Pallets RFID Tagged in Smart Approach

In an industry first for the UK, The Pallet LOOP today announces that each reusable green pallet it produces and puts into the sector will be fitted with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag – a move that is set to generate huge amounts of data about the movement of pallets and associated building materials nationwide as they pass through the supply chain.

Equipping each of its pallet with an RFID tag, containing a small chip, will give The Pallet LOOP the ability to scan pallets in and out of its production and collection sites nationwide. For The Pallet LOOP, this investment will give the business accurate, up to date information about the number of pallets issued to customers and, more importantly, collection and recovery rates. Crucially, for users of The Pallet LOOP, the information will also prove invaluable – revealing fascinating insights about the financial and carbon savings they are achieving. Long-term, all building products users through the construction supply chain could access information about pallet and associated product dwell times, setting them on a course to achieving greater efficiencies.

As part of its offer, The Pallet LOOP provides all its customers with access to a special reporting platform, where they can view and download information about the number of pallets returned and the money saved on collections versus disposal via a skip. The system also provides information about the amount of carbon saved and trees repurposed, which can be used in sustainability reporting. This data can be automatically e-mailed to customers or can be generated manually – depending on requirements.

The Pallet LOOP’s RFID technology is being supplied by MiTEQ – a specialist business providing fully integrated automation and tracking solutions using RFID technology. The Pallet LOOP has ordered more than a million tags for the circular economy pallets it is producing, which are due to hit the building materials supply chain in the coming months.

Commenting, Steve Ottaway, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at The Pallet LOOP said: “When we launched The Pallet LOOP, our main objective was to solve the problem of pallet waste by providing a range of pallets that are stronger, standardised in their design, and suitable for reuse. However, we also knew there was an opportunity to make our pallets smarter. In supply chain management and logistics, data has always been king. That’s now also the case for sustainability – with companies needing facts and figures to incorporate into their ESG work and annual reports. LOOP customers already using our PowerBI reporting platform love the detail it provides about the single use pallets we are collecting from their sites. This information will be further enriched when our green pallets, tagged with MiTEQ’s RFID technology, hit the market.”

Alex Whiting, Managing Director for MiTEQ, said “The Pallet LOOP’s investment in RFID is a testament to the power of the technology, not only for managing millions of assets within the business but to supporting a longer-term sustainability goal to reduce wastage and create a stronger circular economy that delivers value for customers. MiTEQ’s unique innovation process enabled us to really explore and understand The Pallet LOOP team’s requirements, collaboratively develop a solution and test it. We are now excited to deploy it into the market.”

Once fitted to the pallets, MiTEQ RFID labels – which are robust, waterproof and abrasion resistant – can be read either by a hand-held or a static scanner employed at manufacturing and repatriation sites. Tags utilise unique ID numbers for the pallet, which allow for the tracking of customer shipments, pallet returns and to identify where the pallet was made and originally delivered. The system can scan and read multiple tags simultaneously, from a distance of at least three metres, enabling The Pallet LOOP to quickly scan pallets in and out, on vehicles, or in stacks on site.

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Sustainable packaging closes the loop on plastic waste

 

Globalization at Record High, says DHL Report

DHL and New York University’s Stern School of Business today released the new DHL Global Connectedness Report 2024, the most comprehensive available analysis of globalization’s state and trajectory. It tracks how flows of trade, capital, information, and people move around the world and measures the globalization of 181 countries and territories.

The report reveals that globalization reached a record high in 2022 and remained close to that level in 2023 – despite a series of global shocks over the past decade, including the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the U.S. – China trade conflict, and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The evidence strongly rebuts the notion that the growth of global flows has gone into reverse. Trade growth played a crucial role in boosting global connectedness. The share of global output traded internationally was back to a record high level in 2022. After a slowdown in 2023, trade growth is forecast to accelerate in 2024. The globalization of information flows has been especially strong over the past two decades, even though the latest data show a stall in their growth, partly due to less research collaboration between the U.S. and China. Corporate globalization is rising, with companies expanding their international presence and earning more sales abroad.

