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Month: July 2022

Synergy Logistics celebrates 50 anniversary

Posted on by David Priestman

Synergy Logistics, one of the world’s pioneers of cloud-based warehouse management software, is celebrating its half century milestone.

Established in 1972, Synergy initially focused on developing innovative solutions for vehicle route scheduling but 35 years later launched its best-in-breed SnapFulfil WMS, for which it is renowned.

Back in 2007, the SnapFulfil suite was architected for the web utilising Adobe Flex and Microsoft.NET-based C# programming.  Its launch spearheaded real time data information to optimise warehouse management, without sacrificing any functionality. Today, its unique rules-based configuration engine delivers a highly flexible and agile solution that is used in leading e-commerce, D2C and 3PL warehouses around the world.

Included since 2012 in Gartner’s elite WMS Magic Quadrant, Synergy has a global footprint with offices in the UK and North America. It continues to pioneer with remote and self-implementation capabilities that empower customers to handle their own multi-site rollouts and develop more sustainable business models.

Synergy Chairman, Hugh Stevens, has been at the helm of the company for more than 40 years and proudly remembers launching one of the world’s first warehouse management systems, Locator, in 1985 after being approached by Unilever. Locator morphed into Locator Expert using PowerBuilder on the latest client server technology – and was utilised by Coca Cola in the 90s at its huge new distribution centre at Wakefield in West Yorkshire, the largest soft drinks factory in Europe.

Hugh continues to innovate and shape the future of warehouse infrastructure, saying: “My mantra has always been stick to your knitting! It’s easy to be distracted by market noise but our specialism is warehouse management and I never lose sight of that. We have survived and thrived for half a century by looking ahead. Rather than fearing change, I’ve always embraced it, anticipating what’s next and investing today in tomorrow’s product.

“We continue to make a tangible difference through rapid ROI, industry-leading deployment speed and low total cost of ownership (TCO) and while many competitors have fallen by the wayside over the last five decades, Synergy Logistics and our SnapFulfil WMS has stood the test of time and continues to lead the way.”

The 50th anniversary is being celebrated throughout the year with staff and customer rewards as well as events and competition initiatives.

 

Four new Konecranes Lifetime Advantage upgrades

Posted on by David Priestman

Konecranes Lifetime Advantage upgrade packages have been regularly bringing customers the most recent advances in safety and productivity available for their lift trucks for over three years. Now, the latest chapter in this long-term commitment to improving lift truck performance presents four more innovations from Konecranes.

Two of the four new upgrades directly address safety issues. The first safety upgrade, a container checking safety system for Konecranes empty container handlers, allows drivers or service technicians to check or perform maintenance on containers while the container is gripped by the spreader, reducing the downtime needed for container repairs. The system uses mechanical locks to put the driving gears into neutral, block hydraulics and prevent the container from lowering. As an extra precaution, an indicator light on the fender flashes until the driver deactivates the system.

The second safety upgrade is a collision warning and object recognition camera system for Konecranes reach stackers, mounted on the counterweight at the back. When an obstacle is detected in the direction the truck is moving, an alarm alerts the driver, becoming more urgent as the object gets closer. The camera provides a clear image of what is in the truck’s path on the control panel so that the driver can adjust direction to avoid the obstacle.

“Safety and productivity are our highest priorities at Konecranes, so we work hard to include enhancements for both in every Lifetime Advantage release,” says Johan Kårhammer, Global Spare Parts Operations Manager at Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Our latest upgrades are type-specific – for empty container handlers, reach stackers or forklifts – offering an additional level of specialised improvements so that our customers have access to the best range of options to suit their particular needs.”

The other two upgrades in this release are designed to improve productivity on all Konecranes forklift trucks and empty container handlers equipped with an MD4 master display. The first one is an engine shutdown software solution. If the coolant temperature goes over 103°C (217.4°F) or the oil pressure goes below one bar, a pop-up message appears on the display. The driver can then decide to turn off the engine or keep it running. Managing temperature and pressure increases productivity, decreases downtime and extends the lifetime of the lift truck because the engine runs more efficiently and stays in good condition longer.

