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XPO and PepsiCo Announce UK Transport Partnership

Posted on by David Priestman

XPO Logistics has entered into a major new partnership with PepsiCo to become their chosen core transport partner for England and Wales. The partnership with XPO Logistics will operate across all four of its main UK distribution sites in Leicester, Lutterworth, Coventry, and Warrington.

PepsiCo is one of the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers. Every day, millions of people across the UK enjoy PepsiCo’s snacks, oats and carbonated soft drinks. The company’s portfolio encompasses world famous brands such as Pepsi MAX, Doritos, 7UP Zero Sugar, and Quaker Oats, alongside its much-loved, local and regional brands, including Walkers, Wotsits, Monster Munch, and Pipers.

Beyond the cupboard staples and snack-time favourites, PepsiCo is a business committed to driving positive action for the planet and people, through its PepsiCo Positive (pep+) agenda. Launched in 2021, pep+ is PepsiCo’s end-to-end sustainability and business strategy. It’s a framework that drives action across agriculture, supply chains, product portfolios, and communities. To support this vision, PepsiCo has selected XPO Logistics as a key partner to advance its decarbonisation strategy in the UK.

Under the new partnership, XPO Logistics will deploy state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz eActros electric vehicles, converting more than 1 million road kilometres annually from diesel to battery electric. This transition represents a reduction of over 1,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year from PepsiCo’s transport operations — a critical step on the road to net zero emissions by 2050.

But sustainability is about more than just trucks. At the heart of the initiative is XPO Logistics’ proprietary CO₂ Reporting Dashboard, a cutting-edge tool powered by AI-driven scenario modelling, live data analytics, and proactive planning insights. This system enables PepsiCo to track, verify, and optimise carbon reduction strategies in real-time, while improving logistics efficiency and service to customers.

Dan Myers, Managing Director – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “Sustainability is in our DNA. We are proud to partner with PepsiCo on this journey, combining investment in electric mobility with advanced technology and operational excellence. Our shared ambition goes beyond compliance — it’s about transformation. I believe this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together.”

This collaboration forms a key part of PepsiCo’s broader decarbonisation journey, demonstrating how purposeful partnerships can accelerate climate action and improve value chain resilience. With shared values, shared investment, and a shared vision, PepsiCo and XPO Logistics are delivering a positive impact for consumers, the supply chain, and the planet.

Heiko Selzam, Managing Director, Daimler Truck UK, said: “We are very proud to strengthen our partnership further with XPO Logistics with this order of our award-winning eActros 600s for the PepsiCo partnership. This commitment underscores the recognition of both companies of the critical role these vehicles will play in achieving their sustainability goals. Following extensive collaboration, this order firmly establishes the eActros 600 as a leading solution in the electric truck market. We are looking forward to seeing these trucks operational from 1 August.”

Andrew Smethurst, UK Logistics Director, PepsiCo, said, “XPO Logistics has shown itself to be the ideal partner to help advance our PepsiCo Positive ambition. From their industry-leading sustainability credentials to a strong safety culture and transparent operational model, their team has consistently delivered innovation and value. This new partnership will play a vital role in further reducing our logistics emissions as we move iconic products like Walkers crisps and Doritos to our customers across the UK.”

XPO Logistics is a leading innovative supply chain company in Europe, offering end-to-end logistics solutions that combine full-truckload, less-than-truckload, pallet distribution, last-mile delivery, global freight forwarding, and warehousing services. The company tailors its solutions to the specific needs of its customers in a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors.

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BOC Procure Articulated Flatbed Trailer Fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

BOC, the UK & Ireland’s largest provider of industrial, medical and specialist gases, began procuring specialist articulated flatbed trailers and rigid bodywork solutions from Tiger Trailers in 2023, and the 59 vehicles supplied by the Cheshire manufacturer in Q1 2025 take the running total to 135. Comprising 29 trailers and 30 rigid solutions, they signal an ever-strengthening and growing relationship.

