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Month: August 2020

Miniload Containers to Pick and Pack Small Orders Fast

Posted on by David Priestman

Rocketing demand for online deliveries since the coronavirus outbreak has put even more pressure on retail distribution centres to pick, pack and deliver goods faster than ever.

For those companies operating high speed, high output automated warehouses, consideration should be given to the storage platform that you introduce to the system. When storing and retrieving bulky items in automated high-bay warehouses, goplasticpallets.com says its range of heavy duty, full perimeter plastic pallets on 5 runners are the preferred solution. But when smaller items in smaller quantities are required, there are other options such as Miniload systems that use specialist Miniload containers.

The Miniload container is a strong, durable picking crate available in various sizes to perfectly fit your automated storage system. Designed for repeated use, these customised containers come with various options which often relate to a specific provider’s automation, such as special reinforced bases for extra strength (whether visible under the box or sandwiched between two base layers) solid or perforated sides, rigid or occasionally folding, special pick up locations and moulded-in bar codes.

Requirements for Miniload containers are normally vast, which reflects the density of these systems and the size of the companies operating them. Typical order volumes here are from 15,000 to 275,000 units, and even higher quantities as a system expands.

How do Miniload containers accelerate order picking?

In a large automated warehouse with aisles upon aisles of racking, a stacker crane, conveyors and all controlled by a warehouse management system.

The stacker crane will locate the Miniload container with the desired goods, extract it from the racks and transfer it to the picking area, which will likely be located at the end or sides of the racks. At the picker area, the stacker crane deposits the Miniload container onto the conveyors and the appropriate item is picked from the container, before it is returned by the crane to the racks.

The Miniload containers, which are all of uniform size, shape and strength ensure that order picking takes place in one smooth, simple process, and at high speed.

What are the benefits of automated Miniload warehouses?

Aside from accelerating order picking, using Miniload containers in an automated warehouse offers considerable benefits:

• Optimal space usage – the high-density storage means that warehouse space is optimised with little or no wastage
• Multiply storage capacity – we have heard of retailers multiplying their storage capacity 10-fold by using an automated Miniload warehouse system
• Streamlined picking – as the containers are picked and delivered to the operator at exactly the same location, the operator can man his station, away from other operatives
• Rapid ROI – as the Miniload containers are designed for frequent, repeated use, the retailer will quickly see a return on their investment
• Safe environment – as the system is controlled by a warehouse management system with minimum human involvement, optimum safety is guaranteed.

Industry View: D2C Ops Need Better Storage and Picking

Posted on by David Priestman

Manufacturers with Direct-to-Consumer operations need to consider storage and picking for efficient fulfilment of growing order volumes, says Edward Hutchison, Managing Director of BITO Storage Systems.

 

Online retail helped many manufacturers who saw normal outlets for their goods close during the COVID-19 lockdown. Some were able to pivot to their existing online channel while others were forced to establish Direct to Consumer (D2C) operations for the first time.

D2C opens up opportunities for manufacturers to obviate the traditional wholesale and retail end of a supply chain by selling and distributing their own goods – leveraging the marketing power of the Internet and social media. Of course, moving to a D2C model requires storage and order picking not only for parts to serve the manufacturing process but also for finished goods so they can be picked efficiently to fulfil orders.

Online retail sales volume escalated during lockdown and is predicted to remain high as the pandemic continues to influence the way we work and live. The easing of lockdown since mid-June has seen shoppers tentatively venturing out to the high street, having to negotiate a set of health rules that now includes mandatory mask wearing. ONS statistics show retail sales volumes increased by 13.9% in June when compared with May 2020. This represents a ’V-shaped recovery’ back to similar levels in February before lockdown. However, the proportion of online spending, despite slipping slightly to 31.8% in June from the record 33.3% reported in May, remains considerably higher than the 20% reported in February.

This is good news for the many small manufacturers who, lacking the support of a retailer to sell their products, have built D2C channels out of necessity. However, a more general movement by manufacturers in the direction of D2C had already begun before the pandemic struck, according to a Barclays Corporate Banking Manufacturing report called ’Going Direct’. Released in November 2019, it found that three quarters of UK manufacturers are now selling some or all of the products they manufacture direct to end-user consumers – compared to 56% five years ago and sales through this approach could help the manufacturing industry grow by 12% by 2025.

