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Tag: logistics

Strategic Partnership Drives Automation Innovation

Posted on by David Priestman

Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, is leveraging SEER Robotics’ technology to transform its logistics and production processes through a strategic partnership. With a strong presence in energy efficiency and automation, Schneider Electric continues to push the envelope in smart manufacturing by integrating intelligent robots and advanced logistics management systems into its global operations.

Schneider Electric: A Pioneer in Smart Manufacturing

Schneider Electric’s commitment to innovation has earned several of its global production facilities the prestigious title of “Lighthouse Factories,” which are recognized as the benchmarks of the industry. These factories stand as a testament to Schneider Electric’s unwavering dedication to advancing automation and smart manufacturing.

But the journey to becoming an industry leader doesn’t end with technology—it’s about how they leverage that technology to improve operational efficiency and safety across their operations. That’s where SEER Robotics enters the picture, providing vital support in optimizing logistics and warehouse automation.

Driving the Future of Logistics

Since 2021, Schneider Electric has been gradually introducing SEER Robotics’ smart logistics solutions into its core factories in Shanghai, Wuxi, and beyond. These solutions are designed to optimize production workflows, drive efficiency, and reduce operational costs, ensuring that the company maintains its competitive edge.

In 2024, Schneider Electric took another significant step forward by partnering with SEER Robotics at its U.S. manufacturing site in Tennessee. The collaboration introduced SEER Robotics’ Laser SLAM-powered intelligent forklifts and the M4 Smart Logistics Management System to optimize warehouse operations. These technologies are enabling Schneider Electric to streamline its warehouse processes, reduce manual labor, and enhance overall productivity—empowering them to maintain a smooth flow from semi-finished product lines to storage.

Smart Solutions for a Smarter Future

Here’s a look at the key benefits of this smart logistics solution:

1. Laser SLAM Navigation for Greater Flexibility

SEER Robotics’ forklifts are equipped with Laser SLAM navigation technology, which ensures that they can operate in diverse and dynamic factory environments without the need for extensive site modifications. These autonomous forklifts boast an impressive repeat positioning accuracy of up to ±5mm, allowing them to perform precise tasks, such as moving goods across the factory floor, with ease.

2. Enhanced Safety with Refined Obstacle Avoidance

Safety is paramount when it comes to human-robot interaction. At Schneider Electric’s U.S. site, where smart forklifts frequently interact with human-operated ones, SEER Robotics’ system takes safety to the next level. The obstacle avoidance system was specifically optimized to meet the challenges of the warehouse environment, improving the accuracy of obstacle detection and ensuring that both workers and robots can operate safely side by side.

3. Interconnected Systems for Efficient Operations

The M4 Smart Logistics Management System integrates fleet management, task management, and warehouse management into a seamless, all-in-one solution. By linking the intelligent forklifts with the roller production lines, it ensures real-time coordination and boosts operational efficiency across the entire factory floor. This level of interconnectivity is transforming how Schneider Electric manages its production processes.

4. Adaptive Solutions for Non-Standard Applications

Industrial environments often come with unique challenges that require tailored solutions. SEER Robotics meets this challenge with standardized products that can be quickly adapted to different operational needs. At Schneider Electric’s U.S. facility, the forklift’s routing system was dynamically adjusted to optimize the movement of goods. Additionally, special attachments were added to pallets to allow seamless integration with robots and other smart devices, ensuring maximum efficiency across operations.

A Vision for the Future of Smart Logistics

This collaboration between SEER Robotics and Schneider Electric is more than just a technological integration. It’s a vision for the future of smart logistics. With advanced robotics and intelligent systems working in harmony, Schneider Electric is setting the stage for a new era of manufacturing that is efficient, safe, and adaptable to the evolving needs of the industry.

As more companies look to integrate smart solutions into their operations, Schneider Electric’s approach—backed by SEER Robotics’ innovations—demonstrates how technology is helping businesses not only meet today’s challenges but also prepare for the future.

SG Holdings Snaps Up Morrison Express

Posted on by David Priestman

SG Holdings, a leading Japanese logistics company, today announced its acquisition of Morrison Express, a global freight forwarding and logistics service provider renowned for its expertise in semiconductor and high-tech logistics. This strategic acquisition will enhance the capabilities of the SG Holdings Group, significantly expanding on its Asian market presence and strengthening its position as a global leader in specialized logistics services.

