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Day: 17 November 2022

Avery Dennison saves on supply chain packaging

Posted on by David Priestman

Avery Dennison Labels and Packaging Materials (LPM) has partnered with Tosca, a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and pooling solutions for the supply chain. The partnership means Avery Dennison LPM is aiming to switch a substantial portion of its product distribution across the continent to plastic pallets with a goal to save over 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions from its European supply chain annually.

Plastic pallets have many advantages. Since they are more durable than their wooden counterparts they can be re-used more often and are less prone to breakages which can help reduce the risk of damage and waste in the supply chain. In fact, Tosca estimates that its plastic pallets can be used over a 100 times and at end of life, are recycled.

The collaboration with Tosca will cover the distribution of materials from Avery Dennison factories and distribution centres across the EU as well as the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. Deployments will gradually phase in over the course of 2023. The agreement allows Avery Dennison’s network of partners to also join the pooling programme under favourable terms to cover the onward freight of finished materials to brands and other end users.

Tosca operates a pooling model and delivers clean empty pallets from its service centres located across Europe, to Avery Dennison sites. The service is fully managed with pallets inspected and washed after every rotation by Tosca. At the end of every year, Avery Dennison and its customers that take part in the pooling programme will receive a CO2 emissions reduction certificate. Tosca predicts that Avery Dennison alone could save 819 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by switching all its Euro-sized wooden pallets (1200x800mm) to Tosca.

The pooling programme has been trialled for almost 12 months for shipments from Avery Dennison’s distribution centre in Dublin to customers in Ireland.

Violeta Gómez, Central Packaging Leader at Avery Dennison, comments: “The pooling programme has been a massive success in Ireland and is helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and eliminate waste within the supply chain. Customers appreciate the fact that plastic pallets offer standard quality: they are cleaner (dust-free) and with less risk of damaging their products.

“Avery Dennison’s and Tosca’s plastic pallet pooling vision doesn’t stop after the pallets arrive to the customer. We encourage customers to take the chance to extend the pooling programme further down the supply chain to end-users and help grow the eco system further.”

Felix Van Ouytsel, Business Development Manager at Tosca, comments: “Tosca provides solutions that enable companies across the world to eliminate wasted materials, miles, space and labour to make the entire supply chain more sustainable. As the largest pooler of plastic pallets in Europe, we deliver a combination of reusable products, a flexible global service network and a committed partnership which will benefit Avery Dennison and its customers. We look forward to this partnership and are very happy to welcome Avery Dennison to the Tosca family.”

Avery Dennison saves on supply chain packaging

Posted on by David Priestman

Avery Dennison Labels and Packaging Materials (LPM) has partnered with Tosca, a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and pooling solutions for the supply chain. The partnership means Avery Dennison LPM is aiming to switch a substantial portion of its product distribution across the continent to plastic pallets with a goal to save over 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions from its European supply chain annually.

Plastic pallets have many advantages. Since they are more durable than their wooden counterparts they can be re-used more often and are less prone to breakages which can help reduce the risk of damage and waste in the supply chain. In fact, Tosca estimates that its plastic pallets can be used over a 100 times and at end of life, are recycled.

The collaboration with Tosca will cover the distribution of materials from Avery Dennison factories and distribution centres across the EU as well as the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. Deployments will gradually phase in over the course of 2023. The agreement allows Avery Dennison’s network of partners to also join the pooling programme under favourable terms to cover the onward freight of finished materials to brands and other end users.

Tosca operates a pooling model and delivers clean empty pallets from its service centres located across Europe, to Avery Dennison sites. The service is fully managed with pallets inspected and washed after every rotation by Tosca. At the end of every year, Avery Dennison and its customers that take part in the pooling programme will receive a CO2 emissions reduction certificate. Tosca predicts that Avery Dennison alone could save 819 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by switching all its Euro-sized wooden pallets (1200x800mm) to Tosca.

The pooling programme has been trialled for almost 12 months for shipments from Avery Dennison’s distribution centre in Dublin to customers in Ireland.

