PALLITE launches high-density storage solutions in US

PALLITE, an award-winning international designer and manufacturer of 100% recyclable high-density storage units, has launched to the US market with a new manufacturing base in Milwaukee and a presence at the MODEX trade show.

Building on its existing global success, PALLITE’s innovative storage units, PIX, transform warehouses by consolidating pick-faces to maximise available space.

PALLITE PIX is a range of lightweight, flexible, and robust storage and shelving units designed to flex to the ever-changing demands of the modern warehouse. This innovative range of modular storage units can be designed to each customer’s individual requirements, maximising every inch of warehouse space, revolutionising picking efficiencies and improving pick accuracy.

Constructed from honeycomb board, PIX units can be built in minutes with no tools or expensive installation costs. The durability of each pick-face is impressive, even after the repetition of picking, the pick face retains its form and rigidity to prevent sagging and damage.

The use of interchangeable dividers allows users to quickly introduce multiple additional pick faces to suit product needs and eliminate dead space. One major UK retailer required 9,000 pick-faces quickly to cope with its expanding e-commerce sales. PALLITE rapidly designed custom units with 96 pick locations per unit for delivery within two weeks. The customer was able to build all units on site within eight hours.

Lightweight and forklift compatible, PIX units come fitted with pallet feet to allow easy movement.

Customers can choose from an extensive standard range or opt for a tailor-made solution, allowing them to specify units that meet their own space or pick-face requirements. The recent addition of an angled shelf unit allows customers to specify a picking solution that solves the problem of SKUs sliding out the front of the pick-face. Each shelf has a smooth edge applied for labelling to allow for items to be easily identified to improve pick accuracy. The PALLITE PIX range is strong enough to hold up to up to 1,100lb (500kg) per unit and remains lightweight to protect teams from manual handling injuries.

“Consumer demands are ever-changing, and supply chains are always under pressure to squeeze the asset against headwinds. With shifts in sales density and store sizes changing, labour and fuel inflation, as well as more dynamic consumers, it is more important than ever to focus on more flexible use of space and improving productivity,” said Iain Hulmes, PALLITE Group CEO.

Datalogic acquires Czech algorithm developer

Datalogic S.r.l. has acquired the entire share capital of Pekat S.r.o. With its registered office in Brno in the Czech Republic, Pekat is a start-up founded by Petr Smid, the majority shareholder of the company, who has developed proprietary algorithms that use machine learning and deep learning for the automation of processes in the manufacturing, transportation and logistics sectors, with further potential for managing retail applications.

Pekat’s product is a highly innovative software based on proprietary algorithms that can be adapted and proposed in different fields of application, and compatible with different devices and platforms. Pekat’s software package perfectly combines with Datalogic’s hardware product lines. The joint offer will allow Datalogic to widen its product range with cutting-edge and easy-to-integrate solutions, to be offered to customers across industries to increase productivity and support their growth. The hardware-agnostic software can be used on third-party devices and platforms at the same time.

“We are excited about this acquisition, aimed at consolidating our machine and deep learning skills and enhance our hardware product range with solutions based on high-performance algorithms,” stated Valentina Volta, Group CEO of Datalogic. “Thanks to Pekat’s know-how and staff, Datalogic will continue to expand its software offering by developing additional algorithms.

“Customers are increasingly implementing automated solutions to enable their workers to focus on more complex and higher-value tasks. Machine learning and deep learning are key technologies to help them achieve this goal. Being able to count on the newly acquired Pekat, at a time of great challenges such as those imposed by the current global scenario, also enables us to evolve towards artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, which will be fundamental in meeting the constantly evolving needs of our customers.

“2022 is a fundamental year for Datalogic as it marks the 50th anniversary of its establishment, which we will also celebrate with the acquisition of Pekat. This acquisition proves Datalogic’s desire to strengthen its position as an innovator and to pursue its growth strategy, always looking for cutting-edge solutions for its customers.”

