UK businesses cautioned about breaking Russia trade sanctions

On Wednesday (2nd March 2022), 1,400 traders – 82% of whom reported that they traded with Russia – attended a free webinar organised by the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) on “How to comply with trade sanctions against Russia”.

IOE&IT trade specialist Ray Burgin set out eight practical steps that companies could take to make sure that they were trading compliantly: Know your product; Know your product’s destination; know your customer; know your supplier; revisit your licences; revisit your contracts; run an internal compliance programme; and communicate with your agents.

The webinar also heard from the Department for International Trade’s Director for Exports, Paul McComb, who outlined the Government’s thinking and told them how to make use of the Export Support Service to access the latest information and advice. There was insight into the possible effects on UK trade with Russia from Rebecca Harding, CEO of Coriolis Technologies, and author of the book The Weaponization of Trade. She drew attention to the effect that sanctions imposed after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea had on the UK’s services trade with Russia, which plummeted as a result.

The IOE&IT’s director general, Marco Forgione said: “Of course in time of war, trade takes second place to our concern for the human suffering.

“It is heartening that so many British businesses took the time to learn more about how to comply with these sanctions. They want to make sure that they are not inadvertently breaking the law.”

He explained: “There are many examples of how companies could be caught out. Dual use goods are not always obvious; there are around 3,000 tariff codes to which dual use has been allocated, from temperature control systems to fuel pump covers, so it is really important that exporters really know their products and understand where they fit.

“And it’s not just the goods it can be the packaging which is a problematic. A cider manufacturer recently had problems with their exports because the vats they were using to transport the cider could be re-used to transport banned goods.

“Just as important is that exporters understand who the end user of their product is going to be. In complex supply chains that entity may be at some removed from the customer, so exporters need to be sure that they are not dealing with someone acting on behalf of a sanctioned recipient. For instance, selling to a distributor the UK business needs to be certain that their goods are not being forward sold into Russia.

“Another area of concern is the inadvertent export of Intellectual Property over the internet. Most companies would understand that sending a copy of complex designs to Russia would be an export but how many would know that even discussing them over a Zoom call could also be breaking sanctions?

“Ultimately we want to help exporters do the right thing. The IOE&IT is committed to continuing to hold dissemination events like today’s, our helpdesk is available for members who have complex queries and we can provide consultancy services to business to help them stay compliant.”

 

Rockwell to showcase virtual warehouse at MODEX

Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, is doubling down on its commitment to the warehouse and fulfilment industry by exhibiting for the first time at MODEX 2022, in Atlanta, on March 28th-31st. The company will demonstrate its proven solutions designed to help customers’ operations be more intelligent, connected, and productive.

“Emulate3D is excited to be exhibiting together with its parent company, Rockwell Automation, for the first time at MODEX, to demonstrate Rockwell’s game-changing automation and digital twin supply chain solutions in-person,” said Linda Freeman, manager, regional industry, Rockwell Automation. “We look forward to joining nearly 20 of our OEM, system integrator, and technology partners in Atlanta to showcase Rockwell’s technologies in booths throughout the show floor and provide attendees with an unforgettable, interactive experience.”

MODEX attendees can stop by Rockwell’s booth (B6611) to experience the newest and most innovative technology in the industry. Some of the technologies that will be on display that attendees can interact with and experience first-hand include:

Emulate3D Simulation Station: See how MODEX veteran, Emulate3D, Rockwell’s digital design software, can reduce time to market, improve start up reliability and enable scenario planning. The ease of use is clear as 3D warehouse drawings are modified in real time in the booth.

MagneMover LITE Intelligent Conveyor Demo: A smart, frictionless transport system designed to move loads quickly and efficiently. See it deliver flexible routing and high-speed sorting in a small, low-maintenance footprint. Includes an AR workforce demo.

Armor PowerFlex Drives (pictured): The next generation of space-saving motor control will debut at MODEX. This modular solution features built in safety, is ideal for a wide range of environments and size requirements, and provides real-time data to the enterprise.