Violeta Gómez, Central Packaging Leader at Avery Dennison, comments: “The pooling programme has been a massive success in Ireland and is helping us to reduce our carbon footprint and eliminate waste within the supply chain. Customers appreciate the fact that plastic pallets offer standard quality: they are cleaner (dust-free) and with less risk of damaging their products.

“Avery Dennison’s and Tosca’s plastic pallet pooling vision doesn’t stop after the pallets arrive to the customer. We encourage customers to take the chance to extend the pooling programme further down the supply chain to end-users and help grow the eco system further.”

Felix Van Ouytsel, Business Development Manager at Tosca, comments: “Tosca provides solutions that enable companies across the world to eliminate wasted materials, miles, space and labour to make the entire supply chain more sustainable. As the largest pooler of plastic pallets in Europe, we deliver a combination of reusable products, a flexible global service network and a committed partnership which will benefit Avery Dennison and its customers. We look forward to this partnership and are very happy to welcome Avery Dennison to the Tosca family.”

Fighting labour shortages with automation

Posted on by David Priestman

It is no secret that human resources are in short supply these days – not least of all skilled workers with a license to drive forklifts. At Bennet Potatoes, automation became the solution to its predicament. With a Global AGV from BILA, Bennet Potatoes managed to increase efficiency, productivity, and free up employees for other tasks, such as quality assurance.

Across industries, finding and retaining qualified manpower is difficult. The hours can be long, especially for repetitive work. Moreover, it has become increasingly difficult to find the right employees who have the necessary licenses and courses to work in supply chains. But where human resources are in short supply, automation can provide the capacity needed for any production.

More and more operations managers are looking for ways to allocate workers to more demanding and rewarding tasks, by handing over ‘nonvalue-adding’ tasks to automation. That way, the production uses the tools at its disposal in a way that benefits the company’s goals and deadlines.

Automation counterattacks labour shortage

Global AGVs are designed to transport and store pallets without the need for a driver. Automating repetitive and monotonous tasks such as simple pallet transports can free up valuable employee resources and increase efficiency.

Precision, efficiency, and predictability are critical elements in supply chains – especially if you’re working in time-sensitive or space-limited work environments. Every aspect of the production chain must work together to make it as optimal as possible.

Driverless forklift trucks offer a safe, and cost-effective transport solution for workflows that require repetitive material handling tasks to be completed in a timely manner. AGVs provide repetitive accuracy 24/7, except for short periods to recharge. The AGV can work around the clock and ensure continued workflow at night.

The AGV driverless forklift truck allows the operators to process larger volumes of goods, all while offering reliability. Global AGV ensures efficiency and a safer work environment for people and goods.

Avoiding damage to goods, saves both money and time, which makes the driverless forklift truck from Global AGV a valuable addition to your production chain. The AGV increases competitiveness on a difficult market.

Increasing productivity at Bennet Potatoes

The Global AGV has already helped many production chains and companies, by improving their capacity. At Bennett Potatoes’ packing plant, it prepares both sacks and boxes of potatoes for distribution. The process that the AGV performs today was previously done manually. This created logistical challenges as the process takes place in a relatively small area, which is why lack of space and wasted time had previously been a hindrance to an efficient flow in the packing plant.

Previously, the three employees had their own hand pallet truck to perform their tasks, and the employees found that it created a hold-up where they had to wait for each other. It was also an observation that the Managing Director of Bennett Potatoes, Ian Bennett, had made. Combined with a lack of manpower, Bennett also wanted to use employee resources where it would be more beneficial. For this reason, there was a great need to automate this process.

The implementation of driverless forklift trucks from Global AGV helps to create a sustainable production environment that can be felt on the bottom line. The AGV also helps to free up two out of three employees to work on other more complex tasks in the factory.

Dragsbæk is a manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of food products for consumers and professionals both in Denmark and abroad. Dragsbæk, located in the northern part of Denmark, also reaps the benefits of their Global AGV: “The AGV has literally taken our production to the next level,” said a company spokesman. “Margarine production previously involved many heavy, straining lifts for employees. Now, it’s the driverless forklift that does the pallet lifting and driving, which has greatly improved our working environment, evidenced by the fact that we’ve reduced the sick leave rate and minimised the risk of occupational accidents.”

