April 2022

HAI displays warehouse automation technology

Posted on 26 April, 2022 by David Priestman

HAI ROBOTICS, a pioneer in Autonomous Case-handling Robot (ACR) systems for warehouse logistics, will for the first time display its technology in Italy, at the upcoming Intralogistica Italia 2022 from 3^rd-6^th May in Fiera Milano.

The company, with European headquarters in the Netherlands, will run live demos of its solution with HAIPICK A42 robot at the tradeshow in Italy (Booth C11/D12 Hall 10), which sees rising demand for more flexible and cost-efficient Goods-to-Person order-picking solutions as e-commerce grows fast in recent years.

Davide Tuzi, HAI ROBOTICS‘ Country Manager Italy, said: “Our ACR system is an excellent solution for the challenges the Italian warehousing/logistics market is facing, and an excellent solution deserves a team of excellent people to support it. This is the kind of team we are building up in Europe, and in Italy in particular.

“We aim to create a local network of system integrator, installation and service partners, so that any user of ACR systems can expect rapid and high-quality service wherever they are in Italy.”

The second-largest manufacturing country in Europe, Italy has strong curiosity for automation, including automating warehouses and distribution centres, as the government is pushing forward to develop Industry 4.0, Tuzi said.

As the EU’s third-largest economy, Italy registers solid growth in e-commerce, catalysed by Covid-19 lockdown. The country is the 14^th-largest market for eCommerce with a revenue of US$26bn in 2021, according to Statista Digital Market Outlook.

Also, as fewer people want to do hard manual labour, the lack of enough qualified workers is another driver for warehouses in Italy to turn their eyes on automation, Tuzi said, noting robots will improve the work environment in warehouses.

HAI ROBOTICS‘ ACR systems, using HAIPICK robots doing picking and sorting, offer a warehousing efficiency of three to four times faster than manual work and allow maximum space utilisation. The HAIPICK A42 robot can reach as high as 8m and carry eight loads of totes/cartons in one movement to continuously feed Goods-to-Person stations. The robot, supported by AI algorithms and equipped with high-precision cameras, boasts 99.99% picking and sorting accuracy, thus eliminating the risk of returns due to errors.

The ACR systems can be implemented in a very short time and are easily scalable. Clients can scale the project according to their growth curves with little disruption to operation. Hence, they are ideal for existing warehouses.

The systems have been implemented in more than 500 projects around the world, including leading brands of e-commerce, 3PL, manufacturing and apparels, many of which have faced strong seasonal peaks.

Honeywell and Hai Robotics Collaborate

Hoppecke helps tackle rising MHE energy costs

Posted on 26 April, 202225 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Once again, businesses that rely on materials handling equipment (MHE) must get to grips with rising energy costs. Against a backdrop of global supply issues, new legislation and spiralling energy prices, Hoppecke is offering to help UK businesses that rely on MHE to mitigate against rising costs.

As many businesses consider switching from IC engine trucks to an electric-powered fleet, as part of its free energy audit offer, Hoppecke will assess their operation and how it uses equipment to determine the key cost savings to be made using the latest battery technology.

Meanwhile, new UK government legislation, introduced on 1st April 2022, has seen all non-agricultural businesses banned from using red diesel to power their machines, also leading to bigger energy bills. This comes at a time when unprecedented global increases in the cost of white diesel, and in turn LPG gas, are set to send energy costs spiralling ever higher.

Gus Whyte, Sales Director UK and Ireland at Hoppecke, says: “Standard lead acid batteries will suit some operations, whilst others will benefit from lithium-powered systems or other battery technologies that require regular opportunity charging. However, the big issue is recharging and electricity supply costs.

“The world energy market is changing from week to week so we’ve no idea about likely increases. Therefore, irrespective of the technology you choose, it’s vital to appreciate the costs involved in recharging batteries.”

Two key considerations govern the recharging of electric MHE: the amount of power the machine draws during operation and the charger’s percentage of inefficiency. With lithium batteries and regular opportunity charging, the amount of energy returned determines the cost of this energy replacement. It’s also influenced by the kilowatt unit cost of electricity when drawn from the AC mains supply.

Accessing low-cost energy will keep costs down. This means using off-peak time electricity, usually available between 22.00 and 06.00, to your advantage. It’s important because it can cost 28-32% less than electricity consumed at peak rate.

Employing the latest technology also helps to reduce energy bills. For example, Hoppecke say its high efficiency TCHF smart charger is 23% more efficient than a standard low frequency charger, whilst adding the company’s Trak-Air system delivers a further 11% efficiency.

For added flexibility, there’s the TCHF and TCHF Trak-Air system weekly planner. This allows charges to be pre-set individually for every day of the week. No matter what time the charger is connected to the battery, it only operates within the pre-set times, enabling businesses to benefit from full use of lower cost electricity.

