60,000th Combilift truck delivered to Austrailia

The Irish manufacturer Combilift has marked a further milestone when its 60,000th unit came off the production lines at the company HQ in Monaghan and was shipped to the other side of the world. The customer taking delivery of this special forklift is Metroll, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of steel building products including roofing, cladding, rainwater, structural and fencing.

Metroll has branches across the country, and the new Combi-CB3000 will be a further addition to its fleet of 13 Combilifts that are operating throughout the Metroll Group, with another 10 already on order. These range from 3t multidirectional units to a highly customised 10t model.

Combilift number 60,000 will be working at the site in Toowoomba and has been fitted with features such as 4.9m triplex mast with a 3050mm spreader to safely and easily manage the long loads that are typically handled by Metroll.

Metroll Operations Manager Vic Josephs said: “Like most businesses, we are very busy and we’re also growing at a significant rate, so space has become a premium resource. With this unit we can utilise our space more efficiently whilst at the same time operating safely. Safety is of paramount importance. This forklift allows our machinery to get into tighter spaces and for us to space our racks more closely together to maximise factory floor space.”

Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar commented: “This is a great achievement for Combilift, particularly as almost every truck we manufacture is a one-off, designed for specific and individual requirements. There are very few other companies, if any, that can offer this level of customisation whilst manufacturing in such volume. The first half of this year has been by far the best in our 23-year history for the number of orders we have received – not just for Combi-CB models but across our complete product range.”

Chris Littlewood, Country Manager of Combilift Australia said: “The Combi-CB 3t model is the most popular unit in the Australian market and accounted for 50% of the machines we sold in the year ending March 2021. So we are particularly pleased that it is one of our customers in this country that has been able to receive this landmark machine.”

Following the successful collaboration with Metroll in Australia, Combilift now also supplies its trucks to the company’s Californian-based operations too. “We have often found that a recommendation from one country leads to sites elsewhere adopting the same material handling processes with our products,” said Martin McVicar. “So we’d like to congratulate Metroll on taking delivery of our 60,000th truck, and thank them for their continued support over the years.”

Click here to watch the video.

60,000th Combilift truck delivered to Austrailia

The Irish manufacturer Combilift has marked a further milestone when its 60,000th unit came off the production lines at the company HQ in Monaghan and was shipped to the other side of the world. The customer taking delivery of this special forklift is Metroll, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of steel building products including roofing, cladding, rainwater, structural and fencing.

Metroll has branches across the country, and the new Combi-CB3000 will be a further addition to its fleet of 13 Combilifts that are operating throughout the Metroll Group, with another 10 already on order. These range from 3t multidirectional units to a highly customised 10t model.

Combilift number 60,000 will be working at the site in Toowoomba and has been fitted with features such as 4.9m triplex mast with a 3050mm spreader to safely and easily manage the long loads that are typically handled by Metroll.

Metroll Operations Manager Vic Josephs said: “Like most businesses, we are very busy and we’re also growing at a significant rate, so space has become a premium resource. With this unit we can utilise our space more efficiently whilst at the same time operating safely. Safety is of paramount importance. This forklift allows our machinery to get into tighter spaces and for us to space our racks more closely together to maximise factory floor space.”

Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar commented: “This is a great achievement for Combilift, particularly as almost every truck we manufacture is a one-off, designed for specific and individual requirements. There are very few other companies, if any, that can offer this level of customisation whilst manufacturing in such volume. The first half of this year has been by far the best in our 23-year history for the number of orders we have received – not just for Combi-CB models but across our complete product range.”

Chris Littlewood, Country Manager of Combilift Australia said: “The Combi-CB 3t model is the most popular unit in the Australian market and accounted for 50% of the machines we sold in the year ending March 2021. So we are particularly pleased that it is one of our customers in this country that has been able to receive this landmark machine.”

Following the successful collaboration with Metroll in Australia, Combilift now also supplies its trucks to the company’s Californian-based operations too. “We have often found that a recommendation from one country leads to sites elsewhere adopting the same material handling processes with our products,” said Martin McVicar. “So we’d like to congratulate Metroll on taking delivery of our 60,000th truck, and thank them for their continued support over the years.”

Click here to watch the video.

EFAFLEX high-speed doors help optimise workflow

Facilitating fast and efficient movement of goods; minimising the risk of incidents; increasing workflow; automatic activation; creating a safe environment and protecting operatives around high- risk machinery… these are just some of the reasons EFAFLEX says it has become the partner of choice for customers operating within the processing or logistics sector.

