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Tag: Materials Handling

Dutch wholesaler picks Vanderlande GtP system

Posted on by David Priestman

Vanderlande has delivered a highly automated FASTPICK goods-to-person (GtP) solution to De Bondt BV, a global haberdashery and yarn wholesaler. The system, which incorporates innovative ADAPTO shuttle technology, has been installed in the company’s existing warehouse in Tynaarlo, The Netherlands and went operational in September 2022.

The family-owned business, known for its brand Scheepjes, is delivering to retailers and resellers in more than 70 countries worldwide, and expects strong growth. In order to support the increased demand, De Bondt BV selected a flexible and scalable solution that will increase picking and packing efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of mistakes. With FASTPICK, De Bondt BV is ready for the future.

A significant part of De Bondt BV’s warehouse is automated with Vanderlande’s shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS) system, ADAPTO. The system supplies order lines in multi-compartment totes in a strict order sequence to the ergonomic pick stations. This offers De Bondt BV an increased storage density of over 20,000 locations, enabling a picking performance of up to 1,200 items per hour in peak periods.

The packing process is automated with a carton erector, pack list inserter, carton closing machine and label applicators, enabling operators to directly pick orders into cartons and ensuring a single touch process. Packing in this way also minimises shipping volumes and reduces the need for extra box-filling by operators.

“By using FASTPICK, we optimise the quality of service for our customers, enabling us to not only process orders in a more accurate and efficient way, but also to use less packaging material,” says Job De Bondt, Managing Director De Bondt BV. “With this investment, we are more than ready for the future!”

Vanderlande’s Vice President Warehouse Solutions Terry Verkuijlen adds: “We are delighted to be working with one of the key players in this sector, and to have supplied our innovative FASTPICK solution. We believe that this will help De Bondt BV to not only remain as one of the market leaders, but also provide its customers with the high service levels they’ve come to expect. FASTPICK is an ideal match for De Bondt BV’s requirements and it is now ready for future growth.”

 

Be smart and take full control of site inspections

Posted on by Keith McKinley

[ADVERTORIAL]

Increase inspection efficiency with Scafftag‘s reliable holders and inserts that can communicate the safety status of any type of equipment at the point of use. Furthermore, planning, inspecting and reporting can be streamlined, customised and largely automated to save time with SafeTrak software and app. Discover complete solution from Scafftag – A Brady Company.

Visual Tagging solutions from Scafftag

Visual Tagging solutions communicate the latest equipment inspection and status at the point of use and record an audit trail of equipment maintenance, tests and inspections to comply with health and safety legislation.

Scafftag inspection tag systems help control pre-shift inspections, maintenance and identification of all and any aspect of site and/or equipment, improving workplace safety and communication. Scafftag offers visual tagging systems to meet your needs for a wide variety of applications, including (but not limited to) hoarding, fencing, temporary works, spill, fire and first aid, excavations and excavators…

Clear communication at the point of use

When properly used and applied on equipment and in plain view, Scafftag can always communicate the latest equipment status to anyone who wants to use a specific piece of equipment. Tags are available for almost any tool or equipment, including ladders, scaffolds, drills, vehicles and engines. Inspection records on the tag’s insert will show when equipment was considered fit for use. When equipment fails inspection, the inspector can remove the insert to show a clear ‘Do not use’ message on the tag’s holder. In this way, Scafftag helps prevent costly workplace accidents resulting from the use of unfit equipment.

The majority of our solutions comprise two components – a holder attached to the asset or equipment, and replaceable inserts to record latest inspection and notable data. This creates a simple three-stage looped process for latest equipment status and a clear data trail:

  1. Empty holder displays: Do not Use, Do not enter, Inspection Required, etc…
  2. Equipment is inspected periodically, the insert is completed and placed in the holder.
  3. If equipment should not be used, remove the insert from holder.

This ensures you have a permanent data trail of inspections and work carried out, as well as evidence in a court of law if you need it.