The second productivity upgrade is a height indicator. When a laser senses that the total height of the machine (in other words, with an extended mast, including the load) reaches a specified limit, an alarm goes off and a pop-up window appears on the display. Settings can allow the driver to proceed with the knowledge that the height is now at its predefined maximum, or they can prevent lifting the load any higher. Keeping the height manageable increases productivity and safety in lifting operations.

“The Konecranes Lifetime Advantage programme is intended to support customers in their day-to-day business operations,” says Patrik Lundbäck, Director and Head of Sales and Distribution at Konecranes Lift Trucks. “The success of our upgrades is due to the cooperation of our program team and our global distributor network working together with customers to continuously add value to their container handling operations.”

 

Logistics Hall of Fame Council meets in Berlin

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The finalists for this year´s induction into the international Logistics Hall of Fame have been selected. On July 7th, the Logistics Hall of Fame Council nominated six personalities at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Three candidates reached the final for the “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” award. In the run-up, 24 valid proposals from all over the world had been received by the award organisation. The lists of candidates for both awards are traditionally secret and are not published.

The members of the Logistics Hall of Fame Council 2022 are: Dr. Atif Askar (Head of Business Development, Strategy and M&A, TRATON SE), Marten Bosselmann (Chairman Bundesverband Paket & Expresslogistik (BIEK) e.V.), Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann (Professor for Sustainability Management, EBS University for Business and Law), Oliver Luksic MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport), Dr. Michael Niedenthal (Head of Department, traffic policy, Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V.), Matthias Rathmann (Editor-in-Chief trans aktuell), Sascha Schmel (Managing Director of the Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics in the VDMA), Dr. Martin Schwemmer (Managing Director, Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL) e.V.) and Anita Würmser (Jury Chairwoman of the Logistics Hall of Fame).

Matthias Klug, Senior Director Brand Differentiation KION Industrial Trucks & Services EMA (KION IST EMEA), has assumed the office of election commissioner in 2022.

For the Logistics Hall of Fame, the next phase of the selection process will now begin: Who will enter the Hall of Fame as a new member and who will be awarded “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” will be decided in the coming weeks by the jury, which is made up of around 70 internationally renowned sector experts from business, media and politics, including Logistics Business News Editor Peter MacLeod.

The Logistics Hall of Fame documents the major milestones in logistics. The decisive factor for induction is that his or her work has made a significant and lasting contribution to the advancement of logistics beyond the boundaries of the company itself. To date, 37 men and women have been inducted to the Hall of Fame.

The “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” is awarded to the pacesetters and future leaders in the logistics industry. The focus is on topicality and the benefits for the own company as well as innovative strength, sustainability and corporate change. The award is given by the Logistics Hall of Fame and donated by TRATON SE.

Both awards will be presented at the annual gala reception.

The Logistics Hall of Fame was founded in 2003 and honours leading figures who have made outstanding efforts to promote the further development of logistics and supply chain management. This eternal pantheon is also designed to remind future generations of the achievements of these individuals in the service of logistics. The aim of the Logistics Hall of Fame is to act as a worldwide platform to publicise the performance capability of logistics and its importance for society. The Logistics Hall of Fame is a non-profit initiative supported by the world of politics, associations, the logistics industry and logistics science. The patron is Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport.

CAPTION (left to right): Matthias Rathmann, Dr. Martin Schwemmer, Anita Würmser, Sascha Schmel, Oliver Luksic, Marten Bosselmann, Dr. Atif Askar, Dr. Michael Niedenthal and Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann.

IP camera monitors hidden areas

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Playing it safe in the event of a fault: The LCAM 308 IP camera from Leuze monitors hidden areas on stacker cranes and conveyor lines. This allows operators of logistics centres to trace back events reliably and rectify faults quickly and efficiently.

Even in modern logistics centres, it is not always possible to fully rule out faults. However, system operators can take steps to guard against this: The new LCAM 308 IP camera from Leuze records the 60 seconds prior to a fault in full HD. This enables events to be easily traced back. This is important if you want to rectify a malfunction quickly and efficiently. The camera is flexible in use and is suitable for visually monitoring hidden areas on stacker cranes and conveyor lines.

