No-Deal Fears Rise as UK Freight Body Seeks Government Clarity

UK trade body the British International Freight Association has demanded that the country’s newly elected government does not inflict a No-Deal Brexit next year. “The mantra of the new government has been ‘Get Brexit Done’ but that will only have any real meaning for BIFA members if the actual details of our future relationship with the EU are clear,” said BIFA Director General Robert Keen (above). “That means providing them with assurances that they won’t face another no deal cliff-edge next year, nor a messy and disorderly exit from the EU.

“For the last three years, freight forwarding and logistics companies have done all they can to prepare for Brexit in the face of huge uncertainties. As the people who facilitate a significant proportion of the UK’s visible trade with the EU (and the rest of the world) they are looking for the government to avoid a no-deal exit from the EU and deliver a smooth transition giving companies time to prepare.”

“As for a future trade agreement with the EU, I would urge the new government to seek and commit to a workable adjustment period once the details are revealed about the changes our members might face in regards to the movement of freight across borders. Now is not the time for arbitrary negotiating deadlines.”

No-Deal Fears Rise as UK Freight Body Seeks Government Clarity

UK trade body the British International Freight Association has demanded that the country’s newly elected government does not inflict a No-Deal Brexit next year. “The mantra of the new government has been ‘Get Brexit Done’ but that will only have any real meaning for BIFA members if the actual details of our future relationship with the EU are clear,” said BIFA Director General Robert Keen (above). “That means providing them with assurances that they won’t face another no deal cliff-edge next year, nor a messy and disorderly exit from the EU.

“For the last three years, freight forwarding and logistics companies have done all they can to prepare for Brexit in the face of huge uncertainties. As the people who facilitate a significant proportion of the UK’s visible trade with the EU (and the rest of the world) they are looking for the government to avoid a no-deal exit from the EU and deliver a smooth transition giving companies time to prepare.”

“As for a future trade agreement with the EU, I would urge the new government to seek and commit to a workable adjustment period once the details are revealed about the changes our members might face in regards to the movement of freight across borders. Now is not the time for arbitrary negotiating deadlines.”

Inther Large-Reach Gantry Robot Processes 1200 Items per Hour

With the announcement of the GRIPP (Gantry Robotic Intelligent Piece Picker), Inther Group claims it has proven once again that it is willing to adapt and innovate in order to meet the requirements of customers.  “The GRIPP has a large reach, is compact,  safe, and processes up to 1,200 items per hour. This is truly a novelty in the logistics world,” it says.

This type of fully automatic picking technology is unique, says Inther, not only because of the large number of  products that can be processed, but also because of the flexible and smart use of the robot.  Regardless of the shape of the product, the gripper can pick up the item. An ‘angle of attack’ has  been built into the software to ensure that the robot approaches the product from the right  direction. As a result, the robot gets a better grip and the error probabilities are significantly  reduced.

Pre‐sorting or buffering is no longer necessary since the GRIPP is able to process products from  one storage bin into twelve order bin locations. The GRIPP also provides a space advantage in the  warehouse due to its compact size. In addition, the robot performs measurements: the weight of  the product, the negative weight when grabbing the product, the length and width and even the  height of the item. This height measurement, conducted with a light sensor, is also unique in the  logistics industry. Through these measurements, the robot determines how quickly it can move a  product (weight‐dependent) and places the various items in the correct bin where they are arranged automatically and as efficiently as possible.

 

Inther Large-Reach Gantry Robot Processes 1200 Items per Hour

With the announcement of the GRIPP (Gantry Robotic Intelligent Piece Picker), Inther Group claims it has proven once again that it is willing to adapt and innovate in order to meet the requirements of customers.  “The GRIPP has a large reach, is compact,  safe, and processes up to 1,200 items per hour. This is truly a novelty in the logistics world,” it says.