The acquisition brings together Morrison Express’s strong competitiveness in the technology sector, particularly in semiconductors and high-tech products, with the SG Holdings’ extensive logistics network and innovative supply chain solutions. Particularly in relation to the freight forwarding business, Morrison Express’ strength in air freight and high-tech verticals will be complementary with the ocean freight forwarding and commercial verticals (apparel and daily sundries) in which EFL Global, the Group’s core freight forwarding company, has its strengths. This complementary partnership, characterized by minimal overlap, creates a powerful synergy that will deliver enhanced value to customers across the globe.

“The acquisition will significantly enhance global network coverage, allowing the SG Holdings Group to provide better logistics solutions across different regions.” said Mr. Bokuto Yamauchi, the head of Global Strategy Department – SG Holdings and Chairman and CEO of the Expolanka Group. “Morrison Express’ established relationships within the technology sector and strong Asian market presence, combined with their expertise in semiconductor logistics, perfectly complements our existing capabilities and forward-thinking approach to supply chain management.”

The merger delivers immediate value to customers through enhanced operational efficiencies, powered by access to new resources, cutting-edge technology, and expanded infrastructure – all working in concert to provide faster, more reliable service. With an expanded geographic reach, the combined entity offers closer proximity to customers, ensuring more responsive support and service delivery. Customers will benefit from comprehensive end-to-end supply chain solutions spanning air, ocean, rail, and road freight, complemented by tailored solutions that leverage Morrison’s strong supplier and partner relationships in the technology sector.

This strategic merger reinforces the combined organization’s dedication to delivering high standards and innovative solutions across all service offerings. Through shared expertise and resources, the integration positions the company to stay ahead of evolving industry trends and exceed customer expectations in an increasingly dynamic global market.

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Tritax Big Box Acquires New Distribution Centre from Sainsburys

Posted on by Will Priestman

Tritax Big Box REIT has purchased the 650,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Haydock in an off-market deal for £75 million. The transaction represents a net initial yield of 6.0%.

The deal, which was arranged by commercial real estate firm Colliers, sees the REIT securing a well specified distribution warehouse which is strategically positioned to service the North West, located on junction 23 of the M6, between Liverpool and Manchester. The cross-dock distribution centre, with chilled and ambient spaces, is currently let to Sainsbury’s until 2038, with an uncapped RPI rent review due in 2028.

In 2024, the industrial market in the North West saw occupiers take-up 2.9million sq ft in units over 100,000 sq ft – a 21.5 per cent increase year-on-year. Rental growth in the region hit 7.5 per cent for the year, surpassing all other regional markets, including London.

Aaron Hulait, Transaction Director at Tritax Big Box, said: “This acquisition cements our commitment to carefully curating our portfolio based on our sector strength, experience and knowledge. We’re delivering on our objective of rotating out of non-strategic assets, inherited through the acquisition of UKCM, and redeploying capital into attractive logistics opportunities such as Haydock, which has strong build credentials as well as being sited in a location which will support evolving supply chain demands in the North West.”

Michael Kershaw, director in Colliers’ National Capital Markets team, was responsible for identifying and securing the opportunity for Tritax. He said: “The North West is always a strong market due to the cluster of regional cities with significant population sizes, which are really well served by the UK road network. This investment is uniquely positioned to perform very well; the combination of short-term uncapped RPI performance and medium-term rental performance is rare and attractive.”

The property was acquired from a private client of Mutual Finance. Founded by Raed Hanna, Mutual Finance provides real estate financing and debt solutions across commercial real estate asset classes and has arranged more than £50 billion in committed facilities during the last 30 years.

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Reducing Downtime In Logistics With Preventive Maintenance 

Posted on by David Priestman

Professionals working in the logistics and supply chain industry understand how important it is to reduce downtime in logistics and avoid idling workers so you don’t miss deadlines and frustrate your customers. They realize the critical role of preventative maintenance in keeping their operations moving smoothly and predictably. Accordingly, logistics professionals will want their maintenance team to work more proactively, rather than merely reacting to problems that occur randomly. This is especially the case in transportation where you must ensure the reliable functioning of vital equipment such as diesel engines. 

