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Month: June 2023

Reduce Packaging Innovation Day

Posted on by David Priestman

CID23, the 10th edition of CMC Innovation Day, took place last Thursday, June 22nd. Organized annually by CMC Packaging Automation, a company in the portfolio of KKR Global Impact Fund and supported by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, this event has become a tradition in the on-demand packaging sector. The event was held at CMC’s headquarters in Città di Castello (PG), Italy.

The focus of the event was on nurturing talent within the company, providing a day of study and in-depth analysis to showcase innovations in an industry that has persevered despite recent challenges and discovered opportunities for growth and improvement. The keyword for the day was ‘REDUCE’: reducing waste and minimizing impact while maintaining efficiency and production performance.

CID23 attracted over 150 guests from five continents, representing major eCommerce companies and logistics players. It served as a platform for sharing ideas and best practices regarding the challenges and opportunities in sustainable logistics.

CMC’s initiative demonstrates the importance of establishing a business model that engages and collaborates with the outside world, drawing from new experiences to grow and stay relevant. The underlying theme of the event was the inseparable link between technological and ecological innovation. Leading companies in their respective sectors, including Geox, Kering, Urban Outfitters, and General Motors, shared valuable insights, highlighting the value of automation in B2B and B2C business processes to enhance overall efficiency and performance optimization.

Alessandro di Rita, Head of Engineering at Kering, stated: “Our long-standing strategic partnership with CMC has proven instrumental in achieving our sustainability goals. Thanks to on-demand packaging technology, we have significantly reduced emissions and improved production times, contributing to environmental preservation and achieving greater operational efficiency. CMC Packaging Automation ensures quality and aligns with our brand, providing maximum product protection during transportation. Our continued investment in this partnership showcases the trust we place in CMC to develop even more innovative and efficient solutions for the future”.

Alessandro de Marco, B2C Logistics Manager at Geox, commented: “The international and cross-cutting context in terms of product type and operational area provided an extraordinary opportunity, not only as a testimonial but also to realize that we are key players in addressing the current market and eco-sustainability challenges”.

Brian Horton, Supply Chain Director at Urban Outfitters stated: “It was great being able to share the journey of designing and launching our new highly automated facility that will leverage CMC Genesys. It was also great listening to other customers and industry colleagues regarding their current, but common challenges in the marketplace. My biggest takeaway was simply the reminder that the world’s resources are limited so the importance of Sustainability in packaging and subsequently all across the supply chain, must be a focal point moving forward”.

Francesco Ponti, CEO of CMC, said: “Through innovation and research, CMC Packaging Automation aims to become the global 3D packaging leader, with the ambitious goal of finding new solutions for sustainability. The success of CID23 confirms our ongoing commitment to meeting customer needs and driving innovation in the 3D packaging sector. We will continue to invest in our resources, expertise, and technologies to maintain our leadership position and offer increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. We are delighted with the attendance and the growing interest and awareness of the importance of our industry. The Innovation Day is a strategic event that cannot be missed”.

Pedro Godinho Ramos, Director of Global Impact at KKR, stated: “Days like CID are a testament to CMC’s ingenuity and pursuit of excellence in sustainability and customer service and are an occasion to celebrate all that our people have achieved. We are extremely grateful for the 150 partners that joined us and follow the journey and all there is to come”.

An innovation strategy rooted in sustainability, supported by numbers, as demonstrated by CMC’s inaugural Sustainability Report, exclusively presented during CID23, showcasing the company’s key accomplishments and future ESG objectives.

In this manner, CMC has raised the bar for innovation, positioning itself as a prominent player in the industry, with the aim of creating a more resilient and future-oriented sector. As part of the event, the complete range of on-demand packaging machines was unveiled, including the new Hybrid Advance and Envelope on-demand products. With this cutting-edge technology, CMC solidifies its position as the unrivaled leader in 3D packaging, capable of automating customized secondary packaging, whether it be boxes, bags, or envelopes.

Through these efforts, CMC remains dedicated to leading the way in innovation within the packaging industry, embracing sustainable solutions that align with global market needs. The CID23 presents an invaluable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and collectively shape the future of sustainable packaging and logistics alongside our customers.