At the launch of the DHL Global Connectedness Report, John Pearson, CEO DHL Express, said: “The most recent findings of the DHL Global Connectedness Report unequivocally dispel the notion of globalization reversing course. Far from being a mere buzzword, globalization is an influential force that has profoundly reshaped our world and has further great potential. Expanding markets and fostering opportunities empower individuals, businesses, and entire nations to flourish in unique ways. Embracing globalization allows us and our customers to forge a promising future, fostering an increasingly interconnected world, more prosperous for all – and poised for further growth.”

The report affirms the considerable potential to continue growing global flows. It pegs the world’s current level of globalization at only 25%, on a scale from 0% (meaning no flows cross national borders) to 100% (borders and distance have ceased to matter at all).

Ranking of most globalized countries

Singapore achieves the number one spot. The Netherlands and Ireland rank the second and third. 143 countries became more globally connected, while only 38 saw their levels of connectedness decline. Further evidence shows that Europe is the world’s most globally connected region, followed by North America and the Middle East & North Africa.

“Singapore has invested heavily in strengthening our physical and digital connectivity to the world because trade is our lifeblood. We continue to enhance our connectivity and trade links to remain a critical and trusted node in global supply chains, facilitating international trade and flows of capital, information and talent. We look forward to partnering with global companies seeking a launchpad for business growth and supply chain expansion in Asia-Pacific and beyond,” said Ih-Ming Chan, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board.

U.S. – China ties diminish, and Russia shows unprecedented decline

The DHL Global Connectedness Report also shows that U.S.-China ties continue to diminish, with the shares of both countries’ flows involving each other decreasing by about one-quarter since 2016. However, both countries remain significantly connected, demonstrating larger flows than almost any other pair of countries. Russia and Europe have decoupled, resulting in Russia facing an unprecedented drop in connectedness, more than twice as much as any previous decline on record among the world’s 20 largest economies. At the same time, the data analysis demonstrates that there is no wider split of the world economy between rival geopolitical blocs.

Globalization has not given way to regionalization

Further, the report shows that predictions of a global shift from globalization to regionalization are not – at least yet – borne out in patterns of international flows. In fact, most international flows are taking place over stable or even longer distances, with a declining share happening inside major geographic regions. In the realm of trade, only North America shows a clear shift to more regionalized trade patterns.

“Deglobalization is still only a risk, not a current reality,” says Steven Altman, Senior Research Scholar and Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern’s Center for the Future of Management. “Geopolitical threats and public policy shifts have led many to predict a fracturing of the world economy along geographic or geopolitical lines, or even a retreat from international to domestic business. But the latest data still show that international flows are growing and very few countries are cutting ties with their traditional counterparts. It is important to recognize the resilience of global flows because a lopsided focus on the threats to globalization could make deglobalization a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Published regularly since 2011, the renowned DHL Global Connectedness Report provides reliable findings on globalization trends by analyzing 15 types of international trade, capital, information, and people flows. The 2024 edition is based on almost nine million data points. It ranks the connectedness of 181 countries, accounting for 99.7 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and 98.7 percent of its population. A collection of 181 one-page country profiles provides concise summaries of individual countries’ globalization patterns.

The report was commissioned by DHL and authored by Steven A. Altman and Caroline R. Bastian of New York University Stern School of Business.

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DHL Index: Globalisation resilient during pandemic

 

Reliable, Customizable Shuttle System Introduced

HWArobotics showcased its high quality, reliable and efficient shuttle automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) technology at the MODEX 2024 supply chain show, in Atlanta, Georgia (March 11-14TH).

The warehousing and logistics robot company has 20 years’ experience in developing and building shuttle robot systems and appeared at MODEX to introduce its comprehensive range of ASRS technology to a North American audience. HWArobotics is looking to expand its customer base in the region and develop new partnerships with distributors, following the successful deployment of its solutions by Canadian 3PL business Darwynn.

Designed to optimize logistics and supply chain management operations, four key HWArobotics product lines were launched in North America, including three tote shuttles and one pallet shuttle, as well as associated cargo lifts, racking, and control software. With system availability of more than 99%, excellent reliability, accuracy, and scalability, HWArobotics customizable shuttle robot systems deliver high throughput for a wide range of industry sectors and can be deployed fast to deliver results quickly.

