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Month: March 2025

High Bay Light for Larger, Taller Warehouses

Posted on by David Priestman

Glamox has today launched a powerful new LED high bay light designed to meet the needs of a new breed of mega-warehouses and industrial plants with high ceilings. The average height of a warehouse ceiling in the UK has risen from 12.2 m in 2015 to around 14 m today. Much of the explosion in the size and scale of warehousing is being driven by online retailing. In the UK, online retailers have increased their warehouse footprint from 743,224 m2 in 2015 to around 6.4 million m2 today1. A similar pattern is being repeated across Europe.

Taller ceilings require more powerful lights. Furthermore, today’s warehouses don’t just store goods. Many operate 24/7 and are places where goods are assembled, personalised, packaged, and despatched. This means that energy savings and the quality of light to support people’s safety, well-being, and productivity are business-critical issues.

The Glamox i65 comes in multiple configurations and can deliver 12,000 lumens up to a whopping 70,000 lumens with a choice of light distribution optics. Connected variants with a smart sensor can detect movement up to 20 m below so that the light switches on when people are about and dims down or switches off when they are not. Typically, this can reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting by 30-40%.

Mega-warehouses require lighting that redefines brilliance at elevated heights

“The i65 is a true beast of a light. It’s the Rolls-Royce of warehouse lighting at an exceptional price. A worthy successor to our beloved HI-MAX, which is now 10 years old,” said Martyn Wherry, Commercial Director of Glamox in the UK. “Our new luminaire establishes a new level of performance and quality – absolutely everything has been redesigned and improved.” According to Wherry, “A British Airways cargo hangar and a new tennis hall will be among the first to use the new i65.”

Environmentally friendly

Environmental considerations were high on the i65 design agenda. The LED modules are highly energy efficient, operating at up to 180 lm/w. Its body is made from 45% recycled aluminium, and the entire fixture is designed to support a circular economy. It offers a 100,000-hour life and has a high level of disassembly so that it can be easily upgraded to prolong its life, and parts can be easily replaced or recycled. The i65 is designed to operate in demanding industrial environments in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +50°C. Contrary to most similar products, it offers C4 anti-corrosion paint as standard (see Notes to Editors for full specifications). The new luminaire was designed and built by Glamox in the UK and is now being rolled out across Europe.

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Moonpig enhance stock visibility with new WMS 

Posted on by Will Priestman

Balloon One has secured a client partnership with Moonpig, choosing to install Körber warehousing and supply chain software (which is now known as Infios) in a move to resolve existing stock visibility issues and eliminate unnecessary stock write-offs. 

Starting out in April 2000 as the UK’s first online card retailer, Moonpig Group has grown rapidly to become the leading international gifting platform, with a rich history of innovation. Over time, the Group has expanded its offering, adding a wide range of gifts, flowers, experiences and balloons to its range.

Since listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2021 the company has established successful businesses in Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia and the US. And more recently, the Group has acquired gifting and experience businesses, Red Letter Days and Buy A Gift.

To facilitate growth, in 2023 Moonpig opened a new, state of the art 120,000 square foot warehouse in Tamworth, Staffordshire, its first in the UK. The site, which is capable of handling more than 9,000 cards per hour, also operates as a distribution centre for the gifting arm of the business, housing its entire gifting range of more than 1,500 SKUs.

During off-peak periods, thousands of gift orders are taken per day, but during peak times – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Christmas – this can increase to tens of thousands of orders a day. The warehouse usually operates from 6am until 10pm, but during these surge periods it’s open 24 hours a day in order to meet the more than seven-fold increase in demand.

Stock visibility issues of the previous warehouse system

Even though they only recently went live with their previous system, it did not offer Moonpig the flexibility they required to meet their needs.

Richard Johnston, Moonpig’s Senior Engineering Manager, comments: “We have faced challenges with the previous system not being sufficiently configurable or customisable, making it ineffective in helping us scale. Another issue we have faced is that it doesn’t integrate well with our other software and has left us feeling as though we are conforming to a system that doesn’t meet our needs, rather than making it work for us.”

Iain Swinton, Director of Operations and Supply Chain and the project sponsor for the change of WMS adds: “From an operations perspective, the old system did not allow us to have good visibility of where our stock is, which subsequently has led to us writing off stock that is out of date or missing.”

