17 July, 2023

Flower Shipments Surge in Wedding Season

Posted on 17 July, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

As it warms up in the Northern Hemisphere, Emirates SkyCargo is scaling up its cool chain capacity for perishables, preparing for a busy summer season of weddings and outdoor events. As the demand for decorative floral arrangements increases, May 2023 saw Emirates SkyCargo transport 3,590 tonnes of time- and temperature-sensitive fresh cut flowers, a 20% rise from the same period last year.

Ecuador and Kenya are the top two export origin locations; Ecuador in particular has experienced a steady rise in flower trade in recent years, increasing its exports with Emirates SkyCargo by 21% in May this year, compared to 2022. The Netherlands, a country that plays a major role in the world’s flower trade, remains in both the top three export origins and import locations. Other key import locations for this commodity include the UAE and Australia, with Saudi Arabia rounding out the top four.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President – Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo, said, “We are seeing an increased demand for fresh flowers as the wedding season in the Northern Hemisphere reaches its peak, and a corresponding spike in demand for logistics capabilities to protect perishables. Leveraging our industry-leading temperature-controlled technology, facilities, equipment and expert personnel, Emirates Fresh continues to offer our global customers reliable freshness, whether it’s beautiful blooms for that special day or fresh produce for the garden barbeque. With 500 to 600 tonnes of perishables transported on Emirates SkyCargo flights every day, we are proud to be the partner of choice that connects the global agriculture community with their customers all over the world.”

22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month

Perishables are the carrier’s largest business by tonnage carried, uplifting an average of 22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month. Ranging from freshly picked mangoes from Pakistan, to salmon from Norway and brilliant blooms from Kenya, Emirates SkyCargo transports goods rapidly and efficiently across its global network of over 140 destinations.

Fresh cut flowers dominate as the leading perishable category transported by SkyCargo with chilled meat and fresh fruits rounding out the top three perishable product categories, as air cargo enables temperate-safe and rapid transit from farm to shop in as little as 24-48 hours.

Door-to-door cool chain delivered at scale via Dubai

As temperatures rise and summer produce is harvested, cool chain logistics play an essential role in keeping high-demand perishable produce fresh and high quality for consumers worldwide.

Emirates’ dedicated cool-chain handling capabilities have been developed with a focus on fast connection times and high-quality transfers. Its dual airport hub in Dubai is world’s largest and most technologically advanced cargo handling facility, offering a three-hour, air-to-air transfer service. Handling over 8,000 shipments per day, the facility has over 15,000m² of dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive goods, including perishables.

Uniquely positioned between east and west, approximately 1/3 of the world’s population can be served from Dubai within a 4-hour flight range. Emirates’ vast network of destinations, meanwhile, also give customers the choice of multiple flights per day to many locations across both freighter and passenger aircraft belly-hold capacity.

Emirates Fresh, SkyCargo’s perishable-oriented service offers three different options for customers to choose the appropriate level of temperature protection for their cargo. This ranges from produce with a higher tolerance for temperature fluctuations, to high-end perishables that require active cool dollies for ramp protection. Customers can track and trace their shipments and view temperature monitoring data online at every step, as well as make short-notice direct bookings, thanks to SkyCargo’s ecommerce platform.

Mapping Audit Reduces Facility Noise

Posted on 17 July, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Dematic has just launched its Noise Reduction portfolio worldwide, a comprehensive set of solutions to address loud work environments across supply chain facilities. The offering includes before and after 3D noise mapping audits throughout a facility, enhanced rollers, slats, and belt conveyors that can reduce noises at their source by up to 15 decibels.

“The well-being of our customers and their employees is a high priority that includes protecting hearing when working in loud environments like distribution centres,” says Andy Randles, senior director, Global Lifecycle Support. “By implementing this portfolio of technology, our customers can take the noise levels down in their facilities from a concert hall to a classroom chat. It’s a huge step forward in improving work environments.”

