Subscribe

Month: March 2025

Brewing Grolsch and Sustainable Pallets

Posted on by David Priestman

Sustainable reusable packaging specialist Schoeller Allibert and Dutch brewery Royal Grolsch are taking a further step towards a circular economy with their latest joint project: sustainable pallets made from recycled plastic.

The Royal Grolsch brewery in Enschede in the Netherlands combines centuries-old craftsmanship with a forward-thinking approach to innovation. To reach its sustainability targets and address its operational demands, Grolsch has partnered with Schoeller Allibert. The packaging specialist is an expert in material innovations made from recycled plastics – the companies share the common goal of a functioning circular economy.

Old pallets, new problems

The current keg pallets no longer met the company’s needs. Their heavy weight drove up transportation costs and related CO2 emissions, while outdated molds made them harder to source and less reliable. But it wasn’t just about logistics and function – Grolsch also wanted to achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.

“Replacing these pallets was an excellent occasion to consider their environmental implications,” says Joost Nawijn, Packaging Material Development Specialist at Koninklijke Grolsch. “That’s why we wanted a lighter pallet made from recycled material, thus a more sustainable solution.”

Solution for the circular economy

No big task for Schoeller Allibert: the company delivered a tailor-made keg pallet that meets all the brewery’s requirements. The new load carriers are made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and are also 12 kilograms lighter than their predecessors. Grolsch can therefore significantly reduce the material used.

How has Schoeller Allibert achieved this? The designers achieve the reduced weight of the pallet with the special honeycomb structure, but also through a different production technique. Instead of using a low-pressure process, the experts manufacture the keg pallets using a high-pressure injection molding process. The recycled plastic comes from post-consumer material – i.e. used bottles and packaging that are collected, sorted, cleaned and processed into new products. On the other hand, old pallets (post-industrial material) are also used. This reduces emissions by 83 percent compared to pallets made from virgin materials. Once the load carrier has reached the end of its life cycle, Schoeller Allibert takes it back and recycles it. An example of a functioning circular economy.

Optimum handling, individual design

The new pallet offers even more features for the brewery’s day-to-day operations. The honeycomb structure makes it lighter and stronger. Forklift trucks can also pick it up more easily thanks to the smoother fork entries, which means that hardly any damage occurs. The stackable design enables a seamless transition between old and new pallets, allowing the user to use both versions in parallel. In addition, the stackability reduces the space required for return transportation, which also reduces CO2 emissions – as fewer trips are required.

The new pallets have been in use since January 2025. The close cooperation between Schoeller Allibert and Grolsch resulted in a perfect solution in which improved utilization function, reduced CO2 emissions and cost savings go hand in hand.

“Our intelligent solutions are tailored to the requirements of the Grolsch brewery,” summarizes Vincent Vos, Head of Design at Schoeller Allibert. “To achieve this, our experts listen to what the customer needs, develop a solution and test it until it is successful.”

similar news

Schoeller Allibert Celebrating The Grand Opening Of The New Production Plant

 

ProMat Debut of AI-Powered Picking Robot

Posted on by David Priestman

A ProMat Chicago, AutoStore unveiled its first AI-powered picking robot in the U.S. With eCommerce expected to make up 24% of global consumer spending by 2026, businesses must scale quickly to keep up. Consumers now expect seamless shopping experiences and same-day delivery, driving the need for smarter logistics and better inventory management. Meanwhile, labour shortages and rising costs are accelerating automation adoption, with the industrial robotics market projected to grow 14% annually through 2028.

AutoStore’s new robotic piece-picking solution is built for this reality. With near-perfect accuracy and 24/7 operation, it tackles labour-intensive tasks, helping businesses keep pace with demand and compete with retail giants like Amazon. These AI-driven robots learn from every pick, improving over time and sharing knowledge with other machines to boost efficiency.

At ProMat, Logistics Business’ Ian Wright spoke with AutoStore SVP of Global Business Developement, Mike Dickson, about the new product lanuches, including the CarouselAI. “It’s kind of the next logical extension of our offering with our extremely dense cube storage system. Our customers are always looking for ways to drive more efficiency and a better ROI and the Carousel AI, with its piece-picking element, we really think is the next step in that journey for us.”

