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Month: May 2021

Hungarian cold store operator bolstered by Yale fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

Hungarian cold store operator ICE Solution turned to Pagát Gold Zrt to bolster its operations, with the Yale dealer providing four ERP15VT three-wheel electric trucks, four MO20P low-level order pickers, two MR16HD reach trucks, two MS15X-IL platform stackers and one MP25T truck.

Specialising in low-temperature warehousing and logistics, ICE Solution is one of the most modern cold storage facilities in the region. Unique in its field in Hungary, the company has been operating since 2008 and now holds two cold stores, located in Győr, suitable for storing goods at temperatures of -25°C. ICE Solution’s facilities can accommodate up to 11,500 pallets for its customers, which include leading poultry, milk, vegetable and fruit processors, as well as the largest domestic retail food chains.

To help its operations run efficiently, ICE Solution requires equipment capable of performing in the extreme cold. In its search for materials handling equipment, ICE Solution required a reliable, durable, and energy efficient solution from a partner that also offered rapid and reliable parts supply. With an average of 25-30 truckloads of goods handled every day, any delays caused by breakdowns would have a significant impact on the company’s productivity, therefore service was an important aspect of any product offering.

To bolster its operations, ICE Solution turned to its trusted dealer Pagát Gold Zrt – the exclusive dealer of Yale materials handling equipment in Hungary. The company was founded in 1991 and offers forklifts for rental, warehouse equipment, aerial work platforms, mobile forklift ramps and used forklifts. Additionally, it provides equipment service countrywide with 18 service cars and 25 technicians.

ICE Solutions and Pagát Gold Zrt have enjoyed a relationship that has spanned over 10 years. “During this time, ICE Solution has made a number of forklift investments,” said Domonkos Csik, Managing Director at ICE Solution. “In partnering with Pagát Gold Zrt, we chose a company that helps us to procure materials handling equipment that suits our needs and provides continuous service.”

After careful consideration of the company’s needs, Pagát Gold Zrt recommended a fleet of 13 Yale trucks. On discovering the benefits of Yale materials handling equipment, ICE Solution was confident it was the right product offering for them. “We chose a diverse range of Yale forklifts to fulfil our warehouse tasks” explained Domonkos.

High productivity in sub-zero temperatures

“Our equipment has to work in extreme conditions, so it’s important that they are able to deliver the same level of output regardless of the temperature. The Yale cold store solution provides a stable performance – even when working at -25°C in our facilities,” added Domonkos.

The most important task the Yale trucks fulfil is utilising space efficiently throughout the warehouse area. Every day the company needs to handle pallets weighing up to 1 tonne in different shapes and sizes, and processes are dependent on each other for a smooth operation.

ICE Solution’s operation requires a truck capable of performing two-shifts with minimal downtime. Four Yale ERP15VT three-wheel electric forklift trucks transport pallets around the facility, with the narrowed tipping frame enabling the operator to move comfortably between the shelves and overhanging pallets.

The cold storage company also required a pallet truck that was capable of picking up and dropping off several pallets of goods at the same time. As part of the preparation process, modifications were made to the Yale trucks to achieve this. The Yale MP25T pallet truck was fitted with a 2400mm-long fork enabling it to carry a load of up to 2.5-tonnes at a time – allowing the operator to stack pallets side-by-side.

“A great advantage of the Yale MP25T is that it is extremely agile and can work quickly, even under heavy workload,” commented Domonkos.

A combination of two MS15X-IL platform stackers, two MR16HD reach trucks and four MO20P low-level order pickers work alongside the MP25T to provide high efficiency and fast response times.

“The Yale pallet trucks, forklifts and reach trucks combine to create an efficient working environment. Due to the dynamic pace and nature of our business, we expect the same dynamism from our materials handling solutions. Our fleet of Yale trucks not only meet our expectations, they exceed them,” concluded Domonkos.