Lorraine Purvis, BOC Head of Deliver – Cylinder Transport PGP, says: “The Tiger team have worked hard to deliver the needs of our business to a very high quality. The transport team are looking forward to integrating these vehicles into our fleet. I would like to thank them for their attention to detail and continued support they show us as a business. Also, a big thanks to Mark Beal our Fleet engineer who has worked tirelessly with Tiger to seek improvements on our fleet.”

Tiger’s flatbed trailers for the gas cylinder division of BOC’s fleet are designed for each transporting up to twenty-six BOC pintle pallets, secured in three rows of fifteen bottles, with a central aisle featuring a portable safety gate that closes off the load when part-laden. When not in use the gate is stowed within the front headboard. Following driver feedback from Schenk (formerly Suttons Tankers), various operational improvements have been implemented to the constantly expanding fleet.

The rear of the chassis is designed to provide an access ladder up to the central aisle, various components from the pintle blades to the grab handles are finished in yellow for safety, and a fire extinguisher and a tube document holder are fitted to each trailer to comply with ADR & IMDG regulations.

Ignacio Torres-Manzi, Tiger Trailers’ Technical Sales Manager, comments: “It is a great privilege for us to work with another fantastic customer and continue building upon the working relationship. A huge thanks to the wider BOC team for the continued efforts, with a particular shout-out to Mark Beal for all his expertise offered into the process. We look forward to the continuation of Tiger being a key partner to BOC for hopefully many years to come!”.

These new pintle trailers will be operating within the customer’s cylinder trunking network across the UK, Ireland, as well as into Europe, feeding the supply chain with full and made-up loads for onward distribution to its end customers. The trailers are operated by Schenk UK on behalf of BOC.

The latest order of rigid bodywork solutions from Tiger for BOC are built on DAF XB 18-tonne chassis from the Ford & Slater DAF dealership in Leeds. Designed for transporting eight pallets for easy delivery to a wide range of customers, the bodies are framed by galvanised plates on all four sides, with a pressed steel fabricated and galvanised walkway down the middle, and a large stowaway cylinder trolley fitted to the offside rear, completed with a kerb ramp. A downrated 1-tonne Dhollandia DHVOG.15. K1 1000.800 tail lift is incorporated at the back.

Other specification details of BOC’s latest Tiger rigid bodies include a small medical cylinder holder, a toolbox, cellar rope, full-enclosure wraparound safety gates, and solar platform lights to fully encompass the comprehensive BOC specification.

The new rigids will join a 100% fleet of DAF trucks and undertake the network distribution from 35 UK sites stretching from Inverness to Plymouth and Port Talbot to Thetford.

Part of the Linde Group, BOC’s fleet size is 650 vehicles from light vans, rigids from 14t to 32t, plus tractor units operating at 44 tonnes. The BOC trailer fleet, which includes tankers as well as the specialised pintle trailers consists of 320 vehicles across the UK & Ireland. The gases delivered cover every aspect of industry, from manufacturing and science to aviation and healthcare.

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All-in-one electric fleet management platform

Posted on by David Priestman

 Hitachi ZeroCarbon today unveils a holistic suite of EV fleet solutions designed to simplify every step of fleet electrification, from planning and strategy support, facilitating EV financing, through to a technology platform delivering charging management and battery optimisation – driving decarbonisation across the fleet ecosystem.

With various legal directives across Europe mandating that all new vehicles must be zero-emission by 2035, fleet managers have only a decade to decarbonise. Recognising that many fleets are at different stages of their electrification journey, from building the business case, to looking for affordable financing, to trialling EVs, Hitachi now provides a one-stop-shop service that supports all aspects of the EV fleet ecosystem. The comprehensive solution suite empowers fleet operators to accelerate the runway to electrified transport.

New solutions that are now available include:

• ZeroCarbon Fleet: The combination of Hitachi’s charging and battery management capabilities, Fleet ensures vehicles are safely charged to meet daily operations, manages batteries to protect their long-term performance, and enables organisations to unlock new energy revenue streams from EV fleets.