Benefits of a Proactive Maintenance Approach 

Adopting a proactive approach to maintenance instead of reacting means you can keep your valuable diesel equipment working longer, reducing the cost of ownership. Planned preventative maintenance makes repairs less expensive than urgent repair jobs that occur after engine failure. 

Practical Tips on Developing Effective Maintenance Schedules 

Make sure you have sufficient replacement parts and tools to support maintenance 

Examine your records to verify you’re keeping enough items in stock to support routine maintenance. If a manufacturer designates a part as needing to be replaced once every nine months but you have been swapping it out twice a year, you are wasting resources that you’ll need to replenish more often. It also takes time to restock these expensive parts more often than needed, which is money better spent elsewhere. 

Take a data-driven approach 

Gather and analyze data from your preventative maintenance activities so you can make better decisions about when it’s best to repair diesel equipment or when it’s time to replace it. Such information helps you optimize your maintenance schedule as you lubricate parts according to schedule or replace items before they’re expected to fail. 

Use advanced technologies 

Researching the latest and most advanced technologies can help your maintenance team work more effectively. For example, using a TEXA diagnostic kit gives you the same capability as a diesel engine dealer so you can take better care of your equipment. An advanced diagnostic kit gives you all the relevant information for diesel vehicle maintenance and repairs to detect issues, such as in engines, ABS systems and transmissions. 

The software enables you to issue DPF and SCR commands and conduct injector programming and resets to ensure that equipment functions at its best. 

Train your staff 

Give your staff the tools they need for success during the onboarding process of new recruits as well as in your ongoing educational efforts. You’ll train them to identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major breakdowns that would cost much more time, resources and money. Catastrophic breakdowns that shut down your supply chain until you fix the problem will cut your bottom line as well as endanger your reputation for providing consistent, on-time deliveries. 

Outsource your preventative maintenance program 

If you have been experiencing local labor shortages or higher-than-usual turnover in your maintenance crew, it might be time to consider outsourcing your company’s preventative maintenance efforts. Doing so enables you to focus on your company’s core capabilities while gaining the peace of mind that comes from knowing dedicated diesel maintenance experts are looking after your equipment on an ongoing basis. 

Preventative Maintenance Helps You Avoid Unplanned Downtime of Essential Transportation Equipment 

Savvy logistics professionals will establish or improve their maintenance schedules so they can work proactively to prevent major issues developing in their diesel engines and other crucial pieces of equipment. To that end, it’s prudent to use modern diagnostic software and hardware systems to keep watch over the state of the diesel engines your organization relies on. 

Staying updated on industry best practices, being aware of the latest technologies and providing ongoing training to your maintenance team will help you avoid unplanned downtime. Not only does this prevent work stoppages, but also it helps improve your bottom line since catching problems earlier makes it less expensive to maintain or repair components instead of having to outright replace them. 

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Logistics At Every Turn, Live

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As logistics partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team, DP World recently held an exclusive event for its customers and stakeholders at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Under the banner of ‘At Every Turn Live’, the conference featured a stellar line-up of speakers from the worlds of F1 and logistics, and discussed a wide range of topics including the implications for global trade of the US Election, the impact of AI on transport and logistics, supply chain resilience, and how adopting a ‘pit stop mentality’ can help businesses can take strategic pauses to reset and go again in unpredictable times.

The event, which was compered by Nicki Shields, well-known to motorsport fans as the presenter for Formula E’s TV coverage, got underway with opening remarks from Beat Simon, DP World Group Chief Operating Officer for Logistics, followed by an enlightening conversation between Beat and Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren F1 Team.

Beat believes the synergy between DP World and McLaren lies in an aspiration to propel and to be leading, as well aspassion and precision. “If you look at what happens in F1 or logistics, it’s about things having to work and an entire team working together to make things happen.”

The pair then handed over to innovation guru Dr Chris Brauer, who walked the captivated audience through how AI is shaping today’s business landscape. “It’s a time when collaborations between humans and technology will reshape the world in ways we can only begin to imagine.” He described AI as “one of the most remarkable innovations in the history of civilisation,” going on to highlight areas where it can play a significant role, such as sustainability, and used an example of how the NHS has used AI to optimise its supply chain for short-life blood products, helping to reduce waste, overstocking and guaranteeing supply.

