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Month: September 2026

Explosion-protected Electric Forklifts Get Intelligent

Posted on by David Priestman

Linde Material Handling has updated its portfolio of explosion-protected electric forklifts and now offers the new Linde E14–E20 EX and Linde E16–E20 P EX models. These three- and four-wheeled electric counterbalanced forklifts are certified for use in ATEX zones 1/21 and 2/22. The series’ wide variety of models has been retained, and all new features and driver-assistance functions have been incorporated into the explosion-protected versions. There are 14 models in total, featuring different chassis sizes and load capacities of up to two tons.

Some industries, such as electric motor and battery manufacturing, are currently experiencing a boom. The European Chips Act promotes the construction of semiconductor factories in Europe in order to reduce dependence on Asian suppliers. Consequently, large semiconductor manufacturing facilities are being built in various locations. These factories use hazardous and highly flammable substances. Companies are also setting up ATEX-certified areas for recycling electronic waste and batteries. Explosive atmospheres can develop in these areas, too, so the use of appropriately protected industrial trucks is required. Linde MH’s compact three-wheeled electric forklifts are especially well suited for use in confined warehouse and production environments, while its four-wheeled electric forklifts offer high maneuverability and maximum stability, even on uneven surfaces.

Look & Feel

Safety is paramount for explosion-protected vehicles. Linde MH leverages its position as an original equipment manufacturer in this sector and others. For instance, converting takes place in close proximity to the company’s series production facility in Aschaffenburg. This physical and conceptual proximity is why Linde MH can bring explosion-protected versions to market more quickly. “We order the first prototypes right from the pilot series. We have access to all the development documents and can therefore quickly present the explosion-protected model for the more demanding zone 1/21 to our customers,” explains Elke Karnarski, Product Manager EX-Proof Trucks & Safety Solutions at Linde MH. Flame-proof housings containing electronic components are installed in such a way that they do not alter the vehicle’s contours. This ensures that the forklift operator’s visibility and legroom are not obstructed by an additional housing mounted on the rear of the vehicle or in the footwell. “Operators benefit from the same look and feel, as well as the many new comfort features they’re familiar with from series-production vehicles,” Karnarski says.

Double safety

“Maximum safety with highest performance,” is the motto that sums up the guiding principle of Linde MH developers. The intralogistics specialist does not use standard motors in its explosion-protected models. According to Karnarski, the engineers and product developers have ‘gone the extra mile’ when it comes to safety in zone 1/21. Production areas where hazardous substances are mixed or transferred have a higher probability of developing an explosive atmosphere. Therefore, it is crucial to precisely monitor the temperature of all heat-generating components. Two measures ensure that the temperature limit is maintained while keeping the motor’s performance on par with that of a standard vehicle. Karnarski explains,

“For zone 1/21, we have installed motors with special windings and higher insulation classes to meet the stringent safety requirements for these ATEX zones. In addition, we have integrated the sensors directly into the motor winding. This enables us to continuously measure the temperature right where it is generated.”

Safety first, even when reversing

Upon request, Linde MH’s explosion-protected models can be equipped with either a Reverse Assist Camera or a Reverse Assist Radar. Both systems enhance safety during reversing. The camera has been trained using AI to distinguish between people and objects. However, the system’s true intelligence is revealed in the way the forklift responds. As Karnarski explains,

“The vehicle detects how far away a pedestrian is and initiates braking accordingly. Additionally, the driver receives an audible warning, enabling them to react quickly. This buys valuable seconds to prevent an accident.”

The Reverse Assist Radar reduces the vehicle’s speed and can even bring it to a complete stop. “The radar takes into account the vehicle’s speed, the load on the forks, the steering angle and the distance to the object – whether it’s a mesh box, a person walking behind the vehicle, or another forklift crossing the rear area. The system calculates the braking distance and applies the appropriate amount of braking force,” says the product manager and explosion protection expert.

Additionally, the Linde Safety Guard assistance system facilitates the creation of different speed zones. When the forklift enters a defined ATEX zone, its speed is reduced automatically. Once the forklift exits the zone, the operator can accelerate back to a higher speed. In zone 2/22, the Linde Safety Guard can also be used to implement mutual warning signals for intersecting forklifts. The combination of automatic speed reduction and audible and visual warning signals further mitigates the risk of accidents.

