Subscribe

Category: Uncategorised

TRANSFER.FESTIVAL and IFOY AWARD announce cooperation

Posted on by Keith McKinley

IFOY AWARD, the world’s largest intralogistics award, is cooperating with the TRANSFER.FESTIVAL of the Digital.Hub Logistics and the Fraunhofer Institute for Logistics and Material Flow IML. The partners recently agreed to work together. Before the IFOY AWARD Night 2023 begins at 18.00 on 22nd June at Dortmunder U, IFOY AWARD finalists and festival participants will actively shape two sessions on the topics of automation and sustainability on the premises of Fraunhofer IML – following the festival motto of “make, transfer, network”.

Festival participants can choose from a total of 14 sessions – including trend topics such as blockchain or open source in logistics. A special feature will be that instead of PowerPoint slides and endless lectures, innovative, interactive formats such as debates or fish bowls await guests.

“We want to inspire knowledge transfer from science to business and vice versa,” says Anita Würmser, executive chairwoman of the IFOY AWARD jury. “That doesn’t work with a marathon lecture, but only interactively in discussion. Knowledge is required here, but also the courage to express an opinion.”

“The IFOY AWARD finalists and their customers enrich our festival programme with their deep knowledge of solutions and trends in intralogistics,” emphasises Maria Beck, Managing Director of Digital Hub Management GmbH. “At the same time, they benefit from the knowledge of our long-standing programme partners.”

The third edition of the TRANSFER.FESTIVAL will be enriched by lab tours that offer exclusive insights behind the scenes at Fraunhofer IML. Developments such as drones, exoskeletons and autonomous mobile robots (AMR) will be demonstrated. During the lunch break with live music, there will be the opportunity for intensive networking.

At 18.00, the festive IFOY AWARD Night with the 2023 finalists and invited guests from business, science, politics, and the media will start at the Dortmunder U. More than 250 invited guests from seven countries are expected to attend the celebration in the historic former brewing tower of the Dortmunder Union Brewery and on the roof terrace. During the awards ceremony, the secret will be revealed as to which of the 25 nominated devices and solutions in a total of seven categories will be awarded the “Oscar of Intralogistics”. All finalists will undergo the three-stage IFOY audit at the IFOY TEST DAYS as part of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS on March 29 and 30 at Messe Dortmund. Afterwards, the international jury will make its decision.

 

Innovative Modular Diverter, Sorter Modules

Posted on by Keith McKinley

An innovative high-capacity, multi-directional diverter and a compact 90° diverter and sorter module will take centre stage on Itoh Denki’s stand (no. C017) at the 2023 Semaine de l’Innovation du Transport et de la Logistique (SITL) event in Paris from 28-30 March.

The Multi-Angle Ball Sorter (MABS) boasts patented rotating ball transfer technology, which allows products to be diverted to at any angle on both the left and right. It can handle up to 4,300 units per hour of up to 30kg in weight and is suitable for integration into any type of conveyor system. It is powered solely by 24V DC technology, helping to optimise safety when compared with pneumatically powered systems.

Available in a total of five sizes, MABS can be rapidly reconfigured to suit the requirements of changing set-ups, with up to eight units able to operate in tandem where larger transfer zones are needed. MABS’ high throughput, versatility and compact footprint make it ideal for a vast range of warehousing, e-commerce and intralogistics applications.

Also on show will be the F-RAT NX compact – the only diverter of its type on the market which is able to transfer products at a 90° angle on both sides of the conveyor line without needing to raise the product between the entry and exit. Not only does this make for smoother transfers, but conveyor design is simplified too. Again powered by 24V DC power, the need for pneumatic systems is negated, while the F-RAT comes in a range of sizes.

MABS and F-RAT NX can be combined with ZPA (zero pressure accumulation) conveyors to deliver precise positioning of products and smooth transfer. These attributes make them perfect for any application requiring high throughput alongside optimised quality and safety.