Logistics Hall of Fame deadline approaches

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Proposals for induction into the virtual Logistics Hall of Fame or the TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year can only be submitted until Friday, 14th May, 2021. Anyone who would like to propose a candidate can submit their idea via the internet form at www.logisticshalloffame.net to the organisation. Proposals are free of charge and take only a few minutes.

The next steps are as follows: In the first round of voting, the Logistics Hall of Fame Council nominates up to ten candidates from all the proposals for the final. Who will enter the Logistics Hall of Fame as a new member or be awarded the title TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year will be decided in the second round of voting by the jury, which is made up of more than 60 internationally renowned experts from the field of logistics and supply chain management.

To be inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame, a candidate must have made a technical, strategic, scientific, business or entrepreneurial achievement that is not only beneficial to an individual company, yet has a positive impact on the entire logistics sector. TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year, on the other hand, are trendsetters and pacemakers in the industry who have currently been particularly successful in promoting their company or have set a trend-setting impulse. The decisive factor here is the benefit for their own company.

Both awards will be presented in December 2021 at the Logistics Hall of Fame Gala, which is expected to take place at the Federal Ministry of Transport in Berlin.

The international Logistics Hall of Fame can be visited free of charge at any time at www.logisticshalloffame.net and offers information about the logistics milestones and their creators. It is supported by politics, associations, media, business and science. The patron is Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer.

Logistics Hall of Fame deadline approaches

Posted on by David Priestman

Proposals for induction into the virtual Logistics Hall of Fame or the TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year can only be submitted until Friday, 14th May, 2021. Anyone who would like to propose a candidate can submit their idea via the internet form at www.logisticshalloffame.net to the organisation. Proposals are free of charge and take only a few minutes.

The next steps are as follows: In the first round of voting, the Logistics Hall of Fame Council nominates up to ten candidates from all the proposals for the final. Who will enter the Logistics Hall of Fame as a new member or be awarded the title TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year will be decided in the second round of voting by the jury, which is made up of more than 60 internationally renowned experts from the field of logistics and supply chain management.

To be inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame, a candidate must have made a technical, strategic, scientific, business or entrepreneurial achievement that is not only beneficial to an individual company, yet has a positive impact on the entire logistics sector. TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year, on the other hand, are trendsetters and pacemakers in the industry who have currently been particularly successful in promoting their company or have set a trend-setting impulse. The decisive factor here is the benefit for their own company.

Both awards will be presented in December 2021 at the Logistics Hall of Fame Gala, which is expected to take place at the Federal Ministry of Transport in Berlin.

The international Logistics Hall of Fame can be visited free of charge at any time at www.logisticshalloffame.net and offers information about the logistics milestones and their creators. It is supported by politics, associations, media, business and science. The patron is Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer.

How retailers can beat Brexit difficulties

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Brexit may have been years in the making, but the uncertainty surrounding trade is still casting a long shadow for businesses in 2021, writes David Grimes, CEO of Sorted.

According to a recent survey, almost half (49%) of all UK businesses have found it more difficult to export to the EU since Brexit regulations came into effect. An increase in border checks and paperwork has only added friction to the process, making it more time consuming and costly for companies to send goods over to the continent.

Retailers in particular are facing a number of logistical challenges, including the delay of goods due to incorrect paperwork, or technical errors relating to tax declarations or item restrictions. These are disruptions that even the most prepared retailers could not have planned for, and many lacked the systems and technology to adequately deal with them.

In the weeks shortly after Brexit, some retailers such as John Lewis even suspended delivery into the EU altogether, citing new “complex processes” that were difficult to grapple with. Some couriers themselves also decided to pause road delivery services into the EU over concerns around paperwork and tariffs, adding to retailers’ problems.

Despite the impact Brexit turbulence is having on businesses, it’s important to remember that at the end of each delivery is a customer waiting patiently for an item they’ve paid for. With 1 in 3 customers saying they will leave a brand they love after just one bad experience, retailers need to up their game. To that end, the speed, condition and manner in which a purchase arrives, and the updates they receive during its journey, could have huge consequences on a customer’s decision to buy again with a brand.

