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Blackacre completes Ipswich logistics deal

Posted on by Keith McKinley

JMW Solicitors’ Real Estate team has advised Blackacre on a £13m deal with Lay & Wheeler that will see the development of a new 114,000 sq ft unit at Port One Logistics Park in Ipswich, UK.

The wine merchant has agreed a £13.85m senior development loan with Cain International to forward-fund the delivery of Unit 6.

Lay & Wheeler was founded in 1854 and remains one of Britain’s longest-standing fine wine merchants – it is a market-leading name globally and has won a multitude of awards.

Port One is a strategic development located close to Ipswich and Felixstowe Port, benefiting from direct access to Junction 52 of the A14, a major arterial route. Its proximity to Felixstowe makes it the most centrally located customs site within the Freeport East Zone. The Zone includes both Felixstowe and Harwich, making them, combined, the UK’s largest container port.

Simon Maddox, Real Estate Partner at JMW Solicitors, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to support Blackacre on this latest deal at Port One – it will no doubt prove an ideal location for Lay & Wheeler’s new warehouse and head office as the business continues to grow.

“There remains a significant shortage of industrial and logistics stock entering the market – with a record-breaking volume of space under offer at the end of Q1 2022, demand will remain high for high-quality, well-located schemes like Port One.”

Development work for Unit 6 is now underway on site and is expected to reach PC by November 2023.

JMW Solicitors is one of the UK’s leading full service law firms, with offices in Manchester, Liverpool and London.

 

Trent Gateway logistics units snapped up

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Demand for logistics real estate in the UK’s East Midlands region is showing no signs of slowing, according to the leasing agents of Trent Gateway which is now fully let.

Due to the especially high demand for industrial properties, particularly those that possess green credentials, the property’s landlord Northwood Urban Logistics has seen five units let in five months.

The final deals, brokered by JLL and FHP, have included MMC Materials UK Ltd which manufactures sustainable and compositable packaging and has taken 10,488 sq ft, and Upperton Pharma Solutions (Upperton), a UK-based specialist contract development and manufacturing organisation. Confident in the location, Upperton is investing circa. £15m in the design and bespoke build of its new 50,000 sq ft facility on the estate.

MMC Materials UK and Upperton join a range of other established businesses based on the 18-unit industrial site, including BW Flexible Systems, RSK Group and SRL Traffic Systems Ltd.

Northwood’s success is reflective of the high demand for space in the region. JLL’s own research has revealed that prime headline rents have risen by an average of 25.5% across the Midlands. The multi-let and mid box industrial market Spring 2022 report revealed that, in the East Midlands specifically, there remains eight months’ supply of space available, but is seeing comparatively little new speculative development. Regional demand for small units is particularly strong in the 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft and 10,000 to 20,000 sq ft range, with local and regional occupiers driving the majority of demand.

Trent Gateway’s sought-after green credentials include the likes of electric vehicle charging points; low air permeability design; warehouse skylights making up 15% of roof surface area increasing natural lighting; high performance insulated cladding and roof materials; and secure cycle parking all provided as standard.

Iain Taylor, Director at Northwood Urban Logistics said: ‘’We are very pleased to welcome our latest occupiers to the scheme. Trent Gateway has been proven to accommodate a wide range of occupiers who have been able to adapt the units for a variety of uses.”

Gemma Constantinou, industrial director at JLL East Midlands, said: “Trent Gateway has benefited from having high-quality units in a market that is increasingly calling for more space. Crucially, though, this market also understands that the need to make greener choices, in the push towards Net Zero, is only intensifying.

“The speed in which the entirety of Trent Gateway has been snapped up should be a clear, green light for developers to invest further in the East Midlands. We expect take-up to remain at a consistently high level for the next few years while the battle for availability continues at such a pace.”

Mark Tomlinson, Director at FHP, commented: “We are delighted to have delivered fully occupancy and such a strong tenant line-up at Trent Gateway, which was delivered to service a pent-up demand from occupiers who have been hampered by an undersupply of industrial property in the region. The East Midlands still has one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country, so we were not surprised to have brought forward such strong demand for the scheme.”

