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Tag: logistics

New guide helps businesses manage cold chain food safety

Posted on by David Priestman

The Cold Chain Federation has published Ensuring Food Safety in the Cold Chain, the first ever complete guide on managing food safety specifically for temperature-controlled storage and distribution.

By bringing together the latest information on compliance, best practice and recommendations for managing the key food safety risks in the cold chain and insights into likely future considerations, the new guide meets the industry’s need for a holistic, comprehensive and up-to-date cold chain food safety reference guide. It can be requested by emailing: compliance@coldchainfed.org.uk.

The Cold Chain Federation has produced Ensuring Food Safety in the Cold Chain guide to make it easier for its members to develop, improve and implement cold chain food safety plans and processes. The Federation will be hosting two free webinars on July 6th and July 7th to demonstrate how businesses working in the cold chain can benefit from using the guide, and to explore the policy developments and practical challenges relating to food safety in the cold chain. Register to join these webinars at www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/food-safety-week/.

Endorsed by global food safety certification leader BRCGS, Ensuring Food Safety in the Cold Chain will be made available as part of BRCGS’s online library platform, Participate, for sites and certification bodies subscribed to the BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution, as well as via the Cold Chain Federation website. The guide has also been produced with support from the Federation’s members and Primary Authority Partner and the Food Standards Agency.

Cold Chain Federation Policy Director Tom Southall said: “Keeping frozen and chilled food safe is the fundamental purpose of the cold chain. Whilst the UK’s cold chain businesses are experts in keeping the nation supplied with safe food, rapidly evolving innovations and changing consumer demands makes can make maintaining these standards challenging.

“This can require a lot of time spent getting to grips and staying up to date with a range of regulations, certification schemes, and best practice. We have produced this new guide in response to feedback from our members and to help make the process much more straightforward. It aims to help businesses drive for the highest standards of food safety in their facilities and also to support enforcement agencies to better understand the specific functions of the cold chain.”

Ensuring Food Safety in the Cold Chain has been written as a complete guide to food safety issues in the cold chain, however each of its nine chapters can also be used individually as a reference. It is written to indicate what measures are mandatory under food safety legislation, good practice as required for the BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution (Issue 4), or industry leading best practice and can be used by our members to check their processes, incorporate into their staff training and to strive for the highest BRCGS Storage and Distribution certification grade for their facilities.

Jon Murthy, BRCGS Head of Global Marketing, said: “The global pandemic has placed supply chain resilience firmly front of mind for brands and retailers. It has accelerated the changing role of the warehousing and logistics sector with the growth of e-commerce, the diversification of operational activities and new transport flows. We are delighted to support this new publication that supports the industry to demonstrate supply chain assurance, with the emphasis on ever improving performance rather than compliance with minimum standards.”

The guide includes information and advice on topics including: driving a positive food safety culture, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in the cold chain, temperature control, preventing and responding to contamination, food allergens, good hygiene practice and defence against food crime.

Cold Chain Federation Chief Executive Shane Brennan said: “With the exit of the UK from the EU and new trade arrangements, we can expect changes in our global food supply chains. At the same time, the Covid-19 pandemic has extended the cold chain to the consumer’s front door. Food safety compliance systems need to be resilient, agile and forward-facing to ensure that good standards maintain safe food throughout the entire food chain from beginning to end, whatever new challenges we are faced with. Our new guide will be an important tool in helping our members continue to be global leaders in operating a robust and safe cold chain.”

 

Sweet packaging solution from bekuplast

Posted on by Keith McKinley

They are sweet, salty or sour and a real taste experience – the liquorice, sweets and fruit gums of one of the largest Dutch confectionery manufacturers, for whom bekuplast, manufacturer of reusable plastic transport containers, developed a special container. The container is used for transport, storage and preservation and is designed to meet the high demands of in-house confectionery logistics. 50,000 of these industry-specific bekuplast boxes are in circulation at the company.

The confectionery manufacturer, which is known for liquorice and wine gums, has invented a technology to produce sweets with a liquid filling as well as a combination of chocolate and liquorice in a drop. Several million kilograms of the treats leave the factory in the Dutch-Frisian town of Jirnsum every year. Quality is the top priority.

To catch the still warm fruit gums and liquorice when they come out of the moulding press and drying line onto the conveyor belt, the confectionery producer needed new transport boxes. They also had to support the drying process and be suitable both for safe transport and for storing and preserving the confectionery. The transport container specialists from bekuplast analysed the requirements and designed a new container for the company. The container, made of food-safe HDPE, is robust, lightweight, hygienic and recyclable to boot.

