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Month: May 2025

AntOn Strategic Forklift Partnership

Posted on by David Priestman

Jungheinrich and EP Equipment have agreed on a strategic partnership under the motto ‘Shaping the future of material handling together’. This collaboration aims to deliver significant benefits to customers worldwide by combining the strengths of both companies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in material handling operations globally.

Enhancing product offering

Leveraging their combined expertise, Jungheinrich and EP Equipment will focus on customer-centric and innovative industrial trucks, making both parties more competitive in their product offerings. As a starting point EP Equipment will support the portfolio extension of Jungheinrich with its new Mid-Tech brand ‘AntOn by Jungheinrich’, focussing on electric counterbalance and warehouse trucks. With parallel histories and a shared focus on electric material handling equipment, both companies have, over the last decades, driven innovation and thereby changed the industry.

Dr Lars Brzoska, CEO of Jungheinrich, stated: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with EP Equipment, as it will be a significant benefit for our customers. The portfolio extension will be a key part of our Strategy 2030+, in order to strengthen our position in the booming Mid-Tech market. Together with EP, we are able to provide a comprehensive full-liner truck portfolio – simply the right truck for every customer.”

John He, CEO of EP Equipment, added: “The partnership with Jungheinrich is yet another step in our mission to transform the industry from IC forklifts to electric. Together, we will further enhance our economies of scale in production, learn from each other and further strengthen our position as the leading players in lithium-ion powered material handling equipment.”

Combined strengths delivering superior value to customers

EP Equipment is a leading player in lithium-ion-based material handling trucks, shaping the future of the industry through innovative solutions with a clear focus on green energy. EP is active through a global dealer network servicing customers all around the world. Jungheinrich is one of the world’s leading providers of material handling solutions and a trusted partner of customers worldwide, with a strong global footprint and an exceptional direct sales and service network. Since 1953 the company has always focused on highly innovative electric material handling equipment and is the pioneer of lithium-ion technology in its industry.

By combining these strengths and the shared history of electrification and innovation, the partnership promises to deliver superior value to all customers and opens up the potential for further strategic cooperation opportunities along the entire value chain. Both partners are committed to exploring additional opportunities as they move forward.

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Maritime Ambassador Programme Launched by Lloyds

Posted on by David Priestman

Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, a global provider of professional maritime education, is proud to announce the launch of its groundbreaking Ambassadors Programme. This initiative is designed to connect, inspire, and empower learners who are passionate about shaping the future of the maritime industry.

“We believe that the future of maritime depends on the voices and vision of today’s learners,” said David Taylor, Head of Curriculum at Lloyd’s Maritime Academy. “This programme is our commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and building a vibrant, global maritime community.”

In partnership with ‘Jobs in Maritime’, a UK-based MCA-certified Recruitment and Placement Agency, the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy Ambassadors Programme will provide selected learners with unique opportunities to represent their peers, share their insights, and develop vital leadership and communication skills. Ambassadors will act as liaisons between the Academy and the wider learner community, contributing to course development and championing maritime education both online and offline.

“We are excited to partner with Lloyd’s on this Ambassadors Programme, which will empower the next generation of maritime professionals to lead with confidence and innovation. By connecting learners with real-world industry insights and opportunities, we aim to strengthen the maritime community and support career growth across the sector,” said Sezen Zeki, Managing Director & Founder, Jobs in Maritime.

Applications are now open to all Academy learners.

Lloyd’s Maritime Academy is the only higher education training institution that can trace its roots back to the origins of maritime trade, commerce and insurance in 18th century London, where the Lloyd’s name fist became associated with safety and quality in the maritime world.

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NHS Supply Chain Awards LSP Contract

Posted on by David Priestman

NHS Supply Chain has awarded the contract for the management of its logistics services to GXO. The company will be taking over the contract for storing and delivering healthcare products to the NHS on behalf of NHS Supply Chain from October this year, when the current outsourced Logistics Services Provider’s contract expires. The contract is for an initial period of seven years, with a possible extension of up to 36 months.

NHS Supply Chain chief executive officer, Andrew New said: “We’re pleased to announce GXO as the new service provider for our logistics services. Running our eight distribution centres across England and keeping our significant fleet of more than 300 delivery vehicles on the road is a key part of what we do to supply the NHS with more than 35 million healthcare products every year. We’re an important part of the healthcare system, ensuring the NHS can put patients first. As well as running our normal logistics services, looking forward to the future, we will be developing our logistics services with GXO to best meet the growing needs of the NHS.”

