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Tag: warehouse

Box Latch solution successfully trialled in Australia

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In a first for Australia, Wiring Solutions Plus (WSP) at Underdale in South Australia is trialling the use of Box Latch products with REDARC Electronics at Lonsdale in a B2B closed‐loop in metropolitan Adelaide.

WSP and REDARC have agreed to test the feasibility of these US-made Box Latches as they aim to eliminate costly, labour-intensive practices, reduce the potential for injuries and develop a system for the return of the collapsed cartons and Box Latches to WSP for re‐use.

Managing Director of WSP, Mark Pickering stated: “We’re interested to see how this goes and hopeful for success for all involved.”

Thousands of cartons with WSP wiring looms are shipped to REDARC every year. Box Latch enables these cartons to be reused up to 20 times, says its manufacturer, yielding thousands of dollars in savings for boxes, but more importantly greatly reduces the corrugated cardboard from being recycled which supports REDARC’s environmental goals and company values.

Due to the uneven spread of weight in the single‐wall cartons, WSP is trying two Box Latch Large on the bottom, and one on the top to temporarily close the cartons for shipping. Early testing at the WSP facilities by Australian associate and sales representative for Box Latch Products, Phil Southam of KHP Business Solutions, indicates two latches will hold the 11kg weight in the current boxes.

Southam says: “If WSP’s pilot programme works as expected, it is likely WSP will move to double‐wall cartons to provide more strength, longevity and security.”

Stronger cartons will cost a bit more but will prove to be cost‐effective in the long run as well as reducing the need for two Box Latches on the bottom.

Pickering recently stated: “Richard Burley [supply chain manager] from REDARC has provided positive feedback on the first trial and would like for it to continue.” A further 150 Box Latches have been supplied for the ongoing testing programme.

Packaging tape eliminated

Using a cost savings calculator provided by Eco Latch Systems, projections are that WSP will be able to pay for the Box Latches simply from the savings on tape. As cartons are temporally closed with Box Latches, they will be palletised, shrink‐wrapped and shipped to REDARC. A side benefit is that by eliminating the need for tape, this removes the risks for injuries and damage to box contents from sharp blades after arriving at REDARC. A key part of this pilot project will be working with REDARC to coordinate the return of the collapsed cartons to WSP so they can restart the closed‐loop.

In the current setting, when the cartons reach REDARC, every box has all four flaps cut off to facilitate ease of access to the components for assembly. This is labour intensive and generates serious risks for lacerations. In order to save the carton and return it to WSP for re‐use, REDARC will use another product by Eco Latch Systems, LLC ‐ the Clip & Stack (sometimes referred to as the Corner Clip & Stack).

Designed to hold carton flaps out of the way for packing or unpacking, one or two Clip & Stacks can be used to keep flaps down and open as contents are added or removed. This eliminates catching on roller systems feeding the assembler. With the use of four Clip & Stacks, boxes can be stacked two- to four-high saving considerable floorspace. This also prevents employees from being hit in their faces or bodies by box flaps on shelves, provides for neat and well managed shelf/rack space and prevents employees from tripping as a result of open flapped cartons on floors.

As with the Box Latches, the manufacturer says the Clip & Stacks can be used hundreds or thousands of times, so only a small number may be required depending on how many open cartons are required for packing or assembly at any one time. Since this innovative product allows for cartons to be stacked while open, pre‐constructing them during slow times allows for them to be ready when needed at peak times.

Prologis logistics building goes beyond “Net Zero“

Posted on by David Priestman

Prologis, a leading developer and owner of logistics parks, has completed the construction of the UK’s first logistics property to go beyond net zero carbon in its construction and operation – delivering a net benefit for the environment over its lifetime.

Located on Prologis Apex Park, near Daventry, Prologis has delivered a brand new 435,000 sq ft unit, which will act as UK Logistics Centre for an American multinational. In a first for the world of industrial logistics property, Prologis has delivered an industrial unit which pushes the boundaries of sustainable construction.

The building includes the installation of bespoke energy saving technology. In addition to the standard sustainability measures provided by Prologis, including rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, a 1.4MW rooftop solar system has also been installed, resulting in a building which will return more energy to the grid than it uses. The surplus energy it generates will help to power other homes and businesses.

