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Month: October 2021

GEFCO transports crane from Kazakhstan to Belgium

Posted on by David Priestman

GEFCO, a global multimodal supply-chain expert, has completed an industrial project cargo solution to deliver one of the world’s largest cranes by ocean freight charter for a leading provider of crane rental services, heavy lifting equipment and engineered transport.

The project, delivered by GEFCO Air & Sea, saw the team transport the 4,000t, 8,000cbm disassembled crane by ocean freight from Kazakhstan to Belgium.

GEFCO chartered a newly-built tween-deck, innovative vessel, the MV Ella, which enabled the crane to be transported in one single shipment across both river and sea. GEFCO worked closely with the customer on planning to meet the complex stowage and lashing requirements, as well as the customs process. The delivery was completed in Antwerp in September, after 32 days of travel.

Vincent Habryn, Global Head of Industrial Project Cargo, GEFCO Air & Sea, said: “This project was an excellent showcase of our ability to provide a seamless and efficient Industrial Project Cargo service, despite a number of challenges we guaranteed the safe delivery across both river and sea, for our valued customer.

“We are grateful as ever for the commitment of our local teams and the trust and support of our partners.”

Paris multi-storey urban logistics asset acquired

Posted on by David Priestman

Crossbay, the first pan-European urban logistics platform to target single-user distribution centres, has acquired a multi-storey urban logistics asset in Saint Denis for an undisclosed sum in an off-market transaction. The vendor is a private family office.

The 7,500 sq m asset, located a few kilometres from Paris, features 3,500 sq m of ground floor space, with platforms for heavy goods vehicles and light vehicles, as well as single-level doors on three sides. The rest of the site is divided into cells of approximately 500 sq m on the upper floors, with access to the quays.

The property, which is currently unoccupied, is being marketed to firms in the last-mile logistics sector.

The acquisition of the Saint Denis site builds on Crossbay’s growing footprint in France, with its 20 assets at an overall value of around €180m.

The platform has invested more than €100m in France this year, with the aim to target €500m in assets under management within the next two years.

Louis Radiguet, managing director of Crossbay France, said: “This acquisition, along with the secure pipeline, will allow us to exceed our objective of €100m in acquisitions for the year 2021. The site presents all the fundamentals of urban logistics, in terms of its location and its technical characteristics. It also has a strong potential for short-term value creation for the Crossbay fund, perfectly matching the type of asset we are looking for.”

Launched in May 2020 by leading private equity real estate investment manager MARK, Crossbay was designed to enable institutional investors such as pension funds and insurers to grow their exposure to the fast-growing last-mile logistics sector.

Crossbay focuses specifically on single-user distribution centres in locations no more than a 90-minute journey to the centre of the nearest city. Single-tenant assets require less intensive asset management than multi-let industrial units and are less exposed to the performance of the wider economy than larger ‘big box’ warehouses.

The platform’s 600,000 sq m portfolio hosts a high-profile tenant base, counting leading 3PLs such as FedEx and DHL, as well as major e-commerce brands like Amazon, as occupiers.

In December 2020, MARK announced a successful capital raise for Crossbay, securing €550m in equity commitments from a global range of investors. Investors included the Townsend Group, CBRE GI, Credit Suisse, Nuveen and QInvest LLC. The fundraise was then followed by a €400m debt facility from investment bank Citi in January 2021 to help further fund Crossbay’s growth and European expansion.

Paris multi-storey urban logistics asset acquired

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Crossbay, the first pan-European urban logistics platform to target single-user distribution centres, has acquired a multi-storey urban logistics asset in Saint Denis for an undisclosed sum in an off-market transaction. The vendor is a private family office.

The 7,500 sq m asset, located a few kilometres from Paris, features 3,500 sq m of ground floor space, with platforms for heavy goods vehicles and light vehicles, as well as single-level doors on three sides. The rest of the site is divided into cells of approximately 500 sq m on the upper floors, with access to the quays.