Container design for smooth handling

Clever ventilation and storage: the side walls of the containers are finely perforated – large enough to ventilate the confectionery well and dry it evenly, but small enough that the fine grid does not leave any marks on the confectionery and the drops cannot fall out. The containers hold 10kg of sweets each. The soft products are stacked in only a few layers to keep their shape.

Safe stacking: The stable corners and feet enable safe stacking on top of each other during transport and storage. The containers are filled with around 10kg of confectionery. Even the bottom box reliably carries the largest load. Due to the stacking corners, the containers stand slightly raised on top of each other – this creates a slot for air circulation to maintain the defined temperature range for drying and preservation.

Perfectly fitting shape: With dimensions of 570 x 370 x 140mm, the containers are precisely matched to the confectionery manufacturer’s transport lines. They are handy and ergonomically designed so that employees can easily take them off the conveyor belt.

Sustainable material: The bekuplast solution with reusable containers is sustainable, and the boxes are also made of extremely durable plastic. Even if the life cycle of the box should end after many years, it is 100% recyclable – the recyclable material can be processed into new containers.

Data helps secure supplies ahead of Euro 2020

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Euro 2020 is here and despite the easing of Covid-19 restrictions with pubs finally allowed to open their doors, many fans are expected to cheer on their nation from the side-lines at home, prompting the first ‘stay-at-home’ tournament in a generation.

With fans shunning the pub in favour of the patio, data-driven supply chain company C.H. Robinson is predicting a boom in BBQs and a frenzy in football memorabilia resulting in an upturn in the home delivery market.

But how do sport-related consumables reach consumers’ front doors?

Chris Mills, director of account management, transportation at C.H. Robinson Europe, said: “The sports industry, like any other, is dependent on supplies and deliveries aided by intuitive supply chains that can get goods from A to B. Not dislike professional footballers, supply chains have been in training for months ahead of Euro 2020 as they gear up for the spike in demand from armchair supporters for electrical goods, garden furniture, BBQs and frozen foods.

“With some consumers reluctant to visit the high street, online has increasingly become the convenient way to shop. Harnessing historical data and intelligence, we’ve helped suppliers, manufacturers and retailers prepare for a huge surge in online purchases and warned about the potential for them to be concentrated in a small timeframe ahead of the tournament.”

C.H. Robinson’s alliance with the Microsoft Corporation combining the power of its Navisphere multi-modal transportation management platform with the multinational technology company’s Azure cloud platform and Internet of Things can create a logistics solution that supports the need for enhanced real-time insights and visibility. It incorporates machine learning and artificial intelligence to support predictive analytics, IOT device monitoring for greater intelligence on products whilst in transit, premier data security and increased application speed.

Added Mills: “Collaborations such as these are critical to adapt to the abnormal strains that are placed on supply chains caused by major surges for goods online, like the situation that’s occurred pre-Euro 2020.

“Our predictive analytic technologies mean we have the capability to see things and act on them before they happen. This helps supply chains deal with the unpredictable and takes supply chain management from real time to prior time, from ‘track and trace’ to ‘predict and prevent’ to enable supply chains to respond to ever changing market conditions before they occur.

“Access to data allows us to predict trends and notify customers before issues things occur, and this foresight will ensure this is a tournament to remember for all the right reasons.”

 

CEVA unveils Italian well-being initiative

Posted on by Keith McKinley

CEVA Logistics has transformed its Somaglia logistics park into an open-air, urban art gallery. As part of the Prologis PARKlife initiative, eight internationally renowned Italian urban artists used 40,000 sq m of building facades and water tanks as canvases to create works of art inspired by a series of keywords, including innovation, future, diversity and inclusion, integrity, passion and sustainability.

Starting in September, guided tours will be open to the public, available by reservation free of charge. PARKlife represents a paradigm shift in the development of logistics parks. With PARKlife, the site is transforming into a small urban centre, where it will be possible to find a series of benefits to enrich the working day, including public transport, general services, activities and open space for free time.

The PARKlife initiative considers additional elements within the space, including sustainability, usability and liveability. The green spaces will be redeveloped to include larger, more diverse trees and perennial flowerbeds, with varying colours to create a natural dialogue with the works of art in the logistics park. The redesign of the green areas will ensure greater shading and the creation of wellness paths, which will be accompanied by bicycle paths.

The project also includes new relaxation and refreshment areas with vending machines to allow for lunch and coffee breaks in a welcoming environment for all on-site workers and also for drivers. Completion of the project is expected in September 2021.