Extremely robust and reliable

Scafftag holders and inserts are designed to last in extreme outdoor conditions. Holders are made out of ABS or Nylon and will rarely break. The polypropylene inserts can withstand water, oil and dirt while still being easy to write on. Both the holder and insert can resist prolonged UV exposure in order to stay legible in construction sites.

Both the holders and removable inserts are highly customisable and can support the standardisation of inspection procedures. A QR code can also be printed on the inserts or holders to activate a digital inspection flow via a smartphone and Safetrak software, complete with inspection planning management and automatic inspection report generation.

Discover a wide range of tools and equipment you can immediately increase compliance for in our guide “OPTIMISE EQUIPMENT SAFETY”

CLICK HERE to download the free guide.

 

Rite-Hite certified as a “Great Place to Work”

Posted on by David Priestman

Rite-Hite, a global leader in loading bay safety and energy management solutions, has been certified as a Great Place to Work for its business in Germany, confirming its status as an employer of choice within the logistics industry.

Great Place to Work accreditation is only awarded to those businesses that can actively demonstrate and measure excellence in how they treat and manage employees in a fair and respectful manner, and in creating a corporate culture that embraces openness, transparency and trust.

Christina Myschi, Head of Human Resources (HR) for Rite-Hite Germany, says that the satisfaction and motivation of its employees is the foundation of Rite-Hite’s success: “Through their involvement in change processes and the introduction of lean management methods, our corporate culture has advanced significantly in recent years.

“Our corporate values are based on trust, fairness and teamwork, among other things, and these are reflected in our management culture. Learning and continuous improvement are also key, and we want to become even better as an employer. The Great Place to Work accreditation is a testament to the progress we have made so far, but we are always striving to do more.”

Great Place to Work is one of the leading providers of employee surveys worldwide. In Germany alone, Great Place to Work works with more than 700 companies of all sectors and sizes every year, which undergo a voluntary audit of the quality and attractiveness of their workplace culture by the independent Great Place to Work Institute. Components include independent, anonymous feedback from employees as well as the analysis of HR policies and programmes.

 

Narrow Aisle further commits to US market

Posted on by David Priestman

Following the announcement in June of a significant investment in its distribution capacity across the USA, South and Central America, Narrow Aisle Ltd – the UK-based manufacturer of Flexi Truck space-saving intralogistics solutions – has made a further major financial commitment to the US market that will see production output from the company’s facility in Houston, Texas, increase appreciably over the next three years.

John Maguire, managing director of Narrow Aisle Ltd, commented: “America has long been one of the most important markets for the Flexi Truck’s range of VNA trucks and we believe that there is huge potential to grow Flexi Truck sales in the US even further. We aim to make the Flexi Truck available to many more customers in North America as our increased production capacity is brought to bear.”

The Flexi Truck’s iconic articulated design delivers safe and highly space and throughput efficient operation within narrow aisle storage units. Furthermore, because Flexi Trucks can be used to load and unload delivery vehicles and transport palletised loads directly to and from their pallet location, ‘double handling’ is eliminated and fewer types of forklift are required. As a result, materials handling costs can be reduced by up to 50%.

Models in the Flexi Truck range are adapted for the US market by the use of three- or four-stage quad masts which, when lowered, allow the trucks to be driven into the back of a waiting semi-trailer to retrieve or deposit pallets straight off a dock. The product is ideally suited to working in loading docks and within narrow aisle stores, which means less trucks are required to move more pallets.

Manufactured to meet the globally recognised ISO/TPS quality standards using tier one components, well over 15,000 Flexi Truck machines have been supplied to users in more than70 different countries worldwide.

Swedish grocery retailer increases operational efficiency

Posted on by David Priestman

TGW is working on a flagship project for Sweden’s number one grocery retailer ICA Sweden and is scheduled to finish by January 2026. This highly-automated fulfilment centre, about a 100km west of Stockholm, will allow ICA Sweden to increase the efficiency of its processes and expedite delivery to its shops.

