June 2022

Logistics Hall of Fame appoints new jurors

Posted on 9 June, 2022 by David Priestman

The Logistics Hall of Fame has announced the appointment of six new jury members for the start of the new voting phase in 2022. Logistics Business has once again been honoured by the appointment of its News Editor, Peter MacLeod, to the jury panel.

For the first time, the following jurors will cast their vote in 2022:

Prof. Dr Christian Grotemeier, Professor of Mobility Management and Business Administration at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Prof. Dr Julia Hartmann, Professor of Sustainability Management at the EBS University of Economics and Law, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Maj-Britt Pohlmann, Director Operational Excellence FIEGE Group, Germany
Martin Schwemmer, Managing Director of Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V., Germany
Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Germany
Peter MacLeod, Logistics Business News Editor, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

In total, more than 70 jury members from numerous countries will vote on who will enter the Logistics Hall of Fame at the end of 2022 and who will be allowed to carry the “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” award in the future. The jurors come from business, media, associations and politics or are active as scientists. Both awards are presented at the annual gala reception at the end of the year in Berlin.

Logistics Hall of Fame appoints new jurors

Posted on 9 June, 2022 by Keith McKinley

For the first time, the following jurors will cast their vote in 2022:

Prof. Dr Christian Grotemeier, Professor of Mobility Management and Business Administration at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Prof. Dr Julia Hartmann, Professor of Sustainability Management at the EBS University of Economics and Law, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Maj-Britt Pohlmann, Director Operational Excellence FIEGE Group, Germany
Martin Schwemmer, Managing Director of Bundesvereinigung Logistik e.V., Germany
Oliver Luksic, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Germany
Peter MacLeod, Logistics Business News Editor, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Freightline’s multilingual team enhances service

Posted on 8 June, 2022 by David Priestman

With 11 different languages spoken amongst its team, logistics specialist Freightline has been helping its clients ensure language barriers don’t get in the way when shipping goods across Europe and beyond.

The majority of Freightline’s employees are multilingual, with 80% of staff speaking at least two languages including Ukrainian, Spanish, Mandarin and Czech.

Language barriers can be a significant challenge for logistics companies, especially for businesses like Freightline which operate across a variety of different countries.

“Being multilingual makes it easier to break down language barriers to understand our clients, to read documents of all kinds and to find information more quickly,” says Rafal Poplawski, Logistics Co-ordinator at Freightline.

Not being able to understand someone can lead to breakdowns of communication which can have long-term effects including delivery errors and delays – particularly risky for time-critical deliveries.

Speaking the language of its international customers has many benefits for Freightline, including a much simpler and speedier process through bypassing a translator.

“I had a time-critical air charter collection from Portugal and the driver was Polish. By communicating directly with the drivers in their own language, the process was much faster and more convenient than asking for translation,” says Martina Cunderlikova, European Operations Team Leader at Freightline.

Freightline specialises in urgent time-critical deliveries which heavily rely on clear communication between the different parties involved. With smooth processes critical for on-time deliveries, commanding almost a dozen foreign languages gives Freightline a clear advantage for its day-to-day operations.

“Communication with our carriers and clients in Poland is definitely easier because we are multilingual,” adds Kamil Potrec, European Operations Coordinator at Freightline.

Freightline’s multilingual team enhances service

Posted on 8 June, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The majority of Freightline’s employees are multilingual, with 80% of staff speaking at least two languages including Ukrainian, Spanish, Mandarin and Czech.

Language barriers can be a significant challenge for logistics companies, especially for businesses like Freightline which operate across a variety of different countries.

Not being able to understand someone can lead to breakdowns of communication which can have long-term effects including delivery errors and delays – particularly risky for time-critical deliveries.

Speaking the language of its international customers has many benefits for Freightline, including a much simpler and speedier process through bypassing a translator.

“Communication with our carriers and clients in Poland is definitely easier because we are multilingual,” adds Kamil Potrec, European Operations Coordinator at Freightline.

“Industry-first” finance schemes for vertical storage systems

Posted on 8 June, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Vertical storage lift company Randex is introducing rental and leasing schemes for its range of ‘Compact’ vertical storage systems: both include full technical support and maintenance for the life of any agreement. Under the scheme a lease can be converted into full ownership at any time after 24 months, converting the Compact system into an asset, while rental is available from as little as three months to handle seasonal spikes in demand.