Located within Beeston Business Park and just one mile outside of the town centre, Trent Gateway is a 40-acre hub providing a mix of industrial and office space, all overlooking the Attenborough Nature Reserve.

 

UKMHA seeks jurors for Archies 2022

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), the organiser of the Archies 2022, is seeking industry experts to join the Awards jury. Those selected will help pick the winners in what will be the largest and most inclusive range of categories ever, covering areas including innovation, ergonomics, safety and environment.

Tim Waples, Chief Executive of UKMHA, explains: “Ours is the longest-running and most authoritative awards in the materials handling calendar, and having the right jurors is essential in maintaining its integrity. The scale and scope of the jury is extremely important, since it must represent every facet of the industry from forklift and attachment manufacturers to dealers, members of the handling press and those who own and actually operate the equipment.

“Only by drawing upon individuals with a wide and diverse range of specialisms can we ensure that the right products and people win the awards.”

The judging – which takes the form of a confidential ballot – is the final step in a process designed to ensure balance, fairness, probity, honesty and openness.

The first is the nominations process. Unlike some awards, entering the Archies is free of charge and open to all. “We don’t want anyone to be put off from entering because of cost,” emphasises Waples.

The second step involves the Awards Selection Committee which is charged with ensuring entries meet various criteria including originality, relevance and availability (products must have been launched into the UK market within the 18 months period preceding the close of nominations on 30th June).

The shortlist is then placed before the jury of highly experienced individuals, selected for their impartiality and practical knowledge.

“As a member of the jury you will be required to sign a strict confidentiality agreement and must remove yourself from all deliberations where there is any possibility of a conflict of interest,” says Waples. “It is a crucial role, and you will enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you have ensured that justice has been done and that you’ve made some talented individuals and organisations extremely happy.”

A truly international event, the Archies Awards attracts sponsors, winners and guests from around the globe to participate in a dazzling Oscar’s-style ceremony to be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Saturday 15th October 2022.

To apply to join the jury, please email Lo***********@*******rg.uk

 

BITO enjoys “most successful” year

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Achieving a turnover of €303m, 2021 was strongest year in BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH’s history, and a year when BITO received a climate-neutral certificate.

BITO storage and logistics solutions are in high demand. The past two years have presented enormous challenges for many companies, especially in the field of logistics. Border closures and supply chain disruptions as a result of the pandemic have demonstrated the fragility of supply networks from one moment to the next. Delivery delays have resulted in production stops or disruptions in trade chains.

“We have noticed that the circumstances have led to a change of mind in many companies. After the market had recovered from the initial shock, both internationally and nationally, the trend was clearly towards more stockpiling in order to cope with times like those caused by the pandemic. Companies were expanding their storage capacities, and many new logistics centres have been established,” says Winfried Schmuck, Chief Executive Officer at BITO-Lagertechnik.

In addition, some sectors, such as the online retail business, which has been booming for years anyway, continue to see enormous growth. This is a challenge that the companies concerned have to cope with, especially in their logistics. As a result, the demand for BITO storage and logistics solutions has also increased significantly. After a difficult year in 2020, 2021 became the strongest year in the BITO history with a turnover of €303m.

“We had the highest order intake since the company was founded, with full capacity utilisation in all areas,” says Schmuck. “Tonnages were moved through the production halls that would have been unimaginable a few years ago. A great success that we were only able to achieve together in a well-functioning team.”

BITO awarded climate-neutral certificate

There has been a positive development in implementing even more sustainable practices. In 2021, BITO-Lagertechnik was certified as a climate-neutral company.

Schmuck says: “Sustainability has always been a priority for us. We are proud of our quality products, which are designed to last. To name just a few aspects: BITO multi-trip bins and containers help to avoid tons of packaging waste. When selecting our raw materials and auxiliaries, we always opt for materials that are not harmful to health and that allow environmentally friendly processing.

“Our production process is based on a commitment to sustainability and a resource-saving, energy-efficient approach in order to minimise the impact on our environment while saving raw materials. We have been operating a plastic bin recycling process in our own facility for many years. Acting with economic, environmental and social responsibility should not be viewed as an obligation. We see sustainability as a great opportunity for all of us.”

