Glenn Broomfield, managing director of Alison Handling said: “Up until now there hasn’t been an interlinking dolly system designed with all these key features to accommodate these types of storage boxes, which means products are usually stacked inefficiently into a caged trolley to transport from the warehouse into the store. This method is more labour intensive and means that less product can be moved in one go.”

The A-Link Dolly has been over a year in development and testing and represents a major R&D investment for Alison Handling. The system is a unique wheeled dolly, designed to accommodate all types of plastic storage boxes, tote boxes, stack-nest crates, with a feature on the trolley to create location points for castors for safe stacking of the dollies when in storage or returned to store.

In addition to its flexibility, in terms of what can be placed on the dolly, it is also completely flexible in how it can be used. It has a unique feature where it can be interlocked on all four sides with no moving parts, along with the ability to connect dollies to each other in either a portrait and/or landscape shape, giving the operative the opportunity to create a dolly train or a customised formation. This means the dolly is completely flexible, so you can stack boxes at a safe height to transport larger amounts of product from the warehouse to the shelf.

Other features include a removable handle allowing the dolly to be pushed or pulled in either direction, the handle can also be easily removed if when stacked with product, enabling further space saving opportunities during transportation. A recess in the base enabling a label and RFI tag to be applied and a central cavity within the Dolly is there to allow easier access and cleaning. The product is also manufactured from high density Polyethylene to meet hygiene criteria for food handling, the dolly base is fully recyclable and compact for easy storage.

Alison Dearden, commercial director of Alison Handling added: “The A-Link Dolly will potentially revolutionise transportation in warehouse, logistics and stores across all sectors with a need for transporting goods. The fact that the trolley can accommodate all types of storage boxes means that it can be stacked safely up to an agreed safe height and the Dolly has the capacity to take a weight of up to 250Kg, making it exceptionally robust for our customers, enabling more product to be moved in one go. Added to that, with the ability to lock trolleys together on either the short side or long side, means even larger amounts can be moved easily and safely, saving on both labour costs and time.”

Swissport Opens Pharma Centre at Brussels Airport

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Swissport International has opened its state-of-the-art Pharma Centre for temperature-sensitive cargo shipments at Brussels Airport. The new facility offers 3,620 sqm of temperature-controlled warehouse space, providing clients with an end-to-end cool chain. Once completed the cargo complex will boast some 25,000 sqm of warehouse space.

“We can now provide a seamless, high-quality service from the trucks to the aircraft cargo hold,” says Luzius Wirth, Executive Vice President Europe, Middle East & Africa of Swissport International. “We are excited to contribute to a thriving Belgian Pharma Valley.”

It features two areas for the handling of pharmaceutical products. 2,620 sqm are available for shipments which require a temperature range of +15°C to +25°C. This is three times the surface formerly available in this range. Another 1,000 sqm of space are available in the +2° to +8°C range. The facility is equipped with eight dedicated truck docks, allowing for a fully temperature-controlled transfer of containers and pallets to the warehouse, regardless of the outside temperature. The facility’s new, automated material handling system with its 432 rack and ground positions, caster decks and associated forklifts and pallet movers, which are exclusively operated in the high-sensitive pharma area, ensure an efficient and safe handling. Swissport can now offer clients an end-to-end cool chain from the delivery to the warehouse until cargo is loaded into the aircraft.

Belgian Deputy PM Alexander De Croo said: “Belgium is the second largest pharma exporter in Europe and no airport in the world has a better quality track record in temperature-sensitive transport of pharmaceutical products than Brussels Airport. I am convinced that the new Swissport Pharma Center will further boost these important Belgian assets.”

Swissport has signed a 20-year lease contract for the new facilities and is investing roughly 11 million Euros in interior fittings, namely an automated material handling system and special cooling installations. Complete with new forklifts, cargo scales, cleaning equipment and break rooms, the Brussels facility will be state-of-the-art in all aspects.

 

Industry View: The Tech That’s Changing Warehousing

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Graham McCarthy from GSM Barcoding, a provider of barcode systems, solutions and inventory system services, gives an overview of the technology changing the warehouse industry.

