November 2021

ZeKat launches logistics platform

Posted on 22 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Pursuing its growth and development, ZeKat Group has launched a €4m investment project over two years to develop a multi-protocol mobile logistic platform. This gateway will integrate an open software architecture allowing remote management of embedded algorithms to ensure globalised logistics monitoring.

Since its creation in 2015, ZeKat Group has continuously grown to become a reference in IoT technologies and a leading mechatronics equipment manufacturer. The Group promotes French sovereignty in terms of design and production, particularly in the Defence, Industry and Agriculture sectors. For this last sector, the group has created a dedicated brand, IoF (for Internet of Fields), and launched a collaborative research project to develop an open and innovative technological ecosystem. With an investment of €1.2m, this project is dedicated to locally embedded artificial intelligence applications for the deployment of à la carte decision support tools in agriculture, as close to the data as possible (edge computing).

During the past few months, the Covid-19 crisis has brought to light a new paradigm: global demand is becoming unpredictable with changes in consumer behaviour, the activity of manufacturers is sometimes slowed down by health measures, and warehouses can be quickly congested or underused. Supply chain players therefore need, more than ever, visibility into pending orders, the state of production or stocks. In the meantime IoT paves the way for unprecedented levels of visibility, control and business intelligence which help to improve productivity and profitability.

Pursuing its commitment to create open and specialised ecosystems in specific sectors, ZeKat Group has decided to step up its presence in the logistics sector by developing a first dedicated brand, IoL (Internet of Logistics), which will combine all its knowledges and build specific offers. By associating the expertise of four of its subsidiaries, the group will develop a universal mobile IoT platform for logistics monitoring based on an intelligent gateway – a modular and open hardware and software platform allowing the integration of specific intelligence to support logistics decisions – and a device management platform.

This one will allow to manage the deployment of new services, remotely, by creating a digital twin and to deploy distributed intelligence models. The IoT platform must be able to combine several long-range (5G, LTE-M1 / NB-IoT, satellite IoT) and short-range (BLE, WiFi) communication networks and provide a guarantee of non-alteration based on the integration of blockchain elements.

This project, supported by the French Stimulus Plan, should enable France to position itself as a Global ecosystem in the development of secure IoT solutions to support major changes in the global supply chain. To do this, it wants to work with several major players in logistics and create a consortium of manufacturers. Its objectives will be to test, develop and promote the solution as soon as the pre-series are produced. This consortium will have to share a certain number of communication and data exchange requirements and validate them through the publication of a repository to promote a sovereign French solution that can be used by multiple actors.

These developments will be based on Ercogener’s 40 years of experience, a subsidiary of the ZeKat Group active in accurate geolocation (centimetre guidance), in the management of vehicle fleets (optimisation of fuel consumption) or in global logistics monitoring but also on the expertise of another subsidiary of the group, eRTOSgener, a specialist in embedded intelligence. The solution will be industrialised in France within AZKEDIA, which has an electronic solutions production site in Saumur.

Finally, this solution will be directly applied to the group’s new activity. Its subsidiary ZK-Systems produces containers that must travel from Saumur to their place of installation in Mali, without suffering major shocks under penalty of equipment breakage or theft of equipment during their journey. The containers are sent by truck to the port of Le Havre then by boat to Tanger then Dakar and finally by truck to Bamako.

Peterhans benefits from micro fulfilment centre

Posted on 22 November, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

As part of a holistic realignment of its intralogistics, Peterhans Handwerkercenter AG, located at Würenlos near Zurich in the Swiss canton of Aargau, has remodelled and automated the logistics processes of its central warehouse and store for faster order processing and more storage capacity.

After comparing various AKL technologies and solution approaches, the family-owned company, founded in 1952, opted for an AutoStore solution from Element Logic.

