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Tag: Transport

More freight trains between Cologne and Bologna

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TX Logistik AG is increasing the number of trains on its intermodal connection between Cologne and Bologna. As of 9th July 2022, the number of round trips will increase from five to six per week. The reason for this is the growing demand in both economic regions for rail transport capacities on this route through Switzerland.

TX Logistik included the route in its timetable at the beginning of 2021. It connects the Cologne North terminal with the Interporto Bologna terminal. The route runs via the Gotthard axis, whose expansion was completed in 2020. Since then, semitrailers with a corner height of 4m can also be transported intermodally by rail through Switzerland. The switch to the P400 profile has significantly increased demand for combined transport services on the Gotthard route.

TX Logistik has taken into account this development with the additional round trip. The rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), and its subsidiaries TX Logistik Switzerland and TX Logistik Transalpine are responsible for all services ‒ from marketing of transportation capacities to traction ‒ entirely under their own management. Modern multi-system locomotives are used, staffed by locomotive drivers from TX Logistik. Up to 34 loading units fit on one train. In addition to semi-trailers, mega-trailers, swap bodies and containers are also transported. They are loaded in Cologne and Bologna every day, with the exception of Sunday.

With the higher train frequency on the Cologne-Bologna route, TX Logistik says it is making a further contribution to modal shift and climate protection. Compared to transport by truck, rail transport saves around 23,000 tons of CO2 per year with six round trips per week.

 

GBA Services orders IVECO fleet

Posted on by Keith McKinley

UK and European logistics provider GBA Services is spearheading its ambitious growth plans by taking delivery of 10 new 480-horsepower diesel IVECO S-WAY (AS440S48TX/P) 6×2 with mid-lift axles.

This is the first time the IVECO brand has joined the 200-strong fleet with the S-WAYs part of a fleet refresh involving 50 new trucks being put on the road and 40 trucks being de-fleeted in the last few months.

GBA Services places the driver at the heart of every vehicle added to the fleet so the specification of each S-WAY is very high. Drivers benefit from a large fridge with cool box, sunroof, leather steering wheel, leather heated and air-conditioned driver’s seat, a leather heated, air conditioned, swivelling passenger seat, external sun visor, air horns, automatic climate control, night heater and night time safety lock plus a 7’’ Infotainment system with Tom Tom Sat Nav.

Externally Alcoa Diamant alloy wheels have been specified alongside LED Headlamps with cornering and bending fog lights, LED rear lights, an electric cab tilt and additional under cab storage. The bigger high roof AS sleeper cab accommodates two large bunks while a cab air kit with corner fins helps maximise the IVECO S-WAY’s impressive aerodynamics.

“We are currently expanding and renewing the fleet as the business grows and when the IVECO S-WAYs became available they fitted in perfectly with what we needed. The IVECO brand is a new addition to our fleet and the drivers were really keen to get behind the wheel of the new S-WAY.  Feedback from them has been extremely positive. Opting for the bigger AS cab has also meant more living space for the driver when they are away from home,” explained Mike Brown, GBA’s head of fleet and compliance.

The IVECO S-WAYs have been put to work on a contract with a national retailer which involves trunking double deck trailers between distribution centres in Amesbury, Wiltshire, and Sheffield. Typically, the trucks are running at between 40-44 tonnes and so far, the 480hp Cursor 11 diesel engine mated to the 12-speed automatic HI-TRONIX gearbox is returning 10mpg.

The trucks were purchased outright from IVECO dealer Walton Summit in Preston with a two-year warranty and are set to cover around 160,000km annually. Walton Summit completed the S-WAY’s high spec by fitting a full-size catwalk, rear of cab ‘A’ Frame, wheel nut markers, Anderson connectors, Haz Chem plates, an anti-syphon device, an additional rear work light and Direct Vision camera kits.

Like many logistics providers GBA is looking to improve its environmental credentials and Mike and his fleet team have signed up to reducing emissions by 50% by 2024.