A 30m-high freezer warehouse for pallets will replenish a highly-dynamic shuttle system. The latter will allow direct access to each and every item and thus facilitate the shortest possible lead times. In order to pick the shops’ orders, the required items will be retrieved, sequenced and then assembled; fully or partly-automated stations will then handle stacking of orders into roll cages appropriate for the shop in question. The system’s various functional areas will be interconnected by energy-efficient pallet, carton and tote conveyors.

The TGW Warehouse Software will ensure optimal item arrangement, thus minimising the effort required to restock the shop shelves. Compared to manual picking, the compact arrangement of the individual modules will also mean a significant reduction of the volume of space that needs to be kept cool, which will support ICA in achieving its sustainability goals.

All modules were designed for use at -25 °C in the demanding freezer environment: this includes the storage process as well as picking and palletising. They prove their productivity, efficiency and reliability on a daily basis at dozens of companies around the globe, including Coop (Switzerland), NewCold and Nordfrost.

“We are delighted to accompany ICA as a partner on the journey towards automation,” affirms Kristian Brink, Sales Project Manager at TGW Scandinavia. “Together, we will tailor the intralogistics to the needs of the Swedish market and implement a solution that sets new standards.”

 

New IFOY jurors appointed

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The IFOY organisation has announced the appointment of three jurors to the IFOY AWARD jury. Newly elected to the international committee are Alejandra Cabornero, Editor-in-Chief of the Spanish logistics magazine “Logística Profesional” and Michal Stengl, Editor-in-Chief of the Czech trade title “Transport a Logistika”. Re-elected to her new position as Editor-in-Chief of “Cuadernos de Logística” in Spain was long-time IFOY juror Isabel Rodrigo.

This means that a total of 26 editors-in-chief of leading international logistics publications from 19 nations are represented in the IFOY jury, including Peter MacLeod of Logistics Business representing exclusively the UK. They will be allowed to test and judge the world’s best new innovations among intralogistics products and solutions again in March 2023.

The application phase for the IFOY AWARD 2023 is currently in progress, and companies offering products and solutions can apply with their new releases and warehouse projects in a total of 12 categories until October 30, 2022. Start-ups also have the chance to win a trophy.

Due to its expertise, the IFOY AWARD is considered the leading innovation prize in intralogistics. The election is preceded by an intensive audit with nomination and test cycles. The equipment and solutions nominated for the final undergo the IFOY test and scientific innovation check individually at Messe Dortmund. In addition, jurors and their teams of advisors from industry travel to evaluate the finalists themselves.

The IFOY Audit will take place again in 2023 as part of the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS. The new hands-on testing event for innovations and new developments will enable decision-makers from industry, trade and the service sector with a concrete interest in innovation and investment to test the selected exhibits extensively themselves on 10,000 square meters of hall space. This year’s CAMP featured a total of over 50 innovations and 960 participants.

 

RTITB launches pivot steer truck training materials

Posted on by Keith McKinley

RTITB has released updated training materials to help improve rider-operated Pivot Steer truck safety through high-quality training. It also prepares candidates for the RTITB Basic Operating Skills Test.

“We have seen a 23% increase in demand for Pivot Steer training compared to before the pandemic,” says Laura Nelson, Managing Director for RTITB. “Employers must be aware that articulated machines are very different to ‘standard’ counterbalance lift trucks. So different operator training is needed, even for experienced operators.”

The new Pivot Steer training materials have been designed to give qualified Instructors and Trainers everything they need to deliver high quality, standardised training. The digital materials include an Instructors’ Guide and PowerPoint presentation. As well as mock theory papers, associated knowledge question papers, course handouts, and test marking sheets.

In-house Instructors and external training providers can use the new materials to deliver courses for novice and existing operators. They can also be used for conversion and refresher training for industrial pivot steer trucks (sometimes referred to as Bendi, Flexi, or Aisle Master trucks).

