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Author: Keith McKinley

Packaging Machinery Process Advantage

Posted on by Keith McKinley

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

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

Decentralised drive technology

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

Drives with treated aluminium housing

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

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Unified Commerce = Consumers Spend More

Posted on by Keith McKinley

New data reveals multi-channel shoppers spend 15% more per order when unified commerce is offered by retailers. Retailers are engaged in an ongoing battle to innovate and adapt to evolving customer demands in an uncertain economy. New data from Manhattan Associates reveals that retailers relying on siloed, outdated systems are struggling, while leaders in unified commerce are gaining a competitive edge by delivering better customer experiences and more efficient operational outcomes. The report shows that blurring the lines between the physical and digital shopping experiences to create a seamless brand journey is becoming more important. Physical stores can no longer rely solely on transactions; they must adapt to serve as fulfilment hubs, service centres, and brand anchors.

Key to growth

“Retailers who’ve embraced unified commerce are seeing impressive results, including a 23% higher inventory turnover and a 22% reduction in customer acquisition costs,” says Craig Summers (pictured), MD UK/VP Northern Europe & MEA, Manhattan Associates. “In today’s competitive market, that’s a significant advantage.”

With 77% of retailers acknowledging that customer acquisition costs have increased substantially, unified commerce offers a solution by driving efficiency and attracting customers through personalised experiences powered by real-time data. This is key, as customers who engage across multiple channels generate 1.5X higher lifetime value, highlighting the potential of unified commerce.

Bridging the channel gap

While a massive 73% of retailers recognise that seamless cross-channel cart and wish list functionality is essential, only 32% can actually deliver it. Summers adds, “This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about meeting customer expectations. Retailers need to invest in platforms that allow customers to start a purchase on their phone, continue it on their laptop, and pick it up in-store seamlessly.”

The connected customer journey is still reliant upon human relationships, however. Using technology enables retailers to extend the reach and impact of their in-store teams, enhancing rather than replacing human expertise. In-store staff remain a crucial part of connecting the physical and online customer experience.

Craig Summers

Furthermore, 69% of retailers recognise that real-time clienteling is key. Summers notes, “Retailers need to equip their staff with devices that connect them to customer data and preferences in real-time, enabling them to provide tailored recommendations, and build lasting relationships that shape their digital experiences too.”

Boosting efficiency and slashing costs

Traditional stores are being crushed under the weight of rising expenses, with labour costs having risen for 63% of retailers. Unified commerce offers a solution by automating inventory, routing orders intelligently, and deploying self-service kiosks, thereby empowering retailers to streamline operations and reduce costs.

Summers explains that; “designing operations to anticipate changes and adapt to customer needs is essential to ensure retailers build resilience into their value chain, while giving time back to sales associates who can focus on higher-value customer interactions, and more strategic decision-making.”

This frictionless efficiency extends to the shopper experience too. Seamless checkout is now a basic requirement, with 57% of retailers recognising its importance. This also necessitates payment experiences that automatically adjust to customer preferences offering options like mobile wallets and buy-now-pay-later. 76% of retailers acknowledge that flexible, mixed payment methods are critical for lowering cart abandonment.

Unified commerce is now a strategic imperative

Summers concludes: “The UK retail sector is at a turning point. By embracing unified commerce, retailers can navigate current challenges and market uncertainty to unlock new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and customer loyalty. Investing in unified commerce is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative for long-term success.”

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Packsize to Acquire Sparck Technologies

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Packsize, supplier of sustainable, right-sized, on-demand packaging, has announced the company’s completed agreement to acquire Sparck Technologies, a European-based manufacturer of high-throughput, fit-to-size, automated packaging solutions.

The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Packsize’s growth strategy and strengthens its position in the automated packaging industry. By combining Packsize’s technology and service model with Sparck’s best-in-class box last and lid and tray solutions, the company will now provide the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of solutions to meet evolving customer needs.

“Sparck has long been recognized for its innovation, reliability, and strong commitment to sustainability – values that align perfectly with our own,” said David Lockwood, CEO of Packsize. “Together, our complementary technologies create a more complete product offering for our customers. This acquisition brings us one step closer to realizing our mission of Smart Packaging for a Healthy Planet by accelerating our ability to deliver more sustainable, right-sized packaging solutions to customers around the world.”

