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Month: November 2022

Locus Robotics attracts $117m funding

Posted on by David Priestman

Locus Robotics, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment and distribution warehouses, has attracted more than $117m (£97.6m) in Series F funding, led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and G2 Venture Partners. As part of the financing, Mark Midle, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs, and Zach Barasz, Partner, G2 Venture Partners, will join the Locus Board of Directors, bringing their unique industry perspectives and insights to further guide Locus’s next stage of growth and global expansion.

“Locus has established itself as an innovative, high-quality market leader for flexible automation in the massive warehouse fulfilment and distribution market,” said Midle at the announcement of the funding. “Our investment reflects our view that Locus has the product offering and the operational excellence required to meet and exceed the market challenges posed by today’s dynamic economic environment.”

“This new round of funding marks an important inflection point for Locus Robotics as we look toward our next stage of growth, and we strategically chose to bring in investors with a wealth of experience in both public and private markets to advise us as we continue our journey,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “As the rapid digital transformation of the supply chain continues, warehouses increasingly seek flexible, intelligent robotics automation to improve productivity and grow their operations, despite ongoing labour shortages and exploding order volumes.”

Funding partner “thrilled”

The Locus warehouse execution platform disrupts large-scale warehouse fulfilment and distribution with an industry-leading, intelligent, and dynamically scalable robotics-driven solution. Locus delivers 2-3x productivity by seamlessly coordinating both human labour and AMRs to dramatically improve order fulfilment efficiency and workplace ergonomics, while lowering operational costs.

“Locus is clearly a winner in the flexible warehouse robotics space, and the consistency with which the Locus team has executed is extraordinary,” said Barasz. “We are thrilled to be investors in Locus Robotics, and to partner with the leading warehouse execution company in making global supply chains faster, more cost-effective, and more resilient and sustainable.”

With more than 230 sites under contract around the world – some having as many as 500 LocusBots per site – the Locus solution efficiently and seamlessly orchestrates the operation and management of multiple robot form factors, and provides forward-looking, real-time business intelligence, critical for optimising productivity, proactively managing labour, and managing costs.

“By 2026, 75% of large enterprises in product-centric businesses will have adopted some form of intralogistics robots in their warehouse operations,” said Dwight Klappich, Analyst, Gartner. “The lower price of entry and faster time to value of robotics opens the market to more companies that can justify automation … as companies adopt robotics, most organisations will expand and scale their use of robotics within the enterprise, leading to fleet growth.”

“As order volumes continue to increase and labour shortages persist worldwide, robotics automation is now a must-have for warehouse operators,” said Ash Sharma, Managing Director, Interact Analysis. “Locus is uniquely positioned as a leader in digital transformation in this enormous global market as warehouse operators increasingly focus on scalability, fast ROI, and ease of deployment.”

Flexible and scaleable solutions

Locus partners with the world’s leading warehouse operators to create a powerful synergy that speeds deployment and delivers powerful, actionable business intelligence to optimise warehouse productivity, cost management, and labour management.

“Our five-year partnership with Locus has enabled DHL to deliver more resilient, flexible, and scalable supply chain solutions to our customers to support faster delivery, improve operational efficiency, and reduce employee workloads,” said Sally Miller, CIO of DHL Supply Chain North America. “In that time, Locus’s ability to integrate groundbreaking technologies into our operations seamlessly and in a targeted way has been a tremendous success for our customers’ supply chains.”

In September 2022, Locus reached a major milestone with its industry-first 1 billionth pick. It took Locus 1,542 days to pick its first 100 million units and just 40 days for the last 100 million picks. Locus robots now average more than three million picks per day around the world.

Locus counts more than 90 customers worldwide, including CEVA Logistics, DHL, Material Bank, Boots UK, GEODIS, Ryder, Verst Logistics, Radial, and others, who are consistently doubling and tripling their fulfilment productivity, with near-100% accuracy, using the Locus solution.

Also participating in the Series F round were Stack Capital Group, Next47, Stafford Capital Partners, HESTA, Newton Investment Management North America, Gray’s Creek Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, Hercules Capital, Inc., BOND, and Scale Venture Partners.

