April 2021

FLTA Awards for Excellence winners announced

Posted on 13 April, 2021 by David Priestman

The much-anticipated FLTA Awards for Excellence was streamed live on Saturday 10th April to reveal who would finally be crowned winners.

Having been twice postponed due to the pandemic, the event was taken online – a first for the FLTA in its history of holding the Awards.

Audiences tuned in for an evening of cocktails and celebrations, hosted by compere Rebecca Mordan. Throughout the evening, familiar faces from across the industry made an appearance to announce the winners in 10 categories.

The first winner of the night was B&B Attachments, who won Supplier of the Year, sponsored by Yale. This award speaks volumes about B&B Attachments as it is voted for by FLTA members themselves.

The remaining award winners were selected by a jury of industry experts, with Dealer of the Year, sponsored by Combilift, going to Truckmasters Handling.

With safety being a cornerstone of the FLTA, the Safe Site Award is always an inspirational one. This award, sponsored by Carrylift, went to Devenish Nutrition for its proactive approach and commitment to improving safety across multiple sites.

The most hotly contested awards of the night are always the sought-after Pick of the Year product accolades.

The Environment Award was sponsored by TVH, and went to JCB for its 30-19E — the world’s first electric telescopic forklift. This new product has zero emissions and minimal sound pollution, making it ideal for urban environments.

Earning its 10th award to date, Combilift received the Innovation Award, sponsored by IBCS. Its Electric Front and Rear Wheel Drive Combination impressed the panel with its clever design and how it handles long loads in the tightest spaces while minimising tyre wear.

When it comes to keeping operators comfortable, Linde proved top, with its N20C Steering Wheel winning the Ergonomics Award, sponsored by Triathlon Battery Solutions. The ergonomics of the steering wheel were truly designed with the operator in mind, removing a great deal of stress and strain throughout long shifts.

The Safety Award, sponsored by F-TEC, went to Hyster for its hinged elevating operator cabin for the Hyster® RS46 ReachStacker. The jury noted the excellent visibility afforded by the cabin, eliminating the need for cameras or spotters, who would potentially be at risk.

Sponsored by Doosan, the Apprentice of the Year Award honours the hard work and dedication put in by the industry’s newest recruits. Kieran Hale was named winner, and received a cheque and certificate.

The Services to the Industry Award, sponsored by Flexi, was won by Richard Hayes, in recognition of his work at Brindley Lift Truck Services as well as his invaluable contributions to the FLTA and CFTS over the years.

The final honour of the night was the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Toyota Material Handling. Given his extraordinary career at Hitec and unwavering commitment to customers and staff alike, Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Prospero Girardi, who now finds himself in exclusive company as only a handful of people have ever received this award.

FLTA Director Tim Waples said: “The FLTA Awards for Excellence highlights the remarkable accomplishments of the sector and this year was no exception. We would like to offer a big congratulations to our well-deserving winners.

“It is also important to recognise the efforts of the other nominees in each category. All of the entries we received represent a clear commitment to delivering unrivalled services and ingenious products designed to make a real difference to the industry.”

As well as coming together to celebrate the sector’s best and brightest, ticket holders were also entered into a Grand Prize Draw, sponsored by Hubtex. Premium prizes were awarded to winners throughout the night, adding a few extra surprises for a lucky few.

“It was a fantastic night and even though the music and dancing couldn’t happen in person, we hope the audience had fun continuing the after-party at home,” added Tim Waples.

“We would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors: Combilift, Carrylift, Yale, Toyota Material Handling, F-TEC, IBCS, TVH, Triathlon Battery Solutions, Flexi, Doosan and Hubtex; our supporters: Transmon Engineering, JCB and DLL; and our media partner Handling and Storage Solutions.

“I look forward to the time when we can once again gather together to celebrate the achievements and innovations within our industry.”

The 26th FLTA Awards for Excellence is available to watch on YouTube here.

