September 2022

Hörmann industrial door offers ‘impressive’ speed

Posted on 7 September, 2022 by David Priestman

The new high-speed industrial sectional door from Hörmann UK, the Series 60, has been designed and developed to provide quality construction, high security, and easy installation. When fitted with the new WA 500 FU operator, the Series 60 can achieve an impressive door opening speed of up to 1 m/s making it the fastest sectional door on the market, helping speed up warehouse operations and reduce building heat loss.

To illustrate just how fast the Series 60 is, Hörmann has produced a speed test film which clearly demonstrates the superior speed of the new door when compared directly with an older version of the door.

Not only does the Series 60 door offer an exceptional opening speed, but optimised track radii and enlarged rollers result in up to 5 dB(A) quieter door operation together with improved stability, leading to low wear and smoother door travel. Easy fitting and maintenance are aided by reduced components and the provision of press-fitted screws, whilst transition sleeves provide a precise fitting of the track and radius. The door is supplied factory set to the optimum speed but can be easily adjusted and the speed varied to suit individual operational requirements.

For added security anti-lift kits are fitted on both sides of the bottom section of the door as standard, and optional RC 2 security measures are available according to DIN/TS 18194. Operator safety is enhanced by the inclusion of an in-line light grill which automatically stops the door if an obstruction occurs whilst the door is closing.

The new WA 500 FU operator features soft-start and soft-stop for gentle, smooth door travel, and constant travel speed for both high-lift and vertical track applications.

The set-up and commissioning of the Series 60 door is fast and simple with the provision of an innovative Bluetooth app. Accessible using either a mobile phone or tablet, the app provides users with friendly, easy to follow step-by-step instructions and also provides straightforward fault finding and diagnostic data.

Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK, comments: “We are all excited about the opportunities the new Series 60 sectional door offers the industrial door market. It can provide the opening speed normally associated with a spiral door, combined with the inherent qualities of a sectional door – all at a competitive price point.

“Obviously seeing is believing, so our short speed test film has been produced to illustrate the fast-opening speed in an informative and fun manner.”

CLICK HERE to watch the Series 60 comparison video.

IAG trials electric terminal tractor at Heathrow

Posted on 7 September, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has begun to trial the first electric terminal tractor, a Terberg YT203EV, at London Heathrow airport. This is the first electric Terberg operating airside worldwide.

By replacing an existing terminal tractor with an electric Terberg, approximately 30 tonnes of CO2 will be saved per vehicle per year –the equivalent of planting over 1 million trees or taking more than 6,000 cars off the road.

Terberg has been creating electric vehicles since 2014 with the team constantly revising the designs. The latest vehicles can deliver the same capability as the current diesel units in a more environmentally sustainable way, allowing drivers to carry out their work pattern whilst avoiding diesel engine emissions. In addition to its electric solution, Terberg is also exploring the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, having placed a unit in to test on an off-airfield application. This additional environmentally friendly solution will afford Terberg customers such as IAG Cargo further options to achieve their environmental goals.

IAG Cargo is trialling the electric Terberg YT203EV for 12 months, with the ambition to transition its current diesel fleet to more sustainable alternatives, including electric. In the coming years the trial will help IAG Cargo and its partners understand the challenges the business may face when adopting an electric airside fleet, how future electric vehicles could be charged and what additional infrastructure will be needed to support a fleet of electric terminal tractors.

David Rose, Chief Transformation Officer at IAG Cargo, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Terberg to trial the first electric Terberg at London Heathrow – this is an exciting advancement for IAG Cargo as we strive to lead on sustainability and be fit for future.

“We are continuously looking at ways that reduce our impact on the environment whilst improving our customer offering. This trial is part of a wider effort supporting our commitment to making IAG Cargo, and the wider industry, more sustainable.“

Alisdair Couper, Manager Director at Terberg, added: “This is another step towards reducing air cargo’s impact on the environment and so we’re thrilled to work with IAG Cargo to see the first electric Terberg already in action at London Heathrow airport.”

IAG trials electric terminal tractor at Heathrow

Posted on 7 September, 202229 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Thermo King introduces powerful refrigeration unit

Posted on 6 September, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Thermo King, a leader in transport temperature control solutions, announced – and will feature at the IAA Transportation 2022 show in Hannover, Germany – the T-1200R Whisper Pro, its latest, ultra-quiet addition to the T-Series truck refrigeration systems portfolio.

The new single and multi-temperature T-1200R Whisper Pro models meet the most stringent noise regulations including upcoming PIEK[1] requirements. This allows transporters to operate inner-city deliveries at any time of day and night and with less impact on communities.