Meeting the demand for sustainable e-commerce packaging

Posted on by David Priestman

Packaging machinery specialist Hugo Beck is seeing a strong demand for its servo X e-com range. The combination of high speeds, ease of operation, optimised machine accessibility and the flexibility in processing a variety of film types, together with the ability to minimise material usage make it a firm favourite with e-commerce, mail order and logistics customers.

Whether dealing with the direct dispatch of individual goods, packing multi-pack products, or meeting the complex requirements of returned goods packaging, the servo X e-com ensures products are packed with the lowest amount of material needed, automatically adjusting the film bags with four sealed sides to the product’s length. As an addition, the servo X e-com fit model also adjusts the bag size to the product’s width, to support the precise fitting of shipping bags.

Meeting the shift in demand for sustainable film packaging, the servo X e-com is capable of processing a diverse range of recyclable material types, from PE flat films from 30 to 100 μm thickness, through to recycled content films which can often contain for example up to 80% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material.

“With sustainability now a key driver in the packaging industry, manufacturers in the e-commerce sector are looking for reliable film packaging systems which can optimise the efficiency of their operations and thereby save on resources,” says Timo Kollmann, Managing Director of Hugo Beck.

Various types of packaging

“At Hugo Beck, we realise that with certain applications, film packaging remains the best material of choice – hence why we wanted to make sure the servo X e-com can handle various film types including recycled content film. As more customers seek out alternative materials, at Hugo Beck this switch has never been easier. Films with a high percentage of recycled material can still be processed just as efficiently, making it simple for those looking to alternate between different film types without complication. This, combined with our paper packaging machines, ensures e-commerce customers have access to high-functioning, sustainable automated packaging solutions.”

Another valued feature is the servo X e-com machines’ outstanding accessibility and ease of operation. As packers only have a short window of time to fill packages with individual or multiple products, it is vital that each manoeuvre is executed precisely. High efficiency is achieved through the servo X e-com’s built-in scanner with a controller for product detection and creation of a shipping label, which is continuously dispensed directly onto the film without an external applicator, whilst maintaining high speeds. This labeller is movable, along with other easily accessible machine parts.

At the same time, the servo X e-com packaging machines include the option to add an easy-opening perforation to the bags as well as inserting a double-sided adhesive tape for resealing a bag for returns as well as adding a carry handle.

Additionally, the servo X e-com is industry 4.0 ready and syncs seamlessly with ERP or control systems enabling the easy integration within a production line. As an option, it can be supplied with the Hugo Beck Cockpit software which monitors and analyses the machine’s performance and operating data.

Handling the entire bagging process in one unit, from barcode scanning to product measurement, bagging and sealing, to application of corresponding shipping labels, the servo X e-com range is ideally equipped to provide secure but appealing shipping bags that are ideal for the fast-paced e-commerce industry.

 

LHoF presents new humanitarian award

Posted on by David Priestman

Starting in 2023, the Logistics Hall of Fame will present a new international award: the Lynn C. Fritz Medal for Excellence in Humanitarian Logistics. The medal will annually recognise humanitarian organisations and their partners for outstanding logistics projects. The Hall of Fame organisation made the announcement at its traditional gala reception with around 200 guests from politics, business and academia on 29th November in Berlin.

The initiator and sponsor of the medal is the Fritz Institute in San Francisco (USA). The award is named after Lynn C. Fritz (pictured), the founder and CEO of the institute. The 80-year-old US businessman transferred industrial logistics strategies to humanitarian organisations in the 1990s. He was inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame in 2021 as the “advocate of logistics for humanitarian organisations”.

“The award is intended to motivate humanitarian organisations to permanently improve their supply chains and to highlight the key role of professional supply chain management in the success of aid projects,” the businessman said in announcing the award.

With the medal, the Logistics Hall of Fame and the sponsor also want to emphasise and the impact of superior logistics performance within the sector and encourage innovative approaches to strengthen disaster response.

International jury for humanitarian award

Who wins the award is decided by an international jury made up of representatives from business, science, politics, associations and the media. The jury is chaired by Thilo Jörgl, Managing Partner of the Logistics Hall of Fame organisation. An Expert Council of recognised specialists in the field of humanitarian logistics decides which of the submitted applications will be presented to the jury members for selection. Key evaluation criteria include efficiency, innovation, sustainability and exemplary character for the field of humanitarian logistics.