This type of fully automatic picking technology is unique, says Inther, not only because of the large number of  products that can be processed, but also because of the flexible and smart use of the robot.  Regardless of the shape of the product, the gripper can pick up the item. An ‘angle of attack’ has  been built into the software to ensure that the robot approaches the product from the right  direction. As a result, the robot gets a better grip and the error probabilities are significantly  reduced.

Pre‐sorting or buffering is no longer necessary since the GRIPP is able to process products from  one storage bin into twelve order bin locations. The GRIPP also provides a space advantage in the  warehouse due to its compact size. In addition, the robot performs measurements: the weight of  the product, the negative weight when grabbing the product, the length and width and even the  height of the item. This height measurement, conducted with a light sensor, is also unique in the  logistics industry. Through these measurements, the robot determines how quickly it can move a  product (weight‐dependent) and places the various items in the correct bin where they are arranged automatically and as efficiently as possible.

 

Transport Market Monitor: Big Increase in Available Capacity

As indicated by the development of the available transport capacity for road transport, the European industry has further cut back production in November in the face of weak export demand and a sluggish economy. In November, the capacity index compared to the previous month rose again by more than 15 percent (source: www.transportmarketmonitor.com).

Since October, the short-term supply of available capacity has increased by more than a third overall. On the other hand, transport prices are still only slightly down (-2.7%). This emerges from current evaluations of the Transport Market Monitor (TMM). The online service is supplied by Tim Consult and generated on the basis of real transport data from the spot market of the Transporeon platforms. Overview of the key developments in November:

• Compared to October, the capacity index has increased 15.4 percent from 111 to 128 index points. The available transport capacity was thus 6.6 percent higher in November this year than in November 2018.
• The transport price index fell from 102.9 to 100.1 index points. This corresponds to a price drop of 2.7 percent. Transport prices were thus 4.2 percent lower than in November 2018.
• The diesel price index was unchanged at 105 index points in November. On the other hand, looking back to November 2018, an increase of 4.8 percent can be observed.

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.

Transport Market Monitor: Big Increase in Available Capacity

As indicated by the development of the available transport capacity for road transport, the European industry has further cut back production in November in the face of weak export demand and a sluggish economy. In November, the capacity index compared to the previous month rose again by more than 15 percent (source: www.transportmarketmonitor.com).

Since October, the short-term supply of available capacity has increased by more than a third overall. On the other hand, transport prices are still only slightly down (-2.7%). This emerges from current evaluations of the Transport Market Monitor (TMM). The online service is supplied by Tim Consult and generated on the basis of real transport data from the spot market of the Transporeon platforms. Overview of the key developments in November:

• Compared to October, the capacity index has increased 15.4 percent from 111 to 128 index points. The available transport capacity was thus 6.6 percent higher in November this year than in November 2018.
• The transport price index fell from 102.9 to 100.1 index points. This corresponds to a price drop of 2.7 percent. Transport prices were thus 4.2 percent lower than in November 2018.
• The diesel price index was unchanged at 105 index points in November. On the other hand, looking back to November 2018, an increase of 4.8 percent can be observed.

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.

Embroidery Firm Sews Up Improved Fulfilment with WMS

A leading US embroidery business has enjoyed considerable improvements in order fulfilment processes, with shipping accuracy now greater than 98%, since switching to a best-of-breed warehouse management system
(WMS) in January 2019.

Z Customization houses more than 3,000 items in its 24,000 sq ft HQ in Carlsbad, California for some of the biggest names in sporting goods.

With business booming, Z Customization required a more robust and accurate fulfilment process for its customers and concluded a Tier 1 WMS was the only way to keep up.

The WMS needed to work for a mid-size business and have the flexibility to scale cost effectively as the company grew. In addition, Z Customization also sought a solution that would help maintain cash flow throughout fulfilment, as well as deliver superior customer service.

With a large number of orders going through embroidery or heat transfer before fulfilment, devising a solution that would improve the flow of goods was a priority. This is where the SnapFulfil WMS was able to customise a routing method that optimised picking and helped move items through production much more efficiently.