Thermo King T-Series units are available as diesel-powered or hybrid models. In the hybrid version available as an option, the unit can seamlessly switch between diesel and electric mode to enter cities’ low emission zones. The new T-1200R Whisper Pro offers the same reliability and performance as the T-Series with sound levels below the latest PIEK standard requirements.

“Improving inner-city living conditions and eliminating the levels of noise emissions are among European cities’ top priorities. Transporters operating in urban areas must ensure their refrigeration units meet the strictest noise regulations set by municipalities and regulators,” said Davide Previsdomini, product manager Truck at Thermo King. “Noise attenuation across all our products to lower the impact on communities and drivers has always been a priority for Thermo King. By introducing the Whisper Pro model of our highest cooling capacity truck unit, we give our customers a solution to keep effectively operating in the cities.”

The T-1200R Whisper Pro features telematics mounted as standard and is using geo-fencing to automatically switch into quiet mode when entering a pre-defined low noise-emission zone. This allows the transporters to operate unrestricted day and night schedules with the peace of mind that the unit complies with the noise regulations in the given area. In case of the Hybrid model, when the power from the truck is available, the unit switches to electric drive to further reduce emissions.

The PIEK certified T-1200R Whisper Pro units deliver class leading performance in accordance with ATP (Accord Transport Perrisable) standards, offering customers the quickest pull-down during pre-trip preparations with low-noise and no compromise on capacity in high-speed mode.

Thermo King introduces powerful refrigeration unit

Posted on 6 September, 2022 by David Priestman

Hong Kong named world’s busiest cargo airport

Posted on 6 September, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Following an increase in the cargo dedication of Cathay Pacific throughout the pandemic and beyond, the award-winning airline’s hub, Hong Kong International Airport, has been recognised for its cargo proficiency.

The international airport was named the world’s busiest cargo airport, as well carrying the most tonnage for 2021, beating last year’s top-ranking Memphis International Airport, which positioned second according to the Airports Council International (ACI).

ACI’s annual world rankings highlighted that HKG handled more than five million tonnes of cargo last year, an increase of 12.5% on 2020. It also topped the tonnages for ‘international freight’ with 4.9m tonnes, an increase of 12.8% against 2020. Dubai in particular saw a number of different products – including perfumes, laptops, jewellery and accessories – transported via Cathay Pacific’s cargo freighters in 2021, said Vishnu Rajendran, the airline’s Middle East area manager.

“It’s testament to Hong Kong International Airport’s solid work over the past few years in its bid to bridge gaps from the Far East to the rest of the world for cargo carrying,” said Rajendran. “Our hub has always been an outstanding international airport with its ease of connections, world-class lounges, and diverse range of retailers, so to now have the cargo element recognised is extremely promising.”

Cathay Pacific’s cargo service is responsible for 25% of the airline’s annual revenue, connecting Hong Kong to 46 destinations globally through a raft of partners helping to provide an effective service.

“The dedicated Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with innovation and passion at the forefront of the dynamic team,” Rajendran added. “Focusing on enhanced efficiency, reliability and visibility all improves the customer experience and adds value to the backbone of end-to-end services. Designed for an annual air cargo throughput capacity of 2.6m tonnes, the terminal is a common-use facility open to all airline customers.

Ensuring that customers looking to send cargo via Cathay Pacific have various options to fit their individual needs, the airline also launched its Priority solution, offering three service tiers: First (PR1), Essential Plus (PR2) and Essential (PR3). For general cargo shipments, customers can choose the tier best suited to their needs. In addition, PR1 and PR2 service tiers have been extended and are now applicable to all types of shipments requiring special handling, including but not limited to Pharma LIFT, Fresh LIFT, and DG LIFT for dangerous goods.

In addition, Cathay Pacific Cargo has become one of the first carriers to pioneer two new milestones in the Cargo iQ Master Operating Plan (MOP).

The new milestones, FOW (freight out of warehouse control) and FIW (freight into warehouse control), will bring more transparency to the overall shipment journey in the MOP and better measurement of ground-handling performance in the handover between the ramp operating handlers and the cargo terminal, and vice-versa, for imports and exports, at air waybill (AWB) level. The milestones are now operational at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong, with a view for roll-out across the network.

TIMOCOM presents shipment tracking for carriers

Posted on 5 September, 2022 by Keith McKinley

TIMOCOM will be presenting several innovations at the IAA Transportation in Hanover from the 20th to the 25th of September in Hall 13, Booth C40. These innovations are specifically tailored to meet the needs of carriers, in particular smaller companies and mobile device users.

