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Latest Automation Innovations at LogiMAT

Posted on by David Priestman

Fives will present its complete ecosystem of smart and automated solutions at the LogiMAT tradeshow in Stuttgart, Germany (Hall 1 at Booth 1A61 & Hall 3 at Booth 3A30) from March 19 to 21st. This event will also be the opportunity to showcase its innovations designed to optimize the performance in material handling and automation.

Fives, through its Smart Automation Solutions Division, is an industry leading provider and integrator of cutting-edge, smart, scalable, and sustainable material handling solutions to increase warehouse automation. From retail and distribution to e-commerce, food, and 3PLs, as well as parcel and postal, Fives serves various business sectors, through an extensive range of technologies and software for conveying, sorting and picking the widest range of goods, worldwide.

Fives is dedicated to support its clients, providing them with comprehensive solution that increase speed, flexibility, capacity and scalability, to optimize the efficiency of their intralogistics
processes and deliver the right item, to the right place, at the right time. As a “customer-oriented company, Fives supports industrial companies throughout the entire life cycle of their facilities. From design to operations, Fives provides them with tailor-made and high-performance turnkey solutions, as well as aftermarket services ranging from spare parts, field service, maintenance programs, to retrofit solutions, anywhere in the world.

One innovation ahead

The rise of Industry 4.0 is deeply transforming the industry in various sectors. Automation innovation is key for addressing real-life challenges, such as digitally assisted remote services facilitating
AI-driven information collect and predictive maintenance. For over 60 years, Fives has been innovating, developing technologies that have become market standards. Anticipating customer needs, Fives invests in future technologies, expanding its solutions portfolio to collaboratively transform supply chain facilities with clients.

Take order picking to the next level

Speed, visibility, and reliability are essential for the success of logistics operations. To address the challenges associated with managing large order volumes while ensuring precise inventory management and efficient tracking of flows, Fives offers a warehouse automation solution based on the “Pallet-to-Robot” process, a new technological brick for automated pallet preparation.

A flexible, versatile, and scalable solution, AgileP2R ensures complete automation of order picking and adapts to the variability of logistics operations. It is designed for multi-product layer-pallets preparation and multi-product case-pallet preparation, and offers a choice of equipment, thus enabling customized adaptation possibilities.

For layer picking, Agile P2R features on one or more robots equipped with a layer gripper that can adapt to various pallet sizes. This gripper handles product-layers, up to 38 cm in height, using various technologies: suction, depression, clamping, security curtain.

For case picking, one or more robotic cells equipped with case grippers, which are adapted to all types of loads and take the fragility of the products into account, make up heterogeneous pallets. For both preparation modes, the use of AMRs complements robotics for maximum flexibility. 360° management software controls the entire process, and powerful algorithms automatically calculate and control the positioning of layers and cases to optimize pallets. Finally, a buffer area allows product pallets to be placed as close as possible.

Read more here:

Automation Solutions for Swedish Sorting Centre

 

Methanol-Powered Vessels

Posted on by David Priestman

Unifeeder Group has successfully completed a long-term charter agreement for two additional methanol-capable container feeder vessels. This follows the agreement for two initial vessels announced in October 2023, underscoring the group’s commitment to greener shipping solutions.

The latest agreement is in partnership with German-based ship owning group Elbdeich Reederei and Norwegian shipowner MPC Container Ships (MPCC), who are responsible for one vessel each. The 1250 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2026, will be deployed on Unifeeder’s European network. The addition of these new vessels reinforces the group’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions across its network. Simultaneously, Unifeeder is enhancing fuel efficiency throughout the fleet while increasing the utilisation of biofuels in its conventional vessels.

In alignment with its parent company, DP World, Unifeeder collaborates with industry partners to address the challenge of renewable methanol supply. This requires off-take commitments to establish production at the scale needed to replace conventional fossil fuels within the industry.

