February 2021

Menzies Aviation Strengthens Cargo Team

Posted on 3 February, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Menzies Aviation has announced it will further strengthen its cargo team with five new appointments.

The global aviation logistics specialist has appointed Rory Fidler in the newly created role of VP Cargo Technology and will be responsible for driving forward digital innovation across Menzies’ global cargo operations. Rory has extensive experience in designing and executing digital transformation programmes as former Head of Technology and Innovation for the Cargo Division at Etihad Airways.

Another new addition to Menzies’ cargo team is Colin Baldwin, who is assuming the position of Head of Cargo Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Colin has deep market knowledge and over 30 years’ industry experience, 20 of which he spent as SVP Cargo Africa for Swissport.

In the US, Adam Cooper joins as Air Menzies International Head of Sales from United Airlines, where he was Senior Manager of Cargo Sales Strategy. Adam brings a wealth of cargo sales expertise to the role and will lead the team responsible for developing go-to-market strategies to support growth in the US market.

Alongside these new hires, Menzies has made two internal appointments. James Wong will assume the position of VP Cargo for the Americas region, whilst Karl Aldwinckle will become Head of Cargo Operations at London Heathrow Airport, to strengthen the operations team as part of an ongoing transformation process for London Heathrow Cargo.

Robert Fordree, Executive Vice President, Cargo said: “I am delighted to welcome Rory, Colin and Adam to Menzies Aviation, who will all be huge assets to our cargo team, each bringing with them a unique skill set and significant cargo expertise. VP Cargo Technology is a brand-new position, and I have every confidence that Rory will make a success of this role. With three new recruits and two internal appointments, our cargo business is well positioned to capitalise on new opportunities as we look to the year ahead. I look forward to working closely with our refreshed team as we focus on pursuing our sustainable growth strategy.”

Menzies Aviation is expanded across Europe in the last couple of years after several contract wins in Scandinavia and the Czech Republic.

Looking Forward to an Innovative 2021 for Retail

Posted on 3 February, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Edward Hutchison, Managing Director of BITO Storage Systems, applauds the UK Retail Sector for meeting 2020’s challenges and looks forward to supporting it through innovative intralogistics installations in 2021.

Retailers innovate to survive – but never more so than now, as the sector was challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020 and into 2021. As a significant supporter of the UK’s Retail Sector in terms of providing the order picking, storage and intralogistics solutions designed to make retail more efficient, BITO applauds the achievements of the retailers the have overcome these challenges and seized opportunities for future growth.

In addition to enforced closure of non-essential shops, pandemic restrictions have resulted in more people working from home and have accelerated the shift from the high street to shopping on the Internet and home delivery. According to the latest O NS (Office for National Statistics) retail sales figures for Great Britain, 2020 saw the retail sector suffer its largest annual fall since records began of 1.9%. However, the amount spent in online retail sales increased by 46.1% when compared with 2019 as a whole. This represents the largest annual increase since 2008.

Retailers have been handling a surge in online order volumes, for broader mixes of SKUs and often with shorter lead times. This places enormous pressure on intralogistics operations to improve order-picking productivity. At BITO we are seeing a particular trend towards lower cost solutions to help improve fulfilment operations and meet the need for flexibility. These might include multi-tier shelving, adapting pallet racking for picking small items, installing live storage flow shelves to improve pick face density, investing in bins and containers for efficient storage and delivery, and adopting technology that allows staff to spend their time more productively picking orders – driverless internal transport to move goods from pick zones to the packaging area is a good example.

The Retail Sector’s response to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions is inspiring and heroic. We anticipate working on numerous innovative order picking and storage solution designs in the coming year. We find that designing solutions to successfully overcome a specific operational challenge can often be transferred successfully to a broader base, thus driving a sector-wide uplift of service levels.

