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Month: September 2023

World’s First Autonomous Sideloader

Posted on by David Priestman

Irish materials handling manufacturer Combilift has launched its first autonomous vehicle at the annual Fabtech trade show. Developed by Combilift’s dedicated automation team, the Combi-AGT is a 4-wheel electric stand-on model, which is the world’s first autonomous dual operational sideloader for long loads.

Celebrating 25 years in business, Combilift is acknowledged as being at the forefront of innovation in the global material handling sector with its wide range of customised products, and the Combi-AGT harnesses the very latest smart technology to meet customer demands for driverless sideloader capability. These were driven in part by safety to eliminate the presence of personnel in aisles, consistency in handling procedures and to maximise order fulfilment, while also having a backup manual mode in case of power outages or internet disruptions.

Combilift’s automation team has spent 3 years liaising with specialist steel suppliers to identify the best specifications for the Combi-AGT. The new model, with a lift capacity of 5,000kg/11,000lbs and various lift heights, addresses the requirements of steel service centres and the metal industries, which typically handle long loads. Combilift worked in tandem with IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research) during the development process to enable seamless integration with multiple client warehouse management systems.

Irish materials handling manufacturer Combilift has launched its first autonomous vehicle at the annual Fabtech trade show. Developed by Combilift’s dedicated automation team, the Combi-AGT is a 4-wheel electric stand-on model, which is the world’s first autonomous dual operational sideloader for long loads.

Its design is based on the electric manually operated Combi-GTE model which has long been a very popular choice for service centres due to its ability to work efficiently in rail guided narrow aisles. The first Combi-AGT unit was supplied to Kansas based Steel and Pipe Supply 18 months ago, and since then Combilift have collaborated with a number of leading metal service centres across North America during the development process.

The laser-based sensors, fitted at various positions on the chassis, constitute an anti-collision safety system, as required by the American National Standards Institute. If the machine senses an obstacle or pedestrian that has entered its path, it automatically slows down and will, if necessary, stop in cases of emergency, it will then continue to drive automatically when the obstacle has cleared its safety sensor area. The enhanced adaptive safety system enables the size of the obstacle detection fields to increase or decrease as per the steer angle and speed of the truck.

The natural feature navigation system is superior to traditional methods of truck navigation based on wire guidance or artificial landmarks such as reflectors. Instead, it uses the naturally occurring features in a warehouse – walls, racking and columns for example, avoiding the need to add to or change the warehouse infrastructure.

Its newly developed load dimension detection system (patent pending) operates by performing a laser scan of the load to check that its length matches the task sent to the machine. Similarly, when unloading, it checks that the rack in front has sufficient free space to accept the load.

Combilift CEO and Co-founder Martin McVicar said: “We have deliberately not rushed into incorporating autonomous products into our portfolio. As with any new launch we have carried out extensive field tests to make sure it is fit for purpose by liaising with a number of leading customers in the metal service industry during the product development stage. We are fortunate to have a very motivated group within our autonomous team of software and mechatronics engineers who are committed to scaling this business unit. The Combi-AGT signals a new milestone in product development with further expansion of our autonomous range in the pipeline.”

In 1998 Combilift originally made history with its world-first multidirectional C4000 3-wheel, all-wheel drive forklift. 25 years on the company is still challenging the market and the Combi-AGT is no exception.

World’s First Autonomous Sideloader

Posted on by David Priestman

Irish materials handling manufacturer Combilift has launched its first autonomous vehicle at the annual Fabtech trade show. Developed by Combilift’s dedicated automation team, the Combi-AGT is a 4-wheel electric stand-on model, which is the world’s first autonomous dual operational sideloader for long loads.

Celebrating 25 years in business, Combilift is acknowledged as being at the forefront of innovation in the global material handling sector with its wide range of customised products, and the Combi-AGT harnesses the very latest smart technology to meet customer demands for driverless sideloader capability. These were driven in part by safety to eliminate the presence of personnel in aisles, consistency in handling procedures and to maximise order fulfilment, while also having a backup manual mode in case of power outages or internet disruptions.