Linde MH also offers a variety of lighting solutions that enhance safety in narrow, poorly lit and confusing warehouse and production facility aisles by illuminating the surroundings and alerting other employees to an approaching forklift truck. These solutions include VertiLights, LED stripes and red warning lines projected to the sides of the vehicle. All of these solutions are available for explosion-protected vehicles as well.

Extra comfort feature: Heated driver’s cabin

Maintaining a high level of attention at all times is paramount for employees who handle hazardous substances. A comfortable cabin climate and clear windows both contribute to employees’ well-being and safety. The new explosion-protected electric forklifts are equipped with a special blower heating system featuring eight nozzles for the windshield, interior and footwell. This fully integrated system is certified for zones 2/22 and 1/21 and has been designed to provide optimal comfort and safety. On top the vehicle is equipped with a preheating function that ensures the cabin is warm for the driver as soon as they enter.

Double-deck Reefers Strengthen Fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

Temperature-controlled logistics provider Romac Logistics has strengthened its fleet with the introduction of 100 state-of-the-art moving double-deck refrigerated trailers from Tiger Trailers, alongside 200 new Renault Trucks T480 tractor units supplied by local dealer, Diamond Trucks, continuing its long-standing relationship with the two manufacturers.

The investment supports Romac Logistics’ continued expansion across the UK and follows the opening of the company’s flagship distribution facility in Chesterfield. Together, these investments significantly increase capacity, enhance operational efficiency and ensure the business is well positioned to meet growing customer demand while maintaining the exceptional levels of service, safety and reliability on which its reputation has been built.

Designed for up to 54 pallets and fitted with Thermo King A500 single-temperature refrigeration units, the new Tiger moving double-deck refrigerated trailers increase payload capacity while reducing vehicle movements, supporting both operational efficiency and sustainability objectives. Engineered with operator safety and durability in mind, the trailers feature proven moving double-deck technology, enabling Romac Logistics to maximise efficiency across its temperature-controlled network.

The latest fleet investment also celebrates the long-standing partnerships that have supported Romac Logistics’ growth over a number of years. Working closely with Tiger Trailers, Diamond Trucks and Renault Trucks, Romac Logistics has continued to invest in innovative, reliable and sustainable transport solutions that enable the business to scale with confidence while delivering the exceptional service customers have come to expect.

Rob McAdoo, Founder of Romac Logistics, said:

“This investment is about much more than adding new vehicles to our fleet. As Romac Logistics continues to grow, we’re investing in the infrastructure, equipment and partnerships that will support the next stage of our journey. The opening of our flagship Chesterfield facility marked a significant milestone for the business, and it was essential that our fleet evolved alongside our infrastructure. These investments ensure we have the capacity, capability and resilience to support our customers as they continue to grow. Our customers trust us to deliver safe, reliable and scalable logistics solutions, and that’s exactly what this investment enables. By increasing capacity, improving efficiency and embracing the latest vehicle technology, we’re strengthening our service offering while supporting our long-term growth strategy. We’re also incredibly proud of the relationships we’ve built with Tiger Trailers, Renault Trucks UK and Diamond Trucks. These are genuine partnerships that have evolved alongside our business, and together we’re continuing to invest in the future.”

Darren Holland, Sales Director at Tiger Trailers, said:

“We’re delighted to see Romac Logistics add these advanced Tiger double deck fridge trailers to their fleet, enabling them to transport a greater amount of chilled or frozen produce in fewer journeys. It has been a pleasure collaborating with their team again and we look forward to continuing to deepen our partnership over the coming months”.

Tiger Trailers has previously supplied Romac Logistics with 60 ambient curtainsider trailers and 20 refrigerated single-deck trailers, making this latest order another milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two businesses. Ian Griffiths, Head of Fleet Sales, Renault Trucks UK, said:

“Romac Logistics’ significant investment in its fleet, including 200 new Renault Trucks T480s, reflects the ambition and growth of the business and its commitment to delivering the highest quality service to customers. We’re proud to be supporting that growth with trucks designed to deliver improved fuel efficiency and total cost of ownership, greater sustainability and maximum uptime, together with the latest advances in safety and driver comfort. We thank Romac Logistics for its continued confidence in Renault Trucks and Diamond Trucks, and look forward to building on our long-standing relationship as the business delivers on its ambitions.”

Why PCR Strapping Matters

Posted on by David Priestman

Legislation is increasingly driving sustainability in logistics and manufacturing. For businesses using plastic packaging, a major change is the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax revision effective from 1 April 2027.