Interactive Virtual Warehouse: Attendees can dive into this interactive experience and explore videos and demos of the latest warehouse and logistics solutions like independent cart technology, digital facility design, unified robotic control, and more.

In addition to its own booth, the latest Rockwell solutions will be on display across MODEX in nearly 20 of its PartnerNetwork member booths. For example, Rockwell’s Technology Partner, Comau is showcasing an independent cart technology, Rockwell-controlled robot demo in its booth (B9632). Additionally, FlexLink Systems, Inc., a gold level OEM partner, will feature a full pharma sort system simulation based on Rockwell’s MagneMover LITE in its booth (B1007).

“I’m excited about the possibilities that a major, well-known, well-established company like Rockwell can bring to this space,” commented Tandreia Bellamy, founder of TB Supply Chain Consulting and former global logistics executive. “From building a digital twin to do real, what-if scenarios, to independent cart technology that truly pulls products through a warehouse, they’re really looking at it from end-to-end.”

Rockwell says those who experience its game-changing solutions first-hand at MODEX will learn how their warehouse and logistics operations can become more connected and efficient.

Rockwell to showcase virtual warehouse at MODEX

Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, is doubling down on its commitment to the warehouse and fulfilment industry by exhibiting for the first time at MODEX 2022, in Atlanta, on March 28th-31st. The company will demonstrate its proven solutions designed to help customers’ operations be more intelligent, connected, and productive.

“Emulate3D is excited to be exhibiting together with its parent company, Rockwell Automation, for the first time at MODEX, to demonstrate Rockwell’s game-changing automation and digital twin supply chain solutions in-person,” said Linda Freeman, manager, regional industry, Rockwell Automation. “We look forward to joining nearly 20 of our OEM, system integrator, and technology partners in Atlanta to showcase Rockwell’s technologies in booths throughout the show floor and provide attendees with an unforgettable, interactive experience.”

MODEX attendees can stop by Rockwell’s booth (B6611) to experience the newest and most innovative technology in the industry. Some of the technologies that will be on display that attendees can interact with and experience first-hand include:

Emulate3D Simulation Station: See how MODEX veteran, Emulate3D, Rockwell’s digital design software, can reduce time to market, improve start up reliability and enable scenario planning. The ease of use is clear as 3D warehouse drawings are modified in real time in the booth.

MagneMover LITE Intelligent Conveyor Demo: A smart, frictionless transport system designed to move loads quickly and efficiently. See it deliver flexible routing and high-speed sorting in a small, low-maintenance footprint. Includes an AR workforce demo.

Armor PowerFlex Drives (pictured): The next generation of space-saving motor control will debut at MODEX. This modular solution features built in safety, is ideal for a wide range of environments and size requirements, and provides real-time data to the enterprise.

Interactive Virtual Warehouse: Attendees can dive into this interactive experience and explore videos and demos of the latest warehouse and logistics solutions like independent cart technology, digital facility design, unified robotic control, and more.

In addition to its own booth, the latest Rockwell solutions will be on display across MODEX in nearly 20 of its PartnerNetwork member booths. For example, Rockwell’s Technology Partner, Comau is showcasing an independent cart technology, Rockwell-controlled robot demo in its booth (B9632). Additionally, FlexLink Systems, Inc., a gold level OEM partner, will feature a full pharma sort system simulation based on Rockwell’s MagneMover LITE in its booth (B1007).

“I’m excited about the possibilities that a major, well-known, well-established company like Rockwell can bring to this space,” commented Tandreia Bellamy, founder of TB Supply Chain Consulting and former global logistics executive. “From building a digital twin to do real, what-if scenarios, to independent cart technology that truly pulls products through a warehouse, they’re really looking at it from end-to-end.”

Rockwell says those who experience its game-changing solutions first-hand at MODEX will learn how their warehouse and logistics operations can become more connected and efficient.

OCI ranked “third-fastest-growing company” in Europe

OCI, ranked as the third-fastest-growing company in Europe, has developed a powerful new way for organisations to overcome their supply chain challenges: commercial process outsourcing (CPO). The third-placed ranking is according to the Financial Times Europe’s 1000 fastest-growing companies report researched by Statista.

