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Logistics Firms Merge into New Company

Posted on by David Priestman

J. & J. Denholm Limited (the Denholm Group) is excited to announce that Denholm Global Logistics and Good Logistics, two renowned logistics leaders, have merged to form Denholm Good Logistics. The creation of this merger marks the pinnacle of the integration of Good Logistics and Denholm Global Logistics (which incorporates Hamilton Shipping Container Services).

Family-owned diversified business, J. & J. Denholm Limited (the Denholm Group), announced the acquisition of freight forwarding and logistics company, John Good Logistics Limited, in 2021. Today’s announcement on the coming together of these two renowned companies reflects the Denholm Group’s commitment to innovation, customer-centric solutions, and a forward-thinking approach to delivering tailored solutions that empower businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving global market.

Combining Denholm Global Logistics and Good Logistics into a single, stronger entity, Denholm Good Logistics, enables customers and employees to benefit from the enhanced size and scale whilst retaining shared family values.

Denholm Good Logistics will continue to leverage its expertise, knowledge, and digital innovation to deliver logistics solutions that
streamline global supply chains, enhance operational efficiencies, promote eco-friendly practices, reduce carbon footprints, and provide a
seamless experience for customers of all sizes across a diverse range of industries.

Key benefits

* Global Presence – A more robust global presence, ensuring a wider reach. Customers can expect seamless global solutions that optimise
transit times and freight costs
* Technical Innovation – Continued investment in technology, leveraging automation, AI, and data analytics to streamline operations,
optimise routes and provide real-time visibility of the movement of goods
* Expanded Service Offerings – Customers will benefit from an expanded portfolio of services
* Sustainability – A strong commitment to environmental sustainability, adopting practices to help customers choose greener options, track and report their emissions, and reduce their carbon footprint

Company Leadership

Denholm Good Logistics will be led by an exceptional leadership team, combining industry expertise and visionary leadership from both
organisations. This dynamic team will drive the company’s vision, ensuring continued innovation, growth, and customer satisfaction.

Embracing Change

Speaking about the merger, Alan Platt (pictured), Divisional Managing Director of Denholm Good Logistics, stated, “This merger to create Denholm Good Logistics represents the convergence of two organisations that share a common vision for the future of logistics. By uniting our strengths, we are confident in our ability to continue providing customers with forward-thinking tailored supply chain management solutions and exceptional customer service.”

Ben MacLehose, CEO of the Denholm Group, expressed similar sentiments, “The acquisition of Good Logistics by the Denholm Group was enabled because of our shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer focus. Merging these two global freight forwarding businesses to create Denholm Good Logistics is exciting for all stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and our colleagues. I am extremely pleased with the transformation and the combined, modern, dynamic brand, which represents the two separate businesses coming together and becoming stronger as a result.”

The new Denholm Good Logistics brand was revealed to customers on 2nd January 2024.

Peak Season Robot Picks Surge

Posted on by David Priestman

Locus Robotics, a market leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for fulfilment warehouses, released its annual Cyber Week recap announcing a record-breaking 331 million units picked globally on behalf of its retail and third-party logistics partners, a 66% increase over last year.

LocusBots picked almost 7 million average daily units, an increase of 107% vs. 2022.

“We are thrilled to have delivered another record-breaking peak shopping season for our customers. The 66% increase in units picked compared to last year shows the growing demand for warehouse automation and the proven scalability of the Locus solution,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “As online shopping continues to accelerate, our intelligent robots enable customers to keep pace while also optimising productivity.”

According to Adobe Analytics data, shoppers spent more than $38 billion in total online global sales from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday was the largest online shopping day in history with $12.4 billion in sales, a 9.6% increase. Mobile shopping continues its continued upwards trajectory, representing 54% of all online orders in 2023, a 10.4% increase over 2022.

Locus has now picked more than 2.5 billion units worldwide, with the last million picks taking just 26 days compared to its first million which took more than 1,500 days.

2023 Peak Season insights:

• The holiday shopping period began earlier, expanding to several weeks with retailers starting sales events as early as late-September to lure consumers to shop early.
• Online shopping is here to stay as the convenience and ease of use of online ordering is driving growth across not just retail, but all business channels, including B2B and industrial.
• Mobile has become the shopping mode of choice with more than 54% of all orders in 2023 made via mobile apps, up 10.4% vs. 2022.
• The labour shortage is still a concern: Recruiting and retaining workers continues to be a concern for bricks-and-mortar retailers, warehouses, and transportation. Collaborative robotic automation has become a necessity required to meet the constantly increasing volume of orders.