Johnston says that configurability and visibility issues were causing problems with picking and reconciliation. He adds: “We couldn’t understand what stock was in process, meaning we were unable to accurately report stock levels to the website.”

Over time, the WMS system was proving to be financially non-viable. In addition to a number of product lines being written off, more staff were employed to better manage the stock as a means of coping, and it was at this point a business decision was made to put better controls in place.

Körber WMS will eliminate unnecessary stock write-offs

To address these challenges, Balloon’s comprehensive solution for Moonpig includes: Körber WMS (now known as Infios); Springboard Server – Balloon’s proprietary middleware that allows a seamless integration with Moonpig’s ERP system; SAP By Design; and a carrier integration to Royal Mail.

To assist in choosing the right supply chain partner and technology, Moonpig engaged the Supply Chain Consulting Group. Swinton says: “They have guided us through a methodical RFI, RFP and RFQ process where we went from 30 original vendors down to a shortlist of six, then down to a shortlist of three.”

After on-site workshop sessions and classroom demonstrations from all three, and with the involvement of more than 20 Moonpig staff, the company chose Körber as its WMS. Swinton explains: “It’s been a thorough process, but everyone has been invested in making sure that we get the right solution to make sure it improves on our existing system.”

Johnston adds: “Körber and Balloon stood out due to their level of knowledge. They could answer any question we had and could pull up a screen and show us how it could be done. Some of the other systems would need more customisation, but it was clear Körber WMS was not going to hold us back.”

Swinton adds: “We’re really excited about the system and the flexibility it will give us. We are a tech company with lots of technically minded employees who like to improve and change things to make them work better for us, so we’re excited about the opportunity this new system will provide and where it will take us in future.”

Working with Balloon

The team is finding Balloon supportive to work with. Emma Whitehead is Delivery Lead for Moonpig and is supporting the project side of the implementation. She says: “Everyone at Balloon is really communicative. They’re easy to get hold of and will jump on a call when needed.”

Richard Johnston adds: “The overriding feeling within the business is that we are confident this partnership will provide an effective solution for our needs, which will allow us to work more efficiently and seamlessly across multiple teams within the business.”

Ed Napier-Fenning, Balloon’s Business Strategy and Sales Director, comments: “We’re excited to partner with Moonpig and to support them in their quest to become the ultimate gifting companion. We look forward to enabling them to scale efficiently, have complete visibility into their stock situation and to eliminate unnecessary stock write-offs.”

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Eco-Driving in Europe’s Trucking Sector

Posted on by David Priestman

Road transport is responsible for 755 Mt CO2 emissions today. However, the current situation in logistics doesn’t support a way to decarbonize it. Challenges along the way with infrastructure, technological barriers, costs, and market demands pave a struggling way forward. Despite that carriers can already contribute to a better place for drivers, communities, and the overall us. Thanks to eco-driving, we can move closer to ambitious EU targets.

Today’s real landscape of trucks in the EU

According to ACEA , over 6.4 million medium and heavy commercial vehicles operate on European roads today, with roughly 80% of total freight tonne-kilometers carried by trucks under five years old. However, the average fleet age is about 14.2 years, reflecting broad differences among EU nations.

EU emissions goals and alternative fuels

The EU aims to cut heavy-truck CO₂ emissions by 2.5% annually to reach a 15% reduction by 2025 (relative to 2019), with a long-term objective of a 90% cut by 2040 . Achieving this goal will likely require significant advances in battery-electric or hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. However, today’s situation in the area of infrastructure and cost barriers continues to slow large-scale adoption. CNG and LNG alternatives also remain limited by refueling network constraints. This is a place where eco-driving can play a significant role.

Eco-driving stands out for its immediate potential. Structured programs across Europe have shown fuel consumption – and thus CO₂ emissions – can drop by 10–20% when such practices are fully adopted. “Eco-driving isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a measurable way to cut costs and emissions almost overnight,” says Karolina Žekaitė, Head of Drivers academy at Girteka.