The new unit at Apex Park is BREEAM rated ‘Outstanding’ – placing it in the top 1% of UK non-domestic buildings. When certified at Post Construction stage by BREEAM, the building scored 88.2%, which was the highest “Industrial 2018 Shell & Core” score so far achieved.

Martin Cooper, vice president, development management at Prologis UK, said: “This is a milestone for Prologis and shows what can be achieved when like-minded businesses work together to realise their vision for a building that delivers a net benefit for the environment. All our new warehouses in the UK have been net zero carbon in construction for the past 14 years, but this building at Apex Park takes carbon reduction to a new level.

“The dialogue around net zero is progressing rapidly and businesses are beginning to look beyond ‘operational carbon’ to find other ways to make their buildings more sustainable. Reducing the embodied carbon of new buildings requires intense collaboration across the supply chain, from engineers and architects to material and product suppliers, plant hire firms and contractors. Moving as a country towards being net zero by 2050, we look forward to seeing many more logistics projects that are net-positive for the environment, and we’re extremely proud to be leading the way.”

Additionally, the new unit is also the first development of its type to achieve an EPC rating of A+, meeting the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Framework Definition of Net Zero Carbon for both embodied & operational carbon. It’s predicted that the unit will generate more energy than it uses, avoiding 105 tCO2e per year and feeding unused energy back in the grid.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable construction Prologis ensures that each new logistics property can achieve a net environmental benefit, starting by designing out carbon emissions wherever possible – for example by offering customers rooftop solar power systems. The whole life carbon footprint is then measured, and unavoidable embodied carbon emissions are mitigated by protecting rainforest.

Through Prologis’ partnership with climate change charity, Cool Earth, 310 acres of Papua New Guinea rainforest were protected based on a whole lifetime assessment of the Apex Park building’s carbon impact.

In November 2021, Prologis was awarded the Terra Carta seal, which recognises companies who are building a sustainable future and have made a serious commitment to put nature, people & the planet at the heart of the economy.

Retrofit dock leveller offers fastest solution

Posted on by David Priestman

Nordock, Inc. has introduced a unique dock leveller aimed squarely at the retrofit market. The Nordock TLH Retrofit is a horizontal-storing, telescoping-lip dock leveller that is ideal for docks that need an immediate solution to eliminate end-loading problems and a complete seal. It also happens to be the only retrofit telescoping-lip dock leveller offered in North America.

Perfectly suited for docks that need to upgrade their operations without major installation hassles, the TLH Retrofit offers all the advantages of a horizontal, telescoping-lip leveller in a convenient retrofit package. Sized perfectly for the most common pit size (with other sizes available), this leveller can usually be installed in existing pits without the need for cutting or extensive concrete work.

The list of advantages is long, and the benefits are obvious for any warehouse manager who needs to level up their operations:

  • Retrofit Capability: The TLH easily retrofits into a standard pit, which means you don’t have to cut a new pit anywhere you have standard-size pit leveller rusting in place.
  • Eliminate End-Loading Issues: Precisely position and extend the telescoping lip to the truck to keep it from damaging goods on end loaded trailers. Precious cargo is better protected, and shippers will notice.
  • A Better Seal: Docks will seal better in loading position (great for cold storage!) and an optional bumper to bumper foam seal under leveller provides a full 360° seal. Lost energy is lost profit.
  • Safety First & Foremost: Eliminate the dock-to-truck gap preventing injuries and reducing forklift damage or getting stuck, taking care of your people and equipment.
  • Eliminate Vehicle Restraint Issues: Traditional hinged-lip levellers can interfere with the vehicle restraint in a low-dock situation when the lip is down. Our telescoping lip eliminates that.
  • Cost Savings: The telescoping lip lets you extend the lip onto a truck that is “end loaded” or “cubed out” without damaging the goods. This means you don’t lose time or labour cost to manually unload the first pallet before a forklift can be used.
  • Faster Flow of Freight: All these advantages help the pace of dock operations and your dock’s throughput, increasing revenues.

End-loading issues plague lots of older docks, with lost energy and wasted time leading the way. As a fast install with a lifetime of savings ahead of it, Nordock says its TLH Retrofit 8’ offers a major lifetime return on investment upgrade.