“Bringing Sparck into the Packsize team is a strategic move that expands what we can offer our customers – especially in high-volume, high-efficiency environments,” said Brian Reinhart, Chief Revenue Officer at Packsize. “Sparck’s box last and lid and tray solutions allow us to solve a broader range of packaging challenges. This isn’t just about growth – it’s about delivering smarter, more sustainable automation at scale.”

Sparck Technologies, headquartered in Drachten, Netherlands, is best known for its advanced CVP Impack and CVP Everest systems – automated solutions that optimize throughput and reduce waste by creating fit-to-size boxes at scale. “This acquisition is a perfect match,” said Kees Oosting, CEO of Sparck. “It allows us to bring more value to our customers faster and at a greater scale than either company could achieve alone.”

Peak Ecommerce Performance

Standard Investment has worked closely with Sparck to execute a successful transformation of the activities in Drachten. Originally part of French-listed multinational Quadient, Standard Investment segmented Sparck to become a standalone company in 2021.

Herbert Schilperoord, Partner at Standard Investment, said: “We are very proud of what the Sparck team has achieved with the involvement of Standard Investment, pivoting the organization to a cutting-edge technology leader in the fit-to-size packaging area. We’re confident that together, Packsize and Sparck will continue a strong growth trajectory, delivering fit-to-size technology to global tier 1 customers.”

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Tariff Response Solution Helps Supply Chains Adapt to Disruption

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As ongoing tariff pressures and trade uncertainty continue to reshape global supply chains, Kinaxis®, a leader in real-time supply chain orchestration, has launched Kinaxis Tariff Response – a new offering that helps companies simulate tariff exposure, run strategic scenarios, and make data-informed decisions quickly.

Built on the company’s AI-powered Maestro™ platform and delivered by Kinaxis supply chain experts, the service can be live in as few as 21 days, giving planners access to tariff modeling without the cost or complexity of building it internally. The solution meets rising demand for scenario planning – providing a faster, more accessible way for companies to shift from reactive firefighting to proactive orchestration.

While AI-powered what-if scenario planning has long been a core capability of Maestro, Kinaxis Tariff Response builds on that foundation with a focused solution for trade disruption. It combines tariff-specific inputs, sourcing logic, pricing levers, and demand modeling so companies can assess margin risk, test strategies, and evaluate trade-offs in seconds, not days or weeks.

“We’re already using Maestro scenario planning to model the impact of disruptions across our supply chain including tariffs and trade compliance policies,” said Colton Porter, manager, supply chain planning systems at furniture manufacturing and design company MillerKnoll. “It helps us evaluate sourcing options, anticipate risks, and align our team’s strategy before those changes affect our margins or customer delivery commitments.”

“Global supply chains aren’t operating by the old rules anymore,” said Fabienne Cetre, EVP EMEA at Kinaxis. “Tariffs are hitting faster, with broader consequences, and our data shows just how disruptive they’ve become. When trade policies shift overnight, companies need more than spreadsheets. With Kinaxis Tariff Response, they get visibility into cost, demand, and sourcing implications in real time, giving them the confidence to act with speed and precision.”

Supply chain data surging

Many Kinaxis customers already rely on Maestro’s scenario planning to stay ahead of supply chain disruptions. Over the past year, usage spiked significantly around key tariff discussions, showing how companies are turning to simulation to evaluate risks and respond faster:

• 124% scenario usage spike after the June 2024 presidential debate that first mentioned tariffs
• 112% increase following the January 2025 White House tariff memo
• 15% month-over-month rise ahead of the April 2 tariff announcements
• 24% increase in scenario planning usage quarter-over-quarter (Q1 2025 vs Q4 2024), with automotive, oil & gas, and consumer packaged goods leading the surge in anticipatory orchestration
• 4.5x daily activity in the auto sector alone during the final week of March 2025.

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Don’t Leave Climate out of Risk Management Process

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Can businesses afford to leave climate out of their risk management process? Kevin Vranes, Chief Product Officer of Worldly, is a specialist in climate science data and discusses here the growing risks to supply chains and how businesses are using supply chain data to strengthen risk management, avoid financial losses, and uncover growth opportunities.

While the SEC’s recent decision and EU Omnibus CSRD updates to ease disclosure requirements may have companies rethinking their next steps in measuring their supply chains emissions, it’s critical we remember that a company’s supply chain footprint has always been about more than just compliance. Companies that don’t capture supply chain impact data expose themselves to a much bigger risk: disruption.