Those carrying out their entire manufacturing and D2C fulfilment operation under a single roof are likely to require space efficient storage solutions. BITO is fully aware of the needs of manufacturers selling D2C as we do it ourselves – fulfilling orders for our order picking and intralogistics products from our interactive catalogue and online shop from our warehouse in Nuneaton.

These products include a broad range of plastic bins and containers to keep items safe and secure for order picking. They can be held in galvanised boltless shelving that can be configured to needs. There are Inclined shelving units that help access to goods and Euro stacking containers that provide an order picking solution without the need for shelving. Smaller manufacturers that need to step their D2C business up a gear, can move on to wide span shelving, live storage or even pallet racking. Where they have no free areas in their factories or warehouses, they can replace traditional static shelving in the lower bays of their pallet racking with flow shelves. Solutions might entail a mix of adjustable shelving for slower moving items and carton flow racks, which offer a greater density of pick locations within a short distance. Boltless versions of these systems are popular because they can be quickly and easily configured or reconfigured to handle the large peaks experienced in online retail.

Carton live storage gives much greater density to save space when it comes to storing smaller products. Pick speeds can be dramatically increased because there are a greater number of pick faces within a smaller area so staff walk shorter distances. Cartons of goods fed into the system at the rear flow unassisted down rollers in a lane designed around the carton, or container, to be presented at the front on the pick face. This means pickers have constant availability of goods. It all works within the FIFO principle, which enables easy control of time critical products, such as items with use-by dates. Live storage is not just for cartons, it works with pallets also and companies will often combine a mix of the two to suit different types of SKUs and speeds of throughput.

Manufacturers establishing D2C operations will also need packaging stations. These might typically require galvanised shelving on which items can be placed for building customer orders. Packing tables will need to be as ergonomic as possible for staff, allowing everything they need to pack efficiently to be directly in front of them. Equipping the tables with further aids such as waste bins, pull-out drawers, a computer shelf and a monitor stand will also help.

The current situation around the pandemic has reinforced the need for flexibility and to rapidly scale up operations during periods of peak demand. Manufacturers will see an evolutionary path for their D2C channel, starting out with manual operations. As volumes grow and business becomes more established, some form of mechanisation can be added into the process. Once firmly established and volumes and service levels scale beyond the productive reach of manual processes, it’s then time to consider automating processes.

Industry View: D2C Ops Need Better Storage and Picking

Posted on by David Priestman

Manufacturers with Direct-to-Consumer operations need to consider storage and picking for efficient fulfilment of growing order volumes, says Edward Hutchison, Managing Director of BITO Storage Systems.

 

Online retail helped many manufacturers who saw normal outlets for their goods close during the COVID-19 lockdown. Some were able to pivot to their existing online channel while others were forced to establish Direct to Consumer (D2C) operations for the first time.

D2C opens up opportunities for manufacturers to obviate the traditional wholesale and retail end of a supply chain by selling and distributing their own goods – leveraging the marketing power of the Internet and social media. Of course, moving to a D2C model requires storage and order picking not only for parts to serve the manufacturing process but also for finished goods so they can be picked efficiently to fulfil orders.

Online retail sales volume escalated during lockdown and is predicted to remain high as the pandemic continues to influence the way we work and live. The easing of lockdown since mid-June has seen shoppers tentatively venturing out to the high street, having to negotiate a set of health rules that now includes mandatory mask wearing. ONS statistics show retail sales volumes increased by 13.9% in June when compared with May 2020. This represents a ’V-shaped recovery’ back to similar levels in February before lockdown. However, the proportion of online spending, despite slipping slightly to 31.8% in June from the record 33.3% reported in May, remains considerably higher than the 20% reported in February.

This is good news for the many small manufacturers who, lacking the support of a retailer to sell their products, have built D2C channels out of necessity. However, a more general movement by manufacturers in the direction of D2C had already begun before the pandemic struck, according to a Barclays Corporate Banking Manufacturing report called ’Going Direct’. Released in November 2019, it found that three quarters of UK manufacturers are now selling some or all of the products they manufacture direct to end-user consumers – compared to 56% five years ago and sales through this approach could help the manufacturing industry grow by 12% by 2025.

