November 2020

Volvo Invest to Drive Change in Logistics

Posted on 17 November, 2020 by Keith McKinley

Volvo Group Venture Capital has invested in the Swedish tech company Adnavem. With an online marketplace for container freight and a platform that streamlines and simplifies cooperation between parties in a global transportation chain, Adnavem has recently attracted a great many customers, investors and logistics suppliers. The idea behind Adnavem is to shift power from the transport seller to the transport buyer through increased transparency on prices, lead times, carbon dioxide emissions, and data on delivery precision.

“Adnavem is the right kind of modern company, and we see great value in their new technique and innovative business model. It is important for us to be close to the digital transformation taking place in transport and logistics around the world,” says Erik Johansson, Investment Director at Volvo Group Venture Capital.

Digitalization driving change

Transport and logistics is a traditional industry with traditional working methods. Andreas Wramsmyr saw an opportunity to combine a digital marketplace with a brand new business model, which directly links the importer/exporter with the parties providing the actual services in the transport chain.

“Many industries have already used digitalization to eliminate the middlemen whose main task it is to broker services, and now it’s the turn of the transport and logistics sector. New technology is opening up new opportunities, and as companies place higher demands on sustainability and efficiency, a digitally-driven service like Adnavem creates that much more value. Our customers are clearly indicating that they’re looking for new, more efficient ways of working, and they want to reap the rewards of digitalization. We are delighted to be able to offer smart algorithms that optimize each individual transport based on environmental perspective, price or lead time, while the process is controlled automatically for greater business value,” says Wramsmyr, CEO and co-founder of Adnavem.

Adnavem currently operates in Sweden, China and Singapore. With this year’s new capital, the company will enter new markets and continue to develop the marketplace with new services and offerings.

Fast Pack Solution for Fastest-growing Sector

Posted on 17 November, 2020 by David Priestman

The latest machine from Sitma is called ‘Fast Pack’. A high-performing and flexible solution for e-commerce businesses, it’s the product of the company’s fifty years of experience in the packaging industry and expertise in logistics. These two strengths have led not only to Fast Pack’s development, but to an entire portfolio of e-commerce applications for packaging a wide range of goods: from industries like cosmetics and personal care, to clothing, electronics, books, music and media.

Quick and flexible, for constantly changing needs
Fast Pack adopts the same characteristics that have made Sitma a brand leader in machine and system design for the logistics industry. This includes first, its flexibility, meaning it can consecutively prepare packages of various shapes and sizes while working at different speeds, reaching up to 3,500 packages per hour. The machine concept is modular and can be programmed to best suit the line’s layout and the client’s production needs. Fast Pack also handles varying shapes and sizes, measuring the product beforehand to create customized packages. These characteristics make it an ideal solution for fulfillment in the growth-heavy e-commerce industry, where package form and dimensions often vary widely.

Like all machines and systems in the Sitma line-up, Fast Pack is the product of a design philosophy devoted to sustainability. It allows for use of innovative materials with a reduced environmental impact in place of traditional plastic films for packaging, such as paper (from 60 gsm to 150 gsm) or different types of biofilm. The ability to create tailor-made packages also guarantees two advantages: on the one hand, the packaging material is optimized, reducing the amount of product that then has to be disposed of by the end user, and on the other hand, it facilitates transport in later phases of the supply chain, limiting ’empty transport journeys’ as much as possible and optimizing the load of transport vehicles in order to sensibly reduce their carbon footprint.

The new frontier of traceability
Another added value for the line is the option to include an innovative family of accessory units for managing complex data. These integrate and expand the possibilities offered by consolidated technology such as in-line printers and labelers. Sitma has implemented a hardware and software system that allows information tracking when managing e-commerce orders throughout the entire distribution chain, ensuring it is unique and interconnected.

In the preliminary phases, product data is collected and then analyzed, linked and further enhanced. Each product, which includes the package and its content, is assigned a distinct ID number, which is then tracked and traced throughout the whole process. The technology Sitma uses is engineered to be perfectly integrated with the client’s WCS and databases, thereby enhancing the already existing information by adding the possibility to carry out a further data control. All of this ensures greater effectiveness and minimizes the possibility of errors, waste and reworkings.

A family of systems suited to every need in the e-commerce industry
This offer perfectly satisfies the needs of Industry 4.0, which doesn’t stop at the packaging phase. The end-of-line proposal is also highly flexible and automated. It can include integration with weighing and labelling systems, or installation of digital in-line printers for printing transportation information or other details directly on the package. As for the packaging phase, in addition to Fast Pack, Sitma’s line-up of solutions dedicated to e-commerce includes: Quick Pack, Thick Pack and e-Wrap. For more information visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VEo6tnH-0U

Fast Pack Solution for Fastest-growing Sector

Posted on 17 November, 2020 by Keith McKinley

New Production Hub: Recipe for Increased Capacity

Posted on 17 November, 202025 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Dematic has announced completion of a significant project for Gousto, a UK leading recipe box provider, to create a new flagship automated fulfilment centre in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The new production hub, where Gousto’s recipe boxes are created and sent out for delivery, will increase the company’s capacity beyond the 5 million meals per month currently being delivered to homes across the UK.