With more consumers choosing to shop online, Locus has proven to be a valued resource for helping retailers and 3PL operators seamlessly scale to meet and exceed the growing volume demands today, and into the future.

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Seven Supply Chain Predictions for 2024

Posted on by David Priestman

Prologis Europe is pleased to release its Seven Supply Chain Predictions for 2024. Prologis Research continues to leverage decades of industry experience and proprietary data, as well as unique insights from its 114-million-square-metre global portfolio and 6,700 customers to provide the following forecasts.

Trend 1: The global freight recession will reverse
Signified by double-digit growth in port and truck traffic, the global freight recession is expected to reverse.

Trend 2: The Great Construction Bust will intensify
The Great Construction Bust will intensify, with global starts hitting their lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Construction costs rose by 5-10% during 2023 in most geographies, with an exception in Europe. Set against cap rates expanding globally, with Europe showing an increase of approximately 150bps, reduced development margins have curtailed development starts. In 2023, spec development starts are down more than 50% globally. Investments in manufacturing and infrastructure and a stabilising housing market supported demand for construction materials, buttressing commodity prices. At the same time, labour markets remained tight, adding to cost pressures.

Trend 3: Latin America rents will grow at more than double the global average
Latin America has experienced record demand and this will continue into 2024, especially in Mexico as nearshored manufacturing capacity comes online. However, vacancy rates are below 2% in Mexico and forecasted to remain tight throughout 2024, meaning customers will have to compete for limited space. Supply constraints include access to sufficient power, especially for new manufacturing-related requirements, as well as permitting.

Trend 4: Annual demand in China will reach the second-highest level on record
Net absorption in China will reach the second highest level on record, helping to work through excess supply from the past few years. Fiscal and monetary policy will further ease in 2024, providing demand- and supply-side incentives to emerging technologies, such as new energy vehicles (NEVs) and charging stations, renewable energy and chipmaking capabilities. E-commerce growth, which slowed to 8% y/y through October 2023, will reaccelerate to 10% or more in 2024.

Trend 5: Technology, especially artificial intelligence, will drive up energy requirements in logistics facilities
This will incentivise warehouse owners to double solar capacity. Spending into AI research and development is on a secular rise. At the same time, automation solutions will grow. We expect half of warehouses to utilise autonomous mobile robots in the next decade and 10-20% adoption of automated storage/retrieval systems in the next 10-15 years. Electric vehicle (EV) charging needs are rising. While China leads the deployment of electric trucks, adoption has broadened in Europe. Solar energy is key for sustainable power generation. Costs are economically feasible, and government incentives can fast-track adoption. In addition, supply chain issues are unlikely to continue to restrain solar installations in 2024.

Trend 6: Interest rate declines will double private equity real estate funding in 2024
Our projections take the bull case on interest rate cuts. Institutional dry powder is waiting on the sidelines, and interest rate declines in the second half of the year will unlock entry into the market as the capital markets cycle begins to turn.

Trend 7: Cap rate movements will reverse
Cap rate movements will reverse — and European cap rates expected to compress while expansion rotates to Asia. Per prediction #6 above, cost of capital is expected to decline in Europe.

Conclusion:
These predictions are based on insights from our unique platform, and we’ll revisit them at year-end. Our outlook highlights 2024 as a year of healthy demand growth, constrained supply, technological evolution of logistics facilities and a turning of the capital markets cycle.

Exoskeletons Used by Port Employees

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics and cargo handling activities carried out in the port environment are largely managed manually by workers in order to ensure the required operational standards. With the aim of making their employees’ tasks easier, more efficient and ergonomic, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Settentrionale (Port System Authority of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, AdSP MTS) and the Compagnia Portuale di Livorno (Livorno Port Company, CPL), together with IUVO, a spin-off company of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa), and Comau have conducted a pilot study – among the first carried out in Europe and in the world – for the adoption of wearable MATE-XT and MATE-XB exoskeletons designed by the 2 companies. MATE-XT helps to reduce the muscle load of the upper limbs during static or repetitive activities, which require workers to keep their arms raised for extended periods of time, while MATE-XB relieves the muscle effort of the lumbar area when handling loads.

The field tests conducted by IUVO and Comau, in collaboration with the port institutions, were carried out over a period of 6 months with 12 workers employed in the port area of Livorno who wore MATE exoskeletons during their daily work. During this period, the positive effects obtained at both a physical and operational level were measured and validated.