“With around 500,000 articles, our multichannel strategy and our continuous growth, we wanted to invest in a system offers close to zero picking errors and maximum flexibility for future system expansions,” said Dieter Egloff, deputy managing director of Peterhans Handwerkercenter AG, explaining the main reasons for the decision. “Therefore, we examined various logistics facilities in practical operation and visited reference facilities with AutoStore solutions. When we weighed up all the factors, it quickly became clear: AutoStore technology was on our wish list. The simplicity of the technology, the flexibility of the storage concept and the output convinced us right from the start.”

Peterhans Handwerkercenter AG distributes building materials, tools, machines, fittings, fasteners and personal protective equipment directly to tradesmen and companies in the construction industry, making it one of the leading companies in this segment in Switzerland. Continuous growth, the servicing of different distribution channels promoted the decision to automate intralogistics.

“We are continuously strengthening our business through future-oriented investments in digitalisation and logistics,” Egloff said. “The automation solution allows us to handle volume increases with the same number of employees.”

The contract for system planning and implementation was awarded to system integrator Element Logic, the first official AutoStore integrator and the world’s most successful AutoStore distributor in 2020. With nearly 200 implemented AutoStore solutions, the company has extensive experience and a competitive edge in the planning, implementation and support of maximally efficient storage and picking systems for container-ready products. Based on this broad foundation, the system integrator is continuously developing further optimisation options in the field of AutoStore technology.

Integration of tailored system

For Peterhans, Element Logic installed an AutoStore system with a footprint of just 400 sq m for around 25,000 storage locations during ongoing operations in a two-stage project.

“The system includes 11,650 totes that are subdivided up to eight high,” said Egloff, illustrating the storage capacity. The 220mm-high bins used allow a load of up to 30kg with internal dimensions of 603 x 403mm.

“The main objectives of the automation project were to improve in-house logistic processes and maximise storage capacity in the existing building by increasing storage density,” said Joachim Kieninger, Director Strategic Business Development Element Logic Germany. “For an optimal layout of the facility, we analysed the very different sales channels and took them into account with regard to layout and processes.”

Peterhans supplies the shelves in the retail store from the central warehouse, orders via the online store, deliveries with its own vehicles to fitters and tradesmen, as well as output for direct pick-ups or orders in the store.”

For these goals, Peterhans and Element Logic already worked closely together in the planning phase. “The result is the perfect integration of an auto store system tailored exactly to our requirements into our existing building,” explained Egloff.

With the AutoStore automated storage and picking solution, the family business opted for an innovative storage concept in which the containers for small parts storage are stacked on top of each other in shafts and stored and retrieved by small robots. The system impresses with its efficiency and flexibility as well as minimal space requirements and comparatively low investment and operating costs.

The container stacks are stored in a standardised aluminium grid up to 5.4m high. The robots work on the surface of this grid. Depending on the container height, up to 16 or 24 bins are stacked on top of each other in a grid. The compact overall system with integrated workstations, the so-called ports, offers 60 to 70% better space utilisation than conventional miniload solutions.

The system layout can be adapted precisely to any structural conditions and is easily scalable with additional robots, ports or shafts to meet growing performance or capacity requirements. Consequently, AutoStore systems achieve the highest storage density among the available miniload solutions. The same applies to energy efficiency: with an average energy consumption of 100W per robot per hour, AutoStore systems have by far the lowest need for energy of all available miniload solutions.

In the system built for Peterhans, 20 bins are stacked on top of each other, adapted to the height of the hall. Ten robots move along the top of the grid. They lift the totes with the desired goods, transfer them to the workstations and stack the totes back into the system after picking.

Special feature: The system was realised in two construction stages due to the fact that it was implemented during ongoing operation. One of the advantages of the modular AutoStore concept, its high flexibility, came to the fore: first, one half of the grid could be conveniently erected, put into full operation and filled with goods. The empty shelving units were then dismantled and the AutoStore system was expanded to include the second half. This solidified the idea of connecting three of the six installed workstations directly to the sales floor.

“Customers are amazed and impressed to see an automated logistics system and transparent processes tied directly to the store,” Egloff said proudly. “This makes us very advanced – and allows us to offer customers something in additional, a unique shopping experience.”

