There’s a new warehouse labelling innovation in town: Drytack. It’s a reusable, residue-free alternative to traditional adhesive and magnetic labels – and it is already making waves in warehousing. Championing the Drytack technology in the UK and across Europe is Inotec. To anyone familiar with the labelling specialist, this should come as no surprise. While the technology is not exclusive to Inotec, they are the ones ensuring it sticks… which is really what they claim to do best.
A smarter, reusable solution
Unlike standard sticky labels, Drytack features a unique dry acrylic adhesive that clings securely to smooth surfaces without leaving any residue. It can be applied and removed by hand – and reused repeatedly. Even if the back gets dusty or dirty a quick wipe with a damp cloth restores the adhesive qualities, making it ready to go again.
Drytack offers all the benefits of magnetic labels – such as flexibility and repositioning – without the cost or bulk. It’s a polyester label with a dry-tack adhesive backing, ideal for dynamic warehouse environments where stock and storage configurations change frequently.
Tried and tested in Europe
One of Germany’s largest bicycle manufacturers recently turned to Drytack when launching a new warehouse with 30,000 racking spaces. Ahead of the full warehouse rollout, the company needed to temporarily mark 5,000 locations as ‘blocked’ and sought a solution that was simple, visible, and easy to reverse when required.
Drytack labels were used to cover existing barcodes, clearly indicating inactive locations while avoiding errors during scanning. Staff could see at a glance which areas were off-limits – and when a location needed to be reactivated, the label could be peeled off in seconds, leaving no trace behind. The customer praised the solution for its simplicity, efficiency, and sustainability.
“With Drytack, Inotec gave us an easy yet highly effective way to label blocked shelf spaces. The handling is straightforward, and the reusability makes it a more sustainable choice,” said the Production Manager of the Bicycle Manufacturer.
Why it matters
Drytack is perfect for operations where shelf or pick locations change frequently, such as seasonal stock rotations. A good example is footwear retailers who shift from flip-flops to winter boots as the seasons change. Drytack makes it easy to relabel quickly, without investing in expensive magnetic alternatives or damaging existing racking with adhesive residue. Available blank, pre-printed, or as thermal transfer-compatible material, Drytack suits a wide range of applications across warehouse, logistics, and retail environments.
Svuum, one of the fastest-growing last-mile delivery companies in Greece, has partnered with FarEye, a global last-mile platform, to digitize and optimize its operations. The result? A 50% reduction in operational costs, 95% first-attempt delivery rate, and 3 million successful orders in just four years. From control towers and route optimization to customer experience, this partnership showcases how Greek companies are leading with logistics innovation and operational excellence.
Established in 2021, Svuum has quickly become a major player in last-mile delivery in Greece. In just four years of operation, they have successfully delivered 3 million orders, with an impressive 95% first-attempt delivery rate. Through their commitment to fast, reliable, same-day, and next-day deliveries, paired with real-time tracking and exceptional customer support, they’ve positioned themselves as one of Greece’s most beloved brands – right up there with Acropolis, a wonder of the ancient world.
What is even more remarkable is that Svuum has managed to scale its business while reducing operational costs by 50%. During its early days, Svuum faced operational bottlenecks that hindered scalability and efficiency. Key challenges included limited system integrations, suboptimal route planning, and inefficiencies in driver and delivery management.
To sustain growth and elevate customer experience, Svuum sought a future-ready last-mile delivery solution — leading to its partnership with FarEye.
Transforming Last-Mile Operations
Nicolas Vassilakis, CEO of Svuum, emphasized the impact of this transformation: “Partnering with FarEye has been a game-changer. Their last-mile solutions have streamlined our operations, enhanced customer experiences, and enabled us to scale effectively. Together, we’re setting new benchmarks for last-mile logistics in Greece.”
FarEye’s advanced last-mile delivery platform has enabled Svuum to streamline operations, optimize resources, and enhance customer satisfaction:
• Seamless System Integrations – FarEye’s API-driven integrations allow Svuum to synchronize its in-house and merchant systems, ensuring real-time visibility, smooth data exchange, and workflow efficiency without operational disruptions.
