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Author: Keith McKinley

Manhattan Showcases Latest Supply Chain Commerce Innovations

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Building on the theme, ‘Make the impossible, possible’, Manhattan Associates opened its annual EMEA Exchange event to an audience of more than 300 customers and press, with keynotes that introduced the European market to Manhattan Active® Supply Chain Planning and Generative AI solutions; Manhattan Active® Maven and Manhattan Assist.

“It is great to be back in Barcelona with a record number of supply chain and commerce professionals. Attending Exchange gives participants a unique opportunity to explore and interact with peers and get a first-hand look at the latest technologies shaping the future of supply chain and commerce,” commented Henri Seroux, senior vice president, Europe, Manhattan Associates.

“With real-world insights from customers including ba&sh, Yusen Logistics, Lacoste and Co-op, amongst others, in addition to cutting-edge technology discussions from Manhattan’s senior leaders, Eddie Capel and Brian Kinsella, there is something for everyone attending this year’s edition,” Seroux continued.

Highlights from the annual event included:

• Schneider Electric, the global leader in energy management and automation, explained how it plans to make its supply chain a competitive differentiator through the unification of its warehouse and transportation functions with Manhattan.
• Bestseller, one of Europe’s leading fashion companies, showcased how it is transforming its supply chain through a strategic partnership with Manhattan. The company highlighted the challenges faced, the need for change, and the collaborative approach taken to implement Manhattan Active Supply Chain.
• L’Oréal described the final stages of its Manhattan deployment and shared how it is leveraging Manhattan Active® Warehouse Management’s full potential to optimise operations and integrate seamlessly into the data-driven world of Beauty Tech
• Kramp, the leading supplier of spare parts in Europe’s agricultural space, guided the audience through the pivotal role Manhattan Active® Omni is playing in its digital transformation journey.
• The introduction of Manhattan Active Supply Chain Planning completes the company’s vision of a truly unified supply chain ecosystem, while Manhattan Active Maven and Manhattan Assist harness the power of GenAI to deliver new levels of customer experience, personalization, productivity, and cost-savings.

Seroux finished: “These latest solutions underline that Manhattan is not just closing the gaps in supply chain commerce, it’s delivering the vision of a unified supply chain, raising the bar for the whole industry and reaffirming a reputation for innovation spanning more than three decades.”

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AI Accelerates Service Performance

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software provider IFS Ultimo has integrated AI functionality into its next-generation EAM platform to enhance troubleshooting, and enable organisations to reduce the mean time to repair (M5TTR) of their assets. By leveraging AI, EAM toolsets will be more intuitive, accessible and predictive, therefore driving unprecedented efficiency and effectiveness in asset management practices. The new AI features were unveiled on Wednesday, October 16th at the IFS Unleashed event in Orlando, Florida, USA.

“AI will take EAM to the next level. Our vision for AI is to focus on real world use cases,” says Chris van den Belt, Head of Product Management, IFS Ultimo. “When considering what AI to integrate into our platform, we are only embedding features which will add significant value for our customers and improve their user experience. Infusing our EAM platform with AI functionalities will radically improve employee productivity and maximise asset availability.”

Many AI technologies are geared towards predicting and preventing failures and incidents. However, for the majority of organisations, these technologies are more of a long-term goal than a short-term reality. Reactive maintenance will continue to feature prominently in most organisation’s maintenance strategies. With this in mind, IFS Ultimo has made the conscious decision to harness the powers of AI to significantly reduce time spent on reactive maintenance. Realising these short-term benefits starting today puts long-term objectives within arm’s reach.

Minimising Downtime

It is estimated that 80% of time in MTTR is spent on diagnosing a problem. The biggest chunk of time wasted is due to a lack of communication and detail in failure reports. With Ultimo’s built-in AI capabilities, organisations can realise tremendous value with each percentage point reduction in MTTR. This is not ‘chump change’: the average cost of downtime in manufacturing often exceeds $100K per hour. Beyond the clear financial stakes, the productivity impact is also profound, especially in an industry where skilled labour is already hard to come by. Furthermore, the immense increase in overall data quality unlocks a wide array of new and exciting possibilities for achieving operational excellence.