Based in Città di Castello (PG), CMC Spa is a private company engaged in the design, production, and sale of innovative solutions and high-tech machinery for mailing, graphic art, e-commerce, and logistics. Founded in 1980, the company has dedicated itself to developing strategies that could transform it into the leading provider of technologies, services, components, and professional technical training. CMC has always been attentive to promptly respond to the changing market demands with creative projects and tailor-made solutions. With the exponential growth of e-commerce reshaping the shipping industry, CMC now assists retailers and logistics companies in optimizing the order fulfillment process and using sustainable, robust, highly personalized, and secure packaging through its popular and award-winning 3D packaging technology, which perfectly adapts to the content of the package.

First Fleet of Autonomous Carriers on Roads

Posted on by David Priestman

Clevon, a global autonomous delivery innovator, and Lithuania’s leading grocery chain IKI are bringing Europe’s first fleet of Autonomous Robot Carriers (ARCs) onto public roads. Three driverless carriers will offer daily commercial delivery services in the busy Vilnius city centre area and be operated by the last-mile transportation platform LastMile.

Orders will be collected at the IKI store on Mindaugas Street and delivered for free directly to customers’ homes in the city centre area. ARCs deliver the goods and have lockable compartments of different sizes, suitable for smaller and larger online grocery orders. The fleet of robots can deliver seven customer orders in a single run in the capital’s New Town and Old Town districts.

Neither congestion nor rain will interfere

Last year, LastMile and Clevon carried out a pilot project in the Vilnius suburban district of Balsiai – this was the first deployment of driverless delivery robots in Lithuania. In three months, the robot travelled around 2,000 km and showed good performance.

“The trial paid off with an overall score of 4.8 out of 5, and shoppers were keen to try the innovation. Meanwhile, we have seen that we can deliver goods even more efficiently and flexibly, with less environmental impact, thanks to electric motors. After a successful test, we are taking the next step – for the first time in Europe, as many as three autonomous carriers will be part of the traffic in city centre streets. We believe that these robots will give us a significant advantage in the delivery sector, as customers will receive their goods quickly, even in the city centre, and even during peak hours. Speed is becoming one of the most important criteria for shoppers when choosing a home delivery method – even 95% of our customers buy goods with delivery within a few hours,” says Tadas Norušaitis, CEO and co-founder of LastMile.

The pilot project also proved that robots can drive autonomously in a wide range of conditions – in the rain, on unpaved roads, in the snow, and in puddles after rain.

According to Nijolė Kvietkauskaitė, CEO of IKI Lietuva, the e-commerce market in Lithuania is very vibrant, so it is crucial always to be one step ahead. “Today’s shopper expects an even more seamless shopping experience – and we are helping to meet this expectation with bold technological innovations such as autonomous stores and autonomous cars that deliver purchases quickly, safely and conveniently. We can promise our shoppers that we will continue to lead the way in Lithuania by introducing retail innovations that will create an even better consumer experience,” said N. Kvietkauskaitė.

Clevon’s CEO, Sander Sebastian Agur, highlighted that the partnership with Rewe Group through IKI and LastMile is a major commercial achievement for Clevon: “Our team keeps proving that autonomous deliveries are here to stay, and we’re expanding our operations from single vehicles to fleets in Europe, the US, and in the Middle East region. Clevon was the first in Europe to get permission to operate driverless carriers on public roads in 2020. Now, we’re making history again by being the first to deploy a fleet of ARCs for commercial deliveries on Europe’s public roads, right here in Lithuania. This is just the beginning!”

Safety is a top priority

Starting on 27 June, the autonomous carriers will spend two months delivering shopping in a larger and much busier area than in the pilot project, driving through the streets of the capital’s city centre. To ensure maximum safety, the autonomous carriers will travel at a maximum speed of 25 km/h. They will be able to navigate the streets safely thanks to 360-degree cameras and special sensors. The carriers will be tele-supervised by teleoperators who monitor the driving in real-time.