“We are expanding our European road transportation marketplace to include new products and features – two will be available during the trade fair, and the prototype for the third will be on display,” according to Gunnar Gburek, Head of Business Affairs at TIMOCOM.

Those visiting the TIMOCOM trade fair booth can look forward to testing the following innovations:

Modernised freight exchange: TIMOCOM users can now perform as many simultaneous searches as they like, receive notifications regarding new offers and exclude specific offers from the search results list. The new freight exchange is also much simpler to use on mobile devices, making it ideal for finding freight when on the go across Europe.

Live shipment tracking: This latest feature is designed to meet the needs of carriers. It makes it easy to exchange transport information, including an informative shipment status and an ETA calculation optimised for trucks. “It was important to us that service providers have a tool that allows them to maintain full control over which data they share but still meet the needs of transport customers, who want more transparency within the transport process,” according to Steven van Cauteren, Director of Key Account & Partner Management at TIMOCOM. Carriers can share information in real time with their business partner using a digital representation of the shipment, allowing all those involved in the transport process to react quickly to any issues. The product is currently being introduced in the DACH region.

Tour planning: This prototype is an extension of the live shipment tracking feature. It allows road hauliers to factor in tours when scheduling drivers and shipments, doing away with manual entries in Word or Excel. The drivers can then view their tour on their mobile device. “The tour planning feature is a prototype designed to make life easier for service providers. We are currently searching for beta testers, who will allow us to continue to develop the product in line with our customer’s needs,” says Steven Van Cauteren. The feature is primarily designed for use by smaller companies and road hauliers.

Logistics transport customers are increasingly requesting digital processes and more transparency from their service providers. TIMOCOM’s latest innovations help carriers meet these demands while maintaining control over their own data. This allows companies to concentrate on their core business while still profiting from digitalisation of their processes.

TIMOCOM presents shipment tracking for carriers

Posted on 5 September, 2022 by David Priestman

Those visiting the TIMOCOM trade fair booth can look forward to testing the following innovations:

Toyota scheme cuts cost of operating hand pallet trucks

Posted on 5 September, 2022 by Keith McKinley

To support companies during these financially challenging times, Toyota Material Handling UK is offering an easy way of operating pallet trucks at the lowest cost and at a fixed annual rental rate with no capital outlay.

Toyota’s ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ scheme is a hand pallet truck rental option that enables users to receive a new pallet truck from the Toyota BT Lifter range for an agreed two-year monthly rental fee that can be as little as the equivalent of 79p/day.

Throughout the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ agreement period, the truck – or trucks – will be fully serviced free of further charge by Toyota’s experienced and dedicated pallet truck service team as part of an agreed structured maintenance schedule.

In addition, in the unlikely event of a truck suffering a mechanical breakdown between scheduled service calls, Toyota’s Pallet Truck Specialists will visit free of any further charge.

Tony Sharpe, Head of Service Development and Hand Pallet Truck After Sales at Toyota Material Handling, comments: “Hand pallet trucks are in near constant use in countless warehouses, retail outlets and manufacturing sites across the country. ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ provides quality equipment at the lowest rates and complete cost transparency for users. And, of course, because fees are agreed up-front, budget forecasting becomes far simpler.

“Furthermore, the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ service schedule will identify any potential issues with a truck that may compromise productivity or staff safety and thus prevent significant downtime – with all the cost and disruption to a business that can mean.”

While a strict servicing and maintenance regime is the best way of preventing significant downtime truck build quality is also a major factor in maintaining operational efficiency and in work-cycle tests trucks in Toyota’s BT Lifter range have lasted up to five times as long as other hand pallet trucks.

Sharpe adds: “Toyota’s BT hand pallet trucks have been setting standards in strength and performance for over 60 years and today’s BT Lifter range from Toyota Material Handling maintains these values with tests proving that these trucks are the most durable on the market.”

The full Toyota BT Lifter range – including top selling models such as the BT Quick Lifter, the BT Lifter Stainless and the BT Lifter Wet Spec – is available through ‘Pallet Truck Plus.’

Toyota scheme cuts cost of operating hand pallet trucks

Posted on 5 September, 2022 by David Priestman

In addition, in the unlikely event of a truck suffering a mechanical breakdown between scheduled service calls, Toyota’s Pallet Truck Specialists will visit free of any further charge.

The full Toyota BT Lifter range – including top selling models such as the BT Quick Lifter, the BT Lifter Stainless and the BT Lifter Wet Spec – is available through ‘Pallet Truck Plus.’

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