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Tag: warehouse

Xpediator appoints Realest to shift Southampton DC

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Import Services Ltd and Regional Express Ltd have appointed Realest to dispose of a combined 132,261 sq ft of warehousing space on the outskirts of Southampton.

Both companies are subsidiaries of Xpediator plc, and the availability of space comes as a result of expansion within the Port of Southampton. Their new 200,000 sq ft warehouse is currently under construction with occupation anticipated mid-2021.

A prominent, modern distribution warehouse is available at Tollbar Way, Hedge End. The building sits on a contained site of approximately 6.75 acres with dual access and large secure yards, strategically located off Junction 7, M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth.

A further 19,261 sq ft is available at Unit 42a Oriana Way, Nursling Industrial Estate. This detached warehouse sits on a site of 1.15 acres and provides a private yard and parking. It has excellent communication links, being adjacent to Junction 3, M27/M271 and less than three miles from the Port of Southampton (Dock Gate 20).

P&O Ferrymasters builds 10,000 sq m warehouse at Genk

Posted on by Keith McKinley

P&O Ferrymasters has entered into an agreement with Genk Green Logistics to build a 10,000 sq m state-of-the-art warehouse near the Port of Genk, further enhancing its pan-European rail, road and warehousing network at a critical time for international trade and the economic recovery.

The new facility – strategically located near the port which is in the heart of Flanders’ industrial belt – is equipped with world-leading Warehouse Management Systems and will enable customers to increase efficiency, have better visibility of their goods and expand storage capacity in their end-to-end supply chains.

The warehouse is ideally positioned to accommodate the import and export of goods requiring storage for international deep-sea routes and to the United Kingdom via both the English Channel and North Sea. The site’s outstanding multimodal transport links – including access to the Albert Canal and direct barging to P&O Ferrymasters’ parent company DP World’s terminal at Antwerp – will facilitate existing customers’ export of high-value industrial products to consumers throughout Europe and via onward connections to Russia, China and the United States.

As part of the global DP World and P&O Ferrymasters’ commitment to sustainability, the warehouse will be constructed on a carbon neutral site and designed to meet the ‘excellent rating’ of BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

Mark Mulder, P&O Ferrymasters’ Contract Logistics Director, said: “This new warehouse capacity at Genk is a vital addition to our port-centric logistics strategy and growing pan-European intermodal network. Specifically tailored to meet the evolving requirements of customers, the facility will provide the greater operational flexibility and capacity required to reinforce resilience in crucial, time-sensitive supply chains.”

“P&O Ferrymasters’ ongoing development in Genk presents an ideal opportunity for prospective customers which need fast and reliable links to their markets.

International trade is changing fast as we emerge from the pandemic and port-centric logistics will benefit the large number of businesses looking to reconfigure their supply chains.”

Prologis report highlights sustainability

Posted on by Keith McKinley

More than a decade after the publication of its first Environmental stewardship, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG) report, Prologis has released its 2020 ESG Sustainability Report.

Prologis says ESG is woven into its fabric, informing decision-making from the boardroom to all corners of its global operation. Its organisational commitment to ESG is strengthened by its inherent alignment with the strategic blueprint of the company, the business imperatives it calls the 3Cs: Customer Centricity; Change Through Innovation and Operational Excellence; and Culture & Talent.

Highlights from its 2020 ESG report demonstrate how Prologis continues to leverage its global scale to provide leading solutions in areas like energy efficiency, carbon neutrality, and customer innovation.

Environmental Stewardship

Its commitment to sustainable building design, energy efficiency and renewable energy all create value for its customers. For example, through the Prologis SolarSmart initiative, part of the Prologis Essentials programme, it partnered with customers to install 40MW globally making 2020 one of the most successful years to date. Since 2016, LED lightning has been its building standard and working together with its customers it achieved almost 50% LED coverage in 2020.

2020 also marked the opening and development of multiple Smart Building projects in Europe, adopting and advancing cutting-edge sustainable technologies, materials, building techniques (like low carbon building materials, borehole thermal energy storage, electric heat pumps) and circular building design. These Smart Buildings have set an altogether new standard for warehousing and logistics, streamlining its customers’ operations from day one and optimising productivity as they grow.

With its newly announced global goal to achieve carbon-neutral construction by 2025, Prologis is taking a leadership role in addressing one of the largest sources of global carbon emissions: the embodied carbon of buildings. Just south of Paris, its new Moissy 2 logistics facility will be its first carbon-neutral warehouse, avoiding, reducing and compensating 100% of construction, operations and maintenance impacts throughout the building’s life cycle. Built with no gas connection,  the building will rely on design efficiencies, rooftop solar, purchased green energy and borehole thermal energy storage for heating, cooling and power.

