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Month: February 2021

e-Customs Software helps Customs Intermediary Business

Posted on by David Priestman

An e-Customs software solution by Descartes Systems Group has helped the EOS Group, who are a Customs Intermediary and who also provide an inclusive delivery and warehousing logistics service spanning across the UK, to transition post Brexit.

The EOS Group who are headquartered in Northern Ireland and are a family-owned business with over 37 years’ experience in the logistics and warehousing industry. With a focus on customer service, attention to detail and advanced proficiency, EOS are now recognised as one of the leading logistics organisations across Europe. Last year, it announced the launch of its customs clearance service, an initiative that provides a seamless import and export experience for new and existing customers. As a key part of this service, Descartes’ e-Customs software solution has helped them cope with a vast increase in customs entries and customs warehousing.

Carol Norval, Director, EOS Customs, comments: “Brexit has presented so much uncertainty across the supply chain and logistics industry, but we were able to prepare ahead of time having implemented Descartes’ e-Customs two years ago. The ability to add modules to the system has undoubtedly given us a competitive advantage specifically around preparing for Brexit. The Northern Ireland (NI) Protocol from the UK government requires GB-NI imports to use HMRC’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Descartes’ e-customs solution is able to work with CDS, and the long-standing relationship made for an easy and seamless implementation and transition post-Brexit. Many of our SME and larger clients were not prepared for the customs procedures and were struggling with the change in required customs, additional paperwork and associated certificates that may or may not be required, but we’re in a position to help them navigate through the complex procedures in order to continue business efficiently.”

Pol Sweeney, VP Sales and Business Manager UK for Descartes adds: “We’re delighted to be working with Eagle Overseas. Many of its customers now require new customs processes as a result of Brexit, and EOS is well prepared to complete the required declarations to allow traders to move goods into NI and ROI from GB as well as continue with international movements. EOS is likely to continue to see an increased customer need for local bonded storage, customs guidance and associated declarations throughout 2021, all of which with the support of our systems can be confidently achieved.

Remote WMS Implementation Facilitates Timely Expansion

Posted on by David Priestman

Luxury and collectable online watch retailer, Watch Gang, is clocking up record shipments thanks to its investment in a new advanced, cloud-based WMS. The fast growing e-commerce retailer is handling thousands of closed tab shipments and subscription orders in days – rather than weeks – since its move to a new 10,000 sq.ft warehouse in Los Angeles included onboarding functionally rich and highly configurable SnapFulfil.

And the entire process was managed remotely, overcoming all the Covid-19 restrictions from travel to social distancing, saving both valuable time and money. SnapFulfil’s Remote Implementation (RI) program provides tailored virtual support, including regular online training and status meetings, to ensure new client teams can easily access and rigorously test the system in real time and advance – so meeting strict Go Live deadlines.

Watch Gang’s SVP Operations, Sam Christian, said: “The SnapFulfil team’s attention to detail is first rate and very personalised and you would never guess RI is a relatively new concept. It seems like they’ve been doing it all their working lives, it’s so slick and efficient. I can’t believe they’ll ever see the need to do on-site implementation again.

“When most things passed through the new WMS after Go Live, incremental volume went through the roof and without SnapFulfil I’d have manually been processing those orders weeks later. Quite frankly I would never have caught up. “Their WMS is everything we were hoping for; it manages and solves our specific issues and problems very well and tells us exactly what is where and the right quantities. For example, there’s been a perfect count on SKUs from day one and not a miss-shipment since.”

SnapFulfil’s RI is a formal, approved document that guides both project execution and control and from the outset makes all stakeholders and personnel aware of the key milestones to be achieved and signed off along the way.

SnapFulfil’s Project Manager, Charles Thompson, added: “RI has really come into its own over the past 12 months as the pandemic has turned the idea of business as usual on its head. At SnapFulfil we have always been disruptors in a traditional space and this has worked in our favour as the flexibility, scalability and ease of use of our WMS has meant that a rapidly expanding business like Watch Gang has been able to pivot and meet demand for its luxury watches with a superior customer fulfilment experience without delay.”

