17 April, 2026

Record Store Day Logistics Surge

Posted on 17 April, 202617 April, 2026 by David Priestman

DP World’s Bicester warehouse – Britain’s largest physical music distributor – is preparing to handle record volumes this ‘Record Store Day’ as demand for vinyl continues to surge across the UK.

Record Store Day – the music industry’s standout annual retail event – is expected to see more than 210,000 vinyl records shipped from Bicester, with over 230 individual releases distributed to record stores nationwide on 18 April.

In 2025, DP World handled 8 million vinyl records, a new annual high and an increase of more than one million units year-on-year, bringing the total number shipped from Bicester to over 15 million since it opened in 2023.

In the final quarter of 2025 alone, more than 7 million records, CDs and other music formats passed through the warehouse, including nearly 3 million vinyl records as customers sought out the format’s listening experience and collectability.

Across all music formats, the 270,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art site distributed more than 21 million units last year, highlighting the scale of operations underpinning the UK’s music retail supply chain.

Angela Howard, Vice President Contract Logistics, North Europe, DP World said: “Record Store Day is a moment for the music industry to celebrate the record shops we serve and the enduring popularity of vinyl and physical formats. At DP World’s Bicester operation, our team brings real passion and pride to supporting this moment, working alongside more than 80 autonomous picking robots to ensure hundreds of releases reach stores nationwide on time.”

“This commitment goes beyond logistics – we’re proud to play a role in supporting artists and independent retailers, while contributing to the industry’s long-term growth. By continuing to invest in our people, technology, and partnerships, we aim to help sustain the vibrant future of music, connecting fans with everything from globally renowned acts to cult favourites.”

Kim Bayley, Chief Executive, ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association, said: “Record Store Day is the single, most important day in the calendar for independent record shops in the UK and is bigger than Christmas, so it is fundamental to all UK retailers getting the physical products in their stores. Thanks to the Bicester operations, DP World has managed to re-invigorate the physical redistribution process such that retailers are able to service their customers creating the foundation for future growth.”

Partnership for AI-Powered Mixed-Case Palletizing

Posted on 17 April, 202617 April, 2026 by David Priestman

Fortna and Jacobi Robotics, a physical AI innovator for warehouse automation, have announced a strategic partnership to bring AI-powered mixed-case palletizing to distribution and fulfillment operations. The collaboration adds the Jacobi Robotics ‘OmniPalletizer’ platform to the Fortna solution portfolio, expanding an ability to solve one of the most complex and labour-intensive workflows in high-volume distribution environments.

Mixed-case palletizing has historically required significant manual labour due to its operational complexity and variability. With OmniPalletizer, Fortna can deliver a scalable, production-ready solution that automates this process without requiring upstream sequencing infrastructure or major facility redesign, unlocking new levels of efficiency, safety and performance. Through digital twin simulations and AI-optimized workflows, the partnership translates advanced AI into reliable, scalable outcomes on the warehouse floor.

“At FORTNA, we partner with companies that are redefining what’s possible in warehouse automation, and Jacobi Robotics is doing exactly that,” said Rob McKeel, Chief Executive Officer. “Our commitment is to deliver the right solution for each customer’s environment, and Jacobi Robotics adds a best-in-class capability that allows us to solve a problem that has historically been challenging while driving measurable results.”

“FORTNA is exactly the kind of partner we built OmniPalletizer for,” said Max Cao, Chief Executive Officer, Jacobi Robotics. “Their deep expertise in distribution and fulfillment solutions and proven track record of delivering best-fit technologies for their customers make them an ideal partner. Together, we’re bringing a proven, high-impact solution to customers across parcel, retail, grocery and food and beverage industries.”