How exactly can EFAFLEX help the processing & logistics industry? Take an aerial view of a warehouse or logistics facility. You might see loading bays where goods arrive and depart, production lines where produce is assembled or manufactured, and temperature or environmentally controlled areas where goods are stored in specific conditions. Add in machinery, operatives, and produce. This is an environment that is familiar to EFAFLEX.

At loading bays and docks where areas are exposed to the elements, fast-opening and -closing door speeds are essential. Internally between halls or different zones of production areas temperature control, or air purity may be your key consideration. Along conveyor lines, or around robotic or hazardous equipment, machine protection may be your concern.

Return to PPMA

EFAFLEX UK Limited returns to PPMA where three of its most popular high-speed doors used within the packing and processing sector will be in action. Darren Turrell, UK Managing Director, says: “Warehouse and logistics clients operate in an environment that continually expects shorter and shorter delivery lead times, while finding ways to improve and streamline processes, enhance operational performance and bottom line. It’s a fact that the transportation and storage industry have more incidents involving workplace vehicles than any other sector.£

EFAFLEX will be showcasing its high-speed spiral featuring its EFA-THERM insulating laths, the EFA-STT turbo, and the fabric roll-up option.

Turrell continues: “There is nothing quite like seeing our high-speed doors in action. PPMA gives us this opportunity to meet with customers and discuss their specific requirements. Each order is manufactured bespoke to the customer requirements. Our high-speed doors are a premium brand, but when you factor in the whole-life cost savings, such as radically reduced energy costs due to their operating speeds and insulation properties, they are a cost-effective option.

“60% of our orders are from customers who have made this calculation and chosen to replace old roller shutters or overhead sectional doors because of the many benefits that an EFAFLEX door will offer.

Consider too that incidents not only can cause injuries to people, but they can result in unwanted costly downtime, which can have an unexpected knock-on effect that ripples throughout the processing facility.

Key features of EFAFLEX processing & logistics solutions:

  • A complete range of doors to suit every aspect of the facility
  • Internal roll up doors or exterior spiral and folding models available
  • Machine Protection solutions to add safety in higher risk areas
  • A range of activation methods to suit your needs
  • Selection of colours and finishes

See the EFAFLEX range of interior and exterior doors at PPMA stand J62, from 28 -30 September, NEC, Birmingham.

 

EFAFLEX high-speed doors help optimise workflow

Facilitating fast and efficient movement of goods; minimising the risk of incidents; increasing workflow; automatic activation; creating a safe environment and protecting operatives around high- risk machinery… these are just some of the reasons EFAFLEX says it has become the partner of choice for customers operating within the processing or logistics sector.

How exactly can EFAFLEX help the processing & logistics industry? Take an aerial view of a warehouse or logistics facility. You might see loading bays where goods arrive and depart, production lines where produce is assembled or manufactured, and temperature or environmentally controlled areas where goods are stored in specific conditions. Add in machinery, operatives, and produce. This is an environment that is familiar to EFAFLEX.

At loading bays and docks where areas are exposed to the elements, fast-opening and -closing door speeds are essential. Internally between halls or different zones of production areas temperature control, or air purity may be your key consideration. Along conveyor lines, or around robotic or hazardous equipment, machine protection may be your concern.

Return to PPMA

EFAFLEX UK Limited returns to PPMA where three of its most popular high-speed doors used within the packing and processing sector will be in action. Darren Turrell, UK Managing Director, says: “Warehouse and logistics clients operate in an environment that continually expects shorter and shorter delivery lead times, while finding ways to improve and streamline processes, enhance operational performance and bottom line. It’s a fact that the transportation and storage industry have more incidents involving workplace vehicles than any other sector.£

EFAFLEX will be showcasing its high-speed spiral featuring its EFA-THERM insulating laths, the EFA-STT turbo, and the fabric roll-up option.

Turrell continues: “There is nothing quite like seeing our high-speed doors in action. PPMA gives us this opportunity to meet with customers and discuss their specific requirements. Each order is manufactured bespoke to the customer requirements. Our high-speed doors are a premium brand, but when you factor in the whole-life cost savings, such as radically reduced energy costs due to their operating speeds and insulation properties, they are a cost-effective option.

“60% of our orders are from customers who have made this calculation and chosen to replace old roller shutters or overhead sectional doors because of the many benefits that an EFAFLEX door will offer.

Consider too that incidents not only can cause injuries to people, but they can result in unwanted costly downtime, which can have an unexpected knock-on effect that ripples throughout the processing facility.

Key features of EFAFLEX processing & logistics solutions:

  • A complete range of doors to suit every aspect of the facility
  • Internal roll up doors or exterior spiral and folding models available
  • Machine Protection solutions to add safety in higher risk areas
  • A range of activation methods to suit your needs
  • Selection of colours and finishes

See the EFAFLEX range of interior and exterior doors at PPMA stand J62, from 28 -30 September, NEC, Birmingham.