Emissions reduction at different scales

• A single truck traveling 120,000 km annually at 30-40 liters/100 km burns about 33,600 liters of diesel. Each liter of diesel produces around 2.64 kg of CO₂ , which yields roughly 96 tonnes of CO₂ per truck per year.
• A 10% cut in fuel use through eco-driving translates into more than 9 tonnes of CO₂ saved per truck.
• Applied to trucks older than 6 years (40%) across the EU, this cumulative benefit can reach 23 million tonnes in emissions reductions .

Improving driver operations and safety

However, eco-driving, despite the potential for reduction of emissions, also has a very good influence on road safety. “By adopting smoother driving habits, I’ve seen a drop in fatigue, and I’m less stressed at the end of the day,” notes one driver, who recently finished Girteka’s eco-training. Eco-driving focuses on steady acceleration, cautious braking, reduced idling, and route optimization. In-vehicle telematics tools help drivers and fleet managers pinpoint issues like harsh braking or high idle times.

Training, telemetry, and continuous improvement

In 2024, more than 7.000 Girteka drivers completed both theory sessions – covering fuel-saving techniques and safety measures – and practical lessons with an instructor. “We provide real-time feedback to our drivers through an updated mobile system, so they can easily adapt their way of driving to exact results that are transferred to them via mobile solution,” explains Žekaitė. “That immediate visibility on speed, acceleration, and braking patterns helps them make adjustments on the road for better efficiency.”

Broader perspective and next steps

While modernizing fleets and exploring cleaner fuels remain vital for meeting the EU’s 2025 and 2040 emissions targets, eco-driving offers an immediate, cost-effective complement. It delivers measurable improvements in fuel efficiency, reduces costs, and often enhances safety.

Eco-driving is one of several tactics available to the freight industry, alongside accelerated fleet renewal and alternative fuels. Girteka’s driver training programs indicate that even small per-vehicle gains can yield significant environmental and economic advantages when multiplied across Europe’s vast trucking sector. To reach ambitious emission goals, industry stakeholders may combine multiple strategies – modern vehicles, expanded infrastructure for alternative fuels, and well-structured driver education – to ensure immediate and long-term progress.

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Deliver Europe Celebrates 10th Anniversary in June

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DELIVER Europe, a matchmaking event for retail and supply chain, is thrilled to announce its 10th anniversary edition taking place 4+5 June in Amsterdam. The event is on track to surpass previous attendance records, with registrations already 20% higher than last year, and will feature a special performance by internationally acclaimed DJ Bob Sinclar.

DELIVER Europe 2025 will unite an elite community of over 2,000 C-/D-suite executives from across the retail and supply chain sectors, including leading brands such as De Longhi, H&M, Amazon, Miele, Jaguar Land Rover, Vinted, Henkel, Nespresso, Decathlon, Lululemon, Samsung, and Kiko Milano. The event will facilitate over 5,400 targeted meetings between these retail leaders and more than 150 dynamic supply chain partners, including DP World, GLS, Amazon Shipping, DHL Supply Chain, Geopost, Maersk, Ocado Intelligent Automation, Spring GDS and others.

With a 15% increase in participating supply chain partners, DELIVER Europe 2025 continues to deliver exceptional value. Many partners, including DP World, have expanded their involvement, reinforcing the event’s proven return on investment. Boasting industry-defying NPS scores – 64 for retailers and 40 for sponsors – DELIVER Europe has cemented its status as the premier platform for industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of retail and logistics.

This milestone reflects a decade of innovation and a relentless focus on delivering value to the retail and supply chain community. As Stephane Tomczak, Founder, Chairman & CEO of DELIVER, explains, “Our dedication to improving the event experience is evident in our matchmaking and in-house app, which have proven invaluable. DELIVER has an elite platform where attendees are evaluated not just on seniority, but on active projects – creating a space focused on solutions, accelerating deals, and driving groundbreaking projects. All while staying true to our values: People. Planet. Profit. We’ve built a model that prioritises carbon and profit neutrality, redefining industry events – and our 10th anniversary is a testament to that commitment.”

The 10th Anniversary Party, sponsored by DP World, will be a highlight of the event, offering attendees the chance to network and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere. Internationally acclaimed DJ Bob Sinclar, famous for hits like “Love Generation” and “World, Hold On,” will deliver a live DJ set. Sinclar’s high-energy performance will be a fitting celebration for the retail and supply chain community that has driven DELIVER’s success over the past decade.