“We are very mindful of reducing our carbon footprint and are looking at a number of different options including the IVECO CNG proposition. We are doing the numbers on gas versus diesel and as the fuel network improves it is becoming more of a viable option,” said Brown.

“It is very pleasing when a new operator onboards IVECO product for the first time and even more satisfying when the fleet manager receives positive praise from drivers. The IVECO S-WAY continues to set new standards of driver comfort and we are pleased that it has seamlessly fitted into GBA’s fast-growing fleet,” said Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO’s Medium & Heavy Business Line Director.

 

Road freight prices break records as fuel costs soar

Posted on by David Priestman

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

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

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

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

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

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

Freight profit squeeze means higher consumer prices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Transaid puts the focus on public transport gender equality

Posted on by Keith McKinley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DB Schenker opens 50th eco warehouse

Posted on by Keith McKinley

DB Schenker, one of the world’s leading global logistics providers, has reopened a sustainable logistics terminal in Tilburg in the Netherlands. After undergoing a modernisation in 2021, the terminal has now been awarded by Deutsche Bahn as the 50th eco warehouse for DB Schenker. Eco warehouses are part of an integrated concept developed by DB Schenker that enables warehouses to be operated in an energy-efficient manner, thereby improving the wellbeing of employees and greatly reducing CO2 emissions.

The international hub got a complete makeover, allowing for eco-efficient and more spacious cross-docking operations with modern technology in order to ensure a greater degree of environmental protection. Global standards for sustainable construction were used when the new terminal was constructed – i.e. standards relating to heat insulation, the use of renewable resources obtainable from the region surrounding the building, the installation of modern natural lighting systems for the well-being of employees, and the use of efficient HVAC system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Five beehives were also placed on the site in order to increase biodiversity in the vicinity. In addition, reduced use of terminal MHE (material handling equipment) via the semi-automation of goods handling has been achieved, waste management has been improved at offices, and charging stations have been installed for electric bikes and vehicles.

“Eco warehouses are the future of our terminals,” says Cyrille Bonjean, Head of Land Transport at DB Schenker Europe. “The facility in Tilburg is the latest example of how quickly we’re moving toward highly automated, eco-efficient freight hubs. This serves our strategic goal to become CO2-neutral by 2040 and it’s already having a positive effect on our employees, who are now able to work in a future-proof, professional, and safe environment.”

“DB Schenker in the BeNeLux continues to invest in a sustainable future,” says Pierre van Diesen, Head of Land Transport at DB Schenker BeNeLux. “The land transport branch office in Tilburg, one of the logistics hotspots in the Netherlands, is a strategic location within our European network. The short distance to the A58 highway is ideal and helps us reduce our CO2 emissions.”

The modernised terminal site has an area of 59,210 sq m. With 90 loading docks, the warehouse is fully adapted to cross-dock activities for pallet distribution and can handle over 20,000 shipments per week. The use of an embedded towline will automate the internal transport of pallets, thereby ensuring efficiency and safety. The new site infrastructure will be adapted in line with the growth of transport operations, thus ensuring that safety, security, and efficiency can be maintained in the future as well. The site employs a total of 350 people.

 

IFOY FINALIST FOCUS: NAiSE TRAFFIC by NAiSE

Posted on by Keith McKinley

On the day the IFOY Award winners are named at BMW World in Munich, we look at the last of the finalists – NAiSE TRAFFIC by NAiSE in the Start-up of the Year category.

