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Month: October 2022

PLUS Retail expands with WITRON

Posted on by David Priestman

The Dutch food retailer PLUS Retail B.V. together with the logistics partner WITRON Logistik + Informatik is expanding its national distribution centre for dry goods in Oss, which is currently in the middle of the realisation phase.

The reason for the expansion of logistics capacities is the merger of PLUS with the Dutch food retailer Coop, whose logistics processes will be partially integrated into the new highly automated PLUS distribution centre.

In 2023, a substantial part of the 550 stores will be supplied from a range of more than 12,000 different items. WITRON’s OPM, CPS, and DPS solutions is capable to pick more than 452,000 cases onto roll containers or into store totes in a store-friendly and error-free way.

“Both PLUS and Coop place maximum focus on service quality, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and sustainability,” according to PLUS Supply Chain Director, Rowell Versleijen. “That’s why we embrace innovation and state-of-the-art technology in all areas of our business.”

The heart of the distribution centre is WITRON’s OPM system, which was originally designed for 20 COM machines and will now be expanded by four COM machines. The automated tray warehouse in front of the picking area will also be expanded by eight stacker cranes (48 in total) and 45,700 storage locations (274,500 in total). The automated pallet warehouse will receive one additional stacker crane (11 in total) and 2,700 storage locations (29,500 in total).

The integration of all additional racking units, vehicles, depalletisers, stretch-wrappers, as well as their conveyor system and IT-based connections will be carried out in the existing building. Expansion options already planned for the warehouse will now be utilised.

“Due to the modular design of our end-to-end solutions and their physical compactness, we can develop highly flexible future concepts for our customers during the design phase already, which can be conveniently integrated into an existing system to increase volume, grow product range, add pick stations, or change business and material flow processes. Regardless of whether the system has been in operation for many years or, as in the case of PLUS – the system is being build,” explains Jack Kuypers, Senior Vice President North-West Europe at WITRON.

The merger of PLUS and Coop under the PLUS brand creates what is currently the third-largest full-service food retailer in the Netherlands, supplying more than 4.5 million customers per week with everyday goods, holding a market share of around 10%. The company, with annual sales of approx. €5bn, employs more than 40,000 staff members.

 

PLUS Retail expands with WITRON

Posted on by David Priestman

The Dutch food retailer PLUS Retail B.V. together with the logistics partner WITRON Logistik + Informatik is expanding its national distribution centre for dry goods in Oss, which is currently in the middle of the realisation phase.

The reason for the expansion of logistics capacities is the merger of PLUS with the Dutch food retailer Coop, whose logistics processes will be partially integrated into the new highly automated PLUS distribution centre.

In 2023, a substantial part of the 550 stores will be supplied from a range of more than 12,000 different items. WITRON’s OPM, CPS, and DPS solutions is capable to pick more than 452,000 cases onto roll containers or into store totes in a store-friendly and error-free way.

“Both PLUS and Coop place maximum focus on service quality, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and sustainability,” according to PLUS Supply Chain Director, Rowell Versleijen. “That’s why we embrace innovation and state-of-the-art technology in all areas of our business.”

The heart of the distribution centre is WITRON’s OPM system, which was originally designed for 20 COM machines and will now be expanded by four COM machines. The automated tray warehouse in front of the picking area will also be expanded by eight stacker cranes (48 in total) and 45,700 storage locations (274,500 in total). The automated pallet warehouse will receive one additional stacker crane (11 in total) and 2,700 storage locations (29,500 in total).

The integration of all additional racking units, vehicles, depalletisers, stretch-wrappers, as well as their conveyor system and IT-based connections will be carried out in the existing building. Expansion options already planned for the warehouse will now be utilised.

“Due to the modular design of our end-to-end solutions and their physical compactness, we can develop highly flexible future concepts for our customers during the design phase already, which can be conveniently integrated into an existing system to increase volume, grow product range, add pick stations, or change business and material flow processes. Regardless of whether the system has been in operation for many years or, as in the case of PLUS – the system is being build,” explains Jack Kuypers, Senior Vice President North-West Europe at WITRON.

