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Month: November 2023

Peak Season Robotics Fulfilment Efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

CIRRO Fulfillment and Hai Robotics, a pioneer and leader in Autonomous Case-Handling Robot (ACR) Systems, partnered in September 2023 to integrate robotics technology into its German fulfilment centre in time for the holiday season.

The advanced fulfilment centre covers an area of 6,500m² with a storage volume of 3,348m³. It features 45 A42L robots for order picking and eight A42T robots for shelving and automated stocking. The picking robots can handle payloads of up to 240kg and operate at a top speed of 1.5 meters per second.

By implementing robotics-driven operations, CIRRO Fulfilment is projected to enhance workforce efficiency by an estimated 30%, with a maximum daily outbound volume up to 21,000 items. The robots can swiftly transport items to skilled workers for picking and packing in one go, ensuring fast and accurate order processing and dispatch. This innovative approach reduces handling time and enhances operational capabilities, resulting in faster delivery and increased customer satisfaction. The overall shopping experience is seamless and expedited.
“Our partnership with Hai Robotics showcases our dedication to being at the forefront of innovation. It improves the customer experience and signifies a significant transformation in efficiency and accuracy, setting a new standard for e-commerce fulfilment operations,” said Hong Li, Head of Sales at CIRRO Fulfillment.

“We are thrilled about our collaboration with CIRRO Fulfillment. The application of our fully integrated solution, blending ACRs and AMRs, represents a milestone in the use of versatile robotics technologies in e-commerce fulfilment operations for the EMEA region,” said Sean Wang, Sales Director at Hai Robotics EMEA.

Hai Robotics, a global pioneer in ACR Systems, delivers intelligent and efficient warehouse automation solutions through robotics and AI. Our 2015 innovation, HaiPick, was the world’s first ACR solution. With over 1,000 global projects serving 30+ countries, we combine international experience with local expertise to offer tailored, top-quality solutions.

Robotics Automation Company Launches

Posted on by David Priestman

Autrix, a new robotic automation company, launched this month with the mission of making automation accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. Formed from leaders in the robotics space and talent from automation companies, Autrix aims to enable SMEs to compete globally through increased efficiency, productivity and innovation.

Autrix provides end-to-end automation services, from initial conversations about automation potential to installation and ongoing optimisation of automated systems. With a strong software focus, Autrix offers strategic guidance to help businesses determine how and where to implement automation to best support their growth.

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, yet many struggle to keep up with larger competitors that have already invested heavily in automation,” said Joe Daft, Managing Director and Founder of Autrix. “We started Autrix to give these smaller players a fighting chance, with automation solutions tailored to their needs and budgets along with the expertise to help them benefit as much as possible.”

The leadership team at Autrix brings decades of experience in delivering solutions within the SME space. By exclusively focusing on SMEs, Autrix can offer customised and cost-effective automation services that allow these companies to achieve quick wins, foster innovation, and gain a competitive edge.

“Automation is key to the future of manufacturing and business in general, but the resources required have put it out of reach for most SMEs until now,” said Ian Shay, Co-Founder of Autrix and Director of L&S Engineers. “With Autrix, SMEs across the UK finally have an automation partner invested in their success”.

With locations strategically located throughout the UK, Autrix is well positioned to serve SMEs nationwide. In Birmingham, Autrix operates a live automated warehouse and service centre where technology partners can demonstrate solutions. The Lincoln office focuses on designing custom automation systems and software to meet specific customer needs. Autrix works with best-of-breed technology partners including Hikrobot, VisionNav and ProGlove to provide SMEs with automated mobile robots (AMRs), robotic arms, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), smart gloves and more.

By bundling technologies from multiple vendors, Autrix can provide SMEs with integrated automation systems from single robotic solutions to large deployments of 50+ AMRs tailored to their needs at a lower cost than purchasing from individual technology providers.

Autrix’s dedication to democratising automation for SMEs through their tailored solutions, strategic guidance, and commitment to success positions itself as a valuable partner for SMEs seeking to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market. Autrix is set to empower SMEs with the knowledge, confidence and tools they need to embrace automation and unlock their full potential.

