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Day: 21 September 2022

New DC at London Gateway to meet ‘unprecedented’ demand

Posted on by David Priestman

DP World in the UK has announced that work has begun on a new speculative 119,000 sq ft green warehouse at London Gateway’s port-centric Logistics Park.

The company has witnessed its best year for new business in a decade, with demand for premium warehousing space in the South East of England reaching ‘unprecedented’ levels and a record volume of cargo handled by its two UK logistics hubs at London Gateway and Southampton in the first half of the year. In response to customer demand, the new green warehouse is being fast-tracked for completion in Q3 2023.

Oliver Treneman, Park Development Director at DP World in the UK, said: “At London Gateway, we have the space, infrastructure and vision to support customers as they grow, with the new speculative LG119 likely to be of interest to any growing business looking to expand or establish new operations. Our partnership approach, logistics expertise, digital solutions and intermodal connectivity help us to solve logistical challenges and give our customers more control over their supply chains.

“At the size of 400 football pitches, our rapidly expanding Logistics Park is the biggest of its kind in Europe and will become home to a workforce of around 12,000 within the next seven years. The site’s outstanding road links, access to an adjacent rail terminal and proximity to both London and a deep-water port will cut transport costs for customers.”

In the last 12 months, four major new tenants have taken leases at London Gateway’s Logistics Park. Transmec and Magnum, two leading logistics businesses, signed up earlier this year following the news that London City Bond, a leading UK bonded warehousing provider, and OASIS Group, a secure information and data storage service provider, would also locate there.

In keeping with DP World’s commitment to minimising the environmental impact of its operations, the new facility will be one of the most sustainable warehouses yet built. It will have a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ classification, with a target to deliver a 30% carbon reduction during construction and a 40% reduction in operational carbon emissions.

DP World – which operates ports, terminals and logistics businesses on six continents – continues to make major investments in the UK. It announced last year a further £300m investment in a new fourth berth at London Gateway, which will lift capacity by a third when it opens in 2024.

Between January and June, London Gateway saw throughput of 1,013,000 TEU, a 10% increase on the previous best half-yearly performance set in the second half of 2021. This performance contributed to a record volume of cargo for DP World’s ports in the UK, with a combined total of 1,937,000 TEU when factoring in throughput at Southampton, Britain’s second largest container terminal.

 

New DC at London Gateway to meet ‘unprecedented’ demand

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DP World in the UK has announced that work has begun on a new speculative 119,000 sq ft green warehouse at London Gateway’s port-centric Logistics Park.

The company has witnessed its best year for new business in a decade, with demand for premium warehousing space in the South East of England reaching ‘unprecedented’ levels and a record volume of cargo handled by its two UK logistics hubs at London Gateway and Southampton in the first half of the year. In response to customer demand, the new green warehouse is being fast-tracked for completion in Q3 2023.

Oliver Treneman, Park Development Director at DP World in the UK, said: “At London Gateway, we have the space, infrastructure and vision to support customers as they grow, with the new speculative LG119 likely to be of interest to any growing business looking to expand or establish new operations. Our partnership approach, logistics expertise, digital solutions and intermodal connectivity help us to solve logistical challenges and give our customers more control over their supply chains.

“At the size of 400 football pitches, our rapidly expanding Logistics Park is the biggest of its kind in Europe and will become home to a workforce of around 12,000 within the next seven years. The site’s outstanding road links, access to an adjacent rail terminal and proximity to both London and a deep-water port will cut transport costs for customers.”

In the last 12 months, four major new tenants have taken leases at London Gateway’s Logistics Park. Transmec and Magnum, two leading logistics businesses, signed up earlier this year following the news that London City Bond, a leading UK bonded warehousing provider, and OASIS Group, a secure information and data storage service provider, would also locate there.

In keeping with DP World’s commitment to minimising the environmental impact of its operations, the new facility will be one of the most sustainable warehouses yet built. It will have a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ classification, with a target to deliver a 30% carbon reduction during construction and a 40% reduction in operational carbon emissions.