The merger of PLUS and Coop under the PLUS brand creates what is currently the third-largest full-service food retailer in the Netherlands, supplying more than 4.5 million customers per week with everyday goods, holding a market share of around 10%. The company, with annual sales of approx. €5bn, employs more than 40,000 staff members.

 

Forto partnership expands biofuels offering

Posted on by David Priestman

Forto has formed a new partnership with GoodShipping as part of its growing biofuel programme. Forto can now offer the inset of advanced biofuel for its bookings for full container load (FCL) sea freight shipments using GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services, further expanding the accessibility of alternative fuel options for Forto customers.

The new partnership with GoodShipping highlights the next milestone in Forto’s sustainability offering, following the recent launch of its biofuel programme.

With a focus on carbon insetting, GoodShipping helps to reduce the scope 3 emissions of companies’ supply chains by facilitating a fuel switch to biofuel for a company’s freight shipments.  Biofuel alternatives are provided by marine biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, a sister company to GoodShipping.

GoodFuels is a global market leader in biofuels made from certified waste and residual flows that can be used directly for heavy transport. The fuel meets the highest sustainability standards. This includes used cooking oil and waste from animal fats that cannot be recycled in a higher-quality manner.

Use of biofuels lead to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of a transport without requiring changes to a shipper’s own operations. Net-zero transport impact, effectively reducing 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions, is achieved through an overallocation of biofuels as part of the booking. The process includes certification of the emissions reduction impact, which is audited by an independent third party.

Through the partnership, Forto offers GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services for its customers. The company’s infrastructure allows it to make biofuel available to customers supporting a variety of shipping volumes, locations, trade routes and cargo contracts. Its multiple carrier partners and wide offering will extend Forto’s current biofuel programme.

Michael Wax, CEO and Co-Founder of Forto: “Enabling real change to reduce the environmental impact of the logistics industry is key to us at Forto. Our ultimate goal is to help customers make the sustainable transport option their default choice – and ensuring our biofuel programme is as accessible as possible to our customers and their differing needs is a key driver of this.

“GoodShipping is an innovator in the market, with a broad, dedicated partner network and this partnership will enable us to expand our current offering. This is an important next step in our green ambitions, and we’re delighted to be working closely with a business that has such expertise in this space.”

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of Good Shipping: “We’re very proud to have Forto as our partner. By joining forces, we are able to offer sustainable transport to all Forto’s clients, taking the next big step towards reaching our shared green ambitions.”

The Forto range of sustainability solutions starts by providing customers with emissions visibility and information that empowers them to make impactful, data-based decisions. Forto also offers CO₂e emission offsets for all modes of transport and beyond the biofuels programme, German-based Rail Pre- and On-Carriage intermodal volumes are transported with a focus on using trains powered by renewable energy. Forto teams work strategically with partners, customers and other stakeholders to explore sustainability options and find solutions that fit their needs.

Forto partnership expands biofuels offering

Posted on by David Priestman

Forto has formed a new partnership with GoodShipping as part of its growing biofuel programme. Forto can now offer the inset of advanced biofuel for its bookings for full container load (FCL) sea freight shipments using GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services, further expanding the accessibility of alternative fuel options for Forto customers.

The new partnership with GoodShipping highlights the next milestone in Forto’s sustainability offering, following the recent launch of its biofuel programme.

With a focus on carbon insetting, GoodShipping helps to reduce the scope 3 emissions of companies’ supply chains by facilitating a fuel switch to biofuel for a company’s freight shipments.  Biofuel alternatives are provided by marine biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, a sister company to GoodShipping.

GoodFuels is a global market leader in biofuels made from certified waste and residual flows that can be used directly for heavy transport. The fuel meets the highest sustainability standards. This includes used cooking oil and waste from animal fats that cannot be recycled in a higher-quality manner.

