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Month: May 2023

Hyster Previews Zero-Emission Terminal Tractor at TOC

Posted on by Keith McKinley

At TOC Europe 2023, Hyster will discuss solutions for port equipment electrification, giving visitors a first glimpse of the zero-emission terminal tractor Hyster is developing with Capacity Trucks at stand C11. The company will also be on hand to share updates on its hydrogen and lithium-ion powered Container Handlers.

“We are delighted to be back at TOC Europe to share our latest innovations that bring advanced power sources to port equipment and help support businesses with their zero-emission strategies,” says Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director Global Market Development at Hyster. “For us, bringing ‘Clean Power that Means Business’ to ports is about understanding the whole application, and its challenges, to provide solutions that support sustainability goals and also meet performance and productivity needs of the operation.”

Visitors to stand C11 will see a preview of the technologies that Hyster is developing with yard truck brand Capacity to provide its first zero-emissions terminal tractor for use in Europe to Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA). The machine will be powered by Nuvera hydrogen fuel cells and run on hydrogen fuel produced locally at the HHLA Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub.

Electrifying Higher-Capacity Port Equipment

This zero-emissions solution is just the latest in a series of developments where Hyster is at the forefront of electrifying higher-capacity port equipment that has traditionally relied on internal combustion engine (ICE) power. The company is currently testing the first-ever, real-world pilot of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered container handler at the Port of Los Angeles. This project was also recently recognised as a finalist for the World Hydrogen Awards 2023.

In addition, Hyster is developing an Empty Container Handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells for HHLA in Hamburg, Germany and previously announced a pilot of a fuel-cell powered ReachStacker at the Port of Valencia as part of the European Horizon 2020 programme and H2Ports project. Furthermore, Hyster recently revealed that it will provide with CARU Containers B.V. with a 100% battery-powered Hyster Empty Container Handler for use in a depot in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The electric empty container handler will be powered by 650-volt lithium-ion batteries, with electricity sourced from solar panels on site at the CARU depot.

“Electrification is not just about buying a battery powered truck, there are also considerations that must be made around infrastructure,” says van den Brand. “For instance, we know how important standardised charging is for ports that are aiming to switch to a completely electric fleet, so the Hyster equipment we are developing aims to feature CCS (Common Charging System) capability across the range. This could help make the transition to zero-emission equipment easier, while supporting scheduled and opportunity charging in operations.”

Robotic Charging

Hyster is also helping customers explore the possibilities of robotic charging for electric trucks, and will share an example of an autonomous charging system on the Hyster stand at TOC Europe.

“We are developing the new Terminal Tractor to be ready for autonomous charging, so those choosing that route can do so easily and quickly,” says van den Brand. “However, this is just one example of how we are working with partners and championing new technologies to provide solutions that simplify the transition to electrification in ports and terminals.”

The development of hydrogen and lithium-ion powered equipment is moving ports closer to total electrification, which could help operations to reduce emissions, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs without compromising performance. However, to support a wide range of businesses on their journey towards electrification, Hyster lift trucks can also now utilise HVO 100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) as a fuel source to help reduce emissions. This may provide a stop-gap solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, meets Tier III, Tier IV, and Stage V emissions regulations, and can be applied to both new Hyster trucks and those already in the field.

“We know that every port and terminal is different, so we encourage attendees at TOC Europe to come to the Hyster stand to discuss their particular application needs, and learn why partnering with Hyster may help them identify the zero-emissions equipment solutions that they need,” concludes van den Brand.

 

UK Hauliers Join Forces

Posted on by David Priestman

Specialist Logistics Services Ltd (SLS) is a UK freight forwarder that offer a turnkey service for the movement of out of gauge and abnormal cargo and has been successfully delivering to clients old and new, for many years. It says it prides itself in offering bespoke solutions for the movement of all challenging cargo.

Following a long and successful career in project cargo, its owner and founder Martin Burgess decided to retire from the board with effect from April this year.

Reimer Ltd, which also owns Doherty Heavy Haulage, is now the new owner of SLS and its partner company Martin Burgess Logistics Ltd.

The new Managing Director of SLS, Hasan Huseyin, says: “I’m excited about the new takeover. I have a fantastic and knowledgeable team working alongside me and we all look forward to the bright future ahead.” Huseyin will also remain at the helm of Doherty heavy haulage.

Luton-based Doherty is well established in the field of heavy haulage with an ever-growing fleet of low-loaders, variety of specialist trailers and equipment.  SLS and Doherty have worked together seamlessly for many years and described the takeover and merge of skills as an obvious choice and a smart business move.

