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Tag: logistics

Forto partnership expands biofuels offering

Posted on by David Priestman

Forto has formed a new partnership with GoodShipping as part of its growing biofuel programme. Forto can now offer the inset of advanced biofuel for its bookings for full container load (FCL) sea freight shipments using GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services, further expanding the accessibility of alternative fuel options for Forto customers.

The new partnership with GoodShipping highlights the next milestone in Forto’s sustainability offering, following the recent launch of its biofuel programme.

With a focus on carbon insetting, GoodShipping helps to reduce the scope 3 emissions of companies’ supply chains by facilitating a fuel switch to biofuel for a company’s freight shipments.  Biofuel alternatives are provided by marine biofuels pioneer GoodFuels, a sister company to GoodShipping.

GoodFuels is a global market leader in biofuels made from certified waste and residual flows that can be used directly for heavy transport. The fuel meets the highest sustainability standards. This includes used cooking oil and waste from animal fats that cannot be recycled in a higher-quality manner.

Use of biofuels lead to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of a transport without requiring changes to a shipper’s own operations. Net-zero transport impact, effectively reducing 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions, is achieved through an overallocation of biofuels as part of the booking. The process includes certification of the emissions reduction impact, which is audited by an independent third party.

Through the partnership, Forto offers GoodShipping’s decarbonisation services for its customers. The company’s infrastructure allows it to make biofuel available to customers supporting a variety of shipping volumes, locations, trade routes and cargo contracts. Its multiple carrier partners and wide offering will extend Forto’s current biofuel programme.

Michael Wax, CEO and Co-Founder of Forto: “Enabling real change to reduce the environmental impact of the logistics industry is key to us at Forto. Our ultimate goal is to help customers make the sustainable transport option their default choice – and ensuring our biofuel programme is as accessible as possible to our customers and their differing needs is a key driver of this.

“GoodShipping is an innovator in the market, with a broad, dedicated partner network and this partnership will enable us to expand our current offering. This is an important next step in our green ambitions, and we’re delighted to be working closely with a business that has such expertise in this space.”

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO of Good Shipping: “We’re very proud to have Forto as our partner. By joining forces, we are able to offer sustainable transport to all Forto’s clients, taking the next big step towards reaching our shared green ambitions.”

The Forto range of sustainability solutions starts by providing customers with emissions visibility and information that empowers them to make impactful, data-based decisions. Forto also offers CO₂e emission offsets for all modes of transport and beyond the biofuels programme, German-based Rail Pre- and On-Carriage intermodal volumes are transported with a focus on using trains powered by renewable energy. Forto teams work strategically with partners, customers and other stakeholders to explore sustainability options and find solutions that fit their needs.

UK organisations “failing to innovate”

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Budget constraints and skills gaps are topping the list of challenges standing in the way of innovation for 71% of organisations across many business sectors in the UK and Ireland, despite almost three quarters (74%) saying that innovation is vital to their survival as a business, according to new research.

The research, commissioned by InterSystems, a leading provider of next-generation solutions for critical enterprise digital transformations, and conducted by data analyst Vitreous World, polled more than 300 business leaders across healthcare, financial services, fintech, supply chain, and education sectors in the UK and Ireland. Among the findings are stark differences between the attitudes towards and capabilities for innovation across sectors.

Skills gaps surfaced as a recurring challenge for organisations across all sectors. More than a third (34%) collectively cite a lack of skills to understand and analyse data as their biggest challenge when attempting to use data to drive innovation initiatives. When asked how innovation initiatives could be improved, almost half (47%) stated by getting access to real-time data, with this rising to 60% among fintechs. Forty-five percent of the total respondents think their innovation initiatives would be helped by using more or better data and insights.

Chris Norton, Managing Director, InterSystems, commented: “In today’s landscape of constant change and uncertainty, digital transformation strategies and traditional organisation practices will continue to be tested. To meet evolving customer demands, guard against market volatility, and navigate the impact of geopolitical events, digital investment is a necessity. However, just digitising what you have today is not enough. Organisations must focus on innovation and expand its impact to create new value.”