On Tuesday, a public demo was carried out at the robotics launch event, where the autonomous carriers navigated a specially designed obstacle course without mistakes. The autonomous delivery will be completely free of charge. After ordering, customers will receive a text message telling them when the robot will arrive and a code that will unlock its door.

The LastMile platform currently has more than 300 000 registered users in Lithuania. They can choose products from more than 40 partner stores, with a total assortment of more than 30,000 products. Together with the start-up LastMile, the retail chain IKI is part of the international Rewe Group, which operates in 21 European countries and has around 380,000 employees. IKI has been operating in Lithuania since 1992. With 237 stores across Lithuania, IKI is one of the largest retail chains. It is one of the country’s largest employers, employing around 5,500 people.

Clevon introduced the next-generation autonomous robot carrier, CLEVON 1, as the first autonomous robot carrier in Europe to offer driverless delivery services on public roads, starting with DPD (part of LaPoste) and most recently working with customers including DHL Express Estonia in Tallinn, and IKI stores in Vilnius, Lithuania delivering groceries. On-demand delivery industries like grocery retailers, food and beverage businesses, and logistics providers partner with Clevon for safe, reliable, and customizable delivery solutions that are environmentally focused — all backed by a proven track record of 15 years of experience in robotics and automation technologies. In 2022, Clevon was founded after spinning off from Cleveron, the innovation leader in robotic click-and-collect solutions.

Smyths Toys Adopts right-size Auto-Packaging

Posted on by David Priestman

Leading toy retailer, Smyths Toys, has implemented Sparck Technologies’ advanced right-size auto-boxing packaging systems to boost throughput for its ecommerce business, installing three Sparck CVP machines at its distribution centre in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Sparck Technologies has provided Smyths Toys with three of its market-leading ‘fit-to-size’ CVP packaging systems – two CVP Impack machines, each capable of forming and sealing up to 500 tailor-made cardboard boxes per hour, along with its latest high-capacity model, the CVP Everest, which can create up to 1100 right-sized boxes every hour.

Smyths Toys has over 100 stores in the UK and a busy website offering an extensive range of toys for all ages, from baby and preschool products to outdoor items and gaming.

The introduction of Sparck Technologies’ CVP auto-boxing machines is part of a major investment into state-of-the-art warehouse automation at the toy retailer’s Corby fulfilment centre, aimed at increasing capacity and improving sustainability. The move will see over 70% of orders packed automatically by Sparck’s CVP machines,

Commenting on the decision to invest in high-speed fit-to-size packaging technology, Stephen Kearney, Warehouse Manager at Smyths Toys, says: “We believe in automation and have invested in advanced technologies where we can see it will bring significant results. We needed to increase throughput for our fast-growing online business and the most obvious means of achieving the performance required, particularly for peak, was to leverage the speed and efficiency of right-size packaging technology.

“Importantly, these packaging systems are highly flexible, capable of producing tailor-made packages at speed, whilst being able to cater for single or multi-item orders with differing product profiles,” he says. “We could also see how fit-to-size packaging would help us further improve our position on sustainability through optimising package size and removing the need for void fill. Sparck’s CVP technology offered us the flexible solution that we were looking for.”

To optimise throughput and minimise waste all three CVP machines supplied to Smyths Toys have dual induct stations and double corrugate feeders for 600 mm and 800 mm card. Advancing environmental performance, paper tape is used for sealing packages, aiding the recycling of cardboard. Installation of the three machines took place in October 2022 in readiness for peak season.

Jo Bradley, Business Development Manager for Sparck Technologies in the UK, says: “We are delighted to be working with one of Europe’s most respected toy retailers and we look forward to developing a close partnership with Smyths Toys, supporting its growth objectives for the future.”

With the capability to tailor-make up to 1,100 boxes per hour, for multiple or single item orders, the CVP Everest and CVP Impack packaging systems offer automated solutions for ecommerce operations challenged by increasing order volumes and growing demands for sustainable packaging solutions. With installations across Europe, the US and Canada, the CVP Automated Packaging Solutions effortlessly create, fill, fold and label each parcel in one seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill.

