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Day: 12 August 2024

Bobcat’s $3.26M Overhaul Turns Georgia Facility into a Powerhouse of Forklift Innovation

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Bobcat Company, a global equipment, innovation and worksite solutions brand, recently completed a $3.26 million renovation at its Buford, Georgia (USA) location, which is home to the company’s North American material handling sales, service, marketing, parts and logistics departments.

Bobcat recently brought material handling into the Bobcat brand, transitioning from Doosan Industrial Vehicle to Bobcat in early 2024.

The investment in the Buford facility modernized conference rooms, break rooms and office spaces, improved the interior design, finishing and furnishing to align with other Bobcat locations, and updated exterior signage. Featuring open seating and no cubicles, the enhanced spaces support cross-functional teamwork and engagement.

“Investing in our facilities and operations to create collaborative, inspiring workplaces is one of many ways that Bobcat supports our employees,” said Mike Ballweber, president, Doosan Bobcat North America. “Fostering our company’s success alongside the dedicated team in Buford is a priority for us. We are thrilled to provide them with a work environment that encourages collaboration and drives innovation.”

The 200,000-square-foot Buford facility houses a state-of-the-art parts operation which supplies over 30,000 line items to support its affiliate groups. Additionally, the material handling product line includes 179 separate models with a full range of diesel, gas, liquid propane gas and electric forklifts, with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 55,000 pounds.

“The growth of the Bobcat brand into the material handling industry allows us to provide even more solutions to help our customers accomplish more,” said Jarrod Steck, Bobcat vice president of material handling products. “Our Buford team has grown by 40 percent in the last year and is still growing. Bobcat’s investment in both people and facility illustrate our level of commitment to growing Bobcat’s presence in this important market.”

More than 180 employees work at the Buford location – a significant increase since 2022. Opportunities for employment are available in product support, sales administration and product and parts areas.

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AI Agent Trained with Supply Chain Expertise

Posted on by David Priestman

Rufus Labs, Inc has launched Rufus AI, an AI tool powered by wearable technology, designed to optimize warehouse productivity. Rufus AI empowers warehouse operations managers to make data driven predictions enhancing operational efficiency, increasing productivity and boosting profitability for warehouses.

Rufus AI is a natural extension of Rufus Labs’ WorkHero dashboard. The dashboard presents real-time and historical data from multiple sources in the warehouse. Using Rufus AI, warehouse management can now interpret this data to enhance decision making capabilities, offering predictive analytics that will improve the day-to-day operational running of the warehouse.

“AI has the potential to significantly benefit the supply chain sector,” said Gabe Grifoni, CEO of Rufus Labs. “At Rufus Labs, we’re committed to empowering our customers with valuable data. Now, with Rufus AI integrated into the WorkHero dashboard, the tool instantly and intelligently analyzes and interprets that data. It’s as if we’ve installed a Data Analyst in every warehouse.”

Using the power of Generative AI, combined with Rufus Labs’ experience and expertise in the supply chain, Rufus AI helps optimize peak planning, manage labor requirements and streamline overall warehouse efficiency.

“We spoke with customers about their data, and this is the tool they were crying out for,” continued Grifoni. “We have already doubled warehouse productivity with Rufus WorkHero, but we wanted to go one step further. With Rufus AI we have deployed a tool that enables our warehouse customers to make predictions that are tailored to their business needs and warehouse operations. This will allow the whole supply chain to become even more efficient.”

“In the short time we have been using Rufus AI it has already been a game changer for us,” said Derrick Vanover, Director of IT, BR Williams Trucking, who has been beta testing the innovative solution. “Thanks to Rufus we’ve always had access to the data we needed, but now we have a tool that can process this information for us in seconds and present it in multiple board-friendly formats. This provides us with the ability to convey critical insights clearly and effectively to our leadership team and make forward-looking decisions.”

Rufus AI is powered by OpenAI’s advanced ChatGPT4 technology. In collaboration with Heft IQ, specialists in AI-driven, supply chain analytics, Rufus Labs has harnessed its extensive industry experience to deploy the first specialized, generative AI tool designed specifically for warehouse barcode scanning technology.

“Rufus AI is a great tool and we’re proud of our involvement in it. We create advanced tools for decision making in the supply chain and logistics sector and working with Rufus Labs on Rufus AI felt like a natural extension of that,” said Learie Hercules, CEO at Heft IQ. “Rufus AI creates a big shift in how warehouses can use their own data to improve their business decision making.”

Rufus AI analyzes the user’s individual data from their warehouses, to offer incredibly powerful predictions and recommendations. Users access Rufus AI through a generative AI interface, using typed questions and prompts or voice requests.