Etienne Vuillard of Itoh Denki explained: “The modern warehouse and distribution facility demands not just high throughput, but unstinting performance when it comes to safety and overall quality of handling. Alongside this, requirements from the sortation line in terms of volume and product type can change rapidly. This means modular, DC-powered systems, able to be rapidly reconfigured, are likely to be attractive to specifiers and system designers. Itoh Denki has been a pioneer of modular sorting and diverting technology for many years and both the MABS and F-RAT combine the qualities for which we have become renowned – speed, versatility, accuracy and safety. The SITL event will welcome leading decision-makers in the sector from across France, and beyond, and we anticipate strong interest in both ranges from visitors to our stand seeking to maximise productivity and enjoy a rapid return on their investment.”

Itoh Denki is a pioneer and leader in motorised roller-based conveyor and sorting solutions for automated intralogistics.

February 2023

Posted on by David Priestman

The February issue of Logistics Business magazine is published and on its way to subscribers internationally. It is Peter MacLeod’s first as print Editor. Features include forecasts on 2023 supply chain trends, de-carbonisation, air cargo growth, electric vehicles, multi-tier DCs, telematics, supply chain optimisation, forklift safety, robots and data, warehouse automation, ecommerce and dispatch, labelling and packaging automation.

You can read the issue in any language of your choice by clicking ‘Freeflow Reader’ next to the articles. All our recent issues can be read here.

New Developments from META at LogiMAT

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Since last year and under the name META-ILS (Innovative Logistic Solutions), META, the warehouse technology specialist based in Arnsberg, Germany, has been covering the newly developed field of material conveyor technology. This will now be the focus of the company’s exhibition presentation. In addition, visitors to this year’s LogiMAT will be informed about the latest innovations and proven solutions in the company’s warehouse technology range.

Conveyor technology

Last year, the company celebrated a premiere at LogiMAT with the presentation of its new subsidiary: under the name META-ILS, META offers individual customer solutions for complex tasks within the field of warehouse automation with conveyor technology. META-ILS ensures a sustainable competitive edge for its complete range of customers from e-commerce, logistics, industry, automotive and many other sectors thanks to holistic warehouse planning, including predictive analysis, consultation and simulation.

This has given the Arnsberg-based company access to projects that could not be previously served. Global customers now benefit from efficient and innovative conveyor technology in combination with premium storage technology.

Storage and shelving technology

In the field of storage technology, META’s core expertise, the Arnsberg-based warehouse technology specialist once again has much to show this year. One example is the versatile META MULTIFLOOR shelving system, designed as an extensive modular kit. This allows META to respond even better to a wide variety of customer requirements and offers them a much wider range of applications.

A second example is the new wire mesh shelving with air, water and light permeability. This makes this newly designed shelf system the ideal solution for areas with special fire protection requirements. In addition, the shelf system also shows its advantages to full effect in cold stores.

On more than 130 square metres in Hall 1, Stands H01 and H05, visitors can see for themselves the extensive world of META as well as its future-oriented approach. In addition to the innovations outlined above, the team of storage technology experts will be happy to answer any questions relating to e.g. warehouse technology, steel construction, operational facilities, services and the META Calc online configurator.

Nord Drivesystems at LogiMAT Stuttgart

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The LogiMAT trade show that takes place in Stuttgart from 25 to 27 April 2023 offers a comprehensive overview of the intralogistics and process management market. Being one of the market leaders for drive technology, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will be there to present its solutions for the industry. The exhibition highlights include the perfectly matched drive systems of the LogiDrive solution space, the revolutionary and patented gear unit/motor concept DuoDrive, and further solutions for increasing the energy efficiency of industrial applications.

With the LogiDrive solution space, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS offers a wide portfolio of perfectly matched drive solutions, which meet many different requirements and purposes – be it energy efficiency, variant reduction, cost-effectiveness or flexibility. LogiDrive is a standardised modular system. Depending on the demand, different NORD products are combined into one drive solution, which is 100% tailored to the respective industry standards and application requirements. The extended LogiDrive solution space is intended for conveyor applications in the fields of post & parcel, airport and warehouse, and comprises one advanced variant with IE5+ synchronous motor technology and a basic variant with IE3 asynchronous motors.