The property, which is currently unoccupied, is being marketed to firms in the last-mile logistics sector.

The acquisition of the Saint Denis site builds on Crossbay’s growing footprint in France, with its 20 assets at an overall value of around €180m.

The platform has invested more than €100m in France this year, with the aim to target €500m in assets under management within the next two years.

Louis Radiguet, managing director of Crossbay France, said: “This acquisition, along with the secure pipeline, will allow us to exceed our objective of €100m in acquisitions for the year 2021. The site presents all the fundamentals of urban logistics, in terms of its location and its technical characteristics. It also has a strong potential for short-term value creation for the Crossbay fund, perfectly matching the type of asset we are looking for.”

Launched in May 2020 by leading private equity real estate investment manager MARK, Crossbay was designed to enable institutional investors such as pension funds and insurers to grow their exposure to the fast-growing last-mile logistics sector.

Crossbay focuses specifically on single-user distribution centres in locations no more than a 90-minute journey to the centre of the nearest city. Single-tenant assets require less intensive asset management than multi-let industrial units and are less exposed to the performance of the wider economy than larger ‘big box’ warehouses.

The platform’s 600,000 sq m portfolio hosts a high-profile tenant base, counting leading 3PLs such as FedEx and DHL, as well as major e-commerce brands like Amazon, as occupiers.

In December 2020, MARK announced a successful capital raise for Crossbay, securing €550m in equity commitments from a global range of investors. Investors included the Townsend Group, CBRE GI, Credit Suisse, Nuveen and QInvest LLC. The fundraise was then followed by a €400m debt facility from investment bank Citi in January 2021 to help further fund Crossbay’s growth and European expansion.

HAI unveils new products at CeMAT Asia

Posted on by David Priestman

HAI Robotics, a global leader in Autonomous Case-handling Robotic (ACR) system for warehouse logistics, said it is pushing forward the frontier of automated warehousing technology as it unveiled three new products during the CeMAT Asia Expo in Shanghai on 26th October. The new products will help unblock the bottleneck in the intralogistics sector in the yearning for higher storage density and flexibility.

The company showcased at CeMAT Asia, the region’s biggest intralogistics fair, a whole product family of the HAIPICK ACR robots, including two new members: the HAIPICK A3 fork-lifting ACR, A42-FW flexible-width ACR; and the new-look A42T telescopic ACR, which refreshes storage height record in the industry at 10m.

The HAIPICK A3 robot, adopting a fork-lifting picking design, is created for wider storage scenarios in which goods are not necessarily placed inside a box. The design, a major difference from previous generations of HAIPICK robots that use clamping picking, granted larger storage possibilities and better rack space utilisation. Goods that don’t require a container, such as tyres, trays and boards that can be lifted by a fork from the bottom, would be easily handled at higher picking efficiency.

The A3 robot adopts SLAM navigation technology, enabling more man-machine mixed field operations. It is also a good match with environment that has strict control for dust, static and pollution.

The second new product of HAIPICK A42-FW robot targets higher storage density. With a fork that can flexibly adjust according to the size of goods, this robot allows picking and handling of different sizes of totes or cartons.

Warehouse space utilisation can never be too much emphasised, and HAI claims the A42-FW robot is an absolute champion in this regard. On the one hand, with its chassis measuring 900mm in width, narrower than standard aisles of 1000mm, the storage density can be boosted by 5%. On the other hand, its pick height of 190mm to the lowest means that the storage density can be elevated by another 6%. What’s more, the robot can dynamically adjust storage locations according to the size it perceives with the fork and in this way, the storage locations can be increased by 20%.

Along with the new HAIPICK robots, HAI Robotics also launched a new version of HAIQ – the intelligent brain that commands HAIPICK ACR’s operation. HAIQ nova allows seamless interaction with all kinds of equipment such as Kiva robot, slam robot, conveyor belts, etc. The latest HAIQ nova, armed with copious user data from successful projects in different industries, can ensure smooth and optimised warehouse operation.