Retailers, therefore, need to think very carefully about their supply chain model. With the post-Brexit delivery landscape still shrouded in relative uncertainty, pinning all hopes and expectations onto a single carrier service is bound to have unwelcomed consequences such as service failures, increased WISMO queries and a reduction in CSAT scores – all of which can severely damage a retailer’s brand.

The rise of multi-carrier shipping and distribution

In an effort to mitigate disruption, a growing number of retailers in the UK are already leveraging technology to manage and expedite multi-carrier delivery – enabling retailers to ‘spread the risk’ rather than have their entire operation depend on one single carrier service.

Instead of items being lost or returned because of one setback, a multi-carrier approach offers retailers the ability to adapt quickly to disruption and choose to re-route parcels via an alternative provider. At the very least, it gives retailers the opportunity to salvage the delivery journey to meet customer promise.

Brands such as Party Delights are using a multi-carrier approach to put the customer front and centre above all else, and to dramatically reduce the risk. If a carrier is unable to fulfil a delivery due to poor weather or problems with their fleet – or due to catastrophic disruption like we recently saw in the Suez Canal – an alternative carrier can pick up the pieces, ensuring CX is maintained. This is going to be a vital tool in an uncertain post-Brexit delivery landscape.

Preserving consumer trust and loyalty

This multi-carrier approach to order fulfilment might give retailers an edge when it comes to risk mitigation, but the challenges don’t stop there. UK ecommerce has always maintained a great dependence on the European market. Whether you’re selling a product to a buyer in Germany or importing merchandise all the way from Spain, the market in the pre-Brexit era was expanded for British retailers all over the European Union.

Now, Brexit has completely rewritten the rules and retailers all over the UK are experiencing the steady slowdown in terms of sales and revenue. As such, the online customer experience is in a state of near-constant evolution, with retailers and service providers are constantly ‘one-upping’ each other in their efforts to win and retain customers.

Over 43% of consumers are expected to shop more online than before the events of 2020, and if retailers are to take advantage of this influx of online shoppers they’ll need to offer a flawless customer experience. That includes paying close attention to each and every customer touchpoint, ensuring they have the infrastructure to cope with increased orders, and the capacity to adequately deal with any increase in customer queries.

An uptick in online purchases now means that the delivery journey is more crucial to the overall customer experience than ever before. Native online retailers – such as Amazon and Boohoo – have already had practice at getting this right and customer expectations are high, so retailers planning to move or increase their online presence will need to ensure their delivery journey is a 5* experience.

Customers expect real-time updates, messages, emails, delivery information, estimated times of arrival and more, including the ability to check on items, track packages and self-serve their queries. If retailers can leverage the automation technology needed to get this aspect of the customer journey right, they’ll see a marked improvement in CSAT scores and a massive reduction in call centre volume, easing the pressure on teams.

The importance of data integrity

An efficient multi-carrier operation with well-informed customers is only possible with clean, useful data. If a non-compliant parcel that lacks critical information is sent from a retailer to a carrier, it can throw up all kinds of unnecessary roadblocks at customs, particularly if the items are subject to strict regulation.

The seamless exchange of correct data in real-time is therefore essential in ensuring a smooth delivery process, even more so with exports thanks to the increased regulation around Brexit. Again, data integrity can be preserved with the use of technology, utilising everything, from validation codes, to mandatory fields, so the carriers get the correct information and border checks are as frictionless as possible.

Retailers of all shapes and sizes face a common challenge in the form of Brexit, but with the right technology in place and the adoption of a multi-carrier strategy, inevitable Brexit difficulties can at least be kept to a minimum.

How retailers can beat Brexit difficulties

Posted on by David Priestman

Brexit may have been years in the making, but the uncertainty surrounding trade is still casting a long shadow for businesses in 2021, writes David Grimes, CEO of Sorted.

According to a recent survey, almost half (49%) of all UK businesses have found it more difficult to export to the EU since Brexit regulations came into effect. An increase in border checks and paperwork has only added friction to the process, making it more time consuming and costly for companies to send goods over to the continent.