Sparck Technologies is a global leader in the design and fabrication of advanced, fit-to-size automated packaging systems for high-volume ecommerce applications – award-winning sustainable packaging solutions that eliminate excessive packaging. We aim to make every parcel our clients send out a brand ambassador for their business. Based in Drachten, The Netherlands, Sparck Technologies supplies some of the world’s largest retail and industrial brands, supporting their ecommerce channels in multiple geographies with market-leading engineering know-how that combines innovation, reliability and unbeatable performance.

November Deadline Awaits UK Exporters

Posted on by David Priestman

CNS, a digital trade solution company, is calling on freight forwarders and customs managers to use the summer months to prepare for the imminent transition in the UK Government’s customs declaration process.

There were huge challenges in October last year following the UK Government’s deadline for traders to move from its legacy CHIEF system to its new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for submitting import declarations. Now, CNS, a DP World company which develops digital solutions for the port and logistics sector, is urging traders to prepare themselves for 30 November 2023, when the same switch occurs for export declarations.

The challenges encountered last year have left many traders nervous about the new system, which requires additional data fields to complete an export declaration. However, CNS is advising traders to prepare themselves in advance of the deadline by testing the requirements on its specially designed CDS-compatible system.

Matthew Bradley, Managing Director at CNS emphasized the importance of adequate preparation, stating: “There are some issues like outages on the system that are impossible to prepare for, but there are a lot of issues traders are now aware of and various learnings from last year, which mean there are known steps that can and should be taken. Last year showed us that organisations that trained their staff and prepared through test environments before the deadline were far less impacted by the change in system. The broader industry should learn from this and start testing and preparing now. The repercussions of being unable to submit valid and compliant declarations include cargo delays, increased costs and frustration for customers and staff. However, affordable and user-friendly tools and solutions are readily available to help mitigate disruption. We would urge any traders dealing with export declarations to do their homework and be as prepared as they possibly can be.”

To assist traders in managing the transition and ongoing declaration submissions on the government’s CDS system, CNS developed its Customs Declarations Management System (CDMS) cloud-based solution. The solution streamlines the process of filing CDS-compliant export declarations, providing users with a secure and intuitive interface. The system is purpose-built for CDS and incorporates features to expedite data input, improve compliance, and guides users directly to the HMRC website to identify what data needs to be provided, saving input time and improving compliance.

Extensive system testing, both internally and externally, has been conducted since early 2022. In fact, the CNS product team recently celebrated 100,000 declarations through the system, demonstrating its scalability and reliability, and proving its positive impact on customer experience. Reducing the time spent on trial and error and resubmission is another critical factor. CDMS has been designed to only require the data that is needed for a specific declaration type and includes market-leading features to explain error codes in natural language.

For those users integrating their own systems with CDMS via the CDMS Application Programming Interface (API), CNS offers an instant update facility to validate commodity codes, ensuring accurate tax and duty rates, along with error diagnosis and other features.

“The feedback from customers is that our CDMS solution made their life a lot easier last October and they believe that we ultimately saved them time and money. We understand increased costs and slimming margins are always a key factor and we can’t protect against all eventualities. But the reassurance of knowing you are as prepared as you can be, may put end customers at ease and may even help you sleep better at night – which is something we think is pretty important in our extremely stressful industry,” Bradley concluded.

Nuremberg LogisticCity: Recycled Paper, not Plastic

Posted on by David Priestman

The LogisticCity in Nuremberg is the logistics centre of the Hoffmann Group, which was put into operation at the end of 2021. As a market-leading partner for quality tools, the company supplies over 135,000 customers worldwide. The increased output of the highly automated LogisticCity led to the evaluation in use of protective void fill cushioning materials. To meet the new requirements of the packaging process, Papier Sprick supplied the PaperJet cushioning system, a demand-oriented and efficient solution.

120,000 different catalogue items, 80 packing stations and up to 40,000 packages per day ‒ the LogisticCity presents complex demands on a packaging solution. Before the LogisticCity was built,
Hoffmann Group used foil cushions as padding material. Junior Project and Process Manager Jonas Karg remembers: “The topic of filling or cushioning material was a puzzle that had to be reassembled. From employees to upper management, everyone was involved in the project.”

