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Day: 11 February 2022

Bulk bagging system helps meet aggregate demand

Posted on by David Priestman

Leading robotics and automation company, RMGroup, has supplied one of its industry-leading bulk bagging systems, a BB-400, to building materials supplier Tippers.

As an existing customer, the new equipment supplements Tippers’ existing BB-400 bulk bagging and form fill & seal vertical packaging system, and comes as a result of increases in demand for virgin and decorative aggregates across Tippers’ branches throughout the Midlands region.

The BB-400 is the fastest bulk bagger from RMGroup. The system is capable of filling three bulk bags per minute and able to refill to weighment in just 17 seconds. A large 20 tonne heavy duty hopper feeds onto a large in-feed belt conveyor, which then feeds the BB-400.

The FIBC filling machine itself is controlled by an integrated weighing system that fills the hopper to a pre-set weighment, making bulk automation very precise at high-speed and volume. Built to a high standard, the systems are guaranteed to withstand 20 years of service even with the most abrasive raw materials.

Commenting on the BB-400, Tippers’ Bill Tipper, said: “The installation process was flawless from delivery to installation and the engineers were very knowledgeable and helpful. The BB-400 bulk bagger fully meets our expectations and performance requirements. With our expert aggregates yard staff, we are able to produce bulk bags inline with set daily quotas. This allows us to increase our output, meaning we can meet and service customer demand, as well as introduce new bulk bagged aggregate products to the group.

“Tippers have a very strong working relationship with RMGroup. The team is just one phone call away and are always helpful with any issues we may have. Where an issue can’t be resolved on a call, RMGroup has a very fast call out response to ensure our machines are up and running quickly. As our business continues to grow and the need for increased production arises, RMGroup would be the first choice for additional equipment.”

Ed Pugh, RMGroup’s sales director, added: “The ongoing popularity of the BB-400 amongst aggregate suppliers shows that its robust construction means it is well suited to handle the large loading shovels that operate in the quarries and bagging plants. We are delighted that Tippers value our relationship and we look forward to providing them with our bagging expertise again in the future.”

Bulk bagging system helps meet aggregate demand

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Leading robotics and automation company, RMGroup, has supplied one of its industry-leading bulk bagging systems, a BB-400, to building materials supplier Tippers.

As an existing customer, the new equipment supplements Tippers’ existing BB-400 bulk bagging and form fill & seal vertical packaging system, and comes as a result of increases in demand for virgin and decorative aggregates across Tippers’ branches throughout the Midlands region.

The BB-400 is the fastest bulk bagger from RMGroup. The system is capable of filling three bulk bags per minute and able to refill to weighment in just 17 seconds. A large 20 tonne heavy duty hopper feeds onto a large in-feed belt conveyor, which then feeds the BB-400.

The FIBC filling machine itself is controlled by an integrated weighing system that fills the hopper to a pre-set weighment, making bulk automation very precise at high-speed and volume. Built to a high standard, the systems are guaranteed to withstand 20 years of service even with the most abrasive raw materials.

Commenting on the BB-400, Tippers’ Bill Tipper, said: “The installation process was flawless from delivery to installation and the engineers were very knowledgeable and helpful. The BB-400 bulk bagger fully meets our expectations and performance requirements. With our expert aggregates yard staff, we are able to produce bulk bags inline with set daily quotas. This allows us to increase our output, meaning we can meet and service customer demand, as well as introduce new bulk bagged aggregate products to the group.

“Tippers have a very strong working relationship with RMGroup. The team is just one phone call away and are always helpful with any issues we may have. Where an issue can’t be resolved on a call, RMGroup has a very fast call out response to ensure our machines are up and running quickly. As our business continues to grow and the need for increased production arises, RMGroup would be the first choice for additional equipment.”

Ed Pugh, RMGroup’s sales director, added: “The ongoing popularity of the BB-400 amongst aggregate suppliers shows that its robust construction means it is well suited to handle the large loading shovels that operate in the quarries and bagging plants. We are delighted that Tippers value our relationship and we look forward to providing them with our bagging expertise again in the future.”

ek robotics donates laptops to local school

Posted on by David Priestman

ek robotics has continued its support of the local Royal Latin School by donating 10 Chromebook laptops to support students with their learning and education.