“Since we initiated the world’s first ACR system in 2015, we have been constantly updating our product as well as solutions, centring on elevated picking height, flexible picking arms, slender robot body and better software system (HAIQ) – addressing the demands for higher storage density, mixed picking of totes and cartons, and more storage locations against the backdrop of surging e-commerce order-fulfilment strain,” Says Richie Chen, the founder and CEO of HAI Robotics.

With over 300 projects running across the globe, HAI Robotics has been constantly learning from successful deployment and is keen to update its ACR technology for better user experience. The birth of the three new products arises from its sharp market perception and from thinking out of the box.

 

HAI unveils new products at CeMAT Asia

Posted on by David Priestman

HAI Robotics, a global leader in Autonomous Case-handling Robotic (ACR) system for warehouse logistics, said it is pushing forward the frontier of automated warehousing technology as it unveiled three new products during the CeMAT Asia Expo in Shanghai on 26th October. The new products will help unblock the bottleneck in the intralogistics sector in the yearning for higher storage density and flexibility.

The company showcased at CeMAT Asia, the region’s biggest intralogistics fair, a whole product family of the HAIPICK ACR robots, including two new members: the HAIPICK A3 fork-lifting ACR, A42-FW flexible-width ACR; and the new-look A42T telescopic ACR, which refreshes storage height record in the industry at 10m.

The HAIPICK A3 robot, adopting a fork-lifting picking design, is created for wider storage scenarios in which goods are not necessarily placed inside a box. The design, a major difference from previous generations of HAIPICK robots that use clamping picking, granted larger storage possibilities and better rack space utilisation. Goods that don’t require a container, such as tyres, trays and boards that can be lifted by a fork from the bottom, would be easily handled at higher picking efficiency.

The A3 robot adopts SLAM navigation technology, enabling more man-machine mixed field operations. It is also a good match with environment that has strict control for dust, static and pollution.

The second new product of HAIPICK A42-FW robot targets higher storage density. With a fork that can flexibly adjust according to the size of goods, this robot allows picking and handling of different sizes of totes or cartons.

Warehouse space utilisation can never be too much emphasised, and HAI claims the A42-FW robot is an absolute champion in this regard. On the one hand, with its chassis measuring 900mm in width, narrower than standard aisles of 1000mm, the storage density can be boosted by 5%. On the other hand, its pick height of 190mm to the lowest means that the storage density can be elevated by another 6%. What’s more, the robot can dynamically adjust storage locations according to the size it perceives with the fork and in this way, the storage locations can be increased by 20%.

Along with the new HAIPICK robots, HAI Robotics also launched a new version of HAIQ – the intelligent brain that commands HAIPICK ACR’s operation. HAIQ nova allows seamless interaction with all kinds of equipment such as Kiva robot, slam robot, conveyor belts, etc. The latest HAIQ nova, armed with copious user data from successful projects in different industries, can ensure smooth and optimised warehouse operation.

“Since we initiated the world’s first ACR system in 2015, we have been constantly updating our product as well as solutions, centring on elevated picking height, flexible picking arms, slender robot body and better software system (HAIQ) – addressing the demands for higher storage density, mixed picking of totes and cartons, and more storage locations against the backdrop of surging e-commerce order-fulfilment strain,” Says Richie Chen, the founder and CEO of HAI Robotics.

With over 300 projects running across the globe, HAI Robotics has been constantly learning from successful deployment and is keen to update its ACR technology for better user experience. The birth of the three new products arises from its sharp market perception and from thinking out of the box.

 

DeliveryApp poised to disrupt logistics industry

Posted on by David Priestman

DeliveryApp, the Manchester based tech start-up, has been on a supercharged growth strategy in 2021 following significant investment in January.

The technology-based logistics platform connects independent couriers with end users for fast deliveries through its Apps (available on Google and Apple stores) and website.