• ZeroCarbon Charge: Charge is a 24/7 managed service and technology platform, providing real-time alerts, live vehicle monitoring, load balancing and advanced tariff optimisation for reliable charging operations and lower electricity costs.

• ZeroCarbon BatteryManager: The battery is the most valuable component of an electric vehicle. BatteryManager provides a managed service and advanced asset analytics technology platform to help protect performance, extend battery life and maximise its residual value.

• ZeroCarbon Strategy: Hitachi’s energy expertise supports fleet managers through every step of the electrification process, through designing bespoke decarbonisation strategies, conducting site assessments, calculating total cost of ownership, facilitating access to financing through its partners and identifying new energy and asset utilisation revenue opportunities.

These solutions were born out of Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s involvement in Optimise Prime, the world’s largest commercial trial of over 8000 EVs. Hitachi worked closely with major UK fleets, leading technology providers and local distribution network operators to develop and test impactful EV fleet solutions.

Alongside its ability to support fleets through a variety of funding solutions, from providing access to low-cost finance, co-invested equity and debt-based finance, Hitachi ZeroCarbon now has a market-leading end-to-end proposition for fleets. Solutions can all be tailored to the specific needs of public transport operators, utilities and facilities fleets, hauliers and last mile delivery businesses.

Commenting on the launch, Mike Nugent, Chief Revenue Officer, Hitachi ZeroCarbon said: “We understand that every business is unique, and has its own set of decarbonisation challenges, so we’re proud to have curated a service that threads the entire process together in one seamless offering. Our customers are telling us they don’t know where to start, and need support through every step of the journey. That’s why we combine bespoke strategies with a people-first approach to transformation, showing how close management of charge infrastructure and battery assets can deliver real business value. We are experts at taking the complexity out of electrification, and removing capital constraints, so operators can enjoy greater benefits, sooner.”

Stig Tvergrov at Posten Bring, one of Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s key customers, added: “We operate in a challenging environment where the conditions can change dramatically based on season. We needed a resilient and proven electrification partner that had the solutions to anticipate challenges and address them before they materialised.

“Hitachi’s ZeroCarbon’s end-to-end service ticked a lot of boxes, and through our deployment of ZeroCarbon Charge, we achieved complete visibility into the health and performance of our key battery assets, so we can optimise our vehicles based on route, journey, or condition. The service plugged seamlessly into our existing site hardware and software too, which meant no disruption during installation. It led to us having complete visibility over both vehicles and chargers, allowing us to rely on new technology and help us towards achieving our climate goals early.”

Hitachi ZeroCarbon already manages over a thousand electric vehicle assets across Europe, North America and Asia, supporting the global shift to electrified transport. Across its portfolio, Hitachi provides an around-the-clock managed service, with swift incident resolution and expert support to prevent operational risk or disruption. Its services are technology agnostic, so can integrate with any existing fleet hardware or software systems, while its expertise in data science provides market-leading charging and battery optimisation to maximise the value from electric vehicle fleets. 

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52 Rigids and 3 Double Deck Trailers

Posted on by David Priestman

Johnsons Hotel Linen, one of the UK’s largest hotel laundry hire and service providers, has begun introducing to its fleet fifty-two rigids and three fixed double decks manufactured by Tiger Trailers, with an emphasis on durability to meet its demanding operations.

Following a visit to Cheshire-based Tiger Trailers’ purpose-built facility in 2022 by Leigh Anscombe, Johnsons’ National Transport Manager, the order for the trailers was placed initially, with the first delivered in October 2023, during which time the first twenty 18-tonne rigids were also manufactured.

Anscombe comments: “From our first introduction to Ignacio and Tiger Trailers we were impressed with the setup of the business and the attention we received as a potential customer. This has continued since placing numerous large orders through Tiger Trailers, with communication from Ignacio being fantastic and constantly keeping us aware of the situation and any changes. Issues that were encountered along the way and could have potentially arisen were communicated, headed off and dealt with before becoming a problem because of this.”