Based in Buckingham, UK just a stone’s throw from the Royal Latin School, ek robotics previously made a significant donation to the school to get the ek robotics Sports Campus project over the line.

ek robotics has also made funds available to set up a robotics club at the school to further enhance learning developments in this area.

Mike Burke, Operations Director at ek robotics, said: “Our business is heavily focused on innovative uses of technology – bringing technological solutions to production and warehouse logistics around the world, so this donation seems very fitting to our core values and assists us with our objective to support and nurture the future workforce.”

David Hudson, Headteacher of the Royal Latin School, discussed the impact of the Chromebooks in classrooms: “The introduction of Chromebooks throughout the school has been of great benefit to student-teacher communication in terms of learning, especially during lockdown, as well as embedding innovative ways of teaching and learning in the classroom.

“Nearly all year groups now have access to a device in school and this generous donation will help us ensure we can loan out devices at short notice to provide support for students in need.”

ek robotics is a family-owned and -run business that specialises in Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

 

SEC Storage partners with vertical farming specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

SEC Storage has partnered with a leading UK Vertical Farming specialist CambridgeHOK for the launch of a new ‘concept to completion’ package, providing investors and retailers with their own fully automated indoor growing facilities.

Supply chain issues caused by Brexit and a global pandemic combined with a growing population, estimated by the Office of National Statistics to be 72 million by 2041 in the UK alone, has directed the spotlight on alternative methods for more local, sustainable food production.

Already a proven technology in many environments, Vertical Farms have demonstrated that they can produce high-quality, low-emission, competitively priced food in a fraction of the space of a traditional farm.

However for Vertical Farming to be successful and a sustainable source of food production in the UK, it’s vital to demonstrate how automation and the efficient use of space can streamline operations and SEC Storage’s data-driven approach combined with its innovative machine learning and AI capabilities are well matched to the next phase of the Vertical Farming industry development.

SEC Storage managing director Harry Watts commented: “Working with Vertical Farming specialist CambridgeHOK to apply the principles of logistics industry automation alongside our unique data-driven actuation models, provides a compelling offering to investors, food producers and retailers, and clearly demonstrates that investment in this growing sector is a viable and attractive option.”

Patrick Harte, joint managing director of CambridgeHOK said: “Automation and scalability are the two key factors behind our concept model which align perfectly with SEC Storage’s expertise in space optimisation and as an automated warehousing specialist.

“Together we can develop and deliver large-scale Vertical Farming solutions that could deliver higher quality crops, on an industrial scale, in a fraction of the footprint when compared with traditional methods.”

SEC Storage partners with vertical farming specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

SEC Storage has partnered with a leading UK Vertical Farming specialist CambridgeHOK for the launch of a new ‘concept to completion’ package, providing investors and retailers with their own fully automated indoor growing facilities.

Supply chain issues caused by Brexit and a global pandemic combined with a growing population, estimated by the Office of National Statistics to be 72 million by 2041 in the UK alone, has directed the spotlight on alternative methods for more local, sustainable food production.

Already a proven technology in many environments, Vertical Farms have demonstrated that they can produce high-quality, low-emission, competitively priced food in a fraction of the space of a traditional farm.

However for Vertical Farming to be successful and a sustainable source of food production in the UK, it’s vital to demonstrate how automation and the efficient use of space can streamline operations and SEC Storage’s data-driven approach combined with its innovative machine learning and AI capabilities are well matched to the next phase of the Vertical Farming industry development.

SEC Storage managing director Harry Watts commented: “Working with Vertical Farming specialist CambridgeHOK to apply the principles of logistics industry automation alongside our unique data-driven actuation models, provides a compelling offering to investors, food producers and retailers, and clearly demonstrates that investment in this growing sector is a viable and attractive option.”

Patrick Harte, joint managing director of CambridgeHOK said: “Automation and scalability are the two key factors behind our concept model which align perfectly with SEC Storage’s expertise in space optimisation and as an automated warehousing specialist.