Expanding a Best-in-Class Automation Partner Ecosystem FORTNA will leverage the addition of AI-powered mixed-case palletizing to further enhance and strengthen its ecosystem of best-fit technology solutions that also include:

AutoStore – to deliver high-density, goods-to-person solutions that maximize space utilization and accelerate order fulfillment. Recent innovations like AutoCase and AutoStore Intelligence expand these capabilities by enabling automated full-case and each picking in a single system and providing advanced, AI-driven insights to help make confident, faster decisions across design, deployment,operations and ongoing optimization.

Geekplus – to deliver advanced robotic solutions, including the OptiSweep™ system,designed to automate the sorter close-out process for distribution operations. By seamlessly orchestrating mobile robots with proprietary intelligent software, Fortna OptiSweep™ reduces labour dependency, enhances operator ergonomics and optimizes material flow in high-volume e-Commerce and sortation environments.

Hai Robotics – to help warehouses maximize vertical space, improve throughput and adapt quickly to changing demand through its HaiPick Systems, including the recently upgraded HaiPick Climb solution. As a global system integrator, Fortna designs and implements the high-density, goods-to-person solutions to optimize storage, picking and order fulfillment while increasing capacity and productivity. These flexible systems scale from small to large facilities, combining intelligent software with advanced robotic automation to enable more resilient, high-performing operations.

OTTO by Rockwell Automation – to deploy autonomous mobile robots that streamline material movement across facilities. These solutions improve operational flexibility and enable scalable automation of repetitive transport tasks.

Packsize/Sitma – to deliver on-demand, right-sized packaging systems that reduce corrugate waste, lower shipping costs and improve sustainability.

Swimwear Brand Gets Euro Logistics Base

Posted on 17 April, 202617 April, 2026 by David Priestman

Kulani Kinis, a fast-growing Australian swimwear and apparel brand with a loyal global following, has announced a new partnership with Bleckmann, specialists in supply chain management for fashion and lifestyle brands. Bleckmann will provide warehousing, order fulfilment and returns processing from its facility in Venlo, the Netherlands, launching Kulani Kinis’ first logistics operation based on European soil.

Supporting a bold growth strategy

Founded in Sydney in 2015 by Dani Atkins and Alex Babich, Kulani Kinis has grown from a side hustle into a globally recognised brand, expanding its reach far beyond Australia. In particular, the US market has been a strong growth engine, with a majority of the brand’s business currently generated there. Europe is another important market, and the brand has been building toward a dedicated European logistics presence for several years. “Europe has gone from a relatively small share of our business to around 10% and growing”, said Will North, Head of Commercial and Performance at Kulani Kinis. “Being based in Australia, we simply couldn’t service our European customers the way we wanted to.”

This made delivery speed and operational efficiency top priorities in a new potential logistics partner. Now, with Bleckmann handling warehousing, fulfilment and returns for all the brand’s EU business, customers can expect a step change in the end-to-end shopping experience. “Previously, delivery times to the EU were up to six days as orders shipped from Australia”, said Melissa Blume, Head of Customer Experience at the brand. “With fulfilment now based in Venlo, many customers will receive their orders the next day via local carriers they know and trust.”

Dedicated expertise, cost efficiency and faster returns

After visiting several potential providers in the Netherlands, Kulani Kinis selected Bleckmann for both its ability to deliver service improvements and its fashion and lifestyle focus. “What really stood out was that Bleckmann isn’t a generalist player – they have the deep expertise we need”, continued North. “Our products demand careful handling and precise presentation, so Bleckmann’s strong SLAs around fulfilment accuracy and value-added services were a deciding factor.” This was illustrated during a team visit to Bleckmann’s Venlo facility. “We arrived in the days after Black Friday and everything was running like clockwork”, noted Blume. “That told us exactly what we needed to know.”

The economies of scale achieved with Bleckmann have also allowed Kulani Kinis to introduce free shipping on orders over €100 – a first for the brand’s European offering. Returns, too, will be transformed: rather than items being sent all the way back to Australia, items returned from European customers will benefit from faster, more efficient processing, handled locally in Venlo. “Customers can now receive their exchange orders and refunds more quickly”, explained Ruud Mars, Business Development Business Transport at Bleckmann. “This typically results in a smoother post-purchase experience and stronger customer relationships.”