DP World commented about the upcoming collaboration for DELIVER Europe’s 10th Anniversary: “As a long-standing partner, DP World values DELIVER as a premier platform for forging meaningful connections and driving high-impact discussions with key decision-makers in and supply chain decision makers. The event’s unique 1-to-1 meeting format consistently enables focused productive engagements, allowing us to uncover new opportunities and strengthen partnerships. With DELIVER’s focus on innovation and sustainability, it remains one of the most efficient and results-driven industry events, aligning perfectly with the right audience and drive forward our vision for seamless global trade.”

The 10th anniversary edition marks a decade of progress for DELIVER Europe, which continues to lead the way as a platform for innovation and collaboration within the retail and supply chain sectors—while steadfastly promoting a carbon-neutral approach to the events industry. Limited passes are still available: apply for your pass now.

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Vehicle Restraint System Launched for Accident Prevention

Posted on by David Priestman

GMR Safety, designer and manufacturer of wheel restraint systems for loading docks is introducing the newest evolution of its highly successful and patented Power Chock® product line with the addition of Power Chock Auto, an automatic version of the system.

The Power Chock Auto is equipped with high-quality optical sensors that can detect all types of vehicle wheels, including semi-trailers, straight trucks, and delivery vans, up to 21.5 feet from the loading dock wall. By simply pressing a control panel button inside the facility, an operator automatically positions the wheel chock in front of the vehicle’s wheel, requiring no driver intervention to set and secure the vehicle.

To ensure safety, the dock door or dock leveller can only be operated if the chock has been properly set in front of the wheel and the correct position of the chock is confirmed by a sensor. Visual indicators and audible alarms inform inside warehouse personnel and the driver outside about the position of the chock and the safe availability of the loading dock.

To provide full visibility and better control, the Power Chock Auto is equipped with a camera on the outside, facing the loading area, and a screen on the inside, next to the control panel. This visual communication system allows the operator to ensure that the loading area is devoid of any human presence prior to deployment of the wheel chock.

The mechanical movement system is not subject to any torsional forces as all the pressure from the truck is transferred on the Power Chock gripping to the ground plate. Using simple physics to restrain any type of vehicle, the Power Chock systems feature a patented combination of a 23-inch high-tensile steel wheel chock and a hot-dip galvanized restraining plate anchored to the ground. The system immobilizes the wheel, the sturdiest part of any vehicle.

“Accidents at loading docks pose a significant threat to warehouse operators and contribute to a substantial portion of workplace injuries,” said Gaétan Jay Jetté, founder and CEO of GMR Safety. “Automating our Power Chock system provides loading docks with additional safety measures to ensure safety at this vulnerable area in the logistics journey.”

The company’s innovative solution is a direct response to statistics that point to the prevalence of workplace accidents, with more than 10 percent of them rated as fatal. The fatal injury rate in the transportation and logistics industry segment is twice the all-industry rate, which no company should ever ignore.

Other key benefits to this life-saving system include universal compatibility with all vehicle types, including those with liftgates. It is also highly adaptable for seamless installation on any driveway approach and requires minimal maintenance. Loading dock accidents consist of various scenarios, including trailer creep (vehicle movement caused by forklifts entering and exiting the trailer), unexpected trailer departures — often leading to falls from the dock edge.

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Accessible Robot Manufacturing

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business got an exclusive interview with Miya Gong (pictured alongside our Will Priestman), Marketing Manager of SEER Robotics at LogiMAT Stuttgart, to learn more about robot manufacturing.

Logistics Business: Miya, LogiMAT 2025 has just concluded. This was SEER Robotics’ third time participating. What were the key highlights this year?

Miya Gong: Yes, this year was incredibly important for us. Under the theme “Build Your Own Robot Fleet Within Days,” SEER Robotics focused on addressing customer challenges and real-world applications. We showcased a wide range of intelligent forklifts, composite robots, and our one-stop robot-building solution. Beyond hardware innovations, we also introduced new scheduling systems and visualization technologies to make robot deployment easier and faster for businesses looking to adopt automation.

Logistics Business: Which products received the most attention at the event?

