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Month: July 2024

New Lorry-loading Order Picker Launched

Posted on by David Priestman

Hyster has launched a new ‘2-in-1’ truck combining the benefits of both a Low Level Order Picker and a ride on Pallet Truck. The Hyster® Order Picker Pallet Truck is tough enough that manufacturing sites and industrial warehouses can use the same truck to pick up loads and then place them directly into the back of a lorry. Likewise, they can carry out unloading and put loads away, all without operators needing to switch to a different type of materials handling equipment. This helps operations in intense handling environments to stay productive while also helping reduce costs.

“Industrial applications with manufacturing or storage operations are challenging by their very nature. Add to that increased competition, dwindling margins, and hard deadlines and its clear why it’s increasingly important for businesses to streamline their working practices and get the maximum benefit from their equipment fleet,” says Monica Radavelli, Product Manager at Hyster Europe.
“This new Hyster model features a durable design that demanding industrial operations can depend on for highly productive mixed use, from order picking in a manufacturer’s warehouse, to loading and unloading lorries in the loading dock,” Radavelli continues.

The Hyster LO2.0-3.0P Order Picker Pallet Truck is built to withstand tough environments with a robust frame and steel battery cover. It can lift up to three tonnes and features an operator position that delivers exceptional handling while generous ground clearance enables use on ramps, in addition to performing the similar indoor functions as existing Hyster Low Level Order Pickers.

“Comfortable operators tend to be productive operators. So, the Order Picker Pallet Truck is designed for a positive ride, even in rugged environments. The platform is spacious, visibility is optimised, the tiller head is easy to use, and adjustable scooter controls enable the drive unit to be customised to the operator’s height,” says Radavelli. “Integrated lights, ergonomic handles with lift / lower auxiliary buttons and different drive modes further help enhance the operator experience.”

Additional options that can be specified to match the demands of the specific application include the Intelligent Lift feature, allowing operators to lift loads and manoeuvre before reaching full lift, different fork lengths and heights, and Hyster Tracker telematics. The Hyster Order Picker Pallet Truck is available to order now from the global network of local Hyster distribution partners.

read more

Hyster Adds Platform Stacker to General Purpose Ops Range

 

eBook: End to end Costing in Express Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business magazine, together with the Information Factory, have produced a new 6 page digital magazine on managing end to end costing in express logistics. Editor Peter MacLeod talks to iFactory CEO Robert Jordan to understand how transport and logistics businesses can manage costs and grow. Learn how accurate costing of each individual process within the supply chain can be used to make commercial and operational decisions that are absolutely key to driving a business forward.

Read the free eBook here.

Understand costs and grow your business

Ever-higher levels of visibility across the logistics and wider supply chain sectors offer businesses considerable knowledge of the status of goods in transit and storage. But whilst the digitisation of the sector helps identify to a granular level where any individual item may be located anywhere in the world, the knowledge of what are a business’s key end-to-end cost drivers is less widely known.
In logistics and transport, operations are often highly complex and feature innumerable variables. But if the cost information on which decisions are based is either unreliable or – worse – non-existent, businesses can miss the opportunity to make decisions that have the potential to improve profitability in a sector where margins are sometimes wafer-thin. Furthermore, they may inadvertently make a decision that could prove costly to the business.

read the previous eBook on data driven logistics here

eBook: Data Driven Logistics

 

 

eBook: End to end Costing in Express Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business magazine, together with the Information Factory, have produced a new 6 page digital magazine on managing end to end costing in express logistics. Editor Peter MacLeod talks to iFactory CEO Robert Jordan to understand how transport and logistics businesses can manage costs and grow. Learn how accurate costing of each individual process within the supply chain can be used to make commercial and operational decisions that are absolutely key to driving a business forward.

Read the free eBook here.