The course culminates with a formal test to verify that the training candidates can meet the minimum recognised basic safety standard. Candidates must demonstrate understanding of pre-use checks. It also covers identifying faults, taking the appropriate remedial action, and reporting. A practical test is also required. There is also a written or oral associated knowledge examination. All elements must be passed to successfully complete the course.

While the new course and test covers the basic principles of Pivot Steer operation – such as manoeuvring, stability fundamentals, stacking and destacking – Specific Job and Familiarisation will play an important part in operator training.

“Most Pivot Steer trucks are used to work with loads in high density racking systems. Here, there may be big differences in the tasks required and lift configurations,” says Laura. “It is the responsibility of the employer to deliver training that applies to the specific situation that the operator will be working in, accounting for the complexities of the tasks at hand, and the specific type of equipment that will be used in the live environment.”

The new materials are provided paperless on USB. This helps businesses to save money by only printing what is needed.

To support businesses going paper free, the MyRTITB TrainingFriend App – part of the RTITB Accreditation service – has been revised with the new testing standards. The app enables 100% digital administration and assessment.

The RTITB eLibrary has also been updated with the new materials. For an annual subscription, the RTITB eLibrary gives access to a full range of ready-to-go lift truck, plant and LGV training materials in a single online portal.

The new RTITB Pivot Steer guide is available now from the RTITB Shop for £110+VAT. It has been updated and written in line with the current P1 Accrediting Bodies Association for Workplace Transport (ABA) code. The ABA standards have not yet been updated for this equipment type, so the materials do not include an ABA test. However, the new RTITB guide reflects the ABA philosophy, helping to align and heighten standards in the interim.

The new training materials can be purchased online at https://www.rtitb.com/shop/.

 

Smart Robotics launches new Smart Palletizer versions

Posted on by David Priestman

Smart Robotics, a global leader in warehouse automation and robotics, has launched new versions of its Smart Palletizer cobot. The new versions ensure that there are more versatile pick-and-place solutions available to help establish automated warehouses and optimise the quality of work for warehouse employees.

The launch of the new Smart Palletizer product line comes at a time when it’s key for logistical processes to rapidly automate, in response to the growing labour shortage – especially with warehouses are already being stretched thin on manual capacity.

“Since the Smart Palletizer can take over physically demanding, repetitive tasks, we’re pleased to introduce our new product line to the market to be able to serve a larger audience in our mission to lessen the pressure on warehouse employees’ risk to their overall health,” says Johan Jardevall, CEO at Smart Robotics.

The Smart Palletizer product line is now available in three different versions, namely The Essential Version, The Advanced Version and The Premium Version.

Essential Version: A robust system that is capable of handling a large variety of products. This system is compact and able to handle multiple different stacking patterns and can readjust itself as needed.

Advanced Version: This version is able to stack a larger variety of boxes in terms of size and allows for more complex stacking patterns. The system can also stack boxes to a greater height and can integrate directly into the warehouse management system if needed.

Premium Version: There are almost no limits to what this system is able to do. Stacking packaged confectionery items and pharmaceutical products, all the way to handling open boxes. This version of the Smart Palletizer offers the best in next-gen, end-of-line automation.

By having various versions to choose from, customers are able to select the distinct Smart Palletizer that best matches their needs. Smart Robotics’ current customers, ranging from snacks and confectionary producers to suppliers of pharmaceutical products are already putting the new versions to use. New customers from the warehousing sector, with greater product variety, will benefit from the new versions’ being able to better adapt to their needs.

Each version of the Smart Palletizer is described as safe to interact with, and highly user friendly. The end-of-line cobot caters towards the future of smart warehouse optimization by merging automation with existing warehousing infrastructure, whilst creating better working conditions for existing employees.

All three versions of the Smart Palletizer come with the option of an all-inclusive service and maintenance contract, from a dedicated service team, to ensure smooth operation for the lifetime of the system. Each version of the Smart Palletizer is easy to integrate in the warehouse, not disrupting the flow of operations, but rather optimising essential tasks in the workflow.