Remote WMS Implementation Facilitates Timely Expansion

Posted on by David Priestman

Luxury and collectable online watch retailer, Watch Gang, is clocking up record shipments thanks to its investment in a new advanced, cloud-based WMS. The fast growing e-commerce retailer is handling thousands of closed tab shipments and subscription orders in days – rather than weeks – since its move to a new 10,000 sq.ft warehouse in Los Angeles included onboarding functionally rich and highly configurable SnapFulfil.

And the entire process was managed remotely, overcoming all the Covid-19 restrictions from travel to social distancing, saving both valuable time and money. SnapFulfil’s Remote Implementation (RI) program provides tailored virtual support, including regular online training and status meetings, to ensure new client teams can easily access and rigorously test the system in real time and advance – so meeting strict Go Live deadlines.

Watch Gang’s SVP Operations, Sam Christian, said: “The SnapFulfil team’s attention to detail is first rate and very personalised and you would never guess RI is a relatively new concept. It seems like they’ve been doing it all their working lives, it’s so slick and efficient. I can’t believe they’ll ever see the need to do on-site implementation again.

“When most things passed through the new WMS after Go Live, incremental volume went through the roof and without SnapFulfil I’d have manually been processing those orders weeks later. Quite frankly I would never have caught up. “Their WMS is everything we were hoping for; it manages and solves our specific issues and problems very well and tells us exactly what is where and the right quantities. For example, there’s been a perfect count on SKUs from day one and not a miss-shipment since.”

SnapFulfil’s RI is a formal, approved document that guides both project execution and control and from the outset makes all stakeholders and personnel aware of the key milestones to be achieved and signed off along the way.

SnapFulfil’s Project Manager, Charles Thompson, added: “RI has really come into its own over the past 12 months as the pandemic has turned the idea of business as usual on its head. At SnapFulfil we have always been disruptors in a traditional space and this has worked in our favour as the flexibility, scalability and ease of use of our WMS has meant that a rapidly expanding business like Watch Gang has been able to pivot and meet demand for its luxury watches with a superior customer fulfilment experience without delay.”

Clark Moves its French Office in Strategic Move

Posted on by David Priestman

Materials handling vehicles company, Clark has moved its French office from Saint-Laurent-de-Mure to a new company building in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, 10 kilometers away (pictured.) The French municipality is located in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region about 20 kilometers southeast of Lyon. With this strategic step, Clark wants to expand its market position in France and prepare for future growth.

The change of office location in France became necessary because in the past the administration was located at a different site than the warehouse and workshop area. This slowed down processes. At the new location, all business areas are now under one roof and capacities could be additionally expanded. The new company building covers 850 square meters – 760 square meters alone are allotted to the warehouse for new and used equipment. Here, 90 to 120 Clark materials handling vehicles are stored for direct access. The building also houses the order management, sales support, technical support, training and final quality control, and shipping departments. Country-specific adaptations are also made at the site in accordance with customer requirements.

“The relocation of Clark France to Saint-Quentin-Fallavier was an important move, not only to set the course for further growth, but also to be able to respond even better to the requirements of French customers,” says Rolf Eiten, President & CEO of Clark Europe GmbH in Duisburg.

“Relocating has allowed us to expand our storage capacity and make internal processes much more efficient,” adds Olivier Bellissan, branch manager of Clark France, “as we aim to exceed our customers’ expectations in the future.”

Clark France SARL was founded in 2009 and serves a total of 59 Clark distributors in France and the French overseas territories as well as in countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Congo, Mauritania and Ivory Coast.

Clark Europe announced last year its new sales partners in Switzerland and Norway.