“Randex’ new rental and leasing schemes make our range of Compact vertical storage systems accessible for almost any organisation. They are ideal for manufacturing and other supply chain businesses with a short-term need, or companies wanting to reduce their capital expenditure,” says Randex director James Roberts.

Randex is claiming an industry first for its new rental and leasing schemes.

The latest version of Randex’ Compact system, built using its industry-benchmark automated vertical storage technology includes a modern human-machine interface (HMI) touchscreen that is highly intuitive and can significantly increase operator speeds according to early feedback from Randex users.

Compact vertical storage lifts save up to 90% of floor space compared to standard shelving and pallet racking say Randex. They can manage loads of up to 100 tonnes and allow warehouse operatives to complete up to four times more picks than in a conventional warehouse environment, with goods automatically presented to the picker.

Compact vertical storage lifts can now be integrated with over 20 leading enterprise systems including IBM Maximo, SAP, JDA, Red Prairie and Blue Yonder.

Randex Ltd is the sole UK distributor for Compact Vertical Storage Lifts, manufactured in Sweden by Weland Solutions, a member of the privately owned, global group Weland AB. Randex customers include Bombardier, DHL, Fujifilm, Howdens, Hutchison Ports, Jaguar Land Rover, Ministry of Defence, P&G, Pfizer, Rolls Royce and Specsavers.

Primark’s trailer fleet hits the road in record time

Posted on 8 June, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

When its previous 3PL partnership came to an end, leading international retailer, Primark, faced the challenge of specifying, procuring, and commissioning an all-new fleet of tractors and trailers on the road within just a few months to maintain the efficiency of its supply chain – and Tiger Trailers rose to this challenge in partnership with Wincanton, and wrapping support from Finch Signs.

As part of the tender process, the 3PL contract for Primark was won by Wincanton, the largest road transport provider in the UK, while Tiger Trailers was able to design, manufacture and release 40 articulated box van trailers for Primark within just three months – an impressive move against the current global backdrop of long lead times and supply chain challenges.

Primark’s Network Transport Manager, Ant Franks, lead the project and secured the mobilisation of the company’s all-new trailer fleet, working closely with Tiger Trailers’ Business Development Director, Stephen Pollock.

Franks comments: “We are pleased to partner with Tiger Trailers and Wincanton to support our significant UK logistics operation. Working together, we maintained service throughout our UK network while bringing in this new fleet in a timely manner, in difficult market conditions, to allow a seamless transition in providers. Thanks to everyone at Tiger, Wincanton and Finch who helped to make this happen.”

To enable Primark’s first batch of new trailers to get to work by February 2022, just a few months after its first contact with Tiger, the Cheshire-based manufacturer’s production teams and lines worked tirelessly, helped by its nightshift operation which has now been running for over a year. The livery was applied by Finch Signs, a business local to Primark’s Islip distribution centre.

Pollock says: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work closely with Ant and the teams at Primark and Wincanton in delivering their expediently required assets in record time. We’re proud of the forty initial box vans Tiger has manufactured and we’re excited about continuing to support Primark for many years to come, starting with the next batches of trailers ordered for later this year and into 2023. Thanks again to Primark for choosing Tiger after recognising our customer-led ethos, efficient production capabilities, and attractive lead times.”

The international retailer’s new straight-frame box vans are comprised twin and tri-axle guises and are fitted with tail-lifts incorporating hinged rear and side ramps, various LED lights to enhance safety, and Michelin X Line Energy tyres with environmental, fuel efficiency and fleet management aims in mind.

Following Primark’s initial order of forty Tiger Trailers box vans, the retailer has placed orders for over forty additional trailers, scheduled for manufacture during Q4 2022 into Q1 2023, which include over a dozen retail moving deck double decks and a number of specialist trailers such as LSTs.

Primark currently serves its UK store network from two distribution centres and a number of out bases, with its newest depot based in Islip, Northamptonshire, which has 1.1 million sq ft of space and is where Primark’s new Tiger trailer fleet and tractors are a familiar sight, including the ten environmentally friendly Iveco Stralis NP 460 bio-liquified natural gas trucks it operates, with Primark Cares liveries.