Those carrying out their entire manufacturing and D2C fulfilment operation under a single roof are likely to require space efficient storage solutions. BITO is fully aware of the needs of manufacturers selling D2C as we do it ourselves – fulfilling orders for our order picking and intralogistics products from our interactive catalogue and online shop from our warehouse in Nuneaton.

These products include a broad range of plastic bins and containers to keep items safe and secure for order picking. They can be held in galvanised boltless shelving that can be configured to needs. There are Inclined shelving units that help access to goods and Euro stacking containers that provide an order picking solution without the need for shelving. Smaller manufacturers that need to step their D2C business up a gear, can move on to wide span shelving, live storage or even pallet racking. Where they have no free areas in their factories or warehouses, they can replace traditional static shelving in the lower bays of their pallet racking with flow shelves. Solutions might entail a mix of adjustable shelving for slower moving items and carton flow racks, which offer a greater density of pick locations within a short distance. Boltless versions of these systems are popular because they can be quickly and easily configured or reconfigured to handle the large peaks experienced in online retail.

Carton live storage gives much greater density to save space when it comes to storing smaller products. Pick speeds can be dramatically increased because there are a greater number of pick faces within a smaller area so staff walk shorter distances. Cartons of goods fed into the system at the rear flow unassisted down rollers in a lane designed around the carton, or container, to be presented at the front on the pick face. This means pickers have constant availability of goods. It all works within the FIFO principle, which enables easy control of time critical products, such as items with use-by dates. Live storage is not just for cartons, it works with pallets also and companies will often combine a mix of the two to suit different types of SKUs and speeds of throughput.

Manufacturers establishing D2C operations will also need packaging stations. These might typically require galvanised shelving on which items can be placed for building customer orders. Packing tables will need to be as ergonomic as possible for staff, allowing everything they need to pack efficiently to be directly in front of them. Equipping the tables with further aids such as waste bins, pull-out drawers, a computer shelf and a monitor stand will also help.

The current situation around the pandemic has reinforced the need for flexibility and to rapidly scale up operations during periods of peak demand. Manufacturers will see an evolutionary path for their D2C channel, starting out with manual operations. As volumes grow and business becomes more established, some form of mechanisation can be added into the process. Once firmly established and volumes and service levels scale beyond the productive reach of manual processes, it’s then time to consider automating processes.

Construction Logistics Operation Expands into Port

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Wilson James, a leading provider of specialist construction logistics services, has announced that it has expanded its warehousing and consolidation capacity into the Port of Tilbury, a London port. The new facility augments the company’s existing London Construction Consolidation Centre (LCCC) and helps it to meet the evolving needs of its growing customer base, which requires construction material and equipment to be delivered to site in ever-shorter timeframes.

In 2005, Wilson James created the LCCC in East London, which was the first facility of its kind and redefined best practice in construction logistics. It continues to be ideally located for projects across London and also provides space for contractors to build mock-ups, create quality samples and carry out off-site fabrication. As part of a strategic objective to enhance its distribution and consolidation capacity, and facilitate just in time delivery across the UK, the company assessed all available options and decided that the Port of Tilbury offered the most suitable opportunities for expansion.

Located on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury, Essex, the Port of Tilbury is the number one port for construction materials, handling a range of materials from aggregates, specialised dry bulk materials to timber; plywood and forest products as well as bricks, paving and stone. The port is in a prime location for London and the South East, offering easy access to the M25 and the rest of the UK’s national motorway network. The busy port has an annual throughput of 16million tonnes per annum, which is estimated to value around £8.7bn, and cargoes are spread across an estate in excess of 1,000 acres, with five million square feet of undercover warehousing.

“Put simply, the Port of Tilbury ticked all the boxes,” explained Keith Winterflood, operations director at Wilson James. “As well as being strategically located and boasting state-of-the-art facilities, it makes importation of overseas goods easier for us. Just as importantly, in addition to the excellent transportation links by road and rail, we can improve sustainability across our operation through the use of barges on the River Thames and other waterways.”

This can significantly lower operational carbon emissions and Winterflood continued, “50 lorry loads of equipment can fit on one barge and it also gives us the ability to transport large and heavy deliveries, which are normally challenging to accommodate on London roads. When it’s not possible to use the waterways, the Port of Tilbury’s proximity to the M25 allows goods to be dropped off without coming into London, which we can then transport using our fleet of electric and fuel efficient vehicles.”

