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Month: October 2023

EV Truck Megawatt Charging System Early ’24

Posted on by David Priestman

Having recently commissioned the UK’s fastest EV charger and the UK’s largest truck charging depot, Vital EV is raising the bar once again by being among the first to offer a MegaWatt Charging System (MCS) to help decarbonise the truck industry.

Whereas electric vehicles now make-up more than 1-in-6 car and 1-in-20 van sales in the UK, less than 1-in-100 newly-registered trucks are electric. Charging infrastructure has been highlighted as one of the key barriers preventing the electric transition in the HGV sector, which now makes up more than 25% of the total CO2 emissions from transport.

The Kempower MCS from Vital EV is ideally-suited to truck charging applications, providing up to 1.2 MegaWatts (1,200kW) of ultra-rapid DC charging and adding up to 372 miles of range during a 30-minute charging session.

The new charging solution is based on Kempower’s existing hub-and-spoke architecture, with the two Kempower Power Units coupling up to accommodate up to 24 50kW power modules (1,200kW or 1.2MW). This power is then dynamically distributed to the liquid-cooled Satellite Chargers – which have been fitted with the new MCS plug and, with a footprint of less than 0.25m², boast the highest power-to-footprint ratio on the market.

The MCS plug has been specifically designed to deliver the higher charging power required by heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and there are currently no plans to replace the CCS2 connectors used in lighter EVs like cars and vans.

Alex Rae, General Manager & Director at Vital EV, commented: “Decarbonising the truck industry is crucial for the UK’s net-zero strategy and we are delighted to be among the first to market with a viable charging solution for overnight, destination and en-route applications. With our background in industrial power engineering and a range of ground-breaking EV charging projects already under our belt, we are ideally placed to deliver critical MCS infrastructure projects and we look forward with excitement to working with the truck industry to make that fundamental switch to electric.”

Through the ZERFT (Zero Emission Road Freight) programme, the UK government has committed £200m until 2030 to developing infrastructure and lay the foundations for the most advanced electric truck charging networks, known as the ‘Electric Highway’.

As part of the ‘Trust’ aftersales support, Vital EV’s Networks team will continuously monitor the status of the chargers via our Occulus charging management portal, and carry out planned and reactive maintenance – including over-the-air (OTA) updates – to maximise charger uptime.

 

Demand for Warehouse Space at Logicor Estate

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As demand for high-quality sustainable warehouse space strengthens, Logicor, one of Europe’s leading owner, manager and developer of logistics real estate, has leased an additional c. 26,500 sq ft to existing customer Redhill Manufacturing, at Logicor’s Lakeside Industrial Estate, Redditch, Worcestershire, UK.

A customer in Unit 3 since 2021, Redhill Manufacturing were looking for new facilities to support the business’ expansion and growth. With a prime location just 15 miles south of Birmingham, the business signed for an additional three units, taking their total space occupied to 52,000 sq ft.

Over the next three months, the new units will be upgraded, from EPC rating ‘E’ to ‘B’, with increased energy efficiency from LED lighting and PVC windows, as well as new heating and cooling systems. The site will also benefit from a mezzanine, bike racks to encourage sustainable travel for Redhill’s locally based workforce, and fast-action roller shutter doors for easy access.

Bill Martyn-Smith, Asset Manager at Logicor, UK comments:

“We’re thrilled to have worked closely with Redhill Manufacturing to identify the right space for their expansion needs. At Logicor, supporting our customer’s growth ambitions is core to what we do and why we work in partnership with them to truly understand what they need now and might need from their space years in the future.”

“Assets in prime locations that improve business connectivity remain in high demand, as demonstrated by this expanded partnership with Redhill Manufacturing. This deal builds on what has already been a record-breaking year for our leasing activity – and we’re proud that our customers continue to trust us to deliver best-in-class warehouse space, that caters to their evolving business needs.”

Andy Colley of Redhill Manufacturing, comments:

“We’re immensely excited about our new facility and the future opportunities we face as we move into an important new phase of expansion and growth. The refurbished, purpose-built facilities will provide us with much greater capacity for incoming materials and extensive storage for assembled products, enabling us to significantly increase output while reducing lead times.”