A whole process intelligent logistics solution

HWArobotics’ warehouse automation experts were on hand at Booth C3885 at this year’s MODEX to demonstrate the company’s products, which use high performance components from European suppliers, including Siemens (Germany), Voestalpine (Austria) and Hilti (Liechtenstein). The stand featured the SLS300, SLS400, and SLS600 series tote shuttles and the FPSS1500 pallet shuttle.

Manufactured using durable, long-lasting core components to create a stable structure, the SLS300 series standard tote shuttle storage system delivers high efficiency and up to 24 hours of continuous operation. Capable of speeds of up to 4 m/s and acceleration of 2 m/s, the SLS300 has single machine capability of up to 120 boxes an hour. Alongside the SLS300, HWArobotics also launched the SLS400 series variable tote shuttle system to the North American market. Offering strong compatibility and flexibility, the robot ASRS solution can mix and store containers of different sizes and can be configured to meet different efficiency requirements.

Reliable, economical and flexible, HWArobotics’ SLS600 3D tote shuttle system meets the needs of low-traffic, high-efficiency environments, such as spare parts, publishing, and ecommerce sites. It has excellent warehouse sharing capabilities as shuttles can realize any change of lane operation, while system capacity can be easily adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of shuttles to meet local short-term demand peaks.

Customizable Shuttle System

Also on display at MODEX 2024 was the highly-controllable FPSS1500 series pallet robot shuttle system designed for warehouses and distribution centers. The four-directional solution is an advanced ASRS designed for efficient pallet handling and storage, with global standard CE and UL certification. Specialized all-electric shuttle devices are capable of moving in four directions within the racking structure, providing enhanced versatility and operational efficiency.

The FPSS1500A is designed for room temperature environments across the manufacturing, distribution, food & beverage, and industrial sectors, and the FPSS1500B has been created specifically for cold storage, such as food, medicine and cold chain businesses. Using AI scheduling algorithms, it has achieved swarm intelligence within the PSR system to automatically adjust efficiency based on the number of vehicles and the rack structure.

Alongside its high performance shuttle devices, HWArobotics has a wide portfolio of goods lifts, racking and picking workstations (including robotic picking), for maximum performance and conveying capacity, high positioning accuracy, and sturdy, high tolerance storage.

HWArobotics General Manager, Sky Chen, explains, “We are delighted to have been at MODEX 2024 demonstrating the exceptional range of benefits our tote and pallet shuttle ASRS solutions can deliver. Thank you to the many visitors who visited our stand to learn more about the possibilities our innovative automated warehousing and logistics technology offers to reduce the workload of personnel and deliver efficient and accurate order execution.

“At HWArobotics we are enormously proud of the 20 years’ of experience we have as a pioneer in the field of shuttle robot systems and our exceptional customer service. We have established a base in the US and are excited to enhance the competitiveness of North American businesses with our shuttle ASRS technology. The recent deployment of HWArobotics shuttle systems by Darwynn demonstrates how our technology can be up and running quickly and effectively, automating and optimizing logistics and storage processes. Our strong global customer base, including Bosch UAES, Hisense Hitachi, SONY, iCOOP, Shein, Joyson Safety Systems, JD.com and Forvia, is testament to the capabilities we offer to companies seeking intelligent upgrading of their warehouses and manufacturing plants.”

read more

Automation: Key to Sustainable Warehousing

 

 

Reliable, Customizable Shuttle System Introduced

HWArobotics showcased its high quality, reliable and efficient shuttle automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) technology at the MODEX 2024 supply chain show, in Atlanta, Georgia (March 11-14TH).

The warehousing and logistics robot company has 20 years’ experience in developing and building shuttle robot systems and appeared at MODEX to introduce its comprehensive range of ASRS technology to a North American audience. HWArobotics is looking to expand its customer base in the region and develop new partnerships with distributors, following the successful deployment of its solutions by Canadian 3PL business Darwynn.