Petr Smid added: “At Pekat, we believe that tools such as artificial intelligence and machine vision improve the efficiency of processes in a wide variety of industries, with huge benefits for customers. By using artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning, automation will make the world better and faster.

“Our technology is independent from application areas and permits autonomous processes in different sectors, from production to transportation and logistics, up to retail. We are proud to join forces with Datalogic to expand the business worldwide.”

The value of the transaction amounts to €16m for the entire share capital, today held by a plurality of shareholders, the majority consisting of the founder and employees of the company, who will become part of the Datalogic Group. The acquisition is financed with available cash of the purchasing entity, without need for additional external sources of financing.

A part of the purchase price will be deposited in escrow and released within an agreed period of time upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

 

Datalogic acquires Czech algorithm developer

Datalogic S.r.l. has acquired the entire share capital of Pekat S.r.o. With its registered office in Brno in the Czech Republic, Pekat is a start-up founded by Petr Smid, the majority shareholder of the company, who has developed proprietary algorithms that use machine learning and deep learning for the automation of processes in the manufacturing, transportation and logistics sectors, with further potential for managing retail applications.

Pekat’s product is a highly innovative software based on proprietary algorithms that can be adapted and proposed in different fields of application, and compatible with different devices and platforms. Pekat’s software package perfectly combines with Datalogic’s hardware product lines. The joint offer will allow Datalogic to widen its product range with cutting-edge and easy-to-integrate solutions, to be offered to customers across industries to increase productivity and support their growth. The hardware-agnostic software can be used on third-party devices and platforms at the same time.

“We are excited about this acquisition, aimed at consolidating our machine and deep learning skills and enhance our hardware product range with solutions based on high-performance algorithms,” stated Valentina Volta, Group CEO of Datalogic. “Thanks to Pekat’s know-how and staff, Datalogic will continue to expand its software offering by developing additional algorithms.

“Customers are increasingly implementing automated solutions to enable their workers to focus on more complex and higher-value tasks. Machine learning and deep learning are key technologies to help them achieve this goal. Being able to count on the newly acquired Pekat, at a time of great challenges such as those imposed by the current global scenario, also enables us to evolve towards artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, which will be fundamental in meeting the constantly evolving needs of our customers.

“2022 is a fundamental year for Datalogic as it marks the 50th anniversary of its establishment, which we will also celebrate with the acquisition of Pekat. This acquisition proves Datalogic’s desire to strengthen its position as an innovator and to pursue its growth strategy, always looking for cutting-edge solutions for its customers.”

Petr Smid added: “At Pekat, we believe that tools such as artificial intelligence and machine vision improve the efficiency of processes in a wide variety of industries, with huge benefits for customers. By using artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning, automation will make the world better and faster.

“Our technology is independent from application areas and permits autonomous processes in different sectors, from production to transportation and logistics, up to retail. We are proud to join forces with Datalogic to expand the business worldwide.”

The value of the transaction amounts to €16m for the entire share capital, today held by a plurality of shareholders, the majority consisting of the founder and employees of the company, who will become part of the Datalogic Group. The acquisition is financed with available cash of the purchasing entity, without need for additional external sources of financing.

A part of the purchase price will be deposited in escrow and released within an agreed period of time upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

 

Cargotec/Konecranes merger blocked

The UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked the merger between Cargotec and Konecranes. According to the CMA’s final report issued on Tuesday 29th March, the remedies – which would have removed all overlapping businesses of the two companies and were accepted by the European Commission (EC) – would not be effective in addressing the CMA’s concerns and thus the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes cannot be completed.

The completion of the planned merger would have required approvals from all relevant competition authorities. Thus, Cargotec and Konecranes have decided to cancel the planned merger.