In terms of the business, Dickson told us, “AutoStore has had a physical presence in the USA since 2017 and we’ve built it up to around 130 people since then and we have high ambitions for the US. We view it as one of our biggest growth market opportunities and we will continue to grow through our partner network here.”

Mike Dickson, AutoStore

“AutoStore continues to lead the industry by driving innovation that enhances customer value and operational efficiency. As companies face increasing demands for speed and efficiency, AutoStore remains committed to delivering transformative solutions that empower our customers, streamline fulfillment, and accelerate digital transformation,” said Mats Hovland Vikse, Chief Executive Officer of AutoStore.

“Last fall, I committed to driving faster and more disruptive innovations as part of AutoStore’s Product 2.0 journey. Today’s unveiling of our latest releases underscores our dedication to customer-centricity, empowering businesses to boost productivity and reduce costs through advanced automation. I’m especially proud of CarouselAI, which leverages automation and AI to better serve our customers, along with a new world-class Essentials Software Package that supports every stage of the customer journey — from pre-sales to system operations and analytics.” said Parth Joshi, Chief Product Officer of AutoStore.

similar news

AutoStore Joins Dematic’s Supply Chain Optimisation Portfolio

 

How Shippers and Carriers Optimise their Supply Chain

Posted on by David Priestman

In transport logistics, for both shippers and carriers, resources are finite: employee bottlenecks, delays in the yard, external influences on route planning and a lack of transparency force everyone involved in the transport chain to replan at short notice. So, how can shippers and carriers bullet proof their supply chain further? Philipp Pfister (pictured), Sector Vice President at Transporeon, a Trimble company, explores this further.

Continuous Supply Chain Pressures

It’s fair to say that uncertainty is the norm when it comes to working in logistics. And having the ability to adapt quickly in emergency situations is becoming one of the most valuable tricks of the trade. However, with ever changing geopolitical situations, environmental disasters, strikes, and personnel shortages, businesses in the transportation chain will be forced to continue modifying their plans at short notice. Although, when supply chain disruptions occur, it may be necessary to show data across various modes of transportation-and in different time zones-adding additional work and costs and wasting precious time.

Fragmented Systems and Networks

However, the key to solving supply chain disruption lies in digitisation, offering real-time visibility of all shipments across every mode of transportation. But isolated solutions still dominate in today’s modern supply chain, meaning that in a fragmented system, achieving end-to-end transparency or driving efficiency gains remains out of reach.

The more systems in the network have to work with each other, the more difficult it is to exchange information between participants. Large heterogeneous networks therefore require standards that can be recognized, interpreted and processed by different systems – a real challenge. Take telematics systems as an example. With dozens of providers, each tool produces a large volume of data. When shippers or forwarders work with multiple freight companies, systems for analysing different data sources must be integrated.

A resilient, scalable, and forward-thinking solution lies in a cloud-based, transportation management platform. A smart unified platform can bridge shippers, carriers, forwarders, and retailers, allowing them to connect across many channels. It analyzes incoming data from various sources, converts it to a unified standard, and creates a shared pool of data in a standardised format.

Better Interoperability at Dock and Yard

For example, with a dock and yard management tool, businesses can better predict when loads will arrive. In fact, what seem as ad hoc delays, such as strikes or traffic jams, may be part of hidden patterns that are revealed when artificial intelligence (AI) models analyse data over time.

Thus, the leading European logistics service provider LKW WALTER handles over 7,000 FTL (Full Truck Load) transports every day and books around 25,000 time slots per week adopted a smart dock and yard management tool with the aim to simplify the planning complex process for transport partners and drivers. This visibility enhanced the entire supply chain for LKW WALTER. Drivers can now plan their routes more effectively, with knowledge of petrol stations, service areas, and secure parking along the way. Moreover, when all parties — including warehouses — collaborate, time slots can be adjusted in real time. Early arrivals can take the slots of latecomers, and vice versa. This not only simplifies drivers’ tasks but also reduces long waiting times, helping to address the driver shortage problem.

How AI and Machine Learning lend a Helping Hand

By integrating interoperability, data analysis, and using AI and machine learning, companies can make the most efficient use of its resources, all while staying mindful of sustainability. Real-time insights help spot inefficiencies, so companies can reduce empty miles, train employees in eco-friendly driving, and combine transportation resources in smarter ways to cut down on emissions. The magic happens when this is done collectively and carriers can find loads for return trips within the transport management platform, reducing those empty trips.