The start of the online application process at www.logisticshalloffame.net is March 2023. Each aid organisation can apply with its own project. Joint projects involving several organisations and their partners are also eligible. The completed logistics project must not be older than three years.

The Logistics Hall of Fame, which is under the patronage of German Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing, will present a total of three awards in Berlin at the end of 2023: In addition to the traditional induction of the new member into the Hall of Fame, the organisation will present the Lynn C. Fritz Medal and the TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year Award to current pacesetters in logistics.

The pallet pioneers

Eleven boards, nine wooden blocks, 78 nails – and a logistics milestone is complete. The Euro pallet once cut the loading time of freight cars or trucks by up to 90%. It set the standard for logistics centres. It can be repaired with low material and energy costs and is fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle.

The invention of the pallet assumes a similar significance for logistics specialists as the container. Who invented it and its predecessors is not easy to answer, because the history of the pallet’s development is long. As far back as ancient Egypt, people used skids to transport heavy goods. The US Army used pallets as early as the First World War. Or the Clark Equipment Company, which, when it built the first forklift in the U.S. in 1917, used simple skids as load carriers.

However, Carl Clark did not file a patent application for this early pallet until 1939. In 1924, Howard T. Hallowell filed a patent application for a “lift truck platform.” Throughout the 1930s, new variations of the pallet continued to appear on the American market, and patents for various pallets also exist in Europe.

First patent

The first transport pallet dates from 7th November, 1939, when George Raymond Sr and his associate William House were granted a patent for a hydraulic lift truck and the accompanying wooden transport pallet. It paved the way for the Euro pallet and global pallet pooling systems.

As early as 1922, Raymond acquired a foundry called Lyon Iron Works in New York State and formed it into The Raymond Corporation, now a subsidiary of Toyota Industries. There, with his inventive spirit coupled with a desire to understand and solve customers’ challenges, Raymond laid the foundation for a company that would later shape an entire industry. His transport pallet was designed so that the forks of the lift truck could travel under the pallet from two sides.

Before Steve Raymond, the founder’s grandson, retired, he was actively involved with The Raymond Corporation in various capacities, including past president of the Raymond Solutions and Support Center. He is proud of his grandfather’s invention: “Everything in logistics starts with the pallet,” he says.

Numerous pallet inventions were not patented until the late 1940s, such as Robert Braun’s four-way pallet, patented in 1945, and a one-way pallet by US supply officer Norman Cahners, who received the patent in 1949.

DIN certification

In 2004, the Euro pallet also received DIN EN 13698-1. This states that it is a rigid horizontal platform of low height “capable of being handled by forklift trucks, pallet trucks or other suitable equipment and serving as a base for grouping goods and loads for stacking, storage and handling or transport”.

Mother of the Euro pallet is the UIC: The birth of the Euro pallet was largely related to the idea of standardisation. In the 1950s, railroad companies began to transport more and more goods on pallets and the pallet spread rapidly. However, the lack of standards led to real chaos in cross-border transport. To counteract this, in 1961 the Union Internationale des Chemins de fer (UIC) worked out the contract for a standardised, exchangeable pallet within the framework of a working group with changing players, which was subsequently signed by the European railroad companies.

From then on, they undertook to comply with the standard (UIC-standard 435-2 ff.), to manufacture and to repair Euro pallets. In addition, they agreed to the monitoring and the guarantee of a trouble-free exchange in an EPP (European Pallet Pool). The success of the Euro pallet with the dimensions 800mm x 1200mm x 144mm was resounding: there is hardly any storage or transport system today which is not adapted to the dimensions of the Euro pallet.

Open exchange pool

The open exchange pool for Euro pallets works like this: A loaded pallet is exchanged for an identical empty Euro pallet at the destination. The regulations for the production and repair of Euro pallets are extensive in this respect, right down to the position of the individual nails. The exchange of Euro pallets is not automatic, nor is it common practice in all countries.

In the mid-1970s, the Gütegemeinschaft Paletten, now the National Committee of EPAL, took over part of the distribution and quality assurance of the Euro pallet. Together, the UIC and the European Pallet Association (EPAL) e.V., founded in 1991, promoted the dissemination and quality assurance of the Euro pallet in the following years.