Understand costs and grow your business

Ever-higher levels of visibility across the logistics and wider supply chain sectors offer businesses considerable knowledge of the status of goods in transit and storage. But whilst the digitisation of the sector helps identify to a granular level where any individual item may be located anywhere in the world, the knowledge of what are a business’s key end-to-end cost drivers is less widely known.
In logistics and transport, operations are often highly complex and feature innumerable variables. But if the cost information on which decisions are based is either unreliable or – worse – non-existent, businesses can miss the opportunity to make decisions that have the potential to improve profitability in a sector where margins are sometimes wafer-thin. Furthermore, they may inadvertently make a decision that could prove costly to the business.

read the previous eBook on data driven logistics here

eBook: Data Driven Logistics

 

 

Switch to Tow Tractor is Sweet

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Histon Sweet Spreads Ltd (part of the Hain Daniels Group) produces some of the UK’s best known preserve brands, including such staples of the British breakfast table as Robertson’s ‘Golden Shred’ marmalade and Hartley’s jam.

The company’s production facility in Cambridgeshire is in operation 24/7 and some one million cases – or 1500 tonnes – of product is manufactured at the site each and every week. With residential property bordering the busy operation Histon Sweet Spreads go to great lengths to minimise the amount of noise generated by arriving and departing delivery vehicles and other essential activities that might disturb or disrupt their neighbours.

“A certain amount of noise from commercial or industrial premises is to be expected but we have always been very aware of the fact that excessive or unreasonable sound could constitute a problem for the people that live in the houses nearby, especially if the noise continues through the night,” explains Danny Ivatt, Histon Sweet Spreads’ Site Services and FLT Supervisor.

When a resident of one of the domestic properties that adjoin the production site’s boundary drew Histon’s attention to the noise created by a lift truck that uses an unmade road to shuttle between different areas of the site, Histon Sweet Spreads immediately set about finding a way to nullify the problem.

The company consulted its long-term materials handling equipment provider Toyota Material Handling (UK) for a solution. Studies undertaken by Toyota highlighted that it took the lift truck six minutes to cover the distance between the site’s ‘jelly line’ and the finished goods warehouse. Once a pallet of ‘jelly’ had been deposited within the finished goods store, the forklift made the return journey – which involved another six minutes of travel time.

With loads coming off of the ‘jelly line’ at a rate of 5 or 6 per hour the lift truck’s 12 minute return trip to the storage unit and back via the rough surface of the road often meant the truck operator was up against the clock. Toyota recommended replacing the forklift with a tow tractor. Because a tow tractor fitted with a trailer allows several loads to be transported by one vehicle, the number of journeys between the ‘jelly line’ and the finished goods store has been cut to one every hour, instead of the five or six 12 minute forklift trips that had previously been necessary.

Furthermore, an immediate noise reduction dividend comes courtesy of the elimination of the sound produced when the forklift’s mast is raised or lowered, due to the simple fact that a tow tractor doesn’t have a mast!

The tow tractor supplied is a Simai 4-wheel sit-in model with an 8-tonne capacity. The electric-powered machine’s robust design is better suited to the terrain of the unmade link road than the fork truck, which means Histon’s monthly service costs have been reduced. And, because the tow tractor is only required to make one return trip per hour, it is also being used to manage the movement of waste and empty raw material barrels around the site. This has allowed Histon to cut the number of hours each of the six trucks in its gas-powered counterbalanced forklift fleet has to work in and around the yard area – further reducing noise pollution.

Toyota report that, driven by changing manufacturing trends, sales of tow tractors are increasing across its business. “Many manufacturing companies are reconfiguring their internal logistics systems to maximise efficiency of lineside parts delivery processes,” says Toyota Material Handling Senior Sales Executive, Ronnie Finney.

He continues: “In a lot of cases, manufacturers are adopting the ‘milk run’ principle as the most efficient way of getting parts to the production line. This involves delivery of parts on a defined route around the factory, often to a set timetable. In simple terms, tow tractors leave the warehouse with a full load of parts. They drop off a full SKU of parts at the production line and take-away an empty SKU for replenishment. This system was first used in the automotive sector but is being adopted by smaller companies across a range of industries as the ‘scheduled’ parts delivery service approach gives greater structure to the production process.”

read more

More Towing Capacity on Offer with Tow Tractor Range

 

Switch to Tow Tractor is Sweet

Posted on by David Priestman

Histon Sweet Spreads Ltd (part of the Hain Daniels Group) produces some of the UK’s best known preserve brands, including such staples of the British breakfast table as Robertson’s ‘Golden Shred’ marmalade and Hartley’s jam.

