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Day: 18 November 2020

Document Allows further Wood Packaging Repair Options

Posted on by David Priestman

Heat-treated wooden components will be temporarily allowed for the repair of wooden pallets and packaging, increasing options for businesses who want to grow their capacity of ISPM15-compliant wooden packaging material (WPM) before the final Brexit deadline on December 31, 2020.

The new measure was proposed by the UK Government and also approved by the devolved governments on a temporary basis to help raise stocks of compliant WPM in the weeks remaining before the cut-off date, and in the first half of next year. This is because, as the UK Government has stated, from January 1, 2021 ‘it will be a legal requirement for all wood packaging material moving in both directions between UK and the EU to be compliant with a treatment and mark as specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No 15 (ISPM15).’

Accordingly, the ‘temporary easement’ addendum to the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme (UKWPMMP), which governs ISPM15 in the country, now permits the additional option of ISPM15 repairs to avoid ‘the total retreatment of pallets after repair’, as required by the original regulations. The easement is open only to existing members of the UKWPMMP and their approved sites and will be subject to them fulfilling the terms and conditions of the addendum. It will be valid until July 31, 2021.

John Dye, President of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation, said: “We support this temporary addendum to the UKWPMMP. It is a further step forward in our industry’s preparations for Brexit, which will give companies the ability to repair pallets to ISPM15 standards more rapidly and moves our business further towards its compliance targets.

“Using heat-treated wood for repairs is also more energy efficient as it saves a significant amount of kilning capacity when compared to treating the whole of every repaired pallet. We also expect this measure will encourage an increase in repairs, which in turn will help towards Government targets for reuse.”

Companies wishing to take advantage of the easement change need to declare their intention by emailing the UKWPMMP Secretary, who will update the Forestry Commission inspectors and the relevant auditors; this will ensure the right traceability and plant health obligations continue to be met. There are no additional fees for members of the scheme.

Document Allows further Wood Packaging Repair Options

Posted on by David Priestman

Heat-treated wooden components will be temporarily allowed for the repair of wooden pallets and packaging, increasing options for businesses who want to grow their capacity of ISPM15-compliant wooden packaging material (WPM) before the final Brexit deadline on December 31, 2020.

The new measure was proposed by the UK Government and also approved by the devolved governments on a temporary basis to help raise stocks of compliant WPM in the weeks remaining before the cut-off date, and in the first half of next year. This is because, as the UK Government has stated, from January 1, 2021 ‘it will be a legal requirement for all wood packaging material moving in both directions between UK and the EU to be compliant with a treatment and mark as specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No 15 (ISPM15).’

Accordingly, the ‘temporary easement’ addendum to the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme (UKWPMMP), which governs ISPM15 in the country, now permits the additional option of ISPM15 repairs to avoid ‘the total retreatment of pallets after repair’, as required by the original regulations. The easement is open only to existing members of the UKWPMMP and their approved sites and will be subject to them fulfilling the terms and conditions of the addendum. It will be valid until July 31, 2021.

John Dye, President of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation, said: “We support this temporary addendum to the UKWPMMP. It is a further step forward in our industry’s preparations for Brexit, which will give companies the ability to repair pallets to ISPM15 standards more rapidly and moves our business further towards its compliance targets.

“Using heat-treated wood for repairs is also more energy efficient as it saves a significant amount of kilning capacity when compared to treating the whole of every repaired pallet. We also expect this measure will encourage an increase in repairs, which in turn will help towards Government targets for reuse.”

Companies wishing to take advantage of the easement change need to declare their intention by emailing the UKWPMMP Secretary, who will update the Forestry Commission inspectors and the relevant auditors; this will ensure the right traceability and plant health obligations continue to be met. There are no additional fees for members of the scheme.

Vertical Edge Protection for Bundled Products

Posted on by David Priestman

The Mosca EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H by Mosca is high-end strapping machine. It is now available with a vertical edge protection applicator – which makes it ideal for users who need to secure sensitive products, plastic crates, or other stacked goods. The edge protection system automatically attaches four cardboard edge protectors to the product to be secured. This not only protects the edges during transport, it also joins products stacked in layers to form a bundle – offering an eco-friendly alternative to stretch wrapping. Different edge protector sizes and large buffers offer companies maximum flexibility for different products and high throughput.