Although many organisations know plastic packaging must contain at least 30 per cent recycled content, the rules are changing. Only post-consumer recycled (PCR) material will count toward the threshold, while pre-industrial recycled content (PIR) will no longer qualify. This change gives packaging users an opportunity to review materials and prepare in advance of the deadline.

What This Means for Strapping Users

Plastic strapping is an effective method for securing palletised loads and protecting goods throughout the supply chain. Meeting sustainability requirements while maintaining load security is now a growing priority for manufacturers, logistics providers, and distributors.

Businesses that do not meet the recycled content threshold may incur additional Plastic Packaging Tax costs. Buyers are therefore seeking packaging solutions that assure compliance without sacrificing operational performance.

Looking Beyond the Minimum Requirement

To support customer preparation, Mosca has introduced a new grey polypropylene strap with at least 35 per cent PCR content. By exceeding the 30 per cent threshold, the new strap helps businesses prepare for future tax requirements and conforms to anticipated European legislation.

PCR Strapping

The proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is expected to require a minimum of 35 per cent PCR content for transport packaging. For organisations operating in both UK and European markets, adopting a solution that already goes beyond current requirements can simplify future compliance planning.

Why Is the Strap Grey?

PCR material is produced from consumer waste streams containing colour pigments, labels, and printing inks, rendering it difficult to consistently produce light-coloured recycled plastics. The grey colour of Mosca’s new PCR strap visibly indicates recycled content while maintaining the performance required for demanding transit packaging applications.

Sustainability Without Undermining Performance

Environmental improvements should not compromise load security. Mosca’s PCR PP strap delivers the reliability, consistency, and performance expected from modern strapping solutions. It is designed and tested for seamless operation on Mosca equipment, ensuring machine compatibility and long-term performance.

The strap is suitable for a wide range of automatic and semi-automatic strapping machines, making it a practical upgrade for businesses pursuing improved sustainability without new equipment investment. In addition to the new PP range, Mosca’s PET strapping portfolio already includes high levels of PCR content, providing sustainable solutions for heavier-duty applications.

Preparing for 2027 Starts Today

The transition from PIR to PCR is more than a regulatory change. It constitutes a major change in how transport packaging is specified, purchased, and evaluated across the supply chain. Mosca’s new 35 per cent PCR PP strap enables businesses to stay ahead of legislation, reduce potential tax exposure, and support wider sustainability goals while continuing operational efficiency.
The new strap will be available from this Autumn. Businesses interested in evaluating the product can sign up for an early trial programme. As with all Mosca strapping products, stock will be held at the facility in Nottingham, with same-day despatch to ensure supply continuity as demand increases.

U.S. Foreign-made Robotics Rules Impact Europe

Posted on by David Priestman

The USA’s FCC recently tightened rules concerning the importation of foreign-made robotics. The new rules will not automatically ban European robotics systems authorised for sale and use in the US. But the measures are set to hit robotic companies selling into the US hard, as suppliers now have to consider where their systems are manufactured, their supply chain and structure and if they can meet the new security and regulatory requirements.

The new rules have emerged in line with Washington’s tougher stance on Chinese technology suppliers, and many worry the changes will elevate competition between US, European and Chinese robotics companies. According to French warehouse robotics company Exotec, the new measures could create significant implications beyond the US market and could make Europe an attractive destination for Chinese suppliers.

Arthur Bellamy, Chief Revenue Officer at Exotec, told us that, “The FCC’s new measures do not create an immediate disruption to the sale, operation or support of currently authorised European robotic systems in the United States. They primarily affect new foreign-produced mobile robots that require a new FCC authorisation. Existing authorised systems can continue to operate under the current rules, and many European companies are monitoring developments closely.

“While the measure appears to be driven in significant part by concerns about Chinese suppliers, the FCC framework is not designed to target individual countries. Any differentiated treatment is instead handled through discretionary approval or exemption processes.

“For European robotics suppliers, the impact will depend on the type of product, where it is manufactured and whether it already has the required US authorisations. European companies should not assume that their origin alone provides an exemption. At the same time, suppliers with transparent supply chains, strong cybersecurity and reliable long-term service capabilities may be well positioned as customers place greater emphasis on resilience and trust.