Clark Moves its French Office in Strategic Move

Posted on by David Priestman

Materials handling vehicles company, Clark has moved its French office from Saint-Laurent-de-Mure to a new company building in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, 10 kilometers away (pictured.) The French municipality is located in the Isère department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region about 20 kilometers southeast of Lyon. With this strategic step, Clark wants to expand its market position in France and prepare for future growth.

The change of office location in France became necessary because in the past the administration was located at a different site than the warehouse and workshop area. This slowed down processes. At the new location, all business areas are now under one roof and capacities could be additionally expanded. The new company building covers 850 square meters – 760 square meters alone are allotted to the warehouse for new and used equipment. Here, 90 to 120 Clark materials handling vehicles are stored for direct access. The building also houses the order management, sales support, technical support, training and final quality control, and shipping departments. Country-specific adaptations are also made at the site in accordance with customer requirements.

“The relocation of Clark France to Saint-Quentin-Fallavier was an important move, not only to set the course for further growth, but also to be able to respond even better to the requirements of French customers,” says Rolf Eiten, President & CEO of Clark Europe GmbH in Duisburg.

“Relocating has allowed us to expand our storage capacity and make internal processes much more efficient,” adds Olivier Bellissan, branch manager of Clark France, “as we aim to exceed our customers’ expectations in the future.”

Clark France SARL was founded in 2009 and serves a total of 59 Clark distributors in France and the French overseas territories as well as in countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Congo, Mauritania and Ivory Coast.

Clark Europe announced last year its new sales partners in Switzerland and Norway.

50% Spike in Demand for Retail Storage, says Shelving Specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

A surge in online shopping during lockdown has proved to be a shot in the arm for retail storage solutions. Racking and shelving specialist, Stanley, which has seen demand for storage solutions jump by a massive 50% in just nine months.

According to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), 2020 was the most troubled period for the UK high street in over 25 years. Its research found that almost 16,000 stores closed their doors permanently due to the impact of Covid-19, which resulted in the loss of some 200,000 jobs, in what is the UK’s biggest private employment sector.

Whilst the lockdowns have dealt a devastating blow to high street footfall, there has been a surge in shopping from home. Booming online retail is expected to add well over £5bn to a total of £79bn e-commerce sales this year in the UK, according to analysts at Edge Retail Insight. A consequence of the huge shift to e-commerce has been correlative growth in demand for warehouse and retail storage space.

Analysis by real estate advisor, Knight Frank, indicates that the continued rise in online shopping could drive demand for an additional 92 million square feet of industrial storage space across the UK by 2024. Its examination of data over five years suggests that the spike in online sales in 2020, which required a further 30 million square feet of space, will increase to 92 million square feet over the next three years, as the trend towards online shopping accelerates, irrespective of the anticipated end to the pandemic.

According to Graham Sharp, Managing Director of Stanley, which manages the storage needs for a number of major household brands, the forced change in customer behaviour due to Covid-19 has put significant pressure on retailers to stock required items and be able to deliver the next day, in order to remain competitive:

“There’s no question that the pandemic has influenced consumer habits for the long term in how we browse and buy goods and services. This change has driven retailers to establish more distribution hubs, expand their stockholding and maximise space. Since the first lockdown in March, Stanley has seen a marked spike in demand for the supply and fit-out of racking, shelving and mobile space optimisation solutions. Revenues are up by over 50% and our order book is still growing. We expect this to continue throughout 2021 with the after effects of Brexit contributing to this, as businesses look at stockpiling goods to mitigate import delays and supply chain issues.”

In the rush for a bespoke retail storage solution, however, education of the customer in relation to ordering the most appropriate and safest option is also incredibly important, as Stuart Wallace, Stanley’s Head of Storage Division, explains:“There is still market confusion about racking and shelving with many businesses thinking it’s all the same, which of course it’s not. The fundamental difference is that with shelving, high turnover, lightweight goods are handled manually on a constant basis, whilst with racking, placement and retrieval normally relates to heavier unit loads, which require the use of fork-lift trucks or other mechanical equipment.”