CLICK HERE to watch a video.

Active Ants to open UK fulfilment centre

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Active Ants, a subsidiary of the bpost group, will open its fifth fulfilment centre in September 2022. The newest facility is located in Northampton, England and is owned by M&G Real Estate, the property investment arm of M&G plc.

After operating two successful sites in the Netherlands, Active Ants has expanded into Belgium and Germany in recent years. “Active Ants wants to be the best fulfilment company in Europe”, says Co-founder and Managing Partner Jeroen Dekker. “We are delighted that our arrival in the UK will further increase our presence in Europe and we believe we are moving into one of the most exciting online markets.

“With our strong focus on innovation and automation, we offer tailor-made business-to-consumer (B2C) logistics for (SME) web shops. We are convinced that this will create superior value for our customers.”

Founded in 2010 with the idea of making e-fulfilment more accurate and efficient through innovation, automation and working with robots, Active Ants has since grown into one of the larger players in the Netherlands with over 250 customers and more than five million orders per year.

Northampton is situated in the heart of England. The Brackmills Industrial Estate is the centre of e-commerce logistics in the United Kingdom. Dekker comments: “This combination makes it the perfect location for our e-fulfilment activities. We will be close to our customers and have good connections with last-mile distributors.

“In our search for the right location and the right building, it was important for us to find a building that fulfilled our mission and values. The ‘outstanding’ BREEAM certification of the Brackmills Estate means that the building performs at the highest environmental level, which fits perfectly with our sustainable – and highly automated – way of working. Active Ants is committed to sustainable relationships with all its stakeholders: customers, employees and the community.”

Michael Wood, Portfolio Director at M&G Real Estate, comments: “With this scheme, M&G is delivering on its commitment to providing high quality, ESG-led schemes which meet the exacting requirements of modern occupiers, and we are delighted to be welcoming an innovative international operator with this significant pre-let.”

“Storage, order picking, packaging and sorting are also fully automated in this brand new fulfilment centre,” says Dekker. “For order picking, employees work efficiently together with robots. The receipt of goods and the return flow remain manual processes. This mechanisation ensures efficiency, high quality and a pleasant working environment for our employees. The set-up is unique in the world.”

Warehouse with AutoStore

The basis of this warehouse is the Autostore, a unique system where goods are stored very compactly in bins. On top of the AutoStore is a framework of rails, on which robots ride. By means of intelligent software, a robot knows exactly which bin to take to the employees at the picking stations. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) bring empty boxes to the employee who fills them with goods delivered by the storage robots.

The innovative AutoStore solution takes up six times less space than in a traditional warehouse. This goods-to-man system has a very low footprint. The system stores up to six times more stock per square metre, and the robots reuse their own energy, so electrical consumption is minimal.

The carrier robots drive to various packing machines which select the ideal size boxes and close them to size – weighing them and providing a shipping label, so that no padding material is needed. As a result, Active Ants transports on average 40% less air to the customer. This also allows it to transport more packages in a truck and reduce its CO2 emissions even further.

Once filled, closed and printed, the carrier robots pick up the parcels and sort them out to their respective carriers.

Also in Northampton, Active Ants‘ specially developed box-closing machines with built-in printer will be used. Dekker says: ”This allows every customer to get their own custom-printed box. Through this unique functionality, we enable large, but now also smaller webshops, to offer customised packaging. Keeping pre-printed boxes in stock is no longer necessary. This saves our customers costs and also reduces their footprint.”

 

Safe legs in safe hands

Posted on by David Priestman

When a forklift collides with a racking leg, the consequences can be severe. At the very least, there will be damage to a load or the aisle will be closed off for inspection, costing the business time and money. At worst, it could bring down the racking it supports and cause significant damage and disruption, as well as threaten the safety of personnel working in the area.

Established in the US 1998, Sentry Protection Products develops impact resistant and collision awareness equipment for use in commercial environments that help reduce or eliminate such risks. Logistics Business spoke exclusively to Sentry’s CEO James Ryan at the recent MODEX trade show in Atlanta, where his company had just launched the adaptable Column Sentry FIT product.