“We are extremely proud to have been selected to serve the NHS as its new logistics partner,” said Gavin Williams, managing director, GXO UK & Ireland. “Combining our sector experience with the technology expertise that supports many of the UK’s leading businesses will optimise the NHS’s logistics services for healthcare providers and taxpayers. We are committed to an excellent quality of service to hospitals and patients at home, increasing productivity and supporting our NHS so that it can focus on patients, its ultimate priority.”

GXO will be contracting with Polar Speed to provide NHS Supply Chain’s Home Delivery Services. There will be a transition period over the next few months to ensure a smooth handover of sites and teams from the current logistics provider to GXO and Polar Speed, ensuring the NHS continues to receive the service it needs.

The role is to source, deliver and supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales. Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) is the company at the heart of NHS Supply Chain. It provides oversight and operational management for NHS Supply Chain and its service providers. SCCL is the legal entity through which NHS Supply Chain undertakes its procurement services and transacts with customers and suppliers. Whilst its shares are owned by NHS England, SCCL is a separate organisation.

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Difficulties in Attracting and Retaining Logistics Talent

Posted on by David Priestman

The Salón Internacional de la Logística de Barcelona (SIL Barcelona), organised by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) dedicated to Logistics, Transport, Intralogistics, and Supply Chain, has conducted the XV Barometer of the Círculo Logístico SIL 2025, which analyses in depth the challenges and needs of companies in the logistics sector, including attracting and retaining logistics talent. The study involved the collaboration of 1.026 professionals holding senior and responsible positions in Logistics or Supply Chain departments in Spain, specialising in different sectors of the industry.

Attracting and retaining talent, the great challenge of the sector

One of the main conclusions of the XV Barometer of the Círculo Logístico SIL 2025 is that attracting and retaining talent remains one of the major challenges that concern companies in the sector. 63.9% of professionals participating in the study state they have difficulties finding qualified personnel, and 28.6% do not always succeed in finding the profile they are looking for. Only 7.5% find it relatively easy to fill vacancies.

Another highlighted conclusion is the emergence of Artificial Intelligence in logistics and the confidence that companies in the sector place in this technology. 91.7% of those surveyed believe that AI can significantly optimise their operations. More specifically, 33,9% believe that AI can greatly contribute to improving their results, while 57,8% trust it can do so considerably.

In the same topic, 76,3% of companies participating in the study are considering incorporating AI into their business. In fact, 44,9% of them already have some AI tool, while 31.4% are in the process of doing so.

Quality, experience and flexibility versus speed

The XV Barometer of the Círculo Logístico SIL 2025 also shows that quality (90,8%), experience (76,1%), and flexibility (74,6%) are not only the most valued aspects by logistics-consuming companies but also increase their interest by 1,4%, 9,7%, and 17,3%, respectively. On the other hand, aspects such as speed lose value, being highlighted by only 28.4% of the professionals surveyed, placing 1.2 points below the results of the previous edition of the study.

Another conclusion of the study is that startups are making their way into the logistics sector, with the support of 77% of the professionals surveyed. 24,8% of the companies participating in the survey already collaborate with one, and 52,2% believe it could be positive to hire or outsource services to emerging companies specialising in logistics. Additionally, 15,9% are still considering it, as they have doubts.

Retaining Logistics Talent

Regarding the concerns of companies, in the XV Barometer of the Círculo Logístico SIL 2025, the quality of service (21,2%), efficiency and optimisation of costs and stocks (15,7%), and punctuality and commitment (14,4%) stand out. In contrast, some historical concerns such as default (0,3%) go almost unnoticed among the professionals surveyed.

Engineers, graduates, and logistics experts: the most sought after

Regarding the most sought-after profiles to fill logistics manager positions, engineers (28%), logistics graduates (25,7%), and logistics experts regardless of their studies (21,4%) remain the most in-demand, although interest in the latter decreases by 6,2% compared to the last study, while interest increases for other profiles such as business administration graduates (11,8%), which stands 2.5 above the result obtained in 2024.

Regarding the commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the participating companies in the survey, they identify with: SDG 5 Gender Equality (24.6%), SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (22.5%), SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (20.5%), SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (20.3%) and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals (12.1%).

Finally, among the aspects considered essential in the logistics of the future, although it drops by 4.8 points compared to the previous year, the automation of operations (26.4%) remains the most prominent, followed by collaboration in transport (18.6%), whose interest towards 2024 also decreases by 8.9%. The consideration given to the exchange of standardised information (19.7%) is also noteworthy, although it also decreases by 2.9, and greater agility in administrative matters (13.3%).

