August 2022

Thermo King launches new UT-R portfolio

Posted on 31 August, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Thermo King has announced its new UT-R undermount refrigeration systems, which will be a feature of its presence at the IAA Transportation 2022 show in Hannover, Germany.

The new UT-R portfolio includes single- and multi-temperature refrigeration units for undermount applications on rigid trucks, drawbar trailers and highloaders. New design and applied technologies deliver increased efficiency, better reliability and durability, and significantly lower noise than the legacy range, meeting the needs of customers operating in inner-city, city-to-to-city, pharmaceutical and airport catering distributions.

Thermo King UT-R units are available as NRMM Stage V compliant diesel-powered systems, or in Hybrid version. The UT-R Hybrid can seamlessly switch between diesel and electric mode to reduce emissions and fuel consumption and increase flexibility of operations allowing the trucks to enter cities’ low and ultra-low emission zones.

“Multi-drop operations in city distribution, long distance transport of goods and raising ambient temperatures are driving the customer need for reliable, high cooling capacity refrigeration units to ensure the safety of their cargo,” said Davide Previsdomini, product manager Truck at Thermo King. “We designed the brand-new UT-R units with these factors in mind and added more features that not only offer the highest cooling capacity in the segment but do so with reduced noise and lower cost of ownership for transporters.”

The new UT-R platform is based on a new compressor from Thermo King T-Series units contributing to highest cooling capacity in this market segment according to ATP standards (Accord Transport Perrisable), and lower TCO for customers. Featuring an Electronic Throttling Valve (ETV) as standard. The UT-R units operate with reduced engine speeds for optimised performance and lower noise.

“The new UT-R units are 3dB(A) quieter than the incumbent range,” said Previsdomini. “In real life, this difference means that the noise perception of two new UT-R units operating side-by-side equals the noise generated by a single predecessor unit.”

The new design also facilitates better access to serviceable components and contributes to extended maintenance intervals. Combined with the increased reliability, this translates into up to 40% lower service costs for the transporters when compared to the legacy units.

For ease of installation and optimized chassis space, the new UT-R units are also smaller when compared to the predecessor range, with width reduced by 200mm. The weight of the unit is also even 40kg lower allowing customers to carry more cargo payload during every delivery journey.

Dedicated safety products for the supply chain

Posted on 31 August, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Conveying goods from one provider to its customers involves working often with machineries or at height. These actions go from picking in a warehouse to loading and unloading a truck, train or plane, whether manually or with robotic assistance. Each step includes safety hazards, each step is subject to maintenance works. Fallprotec says it provides solutions for every moment.

Automated racking systems are now a widespread feature in warehouses all over the world, with goods being stored at heights up to 40m. The maintenance of the racks includes work at height. Fallprotec’s Securail Pro is a secure option for both types of work. Its unique profile has high inertia that enables up to 6m spam between supports, making it adaptable to every racking configuration.

Fallprotec says it is ideal for securing zones with low fall clearance and can be used as a fall arrest system with up to two users between brackets. Occupying little space, it fits easily inside the structure and can be bended to follow the configuration of the hall.

The loading of goods is another station that involves risks, for the transported goods as well as for the person involved in the process. To counteract it, Fallprotec has installed its SafeAccess monorail system on several loading bays all over the world. The SafeAccess is an undeformable fall arrest rail system. When installed in overhead configuration, it is the most suitable system when the fall clearance is low, for instance during loading.

This rail can be used for petrochemical industries as it is ATEX certified for potentially explosive atmospheres. The aluminium rail is protected by a high-quality powder coated surface treatment that resists to a marine environment.

Depending on the site configuration, SafeAccess can be combined with a Flexbow jib. The Flexbow is a standardised outrigger jib designed to secure loading bays and machinery. As the lifeline can also be installed high over the user, it is suitable for enhancing safety in vast storage and loading halls.

Last but not least, as the logistics sector is an increasingly robotised one, the maintenance of its automated equipment is an ever-returning key topic. In addition to the already mentioned rail systems, Fallprotec also provides vertical solutions adapted to all machineries, big or small. The company has developed a range of ladders with integrated fall arrest rail suitable for the maintenance of robotic tipping arms, pickers and AGVs. For instance, the SafeLadder is a secure alternative to traditional access ladders. The user, equipped with a harness, is directly connected to the fall arrest rail which is integrated into the access ladder upright.