In 2013, UIC and EPAL separated. Since then, both organisations have been competitors in the open Euro pallet exchange pool with different trademarks: UIC/EUR on the corner blocks of UIC Euro pallets and EPAL/EPAL on the blocks of EPAL Euro pallets. EPAL, with its 14 National Committees (members of the umbrella organisation) and three representatives, is active in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Just a few years after the invention of the Euro pallet, another player in the pallet business appeared in Australia. Oliver Richter (1920 – 2014) was the Trade Manager for Manufacturing and Materials Handling in the logistics company Brambles. At the time, the company was still predominantly active in the materials handling sector in Sydney with its CHEP (Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool) brand. Richter recognised the potential of a pallet pooling system and successfully expanded the closed CHEP rental pool internationally.

Sharing pallets among multiple participants

Under CHEP’s “sharing and reusing” model, reusable pallets, crates and containers were made available for sharing among multiple participants throughout the supply chain. Through Richter’s drive and vision, CHEP also advanced pallet size standardisation and the resulting impact on packaging standardisation. He had a pallet control system developed that improved the efficient movement of goods and ensured more effective reuse of pallets and a reduction in pallet loss. Overall, these initiatives resulted in tangible productivity gains throughout the supply chain as goods moved directly from manufacturer or producer to retailer.

Prior to the EPAL, CHEP and UIC pooling and reuse schemes, companies spent significant amounts of money replacing pallets that were not returned or were of inferior quality. The circular economy of the Euro pallet contributed to an immense improvement in sustainability in logistics long before the issue of sustainability was on the public agenda.

But the end of the pallet’s story is far from written. It has created a standard for logistics. It gave rise to standard packaging, box sizes and clear heights in warehouses, truck trailer sizes or forklift dimensions. That the pallet will continue to be a driving force in the future is beyond question, but like any other load carrier, it must rise to the challenges of the times.

Pallets for tomorrow’s logistics

In addition to the sustainability factor, the pallet today is first and foremost part of the digital evolution in logistics. Research and science, pallet manufacturers and customers are working on innovative ways to make pallets an even more reliable and intelligent means of transporting and presenting goods.

Logistics is all about pallets. Making them smart means making logistics smart. The pallet of the future will no longer just sustainably transport goods but will provide important information. It will record environmental parameters and communicate with modern media. The pallet will remain a central building block in a digital logistics universe with globally networked supply chains.

Rugged, Extreme Performer

Posted on by David Priestman

Rugged technology leader Panasonic has recently launched a flat version of its TOUGHBOOK N1, optimised for logistics and delivery users.

Blizzards. Hurricanes. Deserts. The warehousing and logistics industry faces many challenges, but fortunately those sorts of extremes are not usually part of a typical day’s headaches.

Wait a second, though. Warehouses and DCs are relentless, 24/7 environments, where speed, focus, accuracy and reliability are all vital watchwords. Then there is the delivery industry, with constant unpredictable disruptions to add to the existing mix – daylight or night-time conditions, heavy rain, ice-cold temperatures, and extreme heat, even in northern Europe, as summer 2022 has demonstrated across the continent.

In short, Panasonic’s innovations in the rugged mobile space are on to something. The result is the N1 Flat, the latest in the company’s pioneering TOUGHBOOK mobile series, designed to have the versatility and strength to match all demands in many sectors, including logistics. The TOUGHBOOK N1 Flat has an integrated camera-based barcode scanner that can recognise a variety of different barcode types and is one of the thinnest and most lightweight handheld devices in the 4.7″ category – making it ideal for mobile workers in the postal and courier services, transport and logistics, plus the rugged capability to thrive in temperature-controlled environments. The handheld device can also be easily paired via Bluetooth as part of a dedicated scanning solution, for example, for those using wearable barcode readers in a warehouse.

“We are taking the heart of what TOUGHBOOK is – hard work and endurance – and we’re taking it into the relentless world of warehousing,” says Mike Willett, TOUGHBOOK lead in retail, T & L and manufacturing at Panasonic UK. “It’s about versatility – it can be handled in different ways, on the arm, as a chest-wearable, it will withstand a two-metre drop on to solid concrete. There’s a lot of excitement about it.”