“Together we can develop and deliver large-scale Vertical Farming solutions that could deliver higher quality crops, on an industrial scale, in a fraction of the footprint when compared with traditional methods.”

Precision semi-trailer backing for autonomous trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

Outrider, a pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has released fully autonomous trailer backing capabilities to its fleet. This proprietary technology enables autonomous yard trucks to back trailers into tight spaces with precision and without modifications to trailers. These capabilities are now available as part of the Outrider System, which automates distribution yards for large, logistics-dependent enterprises.

“Automation is key to relieving the inflationary pressure on the supply chain,” said Andrew Smith, Founder and CEO of Outrider. “Distribution yards are critical links in the supply chain and prime targets for automating the flow of goods between over-the-road transportation and fulfilment centres, warehouses and manufacturing plants. Automating yards requires backing trailers of all kinds safely and precisely into parking spots and dock spots billions of times a year.”

Articulated backing is one of the most challenging manoeuvres in the trucking industry, especially in confined distribution yards. Backing technology is crucial to autonomous yard operations because a wide variety of trailers must be backed into dock spots and parking spots without damage. Specific to backing into dock spots, trailers must be on-centre and in exact contact with the docks – all within finite spaces.

Outrider’s articulated backing technology is fully autonomous, adheres to strict operational requirements, and is capable of seamlessly controlling a trailer through its full range of motion. With this technology, the Outrider System is able to precisely back the diversity of semi-trailers that are used in the industry, including 28-foot, 48-foot, and 53-foot dry van trailers, containers, and refrigerated trailers – all without teleoperation or other types of human interaction.

“By developing advanced algorithms and integrating with sensors and actuation, we’ve delivered the accurate trailer backing necessary for yard automation,” said Jeremy Nett, Vice President of Software Engineering at Outrider. “Outrider validated this proprietary technology at its Advanced Testing Facility and customer sites – running under multiple conditions, day and night. This achievement is a result of a highly collaborative cross-functional effort across our perception, motion planning and controls, hardware, and test teams to develop and commercialise this technology.”

The Outrider System consists of three integrated parts — management software, autonomous vehicles, and site infrastructure. In addition to the latest articulated backing technology, the Outrider System uses proprietary autonomy technology to hitch to and unhitch from trailers, robotically connect and disconnect trailer brake lines, interact safely with loading docks, track trailer locations, and centrally manage and monitor all system functions.

“While other autonomous vehicle companies focus on safely pulling trailers down a highway, Outrider is focused on efficiently moving the world’s freight through congested distribution yards,” added Smith. “With this backing technology, our customers can automate their distribution yards as they continue to respond to the global demand for their products.”

 

Precision semi-trailer backing for autonomous trucks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Outrider, a pioneer in autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs, has released fully autonomous trailer backing capabilities to its fleet. This proprietary technology enables autonomous yard trucks to back trailers into tight spaces with precision and without modifications to trailers. These capabilities are now available as part of the Outrider System, which automates distribution yards for large, logistics-dependent enterprises.

“Automation is key to relieving the inflationary pressure on the supply chain,” said Andrew Smith, Founder and CEO of Outrider. “Distribution yards are critical links in the supply chain and prime targets for automating the flow of goods between over-the-road transportation and fulfilment centres, warehouses and manufacturing plants. Automating yards requires backing trailers of all kinds safely and precisely into parking spots and dock spots billions of times a year.”

Articulated backing is one of the most challenging manoeuvres in the trucking industry, especially in confined distribution yards. Backing technology is crucial to autonomous yard operations because a wide variety of trailers must be backed into dock spots and parking spots without damage. Specific to backing into dock spots, trailers must be on-centre and in exact contact with the docks – all within finite spaces.

Outrider’s articulated backing technology is fully autonomous, adheres to strict operational requirements, and is capable of seamlessly controlling a trailer through its full range of motion. With this technology, the Outrider System is able to precisely back the diversity of semi-trailers that are used in the industry, including 28-foot, 48-foot, and 53-foot dry van trailers, containers, and refrigerated trailers – all without teleoperation or other types of human interaction.