Across Europe, it partners with the international charity Cool Earth to fund the protection of rainforest lands equivalent to five times the unavoidable embodied carbon emissions associated with constructing its buildings.

Social Responsibility

Prologis’ stakeholders are fundamental partners in its business’ success. To grow long-term value, it develops deep relationships and advances the interest of its stakeholders. This means creating an environment where its employees can reach their full potential, where its products and services create unique value for customers and where Prologis advances economic opportunity and well-being in its communities.

Examples are solving customer labour challenges by designing buildings for sustainability as evidenced by The WELL Building Standard.

PARKlife, a Prologis Europe initiative, offers park facilities and amenities to customers, their employees and local communities. Many of its parks facilitate green travel options such as easily accessible public transport, EV charging stations and safe bicycle storage, which help employees get to work sustainably. Others have onsite canteens and food truck courts that provide its customers’ employees a variety of onsite dining choices. Walking trails, gyms and sports facilities are also popular amenities. PARKlife is a mindset and is about looking at how Prologis’ shared spaces and places can become the best environment for everyone who interacts with it.

Through its  Community Workforce Initiative, a unique logistics sector talent development programme, Prologis is able to unlock economic opportunity for communities while engaging with its customers to address one of their biggest pain points: labour.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prologis’ commitment to support its customers and employees reinforced its standing as an unwavering partner for its stakeholders. For its customers it supplied personal protective equipment and implemented COVID-19 protocols to keep its customers’ workforce safe and their businesses running.

Prologis’ employees are the beating heart of its business, delivering value for the company and its customers and bringing its sustainability goals to fruition. As such, the pandemic challenged Prologis to conduct an immediate evaluation of its benefits and add several new offerings to support the health and well-being of its employees.

Prologis says it is important to be a part of the communities it lives and works in, and this motivates Prologis to initiate volunteering projects and philanthropy including IMPACT Day, Space for good, Dock Doors of Giving and many other initiatives across Europe.

“Our 2020 Sustainability Report marks ongoing progress in our longstanding commitment to ESG. In a year that posed unprecedented challenges, I am proud that our European team has continued to use their drive for innovation, growth, and partnership to support our customers and communities. It is a testament to our philosophy that puts ESG first, not only because it makes business sense, but simply because it is the right thing to do,” concludes Ben Bannatyne, President, Prologis Europe.

JLT reveals next-generation rugged tablet

Posted on by David Priestman

JLT Mobile Computers, a leading developer of computers for demanding environments, has launched the Android 9-based next generation MT3010A tablet computer. With its small 10-inch form factor and light weight, the fully rugged tablet is ideal for deployment in markets such as warehousing, logistics, food and beverage, transportation, and ports, according to JLT.

The MT3010A tablet provides a substantial upgrade in terms of performance and functionality to the existing MT2010A, yet shares exterior design, dimensions, and peripherals with the predecessor model, preserving existing investment in platform peripherals and accessories.

Android holds a dominant market share in smartphones, with billions of users familiar with Android operation. Given the tremendous software and developer support, Android makes a perfect complement to Microsoft Windows-based systems and infrastructure, as well as a migration opportunity from discontinued legacy systems. As a result, there have been very rapid technological and functional advancements in Android hardware and software, which JLT is bringing to its customers with the new MT3010A.

“Android is progressing in leaps and bounds in terms of raw performance and what it can do out there in the field,” says Per Holmberg, CEO of JLT Mobile Computers. ”We’re making sure our customers always get the latest and greatest, and our new MT3010A tablet is a major step forward for their operations and productivity. With this new unit, we’re offering a big jump in performance and functionality to give customers in warehousing, ports and similar environments what they need on the job.”

Like its predecessor, the new MT3010A combines tough, durable construction with a slim, light, and ergonomic form factor that fits anywhere and doesn’t weigh the user down. The tablet can handle 1.2m drops to concrete, has a very wide operating temperature range, is IP65 dustproof and highly water resistant, and has been tested to rigorous MIL-STD-810H shock, drop and vibration military standards.

Among the MT3010A’s immediately obvious improvements are the significantly higher performance of the Qualcomm Snapdragon SDA660 octa-core processor and the much higher resolution of its Full HD (1920 x 1200 pixel) capacitive multitouch display with hand, glove, and rain modes that also offers twice the luminance and optical bonding for optimal sunlight viewability (800 vs 400 nits).

The new MT3010A comes with twice as much storage, 50% more system memory, much higher resolution front and rear cameras (8MP and 13MP), much faster 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5 connectivity, as well as much faster USB 3.1 wired connectivity on both a full-size Type A and a reversible Type C port. Optionally available are a Micro HDMI port, an integrated 1D/2D barcode reader, 4G LTE mobile broadband, an optional high-capacity battery and warm-swapping functionality.