Global AGV is described by its makers as the simplest stand-alone logistics solution on the market. The AGV is easy to install and can be operated by anyone. It takes, on average, only a couple of days to install a Global AGV and put it into operation, thanks to the intuitive user management. With its flexibility, it can be modulated and adapted to your requirements making it easy to integrate into existing production environments. Global AGV solves routine tasks while also eliminating bottlenecks and production stops, freeing up valuable resources for quality assurance of production.

For added flexibility, Global AGV is equipped with dual-mode technology that enables you to instantly switch between automated and manual operations. All in all, the flexibility and simplicity of Global AGV accommodate the dynamic changes in the production plan.

Fighting labour shortages with automation

Posted on by David Priestman

It is no secret that human resources are in short supply these days – not least of all skilled workers with a license to drive forklifts. At Bennet Potatoes, automation became the solution to its predicament. With a Global AGV from BILA, Bennet Potatoes managed to increase efficiency, productivity, and free up employees for other tasks, such as quality assurance.

Across industries, finding and retaining qualified manpower is difficult. The hours can be long, especially for repetitive work. Moreover, it has become increasingly difficult to find the right employees who have the necessary licenses and courses to work in supply chains. But where human resources are in short supply, automation can provide the capacity needed for any production.

More and more operations managers are looking for ways to allocate workers to more demanding and rewarding tasks, by handing over ‘nonvalue-adding’ tasks to automation. That way, the production uses the tools at its disposal in a way that benefits the company’s goals and deadlines.

Automation counterattacks labour shortage

Global AGVs are designed to transport and store pallets without the need for a driver. Automating repetitive and monotonous tasks such as simple pallet transports can free up valuable employee resources and increase efficiency.

Precision, efficiency, and predictability are critical elements in supply chains – especially if you’re working in time-sensitive or space-limited work environments. Every aspect of the production chain must work together to make it as optimal as possible.

Driverless forklift trucks offer a safe, and cost-effective transport solution for workflows that require repetitive material handling tasks to be completed in a timely manner. AGVs provide repetitive accuracy 24/7, except for short periods to recharge. The AGV can work around the clock and ensure continued workflow at night.

The AGV driverless forklift truck allows the operators to process larger volumes of goods, all while offering reliability. Global AGV ensures efficiency and a safer work environment for people and goods.

Avoiding damage to goods, saves both money and time, which makes the driverless forklift truck from Global AGV a valuable addition to your production chain. The AGV increases competitiveness on a difficult market.

Increasing productivity at Bennet Potatoes

The Global AGV has already helped many production chains and companies, by improving their capacity. At Bennett Potatoes’ packing plant, it prepares both sacks and boxes of potatoes for distribution. The process that the AGV performs today was previously done manually. This created logistical challenges as the process takes place in a relatively small area, which is why lack of space and wasted time had previously been a hindrance to an efficient flow in the packing plant.

Previously, the three employees had their own hand pallet truck to perform their tasks, and the employees found that it created a hold-up where they had to wait for each other. It was also an observation that the Managing Director of Bennett Potatoes, Ian Bennett, had made. Combined with a lack of manpower, Bennett also wanted to use employee resources where it would be more beneficial. For this reason, there was a great need to automate this process.

The implementation of driverless forklift trucks from Global AGV helps to create a sustainable production environment that can be felt on the bottom line. The AGV also helps to free up two out of three employees to work on other more complex tasks in the factory.

Dragsbæk is a manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of food products for consumers and professionals both in Denmark and abroad. Dragsbæk, located in the northern part of Denmark, also reaps the benefits of their Global AGV: “The AGV has literally taken our production to the next level,” said a company spokesman. “Margarine production previously involved many heavy, straining lifts for employees. Now, it’s the driverless forklift that does the pallet lifting and driving, which has greatly improved our working environment, evidenced by the fact that we’ve reduced the sick leave rate and minimised the risk of occupational accidents.”

Global AGV is described by its makers as the simplest stand-alone logistics solution on the market. The AGV is easy to install and can be operated by anyone. It takes, on average, only a couple of days to install a Global AGV and put it into operation, thanks to the intuitive user management. With its flexibility, it can be modulated and adapted to your requirements making it easy to integrate into existing production environments. Global AGV solves routine tasks while also eliminating bottlenecks and production stops, freeing up valuable resources for quality assurance of production.