“Previous FCC measures on drones provide a useful comparison: the FCC has granted conditional approvals to companies including Mobilicom (Israel) or AIR6 Systems (Austria and Germany), while none has been established for Chinese companies. This suggests that regulatory treatment may depend not only on the product itself, but also on the ability to demonstrate trust, supply-chain transparency and alignment with US security requirements.

“The US measures could make Europe a relatively more attractive market for some non-US suppliers, especially Chinese manufacturers. However, it is too early to say that they will lead to a significant increase in Chinese competition in Europe. Market outcomes will also depend on cybersecurity, data governance, service capabilities, quality and total cost of ownership.”

Europe has not introduced a blanket ban on foreign-made warehouse robots. The European approach is currently more targeted, combining safety and cybersecurity requirements with additional scrutiny in areas such as critical infrastructure, public procurement and foreign investment.

“However, Europe should not focus only on security risks,” added Bellamy. “It should also address the risk of structurally distorted competition. State support, preferential financing and other structural advantages can allow foreign products to enter the market at prices that are difficult for European companies to match, putting European industrial capacity and value creation under pressure. European companies and consumers can be tempted by low upfront prices without fully accounting for the long-term consequences. This short-sighted approach can transfer design, technology, margins and industrial value outside Europe, increase dependence on foreign suppliers and ultimately weaken Europe’s own industrial base and purchasing power. What appears to be a saving at the point of purchase can become a much larger economic cost over time.”

“Partnerships such as the one between Stellantis and Leapmotor show how a Chinese automotive company can reach European customers through established European brands, distribution networks and industrial infrastructure. Even when products are assembled in Europe, the underlying design, technology and a significant share of the value creation can remain outside Europe.

“The same issue is critical in logistics, where customers can purchase a complete automation solution from well-known European providers, even though their catalogues can include solutions developed or manufactured by Chinese companies. By presenting those solutions through a recognised European brand or integrator, they can be perceived by customers as European offerings, even when the underlying technology, manufacturing origin, ownership and value creation remain predominantly Chinese.

“Europe should therefore combine security and resilience requirements with stronger tools to assess subsidies, ownership, supply-chain transparency and product origin. Where products cannot demonstrate adequate security, transparency or fair competitive conditions, targeted procurement safeguards or restrictions on market access should be available.

“The objective should not be to exclude foreign suppliers as a category, but to prevent structurally distorted competition from undermining Europe’s industrial and technological capabilities,” concluded Bellamy.

New DC for Frozen Bakery Products

Posted on by David Priestman

Frozen food company Panabad has opened a new logistics centre in Sant Quirze del Vallès (near Barcelona) to support its future growth. The 2,500 m² facility incorporates Mecalux’s Easy WMS warehouse management system, which oversees more than 200 SKUs of pre-cooked frozen bread products, as well as high-density storage solutions.

We opened a new logistics centre because our business volume has continued to grow… We currently process over 7,000 tonnes of flour a year to manufacture products distributed to more than 2,000 clients. This growth pushed us to take the next step: we needed a better-organised logistics setup, more precise traceability control and more efficient product distribution

says Julián Martín, General Manager of Panabad

At Panabad’s logistics centre, Easy WMS comprehensively monitors the facility’s 200-plus SKUs. The software records every pallet received at the warehouse and assigns it a location based on product turnover and volume. One of Panabad’s goals for its new warehouse was to accommodate the largest possible number of goods. Mecalux installed two high-density solutions with a capacity for more than 3,000 pallets.

The warehouse operates at -20 °C, making it essential to minimise the amount of time employees spend inside the facility. “Each operator receives a pick path on their RF terminal designed to eliminate unnecessary travel. By following instructions from Easy WMS, they fill orders faster and reduce their exposure to low temperatures,” says Martín.

By commissioning its new logistics centre and digitalising its operations, Panabad has established a more organised operating model to continue meeting market demands.

Korean Innovation Aims to Eliminate Stretch Wrap

Posted on by David Priestman

A South Korean packaging innovator is making its European debut with a reusable pallet packaging system that promises to permanently replace single-use stretch wrap across logistics and distribution operations — at a price point that delivers return on investment within weeks, not years.

Ecobundle™, manufactured by Jooyeong P&S Corporation and distributed internationally by CHEMPEOPLE CO., LTD., is a durable belt-and-cover system made from high-tenacity PVCcoated polyester fabric. It wraps standard pallets (950–1,100mm, ±20% cargo volume flexibility) in 1–2 minutes — no machinery, no training required — and replaces stretch film entirely on
every use.

