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Month: December 2021

Envirotainer handles billionth vaccine

Posted on by David Priestman

Envirotainer, a global leader in secure cold-chain solutions for air transportation of pharmaceuticals, is calling for continued collaboration between pharmaceutical firms and the logistics industry.

The call to action comes as Envirotainer passes a major milestone in the shipment of COVID-19 vaccines. One billion have been carried in the company’s fleet of over 6,500 temperature-controlled air cargo containers. These are designed to maintain constant internal temperature, some for over a week, ensuring treatments arrive in perfect condition.

With much of Europe introducing new curbs on freedoms to reduce cases, the whole sector needs to be ready to meet increased demand for vaccines and boosters.

Globally, just 56.9% of the world population has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This illustrates the mountain left to climb. In doing so, pharmaceutical manufacturers, forwards, airlines and cold chain-solutions providers need to work seamlessly as extensions of each other.

This calls for total transparency on which consignments are crucial and need to be prioritised. It also requires further advance planning. Not only in terms of keeping COVID-19 treatments moving, but also other life-saving drugs that are required every day across the globe.

Niklas Adamsson, Envirotainer’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re incredibly proud of handling a billion vaccines at a time when air freight has been restricted and demand has been sky high. This is thanks to the incredible collaboration we’ve been part of across the industry.

“We’ve worked closely with our partners and customers, and now want to work even closer with those efforts in the face of Omicron. It’s crucial we continue to work in unity across the cold-chain to get the next doses to the patients, where they’re needed. It’s our responsibility as part of the fight against coronavirus, and we’re ready to do all we can.”

Envirotainer handles billionth vaccine

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Envirotainer, a global leader in secure cold-chain solutions for air transportation of pharmaceuticals, is calling for continued collaboration between pharmaceutical firms and the logistics industry.

The call to action comes as Envirotainer passes a major milestone in the shipment of COVID-19 vaccines. One billion have been carried in the company’s fleet of over 6,500 temperature-controlled air cargo containers. These are designed to maintain constant internal temperature, some for over a week, ensuring treatments arrive in perfect condition.

With much of Europe introducing new curbs on freedoms to reduce cases, the whole sector needs to be ready to meet increased demand for vaccines and boosters.

Globally, just 56.9% of the world population has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This illustrates the mountain left to climb. In doing so, pharmaceutical manufacturers, forwards, airlines and cold chain-solutions providers need to work seamlessly as extensions of each other.

This calls for total transparency on which consignments are crucial and need to be prioritised. It also requires further advance planning. Not only in terms of keeping COVID-19 treatments moving, but also other life-saving drugs that are required every day across the globe.

Niklas Adamsson, Envirotainer’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We’re incredibly proud of handling a billion vaccines at a time when air freight has been restricted and demand has been sky high. This is thanks to the incredible collaboration we’ve been part of across the industry.

“We’ve worked closely with our partners and customers, and now want to work even closer with those efforts in the face of Omicron. It’s crucial we continue to work in unity across the cold-chain to get the next doses to the patients, where they’re needed. It’s our responsibility as part of the fight against coronavirus, and we’re ready to do all we can.”

Ribbon printer adds luxury to gifting

Posted on by David Priestman

Nothing expresses thoughtfulness more than a sublimely wrapped gift. And prestigious, luxury brands such as Christian Dior take the art of gifting very seriously, with branded ribbons and bows often providing the finishing touches. A good 20-30% of customers prefer to visit stores and concessions where complimentary giftwrapping is offered because it makes the gift appear so much more exclusive and special. And now, thanks to a solution developed by Bryanthings in conjunction with TSC Printronix Auto ID, luxury brands can stand out even more with beautiful, foiled, customised ribbons with which to gift-wrap presents.

As a specialist in designing and creating beautiful retail displays and experiences, Bryanthings teamed up with TSC Printronix Auto ID to develop a solution called Ribbon Printer. It allows brands, at point of sale (POS), to personalise in real-time each piece of ribbon with tailor-made messages before gift-wrapping the presents, making gifts even more special and memorable.

The solution combines a tablet for the retail customer interface with a hot foil ribbon stamping system with 600dpi print resolution. Everything can be customised, from the font, layout, colour and content of the message itself to the ribbon material, its pantone colour, its width and any cut-outs. The software was developed by Bryanthings and the printer used is TSC Printronix Auto ID’s high-performance desktop, the TX600.