Diverse functions

Thanks to the comprehensive range of functions, system operators are equipped for every situation: For example, a live stream in HD resolution can be called up if required. Furthermore, the snapshot mode allows individual images to be captured, e.g. content of a box. This feature can be used during order picking to document whether the goods in the box were complete.

Practical: Standard browsers or standard streaming tools are all that’s needed for transmission of the 60-second recording or the live stream. No additional software is required. Operators are also spared having to deal with a flood of data: The LCAM 308 IP camera has a ring memory so that only the period before and after an event remains saved.

Harsh environments

With its robust metal housing, the LCAM 308 industrial IP camera has an IP65 protection rating. Dust cannot get inside and the device is water-jet proof. The advantage for mounting: Dovetail, threaded holes and a wide range of mounting accessories enable universal installation.

Prologis strengthens London team

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis UK, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has added two new hires to its Capital Deployment and Leasing team, as it looks to further grow its UK team and drive ambitious growth plans.

Jason Pickering (left) has joined as a director in the Capital Deployment and Leasing team, following six years at Cushman & Wakefield. With extensive experience in industrial and logistics capital markets, and a specific focus on South East and national developments, he will be helping Prologis to continue expansion plans in London and development of urban logistics offering.

Ryan Gordon (right) also joins the company as a Capital Deployment and Leasing director, after working for Stripe Street for eight years. There, his role as an agent for Aldi Stores UK aided in the supermarket’s expansion, with a particular focus on site acquisitions in London and the South East. Alongside his experience as an agent, Gordon is a chartered surveyor, and has an in-depth knowledge of the land acquisition and property development process from start to finish.

In their new roles, both Pickering and Gordon will focus on land and investment acquisitions in Prologis’ strategic priority regions within London and the South East, using their complementary skills and 14 years of combined experience to support the firm’s ambitious growth plans.

Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “It’s great to have Jason and Ryan join our business, both highly qualified to drive forward our significant growth ambitions for London and the wider South East of the UK. In 2022 we have announced six new hires who will focus on the region and will soon be moving into new London offices to provide the team with an exciting new collaborative hub.

“I’m looking forward to working with Jason and Ryan and supporting their career aspirations here at Prologis.”

Both Pickering and Gordon will be based in Prologis’ London office.

More freight trains between Cologne and Bologna

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TX Logistik AG is increasing the number of trains on its intermodal connection between Cologne and Bologna. As of 9th July 2022, the number of round trips will increase from five to six per week. The reason for this is the growing demand in both economic regions for rail transport capacities on this route through Switzerland.

TX Logistik included the route in its timetable at the beginning of 2021. It connects the Cologne North terminal with the Interporto Bologna terminal. The route runs via the Gotthard axis, whose expansion was completed in 2020. Since then, semitrailers with a corner height of 4m can also be transported intermodally by rail through Switzerland. The switch to the P400 profile has significantly increased demand for combined transport services on the Gotthard route.

TX Logistik has taken into account this development with the additional round trip. The rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), and its subsidiaries TX Logistik Switzerland and TX Logistik Transalpine are responsible for all services ‒ from marketing of transportation capacities to traction ‒ entirely under their own management. Modern multi-system locomotives are used, staffed by locomotive drivers from TX Logistik. Up to 34 loading units fit on one train. In addition to semi-trailers, mega-trailers, swap bodies and containers are also transported. They are loaded in Cologne and Bologna every day, with the exception of Sunday.

With the higher train frequency on the Cologne-Bologna route, TX Logistik says it is making a further contribution to modal shift and climate protection. Compared to transport by truck, rail transport saves around 23,000 tons of CO2 per year with six round trips per week.

 

E-Commerce technologies showcase at IMHX

Posted on by David Priestman

During an era where the only certainty is uncertainty and consumer demands are evolving at a rapid pace, IMHX 2022 will provide logistics and E-commerce fulfilment professionals with an essential opportunity to discover technologies that keep them one step ahead, says IMHX 2022 Event Director, Rob Fisher.