Android 9, which has options for future upgrades, provides the MT3010A with enterprise features such as lock task mode, improved control over the user interface, support for multiple users as well as improved system security.

JLT offers an easy insert and release vehicle dock with VESA mounting support, additional USB support, and 9-36V DC vehicle power. Also available is a lockable vehicle cradle that keeps the tablet securely fastened to moving vehicles.

Temp buildings demand rises during uncertain times

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Between these four walls (and a PVC roof) there’s no secret to Big Box Buildings’ recent success — just a commitment to make customers’ lives simpler with quick, cost-effective solutions that add real value on an industrial scale.

Big Box Buildings, part of the East Yorkshire based Big Box Group (operating throughout the UK), has been delivering a variety of temporary and more permanent buildings in double-quick time for companies looking for simple and affordable storage solutions.

Ian Mackenzie, Director of Big Box Buildings, says the demand for temporary buildings — lightweight structures with PVC roofs that can be installed within six weeks — has been rising steadily in an uncertain economy.

He said: “Our buildings are popular because they usually don’t require groundworks, just fitting to an existing hardstanding, even with an all-steel exterior. Manufacturing, logistics and warehouse operations often tend to need extra onsite storage – and we’re simply able to do that quickly and cost-effectively.

“Whether it’s a workshop, production area, covered loading area or even a factory extension, we’re able to deliver high-quality, hassle-free solutions that can be in place for decades.”

In April 2020, at the start of the global pandemic, Big Box Buildings delivered two storage structures for Smurfit Kappa, a FTSE 100 company and one of the leading providers of paper-based packaging in the world, which operates in over 30 countries.

Ian said: “Their challenge was unique. A lot of their packaging goes to the healthcare sector, so they really saw an upturn in demand when the pandemic began. There was no space to store the extra packaging they were producing. Some of it was exposed to the elements.

“They needed two goods-out ‘canopies’ urgently. One was simple but the other, due to its snug location and extremely uneven and sloped surface, was more of a challenge. But we don’t say no to a challenge.”

The order was placed in April. The BRC-grade aluminium frame structures were on ground and in use by the end of May.

Ian continued: “They were delighted with their buildings. In fact, they were back in touch at the start of 2021 to request a further two. It’s another intricate job, but we’re excited to deliver it and help them build on their growth.”

As part of the Big Box Group, buildings are often just the start of the solution, explained Ian.

“We are much more than just the building shell,” he said. “We can be just that, but the Intralogistics arm of our business can look at the design of the building and consider how racking, shelving, safety and storage equipment can fit perfectly within it.

“Then we can look at whether automation can add any further value by observing activity in buildings and identifying any practices or places where time and energy is being lost. We can bring technology to the table and deliver a tangible return on investment.

“It’s very rare that you can bring all three of these areas together, but that’s exactly what we do. Having everything under one roof, so to speak, gives our customers one point of contact, with the potential to save costs.

“And, ultimately, it makes their lives much easier. That’s what we’re about.”

CFTS supports National Forklift Safety Day

Posted on by David Priestman

Tuesday 8th June 2021 is National Forklift Safety Day, and the UK materials handling industry is once again being encouraged to get involved, share guidance and take action to make sites safer.

Now in the UK for its third year, National Forklift Safety Day will be hosted by the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA), which comprises the industry’s leading trade associations: BITA and the FLTA.

This year, National Forklift Safety Day will highlight the role of Thorough Examinations, and why regular inspections are key to ensuring businesses are using safe equipment.

As the industry’s accrediting body for Thorough Examinations, CFTS has been working closely with UKMHA to develop insightful resources that will be shared as part of the event.

CFTS Chairman Geoff Martin explains: “National Forklift Safety Day runs fantastic campaigns every year, and we are proud to support UKMHA in raising awareness about Thorough Examinations.

“There is a lot of confusion about what work equipment owners need to know and do in relation to regular inspections and checks. But by sharing information as widely as possible through this event, we hope to provide clarification and guidance.”

A key message this year is the difference between maintenance or services, and Thorough Examinations.

“There are certain legal requirements with a Thorough Examination,” adds Geoff. “Under LOLER regulations, the lifting equipment must be inspected in detail, and PUWER regulations require that safety-related items, such as brakes are assessed as well.

“Thorough Examinations can only be carried out by a suitably qualified Competent Person who has been trained to inspect the equipment and is under a legal obligation to report dangerous defects. It is important that owners and users are sure they are receiving the right examinations, as insufficient inspections leave them open to risk of accidents.”