He says the hype is backed up by results and confides that many major 3PLs and retailers are already in discussions to replace current devices with the TOUGHBOOK N1. Mike Willett believes that the combination of rugged versatility and flexibility allied to competitive pricing (€1380/ £1176 plus tax) is making the difference.

Rugged tech

How has Panasonic been able to deliver such a bundle of treats at an affordable price, though? Their smart move has been to remove the scanning engine on the Flat N1, with the camera able to replicate the functionality of the scanner by pointing a red dot at the barcode in question – that’s one huge chunk of cost removed at a stroke, with no detriment to the package of tools available. “Thinking of sectors such as logistics, we wanted to deliver all the benefits of rugged technology, but with all the convenience and handling ease of a smartphone. The TOUGHBOOK core is all there – 12 hour battery life, daylight mode, hot, cold and rain settings. So we’re seeing the N1 flat used in stock picking and in Proof of Delivery (PoD) applications. The number of certifications we have sought and achieved is very high in consequence.”

Ever conscious of the flexible requirements of customers, Panasonic has ensured that, in addition to the scanning functionality, a range of wearable options and docking stations, including chest-mounts and holsters, are available. All docking links, accessories and wearables are manufactured by Panasonic to TOUGHBOOK standards, so that there is no ‘weak point’ in the armoury. He points out: “What would be the point of producing such an outstanding device, if its effectiveness was compromised by the other products in the range?”

Panasonic is proud to call itself the ‘Rugged Home of Android’, taking steps to ensure that TOUGHBOOK N1 flat is up to speed with all latest iterations of the global mobile operating system. The N1 Flat Mark 3, which launched in September 2022, is using Android 11 technology, which Mike Willett say will guarantee lifecycles to 2028 and 2029 and beyond. “We’re with you for the long haul. It’s a device that we’re going to support for a very long time.”

Recognising that busy clients have resource and personnel bandwidths to factor in, Panasonic provides support via Panasonic Complete Android Services and Security (COMPASS) – offering everything needed to configure, deploy and manage TOUGHBOOK rugged Android tablets and handhelds securely in the business across the full lifecycle of the solution.

Pallet industry calls for power cut protection

Posted on by David Priestman

The Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) has asked the UK government to confirm it will act to keep the pallet and packaging business operational in the event of any planned power outages during the winter.

The organisation, which represents the sector in the UK and Ireland, is seeking clarity that it will be accorded ‘protected site status’ and be able to manufacture and repair during any rolling power cuts that may be introduced if gas supplies run low in the months ahead.

Wooden pallets and packaging are key to keeping supply chains of critical goods – including food, drink, and pharmaceutical products – moving. Accordingly, the government gave essential worker status to the industry during COVID lockdown periods. TIMCON also worked closely with Defra in the run up to Brexit to ensure that supply chains understood new phytosanitary requirements to ensure unbroken movement of timber pallets and packaging between the UK and EU markets.

TIMCON president John Dye said: “The current energy crisis once again poses a threat to the continuity of supply chains. If power outages are indeed going to occur during winter months, it is vital that the wooden pallet and packaging sector continues to operate to ensure that consumers have uninterrupted access to essential goods.

“We are urging government to engage, support and enable pallet and packaging manufacturers, pallet pools, reconditioned pallet businesses and the logistics industry to continue their work and ensure UK sawmilling operations can continue providing timber to our operations.”

Panasonic releases Sustainability Gap research

Posted on by David Priestman

European IT buyers are stuck in a four-year cycle of refreshing their computing devices for the mobile workforce, despite increasing sustainability pressures, according to new research from Panasonic TOUGHBOOK. On average, IT Buyers reported they were refreshing their mobile computing technology every four years and they expected manufacturers to support devices for just over three years after product launch.

“Despite an increasing awareness of sustainability issues and a general desire to use devices for longer, worryingly we still see organisations across Europe stuck in the mindset of the four-year technology refresh,” said Lisbeth Lashmana, Head of the European Marketing for Panasonic TOUGHBOOK. “The reality is that with the new modular design of mobile computing devices and the extended support available for the latest powerful devices, there really is an opportunity for organisations to extend the life of the technology used by the mobile workforce, simplify management and improve total cost of ownership.”

In the UK, France and Germany, 750 mobile technology buyers in companies of more than 50 employees across the utilities, emergency services, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and construction sectors were independently surveyed by Opinion Matters, for research commissioned by Panasonic TOUGHBOOK.

