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Tag: logistics

Logistics Hall of Fame Council meets in Berlin

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The finalists for this year´s induction into the international Logistics Hall of Fame have been selected. On July 7th, the Logistics Hall of Fame Council nominated six personalities at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Three candidates reached the final for the “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” award. In the run-up, 24 valid proposals from all over the world had been received by the award organisation. The lists of candidates for both awards are traditionally secret and are not published.

The members of the Logistics Hall of Fame Council 2022 are: Dr. Atif Askar (Head of Business Development, Strategy and M&A, TRATON SE), Marten Bosselmann (Chairman Bundesverband Paket & Expresslogistik (BIEK) e.V.), Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann (Professor for Sustainability Management, EBS University for Business and Law), Oliver Luksic MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital and Transport), Dr. Michael Niedenthal (Head of Department, traffic policy, Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V.), Matthias Rathmann (Editor-in-Chief trans aktuell), Sascha Schmel (Managing Director of the Association for Materials Handling and Intralogistics in the VDMA), Dr. Martin Schwemmer (Managing Director, Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL) e.V.) and Anita Würmser (Jury Chairwoman of the Logistics Hall of Fame).

Matthias Klug, Senior Director Brand Differentiation KION Industrial Trucks & Services EMA (KION IST EMEA), has assumed the office of election commissioner in 2022.

For the Logistics Hall of Fame, the next phase of the selection process will now begin: Who will enter the Hall of Fame as a new member and who will be awarded “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” will be decided in the coming weeks by the jury, which is made up of around 70 internationally renowned sector experts from business, media and politics, including Logistics Business News Editor Peter MacLeod.

The Logistics Hall of Fame documents the major milestones in logistics. The decisive factor for induction is that his or her work has made a significant and lasting contribution to the advancement of logistics beyond the boundaries of the company itself. To date, 37 men and women have been inducted to the Hall of Fame.

The “TRATON Logistics Leader of the Year” is awarded to the pacesetters and future leaders in the logistics industry. The focus is on topicality and the benefits for the own company as well as innovative strength, sustainability and corporate change. The award is given by the Logistics Hall of Fame and donated by TRATON SE.

Both awards will be presented at the annual gala reception.

The Logistics Hall of Fame was founded in 2003 and honours leading figures who have made outstanding efforts to promote the further development of logistics and supply chain management. This eternal pantheon is also designed to remind future generations of the achievements of these individuals in the service of logistics. The aim of the Logistics Hall of Fame is to act as a worldwide platform to publicise the performance capability of logistics and its importance for society. The Logistics Hall of Fame is a non-profit initiative supported by the world of politics, associations, the logistics industry and logistics science. The patron is Dr. Volker Wissing, German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport.

CAPTION (left to right): Matthias Rathmann, Dr. Martin Schwemmer, Anita Würmser, Sascha Schmel, Oliver Luksic, Marten Bosselmann, Dr. Atif Askar, Dr. Michael Niedenthal and Prof. Dr. Julia Hartmann.

E-Commerce technologies showcase at IMHX

Posted on by David Priestman

During an era where the only certainty is uncertainty and consumer demands are evolving at a rapid pace, IMHX 2022 will provide logistics and E-commerce fulfilment professionals with an essential opportunity to discover technologies that keep them one step ahead, says IMHX 2022 Event Director, Rob Fisher.

Covid-19 – and the lockdowns introduced in an effort to restrict its spread among the population – changed the way goods are stored, picked and moved to the consumer dramatically, with the switch to online shopping in particular forcing retailers and their logistics partners to radically rethink and rapidly adapt well-established working practices.

The pace of change was breathtaking. Ten years of forecasted E-commerce growth occurred during the first month of the first national lockdown in 2020, and between February and October of 2021 the value of online sales in total retail sales grew from 19.6% to 28.5%.