The same applies to energy efficiency: with an average energy requirement of 100W per robot per hour, AutoStore systems have by far the lowest energy consumption of all available miniload solutions. With these attributes, AutoStore solutions form a proven basis for automated processes and fast order processing in modern micro-fulfilment centres, for example in online retailing.

97% fill rate

The workstation modules used in the AutoStore system are so-called carousel ports for higher warehouse throughputs and conveyor ports for lower throughputs. The carousel ports serve both as picking and repacking stations for loading the system totes.

Of the six ports at Peterhans, the three conveyor ports on the sales floor are used to retrieve goods for store customers. The three ports that are not visible in the store are used for retrieval of dispatching orders from the online store and for external deliveries to companies and fitters in the field, for example.

“In less than two minutes, a customer’s order is at the sales counter,” Egloff pointed out. “The system control of the AutoStore system knows which bin is in which place, calculates the routes and then distributes the driving orders to the robots via radio link.”

The robots work in a coordinated manner, quickly rearranging the totes, quickly releasing the required bins and filling them into the shafts for the integrated workstation modules. Thereby the system automatically ensures that the bins are positioned according to ABC criteria: Less frequently requested containers slide successively further down, while fast-moving items remain continuously in quick access on the upper levels.

“Compact, high-density storage and fast, virtually error-free picking,” summarised Egloff. “With a system filling level of 97%, an average of 15,000 picks are made with the system per month – between 700 and 800 accesses per day.”

Immediately after installation, Element Logic’s AutoStore solution enabled the company to meet customer expectations for same-day delivery and shorter waiting times at in-store pickup counters. And the AutoStore system is also a great benefit for employees: “Our new, fully automated AutoStore system simplifies important loading processes and significantly supports our employees in their daily work. They no longer have to cover long distances or lift heavy goods. Overall, the picking processes are less labour-intensive for them than before.”

Element Logic ensures high system availability through its service team with preventive maintenance on site, as well as qualified telephone and online support.

According to Peterhans’ calculations, the investment in the AutoStore system will be paid off in five years. The flexibility of the storage system supported the two-stage project creation during ongoing operations as well as future growth.

“Without the AutoStore system, we would have had higher staffing requirements in logistics,” said Egloff. “With the AutoStore facility, we were able to meet the steady growth and even the rapid increase in online orders, because the retail store remained closed during the pandemic, without additional resources. An investment in the future from the very beginning. We can now count on a high-performance, automated small parts warehouse and our partner to meet our customers’ expectations for fast order fulfilment.

“And the system is still standing so well because we had such a good implementation partner in Element Logic. We are completely satisfied with the project handling, the cooperation and the results.”

The project details at a glance:

400 sq m AutoStore plant footprint
11,650 bins with around 25,000 storage locations
10 robots
6 ports
Simplified and ergonomic warehouse processes
Increased efficiency through automation
Important component of the digital transformation
Nearly zero defect picking
Same-day order processing and delivery
80% Space savings offer future expansion potential
Highly reliable plant technology
Reduced burden on employees

CLICK HERE to watch a video of the project

Pyroban acquires MEWP manufacturer Euro Access

Posted on 22 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Explosion-proof safety company Pyroban has acquired specialist work platform manufacturer Euro Access Ltd in Cork, Ireland. The purchase has allowed the original founders to retire knowing their legacy will live on in a company they founded more than 20 years ago.

Euro Access, founded in 1996, manufactures ground support equipment specifically used for the maintenance of military aircraft. The specially designed access platforms enable maintenance engineers to reach the nosecone and other confined areas of the fighter jets.

“The area around each aircraft is formally classified as Zone 1, meaning a potentially explosive atmosphere is likely to occur during normal operations, so the access platform must be explosion-proof and meet ATEX 2G compliance,” says Steve Noakes, Managing Director of Pyroban. “To support safety, Pyroban was involved in the equipment’s original design process and certification in the 1990s with Euro Access’ founders Paul and Michael.”