Independent Trade Economist Dr. Rebecca Harding then took the audience on an interactive journey, encouraging them to participate in real-time decision-making as a means to illustrate how global challenges are affecting today’s business landscape and how these may be overcome. With a focus on maritime trade, she workshopped a scenario using real-world examples of the threats supply chains are coming under and concluded with the line: “This was not fiction. Everything we have seen and said today is actually happening.”

Pit Stop Mentality

Peter MacLeod, Editor of Logistics Business Magazine, hosted a panel of three under the ‘Pit Stop Mentality’ title, featuring retail and consumer trends guru Mary Portas, OBE, economist John Ferguson and Hans van der Eijk, Senior Vice President Sales & Account Management Contract Logistics at DP World Europe. The discussion focused on the evolution of logistics and retail, emphasising the shift from physical stores to online efficiency and the impact of COVID-19 on consumer behaviour. Key points included the rise of “beautiful businesses” which prioritise societal roles, the importance of community connection, and the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory management. The conversation also highlighted the significance of sustainability, with businesses integrating recycling and local sourcing.

Additionally, this session touched on the psychological aspects of staying ahead, drawing parallels between motorsport and business leadership, emphasising resilience, motivation, and decision-making under pressure.

Interviewed by BBC chief presenter Maryam Moshiri as part of another panel under the heading ‘Global Race, Global Reach’, Beat Simon summed up DP World’s view on a changing geopolitical landscape by saying logistics is like water: “We are always looking for the easiest way to flow.” Addressing supply chain visibility, he described eloquently how the term can now be applied all the way down to SKU level, giving freight forwarders unprecedented knowledge of the status of a particular shipment. In today’s geopolitical landscape, building resilient supply chains may imply additional costs. Scenario planning is key in planning ahead, remaining agile and ensuring competitiveness.

Cyber Attack Protection

Sir John Sawers, former chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service MI6, talked about cybercrime, expressing surprise at how the fear of 10 years ago – of some kind of digital Armageddon – has not happened, but that the threat has instead moved into the world of denial of service attacks of businesses, many of which are happy to pay a ransom rather than risk business disruption. His experience of global affairs led to a fascinating look at how countries are putting mechanisms in place to prevent similar attacks affecting governmental systems.

Matthew Griffin, a leading futurist, said the proceeds from digital/cyber crime is generating revenues of $1.2 trillion, growing at 125% each year. “As we see the levels of cybercrime increase dramatically, your cyber budgets will increase by two-to-three per cent each year.” He described how GPT4 agents have been used to hack into 53% of military systems within two minutes, and how autonomous, adaptable, multi-sensory smart cyber defence systems are now being developed in an attempt to counter this threat.

Sir John said businesses should prepare for events they may not have thought about before, and to consider how they are going to survive if a crucial supply line is threatened. Beat Simon agreed, adding: “Plan for the unexpected.”

Beat Simon welcomed the fact that DP Word’s customers are starting to take climate change very seriously, citing events such as the reduction in capacity of the Panama Canal as a very obvious impact of the crisis, but Sir John said a reversal of US policy may threaten global targets set by the Paris Agreement. Griffin, responding to a question from the audience about the cost of sustainability, said the ultimate target for a business is to be sustainable as well as offering products at a competitive cost. With growing energy costs, this seems challenging at first sight, but renewable energy costs are decreasing, and nearshoring can both cut transport costs and reduce carbon consumption. Taking fast fashion as an example, referencing Mary Portas’ earlier contribution, he cited lab-grown cotton as a way to make this consumer habit more sustainable.

Lessons from McLaren

Formula 1 fans in the audience had plenty of content to keep them engaged; as well as a tour of the McLaren F1 Team factory and a close-up look at some of the brand’s most iconic racing machinery, Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing addressed the audience alongside two-time F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen. The pair covered considerable ground, dating from their starts in motorsport as young boys all the way up to the latest Grand Prix. Häkkinen spoke passionately about his recovery from a potentially career-ending injury, and the resilience he showed to get back behind the wheel. He also talked about the mentality of going seven years before his first F1 victory, and how he fine-tuned his life – his routines and close team – to achieve his ultimate goals.

Brown’s insight was fascinating, particularly when discussing real-time decision-making and how clear commands and predetermined responsibilities – whilst also allowing space for individual decisions – has helped bring his team back up to championship leaders.