Methanol-Power

Jesper Kristensen, Group CEO of Unifeeder Group, said: “Building upon our commitment to methanol-powered vessels last year, this marks another significant stride towards the green transformation of our fleet and operations. We anticipate the vessels to enter into operation in the next two years, advancing our steadfast commitment to sustainable solutions. We offer our customers alternatives that align with their sustainability journeys while making meaningful progress towards our own ambitious decarbonisation goals.”

The investment in the two new additional ships further supports Unifeeder Group’s ambitious decarbonisation plan. Surpassing the industry average, Unifeeder has committed to a 25 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030 and to reach net-zero by 2050 with no new fossil greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to achieve this by emphasising fuel-efficient practices, regular maintenance and refitting processes of the existing fleet and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, sharing best practices across markets to drive effective carbon reduction strategies.

Unifeeder Group is part of DP World Marine Services, which announced in December 2023 it had reduced its carbon footprint by more than 16% in 2023 from its 2019 baseline of 2,118 ktCO2e by creating efficiencies across its operations. DP World also joined the First Movers Coalition, setting a target for 5% of its marine power to come from zero-emissions fuels by 2030, marking its commitment to decarbonisation – a sentiment echoed by the Unifeeder Group.

Similar news here:

Unifeeder Invests in Methanol-Powered Vessels

Mobile Robotics: Flexible Success

Posted on by David Priestman

About a year after signing a strategic partnership agreement with the German mobile robotics specialist SAFELOG, the interim results for TGW Logistics are positive. Customers are increasingly mindful of integration competence, security technology and process stability, which is why more and more businesses are putting their trust in solutions provided by these two companies.

Top quality at an attractive price: for workwear specialist Engelbert Strauss, this fundamental principle applies not only to their production of professional clothing, but also to their intralogistics. The German company was one of the first customers to invest in a new solution from TGW Logistics for its dispatch centre system in Biebergemünd: over two dozen mobile robots from the Quba series will independently transport totes to the workstations in the returns area.

Key technology for future-proof intralogistics

From Engelbert Strauss to the Swiss coffee machine manufacturer Thermoplan: numerous companies are putting their trust in the competence of TGW Logistics in the area of mobile robotics. Because the systems integrator defined the solutions as “a key technology for high-performance, flexible and future-proof intralogistics” according to CTO Christoph Wolkerstorfer, the company entered into a strategic partnership with SAFELOG in November 2022. The Quba family mobile robotics portfolio is made up of both AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) and AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles). The difference between the two categories has become increasingly blurry, for which reason TGW Logistics consolidates the portfolio under the term “mobile robotics.”
The flexible and versatile robots can transport totes, cartons and pallets, and handle a variety of tasks, including supplying production, packing or returns workstations as well as automatic palletising and de-palletising stations.

Flexible and scalable automation

Over a short span of time, TGW Logistics sold roughly 200 mobile robots from the Quba family as part of various projects; Stefan Riegler, Head of Business Development Mobile Robotics at TGW Logistics says there are multiple reasons behind this. For one thing, Riegler feels that more and more businesses are recognising the potential of mobile robots to provide a flexible and scalable automation answer to such challenges as labour shortages or scarcely predictable consumer behaviour, not to mention that they suit the tendency toward lower initial investments.

For another thing, TGW Logistics’ more than five decades of intralogistics experience makes the company a reliable partner when it comes to integration competence and security. “A crucial point in projects is often the evaluation of the processes to be automated. We see it as our main task to push technology back into the background, rethink existing processes and performance, and bring system availability and process stability to the foreground,” says Riegler. SAFELOG Managing Director Mathias Behounek agrees: “Customers need experienced, competent experts for large and complex integration projects. That’s the case at TGW Logistics and SAFELOG.”