Several impulses shifted the decision in the direction of recycled paper: The innovative idea behind the LogisticCity was to be carried forward in the area of sustainability. “The desire for a more eco-friendly packaging material was also expressed by customers,” says Karg. In addition, regulatory requirements for importing plastic foil to other countries influenced the decision-making process. At FACHPACK in September 2019, before the finalization of the LogisticCity, Hoffmann Group and Papier Sprick engaged in dialog for the first time.

The very next month, the first test setups were carried out at the established Nuremberg site, which were expanded into the building of LogisticCity in April 2020. Paper- and foil-based solutions from various manufacturers were put to the test in practice and evaluated by employees based on feedback sheets, among other criteria. Papier Sprick submitted the PaperJet, an extremely fast system for the production of paper cushions.

The test clearly highlighted the advantages of the PaperJet over the film solution and other paper-based materials. “Initial scepticism about the paper solution was quickly dispelled. The employees favoured the PaperJet and preferred to work at these stations,” says Michael Scholz, Team Leader Logistics Small Packaging.

Jörg Kaschny, Field Sales Manager of Papier Sprick’s, was on hand to advise from the start of the test phase. “This reliable service was very valuable for us,” says Karg. “With Mr. Kaschny, we have a single point of contact who takes care of all matters.” The test setups were accompanied by training sessions for packaging. Here, Kaschny informed the employees about cushioning and packing options, carton sizes and the workflow. Scholz emphasizes, “This gave our employees an understanding of the material and cushioning with paper.”

By integrating the PaperJet, the work process was comprehensively optimized. Today, a total of 80 machines are placed in the small and large packaging departments. In the small packaging
department, the PaperJet produces cushions in a dispenser at the packing table, while in the large packaging department, the employees remove the cushion directly from the machine. The central preproduction of foil cushions and subsequent distribution to the packing stations has thus been replaced.

“Packing is now much more versatile than before,” says Scholz. The freely selectable cushion lengths allow for precise void fill. “The short set-up time is a crucial point which makes the PaperJet so attractive. We currently change the material pallet per workstation about every 3 to 4 weeks. This means a considerable timesaving compared to the previous 1 to 2 roll changes of foil material per day,” says Karg. This is achieved thanks to the ComPackt endless pallet in space-saving fanfold format, which offers 7,600 meters of recycled paper in a small footprint. “For an ergonomic workplace, our in-house perforated plate was integrated into the container solutions on request, so that all necessary materials are placed directly and ergonomically within reach at the packing station,” adds Karg.

The Hoffmann Group does not only pursue the goal of sustainability in the selection of the cushioning material. “Every year, we generate 600 tons of paper waste, the majority of which comes from incoming goods,” explains Karg. Previously, the waste was collected in several presses, which were then picked up separately for disposal. Now the waste paper is pressed in the company’s own bailing compactor.

These bales can be used by Papier Sprick to produce more paper for the PaperJets used in the LogisticCity. This is done at the Papier Sprick paper mill in Diemelstadt and provided through the
regular material deliveries. The result of the cooperation between the Hoffmann Group and Papier Sprick is thus not only a modern, efficient packaging solution, but also a sustainable recycling
management.

Dexory Raises $19M for Warehouse Visibility

Posted on by David Priestman

Dexory has secured $19 million in Series A funding led by leading European VC firm Atomico, with participation from existing investors Lakestar, Kindred, Capnamic, and Maersk Growth, the investment arm of the global logistics and container shipping company, Maersk. As part of this investment Atomico Partner Ben Blume will join Dexory’s board of directors.

Addressing the urgent need for improved space utilisation and increased efficiencies in warehouses around the world, Dexory combines powerful analytics with autonomous robots capable of capturing rich image and sensor data from across a warehouse. This powerful combination provides comprehensive visibility across warehouses of any size, as well as connecting warehouses across the global supply chain through Dexory’s digital platform, DexoryView.

