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Month: October 2019

JCB Launches Second Electric Teletruk at IMHX 2019

Posted on by David Priestman

IMHX 2019 saw the launch of a second electric-powered JCB Teletruk telescopic lift truck – the JCB 35-22E. It has a lift capacity of 3.5 tonnes and joins the JCB 30-19E battery powered model which was added to the award-winning Teletruk range earlier this year.

JCB’s Teletruk General Manager Paul Murray said: “The JCB Teletruk has revolutionised materials handling operations in builders merchants, ports, recycling centres and industrial facilities around the world since it was first unveiled in 1997 and the introduction of these electric machines means that Teletruk technology can now be deployed both inside and outside the warehouse, distribution centre or factory facility to deliver the ultimate in materials handling versatility.”

He added: “The new battery-powered telescopic forklifts bring the proven advantages of the unique Teletruk to applications where zero emissions and near silent operation greatly improve working conditions for the operator and other personnel working in the same area, while also benefitting the wider environment.”

The new JCB 35-22E’s power is provided by an 80-volt lead acid battery which can work a full eight-hour shift on a single charge. The battery compartment is positioned at the rear of the truck and has been designed to allow quick and easy battery changeover. Using a single point hoist or another lift truck, the battery can be swapped in around two minutes – ensuring truck uptime is maximised.

Thanks to its electric driveline, the new JCB 35-22E can climb a 21% gradient or ramp with ease and, when required to work outside, the truck’s fully sealed, weather-proof body protects the driveline and other key components from the elements.

The JCB 35-22E Teletruk is fitted with JCB’s LiveLink telematics system as standard allowing real-time measurement of energy consumption and detailed analysis of machine utilisation. With its iconic telescopic forward reach boom, the JCB Teletruk was developed as an alternative to the conventional lift truck, which, of course, has a front-mounted mast that raises and lowers loads only vertically.

The forward reach functionality makes the Teletruk the ideal choice of lift truck at sites where containers, curtainsided trailers, vans and other delivery vehicles have to be loaded and unloaded quickly, safely and efficiently.

Port of Rotterdam Introduces Track & Trace Containers

Posted on by David Priestman

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

Posted on by David Priestman

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

Posted on by Paul Hamblin

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.

Case Study: Helly Hansen opts for UniCarriers once more

Posted on by David Priestman

Norwegian clothing manufacturer Helly Hansen operates most of its company fleet at its European distribution centre in the Dutch town of Born. The fleet has been upgraded in close cooperation with UniCarriers, its main forklift truck supplier. Helly Hansen thus benefits from a modern fleet which meets its requirements and provides an optimum logistics framework for the coming years.

In 2011, Helly Hansen moved from its existing European distribution centre (EDC) in Echt in the south-eastern Netherlands to a new, larger facility in neighbouring Born as a result of sustained company growth. “We were bursting at the seams at our old location. We had also centralised our warehouses at the time,” states Hans Heijdeman, EDC Operations Manager at Helly Hansen. Workwear stocks were warehoused at a separate distribution centre in Sweden until 2011, but they are now stored together with sports clothing at the Born EDC. Spread over 20,000 m2, the EDC boasts 60,000 storage spaces and houses 24,000 stock-keeping units. The centre holds a total of 2.5 million items in stock. Helly Hansen ships around 320,000 packages and 17,000 pallets to customers throughout Europe and Russia from its EDC every year. Growth continues unabated. The company recently expected an increase in turnover between 10 and 15 percent for sports and work clothing alone.

Excellent partnership
Helly Hansen has placed its trust in UniCarriers handling equipment to manage all incoming goods and orders for many years. “We have an excellent working relationship. We work together with our key account manager at UniCarriers to optimise our fleet on a continuous basis. Our partner is also highly flexible if we need additional forklifts to deal with spikes in orders, for example. The UniCarriers service technician who has assisted us on site for years is equally as important, if not more. He’s a true specialist, a perfect fit for us on both a professional and personal level. He is pro-active, deals with problems, no matter how small, and is now highly familiar with our specific wishes and requirements,” declares Heijdeman. In view of this experience, it was only natural for the operations manager to turn to UniCarriers again when it came to upgrading the fleet. The forklift manufacturer supplied more than 40 new vehicles for the upgrade. Consisting of five reach trucks, two electric forklifts and 36 low-, medium- and high-level order pickers, the fleet has been leased for a time period of 72 months, including service agreements and battery management. Helly Hansen and UniCarriers have also agreed to hold a six-monthly review, during which they talk about the use of the forklifts and any damage.