For added flexibility, Global AGV is equipped with dual-mode technology that enables you to instantly switch between automated and manual operations. All in all, the flexibility and simplicity of Global AGV accommodate the dynamic changes in the production plan.

Fresh fish supply chain ‘revolutionised’ by robotics

Posted on by David Priestman

A 22-year partnership with leading industrial robot manufacturer FANUC has been hailed as a key factor in Icelandic firm Samey Robotics’ role in revolutionising the international supply chain for fresh fish.

Specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke automation for the food processing industry, Samey Robotics has delivered over 150 projects across 10 countries including Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and the UK. At the heart of many of its tailored solutions is FANUC’s M-410 series of industrial palletising robots, renowned for its ability to handle heavy items, such as pallets of fresh produce.

With over 100 FANUC M-410 robots already purchased by Samey Robotics (including 25 in 2021 alone), the company currently has a further 25 on order.

“We know we can trust FANUC products to deliver time and time again in harsh operating environments while handling delicate and high-margin fresh produce,” says Kristjan Karl Adalsteinsson, Samey Robotics’ Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.

Just-in-time supply chain

Samey Robotics was founded 32 years ago, just south of Reykjavik in Iceland; a country renowned for its seafood. During this time, the company has built a reputation for delivering robust robotic systems that promote the safe, efficient and fast handling of fresh fish.

Blazing a trail for other food sectors to follow, Samey Robotics has revolutionised the fresh fish supply chain, with distribution handled by automated centres supported by robotics. In many cases, fish may be landed, processed and shipped to the customer within just 24 hours, meaning every second counts.

“An order can be placed in London, logged onto one of our customers’ operating systems in Iceland or another coastal country, and a robot will automatically start feeding the raw produce into the production cell,” explains Adalsteinsson. “In less than an hour, it will be palletised and on its way to being shipped, without anyone having to send an email, take a phone call or make a decision as to when to start or stop the system. The whole process, from order to delivery, is fully automated.”

As well as the ability to gently and rapidly handle large quantities of fresh produce, it is imperative that any robotic solutions specified by Samey Robotics are also robust and reliable. “Given the nature of our clients’ supply chain, the fish will spoil if production stops for any length of time,” states Adalsteinsson. “Some of our customers handle up to 500 tonnes of fresh produce per day, so unexpected downtime is simply not an option. The reliability of FANUC robots has been a huge factor in our joint success.”

A changing market

A perfect storm of rising labour costs, post-Covid digital transformation and affordable automation has helped drive a surge in industrial robot installations throughout the food and beverage processing industry. In fact, the number of industrial robots installed in European food processing applications is set to double in the 10 years from 2015 to 2025, and Samey Robotics is experiencing this growth first hand: “Demand is increasing every year, especially with regard to high-throughput cells that can operate within stringent hygiene parameters,” says Adalsteinsson. “The market is seeing the benefits that automation can bring from both a productivity and profitability point of view.”

Trust and transparency

For Oliver Selby, Robotics Business Development Manager for FANUC UK, supporting Samey Robotics’ innovative and forward-thinking approach to automating the fresh fish supply chain is testament to the power of a strong supplier-client relationship: “We have a number of longstanding client relationships, but to go from strength to strength like we have with Samey Robotics is especially rewarding. Key to our partnership is transparency.

“It’s a trait which runs throughout our business, right from the very top at our headquarters in Japan down to our delivery drivers meeting clients on the ground. This builds trust and gives our customers confidence that they can rely on us to deliver what we’ve promised.”

Setting the standard

Also key to the partnership’s success is a focus on innovation. “For a number of years now, Samey Robotics has been leading supply chain development in the European fish sector, with their automated approach to distribution serving as an example for other food sectors to follow. Going forward, Samey Robotics’ customer base is changing as the company embarks on a growth initiative through acquisition. Moving beyond Europe, it is now opening up to a global audience.

“At the forefront of this strategy is of course robotics and automation, and Samey Robotics is keen to spread its commitment to automated supply chains into regions that are not necessarily renowned for automation. We are excited to continue supporting them in this exciting phase of their journey, derisking their future business to ensure that Samey Robotics continues to be renowned for implementing solutions that facilitate the fast, safe and efficient handling of fresh fish, right across the world.”