In the last few years, the combination of a boom in e-commerce, the global Covid-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine has sent unprecedented shocks through global supply chains. While the foundational systems that underpin cross-border production and trade have many interconnected moving parts – procurement, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, energy, tracking and distribution – this has been felt particularly acutely in warehouses, the ‘core’ of the supply chain, where goods are stored, sorted, and distributed.

“For those operating warehouses, ensuring 100% fulfilment ‘in time, all the time’ is crucial to meeting the demands of the modern consumer. A critical component to achieving this is high stock accuracy, but staff shortages, manual processes, and the speed demanded by customers means that critical decisions across the supply chain are currently being taken blindly,” said Dexory CEO and co-founder Andrei Danescu. “Technology that is autonomous, real-time, intuitive, and integrated can have a transformative effect on the everyday efficiency, productivity, and accuracy of a warehouse – and form an integral part of revamping businesses supply chain strategies”.

Rising costs, low supply of warehouse units combined with huge demand for goods, and a shortage of labour is putting extreme pressure on the sector to improve space utilisation and increase efficiencies.

Dexory, which is already integrated in leading distribution companies such as Maersk and Menzies Aviation, provides a platform which offers 360 degree visibility into customers’ warehouses, the beating heart of the supply chain. Manual processes often still dominate in these operations and global companies can have up to as many as 500 different warehouse management systems (WMS) running across thousands of their globally distributed warehouses at any one time. This means that expensive manual audits often take place on an infrequent basis, finding lost inventory takes days due to a lack of interoperability between WMS’, and a unified global view is impossible to achieve.

Dexory’s platform, DexoryView, can perform a full warehouse scan in just a matter of hours, around 100x faster than humans, giving customers an immediate view of the core hub in their supply chain. This gives customers enhanced inventory visibility, with DexoryView’s dashboard tracking detailed location of goods, allowing for the quick identification and location of items, accurate information on stock levels and locations, and better decision-making in warehouse operations.

And customers can also use DexoryView as a ‘digital twin’ replica of their warehouse to help not only manage, but get the most out of warehouse performance – allowing for the software to optimise, simulate and predict future scenarios. All of this frees up human workers to focus on more complex activities, leading to improved productivity, better resource allocation, and the ability to handle higher order volumes efficiently.

“For an operation as complex and sophisticated as running a modern warehouse, the current lack of an automated way to capture data about the physical space is a major pain point”, said Atomico Partner Ben Blume, “We’re hugely excited by the promise, and market traction, of Dexory’s technology with leading global logistics companies like Maersk and Menzies Aviation. Through creating a digital replica of the warehouse with their advanced robotic data capture technology, they are able to deploy a platform that is not only seamless and intuitive, but provides powerful and actionable insights too.”

This Series A funding round will be used for international expansion in key markets such as the US, and Central and Northern Europe, with aims to double Dexory’s workforce by the end of the year to support unit deployment functions and increased production. The funding will also be used to continue developing Dexory’s forecasting and simulation technology; as well as accelerating the production of its automated robots in its facility in the U.K.

In doing so, Dexory hopes to continue to embed accurate and real-time data into its customers’ supply chains, making it the new standard for the warehouse of the future.

Dexory was founded in 2015 by three founders, Andrei, Oana and Adrian (pictured), and is based in the UK. The founders are school friends from Romania, who moved to the UK a decade ago with experience accumulated across engineering and tech roles at Formula 1, Google, and IBM. Combining commercial nous with deep technical expertise, the three founders are now working together to help transform warehouse management practices worldwide.

Fastpick Live in State-of-the-art DC

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered its highly-automated FASTPICK solution to VF Corporation (VF), one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies. The goods-to-person (GtP) system, which incorporates innovative ADAPTO shuttle technology, has been installed in VF’s new state-of-the-art distribution centre (DC) in Ontario, California, and went operational this month.

VF selected Vanderlande to supply FASTPICK for the new DC because of the solution’s flexible and scalable design. It’s capable of delivering high-performance sequencing on a relatively small footprint, making it both an efficient and sustainable solution. The collaboration builds on a solid foundation, as the two companies have already successfully executed three warehousing projects in Europe.