The logistics sector’s ability to scale-up and adapt its services in response to such massive and rapid changes in consumer spending patterns was hugely impressive and without the expertise and dedication of the industry there can be little doubt that the public would have found the restrictive lockdown conditions even more difficult to live with.

For warehouse or distribution centre operators the need to keep pace with the shift away from bulk deliveries to retail stores towards the fulfilment of individual online orders directly to the consumer has necessitated significant adjustments across all aspects of the warehouse operation.

For instance, the E-commerce boom prompted many storage operations to reconsider their order picking methodologies. In particular, the space constraints generated by the need to hold more SKUs and the shorter pick times and quicker throughput rates needed to meet the delivery expectations of internet shoppers meant that storage solutions had to be rethought to make the most of the people and (in the majority of cases) limited space available.

A plethora of systems and solutions specifically developed to meet the distinct needs of online retailers and their fulfilment operations will be under the spotlight at the forthcoming IMHX 2022 (6-8 September, NEC, Birmingham).

Narrow Aisle Ltd, for example, will demonstrate the benefits of the Easi-Pick, a compact ride-on electric-powered vertical order picker designed specifically with e-fulfilment operations in mind.

The Easi-Pick delivers hugely improved productivity and increased safety for warehouse staff as they carry out a range of picking duties at both lower levels and at height within warehouse aisles. Its ability to work in very narrow aisles (VNA) means 30% more pallet and shelving locations can be designed into storage systems compared to traditional wide aisle operations.

Meanwhile, a range of storage and picking technology ideal for equipping ‘dark stores’ – the new breed of micro-fulfilment centres that are widely regarded as one of the most exciting online retail developments to emerge from the pandemic, will be highlighted by Bito Storage Systems.

Dark stores require shelving, pick and pack desks, picking trolleys, plastic containers, labelling, cupboards and lockers and having a one stop supplier is an important consideration for any micro fulfilment company that does not want to spend valuable time contacting a multitude of different providers. Dark store operators will be able to find everything they need on Bito Storage Systems’ stand.

Of course, the internet shopping boom has resulted in a substantial and sustained hike in the amount of cardboard required by internet traders to construct the boxes that protect their E-commerce orders in transit. Indeed, an estimated five billion corrugated boxes are used in the UK alone each year, so it is important that online retailers and their fulfilment partners – who are among the biggest users of cardboard packaging material – embrace a commitment to sustainable and more eco-friendly packaging, not just as a key component of their corporate social responsibility efforts, but as a way of optimising both operational and financial efficiency and driving supply chain performance.

A simple way for internet retailers and the logistics companies who fulfil orders on their behalf to slash the volume of cardboard that they use across their business is to ensure that, when goods are being packed prior to leaving the warehouse, they are put into an appropriately sized cardboard box

Sparck Technologies (formerly Packaging by Quadient) will use IMHX to demonstrate its eco-conscious packaging technology that creates fit-to-size boxes for every consignment quickly and efficiently. For example, Sparck’s CVP Impack automated packaging solution can pack up to 500 parcels per hour and requires only one operator while the CVP Everest model packs up to 1,100 parcels per hour with two operators.

Narrow Aisle, Bito and Sparck are just three of literally hundreds of exhibiting companies who will ensure that logistics and E-commerce fulfilment professionals leave IMHX 2022 having seen the very latest technological advancements that will enable them to meet the expectations of today’s increasingly demanding online shoppers.

Road freight prices break records as fuel costs soar

Posted on by David Priestman

The latest TEG price index data reveals road transport businesses passing soaring operating costs onto customers – as June’s average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles reaches 18% more than three years ago, and its highest level so far in 2022.

road-freight-prices-break-records-fuel-costs-soarThe average price-per-mile for haulage and courier vehicles has jumped from 103.1 points in June 2019 to 122.0 points in June 2022, according to the TEG Price Index – a rise of 18% over the three-year period.

In the last year alone, the TEG index shows a year-on-year price-per-mile increase of 4.3 points.

