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Month: December 2020

Are your pallets “Brexit Ready?”

Posted on by David Priestman

 When the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on 1 January 2021, import and export companies fear that trade to the former member of the EU and back may no longer function smoothly. The reason that they are citing for this, is a lack of IPPC-compliant wooden packaging and pallets, which from 1 January 2021 must be treated according to ISPM 15 for transport to and from the United Kingdom.

The ISPM 15 standard has been compulsory for the international movement of goods outside of the EU since 2002 to protect native woodlands from pests. For goods transport inside the EU, the treatment is not obligatory. For import to a third country, compliance with the standard is rigorously checked upon arrival and if a load carrier has not been treated the whole cargo will be refused entry. From 1 January 2021 the United Kingdom will be considered to be a third country and for goods transport, wooden pallets at all borders to and in the United Kingdom will be checked for compliance with the ISPM 15 standard.

The ISPM 15 standard requires the treatment of solid wood with an approved measure. This is achieved on all EPAL pallets by heat treatment (HT) in a drying chamber. This is recognisable through the branding of the central block with the IPPC marking and the licensee’s IPPC permit number as well as the abbreviation, HT. These markings may only be used by operations which are registered with the responsible phytosanitary authorities.

EPAL wooden pallets are treated in accordance with the ISPM 15 standard making them suitable for the unrestricted movement of goods outside the EU.

According to the company’s technical regulations, it has been compulsory for all EPAL pallets to be treated in accordance with ISPM 15 during production since 2010. For repairs, EPAL requires that its licensees use new wood and furthermore obliges repair operations to observe the national ISPM 15 regulations.

For more news about the logistics industry and the impact Brexit will have, sign up for our magazine and newsletters here.

 

BEUMER Group wins Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020

Posted on by David Priestman

With its AFR Systems (Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials) business unit, BEUMER Group supports cement producers in feeding calciners and main burners with alternative fuels and raw materials. The system provider develops complete solutions for efficient handling of different materials. The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has now named BEUMER Group as a winner of the renowned Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020.

 The production of cement has always been one of the most energy-intensive operations. In order to avoid expensive primary fuels such as carbon, gas and oil, and to produce cement in a more economic and sustainable way, many factories have relied on alternative fuels for the incineration process in the calciner for several years. These include waste tyres, rubber chips, plastic or other oleaginous mineral materials as well as processed industry/household waste. With its AFR Systems business unit, BEUMER Group supports cement manufacturers with extensive know-how and customised systems. With this capability, it is able to supply and install the whole chain from acceptance and unloading of the delivery vehicle up to the storing, conveying and feeding process of the solid alternative fuels for the specific user. The customer receives everything from one source, thus having a unique contact. The system provider has now been honoured for this with the Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020, presented by the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a leading organisation in the cement industry. “I am very honoured to receive this recognition on behalf of BEUMER Group,” said Brian Giese, BEUMER Corporation Director of Business Development, Conveying & Loading. “It demonstrates our commitment to support cement manufacturers in their efforts to make production greener and more sustainable.”

 

Founded in 1916, the PCA is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. The award recognises achievements in three areas, the development of innovative products, unique processes, and best-in class-practices, and was presented to three companies this year.

BEUMER Group wins Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020

Posted on by Keith McKinley

With its AFR Systems (Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials) business unit, BEUMER Group supports cement producers in feeding calciners and main burners with alternative fuels and raw materials. The system provider develops complete solutions for efficient handling of different materials. The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has now named BEUMER Group as a winner of the renowned Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020.

 The production of cement has always been one of the most energy-intensive operations. In order to avoid expensive primary fuels such as carbon, gas and oil, and to produce cement in a more economic and sustainable way, many factories have relied on alternative fuels for the incineration process in the calciner for several years. These include waste tyres, rubber chips, plastic or other oleaginous mineral materials as well as processed industry/household waste. With its AFR Systems business unit, BEUMER Group supports cement manufacturers with extensive know-how and customised systems. With this capability, it is able to supply and install the whole chain from acceptance and unloading of the delivery vehicle up to the storing, conveying and feeding process of the solid alternative fuels for the specific user. The customer receives everything from one source, thus having a unique contact. The system provider has now been honoured for this with the Chairman’s Manufacturing Performance Award 2020, presented by the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a leading organisation in the cement industry. “I am very honoured to receive this recognition on behalf of BEUMER Group,” said Brian Giese, BEUMER Corporation Director of Business Development, Conveying & Loading. “It demonstrates our commitment to support cement manufacturers in their efforts to make production greener and more sustainable.”

 

Founded in 1916, the PCA is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. The award recognises achievements in three areas, the development of innovative products, unique processes, and best-in class-practices, and was presented to three companies this year.