In-house transport scrutinised
“We took a close look at our in-house fleet when we replaced our forklifts,” states Denis Rutten, Supervisor at the EDC. “We worked together with UniCarriers to study aspects such as how we could make our employees’ workstations as ergonomic as possible. This not only involves control systems, but also things like having enough storage space.” Helly Hansen attaches great importance to sufficient space in the vehicle not only for a wide variety of tools and resources, but also for empty packaging. A great deal of packaging from incoming goods is reused for both reasons of cost and, of course, environmental concerns. “The extremely large storage compartments and flat vehicle body parts in trucks are ideal for us,” declares Rutten.

Smooth fleet operation
If nothing else, the new vehicles are significantly quieter and more comfortable. They are equipped with all the necessary scanners plus the Blue Spot optical warning system, which ensures maximum safety in the warehouse. Blue Spot projects LED light spots onto the warehouse floor to warn employees of approaching vehicles. The reach trucks also feature colour cameras which guarantee an optimum view for drivers, even when they are placing goods in storage at a great height. Thanks to the new fleet and the associated leasing agreement, there is now no stopping smooth in-house transport operations over the coming years. “We now have an optimum logistics set-up and plan to stay at this location for another six years at least. The company is expanding and we will continue to rely on support and assistance from UniCarriers for this growth,” stresses Heijdeman.

Successful IMHX for Yale Europe Materials Handling

Posted on by David Priestman

Yale Europe Materials Handling says it enjoyed a successful IMHX 2019, which took place from 24 – 27 September at the NEC in Birmingham. Yale worked closely with its UK partner, Briggs Equipment, to deliver an event that showcased a range of materials handling solutions, as well as the benefits of a close manufacturer-partner-customer relationship in driving productivity.

Taking place every three years (and biennial from 2021), IMHX is the UK’s largest event for logistics and supply chain professionals with tens of thousands of visitors estimated to have passed through the exhibition’s doors.

Yale Brand Manager, Iain Friar, said: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our return to IMHX for another fantastic event. We’ve demonstrated a wide range of solutions for boosting productivity, from robotics and alternative power solutions, to pallet and Very Narrow Aisle trucks – as well as the customer success stories of our longstanding partnership with Briggs Equipment.”

Close partnership
“At Yale, we pride ourselves on the close relationship we enjoy with Briggs Equipment, who help to deliver our company philosophy of “People. Products. Productivity.”, said Iain. “Our combined understanding of our customers’ industries and the challenges they face, enables us to offer the ideal solution for their application, coupled with the ongoing support of a knowledgeable, experienced dealer.”

Marston’s is a prime example of this close partnership. As a trusted supplier, Briggs was invited to Marston’s West Thurrock facility to advise on how to make the best use of their warehouse space. Briggs quickly grasped the challenges of the brewery’s site and supplied a range of customised Yale® equipment, including LPG forklifts with keg clamps, low level order pickers, and reach trucks. Marston’s is no stranger to Yale products, and its nationwide fleet now stands at over 200 Yale trucks, all of which are serviced and maintained by Briggs engineers.

To demonstrate the success of this ongoing partnership between Briggs, Marston’s and Yale, Marston’s kegs were the load of choice for the Yale® MP20 pedestrian pallet truck on display at IMHX. This proved to be a useful icebreaker with new prospects looking to find out more about how the pedestrian pallet truck and precision control tiller head can help optimise productivity in their operations.

A pallet of sweet treats, kindly provided by another Yale customer, could also be spotted on the Yale MTC13 Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) truck. Capable of lifting up to 17m, Yale VNA trucks offer greater cube utilisation by optimising pallet storage and retrieval at high levels and in very narrow aisles. This allows warehouse managers with limited space to fully utilise it and increase storage density.

UK debut for Yale robotics
Yale displayed its robotic MC15 counterbalance stacker for the first time in the UK. Visitors watched as the counterbalance stacker autonomously lifted a pallet from racking and carried it across the stand, simulating a warehouse application.

“The robotic counterbalance stacker generated a great deal of interest. Visitors were particularly curious about how the Driven by Balyo technology enables it to operate without the need to install additional infrastructure, and were impressed to hear how easily the truck can switch between manual and autonomous modes” said Iain.

Yale robotic trucks are a cost-effective solution for applications seeking increased uptime and productivity, without the additional cost of installing and maintaining a dedicated physical infrastructure. The trucks use existing structural features to generate their own map of the working environment, so there is no need to bury wires in the floor or mount reflectors on the walls.

The current Yale robotics fleet includes a counterbalance stacker, tow tractor, and low-level order picker, all of which can integrate fully with existing Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, allowing real-time adjustments to be made.