Every day, technology becomes more and more crucial in every aspect of how we do business. But perhaps one of the places where emerging technologies are the most prominent is in warehousing and logistics.
Technologies such as robotics, drones, IoT and cloud software are being implemented into warehouses to allow companies to more effectively stay competitive in an ever-changing market. Everything from mobile working to automated systems can help evolve warehouse processes to be more efficient in every way. Companies can reap the benefits of these technologies as they allow them access to crucial real-time data, enhanced communication across all employees, increased sales and customer satisfaction and much more.
Here’s a look at the technologies that are transforming warehouses, making multiple processes speedier, more efficient and virtually error-free.

Tracking Software
Tracking technology is paramount for warehouse operations so they can access and process greater volumes of data at much higher levels, whether it’s distribution information or data regarding stock levels. Tracking software can allow not only the organisations themselves to access crucial data and information, but their customers can also utilise this information when making purchase decisions.
Paper-based record keeping no longer cuts it in the high turnover demands of the modern warehouse where optimised efficiency is necessary for profitable operations.

Mobile Technology
When warehouse workers are tethered to a particular location by wires, they are always going to struggle to make that process as efficient as it could be. Mobile technology and the introduction of wireless devices has improved various roles within the supply chain, freeing up employees and allowing them to perform their tasks from anywhere on the factory floor.

Workers can also access their inventory tracking software from anywhere on the go, allowing them to print labels, scan barcodes and update stock levels all while on the move. With a device now in their hand or strapped to their person and no longer confined to a designated area, they can access real-time information, while also automatically sharing data across devices, so everyone on the warehouse floor has all the latest information, improving communications across the board.

IoT and RFID
Today, it feels like everything is connected to the internet. Who would have imagined that you could control your home’s heating, the lights or even the ceiling fan directly from your smartphone? IoT, Internet of Things, makes these kinds of marvels possible. It opens up many opportunities to streamline processes in the supply chain by connecting devices through the internet to do things such as exchange data and provide real-time tracking.
Combined with RFID, radio frequency identification, which can be tagged to each item in an inventory to provide real-time tracking, you can create a streamlined system for stock location with all the information condensed into an easily accessible database.

Drones
It wasn’t that long ago that drones seemed like a futuristic technology that we wouldn’t see in our lifetime. But now they’re here and are even being used in test trials at Amazon in their own drone programme, Prime Air, as delivery vehicles so consumers can expect their packages in 30 minutes or less.

While these trials continue, drones are still being used in other aspects of business, such as in the warehouses of the supply chain. According to supply chain specialists, a drone can do the work of 100 humans over the same time period. Aerial drones can use optimal sensors to help locate items in a warehouse or gauge inventory levels and transmit that data to the warehouse management system. All of this can facilitate fast detection and prevent inventory mistakes.

At the moment, drone adoption is low, with big players like Amazon leading the way, this is due to drone’s current limitations such as payload capacity restrictions, airspace regulations and concern for public safety. But they are likely to see a considerable surge in usage as the technology adapts and becomes easier to integrate into warehouse processes.

AI and Robotics
We might not quite be at the point where automated workers exist alongside human workers, but robots and AI technology is already making strides in warehouse environments. They are mostly used for specific, repetitive tasks for which they are precisely programmed, to free up human workers to do the more complex jobs that AI is not yet capable of performing. The reason we’re unlikely to see robots performing dynamic tasks for many years yet, is that even the most straightforward process requires complicated, sophisticated software and hardware that simply does not exist yet in a commercial sense.

Like the drone, Amazon is leading the way with robotics in their warehouses. They currently have more than 100,000 small, mobile robots as part of their workforce. These wheeled, Roomba-like bots are called “drives”; at just a foot tall and with flat tops, they carry entire shelving units of merchandise around the factory floor to human workers so that they can fulfil orders. The technology is limited, and they follow set paths around the warehouse, which is a far cry from the fully automated warehouses that Amazon sees in their future.