This announcement closely follows the UK government’s promise to ‘build, build, build’ the UK back to economic health. Achieving this requires a flexible, reliable and robust supply chain and Wilson James expects to have a major role to play. Its expansion into the Port of Tilbury, alongside its LCCC, provides significant operational advantages as it continues to add value and refine existing supply chains during what is predicted to be a busy period for the construction sector.

The Port of Tilbury’s commercial manager, Alison Hall, commented, “We are very pleased that Wilson James has chosen the Port of Tilbury as the location for its latest consolidation centre. Our unique combination of transportation links will help Wilson James remove complexity in the supply chain and reduce journey miles, thereby creating a sustainable way to ensure that material and equipment gets to where it needs to be, on time. This is an exciting time for the port as we continue to invest in our infrastructure and open our new port extension Tilbury2 which will home one of the largest construction material terminals in the UK.

“We look forward to working with Wilson James to provide joint solutions for construction projects and support to its existing supply chains that are keen to gain from the sustainable benefit the port can offer with our unrivalled train, road and sea connections. On average we see a CO2 saving of 95% compared with road when barging materials on water. Using water for freight transport also significantly removes congestion from London’s roads.”

Construction Logistics Operation Expands into Port

Posted on by David Priestman

Wilson James, a leading provider of specialist construction logistics services, has announced that it has expanded its warehousing and consolidation capacity into the Port of Tilbury, a London port. The new facility augments the company’s existing London Construction Consolidation Centre (LCCC) and helps it to meet the evolving needs of its growing customer base, which requires construction material and equipment to be delivered to site in ever-shorter timeframes.

In 2005, Wilson James created the LCCC in East London, which was the first facility of its kind and redefined best practice in construction logistics. It continues to be ideally located for projects across London and also provides space for contractors to build mock-ups, create quality samples and carry out off-site fabrication. As part of a strategic objective to enhance its distribution and consolidation capacity, and facilitate just in time delivery across the UK, the company assessed all available options and decided that the Port of Tilbury offered the most suitable opportunities for expansion.

Located on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury, Essex, the Port of Tilbury is the number one port for construction materials, handling a range of materials from aggregates, specialised dry bulk materials to timber; plywood and forest products as well as bricks, paving and stone. The port is in a prime location for London and the South East, offering easy access to the M25 and the rest of the UK’s national motorway network. The busy port has an annual throughput of 16million tonnes per annum, which is estimated to value around £8.7bn, and cargoes are spread across an estate in excess of 1,000 acres, with five million square feet of undercover warehousing.

“Put simply, the Port of Tilbury ticked all the boxes,” explained Keith Winterflood, operations director at Wilson James. “As well as being strategically located and boasting state-of-the-art facilities, it makes importation of overseas goods easier for us. Just as importantly, in addition to the excellent transportation links by road and rail, we can improve sustainability across our operation through the use of barges on the River Thames and other waterways.”

This can significantly lower operational carbon emissions and Winterflood continued, “50 lorry loads of equipment can fit on one barge and it also gives us the ability to transport large and heavy deliveries, which are normally challenging to accommodate on London roads. When it’s not possible to use the waterways, the Port of Tilbury’s proximity to the M25 allows goods to be dropped off without coming into London, which we can then transport using our fleet of electric and fuel efficient vehicles.”

This announcement closely follows the UK government’s promise to ‘build, build, build’ the UK back to economic health. Achieving this requires a flexible, reliable and robust supply chain and Wilson James expects to have a major role to play. Its expansion into the Port of Tilbury, alongside its LCCC, provides significant operational advantages as it continues to add value and refine existing supply chains during what is predicted to be a busy period for the construction sector.

The Port of Tilbury’s commercial manager, Alison Hall, commented, “We are very pleased that Wilson James has chosen the Port of Tilbury as the location for its latest consolidation centre. Our unique combination of transportation links will help Wilson James remove complexity in the supply chain and reduce journey miles, thereby creating a sustainable way to ensure that material and equipment gets to where it needs to be, on time. This is an exciting time for the port as we continue to invest in our infrastructure and open our new port extension Tilbury2 which will home one of the largest construction material terminals in the UK.