Retailers in particular are facing a number of logistical challenges, including the delay of goods due to incorrect paperwork, or technical errors relating to tax declarations or item restrictions. These are disruptions that even the most prepared retailers could not have planned for, and many lacked the systems and technology to adequately deal with them.

In the weeks shortly after Brexit, some retailers such as John Lewis even suspended delivery into the EU altogether, citing new “complex processes” that were difficult to grapple with. Some couriers themselves also decided to pause road delivery services into the EU over concerns around paperwork and tariffs, adding to retailers’ problems.

Despite the impact Brexit turbulence is having on businesses, it’s important to remember that at the end of each delivery is a customer waiting patiently for an item they’ve paid for. With 1 in 3 customers saying they will leave a brand they love after just one bad experience, retailers need to up their game. To that end, the speed, condition and manner in which a purchase arrives, and the updates they receive during its journey, could have huge consequences on a customer’s decision to buy again with a brand.

Retailers, therefore, need to think very carefully about their supply chain model. With the post-Brexit delivery landscape still shrouded in relative uncertainty, pinning all hopes and expectations onto a single carrier service is bound to have unwelcomed consequences such as service failures, increased WISMO queries and a reduction in CSAT scores – all of which can severely damage a retailer’s brand.

The rise of multi-carrier shipping and distribution

In an effort to mitigate disruption, a growing number of retailers in the UK are already leveraging technology to manage and expedite multi-carrier delivery – enabling retailers to ‘spread the risk’ rather than have their entire operation depend on one single carrier service.

Instead of items being lost or returned because of one setback, a multi-carrier approach offers retailers the ability to adapt quickly to disruption and choose to re-route parcels via an alternative provider. At the very least, it gives retailers the opportunity to salvage the delivery journey to meet customer promise.

Brands such as Party Delights are using a multi-carrier approach to put the customer front and centre above all else, and to dramatically reduce the risk. If a carrier is unable to fulfil a delivery due to poor weather or problems with their fleet – or due to catastrophic disruption like we recently saw in the Suez Canal – an alternative carrier can pick up the pieces, ensuring CX is maintained. This is going to be a vital tool in an uncertain post-Brexit delivery landscape.

Preserving consumer trust and loyalty

This multi-carrier approach to order fulfilment might give retailers an edge when it comes to risk mitigation, but the challenges don’t stop there. UK ecommerce has always maintained a great dependence on the European market. Whether you’re selling a product to a buyer in Germany or importing merchandise all the way from Spain, the market in the pre-Brexit era was expanded for British retailers all over the European Union.

Now, Brexit has completely rewritten the rules and retailers all over the UK are experiencing the steady slowdown in terms of sales and revenue. As such, the online customer experience is in a state of near-constant evolution, with retailers and service providers are constantly ‘one-upping’ each other in their efforts to win and retain customers.

Over 43% of consumers are expected to shop more online than before the events of 2020, and if retailers are to take advantage of this influx of online shoppers they’ll need to offer a flawless customer experience. That includes paying close attention to each and every customer touchpoint, ensuring they have the infrastructure to cope with increased orders, and the capacity to adequately deal with any increase in customer queries.

An uptick in online purchases now means that the delivery journey is more crucial to the overall customer experience than ever before. Native online retailers – such as Amazon and Boohoo – have already had practice at getting this right and customer expectations are high, so retailers planning to move or increase their online presence will need to ensure their delivery journey is a 5* experience.

Customers expect real-time updates, messages, emails, delivery information, estimated times of arrival and more, including the ability to check on items, track packages and self-serve their queries. If retailers can leverage the automation technology needed to get this aspect of the customer journey right, they’ll see a marked improvement in CSAT scores and a massive reduction in call centre volume, easing the pressure on teams.

The importance of data integrity

An efficient multi-carrier operation with well-informed customers is only possible with clean, useful data. If a non-compliant parcel that lacks critical information is sent from a retailer to a carrier, it can throw up all kinds of unnecessary roadblocks at customs, particularly if the items are subject to strict regulation.