This surge in what hauliers and couriers are charging comes against a backdrop of record-high fuel prices in the UK: 167p for petrol and 180p for diesel.

With fuel prices and inflation continuing to soar, road freight businesses are facing an ever-tightening squeeze on their profit margins, leaving them with little choice but to increase the price of their services.

The year-on-year index figure has climbed consistently every month since the start of 2021. This reflects the cost pressures building in the road freight industry over the last 18 months, including the driver shortage, rising salaries and a hike in companies’ national insurance payments. In the face of these issues, the sector will have to show more of its customary resilience.

Freight profit squeeze means higher consumer prices

According to the Road Haulage Association, fuel represents over a third of a truck’s operating costs, and profit margins are between 1% and 2%. So every penny counts, with increases in fuel prices having a massive impact on businesses’ bottom lines.

The industry has called for an essential user rebate, which would cut fuel costs for hauliers and, ultimately, help reduce costs for the end consumer.

The need for relief from runaway inflation is becoming increasingly urgent. For 60% of the UK public, total bills are higher than income, according to researchers at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

Lyall Cresswell, CEO at Transport Exchange Group and new platform Integra, says: “From operational costs to ongoing driver shortages, we hear about industry issues every day from our members. However, they’re coping admirably with the pressures and the constantly shifting landscape.

“With consumer confidence at a record low, we may well see a slowdown in demand for road freight, as fewer people shop online. But this might actually give the industry a little breathing room, softening the impact of driver shortages and supply chain bottlenecks.

“Nobody really knows what the future has in store, but we’re obviously very keen to see an essential user rebate. There’s no question that hauliers and couriers are essential users and such a move would provide some respite for the industry – and consumers.”

Kirsten Tisdale, Director of Logistics Consultants Aricia Limited and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, says: “The TEG Road Transport Price Index continues to give insight into the UK freight market. The ever-tightening squeeze on the profits of the road transport sector and the impact on customers can also be seen in the latest Business Insights survey by the Office for National Statistics, where 1 in 8 of the responses for Transport & Storage companies indicated that they were having to seek financial support (up from zero in the previous survey where this question was asked), aggravated by the trend for increased stockpiling.”

 

‘Business as usual’ is no longer an option

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As the environmental impact of supply chain activities is more widely understood, now is the time for supply chain professionals to prioritise sustainability in their logistics plans in order to be both successful and make a positive global impact, says IMHX 2022 Event Director, Rob Fisher

Glasgow’s COP26 in November 2021 shone a light on the impact that freight and logistics have on the. planet and the general consensus among industry leaders is that the ‘business as usual’ approach is simply no longer an option if a sustainable future is going to be achieved.

And, as socially aware brands with an authentic commitment to minimising negative environmental impact continue to sway consumers, it comes as no surprise that sustainability has emerged as a new frontier.  Quite simply it is an issue that is impacting  the long-term viability of every business, which means that today’s supply chain professionals must understand how to effectively build sustainability into their logistics plans for future success.

As the official theme of IMHX 2022, sustainability has been woven into every element of this year’s event experience, enabling logisticians to put a laser focus on effectively tackling sustainability. A ground-breaking Sustainability Zone will be one of the major highlights, which combines physical displays, augmented reality, and virtual reality demonstrations to give visitors a ‘deep dive’ into readily-available technologies that companies operating in the supply chain space can implement to make sure they perform as sustainably as possible.

Prominently located within the main IMHX exhibition hall, the Sustainability Zone, which is being delivered in partnership with SEC Storage, will be set across 300 square metres and will allow visitors to take away everything they need to develop an effective sustainability policy or benchmark their existing strategy against examples from some of the most successful companies in the industry.