The company says that the commercial case is compelling. Independent field testing and live deployment data confirm that a single Ecobundle unit recovers its full purchase cost after approximately 35 uses — equivalent to roughly 1.7 months of operation at 20 pallet cycles per month. Over a full 600-use lifecycle, the system delivers 93% net cost savings compared to single-use stretch wrap, even after accounting for a conservative 20% field loss and damage risk provision.

Environmental responsibility and ESG management are no longer optional — they are a matter of business survival. Ecobundle is a reusable replacement for disposable packaging that will drive genuine innovation across the logistics and transportation industry

Park Jeong-gu (pictured), CEO — Jooyeong P&S Corp.

The sustainability credentials are equally significant. Compared to conventional stretch film, Ecobundle reduces CO₂ emissions by 95% over 365 uses and eliminates 650g of plastic waste per pallet per wrapping cycle. The system can withstand 1,000+ reuse cycles per unit, with a modular design allowing component-level replacement rather than whole-unit disposal.

For European logistics operators facing the tightening requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR 2025/40) — which mandates that at least 40% of transport packaging must be reusable by 2030 — Ecobundle offers an immediately deployable solution with no capital investment in infrastructure or process redesign. The system’s new PP (Polypropylene) material variant, available in transparent and colour options, meets PPWR material compliance requirements applicable from August 2026.

Real-world performance has been validated at scale. Ilyang Logis, one of South Korea’s leading parcel delivery operators, deployed Ecobundle across its Okcheon Distribution Centre in 2023 and recorded a 30% cost reduction in its first year of operation, alongside a 97% reduction in packaging waste over a two-year pilot. The centre was subsequently ranked number 1 in a
nationwide logistics centre evaluation by Ilyang Logis headquarters, with a corporate commendation awarded in 2024. Field staff — who initially resisted the change — now consistently report that Ecobundle is faster and easier to use than conventional stretch wrap.

The product is available in three variants to suit different cargo types: Standard (Tarpaulin) for general industrial and logistics use; Fixed/Pallet-Anchored with double hook and pin loop for maximum security in long-haul and international transport; and Mesh for fresh produce, frozen foods, and ventilation-sensitive cargo. Custom logo printing, colour options, and identification label holders are available across all variants.

Supply Chain AI to Solve Regulatory Complexity

Posted on by David Priestman

UK supply chain professionals are turning to AI to manage regulatory complexity at a much faster rate than the global average, with Brexit likely a key driver. This is one of several findings from independent research by IDC, commissioned by supply chain orchestration leader Kinaxis.

The survey uncovered that more than a quarter of UK supply chain professionals say the complexity of regulations across global markets is the single biggest reason their organisation is speeding up its adoption of AI in supply chain decisions.

It’s the second most-cited driver in the UK overall, behind only inflation. The figures are significantly higher than the global average, which sits at 16%. In Germany, just 10% of supply chain professionals point to regulatory complexity as their top driver, and the stability of intra-EU trading rules may help explain why the figure is so much lower than in the UK.

Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020, British supply chain professionals are contending with a more complicated regulatory landscape than many of their European neighbours. More of them are now using AI to keep up.

The findings sit within a wider global IDC InfoBrief called ‘Making Supply Chain AI Accountable’, which surveyed more than 2,000 supply chain leaders across nine markets. The global study found that while AI adoption is now close to universal, with only 2% of organisations having no AI capabilities in place, many companies still have reservations about its use. Just 12% of those surveyed consider themselves AI leaders, and only 12% say governance for AI-driven decisions is fully embedded. Trust remains the biggest barrier to faster adoption, with 52% of respondents worldwide citing it as the key reason for slow take-up rates.

“AI adoption isn’t the question anymore,” said Justin King, Field CTO at Kinaxis.

Whether AI delivers trusted decisions, measurable value and governed autonomy is the real question, especially with 52% of leaders telling IDC that trust is what’s holding them back. We built Maestro to answer that question. Every AI-driven recommendation is explainable and auditable before it acts, so accountability happens at the decision, not just the policy

Even as adoption moves forward, UK supply chain professionals remain cautious about where they stand globally. Nearly a quarter of UK companies (23%) say their AI maturity is either early-stage or still uncertain, compared with 16% in the US and India. That confidence gap hasn’t closed, even as adoption speeds up.

