11 January, 2022

Goodman creates more DC space in M25 hotspot

Posted on 11 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

To meet rising demand for sustainable logistics space with easy access to consumer markets, Goodman has launched a 500,000 sq ft site in M25 e-commerce hotspot, Dartford. This is the first of its UK portfolio to feature full rooftops of solar PV as it accelerates its commitment to low carbon technologies.

Available for immediate occupation and comprising three high-specification units of 240,884 sq ft, 138,062 sq ft and 101,659 sq ft, Crossways Commercial Park offers state-of-the-art facilities for customers across retail, e-commerce and logistics.

With direct access to Junction 1a of the M25, the site’s fast connections to London and the national motorway network place 10.4 million consumers within a 60-minute HGV drive-time with a purchasing power of £268.1bn. Kent’s excellent freight links to the Channel Tunnel, Port of Dover and London Thamesport also make the facilities ideal for businesses serving UK, European and international markets.

Crossways Commercial Park is among Goodman’s most sustainable UK developments and is the first to feature a full rooftop array of solar photovoltaics (PV) across each building. The 2.2MW system will generate a combined annual power output of almost two million kWh – equivalent to removing 435 tons of carbon from the atmosphere or planting 20,727 trees.

Designed to support customers decarbonise their operations, Crossways Commercial Park features solar thermal hot water, solar heating for office areas and other sustainable features including electric vehicle (EV) charging points, infrastructure for EV fleets, rainwater harvesting and smart metering, to help monitor and reduce energy consumption. Delivered to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification and achieving an A+ energy rating, each building also features a carbon neutral cladding system, designed to meet ‘chill-store’ and ambient product storage requirements.

George Glennie, Development Director at Goodman, said: “Crossways Commercial Park is a prime example of Goodman’s global focus on delivering sustainable properties that utilise the latest innovations in design, construction, and energy generation.

“Not only is it our most sustainable property in the UK, but it sets a standard for future properties we will be developing Its strategic location is also set to drive supply chain efficiencies for our customers, placing them closer to consumers which in turn drives down transport emissions.”

The launch of Crossways Commercial Park also follows Goodman UK achieving a 5 Star Rating in the Development benchmark by GRESB, a leading sustainability assessment for the real estate sector.

Glennie added: “Through developments such as Crossways Commercial Park, we are realising our ambition to deliver properties that can meet our customers’ needs now and into the future.”

Crossways Commercial Park adds to Dartford’s reputation as a thriving distribution and supply chain destination, with more than 4,000 people employed in logistics and e-commerce. Part of an established business park spanning 300-acres, the development offers customers excellent on-site amenities in an attractive, landscaped setting. Employees will also benefit from a range of dedicated public transport options, helping to support recruitment and staff retention.

Gavin Cleary, CEO at Locate in Kent, said, “We welcome this outstanding new facility in Dartford. Goodman is not only meeting the demand for high quality, well connected space in Kent, but is also responding to the very strong desire from international companies to have sustainable, environmentally-conscious and future-facing facilities in the UK.

“This investment once again demonstrates why Kent is perfectly placed for logistics and distribution companies wishing to expand operations and maximise their potential.”

Co-op secures M8 distribution site

Posted on 11 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Tulchan Developments, advised by Montagu Evans, has agreed the pre-let of a new facility for Co-operative Group at Link Park, Newhouse, on the M8 east of Glasgow. The project will be brought forward in a joint venture with landowner Fusion Assets, the arm’s length property development and regeneration company of North Lanarkshire Council. Forward funding for the c.£12m facility is being provided by an overseas investor.

Co-op has taken 47,565 sq ft distribution facility with enhanced specification and additional service yard and HGV parking on an 18-year lease at £12.15 per sq ft. Located next to its main 500,000 sq ft Glasgow distribution centre, construction has now started with completion planned for October 2022.

Fusion Assets acquired the seven-acre brownfield site in 2014 and completed a package of enabling works funded by the Scottish Government through the North Lanarkshire Vacant and Derelict Land Programme to create a fully serviced and development ready site. A procurement exercise to find the right development partner was caried out last year to allow the occupier to have the facility available in 2022.

Gavin Robertson, Director at Tulchan Developments, said: ”We’re pleased to have secured a high-quality pre-let for this strategic site and are on track for completion later this year. This is the second unit we’ve been involved in for Co-op with Newhouse providing a key part of their overall logistics network in Scotland going forward.’’