Of course, with global energy prices soaring, the commercial incentive for operating in an environmentally conscious way has never been greater. With many of the world’s leading MHE manufacturers highlighting the latest developments in power sources and fuel cell technology, IMHX 2022 will be the perfect opportunity to see the latest carbon-reducing offerings from many of the world’s leading forklift bra

For example, as part Combilift’s drive to help customers achieve their aims of more sustainable operations, over 60% of the company’s output is now electric. Recent models such as the Combi-XLE and now the Combi-FSE focus on heavier duty application for industry sectors such as timber, steel, tubes & pipes and builders merchants.  Thanks to Combilift’s immense engineering and design experience, the Combi-FSE delivers on all aspects of reliability, durability, powerful performance and ease of maintenance, combined of course with the quiet and emission free electric operation that more and more customers are demanding.

And, one of the IMHX 2022 Sustainability Zone’s sponsors is Intelligent Energy – a leading fuel cell development and manufacturing business. With over 30 years’ experience in the production of zero-emission fuel cells that generate clean, quiet, efficient, zero-emission power for a wide range of applications, including material handling equipment. Intelligent Energy will be showcasing a plug-and-play hydrogen battery replacement system that takes just a couple of minutes to recharge, which makes it a great power source for large forklift fleets operating within busy distribution and manufacturing centres.

Because today’s retailers and manufacturers want to be able to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainable goals they expect their logistics services providers or online fulfilment partners to be in a position to do the same, so for logistics professionals seeking sustainable supply chain solutions that will create stronger, more ecologically considerate operations, a day or two at IMHX 2022 is essential.

IMHX 2022 takes place from 6 – 8 September at the NEC, Birmingham.

Rising fuel prices accelerate switch to EVs

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Half (50%) of UK businesses reliant on fleets to operate have accelerated their transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as spikes in fuel prices continue to hammer diesel-powered vehicle users, according to new research from Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud.

The research, which sought the views of 1,500 operational leaders including 200 in the UK, also reveals 84% of those in the UK’s industrial, manufacturing, and logistics industries see increasing the sustainability of their operations as a “high” or “critical” priority — and 61% will up their investment in sustainability measures in 2022.

The full study, presented in a new 2022 State of Connected Operation Report, reveals an eagerness among UK leaders to make a measurable impact on decarbonisation. Around four in 10 (38%) have already implemented a formal sustainability programme, with a further 59% planning to do this in 2022 to curb emissions.

The figures for the UK echo industry-wide moves across the globe to embrace a shift towards sustainability within industrial, manufacturing, retail, and service supply chains. Key priorities for sustainability programmes over the next five years include:

  • 81% plan to hire leadership personnel to drive forward sustainability initiatives
  • 86% plan to invest more in technology to support more sustainable operations
  • 89% will develop KPIs and quantitative performance targets for sustainability initiatives
  • 87% intend to market their sustainability efforts to customers

“These findings are unequivocal. The logistics and road haulage industry is committed to embracing environmental sustainability, which has been brought into sharp focus with skyrocketing fuel prices and customer pressures. We’re seeing a strong appetite to move to mixed fuel, combining compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric or complete EV adoption,” said Philip van der Wilt, VP & General Manager, Samsara, EMEA.

“Business leaders are turning words into action, putting investment in EVs and environmental sustainability as priorities for 2022. Organisations are setting concrete goals and investing in technology to deliver more sustainable operations,” added Philip van der Wilt.

To find out more, CLICK HERE to read the State of Connected Operations Report.

Hödlmayr optimises internal vehicle logistics processes

Posted on by David Priestman

Hödlmayr International AG continues to make progress with its digitalisation strategy. This includes the end-to-end digitalisation of internal logistics processes for around 500,000 vehicles annually. For the areas of yard and workshop management, the Austrian vehicle logistics expert relies on the SYNCROTESS solution from the Aachen-based software company INFORM. The project will initially start at Hödlmayr’s four Austrian locations and will then be expanded to all other locations in Europe.