As the vaccination programme against Covid continues to roll out during 2021, we expect the economic bounce back to carry on. Shoppers will continue to enjoy the convenience of online retail and local stores but we also expect pent up demand will see shoppers returning to the high street as soon as allowed, where they will perhaps see new names and have new retail experiences.

Retailers will need to invest in intralogistics systems that help fulfil orders as efficiently as possible – either to retail stores or direct to consumer. They will seek systems that are efficient, reliable and have the flexibility to adapt easily to changing business circumstances and to meet peaks in demand. At BITO, we have a team of experts with a tremendous amount of experience in providing one stop shop intralogistics solutions for all kinds of retailers – whether it is for small-scale installations or large distribution centre integrations.

Looking Forward to an Innovative 2021 for Retail

Posted on 3 February, 2021 by David Priestman

DFDS Increases Scheduled Frequencies to the UK from Cuxhaven

Posted on 2 February, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Since 1 February, the Danish shipping company and member of the Cuxhaven Port Association (HWG) DFDS has expanded its scheduled freight liner traffic between Cuxhaven and Immingham by one additional departure, which means there are now six weekly vessel departures. Thanks to unaccompanied trailer transits, the route through Cuxhaven has shown itself to be robust despite the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. Thus, handling at the Cuxport terminal for shipments to the UK can be carried out without interruption.

With the additional Wednesday departure, the route originating at the Lower Saxony deep-sea port of Cuxhaven will be served from Monday to Saturday. Two Ro/Ro vessels, Selandia Seaways and Britannia Seaways will be deployed. Next to the additional departure, the reworked schedule is now tailored to customers‘ needs. The transit times between Cuxhaven and Immingham have been reduced to 19 hours; plus, all departures now occur in the evenings. In particular, truck-trailer customers can now deliver their trailer or container units at HWG member Cuxport’s terminal in the evening and these units can be expedited on their onward journey without escort. Logistics companies thus enjoy more scheduling security and less risk of delay for their drivers and their cargo on account of any Brexit-related customs checks. Any delays at terminals, and border crossings, can also be avoided in this way.

“With the additional departure and improved departure times in the evenings, we are offering our customers an attractive and reliable alternative for their shipments to and from Great Britain,” said Marcus Braue, Cuxhaven site manager for DFDS Germany. He added: “The market is indicating a general trend away from accompanied and towards unaccompanied trailer transits. For this reason, we have adjusted the departure times to be more in line with our customers’ preferences.”

“So far, COVID-19 and the new customs rules have not impacted processing in Cuxhaven for onward journeys to Great Britain. This shows that our thorough preparation in conjunction with all stakeholders is paying off, we are not experiencing significant issues in processing exports and imports,” noted Hans-Peter Zint, chairman of the Cuxhaven Port Association and managing director of Cuxport GmbH.

DFDS Increases Scheduled Frequencies to the UK from Cuxhaven

Posted on 2 February, 2021 by David Priestman

Return Container Booking App Launched

Posted on 2 February, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Cargo stream – the first of its kind container booking app in Europe – has officially gone live. Built by Cargo stream, an international company developing solutions to manage the whole logistics chain in one place and making empty container logistics in Europe more efficient, the app is set to become a go-to tool for cargo forwarders and carriers. It enables users to book their shipping container faster and easier across the globe.

“This functionality was highly requested by various shipping lines. More and more companies are moving their operations online, accessing important data via computer or smartphone screens, and we see this trend as an extraordinary opportunity for the logistics sector. Technology enables immediacy, ubiquity, in our case, while booking containers or managing logistics processes. Our decision to launch an app was inspired by the number of functionalities requests we received from our partnering shipping lines. We are creating value for our customers by launching the first app of its kind in Europe,” said Anthony Poullain, member of the board at Cargo stream.

