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Day: 29 September 2026

People Remain at the Centre of Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond its role as a digital assistant and beginning to take action across supply chains, according to the new DHL Logistics Trend Radar 8.0. The report finds that advances in AI, robotics, and automation are transforming not only logistics operations, but also the workforce itself. As intelligent systems become increasingly capable of planning, deciding and acting autonomously, organizations must rethink skills, safety, governance and employee experience while building more resilient and sustainable supply chains.

“Supply chains are changing faster than ever as AI and workforce trends increasingly influence one another,” said Katja Busch (pictured, below), Chief Commercial Officer DHL and Head of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation. “The organizations that succeed will be those that understand these shifts early and are able to turn them into practical advantages for their business and their people. The Trend Radar helps them focus on the developments that will matter most.”

AI becomes an operating layer across logistics

AI in logistics is evolving from assistance to autonomy. Among the most significant findings of the Logistics Trend Radar 8.0 is the emergence of Agentic AI, identified as one of the report’s most impactful trends. Unlike earlier generations of AI that primarily respond to prompts or analyze information, Agentic AI can autonomously plan, decide, and act toward defined goals, enabling closer collaboration between intelligent technologies and human expertise.

Alongside this development is AI Analytics, which enables organizations to uncover patterns, anticipate disruptions, forecast outcomes, and recommend actions at unprecedented speed and scale. Together, these developments are creating increasingly autonomous and adaptive supply chains, enabling tasks such as anticipating inventory shortages, rerouting shipments around disruptions, and dynamically adjusting transport capacity in real time.

The Radar also introduces new trends reflecting AI’s influence in expanding beyond operational efficiency. AI Commerce is transforming how consumers and businesses discover and purchase products, Compute Economy highlights the strategic importance of computing infrastructure and data center logistics, and Humanoids represent an emerging, longer-term trend that could redefine AI-enabled automation in physical environments. Together, these trends signal further transformation across digital and physical supply chains, from AI-assisted purchasing journeys to AI-enabled automation in warehouses.

“Until now, AI has helped people perform tasks more efficiently. The next chapter is about action,” said Klaus Dohrmann, Vice President of Innovation and Trend Research, DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation. “We’re entering an era of autonomous and physical AI, where intelligent systems can actively perceive the world, navigate complex environments, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.”

The future of logistics remains a people business

The Logistics Trend Radar 8.0 places a major focus on how work is changing as AI, automation, and robotics become increasingly integrated into logistics operations. The report highlights technologies such as wearable sensors, remote operations, collaborative robotics, and AI-powered workplace assistants that help create safer, more productive, and more engaging work environments. By reducing repetitive tasks and supporting day-to-day decision-making, these technologies allow employees to focus on higher-value activities such as problem-solving, customer service, and operational oversight.

Employee Belonging and the Augmented Workplace emerge as key trends as employees increasingly work alongside AI assistants, collaborative robots, and digital tools. The impact of these technologies will reshape hundreds of roles spanning frontline operations, technical professions, and knowledge-based functions, creating demand for new skills and new ways of working. For business leaders, the challenge is no longer simply introducing new technologies, but ensuring employees have the skills, confidence, and support to use them effectively.

Thomas Ogilvie, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labour Director at DHL Group, said:

“Technology is transforming the way we work, but people remain the driving force behind every successful supply chain. We’re already seeing AI assistants, wearable devices, and collaborative robots helping employees work more safely, reduce repetitive work, and focus on higher-value tasks. The future of logistics will not be defined by human versus AI, but by how effectively organizations combine human expertise with increasingly capable technologies.”

Responsible AI becomes a business imperative

As AI systems take on more autonomous responsibilities, organizations must ensure they are deployed responsibly, securely, and transparently. The report highlights trends including AI Ethics and Cybersecurity 2.0, which help organizations balance innovation with governance, resilience, and security. As intelligent systems become increasingly embedded in critical operations such as demand forecasting, inventory planning, and transport decision-making, robust safeguards and human oversight are becoming as important as the technologies themselves.