The seamless exchange of correct data in real-time is therefore essential in ensuring a smooth delivery process, even more so with exports thanks to the increased regulation around Brexit. Again, data integrity can be preserved with the use of technology, utilising everything, from validation codes, to mandatory fields, so the carriers get the correct information and border checks are as frictionless as possible.

Retailers of all shapes and sizes face a common challenge in the form of Brexit, but with the right technology in place and the adoption of a multi-carrier strategy, inevitable Brexit difficulties can at least be kept to a minimum.

Successfully navigating myriad global logistics challenges

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Events such as the Icelandic volcano eruption in 2011 that grounded thousands of flights and the more recent Suez Canal blockage illustrate that there is an almost infinite number of points at which things can start to go wrong with global logistics, writes Yaseen Khan, Chief Executive Officer NSC Global.

Enterprises that are undertaking IT logistics globally no longer just face the traditional challenges of transport, they must now carefully traverse local customs and cultures, regulatory differences and the impact of digital transformation – making up-to-date and expert knowledge essential.

In our connected and globalised world, there are numerous parties involved to get an item from where it is manufactured to its end destination. Businesses operating in a globalised economy, need to understand that cultural differences can impact how they perform in the local markets. With a sound working knowledge of local cultures, enterprises will benefit from faster transit when transporting goods within a country.

Regulatory differences

Regulatory knowledge is essential to ensure certainty of movement and avoid goods being rendered useless in the destination country. Although speed-to-market is key, don’t let that be a substitute for poor planning. Where possible consolidate loads to ship more effectively and look for flexible services.

Sea-freight may be one-fifth of the cost of airfreight door-to-door, but if you don’t have the correct clearance requests and product-specific licenses/permits, pay the right taxes and duties and meet the varying audit requirements, you risk delaying or even stopping the clearance of goods.

Almost all countries charge taxes on imported goods, but it’s rarely a flat rate even within countries. Having the knowledge to take advantage of tax exemptions or discounts can be extremely economical; equally, so can knowing when not to ship goods, but to purchase them in the country where they’re required.

The impact of digital transformation

Efficiency, optimisation, speed and timing have always been crucial in global logistics. The digitalisation of logistics, can reduce fraud, facilitate seamless transactions, enhance accuracy and will allow for an accurate recording of data. This level of transparency provides absolute clarity on where goods have come from, where and what slows down the supply chain, how it can be made more economical, and where accountability for supply chain failures lies.

The digitally accumulated data can also help to address ethical concerns around child labour, origin of materials and packaging waste while enabling faster action related to changing customer demand, optimum routes, fuel consumption and overall turnaround times.

 

Cloud Computing

The pandemic has accelerated an already existing trend – Cloud Computing. Mandatory stay-at-home orders made remote work a basic requirement for almost all organisations seeing Cloud spending soar 37% in the first quarter of 2020 alone.

Cloud computing now extends far beyond storing data and files off-site. Enterprises could choose to streamline many of their logistics needs meaning for some businesses their entire IT service stored to just one location, raising the question of whether bulky servers and other technology goods will need to be transported in the future.

What is clear is that in order for businesses providing global logistics to continue to thrive in a globalised economy, they must invest the time to address and understand cultural and regulatory differences, and the outstanding growth opportunities and competitive advantages for companies that are willing to embrace these new technologies.

Supply chain costs have a huge impact on a business’ P&L and requires careful management. By retaining some supply chain expertise within your business to oversee your supply chain solutions, and working with a global IT logistics expert that provides an end-to-end service, businesses benefit from the efficiency of single partner with the expert knowledge of local customs and legalities even in complex and unusual locations.

 

Successfully navigating myriad global logistics challenges

Posted on by David Priestman

Events such as the Icelandic volcano eruption in 2011 that grounded thousands of flights and the more recent Suez Canal blockage illustrate that there is an almost infinite number of points at which things can start to go wrong with global logistics, writes Yaseen Khan, Chief Executive Officer NSC Global.