Logistics Business (LB): What are the benefits of Column Sentry FIT above those of the existing Column Sentry product?

James Ryan (JR): We brought out our original column protector in 1998, and so as much as we’ve sold them for years and years, we’ve also seen their shortcomings, one of which was that in two sides the products is incredibly flexible, but if you have a seam between two sides you’ve got two sides that are stiff. Everyone whose came behind us have done the same thing, and so we sought to create a product that would protect columns on all four sides by presenting an equal face. When we did that we also created a four-part modular system that also could grow or shrink to fit exactly the column. So we created that and called it the Column Sentry FIT because it was literally a good fit.

With this extension feature, we are continuing to make it a modular product, so that we can continue to extend the sizes. Many people are now having larger columns because they want longer spans, or they want to support crane systems and things that are going to need a bigger column – we’re seeing more and more columns that are 200-300 [mm] or 300-400 size. In doing this with our modular piece, the extension piece immediately goes to 350, expandable to 400, expandable to 450, and then we can add a second modular piece in there and continue to grow that piece. As soon as we do that, it can grow to 500.

LB: How is warehouse safety improved by this?

JR: Anytime you have a hotspot in your warehouse where forklifts are going to be travelling, we’re seeking to find ways to cushion things, to reduce injuries, to reduce worker downtime [and] equipment downtime. It’s primarily people, but it’s all those things that make your operation slow down or quit. With rack products, it happens all the time, you have to shut down an entire aisle, or if one of the racks has collapsed, then you’re going to have to shut down an entire part of the plant. Adding inexpensive cushions, we feel that’s a great way of safeguarding yourself from those types of… not just equipment damage, but all the things around it such as clean-up and injuries and all things that are bad. We’ve concentrated on everything that makes it a hard spot, and tried to make it a soft spot.

LB: Where do Sentry’s strengths lie in comparison to your competitors?

JR: One of the things we stress is that we don’t sell a lot of different products, we sell products that make a difference. And where we differ from some of our competitors is, whenever you’re looking to create a brand new product, you’re looking for the customer’s pain points, what they are suffering from, and we’re addressing those needs. [If] customers say this creates injuries, then we do whatever it takes to solve those problems. Those that come after us tend to say, hey, I can make something that looks like that or I can cut the cost, and typically you’re going to be shaving in order to bring down costs and sometimes that means you get a good price point for a product. But where we differ is our products are high quality because we went straight to the customer, looked at their needs, worked with them and invented something [which] addressed those needs.

LB: What is the culture and ethos that has helped build the success of Sentry?

JR: As in any business, everything is a people business. One of the most satisfying things I had in the 24 years we’ve been around is the relationships that we have created and thrived on. We find that not only in the products we sell, but that our customers bring us ideas and they sometimes bring complaints. Some of our products are second-generation products, and we wouldn’t do that of everything was great. People say, hey, we have an issue here or I ran into this kind of problem. So having that sort of relationship with our customers and resellers allows us to get freeflow of information to say this is where you’re doing things great ,but I also like to hear this is what you’re doing wrong. And when we find what we are doing wrong, that’s the next idea to help us to do it better. We’re already on our fifth generation with Collision Sentry.

LB: As a US-based company, how have you sought to expand your international sales?

JR: We’ve concentrated our international growth efforts on finding customers who really share the same values. We concentrated early not only on North America, but Western Europe and the UK because we share the same values – safety is a big issue. A well developed industrial base that appreciates these types of things. We will continue to try to grow into those types of areas. It’s much easier if I bring a product to market that appeals to someone who values safety. We’ve tried to expand primarily to well developed countries and peoples who will do that.

LB: How have you found doing business in Europe?

JR: We went through a lot of fits and starts. We started the business in 1998, and we were already trying to exhibit and sell our products on the continent and the UK since 2000. We were a very young, small company. We ‘ve had different levels of success in different places  and again it’s as different as the people are. We go throughout Europe, and you can’t say one market is the same as another market. Even though they share currency and an open market, it doesn’t mean the people are the same. So we had some areas where we had great initial success, because they were open to trying new things, but that haven’t necessarily turned out to be our best markets, because other areas that were a little bit harder to convince are solid now, because they believed in it and bought over and over again.