Other key findings include:

  • Almost a third of those surveyed (32%) cite technology constraints as a major barrier to innovation, while more than a quarter (26%) struggle to keep up with the latest innovation or technologies, which rises to 43% in education.
  • 31% of healthcare respondents view reluctance to change as one of the biggest barriers to innovation.
  • Just 11% of organisations have reached their current digital transformation goals, dropping to only 3% of those within education.
  • Complying with changing regulation and insufficient skills in-house were found to be the biggest difficulties organisations face with interoperability, with education respondents in particular struggling with regulation changes (57% vs an average of 49%). Meanwhile 41% of financial services respondents say that their current data platform does not facilitate interoperability with financial services standards.
  • An overwhelming 94% of supply chain respondents revealed they are willing to accept some degree of risk to reach their innovation goals, compared with 85% of overall respondents.
  • More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) are using data to enable and drive innovation across their organisation, however, often face challenges including data inconsistencies and unreliability, to delays in accessing the data.
  • Almost a third (32%) of those surveyed think innovation helps their organisation get a competitive advantage
  • 85% of organisations rely on third-parties to plan, collaborate, and deliver innovation strategies.

“Innovation is now key to long term business survival. Without innovation to differentiate organisations and create new customer experiences, then success is just about process efficiency, cost, and price. For all business sectors, scalable and sustainable innovation is underpinned by reliable digital infrastructure, analytics, arming staff with skills and ultimately with timely access and action to the right data,” added Norton.

CLICK HERE to download the full research report.

CakeBoxx makes executive team appointment

Posted on by David Priestman

CakeBoxx Technologies has appointed digital supply chain expert James Blom to its executive team. Building on CakeBoxx Technologies’ record year-over-year growth in 2020 (200%) and 2021 (260%), Blom’s appointment follows the announcements of CakeBoxx’s new COO, James Campbell, and new CTO, Sean Tan.

With this expanded executive team, the company says it is well-positioned for 2023 to accelerate its leadership in specialised supply chain platforms and container solutions for renewable energy, defence, and critical infrastructure projects associated with autonomous transportation and automation.

“We have seen unprecedented demand across multiple industries for our specialised transportation platforms,” said Daine Eisold, Founder and CEO of CakeBoxx Technologies. “With our reputation for integrated systems engineered modular, intermodal transport and storage platforms in the wind energy and defence sectors, we are naturally gravitating toward the exciting autonomous naval, aerospace, and uncrewed vehicle systems industries to develop advanced transportation solutions for their high-value, mission-critical programmes.

“We are now being asked to reimagine container and supply chain transportation holistically. This involves everything from rearchitecting container cargo operations, intermodal facilities, transloading and warehousing, to evolving the performance of global digital supply chain platforms. By integrating advances in supply chain visibility, tracking, and real-time intelligence software for shipping and logistics with physical, unmanned, automated, robotic, and hybrid autonomous transportation systems, we can make tremendous strides in the overall utility and value of complete global supply chain assets.

“Jim Blom is an incredibly talented, multi-dimensional systems thinker and visionary. I have worked with him over the past two decades in maritime cargo security, transportation performance logistics, and supply chain visibility, relying heavily on his guidance and mentoring. After years of incubation, CakeBoxx Technologies has matured to a stage of development where Jim’s abilities can be fully incorporated and will have a profound effect on our growth.

“It was an easy decision for the Board and I to ask Jim to join our team to scale our business model and growth strategy. By adding Jim as our CRO, we will accelerate our FY22 -FY25 revenues with new shipping solutions and third-party logistics platform offerings that provide unprecedented advances in performance, automation, and artificial intelligence.”

CakeBoxx Technologies has evolved its intrinsically simple, incredibly effective two-piece shipping container design for over more than a decade, providing safe transport for numerous specialised assets of strategic importance. This includes an increasingly complex array of both out-of-gauge and in-gauge cargos, superloads such as wind turbines and gearboxes, jet engines, uncrewed systems, and sensitive communications and sensor systems. CakeBoxx solutions offer the industry’s strongest and lightest weight customised shipping decks and platforms, with or without CakeBoxx’s protective lid.