User-friendly plug-and-play technology

All LogiDrive systems are extremely easy to maintain and install thanks to plug-and-play technology. The entire system has a modular design, so that that all components of the drive technology can be individually serviced. This minimises maintenance and repair costs. All connections are made using simple plug connections while integrated maintenance switches and manual control switches ensure a high level of user-friendliness. The compact design saves space and is light in weight thanks to the aluminium housing. Due to the motor design and the frequency inverter operation, the same motor variant can be universally used worldwide.

DuoDrive: Seamless integration of gear unit and motor

The patented DuoDrive from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS is a revolutionary integrated gear unit/motor concept that covers power ranges of up to 3 kW. It combines the high-efficiency IE5+ motor and a single-stage helical gear unit in one housing. The seamless integration of the gear unit and motor into one drive system is a quantum leap and sets new standards with regard to user-friendliness and efficiency.

Energy efficiency – unused potential

Not only in times of rising energy prices is energy efficiency one of the most important goals of industry. Highly efficient components from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS help to reduce the energy consumption of drive systems. Additionally, the drive specialist offers its customers energy-related advice. “We help our customers to save energy”, is how Jörg Niermann, Head of Marketing, sums up one of the major guidelines of NORD DRIVESYSTEMS. NORD sets new standards with the IE5+ synchronous motor, integrated into the DuoDrive system, which achieves an efficiency of up to 95% – one of the highest efficiencies in this power class in the market.

AR Racking Lands in the United States

Posted on by Keith McKinley

AR Racking, a company specialised in manufacturing, designing, calculating and installing storage solutions, strengthens its presence in North America with the creation of its US subsidiary and the opening of its office in Charlotte (North Carolina). It is a strategic commitment initiated at the end of last year that will be consolidated in 2023.

AR Racking, present in more than 60 markets, has been carrying out major storage projects in the United States for years in partnership with the most important system integrators for large automated warehouses. AR Racking arrives in the United States to help American companies improve their competitiveness through the optimisation of their logistics centres or warehouses, regardless of their industrial sector and their intralogistics needs. For this it has a wide range of industrial racking solutions for both pallet loads and small and medium-sized loads.

AR Racking Inc. is led by Pablo Montes, who has specialist training and extensive experience in various strategic and technical management roles, providing exhaustive product knowledge, as well as project and team management skills. “We have interesting contacts and customers, and in this initial phase our task is to be perceived in the United States as a reference in the sector and as a reliable, innovative company offering a specialised service that covers all the installation phases,” explained Montes.

The core of the activity will be new projects in which AR Racking will provide its added value with the advanced technology of its systems, its excellent response capacity and maximum exposition of the ‘turnkey’ concept. To offer the best solutions, the company has strategic partnerships with pioneering intralogistics company specialised in technical and robot components integrated in its industrial racking systems.

Members of MHI and presentation at ProMAT

AR Racking belongs to MHI (Material Handling Industry), the most important logistics and the supply chain association in the United States with around 800 members and 18 interest groups, and the RMI (Rack Manufacturers Group), which endorses the company’s expertise in everything related to steel, racking and engineering solutions.

The company will also be present at one of the largest logistics and supply chain events in the United States, the ProMAT trade show, which will take place in Chicago from 20 to 23 March and serve as an ideal showcase to make itself known to the professional audience.

AR Racking currently has offices in France, Germany, United Kingdom, Colombia, Chile and Peru, as well as its headquarters and production centre, both in the north of Spain. With an export rate of over 85%, the company has carried out to date more than 34,000 storage projects worldwide. It has a production capacity of +100,000 tonnes of steel. AR Racking’s industrial racking systems come with a 5-year quality guarantee and are made of pre-galvanised material as standard.