This new takeover will enable SLS to directly utilise Doherty’s fleet of vehicles, offering more competitive rates on UK moves. However, both companies are still running independently.

Martin Burgess concludes: “I will always be indebted to my former directors and current colleagues for making the business the success it has become and the sheer hard work and effort has paid off in the end, allowing for the business to have bright future ahead of it under Reimer’s control.”

 

Kinaxia Agrees 5-Year Contract with ArrowXL

Posted on by David Priestman

Kinaxia Logistics has agreed a five-year contract to provide all domestic linehaul and trunking services for two-person home delivery specialist ArrowXL.

ArrowXL, which has its headquarters in Wigan and further sites at Worcester, Airdrie, Carrickfergus and Enfield, delivers more than two million customer orders a year for retailers, ecommerce companies and manufacturers. These include domestic appliances, furniture, sofas, beds and mattresses and garden items.

Kinaxia group company Mark Thompson Transport has been providing a large proportion of ArrowXL’s trailer-based client collections, returns and carousel movements since 2019.

Now the arrangement is being expanded and will see Mark Thompson Transport – which is part of Kinaxia’s primary sector division – assume responsibility for all domestic linehaul and trunking services.

Mark Thompson Transport already has operating centres and dedicated drivers based at ArrowXL’s hubs in Wigan and Worcester, and will open new ones in Enfield and Airdrie, as well as providing all units and trailers required to fulfil the contract.

Following the deal, 14 drivers employed by ArrowXL will transfer to Mark Thompson Transport under TUPE regulations and more drivers will be recruited in line with the expansion resulting from the deal.

Richard Smith, managing director of Kinaxia’s primary sector business, said: “We are excited to be extending our relationship with ArrowXL and welcoming new drivers into the Kinaxia family.

“This five-year contract is the result of a lot of hard work by the ArrowXL and Mark Thompson Transport teams and is a reflection of the service that we have been providing over the last four years.

“We are now able to build on this joint success and further cement our partnership.

“At the same time, the arrangement reinforces our nationwide capabilities in the primary sector and creates growth opportunities across a wide area of the UK as well as enabling us to offer more flexibility to our existing customers.”

Charlie Shiels, CEO of ArrowXL, said: “This decision is a natural extension of our current arrangements. We both work really well together, and this change will help us to create more and better opportunities for our many clients. This could be in improved first mile capability or higher levels of service excellence.

“ArrowXL and Mark Thompson Transport are a good cultural fit and both put customer service at the heart of their operational capabilities.

“We look forward to creating an even more innovative relationship as we get to know even more about each other’s strengths and capabilities.”

Kinaxia is a top 15 UK logistics group employing more than 1,600 staff nationwide with a fleet of over 850 vehicles which transport goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

The group, which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

ORBCOMM Improves Cold Chain Telematics

Posted on by Keith McKinley

ORBCOMM Inc., a leading global provider of supply chain IoT technology, is leveraging its market leadership and expertise in cold chain telematics to provide a higher level of visibility, compliance and cargo integrity for all types of refrigerated vehicles moving across the cold chain in Europe. ORBCOMM’s new RT 8000 solution, which is expected to be commercially available this summer, will automate customers’ operations with enhanced connectivity, faster access to more data and wireless sensors to digitise cold chain decision making.

ORBCOMM’s next-generation RT 8000 will significantly improve how European cold chain operators in the food distribution, retail logistics and pharmaceutical industries track and monitor their temperature-controlled cargo. As part of a comprehensive cold chain telematics solution that includes sensors, connectivity and the state-of-the-art ORBCOMM platform, the RT 8000 will enable comprehensive temperature monitoring, fuel management, preventative maintenance, remote control and more.

The unit is designed with the goal of reducing the frequency of field replacement. By leveraging access to real-time and historical data along with event-based alerts, shippers and carriers will be able to make informed decisions about their refrigerated business in real time. With the RT 8000, refrigerated fleets will improve operational efficiency and ensure that products moving along the cold chain meet regulatory compliance and maintain integrity, reducing claims over cargo loss and damage.

The enhanced RT 8000 solution will feature faster, superior connectivity, increased memory and three embedded SIMs, enabling fleets to collect more reefer data at a higher speed and cost-effective rates. The solution’s future-proofed technology will also increase reporting reliability and longevity. The improved EN 12830 compliance for the RT 8000 and its peripherals will enable customers to fully meet the European standard supporting cold chain traceability. In addition, the solution’s multiple new interfaces will make it easy for customers to support any visibility, usage, productivity, security or EBS/TMPS application for optimal versatility.