• Digital Transformation of On-Ground Operations – FarEye has digitized Svuum’s logistics processes, leveraging GPS tracking, proof-of-delivery (POD) capture, and real-time driver location monitoring through its Driver Application.
• Control Tower Implementation – Svuum now has an integrated control tower, offering a centralized view of operations to proactively detect issues, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement.
• AI-Powered Route Optimization – By leveraging FarEye’s AI-driven route planning, Svuum has reduced operational costs by 50%, enhanced driver efficiency, and improved same-day and scheduled deliveries.
• Superior Customer Experience – With real-time order tracking, proactive updates, and a self-service customer portal, Svuum has reduced WISMO (Where Is My Order) inquiries by 60%, boosting overall customer satisfaction.
Driving Logistics Excellence in Greece
“Greece’s logistics spend is nearly double the global benchmark at 10% of GDP. Our partnership with Svuum proves that 3PLs can significantly enhance consumer satisfaction while optimizing costs,” said Suryansh Jalan, President, FarEye, highlighting the regional impact. With FarEye, Svuum is pioneering innovation in Greek last-mile logistics, demonstrating how technology-driven solutions can drive efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and customer delight in an evolving eCommerce landscape.
The logistics industry is undergoing rapid change, with 87% of logistics operators planning to digitally transform operations in the near future, writes Richard Hanscott (pictured below), CEO at Esendex. Key areas of focus include better route planning and demand forecasting, as well as a wealth of improvements to the vehicle fleet such as predictive maintenance capabilities.
Less discussed, though, is how the customer experience is going to evolve. A 2024 Ofcom report found that over two-thirds (67%) of consumers had run into problems with a delivery in the past six months. Worryingly, more than half are still dissatisfied with the process of contacting delivery firms to discuss an issue, with satisfaction increasing a mere three percentage points since the 2023 report.
Rising customer expectations
For many logistics firms, phone support remains the default method for customer service. However managing call volumes can be challenging, often leaving customers facing long wait times, particularly during peak periods. When customers are getting in touch to report an issue, being kept on hold can often exacerbate their frustration, diminishing trust.
Today’s consumers are not only more demanding, but also more digitally savvy. Customers now expect to engage with businesses on their own terms, using the social media platforms, messaging apps, and communication channels they already use. This shift is driven by a desire for convenience, immediacy, and personalisation in every interaction.
Modernising customer communication
To address these rising expectations, delivery firms need to consider modernising their call centre operations. Evolving communication offerings beyond the simple telephone can help to transform customer interactions, reducing the number of support queries while making it simpler and quicker for them to get help.
Understanding where customers are located or most active is a critical first step. In the UK, WhatsApp is the most-commonly used messaging app, with 76% of adults using the platform within the last three months. Leveraging a familiar platform allows businesses to meet customers where they already are, lowering barriers to engagement and increasing adoption of digital support options.
Advanced digital tools now enable seamless integration of two-way WhatApp messaging and chatbots into existing customer service workflows. Automation allows businesses to rapidly scale support capacity during busy periods without compromising service quality. Initially, chatbots can handle straightforward queries, such as delivery tracking, rescheduling, or FAQs, and gradually take on more complex interactions as their capabilities improve through ongoing optimisation.
Why change your approach to customer communications?
For customer service staff, the shift to a more modern system can make a huge difference. Routine, repetitive queries can be offloaded to automated systems, freeing up agents to focus on complex, high-value customer interactions. This not only elevates the customer experience but also helps reduce stress and burnout among call centre teams – an increasingly important consideration in workforce management.
From the customer perspective, speed and convenience are essential. Delivery recipients often need support outside traditional office hours – perhaps to report a missed delivery after returning home or to reschedule a large furniture shipment on short notice. Rather than having to find a quiet place to make a call and sit on hold, customers can interact with chatbots on-the-go for an instant response.