IFOY category: Start-up of the Year

Description

The NAiSE solution is essentially a manufacturer-independent control system for AGVs/AMRs with the unique feature that the entire intralogistics mixed operation is included in both traffic control and order distribution. This is made possible by the NAiSE RTLS localization network, which was developed and patented in-house: Radio sensors in the hall infrastructure enable precise localization and simultaneous near-real-time communication of and between the traffic participants (people, forklifts, tugger trains, AGVs/AMRs), using ultra-wideband technology that enables robust and reliable localization even in difficult industrial environments. The transparency gained from this enables the central software to do much more than the essential guidance control of AGVs/AMRs: due to past localization data, traffic analyses can be carried out on a regular basis, making conflict zones recognizable to the user, e.g. by means of heat maps. The bottlenecks and traffic jams in the flow of goods resulting from the conflict zones can then be solved playfully in the software by creating traffic zones. For seamless integration into the environment, gates are also controlled and fire alarm systems are integrated. Through the generic order interface, the integrated order manager receives the transport orders and transmits them to the appropriate participants as configured by the operator.

Summary

NAiSE TRAFFIC is the world’s only traffic and order management software for all participants in intralogistics. An elementary feature is that through the patented localization network (NAiSE RTLS) the entire mixed operation, consisting of people, forklifts, tugger trains and also AGVs/AMRs, is included in the traffic control and thus a more efficient and safer material flow in the warehouse and in production can be ensured.

CLICK HERE to watch a video.

IFOY TEST REPORT

NAiSE Traffic is the world’s only software for traffic and order management that includes all participants in the intralogistics process. The patented Real-Time Localisation System (RTLS) network includes all “traffic participants” in the traffic control and thus ensures the safe, efficient flow of materials in logistics and production.

To demonstrate its software, NAiSE is switching live from the test hall in Dortmund to the future factory “Arena 2036” at the Stuttgart headquarters. MAiSE will clearly demonstrate the functionality, added value and philosophy of its manufacturer-independent control system for industrial transport robots in material flow using diagrams, dashboards and heat maps. In contrast to VDA 5050, which is currently very popular and makes life easier for master controllers in particular, NAiSE follows a completely different way of thinking when it comes to traffic control. The Stuttgart-based company also integrates non-robots: people, forklifts, the pallet trucks – regardless of whether they are VDA-5050-compliant or not. NAiSE emphasises that it does not want to draw a line under VDA 5050, because the hybrid state, i.e. humans and robots, will still exist in warehouses and production for a long time to come. In addition, they do not want to take away the manufacturers’ intellectual property (IP), as they put it, that is their USP. At the manufacturer Omron, for example, this is the high degree of autonomy of the robots.

Despite all the really well-designed screen displays, NAiSE cannot do without “grounding”. In the perhaps 50 square metre test field we enter, there are three areas: In one, an AMR from Omron drives around, then there is an encounter zone, and in a third area, a VDA-5050-compliant transport robot, which is not specified in more detail at first glance, acts. And to make matters worse, a colleague with his sack truck keeps getting on my nerves, venturing into the area frequented by several participants for demonstration purposes. The tester also gets mixed in.

But how exactly does the guidance system work? In the self-developed, patented localisation network NAiSE RTLS, radio sensors in the hall infrastructure enable precise localisation and near-real-time communication of and between the traffic participants. Ultra-wideband technology (UWB) is used here, with the help of which objects can be located robustly and reliably even in difficult industrial environments.

The highlight of this is that regular traffic analyses can be carried out using localisation data from the past, which, for example, show conflict zones on the basis of heat maps. One can then resolve the bottlenecks and congestion in the flow of goods resulting from the conflict areas almost playfully by creating traffic zones. For seamless integration into the environment, gates are also controlled and fire alarm systems are integrated. Through the generic order interface, the integrated order manager receives the transport orders and transmits them to the appropriate participants as configured by the operator.

NAiSE also already has something to show: At Continental in Ingolstadt, for example, the material flow could be increased by 30 per cent, according to the company. But the system is also in productive use in China, in Germany still in Schwenningen am Neckar and at the automotive supplier Vitesco in Rheinböllen, a division of Continental.