Completion of Warehouse Phase 1

Posted on by David Priestman

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics developers and managers, has successfully completed Phase 1 of the development at St. Modwen Park Derby. The 67-acre industrial and logistics park, which is the largest brownfield regeneration site in Derby, was developed in partnership with Derby City Council and Network Rail. It occupies a prime position, strategically located off the A52 providing direct access to Derby City Centre and just five miles to Junction 25 of the M1.

Rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’, Phase 1 of the project sees the completion of four sustainable, high-quality warehouses, with Phase 2 of development on the site already underway, providing a further c.350,000 sq.ft of high-quality logistics and warehouse space.

As a preferred St. Modwen Logistics supplier, Hörmann UK worked closely with main contractor Winvic to supply full loading bay solutions together with safety and operational equipment including dock buffers, dock lights and traffic lights, plus sectional level access doors and fire exit doorsets.

Across the four buildings that make up the first phase of the site a total of 27 loading bays have been installed. Twenty-three standard height loading bays have been fitted with HLS-2 swing lip dock levellers, with four Eurodock bays being fitted with an HTL-2 dock leveller which features a 1 metre telescopic lip. This provides an optimal range loading platform enabling the precise bridging of a variety of vehicle types and a guarantee of fast, efficient, and most importantly safe loading and unloading. In addition, 23 ‘single bay’ and 4 DSS-G ‘double/euro bay’ scissor arm dock shelters have been installed to provide protection from the elements for both operatives and goods, helping to reduce heat loss during loading and unloading operations.

With the St. Modwen Logistics site achieving an impressive EPC ‘A’ rating, each loading and level access bay is fitted with a robust Hörmann SPU F42 sectional door. The doors feature double glazed vision panels and provide excellent thermal insulation with an impressive overall U-value of between 1.1 and 1.3 Wm2.K. Stucco textured profiles deliver a durable and resilient finish to withstand the external elements, while rubber draught seals to the edges of the leveller’s help minimise heat loss during loading and unloading operations.

Other elements of the Hörmann loading systems include reinforced dock buffers which are constructed from recycled tyre rubber with 15mm thick steel faceplates. The buffers are designed to minimise any potential damage to the bay in the event of a vehicle making direct contact with the building. Traffic lights and LED dock lights complete the loading bays offering the highest standards in safety and operational efficiency during the docking and loading processes.

A total of 23 Hörmann STU steel fire escape doorsets have also been installed throughout the 4 units, completing an impressive range of products supplied, all chosen for their quality construction and the impressive service offered by the company.

Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK, comments “St. Modwen Park Derby is a landmark logistics development for Derby and Hörmann are proud to be working with St. Modwen Logistics and Winvic on the completion of the site. Our loading solutions have been designed to deliver unbeatable levels of safety and functionality, together with excellent thermal properties. At Hörmann we are committed to providing St. Modwen and their clients with first-class solutions and service to help streamline business needs and processes.”

Irish Transporter Renews Trailers

Posted on by David Priestman

Noone Transport, based in Co. Meath, Ireland, is undergoing a period of significant investment as it opens up new routes throughout Ireland, the UK and continental Europe.

Established in 1986 and now one of Ireland’s leading transport and logistics operators, Noone Transport provides an extensive range of transport and warehousing services to numerous industry sectors, including food, retail, autoparts and pharmaceutical.

A mixture of 50 Krone curtainsiders and temperature-controlled trailers will enter Noone‘s vehicle fleet over the coming months, most of which will operate from the company’s newly-built warehouse and distribution facility, 20 minutes from Dublin port.

“As a leading warehousing and logistics provider, we have expanded our capabilities with our newly constructed warehouse,” says director, Daniel Noone. “With 80,000 sq ft and 24,000 pallet capacity, we can efficiently handle distribution, order fulfilment, cross-docking and stock management for part and full loads. Plus, our prime location just off the M2 puts us in close proximity to ports and airports.”