Richard Hanscott, Esendex
For example, we’ve worked with Rhenus Home Delivery to add a WhatsApp and chatbot functionality to its communications, which replaced the helpline telephone number. Simply put, the change has been remarkable as customers calling the helpline previously had an average wait time of 25-40 minutes. Now, as a result of the chatbot, responses are instant, even out-of-hours.
When human assistance is required, the chatbot can efficiently triage queries to agents, while ensuring that the entire conversation history moves across too. This saves valuable time and means the customer doesn’t need to repeat themselves multiple times – a common source of frustration.
Statistics show six in 10 consumers check the status of their parcel at least once a day. When this information is only available via call centres, it can quickly lead to an overwhelmed support team. With the latest upgrade, tracking updates are provided automatically in real-time, giving customers the information they need before they’ve even had a chance to ask for it.
Building stronger brand loyalty and competitive differentiation
Seamless, responsive communication not only resolves issues faster but also helps build emotional connections with customers. Companies that invest in delivering quick, personalised, and convenient support foster higher levels of trust and loyalty. In the competitive logistics sector, this can be a crucial differentiator that drives repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Furthermore, integrating digital communication channels signals innovation and customer-focus – traits that resonate strongly with modern consumers. This can strengthen brand reputation and position a logistics provider as a leader in customer experience.
Future-proofing logistics operations with omnichannel communication
Looking ahead, logistics companies must prepare for an increasingly complex communication landscape. Customers expect to reach out via multiple channels – phone, SMS, WhatsApp, social media, and soon, emerging platforms like voice assistants or augmented reality support. By adopting an omnichannel strategy that integrates these platforms, businesses can provide a consistent, unified experience. This flexibility will become a competitive necessity as customer preferences continue to change. Moreover, investments in AI and machine learning will enable even greater automation, predictive support, and personalised interactions, further enhancing efficiency and satisfaction.
Manhattan Associates Inc. has announced the launch of Enterprise Promise & Fulfill™, a cloud-native solution that transforms traditional order management by augmenting existing ERP systems with advanced capabilities to maximise inventory visibility, intelligent order promising, and fulfilment optimisation. Focusing on enhancing a customer’s existing ERP landscape, this solution is positioned to solve a number of fundamental challenges experienced by today’s B2B sellers.
As the expectations of enterprise buyers continue to shift toward consumer-like experiences, traditional ERP order management systems have struggled to keep up. Most were designed for financial transactions, not the dynamic, inventory-intensive demands of today’s supply chains. Enterprise Promise & Fulfill empowers manufacturers, global brand owners, wholesalers, and distributors to elevate their fulfilment performance, drive revenue, and improve customer satisfaction — without costly ERP overhauls.
“Enterprise Promise & Fulfill is purpose-built to meet the growing demand for smarter, faster, and more transparent B2B fulfilment,” said Amy Tennent, senior director of Product Management at Manhattan Associates. “Enterprise buyers today expect the same real-time visibility, flexibility, and control as consumers. This solution closes that gap, driving sales, delivering modern fulfilment intelligence, and operational excellence and agility in close coordination with existing ERP’s.”
Enterprise Promise & Fulfill addresses the most pressing challenges enterprise merchants face, including limited inventory visibility, manual exception handling, inaccurate promising, fragmented order orchestration, and increasing fulfilment costs. It unlocks three critical business outcomes:
• Elevate Sales Revenue – surface more sellable inventory and enable confident delivery commitments at the point of purchase.
• Expand Operational Excellence – provide advanced order routing, consolidation, and automated exception management to cut shipping costs and reduce manual labor.
• Enhance Buyer Experiences – enable personalised fulfilment options, transparent order tracking, and buyer-controlled delivery adjustments.
The solution’s cloud-native, microservices architecture ensures rapid scalability and seamless integration with existing ERP, WMS, TMS, and eCommerce platforms. Its flexible deployment model allows organisations to add modern capabilities without disrupting core systems, making it especially valuable for multi-ERP or legacy ERP environments.
Because Enterprise Promise and Fulfill is built on the Manhattan Active Platform, it works seamlessly with other Manhattan Active applications, including Manhattan Active Warehouse Management, Transportation Management, and Supply Chain Planning.