Robotics and AI are likely to pay a much more pivotal role in the future of logistics and the supply chain as the technology becomes more sophisticated and more widely adopted.

 

Industry View: Packaging Innovations Expo

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Packaging Innovations returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 26 & 27 February 2020. Ahead of its return, Paul MacDonald, Global Brand Director of Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, discusses what can be expected at the show.

Q. Why should the event be marked in all packaging professionals’ diaries?

Our two-day NEC event is the only show in the UK that caters to the whole of the packaging supply chain under one roof. Packaging Innovations, which includes our co-located events Ecopack, Contract Pack & Fulfilment, Label&Print and Empack, enables our visitors to meet with over 300 of the industry’s leading suppliers. The event is a place where they can discover solutions for every aspect of the packaging process, from concept through to fulfilment.

In addition, we have a series of free-to-attend seminars set across four stages, which will enable visitors to hear from industry leaders, innovators and policy influencers as they put some of the sector’s most pressing issues under the microscope. There will also be numerous networking opportunities across both days, allowing the packaging community to come together and do business.

Q. Plastics in packaging and sustainability are hot topics in the industry right now. How will the issue of eco-friendly packaging be tackled at the show?

The topic of sustainable packaging is something everyone is talking about, and not just within our industry. With leading decision-makers in the room, the show offers the perfect opportunity for the packaging community to convene and talk about how we can be more eco-conscious at every point on the supply chain.

We are dedicated to providing insightful, cutting-edge information to our visitors, so we work with leading experts to ensure our content tackles the industry’s biggest challenges and current trends. As part of this, we host an annual Ecopack Advisory Board which offers us the opportunity to discuss the hottest issues in sustainability with the industry’s brightest minds. Our most recent meeting gathered the likes of WRAP, WWF, OPRL, ThePackHub and the Recycling Association to talk about the wider issues in creating sustainable packaging. This was invaluable in offering a unique insight into the challenges currently facing brands, with waste management, consumer education and readjusting the ‘plastic phobia’ mentality all flagged as key issues that need to be addressed by the wider community.

These discussions have helped inform our eco focus at the show, which has been devised to offer a balanced view of the sustainability debate. Our Big Plastics Debate offering has evolved for 2020 in order to move the conversation forward, and will return as The Big Debate. These sessions will take a holistic view of the sustainability discussion, as speakers explore the wider impact of plastic and its alternatives, as well as tackling the complex issue of creating a solution that is truly eco-friendly at every point in the supply chain. Discussion points will include zero-carbon targets, future-proofing packaging and convenience vs sustainability.

Q. What can visitors expect to see at the show this year?

With five co-located events under one roof, the show floor will feature over 300 suppliers, many of which will launch their latest innovations live at the event. As well as a wealth of leading exhibitors, we will host our CPD accredited seminar programme which will discuss topics from concept and design through to print and logistics. Our series of dedicated industry forums will take place across both days and have been designed to offer tailored advice for the food, drink, beauty, pharmaceutical, and e-commerce sectors.

The Education Hub will also make its NEC debut. We hosted the feature in collaboration with Earth Island at our London show in September with great success. It has been designed to connect students and apprentices with industry experts to inspire the next generation of packaging professionals and is an area we are particularly proud to be supporting.

Alongside all of this, we will host a number of networking opportunities, including our networking drinks at the end of day one – which we invite all visitors and exhibitors to attend.

Q. What news is there on suppliers?

After a record-breaking 2019 event, we are excited to be welcoming back over 75 percent of last years’ exhibitors. We will also be hosting a number of new suppliers which together will provide a wide variety of expertise for visitors. Some of those joining us at NEC include: RPC M&H Plastics, AEGG, Nulogy, Charpak, Ampacet, Sirane Group, Innovate UK, Schur®Star Systems, AstroNova, Foxpak Flexibles, Simply Cartons, Staeger Clear Packaging, Macpac, Dantex, Epsom, IST, Codeology, Denny Bros, Lemonpath, Automated Packaging Systems, KTEC Group and Yorkshire Packaging Systems. With many more names still to be announced, it is certainly an event not to be missed.