Since then, Pyroban has continued to supply Euro Access with hundreds of explosion-proof kits which are fitted on the production line in Cork, Ireland. The strong relationship that developed led the founders to approach Pyroban as a suitable new owner in early 2021.

“Euro Access fits perfectly within our portfolio because it has great synergies with Pyroban’s innovative, safety-driven culture and bespoke engineering capabilities,” says Noakes. “It is also aligned with our existing support for many organisations in the military and aerospace sectors and opens up further opportunities to expand our offerings. We are proud to be the new owners of Euro Access, starting a new and exciting chapter in the long-standing relationship.”

Euro Access was started by Paul McHugh and Michael Buckley, who had previously worked for leading Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) manufacturers. They saw an opportunity to develop the specialist equipment due to their technical knowledge, understanding of the military application, and ATEX experience. The company soon became an Approved supplier to BAE Systems Ltd. (formerly British Aerospace) and the wider military partnerships globally.

“Euro Access has been our passion for the last 25 years, but it is time for us to retire and let our legacy live on with a strong custodian that has the same values, principles and engineering excellence,” says McHugh.

Sussex (UK)-based Pyroban provides explosion protection conversions for materials handling equipment, including many other brands and types of MEWP. It also delivers and maintains explosion protected diesel engine packages and kits for well service applications. Pyroban is part of the Longacre Group, with strong financial backing to support ambitious acquisition plans over the next five years.

Konecranes reaches delivery milestone

Posted on 19 November, 202129 July, 2025 by David Priestman

In November 2021, The Absolut Company accepted the delivery of a Flow Drive Konecranes reach stacker for its operations in the south of Sweden. This particular machine is a milestone in Konecranes history, as it is the 10,000th lift truck to roll off the production line.

Since its creation in 1879, Absolut Vodka has become one of the world’s most iconic liquor brands with export to more than 120 markets. Today, the company has 300 employees at its production facility in Åhus, a town in the southern Swedish province of Skåne. Here it needs to move equipment, raw materials and finished product around the site every day. The most efficient, safe and flexible transportation method in the work area is lift trucks. Now the time is right to invest in another reach stacker, and they have chosen Konecranes again.

“It was not difficult to decide on our next reach stacker,” says Harri Tossavainen, Warehouse Manager for Absolut. “Konecranes provides locally produced equipment of the highest quality, and they have helped us to maintain our productivity under tight schedules for over two decades. This high standard continues as the new eco-friendly Flow Drive aligns well with our long-term commitment to environment and sustainability, and will play a key part in our journey to make our products climate-neutral by 2030.”

“In 1995, Absolut bought the first commercial reach stacker Konecranes ever produced and in 2004, they took delivery of our first ever produced second generation reach stacker,” says Roger Persson, Technical Product Manager for Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Now, we celebrate the delivery of our 10,000th lift truck to the very same company. Local agent N.C. Nielsen has been a significant part of this relationship, and has provided excellent support whenever needed. We’re honoured to have both Absolut and N.C. Nielsen share in this historic occasion.”

The 10,000th lift truck is a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 reach stacker, a sturdy 46-tonne machine able to stack up to five containers high. It features the OPTIMA cabin for comfort and visibility, and a range of safety features to maximise load stability and safe handling. The truck is fitted with Flow Drive, a Konecranes innovation that uses hydromechanical variable transmission (HVT) to limit power at low speed, reducing wear and carbon emissions while cutting fuel consumption by up to 25%.

With longer intervals between refuelling and less maintenance, Konecranes says it can significantly increase productivity. Absolut will run this lift truck on HVO100, a completely renewable and fossil-free chemical copy of regular diesel, based on vegetable oil, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%. It is also equipped with Start/Stop function to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling.

Smart systems integrate with Work Zone, a geofencing feature for safety and efficiency, and TRUCONNECT Premium, which adds tire pressure and shock sensors to a remote and almost real-time view of truck usage, for easier operations and maintenance planning.