The newly integrated AI functionality provides better quality of failure reporting. Having to spend less time on diagnosing a problem means skilled employees will benefit from increased wrench time, increased asset availability, reduced admin time, improved collaboration and improved employee satisfaction.

More Accurate Failure Reports

Front line workers spend the majority of their working day close to the assets they know so well. Any changes to the way these assets look, sound, smell or feel will not pass them by. Using a large language model (LLM), Ultimo detects the asset in question and provides a series of tailored suggestions that the reporter can easily add to the failure report without having to type. In doing so, all of the sensory observations are captured on the report accurately, providing maintenance teams with complete and accurate information to quickly solve the issue and increase asset availability and reliability.

This same approach will be used elsewhere in Ultimo to empower the faster resolution of diagnosed issues and enhance the accuracy of completed work activities registered in the system. The overall benefits include a substantial reduction of time spent on administration, severe improvements to data quality and a boost to employee satisfaction. Furthermore, Ultimo is working on integrated AI features that will greatly improve user experience, such as photo-based meter readings, auto-generated image and document captions and auto-translated multi-lingual data.

Van den Belt concludes: “We are dedicated to developing our products to help users do their jobs more easily with our best-of-breed EAM software. AI has the capability to enhance EAM in future-ready and efficient ways – empowering employees, improving asset performance, and reducing costs. We are very excited to bring these new AI functionalities to our customers while making sure all relevant data protection is in place.”

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DP World to Expand London Gateway Port

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Global logistics giant DP World has today announced a £1bn expansion of London Gateway to make it Britain’s largest container port within five years in a boost to the volume and resilience of international trade.

DP World will increase capacity of London Gateway’s port by building two new shipping berths, taking the total to six berths able to receive the world’s largest container ships. The site will also see a second rail terminal added to handle the expected increase in containerised trade.

By the end of the decade, the full quayside stretching more than 2.5km in length will be able to simultaneously receive six vessels, each more than 400 metres long, and boast Europe’s tallest quay cranes at the height of the Big Ben.

The expansion will create a further 400 permanent new jobs, in addition to the 1,200 currently employed at the site, and is the culmination of a rapid growth plan for the Thames Estuary hub which opened in 2013 and has been a catalyst for economic regeneration in south Essex.

The expansion will take the total invested by DP World at London Gateway to more than £3bn, converting the site of a former oil refinery into one of the UK’s largest and most important logistics hubs. The site has most recently seen the addition of a £350m fourth berth, the first to be powered entirely by electricity, and which will soon accept its first ship.

DP World has established Europe’s largest logistics park, employing 1,500 workers, as a counterweight to the Midlands-based ‘golden triangle’ of UK logistics. Tenants at the park benefit from storage, warehousing and distribution services linked to excellent rail freight and motorway connections, and quick access to the important consumer market of London and the South East. Fast-track planning consent enables businesses to erect new facilities in response to demand.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at DP World said: “DP World London Gateway will help make Britain’s trade flow in the future by connecting domestic exporters with global markets and delivering vital supply chain resilience for the whole economy. I am proud of this major investment which underlines DP World’s long-term commitment to the UK.”

Ernst Schulze, Chief Executive Officer for Ports & Terminals at DP World UK, said: “As this commitment demonstrates, London Gateway’s location and transport infrastructure are ideally placed for expansion. With extra capacity comes the reliability and supply chain resilience so important to our customers and consumers, especially in uncertain times such as the pandemic and disruption due to geopolitical events.”

Subject to planning approval and regulatory requirements, the expansion is expected to significantly increase the volume of trade at the port which currently handles approximately nearly 2 million TEU annually.

DP World plays an increasing role in the UK economy, employing 5,500 workers across a wide portfolio of logistics services. As well as owning London Gateway and operating Southampton’s container terminal, it is also a major logistics provider, offering customers bespoke services in warehousing, transport and port-centric logistics across a wide variety of sectors, such as automotive and perishables. Three quarters of imported containerised perishable goods are handled at London Gateway and its sister port in Southampton.

In addition to its hubs at Southampton and London Gateway, DP World’s offer includes logistics, forwarding and European transport capabilities, all of which are being integrated into the company’s global network.