Manual, non-automatable activities such as loading-unloading goods, moving heavy loads along the dock, lashing or unlashing containers on board ships can be extremely tiring for the operators. The support of wearable exoskeletons, such as MATE-XT and MATE-XB, helps reduce physical stress and the risk of triggering potentially disabling musculoskeletal diseases over time. To confirm this, in the initial phase of the project, IUVO and Comau conducted accurate instrumental measurements on the muscle activity of the workers. These same workers were asked, through the compilation of dedicated questionnaires, to directly assess the sensation of fatigue perceived with the use of MATE exoskeletons. The end results have been impressive. Not only did the operators warmly embrace these new technologies, they have recognized the positive impact the exoskeletons can have on their activities and performance. In line with data previously collected and verified by IUVO and Comau, together with companies that have been using this technology for several years, it has been shown that the MATE-XT upper limb exoskeleton and the MATE-XB lumbar device can reduce the effort of operators by up to 30%.

The pilot study and the positive results achieved testify to the commitment of the AdSP MTS and the CPL in promoting the health and well-being of port operators, as well as in experimenting with cutting-edge technologies capable of making the working environment safer and more comfortable.

Duilio Amico, CEO of IUVO and Head of Wearable Technologies at Comau, explained “The study conducted together with important institutions such as AdSP MTS and CPL is one of the first in Europe and in the world that aims to evaluate the effect of exoskeleton technologies for the improvement of ergonomics and safety of workers in the port system. This project confirms IUVO and Comau’s commitment to creating an ecosystem for the development and adoption of wearable robotics technologies that promote the well-being of workers.”

Nicola Vitiello, full professor at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and co-founder of IUVO, underscored, “The pilot study launched in Livorno’s sea port was an important opportunity to continue testing and perfecting the wearable robotics solutions developed with Comau directly in the field, in new applications and sectors. The benefits and enthusiasm experienced by those who wear MATE exoskeletons to carry out their tasks are further confirmation of how this innovative technology can be successfully applied in different areas in the future, significantly reducing physical fatigue and improving people’s quality of life.”

Luciano Guerrieri, President of the Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mar Tirreno Settentrionale, said, “Safety and the protection of workers’ health are fundamental for our institution. The constant attention to these aspects, combined with openness and interest in innovation, has allowed us to be one of the first port systems in the world to test these cutting-edge technologies, with the aim of reaffirming and improving our commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees.”

Enzo Raugei, Chairman of the Compagnia Portuale di Livorno, added, “The well-being of our workers is central to the Company. We are thrilled to have been at the forefront of implementing innovative technologies in our industry and to have been the first to understand their use in the port business. The safety and well-being of our members and employees is a top priority for our cooperative, and this initiative demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring it.”

Sustainable Gatwick Airport Warehouse

Posted on by David Priestman

St. Modwen Logistics, one of the UK’s leading logistics developers and managers, has completed the construction of a second warehouse at St. Modwen Park Gatwick for DHL Group. The company, which has been a tenant at the park since 2011 and already occupies a 64,000 sq ft unit, has signed a 15-year lease for the new facility.

The c.115,000 sq ft warehouse is set to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and is EPC A+ rated, achieving the highest possible level of energy efficiency. The warehouse’s green credentials also include the installation of 1,900 sqm of PV panels on the roof to generate renewable energy needed to power the building’s 12,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and ensure it is net-zero carbon in operation.

Active and sustainable travel will be encouraged at the park with 28 EV charging spaces installed as well as the inclusion of cycle bays and shower and changing facilities. The landscaped site includes hedgerows and plants, which will result in a biodiversity net gain of 39%, as well as new amenity areas for both local communities and DHL Group staff, including a trim trail, cycle path and outdoor gym equipment.

Situated just 3km from Gatwick airport, alongside Junction 10 of the M23, St. Modwen Park Gatwick provides excellent links to central London. This location is beneficial to companies looking to be close to Gatwick Airport as well as to the main motorway routes into central London. DTRE and BNP Paribas are the retained leasing agents for St. Modwen Park Gatwick.

Ellen Thomas, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen Logistics, commented: “We are proud to announce the completion of our new, sustainable warehouse at St. Modwen Park Gatwick for DHL Group. This is a state-of-the-art warehouse facility that will support up to 150 jobs, helping to sustain a thriving local economy. This is DHL Group’s second development on the site, underlining how we are working in partnership with our customers to deliver the high-quality, bespoke spaces they need to succeed.”