Extreme weather, resource scarcity, and geopolitical instability are hammering global supply chains, and the companies failing to integrate climate-related risks into their logistics strategies are the ones facing the most serious financial threats. Adding to that, the latest McKinsey Global Supply Chain Leader Survey suggests companies are easing their focus on supply chain resilience — just as they should be doubling down.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report ranks extreme weather as the second-most severe risk for 2024-2025, with nearly all environmental threats appearing among the top 10 long-term risks. The truth is in the numbers. Only 28% of companies reported diversifying supplier base to diminish critical exposure to climate risks in their supply chains. Even more problematic? The economic risks of climate change to global trade are projected to reach approximately US$81bn in 2024 alone. To add to that, the sheer scale of potential impacts and the vast infrastructure investments required to mitigate them could overwhelm societies’ ability to adapt, leaving some communities and nations unable to withstand both the immediate and lasting effects of a rapidly changing climate.

Leveraging data to mitigate risk

Traditional risk management approaches often fall short when it comes to logistics. Companies relying on historical trends and broad-stroke contingency plans are being blindsided by increasingly volatile disruptions. The missing piece? Real-time, primary data that provides full visibility across supply chains. Companies have the data they need to understand the impact natural disasters could have on their supply chains – but how can they act on it?

Understanding the potential regional risks to supply chains enables companies to predict the hotspots that could cause issues down the line before they become critical disruptions.

The secret weapon in a corporate toolkit

For businesses operating in an increasingly volatile global landscape, integrating climate-related risk into logistics and supply chain operations isn’t just about avoiding losses — it’s a strategic advantage. Companies that fail to account for these risks face growing threats to profitability, from supply shortages to increased costs and reputational damage. On the other hand, businesses that proactively adapt — by leveraging climate risk data, diversifying supplier networks, and integrating sustainability into their operations — can turn these challenges into competitive strengths.

Beyond risk mitigation, companies that prioritize supply chain visibility can gain a serious competitive advantage. Supply chain disruptions aren’t just a cost center; they’re a direct threat to market position. Companies that treat supply chain data as a strategic asset — not just a compliance requirement — will be the ones that succeed in an increasingly unstable landscape. Climate-related disruptions aren’t a hypothetical future risk. They’re here. And businesses that aren’t using data to build resilience into their logistics operations are already losing ground to those that are.

If the last few years have proven anything, it’s that global supply chains are operating in an era of compounding crises. Compliance deadlines may be shifting, but the financial stakes aren’t. The choice is clear: use data to future-proof logistics — or pay the price for flying blind.

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Belfast Distillery Selects ERP System

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The Belfast Distillery Company, producer of McConnell’s Irish Whisky, has chosen Forterro’s manufacturing ERP solution, 123Insight, to help streamline its operations, support business growth, and ensure compliance in a highly regulated industry.

Operating out of the historic Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast, Belfast Distillery is undergoing a period of significant expansion. With operations ramping up, the team needed a powerful and scalable system to consolidate processes and data into one accessible platform.

“As part of our improvement programme, we needed a solution that would promote transparency, collaboration and efficiency across all departments,” said Joanne Paffey, Supply Chain Controller, Belfast Distillery Company. “123Insight’s features, especially its traceability and ability to handle complex units of measure, make it ideal for a business operating in the alcohol production sector.”

Paffey has 20 years’ experience using 123Insight in previous roles, and brought that understanding of the product and experience to her role at Belfast Distillery, having seen first hand the significant positive impact 123Insight has on business performance. That familiarity helped accelerate the implementation process, with the company going live within just a few weeks.

The team also benefited from Forterro’s experienced support network and strong local presence in the form of the Carrickfergus-based reseller, QMS Insight, whose support included tailoured on-site training. Further help came from trusted partner Solweb Ltd in creating professional, all-in-one reports that consolidate sensitive information from multiple sources.

“The feedback internally has been excellent,” added Paffey. “Colleagues say I make it look easy, but the truth is it’s the power and efficiency of 123Insight. It simplifies complex tasks, reduces manual effort and has a massive impact on productivity.”

123Insight is a scalable manufacturing ERP solution designed with traceability features at its core. Its centralised platform connects and automates workflows to enhance productivity and drive business growth.

