Prologis Launches Europe-Wide Initiative to Reduce “Whole-Life Carbon Emissions”

Prologis says it is the first industrial property company to introduce a Europe-wide initiative to measure and reduce whole-life carbon emissions in all its new logistics buildings.

Launched on World Environment Day (5th June 2020) and designed to support the United Nation’s Decade of Action* campaign, Prologis will extend its 12-year UK partnership with climate change charity Cool Earth, and sustainability certification company The Planet Mark. The aim is to raise sustainability standards across the European industrial property sector and drive meaningful change through social empowerment.

From June 2020, Prologis will work with climate change charity, Cool Earth, to fund the protection of rainforest to mitigate the equivalent of unavoidable carbon emissions in its new buildings across Europe. The programme will help Cool Earth to protect an area of rainforest 31 times larger than the area of each building. This draws on the results of detailed Carbon Life Cycle Assessments to ensure that every development achieves a net environmental benefit, targeting carbon savings that are 5 times greater than the embodied carbon footprint of each building.

Partnering with the charity Cool Earth will allow Prologis to demonstrate a robust, science-based approach to the mitigation of climate change. through the protection of rainforest. This has also been shown to have extensive benefits for society, culture and biodiversity.

Whilst the protection of rainforest communities might at first seem far removed from European logistics real estate, the company says that we all must play our part in keeping rainforest standing. As the planet’s global safety net, supporting local people to protect rainforest is the smartest, most positive climate action there is, it says. Rainforest trees lock in a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions and generate moisture, which travels around the world, and accounts for a fifth of the planet’s fresh water. Rainforests also protect over six million species of plants and animals (with many still undiscovered), forming an essential ecosystem which is essential to our survival.

Simon Cox, UK head of sustainability for Prologis in the UK explained why the company is pleased to be extending its commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance (ESG) in this way:

“Prologis has a long-standing and enduring commitment to ESG, and we strive to go above and beyond industry standards in terms of sustainability. ‘Embodied carbon’ – which is the carbon emitted during the construction of a new building – can be reduced through good design, but it cannot be eliminated altogether. Developers should be thinking about ways to mitigate these emissions by actively protecting the environment and supporting the development of sustainable communities.

“By working with Cool Earth, we can support people who live in the rainforest to protect trees that we rely on globally to store carbon, produce fresh water, and shield diverse species of plants and animals. We make the donation to Cool Earth at the outset of each project precisely because the rainforest is so fragile, and we want to support the preservation of this ecosystem as soon as possible.”

Over the past 12 years, through its partnership with Cool Earth and The Planet Mark, Prologis’ buildings in the UK have been helping to protect 12,500 acres of rainforest in Peru and Papua New Guinea, going beyond ‘net-zero’ in terms of embodied carbon. Prologis is helping rainforest communities to lock in 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by protecting 3.2 million trees mitigating an estimated 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As part of this partnership, the company has also educated 7,500 pupils at schools close to its logistics parks through sustainability workshops. Delivered by The Eden Project, these workshops are offered free of charge to local schools and aim to help children understand the important role they can all play in protecting the planet.

Prologis Launches Europe-Wide Initiative to Reduce “Whole-Life Carbon Emissions”

Prologis says it is the first industrial property company to introduce a Europe-wide initiative to measure and reduce whole-life carbon emissions in all its new logistics buildings.

Launched on World Environment Day (5th June 2020) and designed to support the United Nation’s Decade of Action* campaign, Prologis will extend its 12-year UK partnership with climate change charity Cool Earth, and sustainability certification company The Planet Mark. The aim is to raise sustainability standards across the European industrial property sector and drive meaningful change through social empowerment.

From June 2020, Prologis will work with climate change charity, Cool Earth, to fund the protection of rainforest to mitigate the equivalent of unavoidable carbon emissions in its new buildings across Europe. The programme will help Cool Earth to protect an area of rainforest 31 times larger than the area of each building. This draws on the results of detailed Carbon Life Cycle Assessments to ensure that every development achieves a net environmental benefit, targeting carbon savings that are 5 times greater than the embodied carbon footprint of each building.

Partnering with the charity Cool Earth will allow Prologis to demonstrate a robust, science-based approach to the mitigation of climate change. through the protection of rainforest. This has also been shown to have extensive benefits for society, culture and biodiversity.

Whilst the protection of rainforest communities might at first seem far removed from European logistics real estate, the company says that we all must play our part in keeping rainforest standing. As the planet’s global safety net, supporting local people to protect rainforest is the smartest, most positive climate action there is, it says. Rainforest trees lock in a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions and generate moisture, which travels around the world, and accounts for a fifth of the planet’s fresh water. Rainforests also protect over six million species of plants and animals (with many still undiscovered), forming an essential ecosystem which is essential to our survival.

Simon Cox, UK head of sustainability for Prologis in the UK explained why the company is pleased to be extending its commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance (ESG) in this way:

“Prologis has a long-standing and enduring commitment to ESG, and we strive to go above and beyond industry standards in terms of sustainability. ‘Embodied carbon’ – which is the carbon emitted during the construction of a new building – can be reduced through good design, but it cannot be eliminated altogether. Developers should be thinking about ways to mitigate these emissions by actively protecting the environment and supporting the development of sustainable communities.