To diagnose noise levels, Dematic uses 3D noise mapping to conduct on-site testing at customer facilities that visually identifies acoustic hazards, similar to the way a heatmap identifies temperature hazards. Dematic then builds a noise model to simulate how upgrading equipment would reduce noise levels. The company recommends upgrades and installs quiet rollers, slats and conveyors as needed. Dematic conducts a second test after installation to demonstrate the difference before and after the upgrade was made.

“We’re proud to provide such a comprehensive noise reduction portfolio,” says Randles. “Reducing noise levels in facilities is not only meaningful for worker health and safety, but also to job satisfaction. We’ve heard from customers that morale and productivity among workers goes up when noise levels are lower.”

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), approximately 22 million workers in the US are exposed to noise loud enough to damage their hearing each year. Similarly, studies in Europe have found up to 30 million workers are exposed to occupational noise that endangers their hearing. Results of research studies like these, underscore the importance of furthering technology and solutions that protect worker hearing and improve safety.

The new portfolio continues Dematic’s focus on reducing noise levels in customer facilities so workers can better communicate and hear safety sounds. In 2022, Dematic introduced new noise reduction features on its linear sorter that included quiet shoes, merge wedges and slider belts.

Dematic designs, builds, and supports intelligent automated solutions empowering and sustaining the future of commerce for its customers in manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. With research and development engineering centres, manufacturing facilities, and service centres located in more than 35 countries, the Dematic global network of over 11,000 employees has helped achieve successful customer installations for some of the world’s leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions.

Humber Freeport Aims to Generate Investment

Posted on 17 July, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Humber Freeport in the UK has launched with a mission to drive hundreds of millions of pounds of investment. The freeport will attempt to harness the unique potential and location of the Humber to stimulate economic growth, skills development and inward investment in both established and emerging industries.

Huge opportunities for investment in the logistics, advanced manufacturing, chemicals, technology and renewable energy industries have already been identified.

Humber Freeport was officially launched at a VIP event at Associated British Ports’ Pump House at Hull’s Alexandra Dock. The event, attended by leading figures from the public and private sectors, marked the establishment of the Humber Freeport Company Ltd.

Speaking at the event, Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird said: “The Humber Freeport has an outstanding and potentially unique opportunity to be not merely a source for economic growth, but the primary vehicle for the delivery of the Government’s levelling up agenda in the Humber. The Freeport will seek to secure hundreds of millions of pounds of private sector investment and the final business case conservatively estimates that such investment will create at least 7,000 new, mostly skilled, jobs. This investment will have a transformative effect in lifting the prospects of the region.”

Bird outlined the benefits freeport status brings to companies investing in the tax and customs sites within the Freeport footprint on both banks of the Humber Estuary. Humber Freeport comprises of three defined tax sites – Hull East; Able Marine Energy Park and Immingham, on the south bank of the Humber; and Goole – each of which offers incentives for businesses operating within the zones.

Benefits include land tax relief, business rate relief, enhanced capital allowances and National Insurance contribution relief for employers. Bird said investors also benefit from, “assumed permitted development rights to speed up the planning process” and that “when added to being adjacent to high-quality port operations, the offer becomes even more appealing.”

He was joined as a speaker at the launch event by Michael Green, Head of Freeports at the Department for Business and Trade. Green added, “Freeports represent a generational shift. Inward investment is hugely important for job creation and regeneration and we are looking to build on the UK’s centres of excellence with targeted Government support.”

Bathroom Retailer Opts for Fulfilment Solution

Posted on 17 July, 20237 August, 2025 by Keith McKinley

Deposco, the omnichannel fulfilment supply chain solutions platform for brand owners, retailers, ecommerce, and 3PL companies, has signed Easy Bathrooms as a new customer.

Easy Bathrooms is on a steep growth path in the UK. With 135 stores in action today and a further 65 set to open soon, the company needed a fulfilment solution that could keep up with its plans for rapid expansion. Deposco’s end-to-end omnichannel planning and fulfilment solution was the perfect fit.