Euro summer, delivered

The partnership go-live comes at a key moment for the brand. Kulani Kinis is launching its European fulfilment operation alongside the release of its new Espresso Island collection – foregrounding retro glamor, deep espresso hues and playful core prints. Bleckmann will help give European customers faster access to the brand’s latest styles just as the summer season gets underway. “Launching a major new collection and a brand-new logistics operation at the same time is a real test of any provider”, said Blume. “But the way Bleckmann has handled it has given us complete confidence going forward.”

Looking ahead, Kulani Kinis sees Europe as a key pillar of its long-term growth strategy – not just in direct-to-consumer, but in wholesale too. The brand has already appeared twice at Splash, the leading swimwear trade show in France, and is looking to build the kind of wholesale momentum in Europe that has accelerated growth in the US.

“Having product physically on the continent makes everything easier – from marketing activations to wholesale conversations”, concluded North. “When potential partners see that you’re here, that you’re invested, it sends a very clear signal: we’re here to stay.”

New Ink Jet Printer Series at Interpack

Posted on 17 April, 202617 April, 2026 by David Priestman

The launch of a new continuous ink jet (CIJ) printer range will be the centrepiece of the Linx Printing Technologies stand (C59, Hall 8B) at this year’s interpack exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany.

This latest addition to the Linx product portfolio will be shown alongside the company’s current ranges of advanced coding and marking solutions which, in addition to CIJ, include laser coding machines, thermal transfer printers and large character marking printers. All reflect Linx’s ongoing commitment to practical innovation with the development of coding and marking products and services that make production life easier for factory personnel.

interpack provides a global showcase for the packaging industry and it therefore presents the ideal opportunity for us to share with visitors what we believe will be a gamechanger in coding and marking for busy production managers,

said Mark Cooper, Senior Director Product and Marketing, Linx Printing Technologies.

In another first at the exhibition, Linx will also be previewing a new model for its large character marking printer range, which will be launched later this year. This will set new standards in the coding of text, logos and graphics directly onto porous substrates such as cardboard, paper and wood in industries including manufacturing, packaging and logistics.

Among the other highlights on the stand, the three models on show from the Linx laser coding machine range underline the variety of solutions offered by the company to meet the needs of many different markets and applications. All offer high-quality permanent marking at high speeds and, with no reliance on consumables, operating costs are reduced while the substrates being coded remain intact and unblemished.

The Linx UVG5 is ideal for delicate mono-recyclable films and difficult to mark rigid plastics, delivering fast and consistent code marking, and can be seamlessly integrated into existing production lines.

The Linx CSL30 produces sharp codes, even on hard to mark materials such as glass and rubber, on high-speed production lines in markets including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and electronics. The adjustment focus of the coder’s CO2 laser marking head, which incorporates integrated simplified focus technology, means there is no need to move the laser or adjust it for different height or width products. This reduces changeover times and eliminates errors on lines with frequent product changes.

Linx’s fibre laser coder, the FSL20, achieves very fine spot size to deliver excellent quality codes for the clear and effective marking of very small components or products which require large amounts of information in a small area. In addition, the extreme clarity of the codes makes the coder ideal for traceability requirements in markets such as pharmaceutical, medical devices, automotive and electronics.

Linx will also showcase three models from its thermal transfer printer range, which offer high quality printing onto flexible materials including bags, pouches, labels and flow wrap. All offer a large range of ribbons to match individual applications and production line printing needs, with bi-directional stepper motors to deliver more prints per ribbon. An easy-to-use colour touch screen and simple cassette system ensure ease of set-up, operation and changeovers.

Supporting a bold growth strategy

Dedicated expertise, cost efficiency and faster returns

Euro summer, delivered

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