“CakeBoxx Technologies has built a strong base of government and Fortune 500 customers by developing innovative solutions to overcome some of the world’s most challenging shipping issues while also meeting the highest standards of performance, security, and sustainability,” said CakeBoxx Technologies Board member, Michael Quinn. “Jim Blom is a seasoned operations leader, and subject matter expert in the shipping, transportation, and logistics industries – his addition to the executive leadership team is a very strategic move for the company.

“His technology expertise and supply chain experience applying cloud computing, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and edge computing to address global supply chain disruption, port congestion, and last-mile logistics delivery will enable CakeBoxx Technologies to scale its revenue operations and expand the company’s growth into new marketplaces and ecosystems.”

As CRO, Blom will lead revenue operations focused on CakeBoxx’s product development, sales, and field operations, overseeing CakeBoxx’s GTM, technology partnerships, and strategic alliances.

Blom’s mandate will include growing market share in environmental sustainability, focusing on the renewable energy and regenerative food systems industries. Blom will also take on CakeBoxx’s pioneering work for Boeing and Lockheed Martin, evolving its defence and aerospace portfolio and revenues in C4ISR and the uncrewed and autonomous transportation industries.

Blom commented: “Re-imagining the modern shipping container and re-architecting intermodal and last-mile delivery supply chains helps industries accelerate attainment of their global climate and Net Zero sustainability targets. Thanks to our distinguished reputation as a tier-one systems engineering firm, we have an unprecedented opportunity to provide value. Addressing sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives has never been more important. CakeBoxx Technologies’ ability to combine adaptive automation, intelligent, connected, and high-performance systems design with SAFETY Act level security is a defining capability for shippers and 3PLs with sustainability goals.”

CakeBoxx products and advanced supply chain systems engineering services are available to companies, governments, NGOs, and other organisations worldwide seeking to transform their transportation efficiency, lower total cost of ownership, build resilience, and improve safety, security, and sustainability in their supply chain operations.

 

Cleveron and Clevon present new solutions at Gitex

Posted on by David Priestman

Estonian technology companies Cleveron and Clevon (Cleveron Mobility AS) will display their new solutions in the world’s largest tech show Gitex Global, held in Dubai from October 10 to 14. As guests of Etisalat, known for its remarkable technical innovation showcases in Gitex, the two Estonian companies have created a unique system for last-mile delivery.

Cleveron presents a smart, unmanned telecom service kiosk where customers can communicate with the company and collect their purchases via a smart screen and a robotic parcel locker. Clevon is showcasing the autonomous delivery vehicle CLEVON 1, which can be used to meet various last-mile needs like grocery, parcel or on-demand ready-meal deliveries.

Cleveron’s self-service and pickup solution consist of two Cleveron products, creating an unmanned smart service kiosk for places where a permanent representation is costly or complicated. The smart service screen Cleveron 103 acts as a service point where customers can connect with the company remotely via video and make the necessary purchases. The robotic parcel locker Cleveron 405 can be prefilled with popular items, so the customers can get their purchase instantly after receiving the order PIN code. The parcel robot also acts as a delivery and pickup point for general online orders. The smart kiosk is in the live pilot phase in Estonia.

CLEVON 1 is Clevon’s flagship autonomous multi-platform delivery vehicle. Designed to navigate urban environments with ease, businesses can choose from different CLEVON 1 models, including the Universal Platform, CargoBox (retail), Lockers (logistics), Truckbed (transport), and Mobile Cameras (security). CLEVON 1 has been tested on public roads in Europe for two years and is proven to be safe and reliable, is environmentally focused with zero CO2 emissions, and reduces last-mile delivery cost by 30%. Clevon’s third-generation vehicle CLEVON 1, is already providing services together with DPD Estonia, DHL Express Estonia and IKI Supermarkets in Vilnius, Lithuania, delivering groceries, among others.