Jake Huntley, Partner at DTRE, commented: “We are observing more occupiers focusing on energy efficient accommodation and we are proud to have been able to offer St. Modwen Park Gatwick to environmentally conscious customers. The success of the scheme is testament to St. Modwen’s ability to deliver critical logistics infrastructure to the highest standards.”

AI to Learning Logistics Centre

Posted on by David Priestman

Unitechnik Systems GmbH will be presenting UniWare-AI, the AI-based assistant for logistics systems, at LogiMAT 2024. The AI tool will support the system integrator’s customers in predicting order loads and bottlenecks in the material flow, for example. Visitors to the trade fair can find out more about the project, which was developed in collaboration with the Technical University of Cologne, at Stand H20 in Hall 1.

The new feature of the UniWare warehouse management system provides warehouse managers with an intelligent assistant. Based on data from the logistics software, the AI tool provides recommendations and insights. For example, it can predict how many order items will need to be processed over the next few days. Using data from the logistics system, the AI assistant can suggest the best way to place items in the warehouse or analyse the causes of breakdowns to make predictive maintenance recommendations. The more data the system receives over time, the more the AI model learns – the learning logistics centre becomes a reality.

Better AI model thanks to external data

The predictive quality of UniWare AI can be significantly improved by incorporating external data from other customer systems. For example, historical order data from the ERP system or data on seasonal characteristics or weather data from external sources can be integrated. Unitechnik’s experts create these data models individually for each user. Together with the customer, they optimise the use of UniWare-AI step by step. UniWare-AI is already being tested at DEHN SE to optimise personnel scheduling. Using the data from the AI model, the electrical engineering company can predict with a high degree of probability the workload for order picking over the next few days. The pilot project was developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering at the Technical University of Cologne.

LogiMAT motto: Logistics in time

For Unitechnik, the motto of this year’s LogiMAT is “Logistics in rhythm: warehouse management system with AI power”. As the conductor of the (warehouse) orchestra, the UniWare warehouse management system coordinates the customer’s increasingly diverse system components. In addition to traditional warehouse and conveyor technology components, soloists (autonomous subsystems) such as AMR or AGV systems are increasingly becoming part of the orchestra. UniWare is the (artificial) brain of the logistics centre. It ensures the harmonious interaction of the players and, with its AI power, constant optimisation.

Joloda Named in Fast Growth Index

Posted on by David Priestman

Joloda Hydraroll, a company that specialises in trailer loading and unloading solutions, has been recognised as the 32nd fastest-growing business in the North of England. This is part of the Fast Growth 50 index for 2023, which identifies the fifty fastest-growing companies across six nations and regions, including the North of England. This achievement underlines Joloda Hydraroll’s significant impact on the North of England’s economy and its capacity for growth and innovation.

The Fast Growth 50 is an annual index that identifies the top 50 fastest-growing companies in six nations and regions, including the North of England. This year’s index for the North of England has highlighted businesses from multiple sectors that together generated a turnover of £1 billion, at an average growth rate of 199 per cent, with the creation of over 4,789 jobs last year.

Role in the North of England’s Business Scene

Being part of the Fast Growth 50, Joloda Hydraroll has shown strong performance and made a positive contribution to the North of England’s business community. Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, Founder Fast Growth 50, said: “The UK Fast Growth 50 Index demonstrates that a small number of fast growth firms, such as Joloda Hydraroll, make a substantial contribution to the UK’s economic landscape, providing real examples of how innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work can make a real difference in all sectors from construction to financial services to technology. Their incredible growth during difficult times shows that through generating wealth and jobs in their local communities, entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of regional and national prosperity. Most important of all, their success stories demonstrate the impact of ambition and adaptability, providing a blueprint for sustainable growth that will hopefully inspire others to follow a similar journey.”

This year’s Fast Growth 50 North of England list is in partnership with UBS, the world’s leading and truly global wealth manager.

Mark Goddard, Head of UK Regions at UBS Global Wealth Management, said: “Business owners and entrepreneurs are the engine of our economy, and UBS has a long history advising and connecting them on each stage of their wealth journey, helping them to unlock their potential. Led by entrepreneurial spirit and often solving some of the UK’s biggest issues, the level of talent and innovation uncovered through this year’s list shows that more needs to be done to support small businesses to strengthen local economies and give back to the local community. As the lead sponsor of this year’s Fast Growth 50, UBS is looking forward to following and supporting these businesses as they go from strength to strength.”