The fall arrester VIA 4 fitted with energy absorber follows the user effortlessly and locks instantly in case of a fall. Various SafeLadder types and accessories are available to fit any situation: temporary SafeLadder, telescopic SafeLadder and traversing SafeLadder along a SafeAccess rail. A variant of the Securail Pro, the MastLadder, uses the same rail profile while fitting it with rigid rungs to create a ladder with minimum space occupation.

Fallprotec has installed its safety solutions worldwide with several industrial companies and logistics integraters such as Total and Stow. All Fallprotec products for logistics will be introduced in Birmingham at the IMHX tradeshow on booth 5C90.

Safe and sustainable battery transportation

Posted on 30 August, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

With the growing number of electric vehicles on the streets and increased electrification in many industries, the demand for batteries is expanding significantly. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) the number of new electric vehicle (EV) registrations rose by 63% in 2021 as compared to the previous year.

Consequently, experts predict battery production capacities in Europe to multiply by a factor of 20 by 2030. The rapid growth of battery production is reshaping automotive supply chains as we know them.

“Lithium-ion batteries are classified as Dangerous Goods. Thus, they are subject to strict safety regulations during transportation and storage,” says Christian Hemming, Technical Director EMEA at ORBIS Europe. “Transporting the large number of batteries in a safe and sustainable way can be a challenge.”

How E-Mobility Affects Supply Chains

Packaging for battery transport must meet high government standards and conform with customer needs at the same time. Battery manufacturers and OEMs are in need of UN-certified, automation-friendly and customised packaging solutions. During transportation, the batteries need to be protected from external influences, such as shocks.

Hemming explains: “It is the packaging industry’s job to protect the product from the environment and the environment from the product.”

UN-Certified Reusable Plastic Packaging Ensures Safety With a robust design and customised dunnage, plastic transport packaging fulfils all these requirements. ORBIS has designed the IonPak as a reusable plastic container for safe transportation of Lithium-Ion Batteries. Transporting other solid dangerous goods such as airbags and belt tensioners is also possible. The foldable large container is UN-approved to transport solid dangerous goods (Packing Group II) and certified in accordance with RID / ADR (UN4H2/UN50H).

The customised packaging consists of a robust foldable large container with European standard footprints (1200 x 800 / 1200 x 1000 / 1600 x 1200 mm) and an inner packaging solution optimised to protect dangerous goods.

Reusable Instead of One-Way

“Still today, single-use packaging is the norm for transporting batteries and other solid dangerous goods. These are produced and then disposed of after every single use. That has to change,” says Hemming. ORBIS‘ reusable packaging solutions are made primarily from recycled materials – with a recycling rate of 100 % at end-of-life. Already during production, that saves around 60kg of CO2 per load carrier.

While electric cars emit less carbon on the road than cars with combustion engines, almost 80% more CO2 is emitted during the manufacturing process. “That’s why it is even more important to make production and supply chains as sustainable as possible,” explains Hemming.

ORBIS’ whitepaper “How to Transport Dangerous Goods – Safe and Sustainable Battery Transportation with Reusable Packaging” offers additional information and is available for download HERE.

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Application-specific drive solutions for material handling

Posted on 30 August, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The electrification trend is just taking off in mobile applications for material handling. Electric drives are dynamic, efficient, powerful and above all reliable. They are thus suitable for forklifts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and pallet trucks. ABM Greiffenberger supplies the appropriate motors, gearboxes and electronics developed and manufactured in-house – and adapted to the individual application. This makes the drive specialist from Marktredwitz a valuable partner for customers with diverse intralogistics applications.

Many things are moved in and around a logistics centre – and wherever this happens, drives are required. It starts with employees coming to work in electric buses. Lorries transport goods to the receiving point – drives for auxiliary units such as hydraulic pumps, compressors and fans are needed here. When the lorries drive up to the dock, rolling doors open and close so that the employees can load or unload. By means of pallet trucks, forklifts or AGVs, the goods are moved to pallet and accumulation roller conveyors, which bring them to the high-bay storage area. Ergonomic lift assists are used for goods handling and machines are used for cleaning the production floors.