Cleveron and Clevon are guests of Etisalat, the Emirati-based multinational telecommunications services provider, which is operating in 16 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. World’s largest technology show Gitex 2022 is held in the Dubai World Trade Centre, from October 10 to 14.

Cleveron is the world leader in robotic parcel locker production, offering hardware and software for parcel handover since 2015. The Estonian company’s solutions are used by retail giants like Zara, H&M, Salling and ICA; logistics companies like DHL and DPD in more than 47 countries worldwide.

Clevon develops multifunctional autonomous vehicles that help make home delivery of goods cheaper, faster, more customer-friendly, and more environmentally friendly. The company has offices in Estonia and the US, Texas. In 2022, Clevon was listed on the Nasdaq’s North Baltic Exchange (CLEV) after spinning off from Cleveron.

 

Cabify launches logistics brand

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Cabify, the international multi-mobility platform, has opened a new chapter in its diversification of mobility solutions, this time aimed at the storage and transfer of goods, with the launch of the new Cabify Logistics brand in Spain and Latin America. With this new line of business, the company seeks to continue to grow and consolidate its position as an ally of mobility in cities, offering a safe, efficient, and sustainable quality service, taking advantage of the potential of technology.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cabify made an ambitious commitment to the delivery service to make it easier for individuals and companies to distribute parcels in cities. Over time, the company began to gain relevance with its B2B2C service and, today, is positioned in the logistics market as a full-service technology provider, an ally of companies with online sales that seek to deliver their products in the best conditions and with multiple options. Proof of this is the accelerated evolution of this line of the company: from January to June this year, this business grew more than 2.5x, with a portfolio of more than 5,000 customers globally, among which are large companies such as Mercado Libre, among others. In addition, the platform has successfully developed strategic integrations with Shopify and Mercado Envíos Flex.

“Last year we focused on reinforcing the personalisation of the service, adapting new functionalities according to the needs of our customers. Our strong safety and quality strategy, reinforced by our high-efficiency level and delivery times of less than 30 minutes, opened the door to this new market,” said Vicente Pascual, Vice President of Cabify Logistics. “Being a service offered by Cabify has allowed us to gain the trust of thousands of companies that already know us for our ride-hailing service, which has been an important trigger for our growth. Cabify is a consolidated brand in the multi-mobility market with more than 10 years of presence in Europe and Latin America. That strength has allowed us to exceed 500,000 deliveries within eight months of launching the service in 2020, five times faster than the time it took us in our beginnings to make the first 500,000 trips,” he added.

Given the growth in demand for logistics-related services, Cabify has identified an opportunity to continue growing in this sector and expand its portfolio of mobility-related solutions. Logistics has become a new market for Cabify, which poses a new challenge for the brand as well. This line of business comprises a different type of service. It is aimed at a different audience with specific needs, which requires a new way of identifying and relating to the one that Cabify has been using until now. The new Cabify Logistics brand will accompany all logistics services aimed at companies.

New challenges: restaurants and technology

The company aims to close the year growing five times more than last year in this new line of business. To this end, Cabify expects to invest $20m in Cabify Logistics. The main focus of Cabify Logistics will continue to be the urban last-mile logistic service in Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, and Chile for companies in sectors such as e-commerce, retail or pharma.

Specifically, in the Latin American market, the strategy will focus on offering immediate deliveries to supermarkets and retailers. Also, in this region, the company has started offering last-mile logistics services for restaurants that already have their own delivery order channel or use online ordering systems such as Chile’s Mercat. Chains such as Wendy’s and KFC in Argentina already use Cabify Logistics as a logistics provider. In the case of Chile, Mercat’s partner restaurants can find Cabify as a delivery option directly from the marketplace platform.

The company plans to continue advancing the cross-dock service in the Spanish market in its warehouses. This service consists of receiving a high volume of packages from one or several customers in the central warehouse to separate the goods by delivery city and routes. In addition, Cabify Logistics will continue to progress in the parcel service with solutions based on its own warehouses and key agreements that allow improving the capillarity of the service throughout the territory. In this regard, for example, Cabify already offers a storage and delivery service for products that require refrigeration in Madrid. Its clients include companies such as Colvin, flowers and plants e-commerce, and Cervezas La Virgen.