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Custom Ball Tables and Transfer Units

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Alwayse Engineering Ltd has entered a strategic partnership with Rapid Racking Ltd, a British specialist in shelving and racking solutions, to integrate its precision range of ball transfer units into custom tables for roll-on/roll-off capability.

This collaboration between the two UK businesses aims to reduce the risk of physical strain and fatigue for warehousing and logistics workers when loading and unloading shelves, particularly when handling heavy items.

The integration of Birmingham-based Alwayse Engineering’s 3016 series ball transfer units into Rapid Racking’s tables also offers enhanced customisation and flexibility for warehousing operators. They can be introduced during the design stage for new storage systems, as well as to improve the efficiency of existing installations.

The ball tables will be available across Rapid Racking’s Rapid 1 workbench range and are available in 1830x760mm and 1830x915mm tables.

“We are thrilled to partner with Rapid Racking and begin integrating our ball transfer units into their custom tables,” said James Turner, Head of UK and Ireland Sales at Alwayse Engineering. “Poor manual handling is one of the biggest causes of workplace injury, so finding a safe, efficient and repeatable way to improve processes was a key driver behind the partnership.”

Tom Ellis, Head of Product & Services at Rapid Racking Ltd, added: “We are always on the lookout for innovative ways to help make our customers’ lives easier. The integration of Alwayse ball tables into our racking units will deliver a step-change in workplace safety and productivity. Our team is very excited at the opportunity of partnering with another UK business that shares our vision of transforming the warehousing industry.”

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Milestone Surpassed in Rice Shipments to West Africa

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DUCAT Maritime, a global maritime logistics company, has announced a significant milestone in its operations: the delivery of over 15 million tonnes of rice to West Africa since the company was founded in 2016. This achievement underscores DUCAT Maritime’s pivotal role in providing food security and economic stability across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

Since its founding in 2016, DUCAT Maritime has been at the forefront of shipping and logistics, focusing on the needs of developing economies. The 15 million tonnes milestone is a testament to DUCAT’s commitment to ensuring a stable and reliable supply of rice, which is a staple food in West Africa. This contribution has helped sustain an estimated nine million people annually across the region over the past eight years.

DUCAT Maritime achieved this milestone by consistently utilising a chartered fleet, ranging from handysize to ultramax vessels, to meet the diverse demands of the global food market. The company’s innovative approach includes comprehensive in-port services that enhance efficiency and minimise cargo damage, ensuring that essential commodities, such as rice, are delivered safely and on time.

Adrian Beciri, CEO and founder of DUCAT Maritime said: “Our achievement of shipping over 15 million tonnes of rice to West Africa is more than a milestone; it represents our strong commitment to supporting the communities and economies we serve. The logistical exercise is technically complex and helps create thousands of local jobs in West Africa and we are delighted that there is an economic benefit to those people we rely on to help deliver such a critical commodity. We want to be a partner to the communities we are proud to serve. This accomplishment is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our team, and it reinforces our resolve to continue providing reliable and efficient logistical solutions.”

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Kion and Eurofork Sign Strategic Partnership

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The KION Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Eurofork S.p.A., a leading manufacturer of pallet shuttle systems. The two companies have signed a cooperation agreement at KION GROUP AG headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Under the agreement, Eurofork’s E4CUBE® solution will be distributed through the sales and service networks of the KION brands in the Industrial Trucks & Services segment in the EMEA region with immediate effect.

Andreas Schneider, Senior Vice President Product Management at KION, said: “We are very pleased to enter this strategic partnership with Eurofork, one of the leading players in the market for pallet shuttles. This will enable us to offer our customers an even more comprehensive product portfolio of automated solutions and further strengthen our position.”

Pallet shuttle systems are an efficient form of storage with high flexibility, continuous material flow and high throughput rates. Automated shuttles travel independently on rail systems through the racks and transport palletized goods to the picking station. E4CUBE® can be easily configured with standard modules for individual customer solutions and is operational within a few months. In addition, the system ensures the traceability of goods and offers a high level of operational safety.