Enterprises that are undertaking IT logistics globally no longer just face the traditional challenges of transport, they must now carefully traverse local customs and cultures, regulatory differences and the impact of digital transformation – making up-to-date and expert knowledge essential.

In our connected and globalised world, there are numerous parties involved to get an item from where it is manufactured to its end destination. Businesses operating in a globalised economy, need to understand that cultural differences can impact how they perform in the local markets. With a sound working knowledge of local cultures, enterprises will benefit from faster transit when transporting goods within a country.

Regulatory differences

Regulatory knowledge is essential to ensure certainty of movement and avoid goods being rendered useless in the destination country. Although speed-to-market is key, don’t let that be a substitute for poor planning. Where possible consolidate loads to ship more effectively and look for flexible services.

Sea-freight may be one-fifth of the cost of airfreight door-to-door, but if you don’t have the correct clearance requests and product-specific licenses/permits, pay the right taxes and duties and meet the varying audit requirements, you risk delaying or even stopping the clearance of goods.

Almost all countries charge taxes on imported goods, but it’s rarely a flat rate even within countries. Having the knowledge to take advantage of tax exemptions or discounts can be extremely economical; equally, so can knowing when not to ship goods, but to purchase them in the country where they’re required.

The impact of digital transformation

Efficiency, optimisation, speed and timing have always been crucial in global logistics. The digitalisation of logistics, can reduce fraud, facilitate seamless transactions, enhance accuracy and will allow for an accurate recording of data. This level of transparency provides absolute clarity on where goods have come from, where and what slows down the supply chain, how it can be made more economical, and where accountability for supply chain failures lies.

The digitally accumulated data can also help to address ethical concerns around child labour, origin of materials and packaging waste while enabling faster action related to changing customer demand, optimum routes, fuel consumption and overall turnaround times.

 

Cloud Computing

The pandemic has accelerated an already existing trend – Cloud Computing. Mandatory stay-at-home orders made remote work a basic requirement for almost all organisations seeing Cloud spending soar 37% in the first quarter of 2020 alone.

Cloud computing now extends far beyond storing data and files off-site. Enterprises could choose to streamline many of their logistics needs meaning for some businesses their entire IT service stored to just one location, raising the question of whether bulky servers and other technology goods will need to be transported in the future.

What is clear is that in order for businesses providing global logistics to continue to thrive in a globalised economy, they must invest the time to address and understand cultural and regulatory differences, and the outstanding growth opportunities and competitive advantages for companies that are willing to embrace these new technologies.

Supply chain costs have a huge impact on a business’ P&L and requires careful management. By retaining some supply chain expertise within your business to oversee your supply chain solutions, and working with a global IT logistics expert that provides an end-to-end service, businesses benefit from the efficiency of single partner with the expert knowledge of local customs and legalities even in complex and unusual locations.

 

Should My Warehouse Be Automated?

Posted on by David Priestman

With the pandemic causing a swing away from the high street towards online, businesses looking to keep their operations viable during these challenging trading conditions are investing increasingly in an automated warehouse. Andrey Kazachkov, Head of Warehouse Automation at premier custom software development provider First Line Software, reveals what questions you need to ask before taking the plunge.

Andrey Kazachkov, Head of Warehouse Automation at premier custom software development provider First Line Software

A couple of years ago this question might have been a little easier to answer when looking at today’s challenges and what the repercussions of a global health crisis has done to impact the supply chain around the world. But before we tackle the question of automating vs. a manually operated warehouse system, let’s understand some basics about Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and some of the technologies required to make it work.

WMS – An Overview

A WMS usually begins as a software application that is specifically designed to optimise and support distribution centre and warehouse functionality. The software works in concert with hardware to execute the constant shifts in resources across planning, directing, staffing, and organising any kind of materials that move into, within, or are shipped out of a facility.