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TMS with AI Feature Demonstrated at Multimodal

Posted on by David Priestman

Freight forwarders and logistics businesses will be able to see a game-changing transport management system in action at this year’s Multimodal expo in Birmingham. Logistics solutions provider, CocoonFMS, will be demonstrating its unique cloud-based platform during the three days of the June 17-19th event.

Called CocoonOPS, the innovative system helps freight forwarders streamline operations, cut costs, boost customer satisfaction and reduce their carboon footprint. Since being launched around 18 months ago, CocoonOPS has won industry accolades and attracted positive feedback from new customers who were frustrated with their previous outdated systems and counter-productive processes.

CocoonOPS is intuitive, easy-to-use and can be set up within a matter of days with little to no training – alleviating any fears about long and complicated on-boarding processes. It offers a comprehensive suite of transport management features including real-time tracking of shipments via air, sea, road and rail, demurrage and detention costs and alerts, customs declarations in minutes, configurable workflows and automated tasks, document and quotation generation, customer portal, invoice management, foreign exchange rate calculations, carbon emissions reporting and more.

AI-driven customs automation

This year’s Multimodal also includes a brand new focus on AI, helping businesses learn more about how AI can transform their operations. CocoonOPS, for example, has a strategic partnership with iCustoms.ai which enables customs declarations to be completed in mere minutes. By taking advantage of iCustoms.ai’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, the customs process is significantly improved, boosting efficiency and ensuring compliance with international trade regulations in a fraction of the time.

Measuring carbon emissions with unique calculation tool

Another key benefit of CocoonOPS is the CocoonCarbon reporting tool – which is also available as a standalone product for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint. CocoonCarbon simplifies Scope 3 carbon emissions tracking for businesses of all sizes, going beyond traditional transport metrics by calculating emissions from well to wheel. This means the entire lifecycle of a vehicle or fuel can be calculated, through both the production and consumption stages.

Unlike other platforms, payment is per shipping, rather than per leg, so the cost is more affordable and more predictable. Up to 10,000 shipments can be calculated in a single upload. The visual reporting helps businesses identify emissions hotspots in the supply chain, make informed decisions about their chosen transport routes, and potentially reduce costs through optimised routing.
In the last 18 months, CocoonCarbon has calculated more than 1.2 million shipments, with 7.9 million tonnes of carbon tracked.

CocoonFMS managing partner, James Blackman, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Multimodal this year and showing lots of freight forwarding and logistics businesses how we can make their lives easier. We attended in 2024 when the platform was relatively new – although it was years in the making – and secured a number of new clients as a result. Since then, we’ve made even more improvements to the system, including the absolutely game-changing partnership with iCustoms.ai. Coming from a logistics background myself, I know that so many businesses are stuck using outdated and clunky systems, but they’re afraid to change because of the perceived disruption. However, we want to reassure them that this isn’t the case with CocoonOPS, and this is something we’ll be able to demonstrate in real life for anyone who wants to find out more. We’ll be on stand G4 and look forward to welcoming people.”

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AI-based Planning Radar at Transport Logistic

Posted on by David Priestman

Software company Soloplan, from the Allgäu region, presents the new AI-based planning radar in the transport management system CarLo at the leading international trade fair ‘transport logistic’ in Munich from 2 to 5th June. The functionality supports dispatchers in planning transport orders faster, more efficiently and more intelligently.

Reduced empty distances, optimised vehicle utilisation and less planning effort are only some of the advantages. Another highlight is the proactive suggestions for potential combinations. Soloplan can be found at booth 509/610 in hall B1. At the fair, visitors can experience the planning radar live.

Transport search in real time

The planning radar analyses all open transport orders in real time and displays the best possible combinations directly in the system. Results can be filtered by number and radius. The system automatically recognises appropriate previous and following tours as well as return loads – with only a few clicks.

Return loads at the push of a button

The new customer search automatically suggests clients for whom appropriate return loads have regularly been carried out in the past. If no match is found, freight exchanges such as TIMOCOM or Trans.eu can be connected directly. Here as well, the return load search takes place automatically and with only one click.

Intelligent vehicle search

After planning a tour, the planning radar with its intelligent search functionality assists in finding the most suitable vehicle. Factors such as the proximity to the loading location, the costs per vehicle (weight, fuel consumption, wear and tear, etc.) or the properties of the semi-trailer (dumper, tank, tarpaulin, excess width, etc.) play a role. The transport company has the possibility to specify the cost components per vehicle itself. The vehicles used in the past for similar combinations can be another criterion. This way, AI helps you identify hidden optimisation potential which otherwise may have remained unrecognised.

AI feed and graphic visualisation

The planning radar graphically displays found suggestions on the map. The AI feed creates a window next to the map and checks all open transport orders in CarLo. Subsequently, all transport orders for which suggestions have been found are displayed there.

