Rolls-Royce Places First Order with Synthetic Container Specialist

German synthetic container specialist Auer Packaging has won its first contract with globally renowned British automotive and aviation manufacturer, Rolls-Royce.

“Literally the Rolls-Royce among engine manufacturers now relies on ‘Made in Amerang’ plastic containers for transportation and logistics,” enthused Auer Packaging MD Philipp Auer, on receiving the company’s first order in December.

With their specific quality and functionality features, Auer products support the high degree of automation in the production of engines. Rolls-Royce primarily ordered Euro containers with hinged lids and closed big boxes from the Upper Bavarian specialist for plastic transport and storage containers.

 

Denmark’s First Electric Trucks Fitted with Hiab Tail Lifts

Denmark’s first electric trucks have arrived, equipped with ZEPRO tail lifts supplied by Hiab.

Both trucks, from Mitsubishi and Mercedes Benz, have ZEPRO ZLU-75-110 SA installed and were delivered at an event at the government building Christiansborg in Copenhagen. The keys were handed by Denmark’s Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht to the two customers who will test the new trucks, Citylogistik and Aarstiderne.

The ZEPRO is a cantilever lift models for light duty trucks with GVW up to 7,5 ton and a lifting capacity of 450 and 750 kg.

The lower lift capacity 450kg model is available for relatively light duty use on vehicles where the total permitted loading capacity is lower than 750kg. The maximum lifting height is 1100 mm.

Features include:

– Available with different arm widths and lengths to fit a variety of chassis
– Durable, laser welded aluminium platforms in a wide variety of dimensions
– Large range of mounting brackets for fast and easy installation
– Tow hooks are available for most vehicle models
– The hydraulic unit can be supplied attached and pre-connected or as a separate unit for positioning during installation.

 

Image courtesy of Brdr. Plagborg A/S

Strapping Provider Celebrates Success of Service Capability

Two years ago, Mosca introduced a service concept that the strapping specialist say is unique in the industry. Under the name ONE Service, it offer customers globally standardised maintenance, repairs, installations and support for machine relocations.

Mosca says it has now drawn some initial conclusions about ONE Service’s effectiveness. In Germany, where over 2,000 machines are covered by maintenance contracts, there were hardly any ad-hoc troubleshooting calls. ONE Service also ensures easier planning and more reliability at the end of the packaging line, it claims.

“In an era of digitalisation and Industry 4.0, the demands on our customers’ production processes – and on our machines – are rapidly changing. This makes it all the more important for us to make sure our services are in line with customer needs and continue setting industry standards,” explains Mosca CEO Timo Mosca.

Maintenance contracts for customers around the world
ONE Service fundamentally changed Mosca’s approach to providing services. One of the key elements of the concept is the availability of customer-specific maintenance contracts around the world. This sets Mosca apart from other strapping industry manufacturers, it says. “The standard used to be that customers call for service when there’s a machine failure. These kinds of situations need to be resolved immediately – which can be very stressful for the technicians as well as for customers, who can’t afford downtime on their lines,” says Michael Raule, Head of Technical Service at Mosca.

Today, when Mosca service technicians visit customers, there is rarely any pressure or stress. More than 2,000 machines are covered by Mosca maintenance contracts and are checked once or twice a year in line with ONE Service benchmarks. “We are now working worldwide with standardised maintenance plans and checklists. This way, we know exactly when and where each machine needs to be checked and which parts are required – and are able to routinely detect signs of wear and prevent potential damage,” explains Mosca Service Technician Andreas Bulling.

Easier planning and more transparency for Mosca customers
For Mosca customers, ONE Service means easier planning, more reliability and more transparency. “Customers that have a maintenance contract with Mosca know about maintenance procedures from the start. We remind them when maintenance is due and send them maintenance kits before the scheduled appointment,” Michael Raule explains. This makes service calls quick and easy. Mosca technicians appreciate the regular contact with customers. “ONE Service changes the way we work together and promotes more direct communication,” says Andreas Bulling. “We can give our customers more in-depth support, help them set up their machines, and listen to their feedback – which benefits both sides!”

Breakdowns are rare
Thanks to regularly scheduled service appointments, strapping machines operating in Mosca customer packaging lines are reliable and stable. And if something goes wrong, Mosca technical services are available around the clock. “In addition to our maintenance technicians, we have field-service technicians on duty. These specialists are never far away from the customer and can be on-site within 3.5 hours in an emergency,” says Michael Raule. The technicians go on the road with a standardized set of parts and are optimally equipped to solve problems on the spot – and ensure Mosca machines deliver maximum performance at all times.

“In many cases, our experts don’t even need to go out on the road,” Raule adds. Mosca has also expanded its remote support as part of the ONE Service concept. Service technicians can start troubleshooting via remote control. “We can generally handle acute malfunctions via remote maintenance. This saves time and resources for us and for the customer.”