SSI Schaefer to create automated warehouse for Dahl

Posted on 13 April, 2021 by David Priestman

Dahl, a leading wholesale and trading companies in plumbing, pipes, ground work, cooling, property and tools, has selected SSI Schaefer as a supplier for its new central warehouse to cover the Swedish market.

The new distribution centre will connect approx. 2,000 suppliers and 36,000 craftsmen with HVAC equipment both through direct delivery to construction sites as well as through Dahl’s 70 stores from Kiruna in the north to Ystad in the south of Sweden.

“The technology at our new site is really pushing the boundaries, we will build an advanced warehouse and we look forward to a highly automated operation that will be located not too far from our current warehouse. This gives us the possibility to retain internal competence,” says Jonathan Mankowitz, Logistics Director at Dahl.

The solution from SSI Schaefer consists of a pallet handling area with a pallet conveying system to transport goods to and from workstations and a High-bay warehouse for storing pallets. Small goods are handled in a 24m-high SSI Flexi shuttle system that will store both totes to supply the piece picking area as well as cartons for palletising. Picking will take place at goods-to-person stations combined with palletising robots to complete orders prior to shipping. The new distribution centre will be located in Bålsta and will replace the current warehouse in Kalhäll as well as some satellite warehouses.

“The greatest challenge was to find the right solution for Dahl due to the wide and special product range and the high demands on ergonomics when handling these products. We have worked together with Dahl as one team from day one and the result is a one-of-a-kind warehouse with a high level of automation and some new and innovative solutions,” says Hans Ekström, Solution Design Manager at SSI Schaefer who is responsible for the project.

The SSI Schaefer system is planned to go live during 2023.

SSI Schaefer to create automated warehouse for Dahl

Posted on 13 April, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The SSI Schaefer system is planned to go live during 2023.

Culina expands fleet with Schmitz Cargobull trailers

Posted on 13 April, 2021 by David Priestman

Food and drink logistics specialist, Culina Group, has expanded its UK fleet with 127 new trailers from Schmitz Cargobull for use across three of its major brands.

The additions for Fowler Welch, Morgan McLernon and Warrens Group, join a 2,500-strong fleet and include a mix of box body semi-trailers and S.KO COOL mono-temperature reefers.

Mark Matkin, Group Fleet Director for Culina Group, says: “Our relationship with Schmitz Cargobull spans over 20 years and we can always rely on the outstanding build quality across each asset.

“We have to be sure that every piece of equipment we operate is up to the job and will be able to meet our busy schedule. Schmitz Cargobull trailers are some of the strongest and most robust we have come across, which is why we continue to specify them across our brands.”

All of the trailers, which were manufactured at Schmitz Cargobull’s production facility in Vreden, are high-quality and durable – meaning they can handle the demanding multi-drop work of Culina Group.

Built with Schmitz Cargobull’s FERROPLAST® panels, they are resistant to moisture, ensuring payloads are kept safe and insulation levels are maintained. If any damage does occur to the assets, the panels can be quickly and easily repaired rather than the trailer side requiring whole body repair.

Matkin adds: “The construction of the trailers means any downtime is minimised and when we do need maintenance, the process is simple and takes place in rapid time. Schmitz Cargobull always has our trailers back on the road as soon as possible.”

All the S.KO COOL trailers have been mounted with Thermo King SLX refrigeration units and come equipped with Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect® telematics system, providing Culina Group with real-time data of the location and temperature conditions of each asset.

Culina Group is a provider of high-quality logistics services for food and drink companies in the UK and Ireland. The group comprises of eight business units – CML, Culina Logistics, Fowler Welch, Great Bear, IPS, Morgan McLernon, MMiD and Warrens Group – and operates from 75 depots across the UK.

Culina expands fleet with Schmitz Cargobull trailers

Posted on 13 April, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Food and drink logistics specialist, Culina Group, has expanded its UK fleet with 127 new trailers from Schmitz Cargobull for use across three of its major brands.