PANASONIC research reveals top 5 considerations

The top 5 most important considerations for IT Buyers when purchasing computing devices for mobile workforces were Security (23.7%), Reliability (23.7%), Performance (22.9%), Battery Life (19.3%), Ruggedness (18.7%) and Initial Cost (18.3%).

Surprisingly, half of all IT buyers still do not pilot new computing devices with users before purchase.

On average, companies were supporting 2-3 different types of mobile computing devices within their organisation ranging from laptops and tablets to mobile workstations and wearables.

Recognising the increasing awareness for security, around 70% of respondents considered regular Bios, Firmware and Driver updates as important with the average updates happening between 2.5-3 times a year and taking an average of 4 days a year to implement.

Huge opportunity

“There is a huge opportunity for businesses to reset their approach to buying technology for the mobile workforce and close the Sustainability Gap,” said Lashmana. “By engaging the workforce in pilot projects before purchase, buyers can ensure devices are much more closely matched to the users’ needs. Secondly, by purchasing the latest modular designed devices, the technology can be modified and customised by users in the field to different requirements or repurposed later for another purpose within the business.

“Combine this with the incredible CPU and memory performance available in the latest generation of devices, with the ability to upgrade as required and the long-term extended support being offered by manufacturers like Panasonic and there are reasons to be optimistic. All the elements are now in place for organisations to extend the usability of their mobile computing equipment – by years in many cases.”

Panasonic has recently expanded its range of rugged modular laptops and tablets with the updated TOUGHBOOK 55, the introduction of the TOUGHBOOK G2 rugged tablet and the launch of the TOUGHBOOK 40, the ultimate 14-inch modular rugged notebook designed for Defence and ideal for Police and Utilities. To ensure the security and long use of devices, Panasonic TOUGHBOOK supports its products for a further five years after they have been withdrawn from sale. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK ProTect Warranties can be extended for up to five years for all devices.

CLICK HERE to download an Executive Summary of the The Sustainability Gap – Breaking the four-year technology refresh cycle.

 

Cut forklift emissions with HVO fuel

Posted on by David Priestman

With the growing drive to tackle the root causes of climate change, companies of all sizes now demand the most sustainable energy solutions for their forklift fleets, writes Toyota Material Handling UK’s Sales Training and Product Development Manager, Sam Gray.

HVO – the latest fuel to come on to the market – is said to allow IC engine-powered forklift truck users to cut their net CO2 emissions by as much as 90%, reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx), and cut both particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.

Unsurprisingly, many experts consider that HVO has a vital role to play in helping the UK achieve its 2050 net zero target for greenhouse gas emissions.

HVO – or, to give it its full name, Hydrotreated vegetable oil – is a low carbon, low emission, fossil-free, environmentally-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional fossil diesel. Part of the paraffinic family of fuels, it is clean and safe and meets all relevant fuel standards and EN 15940:2016 specifications.

Synthetically produced

Endorsed by a wide range of original engine manufacturers, HVO is synthetically produced using a complex refinery process that removes oxygen from vegetable oil and waste animal fat molecules and creates hydrocarbons very similar to regular diesel. But it is important to understand that HVO is not biodiesel: it’s fundamentally different and, as such, doesn’t suffer from any of the negative issues sometimes associated with biodiesel.

Impurities are removed from the fuel during the production cycle leaving a consistent, quality product that significantly reduces harmful emissions from diesel engines.

To add to HVO’s green credentials, only completely renewable materials are used in the production process and the crops from which the fuel is made are grown and harvested without damaging the environment or the natural ecosystem.

No need to modify forklift

Already used to power a wide range of modern vehicles as well as construction machinery and industrial power systems, HVO is considered an eco-upgrade on diesel because it is a fuel that not only reduces emissions and burns more cleanly, but is also safer to handle than mineral diesel. While reduced particulate production during the combustion process reduces the ageing of engine oils and improves local air quality.

One of the biggest advantages of HVO is the fact that truck users do not need to modify their diesel-powered forklifts to use it. For example, nearly all Toyota industrial IC engines will run perfectly with HVO fuel and, importantly, no changes are required to the daily running or servicing regimes of Toyota diesel engines if the switch to HVO is made.