DP World – which operates ports, terminals and logistics businesses on six continents – continues to make major investments in the UK. It announced last year a further £300m investment in a new fourth berth at London Gateway, which will lift capacity by a third when it opens in 2024.

Between January and June, London Gateway saw throughput of 1,013,000 TEU, a 10% increase on the previous best half-yearly performance set in the second half of 2021. This performance contributed to a record volume of cargo for DP World’s ports in the UK, with a combined total of 1,937,000 TEU when factoring in throughput at Southampton, Britain’s second largest container terminal.

 

Dutch wholesaler picks Vanderlande GtP system

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered a highly automated FASTPICK goods-to-person (GtP) solution to De Bondt BV, a global haberdashery and yarn wholesaler. The system, which incorporates innovative ADAPTO shuttle technology, has been installed in the company’s existing warehouse in Tynaarlo, The Netherlands and went operational in September 2022.

The family-owned business, known for its brand Scheepjes, is delivering to retailers and resellers in more than 70 countries worldwide, and expects strong growth. In order to support the increased demand, De Bondt BV selected a flexible and scalable solution that will increase picking and packing efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of mistakes. With FASTPICK, De Bondt BV is ready for the future.

A significant part of De Bondt BV’s warehouse is automated with Vanderlande’s shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) system, ADAPTO. The system supplies order lines in multi-compartment totes in a strict order sequence to the ergonomic pick stations. This offers De Bondt BV an increased storage density of over 20,000 locations, enabling a picking performance of up to 1,200 items per hour in peak periods.

The packing process is automated with a carton erector, pack list inserter, carton closing machine and label applicators, enabling operators to directly pick orders into cartons and ensuring a single touch process. Packing in this way also minimises shipping volumes and reduces the need for extra box-filling by operators.

“By using FASTPICK, we optimise the quality of service for our customers, enabling us to not only process orders in a more accurate and efficient way, but also to use less packaging material,” says Job De Bondt, Managing Director De Bondt BV. “With this investment, we are more than ready for the future!”

Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We are delighted to be working with one of the key players in this sector, and to have supplied our innovative FASTPICK solution. We believe that this will help De Bondt BV to not only remain as one of the market leaders, but also provide its customers with the high service levels they’ve come to expect. FASTPICK is an ideal match for De Bondt BV’s requirements and it is now ready for future growth.”

 

Dutch wholesaler picks Vanderlande GtP system

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered a highly automated FASTPICK goods-to-person (GtP) solution to De Bondt BV, a global haberdashery and yarn wholesaler. The system, which incorporates innovative ADAPTO shuttle technology, has been installed in the company’s existing warehouse in Tynaarlo, The Netherlands and went operational in September 2022.

The family-owned business, known for its brand Scheepjes, is delivering to retailers and resellers in more than 70 countries worldwide, and expects strong growth. In order to support the increased demand, De Bondt BV selected a flexible and scalable solution that will increase picking and packing efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of mistakes. With FASTPICK, De Bondt BV is ready for the future.

A significant part of De Bondt BV’s warehouse is automated with Vanderlande’s shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) system, ADAPTO. The system supplies order lines in multi-compartment totes in a strict order sequence to the ergonomic pick stations. This offers De Bondt BV an increased storage density of over 20,000 locations, enabling a picking performance of up to 1,200 items per hour in peak periods.

The packing process is automated with a carton erector, pack list inserter, carton closing machine and label applicators, enabling operators to directly pick orders into cartons and ensuring a single touch process. Packing in this way also minimises shipping volumes and reduces the need for extra box-filling by operators.

“By using FASTPICK, we optimise the quality of service for our customers, enabling us to not only process orders in a more accurate and efficient way, but also to use less packaging material,” says Job De Bondt, Managing Director De Bondt BV. “With this investment, we are more than ready for the future!”

Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We are delighted to be working with one of the key players in this sector, and to have supplied our innovative FASTPICK solution. We believe that this will help De Bondt BV to not only remain as one of the market leaders, but also provide its customers with the high service levels they’ve come to expect. FASTPICK is an ideal match for De Bondt BV’s requirements and it is now ready for future growth.”

 

inVia recognised in Women in Supply Chain Award

Posted on by David Priestman

inVia Robotics’ Vice President of Solutions Development, Lauren Ziccardi, and Chief Marketing Officer, Kristen Moore (pictured), have been named winners of the third annual Women in Supply Chain Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Alongside Ziccardi and Moore’s leadership, inVia Robotics has brought to market unique technology that makes logistics warehouses more efficient and more productive in spite of a shortage of labour.

The Women in Supply Chain award honours female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. In the past year, Ziccardi and Moore have helped shape the supply chain industry by shining a light on the breadth of automation options available and how to determine the right solution for each warehouse.

Warehouses utilising inVia Robotics’ AI-powered Automation Solution have been able to digitise and automate their operations in a way that increases both productivity and accuracy. At a time when they’re facing more consumer demands than ever before, they can optimise their warehouse by strategically placing inventory, synchronizing movement of resources, and automating rote fulfilment tasks.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition alongside such dedicated, talented, and well respected women in the supply chain industry,” says Ziccardi. “I feel empowered by the fact that I am able to make a difference for our customers, and the industry as a whole, as they not only plan for what’s in front of them, but also for what’s to come.”

inVia’s systems are offered on a subscription basis, where customers pay only for the productivity of the system. There are no big capital outlays or burdens of equipment ownership & maintenance, and technology updates are included in the service. So, as new features and performance enhancements are added, customers always have the latest technology advances at work in their warehouses. inVia operates the robotics system with 24/7 monitoring and support and ensures labour – both people and robots – is managed throughout the day to get orders out on time.

“I am both grateful and humbled to have been selected for this award,” says Moore. “It has been an honour to work alongside other supply chain industry leaders the last four years to help navigate a time of tremendous growth and change. I am more invigorated than ever to bring ground-breaking automation technology to the market in a way that supports our customers and helps their businesses thrive.”

“When I launched this award three years ago, I was prepared for an uphill battle. I was envisioning a long road ahead in getting the supply chain industry educated enough as to why it was important to recognise women in the supply chain. But, this award, the winners and those who submitted nominations – both men and women – is a testament that supply chain organisations were already recognising their female leaders; they just needed a better platform,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics.

“This year, we received over 280 submissions. Almost 100 of those submissions came from men. I’m so proud of everyone who participated, both men and women. I’m proud to call these women mentors, role models and industry friends. I’m proud to interview them, support them and help promote their journey. And, I hope to see all of this year’s and past years’ winners at our upcoming Women in Supply Chain Forum.”

Earlier this year, inVia Robotics was also awarded the 2022 Top Supply Chain Projects Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model was awarded for transforming the distribution centre of an entertainment merchandise third-party logistics provider (3PL). By implementing inVia’s comprehensive warehouse execution system (WES) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the 3PL was able to increase productivity rates by 1,000%.

 

inVia recognised in Women in Supply Chain Award

Posted on by David Priestman

inVia Robotics’ Vice President of Solutions Development, Lauren Ziccardi, and Chief Marketing Officer, Kristen Moore (pictured), have been named winners of the third annual Women in Supply Chain Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Alongside Ziccardi and Moore’s leadership, inVia Robotics has brought to market unique technology that makes logistics warehouses more efficient and more productive in spite of a shortage of labour.

The Women in Supply Chain award honours female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. In the past year, Ziccardi and Moore have helped shape the supply chain industry by shining a light on the breadth of automation options available and how to determine the right solution for each warehouse.

