Month: May 2020

NexSys ATEX batteries, available from EnerSys, allow materials handling vehicles to work safely in hazardous areas where there is an explosion risk. They conform to ATEX standards, which are compulsory and a legal requirement in Europe and NexSys batteries are also available world-wide certified in compliance with IECx standards. The new batteries, available in nearly all DIN sizes and capacities, offer significant advantages over both Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) gel and flooded lead-acid solutions. These advantages result from the Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology used in the batteries’ construction. Accordingly, they offer outstanding Amp-hour (Ah) capacity.

NexSys ATEX batteries require much lower maintenance than flooded types, with no need for topping-up. Critically for hazardous environments, the batteries’ electrolytes are non-spillable, as they are absorbed into the Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) separator material. They also recharge faster than gel and flooded batteries, with opportunity charging being possible. This increases productivity and reduces costs. Additionally, service life is longer than for gel batteries.

The term ‘ATEX’, derived from the French ‘ATmosphères EXplosives’, applies to atmospheres made potentially explosive by the possible presence of dust or gases likely to ignite or explode, for example in oil and gas, mining and chemicals industries during handling and logistics operations. ATEX product certification verifies the design specification of a manufacturer’s product to a series of relevant standards. The certification process includes testing and assessment of the product, with ATEX and IECEx certificates and reports being issued for conforming product.

The NexSys batteries’ ATEX certification was granted by CSA Group SIRA, which is an independent body. SIRA certificate number 01ATEX3022X relates to the complete batteries, while 03ATEX3090U applies to individual cells. It is also available the certification in compliance with IECEx standard– with certificate number IECEx SIR 07.0065X for battery and certificate number IECEx SIR 07.0064U for cells. The company’s technical know-how and experience result from many years spent supplying various ATEX battery product ranges to explosion protection solution specialists, material handling equipment manufacturers and other customers.

The battery products and process fulfil ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, with the production process being externally audited at regular intervals to ATEX standards. The batteries are designed for use in ATEX Zones 1 and 2 (Gases) as well as 21 and 22 (Gas and Dust) and Mining.

Each battery is engineered to specific customer requirements. These include specially designed trays and lids for Zone 1 and increased protection and testing for zone 21 and 22 batteries

While Zone 2 product does differ from standard batteries, lids are typically not fitted, as cover protection is usually provided by the equipment/application. Additionally, ATEX-certified plugs can be supplied and installed on request.

The main issue with the special trays is the loss of capacity due to the different fit form. NexSys batteries, with its higher energy density solves this problem. TPPL plate thickness down to 0.8mm (3x more plates than gel and flooded in same volume) provide an higher energy density and a greater Ah capacity than a VRLA gel battery of the same physical size, together with greater or equal Ah capacity than a flooded battery of the same physical size. NexSys® ATEX batteries can provide 10% more energy and power than standard flooded products and 15% more than standard gel products.

The batteries can be used over a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C, in low and normal duty applications working six days a week. Up to eight hours or more utilisation may be achieved, with a depth of discharge (DoD) to 80 per cent of C5, if recharge times are met. Cycle life can be improved by reducing DoD.

The batteries can be charged using NexSys or NexSys+, efficient modular high-frequency chargers. Charging time from 20 per cent state of charge to full charge is typically 6.25 hours or faster.

“In NexSys ATEX batteries, we have a solution that combines many benefits of flooded and VRLA gel batteries”, comments Mattia Bianconi, Application Manager Motive Power EMEA at EnerSys, “and this is based on our standard NexSys batteries, which have proven to be a product of choice in regular motive power applications since 2011. The ATEX batteries extend the same advantages, and product confidence, to users in hazardous environments. These are found in many sectors, from mining and tunnelling, chemical and pharmaceutical plants, oil and gas, military and aviation, to food and drink, waste management, printing and paper and many others.”

BluJay Solutions has launched BluIQ by BluJay, a data and insight analysis tool that offers real-time, actionable supply chain data in a configurable visual dashboard. This API-enabled data solution provides a two-way connection with BluJay’s supply chain execution applications, to allow for action on specific data directly from the BluIQ dashboard.

“BluIQ by BluJay is designed to be a decision-support tool that sits across BluJay’s applications, extracting data from each application via APIs. This solution is part of the Data component of our DNA strategy. We’re excited about the additional value this innovative tool delivers for customers, who can make data-driven decisions as part of their operational workflow,” said David Landau, Chief Product Officer for BluJay. “The solution is very visual, with graphical charts and maps that are easy and quick to configure based on what you want or need to see; but what distinguishes this new application is its seamless integration to the underlying execution solution. With a single click, users can drive straight from the data visualisation into a transactional function to perform the action called for by the data analysis.”
Any BluIQ by BluJay user can set up a customised dashboard view in minutes, with configurable widgets for a wide range of KPIs. In its first release, BluIQ by BluJay features integration with BluJay’s Transportation Management application. Available data views include scores of options to display key metrics for loads, pickup times, delivery times, saved searches, and other datasets.

Users launch the BluIQ by BluJay interface by clicking a button in their application. The tool creates a new dashboard for the user, who can then add widgets to their dashboard and select data sources comprised of their saved searches in the TMS. Data is retrieved for each widget, displayed per the user’s choice of options including gauges, pie charts, bar charts, maps, and tables. Future BluIQ by BluJay releases will include integrations to Customs Management-Global, MobileSTAR Dispatch, and Transportation Management for Forwarders. Beyond this first round of integrations, the company will be evaluating further tie-ins to other BluJay solutions. Customers can create a single dashboard displaying data views from multiple applications.