Introduced in 2017, the EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H was the first horizontal strapping machine to feature Mosca’s ultrasonic technology. This high-speed unit uses mechanical vibrations instead of heat to weld strap ends and ensure a secure seal – especially on bulky furniture or kitchen appliances. The edge protection feeder applies edge protectors made of recyclable cardboard and thus extends the scope of EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H applications to other industries. Mosca GmbH CEO Timo Mosca explains: “Companies in the food and beverage industry are looking for eco-friendly alternatives when it comes to securing goods for transport. An edge protection applicator offers significant potential for users who, for instance, need to secure plastic crates stacked on top of each other. In the past, this was done with stretch wrapping machines.” Cardboard edge protectors offer a material-saving alternative to stretch wrapping, which requires a relatively large amount of plastic film to create a bundle. They are also suitable for sensitive products, such as fruit and vegetables packed in crates that cannot be wrapped in plastic. The new machine feature is also available to customers who already use an EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H in their production line. “We can easily upgrade existing machines with the edge protection applicator,” says Timo Mosca.

Fully automated strapping

The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H is specially designed for use in fully automated production lines. That’s why the edge protection system is also fully automatic. Four photoelectric sensors detect the edges of a product placed on the machine. The edge protection applicator then guides cardboard angles to all four edges in parallel and gently places them on the product. To optimally secure the bundle, the machine uses its movable strap guide frame to strap the product and the edge protectors horizontally at multiple positions. Using Mosca or OEM conveyor technology, the product is then forwarded for vertical strapping or direct transport. The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H can double strap up to 150 bundles per hour.

Large edge protection magazine for maximum flexibility

The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H has been reliably strapping products in different sizes since its introduction in 2017. Reliability was also a key focus in the development of the edge protection system. Its magazine can be filled with cardboard angles in three different formats to accommodate edge protectors ranging from 600 to 2400 mm in length with a side length of 40×40 to 60×60 mm and a material thickness of 2-6 mm. This enables users to flexibly choose the edge protectors that best match their products and requirements while avoiding unnecessary material expenditure. Each of the twelve edge protector buffers holds up to 55 edge protectors with a thickness of three millimetres. This ensures maximum machine availability even at high throughput rates.

Additional applications for pallet strapping machines

In addition to the application for the EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H, Mosca will soon offer the newly developed edge protection system for other horizontal strapping machines, including the KOV-315 and its variants: KOB-315 and KOH-315. These fully automatic pallet strapping machines are commonly used in the construction industry as well as for bulky items. The edge protectors can be used to bundle bricks and other stacked products. Thanks to the machine’s extremely high strap tension, heavy goods can be reliably secured for safe transport. For sensitive products, such as freshly produced aerated concrete (Ytong) bricks, the cardboard angles protect the delicate product edges from transport damage.

Vertical Edge Protection for Bundled Products

Posted on by David Priestman

The Mosca EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H by Mosca is high-end strapping machine. It is now available with a vertical edge protection applicator – which makes it ideal for users who need to secure sensitive products, plastic crates, or other stacked goods. The edge protection system automatically attaches four cardboard edge protectors to the product to be secured. This not only protects the edges during transport, it also joins products stacked in layers to form a bundle – offering an eco-friendly alternative to stretch wrapping. Different edge protector sizes and large buffers offer companies maximum flexibility for different products and high throughput.

Introduced in 2017, the EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H was the first horizontal strapping machine to feature Mosca’s ultrasonic technology. This high-speed unit uses mechanical vibrations instead of heat to weld strap ends and ensure a secure seal – especially on bulky furniture or kitchen appliances. The edge protection feeder applies edge protectors made of recyclable cardboard and thus extends the scope of EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H applications to other industries. Mosca GmbH CEO Timo Mosca explains: “Companies in the food and beverage industry are looking for eco-friendly alternatives when it comes to securing goods for transport. An edge protection applicator offers significant potential for users who, for instance, need to secure plastic crates stacked on top of each other. In the past, this was done with stretch wrapping machines.” Cardboard edge protectors offer a material-saving alternative to stretch wrapping, which requires a relatively large amount of plastic film to create a bundle. They are also suitable for sensitive products, such as fruit and vegetables packed in crates that cannot be wrapped in plastic. The new machine feature is also available to customers who already use an EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H in their production line. “We can easily upgrade existing machines with the edge protection applicator,” says Timo Mosca.

Fully automated strapping

The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H is specially designed for use in fully automated production lines. That’s why the edge protection system is also fully automatic. Four photoelectric sensors detect the edges of a product placed on the machine. The edge protection applicator then guides cardboard angles to all four edges in parallel and gently places them on the product. To optimally secure the bundle, the machine uses its movable strap guide frame to strap the product and the edge protectors horizontally at multiple positions. Using Mosca or OEM conveyor technology, the product is then forwarded for vertical strapping or direct transport. The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H can double strap up to 150 bundles per hour.