Listed as the fastest-growing UK business, OCI achieved revenues of €568.3m in 2020. The company attributes its CAGR of 409.59% to its ability to adapt quickly and resourcefully to the turbulent times the world has found itself in.

Optimisation of the supply chain is one of the most important business challenges today. Brexit and Covid19 have exacerbated the issue, which is fast becoming more acute due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. OCI specialises in solving these challenges for large corporates and governments and its CPO service has underpinned its rapid growth.

“We are solving problems for the world’s biggest market,” explained Oliver Chapman (pictured), CEO and founder of OCI. “Everything people have, their clothes, furniture, cars, and the food they eat was subject to a supply chain.

“Looking ahead, OCI will continue to focus its efforts on digital supply chains, as the global trade and value of data will dramatically surpass that of tangible goods by 2025.”

OCI empowers its clients, and notably their buyers and suppliers, to collectively overcome their supply chain issues with solutions including; contract negotiations and flexible funding. Its unique approach harnesses bespoke technology and business intelligence practices to automate procurement and sales processes.

Its know-how entails a broad range of internal expertise, encompassing trade experts, financiers and years of practical experience in dealing with intractable supply chain issues.

OCI ranked “third-fastest-growing company” in Europe

OCI, ranked as the third-fastest-growing company in Europe, has developed a powerful new way for organisations to overcome their supply chain challenges: commercial process outsourcing (CPO). The third-placed ranking is according to the Financial Times Europe’s 1000 fastest-growing companies report researched by Statista.

Listed as the fastest-growing UK business, OCI achieved revenues of €568.3m in 2020. The company attributes its CAGR of 409.59% to its ability to adapt quickly and resourcefully to the turbulent times the world has found itself in.

Optimisation of the supply chain is one of the most important business challenges today. Brexit and Covid19 have exacerbated the issue, which is fast becoming more acute due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. OCI specialises in solving these challenges for large corporates and governments and its CPO service has underpinned its rapid growth.

“We are solving problems for the world’s biggest market,” explained Oliver Chapman (pictured), CEO and founder of OCI. “Everything people have, their clothes, furniture, cars, and the food they eat was subject to a supply chain.

“Looking ahead, OCI will continue to focus its efforts on digital supply chains, as the global trade and value of data will dramatically surpass that of tangible goods by 2025.”

OCI empowers its clients, and notably their buyers and suppliers, to collectively overcome their supply chain issues with solutions including; contract negotiations and flexible funding. Its unique approach harnesses bespoke technology and business intelligence practices to automate procurement and sales processes.

Its know-how entails a broad range of internal expertise, encompassing trade experts, financiers and years of practical experience in dealing with intractable supply chain issues.

OSCA brings visibility to jeans supply chain

When it comes to jeans, the name MUSTANG immediately comes to mind in the fashion industry. To bring transparency and structure into the supply chain, the company has been relying on the SCM software OSCA since 2021. In doing this, the Schwaebisch Hall-based company was able to achieve end-to-end visibility in the supply chain.

When the name “MUSTANG” is mentioned in the fashion industry, insiders like to tell this story: MUSTANG was founded in 1932 in Kuenzelsau by Luise Hermann as “L. Hermann Kleiderfabrik” as a reaction to the stagnating timber trade business of her husband Heinrich Hermann. The company initially manufactured workwear. When a certain Albert Sefranek married the founders’ daughter, Erika Hermann, in 1945, it was him who had the idea to manufacture jeans instead.

The story is legendary: In a bar frequented by many American soldiers in 1948 in Frankfurt’s Bahnhofsviertel, Sefranek traded six bottles of Hohenlohe schnapps for six of the modern pants from the US. Albert´s mother-in-law, the original founder, initially refused to sew the “tight American pants”. But the very first order swayed her fast: “300 jeans, please!” The mother-in-law agreed, and the business took off.