 

Antwerp sees growth despite pandemic

During the first six months of 2021, 120 million tonnes were transhipped through the Port of Antwerp, an increase of 5% compared with the same period last year, despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Transhipments with the UK and Ireland also show positive figures; the expanded shortsea connections in response to Brexit are proving effective.

Containers are the only cargo type that has continuously grown since 2014, up by 4.3% in the first half of the year compared to 2020, and by 3.9% compared to 2019 (in tonnes). Conventional breakbulk has grown by 41.2% compared to 2020 and equals the throughput of the first 6 months of 2019. The throughput of iron and steel, the main goods group in this segment, increased by 37.8% due to a peak in the supply of steel. RoRo also did very well in 2021 and increased by 22% compared to the first half of 2020.

Dry bulk transhipment increased by 7.5% but there are fluctuations because some products, such as fertilisers, are seasonal. Liquid bulk grew slightly by 1.2% compared to 2020 but decreased by 6.1% compared to 2019. In May, the volume of fuels was the highest since October last year, while the transhipment of chemicals increased by 8.9% compared to 2020. Demand for chemicals is booming globally due to the recovery in industrial production and is exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Brexit: growth in declining market

With an annual cargo flow of around 15 million tonnes, the UK is the third-largest maritime trading partner for the Port of Antwerp. The start of Brexit at the beginning of this year therefore created major challenges due to increased administrative complexities and more controls, which resulted in congestion, longer transit times and higher costs. As a result, the flow of goods between the EU and the UK is decreasing. Despite these difficult conditions, however, the Port of Antwerp recorded growth in total throughput of 11.1% with the UK and 12.1% with Ireland in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2020.

In preparation for Brexit, Port of Antwerp put all its efforts into further expanding short sea connections with the UK and Ireland in order to achieve the modal shift from ferry to container transport. Five years after the Brexit referendum, the port of Antwerp is now connected with 12 British and Irish ports. In fact, Irish importers and exporters are increasingly abandoning the land bridge over the UK and are instead opting for a direct maritime connection. This way, cargo remains within the European Union and British customs formalities and duties are bypassed. For example, Eucon, an Irish shipper, has expanded its shortsea sailings from Antwerp to Ireland with an additional ship, mainly between Antwerp and Dublin.

Step towards CO2 reduction

The Antwerp@C consortium is taking important steps forward in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon port. The feasibility studies have been completed and the consortium is preparing to enter the design phase. The project, an initiative by Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, INEOS, TotalEnergies, Fluxys and Port of Antwerp, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions in the Port of Antwerp by half by 2030. It will do this by capturing CO2 and using it or storing it permanently.

Serge Amorgaste, Sales Manager at Eucon, said: “The strategic location of Antwerp and the reliability and flexibility of the network offered from and to Antwerp, ensure the right transit time to meet the growing demand of our customers. Multimodal transport is the right tool for this door-to-door concept.”

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp: “We knew that Brexit would have major consequences for the transport of goods between Europe and the UK. By preparing ourselves well and focusing on short sea connections and LoLo cargo, we can convert the challenges into opportunities. The positive half-year figures for transhipment with the UK and Ireland confirm this. After Brexit, Antwerp wants more than ever to be the gateway between Europe and the UK and Ireland.”

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman: “Despite the difficult circumstances in which we started 2021, we can show that the port is holding its own and is once again even recording growth in container handling. The economic urgency for extra container capacity is clearly demonstrated, more than ever. The figures are a confirmation of the resilience of our port and of the flexibility of all employees who ensure that everything keeps running.”

Antwerp sees growth despite pandemic

During the first six months of 2021, 120 million tonnes were transhipped through the Port of Antwerp, an increase of 5% compared with the same period last year, despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Transhipments with the UK and Ireland also show positive figures; the expanded shortsea connections in response to Brexit are proving effective.

Containers are the only cargo type that has continuously grown since 2014, up by 4.3% in the first half of the year compared to 2020, and by 3.9% compared to 2019 (in tonnes). Conventional breakbulk has grown by 41.2% compared to 2020 and equals the throughput of the first 6 months of 2019. The throughput of iron and steel, the main goods group in this segment, increased by 37.8% due to a peak in the supply of steel. RoRo also did very well in 2021 and increased by 22% compared to the first half of 2020.