To meet increased customer demand, Gousto initiated an investment programme designed to step up its capacity, including accelerating plans for multiple new fulfilment centres and creating an additional 1,000 jobs by 2022.

The Company’s second fulfilment centre in Lincolnshire is scheduled to be operational before the end of 2020. Funds from a recent funding round put the value of the business in excess of US$1 billion thus achieving it ‘Tech Unicorn’ status. This will bring forward the opening of a further two Dematic-designed automated facilities which will significantly increase Gousto’s production capacity by automating its fulfilment systems to improve efficiency and throughput.

Timo Boldt, CEO and Founder of Gousto, said: “The UK recipe box market has come of age in 2020, with the lockdown restrictions accelerating trends that were already firmly underway and new customers by the thousands being won over to the variety of meal choice and the convenience of high quality, fresh ingredients being delivered directly to their door.

“As our business continues to thrive and grow, it’s vitally important we have the infrastructure in place to meet rapidly rising levels of demand, whilst providing the best experience for our customers. Automation is at the heart of this strategy for Gousto. Being the only provider in this space with fully automated production facilities enables us to offer by far the most choice and at the lowest price point for our customers. This technology and our partnership with Dematic helps us cement our market leadership.”

Andy Blandford, Managing Director of Northern Europe at Dematic, said: “Gousto is one of the real success stories of the past few years — success that’s now been supercharged by the rise in popularity of recipe boxes. At these high volumes, when menus and products change on a regular basis, it’s simply not possible to fulfil orders using manual solutions. Automation has provided Gousto with the answer, and they are reaping the rewards with over 100% year-on-year growth.”

All of the new fulfilment centres are powered by Gousto’s proprietary algorithms alongside Dematic’s automation technologies increasing daily volumes, pick speed and accuracy, whilst reducing costs.

Following the completion of this latest fulfilment centre, plans are now being developed for a new, even larger automated facility. Intended to come online in 2022, this Dematic-designed project is expected to more than double Gousto’s capacity again.

Dematic also announced a new project win in Denmark this August for retailer Reitan Distribution

New Production Hub: Recipe for Increased Capacity

Posted on 17 November, 2020 by David Priestman

Dematic also announced a new project win in Denmark this August for retailer Reitan Distribution

State-of-the-art Omnichannel Solution for Dutch Retailer

Posted on 17 November, 202025 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered an advanced automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) to the Dutch organic food retailer Udea, one of the most unique of its kind that Vanderlande has supplied to date. The innovative solution is housed in Udea’s new distribution centre (DC) in Veghel, The Netherlands, and has this week processed its first orders. It consists of a goods-to-person ADAPTO system, omnichannel picking stations and smart item robot (SIR) technology.

Udea is a wholesaler of organic foods, natural personal care products and sustainable non-food items. The company is also the franchiser of the Ekoplaza chain of organic supermarkets and online grocery shops. For its new centralised DC, Udea needed a state-of-the-art automated solution that provided the necessary levels of availability, performance and reliability to match its omni-channel needs.

Other criteria had to be considered, including capacity, user-friendliness, ease of maintenance and energy consumption. A goods-to-person system was also required that featured ergonomic workstations. Udea was looking to combine the activities of its existing DCs into one facility, and as such, the new DC in Veghel will house all of the company’s dry, ambient, chilled and frozen products.

Vanderlande’s ADAPTO system enables efficient and fast delivery to stores (B2B) and consumers (B2C). At 12-metres high, ADAPTO contains three temperature zones that can handle a wide range of products – a first for the market. ADAPTO uses double-deep storage for the optimum use of space and provides a high throughput of fast-moving goods. Alongside eight ergonomic decanting stations, there are 12 picking stations, all of which have raised platforms to facilitate ergonomic order picking.

A continuous flow of orders is assigned to the goods-to-person workstations. Operators can pick the instructed quantity for both consumer and store orders, with SIR technology automatically picking part of the order. This results in Udea processing 10,000 SKUs and picking 120,000 items per day. This is supported by a warehouse management system from partner Consafe Logistics with whom Vanderlande collaborated strongly during the development and testing phases.

“We are more than happy to collaborate with Vanderlande – it’s been a joint effort for success,” says Udea’s General Manager Erik Does. “They helped us successfully with the technological challenge to create an automated warehouse with multiple temperature zones.”

Vanderlande’s Executive Vice President Warehousing and Parcel, Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We have been especially proud to have partnered with Udea on this project. The installation – for one of our neighbours in Veghel – has created a unique opportunity to demonstrate our technology around the corner in a fully operational omnichannel DC. Udea has a clear vision on creating a more sustainable food chain, and we are happy that our solutions have been selected as an intrinsic part of their food retail ecosystem.”