Bryce Stewart, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: ”With an increasing shortage of industrial and logistics stock across Scotland, this will be the first of many pre-lets over the coming months as demand for space continues to grow.’’

Iain Davidson, Director at Colliers, which advised Fusion Assets, said: “This was a multi-layered deal brought forward by a number of parties working together in close cooperation. The new facility will help boost the local economy as well as providing an important part of Co-op’s distribution network in Scotland.”

Murray Collins, Managing Director of Fusion Assets, said: “I am delighted that the initial public sector investment in acquiring and remediating the site at Link Park, Newhouse, has levered in additional investment from an overseas investor and secured Co-op as a tenant. The new Co-op facility will provide additional job opportunities and further embed a large and important employer into the local area.”

Tim Ellis of Co-Op Logistics added: ‘’We are delighted that work has started on the bespoke de-kit facility adjacent to our depot off the M8 outside Glasgow at Newhouse. The existing depot already serves around 600 Co-op stores and this new facility strengthens our core logistics operation in North Lanarkshire. Despite the challenging times, the Development team and their contractor are on programme to deliver the unit this autumn which in turn allows us to upgrade part of the existing depot. This investment is key to the development of our overall network as part of our commitment to Scotland.’’

Montagu Evans advised Tulchan Developments on the leasing and forward funding. Colliers advised Fusion Assets. Matthews & Goodman advised Co-op on the letting. Lismore acted for the overseas investor on the forward funding.

STILL raises standards with new truck series

Posted on 11 January, 202225 July, 2025 by David Priestman

With the new LXT 120-350 and LXW 20-30 series, STILL says it has not only modernised and expanded its product portfolio of electrically powered tractors and platform trucks but has also raised the safety standard of these trucks to a new level.

In particular, the unique Descent Speed Regulation (DSR) assistance system, a load- and inclination-dependent speed regulation system, provides extra safety and increased handling performance when driving on ramps.

Electric tow tractors and platform trucks have become an indispensable part of the modern working world. Shipyards, car manufacturers, international airports and railway stations, logistics companies, freight forwarders and countless production plants around the world have relied on the qualities of STILL’s tow tractors and platform trucks for many years. Now the Hamburg-based intralogistics provider has once again expanded its vehicle portfolio and geared it up for the future.

The new LXT 120-350 electric tow tractors with towing capacities of between 12 and 35 tonnes and the LXW 20-30 electric platform truck (payloads of two and three tonnes on the load area, towing capacities of six tonnes) offer a wide range of modular equipment options and impress with their performance. Extensive tests in different industries at sometimes very harsh locations have proven that efficiency and top performance can be perfectly combined with these new vehicles.

The STILL engineers are particularly proud of the Descent Speed Regulation (DSR) assistance system they developed. “An absolute world first,” emphasise the two STILL experts Alexander Claus, product manager for tractors, and Janos Poppe, product trainer for tractors. “This unique system not only supports the driver in driving safely on ramps, but also increases the handling performance. With trailer loads of up to 35 tonnes, the drivers always move in accordance with the situation – and at the same time as quickly as possible,” says Poppe.

Depending on the version, the DSR detects the exact inclination on sloping ramps for this purpose, takes the current load weight into account and automatically adjusts the speed to the respective conditions by intervening in the oil bath multiple-disc system. In the basic version, which is installed in all vehicles, the speed is limited manually to a predefined speed via a switch when driving down a slope.

In the optionally available ECO version, the system shows the gradient on the display and automatically limits the speed to a predefined value. In the premium version of the DSR, the automatic speed reduction depends on the gradient and additionally on the towed load. The trailer load is determined by measuring the torque on the drive motors.

“This very innovative method of determining the load, in which we measure the trailer load virtually at the trailer coupling, is so far the only one of its kind in the world and is only used on STILL trucks,” reports Claus, not without pride.

Uncompromised technical equipment

The STILL developers have also come up with something for the other technical components of the new trucks. For example, all the trucks have hydraulic multi-disc brakes on both axles, which enable a particularly high-performance and precise braking process, are wear-free and operate almost completely silently. In addition, the regenerative braking of the electric drive allows energy to be recovered during the braking process. The parking brake is also electric and engages automatically.

