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Month: November 2021

AR increases capacity by 40% for AZA Logistics

Posted on 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.

 

AR increases capacity by 40% for AZA Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

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 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.

 

Fronius launches new reliable battery chargers

Posted on 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 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.”

Sacchi extends operations with shuttle technology

Posted on 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 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.

Kite introduces recyclable edge protectors

Posted on by David Priestman

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.

Technology solutions ready for Black Friday

Posted on by David Priestman

For the world of logistics, and in particular for e-commerce warehouses and postal hubs, the Black Friday period – which coincides with the beginning of the peak season – represents a challenge in the fields of packaging, labelling, sorting and shipping. Sitma, an Italian company specialising in designing, building and selling complete solutions for logistics automation, looks at the Black Friday stats and the challenges that sit behind them.

Originally an American concept, Black Friday has now become a key event in the year and takes place mainly online. The same goes for Cyber Monday, which is often stretched out to become Cyber Week. It involves the sale of products in disparate categories including, in particular, smartphones, smartwatches, video games and other technological devices.

According to the latest estimates, in 2020 Black Friday generated revenues of over US$9bn in the United States alone, compared to US$7.4bn the previous year. Cyber Monday did even better, totalling US$10.8bn in 2020 compared to US$9.4bn the previous year.

In Europe, the country that spends the most during Black Friday is Great Britain, which in 2019 invested over £8.5bn in the sale of products, followed by Germany £6.3bn in 2019) and France (over £5bn in 2019). Italy, instead, comes fourth, with just over £2bn pounds spent in 2020, compared with £2.8bn the previous year. It should be noted that 2020, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw a slight decrease in the value of goods sold, although the volumes remained high.

Sales volumes: one of the main issues is the sheer number of orders that the supply chain has to handle in a short period of time. In England, for example, sales during the month of October 2020 represented 28.1% of all sales throughout last year. In the same country, according to the Fashion Network portal, a 140% increase in orders is expected during the month of November in online sales alone.

This peak causes pressure on the entire distribution chain, which even during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is expected to meet the same standards of quality. Also according to Fashion Network, 37% of British consumers say they would not buy again from a seller if delivery of their order is delayed. To meet the workload, the entire supply chain must operate in a synchronised and efficient manner.

Packaging: Preparation for shipping, i.e. packaging, requires not only high-performance machines but great flexibility. The latest trends require the product to be packaged reducing volumes as much as possible, in order to optimise transportation and save material. Sitma can offer the benefit of a 40-year track record in this field, with solutions for packing that are compact but also use sustainable materials such as bio-film and paper.

Labelling: the application of labels is also crucial. In fact, the assigning and printing of unique codes require perfect integration between the software and hardware, which must work in synchrony managing an enormous amount of data. Labelling and control technology has, for that matter, evolved considerably in recent years. The printing units have gradually become smaller, while the vision and control systems have become increasingly efficient and able to analyse the packages with greater accuracy.

Sorting and shipping: precision and delicate handling of the package are required during these phases; everything must be carried out in a fluid and autonomous manner. Increasing the automation of logistics hubs is essential not only to manage the peaks of Black Friday, but also to increase the daily efficiency of the plant.

In this case, too, Sitma is able to offer a wide range of solutions, with sorting systems such as Easy Sort or Speedy Sort, bestsellers on the market, and the more recent Symphony. The latter is a modular system that combines efficiency and flexibility, and is designed specifically to meet the needs of the logistics sector, which become particularly critical on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Technology solutions ready for Black Friday

Posted on by David Priestman

For the world of logistics, and in particular for e-commerce warehouses and postal hubs, the Black Friday period – which coincides with the beginning of the peak season – represents a challenge in the fields of packaging, labelling, sorting and shipping. Sitma, an Italian company specialising in designing, building and selling complete solutions for logistics automation, looks at the Black Friday stats and the challenges that sit behind them.

Originally an American concept, Black Friday has now become a key event in the year and takes place mainly online. The same goes for Cyber Monday, which is often stretched out to become Cyber Week. It involves the sale of products in disparate categories including, in particular, smartphones, smartwatches, video games and other technological devices.

According to the latest estimates, in 2020 Black Friday generated revenues of over US$9bn in the United States alone, compared to US$7.4bn the previous year. Cyber Monday did even better, totalling US$10.8bn in 2020 compared to US$9.4bn the previous year.

In Europe, the country that spends the most during Black Friday is Great Britain, which in 2019 invested over £8.5bn in the sale of products, followed by Germany £6.3bn in 2019) and France (over £5bn in 2019). Italy, instead, comes fourth, with just over £2bn pounds spent in 2020, compared with £2.8bn the previous year. It should be noted that 2020, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw a slight decrease in the value of goods sold, although the volumes remained high.

Sales volumes: one of the main issues is the sheer number of orders that the supply chain has to handle in a short period of time. In England, for example, sales during the month of October 2020 represented 28.1% of all sales throughout last year. In the same country, according to the Fashion Network portal, a 140% increase in orders is expected during the month of November in online sales alone.

This peak causes pressure on the entire distribution chain, which even during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is expected to meet the same standards of quality. Also according to Fashion Network, 37% of British consumers say they would not buy again from a seller if delivery of their order is delayed. To meet the workload, the entire supply chain must operate in a synchronised and efficient manner.

Packaging: Preparation for shipping, i.e. packaging, requires not only high-performance machines but great flexibility. The latest trends require the product to be packaged reducing volumes as much as possible, in order to optimise transportation and save material. Sitma can offer the benefit of a 40-year track record in this field, with solutions for packing that are compact but also use sustainable materials such as bio-film and paper.

Labelling: the application of labels is also crucial. In fact, the assigning and printing of unique codes require perfect integration between the software and hardware, which must work in synchrony managing an enormous amount of data. Labelling and control technology has, for that matter, evolved considerably in recent years. The printing units have gradually become smaller, while the vision and control systems have become increasingly efficient and able to analyse the packages with greater accuracy.

Sorting and shipping: precision and delicate handling of the package are required during these phases; everything must be carried out in a fluid and autonomous manner. Increasing the automation of logistics hubs is essential not only to manage the peaks of Black Friday, but also to increase the daily efficiency of the plant.

In this case, too, Sitma is able to offer a wide range of solutions, with sorting systems such as Easy Sort or Speedy Sort, bestsellers on the market, and the more recent Symphony. The latter is a modular system that combines efficiency and flexibility, and is designed specifically to meet the needs of the logistics sector, which become particularly critical on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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