“The first batch of vehicles have been on our fleet for close to six months now during our busiest period and show no signs of wear and tear. This is what we would expect from a company such as Tiger and feel it is reflected in the overall finish and build quality of the product and service we have received”, he adds.

Due to the intense operation, strength was a primary requirement when identifying a supplier for the new fleet additions, and Johnsons’ Tiger-built rigids and trailers have been tailored with this in mind, each featuring Anchorfix steel plates impregnated within their GRP-faced sidewalls to provide enhanced protection for the load securing tracks, mitigating damage from frequent cage loading.
The initial twenty rigids are based on DAF LF 4×2 chassis and their specification includes a bespoke aerodynamic kit and a rear-sloping roofline for improved air flow, a full-closure Dhollandia 1,500kg cantilever tail-lift, and ventilators in the roof to combat damp laundry loads. Three different full-print liveries were applied across these vehicles, which have entered service throughout Johnsons’ nationwide fleet.

Tiger’s double deck solution comes in tri-axle box van step-frame guise, with these trailers providing support to the laundry specialist’s rigid fleet and regional hubs by transporting up to 74 cages during times of peak demand. The neck of the trailer offers additional storage space for loose laundry items, aided by an internal tail-lift. The fixed full-length upper deck is rated at 10,000kg and is constructed of steel overlaid with phenolic floor, with a steel durbar crash plate at the rear. The reversing spot lamps on each side have been fitted at a 45-degree offset behind the rear axle to elevate safety and visibility during low-speed manoeuvring around yards and hotel car parks. Completing the trailers’ specification is a gated Dhollandia 2500kg twin-tier column tail-lift.

Iggy Torres-Manzi, Tiger Trailers’ Technical Sales Manager, comments: “Tiger and myself are proud to have both brought on a new customer, and manufactured Johnsons’ latest fleet additions – it’s always exciting to develop two different products for a customer. The durability enhancements we have incorporated are sure to result in these new rigids and trailers becoming invaluable assets in their network, and they look fantastic in the company’s iconic blue, complemented by the different full-print wraps. It’s been a pleasure to work with Leigh, and we look forward to supporting the customer going forward, through the delivery of their future orders and beyond.”

Johnsons Hotel Linen’s additional thirty-two Tiger rigids will be introduced to the operator’s fleet in Spring 2024, comprised of sixteen DAF and sixteen Mercedes-Benz Trucks chassis. Tiger is also manufacturing a brace of 7.5-tonne rigids for the laundry specialist’s Northern Ireland operation.

 

DHL Introduces Volvo Electric Tractor Units

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL Supply Chain today announces the introduction of the UK’s first fully electric Volvo heavy duty tractor units. The four Volvo FM electric trucks are designed for high-capacity deliveries operating at 40 tonnes and directly replace diesel vehicles on a range of activities.

Featuring Volvo’s largest 540kWh battery which provides 666hp, the zero-emissions trucks have a range of up to 300km/180 miles, allowing them to complete full round-trips servicing DHL’s retail and automotive customers across the UK.

Saul Resnick, CEO DHL Supply Chain UK & Ireland, DHL Supply Chain said: “Today marks an important milestone in our journey towards alternative fuel vehicles. The size and capability of these trucks make them a truly viable alternative to diesel as they fully meet our needs and those of our customers. Following our introduction of the UK’s first 16-tonne rigid electric truck in late 2020, we’re proud to continue to lead the way in electric commercial transport.”

The new trucks share the same controls and very latest safety features seen on conventional diesel Volvo FM vehicles, making the transition for drivers as safe and easy as possible. Early feedback from drivers has been extremely positive, especially with regard to acceleration and hill performance. The investment in industry leading vehicles reflects DHL’s commitment to ensuring its fleet is best in class and offers the highest levels of service to its supply chain customers, as well as reflecting DHL’s own ambitious Go Green agenda.

DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialised solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 94 billion euros in 2022. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

Ocado Using Solar-powered Refrigerated Units

Posted on by David Priestman

In a recent development to its long-standing relationship with Marshall Fleet Solutions, Ocado Logistics has now added the Titan system to its refrigerated trailer fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint within its business operations.

In a double first and already on the roads providing the logistics solution for the world’s largest online supermarket, the Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions is fitted to a 4.98m high double deck trailer, combined with an Advancer A400 refrigeration unit. Titan uses power produced from lightweight, high powered solar panels and stores the electrical energy in long life lightweight lithium batteries to provide powered to the refrigeration unit.

“As part of our Ocado’s commitment to sustainability we have a goal to bring our operations to net zero by 2035” says Graham Thomas, Fleet Operations Manager – Truck. “With a fleet including 300 trailers of which 245 are temperature controlled, for some time we have been looking towards alternative solutions to power trailer fridges, at one point looking at developing our own solution. On learning of Titan and the success of other customer trials, it seemed like a viable add on solution, supplied and supported by a known partner.”

Online retailer adds Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions to double deck trailers

The relationship between Ocado and Marshall Fleet Solutions dates back to the early 2000s when Ocado were a fledgling start up, initially primarily as a refrigeration equipment supplier. However, in 2017 Ocado switched the repair and maintenance of its entire Thermo King refrigeration fleet to Marshall Fleet Solutions. This latest addition of Titan systems to the fleet, cements the strong and growing relationship between the two companies.

Available exclusively from Marshall Fleet Solutions, the Titan system’s independent and autonomous design is capable of providing 100% free power to all makes of on-board refrigeration unit, tail lifts and other vehicle mounted electrically powered applications on all vehicles sizes from LCVs, small trucks, to HCVs, both single temp and multi-temp. Available for both new vehicles as well as for retrofitting to existing vehicles, Titan has the ability to convert fleets to reach zero carbon goals overnight.

Graham continues, “Because of the nature of our trunking operation and the temperature regimes we use, there is in theory no reason why diesel can’t be eliminated completely and Titan has the potential to be a key contributor to this goal. In preparation we’re building all our future trailers to be capable of taking Titan as a retrofit.”

“It’s so pleasing to see how the partnership between our two companies is continuing to grow and to see Ocado take a leading position by incorporating Titan into its double deck fleet this year,” said Mark Howell, Managing Director, Marshall Fleet Solutions. “The successful use of solar powered refrigerated trailers within the Ocado operation will have a significantly positive impact towards delivering their sustainability goals and we are delighted to be part of their journey to Net Zero.”

Marshall is an independent UK company with a diverse portfolio of businesses and a shared commitment to keeping our customers moving forward. Whether that’s supporting global armed forces to deliver mission-critical activities, keeping the UK distribution industry on the road, creating new, sustainable communities where people can live and thrive, or developing the next generations of industry talent – we are incredibly proud to have been building extraordinary futures since 1909. Headquartered in Cambridge, we currently employ around 2000 people across locations in the UK, Northern Europe, North America and the UAE.

Diesel Truck Particulate Filter Cleaning

Posted on by David Priestman

In line with its five-year expansion strategy to meet the anticipated growth in cleaning demand from major truck manufacturers and operators, Ceramex has seen its diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning volume increase by 15% year on year.

The number of DPFs processed has significantly increased from before the pandemic with regular weekly throughput of more than 2,000 units per week. Increased logistics fleet activity both nationally and in Europe and the expansion of its customer base has contributed to the uplift in volume, helped by the company’s ability to process a significantly larger volume of DPFs, following its relocation to a brand-new, 67,000 square-foot facility in Reading in 2021.

As 2023 gets underway, Ceramex, which is the UK’s leading provider of patented DPF cleaning, remanufacturing and inspection services, anticipates an even busier year in response to rising customer demand.