The only constant in life is change – this motto also reflects the company’s further history. In 1989, for example, the company obtained the license for JOOP! jeans, ending in 2003 with the sale of the JOOP! brand. At the end of the 90s, the jeans market was in crisis as overall demand was declining. MUSTANG closed the production facility in Kuenzelsau, where 15% of the total volume was still manufactured at that time. The restructuring measures continued until the early 2000s.

Today, the company produces abroad. Suppliers in Tunisia and Turkey manufacture about half of the volume, the rest comes from the Far East – Pakistan, India and China. Between 25 and 30 suppliers work for the company, which has been based in Schwaebisch Hall since 2020. Around 95% of the goods are transported by large container ships; only in exceptional cases do jeans start their journey to Europe by plane. MUSTANG works with five different logistics carriers. The pants specialist consolidates all imported goods in a warehouse of fashion logistics company Meyer & Meyer in Wittenberge (Brandenburg). Around six million MUSTANG units pass through the facility every year.

All sales channels are fulfilled from Wittenberge. The retail sector with 90 stores, 45 outlets and online sales accounts for about 50% of the total volume. The production setup with up to 30 suppliers and an agency in Hong Kong works – but has become increasingly complex in times of volatile supply chains. Whether short notice volume changes or unplanned delays: Until August 2021, such data had to be entered manually into the ERP system for the total of 2,500 shipments per year. There were tracking lists in Excel for purchase orders and forwarders received change notifications by e-mail.

“It was a huge manual effort and we suffered from information silos. The system was also error-prone,” reports Signe Oepen (pictured). She has been COO of the company since 2020 and leads the operations team with 35 employees. In the 21st century, ordering processes are becoming faster and production more complex. Therefore, at the end of 2020, MUSTANG started looking for modern software to get more visibility into the supply chain and speed up processes.

Within a short period of time and after a selection process, MUSTANG chose Setlog’s cloud-based software OSCA. “With OSCA, we get more transparency into our supply chain and can track purchase orders digitally. This is an important pillar for our growth strategy,” announced MUSTANG CEO Andreas Baur in January 2021. According to COO Oepen, the crucial factor for the decision to use OSCA was its simple implementation process, which enables rapid and comprehensive handling of all supply chain processes.

Simple implementation? What might apply to normal times turns out to be quite the challenge in times of a global pandemic. After all, working short-time does not necessarily support shorter processes. “But thanks to frequent catch-ups and feedback loops between MUSTANG and Setlog, which entailed a meeting every two weeks, Setlog implemented the software very professionally,” reports Oepen. Today, dozens of employees access OSCA.

The fashion company uses OSCA SCM for scheduling, production reports, transportation, warehousing and reporting. What that means is that MUSTANG reports its purchase orders from the ERP system via OSCA to the suppliers or the agency in Hong Kong. The SCM software serves as centralised communication tool – from order confirmation and delivery planning to the booking of shipments.

In addition to costs, the employees can also monitor volumes, lead times, transport times and delivery dates. Suppliers and agencies enter transport notifications and tracking data into the system. Dashboards allow users to view the respective status of orders and shipments. “We have become much faster with OSCA and can easily enter all changes into the software,” says Oepen.

If delivery dates change, all partners in the supply chain are informed simultaneously and in real time. “Now it’s not a problem if an employee is on vacation. In the past, we sometimes had to sift through a lot of emails to find relevant information,” says the operations lead. She also points out one special feature: Information on packing lists is transmitted to the logistics centre in Wittenberge via an interface once shipments are finalised. This allows the logistics specialists to plan labour even before the goods arrive.

In addition to the topic of digitisation, MUSTANG is also committed to sustainability. When it comes to environmental protection, OSCA also helps significantly in further bringing transparency into the value chain. MUSTANG can enter so-called sustainability features for purchase orders into the software. For example: “Sustainable cotton” is marked in a field when an order is placed. The agency or suppliers can then see that this specification has been linked to the order.

