Geodis Names New President & CEO Americas

Geodis has announced that, effective October 3, 2020, Mike Honious will be promoted to President & CEO of Geodis in the Americas, under the responsibility of Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO.

“Mike has the ideal blend of deep industry experience and strong leadership abilities needed to succeed as CEO for Geodis in Americas. Under Mike’s leadership, I am confident we will continue to thrive as one of our key regions and see great success into 2021 and beyond,” said Lombard.

As president and CEO, Honious is responsible for freight forwarding, transportation management, business development, strategic management office, legal, accounting & finance, human resources, engineering & technology, ProVenture, shared service center and IT. A 15-year veteran of Geodis, Honious previously was the COO in the Americas. Prior to joining the company, he held several senior level operations positions at Gap, Inc. Honious earned his B.S. in industrial engineering technology from University of Dayton, Ohio.

John Grubor joins Honious as EVP and COO. Grubor joined Geodis in 2011 and lead the modification of labor management and productivity practices as VP of Engineering and most recently was responsible for US warehousing and fulfillment operations as Head of Contract Logistics.

“After 15 years with the company, I’m excited to build on the tremendous work of Randy Tucker and honored to serve as President & CEO,” said Honious. “While these are uncertain times, we’re energized about the future. We have assembled a top-tier leadership team, and we have aggressive growth plans with our sights set on becoming a top three logistics provider in the industry. I’m confident we’re on the track to achieve this for a number of reasons – starting with our unwavering commitment to our clients and followed by the fact that we are incredibly strong in many areas, such as e-Logistics, that are helping our clients succeed now and ultimately shaping the future of logistics.”

Honious will succeed Randy Tucker, who is retiring as President & CEO of Geodis in Americas. Serving as CEO for the past five years, Tucker delivered excellent performance and established a very high market recognition in the U.S. Tucker is joining the Geodis Board of Directors and has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity effective immediately after turning over his appointment of President & CEO.

“Under Randy’s leadership, GEODIS in Americas had seen tremendous profitable growth. Randy has played a key role in our management board being an excellent business partner to all. For all of this I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for these five years of continued success achieved with great dedication and enthusiasm,” said GEODIS CEO, Marie-Christine Lombard.

Geodis Names New President & CEO Americas

Geodis has announced that, effective October 3, 2020, Mike Honious will be promoted to President & CEO of Geodis in the Americas, under the responsibility of Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO.

“Mike has the ideal blend of deep industry experience and strong leadership abilities needed to succeed as CEO for Geodis in Americas. Under Mike’s leadership, I am confident we will continue to thrive as one of our key regions and see great success into 2021 and beyond,” said Lombard.

As president and CEO, Honious is responsible for freight forwarding, transportation management, business development, strategic management office, legal, accounting & finance, human resources, engineering & technology, ProVenture, shared service center and IT. A 15-year veteran of Geodis, Honious previously was the COO in the Americas. Prior to joining the company, he held several senior level operations positions at Gap, Inc. Honious earned his B.S. in industrial engineering technology from University of Dayton, Ohio.

John Grubor joins Honious as EVP and COO. Grubor joined Geodis in 2011 and lead the modification of labor management and productivity practices as VP of Engineering and most recently was responsible for US warehousing and fulfillment operations as Head of Contract Logistics.

“After 15 years with the company, I’m excited to build on the tremendous work of Randy Tucker and honored to serve as President & CEO,” said Honious. “While these are uncertain times, we’re energized about the future. We have assembled a top-tier leadership team, and we have aggressive growth plans with our sights set on becoming a top three logistics provider in the industry. I’m confident we’re on the track to achieve this for a number of reasons – starting with our unwavering commitment to our clients and followed by the fact that we are incredibly strong in many areas, such as e-Logistics, that are helping our clients succeed now and ultimately shaping the future of logistics.”

Honious will succeed Randy Tucker, who is retiring as President & CEO of Geodis in Americas. Serving as CEO for the past five years, Tucker delivered excellent performance and established a very high market recognition in the U.S. Tucker is joining the Geodis Board of Directors and has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity effective immediately after turning over his appointment of President & CEO.

