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Day: 16 March 2023

Indian Robotics Firm Launches UnboxSort

Posted on by David Priestman

Unbox Robotics, a global plug & play Indian robotics technology company for intralogistics, plans to expand its footprint in the international markets starting with the United States. With proven success within the domestic 3PL industry, the company is looking to make its tech available to meet the current demand for innovative plug & play automation solutions in the US.

Unbox Robotics currently supports several leading e-commerce, retail and logistics companies across the globe to automate their fulfilment operations through its UnboxSort system. By vertically sorting parcels, the system helps customers achieve 3x productivity, sorting accuracy of 99.99% and space efficiency of 50 to 70%.

The company announced that it is showcasing its breakthrough intralogistics automation technology at ProMat Chicago from March 20-23rd at booth N9513 and kicking off its entry into the US market.

UnboxSort in the US market

Commenting on the upcoming showcase, Pramod Ghadge, Co-Founder & CEO of Unbox Robotics, “We are excited to present our revolutionary parcel sorting & order consolidation robotics tech, UnboxSort at ProMat 2023 and demonstrate its benefits for companies of all sizes seeking automation. Powered by a swarm intelligence-based sorting mechanism, the UnboxSort system empowers customers to process parcel sortation efficiently and helps them scale up their operations and transition to Industry 4.0 with ease. Our participation at this industry event is our commitment to expand Unbox Robotics’ footprint in the international markets in the coming months.”

Pramod added, “The system can be installed in less than two weeks and can sort items/parcels ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 per hour on demand, making it valuable for both small e-commerce startups to large multinational corporations.”

Unbox Robotics is backed by reputed global investors from US, India, UK and Singapore. Unbox Robotics has also been recognised as a sample vendor in the 2022 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Mobile Robots and Drones, the 2022 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Supply Chain Execution Technologies and the 2022 Gartner® report for “Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Smart Robots and Drones” and has also won several awards globally.

Upgrade to High-performance Voice Technology

Posted on by David Priestman

Henderson Foodservice has upgraded their existing voice picking system, ZetesMedea Voice, with the latest high-performance voice technology. Thanks to this upgrade, the food distributor will increase throughput and productivity, whilst shorten its delivery times and ultimately improve customer value.

Henderson Foodservice Ltd, a subsidiary of the Family-owned Henderson Group, owners of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra franchises in Northern Ireland, has been distributing food and grocery-related products to the convenience retail sector for over 100 years. The company faced a range of supply chain optimisation issues before it began working with Zetes in 2006 to digitalise manual warehouse processes and implement ZetesMedea Voice into its chilled warehouse.

“Through several years of successful collaboration, Henderson has achieved real-time control and visibility of all supply chain processes, from goods receipt to picking to the final arrival of groceries in stores. The use of Zetes’ solutions has not only delivered a rapid return on investment, but also significant efficiency gains in terms of reduced error rates and greater operational efficiencies. So, when it was time to upgrade our existing voice solution, we once again partnered with Zetes.” Philip Mehaffey, Head of Logistics at Henderson Group.

High performance technology

Investing in advanced voice technology enables Henderson to secure the responsiveness of its warehouse transactions and ensure that the team always deliver exceptional levels of customer service. The updated ZetesMedea Voice solution brings many value-added functionalities such as, remote view access, which implies that the user can share screen with the remote warehouse management team. This gives the back office full operational control and real-time access to a wealth of data, including tasks, productivity, and order status in one central place. In addition, with the dialog viewer feature, warehouse supervisor can track and view workflows and ongoing tasks, proving real-time visibility of performance. Should errors occur, the management can make changes straightaway and avoid disruption. With all the upgraded features, Henderson can easily access and monitor performance intelligence reports and track critical operational KPI’s in real-time.
The untrained nature of the solution also enables the quick onboarding of new employees, reducing time spent on training and ensuring new operatives can be operational within minutes.

Managing the entire mobile life cycle

Through the deployment of the MCL™ Mobility Platform, Henderson can manage the entire mobile infrastructure lifecycle, from deployment and integration, right through to the management of applications, devices and users. They benefit from a ‘build once deploy to many’ approach, reaping all the benefits of mobility, but without the associated complexity.

Its use assures 100-percent transparency, IT availability regardless of location, optimised repair cycles, flexible remote maintenance and cost-efficient process and device management.
“We have been working with Zetes for more than a decade, and they have always been responsive, embracing our projects wholeheartedly. We are confident that the new technology upgrade will provide us with an excellent platform as we continue to grow our business.” adds Philip Mehaffey.