Starting with the company headquarters in Schwertberg, east of Linz, the cooperation of the vehicle logistics expert Hödlmayr with the internationally active software company INFORM from Aachen begins. There and at three other Austrian locations in Vienna, Wiener Neustadt and Graz, the new systems based on operations research and artificial intelligence will replace the previous in-house developments of the Austrian family-owned company. It is planned to connect all European locations with the new software over a period of four years.

Digital decision support in the yard and in the workshop

Hödlmayr specialises in the entire supply chain of vehicle logistics, from the takeover of vehicles from the factory or port of entry to delivery to the fleet owner, vehicle dealer or end customer by means of home delivery. With around 600 vehicle transporters and 20 block train systems, the company operates one of the largest transport fleets in Europe.

In 12 vehicle logistics centres, the company stores, maintains, checks, services and modifies new and used cars, commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. The 1,590 employees handle over 1.7 million vehicles annually.

In the long term, the parking space and workshop processes of all logistics centres are to be planned, controlled and optimised with the help of a uniform, but regionally configurable IT solution. “It was important to us that we create a uniform, flexible IT solution for all compounds of the Hödlmayr Group. The standard solution from INFORM supports us in this. This allows us to react independently, flexibly and as quickly as possible to new process and customer requirements,” says Robert Horvath, CFO and Board Member of Hödlmayr International AG.

“Mathematical optimisation algorithms and artificial intelligence processes will recalculate by the second which tasks need to be carried out with which resources, where and in which order, so that the respective location operates optimally,” says Hartmut Haubrich, Director Vehicle Logistics at INFORM.

“In Hödlmayr’s case, the algorithms will in future take over, for example, the allocation of vehicle movements to employees, the selection of parking spaces and the sequence of orders to be processed in the workshops. This automatic scheduling will take place in a central control station on the basis of the rules defined for each location.

“In addition, media disruptions are avoided, as data from all relevant sources converge in the solution. This enables Hödlmayr to manage by exception, i.e., the dispatchers only intervene in special cases, but for their part have holistic transparency of the condition and status of each vehicle and order,” adds Haubrich.

Transaid puts the focus on public transport gender equality

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Transaid has completed a major three-year project helping to broaden the understanding of the challenges faced by young women and girls as users of public transport in less accessible parts of three major African cities. It also looked at the steps which could be taken to help improve their opportunities for work in what is a highly gendered transport environment.

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and implemented jointly with Durham University, it saw research teams formed in Abuja, Nigeria; Cape Town, South Africa; and Tunis, Tunisia.

These teams then engaged with female commuters to gather detailed information on the challenges faced when accessing public transport. In all three countries this research proved crucial, leading to the development of safe transport charters around the primary forms of public transport in each city – including minibus taxis and commercial buses.

Edward O’Connor, Programmes Support Manager at Transaid, says: “We developed and rolled out a guiding document for transport associations and transport operators to address, with a gender lens, the challenges faced by female passengers.

“For example, in Cape Town, where minibus taxis are widely used, this took the form of a concise guide which outlined commuter rights, the responsibilities of transport associations, and included contact numbers for reporting complaints, particularly in relation to gender-based violence. This was done in combination with gender-based violence awareness and sensitisation sessions which we carried out directly with male drivers on taxi ranks in the city periphery.”

The other focus of the project was around implementing skills training for women working in the transport sector, largely developed using Transaid’s experience in implementing transport management systems. Due to Covid-19, this training for Tunis comprised a mixture of remote and in-person sessions, including guest speaker inputs from Peter Robinson, Director – Bus Development, at Go-Ahead, and Sara Youssoufi, Manager of Operations from ALSA (Morocco), a major passenger transport operator.

Explaining the importance of the training, O’Connor adds: “We know that if transport management generally improves, it can lead to improved maintenance and better operations. And if this can be achieved, then it can lead to a positive impact for the user’s experience – particularly with regards to safety.”

