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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 

SIL to Make Latin America Debut in Colombia

Posted on by David Priestman

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 sales@goplasticpallets.com.

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 sales@goplasticpallets.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.”

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.”

New Dolly System Claims to Cut Handling Times by Almost Half

Posted on by David Priestman

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 David Priestman

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.

 

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