Transport Market Monitor Confirms Sharp December Capacity Decline

By the end of 2019, the short-term available transport capacity fell by one fifth, according to online evaluation service Transport Market Monitor (TMM). The significant decline in capacity caused transport prices to rise by more than eight percent in December compared to the previous month.

The online service is provided by Tim Consult based on real transport data from the spot market of the Transporeon platforms.

Overview of the relevant developments in December 2019 were:

• In December the capacity index fell from 128.1 to 102.4 index points (-20 %) compared to the previous month. Nevertheless, the short-term available capacity for road transports was six percent higher than in December 2018.

• The transport price index rose to 108.5 index points in December, which corresponds to an increase of 8.4 percent compared to the previous month (index 100.1). However, transport prices were 1.8 percent lower than in December 2018.

• The diesel price index increased slightly compared to November (+0.7%).

 

 

Swedish Online Grocer Boosts Cold Chain Performance

MatHem.se, a Swedish online grocer, has deployed 30 new vehicles featuring the fully electric E-200 multi temperature refrigeration units from Thermo King. The new fleet allows MatHem.se to move food sustainably and always at the right temperature, guaranteeing an unbroken cold chain all the way from their warehouse to the customers’ doorstep.

MatHem.se was looking for an all-in-one transport refrigeration solution that would allow them to maintain two cooling zones in the vehicle – one for cooled and one for frozen – and remove the heavy standalone freezer they had used before to transport frozen goods. They were also looking for an environmentally sustainable way to keep the refrigeration unit operating while the driver stops for delivery, has a lunch break or needs to turn off the vehicle for longer. Thermo King E-200 unit with additional battery pack met all the requirements.

The multi-temperature set up of the E-200 units allowed MatHem.se to save approximately 80 kilograms when compared to the previous fleet configuration featuring a standalone freezer. This directly translates to fuel savings and increased cargo space in the vehicle. The hold-over capacity is secured thanks to the additional battery pack, fully independent from the vehicle, which can power the unit during stops for deliveries or breaks. This gives the driver the peace of mind and flexibility to stop at any time without the need to keep the vehicle running on idle to keep the transported goods cooled.

 

 

 

Cobot Technology Now Available Under Leasing Payment Scheme

Customers seeking collaborative robot technology are now able to lease models without upfront capital investment.

That’s because Universal Robots (UR), which describes itself as the most trusted and widely-deployed collaborative robot (cobot) manufacturer in the world, has launched its new cobot leasing program in collaboration with DLL, a global vendor finance company.

The new partnership, it is claimed, enables all manufacturers, regardless of size or capital equipment budgets, to reap the benefits of automation without worrying about cash flow and seasonal fluctuations.

“We’re levelling the playing field by enabling all manufacturers to immediately put cobots to work without an upfront capital investment,” said Klaus Vestergaard, CFO at Universal Robots. “UR Financial Services offers end-users a fast, low-risk and financially-friendly model to accelerate automation in their factories. The partnership makes it easy to upgrade existing cobots, add additional units or test cobots for the first time – and equips end-users to maximize productivity, quality and profitability, without increasing costs or cash outlay.”

Customers will have the option to schedule payments to fit fluctuations in cash flow, upgrade to new equipment, or add cobots anytime during the contract term. At the end of the finance term, customers will have the option to buy the equipment for a fraction of the original cost, upgrade to newer technology, extend the finance term or simply return the equipment.

Is Your Life-Saving Defibrillator a Secret?

Ensuring your life-saving defibrillator is visible and accessible significantly increases the chance of survival in Sudden Cardiac Arrest casualties and may mean the difference between a successful or unsuccessful rescue.
Leading independent UK defibrillator supplier defibshop have designed a new signage range under their AED Armor brand that ensures defibrillators are on display, visible, accessible and easily identifiable for both trained an untrained responders.

Comprising of directional stickers, wall and floor signs, posters, brackets and an illuminated indoor cabinet, AED Armor’s new range is suitable for multiple industry environments and ensures both bystanders and frequent visitors of the location know where to retrieve the defibrillator from, if required. For every minute treatment is delayed, the casualty loses 10% of their survival chance. Highlighting the defibrillator’s presence saves vital time, and lives.
With the knowledge of how important it is to create awareness about a defibrillator being on site and available for use, defibshop Managing Director, Lyndsey Hope states:

“The number of defibrillators in the public domain is continually growing, but the majority of these devices aren’t highlighted so people don’t know they’re there and lives are being lost. When you’re putting investment into the unit you need to ensure its visible and accessible for use, not shut away in a cupboard. With the new AED Armor signage range, investors can display and highlight their life-saving investments and more lives can be saved.”

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be trained to use a defibrillator – they can be operated by both trained and untrained responders. After dialling 999, requesting an ambulance and switching the defibrillator on, responders should follow the instructions provided by the device and continue treatment as advised until the Emergency Services have arrived.

Defibrillators paired with CPR are the only devices that can help casualties of Sudden Cardiac Arrest which claims approximately 100,000 deaths in the UK, every year.

Find out more here.