IFOY Test Verdict

NAiSE Traffic is not only interesting because of the integration of really all potential “participants” in the warehouse, i.e. not only AGV or AMR, but also people and hand pallet trucks in mixed operations: the traffic and order management software also shines with the USP that it iteratively supports the person responsible for operations in adapting the material flow to the ever-changing circumstances. In the software tool, a bird’s eye view of the processes can be taken at any time and problem areas can be identified at an early stage with the help of analysis options.

IFOY INNOVATION CHECK

Market relevance: The NAiSE TRAFFIC software handles traffic and order management for various conveyor systems in intralogistics. Especially against the background of VDA 5050, the use of different vehicle systems at one location is on the rise. The software claims to be able to control the joint use of traffic areas by employees, industrial trucks with drivers, driverless transport vehicles and also autonomous mobile robots (AMR) within buildings, especially with localisation elements based on UWB technology. This task of traffic control is of outstanding importance for the efficient and safe realisation of transport processes for intralogistics, so that the market relevance of the solution is to be assessed as high

Customer benefit: The benefit for the user results from the possibility of being able to use different vehicle systems, whether manually guided or classically automated or autonomously controlled, on mixed-use routes. This makes it possible for the user to avoid conflicts in vehicle operation even with little effort. In particular, NAiSE TRAFFIC should be able to reliably prevent unsolvable mutual obstructions, so-called blockages, at intersections and at pick-up or drop-off points. NAiSE TRAFFIC cannot be used to further optimise the use of routes, as the respective decisions regarding the movements of the individual road users only become visible to the software through localisation.

Novelty: The consistent independence from individual providers is attractive, but is already offered by other software providers. In combination with the own UWB localisation system, however, a degree of novelty is achieved, as any vehicles and persons can be localised, provided they are each equipped with a UWB device.

Functionality / type of implementation: The functionality could be well understood on the simple test setup. The updating of the localised road users appears to be quite fast. Nevertheless, it has to be evaluated that the functionality is only given if all participants are equipped with a UWB localisation device and that this requirement can be safely realised in the daily operational routine. Compared to conventional software solutions for traffic and order management, the graphical user interface with the layout representations based on point clouds is solved differently. For regular users, however, this implementation does not appear to be suitable for ergonomic reasons, as intuitive orientation is not easy.

Verdict: Even against the background of VDA 5050, both the market relevance and the customer benefit are to be rated as high. The technologies used and the associated innovation, together with the implementation, can be described as good.

market relevance ++
customer benefit +
novelty +
functionality / type of implementation Ø
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available]

For an overview of all the finalists, visit www.ifoy.org

CLICK HERE to find out more about NAiSE TRAFFIC – the world’s only traffic and order management software.

Cleveland Containers secures investment from LDC

Posted on by David Priestman

Cleveland Containers, a leading UK supplier of shipping containers, has secured a minority investment from leading mid-market private equity firm LDC to support the next stage of its growth journey.

Headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland Containers is led by husband-and-wife Johnathan and Jane Bulmer. It specialises in the sale and hire of shipping containers and site accommodation units. The company supplies over 4,500 customers including national housebuilders, construction firms, high street retailers and individuals.

Ranging from 6ft to 45ft in size, Cleveland Containers’ new and used shipping containers are supplied for multiple applications, including everything from storage units to office space and street food vendors to site canteens. This includes delivering bespoke container conversions for projects such as the popular food and drink venue STACK Seaburn in Sunderland, as well as containers for theme park resorts Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham and the Peak District’s Gulliver’s Kingdom. The business has a network of 15 depots and currently delivers more than 400 containers a week to its customers across the UK.

Cleveland Containers is a market leader in its sector and has grown quickly, with revenues more than trebling in the last four years from £18m in 2019 to £60m in the current year. The business currently employs more than 65 people.

LDC is backing the existing management team to support their growth plan and further enhance Cleveland Containers’ sales and rental offering, while also creating career opportunities for new and existing employees.