Cargotec and Konecranes have obtained clearances for the planned merger from numerous competition authorities. As announced on 24th February, 2022, the EC conditionally approved the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes on the basis of the same remedy package rejected by the CMA, which comprised commitments to divest Konecranes Lift Truck business and Kalmar Automation Solutions. In addition, the State Administration for Market Regulation (the competition authority in China) and nine other jurisdictions have approved the planned merger.

In addition to the clearances of the above competition authorities, completion of the merger remained subject to further approvals from various other competition authorities, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the United States,  with whom Cargotec and Konecranes have been in continuous dialogue.

In response to feedback received from the CMA during the course of their investigations, the boards of directors of Cargotec and Konecranes carefully considered amending the remedy package offered to the EC further, as well as offering alternative remedy packages to address the concerns raised by the CMA.

The boards of directors did not, however, find any satisfactory solution which would have addressed the concerns of the CMA and which would have been in the best interest of the shareholders of Cargotec and Konecranes, and of the combined company, without jeopardising the rationale of the proposed merger as presented on 1st October 2020.

As a consequence of the CMA’s negative final report, the boards of directors Cargotec and Konecranes have therefore concluded that it is in the best interest of each of Cargotec and Konecranes and their respective shareholders that the merger is cancelled.

Ilkka Herlin, the Chairman of Cargotec, stated: “The Board of Cargotec is convinced that the merger would have created substantial value for the entire industry as well as shareholders by improving sustainable material flow. The combination would have created a strong European company enabling accelerated shared abilities to innovate without harming competition.

“We have done all we could to realise the merger and are disappointed that our plans have had to be abandoned. After a long and extensive regulatory review process and merger planning preparations it is time to shift our full focus on executing Cargotec’s own strategy and value-creation opportunities.”

Christoph Vitzthum, the Chairman of Konecranes, stated: “The combination of Konecranes and Cargotec, as planned and announced on 1st October 2020, would have created a company that would have been greater than the sum of its parts. The merger control process has been extensive and the investigations thorough, and Konecranes Board of Directors is disappointed that the remedy package offered did not satisfy the concerns of all regulators.

“At the same time, we believe that further remedies would have not been in the best interest of Konecranes’ shareholders as they would have changed the strategic rationale of the transaction. Konecranes will continue to drive its strategy and pursue value-creation potential on a stand-alone basis.”

Cargotec and Konecranes will immediately cease the pursuit of the merger and the related processes and continue to operate separately as fully independent companies.

By the end of 2021, Konecranes had booked €56m and Cargotec €57m of merger related transaction and integration planning costs. The total transaction cost estimate of €125m (excluding integration planning costs) remains valid. The final transaction and integration planning costs will be reported when available.

 

Cargotec/Konecranes merger blocked

The UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked the merger between Cargotec and Konecranes. According to the CMA’s final report issued on Tuesday 29th March, the remedies – which would have removed all overlapping businesses of the two companies and were accepted by the European Commission (EC) – would not be effective in addressing the CMA’s concerns and thus the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes cannot be completed.

The completion of the planned merger would have required approvals from all relevant competition authorities. Thus, Cargotec and Konecranes have decided to cancel the planned merger.

Cargotec and Konecranes have obtained clearances for the planned merger from numerous competition authorities. As announced on 24th February, 2022, the EC conditionally approved the planned merger between Cargotec and Konecranes on the basis of the same remedy package rejected by the CMA, which comprised commitments to divest Konecranes Lift Truck business and Kalmar Automation Solutions. In addition, the State Administration for Market Regulation (the competition authority in China) and nine other jurisdictions have approved the planned merger.

In addition to the clearances of the above competition authorities, completion of the merger remained subject to further approvals from various other competition authorities, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the United States,  with whom Cargotec and Konecranes have been in continuous dialogue.

In response to feedback received from the CMA during the course of their investigations, the boards of directors of Cargotec and Konecranes carefully considered amending the remedy package offered to the EC further, as well as offering alternative remedy packages to address the concerns raised by the CMA.

