Month: March 2020

Plastic Omnium are a global company whilst remaining an independent family-owned business, who are committed to delivering first class products in the fast moving and ever-changing automotive environment.

The challenge
Plastic Omnium wanted to reduce dust contamination and the over handling of moulded parts entering paint environments. Excessive handling causes issues at the paint line as the moulded parts could become contaminated with grease, and even suffer from electrostatic issues which attract dust and unwanted particles, potentially affecting the quality of paint finishes.

The solution
L.A.C. Conveyors and Automation were approached to help develop a conveying system that would reduce the manual handling of the moulds to a bare minimum. L.A.C.’s own in-house design team worked with the sales department and customer to develop a solution that fitted requirements. The final design allowed for parts to be placed directly by an operator from the moulding operation onto a 2000mm wide belt conveyor which was built in two tiers. Each tier would convey a left-hand and right-hand part from the moulding process to the paint workshop. Parts are manually loaded in rows of four. Instead of running continually, the conveyor has been configured to be indexed along. This is achieved by the operator who loads the parts pressing a button to move the conveyor forward. The conveyor can be indexed in both directions should there be a requirement to return parts. The overall length is 12000mm. The conveyor belt is made from PVC with a plastic mechanical joint, helping ensure the products are not damaged during transit. Altogether, a substantial and unusual bespoke conveyor solution.

To ensure that minimal contamination occurs within the activity, L.A.C. installed a brush strip and waste trap under the return element of the belt conveyor. The brush strip helps to keep the belt surface clean during operation, which reduces the potential for contamination of the parts destined for painting. The conveyor was also designed in a way that allows for the customer to bolt-on a system that helps remove static electricity.

The whole conveyor assembly has been mounted on castors to allow easy cleaning and maintenance operations to be supported.

to the structure being installed, a full F.A.T. was provided at L.A.C.’s own Nottingham factory. Once approved L.A.C.’s engineers ensured a seamless delivery and installation was provided whilst Plastic Omnium had a planned operations shutdown. This helped guarantee the customers production processes were unaffected.

www.lacconveyors.co.uk

Ground-Guards Ltd, a supplier of temporary access solutions, has launched an “advanced and cost-effective” ground protection system that provides warehouse and factory managers with, it says, improved usability and is suitable for a wide range of temporary and permanent flooring applications.

Made from 100% recycled PVC, Ground-Guard’s new FastCover PLUS features unique interlocking flanges for improved ease of use and a superior trip-free surface. It is suitable for a range of tasks, from permanent flooring in factories and warehouses, to surface protection for block paving and interior floors and temporary protection for paths and walkways.

Weighting 14.5kg per mat, FastCover PLUS can be laid directly onto concrete, grass, footpaths or stone bases, featuring an anti-slip surface for maximum health and safety, whilst built-in hand holes make the product easy to handle and ensure that lifting and transporting the system is simple.

In addition, interlocking lugs connect the mat securely together in straight runs as well as being able to create a brick-bond pattern, giving a more smooth, firm and trip-free surface. Built with durability and longevity in mind, FastCover PLUS features an innovative honeycomb underside, providing strong structural support and ultimately increasing the useable life of the product.

FastCover PLUS is ideal for use on an outdoor worksite all year round thanks to it’s improved ability to accommodate heat expansion. So much so that the innovative matting system can even be used effectively as temporary car parks over stone surfaces.

Ground-Guards Ltd, a supplier of temporary access solutions, has launched an “advanced and cost-effective” ground protection system that provides warehouse and factory managers with, it says, improved usability and is suitable for a wide range of temporary and permanent flooring applications.

Made from 100% recycled PVC, Ground-Guard’s new FastCover PLUS features unique interlocking flanges for improved ease of use and a superior trip-free surface. It is suitable for a range of tasks, from permanent flooring in factories and warehouses, to surface protection for block paving and interior floors and temporary protection for paths and walkways.

Weighting 14.5kg per mat, FastCover PLUS can be laid directly onto concrete, grass, footpaths or stone bases, featuring an anti-slip surface for maximum health and safety, whilst built-in hand holes make the product easy to handle and ensure that lifting and transporting the system is simple.

In addition, interlocking lugs connect the mat securely together in straight runs as well as being able to create a brick-bond pattern, giving a more smooth, firm and trip-free surface. Built with durability and longevity in mind, FastCover PLUS features an innovative honeycomb underside, providing strong structural support and ultimately increasing the useable life of the product.

FastCover PLUS is ideal for use on an outdoor worksite all year round thanks to it’s improved ability to accommodate heat expansion. So much so that the innovative matting system can even be used effectively as temporary car parks over stone surfaces.

UK and European pallet and packaging federations have urged governments to take action where necessary to ensure the free movement of goods amid the developing crisis.