Use of biofuels lead to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of a transport without requiring changes to a shipper’s own operations. Net-zero transport impact, effectively reducing 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions, is achieved through an overallocation of biofuels as part of the booking. The process includes certification of the emissions reduction impact, which is audited by an independent third party.

Through the partnership, Forto offers GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services for its customers. The company’s infrastructure allows it to make biofuel available to customers supporting a variety of shipping volumes, locations, trade routes and cargo contracts. Its multiple carrier partners and wide offering will extend Forto’s current biofuel programme.

Michael Wax, CEO and Co-Founder of Forto: “Enabling real change to reduce the environmental impact of the logistics industry is key to us at Forto. Our ultimate goal is to help customers make the sustainable transport option their default choice – and ensuring our biofuel programme is as accessible as possible to our customers and their differing needs is a key driver of this.

“GoodShipping is an innovator in the market, with a broad, dedicated partner network and this partnership will enable us to expand our current offering. This is an important next step in our green ambitions, and we’re delighted to be working closely with a business that has such expertise in this space.”

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of Good Shipping: “We’re very proud to have Forto as our partner. By joining forces, we are able to offer sustainable transport to all Forto’s clients, taking the next big step towards reaching our shared green ambitions.”

The Forto range of sustainability solutions starts by providing customers with emissions visibility and information that empowers them to make impactful, data-based decisions. Forto also offers CO₂e emission offsets for all modes of transport and beyond the biofuels programme, German-based Rail Pre- and On-Carriage intermodal volumes are transported with a focus on using trains powered by renewable energy. Forto teams work strategically with partners, customers and other stakeholders to explore sustainability options and find solutions that fit their needs.

AR Racking names new EMEA sales director

Posted on by David Priestman

José Miguel Sobradillo has been appointed as the new EMEA Sales Director for the pallet racking solutions of industrial storage systems specialist AR Racking. Sobradillo replaces José Manuel Lucio at the head of the EMEA market, who was combining the position with that of Managing Director, a role he will exclusively concentrate on from now on.

The new Sales Director takes on the challenge with determination: “It is a highly motivating challenge trying to consolidate AR Racking’s good positioning in the entire EMEA region. The objective is to turn AR Racking into the leading supplier of storage solutions in all these markets in which we are present. In my new position I will try to contribute to this by focusing on: strategies offered by stand-out projects that increase our customers’ competitiveness, as well as our product knowledge and care.”

Sobradillo knows perfectly the intra-logistics sector and AR Racking’s potential, having spent more than a decade performing sales management roles there. After many years as a sales management leader in the European Anglo-Saxon market, in recent months he has taken on the role of Key Account Manager – Global Accounts, a position focused on customers with large-scale and specific storage projects and which he will continue to combine with the new role.

With University training in industrial engineering, AR Racking’s new EMEA Sales Director has both a professional background in sales and a technical and industrial market profile.

AR Racking names new EMEA sales director

Posted on by Keith McKinley

José Miguel Sobradillo has been appointed as the new EMEA Sales Director for the pallet racking solutions of industrial storage systems specialist AR Racking. Sobradillo replaces José Manuel Lucio at the head of the EMEA market, who was combining the position with that of Managing Director, a role he will exclusively concentrate on from now on.

The new Sales Director takes on the challenge with determination: “It is a highly motivating challenge trying to consolidate AR Racking’s good positioning in the entire EMEA region. The objective is to turn AR Racking into the leading supplier of storage solutions in all these markets in which we are present. In my new position I will try to contribute to this by focusing on: strategies offered by stand-out projects that increase our customers’ competitiveness, as well as our product knowledge and care.”

Sobradillo knows perfectly the intra-logistics sector and AR Racking’s potential, having spent more than a decade performing sales management roles there. After many years as a sales management leader in the European Anglo-Saxon market, in recent months he has taken on the role of Key Account Manager – Global Accounts, a position focused on customers with large-scale and specific storage projects and which he will continue to combine with the new role.