Continued Wallace: “What can be overlooked in times of sudden growth is the fine detail in respect of health and safety. For example, it’s critical that every storage solution fulfils the necessary fire, load rating and operator safety compliance, through correct installation that’s fit for purpose. Stanley’s expert storage team has a combined experience of over 40 years in the industry, which ensures that our customers are covered by all the correct certifications and health and safety legislation.”

50% Spike in Demand for Retail Storage, says Shelving Specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

A surge in online shopping during lockdown has proved to be a shot in the arm for retail storage solutions. Racking and shelving specialist, Stanley, which has seen demand for storage solutions jump by a massive 50% in just nine months.

According to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), 2020 was the most troubled period for the UK high street in over 25 years. Its research found that almost 16,000 stores closed their doors permanently due to the impact of Covid-19, which resulted in the loss of some 200,000 jobs, in what is the UK’s biggest private employment sector.

Whilst the lockdowns have dealt a devastating blow to high street footfall, there has been a surge in shopping from home. Booming online retail is expected to add well over £5bn to a total of £79bn e-commerce sales this year in the UK, according to analysts at Edge Retail Insight. A consequence of the huge shift to e-commerce has been correlative growth in demand for warehouse and retail storage space.

Analysis by real estate advisor, Knight Frank, indicates that the continued rise in online shopping could drive demand for an additional 92 million square feet of industrial storage space across the UK by 2024. Its examination of data over five years suggests that the spike in online sales in 2020, which required a further 30 million square feet of space, will increase to 92 million square feet over the next three years, as the trend towards online shopping accelerates, irrespective of the anticipated end to the pandemic.

According to Graham Sharp, Managing Director of Stanley, which manages the storage needs for a number of major household brands, the forced change in customer behaviour due to Covid-19 has put significant pressure on retailers to stock required items and be able to deliver the next day, in order to remain competitive:

“There’s no question that the pandemic has influenced consumer habits for the long term in how we browse and buy goods and services. This change has driven retailers to establish more distribution hubs, expand their stockholding and maximise space. Since the first lockdown in March, Stanley has seen a marked spike in demand for the supply and fit-out of racking, shelving and mobile space optimisation solutions. Revenues are up by over 50% and our order book is still growing. We expect this to continue throughout 2021 with the after effects of Brexit contributing to this, as businesses look at stockpiling goods to mitigate import delays and supply chain issues.”

In the rush for a bespoke retail storage solution, however, education of the customer in relation to ordering the most appropriate and safest option is also incredibly important, as Stuart Wallace, Stanley’s Head of Storage Division, explains:“There is still market confusion about racking and shelving with many businesses thinking it’s all the same, which of course it’s not. The fundamental difference is that with shelving, high turnover, lightweight goods are handled manually on a constant basis, whilst with racking, placement and retrieval normally relates to heavier unit loads, which require the use of fork-lift trucks or other mechanical equipment.”

Continued Wallace: “What can be overlooked in times of sudden growth is the fine detail in respect of health and safety. For example, it’s critical that every storage solution fulfils the necessary fire, load rating and operator safety compliance, through correct installation that’s fit for purpose. Stanley’s expert storage team has a combined experience of over 40 years in the industry, which ensures that our customers are covered by all the correct certifications and health and safety legislation.”

Pharmaceutical Distributor OCP Completes Modernization Project

Posted on by David Priestman

OCP Répartition is the leading pharmaceutical distributor in France dispatching over 2 million boxes of medicines and personal care products every day in over 44 establishments.

A long-time client of Fives for several decades, OCP Répartition previously called on the technical expertise of the Fives Upgrade teams in early 2019, as part of a project to retrofit a platform based in Montpellier.

OCP Répartition was completely satisfied with the operational performance of the machines deployed in this installation spurring it to renew its collaboration with the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams to modernize its site in Marseille.