Now available globally, Enterprise Promise & Fulfill from Manhattan empowers merchants to meet the moment and exceed customer expectations, reinforcing Manhattan’s commitment to innovation and leadership in unified supply chain commerce.
Expanding its extensive air network, UPS has nearly doubled its air freight capacity between Delhi and its European Air Hub in Cologne, Germany, to meet growing export demand from Indian businesses.
Using a Boeing 747-8, businesses in key sectors such as automotive, industrial manufacturing, retail, and healthcare, now benefit from increased air cargo capacity and enhanced connectivity to UPS’s global network.
The flight also facilitates connections from Europe to the United States, where UPS maintains the most extensive network of any logistics provider. Driven by strategic policy initiatives, increased competitiveness, and expanded market access, India’s exports hit record levels in 2024 — particularly to its largest export market, the United States.
In Europe, Indian businesses will benefit from stronger links to their key markets through UPS’s leading ground network. By offering Saturday Standard delivery for residential packages without an additional charge across eight major markets, UPS provides Indian exporters with a distinct competitive edge.
“Across Europe and worldwide, there is growing demand for high-quality goods from India from a range of sectors. This expansion of our global air network will create new opportunities for European consumers, as well as for Indian businesses looking to export,” said Daniel Carrera, President, UPS Europe, Middle East, Africa & India.
India’s trade in goods with Europe totaled USD 137.41 billion in 2023-24, making it the country’s largest trading partner. The expansion also comes as India and the UK have agreed a landmark trade agreement.
UPS’s international network is also supported by MOVIN and its expansive domestic delivery network in India. MOVIN, a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises, helps Indian businesses of all sizes by providing reliable delivery services that meet customer expectations quickly and efficiently. MOVIN’s growing network in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities allows small and medium businesses anywhere in the country to reach new markets.
“This additional flight allows us to give Indian businesses of all sizes and industries the fast and reliable service to help them grow and stay competitive. Thanks to our investments we can make logistics a competitive advantage, offering unmatched choice, convenience, and control,” said Grégory Goba-Blé, Head of UPS India and Director MOVIN Express.
UPS has made substantial investments in its capabilities and operations in India to support rising demand. This includes the expansion of the Delhi gateway, nearly doubling processing capacity and enabling later pick-up cut-off times and improved service reliability. Additional enhancements include an expanded gateway in Bengaluru and a new temperature-controlled cross-dock facility in Hyderabad dedicated to more efficiently distribute healthcare shipments.
UPS has also introduced services such as UPS Global Checkout, simplifying cross-border e-commerce, and UPS Premier, designed for time-and temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments. The company further strengthened its presence with the launch of its first technology center in Chennai.
“We welcome this new capacity at Delhi Airport and are proud to support UPS in delivering vital global connections for Indian businesses to Europe, the United States, and beyond,” said Sanjiv Edward, CEO, GMR Cargo.
AR Racking has been selected as the storage systems supplier for JYSK’s new distribution centre in Almenara, Castellón, further cementing its position as an international benchmark in industrial storage solutions. The project is part of the Scandinavian retail giant’s ambitious expansion plan in Southern Europe and North Africa.
The new logistics centre, located on a 274,000 m² plot, will feature two high-bay clad-rack warehouses with a total capacity of 182,500 pallet positions, operated by 20 stacker cranes. AR Racking will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, and installation of a tailor-made storage solution, optimized to ensure maximum capacity, operational efficiency, and long-term reliability.
In addition to the pallet warehouses, the site will include a shuttle-based automated warehouse with more than 200,000 bin locations, integrating advanced robotic technology for order picking and the automatic handling of trays and containers.
The centre will also host JYSK’s new headquarters for Spain and Portugal, creating approximately 250 new jobs and setting a benchmark in sustainability. The building will be LEED Gold certified and include solar panels to cover part of the facility’s energy demand.
The warehouse’s material flow system will be developed by technology provider KÖRBER, which will implement an automated system ensuring synchronized and traceable product flows throughout the logistics process.