Warehouses utilising inVia Robotics’ AI-powered Automation Solution have been able to digitise and automate their operations in a way that increases both productivity and accuracy. At a time when they’re facing more consumer demands than ever before, they can optimise their warehouse by strategically placing inventory, synchronizing movement of resources, and automating rote fulfilment tasks.

“It’s an honour to receive this recognition alongside such dedicated, talented, and well respected women in the supply chain industry,” says Ziccardi. “I feel empowered by the fact that I am able to make a difference for our customers, and the industry as a whole, as they not only plan for what’s in front of them, but also for what’s to come.”

inVia’s systems are offered on a subscription basis, where customers pay only for the productivity of the system. There are no big capital outlays or burdens of equipment ownership & maintenance, and technology updates are included in the service. So, as new features and performance enhancements are added, customers always have the latest technology advances at work in their warehouses. inVia operates the robotics system with 24/7 monitoring and support and ensures labour – both people and robots – is managed throughout the day to get orders out on time.

“I am both grateful and humbled to have been selected for this award,” says Moore. “It has been an honour to work alongside other supply chain industry leaders the last four years to help navigate a time of tremendous growth and change. I am more invigorated than ever to bring ground-breaking automation technology to the market in a way that supports our customers and helps their businesses thrive.”

“When I launched this award three years ago, I was prepared for an uphill battle. I was envisioning a long road ahead in getting the supply chain industry educated enough as to why it was important to recognise women in the supply chain. But, this award, the winners and those who submitted nominations – both men and women – is a testament that supply chain organisations were already recognising their female leaders; they just needed a better platform,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics.

“This year, we received over 280 submissions. Almost 100 of those submissions came from men. I’m so proud of everyone who participated, both men and women. I’m proud to call these women mentors, role models and industry friends. I’m proud to interview them, support them and help promote their journey. And, I hope to see all of this year’s and past years’ winners at our upcoming Women in Supply Chain Forum.”

Earlier this year, inVia Robotics was also awarded the 2022 Top Supply Chain Projects Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model was awarded for transforming the distribution centre of an entertainment merchandise third-party logistics provider (3PL). By implementing inVia’s comprehensive warehouse execution system (WES) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the 3PL was able to increase productivity rates by 1,000%.

 

Be smart and take full control of site inspections

Posted on by Keith McKinley

[ADVERTORIAL]

Increase inspection efficiency with Scafftag‘s reliable holders and inserts that can communicate the safety status of any type of equipment at the point of use. Furthermore, planning, inspecting and reporting can be streamlined, customised and largely automated to save time with SafeTrak software and app. Discover complete solution from Scafftag – A Brady Company.

Visual Tagging solutions from Scafftag

Visual Tagging solutions communicate the latest equipment inspection and status at the point of use and record an audit trail of equipment maintenance, tests and inspections to comply with health and safety legislation.

Scafftag inspection tag systems help control pre-shift inspections, maintenance and identification of all and any aspect of site and/or equipment, improving workplace safety and communication. Scafftag offers visual tagging systems to meet your needs for a wide variety of applications, including (but not limited to) hoarding, fencing, temporary works, spill, fire and first aid, excavations and excavators…

Clear communication at the point of use

When properly used and applied on equipment and in plain view, Scafftag can always communicate the latest equipment status to anyone who wants to use a specific piece of equipment. Tags are available for almost any tool or equipment, including ladders, scaffolds, drills, vehicles and engines. Inspection records on the tag’s insert will show when equipment was considered fit for use. When equipment fails inspection, the inspector can remove the insert to show a clear ‘Do not use’ message on the tag’s holder. In this way, Scafftag helps prevent costly workplace accidents resulting from the use of unfit equipment.

The majority of our solutions comprise two components – a holder attached to the asset or equipment, and replaceable inserts to record latest inspection and notable data. This creates a simple three-stage looped process for latest equipment status and a clear data trail:

  1. Empty holder displays: Do not Use, Do not enter, Inspection Required, etc…
  2. Equipment is inspected periodically, the insert is completed and placed in the holder.
  3. If equipment should not be used, remove the insert from holder.

