UgoWork obtains $2m in funding

UgoWork, a Canadian manufacturer of lithium-ion battery solutions for industrial vehicles, has received $2m in loan financing from Investissement Québec as part of the Compétivert initiative.

This financing comes on the heels of several key commercial achievements and the adoption of its solution by major US clients. This support from Investissement Québec confirmed the tremendous potential of UgoWork’s solutions and its alignment with the Government of Québec’s battery strategy for commercial electric vehicles. The funds will be used for UgoWork’s market expansion across North America.

In an unprecedented global context whereby the supply chains and energy efficiency are major challenges, UgoWork offers industrial fleet operators turnkey lithium-ion battery solutions that help optimise their resources, make data-driven decisions and take a step towards a zero-carbon footprint. Its Energy as a Service (EaaS) subscription model reduces upfront costs for faster deployment and enables customers with access to the latest UgoWork lithium technology, software suite and best-in-class support with maintenance and technology updates.

“With its lithium-ion battery for forklifts, UgoWork is helping to achieve one of our government’s objectives: to develop a comprehensive battery industry. The solutions offered by this manufacturer will contribute to the green transformation of our businesses, while reinforcing Québec’s position as a leader in the electrification of transportation,” says Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development.

“We are proud to once again participate in UgoWork’s growth and transformation initiatives. Our financial support today demonstrates our commitment to shift to a low-carbon economy, to create an end-to-end lithium value chain here at home – from ore extraction to battery recycling – and to ensure Québec becomes a top-notch North American hub in this sector. By supporting innovative solutions from companies such as UgoWork, we will be able to achieve our goals and secure a green and prosperous future”, mentioned Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Québec

“The growing popularity of our solutions in North America is a clear indication of the quality and differentiation of our end-to-end offer,” explained Philippe Beauchamp, CEO at UgoWork. “We believe the market is ready to embark on a true transition to more viable energy solutions. There is tremendous momentum behind lithium-ion technology and we believe that UgoWork is strategically positioned to lead the wave. We are proud to count on the support of Investissement Québec so that we can continue fulfilling our vision of a more sustainable future in material handling.”

 

Mitsubishi Logisnext acquires Red Diamond

Mitsubishi Logisnext Europe B.V. (MLE) has acquired all shares of Red Diamond Distribution Ltd (RDD) in an amicable takeover that will see both companies working closely together in order to drive the expansion of the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks brand in the UK.

Hans Seijger, Chief Business Development Officer at MLE, explained: “With this step, our company is demonstrating its commitment to growth in key markets such as the UK. Our strategy is to invest and strengthen our network by working with trusted partners, such as RDD who have a project we fully believe in.

“We want to continue that process, moving one step closer to our dealers and building upon the great work that RDD has done in more than doubling our market share over the past nine years. We are hugely respectful of the excellent job that everyone has done throughout this period and want, in particular, to thank Mike Jones, Stewart Gosling, Ben Haseley and Sally Stanley for their contribution to building the business and for their close cooperation during the acquisition process.

“I think it is important to emphasise we are not making drastic changes – we want to develop not disrupt.”

All members of the RDD team will continue in their positions, the only change being that Ben Haseley will replace Mike Jones as Managing Director with Mike supporting the transition as a consultant over the coming months. The move will also see Hans Seijger and Jonas Tornerefelt, Chief Commercial Officer at MLE, join Ben on the RDD Board.

“I’m proud and delighted to be taking on this new challenge,” said Ben Haseley. “I can see potential for strong growth with a highly experienced team here at RDD and a formidable dealer network which is totally committed to the Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks product.”

According to President of MLE, Kazumasa Saito: “We have great faith in the business model created by RDD which has proved so successful. Our aim in making this acquisition is to be even closer to our dealers and increase our footprint in the UK by building upon the existing strong foundations we have already established.

“The acquisition is part of MLE’s strategic decision to enhance the existing market presence in key markets and meets the plans of growth of our parent company, Mitsubishi Logisnext Co. Ltd. We are very thankful to ML for sharing our vision and for supporting us in this very important moment.”