“Under Randy’s leadership, GEODIS in Americas had seen tremendous profitable growth. Randy has played a key role in our management board being an excellent business partner to all. For all of this I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for these five years of continued success achieved with great dedication and enthusiasm,” said GEODIS CEO, Marie-Christine Lombard.

Intelligent Sortation of Large-size Packages

Geek+, a global AMR leader, is proud to announce the launch of its new S100C large-size parcel sorting robot, advancing its already extensive line of intelligent sorting robots and expanding the possibilities for automated sorting.

S100C is an efficient, stable, and affordable solution for solving many of the complex logistics scenarios brought on by increased online sales and the need for systems that can flexibly handle a wide variety of goods. The robot can support unit sortation, parcel sortation, and bins transportation, making it applicable to many industry scenarios, from 3PLs and distribution centers to cross-docking facilities and airports.

Equipped with an independent rotating control chassis and collision avoidance, S100C can operate narrow spaces, saving 30% of the sortation area. High-speed control belts allow the robot to process two items in one go or deliver one large item at a speed of 2m/s. If a package is positioned too close to the edge of the control belt, the robot will slow down and adjust the position of the package to ensure accuracy and safety. Additionally, the mechanical structure and load-bearing components of S100C allows for seamless handling of packages weighing 100 kg or more, reducing labor-intensive operations and associated risks and costs.

Kai Liu, Co-founder, VP Picking & Smart Warehouse, Geek+, says: “At Geek+ we strive to develop robotics solutions that won´t make it a choice of efficiency or safety. With S100C, companies will be able to ensure a safer working environment, while meeting the needs for accuracy and more effective handling larger order volumes. The robot is also a good economic choice since the system powering S100C allows easy deployment and quick scaling of operations.”

Built on AI-driven AMR technology, the sorting system powering S100C enables quick deployment in less than 2 weeks. The flexibility of the system leads to lower implementation costs and allows businesses to quickly scale operations by adjusting the number of robots. Similarly, the robot can be easily integrated with existing infrastructure and collaborate with other robots to realize comprehensive systems for automated warehouse operations. Lastly, the system can be easily customized to support RFID technology or bar code scanning for more efficient sortation.
Today, companies across the world are looking for solutions that can help them handle fluctuating demand and a tight labor market. S100C is the most recent step in Geek+ mission to provide businesses with automated, customized, and safe solutions for meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Intelligent Sortation of Large-size Packages

Geek+, a global AMR leader, is proud to announce the launch of its new S100C large-size parcel sorting robot, advancing its already extensive line of intelligent sorting robots and expanding the possibilities for automated sorting.

S100C is an efficient, stable, and affordable solution for solving many of the complex logistics scenarios brought on by increased online sales and the need for systems that can flexibly handle a wide variety of goods. The robot can support unit sortation, parcel sortation, and bins transportation, making it applicable to many industry scenarios, from 3PLs and distribution centers to cross-docking facilities and airports.

Equipped with an independent rotating control chassis and collision avoidance, S100C can operate narrow spaces, saving 30% of the sortation area. High-speed control belts allow the robot to process two items in one go or deliver one large item at a speed of 2m/s. If a package is positioned too close to the edge of the control belt, the robot will slow down and adjust the position of the package to ensure accuracy and safety. Additionally, the mechanical structure and load-bearing components of S100C allows for seamless handling of packages weighing 100 kg or more, reducing labor-intensive operations and associated risks and costs.

Kai Liu, Co-founder, VP Picking & Smart Warehouse, Geek+, says: “At Geek+ we strive to develop robotics solutions that won´t make it a choice of efficiency or safety. With S100C, companies will be able to ensure a safer working environment, while meeting the needs for accuracy and more effective handling larger order volumes. The robot is also a good economic choice since the system powering S100C allows easy deployment and quick scaling of operations.”