An application on the tablet enables the retailer or concession to select, via a simple and intuitive user interface, their desired typography, the message they want written, the brand logo and their choice of ribbon and ink colour. The tablet is connected directly to the TX600, which prints at a very sharp 600dpi resolution on 30m media for gilding and 300m satin ribbons. An optional guillotine cutter can be specified to finish the cut of the ribbon.

Retailers can choose between a 10” or 15’’ screen tablet and the solution can work on- and offline. Tutorials are available to make it easier to get started. The complete system can be either be housed in a cabinet or placed on a counter top. Bryanthings has also developed a specific packaging solution that can be personalised in line with brand colour and image.

The luxurious Ribbon Printer solution has already been implemented in more than 1,000 stores around the world. Renowned brands like Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent are all using Ribbon Printer to personalise their gift packaging, as are some leading florists and chocolatiers. The solution won a prestigious Popai, an award, much prized in POS application and luxury goods.

The three models in the TX Series of thermal transfer desktop printers can support a wide range of printing applications. Each one uses a generous 300m ribbon supply and an easy drop-in media loading of 5” rolls media to save both time and money. The TX Series 4” model is ideal for printing high volume 4×6 shipping labels as well as high-resolution product marking and graphic solutions applications.

Standard interfaces include USB 2.0, USB-A Host, 10/100Mbps Ethernet and Serial connectivity. Optional communication interfaces include Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Centronics Parallel. Printer options include a bright colour LCD display, label peel and present, and a guillotine cutter.

As with all TSC printers, the TX Series features the TSPL-EZÔ printer-control language, which is fully compatible with the most commonly used printer languages in the industry.

Ribbon printer adds luxury to gifting

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Nothing expresses thoughtfulness more than a sublimely wrapped gift. And prestigious, luxury brands such as Christian Dior take the art of gifting very seriously, with branded ribbons and bows often providing the finishing touches. A good 20-30% of customers prefer to visit stores and concessions where complimentary giftwrapping is offered because it makes the gift appear so much more exclusive and special. And now, thanks to a solution developed by Bryanthings in conjunction with TSC Printronix Auto ID, luxury brands can stand out even more with beautiful, foiled, customised ribbons with which to gift-wrap presents.

As a specialist in designing and creating beautiful retail displays and experiences, Bryanthings teamed up with TSC Printronix Auto ID to develop a solution called Ribbon Printer. It allows brands, at point of sale (POS), to personalise in real-time each piece of ribbon with tailor-made messages before gift-wrapping the presents, making gifts even more special and memorable.

The solution combines a tablet for the retail customer interface with a hot foil ribbon stamping system with 600dpi print resolution. Everything can be customised, from the font, layout, colour and content of the message itself to the ribbon material, its pantone colour, its width and any cut-outs. The software was developed by Bryanthings and the printer used is TSC Printronix Auto ID’s high-performance desktop, the TX600.

An application on the tablet enables the retailer or concession to select, via a simple and intuitive user interface, their desired typography, the message they want written, the brand logo and their choice of ribbon and ink colour. The tablet is connected directly to the TX600, which prints at a very sharp 600dpi resolution on 30m media for gilding and 300m satin ribbons. An optional guillotine cutter can be specified to finish the cut of the ribbon.

Retailers can choose between a 10” or 15’’ screen tablet and the solution can work on- and offline. Tutorials are available to make it easier to get started. The complete system can be either be housed in a cabinet or placed on a counter top. Bryanthings has also developed a specific packaging solution that can be personalised in line with brand colour and image.

The luxurious Ribbon Printer solution has already been implemented in more than 1,000 stores around the world. Renowned brands like Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent are all using Ribbon Printer to personalise their gift packaging, as are some leading florists and chocolatiers. The solution won a prestigious Popai, an award, much prized in POS application and luxury goods.

The three models in the TX Series of thermal transfer desktop printers can support a wide range of printing applications. Each one uses a generous 300m ribbon supply and an easy drop-in media loading of 5” rolls media to save both time and money. The TX Series 4” model is ideal for printing high volume 4×6 shipping labels as well as high-resolution product marking and graphic solutions applications.

Standard interfaces include USB 2.0, USB-A Host, 10/100Mbps Ethernet and Serial connectivity. Optional communication interfaces include Bluetooth, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Centronics Parallel. Printer options include a bright colour LCD display, label peel and present, and a guillotine cutter.

As with all TSC printers, the TX Series features the TSPL-EZÔ printer-control language, which is fully compatible with the most commonly used printer languages in the industry.