Sustainability remains a long-term business priority

As in previous editions, sustainability continues to be a core driver of logistics innovation. Trends such as Decarbonization, Sustainable Fuels, Circularity, Heavy Vehicle Electrification, and Light Vehicle Electrification demonstrate how organizations are deploying electric delivery fleets, scaling alternative fuels, and redesigning supply chains for reuse and resource efficiency while pursuing lower-carbon operations.

Automotive Logistics Grows with new Car Carrier

Posted on by David Priestman

Suardiaz Group has expanded its automotive shipping capacity with the departure from China of RS Atlantico, the first of a new generation of dual-fuel PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) vessels joining its fleet.

Its entry into service will strengthen Suardiaz Shipping Lines’ operational capacity in the maritime transport of vehicles and rolling cargo. These are the largest vessels in the company’s history, and with them, Suardiaz claims to have become the first Spanish shipowner to have an LNG-powered vessel in the Car Carrier segment.

The new vessel forms part of the Group’s long-term investment strategy to expand its capabilities, strengthen its position as a global logistics provider and respond to the changing needs of international supply chains.

Over the past six years, Suardiaz Group has invested more than €360 million in a programme of growth encompassing fleet renewal, international expansion, logistics infrastructure and specialised capabilities for the industrial and energy sectors. The investment also includes the continued development of multimodal solutions integrating maritime, road and rail transport, forwarding, industrial logistics, port services and offshore projects.

“International logistics is undergoing a period of profound transformation, and the industry needs reliable partners capable of offering increasingly sophisticated solutions that are prepared to address new challenges. Control over logistics chains is becoming a fundamental asset for the global economy, and this is where Suardiaz, through its investment plan, is positioning itself as an essential player for our customers,” said Juan Riva, CEO of Suardiaz Group.

An investment in support of innovation and sustainability

The addition of this new PCTC reflects Suardiaz’s commitment to continuous improvement, integrating different modes of transport and adapting to the needs of a constantly evolving market. With capacity for approximately 5,500 cars, RS Atlantico has been designed to transport vehicles, machinery and High & Heavy cargo. At approximately 190 metres long and 55,000 GT, it will increase the capacity available to Suardiaz Group’s established automotive customers and strengthen its existing routes.

The vessel is powered by dual-fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional technology aligned with the decarbonisation of international maritime transport and the evolution of environmental regulation within the sector. RS Atlantico is expected to arrive in the final quarter of 2026, while a second vessel will join the fleet in mid-2027.

The addition of the RS Atlantico is an expression of a much broader investment and growth strategy through which Suardiaz Group continues to strengthen its capabilities for the automotive sector and consolidate its position as a global logistics operator, in response to the current and future needs of its customers.

The ‘Data Junkyard’ Is Coming – Is Logistics Ready?

Posted on by Will Priestman

Logistics is producing more data than ever before. But are businesses actually making better decisions with it — or simply creating a bigger problem for themselves?

In the latest episode of Logistics Business Conversations, recorded at Parcel & Post Expo in London, Paul Hamblin is joined by Robert Jordan, CEO of iFactory, for a timely discussion about data, AI and what comes next for the logistics industry.

And one phrase from the conversation may stick with you: the “data junkyard”.

As AI, automation, sensors and connected systems continue to transform logistics, the amount of information being generated is growing at extraordinary speed. But Robert argues that the real challenge is no longer simply collecting data.

It is knowing what to do with it.

Is logistics ready for what comes next?

During the conversation, Robert and Paul explore how AI is changing the way businesses think about data, why some companies may be sitting on far more valuable information than they realise, and how the relationship between people, technology and decision-making could look very different in the years ahead.

There are also some uncomfortable questions.

How much data is too much?

What happens to the information businesses no longer actively use?