Covid-19 – and the lockdowns introduced in an effort to restrict its spread among the population – changed the way goods are stored, picked and moved to the consumer dramatically, with the switch to online shopping in particular forcing retailers and their logistics partners to radically rethink and rapidly adapt well-established working practices.

The pace of change was breathtaking. Ten years of forecasted E-commerce growth occurred during the first month of the first national lockdown in 2020, and between February and October of 2021 the value of online sales in total retail sales grew from 19.6% to 28.5%.

The logistics sector’s ability to scale-up and adapt its services in response to such massive and rapid changes in consumer spending patterns was hugely impressive and without the expertise and dedication of the industry there can be little doubt that the public would have found the restrictive lockdown conditions even more difficult to live with.

For warehouse or distribution centre operators the need to keep pace with the shift away from bulk deliveries to retail stores towards the fulfilment of individual online orders directly to the consumer has necessitated significant adjustments across all aspects of the warehouse operation.

For instance, the E-commerce boom prompted many storage operations to reconsider their order picking methodologies. In particular, the space constraints generated by the need to hold more SKUs and the shorter pick times and quicker throughput rates needed to meet the delivery expectations of internet shoppers meant that storage solutions had to be rethought to make the most of the people and (in the majority of cases) limited space available.

A plethora of systems and solutions specifically developed to meet the distinct needs of online retailers and their fulfilment operations will be under the spotlight at the forthcoming IMHX 2022 (6-8 September, NEC, Birmingham).

Narrow Aisle Ltd, for example, will demonstrate the benefits of the Easi-Pick, a compact ride-on electric-powered vertical order picker designed specifically with e-fulfilment operations in mind.

The Easi-Pick delivers hugely improved productivity and increased safety for warehouse staff as they carry out a range of picking duties at both lower levels and at height within warehouse aisles. Its ability to work in very narrow aisles (VNA) means 30% more pallet and shelving locations can be designed into storage systems compared to traditional wide aisle operations.

Meanwhile, a range of storage and picking technology ideal for equipping ‘dark stores’ – the new breed of micro-fulfilment centres that are widely regarded as one of the most exciting online retail developments to emerge from the pandemic, will be highlighted by Bito Storage Systems.

Dark stores require shelving, pick and pack desks, picking trolleys, plastic containers, labelling, cupboards and lockers and having a one stop supplier is an important consideration for any micro fulfilment company that does not want to spend valuable time contacting a multitude of different providers. Dark store operators will be able to find everything they need on Bito Storage Systems’ stand.

Of course, the internet shopping boom has resulted in a substantial and sustained hike in the amount of cardboard required by internet traders to construct the boxes that protect their E-commerce orders in transit. Indeed, an estimated five billion corrugated boxes are used in the UK alone each year, so it is important that online retailers and their fulfilment partners – who are among the biggest users of cardboard packaging material – embrace a commitment to sustainable and more eco-friendly packaging, not just as a key component of their corporate social responsibility efforts, but as a way of optimising both operational and financial efficiency and driving supply chain performance.

A simple way for internet retailers and the logistics companies who fulfil orders on their behalf to slash the volume of cardboard that they use across their business is to ensure that, when goods are being packed prior to leaving the warehouse, they are put into an appropriately sized cardboard box

Sparck Technologies (formerly Packaging by Quadient) will use IMHX to demonstrate its eco-conscious packaging technology that creates fit-to-size boxes for every consignment quickly and efficiently. For example, Sparck’s CVP Impack automated packaging solution can pack up to 500 parcels per hour and requires only one operator while the CVP Everest model packs up to 1,100 parcels per hour with two operators.

Narrow Aisle, Bito and Sparck are just three of literally hundreds of exhibiting companies who will ensure that logistics and E-commerce fulfilment professionals leave IMHX 2022 having seen the very latest technological advancements that will enable them to meet the expectations of today’s increasingly demanding online shoppers.

TT Club calls for more container inspections

Posted on by David Priestman

Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of the Inspection of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs) issued in June 2022 by the IMO are aimed at helping governments to implement a uniform and safe inspection programme. The IMO Circular (MSC.1/Circ.1649) seeks to broaden the inspections undertaken and align fully with safety guidance developed during the last decade (previous guidelines date from 2012).