“We look forward to working with Wilson James to provide joint solutions for construction projects and support to its existing supply chains that are keen to gain from the sustainable benefit the port can offer with our unrivalled train, road and sea connections. On average we see a CO2 saving of 95% compared with road when barging materials on water. Using water for freight transport also significantly removes congestion from London’s roads.”

Tokyo Logistics Facility Acquired in joint-venture

Posted on by David Priestman

AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets, a leading real estate portfolio and asset manager in Europe, has announced that it has completed, on behalf of clients, the acquisition of a ¥39 billion (€330 million) logistics facility in Tokyo, Japan. The acquisition was completed as part of AXA IM – Real Assets’ long term joint venture with ESR, a leading Asia-Pacific logistics real estate platform, with whom it established a local partnership in 2018.

The 142,000 sqm standalone asset, ESR Kuki, is spread across four storeys with double ramp access to the first three floors. Completed in 2018, the state-of-the-art facility was built to the highest specifications and meets the latest ESG standards (CASBEE A certification), as well as being energy saving compliant. The asset benefits from a human-centric design with plentiful amenity space for workers, such as children’s day care centre, and access to 241 parking spaces. ESR Kuki is occupied by six institutional quality logistics tenants.

Located in the North-Eastern area of Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo’s CBD, the facility benefits from strong transport infrastructure with easy access to the Tohoku Expressway and Ken-O Express. The Tohoku Expressway provides direct access into Tohoku district and the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressways, which were built and extended to connect with the various outbound expressways and providing easy access and coverage of the entire Tokyo CBD, making it a strategic logistics location.

The acquisition adds to AXA IM – Real Assets’ Japanese logistics platform which comprises a six asset portfolio acquired on behalf of clients last year for a total consideration in excess of ¥100 billion, as part of its Japanese joint venture with ESR. The joint venture will seek further investment and development opportunities diversified across Japan’s gateways cities, targeting large high quality modern logistics facilities which have the ability to deliver secure income returns over the long term.

Laurent Jacquemin, Head of Asia-Pacific at AXA IM – Real Assets, commented: “This acquisition is a significant addition to our existing Japanese logistics portfolio, which is well positioned to benefit from the solid fundamentals underpinning the continued growth of the third party logistics market. The demand for modern logistics space in this market is likely to remain strong due to tight supply and we are confident that this, coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce, will enable us to deliver secure income returns over the long term for our clients, alongside our joint venture partner. AXA IM – Real Assets has a strong conviction in the logistics asset class globally due to the fact that it is supported by a number of structural demand drivers which, added to widespread levels of undersupply, we believe will underpin growth in income and capital returns on behalf of clients.”

Tokyo Logistics Facility Acquired in joint-venture

Posted on by Keith McKinley

AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets, a leading real estate portfolio and asset manager in Europe, has announced that it has completed, on behalf of clients, the acquisition of a ¥39 billion (€330 million) logistics facility in Tokyo, Japan. The acquisition was completed as part of AXA IM – Real Assets’ long term joint venture with ESR, a leading Asia-Pacific logistics real estate platform, with whom it established a local partnership in 2018.

The 142,000 sqm standalone asset, ESR Kuki, is spread across four storeys with double ramp access to the first three floors. Completed in 2018, the state-of-the-art facility was built to the highest specifications and meets the latest ESG standards (CASBEE A certification), as well as being energy saving compliant. The asset benefits from a human-centric design with plentiful amenity space for workers, such as children’s day care centre, and access to 241 parking spaces. ESR Kuki is occupied by six institutional quality logistics tenants.

Located in the North-Eastern area of Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo’s CBD, the facility benefits from strong transport infrastructure with easy access to the Tohoku Expressway and Ken-O Express. The Tohoku Expressway provides direct access into Tohoku district and the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressways, which were built and extended to connect with the various outbound expressways and providing easy access and coverage of the entire Tokyo CBD, making it a strategic logistics location.

The acquisition adds to AXA IM – Real Assets’ Japanese logistics platform which comprises a six asset portfolio acquired on behalf of clients last year for a total consideration in excess of ¥100 billion, as part of its Japanese joint venture with ESR. The joint venture will seek further investment and development opportunities diversified across Japan’s gateways cities, targeting large high quality modern logistics facilities which have the ability to deliver secure income returns over the long term.