“By working with Cool Earth, we can support people who live in the rainforest to protect trees that we rely on globally to store carbon, produce fresh water, and shield diverse species of plants and animals. We make the donation to Cool Earth at the outset of each project precisely because the rainforest is so fragile, and we want to support the preservation of this ecosystem as soon as possible.”

Over the past 12 years, through its partnership with Cool Earth and The Planet Mark, Prologis’ buildings in the UK have been helping to protect 12,500 acres of rainforest in Peru and Papua New Guinea, going beyond ‘net-zero’ in terms of embodied carbon. Prologis is helping rainforest communities to lock in 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by protecting 3.2 million trees mitigating an estimated 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. As part of this partnership, the company has also educated 7,500 pupils at schools close to its logistics parks through sustainability workshops. Delivered by The Eden Project, these workshops are offered free of charge to local schools and aim to help children understand the important role they can all play in protecting the planet.

AutoGuide AMRs Now Available For European Warehouses

AutoGuide Mobile Robots, which provides high-payload autonomous mobile robots (AMR) systems for transporting material through manufacturing and warehouse facilities, says that its Max-N tuggers are now available in Europe after achieving CE mark approval. CE marking indicates that the Max-N10 and Max-N15 AMR tuggers—capable of pulling more than 4500 kg and 6800 kg of materials, respectively—now adhere to the European Union’s directives and standards for health, safety and environmental protection. AutoGuide’s Max-NPS pallet stacker achieved CE marking in April.

“With our autonomous Max-N15 and Max-N10 tuggers, manufacturers and warehouse managers throughout Europe can gain the same advantages as companies in North America, safely and easily moving heavy pallets of products wherever needed while letting human workers focus on more valuable tasks,” said Jan Nicolay, AutoGuide’s European sales director. “Now that both the Max-N tuggers and our pallet stacker attachment are CE marked, companies in Europe can transform our configurable robots from tuggers to pallet stackers—and back again—to accommodate ever-changing work environment and needs.”

AutoGuide created the configurable AMR systems by combining and redesigning traditional material handling systems into a common base with modular attachments that offer the most economical capital efficiencies for customers. The attachments connect to the company’s common high-payload AMR platforms that are easy to deploy and programme, and designed to improve safety, reduce costs and increase efficiency for a wide range of manufacturing, warehouse and e-commerce material handling operations. The robots are guided by the AutoGuide SurePath fleet-management software, which provides an easy means to specify routes, coordinate autonomous lifting and transport of pallets and manage AMR traffic to optimize customers’ material transport.

AutoGuide AMRs Now Available For European Warehouses

AutoGuide Mobile Robots, which provides high-payload autonomous mobile robots (AMR) systems for transporting material through manufacturing and warehouse facilities, says that its Max-N tuggers are now available in Europe after achieving CE mark approval. CE marking indicates that the Max-N10 and Max-N15 AMR tuggers—capable of pulling more than 4500 kg and 6800 kg of materials, respectively—now adhere to the European Union’s directives and standards for health, safety and environmental protection. AutoGuide’s Max-NPS pallet stacker achieved CE marking in April.

“With our autonomous Max-N15 and Max-N10 tuggers, manufacturers and warehouse managers throughout Europe can gain the same advantages as companies in North America, safely and easily moving heavy pallets of products wherever needed while letting human workers focus on more valuable tasks,” said Jan Nicolay, AutoGuide’s European sales director. “Now that both the Max-N tuggers and our pallet stacker attachment are CE marked, companies in Europe can transform our configurable robots from tuggers to pallet stackers—and back again—to accommodate ever-changing work environment and needs.”

AutoGuide created the configurable AMR systems by combining and redesigning traditional material handling systems into a common base with modular attachments that offer the most economical capital efficiencies for customers. The attachments connect to the company’s common high-payload AMR platforms that are easy to deploy and programme, and designed to improve safety, reduce costs and increase efficiency for a wide range of manufacturing, warehouse and e-commerce material handling operations. The robots are guided by the AutoGuide SurePath fleet-management software, which provides an easy means to specify routes, coordinate autonomous lifting and transport of pallets and manage AMR traffic to optimize customers’ material transport.

Zumbühl to Step Down as Interroll CEO

Interroll CEO Paul Zumbühl (above) is to step down from the role in April next year and is likely to become chairman of the Swiss conveying roller specialist. Urs Tanner is also to step down as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the end of his term of office with Zumbühl proposed to replace him.

In the more than 20 years under Zumbühl’s  leadership, Interroll has evolved into a leading global provider of material flow solutions. The company said in a statement: “In addition to necessary restructuring in the initial phase of his tenure, Zumbühl has been very successful in systematically driving forward the expansion of Interroll by extending the technology platform and strengthening the company’s global presence with new start-ups and acquisitions. Under his leadership, sales, profitability and market capitalization increased many times over. Building on a solid foundation, Interroll now plans to invest up to CHF 150 million between 2020 and 2022 with focus on the long-term expansion of its global production network and in new technologies. In this way, the company is laying the basis for further strategic growth and strengthening its global market position for the years to come. Investments will be made in the further digitalization of technology and product platforms as well as in business processes and capacity expansion on all three continents.”