Today, AI and ML play a significant role in procurement and quotation: Whereas a considerable amount of time was once dedicated to manual research and offer creation, the spot area offer process can now be automated. For instance, companies who utilise a smart autonomous quotation tool allows transportation and logistics providers to prioritise inbound transportation requests and deliver precise spot truck transportation pricing based on forecasted market prices. Quotes are generated according to users’ personalised strategies, with criteria such as margin requirements, transport type or equipment, distance, destination, and pickup and delivery windows. This module relies on a trained forecasting model, enhanced by data science and machine learning algorithms, which continuously improve over time by incorporating the results of previous offers. The more data is transmitted and shared, the more accurate the algorithms become over time.

From freight procurement to transportation processing, dock and yard management, and payment audits, advanced digital solutions powered by AI are already there to help solve specific challenges in logistics. Data hubs on neutral platforms provide valuable insights into logistics processes, market developments and CO2emissions, while visibility tools ensure transparency in supply chains. The challenge is to achieve a global awareness of the need to promote interoperability beyond simple connectivity.

By overcoming technical challenges, setting standards, and enhancing data quality simultaneously, the industry can optimise supply chain interoperability. This enables all stakeholders to concentrate on the key tasks at hand — transporting goods and production materials — and increase customer satisfaction.

similar news

Transporeon Reveals Data-driven Future of Transport Logistics

 

Beyond Van Racking at CV Show

Posted on by David Priestman

Bott Ltd, specialists in vehicle conversions, is excited to announce its attendance at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2025. With over 45 years of industry experience in the UK, bott is renowned for delivering high-quality, fully integrated vehicle conversion solutions, supporting fleets and trades across all sectors.

Visitors to the bott stand will experience firsthand how the company is redefining vehicle conversions with its innovative approach. While bott is well known for its industry-leading van racking systems, the CV Show presents an opportunity to showcase that bott offers much more – a seamless, end-to-end solution tailored to each customer’s unique needs, regardless of fleet size or industry.

Innovate, integrate, elevate

bott’s expertise extends beyond storage solutions, offering lightweight, crash-tested racking, electrical installations, vehicle graphics, and EV-compatible systems. Supported by a national sales team and a network of accredited fitting partners, bott ensures efficiency, safety, and organisation in every conversion. From consultation and design to installation and aftercare, bott provides a complete service to optimise mobile workspaces for maximum productivity.

Smarter workspaces, stronger fleets

Innovation lies at the heart of bott’s approach. At the CV Show 2025, the company will demonstrate its advanced electrical integration capabilities, featuring power, heating and safety systems, and digital solutions designed to improve efficiency.

Discover the bott toolkit – a digital handover tool that delivers full transparency over fleet conversions, build progress, and centralised management of all vehicle data. With instant job approvals and easy access to digital records, the bott toolkit streamlines processes, reduces errors and enhances efficiency. bott’s integrated solutions help businesses future-proof their fleets, keeping them ahead of industry demands with smart solutions tailored to modern workflows.

Wrap it, brand It, transform it

Each day at the show, bott will be hosting a live vehicle wrapping demo – showing its expertise in action. Visitors can watch as high-quality graphics are applied, highlighting bott’s capability to transform fleet vehicles into powerful brand assets on the road. Also on display are innovative lifestyle conversions, highlighting enhanced vehicle usability.

Meet the Experts

The CV Show is bott’s biggest event of the year – a chance to showcase expertise, engage with customers, and connect with industry partners. The bott team will be on hand to discuss tailored solutions and demonstrate the latest advancements in vehicle conversions. Integrated into their vehicles will be a range of roof storage and security solutions from Van Guard Accessories, as well as CCTV and safety systems from Motormax. These additions boost fleet functionality, security, and driver safety – demonstrating a commitment to providing complete solutions for modern commercial vehicles.

“We’re set to impress at this year’s CV Show, highlighting how we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in vehicle conversions,” said Nick Smith, CEO at Bott Ltd. “This event is not just about showcasing our latest innovations, but also about spending valuable time with our customers, partners, and suppliers. The CV Show is always a fantastic opportunity to strengthen relationships, spark new ideas, and collaborate on the future of fleet conversions. Whether you’ve worked with bott for years or are just getting to know us, we’d love to meet you, hear your thoughts, and explore how we can support your business. See you there!”

similar news

Sustainable Transport Refrigeration at CV Show

 

Views and Comment from ProMat Chicago

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics Business’ man in Chicago, Ian Wright, spoke to two CEOs of exhibiting companies at ProMat to take the American materials handling pulse.