Built on AI-driven AMR technology, the sorting system powering S100C enables quick deployment in less than 2 weeks. The flexibility of the system leads to lower implementation costs and allows businesses to quickly scale operations by adjusting the number of robots. Similarly, the robot can be easily integrated with existing infrastructure and collaborate with other robots to realize comprehensive systems for automated warehouse operations. Lastly, the system can be easily customized to support RFID technology or bar code scanning for more efficient sortation.
Today, companies across the world are looking for solutions that can help them handle fluctuating demand and a tight labor market. S100C is the most recent step in Geek+ mission to provide businesses with automated, customized, and safe solutions for meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Environmental Credentials Boosted by Switch to Electric Fleet

Meachers Global Logistics, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of international freight and transport logistics services, has made the switch from part diesel/part electric in its fleet to completely electric. The logistics operator has always had a predominantly engine powered fleet, but its strive to be more environmentally aware and be conscious of the ever-changing port environment which is steering away from gas and diesel powered trucks, has resulted in the decision.

It’s a significant move towards a greener Meachers which saw the business purchase a range of 25 forklifts through Linde. The majority are counterbalance trucks ranging from two to five tonnes in capacity which also included a switch to Linde for some reach trucks dedicated to indoor warehousing too.

Gary Whittle, Commercial Director, Meachers Global Logistics said: “It was a big decision to make the switch to all electric, however a necessary one in our bid to reduce our emissions wherever possible. Although the purchase costs for the vehicles are higher, the operating costs per truck are significantly cheaper. What was also crucial is the CO2 emissions for the vehicles charging are between a third and half of the emissions from the gas combustion engine emitting exhaust fumes.”

Mark Kirby, Business Development for Linde said: “Our electric range is the ideal solution for Meachers, not only are emissions no longer an issue, but the design of the truck itself makes them highly energy efficient. From the hydraulic systems which power the lifting functions, to their ECO modes which allow operating parameters to be adjusted to suit the application, these features ensure that energy consumption is reduced without affecting productivity.”

Environmental Credentials Boosted by Switch to Electric Fleet

Meachers Global Logistics, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of international freight and transport logistics services, has made the switch from part diesel/part electric in its fleet to completely electric. The logistics operator has always had a predominantly engine powered fleet, but its strive to be more environmentally aware and be conscious of the ever-changing port environment which is steering away from gas and diesel powered trucks, has resulted in the decision.

It’s a significant move towards a greener Meachers which saw the business purchase a range of 25 forklifts through Linde. The majority are counterbalance trucks ranging from two to five tonnes in capacity which also included a switch to Linde for some reach trucks dedicated to indoor warehousing too.

Gary Whittle, Commercial Director, Meachers Global Logistics said: “It was a big decision to make the switch to all electric, however a necessary one in our bid to reduce our emissions wherever possible. Although the purchase costs for the vehicles are higher, the operating costs per truck are significantly cheaper. What was also crucial is the CO2 emissions for the vehicles charging are between a third and half of the emissions from the gas combustion engine emitting exhaust fumes.”

Mark Kirby, Business Development for Linde said: “Our electric range is the ideal solution for Meachers, not only are emissions no longer an issue, but the design of the truck itself makes them highly energy efficient. From the hydraulic systems which power the lifting functions, to their ECO modes which allow operating parameters to be adjusted to suit the application, these features ensure that energy consumption is reduced without affecting productivity.”

New Wins for 3PL

Recently established 3PL provider, Yantra Fulfilment, is celebrating two new business wins. The Castle Donington, UK-based fulfilment provider has been chosen by Cartridge Monster and a leading pharmaceutical healthcare provider as a strategic partner in their fulfilment and logistics operations.

Fast-growing online office stationery retailer, Cartridge Monster, is utilising Yantra’s flexible fulfilment option for its B2B and B2C customers to maximise productivity and efficiency within the supply chain. The pharmaceutical provider is partnering with Yantra for cross-docking services.

Commenting on the new business wins, Yantra Commercial Director, Steve Smith, said economic uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 crisis had resulted in a surge of enquires from companies looking for more flexible fulfilment solutions. “We are delighted to welcome these new clients. The last few months have been tough for everyone and although the economy is finally coming back to life, businesses are realising that forward planning with any level of certainty is virtually impossible. This lack of confidence and clarity as we move towards peak trading periods means that increasing numbers of distributors and retailers are choosing the more flexible approach of working with a 3PL partner to meet their fulfilment needs.”