Ironically, we’ve had more issues with the UK simply because we’ve gone through different resellers in the UK. They had great initial interest and all, but I didn’t get the follow-through. So we’re on our second or third generation of resellers who are there and we may even go to the market directly with some e-commerce sites to address that.

LB: Thank you very much for talking with Logistics Business.

https://www.sentrypro.com/column-sentry-fit/

CLICK HERE to watch a video of Column Sentry FIT

Logistics company commits to Hams Hall

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Prologis, one of the UK’s leading developers of logistics property, has agreed a 10-year lease for a new 131,780 sq ft unit, currently under construction at Prologis Park Hams Hall. Birmingham-based logistics and distribution company LTS Global Solutions will be moving into DC3, which is due for completion in the summer, as part of its ambitious expansion plans.

LTS Global Solutions, advised by Gerald Eve, provides a comprehensive range of services within logistics, transport and shipping worldwide. It is partnered with some of the world’s major shipping line and airlines to facilitate the provision of bespoke supply chain solutions which include storage, Just In Time delivery and international freight forwarding.

Like all new Prologis UK buildings, DC3 at Prologis Park Hams Hall will meet the highest standards of sustainability and is planned to meet net zero carbon emissions in construction. Additionally, the building will aim to be BREEAM ‘Excellent’ as well as achieving an EPC A rating.

Located only 10 miles from Birmingham City Centre and 1 mile from Junction 9 of the M42, Prologis Park Hams Hall is already home to Jaguar Land Rover’s Battery Assembly Centre and is often described as one of the leading manufacturing and logistics locations in the UK. The wider Hams Hall park also features an on-site rail freight terminal and is home to global brands such as BMW, Sainsburys and DHL.

Tom Price, capital deployment and leasing director at Prologis UK, commented: “Welcoming LTS Global Solutions as one of our newest customers is testament to the growing demand for prime logistics real estate space right now – and the business will certainly be in good company at Prologis Park Hams Hall.

“Dave and his team have growth in their sights and we’re extremely proud that we’ve been able to provide a high quality facility in a prime location that will allow the business’ expansion plans to come to life.”

Dave Hands, managing director at LTS Global Solutions, adds: “Moving into the new unit at Hams Hall signifies an exciting time for us. It’s been a pleasure working with the Prologis team and we can’t wait to move in and push on with our plans to expand our operations further.”

John Sambrooks, Partner for Gerald Eve, said: “The successful lease of Ham Hall illustrates the continued demand for well-located, high-spec industrial facilities. Its strategic location, combined with LTS Global Solutions’ track record of industrial supply chain solutions, makes this an attractive dynamic for the company’s significant expansion plans. We’re delighted to have secured the premises for LTS, and look forward to seeing the company grow over the coming years.”

 

Warehouse safety around the globe

Posted on by David Priestman

Designed-in safety, increased levels of driver training, and implementation of operational guidelines have reached such maturity that it is easy to forget that the forklift is still a significant cause of workplace injuries and accidents. In addition, the demands placed on forklift operators to perform with greater haste and efficiency means both goods and personnel are vulnerable to damage caused by sudden braking, driver blind spots and unstable loads.

One company aiming to herp reduce damage and injury in the warehouse is GenieGrips, an Australian manufacturer of products aimed at ensuring forklift loads are safe, secure and stable. At the recent MODEX trade event in Atlanta, Logistics Business caught up with Louise Inglese, Founder & CEO of GenieGrips Pty Ltd, to find out more about her growing international business.

Logistics Business (LB): Why is it important for GenieGrips to be at exhibitions such as MODEX?

Louise Inglese (LI): It is a very long flight! But we know we have to come to expos to promote our products because you need to demonstrate it for people to really get it. I could send a brochure, but it’s never going to be the same. When we’re face to face, people get to feel it and touch it and get the full sense of how safe they are and how solid they are, their quality

The expos themselves are a really good opportunity to build relationships. I might see the same customer I saw two years ago, and then I get to see them again, and it’s almost like a drip feed process – they see me again, they see me again… So they know we’re going to be around. If I went to one expo and then didn’t turn up to the next one, they’d be wondering why I wasn’t there and they’d be thinking “oh, there’s something wrong with GenieGrips now”. So you have to be seen face to face.