Comprehensive wireless sensor support for temperature and door and the integration of Tractor ID for automated tractor/trailer pairing will facilitate easy installation, enabling fleets to seamlessly upgrade their cold chain management with additional functionality. Lastly, the ruggedised RT 8000 with IP67-rating is designed to operate under extreme environmental conditions and contains an internal battery back-up to enable reporting without external power.

“We look forward to bringing ORBCOMM’s next-generation RT 8000 to the European cold chain industry later this year, enabling refrigerated fleets to gain greater visibility, compliance and control of their operations,” said Christian Allred, ORBCOMM’s Executive Vice President of International Sales. “With the enhanced connectivity, interoperability and bandwidth, the RT 8000 will allow fleets to access more data, make faster control decisions and reduce the potential for cargo spoilage, all of which will help improve their bottom line.”

APL Logistics Presents Order Management at Multimodal

Posted on by David Priestman

APL Logistics is returning to the Multimodal Exhibition in Birmingham, taking place between the 13th and 15th of June 2023 at Birmingham’s NEC.

In today’s fast-moving supply chains, the only thing you can expect is the unexpected. To meet customer demand and reach decarbonisation goals while achieving scale during these times of economic uncertainty, companies need advanced order planning, predictive lifecycle visibility, and responsive execution across all geographies. Enabling day-to-day decision-making that mitigates inventory disruption – and maximises your profitability.

The dedicated team of experts at stand number 6024 will showcase the recently launched APL’s end-to-end order management solution, PANOM.

Thad Bedard, President of APL Logistics, stated: “APL Logistics strives to be the premier order management provider in the world. Anchored in the notion of neutrality, our function is to act as a neutral party for our customers to oversee their carrier base, manufacturing base, and, many times, their technology providers.”

PANOM is delivered through APL Logistics’ strategic balance of world-class account management teams, proprietary digital solutions, and an extensive global network of facilities. Anchored in the notion of neutrality, APL delivers solutions that drive financial value for each customer.

Shows

PANOM encompasses the end-to-end movement of APL’s customers’ products – focusing on the planning and decision aspects and enabling continuous supply chain value creation – empowering customers to adapt faster and execute efficiently.

Visit APL Logistics at stand number 6024 to find out how PANOM can help achieve the following:

  • Increase sales of your products at full price
  • Reduce your supply chain costs and emissions
  • Enhance the level of service provided to your customers
  • Improve the responsiveness and simplicity of your ecosystem

 

Cambridge’s First Net Zero Urban Consolidation Centre Opened

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Cambridge (UK)’s first Net Zero Urban Consolidation Centre (UCC), pioneered by Cambridgeshire-based Welch’s Transport, has opened. The new venture will support the city’s sustainability goals by delivering clean, emissions-free last-mile deliveries and is at the heart of the company’s new Net Zero logistics fulfilment operation that also includes one of the first fully electric HGVs in the country.

Building on Welch’s Transport’s 89 years’ experience in supply chain management and transportation, the UCC comprises full warehousing and logistics management facilities. Goods ordered by organisations in Cambridge, and delivered to the Welch’s depot in Duxford, will be consolidated for more efficient last-mile deliveries using smaller, more eco-friendly vehicles. The UCC will minimise the number of heavy goods vehicles operating in the city centre, potentially reducing the number of vehicle trip deliveries by 46%.

Chris Welch, Director of Welch’s Transport, said: “Our aim is that organisations in Greater Cambridge can quite literally ‘share the load’ when it comes to reducing C02 emissions. Our UCC will reduce the number of delivery vehicles in urban areas across Greater Cambridge and will, therefore, emit fewer greenhouse gases. The new UCC further supports our efforts in Cambridge to deliver clean, emission-free last-mile deliveries in the city. With the support of local businesses in the city, we could decrease CO2-EQ emissions per consignment by up to 88%.”

The UCC, and new fully electric HGV, is the company’s first step to creating a greener Cambridge, with the 19 tonne vehicle able to deliver zero-emissions general haulage, palleted, parcels and hazardous goods.

Welch continued: “The combination of our knowledgeable local drivers, new electric vehicle and Urban Consolidation Centre will revolutionise last mile deliveries in Greater Cambridge. With the UK’s commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050, we can support every local organisation – as well as those in business parks – that are looking to meet their sustainability goals.”