Robert McKeel (pictured above), CEO of FORTNA, told Ian: “We continue to grow. We have we’ve grown the business very rapidly from 2020, to today. We’d like to continue that. We think the market still has double digit growth potential over the long term. Obviously, there’s some short term dynamics with the markets that our whole industry is dealing with, in that we’ve looked at ways that we can expand our offerings to customers to meet different needs. So a big focus coming into this year was what I’m gonna call brownfield opportunities. How do we go into existing distribution centres and add more capability for customers so they can get more out of the assets they already own.

“Our partnerships with Packsize and Sitma were one of those initiatives to help go look at their packaging operations, save them transportation costs or increase their throughput through automated packaging. As one example of that, we’ve created some robotic solutions, ‘opti sweep’, that we announced at ProMat two years ago. We’re rolling that out as another brownfield solution to help upgrade, you know, maybe old bomb-bay sorters or tilt tray sorters with robotics and automation to get more throughput.

“So I’ll call, broadly, those asset improvement initiatives to get more utilization and existing assets, and then we’re still looking at new distribution centres for our customers. And largely we’re seeing opportunities around what I’ll call flexible automation, which is the robotic systems like AutoStore or HAI, plus our partners. And in those customers can make shorter term investments because the solutions are flexible, and it’s easy to add on additional storage or additional robots for throughput or capacity, and because of that, you don’t need to create a 10-year business case, you can create a three-year business case and then add on and expand so you don’t put all your money in day one. You can add on your money over time. So those kind of things to help people in a more uncertain environment still invest in the capabilities that they need.”

Jim Ryan, Sentry

We asked Jim Ryan, CEO and Founder of Sentry Protection Products, to tell us a little bit about the new product offering – the configurator – that is brand new for ProMat.

“Well, and going back to how the new product works, and the fact that we can now cover every size column with a combination of three different pieces. Then the challenge for our customers is, okay, how do I put the right pieces in the right places? So what we’ve created and put onto our website is a configurator that simply means that you are able to place into this configurator, the number of columns, the size of the column, the shape of the column. And it automatically, not only calculates how many parts and pieces you do, but it draws you a picture showing how that goes together, and it gives you the results at the bottom. So if you happen to have 20 columns that need a little bit of this and a little bit of that, it automatically puts a list of the items that you need together. It can even quote them, and gives you the results so that it’s not guesswork. You know exactly what you need to cover the columns and the number of columns that you need. Currently, it’s available to our reseller network, but we are very shortly going to put it on to our main website for anyone to be able to do that.”

similar news

Attached at ProMAT Chicago

 

Lithium-ion Tech for Compact Pallet Stacker

Posted on by David Priestman

Yale Lift Truck Technologies is excited to introduce a new, cost-effective pallet stacker, powered by a lithium-ion battery. The compact Yale® MSC12 electric stacker is ideal for efficiently and accurately moving simple loads of up to 1.2 tonnes, making it well suited to stock room applications or light-duty warehouses.

The new Yale stacker empowers operations with flexibility, offering the in-built benefits of lithium-ion technology, such as rapid charging, extended runtime, and endurance, all in one cost-effective solution. It provides businesses a reliable and ergonomic option for tasks in food distribution, food processing, retail, eCommerce, and 3PL, or for operations handling open pallets on an ‘on and off’ basis.

“Our new compact stacker directly addresses our customers’ needs by integrating the technology that provides the optimum solution,” explains Robert O’Donoghue, VP, Marketing, EMEA for Yale Lift Truck Technologies. “In this case, that is a high performance 24V 60Ah lithium-ion battery that offers fast opportunity charging, hours of runtime, and a long service life. This gives operators added power for pallet stacking operations, helping optimise efficiency cost-effectively,” O’Donoghue continues.

The new stacker’s compact design is also customer-driven when it comes to comfort and simplicity. Smooth operation and low noise levels are critical to the design, helping to deliver a better operator experience, while supporting safe handling best practices.