Combilift’s automation team has spent 3 years liaising with specialist steel suppliers to identify the best specifications for the Combi-AGT. The new model, with a lift capacity of 5,000kg/11,000lbs and various lift heights, addresses the requirements of steel service centres and the metal industries, which typically handle long loads. Combilift worked in tandem with IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research) during the development process to enable seamless integration with multiple client warehouse management systems.

Irish materials handling manufacturer Combilift has launched its first autonomous vehicle at the annual Fabtech trade show. Developed by Combilift’s dedicated automation team, the Combi-AGT is a 4-wheel electric stand-on model, which is the world’s first autonomous dual operational sideloader for long loads.

Its design is based on the electric manually operated Combi-GTE model which has long been a very popular choice for service centres due to its ability to work efficiently in rail guided narrow aisles. The first Combi-AGT unit was supplied to Kansas based Steel and Pipe Supply 18 months ago, and since then Combilift have collaborated with a number of leading metal service centres across North America during the development process.

The laser-based sensors, fitted at various positions on the chassis, constitute an anti-collision safety system, as required by the American National Standards Institute. If the machine senses an obstacle or pedestrian that has entered its path, it automatically slows down and will, if necessary, stop in cases of emergency, it will then continue to drive automatically when the obstacle has cleared its safety sensor area. The enhanced adaptive safety system enables the size of the obstacle detection fields to increase or decrease as per the steer angle and speed of the truck.

The natural feature navigation system is superior to traditional methods of truck navigation based on wire guidance or artificial landmarks such as reflectors. Instead, it uses the naturally occurring features in a warehouse – walls, racking and columns for example, avoiding the need to add to or change the warehouse infrastructure.

Its newly developed load dimension detection system (patent pending) operates by performing a laser scan of the load to check that its length matches the task sent to the machine. Similarly, when unloading, it checks that the rack in front has sufficient free space to accept the load.

Combilift CEO and Co-founder Martin McVicar said: “We have deliberately not rushed into incorporating autonomous products into our portfolio. As with any new launch we have carried out extensive field tests to make sure it is fit for purpose by liaising with a number of leading customers in the metal service industry during the product development stage. We are fortunate to have a very motivated group within our autonomous team of software and mechatronics engineers who are committed to scaling this business unit. The Combi-AGT signals a new milestone in product development with further expansion of our autonomous range in the pipeline.”

In 1998 Combilift originally made history with its world-first multidirectional C4000 3-wheel, all-wheel drive forklift. 25 years on the company is still challenging the market and the Combi-AGT is no exception.

Emons Group Celebrates its 80th Anniversary

Posted on by David Priestman

Emons Group BV, a third party logistics provider based in the Netherlands, will celebrate its 80th anniversary on September 15th, at the event location Inspyrium in Cuijk. The event, called ‘Futuring Emons’, will be attended by customers and partners; an opportunity to look ahead into the future of logistics in general and the Emons Group in particular.

The topics that will be discussed include the use of AI in the logistics sector, the financial aspects of logistics, sustainability, and the approach of continuous learning to enhance drivers’ professionalism, and will end with a networking drink and a walking dinner.

Keynote speakers will be, among others, Jan Peter Balkenende (former Dutch prime minister), Robert Doornbos (former Formula One racing driver for the Red Bull team), and Rob van den Biggelaar (ING Sector Banking).

“Over the past 80 years, we have grown from a small family-owned business to a leading international freight company. Now, we are proud to celebrate this milestone. With this event, we want to express our gratitude to our customers, partners and employees for their support and share with them our vision for the future of the company. Without losing sight of the past, because our roots are the foundation on which these 80 years of success have been built, we are more than ready to step into the future and cover new, alternative routes,” said Daan Emons, CEO.

Founded in 1943, the Emons Group, headquartered in Milsbeek with 600 employees, has grown into a leading international company with locations in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The company includes three branches: Van Huët, Emons Cargo | 2WIN, and Hofmans respectively specializing in glass, general cargo, and champost logistics and recycling.