“By developing advanced algorithms and integrating with sensors and actuation, we’ve delivered the accurate trailer backing necessary for yard automation,” said Jeremy Nett, Vice President of Software Engineering at Outrider. “Outrider validated this proprietary technology at its Advanced Testing Facility and customer sites – running under multiple conditions, day and night. This achievement is a result of a highly collaborative cross-functional effort across our perception, motion planning and controls, hardware, and test teams to develop and commercialise this technology.”

The Outrider System consists of three integrated parts — management software, autonomous vehicles, and site infrastructure. In addition to the latest articulated backing technology, the Outrider System uses proprietary autonomy technology to hitch to and unhitch from trailers, robotically connect and disconnect trailer brake lines, interact safely with loading docks, track trailer locations, and centrally manage and monitor all system functions.

“While other autonomous vehicle companies focus on safely pulling trailers down a highway, Outrider is focused on efficiently moving the world’s freight through congested distribution yards,” added Smith. “With this backing technology, our customers can automate their distribution yards as they continue to respond to the global demand for their products.”

 

Trax forms strategic partnership with Project44

Posted on by David Priestman

Trax Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with project44, a world-leading supply chain visibility platform for shippers and logistics service providers.

Trax Technologies is a global leader in Transportation Spend Management elevating freight audit and payment (FAP) through advanced technologies and premium solutions for global shippers and Logistics Service Providers with complex transportation logistics ecosystems. project44, based in Chicago Illinois, is the most advanced, international provider of connected and automated visibility into key transportation processes to accelerate insights into the physical flow of goods all over the world.

The project44 and Trax partnership creates the leading Transportation Spend Management solution that brings visibility to the supply chain’s physical and financial logistics flow of data into one technology ecosystem for shippers and logistics service providers to drive an optimised Cost-to-Serve for logistics spend while maintaining the highest levels of On-Time-in-Full (OTIF) service and performance.

The strategic partnership of project44’s visibility of the physical event data of shipments with Trax’s visibility and control of transportation spend through global Freight Audit and Payment create an unparalleled solution for global enterprise shippers and logistics service providers linking shipment performance and cost-to-serve with real time insights.

“Many of our customers have shared with us the struggle that they have seeing the movement of goods globally and aligning that with their decisions about cost-to-serve. Then to add on top the desire to do that proactively and with speed. We are extremely excited to be the only Transportation Spend Management provider to bring this partnership and that opportunity to our current and future customers.” said Josh Bouk, President of Trax.

“With this exciting partnership with project44, we can now help our customers advance how they manage the multiple legs of their supply chain, increase the quantity and quality of the data and the actionable insights at their fingertips, and ultimately improve service timeliness and efficiency for their customers.”

The partnership between Trax and project44 brings improved decision making to customers of both companies. The benefits of the partnership include actionable insights into transportation activities and the resulting impact on costs leading to real time problem solving, improved planning and rate management, greater customer satisfaction, and more collaborative shipper-carrier relationships.

Additionally, the one-to-many integration capabilities of both project 44 and Trax ensure insights into both performance and cost across the globe, regardless of technology stack, region, mode, lane, or carrier.

“We are excited to be working with Trax to combine visibility into the movement of goods with the financial impact of those transportation events,” said project44 President Tim Bertrand. “Together with Trax, project44 is focused on providing much needed visibility and actionable insights into the events within the global supply chain. Our solutions, joined together, ensure ease and confidence in smarter decision making, which is now more essential than ever to address mounting supply chain bottlenecks.”

“This partnership of Trax and project44 makes me incredibly excited for our global customers,” said Chris Cassidy, Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships. “The real time problem solving, improved planning, and uniquely robust transportation data and insights now available for our customers will dramatically improve the cost and service effectiveness of their supply chain control tower, leading to increased customer satisfaction and improved operating margins.”

Trax customers, and their $22+ billion in transportation spend under management, achieve greater control and transparency over transportation spend, a growing portion of the cost-to-serve for all global enterprises and LSPs, through a robust software and analytics platform that elevates global freight auditing, cost allocation, logistics data management, payment automation, and supply chain financing.