“We supply suitable motors, gearboxes, brakes and inverters for all these applications – from a single source,” says Michael Lühmann, Head of Sales & Marketing at ABM Greiffenberger. “This makes us a systems supplier for the entire intralogistics field.”

The drive specialist offers ready-to-install plug-and-play systems available as modules within a platform concept for the mobile sector. “We can thus easily combine gear ratio and motor size with brakes and sensors and in this way optimise customer applications. The finished solutions can be integrated into the different vehicle types,” reports Lühmann. This is by no means always the case on the market.

ABM Greiffenberger can completely cover the functions of traction, lifting and steering with its solutions in the mobile sector. They comply with strict environmental and emission requirements, are particularly safe and are extremely responsive for precise movements even at low speeds. “With this we are responding to a growing market. Because electrification is advancing more and more in mobile applications in intralogistics,” says Lühmann. Electric drive systems are more sustainable and more efficient. They run reliably and smoothly, are dynamic and durable, and offer safety. For that reason it is only logical for electric drives to be increasingly employed in a number of applications.

Hub wheel drives with electric steering

The drive specialist offers three gearbox types for mobile applications – including the robust TDH series hub wheel drives. This type of drive is extremely compact because the drive components are integrated into the drive wheel. The user profits from high static and dynamic wheel loads. Thanks to high wheel torques at low speeds, the user can precisely manoeuvre and drive up inclines with, for example, pallet jacks, aerial work platforms, AGVs or sweeper/scrubbers.

“We also offer the hub wheel drive with electric steering,” says Dipl. Ing. Mayk Krüger, Head of Mobile Drive Technology. With its low installation height, this version is ideal for forklifts and automated guided vehicles. The user benefits with the hub wheel drive with electric steering from a precisely controllable and efficient AC motor technology. It brings a torque of up to 300Nm to the wheel and has a drive torque of 360Nm. The redundant steering sensors provide for precise steering. Moreover, the drive is durable, maintenance-free and highly loadable.

Bevel Gearbox Drive Units: Innovative platform concept

With the bevel gearbox drive units in the TDB series for wheel diameters of 230 to 254mm, the systems supplier has efficient components featuring high performance and low energy consumption in its portfolio. The ready-to-install systems are modularly designed and are available as a platform concept. The complete solution comprising the motor, gearbox and sensors can easily be integrated into different vehicle types. In industrial trucks the TDB series bevel gearbox drive units provide high climbing performance and acceleration. They offer responsive and dynamic steering over the entire speed range.

The bevel gearbox drive unit is available in three versions – for example, with an integrated steering drive. The traction motor is vertically mounted in the fixed version. The operator profits from, amongst other things, redundant steering monitoring, maximum integration and excellent ride comfort with high safety.

ABM Greiffenberger also supplies the bevel gearbox drive unit for manual steering. The vertical mount of the traction motor in the rotating version is designed for direct drawbar mounting. This robust and durable solution features space-saving installation.

“Application-specific steering is also possible; customers can also combine the TDB bevel gearbox drive units with their own steering drives,” says Krüger. They are thus suitable for electric power steering systems and can be controlled via spur gear. A zero position sensor can optionally be attached for calibration of the steering positions.

Speed recording in this series is done via an incremental encoder with up to 64 pulses per revolution. There is also an option to use the AC technology with regeneration capability. An electromechanical holding brake is integrated for parking and emergency stopping.

Parallel shaft gears: Quiet and efficient

The TDF series helical gearbox drive units offer an especially high efficiency, low wear and quiet running even at high loads. “We achieve this via the high-contact-ratio helical gear technology,” explains Lühmann. The gearboxes are suitable for use in pallet jacks and three-wheel forklifts, for example. ABM manufactures the gearboxes from die-cast aluminium. Thus customer-oriented solutions can be provided at a good price-to-performance ratio. The design and the matching of the material to the application make sizes 200mm and 230mm light and stable. Speed recording is done via an incremental encoder with up to 64 pulses per revolution.

Systems supplier with high level of development expertise

ABM Greiffenberger scores points both with its extensive know-how and experience in the development of application- and customer-specific drives and with its platform concept, which ensures that customers quickly receive cost-optimised solutions. “However, we can also specifically address customer requirements,” says Krüger. “Thus we are not a standard supplier and offer our customers a measurable added value.”