 

Active Ants increases Autostore capacity

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Active Ants, a subsidiary of the bpost group, has increased the capacity of the Autostore in its fulfilment centre in Roosendaal, Netherlands to over 98,000 storage bins. At the opening of this warehouse at the end of December 2020, the Autostore still consisted of 51,000 storage bins.

“At the beginning of this year, we started with the installation of the large extension of the Autostore,” says Marcel Spruijt, sales manager of Dematic, which is also responsible for the box-conveyors of the packaging lines.

The installation of this Autostore extension in Roosendaal went almost without any problems, just like the commissioning. At the beginning of March, the first batch with 22,000 storage bins could be loaded. After Easter, from the second half of April, the second batch with 25,000 storage bins was loaded into the Autostore. After that, the filling of the first new bins started. This was completed at the end of May. Meanwhile, the new part has been taken into use.

“We are very happy with this expansion,” says Jeroen Reedijk, director of Active Ants Netherlands. Dematic has done everything to realise this as soon as possible. These 47,000 new storage bins are badly needed to facilitate the expected growth in the near future.

The E-fulfilment centre in Roosendaal has an area of 20,000 sq m. It is a state-of-the-art innovative centre thanks to the deployment of 100 storage robots and 65 carrier robots to assist employees. In this ultra-modern warehouse with Autostore, thousands of products are packed for web shops. The storage, order-picking, packaging and sorting of goods are fully automated.

 

Prologis strengthens London team

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis UK, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has added two new hires to its Capital Deployment and Leasing team, as it looks to further grow its UK team and drive ambitious growth plans.

Jason Pickering (left) has joined as a director in the Capital Deployment and Leasing team, following six years at Cushman & Wakefield. With extensive experience in industrial and logistics capital markets, and a specific focus on South East and national developments, he will be helping Prologis to continue expansion plans in London and development of urban logistics offering.

Ryan Gordon (right) also joins the company as a Capital Deployment and Leasing director, after working for Stripe Street for eight years. There, his role as an agent for Aldi Stores UK aided in the supermarket’s expansion, with a particular focus on site acquisitions in London and the South East. Alongside his experience as an agent, Gordon is a chartered surveyor, and has an in-depth knowledge of the land acquisition and property development process from start to finish.

In their new roles, both Pickering and Gordon will focus on land and investment acquisitions in Prologis’ strategic priority regions within London and the South East, using their complementary skills and 14 years of combined experience to support the firm’s ambitious growth plans.

Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “It’s great to have Jason and Ryan join our business, both highly qualified to drive forward our significant growth ambitions for London and the wider South East of the UK. In 2022 we have announced six new hires who will focus on the region and will soon be moving into new London offices to provide the team with an exciting new collaborative hub.

“I’m looking forward to working with Jason and Ryan and supporting their career aspirations here at Prologis.”

Both Pickering and Gordon will be based in Prologis’ London office.

Randex VR gains first user

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Vertical storage lift company Randex has won the first user for its new ‘Randex VR’ virtual reality system, which uses digital models to simulate vertical storage space and performance. Global welding and cutting company WB Alloys, which works across the oil and gas, nuclear, marine, renewables, power generation and construction industries has used Randex VR to create a virtual twin of its new warehouse, populating it with virtual racking, office space and a ‘Randex Compact Twin’ vertical storage system, located in the company’s 5,000 SKU storage area. Randex VR has enabled WB Alloys to plan for best machine fit and optimum picking speeds.

Following go-live, Randex Compact Twin is now providing higher storage capacity with a smaller footprint and faster component retrieval from AB Alloys’ pick face – speeding the picking process and allowing inventory to be fine-tuned using Randex ‘Compact Store’ software, according to the company.

Commenting on its first sale of Randex VR, Randex director James Roberts says: “Planning with VR- and BIM-based digital models saves time and money by testing the space and performance of warehouse configurations before installation. This is especially true of vertical storage, whose proven space-saving and performance-boosting benefits can then be fully realised.”

Compact vertical storage lifts save up to 90% of floor space compared to standard shelving and pallet racking, says Randex. They can manage loads of up to 1.5 tonnes per storage tray and allow warehouse operatives to complete up to four times more picks than in a conventional warehouse environment, with goods automatically presented to the picker.