Pictured: From left to right: Erik-Jan van den Brink, Director, Udea
Karel Hoogenboom, Sales Manager Warehousing, Vanderlande
Terry Verkuijlen, Executive Vice President Warehousing and Parcel
Erik Does, General Manager, Udea

State-of-the-art Omnichannel Solution for Dutch Retailer

Posted on 17 November, 202024 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Thames Freeport Bid Pushed Forward

Posted on 16 November, 202031 July, 2025 by David Priestman

As the UK Government launches the competitive bidding process today, DP World and Forth Ports continue to push forward their bid for a Thames Freeport with London Gateway, the Port of Tilbury and Ford’s Dagenham engine plant at its heart.

Backed by the City Corporation of London, Essex Chamber of Commerce, London First, the Port of London Authority, the Thames Estuary Growth Board, Thurrock Council and the South East LEP, a Thames Freeport will drive innovation and transformational productivity gains by growing regional clusters in next generation logistics, automation, clean growth and advanced manufacturing. Vivid Economics is providing economic analysis in support of the bid.

With a network of global and European shipping connections, excellent road, rail and river distribution networks, in addition to unrivalled first hand expertise in operating freeports, the Thurrock-based combined port and logistics cluster has the scale to grow the associated aerospace, automotive and many complex manufacturing and processing businesses along the Thames. A freeport will act as a job creation and high-quality development catalyst in an area of severe deprivation and economic need. Both ports have consented development land that is available for expansion now, with the aim to improve the opportunities for skilled jobs, bringing prosperity to the residents of Thurrock and beyond.

“Freeports will be an effective way of underpinning Britain’s economy post-Brexit and post-Covid by further enabling trade with the rest of the world and creating zones which will act as catalysts for commerce, creativity and prosperity,” commented Alan Shaoul, DP World UK’s Chief Financial Officer. “Freeports are part of our DNA. DP World began as a single free trade zone and free port in Dubai, Jebel Ali, while Tilbury was a freeport as recently as 2012 and we are confident we can replicate our recent success in the UK.”

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer, Forth Ports: “The Port of Tilbury and London Gateway are already the most integrated logistics hubs in the UK, harnessing the best-in-class border technologies, with commanding market leading positions across a range of commodities. A Thames Freeport would secure the next stage in the development of our sites, attracting further foreign direct investment, while acting as a testbed for new technologies, including autonomous and electric vehicles, leading to new skills opportunities across the Thames estuary development area.”

Thames Freeport Bid Pushed Forward

Posted on 16 November, 2020 by David Priestman

Flexible Fulfilment Functionality to Survive and Thrive

Posted on 16 November, 202031 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The impact of COVID-19 has brought into sharp focus the need for agile solutions, such as warehouse software, to meet sudden changes to business operations says SnapFulfil CEO Tony Dobson.

Traditional business models are being turned upside down and facility rentals are soaring as brands try to capitalise on the e-commerce trend with a direct to consumer (D2C) offering, so it’s more critical than ever to consider the warehousing and logistics part of the supply chain. The solution sits with advanced, digital technology, which is central to tackling new challenges and optimising premium fulfilment centre space. It’s also key to satisfying more demand, staying competitive, plus managing labour efficiency and productivity.

The required change – particularly the shift from wholesale to individual order dispatch –isn’t an easy move. The days of distribution centres designed for bulk ‘pallet in, pallet out’ operations are numbered – and when space comes with a premium price tag, it’s essential that the WMS has the capabilities to effectively support smaller, incremental orders in the thousands.

It should also be specifically engineered to meet the needs of an ever-evolving market place without being expensive or time consuming to set in motion and reconfigure – even remotely.

Consequently, digital transformation of business will continue apace, with more automation to control stocks, fulfilment and delivery. A tier 1 WMS will integrate with other solutions, creating a valuable ‘blockchain’ network of peer-to-peer transactions. This lets firms share information about a container just once, but everyone up and down the chain can see that data in an instant.

Bosses can also access a real-time view of their business allowing them to make better, more efficient decisions based on solid data – essential in disruptive markets and with margins tighter.

Through blockchain technology, companies are also waking up to the value of the customer data trail and the loyalty they can harness through having a single customer view. This can only be achieved through integration and mapping each customer’s buying journey from start to end and beyond. And fulfilment is part and parcel of that.

Data analysis increasingly drives much of the decision making in business, which is why it is so important for companies to understand their past and current performance and challenges in order to succeed in the future.

D2C operations are in stark contrast to bulk or retail-based shipping, so a technology advanced WMS can really help keep goods and processes flowing, while managing staff and resource allocation, through the targeted data it collects and delivers. Savvy businesses are using data to identify trends and make important operational and fulfilment decisions based on a strategic version of their truth.

For example, when labour is at a premium and self-isolation is a reality, coupled with a rapid change in orders, then having data to boost the effectiveness of the available workforce, their picking and packing performance, plus available space– underpinned by highly efficient receiving and putaway activity – is crucial.

Data driven WMS also allows you to take a fresh look at shipping visibility and accuracy. There is an ever-growing expectation from consumers for fast and accurate order fulfilment and during a recession, business can be hard to win but easy to lose due to disgruntled purchasers. Incremental improvements in visibility and error reduction, however, will yield proportionately greater benefits to sales growth and customer retention.

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