One example of an individual development is an electric differential axle for forklift trucks and transport systems. Precisely adapted to the application, the differential axle has optimised interfaces and can thus easily be implemented into the vehicle.

ABM supplies all products, including motors and gearboxes as well as suitable electronics, from a single source. Even complex prototypes can be produced at short notice with additive manufacturing.

“Our drives offer high performance and system availability,” stresses Lühmann. This is especially important in material handling because the vehicles are often used in two- or three-shift operations. Reliability is extremely relevant here. Operators therefore rely on drives that are maintenance-free, robust and durable. “We consistently pursue our goal of not only delivering high-quality drive solutions, but also supporting our customers in the capacity of a partner with engineering and manufacturing expertise,” says Lühmann.

Ready for the go-to event for logistics professionals?

Posted on 30 August, 202225 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Over three days in September, hundreds of the world’s most innovative and influential manufacturers and suppliers of logistics solutions and intralogistics technology will showcase the developments that are reshaping post-pandemic global supply chains when IMHX 2022 opens for business at the NEC, Birmingham.

The UK’s premier event for the logistics industry takes place on the 6th, 7th and 8th of September and is the go-to event for professionals who manage, operate and optimise logistics and supply chain operations for companies of every size.

IMHX 2022 event director, Rob Fisher, commented: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors and exhibitors back to the NEC. IMHX 2022 will be the essential gathering place for UK logistics professionals to reconnect, stay ahead of supply chain trends and see the latest storage and handling solutions.

“Supply chain issues are at the top of every company’s agenda and IMHX will host many of the companies that are leading the way in the development of ultra energy-efficient, sustainable and, in many cases, highly automated handling systems. Visitors will be able to see and evaluate all the equipment they need to store and handle goods safely and both cost- and space-efficiently.”

In addition, logistics professionals attending the event will also have access to three days of free-to-attend seminars and conference sessions offering practical knowledge and strategic insights. Supported by Cranfield University, the IMHX conference programme will feature some of the most influential, innovative and pioneering minds working in the supply chain sector among the speakers.

Fisher said: “Both the conference and exhibition at IMHX will provide the ultimate opportunity for logistics professionals to prepare and protect their operations from the supply chain challenges that continue to emerge.”

For those planning to travel to the NEC by car, there is free car parking on site throughout the three-day-event thanks to the generosity of the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) which has agreed to sponsor parking charges at the exhibition venue. CLICK HERE to download your car park pass.

IMHX 2022 will take place from 6 – 8 September at the NEC, Birmingham and admission is free of charge. To register for your free exhibition entry pass please visit imhx.net.

Fives unveils latest innovations at IMHX

Posted on 30 August, 202225 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Fives, one of the world’s most preferred partners for transforming supply chain facilities, is participating at IMHX, the logistics solutions show, from September 6-8, to unveil its latest innovations in material handling and automation. Fives will be exhibiting at Booth 5B27.

Fives, through its Smart Automation Solutions Division, says it is an industry leading provider and integrator of cutting-edge, smart, scalable, and sustainable solutions for advanced automation, handling, and sorting, worldwide.

Its thorough understanding of its customers’ logistics processes and objectives, combined with leading proprietary technologies, enables Fives to support industrial companies throughout the entire life cycle of their facilities, from design to operations and to provide them with tailor-made and high-performance turnkey solutions.

Fives’ Smart Automation Solutions serves a wide range of business sectors, from retail and distribution to e-commerce, food & beverage, and other manufacturing industries, 3PLs, parcel and postal.

For over 60 years, Fives has been developing innovative products and technologies, some of which have become market standards.

To answer the needs and logistics challenges of IMHX’s visitors, it will showcase its latest comprehensive ecosystem of smart and automated solutions:

Sortation (pictured): A leader in the sorting industry and inventor of the cross-belt sorter, Fives’ range of high-capacity and efficient sorting solutions will meet all your intralogistics challenges.

Singulation: Its industry-leading singulation technologies transform massive bulk flows of parcels, packages, envelopes into a single sortable, with the highest singulation accuracy in the industry.

AMR: Designed to handle all types of items, AMR-based innovative robots offer the highest level of flexibility available on the market today.