 

Safe legs in safe hands

When a forklift collides with a racking leg, the consequences can be severe. At the very least, there will be damage to a load or the aisle will be closed off for inspection, costing the business time and money. At worst, it could bring down the racking it supports and cause significant damage and disruption, as well as threaten the safety of personnel working in the area.

Established in the US 1998, Sentry Protection Products develops impact resistant and collision awareness equipment for use in commercial environments that help reduce or eliminate such risks. Logistics Business spoke exclusively to Sentry’s CEO James Ryan at the recent MODEX trade show in Atlanta, where his company had just launched the adaptable Column Sentry FIT product.

Logistics Business (LB): What are the benefits of Column Sentry FIT above those of the existing Column Sentry product?

James Ryan (JR): We brought out our original column protector in 1998, and so as much as we’ve sold them for years and years, we’ve also seen their shortcomings, one of which was that in two sides the products is incredibly flexible, but if you have a seam between two sides you’ve got two sides that are stiff. Everyone whose came behind us have done the same thing, and so we sought to create a product that would protect columns on all four sides by presenting an equal face. When we did that we also created a four-part modular system that also could grow or shrink to fit exactly the column. So we created that and called it the Column Sentry FIT because it was literally a good fit.

With this extension feature, we are continuing to make it a modular product, so that we can continue to extend the sizes. Many people are now having larger columns because they want longer spans, or they want to support crane systems and things that are going to need a bigger column – we’re seeing more and more columns that are 200-300 [mm] or 300-400 size. In doing this with our modular piece, the extension piece immediately goes to 350, expandable to 400, expandable to 450, and then we can add a second modular piece in there and continue to grow that piece. As soon as we do that, it can grow to 500.

LB: How is warehouse safety improved by this?

JR: Anytime you have a hotspot in your warehouse where forklifts are going to be travelling, we’re seeking to find ways to cushion things, to reduce injuries, to reduce worker downtime [and] equipment downtime. It’s primarily people, but it’s all those things that make your operation slow down or quit. With rack products, it happens all the time, you have to shut down an entire aisle, or if one of the racks has collapsed, then you’re going to have to shut down an entire part of the plant. Adding inexpensive cushions, we feel that’s a great way of safeguarding yourself from those types of… not just equipment damage, but all the things around it such as clean-up and injuries and all things that are bad. We’ve concentrated on everything that makes it a hard spot, and tried to make it a soft spot.

LB: Where do Sentry’s strengths lie in comparison to your competitors?

JR: One of the things we stress is that we don’t sell a lot of different products, we sell products that make a difference. And where we differ from some of our competitors is, whenever you’re looking to create a brand new product, you’re looking for the customer’s pain points, what they are suffering from, and we’re addressing those needs. [If] customers say this creates injuries, then we do whatever it takes to solve those problems. Those that come after us tend to say, hey, I can make something that looks like that or I can cut the cost, and typically you’re going to be shaving in order to bring down costs and sometimes that means you get a good price point for a product. But where we differ is our products are high quality because we went straight to the customer, looked at their needs, worked with them and invented something [which] addressed those needs.

LB: What is the culture and ethos that has helped build the success of Sentry?

JR: As in any business, everything is a people business. One of the most satisfying things I had in the 24 years we’ve been around is the relationships that we have created and thrived on. We find that not only in the products we sell, but that our customers bring us ideas and they sometimes bring complaints. Some of our products are second-generation products, and we wouldn’t do that of everything was great. People say, hey, we have an issue here or I ran into this kind of problem. So having that sort of relationship with our customers and resellers allows us to get freeflow of information to say this is where you’re doing things great ,but I also like to hear this is what you’re doing wrong. And when we find what we are doing wrong, that’s the next idea to help us to do it better. We’re already on our fifth generation with Collision Sentry.

LB: As a US-based company, how have you sought to expand your international sales?

JR: We’ve concentrated our international growth efforts on finding customers who really share the same values. We concentrated early not only on North America, but Western Europe and the UK because we share the same values – safety is a big issue. A well developed industrial base that appreciates these types of things. We will continue to try to grow into those types of areas. It’s much easier if I bring a product to market that appeals to someone who values safety. We’ve tried to expand primarily to well developed countries and peoples who will do that.

LB: How have you found doing business in Europe?