Designed to optimize logistics and supply chain management operations, four key HWArobotics product lines were launched in North America, including three tote shuttles and one pallet shuttle, as well as associated cargo lifts, racking, and control software. With system availability of more than 99%, excellent reliability, accuracy, and scalability, HWArobotics customizable shuttle robot systems deliver high throughput for a wide range of industry sectors and can be deployed fast to deliver results quickly.

A whole process intelligent logistics solution

HWArobotics’ warehouse automation experts were on hand at Booth C3885 at this year’s MODEX to demonstrate the company’s products, which use high performance components from European suppliers, including Siemens (Germany), Voestalpine (Austria) and Hilti (Liechtenstein). The stand featured the SLS300, SLS400, and SLS600 series tote shuttles and the FPSS1500 pallet shuttle.

Manufactured using durable, long-lasting core components to create a stable structure, the SLS300 series standard tote shuttle storage system delivers high efficiency and up to 24 hours of continuous operation. Capable of speeds of up to 4 m/s and acceleration of 2 m/s, the SLS300 has single machine capability of up to 120 boxes an hour. Alongside the SLS300, HWArobotics also launched the SLS400 series variable tote shuttle system to the North American market. Offering strong compatibility and flexibility, the robot ASRS solution can mix and store containers of different sizes and can be configured to meet different efficiency requirements.

Reliable, economical and flexible, HWArobotics’ SLS600 3D tote shuttle system meets the needs of low-traffic, high-efficiency environments, such as spare parts, publishing, and ecommerce sites. It has excellent warehouse sharing capabilities as shuttles can realize any change of lane operation, while system capacity can be easily adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of shuttles to meet local short-term demand peaks.

Customizable Shuttle System

Also on display at MODEX 2024 was the highly-controllable FPSS1500 series pallet robot shuttle system designed for warehouses and distribution centers. The four-directional solution is an advanced ASRS designed for efficient pallet handling and storage, with global standard CE and UL certification. Specialized all-electric shuttle devices are capable of moving in four directions within the racking structure, providing enhanced versatility and operational efficiency.

The FPSS1500A is designed for room temperature environments across the manufacturing, distribution, food & beverage, and industrial sectors, and the FPSS1500B has been created specifically for cold storage, such as food, medicine and cold chain businesses. Using AI scheduling algorithms, it has achieved swarm intelligence within the PSR system to automatically adjust efficiency based on the number of vehicles and the rack structure.

Alongside its high performance shuttle devices, HWArobotics has a wide portfolio of goods lifts, racking and picking workstations (including robotic picking), for maximum performance and conveying capacity, high positioning accuracy, and sturdy, high tolerance storage.

HWArobotics General Manager, Sky Chen, explains, “We are delighted to have been at MODEX 2024 demonstrating the exceptional range of benefits our tote and pallet shuttle ASRS solutions can deliver. Thank you to the many visitors who visited our stand to learn more about the possibilities our innovative automated warehousing and logistics technology offers to reduce the workload of personnel and deliver efficient and accurate order execution.

“At HWArobotics we are enormously proud of the 20 years’ of experience we have as a pioneer in the field of shuttle robot systems and our exceptional customer service. We have established a base in the US and are excited to enhance the competitiveness of North American businesses with our shuttle ASRS technology. The recent deployment of HWArobotics shuttle systems by Darwynn demonstrates how our technology can be up and running quickly and effectively, automating and optimizing logistics and storage processes. Our strong global customer base, including Bosch UAES, Hisense Hitachi, SONY, iCOOP, Shein, Joyson Safety Systems, JD.com and Forvia, is testament to the capabilities we offer to companies seeking intelligent upgrading of their warehouses and manufacturing plants.”

read more

Automation: Key to Sustainable Warehousing

 

 

IoT Platform Recognised by ISO

Underscoring the strength of its financial, IT and data security controls, Wiliot, the Internet of Things company whose ambient IoT Visibility Platform is enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence, today announced that the data security and governance robustness of its platform has recently been certified by two leading independent examiners.

First, Wiliot has now achieved System and Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II reports, issued by independent auditors from a leading big 4 firm.

“Receiving both SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II Reports is a watershed moment in our compliance journey,” Wiliot Chief Information Security Officer Alex Gryniuk said. “The reports testify to the strength of our internal controls by examining the robustness of our financial reporting, security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls.”