LSH and Harris Lamb will be marketing Unit 3 when Redhill vacate at the end of the year.

Demand for Warehouse Space at Logicor Estate

Posted on by David Priestman

As demand for high-quality sustainable warehouse space strengthens, Logicor, one of Europe’s leading owner, manager and developer of logistics real estate, has leased an additional c. 26,500 sq ft to existing customer Redhill Manufacturing, at Logicor’s Lakeside Industrial Estate, Redditch, Worcestershire, UK.

A customer in Unit 3 since 2021, Redhill Manufacturing were looking for new facilities to support the business’ expansion and growth. With a prime location just 15 miles south of Birmingham, the business signed for an additional three units, taking their total space occupied to 52,000 sq ft.

Over the next three months, the new units will be upgraded, from EPC rating ‘E’ to ‘B’, with increased energy efficiency from LED lighting and PVC windows, as well as new heating and cooling systems. The site will also benefit from a mezzanine, bike racks to encourage sustainable travel for Redhill’s locally based workforce, and fast-action roller shutter doors for easy access.

Bill Martyn-Smith, Asset Manager at Logicor, UK comments:

“We’re thrilled to have worked closely with Redhill Manufacturing to identify the right space for their expansion needs. At Logicor, supporting our customer’s growth ambitions is core to what we do and why we work in partnership with them to truly understand what they need now and might need from their space years in the future.”

“Assets in prime locations that improve business connectivity remain in high demand, as demonstrated by this expanded partnership with Redhill Manufacturing. This deal builds on what has already been a record-breaking year for our leasing activity – and we’re proud that our customers continue to trust us to deliver best-in-class warehouse space, that caters to their evolving business needs.”

Andy Colley of Redhill Manufacturing, comments:

“We’re immensely excited about our new facility and the future opportunities we face as we move into an important new phase of expansion and growth. The refurbished, purpose-built facilities will provide us with much greater capacity for incoming materials and extensive storage for assembled products, enabling us to significantly increase output while reducing lead times.”

LSH and Harris Lamb will be marketing Unit 3 when Redhill vacate at the end of the year.

New Brand VP for Linde Material Handling

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling is realigning its brand management and sales and service business responsibility. In this context, the company has appointed Ulrike Just (43) as Executive Vice President Sales & Service Linde MH EMEA with effect from October 4th, 2023. The experienced manager brings with her many years of expertise in strategic business development as well as operational sales and service management. Most recently, Ulrike Just was responsible for the sales and service business of KION Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) in the UK and Ireland. Prior to that, she was Head of Business Development at Linde MH, where she played a key role in developing the company’s corporate strategy.

As Executive Vice President Sales & Service, she takes responsibility for aligning Linde Material Handling even more closely with future customer needs, adapting it to changing market requirements and leading the execution across the EMEA region.

“Like no other in the material handling industry, the Linde brand stands for the highest levels of performance, customer focus and reliability. Our employees are passionate about meeting customer demands and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their in-house material flow,” says Ulrike Just, the new top executive overseeing offering portfolio, marketing, sales, and service for the Linde brand. “I want to ensure that we continue to live up to these values – through our products, software solutions and services, but also in the close collaboration with our customers.” The portfolio of customized solutions will also be substantially expanded to cater even better to the specific individual requirements of a wide range of sectors.

Just earned an MBA in business administration from Harvard Business School. Before joining Linde MH in Aschaffenburg in 2017, she had already built a successful international career, holding various management positions at investment company Bain Capital, Linde AG, and the Boston Consulting Group, where she and her teams planned and successfully implemented projects in the UK, the USA, Russia, and South Africa.

Linde Material Handling GmbH, a KION Group company, is a globally operating manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, and a solutions and service provider for intralogistics. With a sales and service network that spans more than 100 countries, the company is represented in all major regions around the world.