“AI represents the future of industry and can deliver so many benefits,” said Grifoni. “We have now brought this advanced functionality into the supply chain, and we’re excited to see the massive advantages it will deliver.”

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Specialist Supply Chain Service Contract Renewed

Posted on by David Priestman

Ecolab has reappointed DHL Supply Chain for an additional three years continuing a longstanding 16-year partnership. Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, provides water, hygiene and infection-prevention solutions to a range of industries. The contract will see DHL continue to transport specialist chemicals to Ecolab’s customer base, prioritising both product and staff safety.

DHL is responsible for delivering chemicals for water treatment to thousands of Ecolab customer tanks across the UK. These chemicals are then used in environments including air filtration processes in factories, cleaning and sanitising solutions in hospitals and antimicrobial treatments in food processing plants.

Working within an innovative, circular system, DHL transfers chemicals to Ecolab customer tanks from bespoke reusable containers that drivers reload and return for thorough cleaning before reuse. This process closes the loop on chemical delivery systems, reducing waste to provide a greener service.

In addition to holding ADR qualifications to carry dangerous goods on the road, DHL drivers working on the Ecolab contract undergo 2-3 months of internal training to ensure Zero Defect Deliveries and guarantee secure handling. DHL also uses Microlise telematics to provide a safe and reliable service, enabling real-time tracking for Ecolab deliveries.

Richard Cavanagh, Supply Chain Manager, Ecolab said, “Ensuring safe chemical transfers to our customer sites is a top priority and for nearly 17 years, DHL has delivered a reliable and specialist logistics service that we know we can trust. We are delighted to be continuing this long-standing partnership, helping us to drive efficiencies for our customers while keeping safety and sustainability at the forefront of our operation.”

Paul Mason, VP Operations, Manufacturing Logistics, DHL Supply Chain UK said, “Ecolab is a valued partner in the chemical services sector and the renewal of our contract is a testament to the high-quality service our team continues to deliver. With a wealth of experience and expertise in chemical services, we are continuing to enhance and develop this specialist function of our business with digital and sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of our customers.”

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New Cargobull Trailers for Chemical Specialist

Posted on by David Priestman

WM Cyril McGuinness has taken its first new Schmitz Cargobull trailers, adding three Manchester-built S.CS FIXED ROOF curtainsiders to its fleet after being bowled over by the manufacturer’s first-class levels of service.

Cyril McGuinness, owner of the Rush, County Dublin-based haulier, was so impressed by the response to his enquiry and the subsequent knowledge demonstrated by Schmitz Cargobull Regional Sales Manager Philip Keenan at their first meeting, he increased his order from two to three trailers on the spot.

“I knew right there and then that I wanted to do business with Schmitz Cargobull. However, the competitive pricing of the trailers and the short production lead time offered at Manchester sealed the deal,” says McGuinness, “the level of service throughout the process was fantastic, and if any issues arose, we were kept informed. Ultimately, we received the trailers that we wanted, on time, and with no messing about.”

The haulier specialises in hazardous waste transportation mainly in Ireland, complementing this with general haulage services in the Greater Dublin area, which is home to both an airport and major port. “It means we need flexibility with our trailers, as we can be heavy going one way but light on the return journey,” explains McGuinness.

Meeting these requirements, each S.CS FIXED ROOF semi-trailer has a straight front wall for free side loading and tarpaulin tensioning, a DIN EN 12642 Code XL load securing side curtain with standard anti-theft protection and a Schmitz Cargobull aluminium roof, which allows a side loading height of 2,700mm.

McGuinness also opted for additional 7,100kg heavy-duty flooring on the trailers, internal lighting to assist with loading and LED taillights. The trailers feature load securing lashing eyes down both sides of the side raves with roof straps – essential due to the nature of the firm’s work with many customers requiring chemical loads to be secured internally from the top of the trailer for safety.

Each unit has Schmitz Cargobull’s TrailerConnect® telematics as standard, which provides 24/7 monitoring of the trailer’s exact location. Another attraction of the UK-spec trailers was that at 4.1m tall they are a better option for deliveries to many of the firm’s chemical customers, who often have gantries at their sites that taller equipment could strike.

“The environmental impact is also important to me, and these trailers will fit snug against the cabs reducing drag and making sure we’re not pushing air when we don’t need to be,” says McGuinness.

Setting up in 1991 as an owner-driver, McGuinness has grown his business to ten trucks, ten drivers and two office staff. Approaching a third of the firm’s 36 trailers feature the blue elephant with several second-hand Schmitz Cargobull curtainsiders in service. Headquartered in Rush, the business has a depot in nearby Balbriggan, County Dublin.

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