Currently, available solutions in the market are limited to desktop applications, enabling only several actions, which forces companies to stick to managing most of the procedures by phone calls or emails. “We want to be at the forefront of technological implementation in an otherwise stagnant industry. It is difficult to develop a solution from the shipping line side because other shipping lines will not join the internal system. Cargo stream is an independent, reliable and objective solution provider that connects different parties in the whole logistic chain,” said Stéphane Gouvart, an associate of the CMA CGM Group.

The Cargo stream app allows users to make container bookings and offers or announce that they are searching for a specific container. It facilitates a full exchange between cargo senders, forwarders and carriers and provides a single portal to manage the entire container communication with shipping lines in real-time. Additionally, users can use the container location tool that helps find empty containers near their location. From there, users quickly book the containers and begin the cargo journey.

The app also provides value for customers in the following ways: request changes in drop-off and pick-up locations, check empty container status and whether it can be re-used for export customers, as well as manage cross-border open equipment opportunities in real-time. With these features, app users can optimise trucks’ planning, avoid congested areas and disputes with other carriers, and centralise all lines on one platform.

“Using such technology, logistics professionals can save time and money by reducing the number of empty runs. When facing a global containers’ shortage, speed and concrete communication are key to be first in line and secure the containers. We have started booking containers through Cargo stream with MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company),” said Igoris Uba, CEO of Limarko Maritime Agency.

Previously, both parties lacked the information they needed to improve their business efficiency: since forwarders had to ask hundreds of carriers if they have a container or vice versa, carriers had to inquire whether forwarders need empty containers for their shippers. The economic value here is immense, as it was never that easy to match empty containers with cargo shippers. Moreover, Cargo stream is not a marketplace, but a modern hub for re-using containers for export.

Cargo stream business model is straightforward: it comes with no license fees, subscription requirements, and upfront commitments. The app only takes a fixed rate when business transactions have performed. It is expected that Cargo stream will increase the speed of finding suitable parties for transportation circumstances, expediting service requirements for all parties involved. As existing app users have already claimed, the app is the fastest and easiest way to book a container in the European market.

Return Container Booking App Launched

Posted on 2 February, 2021 by David Priestman

Automation Project Completed for Landmark Group’s Distribution Centre

Posted on 2 February, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Dematic has announced the completion of a new automated distribution centre for the Landmark Group in Dubai, UAE, allowing the multinational retailer to consolidate the logistics activities for part of its five existing manual distribution sites.

“The automation solution designed by Dematic allows our supply chain network to now operate with enhanced efficiency, productivity and transparency. With this investment, we are advancing technological progress and taking a pioneering position in our region,” said Mihin Shah, Chief Supply Chain officer of Landmark Group. The new distribution centre is located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), close to DP WORLD Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest container ports in the world. From this location, the Landmark Group stores and distributes garments, furniture, toys, small goods and more to nearly 1,400 of its retail stores and thereafter directly to end consumers.

“Landmark presented us with an opportunity to go beyond consolidating their fulfilment operations to becoming a partner in transforming their business,” said Hasan Dandashly, Dematic President and CEO. “They have experienced remarkable growth in a short amount of time to become one of the largest retailers in the Middle East, Africa, and India, supplying over 2,300 businesses in 24 countries. We take pride in being the kind of resource that Landmark would trust to streamline their operations both to meet current demand and prepare for future success.”

A distinctive feature of the 265,000 sqm site is a pallet warehouse (43 metres high) with a silo design and up to 36,000 storage locations for receiving goods. Inventory not immediately needed for distribution are palletized, then stored and retrieved double-deep via four 41 metre stacker cranes (Model SR-U1500/1) with two telescopic forks. The climate-regulated high-bay warehouse stores temperature sensitive items and is equipped with a fire prevention system with an oxygen-reduced environment so even highly flammable goods can be stored.

The Dematic Multishuttle^® system handles faster moving goods with a patented Inter-Aisle Transfer feature that makes maximum use of space with aisle-spanning exchanges and double-deep storage. With several lifts per aisle and conductor rail-controlled shuttles for high performance acceleration and speed, one shuttle can serve between 700 and 800 storage locations. As a result, up to 15,000 totes per hour can be transported to the picking stations, making it the largest and fastest Dematic has ever installed. “With this distribution centre, we have set a logistics benchmark for the entire Middle East,” Shah said.