Autonomous mobile robots

Reliability also plays a central role, according to Riegler. The TGW Future Private Foundation owns TGW Logistics, standing behind it and providing stability: the intralogistics specialist may not be sold, and two thirds of its profits remain in the company to be reinvested. Meanwhile, owner and managing director Michael Wolter stands behind SAFELOG and places great value in organic growth. Venture capitalists are not involved in the company. “Many customers shy away from doing business with a start-up that may be hoping to be bought up as soon as possible by the highest bidder,” says Riegler.

Another important factor, alongside a competitive market price, is trust. Before experts from TGW Logistics start talking about the technology, they analyse the process together with the customer. The question of “AGV or AMR?” is resolved by conducting a process analysis. This is not a question of faith, insists Riegler. He operates on the assumption that, in addition to the success factors already mentioned, IT competence will be what separates the wheat from the chaff in the future. This is not limited to expert knowledge of the mobile robots themselves, but also includes data analysis and simulations of complete systems.

Connection to existing systems is also possible

To the eyes of Alexander Leitner, Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology at TGW Logistics, mobile robotics is not a cure-all and will not be in the future either, but it is nevertheless an important component of high-performance door-to-door solutions: “A great advantage of smart robotics systems is not only their flexibility and easy scalability, but also that they can be integrated into existing fulfilment centres after the fact.” From TGW Logistics’ and SAFELOG’s point of view and in terms of technology, the world of mobile robotics revolves around certain trend topics:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The use of AI will make mobile robots even more efficient and autonomous in the future. The versatile robots make decisions independently, and those decisions go beyond merely avoiding obstacles. Thanks to machine vision, they will recognise objects faster and assess situations better, all without time-consuming programming work. AI can also be used as a basis for smart charging, since it regards the fleet as a whole rather than considering each component separately. This means that the overall system is only called upon to perform the specific activities required at any given time.

• Interoperability: This is a central topic in the mobile robotics market. The ability of mobile robots from different manufacturers to communicate with one another, e.g. via the VDA 5050 interface, is an important factor for the success of a system.

• Cyber security: This range of topics plays an important role, particularly considering recent attacks on the IT infrastructures of large logistics companies. Mobile robots are finding ever more frequent use in critical infrastructures, and it is therefore important to make sure that they are as well protected against cyber attacks as possible.

Read similar news:

TGW presents new range of robotics

 

Staples Deploy AI-Powered Picking Robots

Posted on by David Priestman

In the pick and place robot market, RightHand Robotics, a supplier of autonomous AI robotic picking solutions for order fulfillment, announces a multi-year agreement with Staples Inc., etailer of workspace products and solutions. The agreement allows Staples to deploy and install the company’s RightPick™ item-handling system to automate operations for higher service levels and Next-Day Delivery to over 98% of the U.S.

Managing an industry-leading distribution and fulfillment network with various levels of AI and automation, Staples has long been an innovator in the U.S. market. “We have always valued automation, and we see it as the future of eCommerce picking,” said Amit Kalra, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Staples. “After evaluating other solutions, the RightPick system met our high performance and reliability standards, picking items with different shapes, packaging, sizes, and weight.”

Picking Robots

The RightPick system is an autonomous item-handling robot powered by advanced hardware, sensor suite, and RightPick AI software designed for a wide range of end-to-end warehouse tasks. It offers damage-free picking across a broad range of items and provides industry-leading performance, reliability, throughput, and safety. Through close collaboration with Staples, RightHand Robotics developed new features that have nearly doubled the range of items that a RightPick station can handle while reducing the number of required interventions by 80%. These advancements have far-reaching implications beyond the Staples brand, benefiting a wide range of industries and applications.

Brian Owen, CEO of RightHand Robotics, shared, “Our RightPick system sets a new standard in the flexibility, autonomy, and reliability of warehouse robotics. We’re thrilled that Staples recognized the benefits of using our technology to further enhance their automation strategy. It’s great to team up with an established industry leader to optimize their fulfillment operations.”