The new trailer equipment comprises 20 Profi Liners and 30 Cool Liners. The curtainsiders come with Krone’s award-winning Multi Lock loading system, which features strapping points every 10cms along each side rave, for multiple strapping options and secure loading. The high-impact phenolic floor, allows for fork loading up to 7 tonnes and for fast top-loading, each is fitted with an Edscha sliding roof.

The Cool Liners are a mixture of Duplex steel, single and double-deckers, some with multi-temperature control. While in transit, each load benefits from KSC ProPlus Cool – the latest telematics system from Krone, which automatically monitors inside temperatures, coupling status, brake condition, door openings, fuel level, trailer location and tyre pressures.

“With the new tyre monitoring regulations coming into force in July 2024,” says Noone, “whereby all new trailers must be fitted with a TPMS, the Krone system will prove vital. Aside from the regulations, it’s a good additional safety measure and will undoubtedly help to avoid excessive wear and potential tyre failure – both of which ad up to downtime and additional cost.”

In addition, ProPlus Cool handles complete document management via WLAN, which enables the traffic office to connect to the Krone Telematics Box via WLAN to access and retrieve all relevant data. Manufactured by Krone in Germany the Cool Liners’ body strength lies mainly in the Duoplex Steel outer skins and heavy-duty aluminium floor. Plus, for extra rigidity, the chassis is constructed using double -T, longitudinal beams and a Z-profile rear traverse section with diagonal reinforcements.

The rear doors are of high-security ‘container-type‘ design, while the loading security certificate complies with European standard, EN 12642 Code XL. Factors which Noone says are important to ensure reliability and low cost of ownership.

“We are delighted to once again be returning to Krone during this new growth phase,“ says Noone. “Krone knows the product inside out and match the trailer specifications to our operational needs. Their efficient service and dependable parts supply enable us to provide an exceptionally reliable service for our customers. We bought our first Krone in 2008, and the build quality continues to be of the highest standard.”

Noone Transport operates a fleet of 50 Mercedes Actros 18/45 tractor units along with a 100-strong trailer fleet including fridges, box vans and curtainsiders, with options to multiple destinations including the UK, Belgium, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Walking Tractor Order by UK Supermarket

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Helge Nyberg AB in Sweden has received a large walking tractor order to a customer in the food trade, through the partner Toyota Material Handling in UK.

The order includes 150 ‘walkies’ to be delivered to a supermarket chain in UK. Walkies are battery-powered tractors used to move heavy loads on wheels. They are easy to drive and can handle loads up to two tons. Helge Nyberg AB has two models of walkies. Both are designed to make heavy work easy, create good ergonomics and increased efficiency.

”This is another proof of our strength and market-leading knowledge in material handling. We are very pleased to have received this order and look forward to deliver our products to the food chain in UK”, says Robert Nyberg, CEO of Helge Nyberg AB.

Walking tractors from Helge Nyberg AB were launched in 2020 and have proven to be a reliable product that has received positive feedback from customers around Europe. The demand for Helge Nyberg’s walkies has increased, which is an indication of their good flexibility, high quality and reliability.

The multi-million Swedish crowns order goes through Helge Nyberg AB’s partner Toyota Material Handling in UK and the delivery of the 150 walking tractors will take place early next year.

Helge Nyberg AB develops and manufactures trucks and trolleys in Sweden, under the Ergobjörn brand. Products and solutions are available globally in over 60 countries.

iLogistics Centre in Slovakia Doubles Capacity

Posted on by David Priestman

On Tuesday November 14th the international transport and logistics provider cargo-partner officially launched the construction of the third warehouse hall at its iLogistics Centre in Dunajská Streda. The expansion will almost double the storage capacity from the current 27,600 to 50,000 pallet spaces. Upon completion, cargo-partner will create 60 to 70 additional jobs at the new facility.

cargo-partner has been operating in Slovakia for 30 years and is one of the most successful freight forwarding providers in the country. The company earned a turnover of nearly 140 million euro in 2022 and currently employs more than 200 logistics specialists across its branch offices in Bratislava, Dunajská Streda, Žilina, and Košice.