Large edge protection magazine for maximum flexibility

The EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H has been reliably strapping products in different sizes since its introduction in 2017. Reliability was also a key focus in the development of the edge protection system. Its magazine can be filled with cardboard angles in three different formats to accommodate edge protectors ranging from 600 to 2400 mm in length with a side length of 40×40 to 60×60 mm and a material thickness of 2-6 mm. This enables users to flexibly choose the edge protectors that best match their products and requirements while avoiding unnecessary material expenditure. Each of the twelve edge protector buffers holds up to 55 edge protectors with a thickness of three millimetres. This ensures maximum machine availability even at high throughput rates.

Additional applications for pallet strapping machines

In addition to the application for the EVOLUTION SoniXs MS-6 H, Mosca will soon offer the newly developed edge protection system for other horizontal strapping machines, including the KOV-315 and its variants: KOB-315 and KOH-315. These fully automatic pallet strapping machines are commonly used in the construction industry as well as for bulky items. The edge protectors can be used to bundle bricks and other stacked products. Thanks to the machine’s extremely high strap tension, heavy goods can be reliably secured for safe transport. For sensitive products, such as freshly produced aerated concrete (Ytong) bricks, the cardboard angles protect the delicate product edges from transport damage.

IDS Launches New Camera Family for Industrial Applications

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The new uEye XLE camera family from IDS (pictured) has been developed for high-volume and price-sensitive projects, ideal for industrial applications.

Affordable, compact and powerful

Thanks to their space-saving design, practical USB3 interface and support of the USB3 Vision
Standard, the industrial cameras can be easily integrated into any machine vision system. Customers can
choose between single-board cameras with or without C-/CS-mount or S-mount as well as variants with
coated plastic housing. The first models will be equipped with the light-sensitive 5 MP sensor ON Semiconductor AR0521.

There are almost no limits to the possible applications of the new camera family. “It will prove its worth in small appliance construction, measurement technology, transport and even agricultural applications,” explains Jürgen Hejna, Product Manager at IDS. The cameras also show their strengths in classic industrial applications such as surface inspection. Thanks to their compact dimensions, the models fit into the smallest of spaces, for example as embedded vision solutions. The price-optimised design makes the cameras particularly interesting for applications where costs are the main concern. Therefore, the company also offers a large number of inexpensive lenses for the cameras.

All uEye XLE camera models feature a USB3 interface (SuperSpeed USB, 5 Gpbs) and are 100 percent GenICamcompliant. The cameras can be used with any software that supports the USB3 Vision Standard. For an optimal user experience, the company recommends the use of IDS peak. The free SDK includes all necessary components from source code samples to transport layer, so that customers can start developing their own applications right away.

IDS Launches New Camera Family for Industrial Applications

Posted on by David Priestman

The new uEye XLE camera family from IDS (pictured) has been developed for high-volume and price-sensitive projects, ideal for industrial applications.

Affordable, compact and powerful

Thanks to their space-saving design, practical USB3 interface and support of the USB3 Vision
Standard, the industrial cameras can be easily integrated into any machine vision system. Customers can
choose between single-board cameras with or without C-/CS-mount or S-mount as well as variants with
coated plastic housing. The first models will be equipped with the light-sensitive 5 MP sensor ON Semiconductor AR0521.

There are almost no limits to the possible applications of the new camera family. “It will prove its worth in small appliance construction, measurement technology, transport and even agricultural applications,” explains Jürgen Hejna, Product Manager at IDS. The cameras also show their strengths in classic industrial applications such as surface inspection. Thanks to their compact dimensions, the models fit into the smallest of spaces, for example as embedded vision solutions. The price-optimised design makes the cameras particularly interesting for applications where costs are the main concern. Therefore, the company also offers a large number of inexpensive lenses for the cameras.

All uEye XLE camera models feature a USB3 interface (SuperSpeed USB, 5 Gpbs) and are 100 percent GenICamcompliant. The cameras can be used with any software that supports the USB3 Vision Standard. For an optimal user experience, the company recommends the use of IDS peak. The free SDK includes all necessary components from source code samples to transport layer, so that customers can start developing their own applications right away.

Warehouse REIT Strengthens Finance and Investment teams

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Warehouse REIT, the UK REIT that invests in and manages urban and ‘last-mile’ industrial warehouse assets for e-commerce in strategic locations across the UK, announces that its external investment advisor, Tilstone Partners Limited, has appointed Adrian Daminato (pictured above) as Head of Financial Planning and Reporting and Dan Ragonez (pictured below) as Senior Investment Analyst. Adrian and Dan join the expanding team responsible for advising Warehouse REIT on their diversified warehouse portfolio, which now exceeds seven million sq ft with a value of c. £563 million.