“This project reinforces our expertise in large-scale automated logistics centres and consolidates AR Racking as a strategic partner in storage solutions for leading international companies,” said AR Racking’s commercial management team.
The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2028 and will play a key role in supporting JYSK’s growth in markets such as Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Until then, JYSK will continue operating from its leased logistics centre in Cheste, Valencia.
BRA Isogona, a leading manufacturer and marketer of cookware and tableware, has shown consistent year-over-year growth while coordinating its logistics operations with Mecalux’sEasy WMS warehouse management system.
The manufacturer behind the BRA, Monix and Pinti brands exports millions of frying pans, pots, grill pans, saucepans and utensils such as cutlery to over 45 countries from its facility in Valls (Spain). Warehouse operations are efficiently powered by the software it has relied on for over a decade.
“We’re continuing to grow, and we need a software solution that helps us meet our clients’ high expectations,” says Josep Anton Requena, Logistics Manager at BRA Isogona. The company chose Easy WMS due to its reliability in inventory control and location management. The system batches orders — comprising one or more items from a catalogue of 5,000 SKUs — so warehouse operators can fill large volumes at a time. These orders are then shipped to major retailers or sent out to fulfil online purchases.
One of BRA Isogona’s top priorities is adapting to the specific requirements of the businesses that sell its kitchenware and utensils. With a dedicated Easy WMS sub-module, the software provides operators with information on each recipient’s specific packing and shipping requirements. Additionally, the software’s ‘Slotting for WMS’ module enables BRA Isogona to reorganise product locations based on turnover or characteristics. This optimisation helps the company make the most of its facility’s 25,000-pallet capacity.
Kitchens worldwide
At BRA Isogona, excellence is driven by innovation, design and advanced technology. As its product catalogue evolves to bring cutting-edge solutions into customers’ kitchens, the company sees Mecalux solutions as key to its ongoing success. “It’s essential to be equipped with a software system we can count on, and Easy WMS gives us the inventory control and agility we need,” says Requena.
BRA Isogona is a leading manufacturer and marketer of kitchenware and tableware made from 18/10 stainless steel and aluminium. Sharing its passion for cooking with customers has made it the top-selling cookware company in Spain. With over half a century of experience, the business continues to refine its products while driving innovation and sustainability.
In modern warehouses, space is becoming increasingly limited. This creates a constant challenge: how to store more goods safely while ensuring fast, accurate retrieval. But when saving space comes at the cost of performance, efficiency often suffers. That’s why leading logistics operators are turning to smarter, quieter solutions that not only optimise space but also enhance overall performance.
Setting a new standard for Vertical Lift Modules
One recent Megadyne customer set a clear objective: to develop a next-generation vertical warehouse capable of reducing occupied space by up to 90%, while maintaining the same storage capacity. Additional goals included lowering energy consumption and improving both speed and reliability during goods retrieval.
With nearly seventy years of experience in storage and material handling systems, the customer, a company specialised in designing and constructing vertical automated warehouses, turned to Megadyne to help optimise operations. Already in the design phase of a new solution, the OEM sought to reduce the footprint of vertical storage modules while enhancing operational efficiency.
The problem: chain drive limitations
The customer’s previous solution used chain drives to move shelves, a system that came with significant drawbacks:
• Excessive noise
• Dirt accumulation
• Constant lubrication requirements
• Limited precision
• Slower operating speeds
• Frequent maintenance needs
These issues disrupted operations, reduced uptime, and created a noisy, less efficient environment – far from ideal in high-performance warehousing.
Solution: The QST system
To overcome these limitations, the OEM partnered with Megadyne to implement the innovative QST (Quiet, Self-Tracking) System. A quiet, high-performance alternative to chains and standard straight-tooth profiles, the QST 14 M pitch is designed for heavy-duty applications requiring maximum torque transmission and durability, like warehouse automation.
The results were immediately evident: “This solution offered a significant reduction in noise levels, required less maintenance, and remained highly resistant to heavy loads. With high torque capacity and positive engagement in bi-directional movement, the QST technology provided the precision and speed necessary for optimal warehouse performance,” said a spokesperson.