One female transport worker who took part in the workshops in Cape Town, commented afterwards: “As black women in the industry we are quite invisible, and it was nice to see women standing up and seeing how intelligent they are and how many ideas they have.”

Another, the daughter of a minibus taxi owner, said: “Before being involved in this project, I didn’t have an interest in the industry as it was always connected to violence, but now I feel a sense of cohesion and belonging.”

Transaid also worked with a local film crew to create a short film addressing women’s safety concerns when using motorcycle taxis. Developed in three languages, the 11-minute film equips passengers with the points to consider before choosing this form of public transport.

Caroline Barber, CEO of Transaid, says: “Women in many parts of Africa face real discrimination in the transport sector, both as passengers and as employees. This affects their wider access to work, education and training in every sector, making this one of the most important projects we’ve delivered in recent years.

“The timing of this work, starting just before the pandemic, really tested the agility of our team to deliver multiple practical interventions across different countries within a relatively short timeframe. Despite this, we’re really pleased with the progress we made and the many different groups and communities we were able to positively impact.”

This project was made possible with the support of local partners, including the Ministry of Transport, Al HOSN Energy Consulting, Sustain Consulting and Tounissiet in Tunis; Sokoto University, the University of Jos and Girls Voices Initiative in Nigeria; and the University of Cape Town, Sonke Gender Justice and the SANTACO in South Africa.

Perfect retrofit recipe for Almi

Posted on by David Priestman

To form resilient value chains to uphold delivery commitments to customers, you need high-performance intralogistics. Almi, the spice specialist based in the Upper Austria region, commissioned TGW Logistics Group to update its warehouse in Oftering. The TGW experts implemented the project in record time – during ongoing operation and despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everyone’s got to eat! For Almi, a manufacturer of spice blends, the truth reflected in this proverb is a curse and blessing at once. It’s a blessing because the company, whose strategy is focused on diversification and internationalisation, has experienced constant growth since its founding in 1931. From dilettante to dedicated, gourmets at every level in 62 countries enjoy foods seasoned with high-quality Almi products – from asparagus soup to organic chicken. The Upper Austrian company earns approx. €132m in sales per year, with almost 90% of the products being exported.

Retrofit during live operation

However, success in the food industry has its price. Customers get hungry even on holidays. This means that, unlike other industries in which production shuts down during vacation periods, Almi cannot afford lengthy breaks. This poses major time management challenges for larger-scale construction or modernisation projects.

This was also true of the retrofit of the automated tote warehouse with approximately 10,000 storage locations. To continue to uphold delivery commitments and lay the foundation for future growth, the family-owned enterprise ruled out the prospect of expanding its facilities. “Sustainability is of great importance to Almi. We do not want to pave over more green areas, so we decided from the beginning to optimise the existing facility so that we will be well equipped for the future,” reports Stefan Lackinger, Almi’s Production Manager.

In 2006, Almi built a warehouse on a parcel of land of approx. 28,000 sq m, with the contract going to TGW. The heart of the system is the automatic mini-load warehouse with three aisles, tote buffer, and carton, tote and pallet conveyor systems on three levels. To boost the performance of the intralogistics, the system was equipped with energy-efficient conveyor technology. However, Almi did not rest on its laurels. In 2017, the seasoning specialist commissioned TGW to update the warehouse management system (WMS).

Together into a green future

Almi was very pleased with how the update went. As a result, Almi selected TGW as a partner of choice to join it on the path to a green future. The initial impulse came from the TGW retrofit experts, who presented a concept made up of multiple components: changing out a storage and retrieval machine, replacing the mechatronics of the Commissioner lifting beam system, updating three transfer carriages and one belt-driven lift, and implementing new control technology.

The retrofit specialists offered Almi proactive suggestions after seeing in the documentation that a few components were outdated. There was a danger that if they broke down, they would become more expensive or not available at all. TGW put together multiple variants, from which Almi selected one. “In the retrofit area, each project is customer-specific – therefore, experience is of tremendous importance,” emphasises Josef Fritz, Sales Project Manager at TGW.