Right-Sizing, Right Choice

Posted on by Paul Hamblin

Custom-fit on-demand packaging induces cost and efficiency gains as well as sustainability wins. Paul Hamblin spoke to Chris More of Packsize.

A cardboard box is just a box, right? Yes, but only up to a point. The quest for greater efficiency in production, distribution and delivery of goods, and the ever-spiralling demands of e-commerce customers, in addition to increasingly strict sustainability legislation, have made packaging far more than an afterthought in the intralogistics challenge.

The growth of Packsize illustrates the point perfectly. Founded in 2002, the business quickly established a presence in both the United States and Europe, based on the premise of reducing packaging waste and driving process efficiency. Its core aim was to eliminate oversized packaging, and it achieved this through creating technology that cuts and folds corrugated material on-demand to produce a right-sized box for each order.

The industry loved it. After establishing its European operations in Herford, Germany, Packsize expanded through a network of hubs across the continent, and more recently, the business has strategically relocated its European headquarters to Amsterdam. Growth has accelerated further through the acquisition of Sparck Technologies in 2025, and now, the announcement in June of the planned purchase of Panotec’s packaging business in Italy underscores the company’s ambitions.

Chris More (pictured, below) is Sales Director for the UK and Ireland. He says: “Together, these developments give Packsize what we believe is an unmatched breadth of technologies for efficiently right-sizing packaging in three dimensions, both within Europe and potentially worldwide.”

Sizing Matters

So, what are the benefits that come from using right-sized boxing solutions? He expains: “Exact size boxing has a direct impact in saving costs, on people resource allocation, on processes and on environmental requirements and footprint. We’re using less material to make that box, we can therefore put more boxes on a truck, and that means we can put fewer trucks on the road. Right-sizing brings only advantages across the board.”

There appear to be significant opportunities for businesses to benefit from the technology, particularly in the ecommerce sector, but right-sizing as a concept is still relatively unknown. That means many businesses are still leaving significant potential untapped.

Right-sizing packaging in all three dimensions is still not widely understood. Many businesses are familiar with two-dimensional optimisation, which reduces the height of a standard box, while its length and width remain fixed. Although this can reduce some void space, three-dimensional optimisation creates a package around the exact size of its contents, delivering a significantly better fill rate, using less material and reducing both void space and the risk of product damage.

According to Packsize, across their solutions customers see average corrugated material savings of around 30%, package volume reductions of up to 40% while approximately 80% less void fill is used. Fully automated systems can also commonly deliver the equivalent output of around 20 manual packing stations, creating significant labour efficiencies. Although the company points out that these results vary depending on the customer’s products, order profile and their existing operation.

Packsize solutions are about machinery and have been since the beginning, offering an array of box-first and box-last solutions. With box-first, a right-sized box is produced before the products are packed into it; with box-last, the products are inducted onto a conveyor and the packaging is formed around them.

On Demand

Packsize offers both approaches through semi-automated and fully automated solutions to suit different products, order profiles and throughput requirements. The efficiency benefit is that the correct package dimensions can be received from the customer’s WMS or determined from the inducted products, removing the need for an operator to select from multiple pre-made box sizes and reducing manual decision-making throughout the packing process.

On-Demand packaging means what it says, including products that enhance the end-user ‘unboxing’ experience, such as personalised, printed boxes containing unique images or messages.

We can be very highly customised… There might be a run of 500 boxes, each with an individual print and all at different sizes. Or consider a 3PL client who might be running fulfilment for three clients in three sectors, such as beauty, hair and electronics goods – the template can be loaded into the machine to suit each customer… In some cases we have seen customers take the opportunity to boost revenue by printing customised ad’s or by providing an enhanced unboxing experience.

Packsize works with small, medium and large customer accounts. One SME client with a throughput of only 1200 parcels a day enabled the redistribution of eight people after adopting Packsize technology and is projected to make an ROI in two years (two to five years for ROI is typical, he says); larger clients in the UK include Smyths Toys and household names such as Boots.

Packsize supports both brownfield and greenfield projects. The company is highly proficient at integrating solutions into existing infrastructure and warehouse processes, and when engaging in a greenfield project, involving Packsize early on allows packaging to be considered as part of the overall system design – creating greater opportunities to optimise the complete material flow and overall efficiency of the operation.

