29 November, 2021

Nerak Wiese strengthens UK team

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by David Priestman

Vertical elevation specialist, Nerak Wiese Ltd, has promoted three members of its team to enhance its capabilities as demand for its solutions continues to grow.

Scott Amber, Josh Williams and Josh Kerr are all stepping up to more senior roles in the UK division of the global material handling company. “With a healthy order book and a high number of enquiries as businesses increasingly seek to automate their logistics and production processes,” commented John Oakley, Managing Director, “we are making these promotions to strengthen our technical, design and project management capabilities.”

Scott Amber has been promoted to the Board as a Director. He joined Nerak in 2013 as a Project Engineer, was promoted to Senior Project Engineer in 2018 and became Head of Design & Development last year. With a degree in Industrial and Product Design, he brings considerable engineering insight to Board decision-making.

A Design Engineer with Nerak since 2017, Josh Williams is being promoted to the role of Project Manager. Josh is a Product Design and Innovation graduate with proven skills in both engineering design and customer relationship management.

Also moving up to the role of Project Manager is Josh Kerr. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he joined Nerak earlier this year as a Solutions Design Engineer but has already demonstrated a clear ability to progress.

Nerak designs, manufactures and installs automated lifting and conveying solutions for both bulk goods and unit loads, with key products including continuous platform elevators, pallet lifts, bucket conveyors and reciprocating hoists. The company has supplied vertical elevation systems for clients in diverse sectors including GlaxoSmithKline, JD Sports, John Lewis, Unilever and XPO Logistics.

Pictured (left-right): Josh Kerr, Scott Amber and Josh Williams

Nerak Wiese strengthens UK team

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Vertical elevation specialist, Nerak Wiese Ltd, has promoted three members of its team to enhance its capabilities as demand for its solutions continues to grow.

Pictured (left-right): Josh Kerr, Scott Amber and Josh Williams

Logistics Business Show Spring 2022

Posted on 29 November, 20217 August, 2025 by David Priestman

The three-day Logistics Business Show got underway online on Tuesday March 15th. As well as a chance to explore products and solutions from a broad range of exhibitors, visitors can also network with the 5,000+ industry professionals who have already registered.

As in previous events, the Panel Discussions for the conference are attracting considerable interest. Once again they will be expertly hosted by Logistics Business Magazine’s Editor Paul Hamblin, and reflect the broad variety of exhibitors signed up to attend.

The industry experts speaking on the first day (Tuesday March 15th) of the Logistics Business Show virtual event will cover subjects ranging from sustainability and automation to road transport and inventory management, the panel debates have again attracted high-level speakers from sector-leading European and global businesses.

The provisional timetable for TUESDAY MARCH 15th is as follows:

Road Transport Challenges – 10.00 UTC/11.00 CET

Panellists: Stefan Van Doorslaer, CEO of Belgian logistics expert Ahlers; experienced New Zealand-based editor and journalist Nigel Parry from ontherack.news; and Tom Southall, policy director at the UK’s Cold Chain Federation.

Delivery WISMO & Inventory Management – 11.00 UTC/12.00 CET

Panellists: Craig Summers, UKI managing director at supply chain solutions leader Manhattan Associates; Mike Becker, managing director & co-founder of intralogistics automation company doks.innovation GmbH; and Cedric Mollon, co-founder and CEO of barcode scanning start-up VIZIOTIX.

Automation Systems in the DC – 12.00 UTC/13.00 CET

Panellists: Wouter Loomans, sales manager at US industrial automation leader Material Handling Systems Inc (MHS); Oana Jinga, CCO and co-founder of British robotics and AI company BotsAndUs; and Gianni Girolami, key account manager of advanced robotics maker HAI Robotics.

Sustainable, Low-Carbon Supply Chains – 14.00 UTC/15.00 CET

Panellists: Kevin Onderbeke, director of business development at Ahlers; Paul Williams, executive director of global logistic, freight forwarding & supply chain specialist Woodland Group; and Oliver Chapman, CEO of supply chain procurement partner OCI.

Putting Your Data to Work – 15.00 UTC/16.00 CET

Panellists: Robert Jordan, CEO of The Information Factory, an independent software vendor; Graeme Aitken, VP strategic customer pricing at DHL Global Forwarding; and Ulrik Topp, independent director of transport services reseller World Options.