No replacement for Mr Zumbühl has yet been named. Urs Tanner will remain on the Board of Directors for another year (until May 2022) as Lead Independent Director.

“Interroll’s success over two decades is closely linked to the performance of Paul Zumbühl. We are therefore delighted that he is making his many years of unique expertise available during this handover phase, which is so important for the future of Interroll, and beyond,” said Urs Tanner. “We are convinced that our proposal sets the right course for the achievement of long-term corporate goals in the interests of all stakeholders. Stable management and continuity are crucial to the future success of Interroll.“

Zumbühl to Step Down as Interroll CEO

Interroll CEO Paul Zumbühl (above) is to step down from the role in April next year and is likely to become chairman of the Swiss conveying roller specialist. Urs Tanner is also to step down as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the end of his term of office with Zumbühl proposed to replace him.

In the more than 20 years under Zumbühl’s  leadership, Interroll has evolved into a leading global provider of material flow solutions. The company said in a statement: “In addition to necessary restructuring in the initial phase of his tenure, Zumbühl has been very successful in systematically driving forward the expansion of Interroll by extending the technology platform and strengthening the company’s global presence with new start-ups and acquisitions. Under his leadership, sales, profitability and market capitalization increased many times over. Building on a solid foundation, Interroll now plans to invest up to CHF 150 million between 2020 and 2022 with focus on the long-term expansion of its global production network and in new technologies. In this way, the company is laying the basis for further strategic growth and strengthening its global market position for the years to come. Investments will be made in the further digitalization of technology and product platforms as well as in business processes and capacity expansion on all three continents.”

No replacement for Mr Zumbühl has yet been named. Urs Tanner will remain on the Board of Directors for another year (until May 2022) as Lead Independent Director.

“Interroll’s success over two decades is closely linked to the performance of Paul Zumbühl. We are therefore delighted that he is making his many years of unique expertise available during this handover phase, which is so important for the future of Interroll, and beyond,” said Urs Tanner. “We are convinced that our proposal sets the right course for the achievement of long-term corporate goals in the interests of all stakeholders. Stable management and continuity are crucial to the future success of Interroll.“

Coveya Launches Conveyor Sanitiser Unit for Cartons and Boxes

Bristol based Coveya Ltd specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of conveyor systems & parts, working with customers throughout the UK and worldwide. In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, it has created Mist-Safe, a sanitiser unit that can fit over a gravity roller conveyor, which uses mist disinfectant to make cardboard boxes and cartons safe to use.

It follows the launch of COV-Screen, a freestanding or countertop protection screen product.

The company claims Mist-Safe can sanitise up to 60 cartons per minute using four mist spray nozzles and a sensor which ensures that mist is only released if a carton is passing through the housing unit. The mist is controlled without the need for any intervention.

It has been designed with food and healthcare distribution centres in mind that want to ensure delivery cartons are safe, whilst reassuring their customers of their own commitment to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 however, many other businesses can take advantage of this unique product which is being manufactured at Coveya’s site.

 

Coveya Launches Conveyor Sanitiser Unit for Cartons and Boxes

Bristol based Coveya Ltd specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of conveyor systems & parts, working with customers throughout the UK and worldwide. In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, it has created Mist-Safe, a sanitiser unit that can fit over a gravity roller conveyor, which uses mist disinfectant to make cardboard boxes and cartons safe to use.

It follows the launch of COV-Screen, a freestanding or countertop protection screen product.

The company claims Mist-Safe can sanitise up to 60 cartons per minute using four mist spray nozzles and a sensor which ensures that mist is only released if a carton is passing through the housing unit. The mist is controlled without the need for any intervention.

It has been designed with food and healthcare distribution centres in mind that want to ensure delivery cartons are safe, whilst reassuring their customers of their own commitment to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 however, many other businesses can take advantage of this unique product which is being manufactured at Coveya’s site.

 

Barcode Reader Promises High-Speed Character Recognition 

Time is a crucial factor in the traceability and quality assurance of products and labels in real-time. At the same time, the demands on the character recognition systems used are increasing: they should be able to read (OCR) text, numbers, code, or even better, logos and graphics and verify them (OCV). And preferably all at the same time.

IMAGO’s FastCodeReader is specialised for high process speeds of up to u 800m/min. and works reliably and with high reading rates even at high conveyor speeds. The integrated line scan camera with narrow and long images is optimised for the requirements of long and single-line code lines on packaging, foils, and packages (image size e.g. 300 x 500 pixels). The FastCodeReader is suitable for multiple tasks: It reads (OCR) numbers, letters, and characters and codes of any font, such as serial, batch, product numbers, best before date, or entire address files. It also evaluates the quality, correctness, and compliance with the specifications (OCV) of, for example, barcodes or QR codes. The capabilities of the FastCode Reader go far beyond the features of an OCR/OCV reader by reading and verifying logos and graphics. The intelligence of the integrated VisionCam even allows identifying different data e.g. code, text, and logos at the same time.

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