BlueBotics Celebrates 10 Years of ANT Vehicle Ops

Posted on by David Priestman

AGV and AMR specialist BlueBotics, is celebrating ten years since the first vehicle driven by its Autonomous Navigation Technology (ANT®) went into commercial operation. The company has also announced its ANT® lite+ and ANT® localisation+ products’ new support for omnidirectional vehicle movements.

The first ANT® driven vehicle to go into commercial operation was an Esatroll general-purpose Paquito AGV. This was installed at Dal Colle (Barilla Group) in Italy in 2009. Since then, as of October 2019, over 1,750 ANT® driven industrial vehicles have been commissioned at sites around the world. These installations span five continents and numerous commercial applications, ranging from shop floors and warehouses to cleanrooms, hospitals and data centers.

“A primary reason for our success is the robustness of our ANT® navigation solution. As customers often tell us when choosing to partner with BlueBotics, the platform just works,” said the CEO of BlueBotics, Nicola Tomatis. “AGV makers also appreciate the close, professional integration support we offer. This is crucial to the success of a project, whether a customer is developing a brand new AGV, upgrading an existing AGV’s navigation or automating a manual vehicle.”

Also driving the company’s continuing growth, Tomatis adds, is the fact that BlueBotics’ guidance technology suits virtually every type of AGV, environment and application: “We have modules such as ANT® lite+ integrated in 100 kilogram AMRs for cleanroom applications, while other customers are using ANT® to guide huge vehicles that regularly move loads of 25 tons or more.”

Omnidirectional movement
BlueBotics also announces today its ANT® platform’s newly-expanded support for omnidirectional vehicle movements. Previously available within the company’s ANT® localization solution, omnidirectional movement is now supported by BlueBotics’ entire range of navigation products, including ANT® lite+ and ANT® localization+.
“In most cases our customers develop vehicles based on tricycle or differential drive kinematics. For these models, ANT® lite+ is typically the optimal solution,” Tomatis explains. “However, there are exceptions—sites where omnidirectional movement makes all the difference—such as ultra-complex environments or older sites that cannot easily be optimized for AGV use. That’s why, as always, we’ve listened closely to our customers and expanded our platform’s omnidirectional support. With the latest version of our ANT software, manufacturers can reap all of the space-saving benefits that omnidirectional AGVs can bring, programming these movements simply and efficiently at the click of a button.”

Ground Support Equipment Specialist Selects Camso Tyre

Posted on by David Priestman

Camso’s Solideal AIR 561 ground support equipment tyre is to equip TLD’s new driverless baggage tractor TractEasy – which has been developed in collaboration with EasyMile, as well as its Jet-16 baggage tractor, their flagship vehicle. Since June 2019, both ground support equipment pieces come standard-fitted with Solideal AIR 561 full assemblies (tyres and wheels).

“We’re impressed with the dedication of Camso’s development team in designing not just a long-life solution, but one that tackles the specific challenges of ground support applications,” explains Yves Crespel, Communication Director at TLD. “With the Solideal AIR 561, we’re confident customers will be equipped with a performing solution that will lower their overall operating costs.”

Camso’s ability to provide a long-lasting tyre specifically designed for this GSE application was a determining factor in this partnership. The Solideal AIR 561 is the ideal solution to meet the baggage tractors’ unique set of requirements for versatility and manoeuvrability. These vehicles were previously equipped with block tread pattern tyres, which are poorly suited for the high-speed, long distances, and short-turning radius of these machines, causing uneven wear of the tyres, which leads to recurring vibration issues. In the case of the Jet-16, this affects driver comfort and results in lower tyre life – all of which triggered TLD to investigate a more suitable and performing solution.

The Solideal AIR 561’s distinctive ribbed tread pattern minimizes vibration due to uneven wear and reduces snaking, two important challenges when operating on airport grounds. It provides greater stability, ensuring increased operator comfort and tyre life. Its energy-efficient rubber compound also helps reduce wear and rolling resistance, while its unique “lug with sipes” design increases traction in low-grip conditions.

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.