Beyond boosting performance, this solution contributed to a quieter, cleaner, and more energy-efficient warehouse environment. What’s included in the QST System? The system includes belts, pulleys, and a clamp, all engineered to ensure optimal performance:
• Maximum compatibility
• Secure installation
• Minimal risk of operational errors
Download the full story: Delve into the full case study to explore how this high-performance solution set a new benchmark for vertical lift module systems.
Finnebrogue, one of the UK’s leading and award-winning food producers, has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to optimise supply chain planning across its four production sites. By implementing RELEX Supply Chain Planning, the family-owned business aims to improve production efficiency and maintain optimal inventory levels through demand sensing and planning, master planning, and production scheduling. RELEX partner, Supply Chain Company, will support the project with implementation services.
Renowned for its premium sausages and revolutionary ‘Naked Bacon’ and ham, made without nitrites, as well as its cutting-edge plant-based production facility, Finnebrogue is a leader in crafting exceptionally tasty and sustainable food from its operations in County Down, Northern Ireland. To further its commitment to operational excellence and sustainability, Finnebrogue is implementing an end-to-end supply chain planning software solution.
The goal: to create a unified, data-driven planning platform that reduces food waste, increases efficiency, and enables smarter decision-making across its operations in County Down. With over 500 SKUs and a diverse product portfolio, RELEX will support planning across Finnebrogue’s four sites – including its sausage and burger factory, bacon facility, cooked mushrooms and value-added, and its dedicated plant-based site.
“As a business driven by innovation and a passion for creating better food, we wanted a partner that could match our ambition,” said Dermot Hawkins, Operations Director, Finnebrogue. “With RELEX, we’re moving away from the limitations of complex spreadsheets and bringing demand, production, and materials planning together onto one integrated platform. This will improve efficiency, reduce risk and waste, and give us the insights we need to make faster, smarter decisions. RELEX’s proven expertise in food manufacturing made them the clear choice to support our journey toward more sustainable, streamlined operations.”
By adopting a machine learning–based demand planning solution with integrated demand sensing, Finnebrogue will gain a more accurate and real-time understanding of shifting demand patterns and consumer behaviour. This improved visibility will enable quicker responses to fluctuations, resulting in fewer lost sales due to improved product availability, better inventory turnover, and reduced waste, an especially critical benefit given the company’s focus on fresh products.
Additionally, advanced master planning and scheduling will allow Finnebrogue to optimise production across all four sites, ensuring efficient resource allocation and tighter alignment with actual demand. Together, these capabilities will enable the organisation to transition from spreadsheet-driven planning to a single, streamlined, and optimised planning environment, significantly improving overall operational efficiency.
“Supply Chain Company is delighted to bring our expertise to this project and support Finnebrogue in achieving their goals. Together with RELEX, we’re confident this collaboration will set a new standard for supply chain planning in the meat industry,” said Henk Jan Rijkse, Director, Supply Chain Company.
“We’re proud to welcome Finnebrogue, a company that shares our commitment to innovation and sustainability to our family,” said Stefano Scandelli, General Manager, Manufacturing Business Unit, RELEX Solutions. “Our unified platform will provide Finnebrogue with the visibility and control needed to optimise their entire value chain and also strengthen their position as a leader in sustainable food production.”
Intralogistics specialist Linde Material Handling (MH) has expanded its range of automated forklift and industrial trucks, thus completing its updated product portfolio. A standout addition to the lineup is the automated Linde K MATIC k VNA turret truck.
“If customers are storing and retrieving exclusively full pallets in high-bay racking, this forklift eliminates the need for them to purchase a manually operated truck,” explains Pascal Kuster, Sales Trainer Automated Guided Vehicles at Linde MH. Other vehicles set to launch include the Linde R-MATIC k reach truck and the Linde L MATIC AC k counterbalanced pallet stacker with cantilevered forks. These series production models are designed to maximize the benefits of automation projects implemented with Linde MH, reducing planning and implementation times while ensuring greater efficiency and lower costs.