Cherbourg handles 100,000th container from Ireland

Posted on by David Priestman

Cherbourg Port has handled its 100,000th trailer travelling between Ireland and France, having multiplied its roll-on/roll-off traffic by a factor of three in a year and confirmed its position as market leader.

These results, seen in light of Brexit – which has made this route more competitive compared to the the Ireland-France landbridge route through England – demonstrate the tremendous capacity for adaptation of this port and the companies that serve it.

  • The link between Cherbourg Port and Ireland means:
  • Three ferry operators – Stena Line, Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries – which together offer a stable, regular, competitive and flexible service.
  • Two destinations – Rosslare and Dublin.
  • One of the shortest routes between Ireland and the Continent with an average crossing time of 17 hours.
  • Up to three departures a day, six days a week with large-capacity ferries (up to 160 trailers).
  • Reliable Cherbourg Port teams, providing a high-quality service against the background of Brexit and the COVID crisis. In 2021, Cherbourg Port recruited seven dockers on permanent contracts and 12 on fixed-term contracts. The quality of their work combined with the growth in traffic allows the port to extend their contracts in 2022.
  • A port that is adapting its equipment and infrastructure – investments made include four extra terminal tractors (€170k each) and extension of the ferry companies’ ticket booths, on top of €8m of works to prepare for Brexit.

The result is that since 1st January 2021, Cherbourg Port has multiplied its roll-on/roll-off traffic between France and Ireland by three, going from 33,888 trailers at the end of December 2020 to 100,000 by the end of December 2021. And that includes a doubling of the number of unaccompanied trailers (20 to 45,000 approximately).

Following these results, Cherbourg Port and Ports of Normandy are working hard on several projects that will enable them to expand their services:

  • Creation of a multimodal transport terminal for the Bayonne/Cherbourg rail motorway service. This project is backed by Brittany Ferries and the Ministry of Transport.
  • Continued reorganisation of the terminals to create more trailer storage space.
  • Upgrading the linkspans for the latest generation of ferries.
  • Digitalisation of data.
  • Supporting logistics with, among other things, the creation of a 10ha business park near the port.
  • To mark the occasion of passage of the 100,000th trailer, David Margueritte, President of Cherbourg Port, and Cillian Rossi, representing the Irish Embassy, presented the lorry driver with a typically Norman gift, a large basket of delicious local Cotentin products.

“Supporting the cross-channel traffic, increasing links with Ireland, developing business activities on our port, all of this is crucial to consolidating the Cotentin’s position as a maritime region,” explained David Margueritte, President of the Cherbourg Port company and the Agglomération du Cotentin local authority. “With its 200km of coastline, Cotentin has Normandy’s longest seaboard, and we aim to strengthen our strategic position, thanks to the excellent work of all the Ports of Normandy and Cherbourg Ports’ teams, the commitment of the three ferry companies operating out of Cherbourg and the haulage companies and shippers who count on them.”

Cherbourg handles 100,000th container from Ireland

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Cherbourg Port has handled its 100,000th trailer travelling between Ireland and France, having multiplied its roll-on/roll-off traffic by a factor of three in a year and confirmed its position as market leader.

These results, seen in light of Brexit – which has made this route more competitive compared to the the Ireland-France landbridge route through England – demonstrate the tremendous capacity for adaptation of this port and the companies that serve it.

  • The link between Cherbourg Port and Ireland means:
  • Three ferry operators – Stena Line, Irish Ferries and Brittany Ferries – which together offer a stable, regular, competitive and flexible service.
  • Two destinations – Rosslare and Dublin.
  • One of the shortest routes between Ireland and the Continent with an average crossing time of 17 hours.
  • Up to three departures a day, six days a week with large-capacity ferries (up to 160 trailers).
  • Reliable Cherbourg Port teams, providing a high-quality service against the background of Brexit and the COVID crisis. In 2021, Cherbourg Port recruited seven dockers on permanent contracts and 12 on fixed-term contracts. The quality of their work combined with the growth in traffic allows the port to extend their contracts in 2022.
  • A port that is adapting its equipment and infrastructure – investments made include four extra terminal tractors (€170k each) and extension of the ferry companies’ ticket booths, on top of €8m of works to prepare for Brexit.

The result is that since 1st January 2021, Cherbourg Port has multiplied its roll-on/roll-off traffic between France and Ireland by three, going from 33,888 trailers at the end of December 2020 to 100,000 by the end of December 2021. And that includes a doubling of the number of unaccompanied trailers (20 to 45,000 approximately).