The company’s production facility in Cambridgeshire is in operation 24/7 and some one million cases – or 1500 tonnes – of product is manufactured at the site each and every week. With residential property bordering the busy operation Histon Sweet Spreads go to great lengths to minimise the amount of noise generated by arriving and departing delivery vehicles and other essential activities that might disturb or disrupt their neighbours.

“A certain amount of noise from commercial or industrial premises is to be expected but we have always been very aware of the fact that excessive or unreasonable sound could constitute a problem for the people that live in the houses nearby, especially if the noise continues through the night,” explains Danny Ivatt, Histon Sweet Spreads’ Site Services and FLT Supervisor.

When a resident of one of the domestic properties that adjoin the production site’s boundary drew Histon’s attention to the noise created by a lift truck that uses an unmade road to shuttle between different areas of the site, Histon Sweet Spreads immediately set about finding a way to nullify the problem.

The company consulted its long-term materials handling equipment provider Toyota Material Handling (UK) for a solution. Studies undertaken by Toyota highlighted that it took the lift truck six minutes to cover the distance between the site’s ‘jelly line’ and the finished goods warehouse. Once a pallet of ‘jelly’ had been deposited within the finished goods store, the forklift made the return journey – which involved another six minutes of travel time.

With loads coming off of the ‘jelly line’ at a rate of 5 or 6 per hour the lift truck’s 12 minute return trip to the storage unit and back via the rough surface of the road often meant the truck operator was up against the clock. Toyota recommended replacing the forklift with a tow tractor. Because a tow tractor fitted with a trailer allows several loads to be transported by one vehicle, the number of journeys between the ‘jelly line’ and the finished goods store has been cut to one every hour, instead of the five or six 12 minute forklift trips that had previously been necessary.

Furthermore, an immediate noise reduction dividend comes courtesy of the elimination of the sound produced when the forklift’s mast is raised or lowered, due to the simple fact that a tow tractor doesn’t have a mast!

The tow tractor supplied is a Simai 4-wheel sit-in model with an 8-tonne capacity. The electric-powered machine’s robust design is better suited to the terrain of the unmade link road than the fork truck, which means Histon’s monthly service costs have been reduced. And, because the tow tractor is only required to make one return trip per hour, it is also being used to manage the movement of waste and empty raw material barrels around the site. This has allowed Histon to cut the number of hours each of the six trucks in its gas-powered counterbalanced forklift fleet has to work in and around the yard area – further reducing noise pollution.

Toyota report that, driven by changing manufacturing trends, sales of tow tractors are increasing across its business. “Many manufacturing companies are reconfiguring their internal logistics systems to maximise efficiency of lineside parts delivery processes,” says Toyota Material Handling Senior Sales Executive, Ronnie Finney.

He continues: “In a lot of cases, manufacturers are adopting the ‘milk run’ principle as the most efficient way of getting parts to the production line. This involves delivery of parts on a defined route around the factory, often to a set timetable. In simple terms, tow tractors leave the warehouse with a full load of parts. They drop off a full SKU of parts at the production line and take-away an empty SKU for replenishment. This system was first used in the automotive sector but is being adopted by smaller companies across a range of industries as the ‘scheduled’ parts delivery service approach gives greater structure to the production process.”

read more

More Towing Capacity on Offer with Tow Tractor Range

 

New Rail Freight Connection between Poland and Spain

Posted on by David Priestman

Geodis, a leading intermodal operator, has expanded its rail freight services with another fixed schedule connection. As of June 11th, the freight train between Łódź and Barcelona was operable, representing the first direct rail connection between the two countries.