Primark’s trailer fleet hits the road in record time

Posted on 8 June, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Volpak signs strategic partnerships

Posted on 8 June, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Volpak, a leading manufacturer of Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal machines for flexible pouches, and Cariba, which specialises in cartoning machines, have signed a strategic partnership aimed at offering high-tech solutions to customers requiring complete lines.

The cooperation was established with the goal of complementing Volpak’s and Cariba’s expertise in the handling of flexible packaging and end-of-line solutions, as well as expanding the portfolio of solutions offered. Cariba will make its portfolio of cartoning machines available for integration with the pouching machines developed by Volpak and Enflex.

This promising partnership will enable companies to offer a winning combination of quality and packaging efficiency to a wide range of consumer goods, as well as pharmaceutical and healthcare products.

Meanwhile, Volpak has also signed a business partnership with Aranow to strengthen its Enflex offering in the Pharma & Healthcare sector.

The cooperation was established with the goal of expanding Volpak’s portfolio in flexible packaging and complementing each other’s technological expertise. Aranow will make available part of its packaging technologies to integrate and complement Enflex product portfolio, the brand under which Volpak commercialises equipment specifically designed for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

The companies aim to develop a comprehensive offer to meet the increasing demand for single-dose products, stick packs, and sachet formats in the Pharma industry.

Volpak signs strategic partnerships

Posted on 8 June, 2022 by David Priestman

Meanwhile, Volpak has also signed a business partnership with Aranow to strengthen its Enflex offering in the Pharma & Healthcare sector.

The companies aim to develop a comprehensive offer to meet the increasing demand for single-dose products, stick packs, and sachet formats in the Pharma industry.

Seabourne Logistics extends South African footprint

Posted on 7 June, 2022 by Keith McKinley

From the automotive industry to the agricultural community, new road freight and fast delivery options are now available thanks to Seabourne Logistics, which opened a branch in Mbombela, formerly known as Nelspruit, in Mpumalanga.

The Nelspruit branch was officially launched in February 2022. It is anticipated to move to new flagship premises soon that will include warehousing space, according to Seabourne Logistics Director Garry Harris (pictured). Harris is a former Nelspruit resident who lived in the community for 19 years and attended Lowveld High School: “It is so great to be able to open a Seabourne Logistics office in my hometown, and I look forward to connecting with old friends again.”

He adds: “We are really extending our reach and scope in the region with some unique value-added services. A lot of companies offer air freight, which has become much more costly due to the recent surge in fuel prices. Our road-freight option is a unique differentiator for us.”

Services include overnight and economy, courier, and next-day delivery options. A delivery service is also available from Johannesburg to Komatipoort before 12:00. In addition, there is a 48-hour delivery service from Komatipoort to Cape Town, George, East London, Port Elizabeth and vice versa via the road network.

“What continues to give us the leading edge is that we establish long-term relationships with our clients, which allows us to become trusted advisors and business partners. This is largely due to our business values, which include trust, reliability, and flexibility, all based on ensuring a personal service to cater for all client needs,” says Harris.

Zenda Stoffberg, newly appointed Branch Manager, had the following to say: “I feel privileged to have been afforded this opportunity, as there is something different about Seabourne Logistics. It strives for excellence, is very professional, and goes the extra mile for its clients. They are kind and friendly and welcomed me with open arms, and I do indeed feel part of the family. The work ethic is incredible. Seabourne Logistics is well organised, technology-driven, and has excellent communications. It is certainly the best CSD department I have ever worked with.”

Husband-and-wife team Garry and Ezelle Harris set up the business in 2002. After establishing a significant footprint in the automotive industry and other niche sectors such as wine and pharmaceuticals, they sold a 70% stake in the business to the Seabourne Group in 2009. Seabourne Logistics will expand on the group’s global platform and further extend the synergies between the different in-country businesses.

Seabourne Logistics operates globally in South Africa, France, the UK, and The Netherlands. Its logistics and supply chain solutions include warehousing, distribution, courier, clearing and forwarding and air, sea, and rail freight, in addition to specialised solutions for specific requirements.

Domestic services offered by Seabourne Logistics are Early Bird, Overnight Express, Overnight Road, Budget Air Freight, Economy Road, Same Day, Specialised Loads, and National Distribution.

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