In the coming months, Cabify Logistics will continue to work on strengthening the technology that supports the operation to remain a leader in routing, real-time tracking, and warehouse management. The customisation of Cabify Logistics’ service is based on the constant development and adaptation of its technology according to the needs of its customers and on offering a user-friendly experience. In that sense, the company is looking to add new integrations with e-commerce and logistics platforms to offer a more agile way to customers who wish to start using the service.

“We are betting heavily on Cabify Logistics and will invest in strengthening our technology and team. This line of business started with five people, and to date, there are already more than 50 of us, in addition to Cabify’s central resources. We are reinforcing the team in the countries where we operate to scale the service we provide to our customers, and we will invest in strengthening our customer service centre and its technology to accelerate our 24/7 multichannel service,” Pascual said.

In terms of fleet, the company will continue to offer motorbike and car services in Latin America, where it is already the leader. As a novelty, it plans to introduce one tonne or more cargo vehicles soon and to continue increasing the electric and zero-emission fleet by including bicycles and electric scooters. In the case of Spain, 100% of Cabify Logistics’ own fleet are electric vans dedicated exclusively to the parcel service.

 

Lödige chosen for JFK airport modernisation

Posted on by David Priestman

Aeroterm, North America’s largest third-party on-airport developer, has selected Lödige Industries, a world-leading provider of cargo terminal solutions, to install a state-of-the-art automated cargo system at John F. Kennedy International Airport‘s new 350,000 sq ft cargo facility. Lödige’s system will be exclusively used by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the main cargo handler at JFK.

The new cargo facility, which is being built on a 26-acre site, will include greater ramp capacity to handle three of today’s large modern air cargo freighters (Group VI aircraft) simultaneously. It will also have more than 50 dock doors for the efficient transfer and tracking of goods through the facility.

Lödige’s system will feature two elevating transfer vehicles with a ULD storage rack for 218 ULD positions and three-level ULD racks to ensure high storage density in WFS’s new terminal and free up space for other handling activities, amongst other things. This advanced level of automation guarantees efficient throughput and high safety standards, as well as optimal operational processes, areas that are very important for WFS. The equipment also includes three truck docks, a castor deck area and 14 elevating workstations.

When completed in early 2024, JFK’s new cargo facility is expected to handle an annual throughput of approximately 350,000 tonnes.

“Our new cargo facility, equipped with Lödige’s state-of-the-art systems, is designed for maximum efficiency. Thanks to this market-leading cargo handling technology, we are ideally equipped for future growth and can offer our customers the best possible service at all times,” says Jeffrey Bounds SVP Program Management & Center of Excellence|The Americas from WFS.

“As the first new cargo facility built at JFK in two decades, this project is an essential step in revitalising JFK as a cargo hub,” said Bryan Rosenberger, Vice President Design & Construction at Aeroterm.  “On each development project, Realterm partners with both local and global groups for best-in-class expertise in design, construction and specific air cargo equipment. We are excited to partner with Lödige on this development.”

“The US cargo industry is showing a great sense of optimism this year and we are proud to contribute to JFK’s ambitious modernisation programme. We are confident that our high-efficiency cargo handling solutions and years of local experience will support WFS in achieving its quality, speed, and safety goals and continue to grow through increased efficiency in the new facility,” said Jonathan Hardy, Managing Director USA at Lödige Industries.

PFS serves up fulfilment order at Laver Cup

Posted on by David Priestman

Fulfilment provider PFS defied expectations when it achieved a 24-hour fulfilment order for OnRunning during the recent Laver Cup tennis tournament.

PFS has worked with OnRunning since July 2021, managing the direct-to-consumer and B2B order fulfilment for its  retail channels. As a global sponsor of the Laver Cup, OnRunning was met with unprecedented demand for its special edition shoe, THE ROGER Advantage LC22, created and launched in celebration of Roger Federer as he played the final tournament, concluding his legendary tennis career as part of “Team Europe”.