Roger Henriksson, an operations tester at Konecranes Lift Trucks, assembled the first reach stacker Konecranes sold to Absolut back in the 1990s. Still with Konecranes, he tested the 10,000th machine and handed it over to Absolut as part of a small ceremony and site tour at the Konecranes Markaryd factory on 18th November 2021. To celebrate the delivery, the reach stacker has been painted in Absolut style.

“This is a proud moment for Konecranes Lift Trucks. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers, partners, distributors and all the colleagues who have helped us achieve this number,” says Andreas Falk, Senior Vice President BU Lift Trucks.

This contract is part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with its product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimising diesel drives, to hybridisation and fully-electrified fleets, Konecranes says it will continue to do more with less.

Forto marks sustainability milestones

Posted on 19 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

Forto, a leading provider of digitised freight forwarding and supply chain solutions, has announced the latest milestone achievement in its sustainability roadmap with more than 50% of Sea Freight Full Container Load (FCL) volumes booked with Forto’s carbon offset offering in the third quarter of 2021. In this period, 65% of Forto sea freight booking customers committed to offset the CO₂e emissions of their Sea Freight shipments, representing the highest percentage of customers to-date. The adoption rate was achieved well ahead of the company’s targeted forecast originally set for 2023.

The achievement signals an acceleration in customer adoption of climate-driven solutions and marks an important next step in the company’s long term goal to drive transformation towards sustainable supply chains. “We see these metrics as positive indicators of a significant market shift. Sustainability topics are moving to the forefront of customer agendas more than ever before,” explained Michael Wax (pictured), CEO and co-founder of Forto. “This is a pivotal point for the logistics sector and there is a huge opportunity for industry to drive innovation and new programmes forward that will dramatically impact trade, and of course, all people, our planet and future generations.”

Climate neutrality

In April 2021, Forto announced its goal to make its transports 100% climate neutral by 2025. A commitment to addressing the global impact of shipping and transport on people and planet is built into the Forto DNA and strategy. The Forto programme starts by providing customers with emissions visibility and information that empowers them to make impactful data-based decisions. The goal is for sustainable choices to become the default, which can be achieved by making climate action easy. The company reinforces this with its own investments on top of those of the customers.

Current Forto programmes and initiatives focus on:

Transparency and visibility of climate impact. Forto believes that the first step towards action is knowledge. The company works with independent third parties to continually monitor and analyze the carbon footprint of the transports booked by its customers in order to identify inefficiencies and reduce emissions. This information is available for customers through emissions reporting on a shipment level.
CO₂e Offsetting for All Transport Modes. Forto offers CO₂e offsets for all modes of transport, with offsetting being part of sea freight shipments by default. Taking climate action is easy with customers being able to set their offsetting preferences directly on the Forto platform on a global & shipment level. Leading brands in fashion, furniture and electronics are among the customers participating in the programme as part of their own sustainability initiatives.
Forto’s own CO₂e Offsetting Commitment and 1+1 Matching. To further drive positive climate impact, Forto doubles each customer’s CO₂e offsets. In addition, Forto invests in automatically offsetting all Sea Freight Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments, so that they are 100% climate neutral at no additional cost to the customer.
Alternative energy transport. Keeping in mind that offsetting is just a first step towards sustainable logistics, Forto is committed to exploring greener transport modes. For example, 90% of German-based Rail Pre- and On-Carriage intermodal volumes are transported using trains powered by renewable energy.
Continual education and consultation. The company works to empower people to take climate action by listening, discussing, learning and innovating together. All Forto teams are trained by the company’s growing sustainability team to work together strategically with partners, customers and other stakeholders to explore sustainability options and find solutions that fit their needs.

Forto is also working to build a network of partners and collaborators on a global level to jointly achieve sustainability and climate goals. “Sustainability should become an integral part of any corporate philosophy,” added Dr. ing. Michael Ardelt, COO at Forto. “We hope to not only have an impact on our business, but that of the entire industry. That means working together with our customers, our partners, and a variety of companies to bring these sustainability initiatives forward together.”