The boards of directors did not, however, find any satisfactory solution which would have addressed the concerns of the CMA and which would have been in the best interest of the shareholders of Cargotec and Konecranes, and of the combined company, without jeopardising the rationale of the proposed merger as presented on 1st October 2020.

As a consequence of the CMA’s negative final report, the boards of directors Cargotec and Konecranes have therefore concluded that it is in the best interest of each of Cargotec and Konecranes and their respective shareholders that the merger is cancelled.

Ilkka Herlin, the Chairman of Cargotec, stated: “The Board of Cargotec is convinced that the merger would have created substantial value for the entire industry as well as shareholders by improving sustainable material flow. The combination would have created a strong European company enabling accelerated shared abilities to innovate without harming competition.

“We have done all we could to realise the merger and are disappointed that our plans have had to be abandoned. After a long and extensive regulatory review process and merger planning preparations it is time to shift our full focus on executing Cargotec’s own strategy and value-creation opportunities.”

Christoph Vitzthum, the Chairman of Konecranes, stated: “The combination of Konecranes and Cargotec, as planned and announced on 1st October 2020, would have created a company that would have been greater than the sum of its parts. The merger control process has been extensive and the investigations thorough, and Konecranes Board of Directors is disappointed that the remedy package offered did not satisfy the concerns of all regulators.

“At the same time, we believe that further remedies would have not been in the best interest of Konecranes’ shareholders as they would have changed the strategic rationale of the transaction. Konecranes will continue to drive its strategy and pursue value-creation potential on a stand-alone basis.”

Cargotec and Konecranes will immediately cease the pursuit of the merger and the related processes and continue to operate separately as fully independent companies.

By the end of 2021, Konecranes had booked €56m and Cargotec €57m of merger related transaction and integration planning costs. The total transaction cost estimate of €125m (excluding integration planning costs) remains valid. The final transaction and integration planning costs will be reported when available.

 

Hörmann acquires loading bay competitor

Fen-Bay Group, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of industrial doors and loading bays which includes Lincolnshire-based Fen-Bay Services and Doncaster-based Transdek, has been acquired by Hörmann UK.

The move will see ongoing investment in the group, which will now be part of Hörmann, Europe’s largest provider of gates, doors, frames and operators. The sale was facilitated by Duncan & Toplis, one of the East Midlands’ largest independent chartered accountants and business advisers.

Combined, the Fen-Bay group employs 150 people, including over 100 full time engineers who support its 24/7, nationwide service support provision.

Commenting on the acquisition, Wolfgang Gorner, Managing Director of Hörmann UK said: “We are delighted to welcome the Fen-Bay Group to the Hörmann family. We see this as a natural fit and a key part of our drive to increase our footprint in the industrial and service sectors. The Fen-Bay Group with its excellent brand, reputation and nationwide coverage will complement our existing operations, but will allow us to compete even more so in these areas.

“We are also excited to build on the success already achieved by Transdek throughout Europe and we are committed to ongoing investment in the Fen-Bay Group operations. We see great potential moving forward.”

Carl Sedlan, Managing Director of the Fen-Bay Group said: “We already have extensive experience of Hörmann and its strong family values, which resonated strongly with our management team. Everyone is genuinely excited by the opportunities moving forward and becoming part of such a well-known and respected group.”

Duncan & Toplis helped negotiate finer details with the chosen buyer and helped to manage the sale process, the supply of information and supported the completion of the sale along with associated tax advice and financial planning support. Duncan & Toplis Director, Damon Brain, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Fen-Bay and Hörmann on this sale. Fen-Bay is a renowned and respected company based in our region and we’re pleased to have played a role in helping to secure its future with a committed investor that can support its continued growth and success.”

 

 

 

 

Hörmann acquires loading bay competitor

Fen-Bay Group, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of industrial doors and loading bays which includes Lincolnshire-based Fen-Bay Services and Doncaster-based Transdek, has been acquired by Hörmann UK.