Christophe Boustouller, managing director, Italy, CEVA Logistics, says: “The PARKlife initiative is a perfect example of our commitment to our employees as they work to deliver responsive logistics solutions for our customers. People are key to our business, and at CEVA, we want to create an environment where our employees can thrive. Today’s artistic unveiling is an important step in supporting current employees and attracting new ones to the industry.”

 

Finnair Cargo e-markets with CargoAi

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Finnair Cargo and CargoAi, two pioneers of digitalisation in the air cargo industry, have formed a partnership. The largest air cargo carrier in the Nordic and Baltic region, Finnair Cargo’s worldwide cargo offering is now live on CargoAi. State-of-art digital booking services – e-quotes and e-booking – are available to forwarders directly via the leading SaaS platform.

“We’re very proud to partner with Finnair Cargo, which is a pioneering cargo carrier in the field of digitalisation and was one of the first to put APIs in place. The airline’s network and its product expertise fully meet the needs of our forwarder clients – so this is excellent news for them,” said Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.

Finnair Cargo has invested heavily in digital and technological innovations to offer a best-in-class air cargo shipping process. Specialising in flying high-value items via the short northern route between Europe and Asia, Finnair Cargo offers a dense worldwide route network. From the most modern and digitalised air cargo terminal in Europe, its Helsinki Hub, the carrier covers 19 major cities in Asia, eight in North and Central America, and over 100 in Europe.

“Making our capacity offering available on CargoAi guarantees visibility and is fully in line with our digitalisation strategy for our sales process. With CargoAi, we have been moving fast with the integration and we are very happy to be able to provide this service to our customers. We speak the same language and the cargo challenges we face are fully understood and integrated into the tool,” said Karri Kauppi, Head of Revenue and Pricing, Finnair Cargo.

 

 

Sustainable packaging closes the loop on plastic waste

Posted on by Keith McKinley

More and more Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and retailers have made sustainable development a strategic priority and announced new commitments to address both climate change and plastic waste. Particularly, single-use packaging is in the spotlight. According to the third annual Checking Out On Plastics report, almost 900,000 tonnes of plastic packaging had passed through the tills of the 10 biggest UK retailers.

Producers, industrials, retailers rethink their packaging systems by removing single-use ones and know that in the longer run, a ‘closed loop’ recycling system is infinitely more environmentally sustainable than single-use alternatives. According to Lansink’s Ladder, reuse is the best option, after prevention. The future is in reuse and it needs to be a big part of how grocery retailers do business, experts say.

In this context, the players in the fruit and vegetable market are increasingly turning to Euro Pool System – from producers to distributors, to use of reusable folding trays for transporting fresh products – what is in line with companies’ sustainable development policies.

The figures speak for themselves. Euro Pool System has shown continuous growth in recent decades. In 2009, the number of rotations amounted to 600 million, rising to almost than 1.3 billion trays issued in 2020 . To manage with this growth, the Euro Pool Group has 71 service centres all over Europe, most recently, EPS opened the first UK washing site in Tamworth, West Midlands.

On average, trays last more than seven years and are reused fifty to one hundred times for the same purpose. The same cannot be said of cardboard, for example, which is only suitable for single use.

When Euro Pool System’s trays reach the end of their life, they are always recycled. Euro Pool System trays are made in HDPE that is 100% recyclable. The recycling process of trays is relatively simple compared with that of other waste streams as confirmed by Eric Morssinkhof of Morssinkhof of Rymoplast Group: “Recycling plastic trays is relatively easy, but this is certainly not the case for other flows.”

The recycling company first grinds the trays into granules. They are dusted, demineralised, rinsed, packed in bigbags and resold to injection moulding companies. They turn them into new trays but also big boxes or rubbish containers, for example. Recycling is done by colour: green, blue and black. “The lighter the colour, the better the sales possibilities.” Furthermore, the food safety of the material is also essential.

Sustainability isn’t only about reducing the burden on the environment; it also means reducing damage to the produce and less waste. According to a study by research institute Fraunhofer, with single-use packaging, about 4% of the produce gets damaged on the way to the consumer. Plastic transport packaging cuts this figure back to just 0.1% One of the main objectives is ‘reducing losses and waste in fruits and vegetables food systems’.

“We want to make sure that fruits and vegetables arrive at their destination safely and undamaged,” explained Alvaro Molina, UK Country Manager.