Summarising the day, Rashid Abdulla, CEO and Managing Director, Europe, DP World, said: “It is truly inspiring to be here at the McLaren Technology Centre. The day has been incredibly insightful, with contributions from panellists representing diverse backgrounds, industries, and perspectives. What stands out from McLaren’s example is that while any company can have the best vision and strategy, it is clarity that drives true engagement.

“At DP World, our goal is to build a strong and sustainable business model that delivers value to our customers while ultimately enabling consumers to access better products at lower costs. Events like this are crucial for fostering collaboration and driving innovative solutions for our industry.”

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Data: The Driving Force Behind the Logistics Industry

Posted on by David Priestman

Data is the key driver of the logistics industry. Organisations require information about the time they need to process an order, get the shipment ready, arrange for transport, put the item on a transport vehicle and make a timely delivery. Without data, companies may not know how to address inefficiencies or protect themselves from disruptions in transportation routes. Fortunately, data tools for logistics are abundant. Businesses can integrate technology into existing systems to optimise routes, find problems in order processing and cut costs. By implementing these technologies, logistics professionals can guide effective decision-making that improves efficiency and accuracy.

Gain Insights About Transportation Patterns

Logistics professionals have to remain current on the latest transportation patterns, which they can achieve with data. Descriptive analytics uses past data to identify changes in preferences over time. Predictive analytics can take this data to highlight changes to transportation patterns and potential disruptions to movement. With this information, logistics companies can be certain they have the most accurate information for forecasting and order management.

Optimise Routes

The choice of shipping route affects costs, delivery time and overall efficiency, highlighting opportunities for technology to optimise the route. Companies select shipping routes based on a variety of factors, including traffic, cost of fuel and the potential for lengthy delays. Optimising the route helps to reduce costs and time spent making a delivery, particularly in the last few kilometres of a journey. Prescriptive analytics can provide detailed information based on historical and current trends, automatically highlighting routes that improve performance.

Improve Efficiency

Data can provide the tools to increase efficiency at all points in the process, from forecasting demand and increasing the robustness of the supply chain to improving the order process. Companies need to know how demand is changing for a particular product, so they can maintain an ideal inventory to handle it. Predictive analytics can also highlight weaknesses in the supply chain, so that businesses can identify alternatives. AI can automate various aspects of the order management process, to minimise bottlenecks and complete order processing more accurately.

Reduce Excess Costs

Cognitive analytics, as part of a comprehensive package of data analysis, can reduce excess costs at every stage. Companies spend more to have a human perform tasks that AI can do autonomously. Implementing an AI system allows a business to verify inventory and process an order quickly, highlighting any problems for prompt review. The system can also use past data

to identify existing problems with various processes, so that professionals can address them. These improvements increase the accuracy of each order, decreasing the financial impact of returns or lost clients.

Increase Customer Satisfaction

Ultimately, the incorporation of data into a transport management system leads to better outcomes in customer satisfaction. Customers expect orders to be processed efficiently, calling for an accurate and sensitive inventory management system. They also want deliveries to occur quickly and accurately, with tracking that provides relevant information and does not compromise their personal security. Integrating analytics into all systems can ensure that customers get everything they need during each step of the process.

Data integration is transforming the efficiency and accuracy of many worldwide industries, transportation and logistics in particular. With technology’s ability to handle massive amounts of data in record time, the benefits are obvious. Recording and processing data provides crucial information for businesses to improve their processes to meet the needs of the future. Using data analytics to analyse past problems, evaluate the potential for solutions and create a plan to weather future changes can save companies significant time, money and effort.

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Red Sea Disruption Continues to Effect Shipping

Posted on by Will Priestman

The Red Sea shipping crisis has hit headlines again recently, following a series of Houthi attacks on the 163,759-deadweight tonnage M/V Sounion tanker. 

Occurring late in the summer, the attack and subsequent disruption of shipping operations in the Red Sea has the potential to have more of an economic impact across the globe at a time when retailers are doubling down in the run-up to Christmas.

Understanding how much the red sea disruption has already affected shipping 

There was estimated to have been 21,344 ships which crossed the Red Sea during 2023. This works out at around 59 ships using the shipping route each day, with these making up 12 per cent of global trade throughout that year.

However, defence and security think tank the Royal United Services Institute reports that just 905 cargo-carrying vessels sailed in the Red Sea in July 2024 – which is about 30 ships per day.