The work to upgrade the previous system – installed by a competitor in the 90s using technology the Fives teams were relatively unfamiliar with – involved replacing an empty tray accumulation conveyor and adding two next generation tray denesters, an empty tray return system and a wet tray detection system. The denester’s twin head allows it to process up to 1,800 trays per hour simultaneously.

These machines were developed especially for this project by the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams.

Fives’ solution was developed to meet significant coactivity constraints in order to integrate all the new equipment for OCP Répartition. Spread over 6 weeks, the Fives teams performed their work in several phases to ensure OCP Répartition’s activities did not stop. The project was finalized in August 2020.

“In the context of a pandemic, during which it is vital for our activities to continue, we need to be able to rely on a partner with specific expertise in retrofit projects to efficiently address the various challenges of our business. This is why we chose the Fives Upgrade teams, which through our previous collaborations, have demonstrated great responsiveness, delivering services in line with our expectations”, said René Blanc, Head of Maintenance at the OCP Répartition site.

This new achievement demonstrates the extent of Fives’ expertise in both new projects and upgrade projects, relying on a Client Service team capable of handling extremely complex upgrade projects requiring significant agility.

Pharmaceutical Distributor OCP Completes Modernization Project

Posted on by David Priestman

OCP Répartition is the leading pharmaceutical distributor in France dispatching over 2 million boxes of medicines and personal care products every day in over 44 establishments.

A long-time client of Fives for several decades, OCP Répartition previously called on the technical expertise of the Fives Upgrade teams in early 2019, as part of a project to retrofit a platform based in Montpellier.

OCP Répartition was completely satisfied with the operational performance of the machines deployed in this installation spurring it to renew its collaboration with the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams to modernize its site in Marseille.

The work to upgrade the previous system – installed by a competitor in the 90s using technology the Fives teams were relatively unfamiliar with – involved replacing an empty tray accumulation conveyor and adding two next generation tray denesters, an empty tray return system and a wet tray detection system. The denester’s twin head allows it to process up to 1,800 trays per hour simultaneously.

These machines were developed especially for this project by the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams.

Fives’ solution was developed to meet significant coactivity constraints in order to integrate all the new equipment for OCP Répartition. Spread over 6 weeks, the Fives teams performed their work in several phases to ensure OCP Répartition’s activities did not stop. The project was finalized in August 2020.

“In the context of a pandemic, during which it is vital for our activities to continue, we need to be able to rely on a partner with specific expertise in retrofit projects to efficiently address the various challenges of our business. This is why we chose the Fives Upgrade teams, which through our previous collaborations, have demonstrated great responsiveness, delivering services in line with our expectations”, said René Blanc, Head of Maintenance at the OCP Répartition site.

This new achievement demonstrates the extent of Fives’ expertise in both new projects and upgrade projects, relying on a Client Service team capable of handling extremely complex upgrade projects requiring significant agility.

Ford Trucks Announces new Products and Technologies

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Building on more than half-century of experience and dynamic product development in the field of heavy trucks, Ford Trucks is kicking off 2021 with two new product variants, plus updated services and technologies throughout its current product range, launched in 44 countries.

The F-MAX family, which now includes two new variants, F-MAX Blackline and F-MAX L, including new specifications and features, is bringing connected mobility technologies to Ford Trucks customers. The company is introducing remote-control features with its ConnecTruck technology, offering more convenience and greater efficiency.

‘As an innovative brand that listens to our customers’ needs, we focus our R&D efforts on bringing next-generation technologies to the market. We believe we can add the most value for our customers by lowering their total cost of ownership. With each new product we develop, our goal is to help our customers manage their business more profitably’, says Serhan Turfan, Vice President at Ford Trucks. ‘We are proud to introduce a new range of products and technologies to our customers all over the world. We will continue to deliver more efficiency, even better performance and cutting-edge technologies for our customers.’