Even through the waves of the pandemic, it was still smooth sailing for MUSTANG – thanks to the operations team and OSCA. Because container ships did not leave ports or were delayed due to lockdowns in production countries, goods were in danger of arriving too late. MUSTANG changed transport modes a few times – from sea to air – to gain more speed. Before the pandemic, MUSTANG airfreighted only 5% of their parts, during the Covid-19 pandemic they involuntarily shipped 20 percent by air. “These very last-minute re-bookings are more controllable thanks to OSCA,” Oepen says.

Whether it’s disruptions in global transportation, pandemics, environmental disasters, or political crises: “Without a modern IT landscape, including not only SCM solutions but also ERP systems, production planning, customs brokerage solutions, data warehouses and payment systems, consumer goods manufacturers are ill-prepared for the challenges of the future,” says Ralf Duester, member of Setlog’s board of directors. According to him, the most important trends include the

increasing complexity in procurement and distribution, the shift from push to pull markets, an acceleration of ordering process, and the growing need for additional services and all-in-one solutions. “MUSTANG has impressively shown how – thanks to a dedicated IT team, a strong IT infrastructure and collaborative supply chain partners – a fashion company made it through a difficult period and has positioned itself well for the future,” Duester said.

 

OSCA brings visibility to jeans supply chain

When it comes to jeans, the name MUSTANG immediately comes to mind in the fashion industry. To bring transparency and structure into the supply chain, the company has been relying on the SCM software OSCA since 2021. In doing this, the Schwaebisch Hall-based company was able to achieve end-to-end visibility in the supply chain.

When the name “MUSTANG” is mentioned in the fashion industry, insiders like to tell this story: MUSTANG was founded in 1932 in Kuenzelsau by Luise Hermann as “L. Hermann Kleiderfabrik” as a reaction to the stagnating timber trade business of her husband Heinrich Hermann. The company initially manufactured workwear. When a certain Albert Sefranek married the founders’ daughter, Erika Hermann, in 1945, it was him who had the idea to manufacture jeans instead.

The story is legendary: In a bar frequented by many American soldiers in 1948 in Frankfurt’s Bahnhofsviertel, Sefranek traded six bottles of Hohenlohe schnapps for six of the modern pants from the US. Albert´s mother-in-law, the original founder, initially refused to sew the “tight American pants”. But the very first order swayed her fast: “300 jeans, please!” The mother-in-law agreed, and the business took off.

The only constant in life is change – this motto also reflects the company’s further history. In 1989, for example, the company obtained the license for JOOP! jeans, ending in 2003 with the sale of the JOOP! brand. At the end of the 90s, the jeans market was in crisis as overall demand was declining. MUSTANG closed the production facility in Kuenzelsau, where 15% of the total volume was still manufactured at that time. The restructuring measures continued until the early 2000s.

Today, the company produces abroad. Suppliers in Tunisia and Turkey manufacture about half of the volume, the rest comes from the Far East – Pakistan, India and China. Between 25 and 30 suppliers work for the company, which has been based in Schwaebisch Hall since 2020. Around 95% of the goods are transported by large container ships; only in exceptional cases do jeans start their journey to Europe by plane. MUSTANG works with five different logistics carriers. The pants specialist consolidates all imported goods in a warehouse of fashion logistics company Meyer & Meyer in Wittenberge (Brandenburg). Around six million MUSTANG units pass through the facility every year.

All sales channels are fulfilled from Wittenberge. The retail sector with 90 stores, 45 outlets and online sales accounts for about 50% of the total volume. The production setup with up to 30 suppliers and an agency in Hong Kong works – but has become increasingly complex in times of volatile supply chains. Whether short notice volume changes or unplanned delays: Until August 2021, such data had to be entered manually into the ERP system for the total of 2,500 shipments per year. There were tracking lists in Excel for purchase orders and forwarders received change notifications by e-mail.

“It was a huge manual effort and we suffered from information silos. The system was also error-prone,” reports Signe Oepen (pictured). She has been COO of the company since 2020 and leads the operations team with 35 employees. In the 21st century, ordering processes are becoming faster and production more complex. Therefore, at the end of 2020, MUSTANG started looking for modern software to get more visibility into the supply chain and speed up processes.