Emons Group Celebrates its 80th Anniversary

Posted on by David Priestman

Emons Group BV, a third party logistics provider based in the Netherlands, will celebrate its 80th anniversary on September 15th, at the event location Inspyrium in Cuijk. The event, called ‘Futuring Emons’, will be attended by customers and partners; an opportunity to look ahead into the future of logistics in general and the Emons Group in particular.

The topics that will be discussed include the use of AI in the logistics sector, the financial aspects of logistics, sustainability, and the approach of continuous learning to enhance drivers’ professionalism, and will end with a networking drink and a walking dinner.

Keynote speakers will be, among others, Jan Peter Balkenende (former Dutch prime minister), Robert Doornbos (former Formula One racing driver for the Red Bull team), and Rob van den Biggelaar (ING Sector Banking).

“Over the past 80 years, we have grown from a small family-owned business to a leading international freight company. Now, we are proud to celebrate this milestone. With this event, we want to express our gratitude to our customers, partners and employees for their support and share with them our vision for the future of the company. Without losing sight of the past, because our roots are the foundation on which these 80 years of success have been built, we are more than ready to step into the future and cover new, alternative routes,” said Daan Emons, CEO.

Founded in 1943, the Emons Group, headquartered in Milsbeek with 600 employees, has grown into a leading international company with locations in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The company includes three branches: Van Huët, Emons Cargo | 2WIN, and Hofmans respectively specializing in glass, general cargo, and champost logistics and recycling.

Partnership for Europe-wide Additional Transport

Posted on by David Priestman

DPD Germany and Berlin-based LogTech company InstaFreight are entering into a strategic transport partnership. The aim is to further digitalise and optimize the purchasing and management of additional capacity in the DPD full truckload network. By using the platform, the transport process becomes more transparent and efficient, enabling DPD customers to use transport capacities in the DPD network even more quickly and flexibly.

The InstaFreight platform bundles freight space from a total of over 25,000 qualified carriers. In partnership with DPD InstaFreight acts as a cost-neutral Fourth Party Logistics Provider (4PL). In doing so, the company makes its platform and operational know-how available to DPD for the purchase and management of additional transport in the full load network. In a pilot project lasting around a year in northern Germany DPD has already multiplied its carrier base with InstaFreight, further increasing both the reliability and flexibility of the DPD network. During the freight space search, the best offer for the desired route is now selected and the transport order is transferred directly to the respective carrier via the platform. In the pilot phase alone several thousand full load transports were awarded in this way. In the meantime, all DPD’s national and Europe-wide additional transports are orchestrated via the platform.

InstaFreight is the leading digital logistics company for land transportation in Europe, operating on a single platform as both a 3PL (Third Party logistics provider) and as a cost-neutral 4PL operator through its Transport Management service. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Berlin, the company handles several thousand Full Truckload (FTL), Less Than Truckload (LTL), and Less Than Container load (LCL) shipments on a weekly basis. InstaFreight’s business model grants shippers access to freight capacity that would otherwise be challenging to secure at this scale. The technology employed by InstaFreight digitizes and automates the execution of transportation, resulting in efficiency and transparency advantages throughout the transportation process.

Besides noticeable cost reduction, InstaFreight and DPD have jointly digitized the process steps related to partner management. The digital coordination of the haulage companies also simplifies daily work processes and supports resource-saving road freight transport by avoiding empty runs.

“After the successful pilot phase and the Germany-wide rollout we are looking forward to the long-term cooperation with InstaFreight. This will enable us to handle our purchasing and the provision of additional capacity even faster, more transparently and more efficiently in these difficult global economic times,” explains Simon Nissen, Director Network Planning & Optimisation at DPD Germany.

“Being able to offer an experienced organization like DPD a variety of benefits in the purchasing and management of transport capacities fills us with pride. DPD Germany is an important anchor customer for us, with whom we have jointly developed and piloted our solution for spot FTL shipments. This freight cost-neutral 4PL solution will also be available to other shippers in the future,” says Maximilian Schaefer, Managing Director and Co-Founder of InstaFreight.

Partnership for Europe-wide Additional Transport

Posted on by David Priestman

DPD Germany and Berlin-based LogTech company InstaFreight are entering into a strategic transport partnership. The aim is to further digitalise and optimize the purchasing and management of additional capacity in the DPD full truckload network. By using the platform, the transport process becomes more transparent and efficient, enabling DPD customers to use transport capacities in the DPD network even more quickly and flexibly.