Interchangeable with existing diesel

A further plus-point is the fact that, because HVO is 100% interchangeable with conventional fossil diesel, it can be blended at any ratio. So forklift users can simply ‘top-up and go’ without any need to drain or clean fuel tanks. This ability to be interchanged with an absolute minimum of fuss has been recognised and most major engine manufacturers’ warranties will support an instant switch from diesel to HVO.

Possibly the only down-side is that when it comes to price HVO is slightly more expensive than traditional diesel. However, with the high-profile of climate change and environmental concerns always close to the top of the business agenda, many lift truck users believe that the relatively modest extra cost is a price worth paying to be seen to be doing the right thing for the planet.

Durable drives for belt conveyor systems

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Nord Drivesystems has specially developed the MAXXDRIVE XT industrial gear unit for the requirements for conveyor technology drives in the bulk goods and mineral industries. It provides output torques of 15 to 75kNm with speed ratios from 6.3 to 22.4 and is offered in seven sizes for powers from 22 to 2,100kW.

The power and speed ranges of the two-stage right-angle gear unit have been specially designed for industries in which low speed ranges are required in combination with high powers – such as the bulk goods and mineral industries. Its robust design makes the MAXXDRIVE XT resistant to dirt and reliable in rough operating conditions. A special sealing concept reduces maintenance. Large roller bearings and centre distances increase the load capacity and service life of the components.

As standard, the industrial gear unit is equipped with a heavily ribbed UNICASE housing and an integrated axial fan. Due to the increased surface and the airflow covers, the cooling airflow is optimised and a very high thermal limiting power is achieved. In many cases, additional cooling is not required.

Individually configured drives

“As with other application areas, our drive solutions for the industry are individually configured for customers according to the modular principle,” emphasises Jörg Niermann, Head of Marketing at Nord Drivesystems. This is based on a comprehensive range of frequency inverters, motors and gear units, as well as coupling and brake systems, each with a wide variety of options. Features such as hydraulic couplings tailored to the particular process or Taconite seals, which effectively protect radial shaft seals against abrasive dust and corrosion, ensure smooth operation.

Nord also offers innovative predictive maintenance concepts for heavy industrial gear units. Nord drives networked via the frequency inverter communicate their status data via the control system or directly into a secure cloud. With optional vibration monitoring, condition changes can be detected at an early stage and predictive maintenance can be scheduled in good time. Performance data recording also ensures optimal system dimensioning as well as continuous condition monitoring of the drives.

 

Clark GTS range with new engines

Posted on by David Priestman

Clark has equipped its popular GTS series with new HMC diesel and LPG engines. The environmentally-friendly industrial engines comply with EU emission level 5 and ensure equally powerful and economical operation.

The GTS series consists of diesel and LPG forklifts with lifting capacities from 2 to 3.3t and lifting heights of up to 7,315mm. As is standard at Clark, the GTS series is also built according to the “built to last” principle and accordingly has a solid construction with high-quality and durable components. The standard wet multi-disc brakes, the transmission in separate design, the stable, vibration-free steering axle and the ergonomic driver’s workplace make this series not only robust and reliable, but also comfortable and safe.

This makes the truck series ideal for intensive use in multi-shift operation in goods distribution, production or warehousing. In addition, maintenance costs are extremely low over the entire life cycle. The new low-maintenance timing chain also contributes to this. This has a positive effect on the total cost of ownership of the vehicles.

New engines for low-emission

The new powerful HMC four-cylinder industrial engines with diesel particulate filter ensure powerful acceleration and reliable operation with more economical consumption. The engine power is 48.7kW with a displacement of 2,199cc. Since the engine and transmission are installed separately from the drive axle (split transmission), vibrations and oscillations at the driver’s seat have been reduced and smooth driving behaviour ensured.

To optimally adapt the performance to the individual application, the maximum speed can be adjusted via an optional speed limiter. Compared to vehicles with drum brakes, the GTS series with enclosed and oil-cooled multi-disc brakes requires up to 50% less effort. In addition, downtimes and costs for brake maintenance are eliminated, as they are maintenance-free compared to drum brakes. Another advantage of wet multi-disc brakes is that operating the truck in a dusty or wet environment has no negative impact on the braking effect.