The new facility is the largest and most efficient in VF’s global network of 46 DCs. With the capacity to ship 485,000 units per day, the DC provides more efficient services for the company’s own retail stores and wholesale customers, while fulfilling next day e-commerce orders for consumers in California, Nevada, Arizona and southern Utah. Initially the centre will service the Vans® and The North Face® brands, but will be capable of adding more brands from the VF portfolio in the future.

Vanderlande’s end-to-end solution covers all operations from receiving and storage, through to picking, packing and shipping. ADAPTO, Vanderlande’s shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), is central to the operation. The AS/RS supplies orders to the 28 ergonomically designed, height-adjustable GtP workstations, which are capable of handling 10,500 order lines per hour.

“We are proud to introduce VF’s largest and most efficient distribution centre to date,” says Cameron Bailey, VF’s Executive Vice President Global Supply Chain. “Servicing our consumers and customers is our number one focus. This facility allows us to get our products to our consumers faster using technologically advanced equipment, which results in reduced lead times and increased efficiency in meeting consumer demand.”

“We’re delighted to partner with VF to implement our market-leading, future-proof automated warehouse solutions,” says Francisco Moreno Velo, Vanderlande’s President of Warehouse Solutions North America. “FASTPICK’s flexibility will help the company meet customer demand across all sectors – wholesale, retail and e-commerce – while providing an ergonomic working environment for its operators.”

First Rijeka-Budapest Open Rail Service

Posted on by David Priestman

A new regular common user open rail train service has been launched by Rail Cargo Group (RCG) linking the Croatian port of Rijeka, via the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT), to Budapest in Hungary.

Whilst many rail services operate between Rijeka and Budapest, these are generally dedicated to individual clients. The new rail service is a common user service which enables freight forwarders and individual clients to book the landside service directly with RCG.

“The Hungarian market is one of the most important markets in Europe and the second largest market for AGCT. Already a significant manufacturing hub and consumer market, we see further growth potential as the Hungarian economy continues its strong development,” said Emmanuel Papagiannakis, AGCT chief executive officer.

He added: “Currently, there are multiple regular weekly block trains between Rijeka and different rail hubs in Budapest, Hungary, but all are dedicated rail services. We appreciate that the Rail Cargo Group has launched this initiative that adds a common rail service not just directly to BILK terminal in Budapest, but from Budapest connecting to the entire TransFER intermodal network all over Europe. There is immediate potential for Austria, Czechia, Romania and Slovakia. This initiative confirms the growing significance of AGCT as a gateway for Southern, Central and Southeastern Europe.”

“Comparing rail and road emissions, it is also important to note that 24 kilos of CO2 emissions are saved per ton freight, which is transported by rail instead of by truck. Our current rail-road split is 47 percent, and we aim to grow it further,” Papagiannakis further explained.

The common rail service runs two times per week at a fixed timetable. It offers a direct connection without stopovers from Budapest and Rijeka and vice versa at attractive transit times. The rail service is operated by RCG and its subsidiaries in Hungary and Croatia.

In March 2011, ICTSI forged a 30-year strategic partnership with Luka Rijeka D.D. for the operation, management, and development of Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (AGCT) at the Port of Rijeka, Croatia’s main seaport.

Schaeffler Chooses Software for Intralogistics Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

The leading automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler engages German software scale-up SYNAOS as a global digitalization partner in the
field of intralogistics. The two companies announced their cooperation yesterday at the “Forum Automobil Logistik” in Herzogenaurach.

In 2023, the SYNAOS Intralogistics Management Platform (IMP) will be implemented in six projects within the global Schaeffler Group in France, Germany, and Hungary – two of which are already live. The software solution by SYNAOS monitors, controls, and optimizes intralogistics processes such as transportation with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) from various manufacturers.

The SYNAOS IMP is ideally suited for handling complex intralogistics processes and enables worldwide scalability through the cloud. The SaaS solution grows with the dynamic requirements of the customers. Among Schaeffler’s key selection criteria for a central fleet control centre was the hardware-independent, technically mature design of the SYNAOS IMP and its versatile applications with secure scalability – such as deploying mobile robots across multiple locations without the need for local server capacity.