Dry bulk transhipment increased by 7.5% but there are fluctuations because some products, such as fertilisers, are seasonal. Liquid bulk grew slightly by 1.2% compared to 2020 but decreased by 6.1% compared to 2019. In May, the volume of fuels was the highest since October last year, while the transhipment of chemicals increased by 8.9% compared to 2020. Demand for chemicals is booming globally due to the recovery in industrial production and is exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Brexit: growth in declining market

With an annual cargo flow of around 15 million tonnes, the UK is the third-largest maritime trading partner for the Port of Antwerp. The start of Brexit at the beginning of this year therefore created major challenges due to increased administrative complexities and more controls, which resulted in congestion, longer transit times and higher costs. As a result, the flow of goods between the EU and the UK is decreasing. Despite these difficult conditions, however, the Port of Antwerp recorded growth in total throughput of 11.1% with the UK and 12.1% with Ireland in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2020.

In preparation for Brexit, Port of Antwerp put all its efforts into further expanding short sea connections with the UK and Ireland in order to achieve the modal shift from ferry to container transport. Five years after the Brexit referendum, the port of Antwerp is now connected with 12 British and Irish ports. In fact, Irish importers and exporters are increasingly abandoning the land bridge over the UK and are instead opting for a direct maritime connection. This way, cargo remains within the European Union and British customs formalities and duties are bypassed. For example, Eucon, an Irish shipper, has expanded its shortsea sailings from Antwerp to Ireland with an additional ship, mainly between Antwerp and Dublin.

Step towards CO2 reduction

The Antwerp@C consortium is taking important steps forward in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon port. The feasibility studies have been completed and the consortium is preparing to enter the design phase. The project, an initiative by Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, INEOS, TotalEnergies, Fluxys and Port of Antwerp, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions in the Port of Antwerp by half by 2030. It will do this by capturing CO2 and using it or storing it permanently.

Serge Amorgaste, Sales Manager at Eucon, said: “The strategic location of Antwerp and the reliability and flexibility of the network offered from and to Antwerp, ensure the right transit time to meet the growing demand of our customers. Multimodal transport is the right tool for this door-to-door concept.”

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp: “We knew that Brexit would have major consequences for the transport of goods between Europe and the UK. By preparing ourselves well and focusing on short sea connections and LoLo cargo, we can convert the challenges into opportunities. The positive half-year figures for transhipment with the UK and Ireland confirm this. After Brexit, Antwerp wants more than ever to be the gateway between Europe and the UK and Ireland.”

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman: “Despite the difficult circumstances in which we started 2021, we can show that the port is holding its own and is once again even recording growth in container handling. The economic urgency for extra container capacity is clearly demonstrated, more than ever. The figures are a confirmation of the resilience of our port and of the flexibility of all employees who ensure that everything keeps running.”

Logistics company ships 20,000,000 tea bags annually

Liverpool-based warehouse and logistics company, Brunswick International, is bringing in more than 20,000,000 tea bags through the docks every year. It imports a 100-container shipment full of tea annually, before distributing the extraordinary number of tea bags inside to locations around the UK.

Brunswick deals with around 20,000 containers, making the Hunts Cross company one of the biggest import and export firms in the UK.

On average the UK  drinks more than 100 million cups of tea every single day, so to keep up with demand Brunswick International distributes the tea bags as part of its major shipping operation by allocating 100 containers exclusively to them every 12 months.

Brunswick International managing director Steve Crane said: “We deal with more than 20,000 containers every year and at any time 100 of these will contain boxes of tea. Each container contains 2,000 boxes of tea, holding 100 tea bags, amounting to 20 million tea bags being shipped by us.

“The tea bags are just one part of a major operation we run out of the dockyards in Liverpool and Salford. We have an excellent customs facility and clear shipments – whether it comes via air or sea – at every port and airport in the UK while our fleet of vehicles and huge 60,000 sq ft warehouse facilities simply mean our operation has been able to hugely grow since the Brexit vote.”

Brunswick International has operated in the shipping industry for more than two decades and has a stellar track record throughout its time operating from Liverpool Docks before the expansion to Salford.

It recently opened a 50,000 sq ft HQ and customs bond facility in Hunts Cross, following extra demand for its services post-Brexit. The new site, which also includes 15,000 sq ft of external storage, follows a surge in demand from growing numbers of domestic and international clients since the UK left the European Union.

Logistics company ships 20,000,000 tea bags annually

Liverpool-based warehouse and logistics company, Brunswick International, is bringing in more than 20,000,000 tea bags through the docks every year. It imports a 100-container shipment full of tea annually, before distributing the extraordinary number of tea bags inside to locations around the UK.

Brunswick deals with around 20,000 containers, making the Hunts Cross company one of the biggest import and export firms in the UK.