Multi-million-pound Battery Partnership brings Greener Outlook

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyperdrive Innovation, the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery technology, today announces a new multi-million-pound 4-year supply agreement with Moffett, part of Hiab and world leading forklift truck manufacturer, to supply state-of-the-art battery packs for zero-emission machinery.

The supply agreement, worth more than £500,000 in the first year alone, will initially see hundreds of high-performance battery packs deployed in Moffett’s fully electric truck-mounted forklifts. The partnership will instil clean, electric technology into the operational heart of hundreds of organisations worldwide, including well-known British brands Pets at Home and Topps Tiles.

Orders for the world’s first fully electric Lithium-ion powered truck-mounted forklift – the Moffett E-Series – have grown significantly since its release in 2013. With the support of Hyperdrive, Moffett aims to meet this increasing demand by growing its fully electric fleet six-fold by 2030 to around 30% of all vehicles produced.

Jann Hansen, Sales Director Moffett said: “Customer demand for cleaner, quieter and more sustainable equipment is growing like never before. Our partnership with Hyperdrive allows us to cater to this demand, without compromising the world-beating performance and trusted reliability expected from all our equipment. Going electric offers countless operational advantages for our customers and we’re excited to be leading the industry in this space.”

The near silent drivetrains of Moffett’s electric forklifts allow operations to continue out of traditional working hours and enables night-time deliveries for Moffett’s customers – a significant advantage to operational efficiency. The lack of exhaust pollution also means that the same machinery can be used for both outdoor and indoor applications. This means drivers can unload and load delivery trucks and stock warehouses without switching between electric and diesel vehicles – ideal for warehousing and distribution settings.

There are also significant fuel and maintenance savings associated with Moffett’s fully electric forklifts, with total ownership costs for Moffett’s E-series approximately 20% lower than diesel equivalents. Diesel powered forklift trucks typically produce more than 18 tonnes of carbon emissions per 1,500 hours of operation. Moffett estimates that its fully electric forklifts can achieve a carbon emission reduction of 75%, providing a significant boost to companies’ green credentials. Steve Travis, Transport Manager at Pets at Home said: “Fully electric forklifts give us the potential to significantly improve our operating costs, while at the same time minimizing the environmental impact to neighbours of our stores.”

Hyperdrive’s modular battery packs were chosen due to their top of the range energy density and modularity, allowing flexibility and straightforward application in a number of different machines. This opens up the possibility of deploying fully electric equipment across a variety of different settings, including warehousing, distribution and logistics, materials handling, and construction.

The news comes just weeks after a European-wide report – which included views from experts from Wilmott Dixson, Innovate UK, Colas Group, and NCC – forecast rapid growth in demand for cleaner and quieter electrified equipment over the next decade to meet emission targets and ‘build back better’ following the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European carbon emissions, making it an urgent priority for decarbonisation to meet net zero targets.

Stephen Irish, Commercial Director of Hyperdrive Innovation said: “Electrification will be central to the decarbonisation of heavy industry and it’s no surprise that demand for cleaner electrified equipment is booming. Our partnerships with forward thinking companies such as Moffett will help meet the massively growing demand for electrified solutions and support the delivery of a more sustainable future.”

Multi-million-pound Battery Partnership brings Greener Outlook

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyperdrive Innovation, the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery technology, today announces a new multi-million-pound 4-year supply agreement with Moffett, part of Hiab and world leading forklift truck manufacturer, to supply state-of-the-art battery packs for zero-emission machinery.

The supply agreement, worth more than £500,000 in the first year alone, will initially see hundreds of high-performance battery packs deployed in Moffett’s fully electric truck-mounted forklifts. The partnership will instil clean, electric technology into the operational heart of hundreds of organisations worldwide, including well-known British brands Pets at Home and Topps Tiles.

Orders for the world’s first fully electric Lithium-ion powered truck-mounted forklift – the Moffett E-Series – have grown significantly since its release in 2013. With the support of Hyperdrive, Moffett aims to meet this increasing demand by growing its fully electric fleet six-fold by 2030 to around 30% of all vehicles produced.

Jann Hansen, Sales Director Moffett said: “Customer demand for cleaner, quieter and more sustainable equipment is growing like never before. Our partnership with Hyperdrive allows us to cater to this demand, without compromising the world-beating performance and trusted reliability expected from all our equipment. Going electric offers countless operational advantages for our customers and we’re excited to be leading the industry in this space.”