Landau adds: “Part of the BluJay Way is the innovative problem-solving our teams do every day for the benefit of our customers. Each year, BluJay holds a series of hackathons with our development teams to encourage ‘boundary-free’ thinking. Without fail, new features and investments are made in many of our solutions from the ideas and prototypes developed. BluIQ by BluJay is the first entirely new application that came about as a direct result of one of these hackathons.”

The owner-managed logistics company Röhlig Logistics grows to expand its worldwide presence. Today in China, Röhlig is represented by a total of twelve branches through the opening of three new offices in the west, namely Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an. In Mexico, Röhlig has taken over 100 percent of the shares in its previous joint venture and has branches in Mexico City, Monterrey and Puebla. Röhlig is also strengthening its presence in India and has opened a third office in Vadodara in the important state of Gujrat.

Philip W. Herwig, Managing Partner at Röhlig Logistics, explains: “We continued to expand our network in 2019 and were able to record encouraging growth in Asia, India and Latin America. But the many international conflicts, the trade dispute between the USA and China – two of our most important markets – social unrest in Latin America, strikes in France and of course Brexit – made it difficult for us to implement our growth plans for 2019.”

Positive effects from Asia and Latin America
In 2019, the gross profit generated was roughly the same as the previous year’s level at EUR 141 million. Business in Asia continued to develop very positively with a good increase in gross profit of 10 percent. The first-time consolidation of the company in Mexico and the strong development in Latin America also contributed to the development of gross profit. Hylton Gray, CEO Air Freight, Sea Freight, Contract Logistics & Projects at Röhlig, explains: “In the United States, the US government’s trade policy fully impacted the import business, which Röhlig saw firsthand in a 4,5 percent decline in gross profit in the U.S. We were able to offset this effect primarily through good development in Asia and Latin America. ”

Growth in contract logistics
In contract logistics, Röhlig increased gross profit by 38.9 percent thanks to the expansion of its capacities and improved worldwide capacity utilization. The locations in Germany and China made a particular contribution to this development. However, the global economic turmoil has had a noticeable impact on the core business. Compared to 2018, gross profit in ocean freight fell by 2.1 percent and in air freight by 6.8 percent. The operating result (EBIT) is EUR 5.2 million due to the overall significantly dampened business environment.

Current development
“In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, our top priority is the safety of our employees worldwide. As the lockdown started they were given access to our systems to work from home within a very short period of time. This is how we ensure continuous service for our customers,” emphasizes Philip W. Herwig. “How strong the effects of the coronavirus will be on the global economy can only be estimated towards the end of the second quarter.”

Pictured are the Global Executive Board from left to right: Hylton Gray CEO Air Freight, Sea Freight, Contract Logistics & Projects, Ulrike Baum, Human Resource Officer; Philip W. Herwig, Managing Partner; Dr Robert Gutsche, Chief Finance Officer

Exporta says it has worked hard to source PPE and sanitisation products. This includes rapid new product development and marketing for their own range of hand sanitiser sourced from local distilleries, as well as PPE: surgical masks, branded face coverings, digital viral thermometers, gloves and visors. Exporta has also sourced different types of workplace partitions to help with social distancing and maintaining a two-metre distance, as well as dedicated signage.

Exporta aims to ensure that businesses are compliant with the Government guidelines on working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) through expert advice, project management and the supply of a range of PPE products. These products support high-level safety and hygiene to reduce the risk of the virus spreading or affecting trade.

TSC Printronix Auto ID, comprising two industry-leading barcode printer brands, has announced a new strategic partnership with SOTI, the world’s most trusted mobile and IoT management solutions provider. Together, the companies will offer a series of barcode printers that are compatible with SOTI’s newest IoT management solution, SOTI Connect. As part of the partnership, TSC Printronix Auto ID has become an authorized distributor to offer the solution through its distribution partners.

SOTI Connect is an IoT solution that manages and secures connected devices for complex IoT environments, which provides complete lifecycle management of all IoT devices within an organization, including printers. Its customizable architecture allows new devices to be quickly supported and managed, empowering organizations to accelerate the deployment of IoT initiatives.

TSC Printronix Auto ID is among the first thermal barcode printer manufacturers to partner with SOTI, to provide remote printer management for a suite of business-critical devices including desktop, industrial, and RFID barcode printers, plus their heavy-duty print engine series. TSC Printronix Auto ID mobile printers will also be added to the SOTI Connect compatible lineup later this year.

As an industry leader in thermal printing technology, TSC Printronix Auto ID is committed to bringing leading-edge technology and added value to their partners and customers. SOTI Connect enables TSC and Printronix Auto ID users to manage and maintain a fleet of barcode printers from a central dashboard and benefit from the reduced cost and complexity of managing a myriad of IoT devices.

“We are committed to providing our customers with high-performance printers, outstanding service and the tools they need to keep their business operating efficiently. Our partnership with SOTI is an opportunity to offer customers a technology that increases visibility and accessibility to multiple printers and devices at once,” said Sam Wang, President and CEO, TSC Printronix Auto ID. “SOTI Connect complements our growing line of innovative solutions designed to save time, reduce costs, and improve accuracy in fast-paced enterprise environments.”

“Since announcing our initial product integration, SOTI’s expanded partnership with TSC Printronix Auto ID continues to deliver innovation to our joint channel and customer community,” said Mustafa Ebadi, Chief Operating Officer, SOTI. “New features within SOTI Connect to enhance security include supporting secure sockets layer (SSL) and updating file and certificate downloads, which provides an industry-leading user experience for secure printer configuration and management. Our work with TSC Printronix Auto ID further complements SOTI Connect’s management portfolio, enabling our business-critical deployments to respond faster, perform more efficiently and deliver quality service.”

A free 30-day trial is available to customers who would like to evaluate the solution before purchasing a full license. SOTI Connect is available for purchase through its established TSC Printronix Auto ID distribution channel partners.