On the inaugural trip customers’ goods in 44 containers and/or swap bodies, each capable of carrying a payload of 26 tons set off from the freight terminal in Łódź, reaching Barcelona after just three days, from where ‘last mile‘ distribution will take place by road. Later on that day of arrival, the train returns to Poland with imported goods from Spain. Successive trains have also a capacity of 44 units, replacing the same amount of trucks that might otherwise be used.

The service is an example of GEODIS’ ability to go beyond a pure intermodal offering and provide a truly multimodal option, which combines road transport with rail seamlessly, enabling a secure flow of goods and more flexibility in managing peaks in demand.

Moving more goods safely with less energy consumed

Delivering goods on rail emits five times less CO2 than covering the same distance by road and is 12 times lower than the equivalent air transport. The rail link allows the delivery of as much as 1,000 tons of goods from various industries.

The rail route between Łódź and Barcelona, although longer than the road journey by almost 160 km, reduces CO2 emissions by up to -79%. Moreover, energy consumption is around 57% lower.

Dynamic development of rail transport services

In the first stage of the development of this project, the schedule provides for one train per week, leaving Łódź every Tuesday. In the other direction, the train will depart from Barcelona on Fridays.

“The launch of the new Łódź – Barcelona rail connection provides customers a large number of benefits, as it will enable punctual transportation of shipments, while considerably limiting CO2 emissions,” said Marc Vollet, Chief Operations Officer at GEODIS European Road Network. “GEODIS is one of the leading intermodal operators, and we are proud to continue in this vein by developing this road-rail solution in Europe, enabling our customers to benefit from even more solutions and optional routings. We have great ambitions for this new line, as we plan to increase the frequency to two trains per week in the near future.”

This new multimodal block-train is an addition to the existing GEODIS multimodal route network which operates nearly 120 trains a week throughout Europe.

read more

Rejuvenation of Lodz Logistics Hubs

 

New Rail Freight Connection between Poland and Spain

Posted on by David Priestman

Geodis, a leading intermodal operator, has expanded its rail freight services with another fixed schedule connection. As of June 11th, the freight train between Łódź and Barcelona was operable, representing the first direct rail connection between the two countries.

On the inaugural trip customers’ goods in 44 containers and/or swap bodies, each capable of carrying a payload of 26 tons set off from the freight terminal in Łódź, reaching Barcelona after just three days, from where ‘last mile‘ distribution will take place by road. Later on that day of arrival, the train returns to Poland with imported goods from Spain. Successive trains have also a capacity of 44 units, replacing the same amount of trucks that might otherwise be used.

The service is an example of GEODIS’ ability to go beyond a pure intermodal offering and provide a truly multimodal option, which combines road transport with rail seamlessly, enabling a secure flow of goods and more flexibility in managing peaks in demand.

Moving more goods safely with less energy consumed

Delivering goods on rail emits five times less CO2 than covering the same distance by road and is 12 times lower than the equivalent air transport. The rail link allows the delivery of as much as 1,000 tons of goods from various industries.

The rail route between Łódź and Barcelona, although longer than the road journey by almost 160 km, reduces CO2 emissions by up to -79%. Moreover, energy consumption is around 57% lower.

Dynamic development of rail transport services

In the first stage of the development of this project, the schedule provides for one train per week, leaving Łódź every Tuesday. In the other direction, the train will depart from Barcelona on Fridays.

“The launch of the new Łódź – Barcelona rail connection provides customers a large number of benefits, as it will enable punctual transportation of shipments, while considerably limiting CO2 emissions,” said Marc Vollet, Chief Operations Officer at GEODIS European Road Network. “GEODIS is one of the leading intermodal operators, and we are proud to continue in this vein by developing this road-rail solution in Europe, enabling our customers to benefit from even more solutions and optional routings. We have great ambitions for this new line, as we plan to increase the frequency to two trains per week in the near future.”