This is just one startling fact about the impact that the Red Sea tensions has had on the shipping industry. Integrated container logistics and supply chain services specialist Maersk has stated that the crisis has resulted in the following challenges:

  • Cargo travel distances has increased by an average of nine per cent, due to vessels needing to go around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea route. This has resulted in a rise in transit times, as well as more ships being required to transport the same amount of cargo.
  • Due to increased transit times and additional ships being needed, this has also caused the number of vessels being available to transport cargo to reduce considerably.
  • Another knock-on effect of ships taking a longer route to avoid the Red Sea route is that both carriers and businesses are subjected to increased costs.These costs are to cover the additional time, fuel and resources required to complete an extended journey.

The Insights Unit of the British Chambers of Commerce has also shed light on how the Red Sea disruption has impacted businesses across the UK. According to their research, over 55 per cent of UK exporters believe they’d been impacted by the crisis. More than 53 per cent of business-to-consumer service firms and manufacturers felt the same way.

Firms surveyed pointed out that they’ve noticed increased costs – some have seen rises of 300 per cent for container hire, for example – as well as logistical delays, whereby up to three or four weeks have been added to delivery times.

Andrew Thompson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Group & Cleveland Containers, commented on the disruption experienced earlier this year by saying: “It’s difficult to ignore the ongoing impact of the Red Sea crisis on our shipping operations.

“In response to these terrible ongoing attacks, shipping lines are understandably acting on their heightened security concerns and are continuing to reroute as a precautionary measure. We are anticipating a 2-3 week delay in container deliveries into the UK, which creates a knock-on effect for our customers.”

Ways that retailers can reduce delays in the lead up to Christmas

Insights by INVERTO, which is the specialist supply chain management arm of the Boston Consulting Group, has suggested that retailers across the UK have already had to alter their procurement strategies significantly in the lead up to the Christmas trading period.

INVERTO’s Principal Patrick Lepperhoff commented: “The prolonged impact of Red Sea disruptions is having knock-on effects across supply chains. Usually, the summer is a quiet time for shipping and warehousing. However, at present, the shipping industry is remarkably busy, as the complex process of getting shops stocked for the key Christmas period is moved forward by two months.

“This has put pressure on the retailers themselves as they take in more stock early, for which they may not have warehouse space. Instead, retailers will need to seek short-term storage back-up space, which can be very costly.”

Block-space agreements, whereby retailers and carriers can negotiate a price for a fixed weight or volume of cargo in the future, has been recommended by INVERTO to ensure retailers have absolute clarity on available stock and upfront costs.

The company also advises retailers to:

1.      Set up a logistics taskforce, which will work to monitor freight rates and lead times with the aim of optimising costs.

2.      Look into AI solutions, which can analyse real-time rate fluctuations and conditions to identify optimal shipping routes.

3.      Strike up stronger relationships between suppliers and procurement, with the aim of looking into options for nearshoring so that supply chains become more resilient to risks in the future.

Maersk has echoed these recommendations, stating that businesses should invest more in data analytics and build solid partnerships in the supply chain sphere when learning from the Red Sea disruption.

They also advise retailers to look into supply chain diversification, as a business having numerous material suppliers covering various regions can help them to reduce the impact felt on any supply chain disruptions.

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BIFA’s Golf Day Raises Thousands For Chosen Industry Charity

Posted on by David Priestman

BIFA’s Golf Day, held at the prestigious Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, was a resounding success, raising an impressive £3100 for Transaid.

The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Golf Day, held at the prestigious Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, was a resounding success.

The event saw participants from across the freight and logistics industry come together for a day of friendly competition and charity fundraising.

This year’s golf day was particularly special, as it raised an impressive £3100 for BIFA’s official charity partner, Transaid, a cause close to the hearts of many in the industry. The funds will go directly to supporting Transaid’s work, making a meaningful impact on the community in sub-Saharan Africa.

BIFA congratulates the winning team from Logicall for its outstanding performance on the course. The Logicall team, consisting of Jordan Phillips, Jon Lilley, Brendan Beech and Paul Phillips secured first place, on count-back, with an impressive score of 87 points in the foursomes competition. A team from Irish Freight Solutions came a close second.

In addition to the main tournament, the event featured several mini-challenges, including longest drive and nearest the pin competitions. These added excitement and further opportunities for participants to contribute to the fundraising efforts.