AR Racking is part of the Arania Group, an industrial group of companies with extensive experience and scope, and with a multi-sectoral activity based on the transformation of steel that dates back more than 80 years. It provides the market with a wide range of solutions with high certified quality standards and a comprehensive project management service. The company’s industrial storage systems stand out for their innovation, reliability and optimum efficiency.

Mezzanine Floors Help Warehouses Save

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Mezzanine floors aren’t just a great space saving tool, they’re also money savers that are sure to help your business in the long run. Alfa Industrial, a leading engineering solutions provider, told us how you can save money by building a new floor within your warehouse.

Energy saving
Mezzanine floors are placed high off the ground. As you heat your warehouse during the winter, the warmth will rise to the top, making your mezzanine floor the perfect place for an office, meeting room or staff room.

Having a mezzanine floor also means you will have a smaller area of space to heat, as opposed to having multiple rooms, allowing you to save a considerable amount on energy bills.

No need to expand your facilities
By expanding your warehouse space through traditional means (building extra rooms or relocating) you will spend a large sum of money that you can otherwise avoid with a new mezzanine floor. These systems provide a solution to your lack of space by allowing you to expand your warehouse for a much cheaper price.

Less time shutting down operations
Mezzanine floors can be built in as little time as one day, allowing you to shut down your operations for only the minimal amount of time possible. This will ensure that you only lose a minimal amount of revenue from the shut down of your facility.

Dismountable
Avoid spending money on sizing down on your equipment with a mezzanine floor! Mezzanine floors can be dismounted and built again, allowing you to move your infrastructure anywhere your business takes you next. This permanent expansion option will allow you to keep your preferred layout for your equipment wherever you go.

No planning permission cost in some cases
Section 55(2)(a) of the UK Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows internal works without the need for planning permission. However, Article 44 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (SI 2015/595) details that you cannot make internal alterations of more than 200 square metres for buildings used for the retail sale of goods other than hot food, so make sure you plan accordingly.

If you do not need planning permission to build a mezzanine within your warehouse, you are able to save a lot of time and thousands of pounds.

Keep your money within the business
If you own a business, you know how important it is to keep production costs low and to ensure the money you spend is done so wisely. If you decide to expand your warehouse with a mezzanine floor instead of renting a new warehouse, you’ll be able to keep that money as an investment for your business as opposed to giving that money to a landlord.

Increase in speed of workflow
By increasing the amount of space available for your employees to work in, Alfa Industrial say, you can improve the workflow in your facility. Increasing the speed at which your warehouse produces your products will create more revenue, allowing your new mezzanine floor to pay for itself.

Zapi Acquires 4E Consulting

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Zapi Group, a global leader in electrification, is bolstering its systems capabilities through the key acquisition of 4E Consulting. The acquisition will further Zapi Group’s position as a leading provider offering integrated system solutions to the market. Adding 4E Consulting to the company will expand expertise in integration, testing, and conversion of drivetrains, hydraulic circuits, and ECUs.

“The acquisition of 4E Consulting is a key strategic move for Zapi Group,” said Claes Avasjo, executive director of global sales and marketing of Zapi Group. “It is a significant step that gives us the capability to expand the range of solutions and integrated systems we offer to our customers.”

Founded in 2010, 4E Consulting provides system integration for hybrid and pure electric solutions. It combines mechanical, electronic, electrical, and system management competencies to ensure rapid and efficient solutions for its global customer base.

“We are excited to bring our extensive competence, skills and experience to the Zapi Group,” said Paolo Patroncini, CEO of 4E Consulting. “Our history of practical problem-solving, innovating engineering solutions, and offering a custom approach to system integrations aligns with Zapi Group’s mission, complements existing solutions and will further its approach to electrification.”

similar news

Supply Chain Consulting Group Racks Up the Numbers

 

One-tenth of UK goods pass through Prologis portfolio

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate, in partnership with independent advisory firm Oxford Economics has released an updated study on the economic impact of its global operations. The “Future Flow of Goods” report highlights how the activities taking place inside logistics buildings owned and managed by Prologis in the UK are making a major contribution to the country’s economy.