The recognition by the big 4 firm comes at the same time as the company’s third year re-certification of its ISO 27001 and ISO 27018 certifications by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Achieving these reports and re-certifications validates Wiliot’s multiyear and fundamental corporate commitment to data security, governance, and privacy. In addition, the reports further differentiate Wiliot as a security-focused company that can ease the compliance burden for customers requiring similar security assurances.

Regarding its ISO recertifications, Gryniuk said, “We are constantly working on improving our security maturity and business processes to bolster the protection of customer data and to achieve high standards of security controls. These re-certifications validate the success of our ongoing efforts to create a reliable, robust, and fully secure ambient IoT data platform for some of the world’s largest companies.”

The Wiliot Visibility Platform connects the digital and physical worlds using its Cloud Platform and IoT Pixels, which are stamp-sized, low-cost, battery-free Bluetooth devices that attach to any product, connecting it to the internet and embedding it with intelligence and awareness. Data streamed from these IoT Pixels – location, temperature, humidity, and carbon footprint – are processed in the Wiliot Cloud, generating actionable insights and triggers that create more efficient, profitable, and sustainable supply chains.

Third generation of RFID

Wiliot IoT Pixels represent the next generation of Radio Frequency Identifiers (RFID), an exponential step forward from legacy second-generation RFID. This third generation of RFID uses Bluetooth communication protocols that mitigate the need for manual, expensive, error prone hand-head scanning, or costly readers. They contain the same data as in a bar code but transmit the location – plus temperature, humidity, carbon footprint, and more – in a secure end-to-end encrypted format that allows the identifiers to be deactivated at any time and prevents unauthorised access that might compromise privacy.

Furthermore, third-generation RFID’s use of Bluetooth protocols ultimately will extend into the home – directly connecting manufacturers with consumers given Bluetooth’s mass proliferation in the home environment. Brands will have insight into the real-time usage of products by consumers, who can activate subscriptions for auto-replenishment as supplies dwindle. This CPG subscription paradigm will unlock new revenue streams for brands and new levels of convenience for consumers.

read more

Wiliot named a 2022 “Cool Vendor” by Gartner

 

IoT Platform Recognised by ISO

Underscoring the strength of its financial, IT and data security controls, Wiliot, the Internet of Things company whose ambient IoT Visibility Platform is enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence, today announced that the data security and governance robustness of its platform has recently been certified by two leading independent examiners.

First, Wiliot has now achieved System and Organization Controls (SOC) 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II reports, issued by independent auditors from a leading big 4 firm.

“Receiving both SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II Reports is a watershed moment in our compliance journey,” Wiliot Chief Information Security Officer Alex Gryniuk said. “The reports testify to the strength of our internal controls by examining the robustness of our financial reporting, security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls.”

The recognition by the big 4 firm comes at the same time as the company’s third year re-certification of its ISO 27001 and ISO 27018 certifications by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Achieving these reports and re-certifications validates Wiliot’s multiyear and fundamental corporate commitment to data security, governance, and privacy. In addition, the reports further differentiate Wiliot as a security-focused company that can ease the compliance burden for customers requiring similar security assurances.

Regarding its ISO recertifications, Gryniuk said, “We are constantly working on improving our security maturity and business processes to bolster the protection of customer data and to achieve high standards of security controls. These re-certifications validate the success of our ongoing efforts to create a reliable, robust, and fully secure ambient IoT data platform for some of the world’s largest companies.”

The Wiliot Visibility Platform connects the digital and physical worlds using its Cloud Platform and IoT Pixels, which are stamp-sized, low-cost, battery-free Bluetooth devices that attach to any product, connecting it to the internet and embedding it with intelligence and awareness. Data streamed from these IoT Pixels – location, temperature, humidity, and carbon footprint – are processed in the Wiliot Cloud, generating actionable insights and triggers that create more efficient, profitable, and sustainable supply chains.