Read similar news:

Autonomous Robotic Piece-Picking System

RFID MOT Station at MODEX

Posted on by David Priestman

Clustag, an RFID-based technology solution for distribution centres and warehouses, a Trademark of Rielec, has announced that it will be presenting its patented MOT Station at MODEX 2024. The premier experience trade show for the supply chain industry, MODEX 2024 will take place between 11-14 March in Atlanta, Georgia. A full demonstration of the MOT Station will be available at Clustag’s booth B10005.

Clustag’s MOT Station is designed to provide the best reliability and flow data on the market. It can be fully integrated into processes and aggregates three key pieces of data: RFID identification, case volume and case weight during operation to improve the inventory management process. The technology can scan the contents of cases with dimensions up to 800x600x400mm, scanning 400 tags per case at speeds of up to 1,000 cases per hour. The RFID station has been UL-certified and CE-marked.

Clustag solutions are designed to prevent unwanted external readings and feature integral RF signal shielding. The MOT Station increases the accuracy of shipments and reduces losses, in addition to reducing additional costs and operating time. By scanning RFID tags in an enclosed space, the station can be used at full power – ensuring an accurate, reliable reading of all inventory.

In addition, Clustag also provides regular support on their systems so that high quality is maintained throughout the product life cycle. The RFID MOT Station allows integrators to install a solution that is robust, safe and requires only a specialised installer to deploy.

MOT Station

MODEX 2024 will mark the first time the MOT Station has been demonstrated to the public.

Manolo Reguart, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Clustag said: “The MOT Station can transform a business’s supply chain operations, driving inventory accuracy up to 99.92% and delivering reliable and robust warehouse automation. In a fast-moving environment, real-time inventory accuracy is vital. We hope attendees will share our enthusiasm for the potential of this device and its benefits when implemented in supply chains. We cannot wait to demonstrate the use case of our product at MODEX 2024”

Clark Europe Introduces New Management

Posted on by David Priestman

Clark Europe GmbH, based in Duisburg, has expanded its management team. With this step, the industrial truck manufacturer wants to set the course for the upcoming generational change in good time.

In addition to his role as Director of Sales and Marketing, Stefan Budweit will assume responsibility for operations management as COO (Chief Operating Officer) with immediate effect. Budweit has been with Clark Europe since 2012 and can look back on more than 30 years of national and international experience in the field of material handling. Before joining Clark Europe, he worked as a key account manager for Toyota and Jungheinrich, among others. Budweit started his career at Clark Europe as Business Development Manager. Here he was responsible for the strategic orientation and further development of Clark Europe. As Regional Sales Manager in Scandinavia and parts of Germany, he was also instrumental in expanding the sales activities of the forklift specialist.

Thomas Bach has also joined the management team as Director of R&D and Purchasing with immediate effect. Bach started his career at Clark Europe as a development engineer in 2015 after completing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Here he demonstrated his skills in the design and development of industrial trucks and warehouse technology. In 2020, he took over as team leader of the design and development department, where he coordinates development and design projects, among other things. He also manages the collaboration with international suppliers and develops the product strategy and planning in coordination with Clark’s global plants in the USA, Korea, Vietnam and China.

“With the new strategic positioning of our management team, we have optimally equipped ourselves for the future so that we can meet future challenges and the increasing demands of our customers even better,” explains Rolf Eiten, President & CEO of Clark Europe, to whom the Sales and Finance divisions continue to report directly.

February 2024

Posted on by David Priestman

The February ’24 issue of Logistics Business magazine: 84 pages of exclusive content spanning the international supply chain and warehousing sector. We have exclusive features on fashion industry logistics, returns management, shipment safety, air cargo operations, trailer manufacturing, loading bay equipment and a merger, ecommerce with voice picking, ethical AI and TMS, SaaS, warehouse sensors, inventory, stock data & asset location, recruitment, advanced forklift batteries, AGVs & AMRs, VNA trucks, grocery materials handling automation, warehouse floors, automated storage, roller conveyors, racking optimisation, high-speed cold store doors, safety protection products and packaging automation.