Barney Milles, Managing Director of Ceramex, commented:

“Our performance over the last year clearly demonstrates the demand for cleaning and remanufacturing of commercial DPFs. Having our Reading facility fully operational with scope for increased capacity, positions Ceramex as a UK market leader in scalable DPF cleaning for HGV, PSV and off-highway vehicles. There are over 400,000 diesel-fuelled HGVs operating in the UK, plus thousands of foreign registered trucks, so it’s vital to keep their emissions control systems running as efficiently as possible, in accordance with Euro VI emissions regulations. Overall, our mission is to help keep truck fleets emission-compliant and operating cost-efficiently, which also demonstrates the commitment of Ceramex to helping customers reduce costs whilst driving towards cleaner air.”

Diesel Particulate Filter cake

Ceramex’s patented Xpurge® DPF cleaning process uses a combination of purified water and air to remove accumulated soot and ash deposits from the filter. As the deposits are suspended in water, there is no risk of them entering the atmosphere. The cleaning process removes between 350-450g of soot and ash from each filter, which restores it to at least 95% or more of brand new functionality, thereby avoiding the need for a brand new and costly DPF.

Each DPF is quality checked with Ceramex’s patented Veritex® automated inspection technology, which uses light and infrared transmission to verify a DPF’s internal condition. This technology provides an image of the internal structure of the filter, identifying any blockages, exotherm damage and cracks. Veritex® also provides a visual confirmation that the filter has been cleaned properly and generates a unique record of the DPF’s condition every time it’s cleaned, enabling filters to be monitored throughout their service life.

The resultant soot and ash that’s collected forms a ‘filter cake’ of particulate matter. Ceramex ships approximately 30 tons per year to a waste management partner for further treatment prior to its disposal as non-hazardous waste at a licensed landfill site.

Fleet Connectivity for Commercial Vehicles

Posted on by David Priestman

To advance next generation fleet connectivity for commercial vehicles ZF, today. announced that it has acquired intellic Germany GmbH, a Berlin-based advanced tachograph technology company with 20 employees. The acquisition further consolidates ZF’s unique capability to supply innovative solutions across the entire commercial vehicle transport value chain, reinforcing its innovation leadership in road transportation, orchestration and infrastructure optimization. Building on ZF’s ‘Next Generation Mobility’ strategy, the move represents a significant step towards realizing its ambitions to enable Transportation as a Service (TaaS).

“Incorporating Intellic’s smart tachograph technology within our telematics portfolio further advances ZF’s leading position as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for commercial vehicle manufacturers, fleets and industry partners,” said Hjalmar Van Raemdonck, Head of Digital Systems Solutions in ZF’s division Commercial Vehicle Solutions. “As a uniquely regulated and trusted data center, smart tachographs will have an increasingly important role to play in the road transportation ecosystem.”

“Leveraging the data integrity of smart tachographs will open opportunities in logistics, infrastructure optimization and build on ZF’s recent launch of its SCALAR digital fleet orchestration platform,” added Van Raemdonck. As the “black box” of the vehicle, verified data will include the entry of local times, precise real-time clocking, secure Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and an Intelligent Traffic System interface (ITS).

Enabling a “Connectivity Hub,” it is envisioned that a single, certified box will be able to reliably and accurately collect and relay data from a wide range of vehicle sensors and data sources including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and EBS signals.

With the potential to deliver significant added value to fleet customers, ZF is well positioned to become a full digital service provider by providing a complete system with clear, measurable, verified data. This includes displaying remaining drive time limits to ensure regulatory compliance. Offering all the digital software and hardware solutions that fleets need from a single source, ZF will integrate future-proof capabilities with software updates over-the-air, in the same way as updates for the tachograph such as driving and resting times. Adding value for manufacturers, ZF’s tachograph capabilities offer a simple solution to integrate speed, driving and resting time data to their vehicle dashboards.