The Deposco solution will help Easy Bathrooms manage its 350,000 square foot warehouse more efficiently, provide an accurate, real-time view of inventory to quickly satisfy customer orders, and remove a raft of manual processes across the business.

“We chose to work with Deposco because they understand our business and demonstrated the knowledge to support our growth objectives,” said Craig Waddington, Founder and CEO of Easy Bathrooms. ”The Deposco solution will give us the control, visibility and accuracy we need to continue to deliver a great customer experience, through enabling our warehouse to operate more efficiently. This will free us to focus on growing the Easy Bathrooms retail footprint.”

The roll-out of the Deposco solution at Easy Bathrooms is set to be completed within a 90-day timeframe. Once fully implemented, the Deposco solution is expected to prove to be a vehicle to grow the business and make products available to customers at optimum price and availability levels.

Easy Bathrooms will initially deploy one element of the overall Deposco solution, its Warehouse Management System (WMS), ready for peak season trading later this year. Over the medium term, Easy Bathrooms and Deposco plan to work together to achieve complete visibility of inventory and generate management information across the operation before going on to drive further operational benefits.

Longer term, Easy Bathrooms is looking for the Deposco solution to help them assimilate new stores into their portfolio; expand their product range; and launch new channels to market to better serve new business opportunities.

Will Lovatt, Vice President and General Manager, Europe at Deposco said: “We are proud to be supporting Easy Bathrooms on their journey to becoming the UK’s premier bathroom retailer. Their energy and drive to deliver fabulous results are well matched to the culture at Deposco. We’re loving the opportunity to innovate together to fulfil orders for a greater number of new Easy Bathrooms customers as effectively as possible.”

Deposco’s Bright Suite of omnichannel fulfilment supply chain applications is how fast-growing companies rapidly scale their warehouse management and order management operations. So, they can see what inventory they’ve got, where it is, and where to position it to fulfill demand when It’s Grow Time™. It’s the only solution that provides this much actionable insight into both your supply chain and the broader marketplace. Streamlined into One Solution, One Focus, One Team.

TecPlata Welcomes ZIM’s Patagonia Express

Posted on 17 July, 2023 by Keith McKinley

TecPlata, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) cargo handling operations at the La Plata Port adjacent to Buenos Aires in Argentina, received the inaugural call of Zim Integrated Shipping Services’ (ZIM) Patagonia Express Service (PES) that connects Argentinian trade to the United States and the Caribbean Gulf, among other destinations.

ZIM’s newly launched service links Argentina to the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast through the ports of Kingston, a major Caribbean hub, and Houston in the Gulf of Mexico. The service marked its inaugural call at TecPlata with the arrival of the 1,000-TEU boxship Contship Key, and with its present network set up, is expected to call TecPlata every 45 days. The maritime service from La Plata to Kingston and Houston provides a reliable and efficient connection for Argentinian foreign trade, offering commercial opportunities that promote economic growth in the region.

“We are pleased to receive the Contship Key at TecPlata and start this new connection with the North American gulf coast. This strategic alliance with ZIM enables us to offer new services and logistics distribution to our clients. We are confident that this service will strengthen TecPlata’s position as a strategic trade port on the East Coast of South America,” said Juan Pablo Trujillo, TecPlata chief executive officer.

TecPlata takes great pride in delivering new opportunities to clients through this service, which takes advantage of the terminal’s modern port infrastructure and world-class standard of operation. ZIM’s arrival in TecPlata further expands the connectivity of La Plata beyond the Latin America region.

In October 2008, TecPlata S.A. was granted a 30-year concession to build and operate an all-purpose port terminal in the greater Buenos Aires area in Argentina by the Consorcio de Gestion del Puerto La Plata. Built with an investment of US$450 million, TecPlata is Argentina’s most modern container terminal with an initial capacity of 450,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) capacity, and capable of being extended of up to 1 million TEUs in the second phase.

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