Plus hard-hitting interviews, site visits and case studies with Doddle, FedEx, Red Bull, Koerber, Joloda, Sick, Kardex, Dematic, Inform, Mitsubishi, CMC and Jungheinrich.

Our digital issues can be read in any language, or listened to. Simply click on the ‘Freeflow reader’ graphic near the top right corner of each editorial page.

To browse all our recent issues click here.

FCL Solution for Seamless Shipping from India

Posted on by David Priestman

cargo-partner, a leading global logistics provider, has introduced a new Full Container Load (FCL) solution from India to Benelux destinations, catering to the diverse needs of businesses with import shipments to the Netherlands and Belgium.

cargo-partner’s new FCL service offers a competitive, secure, and straightforward shipping method for full container loads. Customers can take advantage of competitive prices and guaranteed cargo space. The service includes a range of solutions with standard, reefer, open-top, and flat-rack containers, as well as all necessary special equipment for customized cargo requirements.

Originating from two destinations – Mundra or Nhava Sheva – the new weekly service from India to Benelux is managed by an expert local cargo-partner team. Depending on the solution required, transit times between India and Benelux destinations – Rotterdam or Antwerp – range between 19 and 30 days.

As part of all of cargo-partner’s transport solutions, customers can also make use of the SPOT Visibility & Collaboration Platform and Purchase Order Management system which allow for full visibility and provides comprehensive supply chain management.

cargo-partner’s Benelux Managing Director, Enzo Phillips, said: “We are thrilled to introduce this FCL solution, addressing the unique shipping needs from India to the Benelux region. With a focus on efficiency and reliability, our new service ensures a smooth and secure transport experience for our valued clients. We’re pleased to be continuing to provide personal and flexible solutions for businesses navigating the complexities of global shipping.”

cargo-partner is also excited to announce the appointment of Stefan Versloot as National Product Manager Sea Cargo – Benelux, bolstering the company’s sea cargo solutions and enhancing services and trade lanes between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Data-driven Decisions for Flexible Supply Chain

Posted on by David Priestman

The pandemic, Brexit, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, and rising inflation have placed unprecedented pressure on the global logistics industry. Soaring material costs, wavering customer demand, and disrupted shipping patterns are just some of the challenges businesses are continuing to face as a result.

Against a backdrop of such unpredictability, flexibility and adaptability remain crucial for logistics businesses. It enables them to better adapt to unexpected shifts in market conditions. While some businesses have sought to nearshore manufacturing operations or diversify suppliers in an attempt to wrestle back some control over the uncertain landscape, many neglect to consider how internal processes could hold more of the answers.

Although back-office accounting systems are rarely a focus for logistics leaders, modern cloud finance platforms can knit seamlessly together with other fundamental business systems to provide valuable features and insights. It can equip teams with better, more comprehensive data that can be used to make meaningful business decisions to maximise flexibility and opportunities for growth.

Strategic stock management

One of the crucial areas in which businesses can leverage data to enhance flexibility is stock management. Interoperable accounting systems can interact with, and share information across, other mission-critical programmes from third-party providers, including inventory management, to bring all the crucial data in one place. Stock levels can be scrutinised alongside financial and operational data in real-time so inventory can be scaled up or down strategically. This data-driven strategic stock management can help reduce the amount of money being held in stock that’s not being required at the expected rate, or unlikely to be used soon. This can free up the budget to be reallocated elsewhere, allowing logistics businesses to accommodate new priorities quickly.