DeliveryApp says the platform is unlike other operators within the logistics industry due to its unique, agile structure. It has no slow and expensive hubs across different cities generating service costs. Instead, it’s formed a network of over 500 independent couriers across the country who will collect and deliver the parcel personally. That ever-expanding driver network is in-part thanks to its ethical approach to its drivers.

Drivers can earn a higher price per mile, take control of their own jobs without difficult-to-achieve targets and will be paid thanks to its fast, full automated payment system. It is a framework which has been developed through driver focus groups in order to create a platform which understands its audiences.

As DeliveryApp co-founder and Silicon Valley magnate Ioannis Verdelis explains: “Our platform lives and breathes through our drivers, if they’re not happy, we’re not happy. So, during our development phase we channelled just as much energy into creating an eco-system which works as well for them, as it does our end users booking deliveries. Faster payments, fair pricing and being in-control of their own deliveries were all important objectives for us to get right from the outset.”

The App, which is in BETA phase 3.1 and went live across App stores in May, has been experiencing rapid growth as its reputation and network starts to build organically.

Its customer proposition is defined, too, as Vedelis continues: “Our customers are on the whole driven by two things – price and trust. They want to get the best-possible price for their delivery, and they want to be confident it’s going to make the journey unscathed. Our transparent pricing through the platform means they can very quickly calculate the cost of their delivery, and thanks to our technology-based infrastructure, we cost around one-third less than the competition.

“Our customers are also given ownership of their delivery. They can see and control the whole process from prescribing collection and delivery times, to tracking the parcel as it travels to its destination with evidence provided on completion.”

By the end of June, DeliveryApp had signed up over 200 businesses, no mean feat for a platform which had only been live for two months and is still its BETA phase. It echoes the businesses’ last eight months which has seen DeliveryApp really scale its operations.

Lance Jones, Founder and CEO, describes DeliveryApp’s rapid growth: “The last eight months really articulate DeliveryApp’s clear vision and the size of the opportunity the platform represents. In January we unlocked our potential, we generated a multi-million-pound investment in order to turbo charge development and take the concept to market.

“Since then, it’s been a process of getting the right infrastructure in-place in order to achieve this – people like Ioannis Verdelis who has a proven track record of bringing disruptive apps to market and digital expert Justin Blackhurst whose outstanding reputation in digital marketing, SEO and web development through his consultancy DigitalNext makes him the perfect fit.”

“The business now has a 15 strong team of specialists in user experience, development, sales and driver operations based at our Manchester head office.”

To accommodate the new team and the businesses’ rapid growth strategy, DeliveryApp has taken an office at Department Bonded Warehouse in Manchester’s Tech and Enterprise City. Painted a vibrant green in-line with the brand’s fresh colour palette, it creates a sense of place for those news starters to collaborate and thrive as a team. Empowering quotes adorn the walls, and a table tennis table creates a space for the team to bounce ideas off one and other.

Jones continues: “For me, our people are just as important as our platform. Our culture and identity are driven by our people. We’re exciting, fun and innovative. We have good values, purpose and ethics, our people need to embody all of these things.”

DeliveryApp’s strong sense of purpose can be seen through its TechForFutures initiative. The business is re-investing a percentage of its profits and company resource to help inspire the 4.1m children living in poverty to learn digital and tech skills through funding for courses and local community work.

Justin Blackhurst, Co-founder, said: “DeliveryApp is an incredibly exciting business to be a part of. We’ve built the foundations for success and now it’s all about taking the business to the next level, whilst the platform maybe in its infancy, the scale of opportunity is huge.

“The logistics industry has on the whole been sluggish and a little reluctant to adopt new technologies. DeliveryApp brings these new intuitive consumer technologies and capitalises on the demand at people’s fingertips. Whether you’re an individual selling something on Facebook market place and want to provide a price for getting a bed or sofa from one side of the city to the other, or you’re a business using 50 couriers a week, DeliveryApp provides a slicker, cost effective solution.”

 

DeliveryApp poised to disrupt logistics industry

Posted on by David Priestman

DeliveryApp, the Manchester based tech start-up, has been on a supercharged growth strategy in 2021 following significant investment in January.