Diverse offering

To this end, FANUC has recently begun supplying Samey Robotics with an alternative to the M-410, providing the company with a different robotic solution to improve end product handling even further: the M-2000. On the inbound supply chain direct from the boat, fresh fish is loaded directly from 460kg totes into the fish processing equipment by the M-2000; the strongest 6-axis robot on the market, boasting a handling capacity of up to 2.3 tonnes and a maximum reach of up to 4.7m.

This robotic solution changes the way food producers need to think about their onsite logistics, removing the need for specialist forklift trucks and drivers, and representing the ideal choice for gentle handling of what is a delicate food item.

For Samey Robotics, a commitment to innovation, transparency and reliability ensures that FANUC remains a key partner in its ongoing global success. Adalsteinsson concludes: “We are proud to have enjoyed such a longstanding relationship with FANUC. For us, and our customers, the reliability of their robots is priceless.”

Fresh fish supply chain ‘revolutionised’ by robotics

Posted on by David Priestman

A 22-year partnership with leading industrial robot manufacturer FANUC has been hailed as a key factor in Icelandic firm Samey Robotics’ role in revolutionising the international supply chain for fresh fish.

Specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke automation for the food processing industry, Samey Robotics has delivered over 150 projects across 10 countries including Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and the UK. At the heart of many of its tailored solutions is FANUC’s M-410 series of industrial palletising robots, renowned for its ability to handle heavy items, such as pallets of fresh produce.

With over 100 FANUC M-410 robots already purchased by Samey Robotics (including 25 in 2021 alone), the company currently has a further 25 on order.

“We know we can trust FANUC products to deliver time and time again in harsh operating environments while handling delicate and high-margin fresh produce,” says Kristjan Karl Adalsteinsson, Samey Robotics’ Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.

Just-in-time supply chain

Samey Robotics was founded 32 years ago, just south of Reykjavik in Iceland; a country renowned for its seafood. During this time, the company has built a reputation for delivering robust robotic systems that promote the safe, efficient and fast handling of fresh fish.

Blazing a trail for other food sectors to follow, Samey Robotics has revolutionised the fresh fish supply chain, with distribution handled by automated centres supported by robotics. In many cases, fish may be landed, processed and shipped to the customer within just 24 hours, meaning every second counts.

“An order can be placed in London, logged onto one of our customers’ operating systems in Iceland or another coastal country, and a robot will automatically start feeding the raw produce into the production cell,” explains Adalsteinsson. “In less than an hour, it will be palletised and on its way to being shipped, without anyone having to send an email, take a phone call or make a decision as to when to start or stop the system. The whole process, from order to delivery, is fully automated.”

As well as the ability to gently and rapidly handle large quantities of fresh produce, it is imperative that any robotic solutions specified by Samey Robotics are also robust and reliable. “Given the nature of our clients’ supply chain, the fish will spoil if production stops for any length of time,” states Adalsteinsson. “Some of our customers handle up to 500 tonnes of fresh produce per day, so unexpected downtime is simply not an option. The reliability of FANUC robots has been a huge factor in our joint success.”

A changing market

A perfect storm of rising labour costs, post-Covid digital transformation and affordable automation has helped drive a surge in industrial robot installations throughout the food and beverage processing industry. In fact, the number of industrial robots installed in European food processing applications is set to double in the 10 years from 2015 to 2025, and Samey Robotics is experiencing this growth first hand: “Demand is increasing every year, especially with regard to high-throughput cells that can operate within stringent hygiene parameters,” says Adalsteinsson. “The market is seeing the benefits that automation can bring from both a productivity and profitability point of view.”

Trust and transparency

For Oliver Selby, Robotics Business Development Manager for FANUC UK, supporting Samey Robotics’ innovative and forward-thinking approach to automating the fresh fish supply chain is testament to the power of a strong supplier-client relationship: “We have a number of longstanding client relationships, but to go from strength to strength like we have with Samey Robotics is especially rewarding. Key to our partnership is transparency.