Specifically, governments are now requested to select from all cargo types, rather than simply declared dangerous goods, for inspection. Further the guidance takes account of the issuance of the CTU Code, revisions of container safety regulations and the need to minimise the movement of invasive pests. The Circular additionally notes the continuing low rate submission of inspection reports and encourages an increase in such inspections.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT Club’s Risk Management Director, says: “With the string of container ship fire casualties and fatal incidents at storage facilities, most recently at Chittagong (Chattogram), in our minds, our current concerns are manifest. They constantly remind us of the importance of adequate safety procedures in packing, handling and transporting the array of cargoes that have the potential to cause catastrophic incidents.

“With only five of the 179 governments affiliated with IMO submitting reports on inspections at the last Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) sub-committee meeting in September 2021, the industry urgently seeks more collaborative support from governments in combatting the potential circumstances and cargo packing practices that cause dangerous incidents. It would be much appreciated if more national reports undertaken during 2021 can still be reported for consideration at the next CCC this September.

“However, TT Club calls for a viable sample of inspections in future based on the new guidelines. In this regard, TT would urge strongly that governments enter dialogue with industry to understand how the latter can work with enforcement agencies to improve safety.”

TT Club itself has long campaigned for an increased awareness of the issues surrounding the transport of dangerous goods, and all potentially hazardous cargoes. It is dedicated to improving standards for the safe and secure packing of all cargoes in cargo transport units.

There is a plethora of industry generated guidance on best practice relating to packing and handling of cargoes, including the Quick Guide to the CTU Code, along with a Checklist of actions required of those packing cargo in freight containers, published by the Cargo Integrity Group and available in several languages.

Such work by industry groups can only be strengthened by a partnership with governments. Their action on inspections, with the help of the new revisions to the IMO guidelines and use of that body’s reporting system is crucial.

Storrs-Fox concludes: “The international supply chains that service the trade in a myriad of commodities are complex and notoriously susceptible to disruption. Congestion and delays increase the challenges involved in maintaining safety levels in an environment where the demand for reliable delivery of goods is high. Such circumstances require an even higher level of attention to safe practices. The collection of information on the effective use and/or mis-use of these practices needs to be enhanced by a much higher level of rigorous inspections and report submissions from governments, but working from the understanding that this is a shared problem.”

GBA Services orders IVECO fleet

Posted on by Keith McKinley

UK and European logistics provider GBA Services is spearheading its ambitious growth plans by taking delivery of 10 new 480-horsepower diesel IVECO S-WAY (AS440S48TX/P) 6×2 with mid-lift axles.

This is the first time the IVECO brand has joined the 200-strong fleet with the S-WAYs part of a fleet refresh involving 50 new trucks being put on the road and 40 trucks being de-fleeted in the last few months.

GBA Services places the driver at the heart of every vehicle added to the fleet so the specification of each S-WAY is very high. Drivers benefit from a large fridge with cool box, sunroof, leather steering wheel, leather heated and air-conditioned driver’s seat, a leather heated, air conditioned, swivelling passenger seat, external sun visor, air horns, automatic climate control, night heater and night time safety lock plus a 7’’ Infotainment system with Tom Tom Sat Nav.

Externally Alcoa Diamant alloy wheels have been specified alongside LED Headlamps with cornering and bending fog lights, LED rear lights, an electric cab tilt and additional under cab storage. The bigger high roof AS sleeper cab accommodates two large bunks while a cab air kit with corner fins helps maximise the IVECO S-WAY’s impressive aerodynamics.

“We are currently expanding and renewing the fleet as the business grows and when the IVECO S-WAYs became available they fitted in perfectly with what we needed. The IVECO brand is a new addition to our fleet and the drivers were really keen to get behind the wheel of the new S-WAY.  Feedback from them has been extremely positive. Opting for the bigger AS cab has also meant more living space for the driver when they are away from home,” explained Mike Brown, GBA’s head of fleet and compliance.

