4 November, 2021

Yale celebrates 40 years at Craigavon

Posted on 4 November, 2021 by David Priestman

2021 sees Yale Europe Materials Handling celebrate Craigavon’s four decades of manufacturing excellence in Northern Ireland.

Since the plant opened in April 1981, thousands of lift trucks have been manufactured and exported annually to locations throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. This has resulted in extensive growth for the plant’s operation line, becoming one of the largest volume forklift manufacturers in the UK.

“Over the last four decades, our people have worked together to conquer challenges, embrace new opportunities, and maintain forward momentum, and that is why our facility continues to succeed, evolve, and grow,” said Jim Downey, Plant Manager.

Thanks to the incredible dedication, perseverance, and loyalty from the Craigavon team, the site has achieved numerous accolades. Most notably, OHSAS 18001 accreditation for occupational health and safety, being awarded the Northern Ireland Quality Award in 2011 (EFQM) for areas such as Leadership, People, Strategy and Partnerships, winning the “Best Place to Work” at The Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in 2013 and more recently, securing the Investors in People Gold Award for effective people management.

The facility maintains a reputation for being equipped with the most up to date manufacturing infrastructure and automated systems. Craigavon continues to build on this with a recent multi-million-pound investment focused specifically towards site development that will generate dozens of new jobs and apprenticeships.

Corporate Responsibility

During the site expansion, the plant has already attained several environmental achievements, with sustainability continuing to be a key driver for the company. The site has achieved ISO 14001 and 50001 certifications for continual commitments to the environment and energy efficiency. As part of the company’s Corporate Responsibility Objectives, the plant aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2026.

With targets set for reducing water consumption, waste, and landfill, the facility now recycles 97% of waste produced as well as incorporating waste reduction initiatives across the plant, right from the canteen kitchen through to the packaging on the assembly lines.

A commitment to biodiversity is also of key importance, with the site encouraging rare wildlife to flourish on its grounds. The latest plant extension incorporates a Sustainable Urban Drainage System, which mimics natural drainage and is more environmentally friendly to protect the surrounding ecosystem.

“Throughout its 40 years, the Craigavon facility has continued to innovate and prove its capability of being an agile and flexible facility, that is able to meet and exceed customer expectations through automation, people and processes. Now is as exciting a time as ever, as we adapt our assembly lines, connect with new technologies, and develop our product ranges, laying the foundations for future growth and many more decades of success,” Downey concludes.

Cross-border data competency “can ease supply chain pressures”

Posted on 4 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Postal operators, carriers and their customers can give themselves a competitive edge during Peak by ensuring that their cross-border shipment data is of the highest-possible quality.

With the logistics and eCommerce industries facing huge supply chain pressures, including increased freight costs, a shortage of HGV drivers and warehouse operatives and delays at ports, businesses are seeking to maximise operational efficiencies wherever possible.

Martin Palmer, Chief Content and Compliance Officer at Hurricane Commerce, said: “The demands facing the global supply chain are some of the worst I can recall in over 30 years working in the sector and at the busiest time of the year with events including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, China’s Singles Day and the Christmas holiday season looming large.

“The issues around staffing shortages, increased shipping and transportation costs and delays are serious enough on their own, but add into the mix the continuing pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing global regulations and the challenge becomes all the greater.”

Regulations impacting cross-border eCommerce that have come into effect this year include the US STOP Act, the EU’s abolition of the VAT exemption on low-value goods entering and the introduction of the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS).

At the core of these and other regulatory changes is the requirement for complete and accurate shipment data including product descriptions, HS6 codes and import and export codes.

Palmer added: “The one thing in the control of postal operators, carriers, retailers and marketplaces is the quality of their data.

“In the current climate, being able to demonstrate data competency can prove a genuine competitive advantage and ensure your goods clear customs as smoothly and speedily as possible.

“Achieving scale in the modern world of cross-border eCommerce requires robust processes and practices and one in which AI-driven, real-time data solutions are integral.

“Complete and accurate data needs to start upstream and drive the end-to-end supply chain.

“Getting the data right means removing cost – the cost of delays, the cost of storage, the cost of returns, the cost of fines and penalties relating to compliance breaches and the cost of lost customers.”

Hurricane provides its customers with data solutions including Zephyr, its bulk clearance data enhancement API, and Aura, its API covering the three critical cross-border areas of duty and tax calculation, prohibited and restricted goods screening and denied parties screening.

Customers include Emirates Post, Royal Mail, An Post, SEKO Logistics, Australia Post and 4PX.