The technology-based logistics platform connects independent couriers with end users for fast deliveries through its Apps (available on Google and Apple stores) and website.

DeliveryApp says the platform is unlike other operators within the logistics industry due to its unique, agile structure. It has no slow and expensive hubs across different cities generating service costs. Instead, it’s formed a network of over 500 independent couriers across the country who will collect and deliver the parcel personally. That ever-expanding driver network is in-part thanks to its ethical approach to its drivers.

Drivers can earn a higher price per mile, take control of their own jobs without difficult-to-achieve targets and will be paid thanks to its fast, full automated payment system. It is a framework which has been developed through driver focus groups in order to create a platform which understands its audiences.

As DeliveryApp co-founder and Silicon Valley magnate Ioannis Verdelis explains: “Our platform lives and breathes through our drivers, if they’re not happy, we’re not happy. So, during our development phase we channelled just as much energy into creating an eco-system which works as well for them, as it does our end users booking deliveries. Faster payments, fair pricing and being in-control of their own deliveries were all important objectives for us to get right from the outset.”

The App, which is in BETA phase 3.1 and went live across App stores in May, has been experiencing rapid growth as its reputation and network starts to build organically.

Its customer proposition is defined, too, as Vedelis continues: “Our customers are on the whole driven by two things – price and trust. They want to get the best-possible price for their delivery, and they want to be confident it’s going to make the journey unscathed. Our transparent pricing through the platform means they can very quickly calculate the cost of their delivery, and thanks to our technology-based infrastructure, we cost around one-third less than the competition.

“Our customers are also given ownership of their delivery. They can see and control the whole process from prescribing collection and delivery times, to tracking the parcel as it travels to its destination with evidence provided on completion.”

By the end of June, DeliveryApp had signed up over 200 businesses, no mean feat for a platform which had only been live for two months and is still its BETA phase. It echoes the businesses’ last eight months which has seen DeliveryApp really scale its operations.

Lance Jones, Founder and CEO, describes DeliveryApp’s rapid growth: “The last eight months really articulate DeliveryApp’s clear vision and the size of the opportunity the platform represents. In January we unlocked our potential, we generated a multi-million-pound investment in order to turbo charge development and take the concept to market.

“Since then, it’s been a process of getting the right infrastructure in-place in order to achieve this – people like Ioannis Verdelis who has a proven track record of bringing disruptive apps to market and digital expert Justin Blackhurst whose outstanding reputation in digital marketing, SEO and web development through his consultancy DigitalNext makes him the perfect fit.”

“The business now has a 15 strong team of specialists in user experience, development, sales and driver operations based at our Manchester head office.”

To accommodate the new team and the businesses’ rapid growth strategy, DeliveryApp has taken an office at Department Bonded Warehouse in Manchester’s Tech and Enterprise City. Painted a vibrant green in-line with the brand’s fresh colour palette, it creates a sense of place for those news starters to collaborate and thrive as a team. Empowering quotes adorn the walls, and a table tennis table creates a space for the team to bounce ideas off one and other.

Jones continues: “For me, our people are just as important as our platform. Our culture and identity are driven by our people. We’re exciting, fun and innovative. We have good values, purpose and ethics, our people need to embody all of these things.”

DeliveryApp’s strong sense of purpose can be seen through its TechForFutures initiative. The business is re-investing a percentage of its profits and company resource to help inspire the 4.1m children living in poverty to learn digital and tech skills through funding for courses and local community work.

Justin Blackhurst, Co-founder, said: “DeliveryApp is an incredibly exciting business to be a part of. We’ve built the foundations for success and now it’s all about taking the business to the next level, whilst the platform maybe in its infancy, the scale of opportunity is huge.