The InstaFreight platform bundles freight space from a total of over 25,000 qualified carriers. In partnership with DPD InstaFreight acts as a cost-neutral Fourth Party Logistics Provider (4PL). In doing so, the company makes its platform and operational know-how available to DPD for the purchase and management of additional transport in the full load network. In a pilot project lasting around a year in northern Germany DPD has already multiplied its carrier base with InstaFreight, further increasing both the reliability and flexibility of the DPD network. During the freight space search, the best offer for the desired route is now selected and the transport order is transferred directly to the respective carrier via the platform. In the pilot phase alone several thousand full load transports were awarded in this way. In the meantime, all DPD’s national and Europe-wide additional transports are orchestrated via the platform.

InstaFreight is the leading digital logistics company for land transportation in Europe, operating on a single platform as both a 3PL (Third Party logistics provider) and as a cost-neutral 4PL operator through its Transport Management service. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Berlin, the company handles several thousand Full Truckload (FTL), Less Than Truckload (LTL), and Less Than Container load (LCL) shipments on a weekly basis. InstaFreight’s business model grants shippers access to freight capacity that would otherwise be challenging to secure at this scale. The technology employed by InstaFreight digitizes and automates the execution of transportation, resulting in efficiency and transparency advantages throughout the transportation process.

Besides noticeable cost reduction, InstaFreight and DPD have jointly digitized the process steps related to partner management. The digital coordination of the haulage companies also simplifies daily work processes and supports resource-saving road freight transport by avoiding empty runs.

“After the successful pilot phase and the Germany-wide rollout we are looking forward to the long-term cooperation with InstaFreight. This will enable us to handle our purchasing and the provision of additional capacity even faster, more transparently and more efficiently in these difficult global economic times,” explains Simon Nissen, Director Network Planning & Optimisation at DPD Germany.

“Being able to offer an experienced organization like DPD a variety of benefits in the purchasing and management of transport capacities fills us with pride. DPD Germany is an important anchor customer for us, with whom we have jointly developed and piloted our solution for spot FTL shipments. This freight cost-neutral 4PL solution will also be available to other shippers in the future,” says Maximilian Schaefer, Managing Director and Co-Founder of InstaFreight.

Pets at Home Line Marking at New DC

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Pets at Home selected inotec UK for an important contract to complete the line marking, infill walkways and floor painted meeting areas of their new 670,000 sq.ft fulfilment centre in Staffordshire,  UK. This is a significant investment for Pets at Home, one of the UK’s leading pet care businesses. Located on a 70 acre site at Stafford North Business Park, this modern, purpose built fulfilment centre centralises distribution for the company by combining three warehouses into one superhub. For distribution purposes, it occupies an ideal geographic location close to Junction 14 of the M6.

The Stafford DC is highly automated. It has been designed to support future growth for Pets at Home and maximise the company’s omnichannel capabilities. More than 800 people will be employed at the site, sustaining local jobs in the area.

An innovative partner

Ben Ainsworth, Site Services Contract Manager for Pets at Home, was responsible for awarding inotec the line marking project. He explains, “I first saw inotec at a trade show about seven years’ ago and I thought it was an innovative company. I was impressed with the way they use an ultra violet clear topcoat which is cured on top of the line marking paint. This process makes a massive difference, enabling the finished surface to be very hardwearing to withstand even heavy traffic conditions.

“Initially I asked inotec to complete a line marking contract for us at the Pets at Home DC in Stoke on Trent. This was six years ago and it was quite an expensive outlay at the time, but it still looks good today and we’re not having to redo it every six months. They also helped me out at another facility where I’d used a local company to put down some line marking which hadn’t lasted five minutes. Julian Rushbrook from inotec gave me a quote and quickly sorted it out.”

Highly effective teamwork

Ainsworth continues, “For this much larger project at Stafford, we didn’t need to go to tender, I was confident to just go back to inotec. It’s a significant investment for us, but you can’t put a price on health and safety can you? It is essential that our busy colleagues can easily and safely navigate their way through the large fulfilment centre and the infill walkways make the pedestrian routes absolutely clear.