On the second day (Wednesday March 16th) subjects being covered range from forklift innovation through health & safety to the latest robotics solutions.

The provisional timetable for WEDNESDAY MARCH 16th is as follows:

Forklift Innovation & Components – 10.00 UTC/11.00 CET

Panellists: Adam Dudas-Smith, Export Area Manager at industrial tyre specialist Marangoni; serial entrepreneur Louise Inglese, Founder & CEO of GenieGrips; Jean-Francois Marchand, Marketing Director for Canadian Li-ion battery manufacturer UgoWork; and Pete Wooding, Manager Technology & VNA at global forklift maker Crown Lift Trucks.

Robotics: Affordability & AI – 11.00 UTC/12.00 CET

Panellists: Adam Fox, Business Development Manager for logistics automation leader Swisslog; Jason Dyche, Division Director of logistics solution provider Big Box Group UK; and Kevin Heath, Senior Manager in the Dematic Global Robotics Center of Excellence (CoE).

Software for Real Time Visibility – 12.00 UTC/13.00 CET

Panellists: Jorge Lopera, Vice President and Head of Global Strategy for FarEye; and Tony Dobson, CEO at Snapfulfil EMEA.

Warehouse Worker Health & Safety – 14.00 UTC/15.00 CET

Panellists: James Ryan, Owner at safety equipment manufacturer Sentry Protection Products; Kevin Antony, Chief Executive Officer at van accessory producer Safepul Ltd; and Abi Piper, Sales & Business Development for Scafftag at global safety leader Brady Corporation.

Track & Trace: Rugged Mobile – 15.00 UTC/16.00 CET

Panellists: Rogier de Klein, Senior Account Executive at FarEye; Laurent Turmes, International sales manager at POST Telecom for Business; and Mike Willett, Retail, T&L, Manufacturing Lead at Panasonic TOUGHBOOK.

The organisers are delighted to announce that FarEye is the event’s principal sponsor. FarEye is a low-code, Intelligent Delivery Management Platform, enabling enterprises to orchestrate, track, and optimise their logistics operations. FarEye’s native SaaS products provide real-time visibility across transportation networks and logistics orchestration for the execution of deliveries across the first, mid and last mile.

David Priestman, Director of Logistics Business Publishing, the event’s organiser, said: “Our panel discussions have proved one of the most popular aspects of the Logistics Business Show. This time round, we announced our themes in advance in order to attract speakers with knowledge to impart from across the logistics sector.”

With a full programme of exclusive conferences and interviews running alongside the exhibition, please CLICK HERE to find out more about the must-visit third staging of the Logistics Business Show. Registered visitors can log-in early on Monday 14th March to finalise their and prepare their online profile.

As a taster, please CLICK HERE to view some of the conference sessions from the Autumn 2021 staging of the Logistics Business Show.

LogiMAT postponed until May

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

LogiMAT, the International Trade Show for Intralogistics Solutions and Process Management scheduled for March 8–10, 2022, in Stuttgart, has been postponed due to the renewed challenges associated with Covid-19. The organiser, EUROEXPO Messe und Kongress-GmbH, has worked closely with exhibitors in making the decision to push back the event to May 31–June 2, 2022.

“The current high level of case incidences is unsettling to everyone, including our exhibitors,” explained Michael Ruchty, Exhibition Director of LogiMAT Stuttgart. “This is understandable and cannot simply be ignored. That’s why we are compelled once more to respond to the situation at hand. Our exhibitors need certainty for their planning, and that’s difficult right now.

“From today’s perspective, it isn’t clear whether it will be possible to host the full on-site event in March. The exhibitors would like to see an in-person event, but if vaccination rates remain too low and the resulting strain on hospital capacities leads once more to the introduction of stricter measures, then that’s not in the interests of everyone involved. We must do everything we can to ensure that the event lives up to the understandable expectations of on-site exhibitors and visitors. That’s why it’s not surprising that many exhibitors explicitly support this postponement.”

The LogiMAT.digital platform will be extended for all participants to the end of June 2022 to bridge the time until the trade show in May 2022.

Swissterminal connects Ottmarsheim and Antwerp by rail

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by David Priestman

Swissterminal AG, a leading Swiss integrated logistics provider, is expanding its Schweizerzug rail product portfolio with a new rail connection between Antwerp and Ottmarsheim starting 1st January 2022. This transport service will begin with three direct roundtrips per week, each with the fastest overnight connection between the seaport and the Alsace region.