Laurent Jacquemin, Head of Asia-Pacific at AXA IM – Real Assets, commented: “This acquisition is a significant addition to our existing Japanese logistics portfolio, which is well positioned to benefit from the solid fundamentals underpinning the continued growth of the third party logistics market. The demand for modern logistics space in this market is likely to remain strong due to tight supply and we are confident that this, coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce, will enable us to deliver secure income returns over the long term for our clients, alongside our joint venture partner. AXA IM – Real Assets has a strong conviction in the logistics asset class globally due to the fact that it is supported by a number of structural demand drivers which, added to widespread levels of undersupply, we believe will underpin growth in income and capital returns on behalf of clients.”

Major Infrastructure Project Begins at UK Rail Freight Terminal

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The UK’s rail freight network is set to receive a significant capacity boost as work begins on a major infrastructure project at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) in Northamptonshire.

Led by industrial property company, Prologis UK, and delivered by main contractor Winvic Construction Ltd., the project will include the construction of a new state of the art rail freight terminal and associated infrastructure works, including a new road access point to the site.

Classed as nationally-significant infrastructure, DIRFT is recognised as one of the most successful intermodal (rail/road) logistics parks in the UK. Situated in the logistics ‘golden triangle’, which spans from Northampton to East Midlands Airport in the North, and West towards Birmingham, the site benefits from excellent road and rail links, with access to the M1 motorway and the West Coast Main Line, the primary rail freight route in the UK.

Currently home to major household names such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Royal Mail and DHL, the site’s three existing rail freight terminals handle 12 freight trains every day. In its current form, the logistics park has warehouse buildings ranging in size between 100,000 to 1 million sq. ft. The site draws labour from a significant local employment catchment area of 30 minutes and has strong connections to the UK’s busiest container ports.

The entire DIRFT scheme is covered by a Development Consent Order, under which Prologis UK has had plans approved leading to the works getting underway. This latest phase of works includes the construction of a new rail freight terminal, enhancement of the current rail corridor, which connects into the West Coast Main Line, a new bridge over the nearby A5 and the creation of a new northern access point to the site.
Once completed, the infrastructure project will triple the rail freight capacity at this important facility. David Mellor, director, project management at Prologis UK, said: “Undertaking this national infrastructure project, of this scale, at DIRFT will bring a significant boost to the UK’s rail freight network. At a time where the UK’s roads are becoming busier than ever, rail freight offers businesses the opportunity to create even more resilient, efficient and sustainable supply chains.

“Aside from allowing companies to quickly deliver stock across the UK, each freight train leaving DIRFT takes 76 HGVs off the road, helping to cut traffic and reduce the release of harmful environmental emissions. This, together with the fact that there are significant operational cost savings by being located near to the rail terminal, makes DIRFT the compelling opportunity for our customers.

“The benefits of the capacity increase offered by the new rail freight terminal at DIRFT will be felt across the country. With HS2 recently being given the go-ahead by the Government, there will be more opportunity than ever before for UK companies to tap into the rail network to deliver their goods up and down the country.

“DIRFT is one of the greatest logistics success stories of our time. Its location, connectivity and facilities make it the first choice for any business that is serious about moving freight on the rails. Getting the green signal to push forward with this major-scale infrastructure project, which will benefit the whole of the UK, is a significant milestone for Prologis and we’re delighted to be working with Winvic as our construction partner on this project.”

Work on the new rail freight terminal and associate infrastructure has started with projected completion in 2021.

Major Infrastructure Project Begins at UK Rail Freight Terminal

Posted on by David Priestman

The UK’s rail freight network is set to receive a significant capacity boost as work begins on a major infrastructure project at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) in Northamptonshire.

Led by industrial property company, Prologis UK, and delivered by main contractor Winvic Construction Ltd., the project will include the construction of a new state of the art rail freight terminal and associated infrastructure works, including a new road access point to the site.

Classed as nationally-significant infrastructure, DIRFT is recognised as one of the most successful intermodal (rail/road) logistics parks in the UK. Situated in the logistics ‘golden triangle’, which spans from Northampton to East Midlands Airport in the North, and West towards Birmingham, the site benefits from excellent road and rail links, with access to the M1 motorway and the West Coast Main Line, the primary rail freight route in the UK.

