Month: June 2020

Alpega TMS and Shippeo have partnered to deliver a new solution offering combining Alpega’s transport management system with Shippeo’s visibility solution to help shippers boost supply chain transparency and transform their logistics flow capabilities.

With visibility playing an increasingly essential role in transportation management, the Alpega TMS and Shippeo partnership enables increased levels of operational excellence for shippers, providing critical tracking milestones and the ability to better measure and improve their transportation management processes.

Shippeo’s platform complements Alpega TMS by gathering real-time information on multimodal transportation flows in over 60 countries with a strong focus on road and maritime. It offers best-in-market estimated time of arrival (ETA) accuracy and reliability thanks to a sophisticated algorithm developed in-house, which is fully integrated with Alpega’s solution.

As part of Alpega’s partner ecosystem, this collaboration strengthens Alpega’s growing portfolio of innovative solutions for transport management challenges. As the European leader for real-time transportation visibility, Shippeo was a natural fit with Alpega for the partnership, leveraging the combined strengths of two top-tier solutions.

“We are thrilled to partner globally with Alpega at a time when Shippeo is experiencing substantial growth and momentum here in Europe. We’re convinced that the future of transportation will rely on deeper and more advanced integrations between TMS systems and real-time transportation visibility solutions. Alpega is a key player in Europe where both organizations have already celebrated joint successes with a variety of customers. We’re very excited to take this collaboration to the next level” said Lucien Besse, Co-founder & COO of Shippeo regarding the partnership.

In his comments about the partnership, Alpega Group CEO Todd DeLaughter said, “In order to offer our clients the best possible solution for their needs, our strategy is to partner with leading vendors for capabilities that complement and strengthen our TMS. We are excited to embark on a new collaboration that brings our TMS solution to the next level through a trusted and well-established partner like Shippeo. We are looking forward to continuing to see the added value for our customers.”

Suttons Tankers has won a three year contract with Ryse Hydrogen for the exclusive provision of logistics services to transport bulk hydrogen gas from the North West to the capital for Transport for London.

As part of their commitment to become a zero-carbon city by 2050, TfL have purchased 20 new hydrogen fuelled buses which is a prominent move towards providing more sustainable methods of transportation.

Ryse Hydrogen recognised Suttons as a market leader in the logistics sector for bulk gas distribution. Their national network of strategically positioned sites, reputation for class-leading levels of safety and the comprehensive engineering and technical support were key factors in being awarded the contract.

The contract will be going live at the end of September with a phased transport solution leading to a day and night time operation once the capital’s fleet is fully operational. Due to its skilled workforce, Suttons are able to offer a maintenance package for the service and testing of the customer’s kit to ensure the highest levels of compliance, safety and efficiency.

Michael Cundy, Managing Director of Suttons Tankers, said:

“We are thrilled to be awarded this contract with Ryse Hydrogen which represents a significant move in TfL’s pledge to offer more sustainable modes of transport. This will demonstrate to the wider public transport sector the practical and environmental benefits of hydrogen fuelled technology.

“This work with Ryse Hydrogen builds upon our strategy of delivering service excellence and our ability to add value to our customers through providing more than just a haulage solution.”

Jo Bamford, CEO of Ryse Hydrogen:

“Suttons Tankers are a reputable logistics provider of bulk gas which made them the obvious partner of choice. Their attention to detail and ability to create a bespoke solution based upon our requirements were second to none.

“We look forward to working with Suttons on this contract and are proud to be supporting the capital in its efforts to reduce its emissions.”

Suttons operates in the UK with a fleet of more than 700 vehicles focused on the chemicals, gas and fuel sectors and internationally with key business centres in New Jersey, Widnes, Antwerp, Ludwigshafen, Kuantan, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Specialist transport operator, Brit-Pol is embarking on an expansion programme with the addition of 156 new trailers from Krone, which will take the family-run business into new markets throughout the Benelux countries and wider Europe.

Formed just over 10 years ago, the company runs an average of 89 vehicles, delivering auto parts and general cargo to UK and Benelux destinations. Now, says Transport Operations Director, Adam Zegocki with the new trailer equipment due to be phased in over the coming 6 weeks and despite the pressures brought by Coronavirus, the business is set to become a truly pan-European operation.

“Flexibility is key to our growth plan” he explains, “and by specifying these trailers from Krone we can improve our loading capability for a wider range of customers. For example, the Box Liner container carriers are designed to carry 20’, 30’, 40’ and 45’ containers, two boxes at once or any standard sized tank. Combined with the quick-release twist locks this gives us adaptable, fast and easy handling.”

Meanwhile, the curtainsiders come with Krone’s MultiLock loading system, which features strapping points every 10 cm on each side rave and using Krone’s hook and ratchet strapping system, allows virtually any load to be securely fixed anywhere on the trailer bed.