Wouter Satijn, Owner and Sales Director, Joloda Hydraroll, said: “It has been a challenging couple of years to navigate, but also an incredibly rewarding time for us at Joloda Hydraroll. We attribute our growth to a talented team who have consolidated our position as a global leader in loading and unloading solutions. We are quite unique in the industry in that we design and produce our products completely in-house, right here in the UK, instead of outsourcing certain elements of the process, which helped to minimise delays and disruptions to our supply chain. We have also launched several new products over the past few years that have contributed to hitting our growth targets, and opened new offices in Paris and Japan.”

Contribution to Growth and Job Creation

During 2020 to 2022, Joloda Hydraroll and its growing team of 250+ employees were instrumental in the Fast Growth 50’s collective turnover increase of £706 million. This highlights the company’s role in the North of England’s economic growth, particularly post-COVID-19.

Diverse Range of Businesses

The Fast Growth 50 features companies from various sectors, adding to the diversity of the North of England’s economy. Material handling equipment manufacturer, Joloda Hydraroll, is part of this varied business landscape. Looking forward, Joloda Hydraroll has several projects lined up for 2024, including new acquisitions to further strengthen its product portfolio for customers globally.

New 3PL Subsidiary in Vietnam

Posted on by David Priestman

Logistics company Militzer & Münch is growing in Asia. M&M Militzer & Münch Vietnam Co. Ltd. starts operations today. The new country unit offers the full range of logistics services, with a special focus on air and sea transports.

The Militzer & Münch Group is pursuing a growth strategy in the Asia / Far East / Oceania region. Most recently, a new company was founded in New Zealand in 2022. After M&M China, M&M Malaysia, M&M Sri Lanka and M&M New Zealand, M&M Vietnam is now the fifth national subsidiary in the region. It is located in Ho Chi Minh City. The 9 million-strong metropolis on the South China Sea is both the economic center of the country and an important transport hub for Southeast Asia.

Significant development opportunities

Militzer & Münch focuses on promising markets in the region and considers the location to have great potential for further growth: “Within a few years, Vietnam has developed from one of the world’s poorest nations to a middle-income country,” says Andreas Löwenstein, Regional Managing Director Asia / Far East at Militzer & Münch. “We therefore see good opportunities for successful development while at the same time strengthening our network in the region with the new country unit.”

Militzer & Münch Vietnam will serve many different industries in import as well as in export. A large part of the transport volume will be generated by sea and air transportation. Peter Schüpbach, who previously held various management positions, is heading the new subsidiary.

The Militzer & Münch Group employs a staff of about 2,300 people at over 100 locations in 33 countries. Strategic partnerships in numerous other countries complete the dense network. Militzer & Münch offers worldwide air and sea freight services as well as road and rail transports and project logistics along the East-West axis in Eurasia and North Africa. The Group operates with a dense network of branch offices in Eastern Europe, the CIS, the Middle East and the Far East as well as in the Maghreb countries. The head office of the company that goes back to 1880 is in Sankt Gallen, Switzerland.

Rail Telematics Platform uses Intermodal Technology

Posted on by David Priestman

Wabtec has announced its entrance into the rail telematics market via an agreement with Intermodal Telematics B.V. (“IMT”), a Dutch company, under which Wabtec will create a railcar telematics platform using IMT technology. Wabtec’s new platform will deliver real-time information to railcar and tank container owners and operators, allowing them to turn rail cargo into smart, connected assets.

Wabtec rail telematics will include sensors, gateways, wireless communications, and analytics. The technology will be offered for retrofit on existing fleets and also will make Wabtec’s current railcar components smarter by integrating solutions right from production.

The new offering will include a comprehensive suite of solutions that track real-time location and monitor key attributes such as handbrakes, hatches, doors, and loaded/unloaded status for a railcar, as well as cargo temperature and pressure for a tank container.

Rail Telematics

“The rail industry is on the verge of a new era where the use of real-time data about the status and condition of cargo will be transformative to the customer experience and supply chain efficiency,” said Nalin Jain, Group President of Digital Intelligence at Wabtec. “Telematics builds on Wabtec’s rich history serving the freight car markets with next-generation solutions. Our innovative solutions will improve shipment visibility, increase on-time performance, and expand asset utilization to make shipping freight by rail more competitive.”

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Intermodal Telematics, as we join forces with the industry powerhouse to deliver cutting-edge telematics solutions. By combining Wabtec’s extensive market expertise with our innovative technology, we will provide Wabtec’s customers with not just data, but with actionable intelligence in order to revolutionize the rail industry’s approach to monitoring, efficiency, and safety. This collaboration leads us into a future where predictive analytics and machine learning will redefine the dynamics of rail operations.“ said Dethmer Drenth, Managing Director and Founder of IMT.