Boosting capacity

The iLogistics Centre in Dunajská Streda has been in operation since 2012, gradually expanding to meet growing customer demand for logistics solutions. The previous expansion in 2020 increased the warehouse capacity to 18,200 m². The construction of the third hall marks the fourth and final phase of the project, bringing the storage capacity of the logistics complex to 34,300 m² on a site of 60,000 m².

The new Class A warehouse building was designed with an emphasis on energy efficiency. It will feature a racking system with 22,400 pallet spaces spread over 14,600 m², as well as a structurally separated area of 1,500 m² that can serve as a dust-free warehouse or a rework zone. The facility will include 22 loading ramps and two drive-in gates for efficient loading and unloading. There are also plans to install a second KLT washing machine in addition to the one at the existing facility.

Direct connection to Metrans terminal

The warehouse’s strategic location and direct connection to the Metrans intermodal terminal allow cargo-partner to reduce handling time by one to two days, resulting in significant ecological and economic advantages. “Thanks to our connection to the intermodal terminal, we can unload containers arriving by train from the ports of Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Koper, Rotterdam, Trieste, and Istanbul directly into our warehouse, eliminating the need for truck transport. Our cross-dock hub has nine container loading and unloading gates as well as a separate gate for heavy and oversized goods,” said Tibor Majzún, Managing Director Slovak Republic and Regional Director North East Europe at cargo-partner. Currently, cargo-partner is the only company in Slovakia to provide this service.

Operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. In the first phase, cargo-partner will hire 20 new employees. Once the new warehouse hall is fully operational, this is expected to increase to 60-70 positions.

The official ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Dr. Johannes Wimmer, Ambassador of Austria to Slovakia, Mag. Bettina Trojer, Commercial Counsellor of the Austrian Embassy, and Ing. Alena Blahútová, Corporate Director Real Estate of ATL Immoinvest.

Mag. Stefan Krauter, Founder and CEO of cargo-partner, emphasized the importance of the iLogistics Centre: “Our Slovak team is a top performer in our group, and I am glad they have recognized and taken advantage of Dunajská Streda’s potential as a vital intermodal hub, turning it into a thriving logistics centre. It is now one of our most important rail cargo hubs in Europe, enabling us to deliver automotive components to leading OEMs in various Central European countries. With the addition of a third warehouse hall, we are continuing our success story with yet another prime logistics location in Dunajská Streda. The expansion will be managed by the Central Eastern European logistics real estate specialist ATL.”

Focus on warehousing and logistics

The cargo-partner iLogistics Centre in Dunajská Streda currently has a capacity of 27,600 pallet spaces on 18,200 m², with over 11,000 m² dedicated to customs bonded warehouse space. Based on years of experience in handling automotive and industrial components, high-tech machinery as well as oversized cargo and project shipments, the cargo-partner team provides a range of value-added services for various industries. In addition to the warehouse in Dunajská Streda, cargo-partner also operates a second warehouse in Bratislava with a capacity of 14,000 pallet spaces on 8,200 m².

Safety Survey for Warehouse Line Marking

Posted on by David Priestman

A new service has been launched by inotec UK – a free safety and maintenance survey for the appraisal of warehouse line marking. This complimentary service will be available for both internal and external line marking. It has been designed to offer advice on essential health and safety requirements of new line marking, upkeep of existing line marking as well as replacement lines should they be necessary.

The importance of keeping warehouse operatives away from moving handling and storage equipment cannot be underestimated. It can be achieved effectively by line marking that clearly segregates pedestrians from vehicle traffic. In today’s busy warehouse environments, however, regular appraisals to check the condition of existing line markings of walkways and crossings often take a back seat. A key reason for this has been the cost of involving a specialist third party.

By launching this free service, inotec is taking a proactive role in supporting companies to ensure compliance with the law. The company’s durable and highly visible line marking solutions help separate vulnerable pedestrians from fast moving truck traffic.