All the curtainsiders have sliding roofs and the Mega Liner, with an internal height of 3m, is equipped with a hydraulic lifting roof, which gains up to 50 cm additional space for loading outsized cargo.

For added load security, the curtains are fitted with integrated aluminium planks and the flush-faced steel container-type rear doors come with integrated door furniture and a concealed latch. The 30mm phenolic-coated floor is rated to EN 283 for 7,000 kg forklift axle loading.

In total, 40 Box Liner container carriers, 60 Profi Liner and 60 Mega Liner curtainsiders are being added to the fleet for new and existing ADR, waste, auto parts and mixed pallet contracts. All the trailers are riding on Krone axles, with 6-year unlimited mileage warranty cover and a number will be operated via TIP Trailer Services UK.

TIP, whose global fleet comprises 125,000 trailers and 8,000 tractor units, structured a bespoke funding solution for 26 of the Krone trailers, spreading the cost among several funding partners to achieve ‘an optimum 3-5-year leasing arrangement’.

SICK has established a new web-based platform, SICK IntegrationSpace, to be the home for its growing data-based digital software and services portfolio. Seen as a key strategic development for the company, its aim is to align the operating efficiency goals of its customers in automated factory, process and logistics with enterprise-wide business improvement systems.

As the distribution channel for a modular portfolio of digital tools, services and cloud-based applications, SICK IntegrationSpace will enable users to vertically integrate sensor data from device through to the Cloud, creating transparency for users both to the sensors themselves, and the data they generate.

Though SICK IntegrationSpace, data from SICK sensors and other third-party devices becomes a valuable raw material to be collected, represented and manipulated using the appropriate web-based service.

All SICK IntegrationSpace modules are non-sector specific and are designed to work seamlessly with SICK’s sensor technology portfolio and its AppSpace software framework to serve the company’s wide-ranging customer-base across factory, process and logistics automation.

A range of asset-focused digital services are among the key foundation modules included in the initial launch:
• The SICK Installed Base Manager database smartphone app
• The SICK AssetHub digital-twin asset management system
• The SICK LiveConnect real-time access capability from sensor to cloud
• The SICK Monitoring Box real-time analysis and condition monitoring tool.

Neil Sandhu, SICK’s UK Product Manager for Imaging, Measurement and Ranging explains :
“The modular concept of SICK IntegrationSpace allows you to subscribe only to the services you use. You can connect your SICK devices in three simple steps: Firstly, create a virtual representation (digital twin) of your device, then pair the real device with the virtual representation. Finally, via the virtual device, manage how the data is routed and forwarded to other SICK data applications, such as individual dashboards, digital maintenance services, as well as to your third-party dashboards or business improvement systems.”

Customers may choose to start their IntegrationSpace journey by using the SICK Installed Base Manager smartphone app to build a database with fingertip access to information about both SICK and third-party installed devices. By simply tagging the 2D code label on the SICK device, users can collect data on their entire installed sensor inventory. The SICK Installed Base Manager also enables non-SICK devices to be added.

For every SICK device, the App will automatically detect and log the serial number and its age, assign it to the machine and plant, with the option to add photos and the exact GPS location. Individual sensors can then be located quickly using the search function, with quick access to technical data and product manuals. All stored device data can be exported for use in the customer’s own systems.

A key foundation of the IntegrationSpace platform, the SICK AssetHub is a web-based enterprise asset management (EAM) that enables users to manage a digital twin of their assets along their entire life cycles. The AssetHub presents a feature-rich and interactive view of all sensors, systems and other devices.

The SICK AssetHub evaluates device data so that maintenance happens at the right times, software and firmware are up to date and that inventories are well planned and optimised. The AssetHub also provides transparency for SICK field services to support customers effectively and enables maintenance programmes to be optimised.

In order to access the virtual representation of the sensor and its data, SICK uses LiveConnect to deliver a standardised connection from an edge gateway, such as the SICK SIM1012 or the TDC-E, to the SICK Asset Hub. This visualises the sensor status, thereby providing a foundation that opens up new opportunities for optimising plant availability and process efficiency. The LiveConnect service creates a digital trail linking hardware to SensorApp, and to the Cloud.

The SICK Monitoring Box allows for the early detection of status changes in sensors, machines, and plants. It enables visualization of data in a browser-based dashboard for condition monitoring and real time analysis. Integration with sensors is facilitated through standard SensorApps for SICK devices and implemented via the SICK cloud, or at a customer’s premises.

Process changes can be tracked directly from devices and users have real-time access to sensor parameters, for example whether pre-set limits have been exceeded. Alarms and notifications can be set up, and historical data and events are presented clearly in a log book format, so they can be used to make application-specific predictions.

Guided by the principle of standardised, secure, open frameworks, and easy customisation for individual business processes, SICK IntegrationSpace promises to add value to many business processes. SICK plans to release further modules for the IntegrationSpace platform at a rapid pace supporting asset-focused digital value adding services, as well as cloud-based processes and applications.