New Brand VP for Linde Material Handling

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling is realigning its brand management and sales and service business responsibility. In this context, the company has appointed Ulrike Just (43) as Executive Vice President Sales & Service Linde MH EMEA with effect from October 4th, 2023. The experienced manager brings with her many years of expertise in strategic business development as well as operational sales and service management. Most recently, Ulrike Just was responsible for the sales and service business of KION Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) in the UK and Ireland. Prior to that, she was Head of Business Development at Linde MH, where she played a key role in developing the company’s corporate strategy.

As Executive Vice President Sales & Service, she takes responsibility for aligning Linde Material Handling even more closely with future customer needs, adapting it to changing market requirements and leading the execution across the EMEA region.

“Like no other in the material handling industry, the Linde brand stands for the highest levels of performance, customer focus and reliability. Our employees are passionate about meeting customer demands and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their in-house material flow,” says Ulrike Just, the new top executive overseeing offering portfolio, marketing, sales, and service for the Linde brand. “I want to ensure that we continue to live up to these values – through our products, software solutions and services, but also in the close collaboration with our customers.” The portfolio of customized solutions will also be substantially expanded to cater even better to the specific individual requirements of a wide range of sectors.

Just earned an MBA in business administration from Harvard Business School. Before joining Linde MH in Aschaffenburg in 2017, she had already built a successful international career, holding various management positions at investment company Bain Capital, Linde AG, and the Boston Consulting Group, where she and her teams planned and successfully implemented projects in the UK, the USA, Russia, and South Africa.

Linde Material Handling GmbH, a KION Group company, is a globally operating manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, and a solutions and service provider for intralogistics. With a sales and service network that spans more than 100 countries, the company is represented in all major regions around the world.

Aviation Decarbonization via Sustainable Fuel

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL Express and World Energy, a leading SAF (sustainable fuel) producer and low-carbon solutions provider, have signed a long-term strategic agreement to accelerate the decarbonization of aviation logistics through the purchase of approx. 668 million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel via sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The seven-year contract, to run through 2030, is one of the longest and largest SAFc agreements in the aviation industry to date.

The agreement is expected to reduce approx. 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle – this is equivalent to handling the approximately 77,000 annual aircraft movements of DHL Express in the Americas carbon neutrally for a full year. The milestone agreement is further testament to DHL Group’s ambitious Sustainability Roadmap, which includes the goal to reduce the Group’s annual greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tonnes CO2e in 2030 across scopes 1, 2 and 3.

“DHL Express is firmly dedicated to pioneering a sustainable future in aviation logistics; said John Pearson, CEO DHL Express. By partnering with World Energy and confirming this milestone agreement, we are taking another concrete leap towards minimizing our carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future. We want to inspire more suppliers to accelerate industry-wide production and adoption of SAF.”

“We are honoured to team up with DHL on this quest to decarbonize aviation,” said Gene Gebolys, World Energy CEO. “Decarbonizing the hard-to-abate sectors requires commitment across the value chain, and partnerships like the one we are launching today are key to enabling companies like DHL to meet their ambitions climate goals.”

Transparency and accountability with Book & Claim

With SAFc, the fuel’s environmental attributes are separated from the fuel itself using a “Book & Claim” chain of custody model. The Book & Claim approach enhances transparency and accountability of sustainable fuels by ensuring that the emission reductions associated with each credit are accurately transferred and verified by a third party. It allows DHL Express to purchase SAFc, utilize the associated emission reductions, and extend the environmental attributes to its customers through the GoGreen Plus service.

SAFc delivered through Book & Claim also helps to minimize both logistical costs and emissions as the fuel does not need to be shipped around the world. This helps make SAFc the most efficient way to decarbonize aviation. All of World Energy SAFc for DHL will meet rigorous sustainability certification standards from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). In addition, all volumes will be traced through an independent registry to ensure traceability of claims related to SAFc. The fuel itself will be supplied to Los Angeles area airports, close to World Energy’s production facility in Paramount, California.