JR: We went through a lot of fits and starts. We started the business in 1998, and we were already trying to exhibit and sell our products on the continent and the UK since 2000. We were a very young, small company. We ‘ve had different levels of success in different places  and again it’s as different as the people are. We go throughout Europe, and you can’t say one market is the same as another market. Even though they share currency and an open market, it doesn’t mean the people are the same. So we had some areas where we had great initial success, because they were open to trying new things, but that haven’t necessarily turned out to be our best markets, because other areas that were a little bit harder to convince are solid now, because they believed in it and bought over and over again.

Ironically, we’ve had more issues with the UK simply because we’ve gone through different resellers in the UK. They had great initial interest and all, but I didn’t get the follow-through. So we’re on our second or third generation of resellers who are there and we may even go to the market directly with some e-commerce sites to address that.

LB: Thank you very much for talking with Logistics Business.

https://www.sentrypro.com/column-sentry-fit/

CLICK HERE to watch a video of Column Sentry FIT

Hyster expands range with affordable pallet truck

Hyster has expanded its range of warehouse equipment with the efficient new P1.6UT pedestrian pallet truck. Designed to be affordable to own, easy to maintain and fit for many applications, the new Hyster pallet truck can lift loads up to 1.6 tonnes.

The slimline and lightweight model is easy to manoeuvre, is stable with good gradeability, and has all the core functionality needed for applications such as last-mile deliveries or back-of-store use.

As well as delivering a low cost of operation, the Hyster P1.6UT Pedestrian Pallet Truck offers competitive energy consumption with a shift life of up to 12 hours thanks to a combination of a powerful battery and motor. Standard warranty and service intervals apply.

The new Pallet Truck is simple to use for operators, with the same controls as found on other Hyster warehouse equipment and features a long tiller arm and butterfly accelerator direction controls.

Alongside the optimum features as standard, a range of options enable applications to tailor the truck further to their application needs. For instance, tandem load wheels, onboard charger, auto switch-off and travel speed reduction as battery charge decreases.

“With the new P1.6UT, businesses can benefit from an efficient pallet truck that meets the need and makes the move,” says Daniel McNeil, SPED and Solutions Manager, Hyster Europe. “When matched with the right operating intensity, whether you’re filling supermarket shelves, stocking a storeroom, or unloading deliveries from a lorry you can expect a low cost of ownership and affordable efficiency.”

The Hyster P1.6UT is available to order now from the global network of local Hyster distribution partners.

 

Warehouse safety around the globe

Designed-in safety, increased levels of driver training, and implementation of operational guidelines have reached such maturity that it is easy to forget that the forklift is still a significant cause of workplace injuries and accidents. In addition, the demands placed on forklift operators to perform with greater haste and efficiency means both goods and personnel are vulnerable to damage caused by sudden braking, driver blind spots and unstable loads.

One company aiming to herp reduce damage and injury in the warehouse is GenieGrips, an Australian manufacturer of products aimed at ensuring forklift loads are safe, secure and stable. At the recent MODEX trade event in Atlanta, Logistics Business caught up with Louise Inglese, Founder & CEO of GenieGrips Pty Ltd, to find out more about her growing international business.

Logistics Business (LB): Why is it important for GenieGrips to be at exhibitions such as MODEX?

Louise Inglese (LI): It is a very long flight! But we know we have to come to expos to promote our products because you need to demonstrate it for people to really get it. I could send a brochure, but it’s never going to be the same. When we’re face to face, people get to feel it and touch it and get the full sense of how safe they are and how solid they are, their quality

The expos themselves are a really good opportunity to build relationships. I might see the same customer I saw two years ago, and then I get to see them again, and it’s almost like a drip feed process – they see me again, they see me again… So they know we’re going to be around. If I went to one expo and then didn’t turn up to the next one, they’d be wondering why I wasn’t there and they’d be thinking “oh, there’s something wrong with GenieGrips now”. So you have to be seen face to face.

LB: Being based in Australia, how do you conduct your international business?

LI: We have a warehouse in LA in the US, and we know we need to have a local presence like that. We work with FreeCall numbers both here in the US, in Europe and in the UK, and we have a warehouse in the Netherlands. Obviously, because of Brexit, we have also had to set up a warehouse in the UK because we could no longer service that market out of the Netherlands. The paperwork was too much; it was much easier for us to set up a third warehouse in the UK, than to service that market from the Netherlands.