Caption: [L-R] Sophie Home, Chris Welch and David Welch, Welch’s Net Zero

Clark Europe Names New BDM

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Holger Schmitz has been the new Business Development Manager at Clark Europe in Duisburg with effect from April 2023. His new area of responsibility includes expanding the dealer network in Europe as well as supporting the Clark Regional Managers.

Holger Schmitz is no stranger to Clark. His professional career took him to the then Mülheim-based materials handling vehicles manufacturer back in 2000. A traineeship was followed by a permanent position in the internal sales department. In 2003, he moved to Pramac Lifter, where he worked as a dealer advisor. From 2007 until recently, Schmitz was employed by Doosan Industrial Vehicle Europe as County Manager and managed the German branches as well as the sales activities in the DACH region and Eastern Europe.

“We are delighted to have Holger Schmitz back on board and wish him every success in his new role,” says Rolf Eiten, President and CEO at Clark Europe. “The expansion of the Clark dealer network is one of our key objectives alongside the expansion of the product range. We want to position ourselves better and better not only on the European market, but worldwide. For this, we not only need new dealers, but also more efficient ones.”

As Business Development Manager, Holger Schmitz reports to Stefan Budweit, Director Sales & Marketing at Clark Europe.

 

FourKites Named a Gartner Leader

Posted on by Keith McKinley

For the third consecutive year, real-time supply chain visibility company FourKites has been named a Leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms (RTTVPs). Gartner evaluated nine vendors for its report, and FourKites received its position as a Leader both for its Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision.

FourKites, the largest global visibility solution, tracks over 3 million shipments per day across all modes and connects the global supply chains of 50% of the Fortune 500, including customers in Europe such as Barilla, Henkel, Bayer, Dow, Volvo Group, cargonerds, Spotos and Bacardi. In 2022, FourKites achieved a 70% YoY growth in global customers — totalling over 1,200 — nearly 50% growth in total shipments and 37% growth in connected facilities, the latter of which now total over 3.2 million individual facilities around the world. In Europe specifically, FourKites saw 2x growth in shipments, across 120 countries and territories; 40% growth in European customers; 24% growth in the number of carriers tracking shipments; and nearly 3 billion miles tracked in the region.

“2022 was a year of tremendous growth and acceleration of our business,” said FourKites CEO and founder Mathew Elenjickal. “In addition to growing our shipper and carrier base around the world, we have forged strategic partnerships with industry titans, grown our C-suite with seasoned executives, and continued to innovate with our customers to add meaningful business value to their most critical pain points. We’re proud to be recognised as a Leader yet again by Gartner.”

What Customers are Saying

FourKites continues to earn accolades for its unique customer-driven innovation model; for the maturity of its end-to-end, multimodal platform; and for its unwavering commitment to customer success.

“Supply chain management has become so much easier now,” said a Global Mobility Project Manager, UK, Finance. “Gratification arises from knowing that our cargo has been safely delivered, because FourKites allows our team to keep track of exactly where it is. Having access to the data and analytics that FourKites has supplied has been necessary for decision-making, controlling the items exiting our facility, and efficiently monitoring shipments.”

“As a solution provider, FourKites provides a remarkable coverage and support experience. They are an accelerator of our digital transformation initiatives and a great partner who pro-actively seeks feedback in order to gleam future needs and innovations to their roadmap,” commented a Global Futurist, UK, Software Industry.

A VP of Supply Chain, Services (non-Government) Industry added: “To serve our customers, we need a platform that enables supply chain professionals to act quickly to fulfil their orders. Making decisions, regulating what leaves our facilities, and effectively tracking shipments have all required access to the data and analytics that FourKites has provided. The user interface is relatively simple and adaptable to the needs of each individual user, which makes it quite easy to use. As the product has been so successful in the US, we want to expand it to our offices and affiliates abroad to take advantage of its popularity.”

Leading Industry Innovation

FourKites pioneered the real-time transportation visibility (RTTV) category in 2014 and was the first company to extend real-time visibility across supply chains end-to-end, from yards to warehouses and more. In addition to strategic investments in 2021 from industry heavyweights Qualcomm Ventures, LLC, Volvo Group Venture Capital AB and Zebra Technologies, FourKites recently has inked strategic alliances with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., FedEx, Quiet Platforms, Sony, Microsoft and Narvar. In addition, FourKites has been recognised for its industry leadership and innovation by SupplyChainBrain, Blue Yonder, Builtin Chicago, Manhattan Associates, and it is one of only four Transportation and Logistics companies to receive Inc.’s Best in Business Award.

