Robotics and AI Deployed in Bucharest DC

Dexory has announced today that their global partnership with Maersk is expanding into the Maersk and iB Cargo managed site in Romania, a distribution centre for a top home furnishing brand globally. The Bucharest deployment is the first of many outside of the UK to go live with the innovative technology, as part of the company’s expansion across Europe.

A. P. Moller – Maersk & iB Cargo operate a major distribution and logistics centre in Romania, serving one of the largest global furniture and interior decoration companies. For the first time in Romania, the two partners announce the deployment of Dexory’s technology and robots, in order to maximise and streamline the use of the centre, optimise its resources and shelf space.

The warehouse operated by A.P. Moller – Maersk & iB Cargo opened in September 2021 with 76,000 sqm, and less than 2 years later, it expanded to 100,000 sqm, offering customised logistics solutions and serving 8 countries in Europe and the Balkans. The unit is located in the CTPark Bucharest West industrial park and is BREEAM certified.

The robot called ‘NEO’ operates daily at the site in Bolintin-Deal, Romania, scanning over 100,000 pallet locations – allowing operations to move from 150 locations/h, with the current processes, to 10,000 locations/h via automation. It covers wide, narrow and hard to navigate aisles, reserve and picking locations – which is a time-consuming and prone to human error process, integrating into the day-to-day warehouse operations, working alongside the warehouse teams 24/7.

Dexory, the logistics start-up founded by Andrei Danescu, Oana Jinga and Adrian Negoita in London, is already working with Maersk in the UK and Ireland. This expansion into new territories is a great enabler of Maersk’s commitment to integrating new technologies as well as to sustainability.

Dexory’s unique solution combines hardware and software to provide instant visibility into inventory and operations at the click of a button. Using 12-metre-tall autonomous robots to capture warehouse data and images in real-time, the revolutionary digital twin technology enables instant analysis of stock, occupancy and stock movement.

The digital twin then offers instant access to the data captured, highlighting any discrepancies with other warehouse systems in an intuitive, easy-to-access digital format. The analytics extracted address operational bottlenecks, increase efficiencies (allowing for faster put-away and picking) and unlock powerful insights into site operations (for real-time occupancy fluctuation, route planning) – all of which used to be manually done before. Using AI it then provides companies with information to forecast and plan more accurately across their warehouse estate and have smarter management of their workforce.

Andrei Danescu, Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder of Dexory comments: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Maersk and iB Cargo and bring the power of real-time data and insights to this impressive site in Romania, supporting a powerful company in interior decorations. Teams across the board have already embraced the Dexory technology and are constantly using our digital twin to make more informed decisions and drive efficiency.”

“Our business model is about long-term partnerships. We build them through quality, integrity and bringing added value to our clients’ businesses through innovative solutions at every level.”, shared Cătălin Putineanu, Founder and Managing Partner of iB Cargo.

Dragos Dumitrescu Country Manager Maersk Romania, “Maersk remains steadfast in its unwavering commitment to implementing cutting-edge technology across its operations, reinforcing its position as an industry leader at the forefront of innovation. Embracing the latest advancements, Maersk continues to drive efficiency, enhance sustainability, and deliver exceptional value to its customers while shaping the future of global trade”.

Enhanced Supply Chain Connectivity in Bucharest

PSA BDP, a leading provider of globally integrated and port-centric supply chain, transportation, and logistics solutions, has announced the opening of its first office in Romania. PSA BDP International Romania S.R.L, located in the capital city of Bucharest, will be led by Country Director Mr. Cristian Afrenie. With this expansion into Romania, PSA BDP now has nearly 140 offices around the globe to serve its diverse customer base.

Romania has been actively investing in the development of its transport infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports and airports, providing a solid foundation for supply chain optimization. Its strategic location at the crossroads of major European trade routes and proximity to Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, and the Black Sea region, provides greater access to a large market and efficient distribution to surrounding countries.