The integration of trusted smart tachograph data with ZF’s recently launched SCALAR fleet orchestration platform will enable more efficient routing, dispatching and driver scheduling to help significantly enhance fleet efficiency. From 2023, the smart tachograph will become the central trusted device in the commercial vehicle sector in Europe. By third quarter 2023, manufacturers in Europe will be required to install next generation smart tachographs in new vehicles and, by the end of 2024, they will replace analogue tachographs altogether.

ZF is a global technology company supplying systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology, enabling the next generation of mobility. ZF allows vehicles to see, think and act. In the four technology domains of Vehicle Motion Control, Integrated Safety, Automated Driving, and Electric Mobility, ZF offers comprehensive product and software solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility service providers. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate and enhancing safe mobility.

With some 157,500 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of €38.3 billion in fiscal 2021. The company operates 188 production locations in 31 countries.

New Jungheinrich MD Eyes Opportunities

Posted on by David Priestman

Paul Lynam has been named the new Managing Director of Jungheinrich UK, an industry-leading intralogistics supplier. It is a role he will combine with his current position as MD of Jungheinrich Ireland, a position he has held for the last two years. Lynam is on a mission to help businesses dependent on material handling/intralogistics respond to a fast-changing world. The appointment occurs at a critical moment within the intralogistics industry, and he is excited to have the reins of both companies at such a pivotal time.

“The sector is on the cusp of major change,” he explained. “We are at the start of a period where the impact of global megatrends such as electrification, digitisation, sustainability and globalisation will mean a lot of change and opportunity for our customers, and we will have to adapt to meet that demand.”

Driving and responding to change

“We’re seeing more automation coming into play,” said Paul, examining the real-world impact of change. “The technology is advancing and the effect of that is that you are creating choices for the consumer and the supply chain. The supply chain can do it the way they’ve always done it, or they can do it in a way that harnesses new technology and futureproofs their business.

“Our customers are changing, but they are changing at different paces and in different ways. We must change our approach to deal with that. That starts with the products that we’re providing (for example, if you create an autonomous truck, you don’t need to design a comfortable seat for an eight-hour shift because there’s no driver) but it effects every element of our operation, from the people we recruit to how we sell to how we develop the brand.”

Championing Environmentality

Jungheinrich is no newcomer to sustainability—it is an organisation with 70 years of expertise in electromobility. Yet the company’s EcoVadis platinum certification combined with the launch of Environmentality, Jungheinrich’s approach to tackling climate change head on, was a step change in the company’s approach to carbon neutrality. It struck a chord with Paul, who will be leading Jungheinrich UK’s journey towards net zero.

“Jungheinrich is taking the issue of sustainability very seriously and we are seeing this not just in new legislation but in the demands of the customer base.”

Those shifting demands are impacting every element of the Jungheinrich UK operation.

“We are developing our proposition with respect to the environmental footprint of our trucks both during the manufacturing and in the longer-term operational lifecycle. Not only are we leading the way in the lithium ion segment but we also have the Powerline range of trucks with a smaller physical footprint and zero carbon footprint to the point of delivery across the range.”

Journey of change

Central to Jungheinrich’s continued success are its people, and there’s one facet of Jungheinrich that struck Paul from his first day with the company.

“This is a business with a lot of long-serving and passionate employees who know everything about forklifts,” he said. “It seems to run throughout the organisation. Everywhere you go there are lots of people with 20+ years’ service and some have close to double that. I believe this is a sign that the company has been doing things very well, but it is equally a company that sees the world is changing and is inviting and enabling customers to go on this journey of change with us.

“The UK is in my opinion one of the flagship units within the global Jungheinrich organisation and the UK is a major economy. The opportunity to continue the development of the business here in the UK was one of those opportunities that don’t come around too often. Despite the current local and global economic challenges, it’s a good time to be in the industry.”

Jungheinrich UK Ltd is one of the top three leading intralogistics providers in the UK, generating a turnover of over £200 million annually. With a team of more than 800 dedicated and highly experienced employees operating from four locations across the UK, Jungheinrich offers the industry’s widest range of intralogistics solutions, including high energy efficiency pallet trucks, stackers, counterbalance trucks, order pickers and more in 600+ truck variants, new or fully refurbished.