In addition, this standard packaging is also vital to optimise transport within the chain. The Foldable trays ensure maximum efficiency as they take up 86% less volume on return trips. The standard packaging makes it possible to automate logistics processes throughout the entire supply chain.

“In addition to lower CO2 emissions and less waste in the chain, the circular system also offers efficiency in the logistics process for producers and the supermarket sector. We share the same determination to act without delay in the preservation the natural resources, which is one of the biggest challenges of today. Use more sustainable solutions is more vital than ever and go further than simply meeting standards,” concludes Molina.

First Line Software commits to UK with association membership

Posted on by David Priestman

First Line Software, a premier provider of software engineering, software enablement, and digital transformation advisory services to global clients, has signalled its serious intention to strengthen its existing presence in the UK logistics sector by joining UKWA (UK Warehousing Association) and AMHSA (Automated Material Handling Systems Association).

Headquartered in Boston, Cambridge (US), and with a network of offices spanning the world including Cirencester (UK), The Hague (NL), Brno (CZ), Moscow (RU) and Doreen, Victoria (AUS), First Line’s 650 technical experts leverage agile technological excellence to efficiently deliver complex projects in retail digitalisation, web content management & eCommerce, real-world data, machine learning and enterprise data management.

It has particular expertise in warehouse automation, and as an Implementation Partner of renowned German intralogistics systems integrator viastore, First Line Software provides the full cycle of implementation services for the viadat Warehouse Management System (WMS). Together with viastore, it has implemented many complex intralogistics projects to great acclaim, including a successful WMS customisation, integration, implementation and go-live of Liebherr’s tower crane plant in Germany. This challenging project was 100% remote due to the Covid pandemic, and enables the Liebherr plant to eliminate paperwork and streamline the unloading and temporary storage process.

In joining the influential UKWA trade association, First Line Software is seeking to promote its remote WMS implementation capabilities to customers in the UK, including distribution centre owners and operators, eCommerce retailers and third-party logistics providers. Its membership of AMHSA puts it amongst the established systems integrators and warehouse automation providers with whom it currently works, as well as those with whom it is yet to form a partnership.

Anastasia Novoseltseva – VP Marketing, First Line Software, commented: “We’re very excited to be joining UKWA and AMHSA, as it underlines our serious commitment to growing our footprint in the UK. We have great ambition for the region, as we are certain that operators of logistics businesses in the UK will see the opportunities we can offer them to enhance the effectiveness and profitability of their intralogistics operations.

“We are particularly interested in speaking to companies with complicated operations using multiple providers of software and hardware systems. Particularly in this time of the pandemic, we can show them a Covid-safe solution to integrate these legacy systems with WMS to show them tremendous gains in efficiency, visibility and accuracy.”

As well as joining these influential UK trade associations, First Line Software will be taking part in the forthcoming Supply Chain Conference 2021, which takes place online on 16th-17th June, as well as the Logistics Business Virtual Exhibition, scheduled for 20th-24th September

With a customer list covering logistics, transport, eCommerce, retail, healthcare and finance, First Line Software boasts a strong focus on agile technology, and has projects running in over 25 countries worldwide. First Line Software is consistently recognised with industry rankings and awards from top global and regional, independent research agencies. Recently it was named in the IAOP’s 2021 Global Outsourcing 100.

Peter Ward to step down as CEO of UKWA

Posted on by David Priestman

Peter Ward, CEO of UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), has announced his intention to step down after six years at the helm of the sector’s leading trade organisation. His successor will be named shortly.

Peter joined the Association in 2015, having held a series of major industry roles at director level with prominent companies within the sector. Since joining UKWA he has transformed the fortunes of the Association, substantially improving revenues, widening membership to encompass retail and manufacturing logistics users, and introducing significant new benefits to membership. During Peter’s tenure, UKWA membership has continued to grow strongly – even over the last twelve months, as the global pandemic and the impact of UK’s exit from the European Union created arguably the most challenging period since the Association’s inception during the Second World War.

Paying tribute to Peter’s contribution, Chair of the UKWA management board Nicola Ridges-Jones said: “As UKWA CEO, Peter has been a passionate advocate for our industry, raising the profile of the Association within the sector and well beyond. His strong industry track record and undoubted leadership skills, combined with extraordinary energy and drive, have ensured that he leaves UKWA a thriving and successful organisation, ready to lead members through the fresh challenges ahead. We wish him every success as he steps into semi-retirement to pursue personal interests.”