Europe’s FEFPEB said:

“The European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (Fédération Européenee des Fabricants de Palettes and Emballages en Bois – FEFPEB) is calling on governments across Europe to help ensure wooden packaging and pallets remain freely available throughout this crisis, to ensure that fast moving consumer goods (fmcg) and pharmaceutical supply chains are able to operate in a smooth and timely manner.

The government of each country has its own set of regulations for dealing with the COVID-19 crisis; our members and related business are adhering to these. However, we stress that they must support manufacturers of wooden pallets and packaging, and reconditioned pallet companies; pallet pools; sawmillers; and the logistics industry in general.
The EC has issued a set of guidelines on protecting health and keeping goods moving. These are available on its website at https://ec.europa.eu/. We urge all our members and operators in the supply chain to read these.”

The UK’s TIMCOM said:

“The Government needs to be aware of the critical importance of a continuous supply of wooden pallets and packaging to ensure fmcg supply chains keep pace with essential consumer demand.

“The requirement is that the Government must support pallet and packaging manufacturers, pallet pools, reconditioned pallet businesses, and the logistics industry; and also ensure that UK sawmilling operations are able to continue providing timber to our operations.

“This is an unprecedented situation and we will be working with the industry and with the Government to ensure these businesses can carry on operating to ensure continuity of supply of these essential products.

CBRE Global Investors has acquired, on behalf of its Logistics Venture Fund, a circa 120,000 sqm Italian logistics portfolio which includes a 40,000 sqm Grade A logistics warehouse and 194,000 sqm of land for an 80,000 sqm speculative development. The portfolio was acquired off-market from Techbau.

The Grade A warehouse is located in Turate (Como), North of Milan. The logistics single-dock asset is let for nine years to a well-known Italian retailer. Located close to the intersection between A9 (Milan-Como-Switzerland) and the new A36, it benefits from excellent connectivity within Italy and cross-border transportation.

The 194,000 sqm plot of land currently being developed for the 80,000 sqm logistics cross dock is located in Castrezzato, east of Milan. Benefitting from good transport links that serve the east part of the Lombardy Region (Milan, Brescia and Bergamo) as well as Venice and Verona, the distribution warehouse is expected to be delivered in Q3 2020.

The Italian logistics sector has a number of positive indicators such as low vacancy rates (below 3%), high takes-ups and low yields (a record low yield was achieved in 2019 at 4.5%). These factors, as well as the fundamentals of both assets in terms of location, scarcity of ready-to-go plots and a turnkey deal, make this italian logistics portfolio an attractive buy for the Fund’s investors.

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CBRE Global Investors has acquired, on behalf of its Logistics Venture Fund, a circa 120,000 sqm Italian logistics portfolio which includes a 40,000 sqm Grade A logistics warehouse and 194,000 sqm of land for an 80,000 sqm speculative development. The portfolio was acquired off-market from Techbau.

The Grade A warehouse is located in Turate (Como), North of Milan. The logistics single-dock asset is let for nine years to a well-known Italian retailer. Located close to the intersection between A9 (Milan-Como-Switzerland) and the new A36, it benefits from excellent connectivity within Italy and cross-border transportation.

The 194,000 sqm plot of land currently being developed for the 80,000 sqm logistics cross dock is located in Castrezzato, east of Milan. Benefitting from good transport links that serve the east part of the Lombardy Region (Milan, Brescia and Bergamo) as well as Venice and Verona, the distribution warehouse is expected to be delivered in Q3 2020.

The Italian logistics sector has a number of positive indicators such as low vacancy rates (below 3%), high takes-ups and low yields (a record low yield was achieved in 2019 at 4.5%). These factors, as well as the fundamentals of both assets in terms of location, scarcity of ready-to-go plots and a turnkey deal, make this italian logistics portfolio an attractive buy for the Fund’s investors.

For more news in the logistics sector, sign-up to our newsletters here

Europa Air & Sea, a division of ambitious and independent logistics provider Europa Worldwide Group, has been re-awarded its long-standing contract with one of the UK’s leading multi-channel specialist retailers of value books, arts, crafts, toys, gifts and stationery.

Europa Air & Sea has worked with The Works for 5 years and as of this month (March) will continue to oversee and manage its inbound movements for another term, having impressed the retailer by delivering a seamless and integrated service during one of its busiest periods to date.

The Works, which employs more than 3,000 people and operates 500 stores across the UK, serves 22.5 million customers each year, with more than 40,000 different products sold annually.

Mark Haywood, Procurement Manager of The Works, said: “Europa performed beyond expectations during an exceptionally busy peak trading period for us in 2019. Their inbound management at both Felixstowe and Southampton ports and at the rail head in Coleshill was a slick, streamlined, end to end success.

“With exciting IT developments that will lead to operational savings being realised in Q2 of 2020, we are pleased to be extending our agreement and partnering with Europa once again.”