With University training in industrial engineering, AR Racking’s new EMEA Sales Director has both a professional background in sales and a technical and industrial market profile.

VisionTrack joins government safety initiative

Posted on by David Priestman

VisionTrack, a leading AI video telematics and connected fleet data specialist, has become a delivery partner for Driving for Better Business. The company has teamed up with the free-to-access, government-backed National Highways programme to help private and public sector fleets reduce work-related road risk through the sharing of industry best practice.

“Our vision is to create a world where all road-users are kept safe from harm, so we share Driving for Better Business’ commitment to improving work-related road safety and risk management,” explains Simon Marsh, CEO of VisionTrack. “We are delighted to be confirmed as a delivery partner and believe this is an exciting opportunity to make a difference within the fleet marketplace, supporting our aim of eliminating road deaths and injuries.”

Driving for Better Business is a free programme, delivered by National Highways in partnership with RoadSafe, that provides online tools and resources. The initiative is designed to improve the levels of compliance for all those who drive or ride for work by sharing good practice and demonstrating the significant business benefits of managing work-related road risk more effectively.

Simon Turner, Campaign Manager for Driving for Better Business commented: “Collaborating with leading companies such as VisionTrack, that share our values, is so important to us. We’re looking forward to working with VisionTrack to create some informative new content around driver safety and being able to share our wealth of online tools and resources with a wider audience.”

“We look forward to working in partnership with Driving for Better Business to engage and educate those who use the road network for work. By sharing resources, expertise, support and thought leadership within the fleet sector, we can encourage organisations and their drivers to operate on the road in a safe, efficient and sustainable way,” concludes Marsh.

VisionTrack’s unique approach to AI video telematics is helping tackle some of the most complex challenges faced by fleets, providing the operational insight, business intelligence and enriched vehicle data needed to make strategic mobility decisions. The company’s intelligent camera solutions are underpinned by its multi-award-winning IoT platform, Autonomise.ai, which is transforming how vehicle operations approach road safety, claims management, duty of care, fleet compliance and operational risk.

 

VisionTrack joins government safety initiative

Posted on by David Priestman

VisionTrack, a leading AI video telematics and connected fleet data specialist, has become a delivery partner for Driving for Better Business. The company has teamed up with the free-to-access, government-backed National Highways programme to help private and public sector fleets reduce work-related road risk through the sharing of industry best practice.

“Our vision is to create a world where all road-users are kept safe from harm, so we share Driving for Better Business’ commitment to improving work-related road safety and risk management,” explains Simon Marsh, CEO of VisionTrack. “We are delighted to be confirmed as a delivery partner and believe this is an exciting opportunity to make a difference within the fleet marketplace, supporting our aim of eliminating road deaths and injuries.”

Driving for Better Business is a free programme, delivered by National Highways in partnership with RoadSafe, that provides online tools and resources. The initiative is designed to improve the levels of compliance for all those who drive or ride for work by sharing good practice and demonstrating the significant business benefits of managing work-related road risk more effectively.

Simon Turner, Campaign Manager for Driving for Better Business commented: “Collaborating with leading companies such as VisionTrack, that share our values, is so important to us. We’re looking forward to working with VisionTrack to create some informative new content around driver safety and being able to share our wealth of online tools and resources with a wider audience.”

“We look forward to working in partnership with Driving for Better Business to engage and educate those who use the road network for work. By sharing resources, expertise, support and thought leadership within the fleet sector, we can encourage organisations and their drivers to operate on the road in a safe, efficient and sustainable way,” concludes Marsh.

VisionTrack’s unique approach to AI video telematics is helping tackle some of the most complex challenges faced by fleets, providing the operational insight, business intelligence and enriched vehicle data needed to make strategic mobility decisions. The company’s intelligent camera solutions are underpinned by its multi-award-winning IoT platform, Autonomise.ai, which is transforming how vehicle operations approach road safety, claims management, duty of care, fleet compliance and operational risk.