The SYNAOS IMP offers an immediately deployable solution for optimizing processes in intralogistics at Schaeffler’s global locations. The VDA 5050 communication standard used by Schaeffler is also available through a corresponding interface, with multi-version support integrated. SYNAOS has already successfully implemented two pilot projects at Schaeffler sites in Homburg (Germany) and Haguenau (France).

Roberto Henkel, Senior Vice President Digitalization & Operations IT at Schaeffler, says, “AGVs are an important part of Schaeffler’s intralogistics automation. We are pleased to have SYNAOS as a partner to further accelerate the global rollout of our fleet.” Within Schaeffler’s production, the number of AGVs as well as autonomous mobile robots will significantly increase in the coming years. For the automotive and industrial supplier, digitalization is a key topic in the company’s Roadmap 2025 and the basis for sustainable business success.

Wolfgang Hackenberg (pictured), Founder and CEO of SYNAOS, says, “Our highly collaborative partnership with Schaeffler is strong evidence of the maturity of the automation and mobile robotics market. The entire market is currently experiencing a breakthrough in automation and mobile robotics. We are witnessing a technology push. The global cooperation with Schaeffler is a prime example of how to establish oneself for the scaling of mobile robots in intralogistics, from less complex scenarios to global rollouts. This is achieved with our solution, which is 100%
cloud-based and where only the vehicles utilized by the customer are billed.”

In the coming year, the SYNAOS IMP is set to be deployed at additional Schaeffler locations in Europe, North America, and China.

Sports Retailer Relies on Efficient WMS

Posted on by David Priestman

The international distributor of sportswear and equipment Sportisimo s.r.o. is launching the Warehouse Management System PSIwms and the Material Flow Control PSImfc from PSI. With a focus on the agile implementation method, the order was placed directly via the PSI App Store.

PSIwms includes extensive functions for handling the logistics processes in the Sportisimo’s distribution centre located in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It takes into account the specifics of both the e-commerce market and stationary retail. The preconfigured Omnichannel release enables efficient implementation and flexible customization and will support the Omnichannel processes as well as a proprietary system. The launch of the first, pilot phase was scheduled for January 2023 and has been completed on time.

PSI Polska is also responsible for the delivery of the Material Flow Control System PSImfc to manage the miniload automated small parts warehouse with 11 aisles and with a capacity of over 300,000 cartons and over 6,000 meters of conveying systems. The project also includes the development of complex batching needed to orchestrate automation of picking process.

“With the solution from PSI, we have the opportunity to optimize our automated warehouse and meet our business needs”, explains Paweł Waler Supply Chain Director at Sportisimo. He adds: “PSI convinced us with the implementation time and the leap in efficiency in all logistics processes. In addition, the agile implementation method offers cost distribution over time as well as flexible software development.

Aliaksei Siparau, Board advisor and former CFO/COO complements at Sportisimo: “Right from the beginning of the project, PSI was able to deliver the running real prototypes which we could use for testing to speed up production deployment significantly. All lightning fast, including automation interfaces. In the first quarter of 2023 PSI has already delivered the solution for the miniload and Pick Tower and we are really glad about the results”.

Sportisimo is a European retail company and one of the leading distributors of sports apparel and equipment from the world’s most popular sports brands. In addition to online sales in 25 countries, the retailer runs over 200 brick-and-mortar stores in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.

With over 400 employees in Poland, PSI Polska already counts renowned retail chain companies such as LPP, CCC and Empik among its customers. Moreover, PSIwms replaced the previous warehousing systems at Empik, CCC and Asmet.

The PSI Group develops its own software products for optimizing the flow of energy and materials for utilities (energy grids, energy trading, public transport) and industry (metals production, automotive, mechanical engineering, logistics). The industry-specific products, which are built from standard components, are sold both directly and via the cloud-based PSI App Store and can also be customized by customers and partners themselves. PSI was founded in 1969 and employs more than 2,200 people worldwide.

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