To support the next stage of its journey, Andrew Thompson, former Managing Director of portable site accommodation and storage container rental provider Mobile Mini, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Jon Hurford, former Finance Director at O’Brien Waste Recycling Solutions, has also joined the business as Chief Financial Officer and Richard Tredwin, former CEO of SRL Traffic Systems, has been appointed as Non-Executive Chair.

The investment was led by Gareth Marshall, Partner and Head of LDC in the North East, and Investment Manager Naomi McDiarmid, both of whom will also join the board.

Johnathan Bulmer, Managing Director of Cleveland Containers, said: “I’m really proud of everyone at Cleveland Containers. The team has worked tirelessly to cement our market leading position and with LDC’s support we are now in a position to strengthen our business further and welcome more people into our fun and fast-growing business.

“As soon as we met Gareth and Naomi at LDC, we knew that LDC was the right partner to support our growth plans. They have helped to bring in new experience and perspectives to our business, and it’s a real benefit that their Newcastle office is only a short distance away. We feel well supported to continue our growth from our base here in the North East.”

Gareth Marshall, Partner and Head of LDC in the North East, added: “Johnathan, Jane and the team at Cleveland Containers’ commitment to customer service has been key to their growth. As a result of their efforts and creativity, we’re seeing an increasingly innovative use of containers across the UK. We’re looking forward to helping the business to bring the right container, site accommodation and modular turnkey solutions to even more customers.”

LDC has a strong heritage of supporting the growth of businesses within the logistics and warehousing sector. The private equity firm has successfully backed the nationwide growth plans of independent home delivery company Panther Logistics, including creating 300 new jobs and tripling profits, and supported pallet distribution services provider The Pallet Network (TPN) for ten years – helping the business to treble revenue, open new sites and make complementary acquisitions in the process.

Start-ups selected to join Wincanton’s W² Labs programme

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Wincanton, a leading supply chain partner for UK business, has announced the five finalists from around the world to take part in its 2022 W² Labs programme. Those selected following the recent Pitch Day will receive mentorship from Wincanton’s Senior Management Team, with the chance to trial their solution in a live environment.

First launched in 2017, the W² Labs programme is open to early-stage businesses who are invited to pitch proposals which use digitalisation to drive change across supply chains. The programme is designed to accelerate innovation, discover emerging ideas and tackle some of the industry’s toughest challenges and is an example of Wincanton’s ambition to deliver truly innovative supply chain solutions.

This year’s programme invited 15 start-ups to pitch with a range of forward looking technologies and solutions in the following areas:

  • Digital Fulfilment: solutions to revolutionise modern-day fulfilment
  • Environment, social and governance (ESG): long-term sustainable supply chain solutions
  • Wildcard: technology and robotics to transform supply chains

As decided by the judging panel, the final 5 are:

Find & Order (digital fulfilment): Find & Order, based in France, uses its interactive mapping editor and algorithms to optimise picking operations in warehouses and stores, achieving increased product collection efficiency of up to 20%.

Nomagic (digital fulfilment): Nomagic, based in Poland, provides smart pick and place robots to eliminate labour intensive tasks in eCommerce and retail warehouses, while reducing cost per pick.

Automedi (ESG): Automedi, based in Manchester, UK, makes functional products and services out of waste plastics, cutting out up to 98% of the CO2 of conventional supply chains by radically reducing the energy needed to manufacture and transport goods long haul.

Navflex Inc (Wildcard – technology and robotics): Navflex, based in the US, has developed technology that autonomously loads and unloads any trailer, container or box truck with plug-and-play autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technology that do not require infrastructure changes. The US-based business promises to increase safety and productivity while reducing product damage.

Pick8ship Technology AG (Wildcard – technology and robotics): Pick8ship Technology AG, based in Switzerland, has developed a robotics fulfilment solution for managing storage, picking, sorting and shipping, using a single, fast, modular system. The technology reduces operating costs by 40-60%. Read more:

Paul Durkin, Chief Customer and Innovation Officer at Wincanton, and member of the judging panel, commented: “This year’s event was one of Wincanton’s most compelling W² Pitch Days to date. We saw a broad range of ideas and innovations which made judging the competition an exciting challenging.