To help enhance the operator’s working conditions and efficiency levels, the electric stacker features a multifunctional tiller handle, butterfly controls, and a smart display. These make the truck easy to operate, with all travel and lift functions performable with either hand.

Operators benefit from enhanced control, accuracy, and precision thanks to proportional lift for lifting and lowering. Combined with the stacker’s optimal manoeuvrability and choice of lift heights, this helps deliver on operational efficiency. By reducing mechanical impact and friction during lifting and lowering, the proportional lift technology also helps enable a long service life.

“One way to harness the full benefits and time efficiencies of the Yale MSC12 electric stacker is to use it together with the MPC15 lithium-ion battery powered compact pallet truck,” explains O’Donoghue. “For instance, the MPC15 can deliver pallets from a lorry to the store with greater ease than a hand pallet truck model. Here, the MSC12 stacker can take over, moving goods from the door onto storeroom shelves or racking.”

Another opportunity to maximise uptime comes through simplified troubleshooting. A single display on the electric stacker’s tiller handle includes operational status and fault diagnosis, including the battery power status, charging status, and any fault codes. Ease of maintenance is also integral to the design, with simple access to all main components, and the support of a comprehensive spare parts and service network via independent Yale dealers.

Similar news

Hyster Adds Platform Stacker to General Purpose Ops Range

 

Customisation of Robotics Solutions

Posted on by David Priestman

Papick, ItPick and Depax are the robotics solutions dedicated to the logistics and forwarding sector that Angelini Technologies – Fameccanica – a company of Angelini Industries, an Italian industrial group active in the health, industrial technology and FMCG sectors – is presenting during these days at ProMat 2025, the global leading event for industrial technologies for manufacturing, distribution and supply chain, which is being held until March the 20th in Chicago.

Angelini Technologies- Fameccanica, as a leading industrial technology company and end-to-end system integrator, presents three applications that embody the path the company is pursuing to design technologically advanced, scalable, modular, and integrated warehouse and logistics systems that can respond to different needs while achieving high levels of performance and efficiency.

Modular and customized solutions are developed to adapt to specific layouts and to meet different technological needs (from the simplest to the most sophisticated tasks) thanks to the use of 3D vision systems based on artificial intelligence and installed at the end of the robotic arm. They are conceived from the design stage for large-scale productions for global installations and rollout.

Specifically, Papick is an automated sorting system for the collection of parcels weighing up to 5 kg, primarily designed for the e-commerce and postal sorting sectors. Thanks to AI integrated vision systems, advanced workflow management and efficient barcode reading systems, Papick can pick and sort, with a single robotic arm, up to 1800 packages per hour with an efficiency of over 98%.

Depax, indeed, is a depalletizer, a platform capable of transferring objects or packages of different sizes from a pallet. Depax combines robotics and advanced machine vision to manage the randomness of incoming pallets and perform depalletizing with maximum precision. Depax processes up to 600 cycles per hour with dimensions of up to 60×60 cm and up to 30 kg in weight. The system is intended for all operators in the shipping industry who handle arrivals of mixed pallets with highly variable and unknown contents.

A particularly versatile solution is ItPick, an automated system capable of picking individual products and therefore adaptable to different configurations. It has a high-speed performance of up to 1600 cycles per hour and an accuracy of over 95%. It can effortlessly handle different product variants in terms of color, shape, material, weight, opacity or surface flatness.

At the fair an integrated and modular solution, ‘End of Line’, will also be present. It is placed downstream of the manufacturing plants and carries secondary packaging: it wraps products inside the boxes and palletizes them. The system consists of different modules such as box forming, box filling, box closing, palletizing island with automatic pallet management. Each module has its own intelligence and a central system that manages all modules and the movement of packages between them, including the various quality controls necessary to ensure the highest quality standards and tracking. The modularity of the system allows it to adapt to any plant layout requirement. In addition, the individual modules are enhanced by robotics and digital control that provides flexibility to change boxing patterns and palletizing matrices. The system is capable of processing up to 90 incoming products and filling up to 30 boxes per minute.

“Participating in one of the main events for the automation and robotics industry including Warehouse Logistics on a global level – explains Luigi De Vito, CEO of Angelini Technologies – Fameccanica – allows us to seize an important opportunity to share our innovative and large-scale solutions and further to strengthen our presence in the United States, where we already have facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio. It also helps us listening to the needs of a constantly evolving global market increasingly focused on issues of efficiency and sustainability.”