“As a company, inotec is very easy to work with and their employees are straightforward too – there’s no nonsense, Julian gave us a detailed quotation for the work with everything marked up so we knew exactly what we were getting. Also the team who come from inotec to carry out the internal line marking are working with you rather than against you, and for us that’s really important. The supervisor looking after the team, Stuart, was impressive too.

“The company offered paint in any colour we wanted so we used Pets at Home solid green for the infill walkways with yellow tram lines. The two designated meeting areas are also painted green with yellow borders. We even have a black and white pedestrian crossing inside the DC. There’s a large area on one side of the facility for parking all our material handling equipment – we have around 30 forklift trucks. This area has been line marked by inotec in a herringbone pattern using white paint with yellow tram lines for walkways. We’ve now been working with inotec for seven years and I know that I can rely on them to just get on and do a good job for us.”

Ultraviolet cured line marking from inotec – a highly visible and safe option

The ‘Rapidshield’ line marking paint system used by inotec UK results in a hard, highly durable surface with a projected lifespan of five years even in an environment with heavy traffic.
A clear topcoat is cured instantly onto the paint using a high powered ultraviolet light. This process reduces downtime as the paint surface dries within 1-2 hours and areas can be handed back within a working day for immediate use. The finished surface is easy to clean and remains brighter and more visible for longer than a traditional paint system.

Pets at Home Line Marking at New DC

Posted on by David Priestman

Pets at Home selected inotec UK for an important contract to complete the line marking, infill walkways and floor painted meeting areas of their new 670,000 sq.ft fulfilment centre in Staffordshire,  UK. This is a significant investment for Pets at Home, one of the UK’s leading pet care businesses. Located on a 70 acre site at Stafford North Business Park, this modern, purpose built fulfilment centre centralises distribution for the company by combining three warehouses into one superhub. For distribution purposes, it occupies an ideal geographic location close to Junction 14 of the M6.

The Stafford DC is highly automated. It has been designed to support future growth for Pets at Home and maximise the company’s omnichannel capabilities. More than 800 people will be employed at the site, sustaining local jobs in the area.

An innovative partner

Ben Ainsworth, Site Services Contract Manager for Pets at Home, was responsible for awarding inotec the line marking project. He explains, “I first saw inotec at a trade show about seven years’ ago and I thought it was an innovative company. I was impressed with the way they use an ultra violet clear topcoat which is cured on top of the line marking paint. This process makes a massive difference, enabling the finished surface to be very hardwearing to withstand even heavy traffic conditions.

“Initially I asked inotec to complete a line marking contract for us at the Pets at Home DC in Stoke on Trent. This was six years ago and it was quite an expensive outlay at the time, but it still looks good today and we’re not having to redo it every six months. They also helped me out at another facility where I’d used a local company to put down some line marking which hadn’t lasted five minutes. Julian Rushbrook from inotec gave me a quote and quickly sorted it out.”

Highly effective teamwork

Ainsworth continues, “For this much larger project at Stafford, we didn’t need to go to tender, I was confident to just go back to inotec. It’s a significant investment for us, but you can’t put a price on health and safety can you? It is essential that our busy colleagues can easily and safely navigate their way through the large fulfilment centre and the infill walkways make the pedestrian routes absolutely clear.

“As a company, inotec is very easy to work with and their employees are straightforward too – there’s no nonsense, Julian gave us a detailed quotation for the work with everything marked up so we knew exactly what we were getting. Also the team who come from inotec to carry out the internal line marking are working with you rather than against you, and for us that’s really important. The supervisor looking after the team, Stuart, was impressive too.

“The company offered paint in any colour we wanted so we used Pets at Home solid green for the infill walkways with yellow tram lines. The two designated meeting areas are also painted green with yellow borders. We even have a black and white pedestrian crossing inside the DC. There’s a large area on one side of the facility for parking all our material handling equipment – we have around 30 forklift trucks. This area has been line marked by inotec in a herringbone pattern using white paint with yellow tram lines for walkways. We’ve now been working with inotec for seven years and I know that I can rely on them to just get on and do a good job for us.”