“This was the first time we’ve hosted the event at our new W² Innovation Centre in The WEB, Wincanton’s eFulfilment centre in Rockingham. We were thrilled to host participants, customers and colleagues both in-person and remotely, making this year’s event a truly hybrid and inclusive experience.

“We look forward to collaborating with the start-ups, supporting them as they develop innovative supply chain solutions for the future.”

This year’s W² Labs is delivered in partnership with global corporation innovation specialist, L Marks.

Transaid launches driver training project in Mozambique

Posted on by David Priestman

Transaid is preparing to support refresher training for at least 400 heavy goods vehicle drivers within small and medium-size enterprises (SME) in Mozambique, just a few months after securing a contract to extend its professional driver training work into yet another sub-Saharan country.

It follows a period of intense work by the Transaid team within the southern African nation, where it has been working to assess the supply and demand of local drivers and driver training. This has included developing a suite of demand-orientated road safety, defensive driving and soft skills courses to be offered by local driving schools and in-house trainers.

Transaid’s heavy involvement is part of an initiative led by GIZ Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D), which is funded by the German government with support from the Norwegian government, Appload, and EnergyWorks.

Neil Rettie, Road Safety Project Manager at Transaid, explains: “HGV driver training is currently limited in Mozambique, and it raises concerns that drivers are not sufficiently trained for the demanding roles they undertake. This in turn puts both them and other road users at serious risk.”

Transaid’s brief is to train a minimum of 10 driving instructors from four to five training schools, who will then deliver training to at least 400 existing HGV drivers.

Rettie adds: “We are confident our proven ‘train the trainer’ model will help to deliver a sustainable change to driver training standards in Mozambique, just as it’s already doing in countries including Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

“This is a really important project for Transaid, as it directly supports our belief that drivers should be able to leave for a day’s work without the fear they may not come home because of a lack of training, or dangerous vehicles and roads.”

There are currently no standardised training materials for driving schools and other training providers in Mozambique, and training is largely aimed at fast acquisition of driving permits – rather than imparting high quality skills. As a result, many professional drivers depend largely on peer-to-peer or self-learning methods, and do not undergo structured and comprehensive practical and theoretical training.

This initial project to deliver training to at least 400 drivers is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.

 

 

Peli BioThermal innovation webinars available on demand

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Peli BioThermal, the life science industry’s partner from discovery to distribution, recently concluded its InnovationShare webinar series. Launched in March 2021, InnovationShare was designed to fill the in-person learning gap during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Webinars brought industry innovators together to share knowledge and address challenges in a quickly evolving global supply chain.

“Learning and growing together over the past two years was arguably more important than ever for the cold chain industry. The pace of change required quick innovation and grounding in best practices,” said Adam Tetz, Director of Worldwide Marketing at Peli BioThermal. “With a return to more traditional events, Peli BioThermal is excited to continue to deliver these industry-leading online learning modules.”

While InnovationShare webinars are complete, all ten webinars are available on demand through the Peli BioThermal website.

Sessions include:

  • Part 1: Outline and Justification for the QT Methodology
  • Part 2: A worked example of the methodology
  • GDP Update – The Importance of Self Auditing
  • Analysis of shipper performance using performance curves
  • Points to consider when selecting or creating thermal lane profiles
  • Clinical Trial Regulation (CTR) and the role of clinical supply chain transparency
  • Using AI to Predict Ambient Temperature Throughout a Pharmaceutical Shipping Lane
  • Integrating Real Time Track and Trace via IoT into the Cold Chain
  • Cell and Gene Therapies and the Cold Chain Logistics Necessary for Success
  • Single Use vs Reusable for Temperature Control Packaging

 

 

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