Aviation Decarbonization via Sustainable Fuel

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL Express and World Energy, a leading SAF (sustainable fuel) producer and low-carbon solutions provider, have signed a long-term strategic agreement to accelerate the decarbonization of aviation logistics through the purchase of approx. 668 million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel via sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The seven-year contract, to run through 2030, is one of the longest and largest SAFc agreements in the aviation industry to date.

The agreement is expected to reduce approx. 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle – this is equivalent to handling the approximately 77,000 annual aircraft movements of DHL Express in the Americas carbon neutrally for a full year. The milestone agreement is further testament to DHL Group’s ambitious Sustainability Roadmap, which includes the goal to reduce the Group’s annual greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tonnes CO2e in 2030 across scopes 1, 2 and 3.

“DHL Express is firmly dedicated to pioneering a sustainable future in aviation logistics; said John Pearson, CEO DHL Express. By partnering with World Energy and confirming this milestone agreement, we are taking another concrete leap towards minimizing our carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future. We want to inspire more suppliers to accelerate industry-wide production and adoption of SAF.”

“We are honoured to team up with DHL on this quest to decarbonize aviation,” said Gene Gebolys, World Energy CEO. “Decarbonizing the hard-to-abate sectors requires commitment across the value chain, and partnerships like the one we are launching today are key to enabling companies like DHL to meet their ambitions climate goals.”

Transparency and accountability with Book & Claim

With SAFc, the fuel’s environmental attributes are separated from the fuel itself using a “Book & Claim” chain of custody model. The Book & Claim approach enhances transparency and accountability of sustainable fuels by ensuring that the emission reductions associated with each credit are accurately transferred and verified by a third party. It allows DHL Express to purchase SAFc, utilize the associated emission reductions, and extend the environmental attributes to its customers through the GoGreen Plus service.

SAFc delivered through Book & Claim also helps to minimize both logistical costs and emissions as the fuel does not need to be shipped around the world. This helps make SAFc the most efficient way to decarbonize aviation. All of World Energy SAFc for DHL will meet rigorous sustainability certification standards from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). In addition, all volumes will be traced through an independent registry to ensure traceability of claims related to SAFc. The fuel itself will be supplied to Los Angeles area airports, close to World Energy’s production facility in Paramount, California.

UPS Opens 3 new DCs in Puglia

Posted on by Keith McKinley

UPS has announced the opening of three new Italian logistics centres in the provinces of Bari, Taranto and Lecce, representing 10,000 m2 to support SMEs and Made in Italy exports in the south of the country.

UPS’s announcement is part of its strategy to strengthen its network to give local businesses greater access to the most profitable export markets, not only in Europe and the United States, but also in emerging economies in Asia. Exports from Puglia region saw an increase of 14.8% in 2022 compared to the previous year, in particular 21.9% towards non-EU countries, exceeding the value of 10 billion euros for the first time since 2000.

One year after the inauguration of the new gateway in Bergamo, with the opening of three new facilities in Puglia, UPS continues to strengthen its widespread presence throughout the peninsula to support the exports of SMEs, the backbone of the country’s economy. In particular it intends to facilitate the exports of local high-quality products so that they can take full advantage of business opportunities across the border – estimated by ICE at 4.8 billion Euros.

The centres of Bari, Taranto and Lecce are located in a strategic position and will allow UPS to offer reliable and timely service to these areas. Now fully operational, they are ready to manage the increase in shipments linked to the 2023 holiday period, also supporting e-commerce and digital exports, a growth lever for business internationalisation.

In parallel with the expansion of the network of operational structures, UPS continues to extend the UPS Access Point network with more than 34,000 collection locations in Europe, of which 4,700 in Italy and approximately 250 in Puglia alone. Deliveries to these points allow saving up to 33% of carbon emissions compared to traditional ones to satisfy the growing demand for greener deliveries from responsible online consumers.

Francisco Conejo, country manager, UPS Italy, said: “UPS has been working alongside Italian companies for over thirty years with logistics services capable of satisfying companies’ aspiration to be global. Strengthening our network and optimizing operations so that SMEs in the South can focus on their core business confirms our confidence in the prospects of the local economy.’’