According to the report:

  • The goods produced and sold that came through a Prologis building represent 2.8% of global GDP, up from 2.5% in 2020
  • £67bn ($78bn) of throughput flows through Prologis warehouses in the UK each year, the equivalent 2.5% of UK GDP and almost 10% of all household goods
  • Warehouses owned and managed by Prologis UK house an estimated 34,183 people in direct jobs – 5% up from 2020

The study’s economic impact model found that activities carried out by customers operating across the entire Prologis UK portfolio, which includes 22 Prologis Parks in the Midlands, South East and London, make a significant contribution to the national economy, with goods flowing through the buildings equivalent to approximately 9.8% of household consumption.

Paul Weston, Regional Head at Prologis UK, said: “It is increasingly clear to all that the logistics sector is playing an important role in driving economic growth – not just here in the UK, but around the world. This study confirms the contribution the sector is making and it’s positive to see that throughput at our warehouses in the UK has an estimated economic value equivalent to 2.5% of GDP, supporting UK PLC growth.”

Prologis: employment increases

“A crucial element of generating economic value is creating sustainable jobs – key to long-term prosperity,” continues Weston. “The Oxford Economics data shows that direct employment created by businesses at our Parks has increased since 2020 – another great outcome for the UK economy.

“The study is important to Prologis, because it demonstrates that the commitment we show in supporting our customers by investing in training and skills initiatives and ensuring there are enough workers in the sector, is making a difference.”

The study is the third to be conducted by Oxford Economics – the first was published in 2017 and followed up in 2020. The 2020 study provided UK-specific data for the first time.

Oxford Economics estimates the total employment impact of Prologis’ activities, with the study revealing that logistics property is having a positive employment impact in the UK specifically. The total number of people estimated to be in direct employment at Prologis-owned warehouses in the UK is 34,183, up from 32,500 in 2020 – an increase of 5%. Globally, in 2020, Oxford Economics estimated total direct employment of 853,700 workers in Prologis-owned warehouses. This figure has risen to 1,067,975 workers in 2022 – an increase of 25%.

Prologis’ estate in the UK covers more than 26 million sq ft. Many of its buildings are purpose-built to meet customers’ needs and are leased to household names such as Tesco, Sainsburys and Royal Mail. Among its key industrial property assets is the UK’s premier rail-connected logistics park at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT).

CLICK HERE to visit Prologis’ Economic Impact Report to view and download the full report.

 

Flowsort merges with FATH Group

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Flowsort has recently merged with the global FATH Group to help intralogistics system integrators and conveyor system manufacturers around the globe directly access Flowsort’s products.

FATH says it is very successful with components for aluminium profile system construction and with solutions for lean processes on the industrial shopfloor. Intralogistics system integrators will now have access to these solutions from a single source through the connection of FATH and Flowsort and thus be able to bring more productivity to the intralogistics sector.

Consumers have now come to expect same- or next-day delivery not only from e-commerce and retail giants but from other small and medium-sized sellers as well. This consumer expectation is pushing many e-commerce businesses to move their distribution centres closer to cities and create micro-fulfilment centres for delivering products to the consumer at a faster pace.

Flowsort supports e-commerce businesses

While e-commerce businesses need to optimise their product delivery speed from fulfilment centres to consumers, they also need to optimise the product movement within the distribution centre itself. Flowsort, which describes itself as one of the top-10 warehouse automation innovators, has developed a range of modular and automated sortation systems which are an integral part of intralogistics automation.

Flowsort distributes these modular sortation solutions to e-commerce and 3PL businesses through intralogistics system integrators and conveyor belt manufacturers. The modular design of the Flowsort sorting equipment allows system integrators and conveyor manufacturers to purchase the sorting modules that fit their clients’ unique requirements.

From there, system integrators can add extra modules to their clients’ intralogistics systems to meet future needs, offering continuous scalability while keeping the initial investment much lower.

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.