Miya Gong: Our SFL-CDD14-CE high-reach forklift remained a top choice for European customers. This year, it featured multi-layer cage stacking, significantly improving vertical space utilization. Equipped with AI-driven vision algorithms and 3D LiDAR, it ensures precise positioning and adaptive fork handling without human intervention, enhancing both efficiency and safety.

Another standout was the SFL-CBD15-CE ground transportation forklift. It operates with trackless SLAM navigation, enabling autonomous path planning and navigation in dynamic environments without requiring modifications to existing infrastructure. It also achieves twice the speed of traditional forklifts and features dual-battery technology for extended runtime, supporting 8-hour continuous operation with just 1-hour fast charging—perfect for 24/7 unmanned logistics.

Logistics Business: Beyond forklifts, what advancements has SEER Robotics made in robot manufacturing?

Miya Gong: Our goal is to make robot manufacturing accessible to everyone. This year, we presented a one-stop robot-building solution that includes essential components: core control modules, perception modules, execution modules, and energy modules. The foundation of this solution is the SEER Robotics SRC series controllers, which range from entry-level to advanced safety-certified models, allowing customers to customize robots based on their specific needs.

One of the major highlights was the SBA-400EU, a safety robot chassis powered by the SRC-3000FS controller. We featured a transparent shell design to give visitors a clear view of its internal components and used our Roboshop software for live demonstrations, allowing them to experience the hardware-software interaction firsthand. This open ecosystem lowers barriers for companies looking to integrate automation into their operations.

Logistics Business: SEER Robotics is known for its strong digital ecosystem. How do your software solutions help customers improve efficiency?

Miya Gong: Our RDS (Resource Dispatch System) is a prime example. It enables unified management of all robots and automation equipment within a facility, ensuring seamless coordinationand efficient logistics workflows.

Additionally, our visualization solutions, including Meta-Map (2D visualization), Meta-Map Pro (3D visualization), and Meta-World (digital twin technology), provide real-time monitoring and comprehensive insights into factory operations. These tools enhance transparency, allowing businesses to optimize workflows and increase productivity.

Logistics Business: SEER Robotics hosted several special events during LogiMAT. Could you share more about them?

Miya Gong: Absolutely! One of the major highlights was our SEER Robotics Ecosystem Partner Certification Ceremony. We welcomed iGrow Network from Slovakia and Hesse Robot from Hungary as new certified partners, marking a significant milestone in our expansion across Europe. This certification program strengthens our partnerships and accelerates the adoption of automation solutions in local markets.

We also hosted interactive experiences at our booth, including a YouTube livestream, media interviews, software demos, and hands-on robot testing, allowing attendees to engage with our solutions up close.

Logistics Business: SEER Robotics has successfully expanded into 65+ countries. What’s next for your global strategy?

Miya Gong: Our key focus is localizing our solutions and strengthening our global partnerships. Rather than simply exporting technology, we aim to collaborate with local integrators and manufacturers to create tailored automation solutions. By enhancing adaptability and ecosystem compatibility, we ensure our technologies can be deployed efficiently across various industries.

Logistics Business: Thank you for sharing these insights! We look forward to seeing SEER Robotics’ future innovations.

Miya Gong: Thank you! If you missed the chance to visit our booth in person, don’t worry! Stay tuned and explore how SEER Robotics is making intelligent robots more accessible than ever!

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Discount Retailer Awards Contract for new DC

Posted on by David Priestman

The British family-owned enterprise TJ Morris awarded WITRON a contract to design and implement a circa 1 million sq.ft distribution centre (DC) for food and non-food products. The highly automated facility in Doncaster is designed for a daily picking capacity of 646,000 cases and will supply over 300 stores from a range of 10,000 different dry goods from mid-2028. The signing of the contract is a particular vote of confidence, as a TJ Morris distribution centre of similar size will be put into operation by WITRON in St Helens in May 2025, and WITRON have already received the contract for the Doncaster Distribution Centre.

TJ Morris is one of the largest privately-owned companies in the UK and one of the fastest growing retailers in Europe. The innovative WITRON technology with its many benefits in terms of cost-efficiency, flexibility, ergonomics, and sustainability enables TJ Morris to keep this service level high throughout the expansion plans.