Maurizio Traversa, CEO of Eurofork, said: “We are proud to enter this strategic partnership agreement, which marks a new high of our long-standing cooperation with the KION Group. Our pallet shuttle automation adds substantial value for customers and having KION teaming up with us for the distribution of the E4CUBE® will enable access to easy automation for a wide array of companies. This solution delivers value without unnecessary complexity, including from a financial perspective, thanks to our partner’s leasing solutions.”

Eurofork was founded in 2000 in Roletto near Turin, Northwest Italy. The company specializes in the production of material handling devices such as pallet shuttle systems and telescopic forks made in Italy. Thanks to their quality and efficiency, Eurofork products and solutions are used worldwide in the field of industrial automation and intralogistics.

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Nulogy Acquisition of Mingo Smart Factory

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Nulogy, a provider of manufacturing supply chain solutions, has announced its strategic acquisition of Mingo Smart Factory, a leader in manufacturing productivity technology. Mingo Smart Factory, which offers real-time visibility into machine throughput and efficiency on the factory floor, will significantly complement Nulogy’s bespoke capabilities for external manufacturing partners such as FMCG brands, co-packers, contract manufacturers, and value-added logistics providers.

Mingo Smart Factory has established itself as an innovator in real-time manufacturing analytics, offering powerful tools that enable manufacturers to optimise operations, reduce waste, and enhance overall productivity. Mingo’s smart factory solution is transforming manufacturing by providing an end-to-end solution, from sensors to data collection to analytics, delivering scalable, real-time insights into factory floor productivity. By integrating Mingo’s advanced technology and expertise with Nulogy’s existing solutions, Nulogy will be able to offer its customers a more comprehensive and robust suite of tools to optimise their manufacturing operations, empowering them to respond to market changes with agility and precision.

“At Nulogy, we are committed to equipping brand manufacturing supply networks across the globe with the latest technology required to collaborate effectively with partners and streamline workflows for greater agility and success,” says Jason Tham, CEO and co-founder of Nulogy. “Our acquisition of Mingo Smart Factory introduces additional innovation for our customers and will enable a wider range of manufacturing operations to harness the power of their data for a more automated, sustainable, and resilient external supply chain.”

“Mingo Smart Factory and Nulogy share a common vision of digitally empowering manufacturers with the data and systems they need to be smart, agile, and efficient in today’s market,” says Bryan Sapot, CEO of Mingo Smart Factory. “Our combined capabilities will provide external manufacturing supply chains with a premier platform purpose-built for their success.”

Nulogy is a purpose-built, multi-enterprise collaboration platform for the extended supply chain, digitally enabling brand manufacturers and their external supplier networks to collaborate seamlessly on a centralised, data-driven, AI-enabled solution. Nulogy’s solutions are deployed within the supply networks of global FMCG leaders such as L’Oréal, Colgate-Palmolive, and Church & Dwight, as well as at hundreds of supplier sites worldwide.

The acquisition of Mingo propels Nulogy’s vision to become the definitive leader in digital transformation solutions for external manufacturing operations and the extended supply chain. Together, Mingo and Nulogy will offer customers even more powerful tools to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and optimise manufacturing operations.

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Polish Prime Logistics Hub Sold

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Kajima Europe, a pan-European real asset investor, developer, and manager with £10bn AUM, has successfully completed the sale of it’s prime logistics scheme in Zgorzelec, Poland. The asset was held in JV with Panattoni and sold to Arete Investment Group.

Strategically located next to the German border along the A4 highway, this state-of-the-art facility provides unparalleled access to Germany, Europe’s largest economy, and key consumer markets across Central Europe. Split across two buildings totalling 65,000 SQM, the logistics hub currently houses two institutional tenants in the global logistics and healthcare equipment sectors on long-term leases, highlighting the hub’s strategic positioning in serving businesses’ supply chain needs in the region.

Polish Prime Logistics Hub

Positioned between Prague, Wroclaw, and Dresden, it offers excellent connectivity for goods transport. The A4 corridor, linking Zgorzelec to the rail terminal in Kodersdorf and Leipzig Airport, Germany’s second-largest airfreight hub, reinforces its role as a crucial European logistics centre.