Recent FourKites innovations include Sustainability Hub, which provides supply chain leaders with advanced emissions tracking and reporting capabilities; Data Connector, which accelerates time-to-insights by allows customers to automatically access and leverage FourKites data directly within their existing business intelligence tools; and FourKites Connect, which accelerates the carrier connectivity process from hours or even days to just minutes.

REPORT: Rise of E-commerce and Returns Culture

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Körber’s 2023 State of Shipping and Returns Survey reveals that 70% of e-commerce consumers have experienced a delayed online order in the last six months, affecting their overall view of the brand.

Consumer behaviour, preferences and expectations continue to challenge manufacturers, retailers and 3PLs alike. Körber’s 2023 State of Shipping and Returns survey finds that 90% of respondents are less likely to buy from a brand again after a poor online shopping experience, while 29% say they are increasingly willing to share a negative review online. These are among the central findings from online shoppers in 2023.

The recent survey gathered insights from 2,200 consumers across eight global regions on their post-purchase experience between the moment they click the “buy” button and when the product reaches their doorstep. A significant number of consumers (70%) experienced shipping delays without any reason provided for the delay (35%). With consumers looking for speed and convenience as the deciding factors when they purchase online, these delays drive customer dissatisfaction and affect brand decisions.

“Customer expectations have only grown more complicated post-COVID,” explained Chad Collins, CEO Software at Körber Business Area Supply Chain. “Körber’s latest research reveals that a good shopping experience can make a loyal customer for life. On the contrary, a poor experience can leave a wake of destruction. The importance of a frictionless customer experience cannot be emphasised enough. Brands need seamlessly integrated technologies to overcome these challenges and ensure that consumer expectations are met.”

One area of opportunity for businesses is enhancing shipping visibility and accountability to help avoid unexpected delays. And when delays invariably occur, have a plan in place for customer communication to update expectations and provide potential appeasement to create customer loyalty. 38% of consumers were not offered any compensation, refund or discounts on their recent delayed order, yet 83% indicated that is important to them.

Körber’s 2023 State of Shipping and Returns Survey looked at changing consumer expectations and what drives customer satisfaction. In February 2023, Körber polled 2,200 consumers across the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Germany, France and the UK.

CLICK HERE to access the full report.

 

Fives Modernises La Poste Group’s Network

Posted on by David Priestman

Fives, one of the world’s most preferred partners for transforming supply chain facilities, has once again been chosen by La Poste Group for continuing the modernisation of its Colissimo network. This new project, which illustrates its confidence in Fives’ turnkey handling solutions, is part of a vast programme to renovate its parcel delivery network.

In 2017, Colissimo, the parcel delivery brand of La Poste Group, began a renovation programme covering its overall delivery network in France. This programme included the renewal of existing logistics facilities as well as the setting-up of new sorting systems to enhance the delivery service within and outside France.

Since the beginning of this ambitious plan, Fives has been playing a key role through the design and installation of handling systems in Douvrin and Les Arcs-sur-Argens, and in participating in the realisation of the sorting solution in Pontcharra. All those systems are already handed over and fully in production since 2019 and 2020 respectively.

These successful completions have driven Colissimo to select Fives again for equipping a new handling system in Rouen, Normandie: the two companies have been collaborating for several years in various projects based on the highly-valued GENI-Belt technology muchly appreciated for its intrinsic reliability and accuracy.

Fives’ engineers have designed the final system layout in collaboration with Colissimo’s experts to come up with the best possible solution that complies with both functionality expectations and customer’s budget.

The system will be equipped with two overlapped GENI-Belt cross-belt sorters with a length of more than 1km, several GENI-Feed high-speed induction lines and hundreds chutes to feed minivans, roller cages and trucks to deliver parcels locally and internationally.

Scalable solution

In summer 2024, Colissimo will be able to sort more than 300,000 items a day in its Rouen Normandie’s hub. However, we know that nowadays parcel flows are unpredictable: for this reason, Fives has designed a scalable solution that can increase the system capacity up to 116% of its nominal throughput with the minimum effort and investment.

“We are proud to collaborate once again with such an important player as La Poste Group,” states Benjamin Le Moult, Sales Manager & Key Account Manager GeoPost at Fives Intralogistics SpA. “After many projects completed for La Poste Group seeing that they trust again in our company, illustrates that the expertise collected in all these years of activity and the efforts we have made to fine-tune our technologies, have paid off.”

 

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