LB: Being based in Australia, how do you conduct your international business?

LI: We have a warehouse in LA in the US, and we know we need to have a local presence like that. We work with FreeCall numbers both here in the US, in Europe and in the UK, and we have a warehouse in the Netherlands. Obviously, because of Brexit, we have also had to set up a warehouse in the UK because we could no longer service that market out of the Netherlands. The paperwork was too much; it was much easier for us to set up a third warehouse in the UK, than to service that market from the Netherlands.

LB: What are your aspirations for Genie Grips?

LI: 90% of our business is export, with only 10% of our sales in Australia. 75% of that 90% are our US customers, and that was an easy market for us to come into because there is no language barrier. The safety standards in the US are similar to those in Australia, so they get the safety side of it. Now we have a bigger challenge when we go into Europe, because we have a language barrier. So it’s great to do those expos, but we really need to get a bigger market share in Europe because we haven’t tapped that market successfully enough as yet.

LB: Do you see yourself as an international operation?

IB: Yes, it’s just a bigger market share. With only 25 million people in Australia, that’s nothing compared to the populations on the other continents, so having that presence internationally and those warehouses, that’s where we need to keep going. We would like to get more into South America, and also into the Middle East and Africa as well.

LB: What are the benefits of GenieGrips vs. rival products?

IB: Because we manufacture our products ourselves in Melbourne, we have complete control over the quality. We can change designs, develop new products, and the more customers we get, the more [challenges they are having] and wanting to talk to us about solving. That way we’re able to develop more products. So we started with the Mats, then we had a customer who wanted the Caps, so we worked with them to develop that. Then we had a customer saying they wanted the Cushions for the uprights. So, the more we talk, the more products we develop. Then, this year at MODEX we have the new Stik-It Pads, because people wanted a product that sat inside the actual footprint of the tyne itself.

Some of our rivals make [their products] out of plastic. Now rubber is such a unique compound to use. It wears well, it’s softer, it copes with harsher weather, it copes with higher and lower temperatures, so having that rubber base of our products is what keeps us ahead of our competitors.

LB: Are you affected by risks that come with international shipping?

LI: Shipping has been a challenge over the past couple of years, and it’s our pain, being an Australian manufacturer, that we have to allow for shipping into our costings and times, etc.

LB: What is the company’s commitment to customer service?

IB: We’re a family business, and our parent company has been going for over 40 years, so we have all that experience behind us. As Australians, we love customer service, so that’s our #1 priority. We also have FreeCall numbers in each country, so that enables customers to ring directly and always have someone to talk to. So, even in our sleepy hours we have an answering service that makes it possible for us to call back as soon as we wake up.

LB: Thank you for talking to Logistics Business, and good luck with your future plans.

 

Technology to cut workplace injuries

Posted on by David Priestman

A revolutionary Artificial Intelligence [AI] based wearable technology that helps employees avoid physical injury at work is being rolled out across the UK by Stanley, one of the leading providers of innovative technology in the workplace.

The wearable technology, which has been developed by Soter Analytics and is being implemented in the UK by Stanley, comes as two integrated products  – Soter Coach and Soter Task.

Soter Coach delivers personalised coaching to workers using a wearable device and provides recommendations via a mobile app. It directly challenges the traditional classroom style of manual handling training by identifying, addressing, and monitoring unsafe movement and posture whilst carrying out everyday activities as part of an employee’s role.

Using Soter Coach, a typical worker improves their ergonomic safety by reducing the hazardous back and shoulder movements they make by up to 55%.

Soter Task  is an AI-driven vision processing technology to assess ergonomic risk within tasks in minutes and on-the-go. This cloud-based solution combines video captured through a mobile application with AI-driven data analysis to accurately measure risk movements in the workplace, and help with ​implementing tools that keep workers safe. In this way it allows employees to manage their own physical wellbeing and helps businesses reduce the risk of injury.

Graham Sharp, MD of Stanley, said: “Workplace injuries are on the rise, meaning the use of AI tech and wearable devices will be increasingly important over the coming years to help reduce this risk. Combined with litigation claims and worker shortages, using the small wearable device to improve business productivity, reduce company absenteeism and create a safer and healthier workplace makes for a compelling proposition.