Who owns it?

And as AI becomes increasingly embedded within business systems, how confident can companies really be about where their most important information ends up?

From data rich to decision rich

The logistics industry has spent years becoming increasingly connected.

But having more information does not automatically mean making better decisions.

Robert explains why the next stage may be about moving beyond being data rich and becoming decision rich and why businesses that get this wrong could find themselves falling behind as AI develops further.

The discussion also touches on parcel logistics, profitability, operational visibility, automation, data security and how organisations should be thinking about their data strategy now rather than waiting for the technology to move ahead of them.

So, is your data helping your business – or are you simply adding to the junkyard?

Listen to the full episode of Logistics Business Conversations below.

Poland approves 212-hectare rail junction for new airport

Posted on by An Industry Expert

Poland has issued a location decision for a 212-hectare rail and road junction on the eastern side of the country’s planned national airport, enabling construction-permit applications for the junction and related infrastructure.

The decision has immediate enforceability and covers land in Grodzisk County, in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship municipalities of Baranów and Grodzisk Mazowiecki. The project is part of the wider transport programme for the airport planned between Warsaw and Łódź.

The rail element will connect sections of railway lines 5, 85 and 88, linking the airport station with existing and planned routes. The junction will form part of High-Speed Rail Line 85, which is intended to connect the airport with Warsaw and Łódź.

For logistics operators, the development is significant because the associated road network is being designed to provide access to freight-handling yards, passenger facilities, railway maintenance areas and public roads. Existing roads will be reconstructed or removed where necessary, while the new layout is intended to maintain local network continuity.

The designated area covers 212 hectares, of which 85.2 hectares—nearly 40 per cent—has already been acquired through a voluntary property acquisition programme. This provides a foundation for progressing detailed design and permitting, although further land and construction activity will be required before the junction becomes operational.

The rail infrastructure is also being developed to meet dual-use requirements, allowing for civilian and military applications. Design work for Line 85 has received European Union financial support.

The eastern junction follows an earlier location decision covering the airport and transport infrastructure on its western side. Together, the projects are intended to create an integrated air, rail and road network, with the airport initially designed to handle 34 million passengers annually.

For European supply chains, the planned rail connections could improve access to a major Polish passenger and freight hub while strengthening links between central Poland’s road, rail and air networks. The inclusion of freight-handling access at the junction also leaves scope for logistics facilities to be integrated into the wider airport development.

Baltic port cargo throughput tops 8 million tonnes in August

Posted on by An Industry Expert

August cargo throughput at the Port of Gdańsk exceeded 8 million tonnes for the first time, marking a 13.3% increase compared with August 2025 and strengthening the Polish port’s position in Baltic supply chains.

The port handled 57.7 million tonnes during the first eight months of 2026, 10% more than during the same period last year. The latest monthly result follows throughput of 7.9 million tonnes in July.

Growth was spread across several cargo groups. General cargo volumes increased by 21%, adding almost 470,000 tonnes year on year. Container tonnage rose by 15%, while container volumes measured in TEUs increased by 16%.

Liquid fuels remained the largest category, rising 5% in August to 3.9 million tonnes. That represented almost half of the port’s monthly throughput. Ore handling recorded the sharpest percentage increase, up 311%, while grain volumes rose 90%. Other bulk cargo was the only category to decline, falling 12%.

Capacity growth supports regional logistics

For logistics operators, the figures point to sustained demand across containerised, bulk and energy-related flows through one of the Baltic Sea’s major gateways. The diversity of the growth also reduces the risk that the overall result is being driven by a single cargo segment.

After eight months, liquid fuels accounted for approximately 26 million tonnes of the port’s throughput, followed by general cargo at 20.8 million tonnes. The combination of higher volumes and continued investment in port and access infrastructure could support further capacity growth across Poland’s maritime and inland logistics networks.

The result places the Port of Gdańsk on course for a stronger full-year performance in 2026, provided the current level of cargo activity is maintained through the remaining months.