“With the new models, the already launched automated Linde L-MATIC HD k pallet stacker, and the fully automated compact Linde L-MATIC core variant, we can automate our customers’ material flow processes more easily and cost-effectively, while also making them more service-friendly and flexible for expansion,” says Kuster. The ‘toolbox’ that Linde MH’s automation planners use to develop these concepts includes high-quality, energy-efficient and easy-to-program AGVs and AMRs. “Our new vehicles play a key role in our automation solutions. However, good project planning and preparation are just as crucial to success,” Kuster emphasizes. “After all, our customers are investing in a solution, rather than just a product.” The standardization of processes is an essential prerequisite for any automation project. In this context, it’s important to note that processes with manual trucks cannot always be replicated one-to-one with the corresponding automated vehicle models. For example: If a reach truck operator was previously also responsible for transporting goods from the receiving area to the high-bay racking, in the automated system using an automated pallet stacker for this subprocess may be more efficient in order to increase throughput and optimize pallet-handling costs per hour.
A new generation of vehicles for efficient automation
The larger the product portfolio, the more options arise for developing automation solutions that are precisely tailored to customers’ specific needs. Linde MH capitalizes on this by offering the industry’s most comprehensive range of vehicles. The Linde K-MATIC k stands out in the premier league of warehouse technology. With a load capacity of 1.5 tons and a maximum lift height of 14.5 meters, this very narrow aisle (VNA) truck is designed to optimize warehouse capacity usage. “Since the truck primarily operates in rack aisles, using an automated vehicle is a sensible choice,” explains product trainer Kuster. “This allows employees to focus on higher value-added activities.”
The Linde R-MATIC k reach truck is ideal for automated replenishment in wide-aisle warehouse sections. Three models are available, with load capacities of up to 2.3 tons. To optimally customize the trucks for individual needs, they can be equipped with a wide selection of modular mast variants, offering maximum lift heights of up to 10 meters. Automated shuttle and storage solutions round off the extended range of vehicles.
Innovative technology boosts productivity
Both VNA trucks and reach trucks use state-of-the-art reflector technology for navigation. They feature a sensor-based pallet positioning system with “intelligent” forks for precisely storing and retrieving qualified load carriers such as Euro pallets, mesh boxes and CHEP pallets. The system not only detects whether a rack location is empty but also identifies any obstacles in the way. If pallets are not correctly aligned, the forks adjust accordingly. Furthermore, the system ensures that the goods are precisely positioned in the rack before the forks withdraw from the load carrier. The trucks are powered by either lead-acid batteries or the latest generation of lithium-ion batteries for maximum energy efficiency. Both battery types can be combined with all available manual or automatic charging options. A clear, colored touchscreen simplifies human-machine communication and makes entering control commands easier. Numerous standard features such as 360° scanners, emergency stop switches, lights and acoustic signals ensure maximum operational safety. Optional functions are available to supplement these features, including 2D curtain lasers and other lighting solutions such as BlueSpot and Red Warning Lines.
Integrated software platform MATIC:move
All new vehicles have been developed in-house and are designed to map key intralogistics processes end-to-end. VNA trucks and reach trucks are digitally networked with the pallet stacker variants. Automated trucks are controlled via the Linde MATIC:move (or MATIC:move+) software platform’s uniform user interface, which allows for real-time monitoring, display of open orders, predictive maintenance and standardized connection to WMS and ERP systems. Additionally, the Linde Warehouse Manager facilitates the networking of automated and manual vehicles and their integration into operational safety assistance systems such as the Linde Safety Guard. “However, cooperation with our customers is a key factor for success,” emphasizes Kuster. “We provide comprehensive support to decision-makers throughout the entire process, from the conceptualization phase through implementation. We assist in standardizing processes, defining key performance indicators and simulating material flow with the help of our digital twin. This approach ensures a solid foundation for successful project completion and a swift return on investment. And after commissioning, our experienced service technicians and the high density of our sales and service network ensure that customers can rely on fast response times for maintenance and repairs.”