Yard Management Deployed at Auto Logistics Site

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistik Schmitt is strengthening its long-standing collaboration with Infios with the deployment of the cloud-native Infios Yard solution at its Rastatt site. The Yard Management System (YMS) project represents an extension of a successful partnership spanning multiple Logistik Schmitt operations, where Infios Warehouse Management (WM) supports critical logistics processes at other facilities.

Headquartered in Bietigheim, Germany, Logistik Schmitt is a specialist in transport and contract logistics, delivering tailored solutions for complex manufacturing environments. The company supports leading industrial customers, particularly within the automotive sector, through services such as production supply, sequencing, warehousing and distribution. Across a network of sites, Logistik Schmitt enables synchronized material flows to assembly lines, ensuring reliability and efficiency in time-critical production settings.

At the Rastatt site, Infios is helping Logistik Schmitt optimize yard operations on the premises of a car manufacturer. The YMS provides real-time visibility and control over incoming and outgoing trailer and swap body movements, improves slot allocation, reduces wait times, ensures process stability and coordinates traffic between staging areas, loading docks and local suppliers. A key highlight is the tailored self-service functionality for dock management, which enables Schmitt to manage gate processes efficiently and independently, including by external service providers. Supporting approximately 450 daily trailer and swap body movements across 150 gates, the solution enables more efficient and transparent yard execution.

“Through our partnership with Infios, we continue to enhance the digital capabilities that support our customers’ demanding automotive logistics requirements,” said Rainer Schmitt, Managing Partner at Logistik Schmitt.

“The deployment of Infios Yard at Rastatt gives us greater visibility and control over yard operations, helping us manage complex material flows with increased efficiency and precision. Infios understands the operational challenges of automotive logistics and provides solutions that support our continued evolution.”

The Rastatt deployment builds on Logistik Schmitt’s broader experience with Infios solutions across other locations. At multiple sites, Logistik Schmitt relies on Infios Warehouse Management (WM) to support production-synchronous automotive logistics, managing complex processes for the supply of engines, transmissions and axles. Infios WM provides the visibility and control needed to coordinate just-in-time and just-in-sequence (JIS) deliveries, optimize replenishment and sequencing processes and synchronize operations across multiple locations, suppliers and manufacturing partners.

“The expansion of our relationship with Logistik Schmitt demonstrates the value of a trusted technology partnership that can evolve as operational needs change,” said Dirk Teschner, SVP and Managing Director Germany at Infios. “While the Rastatt project focuses specifically on Yard Management, it builds on the confidence Logistik Schmitt has developed in Infios through our successful Warehouse Management deployments at other sites. Our modular approach enables customers to select and scale the capabilities they need to optimize specific areas of their supply chain execution.”

With the successful go-live at the Rastatt site, Logistik Schmitt and Infios will continue collaborating to enhance operational performance and support the evolving requirements of automotive manufacturing, including the increasing complexity driven by electrification and new production models.

Why Customs Delays Are 100% Avoidable

Posted on by Will Priestman

Customs delays are often treated as an unavoidable part of international trade.

According to Patrick Frith of Avalara, they don’t have to be.

In the latest episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Paul Hamblin explores the increasingly complex world of cross-border trade, tariffs, customs and compliance — and discovers where businesses are most likely to get caught out.

With tariffs changing rapidly, trade lanes shifting and governments demanding more detailed information on the goods entering their markets, the risks of getting international trade wrong are growing. But some of the biggest problems may come down to just a handful of details.

The Mistakes That Can Stop a Shipment

From incorrect HS classification and country of origin to declared value and unexpected duties, seemingly small errors can quickly lead to higher costs, delays and potential compliance problems.

Frith explains why one of the biggest hidden costs in cross-border trade is a tariff a business failed to anticipate — and why getting product classification wrong can have much more serious consequences than many companies realise.

Perhaps the biggest claim of the episode, however, is this:

Customs delays can be 100% avoidable.

But only if the right work is done before the shipment ever leaves.

Can Technology Keep Up With Global Trade?

The discussion also looks at how automation and AI are beginning to change customs compliance, from classifying products to tracking regulatory changes in real time.

With millions of tariff and regulatory updates taking place across global markets, can technology really keep businesses one step ahead?

And as geopolitics becomes more volatile, will international trade become easier over the next five years — or significantly harder?

Listen to the full episode below to find out.

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