Within a short period of time and after a selection process, MUSTANG chose Setlog’s cloud-based software OSCA. “With OSCA, we get more transparency into our supply chain and can track purchase orders digitally. This is an important pillar for our growth strategy,” announced MUSTANG CEO Andreas Baur in January 2021. According to COO Oepen, the crucial factor for the decision to use OSCA was its simple implementation process, which enables rapid and comprehensive handling of all supply chain processes.

Simple implementation? What might apply to normal times turns out to be quite the challenge in times of a global pandemic. After all, working short-time does not necessarily support shorter processes. “But thanks to frequent catch-ups and feedback loops between MUSTANG and Setlog, which entailed a meeting every two weeks, Setlog implemented the software very professionally,” reports Oepen. Today, dozens of employees access OSCA.

The fashion company uses OSCA SCM for scheduling, production reports, transportation, warehousing and reporting. What that means is that MUSTANG reports its purchase orders from the ERP system via OSCA to the suppliers or the agency in Hong Kong. The SCM software serves as centralised communication tool – from order confirmation and delivery planning to the booking of shipments.

In addition to costs, the employees can also monitor volumes, lead times, transport times and delivery dates. Suppliers and agencies enter transport notifications and tracking data into the system. Dashboards allow users to view the respective status of orders and shipments. “We have become much faster with OSCA and can easily enter all changes into the software,” says Oepen.

If delivery dates change, all partners in the supply chain are informed simultaneously and in real time. “Now it’s not a problem if an employee is on vacation. In the past, we sometimes had to sift through a lot of emails to find relevant information,” says the operations lead. She also points out one special feature: Information on packing lists is transmitted to the logistics centre in Wittenberge via an interface once shipments are finalised. This allows the logistics specialists to plan labour even before the goods arrive.

In addition to the topic of digitisation, MUSTANG is also committed to sustainability. When it comes to environmental protection, OSCA also helps significantly in further bringing transparency into the value chain. MUSTANG can enter so-called sustainability features for purchase orders into the software. For example: “Sustainable cotton” is marked in a field when an order is placed. The agency or suppliers can then see that this specification has been linked to the order.

Even through the waves of the pandemic, it was still smooth sailing for MUSTANG – thanks to the operations team and OSCA. Because container ships did not leave ports or were delayed due to lockdowns in production countries, goods were in danger of arriving too late. MUSTANG changed transport modes a few times – from sea to air – to gain more speed. Before the pandemic, MUSTANG airfreighted only 5% of their parts, during the Covid-19 pandemic they involuntarily shipped 20 percent by air. “These very last-minute re-bookings are more controllable thanks to OSCA,” Oepen says.

Whether it’s disruptions in global transportation, pandemics, environmental disasters, or political crises: “Without a modern IT landscape, including not only SCM solutions but also ERP systems, production planning, customs brokerage solutions, data warehouses and payment systems, consumer goods manufacturers are ill-prepared for the challenges of the future,” says Ralf Duester, member of Setlog’s board of directors. According to him, the most important trends include the

increasing complexity in procurement and distribution, the shift from push to pull markets, an acceleration of ordering process, and the growing need for additional services and all-in-one solutions. “MUSTANG has impressively shown how – thanks to a dedicated IT team, a strong IT infrastructure and collaborative supply chain partners – a fashion company made it through a difficult period and has positioned itself well for the future,” Duester said.

 

Russian judges excluded from IFOY jury

In light of the actions taking place in eastern Europe, the IFOY organisation is showing unity with Ukraine by excluding Russia from participation in the IFOY AWARD.

Representatives of Russia on the jury and advisory board will be relieved of their duties until further notice, which means that Anton Mizunov (editor-in-chief of Skladskoj Komplex) and Vladimir Antonov (Editor-in-Chief of Sklad i Technika), both active and well-respected journalists within the IFOY community, have been suspended from the advisory team.