The move will see ongoing investment in the group, which will now be part of Hörmann, Europe’s largest provider of gates, doors, frames and operators. The sale was facilitated by Duncan & Toplis, one of the East Midlands’ largest independent chartered accountants and business advisers.

Combined, the Fen-Bay group employs 150 people, including over 100 full time engineers who support its 24/7, nationwide service support provision.

Commenting on the acquisition, Wolfgang Gorner, Managing Director of Hörmann UK said: “We are delighted to welcome the Fen-Bay Group to the Hörmann family. We see this as a natural fit and a key part of our drive to increase our footprint in the industrial and service sectors. The Fen-Bay Group with its excellent brand, reputation and nationwide coverage will complement our existing operations, but will allow us to compete even more so in these areas.

“We are also excited to build on the success already achieved by Transdek throughout Europe and we are committed to ongoing investment in the Fen-Bay Group operations. We see great potential moving forward.”

Carl Sedlan, Managing Director of the Fen-Bay Group said: “We already have extensive experience of Hörmann and its strong family values, which resonated strongly with our management team. Everyone is genuinely excited by the opportunities moving forward and becoming part of such a well-known and respected group.”

Duncan & Toplis helped negotiate finer details with the chosen buyer and helped to manage the sale process, the supply of information and supported the completion of the sale along with associated tax advice and financial planning support. Duncan & Toplis Director, Damon Brain, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Fen-Bay and Hörmann on this sale. Fen-Bay is a renowned and respected company based in our region and we’re pleased to have played a role in helping to secure its future with a committed investor that can support its continued growth and success.”

 

 

 

 

Worker/robot collaboration optimised by partnership

Lucas Systems, a leading provider of voice and warehouse optimisation software for fulfilment and distribution centres, has formed a partnership with Silicon Valley-based Fetch Robotics to enable the next generation of smart warehouses. Through the partnership, Lucas and Fetch will offer tailored solutions to orchestrate and optimise how warehouse workers interact in harmony with Fetch’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Fulfilment and distribution centres are under tremendous pressure due to growth in e-commerce combined with a shrinking labour market. Lucas executives say its clients need help increasing throughput and maintaining high worker productivity while meeting accuracy and more stringent customer delivery requirements. These market pressures have led to rethinking old models and focusing on new, innovative ways to improve DC performance.

“The future environment of warehouses and distribution centres will be a mix of people, robots, machines, and systems all working together. The precise orchestration of all the pieces will be key to achieving a competitive advantage in performance,” said Ken Ramoutar, Chief Marketing Officer at Lucas Systems.

“The combination of Lucas‘ AI-based warehouse optimisation software and Fetch’s broad portfolio of AMRs enables optimised order, batch, case, and pallet picking in distribution centres and automates virtually any manual material movement in a facility,” said Stefan Nusser, Chief Product Officer at Fetch Robotics. “This enables our joint customers to increase picking efficiency, reduce cycle times, and reduce the impact of labour shortages.”

“That intersection of how people and robots work together is a hugely important and often overlooked part of the warehouse automation equation, but it’s where a lot of the unseen value exists,” says Ramoutar.

The combined solutions from Fetch and Lucas will materially redistribute the division of labour in the warehouse. Robots will manage tasks best suited for machines, and this will free up warehouse workers to focus on higher-valued work. In an AMR-supported picking workflow orchestrated by Lucas, for example, a worker can avoid a lot of unnecessary walking by picking items to a tote on a Fetch AMR, directing the AMR to a conveyor system to unload, and then triggering another robot to move into place for the worker to continue picking.