Numerous advantages

The new AI-based planning radar offers smart assistance in the dispatchers’ decision-making process. This allows even less experienced dispatchers to plan better and more easily – all while avoiding planning errors. The efficiency in forwarding and transport companies is further increased and the staff does not have to deal with the data alone. The prevention of empty distances and the perfect utilisation of the loading capacities also allow for significant cost savings.

Transport Intelligence

The planning radar is part of the new Transport Intelligence initiative by Soloplan. Together with the AI chat bot CarLo Assistant and the Document Intelligence functionality (AI-based reading of documents and automatic creation of orders), the company emphasises its leading role in the integration of artificial intelligence. With this initiative, Soloplan wants to take up its early implementation of artificial intelligence in the logistics software CarLo and present additional new AI functions in the years to come.

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Hybrid Solution for Optimium Driver Visibility

Posted on by David Priestman

Transport Monitoring Solutions (TMS) has enhanced its range of DVS systems with the launch of an industry-first hybrid option that brings together the benefits of both radar and AI camera detection technologies. The advanced Progressive Safe System has been developed for those commercial vehicle operators that possess the highest commitment to both road safety and the welfare of their drivers.

“We have created the most comprehensive, plug and play range of DVS solutions to meet the diverse operational needs of commercial vehicle fleets operating within London,” explains Mark Sansby, Director of Transport Monitoring Solutions Ltd. “This latest hybrid solution has been developed with the driver in mind, providing optimum visibility in the least intrusive way, while overcoming the shortfalls of standalone radar or AI camera systems.”

The inclusion of the AI camera is designed to mitigate the risk of motionless pedestrians not being detected by a standalone radar solution. Fitted on the A-pillar and facing downwards, the device will ensure stationary or low-speed walking pedestrians in the front side blind spot can be fully monitored. It also provides added context to any alert, with the driver quickly able to view the proximity to the vehicle and type of risk.

Driver Visibility

However, the performance of cameras can be affected by harsh weather, such as rain, fog and snow, while lenses can become blocked by the build-up of dirt or dust. This is particularly relevant for DVS systems that use an externally mounted MOIS (Moving Off Information System) camera, so the radar technology offers an effective alternative that is far less impacted by these more extreme conditions.

“With unmatched levels of accuracy, plug and play connectivity, and modular configurability, our hybrid solution boasts unique safety functionality. We have listened to both the driver and the vehicle operator, incorporating clever features that help overcome genuine driving issues. For example, external audible alarms are automatically turned off during silent hours, while for the MOIS alert, for a potential moving-off manoeuvre, we use a gyroscope that is triggered by rising revs or any movement for greater levels of accuracy and performance,” adds Sansby.

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Packaging Machinery Process Advantage

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Drive solutions from Nord Drivesystems increase the efficiency in system operation at several points in the packaging process chain. With two concepts, the company mainly focuses on the fields of end-of-line packaging and primary packaging, where its decentralised drive technology and wash-down-capable aluminium housings achieve significant cost benefits.

Packaging processes require a high level of dynamism, flexibility and cost efficiency. End-of-line packaging and primary packaging offer great potential here that is increased by drive solutions from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS.

Decentralised drive technology

With a solution combining decentralised drive electronics and asynchronous motors, NORD provides the end-of-line packaging with an in many ways efficient alternative to centrally controlled concepts. The mounted frequency inverters free the drive system of complex wiring. This significantly reduces installation and maintenance efforts. Furthermore, the systems become easier to scale to that they can be quickly and easily adapted to new requirements. Thanks to their high overload capacity and control without encoder, drive solutions from NORD achieve the dynamics required by applications in final packaging. The integrated POSICON module allows for precise positioning. All in all, this results in significant cost benefits over the commonly used centrally controlled servos solutions.

Drives with treated aluminium housing

For primary packaging, NORD’s NXD tupH® surface protection reveals the process advantages of components with aluminium housings. With NXD tupH®, aluminium surfaces are electrolytically treated and coated with a powerful sealer. This makes them particularly resistant to extreme environmental conditions such as contact with aggressive cleaning chemicals in wash-down areas. Thanks to the sealer, no particles will flake off even if damage occurs to the surface. NXD tupH®-treated surfaces are free from PFAS, and food-safe according to the provisions of the FDA and the EU Regulation 1935/2004 as well as the respective regulations in Switzerland and the MERCOSUR states. The strengths of aluminium are thus also coming into effect in primary packaging. Aluminium is lightweight, economical and fully recyclable. Furthermore, aluminium housings provide high heat conductivity, thus reducing the maximum surface temperature.

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