The near silent drivetrains of Moffett’s electric forklifts allow operations to continue out of traditional working hours and enables night-time deliveries for Moffett’s customers – a significant advantage to operational efficiency. The lack of exhaust pollution also means that the same machinery can be used for both outdoor and indoor applications. This means drivers can unload and load delivery trucks and stock warehouses without switching between electric and diesel vehicles – ideal for warehousing and distribution settings.

There are also significant fuel and maintenance savings associated with Moffett’s fully electric forklifts, with total ownership costs for Moffett’s E-series approximately 20% lower than diesel equivalents. Diesel powered forklift trucks typically produce more than 18 tonnes of carbon emissions per 1,500 hours of operation. Moffett estimates that its fully electric forklifts can achieve a carbon emission reduction of 75%, providing a significant boost to companies’ green credentials. Steve Travis, Transport Manager at Pets at Home said: “Fully electric forklifts give us the potential to significantly improve our operating costs, while at the same time minimizing the environmental impact to neighbours of our stores.”

Hyperdrive’s modular battery packs were chosen due to their top of the range energy density and modularity, allowing flexibility and straightforward application in a number of different machines. This opens up the possibility of deploying fully electric equipment across a variety of different settings, including warehousing, distribution and logistics, materials handling, and construction.

The news comes just weeks after a European-wide report – which included views from experts from Wilmott Dixson, Innovate UK, Colas Group, and NCC – forecast rapid growth in demand for cleaner and quieter electrified equipment over the next decade to meet emission targets and ‘build back better’ following the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction industry is responsible for 40% of European carbon emissions, making it an urgent priority for decarbonisation to meet net zero targets.

Stephen Irish, Commercial Director of Hyperdrive Innovation said: “Electrification will be central to the decarbonisation of heavy industry and it’s no surprise that demand for cleaner electrified equipment is booming. Our partnerships with forward thinking companies such as Moffett will help meet the massively growing demand for electrified solutions and support the delivery of a more sustainable future.”

Wholesaler Doubles Output with Robotic Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

The leading wholesaler in the Swiss organic market, Bio Partner, has doubled its output following the implementation of innovative robotic logistics from Swisslog at its facility in Aargau, Switzerland.

Bio Partner supplies business customers in the organic specialist trade as well as the rest of the retail and food industry from its location in Seon. As a result of the merger with Somona GmbH, the warehouse reached its performance and capacity limits, and the wholesaler turned to a local partner with a global footprint to deliver an automated storage system.

The 12,200m2 warehouse handles 10,000+ products, a process now optimized thanks to the high-performance AutoStore storage solution, delivered by global warehouse automation specialist, Swisslog, a member of the KUKA group.

“Companies with large warehouses have to constantly work on increasing efficiency and our robot systems work flawlessly around the clock,” says Swisslog CEO, Dr. Christian Baur. The aim of this new system from Swisslog is to automate the storage and picking of the dry assortment and to compress it in terms of volume.

Consistently high performance

The new AutoStore system at Bio Partner has 44 robots with the ability to handle 25,000 containers and at least 6,000 products completely autonomously. “The high-tech robots create a volume of 900 containers per hour and, depending on the development, this system can still be expanded considerably,” says CEO, Dr. Baur.
The orders are automatically transmitted to the AutoStore system and processed in accordance with parallel processes, which is a huge advantage in large warehouses. This means that higher volumes can be made available in a shorter time. Picking errors cost time and money, and robots don’t make mistakes since the hardware and software work together perfectly. Bio Partner relies on the modular warehouse management software SynQ from Swisslog to orchestrate the warehouse and picking processes based on data-based insights.

“Our company relies on long-term, sustainable partnerships. With Swisslog, we found a strong local partner and the system installation was quick and easy,” commented Lukas Mettler, head of warehouse logistics at Bio Partner.

As a leading global integrator with over 200 realized projects, this is just one example of many projects which showcase the wide implementation spectrum of AutoStore empowered by Swisslog.

Wholesaler Doubles Output with Robotic Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

The leading wholesaler in the Swiss organic market, Bio Partner, has doubled its output following the implementation of innovative robotic logistics from Swisslog at its facility in Aargau, Switzerland.

Bio Partner supplies business customers in the organic specialist trade as well as the rest of the retail and food industry from its location in Seon. As a result of the merger with Somona GmbH, the warehouse reached its performance and capacity limits, and the wholesaler turned to a local partner with a global footprint to deliver an automated storage system.

The 12,200m2 warehouse handles 10,000+ products, a process now optimized thanks to the high-performance AutoStore storage solution, delivered by global warehouse automation specialist, Swisslog, a member of the KUKA group.