Wabtec plans to begin offering this railcar telematics solution in the first quarter of 2024; the solution will be offered exclusively by Wabtec in North America and certain additional countries as set forth in the agreement.

End of Packaging Line Solutions

Posted on by David Priestman

More and more processes at the end of today’s production and packaging lines are digital and networked. But what’s the best way to organize these processes to ensure they run smoothly as possible? Mosca will be showcasing complete strapping and stretch wrapping solutions that can be fully integrated into upstream systems at LogiMAT 2024 (Hall 4, Stand 4D21). The Mosca KZV-111 and Movitec Saturn S6 rotary ring stretch wrapping machine are two solutions designed to secure entire pallets. For strapping individual packages, the Mosca product portfolio includes the SoniXs TR-Connect and SoniXs MP-6 T.

Full or partial packaging line automation offers great potential for increasing efficiency and throughput in high-volume industrial operations with multi-stage production, packaging and securing of palletised products for transport. Efficient integration of all line components is critical. Mosca CEO Timo Mosca explains: “When different machines are setup to work together seamlessly, they need to be compatible with each other as well as with add-on conveyor technology and other equipment. The SoniXs TR-Connect we are presenting at LogiMAT is just one of our high-performance machines that can be easily integrated into complex IoT applications. We will also be demonstrating the SoniXs MP-6 T in combination with a robotic arm from Pinger Robotic to show what such a fully automated packaging system can look like.”

Ready for the Internet of Things and high performance

The SoniXs TR-Connect comes with an all-inclusive digital package. This machine was launched on the market in 2023 as the successor to the SoniXs TR-6 Pro and SoniXs TR-6 Base. Featuring an integrated WebHMI, it can be operated via LAN interface using customer devices or optionally via tablet attached to the machine. Users can view key parameters – including performance, strapping settings and availability – and easily adjust them to their specific requirements. The data generated by the machine can also be used to comprehensively analyse performance and predict maintenance intervals.

The machine’s standard interface makes it possible to seamlessly integrate the units into a fully automated line, where it shines with an output capacity of up to 45 strapped packages per minute. Thanks to automatic Cycle Rate Adjustment (CRA), the machine adapts to the throughput of upstream machines and processes. When it receives info about changing package sizes via sensors or interface signals, it can also automatically change product data presets.

Robotics enable production line integration

The Mosca exhibit at LogiMAT also features a SoniXs MP-6 T machine designed for strapping single boxes and packages. This table version is normally loaded manually with packages wider than a minimum 60 cm. In the application at LogiMAT, the strapping machine requires no human intervention. This cost-effective solution uses a robotic arm from Pinger Robotic to easily load the SoniXs MP-6 T with small packages. Thanks to robotics, the stand-alone machine can be integrated into a fully automated line. The robot is also extremely flexible when it comes to transporting boxes and can load them into the SoniXs MP-6 T lengthways or crossways as required. When extra-secure cross strapping is required, the robot inserts the package, removes it after strapping, turns it around and repositions it in the machine. Johannes Wieder, Mosca Sales Manager Logistics explains: “Thanks to their outstanding versatility and small footprint, solutions like the robotic arm presented at LogiMAT offer an extremely practical alternative to inflexible conveyor technology.”

Power for secure pallets

After products have been bundled and boxes are securely closed, there is one more important step necessary in intra and retail logistics: packing and securing the products on pallets. For this application, Mosca will be showcasing two solutions from its product portfolio at LogiMAT 2024: the Movitec Saturn S6 rotary ring stretch wrapping machine and the KZV-111 pallet strapping machine. The Saturn S6 secures up to 120 loaded pallets per hour and is suitable for high production volume throughput. In the demonstration presented at the trade fair, a load unit enters the top selling machine manufactured by Movitec, a Mosca subsidiary. The unit is then secured by a ring stretch wrapper without having to be moved again. The Saturn S6 is ideal for stacked smaller, single product cardboard boxes that are also weather protected thanks to the stretch wrap.

On the other side of the roller conveyor, the KZV-111 is ready to take orders at LogiMAT. This machine uses SoniXs ultrasonic technology to strap packages in just 12 seconds with maximum efficiency and minimum emissions. The strap lance moves through the pallet base and the sealing unit approaches the load unit from above. The KZV-111 is available in different versions with a strap lance or closed strap frame designed for handling palletised or non-palletised products. This model is ideal for palletised goods that are packed in boxes and do not require additional moisture protection.

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