“It’s a trait which runs throughout our business, right from the very top at our headquarters in Japan down to our delivery drivers meeting clients on the ground. This builds trust and gives our customers confidence that they can rely on us to deliver what we’ve promised.”

Setting the standard

Also key to the partnership’s success is a focus on innovation. “For a number of years now, Samey Robotics has been leading supply chain development in the European fish sector, with their automated approach to distribution serving as an example for other food sectors to follow. Going forward, Samey Robotics’ customer base is changing as the company embarks on a growth initiative through acquisition. Moving beyond Europe, it is now opening up to a global audience.

“At the forefront of this strategy is of course robotics and automation, and Samey Robotics is keen to spread its commitment to automated supply chains into regions that are not necessarily renowned for automation. We are excited to continue supporting them in this exciting phase of their journey, derisking their future business to ensure that Samey Robotics continues to be renowned for implementing solutions that facilitate the fast, safe and efficient handling of fresh fish, right across the world.”

Diverse offering

To this end, FANUC has recently begun supplying Samey Robotics with an alternative to the M-410, providing the company with a different robotic solution to improve end product handling even further: the M-2000. On the inbound supply chain direct from the boat, fresh fish is loaded directly from 460kg totes into the fish processing equipment by the M-2000; the strongest 6-axis robot on the market, boasting a handling capacity of up to 2.3 tonnes and a maximum reach of up to 4.7m.

This robotic solution changes the way food producers need to think about their onsite logistics, removing the need for specialist forklift trucks and drivers, and representing the ideal choice for gentle handling of what is a delicate food item.

For Samey Robotics, a commitment to innovation, transparency and reliability ensures that FANUC remains a key partner in its ongoing global success. Adalsteinsson concludes: “We are proud to have enjoyed such a longstanding relationship with FANUC. For us, and our customers, the reliability of their robots is priceless.”

Loading efficiency leads to savings

Posted on by David Priestman

Against the current backdrop of soaring inflation and energy costs, loading and unloading specialist Thorworld Industries is urging UK distribution businesses to take advantage of potential efficiency savings through changes to their loading operations to help weather a challenging economic climate.

Despite government support in the form of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, UK businesses are still facing a substantial increase in costs compounded by pre-existing labour shortages and rampant inflation. These factors are driving distribution firms to find efficiencies wherever possible, with improvements to loading operations representing a significant opportunity to do so.

With historically high energy costs, reducing consumption wherever possible is a priority for many businesses. One way to achieve this is ensuring that warehouses and loading areas are as energy efficient as possible through implementing loading dock seals or shelters.

Dock seals or shelters are designed to protect both people and goods from temperature fluctuations during loading and unloading and bring considerable energy savings. Widely used in temperature critical businesses such as food manufacture – standard distribution businesses still stand to reap the benefits of these energy savings.

Utilising modular loading docks is another way to improve efficiency in loading operations. These customisable and semi-permanent loading systems allow for businesses to scale their operations up or down depending on need, such as responding to seasonal activity, for a low capital investment at a time when many firms are wary of making large investments.

Adaptation of loading areas for van-based distribution is another avenue in which efficiencies can be found. As more businesses pivot to direct-to-consumer logistics, van docking ramps can provide an easy and low-cost loading solution tailored to vans.

As with modular loading docks, these specialised ramps don’t require warehouse modifications and can handle the weight of electrified vans – which are becoming more common as fuel costs continue to rise.

“Maximising efficiencies across all aspects of a business has always been of central importance to distribution and logistics businesses, now it is critical to survival for many,” said John Meale, Managing Director of Thorworld.

“Loading operations are a key area in which these efficiencies can be found, and we would highly encourage firms to look at the different changes they could make and to capitalise on the opportunities that these loading systems bring.”

Now more than ever, firms stand to benefit the most from the Super Deduction capital allowance scheme from the UK government which ends in March 2023. The scheme allows UK companies to claim back 130% of the cost of qualifying purchases against their corporation tax bill with loading dock equipment representing an ideal example.

 

Loading efficiency leads to savings

Posted on by David Priestman

Against the current backdrop of soaring inflation and energy costs, loading and unloading specialist Thorworld Industries is urging UK distribution businesses to take advantage of potential efficiency savings through changes to their loading operations to help weather a challenging economic climate.