ASRS: As stock handling is a key factor in maximising any plant’s performance, our ASRS offer unmatched speed and flexibility for efficient order picking operations.

As a global industrial engineering Group, Fives says it continuously innovates to improve customers’ competitiveness, operators’ working conditions and environmental footprint.

Port Houston opens new container maintenance depot

Posted on 30 August, 2022 by Keith McKinley

The Marino Group’s Marine Repair Services – Container Maintenance Corporation (MRS-CMC), a leading provider of intermodal services, has opened a new depot facility at Port Houston. The new facility will support global supply chain fluidity with an expansion of its storage, distribution, repair, and capacity services in the region.

Directly situated across from Port Houston Bayport Terminal and only a few minutes away from the Barbours Cut terminal, the new facility will supplement the company’s already-established maintenance & repair services at Port Houston, providing customers more service choices, including loaded container storage, empty container storage and repairs, chassis start/stop and repairs, grounded reefer pre-trips and genset rental programme.

“The opening of this state-of-the-art facility – which is unlike any other depot in the country – demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing best-in-class solutions that address the demands of the marketplace as well as the needs of our customers,” said David M. Miller, Director, Southwest & Mid-South Operations at MRS-CMC. “As Port Houston continues to experience record-breaking container volumes, we see a market-driven need to expand our footprint in the region and enhance our capabilities.”

Port Houston is the largest Gulf Coast container port, handling 70% of Gulf Coast container traffic. It recently announced that as of mid-July 2022, it had handled just shy of two million TEUs, which is an 18% increase over 2021.

For over eight years, MRS-CMC has been operating out of two Port Houston terminals, offering Maintenance and Repair (M&R) services for chassis, containers, reefers and gensets. The new Houston depot facility will significantly expand its service offerings while also providing considerable benefits that address daily pain points for a diverse spectrum of supply chain stakeholders. The expanded roster of services include: Pre-pull programme service for warehouses and distribution centres, equipment storage capabilities and efficient grounded reefer and genset operations.

“As demonstrated by our new depot, which will provide much-needed storage and capacity solutions, our goal at MRS-CMC is to create a more connected supply chain and to provide solutions that help our customers succeed,” said Miller.

Packaging company launches automated e-Commerce system

Posted on 26 August, 202231 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Partnering with shrink and stretch wrapping specialist Yorkshire Packaging Systems, Clearmark Solutions has launched its latest innovative and labour-saving automated e-Commerce system.

Mounted within the innovative bagging unit, Clearmark’s Direct Print & Apply ICE Vulcan labelling machine integrates seamlessly with the Hugo Beck Flexo e-Comm range of bagging machines. Processing more than 1,200 packages per hour, the labour-saving system prints and applies address labels with precision directly onto the film as the product is enveloped into a shipment bag.

Fulfilling e-Commerce GDPR compliance rules and guaranteeing accurate labelling for problem-free delivery, the ICE Vulcan receives real-time address delivery data and can communicate in a range of protocols including ZPL and SATO.

This fast, uninterrupted one-in-one-out process delivers faultless labelling precision. By interfacing seamlessly with a company’s Order or Warehouse Management System, it safeguards sensitive customer data and helps to eliminate any potential operator error.

Streamlined, failsafe and labour-saving

Citing the labour and cost saving benefits on high volume e-Commerce packing lines, Clearmark’s Steve Hancock estimates that to achieve the same level of hourly throughput manually would require between eight and 10 bench packers: “As well as being labour intensive, the repetitive nature of this work means that it’s more prone to human error.

“By further developing our unique Direct Apply application for the e-Commerce market, we are able to remove the complexities of the traditional pneumatic tamp application seen in other systems. By applying directly onto the moving film, it allows a smoother, quicker, more reliable label application, which is essentially maintenance free.”

Jonny Braithwaite, Director at Yorkshire Packaging Systems, concurs: “This seamless e-Commerce bagging and labelling process eliminates errors and ensures absolute reliability and data security as well as 100% compliance with GDPR laws.”

Efficiency in the bag

Designed for any bagged e-Commerce consumable application, ranging from fashion apparel, household furnishings, stationery, white good spares, the Flexo e-Comm measures the length of the product for the bag length and adapts accordingly. It adjusts to the product dimensions sealing the front and side edge and squeezing the air out to form a tightly-fitted bag.