LB: What are your aspirations for Genie Grips?

LI: 90% of our business is export, with only 10% of our sales in Australia. 75% of that 90% are our US customers, and that was an easy market for us to come into because there is no language barrier. The safety standards in the US are similar to those in Australia, so they get the safety side of it. Now we have a bigger challenge when we go into Europe, because we have a language barrier. So it’s great to do those expos, but we really need to get a bigger market share in Europe because we haven’t tapped that market successfully enough as yet.

LB: Do you see yourself as an international operation?

IB: Yes, it’s just a bigger market share. With only 25 million people in Australia, that’s nothing compared to the populations on the other continents, so having that presence internationally and those warehouses, that’s where we need to keep going. We would like to get more into South America, and also into the Middle East and Africa as well.

LB: What are the benefits of GenieGrips vs. rival products?

IB: Because we manufacture our products ourselves in Melbourne, we have complete control over the quality. We can change designs, develop new products, and the more customers we get, the more [challenges they are having] and wanting to talk to us about solving. That way we’re able to develop more products. So we started with the Mats, then we had a customer who wanted the Caps, so we worked with them to develop that. Then we had a customer saying they wanted the Cushions for the uprights. So, the more we talk, the more products we develop. Then, this year at MODEX we have the new Stik-It Pads, because people wanted a product that sat inside the actual footprint of the tyne itself.

Some of our rivals make [their products] out of plastic. Now rubber is such a unique compound to use. It wears well, it’s softer, it copes with harsher weather, it copes with higher and lower temperatures, so having that rubber base of our products is what keeps us ahead of our competitors.

LB: Are you affected by risks that come with international shipping?

LI: Shipping has been a challenge over the past couple of years, and it’s our pain, being an Australian manufacturer, that we have to allow for shipping into our costings and times, etc.

LB: What is the company’s commitment to customer service?

IB: We’re a family business, and our parent company has been going for over 40 years, so we have all that experience behind us. As Australians, we love customer service, so that’s our #1 priority. We also have FreeCall numbers in each country, so that enables customers to ring directly and always have someone to talk to. So, even in our sleepy hours we have an answering service that makes it possible for us to call back as soon as we wake up.

LB: Thank you for talking to Logistics Business, and good luck with your future plans.

 

Gideon launches autonomous loading forklift

Gideon, the robotics and AI solutions company, has announced a pioneering new solution – Trey, an autonomous forklift for truck trailer loading and unloading operations.

Trey loads and unloads pallets entirely autonomously, saving more than 80% of a worker’s time. It operates safely, consistently, and reliably in dynamic environments, working side by side with people.

“We at Gideon believe that we can help exponentially grow humanity’s ability to move goods by automating the most complex material handling workflows,” said Matija Kopić, Gideon CEO and co-founder. “The world needs new ways of solving challenges. Our new way is to give superpowers to the millions of essential workers who keep our supply chains running. With the help of our customers, partners, and investors, we’ve built an AMR specifically for the task of loading and unloading truck trailers, augmenting human talent,” Matija Kopić said.

“The new solution from Gideon brings us an exciting potential for optimization, creating new efficiencies, and new ways to work,” Annant Patel, director at Koch Disruptive Technologies, an investment unit of Koch Industries, and Gideon Board Member. “As new technologies become available, the supply chain challenges act as a catalyst to spur companies to innovate – Gideon being one of them. We may face uncertainties, but innovators like Gideon prove that the future is here and now.”

Xavier Garijo, Member of the Board of Management for Contract Logistics at DB Schenker, also highlights the importance of innovation. DB Schenker, the global logistics leader, is one of the early Gideon customers and Series A investor.

“Here at DB Schenker, we draw on 150 years of logistic experience, and we’ve always focused on bringing innovation to deliver the efficiency and excellence expected by our clients. This is why we are excited to see new solutions from Gideon. Our projects so far are promising demonstrated, real-potential use cases that help us transform inbound and outbound logistic operations,” said Xavier Garijo, who is also a Gideon Board Member.