As UKWA CEO, Peter has provided a ‘voice’ for the industry both at government and local authority level, ensuring the concerns and issues facing members and the wider logistics community have been recognised, understood, and acted upon. On his watch, UKWA has helped shape Government policy around the departure of the UK from the European Union and has guided members through the complexities of planned changes.

He has also fostered strong links with Transaid since taking on the role of CEO, and over the last six years UKWA has raised over £100,000, for the charity, including £75,000 donated by members to mark the Association’s 75th milestone.

Commenting on his decision to step down, Peter said: “It has been my privilege to represent the warehousing and logistics sector as CEO of UKWA. I am proud to have been able to instigate change, drive improvement and help this great industry achieve the respect and recognition it deserves.”

He adds, “As we emerge from lockdown and adjust to the changes brought by Brexit, the world has changed. Having steered members through such turbulent times, I am ready to hand over the reins to my successor, who I am confident will continue to support members in negotiating the challenges of the ‘new world’ and seizing the exciting opportunities that now lie ahead.

In the meantime, I would like to express my thanks for the excellent support I’ve enjoyed from the UKWA management board, my hard-working executive team and, of course, the UKWA membership. I hope to ‘stay in touch’ with many friends and industry colleagues; and from the side-lines will continue to watch my beloved logistics industry, contributing wherever I can add value.”

More than 150 exhibitors confirmed for ITT Hub

Posted on by Keith McKinley

More than 150 of the UK’s most innovative transport companies as well as key government departments and agencies will be showcasing their cutting-edge services, products, strategies and ideas at the free-to-attend Innovation & Technology in Transport – ITT Hub event, to be held at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre on 30 June and 1 July 2021.

The largest show of its kind in 40 years, the exhibition will include a substantial Government Hub, where key departments – including the Department for International Trade, Department for Transport, APC, Zemo Partnership, Innovate UK, Zenzic and Highways England – will be on-hand to share expert insight into the full range of government assistance available for transport companies. Manufacturers, including BYD, Volta Trucks, Fiat, Ford, DAF Trucks and Arrival, will be showcasing their ground-breaking vehicles, infrastructure and technology at the event, and more than 30 speakers will be presenting at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference, including British Astronaut Major Tim Peake CMG.

Kevin Green, Marketing & Communications Director at Logistics UK, comments: “Connection and collaboration are central to the new green industrial revolution; we are thrilled that visitors to ITT Hub will have the opportunity to explore the huge diversity of resources available to support the government’s green strategy.”

Mark Griffin, CEO at ITT Hub, adds: “Along with key central, local and regional government agencies, visitors to the event will have access to innovative manufacturers and service providers from across the road transport sector, including the latest bus, coach, truck and van technology. We really encourage visitors to register now for this free event and reconnect!”

ITT Hub will also feature a Regional Transport Bodies Hub, where visitors will have the opportunity to meet representatives from six Sub-National Transport Bodies (SNTBs): England’s Economic Heartland, Midlands Connect, Peninsula Transport, Transport East, Transport for the South East, and Western Gateway.

Bloom & Wild blossoms with SaaS from SnapFulfil

Posted on by David Priestman

Rapidly expanding online floristry leader, Bloom & Wild, has signed up to a five year SaaS (Software as a Service) contract with warehouse management system innovator SnapFulfil.

The pioneer of letterbox flowers (carefully hand-packed and sent in bud, so they last longer) has moved to optimise its warehousing and distribution efficiencies – and chose cloud-based SnapFulfil WMS because of its renowned flexibility, functionality and low total cost of ownership.

Bloom & Wild recently acquired Dutch rival, bloomon – creating the largest online business by deliveries in Europe’s £22bn market for flowers and houseplants – and SnapFulfil will be remotely onboarding its German fulfilment centre located in Bergkamen, followed by the UK warehouse in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

As part of its operations investment, Bloom & Wild is also looking to implement NetSuite and needed a WMS that could offer seamless integration. The initial order is for 25 SnapFulfil user licences, 24 x 7 critical support and a replicated database for interrogating and merging data.

Phill Burton, Chief Operating Officer at Bloom & Wild, said: “We want to scale as a business and it became increasingly apparent that our manual processes were not compatible with the company’s ambitious growth plans. SnapFulfil’s agility, configurability and capacity to grow with us makes them a good cultural fit as a technology partner.”

SnapFulfil CEO, Tony Dobson, added: “Bloom & Wild is a great British success story with ambitions for further growth and we are thrilled to be their chosen WMS partner. They are a savvy business and understand that an agile and responsive warehouse is at the heart of a dynamic order fulfilment operation.”

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