This new multimodal block-train is an addition to the existing GEODIS multimodal route network which operates nearly 120 trains a week throughout Europe.

read more

Rejuvenation of Lodz Logistics Hubs

 

Indurent Launched as Warehouse Property Company

Posted on by David Priestman

Indurent, a developer and operator of industrial and logistics space, launched today by bringing together specialist multi-let industrial property company, Industrials REIT, and logistics developer and manager, St. Modwen Logistics.

The newly integrated business, which is owned by investment funds managed by Blackstone, and led by chief executive Julian Carey (pictured) and an experienced leadership team drawn from both businesses, has a portfolio comprising more than 27 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space. This ranges from urban light industrial units and ‘last-mile’ delivery facilities to mid and big-box developments utilised for national distribution, production, or manufacturing.

Indurent is one of the U.K.’s largest owners of logistics property and has an established footprint across all the U.K.’s major cities, as well as a diverse customer base of more than 2,000 businesses, ranging from local traders and SMEs to global blue-chip corporates.

Indurent and its occupiers will benefit from Industrials REIT’s market-leading ‘Hive’ technology platform, which supports direct marketing to customers and a frictionless occupier experience to help drive customer satisfaction and reduce vacancy periods. This will be combined with the development capability and considerable land bank of St. Modwen Logistics, which delivered c.4 million sq ft of space in the past two years.

The new Indurent management team also includes Tom Olsen (Chief Financial Officer), James Cooper (Head of Investment), Lee Nash (Head of Development) and Sarah Bellilchi (General Counsel). The business will operate from offices in both London and Stockport.

Julian Carey, CEO of Indurent, said: “This is an incredibly exciting milestone which brings together a market-leading customer focused operating platform and proven development capability to create Indurent, a fully integrated industrial and logistics company that can support our customers at all stages of their lifecycle. An undersupply of industrial and logistics space in key locations means we have an exciting opportunity to establish a truly national platform that will help businesses access the space they need. With Blackstone’s support, we are well placed to deploy capital where we see attractive acquisition opportunities and deliver on our ambitious development pipeline.”

James Seppala, Head of European Real Estate, Blackstone, said: “U.K. logistics is a high conviction theme for Blackstone given the exceptionally favourable long-term fundamentals in the sector. As the market continues to evolve and mature, Indurent’s outstanding team and best in class approach to customer service across an expanded portfolio puts it in the best position for this next phase of growth.”

Since acquiring St. Modwen and Industrials REIT in 2021 and 2023 respectively, Blackstone has invested well over £2bn in the logistics businesses.

read more

Speculative Development for St. Modwen Logistics

 

Clustag Selected for Item-Level RFID Solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Clustag by Rielec, a global leader in innovative RFID solutions, has announced that it has been appointed by global warehouse robotics provider Exotec as a strategic partner to deploy item-level RFID solutions in selected Skypod® System projects. The technology will be deployed in some specific projects in the Netherlands for a globally known fashion brand

Headquartered in Lille, France, Exotec combines hardware and software to offer warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. The Skypod System is an order-picking solution for retail, e-commerce, and industrial use. Robots can climb racks up to 12 metres in high and retrieve products autonomously, before delivering totes to human-staffed or automatic picking stations.

Warehouse automation systems like Exotec allow efficient use of height without impacting performance or flexibility. The Skypod System is fully scalable, so storage capacity and picking performance can be increased when required or adapted to the architecture of a warehouse. The system can run continuously throughout the year without impacting performance. In addition, more robots can be quickly added to increase throughput during peak periods. Exotec’s comprehensive software simplifies management of the entire system.

“We selected the Clustag solution by Rielec because we were impressed by its elegant design, proven reliability, and the ability to be delivered quickly by highly competent teams. It perfectly meets our quality and customer satisfaction requirements,” said Chloé Marechal, Supply Chain Manager Western Europe at Exotec.

As part of the partnership, Clustag by Rielec will provide Exotec with its patented RFID MOT Station technology. The MOT Station design provides complete reliability and flow data available to users. The technology can be fully integrated into processes and aggregates three key pieces of data: RFID identification, case volume, and case weight during operation to improve the inventory management process.