David Stocker, sales director of inotec states, “Any warehouse which already has line marking or is considering new line marking should be looking at periodic safety and maintenance checks.

“Over time walkways and crossings become damaged by heavy forklift truck traffic and the harsh chemicals that are used for cleaning. This can result in impaired visibility of line markings leading to potentially serious accidents. At inotec we’re here to keep your warehouse staff safe. Contact us to take advantage of one of our experts who will perform a free safety and maintenance survey to appraise your line marking.”

Safe and Steady Forklifts

Posted on by David Priestman

Leading building materials specialist EPD Insulation Group is improving safety and fuel efficiency with a fleet of brand new GRENDiA ES forklifts. When it came to sourcing a new fleet of trucks, EPD Insulation Group had a specific set of criteria. They turned to their local Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks distributor who came highly recommended, and who offered a solution that ticked all the right boxes.

“A little while back we ordered a few Mitsubishi GRENDiA ES LPG forklifts for our primary site in Peterborough, and they work so well for us we decided to order more for our new site in Huntingdon,” explains Chris Pratt, Transport Manager at EPD. “GRENDiA is well-suited to our site, as we have our own gas tank, so it made sense for all our trucks to be LPG.”

Spiralling costs

Trucks on EPD’s two sites regularly work 12-hour shifts Monday to Friday, carrying a range of loads on and off lorries and vans. In the past when they had used alternative forklift models, they had noticed extreme wear on tyres. Pratt says: “The operators were often pulling away in such a manner that the tyres would spin, which was causing accelerated wear and tear. We were spending a lot of money replacing tyres. It also meant the trucks were using more gas.”

Wayne Hammond headed the team for the local Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks distributor, and offered a game-changing feature that could be added to the Mitsubishi GRENDiA ES LPG forklifts. “Electronic speed control is an option that offers adjustable speeds, but more importantly for EPD it includes soft power mode, which stops the wheels from spinning so reduces the tyre wear and saves money on maintenance,” Hammond enthuses. “It even reduces fuel consumption by up to 19 percent, which is huge considering the ongoing cost of energy right now. This small addition to the forklifts has been a massive benefit to EPD.”

Encouraging safer operations

EPD now have eight 2.5-tonne Mitsubishi GRENDiA ES LPG forklifts at their Peterborough site, and seven 2.5-tonne GRENDiA ES LPG forklifts at their Huntingdon site, with Mitsubishi forklift trucks making up half of their entire MHE fleet. The forklifts are required for indoor and outdoor work, so are fitted with a half cabin, and have a side shift for easier loading. Several optional features have been added to all trucks to improve safety, including a load weight indicator and rear blue lights.

“The trucks have great specifications which means better safety for our operators,” says Pratt. “We have big sites with a lot of trucks all operating in the same space, so every little feature helps when it comes to minimising the risk of an accident. In particular, the fact that the operators can’t spin the wheels means they will have greater control over the truck.”

Proactive support

Speed of service makes all the difference to EPD, who run intense distribution operations. “We have been really impressed by the GRENDiA forklifts, and the operators were excited by them,” says Pratt. “For us on the management side it’s been great having an online portal where we can log repairs and see what needs doing on the trucks. We have a maintenance package with our Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks distributor as well. We have had great support from Hammond and his team. They are really proactive. We like the trucks, and we love the service. We can’t ask for much more.”

eCommerce Retailer Parcel Insurance

Posted on by David Priestman

Anansi, the insurtech company, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Despatch Cloud, a provider of eCommerce shipping and warehouse management solutions. This exciting collaboration will bring an integrated solution for goods-in-transit insurance to Despatch Cloud’s vast network of eCommerce customers.

The eCommerce landscape has evolved rapidly, with online sales now constituting over one-third of the UK retail market. With peak season about to commence worldwide, the rising cases of damaged and missing goods are set to impact retailers and their customers, compelling them to explore innovative solutions to bridge these gaps and elevate their offerings.