“The intuitive system also allows for real-time learning and improvement, providing personalised coaching to encourage behaviour change. So, for example, if the wearer moves awkwardly or dangerously, the device provides feedback via audio or vibration.”

The new devices are already being trialled successfully with a global energy company which is now looking at rolling them out comprehensively across its business.

Dail Wiens, Head of Partnerships at Soter Analytics, said: “It’s exciting to be working with Stanley. With our aligned consumer-centric goals, this collaboration brings together a powerful combination of leading products, broad technical expertise, and strong customer relationships, all dedicated to the same cause, to protect the well-being of employees.”

 

Planning granted for Birmingham logistics facility

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Detailed planning consent has been granted for the construction of a new Grade A logistics facility at Prologis Park Midpoint in Minworth, on the outskirts of Birmingham, UK.

The plans include the demolition of an obsolete unit and the construction of a new “best in class” 163,000 sq ft building that will be rated BREEAM “excellent”, net zero carbon in construction and will deliver much needed logistics space to the West Midlands market.

Originally built for the supermarket giant Asda in 2016, the existing facility was too bespoke for wider market requirements. Repurposing the site to meet current market demands will provide additional space in a prime location. The development of DC6 will expand the park to over 1.6m sq ft, provide additional amenity space for the park, and enhance landscaping, as part of Prologis’ ParkLife initiatives.

Prologis Park Midpoint is one of Prologis’ most successful parks and is located only eight miles from central Birmingham. With access to 11 motorway junctions within five miles, the site provides vital accessibility for both national and urban distribution.

The application was unanimously approved and was welcomed by a number of consultees in adding both economic and social value to the local area.

James Hemstock, director in the capital deployment and leasing team at Prologis UK, said: “The redevelopment plans for DC6 Prologis Park Midpoint will bring a much-needed new lease of life to an under-utilised site and additional space to a starved market. We are looking forward to work getting underway early summer.

“We’re expecting to complete the building early 2023 and have already had a significant amount of interest from potential customers. We want this location to continue to develop and realise its full potential, for the benefit of businesses and households across the West Midlands.”

TVH strengthens position with new HQ building

Posted on by David Priestman

TVH – a global parts specialist for lift trucks, industrial vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery –officially opened the doors of ‘The Hub’, its brand-new main office in Waregem, Belgium on 31st March.

In the presence of 200 guests, CEO Dominiek Valcke (pictured) inaugurated the new building. “With this state-of-the-art office building, we can now employ even more people and easily introduce visitors to our services,” says Valcke.

In April 2019, TVH started the preparatory works for the construction of a new main building. This new 13,000 sq m building, named ‘The Hub’, is the sleek, bright and contemporary solution to the impending lack of space that TVH was experiencing because of its rapid growth. In its design, great attention was paid to comfort, ergonomics and efficiency. Numerous CO2 sensors, temperature sensors and controls, ensure a pleasant indoor climate, and the many sound-absorbing materials also contribute to comfort.

Strong growth

TVH has more than 5,000 employees worldwide, with Belgium alone accounting for more than 2,500 colleagues; a number that continues to grow each year. To accommodate the growing workforce, additional workplaces had to be created.

“The growth that TVH has experienced in recent years entailed a strong increase in the number of employees. We didn’t just create more office space with The Hub. We can now also support our employees better with extra meeting rooms, an auditorium, a new company restaurant, a showroom and an extensive meeting centre,” says Valcke. “This additional space is certainly not an unnecessary luxury, since we are looking for more than 250 new colleagues to strengthen TVH, in Waregem alone.

TVH Experience Center

The pièce de résistance can be found on the ground floor of the new main building: the TVH Experience Center.

“This unique 1,500 sq m visitor centre primarily serves as a location to familiarise local and international visitors, such as customers, suppliers, associations, schools and applicants, with the offer, services, atmosphere and working method of TVH,” says Facility Manager Luc Rasschaert.

“And thanks to its interactive nature, TVH Experience Center is much more than just a showroom. Visitors can play games and test their driving skills with a virtual lift truck in a warehouse, for example.”

 

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