A full intralogistics solutions provider, Jungheinrich excels in automation, racking systems, warehouse planning and financial services and operates one of the largest forklift rental fleets in the UK, all connected by a 500-employee strong customer service support network.

The company is a division of the Jungheinrich AG Group, which has direct sales companies in 40 countries and operates through a partner network in a further 80 countries. Jungheinrich employs 19,000 people worldwide and generated consolidated revenue of €4.2 billion in 2021.

Refrigerated lorry fleet electrified to reduce emissions

Posted on by Keith McKinley

FRIGOBLOCK, one of the leading suppliers of transport refrigeration units in Europe and brand of Thermo King®, collaborated with BIOGROS, a Luxembourgish wholesaler and distributor of bio products and part of Oikopolis Group, put the first fully electric refrigerated truck on Luxembourg’s roads. As part of the project, FRIGOBLOCK equipped the prototype MAN eTGM truck with the inverter driven FK25i refrigeration unit. BIOGROS calculates that in the first eight months of operations they saved over 2900 litres of diesel equalling to approximately 9.4 tonnes of CO2, compared to similar diesel-fuelled truck in their fleet. By end of the year, they expect to save a total of approximately 22 tonnes of CO2, more than 20% of their entire fleet’s emissions.

Environmental responsibility and operating in a sustainable manner are part of BIOGROS’ culture. In late 2020, as part of their strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and decrease fuel consumption, BIOGROS decided to expand its distribution fleet with a new refrigerated e-truck, the first one to operate on Luxembourg roads. To find the most efficient, electric refrigeration unit for the prototype MAN eTGM truck, BIOGROS reached out to Gradius, Thermo King’s official dealer in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The truck required a refrigeration unit, which could work fully on electric power and that could be connected and powered by the truck’s main battery with low impact on the vehicle’s operational range. FRIGOBLOCK’s FK25i unit ticked all the boxes.

“When planning our transport and logistics operations, we have always looked for the best possible compromise between the protection of the environment and food safety,” said Marco Gasper, logistics manager at BIOGROS. “BIOGROS recently received the Lean & Green 2 Stars-Award thanks to the restructuring and the optimisation of our logistic processes to reduce the CO2 emissions. Our collaboration with FRIGOBLOCK is part of this success.”

“Part of our philosophy is to be close to our customers and provide them with turnkey solutions that are right both from an operational and a sustainability point of view,” said Samer Hawat, area sales and service manager for Belgium and Luxembourg, Thermo King. “We’re proud to work with BIOGROS and be part of this important project, which emphasized the importance of green, quiet and environmentally friendly transport.”

BIOGROS’ 26 tonnes eTGM truck with FRIGOBLOCK FK-25i can carry 18 pallets and has an autonomous reach of up to 200km. This is perfectly suitable for the BIOGROS’ regional distribution of organic food, which is characterised by a lot of stop-and-go operations. One of the additional key advantages of the refrigerated vehicle is the virtual absence of noise pollution, which contributes to whisper-quiet and zero-emission deliveries.

“For years, we have worked closely with BIOGROS providing them with immediate support and specialist advice when and where they needed it,” said Paulo Marques, account manager at Gradius. “Knowing their operations and requirements well, we could offer them with the right refrigeration solution to help maximise the results of this project.”

“With Gradius’ support and FRIGOBLOCK’s expertise we were able to achieve significant savings with the new vehicle. Along with the CO2 emissions that shrank from 97 kg to 1.3 kg per 100 km, the energy consumption is also by two thirds lower than the one of a regular diesel truck,” said Marco Gasper. “We believe the fleet electrification in the retail sector is a trend that is set to continue. Working with Thermo King and FRIGOBLOCK will help us ensure high performing, reliable and sustainable refrigeration for our current and future fleet.”

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