The machine is compatible with all fully recyclable centre-folded films (LDPE 04). This includes biofilms and up to 70% recycled content films. Optional open bag perforations and bag resealing adhesive strips are available.

Aligned to these sustainability efforts, the fully integrated ICE Vulcan direct print and apply labeller with its unique non-pneumatic ‘air-less’ design, accurately places every label on demand, without the need for an applicator. Height adjustable, the Clearmark printer system boasts Intelligent Motion technology. This unique feature enables precise automatic control of components and an 80% reduction of wear parts that traditionally cause unexpected downtime and additional cost.

“Direct Apply is far more reliable and faster than traditional tamp label printing,” reaffirms Hancock. For e-Commerce operations, where throughput is key to ROI, even the slightest hesitation between the data transfer and application of a label will have an effect on throughput.

“The ICE Vulcan prints three times faster than traditional applicators on the market, using a solid-state printhead mechanism and no compressed air. As a totally integrated e-Commerce bagging and labelling solution, there should be no stops and starts. Just a fluid process maintaining a consistent line speed.

“No other label supplier comes close to the speed and reliability of the ICE Vulcan for e-Commerce operations,” states Braithwaite. The innovative concept is clearly not lost on e-Commerce warehouse and logistics operations. Serious discussions are already underway to install the Flexo-500 with ICE Vulcan at one of the UK’s top-10 online and click-and-collect soft furnishing businesses.”

Pyroban brings automation, power, and purpose to IMHX

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

Explosion protection safety company Pyroban is heading to intralogistics show IMHX 2022 in Birmingham, UK, with Ex Solutions for AGVs, AMRs, robots, and a wide range of other materials handling and plant equipment.

“Pyroban has exhibited at every single IMHX in the show’s history, presenting explosion protection solutions for lift trucks. In this time, the materials handling landscape has changed,” says Darren Boiling, Materials Handling Sales Manager for Pyroban. “Automation, sustainability, energy costs, and business purpose are now high on the agenda for decision makers. At IMHX, we’re addressing how these topics influence businesses operating with potentially explosive atmospheres.”

ATEX AGVs, AMRs and automated robots

Pyroban will address the myth that ATEX (with UKCA marking) AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots), and robots don’t exist. It is possible to safely “Ex” convert some of the latest technologies that will be on show at IMHX (Stand 5E40) for hazardous area operations where automation is also required, or equipment such as carousels .

“Unlike the ATEX forklift conversions we are known for, complex machines like AGVs or AMRs can be optimised with a ground-up approach where we work closely with the OEM at product design and assembly level,” says Boiling.

Pyroban has experienced growing demand for AGVs and AMRs in some “zoned” hazardous area operations where flammable material is handled. Paint tins, aerosols, IBCs, or drums full of solvents can all be moved by AGVs, AMRs, or robots, subject to a thorough risk assessment.

It was this growing trend that led Pyroban’s Managing Director Steve Noakes, the Convenor of the Standards Committee responsible for EN1755 (the standard specifically written for industrial trucks operating in potentially explosive atmospheres), to lead the committee and produce an update which now includes requirements specifically for driverless trucks (i.e. AGVs or AMRs).

Power choices in hazardous areas

For traditional forklifts, there are also more power choices than ever before and businesses are increasingly looking to reduce energy costs and improve their environmental performance. Businesses with Zone 1, 2, 21 or 22 areas are no different, and many have already turned to electric materials handling equipment, including waste companies, chemical firms, food and drink businesses, and supermarkets storing flammable aerosols.

“At IMHX, we will be sharing the latest updates on power options including the facts about Stage V ATEX forklifts and the first ever solutions for LPG forklifts working in Zone 2 hazardous areas,” says Boiling. “In addition, we will be highlighting the facts about the ATEX certification requirements for lead acid batteries and talking about the ignition risks when using lithium-ion in hazardous areas.”

Gas detection rental to bridge ATEX forklift gap

Pyroban will also address what businesses can do to bridge safety gaps that may occur due to extended OEM forklift production lead times.