With a central location off junction 24 of the M1, Yantra provides flexible and cost-effective services including pallet storage (racked or bulk), shelf storage options, full pick and pack options, cross-docking, container de-stuffing, kitting, returns and shipping. Utilising a ‘best in class’ WMS and with robotic functions being integrated in the near future, this is an exciting time to partner with Yantra. The company currently has options on more than 100,000sq ft of space in the Midlands and ambitious plans to be able to offer more than 500,000sq ft of warehouse space, covering 95 percent of the UK mainland population within an hour and a half drive time.

New Wins for 3PL

Recently established 3PL provider, Yantra Fulfilment, is celebrating two new business wins. The Castle Donington, UK-based fulfilment provider has been chosen by Cartridge Monster and a leading pharmaceutical healthcare provider as a strategic partner in their fulfilment and logistics operations.

Fast-growing online office stationery retailer, Cartridge Monster, is utilising Yantra’s flexible fulfilment option for its B2B and B2C customers to maximise productivity and efficiency within the supply chain. The pharmaceutical provider is partnering with Yantra for cross-docking services.

Commenting on the new business wins, Yantra Commercial Director, Steve Smith, said economic uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 crisis had resulted in a surge of enquires from companies looking for more flexible fulfilment solutions. “We are delighted to welcome these new clients. The last few months have been tough for everyone and although the economy is finally coming back to life, businesses are realising that forward planning with any level of certainty is virtually impossible. This lack of confidence and clarity as we move towards peak trading periods means that increasing numbers of distributors and retailers are choosing the more flexible approach of working with a 3PL partner to meet their fulfilment needs.”

With a central location off junction 24 of the M1, Yantra provides flexible and cost-effective services including pallet storage (racked or bulk), shelf storage options, full pick and pack options, cross-docking, container de-stuffing, kitting, returns and shipping. Utilising a ‘best in class’ WMS and with robotic functions being integrated in the near future, this is an exciting time to partner with Yantra. The company currently has options on more than 100,000sq ft of space in the Midlands and ambitious plans to be able to offer more than 500,000sq ft of warehouse space, covering 95 percent of the UK mainland population within an hour and a half drive time.

Seamless Rugged Wireless Barcode Scanning

Panasonic today announces a partnership with ProGlove, the leader in ergonomic wearable technology for industry, to further enhance its solutions for the supply chain. As two of the toughest mobile computing solutions on the market, Panasonic TOUGHBOOK and ProGlove combine seamlessly as a stand-alone scanning solution or as essential elements of Panasonic’s voice picking solutions for the supply chain, warehouse operations, inventory checking and retail.

ProGlove MARK is the first smart glove scanner for industry that prioritizes human-centered design. The lightweight, rugged wireless barcode scanner can reduce scanning time by up to 50% and reduce errors by 33%. Typically replacing wired or wireless handheld and ring scanners, the solution enables operators to remain hands free and with full dexterity to manage other tasks. The application is suited to static, semi-static, and dynamic workstations in production and logistics including assembly, material handling, quality control, inbound/outbound, picking and material transport.

ProGlove MARK 2 range fits seamlessly into Panasonic’s flexible voice picking solution that combines the use of a bluetooth headset with its rugged TOUGHBOOK N1 handheld device or TOUGHBOOK A3 tablet, a built-in barcode scanner or the ProGlove MARK 2, a holster or shoulder strap and a TOUGHBOOK Omnia custom voice application.

“In the challenging supply chain environment, where every second counts, ProGlove is an ideal partner to work with Panasonic TOUGHBOOK,” said Jon Tucker, General Manager Solutions and Engineering for Panasonic TOUGHBOOK Europe. “Together we can provide solutions that shave seconds off of every scanning task, delivering a rapid return on investment.”

Manuel Bönisch, VP of Strategic Initiatives at ProGlove, added: “In Panasonic, we have found an ideal partner that shares our vision to deliver rugged, innovative and user friendly solutions to industry to help them deliver a more efficient and effortless working environment.”

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