Despite government support in the form of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, UK businesses are still facing a substantial increase in costs compounded by pre-existing labour shortages and rampant inflation. These factors are driving distribution firms to find efficiencies wherever possible, with improvements to loading operations representing a significant opportunity to do so.

With historically high energy costs, reducing consumption wherever possible is a priority for many businesses. One way to achieve this is ensuring that warehouses and loading areas are as energy efficient as possible through implementing loading dock seals or shelters.

Dock seals or shelters are designed to protect both people and goods from temperature fluctuations during loading and unloading and bring considerable energy savings. Widely used in temperature critical businesses such as food manufacture – standard distribution businesses still stand to reap the benefits of these energy savings.

Utilising modular loading docks is another way to improve efficiency in loading operations. These customisable and semi-permanent loading systems allow for businesses to scale their operations up or down depending on need, such as responding to seasonal activity, for a low capital investment at a time when many firms are wary of making large investments.

Adaptation of loading areas for van-based distribution is another avenue in which efficiencies can be found. As more businesses pivot to direct-to-consumer logistics, van docking ramps can provide an easy and low-cost loading solution tailored to vans.

As with modular loading docks, these specialised ramps don’t require warehouse modifications and can handle the weight of electrified vans – which are becoming more common as fuel costs continue to rise.

“Maximising efficiencies across all aspects of a business has always been of central importance to distribution and logistics businesses, now it is critical to survival for many,” said John Meale, Managing Director of Thorworld.

“Loading operations are a key area in which these efficiencies can be found, and we would highly encourage firms to look at the different changes they could make and to capitalise on the opportunities that these loading systems bring.”

Now more than ever, firms stand to benefit the most from the Super Deduction capital allowance scheme from the UK government which ends in March 2023. The scheme allows UK companies to claim back 130% of the cost of qualifying purchases against their corporation tax bill with loading dock equipment representing an ideal example.

 

Arendal adds electric harbour crane

Posted on by David Priestman

In August 2022, Liebherr delivered a new LHM 550 to the Port of Arendal in Norway. The main commercial terminal for the port is located at Eydehavn, just outside the city of Arendal.

Eydehavn is a harbour that offers cranes and handling equipment for bulk loads, project cargo, offshore equipment, and containers. With a lifting capacity of up to 144 tonnes, this LHM 550 offers the port the ability to support larger project and special cargo, as well as optimised bulk operations. Another distinguishing benefit sought by the Port of Arendal is Liebherr’s extensive and high standard of service. Besides remote technical support and local field service, a large selection of original parts will help keep the LHM 550 running over many years.

Options for improved bulk processing, handling larger cargo, and supporting more customers The four-rope version of the LHM 550 that was delivered to the client in Arendal will provide flexible applications for cargo and material lifting. For increased efficiency in handling bulk cargo, a suitable grab that is coupled with Liebherr’s SmartGrip technology was part of the crane’s delivery. This feature can optimise the filling rate of the grab in a self-learning manner.

In this way, SmartGrip learns after just a few lifting cycles how to optimise capacity utilisation of the grab. This reduces overloads to a minimum, increases the material handling rate and, at the same time, alleviates crane operator stress. Bulk material such as salt and sulphur will be among the main resources that will be handled by the LHM 550.

A forthcoming project in the area that will benefit from the crane’s optimisations is a new battery factory by Morrow Batteries.

Rune Hvass, Port Director at Arendal Havn, notes: “After deliberations about which LHM model fits our logistical needs the best, we ultimately decided on the LHM 550. An increasing number of customers are demanding capacity for larger and heavier project and general cargo. To also provide better support for a new battery factory that will be built locally, the choice for a larger mobile harbour crane made most sense.

“The high-quality level at which Liebherr is building its cranes, and especially the service concept Liebherr provides, were some of the main reasons why we decided to purchase a Liebherr mobile harbour crane.”

To help reduce noise, the crane is equipped with noise insulation material in the winch and machinery compartment. The crane is also equipped with an e-drive to enable local CO2-emission-free operation. In addition, the complete LiDAT smartApp package was chosen for the LHM 550. The LiDAT modules such as Maintenance and Optimise help monitor a variety of variables for better performance tracking and efficiency of the crane.