“Companies with large warehouses have to constantly work on increasing efficiency and our robot systems work flawlessly around the clock,” says Swisslog CEO, Dr. Christian Baur. The aim of this new system from Swisslog is to automate the storage and picking of the dry assortment and to compress it in terms of volume.

Consistently high performance

The new AutoStore system at Bio Partner has 44 robots with the ability to handle 25,000 containers and at least 6,000 products completely autonomously. “The high-tech robots create a volume of 900 containers per hour and, depending on the development, this system can still be expanded considerably,” says CEO, Dr. Baur.
The orders are automatically transmitted to the AutoStore system and processed in accordance with parallel processes, which is a huge advantage in large warehouses. This means that higher volumes can be made available in a shorter time. Picking errors cost time and money, and robots don’t make mistakes since the hardware and software work together perfectly. Bio Partner relies on the modular warehouse management software SynQ from Swisslog to orchestrate the warehouse and picking processes based on data-based insights.

“Our company relies on long-term, sustainable partnerships. With Swisslog, we found a strong local partner and the system installation was quick and easy,” commented Lukas Mettler, head of warehouse logistics at Bio Partner.

As a leading global integrator with over 200 realized projects, this is just one example of many projects which showcase the wide implementation spectrum of AutoStore empowered by Swisslog.

Parcel Logistics Company Appoints new MD

Posted on by David Priestman

The parcel, haulage and freight logistics company, Caribou has appointed a new managing director as its expansion plans pick up pace.

Daryl Dylan, who was previously Head of Carriers & Commercials, will step up to the role. His first order of business is to grow the Caribou depot network to 10 centres over the next 12 months. Dylan will also head up a significant recruitment drive, with 150 new jobs to be created by March 2021. Many of the new roles will be focused in additional service areas, including domestic and international freight forwarding, same day and haulage which will be added to the Caribou service portfolio before the end of the year.

He said, “I’m ecstatic to be named Managing Director. I see a lot of potential in Caribou. We are on course with our expansion plans and on course to achieve them much faster than we initially expected thanks to a fantastic team who have worked very hard.”

Caribou is a multi-modal operation logistics company. It offers parcel consolidation, global fulfilment and carrier management. Its state-of-the-art technology and dedicated customer service has seen the firm winning market share and confirming numerous partnerships.

It has additionally created a host of integrations with platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Woo Commerce and Shopify to streamline logistics for sellers across a range of popular systems. Caribou is the disruptive new name in the logistics industry. It was born out of the merger of a number of mail, parcel and packet specialist companies. It is the new kid on the block but packing a big punch with over 20 years experience in the distribution and delivery industry.

Caribou is designing and building its own game changing domestic and international mail and parcel solutions alongside its network of premium partners. Continuously evolving, its goal is to ensure an optimum delivery experience for the end user. Its customer centric approach is heavily focused on developing tailor-made solutions for clients with cutting-edge technology at the heart of its service offering.

Glocalisation

Posted on by David Priestman

Global integrator Witron had a front and centre role in the first wave of the pandemic. What did it learn and what comes next?

When Christian Dietl reviews the numbers for June 2020, he is proud of his colleagues working in logistic centres all over Europe and North America. “During this time, we only had one major technical defect in the 75 food logistics centres around the globe which operate with our OPM technology,” reports the CEO of Witron Services. “Even though we had to keep the systems running at full capacity and beyond.”

While the inner cities of Europe were emptying and throughput in physical stores was increasing, logistics centres were running at full speed. The importance of automation was growing, as was the importance in warehouses of people. Truck drivers were no longer allowed to enter DCs and staff in logistics centres now had to handle incoming goods. “We had to restructure our teams to prevent infections. So we worked with smaller maintenance teams and really only carried out the most necessary life-sustaining measures on the machines,” explains Dietl. The teams had already caught up on the maintenance backlog in May and June. “We learned a lot about the load limits of the components and this is now being incorporated into our future concepts.”

During this time, Witron technicians developed efficient concepts to keep system performance high at all times, while at the same time having to cut down planned maintenance intervals due to time constraints. “In addition, our cross-trained colleagues on site can change their roles very quickly, from system operator to maintenance technician and back again.” Flexibility pays off. “I have always said that we have the best team because there is only ONE team at the Terrebonne distribution centre, consisting of Sobeys AND Witron colleagues,” praises Fabien Roy, Logistics Manager at Sobeys in Canada.

Even more automation

Due to consistent hygiene rules, Witron had only four sick employees worldwide in the service teams, who were very quickly isolated. “We will continue to work in the Corona mode and will
continue to rely on distance rules and set teams,” says Christian Dietl. But what comes after the crisis? Automation will be the winner of the pandemic, even for SMEs, according to Witron, in accord with many analysts and scientists. In some industries, value added supply chains will shift back to Europe, and security of supply will become increasingly important, it believes. “We are moving towards glocalisation,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of logistics service provider Senger-Weiss, in a recent interview.