Third generation of RFID

Wiliot IoT Pixels represent the next generation of Radio Frequency Identifiers (RFID), an exponential step forward from legacy second-generation RFID. This third generation of RFID uses Bluetooth communication protocols that mitigate the need for manual, expensive, error prone hand-head scanning, or costly readers. They contain the same data as in a bar code but transmit the location – plus temperature, humidity, carbon footprint, and more – in a secure end-to-end encrypted format that allows the identifiers to be deactivated at any time and prevents unauthorised access that might compromise privacy.

Furthermore, third-generation RFID’s use of Bluetooth protocols ultimately will extend into the home – directly connecting manufacturers with consumers given Bluetooth’s mass proliferation in the home environment. Brands will have insight into the real-time usage of products by consumers, who can activate subscriptions for auto-replenishment as supplies dwindle. This CPG subscription paradigm will unlock new revenue streams for brands and new levels of convenience for consumers.

read more

Wiliot named a 2022 “Cool Vendor” by Gartner

 

Grocery Retail Giants Rely on Automation

Cimcorp is a pioneer in intralogistics solutions, simplifying material flows and improving customers’ profitability by offering innovative and efficient solutions for automation. The company’s high-level technical skills combined with software know-how have created a unique formula for success in grocery retail automation. Through its automated logistics systems, Cimcorp provides its customers with the freedom to focus on their core business and offers them peace of mind.

From field to store within 24 hours

Freshness is a paramount consumer requirement that poses challenges for grocery logistics. With Cimcorp’s solution, grocery retailers have been able to dramatically reduce logistics delivery times from field to store.

“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality fresh produce in less time.”

Optimizing intralogistics can, at its best, halve the time taken for produce to travel from field to store. For example, Cimcorp’s intralogistics solution has revolutionized the order-fulfillment process of the Spanish supermarket giant, Mercadona, enabling the delivery of fresh and seasonal produce to stores within 24 hours. By reducing lead times and optimizing order flows, Mercadona has extended shelf life for its perishable goods, reduced food waste and enhanced the overall customer experience.

Quality is another key criterion for consumers when shopping for groceries. In order picking, speed and precision are decisive for product quality, considering that there is typically a wide assortment of fresh produce articles. Boasting the largest range of groceries in the discount segment, German food retailer, Netto Marken-Discount also automated its fresh produce logistics with Cimcorp.

Fresh produce has a limited shelf life and the longer it takes to get to the store, the greater the chance that it will spoil or lose its nutritional value. With Cimcorp’s automation expertise, Edeka Freienbrink – part of the largest German supermarket chain, Edeka Group – delivers fresh produce to its stores within 4-5 hours of receiving orders.

Securing employee safety and wellbeing

Automation can also alleviate ergonomic and labour issues, enabling operations to run in a faster and safer way. As labour availability continues to be a major challenge, employees in manual warehouses need to work harder and faster to fulfill orders accurately and on time. This poses significant ergonomic hazards and risk of injury.

“The order-fulfillment process is automated; we trust our robots with the heavy lifting,” says Miikkulainen. “Trusting automation maximizes the center’s output capacity, increasing the quality and productivity of the staff at work. This collaborative, human-robotics knowledge ensures that everything inside the four walls of the distribution center is optimized, and no orders are ever late.”

At Edeka Freienbrink, the Cimcorp system takes care of the heavy lifting and physical work, allowing Edeka to rely on fewer people at the facility and making it easier to manage. Automation leads to a more pleasant work environment, allowing employees to focus on problem solving and critical thinking.

Mercadona’s approach to the benefits of automation is very employee-centric. The accuracy and quality of picked pallets, as well as shortened lead times, are always reflected through the effect on people. Securing employee safety and avoiding excessive workload are top priorities for the Spanish grocer.

Towards more eco-friendly supply chains

Automation and strategically planned intralogistics can enable businesses to become greener. As a pioneer in intralogistics solutions for grocery retail, Cimcorp is a partner that puts sustainability, social responsibility and governance plans into action. An inventory and supply system that flows smoothly encourages long-term resilience and complies with future requirements for transparency and sustainability, while also reducing carbon footprint and fresh-produce wastage.

In addition to successfully accelerating the intralogistics of customers around the world, Cimcorp has helped many grocers to utilize reusable plastic crates (RPCs). RPCs can help to minimize environmental impact beyond food waste. RPCs can be used thousands of times, replacing cardboard boxes as the method of transport for fresh produce from the farm to the store shelf. For example, Cimcorp has helped Mercadona to match automation and RPCs for excellent results.

Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System (WCS) helps organize intralogistics and streamline the overall supply chain in a more sustainable way. Through optimizing the loading of delivery vehicles, customers can utilize their vehicle space more efficiently, which leads to fuller trucks and therefore fewer trucks. This means driving fewer kilometers on the road, reducing both CO2 emissions and pollution from exhaust fumes.

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Cimcorp to Automate Fresh Food Distribution for Spain’s Mercadona

 

Vision Picking Improves Warehouse Operations

TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, recently announced that the Vandemoortele group has deployed TeamViewer’s Augmented Reality (AR) platform Frontline to digitally transform its warehouse picking operations.

Vandemoortele, a European market leader in the production of both bakery products and margarines, culinary oils and fats is using TeamViewer’s vision picking solution at its warehouse in Izegem, Belgium, to compile bulk orders for its food service and retail customers. Operators wear head-mounted smart glasses that provide clear information on which item to pick next via a display in the workers field of view, guiding the operator through every step of the process including picking and packing the pallets in a way that ensures stability. The solution is fully voice-controlled, leaving both hands 100% free to operate the pallet trucks and perform the actual picks.

Some of the key benefits that Vandemoortele has achieved by implementing TeamViewer’s vision picking solution include significantly faster execution of warehouse processes, improved operator ergonomics, and a near-zero picking error rate, which has improved customer satisfaction. TeamViewer’s solution runs 100% cloud-based and therefore requires no local installation. It seamlessly integrates with Vandemoortele’s SAP warehouse management system.

Head-mounted smart glasses

Koen Paeye, Logistics Manager at Vandemoortele, says: “At Vandemoortele, we constantly strive to improve our operations to better serve our customers’ needs. Introducing TeamViewer’s vision picking solution was the key to digitalize our operations and take efficiency, accuracy and sustainability of our warehouse logistics to a new level.”

Jan Junker, Executive Vice President EMEA Sales at TeamViewer, says: “Manual processes are at the heart of intralogistics, but too often they rely on outdated, bulky, or cumbersome methods. With vision picking, companies can optimize operations by empowering workers with effective and ergonomic state-of-the-art technology. With our solution, Vandemoortele employees benefit from clear guidance throughout the picking process while keeping their hands free – all with a quick ROI.”

Vandemoortele plans to deploy TeamViewer in other warehouses, some of which have temperatures below -20° C. TeamViewer will demonstrate the solution at Logimat 2024 in Hall 8 / Booth 8G64.

read more

TeamViewer digitalises semiconductor manufacturer‘s warehouse operations

 

Vision Picking Improves Warehouse Operations

TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, recently announced that the Vandemoortele group has deployed TeamViewer’s Augmented Reality (AR) platform Frontline to digitally transform its warehouse picking operations.

Vandemoortele, a European market leader in the production of both bakery products and margarines, culinary oils and fats is using TeamViewer’s vision picking solution at its warehouse in Izegem, Belgium, to compile bulk orders for its food service and retail customers. Operators wear head-mounted smart glasses that provide clear information on which item to pick next via a display in the workers field of view, guiding the operator through every step of the process including picking and packing the pallets in a way that ensures stability. The solution is fully voice-controlled, leaving both hands 100% free to operate the pallet trucks and perform the actual picks.

Some of the key benefits that Vandemoortele has achieved by implementing TeamViewer’s vision picking solution include significantly faster execution of warehouse processes, improved operator ergonomics, and a near-zero picking error rate, which has improved customer satisfaction. TeamViewer’s solution runs 100% cloud-based and therefore requires no local installation. It seamlessly integrates with Vandemoortele’s SAP warehouse management system.

Head-mounted smart glasses

Koen Paeye, Logistics Manager at Vandemoortele, says: “At Vandemoortele, we constantly strive to improve our operations to better serve our customers’ needs. Introducing TeamViewer’s vision picking solution was the key to digitalize our operations and take efficiency, accuracy and sustainability of our warehouse logistics to a new level.”