Upgrade to High-performance Voice Technology

Posted on by David Priestman

Henderson Foodservice has upgraded their existing voice picking system, ZetesMedea Voice, with the latest high-performance voice technology. Thanks to this upgrade, the food distributor will increase throughput and productivity, whilst shorten its delivery times and ultimately improve customer value.

Henderson Foodservice Ltd, a subsidiary of the Family-owned Henderson Group, owners of the Spar, Eurospar, Vivo and Vivoxtra franchises in Northern Ireland, has been distributing food and grocery-related products to the convenience retail sector for over 100 years. The company faced a range of supply chain optimisation issues before it began working with Zetes in 2006 to digitalise manual warehouse processes and implement ZetesMedea Voice into its chilled warehouse.

“Through several years of successful collaboration, Henderson has achieved real-time control and visibility of all supply chain processes, from goods receipt to picking to the final arrival of groceries in stores. The use of Zetes’ solutions has not only delivered a rapid return on investment, but also significant efficiency gains in terms of reduced error rates and greater operational efficiencies. So, when it was time to upgrade our existing voice solution, we once again partnered with Zetes.” Philip Mehaffey, Head of Logistics at Henderson Group.

High performance technology

Investing in advanced voice technology enables Henderson to secure the responsiveness of its warehouse transactions and ensure that the team always deliver exceptional levels of customer service. The updated ZetesMedea Voice solution brings many value-added functionalities such as, remote view access, which implies that the user can share screen with the remote warehouse management team. This gives the back office full operational control and real-time access to a wealth of data, including tasks, productivity, and order status in one central place. In addition, with the dialog viewer feature, warehouse supervisor can track and view workflows and ongoing tasks, proving real-time visibility of performance. Should errors occur, the management can make changes straightaway and avoid disruption. With all the upgraded features, Henderson can easily access and monitor performance intelligence reports and track critical operational KPI’s in real-time.
The untrained nature of the solution also enables the quick onboarding of new employees, reducing time spent on training and ensuring new operatives can be operational within minutes.

Managing the entire mobile life cycle

Through the deployment of the MCL™ Mobility Platform, Henderson can manage the entire mobile infrastructure lifecycle, from deployment and integration, right through to the management of applications, devices and users. They benefit from a ‘build once deploy to many’ approach, reaping all the benefits of mobility, but without the associated complexity.

Its use assures 100-percent transparency, IT availability regardless of location, optimised repair cycles, flexible remote maintenance and cost-efficient process and device management.
“We have been working with Zetes for more than a decade, and they have always been responsive, embracing our projects wholeheartedly. We are confident that the new technology upgrade will provide us with an excellent platform as we continue to grow our business.” adds Philip Mehaffey.

eBook on Warehouse Impact Protection

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business magazine, in association with Sentry Protection Products, have produced a short digital issue or eBook about impact protection and warehouse safety. In this 6-page special guide Editor Peter MacLeod interviews Sentry’s CEO and Founder Jim Ryan about the company’s 25th anniversary and its new product launch – the Collision Sentry Multi-Zone.

Read the eBook here now

In 2023, Sentry Protection Products celebrates 25 years in business. A quarter century of quality and innovation in manufacturing and marketing impact resistant equipment and collision warning systems for industrial applications. It’s a significant milestone that only a minority of companies achieve.

Founded on providing solutions to customers’ needs, the company formed in 1998 to manufacture and market the original, patented Column Sentry® – a column protector for steel columns needing repair or replacement due to forklift collision damage. Twenty-five years, thousands of installations, and many award-winning products later, Sentry is recognized as a world leader in its field.

“it’s been quite a journey,” said James Ryan, president of Sentry. “A journey made possible through the efforts and support of employees, manufacturing reps, distributors, vendors, and customers. They have played a huge part in our success and we value our longstanding relationships. We look forward to many more years of doing business together.”

The industry is constantly evolving, and Sentry has continued to evolve with it. More solutions followed column protection – protection for rack uprights, concrete columns, building corners, parking structures, and a collision warning system for preventing accidents at blind corner intersections. All innovative, effective, high-quality solutions to challenges faced by our customers. New products are always on the drawing board.

“Sentry products are safety products; built like safety products should be built,” continued Ryan. “The materials we use, the manufacturing process, and rigorous testing ensure a quality, efficient, and reliable product. Safety is something you can’t cut corners on. Sentry products are “Always on Guard”. Like a Sentry that stands watch at the gate, Sentry products stand guard 24/7 to protect facilities, equipment, and people.”