A Bosch analysis further states: The challenge here will be to prevent logistics costs from rising immeasurably. This can be prevented. It also means that automation and modularisation in
warehouses and logistics centres will benefit greatly from the trend towards greater supply security. Storage capacities must be able to be built up and decreased even faster in the future.
Warehouse management, conveyor technology, forklifts, and autonomous transport systems (FTS/AGVs/AMR) must be able to react flexibly. The same applies to the service and maintenance teams. The production supply from the warehouse must be able to quickly adapt to new products or new manufacturing processes.

Adding to this is the continuing boom in ecommerce, which even in the COVID pandemic has not suffered any slumps; on the contrary, it recorded new growth figures. In this context, intralogistics experts are pursuing different strategies. Flexible omnichannel solutions are the decisive approach. What unites all approaches is the importance of automation. For Christian Dietl and his service and maintenance teams, the pandemic remains the focus. “The disease is still there, it will occupy us for even longer – socially, economically, and technologically. It’s been shown that the Witron crisis management works; our systems run reliably with high availability even under permanent high volume requirements, and the OnSite teams roll up their sleeves – supporting them around the clock with great commitment. Together with our customers, we will continue to successfully master the challenges.”

Glocalisation

Posted on by David Priestman

Global integrator Witron had a front and centre role in the first wave of the pandemic. What did it learn and what comes next?

When Christian Dietl reviews the numbers for June 2020, he is proud of his colleagues working in logistic centres all over Europe and North America. “During this time, we only had one major technical defect in the 75 food logistics centres around the globe which operate with our OPM technology,” reports the CEO of Witron Services. “Even though we had to keep the systems running at full capacity and beyond.”

While the inner cities of Europe were emptying and throughput in physical stores was increasing, logistics centres were running at full speed. The importance of automation was growing, as was the importance in warehouses of people. Truck drivers were no longer allowed to enter DCs and staff in logistics centres now had to handle incoming goods. “We had to restructure our teams to prevent infections. So we worked with smaller maintenance teams and really only carried out the most necessary life-sustaining measures on the machines,” explains Dietl. The teams had already caught up on the maintenance backlog in May and June. “We learned a lot about the load limits of the components and this is now being incorporated into our future concepts.”

During this time, Witron technicians developed efficient concepts to keep system performance high at all times, while at the same time having to cut down planned maintenance intervals due to time constraints. “In addition, our cross-trained colleagues on site can change their roles very quickly, from system operator to maintenance technician and back again.” Flexibility pays off. “I have always said that we have the best team because there is only ONE team at the Terrebonne distribution centre, consisting of Sobeys AND Witron colleagues,” praises Fabien Roy, Logistics Manager at Sobeys in Canada.

Even more automation

Due to consistent hygiene rules, Witron had only four sick employees worldwide in the service teams, who were very quickly isolated. “We will continue to work in the Corona mode and will
continue to rely on distance rules and set teams,” says Christian Dietl. But what comes after the crisis? Automation will be the winner of the pandemic, even for SMEs, according to Witron, in accord with many analysts and scientists. In some industries, value added supply chains will shift back to Europe, and security of supply will become increasingly important, it believes. “We are moving towards glocalisation,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of logistics service provider Senger-Weiss, in a recent interview.

A Bosch analysis further states: The challenge here will be to prevent logistics costs from rising immeasurably. This can be prevented. It also means that automation and modularisation in
warehouses and logistics centres will benefit greatly from the trend towards greater supply security. Storage capacities must be able to be built up and decreased even faster in the future.
Warehouse management, conveyor technology, forklifts, and autonomous transport systems (FTS/AGVs/AMR) must be able to react flexibly. The same applies to the service and maintenance teams. The production supply from the warehouse must be able to quickly adapt to new products or new manufacturing processes.

Adding to this is the continuing boom in ecommerce, which even in the COVID pandemic has not suffered any slumps; on the contrary, it recorded new growth figures. In this context, intralogistics experts are pursuing different strategies. Flexible omnichannel solutions are the decisive approach. What unites all approaches is the importance of automation. For Christian Dietl and his service and maintenance teams, the pandemic remains the focus. “The disease is still there, it will occupy us for even longer – socially, economically, and technologically. It’s been shown that the Witron crisis management works; our systems run reliably with high availability even under permanent high volume requirements, and the OnSite teams roll up their sleeves – supporting them around the clock with great commitment. Together with our customers, we will continue to successfully master the challenges.”

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