Digital Freight Forwarder InstaFreight Secures Shell Partnership

Shell and digital freight forwarding company InstaFreight are partnering to transform the European freight market. After successfully raising an investment from Shell’s corporate venturing arm, Shell Ventures, InstaFreight will be working together with Shell to expand their digital services to carrier companies in Europe. This investment and new partnership will help InstaFreight to accelerate its mission to digitise the road freight space and transform the freight market.

InstaFreight describes itself as the next generation freight forwarding company for road freight in Europe. The company excels by making use of digitisation to optimise processes and increase information transparency. The company thereby simplifies the freight forwarding business and focuses on providing practical benefits to shippers and carriers. Contrary to the still largely analogue processes and communication channels found in the freight forwarding industry, InstaFreight offers their commercial customers a digital experience that allows for a fast and convenient booking of transports. At the same time, they enhance transparency via track & trace and make logistics more efficient for both shippers and carriers. The Berlin-based company can provide operational visibility and data for continuous process optimization and offer fleet carriers a convenient way to receive the right business, track their vehicles as they transport goods around Europe, and get paid fast and reliably.

“The freight forwarding industry is already undergoing substantial disruption with digital models becoming more and more successful. We are very proud to have gained such a strong global player as Shell as our investor and partner. With the additional funds, we will continue our rapid growth, further improve our technology and make our services available to more shippers and carriers across Europe,” says Philipp Ortwein, Co-Founder and Managing Director of InstaFreight.

With its global fuel card, Shell gives its carriers instant and ongoing access to a range of outstanding fuels, mobility products and business services across the world’s largest fuel retail network. The company aims to build a relationship with its customers by learning about their fleet management problems and then providing solutions for issues related to safety, maintenance, and fuel consumption using telematics, mobility services, and others.

 

 

 

Hamburg in Decline as Logistics Hub, Claims Property Report

German property consulting company for logistics and industry Realogis says that Hamburg is in decline as a logistics centre, driven by space constraints.

“Our start-of-year forecast sadly proved correct,” comments Jörg Lojewski, Managing Director of Realogis Immobilien Hamburg GmbH, about the company’s latest report. “Space totalling 360,000 sqm was taken up by all market participants in the logistics location of Hamburg between January and December 2019. Consequently, this logistics region, which boasts one of the most attractive infrastructures in Germany, declined by 27% year-on-year (2018: 490,000 sqm). As well as being the weakest take-up result in five years, this figure was also 27% below the five-year average of 490,000 sqm.

“The industry and logistics sectors have not declined in Hamburg. On the contrary, we have seen consistently strong demand, while the world’s highest-performing port and the logistics sector continue to be major employers. By contrast, the shortage of available space – particularly for larger units of 10,000 sqm or more in the southern metropolitan region – had a significant impact. These properties are hugely important to a functioning economy and the efficient distribution of commodities as part of the flow of goods.”

But there is also positive demand for older logistics space with a high level of third-party use near the centre – and this means areas of Germany’s largest seaport as well as Billbrook, a district well equipped for trade and industry.

The shortage of space in the attractive north German hub is also apparent from the ranking of concluded leases: the conclusion of just one lease with a space volume greater than 10,000 sqm was registered in the last twelve months.

The lack of resources, claims Realogis, means that users are securing logistics space in Hamburg through long-term lease extensions, not least on account of the strong order situation and the well-developed connections to outlying areas with close links between the location and Europe.

UK Insurance Giant Aviva Deploys BluJay for Fast Claim Resolution

UK insurance giant Aviva has selected BluJay Solutions’ EDI software to enable swift claim resolutions. The company’s MessageBroker EDI SaaS solution powers fast and agile data exchange.

With over 33 million customers, Aviva processes thousands of updates and changes to insurance policies and records a day, resulting in millions of data transactions. The company decided to move from a legacy on-premise system to a flexible cloud-based solution. The project was calculated to increase agility and speed, reducing ongoing costs while helping ensure minimal disruption to business operations.

Aviva was advised by Gartner as to who the best vendors would be to help the company achieve its goals. BluJay was competitively selected from a number of candidates for its extensive market knowledge and ability to provide a fully hosted service. BluJay’s experience and high number of existing customers in the insurance sector also provided Aviva with opportunities for adding value to the MessageBroker solution through increased connections with the systems of its partners.

BluJay’s MessageBroker enables Aviva to reduce the quantity of policy data being exchanged, streamlining business processes and improving the efficiency of sharing data with their partners. The solution handles all mission-critical data passing between policy holders, insurance houses, brokers and Aviva. The transition is also expected to deliver cost efficiencies by reducing the need for server maintenance and upkeep, allowing Aviva to focus on its core operations.

“The insurance sector is one that relies on fast, reliable, and secure data exchange,” said Sian Hopwood (above), SVP B2B Operations at BluJay. “Aviva handles hundreds of thousands of claims per year. Speed, accuracy, and availability are requirements for the company to keep up with customer demands and exceed expectations. We’re happy to be helping them power fast resolutions through increased partner connectivity with our MessageBroker solution.”

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