The company strongly believes in a world of free and fair trade and connects the benefits of global trade with a sustainable way of transporting goods. Few other industries or achievements in human history had a similar effect on advancing people’s life standards across the globe like trade did. Beyond reducing environmental impact and improving social conditions – a sustainable and balanced company is also a future-proof company. Forto’s goal is to make supply chains future-proof while preparing the industry for the challenges of the next century.

Forto also strives to live sustainability from the inside out. Since its foundation, the company calculates, reduces and compensates its internal emissions footprint with the goal of CO₂e neutrality for internal operations. Forto also works each day towards building an inspiring and sustainable environment for their employees with initiatives such as green energy, organic food and a climate friendly travel policy. The company offers additional programmes such as planting trees instead of gifting products as employee rewards, and ongoing education and inspiration as well as training on sustainability topics.

New research highlights massive supply chain challenges

Posted on 19 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

To better understand the state of European supply chains, FourKites, the real-time supply chain visibility platform, partnered with Reuters Events to survey over 450 supply chain leaders across the continent, with particular emphasis on the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. The responses represent a broad perspective of the concerns and challenges surrounding European supply chains, sustainability and the role of real-time visibility in streamlining operations.

Coming in the midst of ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19, State of the European Supply Chain: Logistics, Sustainability and Visibility Report 2022 reveals that the demand shock, labour shortages, port disruptions and capacity constraints have accelerated the adoption of supply chain visibility solutions throughout Europe. However, while many companies have adopted new digital practices, more than 60% of European companies admitted they’re slow to react to changing trends in logistics technologies, according to the report.

Key findings include:

Over half of all respondents are currently using supply chain visibility solutions, but one-third (33%) are having trouble improving data-driven processes such as forecasting, receiving operations and labour.
The majority of respondents (67%) cited end-to-end freight traceability as their biggest pain point when transporting goods.
More than half of respondents (63%) cited carriers providing inaccurate ETAs as a persistent problem.

“If we have visibility, we can be efficient and flexible,” said Ferenc Polgar, Global Distribution Operational Excellence Lead at Bayer. “We can communicate delays to our customers so they can adjust their operations and improve their experience. We can be more effective during peak distribution periods to make sure plans are going accordingly.”

“Being able to see your goods in transit is one piece of the puzzle, but it doesn’t help navigate the many disruptions and delays that inevitably take place once the product leaves the ship or warehouse,” said Matt Elenjickal, founder and CEO of FourKites. “For that reason, the paradigm is shifting to full end-to-end supply chain visibility, wherein the goal is total predictive visibility across the entire supply chain, enabling proactive risk management vs. reactive problem-solving.”

Pain points vary

Looking at their three biggest pain points in transporting goods, respondents from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands had surprisingly different answers:

The UK was relatively balanced, with 71% of respondents citing end-to-end freight traceability, carrier relationships, and dwell times as their biggest pain points.
In the Netherlands, 75% of retailers and manufacturers said their biggest pain point was carrier relationships.
In Germany, 100% of respondents were struggling with ensuring end-to-end freight traceability.

Overall, respondents indicated supply chain visibility improved their planning and inventory management (60%), customer service (56%) and increased efficiency (38%). In the Netherlands, 40% saw an improvement to customer service whereas in Germany that number was even higher at 100%. Meanwhile, in the UK 63% said that improved planning and inventory management is the primary benefit of visibility.

Even the most commonly used mode of transportation also varied widely across the continent: 63% of UK respondents cited full truckload as their key mode of freight, while 80% of Netherlands respondents are using less than truckload, and 100% of German respondents are transporting freight by air, both domestically and internationally.

Sustainability is a priority

The survey illustrates that sustainability is top of mind for today’s supply chain leaders. Over 80% indicated that they were either holding steady (44%) or increasing (40%) their commitment to sustainability, emphasising the urgency with which businesses understand they are required to act.