The additions for Fowler Welch, Morgan McLernon and Warrens Group, join a 2,500-strong fleet and include a mix of box body semi-trailers and S.KO COOL mono-temperature reefers.

Mark Matkin, Group Fleet Director for Culina Group, says: “Our relationship with Schmitz Cargobull spans over 20 years and we can always rely on the outstanding build quality across each asset.

SVT Robotics launches robotics integration software

Posted on 12 April, 2021 by Keith McKinley

SVT Robotics, a disrupter in the industrial robotics space whose software accelerates and simplifies deployment of robots, is introducing its Softbot Platform at ProMatDX April 12-16 with live demonstrations of the software integrating automation in a matter of minutes. This new launch allows companies to expedite the adoption and deployment of robotics within their warehouses and manufacturing facilities in a matter of days or weeks, rather than months or years.

The Softbot Platform launch positions SVT as an industry leader, as it now provides the only fully agnostic solution for rapid integration between enterprise systems and industrial robotics and across automation technologies. The innovative platform helps companies quickly adopt robotics into their manufacturing facilities or supply chains with fast, flexible and simple solutions that can easily be deployed without the need for custom code.

“SVT’s singular focus is to develop products that make rapid integration and deployment of robot technology quick and easy,” said Michael Howes, co-founder, COO and CTO of SVT Robotics. “We are thrilled to announce our Softbot Platform that will enable our customers to launch complex, multisystem deployments in rapid time.”

In addition to warehouses, distribution centres and e-commerce fulfilment providers working to boost automation investments to optimize operations and address social distancing, the healthcare industry is also adopting robotics within hospitals and medical facilities during the pandemic to try and curb transmission of the virus.

“COVID-19 has reshuffled the supply chain landscape and created additional challenges for companies to keep their employees safe,” said A.K. Schultz, co-founder and CEO of SVT Robotics. “Automation and robotics help reduce contact between humans and boost safety within facilities. We foresee continued growth within the industry.”

SVT Robotics was founded in 2018 launching their proprietary robotic software technology, which served as the foundation for the new Softbot Platform. The company has been riding a surge of interest in robot deployments from both investors (the company received $3.5 million in seed funding in May 2020) as well as industry executives including former Walmart Inc. executive Cameron Geiger, a global leader in sourcing, supply chain and IT, who is serving as Company Advisor.

SVT Robotics launches robotics integration software

Posted on 12 April, 2021 by David Priestman

inVia software chosen by merchandising firm

Posted on 12 April, 202129 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Gnarlywood Group, a provider of complete backend merchandising fulfilment solutions for entertainment brands, has selected inVia Logic AI-powered warehouse execution system (WES) software to modernise its warehouse in Carlsbad, California, USA.

The software will bring immediate picking and replenishment productivity gains that will later be increased with the addition of inVia Picker autonomous mobile robots.

Gnarlywood has seen unprecedented growth in demand for its entertainment merchandise and has chosen inVia’s software to bring efficiency to its fulfilment processes. The system will identify the ideal slotting of inventory at all times, direct pickers to follow the most efficient pick paths, and coordinate the movement of all goods, people and equipment to ensure continuous order flow. All of these improvements are part of inVia’s software-only implementation, which it says delivers 2-3x increases in productivity over manual processes.

inVia, a provider of next-generation e-commerce warehouse automation solutions, designed its technology so it can be brought into a warehouse’s operations at a pace that’s right for each individual business. AI-powered software is easily integrated into legacy systems with a proprietary translation tool, inVia Connect. The same intelligence used to direct robots to pick with machine precision can first be applied to an existing workforce to help people operate at peak productivity.

Gnarlywood has chosen to bring the benefits of inVia Logic to its team to immediately ramp up and keep pace with growth. It will later augment that labour with inVia Picker robots as it expands capacity with new mobile fulfilment centres that are ideal sites for mobile robots. This system enables scale and flexibility as e-commerce demand patterns shift over time.