F-MAX Blackline (pictured) will be produced in a limited edition of only 250 units with special serial numbers

The F-MAX Blackline, an exclusive variant of the international award-winning F-MAX, will be produced as a limited edition. Each vehicle will feature a special serial number and the Blackline Series emblem on its door. Only 250 units will be produced for this limited edition, which will be available in a special ‘moondust’ silver exterior colour, with blue and black stripes that accentuate the vehicle’s style, as well as black LED headlamps, black wheels, and black mirror caps. The F-MAX Blackline features a high-end interior design, with seats trimmed in black with blue stripes and stitch details, in addition to blue highlights and stitch details on the leather steering wheel and spacious overhead storage areas. The F-MAX Blackline’s front console as well as bed and under-bed storage areas also feature distinctive black design details.

ConnecTruck offers new features that make life easier for drivers and fleet managers

Ford Trucks is transforming its vehicles into data-driven, connected mobility products, equipped with next-generation technologies that benefit customers. The new technologies include features such as GPS-based cruise control and multimedia system that make life easier for drivers and fleet managers. The new remote-control features also enable users of the My Ford Trucks app to control their vehicles remotely, giving drivers an even higher level of comfort.

Meanwhile, the online portal ConnecTruckGlobal.com has been expanded to include new features, especially for fleets. Now, it allows fleet managers to track their vehicles on a desktop computer or tablet, with bonus features in addition to the mobile app. The new features give drivers and fleet managers access to historical vehicle data and route information, all within a few clicks.

New F-MAX L, featuring a longer wheelbase and up to 5,000 km range on a single tank

Ford Trucks aims to exceed its customers’ expectations with the new F-MAX L, featuring a longer wheelbase and a range of up to 5,000 kilometres on a single tank. The F-MAX L’s 1350-litre fuel tank is 300 litres larger than the standard F-MAX tank, offering significant transportation advantages in combination with the truck’s expanded 3750 mm wheelbase. Customers can also choose a 1050-litre tank option by simply selecting a longer wheelbase.

”Eco+ Mode” is now standard in all F-MAX variants, reducing fuel consumption by up to 5%

As fuel consumption and total cost of ownership are the most important criteria in the heavy commercial vehicle sector, Ford Trucks introduced “Eco+ Mode”, allowing drivers to increase fuel efficiency by up to 5%. Starting in 2021, Eco+ Mode will be a standard feature in all F-MAX variants.

When Eco+ Mode is activated, the system takes actions to automatically reduce fuel consumption. The Max Cruise feature sets the most efficient vehicle speed based on road conditions and topography identified using GPS data. Eco Roll is also activated, allowing for optimal acceleration when driving downhill, so that the truck covers the maximum distance with minimum fuel consumption. When Eco+ Mode is switched on, engine power is limited to 450 PS and vehicle speed to 85 kilometres per hour. If the vehicle idles for longer than five minutes, the engine automatically shuts off to save fuel. This is especially beneficial if the vehicle is left running while waiting at customs or loading. Finally, the high-performance kickdown feature is deactivated in Eco+ Mode to conserve fuel. Fleet owners can control and monitor all these features remotely using the My Ford Trucks mobile app.
Road Trucks series are now even more comfortable with ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission

The ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission, developed by Ford Trucks engineers, caters to customer expectations and preferences, offering significant driving comfort, especially during heavy-traffic urban driving. It also reduces fuel consumption and total cost of ownership. The F-MAX with ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission offers better driving comfort in 330PS light tipper and light road trucks. And, by eliminating gear shifting, it helps utility vehicles such as fire trucks to perform even faster during situations where every second counts.

Rear Steerable Axle, improved manoeuvrability and turning radius

The engineers at Ford Trucks understand the importance of manoeuvrability and a small turning radius during urban use and they developed a new rear steerable axle to increase manoeuvrability in 9LT 6X2 vehicles. The new system increases the turning radius by 9%, offering a more comfortable driving experience, especially in confined urban settings.

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