The two key supply chain sustainability goals articulated by respondents were the reduction of carbon emissions in transportation (39%) and manufacturing (31%), as well as the reduction of non-renewable packaging materials (31%). However, over a quarter of respondents also reported mapping sustainability impact throughout their supply chain as a challenge to modernising transportation assets.

“We use supply chain visibility data to understand better where there’s waste within the supply chain. Where do we have excessive empty miles?” said Paul Avampato, Head of International Logistics at Henkel. “We believe by reducing dwell time that we can keep the network moving smoother. The more we reduce dwell time, the less trucks that you have to put on the road.”

CLICK HERE to read the full report.

AR increases capacity by 40% for AZA Logistics

Posted on 18 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

The AZA Group, which has been strengthening the logistics strategy of its subsidiary AZA Logistics, has opened an ambitious logistics warehouse in Sagunto (Valencia) with a capacity for 45,000 pallets thanks to AR Racking’s industrial storage solutions.

The 25,000 sq m warehouse will be fully optimised with VNA racking designed, manufactured and installed by AR Racking. This type of racking is a high-density storage solution that can increase warehouse capacity without having to increase the space. Greater compaction is mainly created by narrowing the work aisles, which can reduce the width by up to 1.85m and save up to 40% in space. The industrial racking installed is 19m high.

During a second phase which will be completed in the coming months, another storage area will be installed with a capacity for a further 6,000 pallets. An area of the warehouse that will be adapted to maintain a controlled temperature from 10°C to 25°C in Phase 1 and from 5°C to 10°C in Phase 2 for the planned storage of pharmaceutical and food sector products.

The new logistics platform confirms the group’s firm commitment to its comprehensive logistics operator AZA Logistics. “Undoubtedly this warehouse represents a major milestone in AZA Logistics’ history,” commented Juan Zamorano, CEO of the AZA Group. “We are very satisfied with the quality of the installation and strict completion of deadlines provided by AR Racking.”

In addition to AR Racking’s storage solutions, the warehouse includes the latest technology for the preparation of pallets and other unit loads, positioning AZA Logistics as a leading 4PL logistics operator.

Vicente Marin, AR Racking’s Sales Representative in the Levante region, added: “After initial conversations with the AZA team, we immediately identified that we needed an agile warehouse. VNA racking allows a loading and unloading operation with direct and immediate access to the goods, minimising times.”

This type of racking which is also operated by turret trucks (Combi) makes great use of the available height in the warehouse, optimising the storage space to the full.

The project was executed with a perfect coordination in the delivery of materials and assembly of the structure, strictly meeting the deadlines.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Fronius launches new reliable battery chargers

Posted on 18 November, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Fronius Perfect Charging is expanding its Selectiva 4.0 product family in the 96V and 120V range. In doing so, the Austrian battery charging technology specialist is reacting to the increasing demand for electric forklift trucks for challenging heavy-duty applications.

Heavy-duty forklift trucks are indispensable for applications like goods handling in the timber and construction industry, recycling, and in the port and cargo ship sector. Until recently, these were mainly powered by combustion engines. Now, thanks to increased awareness of sustainability, stricter requirements, and more efficient drive technology, electrification is making further strides in the heavy load sector. This requires powerful traction batteries in the voltage range from 80 to 120V. In order to charge these lead-acid batteries efficiently and safely, Fronius Perfect Charging is adding two performance classes – 96V and 120V – to its Selectiva 4.0 portfolio.

“We help our customers switch to sustainable, electric intralogistics systems with our powerful charging technology. Our Selectiva 4.0 96V and 120V product range is specifically designed for transporting high-tonnage goods. The battery chargers have a compact design and flexibly adapt to our customers’ requirements. This allows us to reliably supply forklift trucks with power even when subject to challenging conditions, changes in grid quality, or extreme temperature fluctuations,” explains Patrick Gojer, Head of the Business Unit Perfect Charging.

Smart, compact, powerful

The Selectiva 4.0 96V and 120V battery chargers have several new features to help optimise the availability of the forklift truck fleet. One such feature is the Fronius Charger Interlock option, which is used to interlock the battery charging systems during the charging process if two batteries are being used in parallel to power the forklift truck. This prevents any imbalance in the states of charge and ensures that both batteries are evenly charged.