Similar news

New Packaging Range Targets Online Retail Sector

 

Transition to Automated Truck Loading

Posted on by David Priestman

Actiw, a subsidiary of the Joloda Hydraroll Group, a global leader in loading and unloading solutions, has announced the launch of LoadMatic Lite, a compact, low-commitment system designed to easily introduce automated loading into manufacturing facilities and distribution centres. The Loadmatic Lite enables businesses to increase their daily loading capacity with minimal modifications to existing site and fleet infrastructure.

Growing demand for higher throughput is placing pressure on businesses to increase daily load volume at manufacturing facilities and distribution centres beyond what’s achievable with manual forklift operations. Combined with labour shortages and rising operational costs, they need to find new ways to unlock faster and more efficient processes for loading outbound freight.

An automated loading solution can significantly improve loading efficiency. However, a range of capability and cost options is needed to open up the market to companies of all sizes and deliver optimal ROI, the definition of which can vary across industries and applications.

LoadMatic Lite fills a gap in the market to help growing businesses transition to automation. Capable of loading full, standard, non-modified trucks and trailers in just six minutes, the system increases throughput for a low upfront cost and integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure – delivering immediate productivity gains, safety improvements, and long-term cost savings with an average ROI within 1-2 years.

LoadMatic Lite provides a future-proof, adaptable system suitable for both greenfield and brownfield sites. It requires minimal dock modifications and integrates into existing dock environments. The system is compatible with standard, non-modified trucks and trailers, eliminating the need for specialised fleets, and supports a wide range of pallet types and complex load patterns. Pallets are staged at the rear or side of the dock using forklifts, electric pallet stackers, or AGVs, queued, and then loaded row-by-row with precision.

Key benefits of LoadMatic Lite:
• Maximised loading efficiency: Improving truck turnaround times by reducing loading cycles from hours to minutes.
• Reduced labour and operational costs: Lowering reliance on manual labour while minimising forklift usage, fuel costs, and maintenance expenses.
• Enhanced workplace safety: Reducing accidents, manual handling injuries, and overall risk exposure in loading bays.
• Scalable automation strategy: Implementing an easy-to-integrate automation solution that provides immediate efficiency gains while enabling future expansion.
• Sustainability and compliance: Supporting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals by cutting CO₂ emissions and ensuring compliance with industry safety standards.

Wouter Satijn, Chief Revenue Officer at Joloda Hydraroll, comments: “The Joloda Hydraroll Group is committed to helping all companies solve their specific loading and unloading challenges, and that’s why we developed LoadMatic Lite. The system offers businesses a versatile, lower-cost alternative to a fully automated loading system in their manufacturing facilities and distribution centres, which will reduce loading time and improve accuracy and consistency while they prepare for future automation. It’s a smart investment for growing companies to stay competitive.”

Joloda Hydraroll has been a provider of loading and unloading solutions for over 60 years, delivering more than 500,000 systems worldwide. With an extensive range of equipment, the Joloda Hydraroll Group can be relied upon by global suppliers for solutions from the aeroplane to the front door.

similar news

Joloda Hydraroll Exhibiting at LogiMAT

 

SIXT turns to predictive maintenance for its UK fleet

Posted on by Will Priestman

Geotab Inc., a global market leader in connected transportation solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with SIXT van & truck. The landmark collaboration aims to enhance SIXT van & truck’s fleet management capabilities and elevate customer service standards for the company across the UK market.

SIXT van & truck will incorporate Geotab’s advanced telematics solutions into commercial vehicles within its UK-wide fleet. This integration, which will roll-out across the next 12 months, will leverage Geotab’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) integrated data to facilitate predictive maintenance and efficient Service, Maintenance and Repair (SMR) operations. By utilising Geotab’s highly precise mileage tracking and vehicle data solutions, SIXT van & truck aims to ensure seamless contract compliance with OEMs while improving vehicle efficiency and performance.

The decision to form a long-term partnership follows a successful pilot programme, during which SIXT van & truck successfully recovered two stolen vehicles, further underscoring the value of Geotab’s telematics solutions in boosting fleet security and operational competence.