Carl Hobbis, BIFA member services director, said: “We are thrilled with the turnout and generosity shown at this year’s Golf Day; our first for many years. The event not only brought together key members of the freight forwarding community but also raised vital funds for a wonderful cause. Congratulations to our winner and a heartfelt thank you to all 72 who participated and contributed.“

Following the success of this year’s event, BIFA will expand the number of golfing events it holds in 2025, continuing the tradition of camaraderie, competition, and charity. To register your interest for an event next year, visit our events page.

Podcast: Keep Logistics up and Running with Technical Training

Posted on by David Priestman

In this episode of Logistics Business Conversations, we discuss the increasing demand for technical skills in the logistics industry and the training necessary to meet this demand. Host, Peter is joined by Stefan Beke, an expert in technical training from TVH University.

Stefan emphasizes the growing importance of technical expertise as logistics operations become more technology-driven. Key equipment like forklifts are central to efficient logistics, and maintaining them requires specialized skills, especially with the shift toward electric models. This transition has made electrical and electronic skills more essential, areas where many technicians still face challenges.

The conversation also highlights the value of hybrid learning models in technical training. Combining online theoretical content with hands-on practice reduces travel time and costs while providing a comprehensive learning experience. This approach is becoming more popular as it balances flexibility with practical skill development, crucial for career advancement in the logistics field.

Listen to this Logistics Business Conversation by clicking here

Enhancing Fashion Logistics with Pouch Sorter Systems

Posted on by David Priestman

Fashion logistics is increasingly shifting to omnichannel operations to meet the needs of retail and e-commerce. The accelerated growth of digital channels during the 2020–2021 pandemic continues today, driven by consumer demand for convenience, delivery flexibility, and ease of comparison. This shift introduces new challenges for fashion logistics companies, particularly in balancing B2C and B2B demands.

Challenges in Omnichannel Fashion Logistics

The expansion into omnichannel operations brings unique challenges. B2C operations focus on fulfilling numerous individual orders quickly, often with an emphasis on premium packaging for high-end items. B2B operations, in contrast, require efficient, high-volume stock replenishment with packaging that suits in-store needs. Additionally, the returns process, especially for e-commerce, can involve handling rates of up to 60%, requiring swift relabeling and repacking to prevent revenue loss.

The Role of Pouch Sorter Systems

Pouch sorter systems use pouches or pockets in an overhead sortation setup to store and transport items, significantly streamlining logistics processes. These systems can decouple picking from order fulfillment by storing items in dynamic buffers, then sorting them into desired sequences through matrix sortation. The pouches then move to either packing buffer lanes or direct unloading stations, creating a flexible system suited for both B2B and B2C requirements.

AutoDrop: Revolutionizing Unloading

New automated technology, such as BEUMER’s AutoDrop, enables automatic unloading from pouches. This system uses a nickel-titanium alloy with shape memory, a material first developed for the medical field, to perform precise, controlled unloading. When an electric current is applied, the alloy contracts to open each pouch; when the current is removed, the alloy returns to its original shape, allowing for a seamless unloading process without complex mechanical components. This design is engineered for durability, capable of handling up to a million cycles with minimal maintenance.

The AutoDrop system unloads items from overhead pouches, dropping them into designated packaging chutes in a controlled sequence. Heavy items are released first to protect fragile ones, which is a valuable feature for fashion logistics where item fragility varies significantly. This automated sequence is especially beneficial for handling the wide range of products in fashion logistics, from heavy textiles to delicate accessories.

Benefits of Pouch Sorter Systems

Pouch sorters enhance efficiency by minimizing human touch points, conserving floor space, and automating key processes. The system’s modular design allows for scalability, with each module capable of processing up to 10,000 items per hour, making it adaptable to the fluctuating demands of high-volume fashion logistics. Additionally, pouch sorters seamlessly handle both shop-friendly bulk orders and individually packed direct-to-consumer parcels, supporting the flexibility required in omnichannel operations.

Beyond sorting, the pouch system enables dynamic buffering, which allows returned items to be quickly reintegrated into inventory after quality checks. This capability is crucial in the fashion industry, where return rates are high and resale speed directly impacts revenue. With the ability to handle both Garments-on-Hanger and flat-pack items, pouch sorters provide a unified solution that addresses the diverse packaging needs of fashion logistics.

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