This new product allows 540 TEU per week to be transported by eco-friendly rail, providing an efficient and economical alternative to more polluting transport modes. Furthermore, by adding these rail capacities, Swissterminal expects to offer relief for supply chain congestion across the region and build greater resilience into its network.

Handling will take place at Ottmarsheim every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In Antwerp, the handling days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Customers utilising the service will benefit from convenient pick-up and delivery times as well as a range of Swissterminal ancillary container services, such as maintenance/repair and reefer services.

“With this addition to our rail network, we will bring new opportunities to the border triangle of France, Switzerland and Germany,” explained Roman Mayer, Swissterminal CEO. “Positioned on the river Rhine, Ottmarsheim is an important location for a wide range of shipping lines, freight forwarders and beneficial cargo owners. By rolling out this new rail service, we are not only meeting market demand with sustainable connections to one of Europe’s most import ports, but we are also taking a step toward our goal of transforming Ottmarsheim into a rail hub catering to the entire tri-border region.”

After being awarded the concession to operate the French ports of Mulhouse in Ottmarsheim, Ile Napoleon and Huningue-Village-Neuf on 1st July 2021, Swissterminal announced its intentions to improve transport connections to key locations across Europe for the forwarding industry in Alsace, Southern Germany and Switzerland. The introduction of this new rail product is the first in a series of progressive developments planned over the next months and years.

“The Alsace region has strong logistics potential, and we have ambitious plans for the future here,” concluded Mayer. “With our intermodal know-how – as well as our wide range of services, innovations and warehousing – Swissterminal is fully committed to supporting the growth of the region and meeting demanding market requirements.”

Swissterminal connects Ottmarsheim and Antwerp by rail

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

FourKites appoints ex-Uber Freight manager

Posted on 29 November, 2021 by David Priestman

Oleksii Kosenko has joined FourKites, a leading real-time supply chain visibility platform, as Director Carrier Network Operations, EMEA, to accelerate the company’s rapidly growing carrier base in Europe. Prior to joining FourKites, Kosenko led the carrier sales teams at Uber Freight and sennder Technologies GmbH, and held a senior sales role at C.H. Robinson.

“As today’s supply chain challenges put increasing pressure on carriers across the world, my priority is to ensure that European carriers of all sizes can leverage FourKites to offer better customer service, improve cash flow and cut costs,” said Kosenko. “Being able to provide a secure platform for sharing data is what will propel the entire supply chain visibility market into the future, and carriers should receive immense value in return.”

According to a recent study from FourKites and Reuters, carrier relationships and capacity constraints are a persistent problem for shippers. “Our biggest challenges are carrier integration and data sharing,” said Ferenc Polgar, Global Distribution Operational Excellence Lead, Bayer. “Given the volume of transportation companies we subcontract with, getting them engaged to connect and share data is a big challenge. It can be their capability to share data, their infrastructure or how they communicate. It is improving, but very slowly.”

FourKites pioneered real-time supply chain visibility in 2014 and has since built the world’s largest platform to track shipments across every mode of transportation, including road, rail, ocean, air, parcel and courier. The company works with some of Europe’s largest GPS hardware providers to help carriers of all sizes get GPS tracking technology at both the hardware and software levels. Globally, the company tracks more than 2 million shipments a day for more than 750 of the world’s most recognised brands.

In addition to real-time visibility, FourKites improves efficiency for carriers and drivers through digital documentation workflows, enhanced collaboration tools and mobile capabilities.

“Oleksii plays a strategic role in our major European investments, and we’re delighted to have such an experienced industry veteran onboard as we continue to drive momentum among Europe’s carrier base,” said Mathew Elenjickal, FourKites Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “His deep understanding of the European carrier landscape and his expertise in the Eastern European and Baltic regions is exactly what we need to enhance our offering for carriers. He also brings us experience with 3PL and digital freight forwarders.”

FourKites appoints ex-Uber Freight manager

Posted on 29 November, 202131 July, 2025 by David Priestman

In addition to real-time visibility, FourKites improves efficiency for carriers and drivers through digital documentation workflows, enhanced collaboration tools and mobile capabilities.

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