With customer demand at a high, OnRunning submitted a request for 300 pairs of THE ROGER to be shipped from the PFS Distribution Centre, based in Southampton, over to the Laver Cup venue in London as quickly as possible. With one hour before close, and a delivery time of 10am the following day, PFS was able to fulfil and deliver within the deadline. As part of its process, PFS provided real-time updates to the OnRunning team, working overtime to pick the order in just over two hours rather than the four it would usually take, and delivering it using one of PFS’ express/same-day delivery couriers.

Samuel Frei, Head of Operations at OnRunning, commented: “PFS helped to make the Laver Cup event a great success for us. Without the stock delivered by the team so quickly and effectively, we would have missed out on key sales for THE ROGER Advantage LC22. PFS understood our needs and have all the capabilities required in a fulfilment provider to deliver. Since July 2021, PFS has met our high expectations, and we look forward to the relationship continuing as they support our order fulfilment operations.”

Joe Farrell, VP of International Operations at PFS, commented: “OnRunning had an immediate need that required our teams at PFS to move quickly to deliver. We pride ourselves on being agile and dynamic in the way we work, but the team took the meaning to greater heights. I’m extremely proud of the efforts put forth to make it happen. OnRunning is a fantastic brand, and we look forward to executing and supporting their growth for years to come.”

PFS dispatched every unit of THE ROGER Advantage LC22 available in the distribution centre, enabling the sale of 314 pairs of shoes over the course of the event.

 

ALMAC 2022 to explore trending industry topics

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The forthcoming Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) is the important thought leadership event of its kind in Asia, which brings together industry professionals from all sectors along the supply chain and shippers, to exchange latest market intelligence and explore business opportunities around the world. ALMAC 2022 takes place on 22-23 November online and at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Hong Kong has long been the preferred logistics hub in the region thanks to its strategic location, world-class infrastructure and multi-modal transportation links. In 2021, Hong Kong International Airport handled 5 million tonnes of airfreight, still ranking as one of the world’s busiest air-cargo centres. Also, the city remains in the world’s top-10 container ports with an annual throughput of about 18 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of containers. In more than 30 months, the COVID pandemic has presented significant challenges to the global supply chains. Looking ahead, as the journey to recovery begins, the ALMAC promotes a platform for exchanging views among global industry leaders.

Running under the theme “The Future of the Sustainable Supply Chain: Connectivity ∙ Collaboration ∙  Innovation”, the ALMAC will gather supply chain stakeholders, including shippers, to examine the importance of building connectivity, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation in creating a sustainable future for the industry and global trade development. It will cover trending topics such as opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), supply chain transformation, intermodal connectivity, smart supply chain, logistics automation and sustainability.

 

Toyota’s Logiconomi Forum attracts over 500

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Organised and sponsored by Toyota Material Handling Europe, the Logiconomi Forum connected senior logistics managers from across Europe with experts from leading companies to learn about and discuss new concepts and trends in the world of logistics. Taking place recently in Antwerp, the 2022 event included insights from 15 companies including Microsoft, Bosch, Orange, Deloitte, Air Products and EcoVadis.

The event’s theme reflected the extraordinary challenges that logistics professionals in all business sectors are currently facing, including post-pandemic supply chain disruption, labour shortages, emission targets, the energy crisis, inflation and the geopolitical outlook in Europe today. “We are all being tested – more than ever before,” was the opening statement from Ernesto Domínguez, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling Europe.

The first day of the event was based around the theme ‘Responding to Now’ and was staged at the historic Handelsbeurs in central Antwerp, which was the world’s first stock exchange, originating in the 16th century. As introduced by conference moderator, Flemish TV presenter Anne De Baetzelier: “The Handelsbeurs in Antwerp has been hosting progressive business discussions for over 400 years, so what better place to continue insightful discussions today?”

The Responding to Now theme included focus sessions on digitalisation, automation, energy and sustainability, with expert insights from a number of partnering companies. Microsoft focused on digital ecosystems and cyber security, whilst Bosch presented simple concepts for consignment tracking. Robotics and digital twinning were key topics for Vanderlande and Siemens, whilst Air Products and Toyota Motor Europe set out the prospects for hydrogen as a future energy source.