Following these results, Cherbourg Port and Ports of Normandy are working hard on several projects that will enable them to expand their services:

  • Creation of a multimodal transport terminal for the Bayonne/Cherbourg rail motorway service. This project is backed by Brittany Ferries and the Ministry of Transport.
  • Continued reorganisation of the terminals to create more trailer storage space.
  • Upgrading the linkspans for the latest generation of ferries.
  • Digitalisation of data.
  • Supporting logistics with, among other things, the creation of a 10ha business park near the port.
  • To mark the occasion of passage of the 100,000th trailer, David Margueritte, President of Cherbourg Port, and Cillian Rossi, representing the Irish Embassy, presented the lorry driver with a typically Norman gift, a large basket of delicious local Cotentin products.

“Supporting the cross-channel traffic, increasing links with Ireland, developing business activities on our port, all of this is crucial to consolidating the Cotentin’s position as a maritime region,” explained David Margueritte, President of the Cherbourg Port company and the Agglomération du Cotentin local authority. “With its 200km of coastline, Cotentin has Normandy’s longest seaboard, and we aim to strengthen our strategic position, thanks to the excellent work of all the Ports of Normandy and Cherbourg Ports’ teams, the commitment of the three ferry companies operating out of Cherbourg and the haulage companies and shippers who count on them.”

UgoWork wins software & technology providers award

Posted on by David Priestman

UgoWork, a Canadian energy solutions provider specialising in lithium-ion batteries for industrial trucks, has won Food Logistics’ 2021 Top Software & Technology Providers Award. This award honours software and technology providers that ensure safe and UL approved, efficient and reliable global cold food and beverage supply chains.

UgoWork helps organisations with manufacturing and warehousing challenges to reduce operational costs through improved efficiency in their material handling operations. Here are some key features:

  • Fast and easy charging: Universal charging infrastructure with automotive-grade connectors to power Class I, II and III industrial trucks
  • 24/7 support: Cloud-connected batteries enable constant remote monitoring of their state of health to ensure optimal uptimes
  • Energy as a service (EaaS): UgoWork’s flexible financing programmes and pay-per-use plans offer peace of mind including the replacement and recycling of lithium battery packs

“Energy as a Service is not new in terms of concept, but needed a technological shift to make it happen in the material handling market,” explained Philippe Beauchamp, President and CEO of UgoWork. “When we launched our lithium-ion battery several years ago, it was clear that our customers did not want batteries. They wanted a turnkey solution where the provider would take 100% responsibility of uptime of the systems and bring complete peace of mind for their operations. We introduced the industry with a battery infrastructure and IoT system that allows just that – and we top it off with a level of technical support that is unmatched in the industry.”

Equipment owners urged to review inspection programme

Posted on by David Priestman

Following a busy Christmas period, work equipment owners are being advised to examine their maintenance and inspection programme schedules to ensure everything is kept at a safe and legal standard throughout 2022.

CFTS – the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations in the UK – is aware that thousands of trucks and attachments may not currently have a suitable Thorough Examination plan to ensure they fulfil all requirements under LOLER and PUWER.

Geoff Martin, CFTS Chairman, explained: “A huge number of businesses have been working flat-out in recent months, so January is an ideal time to take stock and assess the condition of equipment.

“I’d suggest that your first step should be to check the truck’s paperwork for the last inspection date and see if there is a sticker on the equipment bearing the CFTS Quality Mark. If you don’t know what you are looking for, talk to the person at your company who oversees the equipment.”

Many companies also find themselves unclear over whose responsibility it is to book the inspections when trucks are leased or hired. It’s often assumed that any liability is with the company the trucks are hired from, but this is only sometimes the case. Speak to the hiring company if you are unsure of your obligations.

When trucks are owned outright, the responsibility is yours and if you let the inspection period lapse, you could potentially leave yourself open to fines or worse — letting the equipment become unsafe.

There is also a common misconception that the inspection is simply an annual undertaking, but in reality, it isn’t quite that simple.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all rule,” said Geoff Martin. “It’s important that each piece of equipment is on its own schedule appropriate to its type and use. Your nearest CFTS-accredited member will be able to advise on the frequency of inspections required on a case-by-case basis. And with the ever-changing situation we find ourselves in, it’s always best to be fully prepared as early as possible.”