Retailers using Anansi are able to automatically protect their goods up to the full retail value, avoid cumbersome manual claims experiences, and protect their customer experience. With this partnership, Anansi and Despatch Cloud aim to address the pervasive protection gap that plagues the industry, with an alarming 90% of goods in transit remaining either underinsured or uninsured.

Commenting on this pivotal partnership, Megan Bingham-Walker, Co-founder & CEO of Anansi, stated, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Despatch Cloud. Embedding Anansi’s insurance directly into Despatch Cloud’s market-leading Shipping Management Software is a game-changer for the countless eCommerce businesses seeking comprehensive parcel insurance.”

Chris Jones, CCO at Despatch Cloud, shared their perspective, “Despatch Cloud is continually exploring innovative technologies to enhance the operations of our extensive network of eCommerce retailers. Anansi’s automated parcel insurance is poised to help retailers bolster their goods’ safety, financial well-being, and overall customer experience.”

Anansi is an embedded goods-in-transit insurance platform for retailers, distribution partners and eCommerce merchants. Access to the platform is via an embedded API or web application, enabling 3PLs, e-commerce and shipping platforms and marketplaces to offer digital insurance directly to their customers from within their own front-end environments. It is the only solution, in a $71 billion market, that is automated to offer one-click signup, zero admin and automatically triggered claims and payouts.

Founded by Megan Bingham-Walker and Ana Martins de Carvalho, Anansi was born from their personal struggles with outdated, traditional insurance processes. Over the past year, Anansi launched its flagship insurance product with multiple logistics providers and worked with Wowcher to embed goods-in-transit insurance into its shipping journey. Its insurance products are underwritten by Arch Insurance International.

Founded in 2015 by Matthew Dunne, Despatch Cloud emerges from a deep understanding of courier software and fulfilment needs. Over the past 6 years, they’ve witnessed remarkable growth, reaching millions of parcel transactions monthly. While their roots lie in the heart of Yorkshire where their state-of-the-art 250,000 sq. ft. facility stands, it’s their commitment to innovation, efficiency, and real-world solutions that sets them apart.

 

Robotics Partnership with Intralogistics Specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

Global Robotics Services (GRS), the robotics arm division of GLP, has agreed a new strategic partnership with Brysdales Intralogistics (Brysdales), part of the Verat Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of material handling solutions

Under the terms of the partnership, GRS will work with Brysdales to offer a full-service solution to warehouse operators and businesses across the UK who seek to improve the productivity of their operations through robotics and other efficient storage solutions. GRS offers a collaborative robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) solution which gives customers access to the benefits of robotics through an innovative subscription model, offering the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go solution, and avoiding significant upfront CAPEX expenditure.

Brysdales brings more than 50 years of expertise in warehouse organisation helping businesses across a variety of commercial and manufacturing sectors to maximise workspace by designing storage systems that help companies work more efficiently.

To date, GRS has completed more than 30 robotics projects across Asia and Europe, with installations completed in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Italy.

Commenting on the partnership Jaap Vos, Managing Director Brysdales Intralogistics said: “Our partnership with GRS now gives us a unique fully automated solution in the intralogistics space. This new technology partnership will allow us to offer even greater efficiencies to new and existing customers and we look forward to working together to deliver these solutions across the UK’s warehouse and logistics marketplace.”

Hongming Chen, CEO of Global Robotics Services (GRS) commented : “Following our successful roll out across Asia we are now seeing significant interest in our subscription model robotics-as-a-service across Europe including the UK. Our new partnership with Brysdales, a market leader in the UK in the intralogistics space, will allow us to leverage their UK client network and local execution capabilities to reach an even greater number of potential customers across the country. We look forward to working with our new partners.”

GRS is an innovative platform providing collaborative robotics as a service (RaaS) solutions through a subscription model, offering the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go solution. The service is aimed at customers who are seeking to improve the productivity of their logistics operations through robotics, amid the increasing need to maximise efficiency in e-commerce.

 

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