Ergonomic driver’s workplace

The driver’s workplace is designed so that the driver enjoys plenty of headroom and legroom. The suspension seat and the tilting steering column can be individually adjusted. The pedals are arranged in a car-like manner and can be operated intuitively. The vehicle is operated via hydraulic levers that are conveniently positioned on the bonnet. Up to five hydraulic functions can be implemented directly from the factory.

The hydrostatic power steering enables easy and safe steering with just a few turns of the steering wheel. In addition, the driver has a good field of vision through the mast. This is ensured by the low front wall and the nested mast profiles. The clear driver display informs the driver about all important operating data at a glance. On diesel engines, it also serves to monitor the diesel particulate filter.

Safe and quiet load handling

The nested mast profiles and the robust 6-roller fork carriage provide high strength even under the heaviest loads. For low-noise lifting operations, the trucks are equipped with mast damping as standard. During lifting operations, the transition between the individual mast profiles is smooth. This protects the goods and lift mast components and allows smooth and precise load handling.

In order to guarantee a high level of safety in different operating conditions, numerous safety features are available for the trucks, such as a highly visible orange safety belt, automatic neutralisation of the direction of travel if the belt buckle is not closed with sequence monitoring, blue LED warning lights or the CLARK SafeView@360 camera system so that the driver has everything in view around the truck. Hydraulic accumulators are also designed to prevent the load from swinging up on uneven floors.

Wide range of additional equipment

In order to adapt the trucks individually to the application, Clark offers a wide range of additional equipment, such as wide track, twin or non-marking tyres, integrated or mounted sideshifters, fork positioner, lockable fuel filler cap, additional hydraulic functions, quick-change system, rear-view mirrors, strobe lights as well as different seats and cab variants.

With a full cab, for example, the two-part driver’s doors can be opened 180° and fixed to the truck frame. This makes it possible to move the truck with the doors open, for example in summer. A heater, electrically heated rear window, front and rear windscreen wipers, easily accessible storage compartments and a radio with Bluetooth function round off the comfortable full cab.

 

Fashion group DK Company gets new racking

Posted on by Keith McKinley

NC Nielsen, AR Racking’s Danish strategic distributor, carried out the design and installation of the new warehouse of the multi-brand fashion group DK Company in Ikast (Denmark) in an extraordinary time of just nine weeks leading the comprehensive management of the project.

DK Company has become one of the main European suppliers of fashion brands for men and women. With a presence in 35 different markets, the Danish company has a new 11,000 sq m operations centre to meet the growth experienced in recent years. Specifically, in 2021 it increased its revenue by 20% compared to the previous year and the forecasts for 2022 are along the same lines.

The storage area, which covers a total surface area of 3,000 sq m, stands out for its versatility and rapid location of the goods. NC Nielsen, considered the high number of references and diversity of the volume of the products to configure a solution with adjustable pallet racking that integrates levels for manual picking operations. In total, 4,000 pallet positions, of which 60% will be for picking.

Top quality racking for DK Company

DK Company communicated to NC Nielsen the urgency to have an agile, easy to configure, secure and adaptable warehouse. “It was a very quick and continuous process: from the first meeting to the first layout, the order and completing the installation in a total of nine weeks,” said Niels Henrik Hagelskjær, DK Company Warehouse Manager.

With more than five decades of experience, NC Nielsen stands out for its reliability, specialised service and high quality standards. “DK Company needed a fast project turnaround time, so having a top quality racking manufacturer and supplier such as AR Racking allowed us to fully focus on the study, design, advisory and planning aspect of the project to offer the customer the best storage solution in the most competitive timeframe possible,” explained Lars Kjærgaard Stenberg, NC Nielsen Project Manager.

Solid and strategic partnership

AR Racking’s commercial presence in more than 60 countries is mainly coordinated and consolidated through its distribution network. In Northern Europe and Scandinavian countries, AR Racking has been competing for years with total reliability and efficiency thanks to strategic partners such as NC Nielsen.

María Cossio, AR Racking Area Manager, explained it as follows: “We offer close support to the distributor, providing them with our specialisation as a manufacturer to effectively fulfil the needs of local companies in storage matters; however, none of this would be possible without having trusted partners such as NC Nielsen.”

 

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