Equalising charges between the batteries are also prevented, as is one-sided discharge. Should the batteries be deep discharged, the new Selectiva 4.0 variants also reliably regenerate the batteries, thanks to a special characteristic included as standard. This represents a substantial cost benefit, especially for large traction batteries.

For full transparency and control of the entire charging infrastructure, the Selectiva 4.0 96V and 120V battery chargers can also be connected with the Fronius Charge & Connect solution. This provides real-time data on the state of charge of the connected batteries, the energy consumption, and the battery charger status. This gives fleet operators an overview of everything, even if there are multiple charging positions in indoor and outdoor areas.

Sacchi extends operations with shuttle technology

Posted on 18 November, 202125 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The Sacchi Group (part of Sonepar Group), one of Italy’s leading electrical product wholesalers, has selected Vanderlande as a partner for a new ADAPTO goods-to-person (GtP) solution inside its existing warehousing facility in Desio, north of Milan.

With nearly 100 points of sale and about 1,400 employees, the Sacchi Group offers an assortment of approximately 1.5 million products. Previously, Vanderlande supplied the company with a miniload system, which is now being expanded with Vanderlande’s ADAPTO shuttle technology. Vanderlande’s ability to link the two systems together, combined with the excellent relationship between the two companies, were ultimately the decisive factors in securing this latest GtP project.

The solution will initially include manual receiving stations, picking stations served by dedicated picking lifts and clearing stations. In addition to erection and closing systems, the shipping sorter will be expanded. The ADAPTO system will have 58 ADAPTO shuttles spread over 29 levels.

With installation work commencing next April and operations due to begin in Q4 2023, the flexible and scalable ADAPTO system has the capacity for further expansion over the coming decade in order to accommodate Sacchi’s predicted year-on-year volume growth.

“Our business is growing quickly as a result of internal development and acquisitions, and our supply chain is our main strength in this market, as it allows us to balance high service levels with competitive costs,” says Marco Brunetti, President and CEO of Sacchi Group.

“With the full support of Sonepar HQ, and in particular of the GVP Supply Chain, Jo Verbeek, we decided to invest in our distribution centre in Desio, strategically located close to Milan,” adds Luca Maggioni, Sacchi Group’s VP Supply Chain. “To this end, we’ll be extending our building with a new 20,000 m2 construction – the main element of which will be the new ADAPTO system. Our goal is to improve our omnichannel business in order to reach our 40,000 customers faster and more efficiently.”

“We are very proud to further establish our relationship with Sacchi and the Sonepar Group,” says Terry Verkuijlen, Vice President Warehouse Solutions at Vanderlande. “We believe that extending their current operation with Vanderlande’s ADAPTO GtP solution will enable Sacchi to further grow and optimise their operations for many years to come.”

Kite introduces recyclable edge protectors

Posted on 18 November, 2021 by Keith McKinley

The external edges, corners and sides of items such as furniture or frames are at high risk of damage if not properly protected before shipping. These outer most areas are the most susceptible to impact, making edge protectors essential packaging equipment for businesses sending out potentially fragile objects.

Historically, polystyrene has been the only available cushioning product for sharp edges such as these, yet Kite Packaging has recently introduced a range of 100% recycled solid board alternatives that can also be recycled after use.

Each product is made from compressed, recycled cardboard to create a highly dense and durable material. Hence, these edge protectors are as effective as they are sustainable by adding reliable reinforcement to vulnerable areas.

Use the standard style for straight edges, the innovative yet simple locked corner design for pointed corners and the curved variety for rounded edges. Each style has unique features to adapt it to the varying properties of the object being packaged.

Tables, mirrors and large picture frames, for example, will all require one or a combination of these protectors. As they are typically high value products too, it is of even greater importance that they do not suffer and scratches or scrapes that could result in returns; damaging your business’s finances and carbon footprint.