Other topics included trends in sustainability (EcoVadis), solar power (Alight), 5G networks (Orange) and smart buildings for energy efficiency (Proximus). The first day of the Logiconomi Forum was concluded by a speech from leading European politician and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt.

The second day of the 2022 Logiconomi Forum focused on innovation under the theme ‘Planning for Next’ and was principally held at ‘Log!Ville’ – a permanent meeting and exhibition centre dedicated to logistics, located just south of Antwerp.

This allowed delegates to see new concepts in action, and to have progressive discussions about new technologies. A highlight of day two was a ‘start-up parade’ which featured 15 different ideas from new businesses, with concepts for energy analysis, safety management and efficiency improvements from order picking to yard operations.

Logiconomi is an ongoing programme for the development and sharing of concepts and technologies that support efficient and economical logistics. This includes a Logiconomi TV channel which can be explored via the company website.  Extracts from this year’s Logiconomi Forum will be shared over the coming months.

CLICK HERE to view the after event movie.

 

Amazon invests €400m in robotics and technology

Posted on by David Priestman

Amazon has revealed that it has invested more than €400m in new technologies over the last three years, enhancing the company’s fulfilment centres and employee experience.

Amazon says it has a rich history of developing and introducing cutting-edge technology into its logistics network and is continuing to invest in supporting employees in their roles, improving safety at work while providing customers with a wide selection of products and fast, reliable delivery.

Behind this investment is the company’s European Advanced Technology team. Created in 2019, it is specifically focused on hardware and software development and technology testing for industrial robotics, autonomous vehicles, automated packaging and sorting technologies at Amazon’s fulfilment centres.

The team, based at Amazon’s European Innovation Lab in Vercelli, Italy, has been responsible for the introduction of more than 550 new pieces of technology to Amazon fulfilment centres across Europe in three years. These include:

Item sorters – a fully-automated sortation system that reduces muscle strain by removing the need for an employee to rummage through a tote (a large box) to look for items.

Pallet movers – a large robotic arm that eliminates the need to use forklifts to carry pallets, and automatically moves multiple items from one location to another.

Tote retrievers – a machine that lifts totes and places them on conveyors automatically.

Automated guided vehicles – support robots that seamlessly drive around the site carrying items for people, reducing the amount of walking required and alleviating the need from employees to push and pull carts and totes.

The development and introduction of this technology is part of over €100bn invested in Europe by Amazon since 2010. Amazon has continued to create jobs at the same time, now employing more than 200,000 people in permanent roles across Europe. In 2021 alone, Amazon created more than 65,000 new permanent positions across its European businesses.

Stefano La Rovere, Director, Worldwide Robotics Advanced Technology at Amazon, said: “Throughout its history, Amazon has invested in technology and innovation to support our employees in their daily roles, improving safety at work and providing customers with fast and reliable delivery.

“In just three years, we’ve invested more than €400m in research and development and introducing more than 550 new pieces of new technology into Amazon’s fulfilment centres across Europe. What’s exciting is we’ve only just begun, with more cutting-edge technologies being invented that will be deployed over the coming years.”

Technology supports the creation of new roles

The investment in technology has made it possible for people to develop new skills or take on new roles. To support skills development, Amazon’s Career Choice program provides funding of up to €8,000 over four years for nationally recognised courses, including in IT and robotics. New roles created as a result of this technology investment include:

AR Tech: Engineers who use Kindles showing a virtual map of the Amazon Robotics floor to identify safe entry/exit paths so they can collect robotic drive units carrying products for maintenance.

Amnesty Floor Monitor: These employees use the same Kindle systems to plan paths onto the robotics floor to retrieve items that have fallen from shelves.

Quarterback: These roles manage a team of Amnesty Floor Monitors (above) using a live map of all live Amazon Robotics floors in the building to coordinate their movements and provide guidance on the quickest route to fallen items.

 

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