Increased visibility and real-time reporting

Logistics managers need access to a detailed and up-to-date breakdown of costs to help inform decisions across the business. Interoperable systems automatically replicate data across systems, eliminating the need for error-prone rekeying or manual reporting and allowing users to easily extract relevant data. They can see cost data across different areas, including warehousing, labour, fuel and shipping, to evaluate spend and take fluctuating prices and market conditions into account. This granular visibility allows managers to quickly identify over or underspending, inefficiencies, and unnecessary expenses. They can then quickly and easily reallocate funds where they’re needed most. This visibility allows businesses to keep their fingers on the pulse of changing conditions and act quickly to maximise opportunities.

Greater insight also brings benefits to cash flow and helps teams ensure there’s enough liquidity to meet operational needs. With constant moving parts and continuous billing and payment cycles, managing all the moving parts can be a challenge. Yet, this data-driven insight, enabled by a centralised cloud finance platform, allows businesses to plan more effectively for unforeseen expenses or take advantage of opportunities that require quick financial action.

Streamlining operations with enhanced activity insights

With a comprehensive view of key operational information across the business, logistics leaders have all the information they need to optimise operations and streamline processes at their fingertips. It can help identify frequent sticking points or inefficiencies across the business and equip the business with the data they need to take effective action. Frequent errors in manual order picking, for example, and the knock-on impact on business finances, could indicate the need for new automated technology that would quickly overcome challenges. This means resources can be adjusted accordingly, with employee time and effort being reallocated to more strategic and fulfilling business activities. This insight and data can be leveraged with individual expertise to deliver a better overall business outcome.

Final thoughts

The data and insight offered by modern, interoperable cloud financial systems provide a more granular and accurate picture of what’s going on in the business, the data-based evidence to make strategic changes, and the ability to identify and mitigate risks early on. This agility is crucial in adapting to rapidly changing market conditions, unexpected disruptions and new opportunities. While there’s a hope that the geopolitical landscape will settle somewhat in 2024, the businesses that take full advantage of their accounting software and operate with good visibility, control and flexibility will be better placed to weather the storm.

By Pascal Chandler (pictured), business consultant at cloud-based accountancy software bluQube

New Material Handling Range in Denmark

Posted on by David Priestman

Rødding-based Stenderup A/S, the Authorised Bobcat dealer for Denmark, has announced that the company will be offering the new Bobcat range of material handling equipment for Danish customers from 1st April 2024.

Troels Stausholm Jensen, Managing Director of Stenderup, said: “Since we were appointed as the Authorised Dealer for Bobcat in Denmark in 2022, we have been successful in increasing Bobcat’s market share in the country. We are very excited by the opportunities offered by the new material handling range from Bobcat not only for our existing customers, but for a whole new audience in manufacturing, warehousing and general industry across Denmark.”

John Coudyzer, District Manager for Bobcat Material Handling for Benelux and the Nordics, said: “Stenderup has a long and successful history dating back to 1936, supplying quality machinery and other products throughout Denmark. The material handling range represents the latest expansion in the Bobcat portfolio that already includes loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, light compaction and attachments, allowing Stenderup to offer new solutions for customers in an increasing number of industries across Denmark.”

Product Portfolio

The Bobcat range for logistics and material handling consists of various product lines: a series of diesel forklift trucks with lifting capacities from 2 to 16 ton; a series of LPG forklift trucks with lifting capacities from 2 to 7 ton and a series of electric forklift trucks with lifting capacities from 1.2 to 10 ton. The latter segment also includes a line of electric forklifts with three wheels for light work from 1.2 to 2 ton.

Troels Stausholm Jensen added: “The new Material Handling portfolio provides an additional springboard for Stenderup and Bobcat to increase our presence in the industrial and warehousing market in Denmark. It is a perfect complement to the Bobcat loaders and telehandlers we supply equipped with attachments such as buckets, grabs, bale clamps, dump hoppers and pallet forks, for use in material handling applications in many industries.”

Today, Stenderup is led by the third and fourth generations of the Jensen family. The company has over 40 employees divided into sales, service and administration, covering the whole of Denmark. This is backed up by the strong focus at Stenderup on service/aftermarket support for customers right across the country.

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