The IVECO S-WAYs have been put to work on a contract with a national retailer which involves trunking double deck trailers between distribution centres in Amesbury, Wiltshire, and Sheffield. Typically, the trucks are running at between 40-44 tonnes and so far, the 480hp Cursor 11 diesel engine mated to the 12-speed automatic HI-TRONIX gearbox is returning 10mpg.

The trucks were purchased outright from IVECO dealer Walton Summit in Preston with a two-year warranty and are set to cover around 160,000km annually. Walton Summit completed the S-WAY’s high spec by fitting a full-size catwalk, rear of cab ‘A’ Frame, wheel nut markers, Anderson connectors, Haz Chem plates, an anti-syphon device, an additional rear work light and Direct Vision camera kits.

Like many logistics providers GBA is looking to improve its environmental credentials and Mike and his fleet team have signed up to reducing emissions by 50% by 2024.

“We are very mindful of reducing our carbon footprint and are looking at a number of different options including the IVECO CNG proposition. We are doing the numbers on gas versus diesel and as the fuel network improves it is becoming more of a viable option,” said Brown.

“It is very pleasing when a new operator onboards IVECO product for the first time and even more satisfying when the fleet manager receives positive praise from drivers. The IVECO S-WAY continues to set new standards of driver comfort and we are pleased that it has seamlessly fitted into GBA’s fast-growing fleet,” said Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO’s Medium & Heavy Business Line Director.

 

Road freight prices break records as fuel costs soar

Posted on by David Priestman

The latest TEG price index data reveals road transport businesses passing soaring operating costs onto customers – as June’s average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles reaches 18% more than three years ago, and its highest level so far in 2022.

road-freight-prices-break-records-fuel-costs-soarThe average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles has jumped from 103.1 points in June 2019 to 122.0 points in June 2022, according to the TEG Price Index – a rise of 18% over the three-year period.

In the last year alone, the TEG index shows a year-on-year price-per-mile increase of 4.3 points.

This surge in what hauliers and couriers are charging comes against a backdrop of record-high fuel prices in the UK: 167p for petrol and 180p for diesel.

With fuel prices and inflation continuing to soar, road freight businesses are facing an ever-tightening squeeze on their profit margins, leaving them with little choice but to increase the price of their services.

The year-on-year index figure has climbed consistently every month since the start of 2021. This reflects the cost pressures building in the road freight industry over the last 18 months, including the driver shortage, rising salaries and a hike in companies’ national insurance payments. In the face of these issues, the sector will have to show more of its customary resilience.

Freight profit squeeze means higher consumer prices

According to the Road Haulage Association, fuel represents over a third of a truck’s operating costs, and profit margins are between 1% and 2%. So every penny counts, with increases in fuel prices having a massive impact on businesses’ bottom lines.

The industry has called for an essential user rebate, which would cut fuel costs for hauliers and, ultimately, help reduce costs for the end consumer.

The need for relief from runaway inflation is becoming increasingly urgent. For 60% of the UK public, total bills are higher than income, according to researchers at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

Lyall Cresswell, CEO at Transport Exchange Group and new platform Integra, says: “From operational costs to ongoing driver shortages, we hear about industry issues every day from our members. However, they’re coping admirably with the pressures and the constantly shifting landscape.

“With consumer confidence at a record low, we may well see a slowdown in demand for road freight, as fewer people shop online. But this might actually give the industry a little breathing room, softening the impact of driver shortages and supply chain bottlenecks.

“Nobody really knows what the future has in store, but we’re obviously very keen to see an essential user rebate. There’s no question that hauliers and couriers are essential users and such a move would provide some respite for the industry – and consumers.”

Kirsten Tisdale, Director of Logistics Consultants Aricia Limited and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, says: “The TEG Road Transport Price Index continues to give insight into the UK freight market. The ever-tightening squeeze on the profits of the road transport sector and the impact on customers can also be seen in the latest Business Insights survey by the Office for National Statistics, where 1 in 8 of the responses for Transport & Storage companies indicated that they were having to seek financial support (up from zero in the previous survey where this question was asked), aggravated by the trend for increased stockpiling.”

 

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