The IFOY organisation issued the following statement:

Russian jurors will no longer be able to vote on winners or participate in IFOY AWARD events. This will initially affect the IFOY TEST DAYS with the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS from March 21 – 23, 2022 in Dortmund, as well as the award ceremony on June 30, 2022, in Munich. Visitors and exhibitors from Russia will also be excluded from attending.

We will decide on the exclusion of Russian manufacturers from the IFOY AWARD 2023 in good time before the application phase begins in August 2022.

This decision has not been easy for us, yet we consider it to be of no alternative to send a signal against this unprecedented war of aggression against Ukraine. We explicitly emphasise at this point that this step does not change the respect for the jurors, media, applicants, and visitors who have represented Russia in the IFOY AWARD committees. We have highly appreciated their competence and cooperation in the IFOY network. We personally ask them for their understanding and hope that we will meet again soon in peace.

The IFOY (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) AWARD is the largest independent, international intralogistics competition. The jury now includes twenty-five judges from 19 countries on all continents.

Russian judges excluded from IFOY jury

In light of the actions taking place in eastern Europe, the IFOY organisation is showing unity with Ukraine by excluding Russia from participation in the IFOY AWARD.

Representatives of Russia on the jury and advisory board will be relieved of their duties until further notice, which means that Anton Mizunov (editor-in-chief of Skladskoj Komplex) and Vladimir Antonov (Editor-in-Chief of Sklad i Technika), both active and well-respected journalists within the IFOY community, have been suspended from the advisory team.

The IFOY organisation issued the following statement:

Russian jurors will no longer be able to vote on winners or participate in IFOY AWARD events. This will initially affect the IFOY TEST DAYS with the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS from March 21 – 23, 2022 in Dortmund, as well as the award ceremony on June 30, 2022, in Munich. Visitors and exhibitors from Russia will also be excluded from attending.

We will decide on the exclusion of Russian manufacturers from the IFOY AWARD 2023 in good time before the application phase begins in August 2022.

This decision has not been easy for us, yet we consider it to be of no alternative to send a signal against this unprecedented war of aggression against Ukraine. We explicitly emphasise at this point that this step does not change the respect for the jurors, media, applicants, and visitors who have represented Russia in the IFOY AWARD committees. We have highly appreciated their competence and cooperation in the IFOY network. We personally ask them for their understanding and hope that we will meet again soon in peace.

The IFOY (International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year) AWARD is the largest independent, international intralogistics competition. The jury now includes twenty-five judges from 19 countries on all continents.

Sparck produces 100-millionth fit-to-size box

Sparck Technologies, the new name for Packaging by Quadient, has hit a major milestone with 100 million boxes produced on its revolutionary fit-to-size packaging machines worldwide. As Sparck’s advanced CVP Everest and CVP Impack packaging systems make each cardboard box to the exact size required for every particular order, the company calculates that some 34,250,000 sq m of cardboard has been saved through the use of its technology, equating to the preservation of 46,000 trees.

In addition to the material savings and ecological benefits, the effect of the total volume reduction resulting from fit-to-size packaging across 100 million packages is estimated to have removed 31,700 lorry loads from the roads, contributing to reductions in the carbon footprint of Sparck Technologies’ customers worldwide.

Jo Bradley, Business Development Manager, Sparck Technologies, says: “Hitting this key milestone of one hundred million boxes really brings home the growing pace of adoption of right-size packaging technology and the important role it is playing in making ecommerce more sustainable.

“Our calculations relating to the significant total savings in resources and transport that have been achieved, gives some idea of the collective, positive impact individual companies can make by using available technology to right-size their packaging. Given that the collective gains are clearly so significant, imagine what could be achieved through industry wide adoption.”

With the capability to tailor-make up to 1,100 packages per hour, for multiple or single items, the CVP Everest and CVP Impack Packaging Systems offer automated solutions for e-commerce operations challenged by increasing order volumes, labour shortages and rising shipping costs. With installations in more than 13 countries, the CVP Automated Packaging Solutions effortlessly create, fill, fold and label each parcel in one seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill.

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