Logical Consequence

The distribution centre in Doncaster has the same design as the one in St Helens, with all product groups and logistics areas – from receiving to truck loading – integrated end-to-end into the highly automated overall process. All processes are controlled by an intelligent warehouse management system from WITRON. The material flow includes 470,000 pallet, tray, and tote storage locations, 104 stacker cranes, as well as more than 15 kilometers of conveyor technology – all designed and manufactured at WITRON’s headquarters in Parkstein.

Daily Picking Capacity

The automated system is designed for a daily picking capacity of 646,000 cases, which are picked with WITRON’s Order Picking Machinery (OPM) including 32 COM machines, the Dynamic Picking System (DPS), and the semi-automated Car Picking System (CPS). The dispatch of the picked load carriers is optimized by a fully automated shipping buffer – “just-in-time”, sorted by routes and stores, in the optimal truck loading sequence, considering the storage space utilization on the truck.

“In addition to the benefits for consumers in the stores, a decisive criterion for TJ Morris was also the focus on the employees who will work with WITRON technology in the distribution centre in the future. They will benefit from state-of-the-art, ergonomic workstations, which is an enormous competitive advantage in times of labor shortages”, explains Duncan Pointon, WITRON’s UK Sales Manager. „In addition, the issue of sustainability, is addressed in many different ways – for example through significant CO2 savings due to densely packed load carriers, optimal truck utilization, and fewer trucks on the roads. Furthermore, through space savings in construction and by significantly reducing excess goods, breakage, and waste.”

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New Paper Roller Clamp

Posted on by David Priestman

Rotating, gripping, protecting – stabau GmbH, formerly Schulte-Henke GmbH, is expanding its portfolio with a new, low-maintenance generation of paper roller clamps. The attachment has a 180° rotary drive, optimised arm geometry, rounded contact plates and end position damping for vertical storage of the rolls. All hydraulic systems are easily accessible so that maintenance and repairs can be carried out quickly.

Paper roller clamps enable the gentle handling of both horizontal and vertical paper rolls. The central element and particular advantage of the new clamps from stabau is the 180° rotary drive, which ensures that vertical rolls are stored in a completely straight position. Together with the optimised gripper arm geometry, the rotary drive enables precise adjustment to different roll sizes and positions. This makes it possible to use the clamp across industries, for example in paper and packaging production, in printing companies or for loading HGVs or ships.

Since the contact plates are in direct contact with the delicate goods, it is essential that they can handle the paper rolls safely and gently. In order to adapt the contact pressure to the load requirements and prevent the rolls from slipping, stabau provides the clamps as standard with an adjustable pressure relief valve and rounded cast contact plates with a structured surface. In addition, the end position damping maintains precision and care when storing paper rolls in a vertical position. Different coatings, load capacities and configuration options are also available for custom requirements, for example a split long arm for gripping two rolls in parallel.

Well-designed hydraulics, maximum safety

The paper roller clamps are not only flexible, but are also designed to be particularly easy to maintain. All hydraulic components are easily accessible, which simplifies maintenance and repairs and minimises downtime. All cylinders also have check valves to ensure the operational reliability of the hydraulic systems. “Our new paper roller clamps combine stability, user-friendliness and safety with maximum adaptability. The flexible configurations in all load capacity classes allow our customers to apply the clamps in a variety of different ways, while at the same time providing maximum protection for materials, employees and vehicles”, summarises Stephan Pantelmann, Domestic Sales Manager.

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Endangered Bongos Flown to Kenyan Sanctuary

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL Express has partnered with Tusk, a charity dedicated to accelerating the impact of Africa-driven conservation, to transport 17 critically endangered mountain bongo antelopes from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (RSCF) in Florida to a sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Kenya, run by the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust. Bred in Florida, mountain bongos are on the verge of extinction with fewer than 100 left in the wild due to poaching, forest degradation and habitat fragmentation.

As a partner of Tusk, DHL used its expert and specialist logistics services to provide point-to-point air transfer for the bongos. Meeting the requirement that the full herd be transported together; DHL provided a dedicated aircraft which carried the antelopes 7146 nautical miles directly from Palm Beach International Airport (Florida) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya.