Jan Junker, Executive Vice President EMEA Sales at TeamViewer, says: “Manual processes are at the heart of intralogistics, but too often they rely on outdated, bulky, or cumbersome methods. With vision picking, companies can optimize operations by empowering workers with effective and ergonomic state-of-the-art technology. With our solution, Vandemoortele employees benefit from clear guidance throughout the picking process while keeping their hands free – all with a quick ROI.”

Vandemoortele plans to deploy TeamViewer in other warehouses, some of which have temperatures below -20° C. TeamViewer will demonstrate the solution at Logimat 2024 in Hall 8 / Booth 8G64.

read more

TeamViewer digitalises semiconductor manufacturer‘s warehouse operations

 

New Collaborative Robots at MODEX

Schneider Electric, a global leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced the release of two new Lexium cobots (collaborative robots) at MODEX 2024; the Lexium RL 3 and RL 12, as well as the Lexium RL 18 model coming later this year. Schneider Electric innovations in robotics and motion will be on display at their booth, #B7232. From single-axis machines to high-performance multi-axis machines, the comprehensive Lexium line enables high-speed motion and control of up to 130 axes from one processor for precise positioning to help solve manufacturer production, flexibility, and sustainability challenges.

Schneider Electric goes beyond robots to provide fully integrated automation systems – digitally designed from concept to operation and maintenance. Integrating robots into the machine control solution through the EcoStruxure architecture enables collaborative data flow from shop-floor to top-floor, by connecting smart products, robots, controls, software, and services. Controlled by Modicon motion controllers, which unify PLC, motion, and robotics control functionality on a single hardware platform and integrated into of EcoStruxure Machine Expert software, it offers a complete robotic solution.

“As US manufacturing increases, the demand for smart machines is growing and customers are requiring robots with digital twin capabilities that validate machine performance to help them quickly increase production consistently, efficiently, and sustainably,” said Christine Bush, Robotics Center of Excellence Leader, Schneider Electric. “We are partnering with our customers to understand their challenges and pain points, then responding with complete, customized automation solutions – from power products and HMIs to PLCs and robotics – to simplify the process and meet their needs.”

Compatibility with EcoStruxure Machine Expert Twin, a digital twin software suite that creates digital models of real machines, allows for virtual test strategies and commissioning, as well as shortened factory acceptance testing (FAT). Digitizing these processes can reduce time-to-market by up to 50% and commissioning time by up to 60%. A 20-40% savings in investment costs can also be realized due to faster time-to-market.

Collaborative Robots

Lexium cobots are part of a full line of robotics and automation solutions developed to meet manufacturer needs across industries, including warehouse/logistics, life sciences, consumer packaged goods, and beyond. Benefits of Lexium robotics and motion solutions include:

• Fast deployment: Built on open automation standards and protocols, cobots offer flexibility, scalability, and easy third-party equipment integration. They can be easily applied to existing or new production lines in a variety of different industries.

• Streamlined integration: Enhanced computing power, open software, and networking technologies facilitate quicker assembly, installation, and maintenance of robots. A centralized architecture with a unified programming platform using open standards promotes seamless interoperability among automation systems, machines, and robots.

• Consistent output: Designed to handle repetitive tasks without errors or distractions, cobots can maintain Overall Equipment Effectiveness while manufacturing higher volumes of quality goods over shorter periods 24/7 without fatigue. This produces a consistent output with little variability over a given production batch.

• Workplace health and safety: Cobots perform well in harsh environments and can handle riskier operator tasks involving heavy weights to reduce accidents and injuries.

Amidst the rapid growth of US manufacturing, companies are increasingly seeking digital, efficient, and sustainable solutions to meet expanding output demands. Embracing Industry 4.0’s digitization, with advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, and digital twins, has become imperative to drive operational excellence. Software solutions are also playing a critical role in empowering manufacturers to innovate rapidly, reduce commissioning time, and stay competitive in this evolving landscape. As the industry transitions to Industry 5.0, the Lexium motion and robotics offers are poised to redefine efficiency and enable personalized autonomous manufacturing.

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Robotics and Automation Specialists Sign Long-Term Partnership

 

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