The vehicles of the LXT/LXW series are driven by two 10.5kW motors on the rear axle. The 80V three-phase motors are encapsulated and maintenance-free. The intelligent motor control ensures agile driving behaviour and the speed-controlled drive means that there is no loss of speed, even when driving uphill for long periods. The maximum speed of the LXT vehicles without load is 25km/h, the LXW reaches up to 23km/h. The towing tractors and platform trucks can be charged quickly and easily without opening the bonnet thanks to the quick-charge socket or on-board charger.

The new cab is generously designed and offers even tall drivers plenty of headroom and a very spacious footwell. A wide range of seat adjustments ensures a comfortable workplace and offers every driver the right position for fatigue-free work. The driver’s cab itself is mounted on rubber buffers and is therefore vibration-damped and decoupled from the chassis.

The chassis, which is equally damped by extra-long coil springs, offers additional driving comfort and allows first-class road holding. Thanks to the STILL Easy Control colour display, the drivers always have all the important information at a glance – for example the steering wheel position, direction of travel, driving programme, speed, angle of inclination, load display or loading status. The new steering wheel with optional knob allows easy and ergonomic operation of the fully hydraulic steering. Its haptic surface provides a good grip.

Improved visibility

‘All-round glazing’ ensures optimum visibility in the new vehicles. To this end, 23% more window surfaces were installed compared to the predecessor models. Optimised visibility in all directions increases safety and prevents physical damage. The optional reversing camera makes manoeuvring and coupling easier when reversing.

Protection against accidents and breakage of goods is also provided by the Curve Speed Control system, also available as an option, which automatically adjusts the speed during cornering and thus ensures safe cornering. The vehicles can be easily integrated into control systems such as STILL neXXt fleet, the most innovative and powerful web portal for fleet optimisation of industrial trucks, via an optional interface. All relevant information for quick analyses or optimisation measures are thus bundled in just one tool.

Other optionally available safety features include the STILL Flashlight, Safety Light 4Plus, FleetManager and the intelligent acoustic warning signal, the volume of which is always 10dB higher than the ambient volume. With this system, passers-by and other drivers or operators are always warned of the vehicle at the right volume, without creating an unnecessarily high noise level for the driver and the person being warned.

GEODIS opens additional warehouses in Netherlands

Posted on 11 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

To accommodate the growth of its retail customers in The Netherlands, GEODIS has opened a new 17,000 sq m warehouse in Almere and will also add a 9,000 sq m facility in Venlo.

While awaiting the construction of its 130,000 sq m logistics campus at Trade Port Noord planned for the end of 2023, GEODIS is extending its activities to offer additional capacity for its customers. The Group has opened a new site in Almere in November and is preparing the opening of another one in Venlo, due to be operational in the coming weeks. It is planned that both sites will be equipped with latest automation technologies. Among them are autonomous mobile robots from Locus Robotics to support the picking process and reduce the physical demands on employees by eliminating the need to pull pick carts and by decreasing overall travel.

GEODIS currently has a 16,000 sq m retail warehouse in Almere, which means the capacity there has doubled. “This expansion is needed since the pandemic has caused a significant overperformance of many of our current customers and to host our new customers,” said Mark van den Assem, Managing Director of GEODIS in the Benelux.

ING reports that retail in the Netherlands has grown by 6% in 2020 and another 1.5% in 2021. “Especially companies with an omnichannel approach are expected to increase their business even more,” points out van den Assem. “In order to provide these multi-channel retailers with a long-term logistics solution at the highest possible service level and efficiency, additional warehousing space was needed.”

“We can see the rising demand for e-logistics not only in the Netherlands but throughout Europe and are eager to support our customers in not only achieving their targets but also to be their growth partner,” says Thomas Kraus, President & CEO of GEODIS North, East and Central Europe. “The expansion of the warehouse space in the Netherlands combined with our expertise in e-logistics, marks another important milestone towards our growth ambitions.”

The two buildings have a BREEAM ‘Good’ certification. BREEAM is a world-known sustainability assessment method for buildings1, which underlines GEODIS’ dedication towards sustainable logistics.

GEODIS has now almost 220,000 sq m of warehouses in the Netherlands, including Venlo, Amsterdam, Almere & Rotterdam.