The facility’s BREEAM Excellent certification highlights Kajima Properties’ commitment to sustainability on all of its development projects across Europe.

Jan Trybulski, Investment Director and Head of Poland, said: “The Zgorzelec scheme is an example of a high-end, sustainable warehouse developed in a strategic location in Poland. The sale of this scheme demonstrates liquidity in the Polish market and shows demand for high quality logistics is strong despite more challenging economic environment.”

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Specialist Fulfilment Provider Acquired

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Staci, a specialist fulfilment provider, has announced it has been successfully acquired by Belgian multinational postal operator bpostgroup in a deal valued at £1.3bn.

The acquisition, which officially took effect on August 1st, 2024, is part of bpostgroup’s ambitious strategy to accelerate its transformation and strengthen its position in the logistics value chain. The company aims to establish itself as a leader in e-commerce and omnichannel fulfilment across Europe following the strategic partnership.

Staci UK has built a reputation as a high-value logistics partner with a strong international presence in Europe, Asia, and the USA. The partnership will enable bpostgroup to leverage Staci’s expertise in managing complex logistics flows and multichannel distribution, further enhancing its service offerings.

Thomas Mortier, who has served as CEO of Staci Group since 1996, will now lead bpostgroup’s International 3PL division as CEO while also serving on its board of directors. He will play a pivotal role in integrating Staci’s operations with bpostgroup’s existing network, creating synergies that are expected to unlock new growth opportunities across global markets.

Wayne Chapman, CEO of Staci UK, commented on the acquisition, saying: “bpostgroup’s investment is a significant endorsement of our long-term financial success, growth, and track record of supporting and retaining clients. This partnership not only strengthens our ability to serve and expand our client base across the UK and Europe, but also opens doors to new markets, including Poland and Australia.

“We’re excited to leverage the wealth of data, insights, and best practices that this collaboration brings. Together, we’ll drive even greater efficiency and deliver exceptional value to our clients worldwide, whilst growing our e-commerce packaging services, fuelled by opportunities with bpostgroup and their brands.”


Staci UK’s existing client base spans a diverse range of sectors, including e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods, retail, health, and more. With the backing of bpostgroup, Staci UK aims to solidify its position in high-value flexible logistics.

The acquisition also opens up new opportunities for cross-selling and expanding into new sectors, particularly through collaboration with other bpostgroup brands like Active Ants and Radial. The combined strengths of the two companies are expected to drive significant value for their clients and stakeholders.

As the logistics industry continues to evolve post-pandemic, this acquisition reflects the ongoing trend of consolidation and growth within the sector. Staci and bpostgroup are now well-positioned to lead the charge in delivering innovative, flexible logistics solutions on a global scale.

bpostgroup is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for Staci UK and its employees. Current customers of Staci can expect uninterrupted service and support during this transition.

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Vietnamese Air Cargo Terminal Expanded

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Lödige Industries, a global supplier of material handling systems, has successfully completed the expansion of a cargo terminal of the Saigon Cargo Service Corporation (SCSC). With the integration of a second Elevating Transfer Vehicle (ETV) and an additional 150 storage positions, the handling capacity of the existing facility was doubled during ongoing operations.

Scalability is an important criterion in many construction projects, after all, you want to be optimally prepared for future growth. The development of a 20-foot elevating transfer vehicle and a 150-bay storage system by Lödige Industries at Saigon Cargo Service Corporation a few years ago was accompanied by a potential doubling of capacity, which was considered in the planning for the project, which was completed in 2010. This paid off just a few years later. Thanks in part to the state-of-the-art handling technology, SCSC was able to grow its business so much within a short space of time that it became necessary to expand the facility.

In 2022, the two project partners initiated a second – now successfully completed – project phase, another brand new ETV was integrated into the existing system. In addition, the storage system was expanded to include a third and fourth level which added a further 150 storage locations. The programmable logic controller (PLC) was also modernized during this recent project phase.

“The project was designed for a possible expansion right from the start. That’s why doubling the handling capacity during ongoing operations was particularly seamless here. Especially as we have extensive expertise in the expansion of existing cargo facilities,” says Patrick Ho, Senior Project Manager at Lödige Industries.

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