This enhanced connectivity, availability of multimodal options, and integrated infrastructure will enable PSA BDP to facilitate smoother and more efficient movement of goods to customers in the Automotive & EV, Chemical & Petrochemical, Industrial & Manufacturing, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Consumer & Perishables industries, resulting in more cost-efficient routings, improved delivery times, and eco-friendly solutions in their supply chain operations.

PSA BDP Romania will offer the following services:
• Ocean Freight Forwarding (Full Container Load and Less than Container Load)
• Air Freight
• International Road Freight (Full Truckload and Less Than Truckload)
• International Rail & Intermodal Transport
• Project & Heavy Lift Transport
• Customs & Trade Compliance
• 3PL, LLP, and Digital Supply Chain Solutions
• Contract Logistics
• Domestic Distribution

PSA BDP will leverage Romania’s vast transport infrastructure, which includes the Port of Constanța, the largest ocean and container port on the Black Sea, and a key gateway for trade into Eastern Europe. The importance of the Port of Constanta is emphasized by the connection with two Pan-European transport corridors: IV (high speed rail and highway) and the Pan-European Corridor VII (Danube). The connection with Corridor IV has strategic importance, linking the Port of Constanța with the landlocked countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Constanța also represents an important transportation hub of the Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia Corridor, allowing PSA BDP to provide additional transport options to customers for connections between Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our Romania office,” said Fikret Ersoy, Managing Director – Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, PSA BDP. “This strategic expansion aligns with PSA BDP’s commitment to delivering exceptional value to our customers, while providing seamless integration of transportation modes, optimized routes, and efficient delivery across the region. Our dedicated team of professionals, coupled with our robust network of partners, enables us to offer tailored solutions that meet the unique need of our diverse customer base. We are excited to embark on this new chapter that will undoubtedly unlock new opportunities, create sustainable growth, and reinforce our position as a trusted partner in our customers’ supply chain success.”

Romania terminal reaches construction milestone

DP World has announced that the construction of its multi-million Euro terminal in Aiud, Romania, is over 50% complete. When complete in 2023, the state-of-the-art 82,000 sq m Aiud intermodal terminal will link an area that contributes 50% of Romania’s industrial GDP directly with rail connections across Europe and all the way to China.

DP World’s new terminal will also boast a static storage capacity of 3,000 TEU and create direct links to key export markets. This will help overcome traditional barriers of poor infrastructure reaching north-eastern Romania, and drive further business to DP World’s Constanta port, supporting further volume growth in the Black Sea terminal.

Cosmin Carstea, CEO of DP World Romania, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone in the construction of this multi-modal terminal, which will be a big step in helping DP World become an end-to-end logistics provider in Romania.

“As it is situated in Romania’s industrial heartland, when completed our Aiud terminal will provide exporters and importers in the wider area with direct access to a major transport hub, creating efficient, robust and reliable trade routes to the whole country and beyond.”

Rashid Abdulla, CEO of DP World Europe, said: “Our purpose is to make trade flow. The development of this vast new facility in Aiud is a strong example of DP World’s ability to provide new trading opportunities that connect cargo owners with their customers, whatever their products and wherever they are in the world.

“When completed next year, the terminal will help DP World to create better, more sustainable and more efficient ways to move cargo for our customers, and simultaneously bolster Romania’s role in connecting its domestic market with Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.”

Through its on-site connection to the electrified rail infrastructure, the Aiud terminal will also help reduce transportation costs and CO2 emissions through the shift from road to rail as well as through the reduced transit time for cargoes from factories at the industrial park to their final destination.

Decea which is located in Alba county is close to Cluj, Sibiu, Mures and Hunedoara, which have become vital industrial and trade hubs for the country.

Businesses in this area will now have a fast direct connection within Europe to the Black Sea, North and Adriatic seas, while also having rail links to major hubs in Central Asia and China, enabling Romania to become a commercial hub for European trade eastward.

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.