 Adrian will report directly to Finance Director Peter Greenslade and will oversee financial planning and analysis, further boosting the firm’s financial analysis capabilities. Adrian is a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years’ experience in accounting, reporting and financial planning and control. He has held a number of roles in the real estate sector including most recently as Head of Financial Planning and Analysis at CLS Holdings, a FTSE 250 business with over £2bn of assets under management in the UK, Germany and France.

 Dan is a Chartered Accountant with an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics and brings 11 years of financial analysis, investment appraisal and transaction experience, skills which are immediately transferable to the REIT’s pipeline of new opportunities. He was previously a senior real estate analyst at an Australian private equity fund manager and mezzanine debt boutique, having also held roles at JP Morgan and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 Peter Greenslade, Finance Director of Tilstone Partners, the Investment Advisor, commented: “These appointments underline our commitment to continued growth and strengthening the quality of the team to ensure that Tilstone can unlock the full potential of the Warehouse REIT portfolio.

 “Adrian brings strong technical and analytical skills which will be invaluable in supporting the growing finance function, whilst Dan’s experience in securing and appraising value-added and opportunistic deals will help support us in identifying optimum investment opportunities, which will be fundamental in enhancing and supporting our growth ambitions. We are pleased to welcome both Adrian and Dan to the Tilstone team and recognise that these high calibre appointments are a strong endorsement of the direction that we are taking the business.”

 

Cimcorp Delivers Robotic Order Picking for US Warehouse Facility

Posted on by David Priestman

Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces it has helped Midwest convenience store chain Kwik Trip automate product handling and order fulfillment in its La Crosse, Wisconsin baking facility’s warehouse. Within the 87,000-square-foot warehouse, Cimcorp designed a space-saving, high-density layout and custom automated solution centered around its MultiPick robotic order picking system. The solution is able to rapidly manage 80,000 trays of fast-moving bakery products and process orders for 53,000 outbound trays to over 700 Kwik Trip stores each day.

The warehouse is part of a 200,000-square-foot baking facility opened by Kwik Trip in the fall of 2018 in response to growing demand for its self-produced baked goods—namely bread and buns. With the goal of producing and distributing four times the volume of output of its previous baking facility, Kwik Trip wanted to automate as much of its operations as possible. Today, the state-of-the art facility features various automated systems that handle the majority of production, packaging, warehousing and outbound distribution in a well-orchestrated, fully integrated fashion.

Eric Fonstad, Facility Director – Bread/Bun Plant, Kwik Trip, said, “The warehouse is one of the most critical points in the La Crosse facility’s end-to-end process, as the bread and buns that come in from production and packaging are held for no more than 48 hours before being sent to our stores. From receiving to storage, through picking and dispatch—these products have to flow seamlessly and quickly to guarantee their maximum freshness for our customers. Cimcorp’s automation is central to enabling this efficient product movement and is therefore pivotal to our bakery business. Cimcorp worked closely with us to develop an ideal solution that would make optimal use of our warehouse space and meet our present and future business needs.”

Notably, when orders come in from Kwik Trip’s stores, the data is transferred to Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System (WCS), which then controls and directs the MultiPick to pick the orders based on store and route. The MultiPick operates from overhead and retrieves the required trays of products from stacks up to 20 high across the warehouse floor. Computer control ensures that the orders are picked with 100-percent accuracy and that Kwik Trip follows a first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory management model. By automating, Kwik Trip has also eliminated the ergonomic risks of manual handling—enhancing workplace safety for all warehouse employees—and improved its surge capacity.

Derek Rickard, Director of Sales, Cimcorp, said, “Surges are a common challenge in bakery distribution—where warehouse managers and employees must keep products efficiently moving out the door amid spikes in order volume. These are often seen seasonally but can also occur due to other external market factors. For instance, at the onset of COVID-19, Kwik Trip saw demand nearly triple in a single week. But thanks to the rapid handling and adaptability of our MultiPick system, the La Crosse facility was able to maintain the same product flow and level of order accuracy as its normal daily operation. From the beginning, it was important that our solution offer such flexibility, as well as scalability, to meet Kwik Trip’s warehousing needs as the company sets its sights on continued growth ahead.”

Earlier this year Cimcorp announced they were working with Spanish grocery retailer, Alimerka to automate the distribution of fresh produce.