With project44, Trax now offers end-to-end, real-time supply chain visibility, cost optimisation, and working capital solutions for shippers, carriers, and 3PL/4PLs within the global multi-modal market, and the company is a trusted partner of many of the world’s largest and most sophisticated supply chains.

 

Trax forms strategic partnership with Project44

Posted on by David Priestman

Trax Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with project44, a world-leading supply chain visibility platform for shippers and logistics service providers.

Trax Technologies is a global leader in Transportation Spend Management elevating freight audit and payment (FAP) through advanced technologies and premium solutions for global shippers and Logistics Service Providers with complex transportation logistics ecosystems. project44, based in Chicago Illinois, is the most advanced, international provider of connected and automated visibility into key transportation processes to accelerate insights into the physical flow of goods all over the world.

The project44 and Trax partnership creates the leading Transportation Spend Management solution that brings visibility to the supply chain’s physical and financial logistics flow of data into one technology ecosystem for shippers and logistics service providers to drive an optimised Cost-to-Serve for logistics spend while maintaining the highest levels of On-Time-in-Full (OTIF) service and performance.

The strategic partnership of project44’s visibility of the physical event data of shipments with Trax’s visibility and control of transportation spend through global Freight Audit and Payment create an unparalleled solution for global enterprise shippers and logistics service providers linking shipment performance and cost-to-serve with real time insights.

“Many of our customers have shared with us the struggle that they have seeing the movement of goods globally and aligning that with their decisions about cost-to-serve. Then to add on top the desire to do that proactively and with speed. We are extremely excited to be the only Transportation Spend Management provider to bring this partnership and that opportunity to our current and future customers.” said Josh Bouk, President of Trax.

“With this exciting partnership with project44, we can now help our customers advance how they manage the multiple legs of their supply chain, increase the quantity and quality of the data and the actionable insights at their fingertips, and ultimately improve service timeliness and efficiency for their customers.”

The partnership between Trax and project44 brings improved decision making to customers of both companies. The benefits of the partnership include actionable insights into transportation activities and the resulting impact on costs leading to real time problem solving, improved planning and rate management, greater customer satisfaction, and more collaborative shipper-carrier relationships.

Additionally, the one-to-many integration capabilities of both project 44 and Trax ensure insights into both performance and cost across the globe, regardless of technology stack, region, mode, lane, or carrier.

“We are excited to be working with Trax to combine visibility into the movement of goods with the financial impact of those transportation events,” said project44 President Tim Bertrand. “Together with Trax, project44 is focused on providing much needed visibility and actionable insights into the events within the global supply chain. Our solutions, joined together, ensure ease and confidence in smarter decision making, which is now more essential than ever to address mounting supply chain bottlenecks.”

“This partnership of Trax and project44 makes me incredibly excited for our global customers,” said Chris Cassidy, Executive Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships. “The real time problem solving, improved planning, and uniquely robust transportation data and insights now available for our customers will dramatically improve the cost and service effectiveness of their supply chain control tower, leading to increased customer satisfaction and improved operating margins.”

Trax customers, and their $22+ billion in transportation spend under management, achieve greater control and transparency over transportation spend, a growing portion of the cost-to-serve for all global enterprises and LSPs, through a robust software and analytics platform that elevates global freight auditing, cost allocation, logistics data management, payment automation, and supply chain financing.

With project44, Trax now offers end-to-end, real-time supply chain visibility, cost optimisation, and working capital solutions for shippers, carriers, and 3PL/4PLs within the global multi-modal market, and the company is a trusted partner of many of the world’s largest and most sophisticated supply chains.

 

February 2022

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The February 2022 edition of Logistics Business magazine is live! As well as opinion from industry leaders about what they believe lies ahead in 2022, our exclusive features and interviews will inform you about the major issues of the moment. Topics covered this issue include freeports, IR35 legislation, order picking, warehouse automation, logistics IT, new forklift launches, and much more.

84 pages of a truly international magazine covering the global logistics industry. Subscribe for free now.

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