New EHLIS warehouse rises to 36m

Posted on 11 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

EHLIS, a leading company in Spain for the distribution of hardware products, has expanded its logistics capacity with the opening of a new clad-rack warehouse equipped by the industrial storage solutions specialist AR Racking. The new logistics warehouse is located in the Plataforma Central Iberum, in Illescas (Toledo) and is 36 metres high.

The logistics centre in this locality is based on the design and installation of AR Racking’s galvanised clad-rack warehouse solutions, which apart from storing the load makes up the structure of the building. With this clad-rack warehouse which occupies 3,125 sq m, EHLIS can store around 30,000 pallets distributed on a combination of both single and double-deep racking systems. Clad-rack warehouses provide great load density resulting in significant savings for lower investment. The installation was completed in four months.

The load inside the racking will be handled by four stacker cranes, whose design and installation, as well as the automation of the intralogistics processes, was carried out by one of the most important automated logistics engineering companies.

As communicated before the start of the work, Armando Aldrey, Logistics Director of EHLIS, decided to build this new automated clad-rack warehouse in Illescas because the company’s facilities in Sant Andreu de la Barca (around 20km from Barcelona), “were already overstretched” and “we needed to increase our logistics capacity”.

“AR Racking’s experience and specialisation in these types of high bay and storage capacity warehouses was decisive when it came to making this warehouse a reality, which will allow us to provide a faster and more efficient service to our colleagues, be more efficient in our internal operations and tackle ambitious challenges,” added Aldrey.

The structure, which features AR Racking’s galvanised racking that provides maximum resistance to corrosion and adverse environmental conditions, will help drive EHLIS’s commercial and distribution strategy with customers in the centre, south and northwest of Spain. In addition, the goods stored in this clad-rack warehouse will serve more than 50% of those associated with the network of hardware stores that the company has under the Cadena88 brand.

Roberto Arriaran, Director for Integration Business Unit of AR Racking, stated: “We are delighted to provide our industrial storage expertise so that EHLIS can see an increase in the efficiency and profitability of its operations, helping to offer its customers a better service each day.”

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Li-ion switch brings productivity benefits

Posted on 11 January, 202225 July, 2025 by David Priestman

A switch from gas to lithium-ion powered forklifts has brought productivity benefits for a UK dried fruit, home baking and snack products company. Whitworths has replaced the gas-powered counterbalance trucks in operation at its Northamptonshire production and storage facility with lithium-ion machines from the Toyota range.

In all, Toyota has supplied Whitworths with 27 new three- and four-wheel counterbalance forklifts, together with a number of powered pallet trucks, reach trucks and stackers.

Every machine in the new fleet – not just the counterbalance models – is powered by the latest lithium-ion battery technology.

Toyota Key Account Manager, Jeff Morley, commented: “Heightened environmental concerns, rising fuel prices and greater awareness of staff welfare are leading to a decline in LPG truck sales while demand for lithium-ion forklifts has been on a sustained upward curve for some time. In fact, nearly a quarter of all Toyota electric-powered forklift trucks ordered for delivery in the UK now feature lithium-ion battery technology.”

The switch from gas to lithium-ion powered counterbalance trucks has delivered significant productivity gains for Whitworths, thanks in part to the fact that the time-consuming process of refilling gas bottles has been eliminated.

“Our old LPG counterbalance trucks had to have their gas bottle topped-up at least once every shift which meant 15 minutes of truck downtime every time a refill was required,” explained Jim Rattan, Whitworths’ Outbound Front Line Manager.

Across the fleet truck availability is further enhanced by the fact that lithium-ion batteries allow for opportunity charging, which means that all of Whitworths’ trucks can be recharged anywhere within the company’s site during breaks in a shift or other periods of downtime by the operator.

All of the trucks in Whitworth’s new fleet also feature Toyota’s I_Site integrated telematics system. Warehouse trucks from Toyota are factory-fitted with I_Site and a choice of three packages designed to suit a user’s specific needs is available to optimise the performance of every size and type of forklift fleet.

“We are delighted to have won the contract to supply Whitworths’ materials handling fleet,” said Morley. “We began our discussions some 18 months before the contract with their previous supplier came to an end and, after listening to their needs, were confident that switching to lithium-ion battery power would bring real operational benefits to the company. This has proved to be the case.”

Uncompromised technical equipment

Improved visibility

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