The technology can scan the contents of cases with dimensions up to 850 x 650 x 650 millimetres, scanning 400 tags per case at speeds of up to 1,000 cases per hour. The RFID station is UL certified and CE-marked. Used within the fashion industry, the MOT Station combined with Clustag’s ZENTUP software enables retailers to keep pace with fast-moving fashion cycles. Once items are scanned, ZENTUP provides retailers with complete product data, incorporating product types, colours, and sizes to facilitate high-quality stock decision-making, quickly.

ZENTUP will integrate with Exotec’s Warehouse Execution System to provide users with accurate, real-time data. This provides the foundation that enables retailers to deliver efficient and effective order fulfilment for customers.

In the words of Manolo Reguart, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Clustag by Rielec: “RFID technology plays a pivotal role in creating enhanced inventory accuracy within the warehouse. The successful integration of our MOT Stations into some Exotec’s projects will deliver unparalleled inventory visibility for end users”.

With the implementation of Clustag by Rielec technology in Exotec’s warehouse solution, smarter supply chain and order fulfilment decisions can be made that improve sales opportunities and the long-term business success of both brands.

read more

LAC to represent Exotec in the UK

 

Clustag Selected for Item-Level RFID Solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Clustag by Rielec, a global leader in innovative RFID solutions, has announced that it has been appointed by global warehouse robotics provider Exotec as a strategic partner to deploy item-level RFID solutions in selected Skypod® System projects. The technology will be deployed in some specific projects in the Netherlands for a globally known fashion brand

Headquartered in Lille, France, Exotec combines hardware and software to offer warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. The Skypod System is an order-picking solution for retail, e-commerce, and industrial use. Robots can climb racks up to 12 metres in high and retrieve products autonomously, before delivering totes to human-staffed or automatic picking stations.

Warehouse automation systems like Exotec allow efficient use of height without impacting performance or flexibility. The Skypod System is fully scalable, so storage capacity and picking performance can be increased when required or adapted to the architecture of a warehouse. The system can run continuously throughout the year without impacting performance. In addition, more robots can be quickly added to increase throughput during peak periods. Exotec’s comprehensive software simplifies management of the entire system.

“We selected the Clustag solution by Rielec because we were impressed by its elegant design, proven reliability, and the ability to be delivered quickly by highly competent teams. It perfectly meets our quality and customer satisfaction requirements,” said Chloé Marechal, Supply Chain Manager Western Europe at Exotec.

As part of the partnership, Clustag by Rielec will provide Exotec with its patented RFID MOT Station technology. The MOT Station design provides complete reliability and flow data available to users. The technology can be fully integrated into processes and aggregates three key pieces of data: RFID identification, case volume, and case weight during operation to improve the inventory management process.

The technology can scan the contents of cases with dimensions up to 850 x 650 x 650 millimetres, scanning 400 tags per case at speeds of up to 1,000 cases per hour. The RFID station is UL certified and CE-marked. Used within the fashion industry, the MOT Station combined with Clustag’s ZENTUP software enables retailers to keep pace with fast-moving fashion cycles. Once items are scanned, ZENTUP provides retailers with complete product data, incorporating product types, colours, and sizes to facilitate high-quality stock decision-making, quickly.

ZENTUP will integrate with Exotec’s Warehouse Execution System to provide users with accurate, real-time data. This provides the foundation that enables retailers to deliver efficient and effective order fulfilment for customers.

In the words of Manolo Reguart, Director of Strategy and Business Development at Clustag by Rielec: “RFID technology plays a pivotal role in creating enhanced inventory accuracy within the warehouse. The successful integration of our MOT Stations into some Exotec’s projects will deliver unparalleled inventory visibility for end users”.

With the implementation of Clustag by Rielec technology in Exotec’s warehouse solution, smarter supply chain and order fulfilment decisions can be made that improve sales opportunities and the long-term business success of both brands.

read more

LAC to represent Exotec in the UK

 

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