The new trailer (un)loading solution combines Gideon’s proprietary autonomy technology powered by AI and 3D vision, user-friendly software for smart workflow orchestration, and a robust, purpose-made chassis by Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp.

Trey helps companies relieve labour shortages, increase throughput, and raise process stability and efficiency. It significantly increases loading dock safety, reducing incidents and damages. Thanks to the flexibility and adaptability of Gideon’s technology, Trey is easy to use, deploy, and scale, with minimal impact on existing infrastructure, further improving the bottom line.

 

Global Materials Handling joins Toyota network

Toyota Material Handling UK (TMH UK) has appointed a new addition to its national dealer network. Saint Helens-based Global Materials Handling Ltd became the official Toyota dealer for the north west of England when managing director Andy Evans (pictured right) put pen to paper at a signing ceremony at the company’s premises at Haydock attended by TMH UK’s managing director, Nick Duckworth (pictured left), and dealer manager, Robert Wright.

Established in 2010, Global Materials Handling is the fastest-growing independent forklift dealer in the UK’s north west. Joining the Toyota dealer network means that the company can now offer the full Toyota range of intralogistics solutions as well as used Toyota forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, service, parts, a range of flexible and highly competitive finance and rental packages as well as operator training.

Andy Evans, who prior to forming Global Materials Handling, began his career with Birchwood Mechanical Services, commented: “When I was with Birchwood the first forklift truck that I ever sold was a Toyota, so I am very excited to have joined the Toyota network once again.

“Global Materials Handling provides a personalised, local service tailored to our clients’ business needs. The combination of a local dealership supported by an internationally recognised manufacturer such as Toyota means that we can deliver excellent levels of service support to all of our clients – regardless of whether they operate a single truck or the largest fleet.”

Duckworth added: “Toyota has a dedicated, strategically positioned dealer network and we are extremely pleased to welcome Global Materials Handling as part of our network. Global has developed an impressive business in the region and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the company.”

New Linde trucks offer state-of-the-art performance

New powerful electric tow tractors and platform trucks from Linde Material Handling are now flexing their muscles. Equipped with extensive safety features, improved driving comfort and powerful drive technology, the towing machines and transport vehicles ensure enhanced throughput rates for automotive and steel producers, at airports and wholesale markets or in traffic-calmed areas.

Electric tow tractors, whose design is reminiscent of light trucks, are extremely powerful despite their small dimensions and therefore indispensable in many applications where, for example, they pull heavy trailers loaded with machine components or pieces of luggage over longer distances, or reliably transport large numbers of vegetable crates along narrow aisles. Great driving comfort for operators as well as fast and safe goods handling are the predominant requirements placed on this vehicle class. And Linde MH has once again achieved significant improvements with regard to precisely these parameters.

The new electric tow tractors in the Linde P120 to P350 series are designed for towing capacities of 12, 18, 25, 30 and 35 tonnes. For the P250 model there is an additional choice between a short or long wheelbase version. The Linde W20 and W30 platform trucks are capable of moving two and three tons of payload respectively or, alternatively, six tons of towing load. Here, too, there are options regarding the length of the wheelbase.

The entire series has been completely revised in terms of performance and ergonomics, resulting in significant potential benefits for users. “For example, the vehicles are even more enduring when transporting over long distances, which provides a boost in efficiency,” says Sandra Karras, Product Manager Warehouse Technology, highlighting one of the product benefits. In addition, both the platform trucks and the tow tractor variants are equally agile and safe to manoeuvre, and they use either lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries as energy storage medium.

Powerful on gradients

Thanks to their powerful electric motors, the vehicles master ramps, underpasses with gradients and long distances quickly and reliably at driving speeds of up to 25km/h. In addition, the overall vehicle design takes into account the regulations and standards that apply in highly sensitive airport environments.

The improved ergonomics are aimed at providing the driver with the best possible support and thus make goods transport even more productive. The spacious cabin with wide, non-slip entry, large display, comfortable seats, air conditioning and lighting, as well as many other equipment features, offers a perfect working environment. Additional windows in the doors and roof provide the driver with the all-round visibility that is so important, especially on difficult terrain. The doors are electronically monitored so that the towing machine only starts up when they are closed.