Whyte adds: “After the challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic this is an especially difficult time for logistics businesses. We’re committed to helping them really understand their energy needs so they can invest in an MHE fleet that will deliver efficiencies as well as key cost savings.”

Hoppecke helps tackle rising MHE energy costs

Posted on 26 April, 2022 by David Priestman

Pregis opens European packaging innovation centre

Posted on 26 April, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Pregis, a leading global manufacturer of protective packaging, has invested in a new 1,960 sq m (21,000 sq ft) customer experience facility in Europe designed to provide a holistic solutions approach to protective packaging challenges and reduce costly waste incurred by damaged products.

The new Pregis innovation headquarters, called the Pregis IQ, is located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. It will open in April as a customer demonstration and training facility designed to optimise packaging methods.

“Our objective is to provide value-added services to assist brand owners in selecting protective packaging materials and systems that will reduce total cost, achieve sustainability goals and improve packing efficiency to help address labour challenges,” said Paul van Dijk, Marketing & IQ Director, Pregis Europe. “Pregis has always prided itself in being a material-neutral supplier focused on protecting what’s important to our customers. Our broad material and equipment expertise puts us in an ideal position to recommend a solution that is truly in the brand owner’s best interest.”

As companies and brand owners are faced with challenges that range from limited space, labour constraints, increased demand and desire to package with sustainable materials, Pregis says it is able to demonstrate and offer customer centric system-based solutions approach. At the Pregis IQ, visitors can see how protecting products from damage, minimising material usage, improving operational efficiency, creating a positive ergonomic environment for workers and joyful unboxing experience for customers is all possible with the right partner.

“The shift toward e-commerce growth means expanding order mix, greater complexity and more packaging diversity,” van Dijk said. “Labour and seasonality also impact fulfilment operations’ ability to meet orders, complicating packaging and leading to increased damages. Further, network shipping constraints, coupled with increasing costs, are expected to continue. This means to achieve customer loyalty more customisation and unique solutions will be required to adequately compete.

“By engaging the Pregis IQ services, we can take all of these factors into account and recommend the most environmentally preferred option that integrates into a customer’s operations while delivering measurable benefits.”

The European Pregis IQ is in addition to Pregis’ US-based IQ which has been operational since 2019. The expansion will help Pregis unify its consultative approach across North America and Europe.

Pregis opens European packaging innovation centre

Posted on 26 April, 2022 by David Priestman

The European Pregis IQ is in addition to Pregis’ US-based IQ which has been operational since 2019. The expansion will help Pregis unify its consultative approach across North America and Europe.

Freightline delivers essential items to Ukraine

Posted on 26 April, 2022 by David Priestman

Eager to support the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, UK logistics expert Freightline has helped deliver a lorry full of essential items to people in Ukraine.

Working with its client Norgren, the Warwickshire-based logistics and freight company helped arrange and transport a 40ft trailer packed with supplies to Poland, destined for distribution to Ukraine through humanitarian supply routes.

“We wanted to do something to help Ukraine, so when our friends at Norgren approached us, we jumped at the chance, ” says Carl Tipping, Key Account Manager at Freightline. “Urgent and time-critical logistics is what we do best.”

Goods ranging from baby products such as nappies and wet wipes, to essentials like clothing and sleeping bags, and food including pasta and tinned fruit, were all collected and efficiently packed into 17 pallets by Freightline.

Accustomed to working around the clock to support their clients with end-to-end logistics, Tipping and his colleagues worked late into the evening to prepare the transportation.

The truck arrived in Poland just four days after the initial collection of products, due in part to Freightline being able to quickly process the necessary paperwork and customs documentation.

From Poland’s capital, the goods have subsequently been distributed by The Red Cross to civilians in need across Ukraine via humanitarian corridors.

“The items in the lorry are hopefully already making a difference to people and families living in the scariest of situations. Everyone in our team was so keen to help,” adds Tipping.

From its headquarters in the Midlands, Freightline provides logistics including warehousing, freight forwarding, road transportation and air freight across the UK and internationally.

In particular, it specialises in urgent and time-critical logistics, quickly getting goods to the places they are needed in Britain, Europe and beyond.

“Few things are as urgent as helping people in Ukraine who are seeing their homes destroyed and families threatened. I’m pleased we were able to use our know-how to arrange the transportation as swiftly as we did,” adds Tipping.

In addition to supporting the transportation of humanitarian relief to Ukraine, other members of the Freightline team have also been doing their bit to help too.

Team Leader Martina Cunderlikova recently visited her home country of Slovakia with money donated by her colleagues and others to help 200 Ukrainian refuges being welcomed to her home town of Banska Stiavnica.

“I think we all took inspiration from Martina and what the people of her home town are doing to open their homes to people in need,” concludes Tipping.

The funds raised by Cunderlikova have helped to provide food and supermarket vouchers for essentials items.