The not-too-distant past may have seen people with spreadsheets on clipboards manually checking off items as they move in and out of their purview. Today, technologies such as big data analytics, plug and play automation, mobile communications, sensors, wearables, IoT, and robotics have transformed warehouse management operations and systems for the better.

It’s possible that the movement of goods through a particular facility may seem to be working just fine with the employees and infrastructure that’s been there for some time.

However, almost every company that moves materials in, within, and out of a building has some degree of automation even if they don’t consider themselves as “automated”.  The various ranges of warehouse automation fall along a spectrum from a 100% automatic facility to a manager who recently upgraded from their clipboard, spreadsheet, and pencil to an iPad.  Let’s look at some key differences between a manual and automated facility.

Advantages of a manual warehouse with WMS integration:

  • People can be more flexible in dynamic situations, provided they are highly skilled.
  • People are easier to re-allocate and can be more versatile and interchangeable when modifying processes.
  • Full automation requires standardisation; the configuration of a warehouse with human resources can be changed dynamically (from pallet to carton storage to unit storage, with the ease of resizing packages and storage containers).
  • The business is saving on equipment costs in the moment.
  • Overall scalability either up or down is easier.

Advantages of a fully automated warehouse:

  • Performance, accuracy, and speed improve with no human error.
  • A smaller warehouse footprint is achieved at an increased level of productivity (for example, the area can be reduced by as much as 80%, which can be important in the absence of space or the high cost of land). Automatic pallet warehouses are available as a rack-supported building or as a free-standing system within a building and can be built up to 150 feet high.
  • Fewer people = easier and lower-cost human resource management.
  • Fewer people = less contact with equipment, less injuries, and illnesses – particularly during a pandemic.
  • Easier implementation of special conditions such as: oxygen-free storage, freezers, ultra-clean environments, etc.

Some challenges of automation:

  • The selection of suppliers and planning is key.  The optimal selection of a supplier is one that can supply both the software and hardware (conveyors, robots, cranes, etc.).
  • Building a realistic project timeline taking into account a wide variety of suppliers.
  • Integration as a separate area of focus – WMS and your existing system’s infrastructure.

Other areas of active troubleshooting will include the deployment launch and your “go-live” timeline that requires coordinated actions between software (WMS) teams, hardware teams, and ancillary equipment teams. Once automation is underway, there is maintenance of equipment that includes adjustments and repairs.  However, there are asset control tools as software platforms that make these tasks easier, if not automated themselves, such as Visualization Module, a product from viastore for visualising warehouse equipment status.

Trends of the global warehouse automation market

LogisticsIQ’s latest market research study is based on an analysis of 400+ companies with more than 100 in-depth interviews.  They concluded that the Global Warehousing Automation Market will have more than doubled from US$13 billion in 2018 to US$27 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.7% between 2019 and 2025.

Even though automated warehouse systems can resolve various challenges in warehouse management, research shows that 80% of current warehouses are still manually operated with little to no supporting automation. Just 5% of existing warehouses are fully automated, and comprehensive updates of smart technologies are necessary for companies to remain competitive.

The reality today is that even fully automated warehouses with highly mechanised environments still employ people in key functions. With all the advanced technology, employees still spend their time loading and unloading trucks, handling parcel containers, manually sorting odd-sized items, and servicing the hardware.

Determining the level of automation you need

There is no simple answer to the question “Should my warehouse be automated?”, but it’s not impossible if you’re asking the right questions to determine the level of automation you require.  It all begins with the ever-difficult task of looking within your company to define your business processes. After that, choosing an experienced Warehouse Management Systems partner such as First Line Software will pay off with prioritising the tasks needed to be solved.  This happens with an analysis of your current situation based on the pros and cons of a WMS with people in the mix or a completely automatic solution.

A comprehensive front-end business introspection and partner selection will help determine the optimal configuration of your space and the necessary equipment to make it work.  The correctly chosen balance allows you to get maximum efficiency from the team of employees while reaping the benefits from your chosen level of automation.