“The Belfast Distillery Company is readying itself for growth and 123Insight is a system ideally suited to its needs,” said Laurent Delorme, 123Insight Line of Business Managing Director, Forterro. “123Insight empowers teams with real-time access to data and has traceability features that make it perfect for regulated industries such as alcoholic drinks distillery.”

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Remote Monitoring System for Conveyor Components

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Rulmeca is proud to introduce the Rulmeca Monitoring System (RMS), a new solution for continuous remote monitoring of conveyor components, now available for Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys. This innovative system enables real-time surveillance of vital parameters such as speed, oil temperature, vibrations, and current draw, allowing users to make informed decisions and avoid costly downtime.

Designed with user-friendliness and efficiency in mind, RMS helps to:

• Reduce downtime
• Improve operational efficiency of conveyor components
• Enhance safety
• Lower maintenance costs
• Track service life
• Optimize maintenance planning

The RMS works through a simple yet powerful architecture:

• A user-friendly platform displays real-time diagnostics and alerts.
• A Cloud system stores and interprets data from the components.
• A Gateway collects information from the field and uploads it to the cloud.
• Sensed motorized pulleys collect key operational data.

RMS is currently compatible with the following Rulmeca Motorized Pulleys: MP 500, MP 630, MP 800, MP 1000. This system is ideal for a wide range of industries where conveyor components are used, including: Mining, Coal and Lignite, Recycling, Crushing and Screening, Ports and Terminals, Steel and Power Plants, Salt and Sugar Plants, Cement, Quarries and Tunneling.

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Rethink Supply Chains to Beat Seasonal Shocks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Chocolate prices melting under pressure? Retailers must rethink their supply chains to beat seasonal shocks, according to Manhattan Associates. What can businesses can do to stay resilient in the face of raw material shortages and surging seasonal costs?

As chocolate lovers felt the pinch this Easter, with prices soaring by up to 50% according to consumer group, Which? due to a global cocoa shortage, retailers and manufacturers are once again facing questions about how to protect margins and maintain availability during peak demand periods. The supply shock – fuelled by poor harvests in major cocoa-producing nations and exacerbated by inflationary pressures – has become yet another reminder of the fragility of global supply chains when unexpected events strike.

“Seasonal surges should be predictable, but the causes behind pricing spikes like this year’s cocoa crisis are not always within retailers’ control,” commented Martin Lockwood, Senior Director, Manhattan Associates. “What is within their control is how agile and resilient their supply chains are in responding to these shocks.”

Rethinking seasonal strategy

To cope with volatile supply and costs, retailers must avoid outdated forecasting models and siloed inventory planning. Instead, they need unified, real-time insights across the supply chain to quickly respond to disruptions and rebalance stock intelligently. “Chocolate is a symbolic seasonal product, but the same principles apply across any seasonal item – from swimwear to school supplies,” said Lockwood. “Being able to pivot quickly to alternative suppliers, reroute shipments, or dynamically adjust pricing and promotions based on availability is what separates the prepared from the panicked.”

From bean to shelf – closing the gap

Onshoring and friendshoring strategies, already gaining traction due to geopolitical uncertainty, now offer additional value in smoothing seasonal demand cycles. By sourcing closer to home or building more regional fulfilment models, brands can reduce lead times and increase agility – particularly crucial for perishable or trend-driven products. “There’s no magic fix for rising cocoa costs or unpredictable harvests,” continued Lockwood. “But building a smarter, more responsive supply chain can be the difference between empty shelves and Easter success.”

Why this matters for families, not just factories

Chocolate price hikes may make headlines, but they highlight a deeper issue: how fragile global trade networks can impact everyday lives. From higher prices at checkout to product shortages in stores, supply chain volatility is now a kitchen table issue. “Consumers don’t think about supply chains until it hits their wallet – and this Easter, it has the potential to,” Lockwood noted. “Retailers must adapt not just for operational resilience, but because their ability to deliver affordable, accessible products is now a key part of maintaining customer trust.”

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Transportation Management Systems Status Retained

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Manhattan Associates Inc., a supplier of supply chain commerce solutions, announced that it has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Transportation Management Systems for the seventh consecutive year.