“The logistics industry has on the whole been sluggish and a little reluctant to adopt new technologies. DeliveryApp brings these new intuitive consumer technologies and capitalises on the demand at people’s fingertips. Whether you’re an individual selling something on Facebook market place and want to provide a price for getting a bed or sofa from one side of the city to the other, or you’re a business using 50 couriers a week, DeliveryApp provides a slicker, cost effective solution.”

 

Hydrogen fuel HGV trials to start

Posted on by Keith McKinley

CNG Fuels, the UK’s largest supplier of alternative low-carbon fuels for HGVs, is planning to host hydrogen fuel trials across its rapidly expanding UK network of public access biomethane refuelling stations to support the future decarbonisation of HGVs.

A new branch of the company, HyFuels, has been established to identify the best hydrogen production pathways and infrastructure solutions for HGVs so it can support customers in adopting hydrogen quickly and easily when it becomes commercially viable. The first trials are due to begin in mid-2022, with the company currently in discussions with international partners and undertaking feasibility studies across its upcoming development sites. By 2025, the company plans to allocate 100 acres of its land to public access hydrogen refuelling.

Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, said: “HGVs alone account for 5% of all UK emissions, making their decarbonisation one of the single most important things the UK can do to meet our net zero ambitions.

“Renewable biomethane is and will continue to be the most effective decarbonisation solution for heavy transport for many years. However, we have launched HyFuels to ensure we are ready to support our customers’ journey to a multi-fuel future as new technologies become commercially viable and the fuel readily available.”

HGV fleet operators face a significant challenge to rapidly switch to more sustainable fuel sources to meet climate targets. HGVs account for 16% of UK transport emissions, despite representing just 5% of total road miles on UK roads. For high-mileage HGVs, renewable biomethane is the lowest carbon, most cost-effective alternative fuel today, cutting emissions by more than 85% and lifetime costs by 30-40% compared to diesel.

Mid-weight trucks (<26 tonnes) will be among the first to be commercially viable for new technologies such as hydrogen. The trials carried out by HyFuels will be particularly important for hauliers that operate <26 tonne trucks, helping them to navigate challenging decarbonisation targets proposed by government, including a potential ban on diesel engines by 2035.

CNG Fuels already supports major fleets with 100% renewable biomethane sourced from food waste and manure across its UK-wide network of public access refuelling stations. Major brands already on board include the John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Hermes, Warburtons, and Royal Mail.

Demand for the fuel has been doubling every year for the last five years. CNG Fuels expects that with the rapid expansion of its UK wide network, this will continue to accelerate with around 10% of the UK’s high-mileage HGV fleet running on Bio-CNG by 2025.

However, in future, other low carbon technologies will start to become more prevalent as technology develops and costs fall. The Committee on Climate Change expects hydrogen-powered HGVs to play a major role in decarbonising freight transport from 2030 onwards and the government’s Net Zero Strategy, released earlier this month, includes a policy to expand trials for zero emissions HGV technologies.

HyFuels is already in advanced discussions with major international providers of both hydrogen infrastructure and the fuel to deploy their first trials. Among the first initiatives will be a number of hydrogen-ready mobile refuelling units that are able to quickly deliver hydrogen to refuelling sites on demand.

Findings from the trials will be used to inform government, industry, and existing customers on the effectiveness of different hydrogen solutions and outline key infrastructure considerations for a hydrogen refuelling network. The company is also planning to incorporate the findings into a wider business strategy, with a complete roadmap for companies to switch fleets from diesel to net zero fuels.

CNG Fuels currently operates seven public access bio-CNG refueling stations and plans to open at least 12 more every year from 2022. The company plans to have 60 stations in operation by 2026, supporting the mass adoption of renewable biomethane fuel by fleets across the UK.

Baden Gowrie-Smith, CFO of CNG Fuels and head of hydrogen development for HyFuels added: “We build our sites with our customers’ future needs in mind, acquiring additional space so we can expand as demand grows. This means up to 30% of our future land will be perfectly placed to deploy multi-fuel trials on some of the busiest haulage routes in the UK.