Going green
Alternative power solutions continues to be a growing topic within the materials handling industry and Yale industry experts were on hand to discuss the most appropriate energy solutions for specific applications at IMHX. This year the Yale stand featured an all-electric line-up, including a lithium-ion powered MP20 pedestrian pallet truck.

Iain Friar concluded: “It was a pleasure to speak to both new and existing customers at IMHX and have the opportunity to demonstrate how the close partnership we have with our dealers can benefit them. We are passionate about providing tailored solutions, helping operations maximise their productivity and efficiency, without compromising on ergonomics or total cost of ownership. We are already looking forward to returning to the next IMHX!”

 

End-to-End Container Visibility Offered by Key Players

Posted on by David Priestman

FourKites, a leader in predictive supply chain visibility, and Ocean Insights, the leader in ocean freight intelligence, today announced an exclusive partnership to transform container visibility. The strategic partnership creates a plug-and-play deployment model that integrates Ocean Insights’ superior ocean freight tracking data with FourKites’ real-time visibility platform to offer domestic and international logistics professionals true end-to-end visibility, from global seaports to final destinations worldwide.

By combining FourKites’ unparalleled network of more than 260 global shippers with Ocean Insights’ real-time container tracking capabilities globally, import and export teams can now rely on a single system for door-to-door tracking.

Through real-time visibility and advanced analytics, FourKites and Ocean Insights customers can now better manage detention and demurrage costs. And by utilizing FourKites’ comprehensive dashboards, they can improve operational performance and reduce operational costs.
“We’re excited to now offer true door-to-door capabilities to our customers via the integration of our superior ocean data, together with FourKites’ over-the-road data and powerful predictive platform,” said Dr. Felix Richter, CEO of Ocean Insights.

“This partnership gives FourKites and Ocean Insights customers powerful new capabilities to track cargo and notify downstream supply chain stakeholders of potential delivery disruptions,” said Mathew Elenjickal, CEO of FourKites. “Now, supply chain professionals can better manage their operations and unlock value through a single, consistent visibility platform, regardless of international and domestic responsibilities.”

Since launching five years ago, FourKites has pioneered the industry shift to real-time visibility, enabling shippers to improve on-time delivery and optimize their supply chains based on actionable data and predictive intelligence. With a network that now includes more than 260 of the world’s top shippers, including 18 of the top-20 food and beverage companies and nine of the top-10 CPG companies, FourKites tracks more than 600,000 shipments every day.

Operating on a global scale, Ocean Insights collates millions of data points and provides actionable insights into ocean freight for the logistics industry to improve visibility, transparency, and efficiency. Ocean Insights has pioneered the integration of carrier information and actual vessel whereabouts, providing carrier-neutral, real-time information of all shipments across all major international and regional ocean carriers, as well as container status updates and predicted ETA. Logistics teams all around the globe can get insights into freight movement and overall supply chain transparency that enable them to improve their day-to-day and long-term strategies.

Transport Market Monitor Now an Interactive Online Tool

Posted on by Paul Hamblin

Tim Consult has developed the Transport Market Monitor (TMM) into an interactive, web-based analysis tool. The TMM is a unique tool in the market with transport data from additional industries and numerous routes.

Tim Consult, a subsidiary of Transporeon, has developed the proven, quarterly information service Transport Market Monitor (TMM) into an interactive digital database. Through an intuitive user interface, registered users can view detailed charts containing price and capacity development for numerous industries and different country-country combinations. Shipping companies can thus compare development of their own transportation costs with index-based market figures. Carriers have the advantage of firming up their competitive position with a market-appropriate price strategy.

“The digital TMM is unparalleled on the market”, says Oliver Kahrs, General Manager of Tim Consult, the market intelligence consulting company belonging to Transporeon. “No other supplier has as broad a database of industries, regions and transportation connections. Moreover, only valid market data from real shipments are included in the TMM. We give market participants valid and precise insights into developments in the transportation market to create market transparency in a unique breadth and depth. That makes the TMM a uniquely valuable information source for shippers and logistics service providers”, says Kahrs with satisfaction.

The TMM brings together data from up to 150,000 road-bound freight orders across all industries, which are processed monthly over the spot market by Transporeon, Europe’s number one for cloud-based transportation logistics services. The TMM uses an index to compare the data on a time axis.

Information on monthly price and capacity developments in the road-bound transportation market can be filtered according to numerous sectors and depicted graphically. The database has been massively expanded by digitalizing the TMM and transportation data from additional industries, such as the chemical, automotive or consumer good sectors are now included in the TMM. Until now, only quarterly developments in the timber, building materials and paper industries were considered in the TMM.

Shippers, carriers and all other market participants can subscribe to the new and highperformance online service at www.transportmarketmonitor.com.

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