“Over the last few years, forklifts are not being delivered to Pyroban fast enough which has led to an inevitable knock-on effect to the availability of ATEX (with UKCA marking) compliant forklifts for our customers,” says Boiling. “We responded to safety concerns by offering Gascheka Zone 3 on a rental basis.”

Gascheka Zone 3 is a bolt-on gas detection system designed specifically for mobile equipment, and was previously only available to buy outright from Pyroban. Now, Pyroban is supporting the industry by offering the gas detection system for short periods. The units can be fitted to equipment of any age in just a few hours including warehouse equipment, forklifts, vans, cranes, access platforms, and people transporters.

“If hazardous area operations cannot source a new or used ATEX compliant forklift in time, and when ceasing the operation isn’t an option, under an ATEX 1999/92/EC or DSEAR (in the UK) risk assessment, they may consider that installing the Pyroban Gascheka Zone 3 system on existing standard trucks is an acceptable interim solution,” confirms Boiling.

Protecting people, their investment, and our environment

2022 marks 50 years of one clear purpose for Pyroban – keeping people safe in hazardous areas.

“Throughout our history, Pyroban’s technical integrity and support has been second to none in the conversion of lift trucks and power systems for use in hazardous areas,” says Boiling, who has been with the company for nearly 35 years. “Our customers rely on us to keep them safe in their daily operations and we have a great team which follows the principles of five solid foundations to deliver on our purpose.

“We design for safety and performance, build with premium quality, and deliver a low total cost of operation (TCO). Lifetime support and care programmes reinforce the customer experience alongside pro-active advice and consultancy from the very beginning,” says Darren explaining that there is still significant market education to do about ATEX and the risks of using MHE equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres for end users, OEMs and dealers.

Garbe acquires brownfield site in Salzgitter

Posted on 26 August, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH has acquired an industrial wasteland in Salzgitter (Lower Saxony, Germany). Following a comprehensive redevelopment of the site, a high-quality and sustainable new building for the storage and handling of industrial goods is to be constructed on the 51,000 sq m site. The logistics property is scheduled to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2024. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is investing around €43m in the conversion project.

The Hamburg project developer took over the property from Alstom. The deal came about as a result of the good cooperation between the two companies. Garbe Industrial Real Estate had previously realised a 30,000 sq m logistics property for the rail vehicle manufacturer on its factory premises in Salzgitter in 2014. The area now acquired is in the immediate vicinity.

Before construction can begin, the site must be cleared of contamination – including foundations of former buildings, concrete slabs, shafts and possibly also explosive ordnance. The potentially contaminated soil will be carefully removed and professionally disposed of. Then a levelling layer is applied and its surface is completely sealed.

“In the process, we bring our many years of experience in dealing with so-called brownfields to bear,” emphasises Adrian Zellner, Member of the Executive Board at Garbe Industrial Real Estate. “With the revitalisation of this area, which has been lying fallow for years, we are enhancing the value of the soil enormously, raising previously unused property reserves without sealing valuable green spaces and thus creating significant settlement potential.”

The complex conversion process is completed by the construction of a modern logistics property with a total area of 32,000 sq m in three fire compartments. For protection, a foil is drawn under the floor slab so that substances that may be hazardous to water can also be stored. At least 28 dock levellers and three ground-level sectional doors are planned for loading and unloading trucks. There will be 140 parking spaces for cars and six for trucks in the outdoor area. Some of them will be pre-equipped with e-charging stations.

A photovoltaic system will be installed on the entire roof area to generate renewable energy. Several green spaces are planned on the property. In addition, the logistics property will not be supplied with fossil fuels. This is entirely in line with Garbe’s corporate strategy of realising project developments with the highest sustainability standards, taking into account all ESG criteria. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is therefore also striving for certification of the property to at least the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council.

The location is characterised by its central position south of the city triangle of Hanover, Wolfsburg and Brunswick. It is only a few kilometres to the A 39 motorway, which connects Salzgitter in a northerly direction with Wolfsburg and the A 2 Dortmund – Berlin motorway, and in a southerly direction with the A 7 Hamburg – Ulm motorway. There is also a connection to the public transport system. The nearest bus stop is 200m away.

Initial talks with potential users of the logistics centre are already underway. Garbe Industrial Real Estate expects the centre to be let during the construction period.