Source: intermodalnews.eu.

New electric rail cranes to raise container siding capacity to 1.2m TEUs

Posted on by An Industry Expert

Two new electric rail-mounted gantry cranes have been delivered to Baltic Hub’s rail yard in Gdańsk, Poland, with the equipment set to increase annual rail-siding handling capacity to 1.2 million TEUs once operational.

The cranes will become the fifth and sixth RMG units serving the terminal’s rail operation. Baltic Hub’s siding comprises seven tracks with a combined length of 5.25km, with each track measuring 750m.

For logistics operators, the additional equipment is intended to improve the transfer of containers between vessels, rail services and inland supply chains. Baltic Hub currently handles almost 800 trains per month, connecting Poland with markets across Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine.

Both cranes will feature optical character recognition technology to identify container numbers automatically. They will also include gantry anti-collision systems and 11 cameras to support operators during handling activities.

Further safety and productivity features include micro-movements of the spreader for more accurate container positioning and emergency winch brakes. The steel structures were largely manufactured in Poland, while final assembly was completed at the terminal.

The investment adds capacity at a time when ports and inland networks are under pressure to handle growing container volumes with fewer road movements. Fully electric rail-yard equipment can also support lower-emission terminal operations, particularly when deployed alongside expanded rail connectivity.

By strengthening its rail interface, the terminal is positioning itself to handle more intermodal traffic between the Baltic gateway and inland markets. The increased capacity will be particularly relevant to shippers seeking alternatives to road transport for longer-distance movements across the region.

Source: intermodalnews.eu.

Vertical Warehouse Solves Space Constraints

Posted on by David Priestman

Hira Industries has addressed a critical capacity challenge after outgrowing its previous warehouse infrastructure, investing in a high-density, vertically optimised facility that now ranks among the largest in the Gulf.

As the company expanded its global footprint across the GCC, India, Southeast Asia and the United States, increasing demand placed sustained pressure on storage and logistics operations. Limited floor space, combined with growing inventory volumes, required a strategic shift in how capacity could be scaled without expanding the physical footprint.

To overcome this challenge, Hira implemented a vertical storage strategy, extending racking systems to heights of up to 15 metres, and material storage up to 18 meters, in order to maximise available cubic space. Material handling specialist Combilift, alongside trusted local dealer Kanoo Machinery UAE, supported Hira with its warehouse transformation.

The team conducted a comprehensive site survey and in-depth operational analysis of Hira’s facility. After that, the Combilift warehouse design team developed an optimised layout tailored specifically to Hira’s operational requirements, ensuring smoother material flow, improved accessibility, and more efficient use of storage capacity. In addition, the articulated Aisle Master forklift was selected as the ideal handling solution due to its narrow-aisle manoeuvrability and high lift capabilities, enabling Hira to increase overall space utilisation while maintaining operational efficiency significantly.

“Our storage capacity has increased by almost a 40%,” highlighted Shyju Pillai, Warehouse and Logistics Manager at Hira Industries. As a result, pallet capacity has grown from approximately 1,000 pallet positions to nearly 4,000. Aside from the substantial increase in storage capability, this transformation has enabled Hira to operate at a scale that positions the facility among the most advanced warehouse environments in the region.

“A key challenge for us was space, particularly height,” said Umesh Unni, Operations Director at Hira Industries. “We needed a solution that allowed us to grow within our existing footprint while maintaining efficiency and control across the operation.”

A fleet of 4 Aisle Masters was introduced to support the new high-density layout. Designed for narrow aisle operation and high-level picking, the equipment enables efficient navigation and maximises accessibility across the full height of the racking system.

“When we expanded the plant, optimising space was critical,” added Pillai. “By going vertical and implementing the right equipment, we’ve been able to significantly increase capacity while improving the overall flow of materials.”