With the growing complexity of supply chains, it has become critical for enterprises to better orchestrate transportation and distribution processes with a unified supply chain execution solution. Manhattan’s cloud-native technology, microservices-based architecture and unified platform provide supply chain and logistics professionals with a distinctive and advanced technology architecture that stands apart from legacy, portfolio offerings in the market. By doing away with silos, it delivers real-time visibility into shipments, offers predictive analytics for better decision-making, delivers the ability to automate manual processes and ultimately eliminates inefficiencies, which is a definite game-changer for companies operating in complex and demanding environments.

“We are delighted to be recognized by Gartner as a Leader in TMS,” said Bryant Smith, director of Product Management for Manhattan Associates. “This ongoing leadership reflects our commitment to continuous innovation, customer success, and excellence in supply chain execution. We deliver speed and value across various transportation functions and leverage advanced intelligence to solve the largest and most complex transportation challenges.”

Latest additions to the cloud-native Manhattan Active TM include GenAI capabilities to the platform, and unification of Manhattan Active Yard Management with TMS. It can already be combined with Manhattan Active Warehouse Management, and Labour Management providing companies with a complete, simplified, and unified supply chain execution system that continuously adapts and scales to business needs, and provides a single, comprehensive view of the distribution network, unlocking optimization opportunities that are impossible with traditional siloed offerings.

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Deliver Europe Celebrates 10th Anniversary in June

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DELIVER Europe, a matchmaking event for retail and supply chain, is thrilled to announce its 10th anniversary edition taking place 4+5 June in Amsterdam. The event is on track to surpass previous attendance records, with registrations already 20% higher than last year, and will feature a special performance by internationally acclaimed DJ Bob Sinclar.

DELIVER Europe 2025 will unite an elite community of over 2,000 C-/D-suite executives from across the retail and supply chain sectors, including leading brands such as De Longhi, H&M, Amazon, Miele, Jaguar Land Rover, Vinted, Henkel, Nespresso, Decathlon, Lululemon, Samsung, and Kiko Milano. The event will facilitate over 5,400 targeted meetings between these retail leaders and more than 150 dynamic supply chain partners, including DP World, GLS, Amazon Shipping, DHL Supply Chain, Geopost, Maersk, Ocado Intelligent Automation, Spring GDS and others.

With a 15% increase in participating supply chain partners, DELIVER Europe 2025 continues to deliver exceptional value. Many partners, including DP World, have expanded their involvement, reinforcing the event’s proven return on investment. Boasting industry-defying NPS scores – 64 for retailers and 40 for sponsors – DELIVER Europe has cemented its status as the premier platform for industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of retail and logistics.

This milestone reflects a decade of innovation and a relentless focus on delivering value to the retail and supply chain community. As Stephane Tomczak, Founder, Chairman & CEO of DELIVER, explains, “Our dedication to improving the event experience is evident in our matchmaking and in-house app, which have proven invaluable. DELIVER has an elite platform where attendees are evaluated not just on seniority, but on active projects – creating a space focused on solutions, accelerating deals, and driving groundbreaking projects. All while staying true to our values: People. Planet. Profit. We’ve built a model that prioritises carbon and profit neutrality, redefining industry events – and our 10th anniversary is a testament to that commitment.”

The 10th Anniversary Party, sponsored by DP World, will be a highlight of the event, offering attendees the chance to network and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere. Internationally acclaimed DJ Bob Sinclar, famous for hits like “Love Generation” and “World, Hold On,” will deliver a live DJ set. Sinclar’s high-energy performance will be a fitting celebration for the retail and supply chain community that has driven DELIVER’s success over the past decade.

DP World commented about the upcoming collaboration for DELIVER Europe’s 10th Anniversary: “As a long-standing partner, DP World values DELIVER as a premier platform for forging meaningful connections and driving high-impact discussions with key decision-makers in and supply chain decision makers. The event’s unique 1-to-1 meeting format consistently enables focused productive engagements, allowing us to uncover new opportunities and strengthen partnerships. With DELIVER’s focus on innovation and sustainability, it remains one of the most efficient and results-driven industry events, aligning perfectly with the right audience and drive forward our vision for seamless global trade.”

The 10th anniversary edition marks a decade of progress for DELIVER Europe, which continues to lead the way as a platform for innovation and collaboration within the retail and supply chain sectors—while steadfastly promoting a carbon-neutral approach to the events industry. Limited passes are still available: apply for your pass now.

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