Compact vertical storage lifts can now be integrated with over 20 leading enterprise systems including IBM Maximo, SAP, JDA, Red Prairie and Blue Yonder.

Randex Ltd is the sole UK distributor for Compact Vertical Storage Lifts, manufactured in Sweden by Weland Solutions, a member of the privately owned, global group Weland AB. Randex customers include Bombardier, DHL, Fujifilm, Howdens, Hutchison Ports, Jaguar Land Rover, Ministry of Defence, P&G, Pfizer, Rolls Royce and Specsavers.

 

Face Consultants boosts presence in Spain with acquisition

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Face Consultants Ltd and Qualidal have acquired Eurostick S.L., Spain’s market leader in the testing, consulting, and on-site supervision of industrial floors for the logistics sector. Face Consultants, part of the CoGri Group of companies, is a global flooring consultant providing design, surveying, and testing for industrial and commercial concrete flooring. Qualidal, part of Flat Ingenierie, is the market leader in France for independent control and consulting in industrial slabs.

Face Consultants and Qualidal’s joint venture, through their respective group companies, will bring an extended range of flooring services under the Eurostick name. Based in Madrid, the new partnership will provide extended floor flatness testing, design, and consultancy services. Also, floor repairs, and upgrading flatness of very narrow aisle and automated warehouses for the latest robotics systems.

“We are delighted to be establishing an even stronger presence in Spain, collaborating with Qualidal to bring a full range of flooring services, from floor design through to the upgrading of existing floors,” said Kevin Dare (pictured, second left), Face Consultants Managing Director. “I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Beth and Ignacio Sánchez Salinero of Eurostick, S.L., for their partnership with us over the previous 20-plus years. Beth and Ignacio will retain the functions of director at Eurostick and ensure the continuity of the projects.

“E-commerce in Spain remains one of the key drivers of logistics. The purchase and leasing of warehouse space across Spain have increased considerably compared to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Market surveys suggest that a higher level of quality logistics facilities is now being built.

“However, floor flatness is often something that many do not consider until they explore automated systems or sophisticated materials handling equipment, and sometimes not until after they have acquired it. Just because your building is newly built or refurbished doesn’t mean the floor is ‘fit for purpose’.”

Dare concludes: “Face Consultants and Qualidal have many years of experience in testing and upgrading concrete floors to ensure they are suitable for your warehouse operations. We are delighted to provide these services throughout Spain and beyond.”

Eurostick’s head office will remain in Madrid, but the address will be changing in the next few weeks. Ignacio and Beth’s roles and responsibilities will devolve over the next 12 to 24 months. A new General Manager has been engaged to head up Eurostick and an announcement regarding this will be made soon.

The incoming General Manager has stated: “I am excited to be working with Kevin Dare at Face Consultants and Marc Pestel-Debord at Qualidal under the Eurostick name. Also, to be able to tap into the wealth of knowledge gained over many years by these highly regarded companies. It means that we can provide an extended range of flooring services to the Spanish warehouse marketplace during a time of considerable retail and e-Commerce change.”

DHL to invest £482m in UK E-commerce operation

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DHL is planning to invest £482m across its UK E-commerce operation, DHL Parcel UK. The investment follows a 40% volume uplift since the start of 2020 amid soaring demand for its E-commerce and B2B services.

The expansion project is designed to deliver the right infrastructure to facilitate growth as well as putting the business at the forefront of sustainable and digital logistics.

Nearly half of the investment will be in a brand new 25,000 sq m hub in SEGRO Park Coventry Gateway, located south of Coventry Airport. The new facility will have the capacity to handle over 500,000 items per day and is expected to create over 600 new jobs including warehouse, driver, administration and management positions.

The new hub will feature secure bonded storage and customs capabilities to support international E-commerce, a 48-door cross-dock facility and state-of-the-art mechanisation, allowing automatic sortation of mixed sized and weight items through high-speed sortation equipment.

The building has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status to minimise its environmental impact through design features such as 7,000 sq m of solar panels, LED lighting and landscaping to protect the natural biodiversity of the area. As well as incorporating EV charging points for cars, the site will also be equipped with LGV electric charging points throughout and sustainable fuel capabilities to pre-empt technology developments in larger vehicles over the coming years.