Cimcorp Delivers Robotic Order Picking for US Warehouse Facility

Posted on by David Priestman

Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces it has helped Midwest convenience store chain Kwik Trip automate product handling and order fulfillment in its La Crosse, Wisconsin baking facility’s warehouse. Within the 87,000-square-foot warehouse, Cimcorp designed a space-saving, high-density layout and custom automated solution centered around its MultiPick robotic order picking system. The solution is able to rapidly manage 80,000 trays of fast-moving bakery products and process orders for 53,000 outbound trays to over 700 Kwik Trip stores each day.

The warehouse is part of a 200,000-square-foot baking facility opened by Kwik Trip in the fall of 2018 in response to growing demand for its self-produced baked goods—namely bread and buns. With the goal of producing and distributing four times the volume of output of its previous baking facility, Kwik Trip wanted to automate as much of its operations as possible. Today, the state-of-the art facility features various automated systems that handle the majority of production, packaging, warehousing and outbound distribution in a well-orchestrated, fully integrated fashion.

Eric Fonstad, Facility Director – Bread/Bun Plant, Kwik Trip, said, “The warehouse is one of the most critical points in the La Crosse facility’s end-to-end process, as the bread and buns that come in from production and packaging are held for no more than 48 hours before being sent to our stores. From receiving to storage, through picking and dispatch—these products have to flow seamlessly and quickly to guarantee their maximum freshness for our customers. Cimcorp’s automation is central to enabling this efficient product movement and is therefore pivotal to our bakery business. Cimcorp worked closely with us to develop an ideal solution that would make optimal use of our warehouse space and meet our present and future business needs.”

Notably, when orders come in from Kwik Trip’s stores, the data is transferred to Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System (WCS), which then controls and directs the MultiPick to pick the orders based on store and route. The MultiPick operates from overhead and retrieves the required trays of products from stacks up to 20 high across the warehouse floor. Computer control ensures that the orders are picked with 100-percent accuracy and that Kwik Trip follows a first-in-first-out (FIFO) inventory management model. By automating, Kwik Trip has also eliminated the ergonomic risks of manual handling—enhancing workplace safety for all warehouse employees—and improved its surge capacity.

Derek Rickard, Director of Sales, Cimcorp, said, “Surges are a common challenge in bakery distribution—where warehouse managers and employees must keep products efficiently moving out the door amid spikes in order volume. These are often seen seasonally but can also occur due to other external market factors. For instance, at the onset of COVID-19, Kwik Trip saw demand nearly triple in a single week. But thanks to the rapid handling and adaptability of our MultiPick system, the La Crosse facility was able to maintain the same product flow and level of order accuracy as its normal daily operation. From the beginning, it was important that our solution offer such flexibility, as well as scalability, to meet Kwik Trip’s warehousing needs as the company sets its sights on continued growth ahead.”

Earlier this year Cimcorp announced they were working with Spanish grocery retailer, Alimerka to automate the distribution of fresh produce.

Logistics Group Strengthens European Network

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The international parcel logistics company GLS expects 30 to 40 percent more volume in the autumn and Christmas season. In 2020 the GLS Group has invested more than 150 million euros in the expansion of its European network.

“We are consistently driving forward the international capacity expansion and the sustainable orientation of our Europe-wide network,” explains Martin Seidenberg, CEO of the GLS Group. “This year has made it clear what an important role GLS plays in supplying the population. We see our investments as an important pillar of future-oriented and cross-border parcel logistics.”

This year the GLS Group opened more than twenty new locations throughout Europe and expanded the capacities of the existing facilities by up to 50 percent. The largest successfully implemented projects include investments in European hubs, such as Essen, Barcelona, Budapest and Poznan. Group-wide, more than 2,500 additional employees in parcel handling and over 6,500 vehicles in delivery and long-distance transport are deployed at the peak season.

“Our goal is to also handle the additional volume of international parcels for our customers smoothly and with the high quality they are accustomed to”, says Seidenberg. “We have also pushed ahead with the digitalisation of our parcel logistics – among other things with the latest generation of hand-held scanners for simple and direct interaction with our customers during parcel delivery. For the international e-commerce business, we offer an uncomplicated, cross-border returns service to customers who target their online offering to different countries. With the international ShopReturn Service , GLS thus underlines its European strength.”

At the same time, the peak season at all GLS locations in Europe, the USA and Canada is accompanied by corona-related measures, focusing on the safety of customers, employees and partners. Since the beginning of the pandemic, several million euros have already been invested, among other things in equipping the locations with appropriate protective equipment such as masks and disinfectants.

  • – Significant investment in the expansion of the European network
    – Parcel volume expected to reach record level
    – Covid-19: Continued focus on hygiene and occupational safety measures

The GLS Group provides reliable, high-quality parcel services to over 240,000 customers, complemented by freight and express services.  ‘Quality leader in parcel logistics’ is GLS’ guiding principle.

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