The Port of Arendal now has a new, well-calibrated machine to effectively support their clients’ growing logistical demands. With a radius of 54m, the LHM 550 is the perfect crane for handling bulk cargoes in the Capesize ship class. Container handling ships of the New-Panamax class are also part of the crane’s forte. General cargoes and heavy-duty lifting up to 144 tonnes complete the range of applications of the LHM 550.

To help mark the delivery of the crane, a special naming contest was hosted by the port. Arendal Havn invited 25 groups featuring the region’s kindergartens, primary schools and lower secondary schools to participate in a naming contest for the port’s new giant. The winner of the contest was Trollstubben kindergarten with the group Fjelltroll and Vetter. They received a prize of NOK 2,000 (approx.. €200) and a tour of the harbour. The LHM 550 was named “Hulken,” or “Hulk” in English, and is based on the Marvel comic book character.

Arendal adds electric harbour crane

Posted on by David Priestman

In August 2022, Liebherr delivered a new LHM 550 to the Port of Arendal in Norway. The main commercial terminal for the port is located at Eydehavn, just outside the city of Arendal.

Eydehavn is a harbour that offers cranes and handling equipment for bulk loads, project cargo, offshore equipment, and containers. With a lifting capacity of up to 144 tonnes, this LHM 550 offers the port the ability to support larger project and special cargo, as well as optimised bulk operations. Another distinguishing benefit sought by the Port of Arendal is Liebherr’s extensive and high standard of service. Besides remote technical support and local field service, a large selection of original parts will help keep the LHM 550 running over many years.

Options for improved bulk processing, handling larger cargo, and supporting more customers The four-rope version of the LHM 550 that was delivered to the client in Arendal will provide flexible applications for cargo and material lifting. For increased efficiency in handling bulk cargo, a suitable grab that is coupled with Liebherr’s SmartGrip technology was part of the crane’s delivery. This feature can optimise the filling rate of the grab in a self-learning manner.

In this way, SmartGrip learns after just a few lifting cycles how to optimise capacity utilisation of the grab. This reduces overloads to a minimum, increases the material handling rate and, at the same time, alleviates crane operator stress. Bulk material such as salt and sulphur will be among the main resources that will be handled by the LHM 550.

A forthcoming project in the area that will benefit from the crane’s optimisations is a new battery factory by Morrow Batteries.

Rune Hvass, Port Director at Arendal Havn, notes: “After deliberations about which LHM model fits our logistical needs the best, we ultimately decided on the LHM 550. An increasing number of customers are demanding capacity for larger and heavier project and general cargo. To also provide better support for a new battery factory that will be built locally, the choice for a larger mobile harbour crane made most sense.

“The high-quality level at which Liebherr is building its cranes, and especially the service concept Liebherr provides, were some of the main reasons why we decided to purchase a Liebherr mobile harbour crane.”

To help reduce noise, the crane is equipped with noise insulation material in the winch and machinery compartment. The crane is also equipped with an e-drive to enable local CO2-emission-free operation. In addition, the complete LiDAT smartApp package was chosen for the LHM 550. The LiDAT modules such as Maintenance and Optimise help monitor a variety of variables for better performance tracking and efficiency of the crane.

The Port of Arendal now has a new, well-calibrated machine to effectively support their clients’ growing logistical demands. With a radius of 54m, the LHM 550 is the perfect crane for handling bulk cargoes in the Capesize ship class. Container handling ships of the New-Panamax class are also part of the crane’s forte. General cargoes and heavy-duty lifting up to 144 tonnes complete the range of applications of the LHM 550.

To help mark the delivery of the crane, a special naming contest was hosted by the port. Arendal Havn invited 25 groups featuring the region’s kindergartens, primary schools and lower secondary schools to participate in a naming contest for the port’s new giant. The winner of the contest was Trollstubben kindergarten with the group Fjelltroll and Vetter. They received a prize of NOK 2,000 (approx.. €200) and a tour of the harbour. The LHM 550 was named “Hulken,” or “Hulk” in English, and is based on the Marvel comic book character.

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