Worker/robot collaboration optimised by partnership

Lucas Systems, a leading provider of voice and warehouse optimisation software for fulfilment and distribution centres, has formed a partnership with Silicon Valley-based Fetch Robotics to enable the next generation of smart warehouses. Through the partnership, Lucas and Fetch will offer tailored solutions to orchestrate and optimise how warehouse workers interact in harmony with Fetch’s autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Fulfilment and distribution centres are under tremendous pressure due to growth in e-commerce combined with a shrinking labour market. Lucas executives say its clients need help increasing throughput and maintaining high worker productivity while meeting accuracy and more stringent customer delivery requirements. These market pressures have led to rethinking old models and focusing on new, innovative ways to improve DC performance.

“The future environment of warehouses and distribution centres will be a mix of people, robots, machines, and systems all working together. The precise orchestration of all the pieces will be key to achieving a competitive advantage in performance,” said Ken Ramoutar, Chief Marketing Officer at Lucas Systems.

“The combination of Lucas‘ AI-based warehouse optimisation software and Fetch’s broad portfolio of AMRs enables optimised order, batch, case, and pallet picking in distribution centres and automates virtually any manual material movement in a facility,” said Stefan Nusser, Chief Product Officer at Fetch Robotics. “This enables our joint customers to increase picking efficiency, reduce cycle times, and reduce the impact of labour shortages.”

“That intersection of how people and robots work together is a hugely important and often overlooked part of the warehouse automation equation, but it’s where a lot of the unseen value exists,” says Ramoutar.

The combined solutions from Fetch and Lucas will materially redistribute the division of labour in the warehouse. Robots will manage tasks best suited for machines, and this will free up warehouse workers to focus on higher-valued work. In an AMR-supported picking workflow orchestrated by Lucas, for example, a worker can avoid a lot of unnecessary walking by picking items to a tote on a Fetch AMR, directing the AMR to a conveyor system to unload, and then triggering another robot to move into place for the worker to continue picking.

FedEx Express extends reach of e-commerce proposition

FedEx Express has now made its international, day-definite e-commerce service available to customers in 24 European countries with connections to 47 markets worldwide.

After a successful 10-market launch in 2021 (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands), FedEx International Connect Plus (FICP), is now available in an additional 14 countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Now connecting almost 99% of the world’s GDP, services such as FICP enable e-commerce sellers to grow their business in Europe and abroad. Those businesses will be able to ship their products to online shoppers in Europe in 1-3 days, North America in 3-4 days, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world in 3-5 days at attractive rates, improving their competitiveness in the market.

Wouter Roels, Senior Vice President Marketing International, FedEx Express Europe, said: “Worldwide e-commerce sales are expected to exceed $5tr in 2022 and grow to over $7tr in 2025, creating many opportunities for European businesses. With the latest extension of FICP to growth markets in eastern and northern Europe, FedEx Express is supporting businesses on their growth journeys by connecting them to more customers in global and intra-European markets.”

”The launch of FedEx International Connect Plus in Ireland is an exciting development for e-commerce businesses who want to reach global online shoppers with speed and efficiency,” said Brian DeCair, Vice President Operations Ireland and UK North, FedEx Express. ‘’Cross-border e-commerce is growing faster than domestic e-commerce and businesses are increasingly seeking more diversified, cost-effective solutions in order to meet consumers’ evolving needs and this new cross-border service, balancing speed with attractive prices, delivers just that.”

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, the retail landscape has transformed with growth in both domestic and cross border e-commerce sales. Consumer research in 40 countries worldwide shows that, in 2020, 37% of e-commerce shoppers bought more cross border due to the pandemic. Furthermore, 28% agreed or strongly agreed that, in the future, they will buy more online from retailers based abroad.

Asked about several elements of the delivery process, consumers indicated satisfaction levels for delivery speed were lowest. In addition, 71% of consumers would pick an online retailer that offers flexible delivery options over one that doesn’t.

The service comes with the reliability of FedEx’s international, day-definite delivery, coupled with FedEx’s customs clearance expertise and tracking capabilities. E-commerce sellers can also send out notifications and shoppers have the flexibility to change the day and location of deliveries via FedEx Delivery Manager, providing them with visibility, more control and convenience over their online orders.

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