UPS Opens 3 new DCs in Puglia

Posted on by David Priestman

UPS has announced the opening of three new Italian logistics centres in the provinces of Bari, Taranto and Lecce, representing 10,000 m2 to support SMEs and Made in Italy exports in the south of the country.

UPS’s announcement is part of its strategy to strengthen its network to give local businesses greater access to the most profitable export markets, not only in Europe and the United States, but also in emerging economies in Asia. Exports from Puglia region saw an increase of 14.8% in 2022 compared to the previous year, in particular 21.9% towards non-EU countries, exceeding the value of 10 billion euros for the first time since 2000.

One year after the inauguration of the new gateway in Bergamo, with the opening of three new facilities in Puglia, UPS continues to strengthen its widespread presence throughout the peninsula to support the exports of SMEs, the backbone of the country’s economy. In particular it intends to facilitate the exports of local high-quality products so that they can take full advantage of business opportunities across the border – estimated by ICE at 4.8 billion Euros.

The centres of Bari, Taranto and Lecce are located in a strategic position and will allow UPS to offer reliable and timely service to these areas. Now fully operational, they are ready to manage the increase in shipments linked to the 2023 holiday period, also supporting e-commerce and digital exports, a growth lever for business internationalisation.

In parallel with the expansion of the network of operational structures, UPS continues to extend the UPS Access Point network with more than 34,000 collection locations in Europe, of which 4,700 in Italy and approximately 250 in Puglia alone. Deliveries to these points allow saving up to 33% of carbon emissions compared to traditional ones to satisfy the growing demand for greener deliveries from responsible online consumers.

Francisco Conejo, country manager, UPS Italy, said: “UPS has been working alongside Italian companies for over thirty years with logistics services capable of satisfying companies’ aspiration to be global. Strengthening our network and optimizing operations so that SMEs in the South can focus on their core business confirms our confidence in the prospects of the local economy.’’

Irish Private Business of the Year Award

Posted on by David Priestman

At the distinguished Irish Exporters Association Awards 2023 in the Convention Centre, Dublin, Moffett Automated Storage shone as a symbol of outstanding achievement, securing the esteemed honour of being named Irish Private Business of the Year. This not only acknowledges their remarkable impact in the realm of automated storage solutions but also highlights their crucial position in Ireland’s flourishing export industry.

A Testament to Innovation and Excellence

Moffett Automated Storage, headquartered in County Monaghan, has recently been at the forefront of revolutionizing the logistics and storage industry. Established in 2017, the company has consistently pushed boundaries and set new standards for quality, efficiency, and reliability in the sector. The award is a testament to the tireless dedication and innovative spirit that the team at Moffett Automated Storage brings to their work every day.

Moffett Automated Storage has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of automated storage systems. Their state-of-the-art technology has empowered businesses across industries to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and increase productivity and sustainability.

Their solutions encompass a wide range of products and services, including automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, picking systems, and warehouse control software. By integrating these technologies seamlessly in a black box solution, Moffett has enabled businesses to achieve levels of efficiency that were previously unimaginable.

Catalysing Ireland’s Export Growth

The recognition as Irish Private Business of the Year serves as a testament to their vital role in shaping Ireland’s export landscape, particularly in an era where efficient logistics and warehousing are more crucial than ever.

Moffett Automated Storage also stands out for its commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility. They have made substantial efforts to reduce their environmental footprint by implementing energy-efficient technologies and promoting sustainable practices in their operations.
Moreover, they have actively engaged in community endeavours, supporting local businesses and charitable causes. This approach to business not only reflects their values but also sets an example for others in the industry.

A Vision for the Future

With this award, Moffett Automated Storage claims to have affirmed its status as a trailblazer in the field of automated storage solutions. Their dedication to excellence, innovation, and corporate responsibility positions them as a beacon for the industry as a whole. Looking ahead, Moffett’s vision extends beyond national borders. They aim to continue their expansion into global markets, sharing their expertise and technology with businesses worldwide.

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