Safety and operational efficiency were central to the upgrade. Each Aisle Master incorporates integrated camera systems, laser guidance, and height preselection functionality, reducing operator strain and improving precision when placing and retrieving loads at height.

“The ability to preset lift heights and operate with added visibility has made a real difference,” Pillai continued. “It allows our operators to work faster and more safely, particularly when handling goods at height.”

The enhanced setup also allows for continuous movement between warehouse zones, supporting the handling of both raw materials and finished goods. This ensures consistent workflow across the operation and strengthens Hira’s ability to meet production demands and customer delivery timelines.

“This investment has not only increased our storage capacity, but also improved how we manage and move materials across the facility,” Unni concluded. “It’s a key step in supporting our long-term growth.”

By rethinking warehouse design and investing in vertical capacity, Hira Industries has turned a space constraint into a scalable logistics solution, reinforcing its operational resilience and supporting continued growth across global markets.

Football Shirts Shipped in World Cup Order Surge

Posted on by David Priestman

Retailer Classic Football Shirts has recorded the busiest-ever period in its 20-year history as World Cup fever drove unprecedented demand from supporters around the globe.

Across June and July, orders dispatched by the Hyde, UK-based company rose 101 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. Central to helping CFS handle the surge has been its five-year technology partnership with Shipster, the Manchester-based multi-carrier shipping software provider for eCommerce retailers, warehouses and distributors, specialising in custom integrations.

This year, Shipster worked with CFS to integrate a Logopak/Adpak Ecommerce Auto Bagger into its eCommerce fulfilment operation, adding automated packing and label application for carrier collection. Shipster sends the relevant shipment and label data to the Logopak system, which prints and applies the shipping label as part of the automated packing process. For eligible orders, packing time was reduced from minutes to seconds.

During the FIFA World Cup, the combined setup helped CFS manage record order volumes, with the packing machine automatically packing almost two-thirds (64%) of all orders during the tournament.

The new record surpassed a previous high, set during the most recent Black Friday and Christmas trading periods. Demand during the World Cup was fuelled by supporters reliving iconic football moments and reconnecting with the teams, players and shirts that defined previous tournaments.

The biggest sales success of the World Cup was CFS’ new Away Days Mystery Box range. As demand began building ahead of the tournament, 23,830 Mystery Box products were ordered between May and August, including almost 10,000 England Mystery Boxes. Argentina shirts were among the strongest national team sellers, while Cape Verde also enjoyed an unexpected boost in demand following its performance against Spain.

Founded by friends Matt Dale and Douglas Bierton in 2006, CFS has grown from a student-house startup into a global ecommerce business serving customers in more than 130 countries and generating annual revenues of more than £30 million. The company houses a collection of more than one million authenticated football shirts and memorabilia items, including rare and historic shirts associated with icons such as Pelé, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and David Beckham. Over the five-year partnership with Shipster, CFS has more than tripled warehouse productivity, enabling staff to process hundreds more orders every day.

Brandon Evans, Outbound Operations Manager at Classic Football Shirts, said: “The World Cup has always been one of the biggest moments in the football calendar for us. Every tournament creates a new wave of nostalgia as supporters reconnect with the teams, players and shirts that defined previous World Cups. Whether it’s a classic Brazil shirt, a memorable England kit or a shirt worn by one of football’s biggest icons, fans want to own a piece of those memories.

“This World Cup put our fulfilment operation under sustained pressure and Shipster made a massive difference. Without the automation and flexibility we’ve built into the operation with Shipster, we simply wouldn’t have been able to dispatch anywhere near the volume of orders we achieved and still maintain the speed and service our customers expect.”

Tony Cheetham, Founder and CEO of Shipster, said: “Major sporting events can create huge spikes in demand almost overnight, so retailers need systems that are fast, flexible and capable of scaling quickly.

“Classic Football Shirts has some unique operational challenges. It manages more than one million individual products, ships to customers around the world and regularly experiences sudden peaks in demand driven by tournaments, product launches and viral moments.