Ultraviolet cured line marking from inotec – a highly visible and safe option

The ‘Rapidshield’ line marking paint system used by inotec UK results in a hard, highly durable surface with a projected lifespan of five years even in an environment with heavy traffic.
A clear topcoat is cured instantly onto the paint using a high powered ultraviolet light. This process reduces downtime as the paint surface dries within 1-2 hours and areas can be handed back within a working day for immediate use. The finished surface is easy to clean and remains brighter and more visible for longer than a traditional paint system.

Conveying Sustainable Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Ammeraal Beltech, a leader in conveying sustainable solutions, is proud to introduce the new AMMdurance rPET, a revolutionary conveyor belt produced from recycled PET bottles, that delivers a unique combination of cutting-edge technology and eco-conscious design, ensuring a positive impact on the planet and business.

Ammeraal Beltech’s AMMdurance rPET stands out from conventional conveyor belts. It is engineered to help logistics reduce operational costs, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, without sacrificing functionality and performance. This ground-breaking solution combines energy saving with recycling, all while optimising operational efficiency.

The company claim to have developed a special technique of dry fabric treatment that reduces the friction between the belt and the underlying machinery, resulting in a significant reduction of power consumption – by about 17%. This innovative method not only enables superior energy efficiency, making AMMdurance rPET the perfect eco-friendly choice for companies committed to sustainability and carbon footprint reduction, but it also protects the fabric against dirt and shrinkage, facilitating its longevity and wear resistance.

By utilising discarded plastic bottles and transforming them into high-quality fabric, AMMdurance rPET makes a substantial contribution to combating plastic waste. In fact, for every square meter of this new product, 14 PET bottles of 1.5 L each are recycled. Compared to standard synthetic belts, PET fabric initiatives reduce CO2 emissions by 1.2 kg and decrease greenhouse gases release by 70%.

“We support our partners in providing their customers with unique Ammeraal Beltech solutions that help limit resources and enhance the value of their business. The AMMdurance rPET is the most efficient conveyor belt on the market”, comments Michel Keetman, Head of CPM at Ammeraal Beltech. “It revolutionises logistics and airport operations, proving the opportunity for both – improving performances and operational sustainability. It’s a win-win solution for your business and the planet.”

Conveying Sustainable Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Ammeraal Beltech, a leader in conveying sustainable solutions, is proud to introduce the new AMMdurance rPET, a revolutionary conveyor belt produced from recycled PET bottles, that delivers a unique combination of cutting-edge technology and eco-conscious design, ensuring a positive impact on the planet and business.

Ammeraal Beltech’s AMMdurance rPET stands out from conventional conveyor belts. It is engineered to help logistics reduce operational costs, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions, without sacrificing functionality and performance. This ground-breaking solution combines energy saving with recycling, all while optimising operational efficiency.

The company claim to have developed a special technique of dry fabric treatment that reduces the friction between the belt and the underlying machinery, resulting in a significant reduction of power consumption – by about 17%. This innovative method not only enables superior energy efficiency, making AMMdurance rPET the perfect eco-friendly choice for companies committed to sustainability and carbon footprint reduction, but it also protects the fabric against dirt and shrinkage, facilitating its longevity and wear resistance.

By utilising discarded plastic bottles and transforming them into high-quality fabric, AMMdurance rPET makes a substantial contribution to combating plastic waste. In fact, for every square meter of this new product, 14 PET bottles of 1.5 L each are recycled. Compared to standard synthetic belts, PET fabric initiatives reduce CO2 emissions by 1.2 kg and decrease greenhouse gases release by 70%.

“We support our partners in providing their customers with unique Ammeraal Beltech solutions that help limit resources and enhance the value of their business. The AMMdurance rPET is the most efficient conveyor belt on the market”, comments Michel Keetman, Head of CPM at Ammeraal Beltech. “It revolutionises logistics and airport operations, proving the opportunity for both – improving performances and operational sustainability. It’s a win-win solution for your business and the planet.”

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