“We needed a technology partner that could deliver immediate productivity gains, as well as a path to full warehouse automation in parallel with our plans for business growth. inVia provides a unique solution that includes the most advanced warehouse technology and the ability for us to integrate it over time with maximum benefit and minimal disruption,” said Dayton Hicks, founder and chief executive officer at Gnarlywood. “We have big expansion plans and want a partner that can ensure we’re always benefitting from the most advanced technology. We knew we found that with inVia.”

Founded in 2012, Gnarlywood manages e-commerce fulfilment for some of the world’s biggest entertainment brands. It manages storage, customisation, value-added services, marketing, and shipping for a variety of products – from apparel to one-of-a-kind memorabilia. The variety of products and services it offers demands a flexible fulfilment process that can handle complexity.

“inVia’s scalable system will dramatically improve Gnarlywood’s order fulfilment productivity and accuracy, enabling their business to keep up with growing customer demand,” said Lior Elazary, co-founder and chief executive officer of inVia Robotics. “The flexible nature of inVia’s system allows for quick implementation and the ability to adapt as business needs change. We’re excited to become a partner to Gnarlywood as their business scales.“

inVia software chosen by merchandising firm

Posted on 12 April, 2021 by David Priestman

The software will bring immediate picking and replenishment productivity gains that will later be increased with the addition of inVia Picker autonomous mobile robots.

Clark appoints Luxembourg sales partner

Posted on 12 April, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Clark Europe has appointed Europieces Luxembourg S.A. as a new sales partner for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thus further expanding its market presence in the Benelux countries.

“With Europieces Luxembourg, we were able to bring an experienced partner on board for our customers in Luxembourg,” explains Rolf Eiten, President & CEO of Clark Europe GmbH. “The Luxembourg economy is growing very strongly and will also grow more strongly than that of neighbouring countries in the coming years. We are pleased that we can participate in this growth with this strategic partnership.”

Europieces Luxembourg was founded in 1991 and specialises in the sale, rental and service of intralogistics solutions. In 2017, the company was acquired by the Kremer Group. As a market leader in industrial cranes and services, Kremer Group is also one of the main players in the field of machine training within LC Academie.

The training facility, which is well-known beyond the country’s borders, has also made a name for itself in the field of forklift driver training, a building block in the product portfolio that fitted perfectly into Europieces’ range of services.

The fortunes of Europieces Luxembourg are steered by CEO, Ralph Krips as well as Jeff Kayser, COO and Bernd Rickes, CTO. Today, the company focuses on the distribution of materials handling vehicles, work platforms, hand transport equipment, industrial shelving systems, loading and disposal technology, driver training and the used equipment business.

Europieces Luxembourg is located in Sassenheim in the canton of Esch on the Alzette – the southernmost canton of Luxembourg. The location covers a total area of 3376 sq m. In addition to the administrative area, the site includes a showroom, a spacious workshop area, a spare parts warehouse and eight training rooms.

With the inclusion of Clark materials handling vehicles in its product range, Europieces offers customers in Luxembourg the complete Clark service spectrum from a single source. In addition to all forklift classes and warehouse trucks, this also includes all accessories and spare parts as well as a comprehensive range of services including rental, financing and servicing for new and used Clark materials handling vehicles. With a total of ten employees – including five service technicians – the company ensures professional sales and service in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

“We see the partnership with Clark as another milestone in our strategic development towards becoming a ‘one-stop shop’ for intralogistics solutions in Luxembourg,” explains Ralph Krips, CEO of Europieces Luxembourg on the occasion of the partnership with Clark Europe. “The name ‘Clark’ has had a very high standing in the Luxembourg market for decades and is known for its low total cost of ownership. We look forward to offering our customers all the benefits of this strong brand combined with our first-class customer service in the future.”

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