The previous paper-based processes were also transitioned to the cloud-based SnapFulfil within just 12 weeks and the proprietary and ERP systems seamlessly integrated. This has facilitated far easier transmission of orders and receipts between the WMS and customers.

What’s more, SnapFulfil has allowed Z Customization to thrive as a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, via much more effective management of its customers’ SKUs. Indeed, year-on-year 3PL revenues growth has almost been quadrupled.

Jon Leposky, Director of Operations & Logistics at Z Customization, says: “One of the best things about SnapFulfil is the ability to automate tasks. Rather than organising things only at a shipment and receipt level, it allows us to break down tasks directly to the operators and this has helped streamline operations tremendously.

“SnapFulfil also has one of the best implementation processes and support systems I’ve ever worked with – from weekly status calls during completion to troubleshooting any issues or answering questions as they arise. We know we can rely on the SnapFulfil team at any given time and that is truly invaluable when it comes to managing fulfilment processes. They’re doing an incredible job at providing customer support.”

Further initiatives in development with the SnapFulfil team include more flexible receiving and providing deeper visibility into fulfilment processes for both operators and customers. Z Customization also plans to add another supervisor audit to ensure that numbers into the WMS are systematically checked and order flow is the best it can be.

Embroidery Firm Sews Up Improved Fulfilment with WMS

A leading US embroidery business has enjoyed considerable improvements in order fulfilment processes, with shipping accuracy now greater than 98%, since switching to a best-of-breed warehouse management system
(WMS) in January 2019.

Z Customization houses more than 3,000 items in its 24,000 sq ft HQ in Carlsbad, California for some of the biggest names in sporting goods.

With business booming, Z Customization required a more robust and accurate fulfilment process for its customers and concluded a Tier 1 WMS was the only way to keep up.

The WMS needed to work for a mid-size business and have the flexibility to scale cost effectively as the company grew. In addition, Z Customization also sought a solution that would help maintain cash flow throughout fulfilment, as well as deliver superior customer service.

With a large number of orders going through embroidery or heat transfer before fulfilment, devising a solution that would improve the flow of goods was a priority. This is where the SnapFulfil WMS was able to customise a routing method that optimised picking and helped move items through production much more efficiently.

The previous paper-based processes were also transitioned to the cloud-based SnapFulfil within just 12 weeks and the proprietary and ERP systems seamlessly integrated. This has facilitated far easier transmission of orders and receipts between the WMS and customers.

What’s more, SnapFulfil has allowed Z Customization to thrive as a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, via much more effective management of its customers’ SKUs. Indeed, year-on-year 3PL revenues growth has almost been quadrupled.

Jon Leposky, Director of Operations & Logistics at Z Customization, says: “One of the best things about SnapFulfil is the ability to automate tasks. Rather than organising things only at a shipment and receipt level, it allows us to break down tasks directly to the operators and this has helped streamline operations tremendously.

“SnapFulfil also has one of the best implementation processes and support systems I’ve ever worked with – from weekly status calls during completion to troubleshooting any issues or answering questions as they arise. We know we can rely on the SnapFulfil team at any given time and that is truly invaluable when it comes to managing fulfilment processes. They’re doing an incredible job at providing customer support.”

Further initiatives in development with the SnapFulfil team include more flexible receiving and providing deeper visibility into fulfilment processes for both operators and customers. Z Customization also plans to add another supervisor audit to ensure that numbers into the WMS are systematically checked and order flow is the best it can be.

“Logistics Leaders Expect More Outsourcing Budget in 2020” says Gartner

Eighty-five percent of logistics leaders expect that their outsourcing budget will increase by more than 5% in 2020, according to Gartner, Inc. Already for 2019, 85% reported a similar budget increase.