“Over the last five years, we’ve worked closely with the team to build a highly automated and increasingly sophisticated fulfilment operation that gives CFS the speed and flexibility to adapt as demand changes. That has ranged from routing and labelling to bespoke processes supporting products such as the hugely popular CFS Away Days Mystery Boxes, as well as international shipping infrastructure supporting its growing US retail presence. The World Cup provided the ultimate real-world test of that investment, and it delivered.”

Aldi Automated Distribution Centre Ramps-Up

Posted on by David Priestman

Aldi has begun handling fruit and vegetables at its Bardon Distribution Centre in Leicestershire, as the UK’s largest automated warehouse moves into its next phase of operation. The first pallets of produce, including ginger and avocados, were delivered to the site on Wednesday 16 September, with the first outbound pallet the following day.

The start of fresh produce operations follows the launch of operations at Bardon in May 2026. The UK’s biggest discounter has invested more than £500m in the site, which forms part of Aldi’s £1.6bn investment in Britain during 2026 and 2027. The facility is also the lowest carbon density warehouse across the Aldi South Group, with 19,000 solar panels installed on the roof.

Once fully operational in 2027, during peak periods more than 1.5 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables will move through the 1.3 million-square-foot site daily and more than 6,000 pallets of fresh produce will depart the Bardon Distribution Centre every day, bound for Aldi stores across the UK.

The latest automated technology being used at the site, delivered by technology partner Cimcorp, will help Aldi move fresh produce through the site more efficiently, while maintaining the different temperatures required to maintain the freshness and shelf life of products including salad leaves, bananas and soft fruit.

The investment will add capacity to Aldi’s distribution network as the supermarket works towards its long-term ambition of operating 1,500 UK stores. Once fully operational, the site will employ around 1,000 colleagues and have the capacity to handle nearly seven million pallets annually.

The fresh produce operation at Bardon spans three dedicated temperature-controlled areas, with chilled storage for products like apples and carrots, and a specialist banana room. In the chilled chamber, pallets are moved into high-bay racking until they’re needed to go to stores; then automated shuttles will call them down for dispatch.

As the UK’s third biggest retailer of fresh produce, Aldi sells an average of 2.2 billion fruit and vegetables every year, including over 300 million bananas, 80 million apples and 160 million potatoes. In July 2026 alone, Aldi sold 2,250 tonnes of British apples, making it the biggest customer of domestic apple growers. The retailer also has a target to increase the number of portions of fruit and veg sold by 14% by the end of 2027.

Jonathan Heaton, Regional Managing Director for Bardon at Aldi UK, said: “The start of fresh produce operations at Bardon is a proud moment for everyone involved in this project and marks a step change in how we serve our customers. Fresh produce is a vital part of our customers’ shopping, yet it presents one of the most complex challenges in grocery logistics, with products needing to move quickly and efficiently from suppliers to stores to maintain freshness. The technology we’ve implemented with Cimcorp allows us to handle enormous volumes while maintaining the precision and care that fresh products demand.

“This investment is about more than efficiency. By reducing the cost of moving products from our suppliers to our stores, we can continue to deliver the lowest prices on the market while ensuring customers always find fresh, high-quality fruit and vegetables on our shelves. As operations build over the coming weeks, Bardon will play an increasingly important role in Aldi’s supply chain, supporting our continued growth across the UK.”

Mikko Kumpulainen, System Planning Development Manager & Key Account Manager at Cimcorp, said: “Fresh food logistics present unique operational challenges that require specialised technology and expertise. This distribution centre demonstrates how intelligent automation can manage high volumes while maintaining the flexibility needed for a complex grocery environment.

“Our automation allows Aldi to respond more effectively to changing demand patterns while supporting long-term growth. Ultimately, the goal is simple: ensuring high-quality fresh products are available for consumers whenever they visit their local store.”

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