To prevent unintended acceleration on sloping terrain or ramps, the driver can activate the automatic speed reduction at the push of a button. Other safety equipment includes a protective grille for the rear window, emergency stop switches on the right- and left-hand side at the rear of the vehicle, a solid metal shield at the front of the vehicle, double mirrors on the doors and lighting solutions such as the Linde BlueSpot. All these features pay off in terms of high driving comfort and safe operation.

Driving comfort taken to a new level

The fully suspended and fully damped sports chassis is another feature that ensures driving pleasure. “Everyone who got behind the wheel of one of the new electric transporters was thrilled by the completely new driving experience,” Karras enthuses and recommends taking a test drive. She highlights the fully encapsulated, maintenance- and wear-free brake system as a particularly service-friendly feature which reduces the maintenance outlay. Last but not least, the greater variety of models and equipment options offers economic benefits: Oversizing is avoided, while at the same time high performance is available whenever needed.

Dendro promises workshop safety and time savings

Swedish company Dendro Lift has been developing and producing reliable and robust lifting jacks for vehicles for more than fifty years. This proven technology and quality, which guarantees a long service life for all devices, is also used in the unique Dendro DSS2.

Dendro says its DSS2 high and electric pallet truck revolutionises daily work in workshops by making work much easier, combined with a maximum increase in occupational safety. Uncomfortable posture is a thing of the past – with the DSS2 you can work safely, ergonomically and efficiently.

The Dendro DSS2 Lift has been specifically designed to safely and easily lift a powered pallet truck for easier access to the engine, batteries, brakes and suspension. Due to its practical and flexible design, the Dendro DSS2 is easy to use and can be used for most pallet trucks up to a maximum weight of 2,500kg.

Another plus point is that installation at a specific work location in the workshop is not necessary; the DSS2 is used where it is needed. Safe, fast and efficient. Elaborate and additional work steps, especially in the area of securing, are eliminated with the Dendro DSS2, enabling maximum time savings.

Dendro says its DSS2 is unique on the market and a real game-changer for every workshop. The possible uses are diverse: from (simple) forklift repairs, in logistics companies, in warehouses or in industry. Custom-made lifting devices, specially developed lifts for counterbalanced trucks or custom-made jackstands for 3 to 60 tonnes can also be implemented.

Thanks to the robust and proven construction as well as the built-in automatic lubrication, the lift is extremely low-maintenance. The long-term supply of spare parts from Dendro also ensures trouble-free operation.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Yale Pedestrian Pallet Truck introduced for low intensity applications

Yale Europe Materials Handling continues to bring innovative solutions to the materials handling market as it launches the Yale MP16UX Pedestrian Pallet Truck.

For customers with intermittent or low intensity logistics operations who want the benefits of a very efficient truck at an affordable price, the Yale MP16UX offers the ideal solution in a slimline package.

“Ideal for retail stores and last-mile delivery, the Yale MP16UX meets the need and makes the move,” explained Eva Nachtergaele, Solutions Manager EMEA at Yale. “For back-of-store operations requiring intermittent use of materials handling products, our latest pedestrian pallet truck offers a reliable truck combined with low energy consumption, making it an incredibly attractive offering.”

The pedestrian pallet truck is designed to be slimline, lightweight, and easily manoeuvrable, all while offering stability when handling goods.

Low energy consumption

To reduce operator fatigue during a shift, the Yale MP16UX features a longer tiller arm with easily accessible butterfly controls, requiring less effort for the user to move loads.

The battery offers up to 12 hours shift life, accommodating store opening times. The fork options mean it will be able to handle common pallet sizes used in EMEA, lifting them up to 120mm. Spring-loaded castors improve lateral stability as the truck manoeuvres from A to B, and its soft lowering ensures loads are handled with care from start to finish.

“The competitive energy consumption and long shift life of the Yale MP16UX is a key selling point of our latest pedestrian pallet truck,” said Nachtergaele. “Customers can be sure that this product is ready to work efficiently and effectively whenever it is required. It is compact and efficient – but importantly, at an affordable price with low cost of ownership.

“Our research suggests over 50% of the market is looking for a truck with this offering, and the Yale MP16UX is ready and waiting to deliver.”

 

Subscribe

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