“Outsourcing one or more logistics service types has become largely mainstream,” said Courtney Rogerson, senior principal analyst with the Gartner Supply Chain Practice. The question no longer is whether to outsource, but what and how much to outsource. Evaluating different outsourcing strategies has become a priority for logistics leaders.”

Based on the Gartner 2019 Logistics Outsourcing Strategy Survey, one reason for the expected budget increase is that logistics outsourcing supports the business. Approximately 70% of respondents stated that functional, end-to-end (E2E) supply chain and overall business objectives have been met or exceeded with the help of logistics outsourcing counterparts, such as third-party-logistics providers (3PLs).

Technology, Speed and Visibility are Top Priorities
To be effective, the logistics outsourcing strategy needs to be aligned with the overall logistics priorities. Almost half of surveyed logistics leaders stated that updating their technology systems, increasing speed to customer and improving visibility are their most important goals for next year.

“Those priorities show that we are in the thick of the digital era. New routes to market and technology enabled products and services are rapidly disrupting industries and business models,” Ms. Rogerson explained. “To respond to these accelerated and evocative changes, logistics leaders need not only understand the foundational elements of good overall strategy, but also rethink how their logistics outsourcing strategy is assessed and developed.”

“For example, leaders can increase the iterative frequency of strategic planning across multiple time horizons. Rather than treating the outsourcing strategy solely as an annual process, they should include mechanisms, techniques and open communication channels for continuously capturing issues, ideas and insights that will increase the contribution of logistics outsourcing towards meeting the overall business goals.”

While logistics outsourcing is seen as helpful by a majority of logistics leaders, there are also risks and challenges. The complexity of working with multiple partners is the most mentioned challenge, followed by cybersecurity concerns and the incompatibility of information systems between different 3PLs and the organization.

“Low maturity organizations often outsource logistics with unrealistic expectations regarding ROI and service levels,” Ms. Rogerson said. “Outsourcing can help make your organization more efficient, but it requires a high degree of coordination. Make sure you have the appropriate resources and skills at your disposal.”

Exide Awarded Battery Partnership for JCB’s Electric Teletruks

Battery manufacturer Exide Technologies is to power JCB’s new range of electric Teletruks. Under the partnership, Exide’s GNB batteries and high-frequency chargers will be supplied with each new E-TEC forklift rolling off the production line. Exide will also provide exclusive service and support across Europe.

Before being selected, Exide went through a detailed examination of its processes and systems. It was then chosen based on the reliability and performance of its technology, its decades of experience in the electrical motive power market and the high level of support that it offers.

“We’re delighted to have been selected as JCB’s energy storage partner for the E-TEC range, and we look forward to working with JCB as it adds more electric forklifts,” said Vic Sayer, UK Applications and Contracts Manager- Motive Power at Exide Technologies. “Electric forklifts are the future. They help create a cleaner environment, increase safety for workers, reduce noise levels, and make businesses ready for future legislation. They also make it much easier to seamlessly operate inside and outside the warehouse from the same forklift – a major advantage of the JCB 30-19E.”

An energy storage solution based on a GNB Marathon Classic battery was selected for the JCB 30-19E, the first forklift in the E-TEC range. It is paired with an 2100 HP, 3 phase intelligent high-frequency reporting charger, which can recharge it in 8 hours from 80% depth of discharge. A complete battery, charger and BFS watering system comes with every new truck supplied from the UK factory. Integral fork pockets allow battery packs to be easily exchanged from the rear of the forklift.

“JCB serves a global customer base in construction, agriculture and industry. To be successful our customers must be confident in our machines and the components that make up our machines. When JCB is not fitting a component designed and manufactured internally, we partner with a supplier who has the capabilities and drive to deliver on our customers’ expectations globally,” said Paul Murray, General Manager – JCB Teletruk. “In selecting an industrial battery partner, JCB shortlisted the leading manufacturers then benchmarked their products and business capabilities. GNB delivered the performance we were looking for. A global partnership was established, detailed in a service level agreement, which JCB customers will benefit from.”

Subscribe

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