The facility also offers enormous capacities for hanging textiles: The Dematic GOH system can accommodate up to 2 million garments and can achieve high throughput rates of up to 250,000 items per day.

The overall solution has more than 200 workstations with specific applications, including value added services such as customizing goods for specific retailers by adding tags, branding or promotional offers. An 11-kilometre Dematic conveyor system for containers and pallets and a Dematic sortation system completes the operation.

Dematic iQ software ensures smooth and optimal material flow to meet delivery commitments Landmark makes to their retailers. The software operates as a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for stock management and includes a Warehouse Control System (WCS) and a Material Flow Controller (MFC). Goods are dynamically repositioned in four automated warehouse sections and the temperature-controlled manual warehouse, based on current and forecasted demand.

The Dematic iQ software also efficiently handles hanging and flat goods within a single system to meet customer requirements and desired sequencing. At the same time, the software ensures that the right product is at the right place at all times by balancing the workload among the subsystems. “Automation offers scalability and speed while at the same time improving work safety,” Shah said. As a result of the consolidated and automated operation, Landmark’s B2B and B2C customers can now depend on even better service.

Automation Project Completed for Landmark Group’s Distribution Centre

Posted on 2 February, 202124 July, 2025 by David Priestman

50% Increased Throughput for PPE

Posted on 2 February, 202129 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Körber, the global supply chain technology leader from supply chain software to materials handling automation, expanded AS Arbeitsschutz’s logistics network and modernized its software and processes. The manufacturer of personal protective equipment and workwear, known mainly for its NITRAS brand, relies on an innovative warehouse management system (WMS) from Körber. The WMS is seamlessly integrated with the company’s automation components – e.g. an AutoStore® – at its headquarters in Bedburg, Germany.

AS Arbeitsschutz banks on flexibility in order to handle unprecedented fluctuations in demand. Jens Thome, Managing Director at AS Arbeitsschutz, explains: “The past few months have presented companies with unexpected challenges, especially in terms of occupational safety. We have been able to deliver the necessary products at the right time and to the right place mainly due to the intelligent WMS software and the reliable support it provided to meet the challenges of our industry.”

Especially during the go-live, the project partners faced special challenges, for instance due to test phases which had to be planned and carried out remotely. Intensive simulation scenarios ensured a smooth go-live in a very short amount of time. This became necessary due to the increase in demand for protective equipment, such as protective gloves and breathing masks, which increased throughput by 50 percent compared to the previous year for AS Arbeitsschutz.

Thanks to Körber’s many years of software and integration experience, the logistics center, including the integrated AutoStore® storage and retrieval system, smoothly entered high-load operation. It encompassed optimized logistics processes in the goods receiving and goods issue areas, storage structures for pallets and picking strategies for deliveries to sales partners in over 30 countries.

As the product range continues to grow, about 10,000 SKUs (stock keeping units) for shipping up to 6,400 parcels will be managed in the future. Michael Brandl, Chief Executive Officer at Körber Supply Chain for Europe and Middle East (EME), explains that the WMS developed by Körber was implemented for these requirements. “Modifiable and efficient processes are the performance features of our warehouse management solutions that make all the difference. This means that our solutions can be perfectly tailored to the needs of our customers and seamlessly integrated with existing system environments to meet the changing requirements of the retail industry.”

Last but not least, all employees enjoy using the new system. “Our new solution has benefited us in many ways,” Thome emphasizes. “System-related agility is important, but the possibility to have our employees use intuitive interfaces has improved the operational process in particular. We can achieve more with less – and Körber is a reliable partner at our side that will continue to provide the necessary IT know-how to future-proof our intralogistics processes.”

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