Mustang E+ energy-efficient storage and retrieval machines

A portion of the investment, which was in the mid-six figures, was designated to replacing the storage and retrieval machine. TGW provided a Mustang E+ storage and retrieval machine of the latest generation. Its advantages: it weighs less than older units and, unlike them, has a state-of-the-art control system and does not require anti-oscillation technology. This makes it possible to save energy.

The world of retrofitting is, in theory, similar to good food: even the best recipe may not turn out so delicious if the cook is inexperienced. TGW looks back on more than half a century of experience, with the retrofit area in particular experiencing strong growth. The system integrator now handles five times as many retrofit projects annually as it did ten years ago – and proceeds systematically for each project. “A system downtime would be a disaster for any supply chain manager,” emphasises Markus Kammerhofer, Director of Sales Retrofit at TGW.

Over the years, TGW has compiled a list of seven success factors:

  • Consider the lead time and start early enough
  • Choose experienced partners and project managers
  • Develop a structured plan
  • Integrate specially developed retrofit solutions
  • Create a comprehensive functional specification
  • Clearly define migration phases
  • Intensive employee training

Planning and preparation as success factors

The first meeting was held in early 2021, while in the summer, the team drafted a project plan, with the functional specifications following. The experts then defined the migration steps and the tight schedule. The timeline set the bar high for all those involved. The objective: executing the entire project around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to reduce the standstill to a minimum.

The TGW specialists arrived on December 21 and stayed at Almi until January 7, 2022, working every day except New Year’s Eve. However, the tight schedule was not the only challenge.

“All steps up to the go-live on January 7 had to be planned in detail,” says Fritz. Nevertheless, it was not possible to fully complete the project by January 6 as the plan had originally called for. However, this was not the fault of TGW. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide supply chain bottlenecks, the hardware was not replaced until April – at the weekends.

Energy savings of up to 20%

Despite the difficulties encountered, the projects were successfully completed in late April 2022. Lackinger, the Almi Production Manager, is highly satisfied with the result. He reports that the retrofit boosted system availability, while also lowering the cost of spare parts for maintenance work. The company’s green logistics strategy is also taking an important step forward – compliance with the ISO 50002 energy audit being just one example.

“Energy savings of up to 20% are now possible in intralogistics. In the past, unneeded braking energy of the storage and retrieval machine was simply lost. Now we feed it directly back into the grid. Thanks to the modernisation done by our partner TGW, we look to a greener future with confidence.”

 

Face Consultants boosts presence in Spain with acquisition

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Face Consultants Ltd and Qualidal have acquired Eurostick S.L., Spain’s market leader in the testing, consulting, and on-site supervision of industrial floors for the logistics sector. Face Consultants, part of the CoGri Group of companies, is a global flooring consultant providing design, surveying, and testing for industrial and commercial concrete flooring. Qualidal, part of Flat Ingenierie, is the market leader in France for independent control and consulting in industrial slabs.

Face Consultants and Qualidal’s joint venture, through their respective group companies, will bring an extended range of flooring services under the Eurostick name. Based in Madrid, the new partnership will provide extended floor flatness testing, design, and consultancy services. Also, floor repairs, and upgrading flatness of very narrow aisle and automated warehouses for the latest robotics systems.

“We are delighted to be establishing an even stronger presence in Spain, collaborating with Qualidal to bring a full range of flooring services, from floor design through to the upgrading of existing floors,” said Kevin Dare (pictured, second left), Face Consultants Managing Director. “I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Beth and Ignacio Sánchez Salinero of Eurostick, S.L., for their partnership with us over the previous 20-plus years. Beth and Ignacio will retain the functions of director at Eurostick and ensure the continuity of the projects.