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Increase equipment safety compliance with Visual Tagging solutions

 

Equipment owners urged to review inspection programme

Posted on by David Priestman

Following a busy Christmas period, work equipment owners are being advised to examine their maintenance and inspection programme schedules to ensure everything is kept at a safe and legal standard throughout 2022.

CFTS – the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations in the UK – is aware that thousands of trucks and attachments may not currently have a suitable Thorough Examination plan to ensure they fulfil all requirements under LOLER and PUWER.

Geoff Martin, CFTS Chairman, explained: “A huge number of businesses have been working flat-out in recent months, so January is an ideal time to take stock and assess the condition of equipment.

“I’d suggest that your first step should be to check the truck’s paperwork for the last inspection date and see if there is a sticker on the equipment bearing the CFTS Quality Mark. If you don’t know what you are looking for, talk to the person at your company who oversees the equipment.”

Many companies also find themselves unclear over whose responsibility it is to book the inspections when trucks are leased or hired. It’s often assumed that any liability is with the company the trucks are hired from, but this is only sometimes the case. Speak to the hiring company if you are unsure of your obligations.

When trucks are owned outright, the responsibility is yours and if you let the inspection period lapse, you could potentially leave yourself open to fines or worse — letting the equipment become unsafe.

There is also a common misconception that the inspection is simply an annual undertaking, but in reality, it isn’t quite that simple.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all rule,” said Geoff Martin. “It’s important that each piece of equipment is on its own schedule appropriate to its type and use. Your nearest CFTS-accredited member will be able to advise on the frequency of inspections required on a case-by-case basis. And with the ever-changing situation we find ourselves in, it’s always best to be fully prepared as early as possible.”

similar news

https://www.logisticsbusiness.com/uncategorised/increase-equipment-safety-compliance-with-visual-tagging-solutions/

 

If only the Persians had known about AI…

Posted on by David Priestman

Other than the essential healthcare workers and law enforcement, hardly any other professionals would have to sleep in their office after working 8 to 9 hours and then repeat the same schedule the following day, writes Gabor Balogh (pictured), Co-Founder of transportation company Trucksters.

However, there is one profession that has been operating under such conditions for decades, travelling from sunrise to sunset and sleeping in the cab of their lorry for weeks at a time – the professional hauliers. For years they have been working unnoticed, out of the spotlight, until recently.

The conversation regarding the lack of freight drivers arises as the UK suffers from fuel shortages at service stations and stock shortages in many department stores. With the estimated driver shortage at 100,000, it is a situation that cannot be ignored. It is not dissimilar to what is happening to the UK’s continental neighbours. However, in this case there is a new layer of complexity of those drivers having to cross borders.

Twenty-six centuries ago, the First Persian Empire faced the dilemma of how to communicate effectively between regions that were more than 7,000km apart. The solution was found in the relay system. Relays were passed in succession by horsemen and horses, and thanks to this system the messages travelled from India to what is now Macedonia without ever stopping. Day or night.

Relay system is a fast and efficient form of transportation, and it is an application been utilised for many years. But by applying Artificial Intelligence and Big Data to the system, we are able to transform relay system into a powerful tool that would revolutionise the road transport industry and bring a new era to the sector.

Trucksters’ AI algorithm is already capable of reducing goods transit times by 50% and increasing efficiency by 20% compared to other express solutions. It can also reduce theft by 95%. This is not a theory; it is a practice that’s been deployed by us. This system prioritises the drivers and places them in the centre of the operation. Instead of replacing the drivers, technology comes to their aid. The AI integrated relay system allows the drivers to rest at home every day after driving 4.5 hours in one direction, swap cargo with another professional driving in the opposite direction at a relay point and then go home.

In the UK’s case, it would allow fewer drivers to cross borders; instead of just one international haulier making the whole journey, the relay system divides the entire route into shorter trips driven by different regional drivers.

It is unclear of how the Persians would feel about AI and Big Data, but they would certainly appreciate of its usage, if a shortage of riders were to jeopardise the integrity of the empire. The relay system is a solution with dual benefits. The drivers will be able to sleep at home and spend more time with their families, while the companies will be able to have a more cost-efficient delivery system in place, as the cargos will always be on the move.

With supply chains under tremendous stress, the lack of drivers requires solutions that would help the profession to be more appealing and sustainable, especially when it comes to providing the drivers with a healthier work-life balance. Until the next revolution happens, and we reach an intermediate stage where human drivers and semi-autonomous trucks interact, the relay system is the effective solution for long-distance freight transport. And it is a solution that is under practice.

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