David Saint, Managing Director SIXT van & truck UK, said: “Partnering with Geotab allows us to harness cutting-edge telematics technology to enhance our fleet operations in the UK. The ability to access accurate, real-time vehicle data enables us to perform predictive maintenance, reduce downtime and offer an improved experience to our customers.”

Rental and leasing organisations have traditionally engaged in bulk purchasing agreements with OEMs, involving complex contracts to sell vehicles back to manufacturers under specific detail-driven conditions, including precise mileage limits and vehicle standards. By integrating Geotab’s technology, SIXT van & truck is set to streamline such opaque processes, providing the company with comprehensive management of vehicle data to uphold contract terms and deliver superior service to customers.

Geotab’s extensive OEM network and robust market coverage empower leasing and rental companies such as SIXT van & truck to integrate diverse fleet data. This advanced and unmatched capability not only supports predictive maintenance but also ensures compliance with contractual obligations, ultimately leading to cost savings and customer satisfaction.

Implementing predictive maintenance allows rental companies to anticipate and address vehicle issues before they escalate, thereby minimising unexpected breakdowns and reducing operational costs. By having the capability to analyse real-time data thanks to Geotab’s innovations, SIXT van & truck can schedule maintenance during optimal periods, ensuring maximum vehicle availability. This proactive approach not only extends the lifespan of fleet vehicles but also helps contribute to cost savings by preventing major repairs and reducing downtime.

“We are delighted to be working with SIXT van & truck, delivering an innovative telematics solution to their commercial vehicle fleet across the UK,” said Christoph Ludewig, Vice President, EMEA. “Geotab will provide SIXT van & truck UK with actionable insights that improve efficiency and elevate service quality. This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to supporting partners in achieving operational excellence but also marks a key milestone in our continued growth within the rental and leasing space. As we forge new alliances and strengthen existing relationships, we remain focused on delivering telematics solutions that drive real value.”

Real-world applications of Geotab’s advanced telematics solutions have shown significantly enhanced fleet operations for rental and leasing organisations. By integrating Geotab’s connected vehicle technology, a rental company last year achieved 100% fleet connectivity in the UK and 67% across six core European markets. This comprehensive data integration has led to improved vehicle recovery rates, real-time collision detection and remote monitoring of vehicle metrics such as odometer readings and fuel levels. These breakthrough advancements have also collectively optimised fleet management and elevated customer service standards.

As part of the partnership, SIXT van & truck will explore opportunities to integrate Geotab’s advanced telematics solutions into its rental services, providing end customers with added value.

Read Similar…

Asset Tracing and Transport Flow Optimization with ANT Locator

New Product Line Optimizes Mid-rate Sortation

Posted on by David Priestman

Intralox has introduced the ‘Bulk-to-Sorted’ product line for mid-rate sortation at ProMat Chicago to broaden the company’s focus upstream of the sorter. Featuring the new Intralox® Activated Roller Belt™ (ARB™) AutoPitch™ Induction and Bulk Flow Optimizer™, this product line offers peak efficiency and operational ease for customers that need singulation and sortation of a bulk package flow.

ARB AutoPitch Induction is a semi-automated solution that delivers over 8,000 packages per hour at a lower cost than full automation. Its simple, intuitive operator interface maximizes induction rates, enabling operations to achieve up to 75% greater throughput than manual induction.

The Bulk Flow Optimizer is designed to work with Intralox’s SmartPath™ Singulator and Gapper. When combined, they enable bulk package induction and unlock the option for fewer operators and higher, more consistent throughput to ensure optimal sorter performance.

Upstream Automation Debuted

The Bulk-to-Sorted product line offers flexible equipment combinations that allow operations to find the right balance of automation and labour. Its integrator-ready products are thoughtfully engineered for seamless integration into an overall system.

These new products also complement existing Intralox solutions such as singulators, gappers, and sorters.
“For years, Intralox has been a sortation provider that integrators and end users trust to solve their toughest challenges. But now we’re expanding our focus upstream from the sorter to support the most challenging aspects of the entire bulk-to-sorted process,” said Derek Lester, Logistics and Material Handling Business Unit Manager at Intralox. “Whether you’re an integrator or end user, our products working together are designed to make your sortation application run more effectively and your job easier.”

similar news

Online Fashion Retail Sortation Project Completed by Leicester Firm

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.