 

Romania terminal reaches construction milestone

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DP World has announced that the construction of its multi-million Euro terminal in Aiud, Romania, is over 50% complete. When complete in 2023, the state-of-the-art 82,000 sq m Aiud intermodal terminal will link an area that contributes 50% of Romania’s industrial GDP directly with rail connections across Europe and all the way to China.

DP World’s new terminal will also boast a static storage capacity of 3,000 TEU and create direct links to key export markets. This will help overcome traditional barriers of poor infrastructure reaching north-eastern Romania, and drive further business to DP World’s Constanta port, supporting further volume growth in the Black Sea terminal.

Cosmin Carstea, CEO of DP World Romania, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone in the construction of this multi-modal terminal, which will be a big step in helping DP World become an end-to-end logistics provider in Romania.

“As it is situated in Romania’s industrial heartland, when completed our Aiud terminal will provide exporters and importers in the wider area with direct access to a major transport hub, creating efficient, robust and reliable trade routes to the whole country and beyond.”

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of DP World Europe, said: “Our purpose is to make trade flow. The development of this vast new facility in Aiud is a strong example of DP World’s ability to provide new trading opportunities that connect cargo owners with their customers, whatever their products and wherever they are in the world.

“When completed next year, the terminal will help DP World to create better, more sustainable and more efficient ways to move cargo for our customers, and simultaneously bolster Romania’s role in connecting its domestic market with Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.”

Through its on-site connection to the electrified rail infrastructure, the Aiud terminal will also help reduce transportation costs and CO2 emissions through the shift from road to rail as well as through the reduced transit time for cargoes from factories at the industrial park to their final destination.

Decea which is located in Alba county is close to Cluj, Sibiu, Mures and Hunedoara, which have become vital industrial and trade hubs for the country.

Businesses in this area will now have a fast direct connection within Europe to the Black Sea, North and Adriatic seas, while also having rail links to major hubs in Central Asia and China, enabling Romania to become a commercial hub for European trade eastward.

 

Romania terminal reaches construction milestone

Posted on by David Priestman

DP World has announced that the construction of its multi-million Euro terminal in Aiud, Romania, is over 50% complete. When complete in 2023, the state-of-the-art 82,000 sq m Aiud intermodal terminal will link an area that contributes 50% of Romania’s industrial GDP directly with rail connections across Europe and all the way to China.

DP World’s new terminal will also boast a static storage capacity of 3,000 TEU and create direct links to key export markets. This will help overcome traditional barriers of poor infrastructure reaching north-eastern Romania, and drive further business to DP World’s Constanta port, supporting further volume growth in the Black Sea terminal.

Cosmin Carstea, CEO of DP World Romania, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone in the construction of this multi-modal terminal, which will be a big step in helping DP World become an end-to-end logistics provider in Romania.

“As it is situated in Romania’s industrial heartland, when completed our Aiud terminal will provide exporters and importers in the wider area with direct access to a major transport hub, creating efficient, robust and reliable trade routes to the whole country and beyond.”

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of DP World Europe, said: “Our purpose is to make trade flow. The development of this vast new facility in Aiud is a strong example of DP World’s ability to provide new trading opportunities that connect cargo owners with their customers, whatever their products and wherever they are in the world.

“When completed next year, the terminal will help DP World to create better, more sustainable and more efficient ways to move cargo for our customers, and simultaneously bolster Romania’s role in connecting its domestic market with Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.”

Through its on-site connection to the electrified rail infrastructure, the Aiud terminal will also help reduce transportation costs and CO2 emissions through the shift from road to rail as well as through the reduced transit time for cargoes from factories at the industrial park to their final destination.

Decea which is located in Alba county is close to Cluj, Sibiu, Mures and Hunedoara, which have become vital industrial and trade hubs for the country.

Businesses in this area will now have a fast direct connection within Europe to the Black Sea, North and Adriatic seas, while also having rail links to major hubs in Central Asia and China, enabling Romania to become a commercial hub for European trade eastward.

 

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