First Line Software provides a wide range of services for the development, testing, implementation and maintenance of custom and specialised software solutions for the European and world markets. FLS has a Certified Solution Development Department and a Certified Implementation Department.  Since 2003, FLS has maintained a strategic partnership with viastore – a leading international provider of solutions in the field of warehouse intralogistics.  Together they have completed more than 30 WMS projects in Europe and the USA.

First Line Software is hosting a free English-language webinar on Wednesday 12th May aimed at warehouse managers, owners and operators looking to optimise their existing systems and distribution centre operations. Click here for further details.

 

 

Hiab supplies loader cranes to Spanish railways

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Hiab, part of Cargotec, will supply 37 Hiab loader cranes equipped with connected service HiConnect to ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), the Spanish state-owned railway infrastructure manager. The units will be supplied as part of a tender to replace old loader cranes and it was won by Prosutec and Air Rail in February 2021. The deal value of €1.7 million was booked in the first quarter of 2021.

The cranes to be supplied will be a rail specific variant Hiab X-Rail 192 based on the medium-range Hiab X-HiPro 192 and the light range Hiab X-HiDuo 118 with specific modifications for use with railway maintenance. They will be installed on draisines to be used to maintain railways, predominantly lifting and unloading materials such as rails and sleepers either by hook or grapple.

The cranes will be made in Hiab’s multi-assembly unit in Zaragoza, Spain, and will be the first model in a complete line-up of loader cranes for the rail segment.

“One of the main reasons we chose Hiab was because of their extensive service network in Spain and Europe, and that the HiConnect service ensures the maximum productivity for our customers. I have over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing and maintenance of rail road and road vehicles, my experience with Hiab cranes has always been good, as well as with Multilift demountables. I believe that Hiab has the highest level of technology in the market and mounted on Prosutec vehicles provides extra value to our customers,” says Santiago Faraldo, Technical Advisor, Prosutec.

“The Spanish climate can be challenging from extreme heat to prolonged rainfalls along the Atlantic coast, but on the road or on the tracks Hiab can deliver productivity and safe operation day after day, night after night to help keep the railway running. We’re very happy that our cranes were selected and look forward to servicing them for years to come to provide the maximum uptime,” says Ronald Verzijl, Managing Director, Hiab Iberia.

Hiab supplies loader cranes to Spanish railways

Posted on by David Priestman

Hiab, part of Cargotec, will supply 37 Hiab loader cranes equipped with connected service HiConnect to ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), the Spanish state-owned railway infrastructure manager. The units will be supplied as part of a tender to replace old loader cranes and it was won by Prosutec and Air Rail in February 2021. The deal value of €1.7 million was booked in the first quarter of 2021.

The cranes to be supplied will be a rail specific variant Hiab X-Rail 192 based on the medium-range Hiab X-HiPro 192 and the light range Hiab X-HiDuo 118 with specific modifications for use with railway maintenance. They will be installed on draisines to be used to maintain railways, predominantly lifting and unloading materials such as rails and sleepers either by hook or grapple.

The cranes will be made in Hiab’s multi-assembly unit in Zaragoza, Spain, and will be the first model in a complete line-up of loader cranes for the rail segment.

“One of the main reasons we chose Hiab was because of their extensive service network in Spain and Europe, and that the HiConnect service ensures the maximum productivity for our customers. I have over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing and maintenance of rail road and road vehicles, my experience with Hiab cranes has always been good, as well as with Multilift demountables. I believe that Hiab has the highest level of technology in the market and mounted on Prosutec vehicles provides extra value to our customers,” says Santiago Faraldo, Technical Advisor, Prosutec.

“The Spanish climate can be challenging from extreme heat to prolonged rainfalls along the Atlantic coast, but on the road or on the tracks Hiab can deliver productivity and safe operation day after day, night after night to help keep the railway running. We’re very happy that our cranes were selected and look forward to servicing them for years to come to provide the maximum uptime,” says Ronald Verzijl, Managing Director, Hiab Iberia.

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