“E-commerce in Spain remains one of the key drivers of logistics. The purchase and leasing of warehouse space across Spain have increased considerably compared to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Market surveys suggest that a higher level of quality logistics facilities is now being built.

“However, floor flatness is often something that many do not consider until they explore automated systems or sophisticated materials handling equipment, and sometimes not until after they have acquired it. Just because your building is newly built or refurbished doesn’t mean the floor is ‘fit for purpose’.”

Dare concludes: “Face Consultants and Qualidal have many years of experience in testing and upgrading concrete floors to ensure they are suitable for your warehouse operations. We are delighted to provide these services throughout Spain and beyond.”

Eurostick’s head office will remain in Madrid, but the address will be changing in the next few weeks. Ignacio and Beth’s roles and responsibilities will devolve over the next 12 to 24 months. A new General Manager has been engaged to head up Eurostick and an announcement regarding this will be made soon.

The incoming General Manager has stated: “I am excited to be working with Kevin Dare at Face Consultants and Marc Pestel-Debord at Qualidal under the Eurostick name. Also, to be able to tap into the wealth of knowledge gained over many years by these highly regarded companies. It means that we can provide an extended range of flooring services to the Spanish warehouse marketplace during a time of considerable retail and e-Commerce change.”

DHL to invest £482m in UK E-commerce operation

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DHL is planning to invest £482m across its UK E-commerce operation, DHL Parcel UK. The investment follows a 40% volume uplift since the start of 2020 amid soaring demand for its E-commerce and B2B services.

The expansion project is designed to deliver the right infrastructure to facilitate growth as well as putting the business at the forefront of sustainable and digital logistics.

Nearly half of the investment will be in a brand new 25,000 sq m hub in SEGRO Park Coventry Gateway, located south of Coventry Airport. The new facility will have the capacity to handle over 500,000 items per day and is expected to create over 600 new jobs including warehouse, driver, administration and management positions.

The new hub will feature secure bonded storage and customs capabilities to support international E-commerce, a 48-door cross-dock facility and state-of-the-art mechanisation, allowing automatic sortation of mixed sized and weight items through high-speed sortation equipment.

The building has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ status to minimise its environmental impact through design features such as 7,000 sq m of solar panels, LED lighting and landscaping to protect the natural biodiversity of the area. As well as incorporating EV charging points for cars, the site will also be equipped with LGV electric charging points throughout and sustainable fuel capabilities to pre-empt technology developments in larger vehicles over the coming years.

An initial £64m will be invested in upgrading the company’s fleet with a major focus on alternative fuel vehicles. The fleet investment includes six fully electric 18-tonne trucks, 30 Liquified Natural Gas (bio-LNG) trucks, and 18 electric tugs. This roll-out will be followed by further sustainable fleet investment going forward.

The investment in sustainable infrastructure and vehicles supports Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability strategy which is in line with the Paris Agreement through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In total, Deutsche Post DHL Group will spend €7bn in sustainable fuel and clean technologies by 2030.

Finally, the business will also invest over £190m to create 10 brand new collection and delivery depots across the UK, and 20 more existing sites will be expanded. The new and expanded depots will create an additional 3,500 jobs across the country. The locations of the new sites have been strategically chosen to reduce the distance required to serve customers, enabling further roll-out of electric vans and improving speed of service.

Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL Parcel UK, says: “This investment is a real demonstration of the excellent work our people and partners have delivered over the past two years to get us to the level of growth where major expansion is required to meet customer demand. E-commerce is going to continue to shape the world around us. This investment, along with the strength of the DHL brand and our leading approach to digitalisation and sustainability, will put us in a strong position to take advantage of market growth.”

Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone, says: “DHL’s investment into the heart of the Midlands is testament to the success of inward investors in the UK, and is the latest example of our investment strategy and the Government’s levelling-up agenda delivering results.

“With investment comes jobs and a boost to local economies, so I look forward to seeing the Midlands continue to flourish and promoting our commitment for a cleaner and greener future.”

 

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