IAG trials electric terminal tractor at Heathrow

Posted on by David Priestman

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has begun to trial the first electric terminal tractor, a Terberg YT203EV, at London Heathrow airport. This is the first electric Terberg operating airside worldwide.

By replacing an existing terminal tractor with an electric Terberg, approximately 30 tonnes of CO2 will be saved per vehicle per year –the equivalent of planting over 1 million trees or taking more than 6,000 cars off the road.

Terberg has been creating electric vehicles since 2014 with the team constantly revising the designs. The latest vehicles can deliver the same capability as the current diesel units in a more environmentally sustainable way, allowing drivers to carry out their work pattern whilst avoiding diesel engine emissions. In addition to its electric solution, Terberg is also exploring the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, having placed a unit in to test on an off-airfield application. This additional environmentally friendly solution will afford Terberg customers such as IAG Cargo further options to achieve their environmental goals.

IAG Cargo is trialling the electric Terberg YT203EV for 12 months, with the ambition to transition its current diesel fleet to more sustainable alternatives, including electric. In the coming years the trial will help IAG Cargo and its partners understand the challenges the business may face when adopting an electric airside fleet, how future electric vehicles could be charged and what additional infrastructure will be needed to support a fleet of electric terminal tractors.

David Rose, Chief Transformation Officer at IAG Cargo, commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Terberg to trial the first electric Terberg at London Heathrow – this is an exciting advancement for IAG Cargo as we strive to lead on sustainability and be fit for future.

“We are continuously looking at ways that reduce our impact on the environment whilst improving our customer offering. This trial is part of a wider effort supporting our commitment to making IAG Cargo, and the wider industry, more sustainable.“

Alisdair Couper, Manager Director at Terberg, added: “This is another step towards reducing air cargo’s impact on the environment and so we’re thrilled to work with IAG Cargo to see the first electric Terberg already in action at London Heathrow airport.”

 

Toyota scheme cuts cost of operating hand pallet trucks

Posted on by Keith McKinley

To support companies during these financially challenging times, Toyota Material Handling UK is offering an easy way of operating pallet trucks at the lowest cost and at a fixed annual rental rate with no capital outlay.

Toyota’s ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ scheme is a hand pallet truck rental option that enables users to receive a new pallet truck from the Toyota BT Lifter range for an agreed two-year monthly rental fee that can be as little as the equivalent of 79p/day.

Throughout the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ agreement period, the truck – or trucks – will be fully serviced free of further charge by Toyota’s experienced and dedicated pallet truck service team as part of an agreed structured maintenance schedule.

In addition, in the unlikely event of a truck suffering a mechanical breakdown between scheduled service calls, Toyota’s Pallet Truck Specialists will visit free of any further charge.

Tony Sharpe, Head of Service Development and Hand Pallet Truck After Sales at Toyota Material Handling, comments: “Hand pallet trucks are in near constant use in countless warehouses, retail outlets and manufacturing sites across the country. ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ provides quality equipment at the lowest rates and complete cost transparency for users. And, of course, because fees are agreed up-front, budget forecasting becomes far simpler.

“Furthermore, the ‘Pallet Truck Plus’ service schedule will identify any potential issues with a truck that may compromise productivity or staff safety and thus prevent significant downtime – with all the cost and disruption to a business that can mean.”

While a strict servicing and maintenance regime is the best way of preventing significant downtime truck build quality is also a major factor in maintaining operational efficiency and in work-cycle tests trucks in Toyota’s BT Lifter range have lasted up to five times as long as other hand pallet trucks.

Sharpe adds: “Toyota’s BT hand pallet trucks have been setting standards in strength and performance for over 60 years and today’s BT Lifter range from Toyota Material Handling maintains these values with tests proving that these trucks are the most durable on the market.”

The full Toyota BT Lifter range – including top selling models such as the BT Quick Lifter, the BT Lifter Stainless and the BT Lifter Wet Spec – is available through ‘Pallet Truck Plus.’

 

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