Sentry Protection Products is a leading provider of innovative, impact resistant products for industrial applications. Manufactured in the United States and Europe and sold worldwide, the award winning, patented product line includes Column Sentry®, Rack Sentry®, Concrete Wrap™, Park Sentry®, Corner Sentry™ and Collision Sentry®. Sentry is headquartered in Lakewood, Ohio, USA.

eBook on Warehouse Impact Protection

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business magazine, in association with Sentry Protection Products, have produced a short digital issue or eBook about impact protection and warehouse safety. In this 6-page special guide Editor Peter MacLeod interviews Sentry’s CEO and Founder Jim Ryan about the company’s 25th anniversary and its new product launch – the Collision Sentry Multi-Zone.

Read the eBook here now

In 2023, Sentry Protection Products celebrates 25 years in business. A quarter century of quality and innovation in manufacturing and marketing impact resistant equipment and collision warning systems for industrial applications. It’s a significant milestone that only a minority of companies achieve.

Founded on providing solutions to customers’ needs, the company formed in 1998 to manufacture and market the original, patented Column Sentry® – a column protector for steel columns needing repair or replacement due to forklift collision damage. Twenty-five years, thousands of installations, and many award-winning products later, Sentry is recognized as a world leader in its field.

“it’s been quite a journey,” said James Ryan, president of Sentry. “A journey made possible through the efforts and support of employees, manufacturing reps, distributors, vendors, and customers. They have played a huge part in our success and we value our longstanding relationships. We look forward to many more years of doing business together.”

The industry is constantly evolving, and Sentry has continued to evolve with it. More solutions followed column protection – protection for rack uprights, concrete columns, building corners, parking structures, and a collision warning system for preventing accidents at blind corner intersections. All innovative, effective, high-quality solutions to challenges faced by our customers. New products are always on the drawing board.

“Sentry products are safety products; built like safety products should be built,” continued Ryan. “The materials we use, the manufacturing process, and rigorous testing ensure a quality, efficient, and reliable product. Safety is something you can’t cut corners on. Sentry products are “Always on Guard”. Like a Sentry that stands watch at the gate, Sentry products stand guard 24/7 to protect facilities, equipment, and people.”

Sentry Protection Products is a leading provider of innovative, impact resistant products for industrial applications. Manufactured in the United States and Europe and sold worldwide, the award winning, patented product line includes Column Sentry®, Rack Sentry®, Concrete Wrap™, Park Sentry®, Corner Sentry™ and Collision Sentry®. Sentry is headquartered in Lakewood, Ohio, USA.

Belgium Warehouse Expansion in 3 Locations

Posted on by David Priestman

Bleckmann, supply chain management experts for fashion and lifestyle brands, is expanding with 60.000 m2 of warehouse space, at three strategic locations in Belgium. The distribution centres in Belsele, Herentals and Grobbendonk support the growth of customers, who also benefit from Bleckmann’s growth opportunities and additional logistics flexibility.

Belgium is both historically and geographically crucial for Bleckmann. In this growth, Bleckmann is also committed to reducing its ecological footprint. The company is currently expanding in three different locations in Belgium. West of Antwerp in Belsele (Sint-Niklaas), a new fulfilment centre is being set up. East of Antwerp, in Herentals, a new distribution centre was set up specifically for a new customer. Just ten kilometres from there, in Grobbendonk, the largest Bleckmann warehouse in Belgium is also being further expanded.

In Belsele, Bleckmann opens a completely new distribution centre at a strategic location. By making optimal use of the available surface area and by placing mezzanines, the total operational capacity will be increased to 31.000 m2. Via the E17 motorway, the distribution centre has a good connection to the Port of Antwerp and the European hinterland.

Uniquely, the fulfilment centre is entirely focused on rapidly operationalising and serving new customers. “Here, we create the capacity to anticipate customer requests quickly and flexibly. Through our multi-client approach, each new brand immediately benefits fully from the group’s expertise and solutions,” says Mark Van Onna, General Manager Real Estate at Bleckmann.

Herentals: fast fulfilment solution

The site in Herentals is an example of how quickly Bleckmann responds to a customer’s demand. For one of our new customers, we opened this fulfilment centre of 8.500 m2 operational area, fully dedicated to this customer. In a smooth way and in a very short timeframe, Bleckmann took over the e-commerce fulfilment of another service provider to meet the customer’s needs

Reinardt van Oel, Chief Operations Officer Belgium & UK at Bleckmann: “Our customers hire us to relieve them of all their logistics worries. We therefore put everything in place to set up the complete solution even in a very short period of time: our knowledge of setup, our systems and technology. Our customers ask. We solve it.”