Currently home to major household names such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Royal Mail and DHL, the site’s three existing rail freight terminals handle 12 freight trains every day. In its current form, the logistics park has warehouse buildings ranging in size between 100,000 to 1 million sq. ft. The site draws labour from a significant local employment catchment area of 30 minutes and has strong connections to the UK’s busiest container ports.

The entire DIRFT scheme is covered by a Development Consent Order, under which Prologis UK has had plans approved leading to the works getting underway. This latest phase of works includes the construction of a new rail freight terminal, enhancement of the current rail corridor, which connects into the West Coast Main Line, a new bridge over the nearby A5 and the creation of a new northern access point to the site.
Once completed, the infrastructure project will triple the rail freight capacity at this important facility. David Mellor, director, project management at Prologis UK, said: “Undertaking this national infrastructure project, of this scale, at DIRFT will bring a significant boost to the UK’s rail freight network. At a time where the UK’s roads are becoming busier than ever, rail freight offers businesses the opportunity to create even more resilient, efficient and sustainable supply chains.

“Aside from allowing companies to quickly deliver stock across the UK, each freight train leaving DIRFT takes 76 HGVs off the road, helping to cut traffic and reduce the release of harmful environmental emissions. This, together with the fact that there are significant operational cost savings by being located near to the rail terminal, makes DIRFT the compelling opportunity for our customers.

“The benefits of the capacity increase offered by the new rail freight terminal at DIRFT will be felt across the country. With HS2 recently being given the go-ahead by the Government, there will be more opportunity than ever before for UK companies to tap into the rail network to deliver their goods up and down the country.

“DIRFT is one of the greatest logistics success stories of our time. Its location, connectivity and facilities make it the first choice for any business that is serious about moving freight on the rails. Getting the green signal to push forward with this major-scale infrastructure project, which will benefit the whole of the UK, is a significant milestone for Prologis and we’re delighted to be working with Winvic as our construction partner on this project.”

Work on the new rail freight terminal and associate infrastructure has started with projected completion in 2021.

Air Cargo Forum Miami 2020 Cancelled

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and Messe München have cancelled the Air Cargo Forum (ACF), originally scheduled to be held on 10-12 November 2020 in Miami.

The statement in full reads:

“The health and safety of the ACF exhibitors, attendees and all involved partners being the first priority, TIACA and Messe München have been in close and regular contact with local and international authorities, monitoring the situation, following the WHO advice as well as the feedback from the registered exhibitors. Given the current developments in Florida and recent restrictions imposed in Miami-Dade County to curb the spread of COVID-19, taking into account the ongoing worldwide travel restrictions impacting exhibitors and visitors, TIACA and Messe München have been forced decided to reschedule the Air Cargo Forum which will be held on 8-10 November 2022 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Messe München and TIACA have always been committed to providing a much-needed platform in the US to the air cargo, logistics and supply chain management communities. “Given the drastic impact the global Covid-19 pandemic currently has in Florida, we regret that holding the events this year is unfortunately not possible. With this, we also take into account the latest feedback and interest of the industry, that is heavily affected by the current crisis, and decided to re-schedule for November 2022,” said Gerhard Gerritzen, Deputy Managing Director of Messe München.

“TIACA is still planning to host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2020 and continues its call for nominations for the Hall of Fame and the Air Cargo Sustainability Awards. The AGM, which is the annual assembly of TIACA’s voting members, will be held as a digital event. The Hall of Fame, TIACA’s prestigious award for outstanding air cargo heroes, is maintained this year, but the ceremony itself will be held at a later stage when the situation allows. For the 2nd Air Cargo Sustainability Awards, sponsored by CHAMP Cargosystems, TIACA will organize a virtual event in Fall 2020 to keep pushing for and rewarding innovative sustainable practices. Additional details will be communicated shortly.”

Special event format in 2021

To provide the air cargo and the supply chain community with a platform to meet, connect, learn and embrace new business opportunities, TIACA and Messe München are partnering to bring the industry together for a special event in the Fall of 2021 in California.

“Air cargo has been absolutely essential supporting the global supply chains, including the delivery of vital shipments of medicine and supplies fast and safely. I am confident that the opportunities the air cargo community is facing can help this industry come out of this crisis stronger, modern and more resilient to future shocks,” affirmed Polmans. “I look forward to welcoming all to a special event next year – a two-day conference followed by two days of unique innovation experience.”

 

 

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