The bongos were transported in custom-built crates, alongside 6 tonnes of pelleted feed and 3 specialist animal care staff including a veterinarian and 2 bongo specialists from the US. The mountain bongos were released into a 20-acre sanctuary, which has been set aside for their long-term management and recovery by the Kenya Forest Service. The sanctuary plays a critical role in the national recovery plan and is key to the ongoing success of the project.

Formed by 12 female and 5 male bongo antelopes, the herd will remain in the paddocks to safely breed. The offspring will then slowly be reintroduced into Mount Kenya’s forest ecosystem, from which they have been absent for over 40 years.

Mike Parra, CEO DHL Express Europe, says: “We are so proud to be able to leverage the power and expertise of our global network to assist in transporting these critically endangered bongo antelopes to their new sanctuary in Kenya. The logistics of moves such as this are incredibly complex, with the welfare of the animals being everyone’s top priority. A huge thank you to our partners at Tusk, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and everyone involved in making this important conservation mission a success”.

Mike Watson, CEO of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy which helped to coordinate this complex repatriation, says: “Bringing the bongos back to Kenya is a great moment in the restoration of the country’s natural heritage. For decades, these animals have been largely absent from the very forests where they belong, and this project will be crucial in reversing that loss. Seeing them set foot on Kenyan soil again is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when organizations work together.”

DHL Flies Bongos

Dr. Paul Reillo, RSCF Founder and President, says: “There is simply no higher calling for humanity than to protect what remains of nature. The mountain bongo’s story of decline and recovery has been entirely on our watch, and the species’ future lies with all of us. The bongo’s resilience is a story of hope for wildlife and people alike, merging elevated partnerships, proven expertise, vital resources and amazing courage. This humbling, profound project exemplifies true wildlife conservation in real time.”

Charlie Mayhew, Founder and President of Tusk, says: “The return of 17 critically endangered mountain bongos from Florida to Kenya is a significant step in restoring this critically endangered species to its native habitat, and demonstrates the conservation progress that can be made through collaboration. We are hugely grateful to our global partner DHL Express for their generous support in transporting the bongos – yet another key milestone in the partnership between our organizations. DHL’s dedication to environmental sustainability, and its role as a responsible corporate partner in supporting Tusk’s mission to protect Africa’s wildlife and natural habitat, is invaluable.”

Led by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LEWA), the relocation of the bongos was a collaborative effort supported by the Meru Bongo & Rhino Conservation Trust (MBRCT) and the RSCF. The local communities surrounding the sanctuary will play a key role in running the conservation program, creating education and employment opportunities that will support the region. In this context, Tusk acts as official partner of DHL Express, working closely together with LEWA, MBRCT and RSCF to provide highly efficient solutions for funding wildlife conservation programs.

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New Thames Crossing Gets Go-Ahead

Posted on by David Priestman

The UK logistics and freight community has welcomed the news that the Lower Thames Crossing has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.

The announcement, made by the Department for Transport, follows a detailed examination process and represents a key milestone for what is set to become a major new route beneath the River Thames, connecting Kent and Essex.

This 14.5-mile project, lead by National Highways, features two tunnels under the River Thames, aiming to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing by rerouting 13 million journeys annually.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) praised the decision, noting the long-running support from industry stakeholders.

“This is a great result for the campaign, backed by politicians and businesses, as well as BIFA, for a project that was first mooted in 2009 as a means of addressing the problems that congestion at the Dartford Crossing causes,” said Steve Parker, BIFA Director.

“Media reports indicate that work will commence in 2026 and could be complete by 2032. Our members, who manage the transport of a considerable amount of the UK’s visible trade, will be delighted.

“Delays in transit pose a risk to their reputations, and have significant financial consequences.”

The Dartford Crossing remains one of the UK’s busiest road links, and the new tunnel is expected to provide an alternative route to help alleviate traffic pressure. The decision to grant consent follows a period of extensive consultation and planning, and the project will now move into the next stages of development.

The Labour MP for Dartford, Jim Dickson said “This decision will unlock economic growth across the country and finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos faced by my constituents on a daily basis.”

According to the government, the crossing is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and is designed to support long-term growth, enhance road connectivity, and reduce congestion in a key part of the strategic road network. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 or early 2027, with the crossing expected to open by 2032. This development promises to enhance connectivity between the south and the Midlands, linking key ports and stimulating regional economic growth.

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