Grobbendonk: largest campus in Belgium under one roof

The strategic site in Grobbendonk, located directly on the Albert Canal connected to the Port of Antwerp, is further expanded to a total operating area of 120.000m2. To the already existing 100.000 m2, Bleckmann has added an additional unit and equipped the existing ground area with mezzanines. This will make Grobbendonk one of the largest campuses under one roof within Bleckmann.

This site is also at the forefront of innovation, with forward-looking developments. Mark van Onna: “Grobbendonk is a technological pioneer within our group. There, we test logistics possibilities with robots and implement innovations in daily fulfilment. We then roll out successful projects to the other customers and sites.”

Sustainable investments in warehouses

Investments are made in each project to improve the sustainability of the sites. Through its CSR strategy, it aims to be part of the solution, rather than a co-creator of the problem. Among other things, lighting has been looked at, for example, where possible, LED lighting will be installed and combined with motion sensors to further reduce energy consumption.

“Crucially, we make optimal use of the scarce land. We do this through mezzanines and the most optimal rack structures. As a result, we expand our floor space in the existing buildings far more than the land area we occupy,” adds Reinardt van Oel. Bleckmann continues to expand further. The current nearly 300.000 m2 of operational area in Belgium will soon be complemented by operational area of Crosswoods – a brand new distribution centre in Kruisem

Belgium Warehouse Expansion in 3 Locations

Posted on by David Priestman

Bleckmann, supply chain management experts for fashion and lifestyle brands, is expanding with 60.000 m2 of warehouse space, at three strategic locations in Belgium. The distribution centres in Belsele, Herentals and Grobbendonk support the growth of customers, who also benefit from Bleckmann’s growth opportunities and additional logistics flexibility.

Belgium is both historically and geographically crucial for Bleckmann. In this growth, Bleckmann is also committed to reducing its ecological footprint. The company is currently expanding in three different locations in Belgium. West of Antwerp in Belsele (Sint-Niklaas), a new fulfilment centre is being set up. East of Antwerp, in Herentals, a new distribution centre was set up specifically for a new customer. Just ten kilometres from there, in Grobbendonk, the largest Bleckmann warehouse in Belgium is also being further expanded.

In Belsele, Bleckmann opens a completely new distribution centre at a strategic location. By making optimal use of the available surface area and by placing mezzanines, the total operational capacity will be increased to 31.000 m2. Via the E17 motorway, the distribution centre has a good connection to the Port of Antwerp and the European hinterland.

Uniquely, the fulfilment centre is entirely focused on rapidly operationalising and serving new customers. “Here, we create the capacity to anticipate customer requests quickly and flexibly. Through our multi-client approach, each new brand immediately benefits fully from the group’s expertise and solutions,” says Mark Van Onna, General Manager Real Estate at Bleckmann.

Herentals: fast fulfilment solution

The site in Herentals is an example of how quickly Bleckmann responds to a customer’s demand. For one of our new customers, we opened this fulfilment centre of 8.500 m2 operational area, fully dedicated to this customer. In a smooth way and in a very short timeframe, Bleckmann took over the e-commerce fulfilment of another service provider to meet the customer’s needs

Reinardt van Oel, Chief Operations Officer Belgium & UK at Bleckmann: “Our customers hire us to relieve them of all their logistics worries. We therefore put everything in place to set up the complete solution even in a very short period of time: our knowledge of setup, our systems and technology. Our customers ask. We solve it.”

Grobbendonk: largest campus in Belgium under one roof

The strategic site in Grobbendonk, located directly on the Albert Canal connected to the Port of Antwerp, is further expanded to a total operating area of 120.000m2. To the already existing 100.000 m2, Bleckmann has added an additional unit and equipped the existing ground area with mezzanines. This will make Grobbendonk one of the largest campuses under one roof within Bleckmann.

This site is also at the forefront of innovation, with forward-looking developments. Mark van Onna: “Grobbendonk is a technological pioneer within our group. There, we test logistics possibilities with robots and implement innovations in daily fulfilment. We then roll out successful projects to the other customers and sites.”

Sustainable investments in warehouses

Investments are made in each project to improve the sustainability of the sites. Through its CSR strategy, it aims to be part of the solution, rather than a co-creator of the problem. Among other things, lighting has been looked at, for example, where possible, LED lighting will be installed and combined with motion sensors to further reduce energy consumption.

“Crucially, we make optimal use of the scarce land. We do this through mezzanines and the most optimal rack structures. As a result, we expand our floor space in the existing buildings far more than the land area we occupy,” adds Reinardt van Oel. Bleckmann continues to expand further. The current nearly 300.000 m2 of operational area in Belgium will soon be complemented by operational area of Crosswoods – a brand new distribution centre in Kruisem

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