This ensures you have a permanent data trail of inspections and work carried out, as well as evidence in a court of law if you need it.

Extremely robust and reliable

Scafftag holders and inserts are designed to last in extreme outdoor conditions. Holders are made out of ABS or Nylon and will rarely break. The polypropylene inserts can withstand water, oil and dirt while still being easy to write on. Both the holder and insert can resist prolonged UV exposure in order to stay legible in construction sites.

Both the holders and removable inserts are highly customisable and can support the standardisation of inspection procedures. A QR code can also be printed on the inserts or holders to activate a digital inspection flow via a smartphone and Safetrak software, complete with inspection planning management and automatic inspection report generation.

Discover a wide range of tools and equipment you can immediately increase compliance for in our guide “OPTIMISE EQUIPMENT SAFETY”

CLICK HERE to download the free guide.

 

Kite Packaging extends Coventry campus

Posted on by David Priestman

Adding almost 190,000 sq ft, Kite Packaging’s Coventry capacity now stands at 380,000 sq ft, offering a considerably larger inventory to clients. With space for c.40,000 pallets, Kite says great stock availability is guaranteed. An additional 30,000 sq ft of space in Unit 2 awaits expansion as the company continues to grow, with plans to increase Coventry personnel to 170 people.

Significant investment went into furnishing the new site, with Kite supporting the local economy by hiring Midlands-based contractors where possible. The units feature new IT infrastructure and energy-efficient machinery, with 18 new forklifts, 14 low-level order pickers, and a conveyor system to streamline warehouse processes. With no shortage for space, Kite’s mobile packaging laboratory has its very own parking place when it is not out on visits.

Complete with a meeting room suite, exceptional canteen and breakout space, the campus also boasts a dedicated educational facility which Kite describes as “like no other in our industry”, providing on-site training for employees and customers as well as a great work environment. Surrounding wildlife has been preserved and landscaped with walkway access, benefitting the employees without disturbing the natural environment.

The move saw more green initiatives accommodated, enabling Kite to refine its existing sustainable operations in its new home. While modern insulation and smart lighting are employed for energy efficiency, the site has also been fitted with solar panels to source renewable power. A campus-wide recycling initiative has been implemented, along with Kite having its very own on-site water recycling plant for self-sufficiency. To add, electric vehicle charging points have been installed across the premises with the opportunity to add more if the need arises.

Kite Packaging extends Coventry campus

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Adding almost 190,000 sq ft, Kite Packaging’s Coventry capacity now stands at 380,000 sq ft, offering a considerably larger inventory to clients. With space for c.40,000 pallets, Kite says great stock availability is guaranteed. An additional 30,000 sq ft of space in Unit 2 awaits expansion as the company continues to grow, with plans to increase Coventry personnel to 170 people.

Significant investment went into furnishing the new site, with Kite supporting the local economy by hiring Midlands-based contractors where possible. The units feature new IT infrastructure and energy-efficient machinery, with 18 new forklifts, 14 low-level order pickers, and a conveyor system to streamline warehouse processes. With no shortage for space, Kite’s mobile packaging laboratory has its very own parking place when it is not out on visits.

Complete with a meeting room suite, exceptional canteen and breakout space, the campus also boasts a dedicated educational facility which Kite describes as “like no other in our industry”, providing on-site training for employees and customers as well as a great work environment. Surrounding wildlife has been preserved and landscaped with walkway access, benefitting the employees without disturbing the natural environment.

The move saw more green initiatives accommodated, enabling Kite to refine its existing sustainable operations in its new home. While modern insulation and smart lighting are employed for energy efficiency, the site has also been fitted with solar panels to source renewable power. A campus-wide recycling initiative has been implemented, along with Kite having its very own on-site water recycling plant for self-sufficiency. To add, electric vehicle charging points have been installed across the premises with the opportunity to add more if the need arises.

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