On average the UK  drinks more than 100 million cups of tea every single day, so to keep up with demand Brunswick International distributes the tea bags as part of its major shipping operation by allocating 100 containers exclusively to them every 12 months.

Brunswick International managing director Steve Crane said: “We deal with more than 20,000 containers every year and at any time 100 of these will contain boxes of tea. Each container contains 2,000 boxes of tea, holding 100 tea bags, amounting to 20 million tea bags being shipped by us.

“The tea bags are just one part of a major operation we run out of the dockyards in Liverpool and Salford. We have an excellent customs facility and clear shipments – whether it comes via air or sea – at every port and airport in the UK while our fleet of vehicles and huge 60,000 sq ft warehouse facilities simply mean our operation has been able to hugely grow since the Brexit vote.”

Brunswick International has operated in the shipping industry for more than two decades and has a stellar track record throughout its time operating from Liverpool Docks before the expansion to Salford.

It recently opened a 50,000 sq ft HQ and customs bond facility in Hunts Cross, following extra demand for its services post-Brexit. The new site, which also includes 15,000 sq ft of external storage, follows a surge in demand from growing numbers of domestic and international clients since the UK left the European Union.

IAG launches Madrid-Maldives cargo route

IAG Cargo has launched a new direct service from Madrid, Spain to Male, capital of the Maldives, starting from July. The service will run three times per week from Madrid-Barajas.

The new service will strengthen IAG Cargo’s existing presence in South Asia, which already includes regular services into Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India. IAG Cargo’s extensive global network will allow customers in the Maldives and nearby Sri Lanka seeking to transport essential goods, such as textiles and perishables, access to key markets in Europe, Latin America, United States and elsewhere. The new route will be operated by Iberia A330-200 and A330-300 wide-body aircraft.

Fernando Terol Armas, Director of Spanish Hub and Operations at IAG Cargo, said: “South Asia is an important market for IAG Cargo, and we are very excited to open this new service for our customers in both regions. This route will not only support Maldivian exporters get essential and time-sensitive perishable products to global markets, but also support Sri Lankan exporters using Male as a gateway to Europe and beyond.

“With our hub in Madrid one of the largest in Southern Europe, this connection opens up opportunities for further import and export growth from Europe and beyond into South Asia.”

Rob Wiemerink, Regional Commercial Manager for Asia Pacific and Middle East at IAG Cargo, said: “I am delighted to be able to provide our customers with a further route between South Asia and Europe. Male is an important trade link for Sri Lanka, where garments, automotive goods and perishables such as fish are among the principal exports.

“Exporters in the region will be able to benefit from our Constant Fresh product, ensuring produce arrives on supermarket shelves in peak condition. This will also be welcome news for exporters into the Maldives – in 2019, goods worth around US$2.89 billion were imported to the Maldives.”

Eligible customers seeking to use IAG Cargo’s services into Maldives will be able to benefit from IAG Cargo’s loyalty programmes.

IAG launches Madrid-Maldives cargo route

IAG Cargo has launched a new direct service from Madrid, Spain to Male, capital of the Maldives, starting from July. The service will run three times per week from Madrid-Barajas.

The new service will strengthen IAG Cargo’s existing presence in South Asia, which already includes regular services into Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India. IAG Cargo’s extensive global network will allow customers in the Maldives and nearby Sri Lanka seeking to transport essential goods, such as textiles and perishables, access to key markets in Europe, Latin America, United States and elsewhere. The new route will be operated by Iberia A330-200 and A330-300 wide-body aircraft.

Fernando Terol Armas, Director of Spanish Hub and Operations at IAG Cargo, said: “South Asia is an important market for IAG Cargo, and we are very excited to open this new service for our customers in both regions. This route will not only support Maldivian exporters get essential and time-sensitive perishable products to global markets, but also support Sri Lankan exporters using Male as a gateway to Europe and beyond.

“With our hub in Madrid one of the largest in Southern Europe, this connection opens up opportunities for further import and export growth from Europe and beyond into South Asia.”

Rob Wiemerink, Regional Commercial Manager for Asia Pacific and Middle East at IAG Cargo, said: “I am delighted to be able to provide our customers with a further route between South Asia and Europe. Male is an important trade link for Sri Lanka, where garments, automotive goods and perishables such as fish are among the principal exports.

“Exporters in the region will be able to benefit from our Constant Fresh product, ensuring produce arrives on supermarket shelves in peak condition. This will also be welcome news for exporters into the Maldives – in 2019, goods worth around US$2.89 billion were imported to the Maldives.”

Eligible customers seeking to use IAG Cargo’s services into Maldives will be able to benefit from IAG Cargo’s loyalty programmes.

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