An initial £64m will be invested in upgrading the company’s fleet with a major focus on alternative fuel vehicles. The fleet investment includes six fully electric 18-tonne trucks, 30 Liquified Natural Gas (bio-LNG) trucks, and 18 electric tugs. This roll-out will be followed by further sustainable fleet investment going forward.

The investment in sustainable infrastructure and vehicles supports Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability strategy which is in line with the Paris Agreement through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In total, Deutsche Post DHL Group will spend €7bn in sustainable fuel and clean technologies by 2030.

Finally, the business will also invest over £190m to create 10 brand new collection and delivery depots across the UK, and 20 more existing sites will be expanded. The new and expanded depots will create an additional 3,500 jobs across the country. The locations of the new sites have been strategically chosen to reduce the distance required to serve customers, enabling further roll-out of electric vans and improving speed of service.

Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL Parcel UK, says: “This investment is a real demonstration of the excellent work our people and partners have delivered over the past two years to get us to the level of growth where major expansion is required to meet customer demand. E-commerce is going to continue to shape the world around us. This investment, along with the strength of the DHL brand and our leading approach to digitalisation and sustainability, will put us in a strong position to take advantage of market growth.”

Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, says: “DHL’s investment into the heart of the Midlands is testament to the success of inward investors in the UK, and is the latest example of our investment strategy and the Government’s levelling-up agenda delivering results.

“With investment comes jobs and a boost to local economies, so I look forward to seeing the Midlands continue to flourish and promoting our commitment for a cleaner and greener future.”

 

Körber acquires Siemens Logistics’ parcel business

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The international technology group Körber has successfully completed of the acquisition of Siemens Logistics’ global mail and parcel business and has moved the of headquarters of its Business Area Supply Chain to Constance, Germany.

Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business is a market-leading solution provider for cutting-edge mail and parcel technology, automation and advanced software and serves the leading global logistics providers.

Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business will be one of the core businesses of the Körber Group. It will accelerate the Group’s growth prospects and complements its market offering as a global partner to the supply chain and e-commerce industry. Therefore, Körber Supply Chain’s headquarters will relocate from Bad Nauheim to Constance. Bringing the corresponding expertise together will further position Körber’s Business Area Supply Chain as a global leader for end-to-end supply chain technology.

Thanks to its complementary positioning, the mail and parcel business fits seamlessly into Körber’s existing supply chain offering and enables fast integration, ensuring business continuity. Customers and businesses worldwide will benefit from the Group’s expertise as a global partner ranging from single solutions to large-scale projects and intelligent hubs up to complete software solutions and entire ecosystems.

The parcel automation market is expected to grow double digit annually in the coming years. The rise in e-commerce and changing consumer behaviour continue to drive demand for automation and digitisation throughout the entire supply chain, and especially in parcel processing. Parcel volumes have increased rapidly. At the same time, demands are increasing in terms of delivery, shorter transportation times and sustainability.

Rami Jokela, Member of the Group Executive Board at Körber AG and Chief Sales Officer, says: “I’m very pleased to extend our core businesses with Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business. We will invest in this business and its solutions to support existing and new customers to meet rising new market needs and demands in sustainable supply chains and customer experience.”

“We are thrilled to move our headquarters to Constance, bringing the teams together. By combining our knowledge and passion for cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, we are convinced that we will be market leader in end-to-end supply chain execution and system integration and shape the future of global supply chains together,” adds Dirk Hejnal, Chief Executive Officer at Körber Business Area Supply Chain.

Thomas Amend, CEO of Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business, emphasises: “We are delighted to become a strong part of Körber’s supply chain business. The two companies’ knowledge and solutions as well as the regional structures are a perfect fit. I am sure that we can make a significant contribution to strengthen Körber’s position on the way to become a global leading supplier for end-to-end supply chain technology.”

Körber will offer more integrated and automised solutions that ensure end-to-end connectivity, real-time visibility, speed, and adaptability at efficient costs. By incorporating technological innovations like artificial intelligence, robotics, as well as advanced warehouse automation and blockchain technology, Körber will further empower customers to better predict future trends and is well on track to become market leader in end-to-end supply chain execution and integration.

 

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