“As soon as these technologies are viable, we will be ready to support our customers in adopting the latest and greatest in low carbon technology. With increasingly aspirational decarbonisation targets set by government, our role is to support fleets in their journey to net zero, making it as simple and affordable as possible.”

Hydrogen fuel HGV trials to start

Posted on by David Priestman

CNG Fuels, the UK’s largest supplier of alternative low-carbon fuels for HGVs, is planning to host hydrogen fuel trials across its rapidly expanding UK network of public access biomethane refuelling stations to support the future decarbonisation of HGVs.

A new branch of the company, HyFuels, has been established to identify the best hydrogen production pathways and infrastructure solutions for HGVs so it can support customers in adopting hydrogen quickly and easily when it becomes commercially viable. The first trials are due to begin in mid-2022, with the company currently in discussions with international partners and undertaking feasibility studies across its upcoming development sites. By 2025, the company plans to allocate 100 acres of its land to public access hydrogen refuelling.

Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, said: “HGVs alone account for 5% of all UK emissions, making their decarbonisation one of the single most important things the UK can do to meet our net zero ambitions.

“Renewable biomethane is and will continue to be the most effective decarbonisation solution for heavy transport for many years. However, we have launched HyFuels to ensure we are ready to support our customers’ journey to a multi-fuel future as new technologies become commercially viable and the fuel readily available.”

HGV fleet operators face a significant challenge to rapidly switch to more sustainable fuel sources to meet climate targets. HGVs account for 16% of UK transport emissions, despite representing just 5% of total road miles on UK roads. For high-mileage HGVs, renewable biomethane is the lowest carbon, most cost-effective alternative fuel today, cutting emissions by more than 85% and lifetime costs by 30-40% compared to diesel.

Mid-weight trucks (<26 tonnes) will be among the first to be commercially viable for new technologies such as hydrogen. The trials carried out by HyFuels will be particularly important for hauliers that operate <26 tonne trucks, helping them to navigate challenging decarbonisation targets proposed by government, including a potential ban on diesel engines by 2035.

CNG Fuels already supports major fleets with 100% renewable biomethane sourced from food waste and manure across its UK-wide network of public access refuelling stations. Major brands already on board include the John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose, Hermes, Warburtons, and Royal Mail.

Demand for the fuel has been doubling every year for the last five years. CNG Fuels expects that with the rapid expansion of its UK wide network, this will continue to accelerate with around 10% of the UK’s high-mileage HGV fleet running on Bio-CNG by 2025.

However, in future, other low carbon technologies will start to become more prevalent as technology develops and costs fall. The Committee on Climate Change expects hydrogen-powered HGVs to play a major role in decarbonising freight transport from 2030 onwards and the government’s Net Zero Strategy, released earlier this month, includes a policy to expand trials for zero emissions HGV technologies.

HyFuels is already in advanced discussions with major international providers of both hydrogen infrastructure and the fuel to deploy their first trials. Among the first initiatives will be a number of hydrogen-ready mobile refuelling units that are able to quickly deliver hydrogen to refuelling sites on demand.

Findings from the trials will be used to inform government, industry, and existing customers on the effectiveness of different hydrogen solutions and outline key infrastructure considerations for a hydrogen refuelling network. The company is also planning to incorporate the findings into a wider business strategy, with a complete roadmap for companies to switch fleets from diesel to net zero fuels.

CNG Fuels currently operates seven public access bio-CNG refueling stations and plans to open at least 12 more every year from 2022. The company plans to have 60 stations in operation by 2026, supporting the mass adoption of renewable biomethane fuel by fleets across the UK.

Baden Gowrie-Smith, CFO of CNG Fuels and head of hydrogen development for HyFuels added: “We build our sites with our customers’ future needs in mind, acquiring additional space so we can expand as demand grows. This means up to 30% of our future land will be perfectly placed to deploy multi-fuel trials on some of the busiest haulage routes in the UK.

“As soon as these technologies are viable, we will be ready to support our customers in adopting the latest and greatest in low carbon technology. With increasingly aspirational decarbonisation targets set by government, our role is to support fleets in their journey to net zero, making it as simple and affordable as possible.”

Hyster maintains strong environmental impetus

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyster Company has set ambitious environmental goals to achieve by 2026. Now at the halfway point, Hyster reveals the progress so far of its green manufacturing initiatives and innovative products and solutions designed to help customers achieve their sustainability goals.

“Part of the overall goal is to significantly reduce our global carbon footprint,” explains Conal McNally, Environmental Engineer for Hyster Europe. “Moreover, environmental targets have been set to reduce carbon emissions, VOC emissions from painting operations, and hazardous waste all by 30%, and water consumption by 20%. We also aim to achieve zero waste landfill at all sites and to offer a greater range of alternative products that enable customers to cut emissions cost-effectively.”

Most manufacturing processes tend to create waste. As a global manufacturer of industrial products, Hyster recognises the importance of responsible material use and is pushing to mitigate its waste footprint across all aspects of the value chain. The majority of waste created in the manufacturing of Hyster lift trucks is now being recycled.

For instance, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, where Hyster Big Trucks are produced, any non-recyclable waste is incinerated in the Netherlands’ cleanest burning facility, and any excess heat is used for heating in the factory building and nearby homes. Solar panels have also been fitted to provide some of the power to the site.

“We have already achieved our goal of zero landfill waste at our manufacturing site in Nijmegen,” adds McNally. “And the plant producing Hyster trucks in Craigavon, UK, has also been extended with similar green initiatives at the centre of its design and build.”

The new building design includes a smarter approach to heating, a more effective use of natural light, the creation of areas for biodiversity, and a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) amongst other important initiatives. 97% of waste from the site is now recycled, and waste to landfill has reduced by almost 45%.  A specialist at the site is working to use materials responsibly in the packaging of Hyster products, and to increasingly make packaging recyclable and sustainable.

To further support the reduction in its carbon footprint, Hyster also employs low-emission methods to deliver finished trucks to customers, wherever possible. Hyster ReachStackers, for instance, can be transported by barge from the Nijmegen facility to the main port of Zeebrugge in the Netherlands. Transport on the water reduces the number of trucks on the road, helping save on fuel consumption.

“As well as implementing sustainable manufacturing processes, we are also evolving the complete range of Hyster products towards low or zero emissions with key advances in technology and truck design.,” says McNally. “From Big Trucks used in ports and terminals, right down to low-capacity lift trucks in busy logistics operations, Hyster products increasingly incorporate a range of clean energy solutions.”

For example, innovative applications of lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are enabling Hyster to develop zero-emission Container Handlers and ReachStackers for the first time.

Plus, Stage V engines that comply with EU emission regulations are introduced for Hyster Big Trucks, with capacities of 8t or more, helping businesses comply with emissions legislation, while also heightening productivity, and reducing the cost of ownership for the customer.

In 2021 the Hyster J10-18XD lift trucks (pictured) were also launched, featuring lithium-ion battery packs and up to 18t lift capacity, for comparable performance to ICE trucks, but with zero emissions.  This follows the recent launch of the 7-9t lift capacity, J7.0-9.0XNL series of electric lift trucks, with fully integrated lithium-ion batteries and rapid opportunity charging.

“A big part of our green approach is supporting customers across multiple industry sectors in their own sustainability objectives with the right products, and the right aftermarket solutions, such as carbon-neutral lubricants,” says McNally.

Some Hyster Big Trucks for the European market are prefilled with Shell’s carbon-neutral engine oil, and it is also in use at the factory producing Hyster lift trucks in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.

“The demand for sustainability is growing across all areas of the materials handling industry, to comply with legislation, company environmental targets, and CSR policies,” says McNally.  “Like many of our customers, we are closely monitoring our performance and progress against our own environmental goals and continue to strive for ambitious targets in EMEA. Similar progress is also being made by Hyster in JAPIC and the Americas.”

 

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