The National Forklift Safety Day campaign provides a wealth of practical tips and free downloadable materials available via the website: www.nationalforkliftsafetyday.co.uk/2021-thorough-examination/

Operations start at smart eCommerce warehouse

Posted on by David Priestman

Work has been completed to turn one of the five freight hubs operated by U-Freight Logistics in Hong Kong into a smart warehouse.

The company’s 2,000 sq m eCommerce fulfilment centre (EFC) in Kwai Chung has been equipped with an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) and Intelligent Racking system, and associated operating software, to improve the efficiency of operations and reduce costs.

For inbound consignments, the system, which was supplied by award-winning RV Automation Technology Company, will analyse the weight and dimensions of each Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) in order to bring the most suitable storage rack to the EFC operations staff, enhancing the utilisation of storage capacity and shortening processing time.

Furthermore, this shortens the time period to the outbound order processing stage, which means consumers get their goods sooner.

When there are no operations staff at the EFC, the non-sleeping AGVs still execute instructions and pre-arrange the required goods to be ready for pick/pack when the operations staff return to work.

The U-Freight Group was an early entrant into the world of eCommerce logistics, and over the last few years several of the company’s warehouse facilities across Asia, North America, and Europe have been equipped to enable them to act as EFCs.

“The deployment of autonomous mobile robots in warehouses around the globe is transforming the future of the e-commerce sector and its ability to meet rising business and consumer demand,” says Simon Wong, the chief executive officer of the Hong Kong-based international freight forwarding and logistics group.

“The latest development is part of U-Freight’s ongoing investment to meet the ever-increasing challenges of providing logistics services to this rapidly expanding sector of global trade.

“In our EFCs, picking operations account for an increasing proportion of costs, accounting for more than 50% of warehouse operation costs.

“Traditional warehouses mostly adopt the “person-to-goods” selection mode, which can mean high labour cost and low selection efficiency.

“By implementing an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) and Intelligent Racking system, we will be adopting the ‘goods-to-person’ picking mode, and believe this will improve production efficiency. It should also enhance workplace safety and improve ergonomic conditions for operations staff in our EFCs.”

In its development of eCommerce logistics solutions, the U-Freight Group is continually trying to address the key issues stemming from increasing volumes of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) eCommerce shipments and the time sensitivity that is associated with this business.

Other than its latest initiative in Hong Kong, examples of those efforts include its launch of e+Solutions in 2019, a bespoke product to assist small businesses with their e-commerce logistics needs.

In addition to hardware investment, the U-Freight Group is now a logistics partner of choice for the growing number of online channels and platforms, which entrepreneurs are using to sell their own designs and products, including  global eCommerce shipping platforms such as Easyship, and is also heavily involved in the Fulfilled by Amazon programme in several countries.

Wong concludes: “All of these initiatives are helping us boost efficiency and capture more value, in order to capitalise on the opportunities that are being presented by the ongoing surge in e-commerce volumes.”

Improved dock utilisation with Ancra Systems

Posted on by David Priestman

Automatic loading and unloading goods into standard trailers without modifications is becoming the new standard within logistics, as it greatly improves dock utilisation. Ancra Systems is in a leading position to offer the most comprehensive package for standard and  customisable ATLS solutions (Automatic Truck/Trailer/Container One-shot Loading & Unloading Solutions). With 30 years of experience, Ancra Systems has successfully installed more than one thousand ATLS systems in a wide range of industries in the past 10 years.

If you have high-volume inbound or outbound, standard palletised goods, slip-sheeted or Euro palletised goods, and need to reduce the inefficiencies, speed up truck turnaround time at the dock, save labour and equipment cost, improve worker ergonomics and avoid goods damage, , that can all be achieved with Ancra Systems. With its Non-Modified ATLS solution, the overall loading or unloading cycle can be reduced from ± 30 minutes to just 7-8 minutes enabling a single dock door to handles up to four full trailers per hour.

Ancra Systems offers two types of Non-Modified ATLS solutions – Skateloader and Loadrunner Plus.

Skateloader system for loading palletised or slip-sheeted goods

The Skateloader system was developed and engineered for the automated loading of non-modified trailers/trucks/containers. When no trailer modifications are required, the Skateloader is the ultimate solution for one-shot loading of standard palletised goods or slip-sheeted goods for outbound transport. It’s an ideal solution for a busy production facility or a distribution centre shipping to multiple end-users.

The total loading process only takes approximately 7-8 minutes (depending on the required height adjustment and alignment). Because there is no corresponding system in the trailer, the Skateloader has special functionality for loading. It is equipped with a scanning system controlled by dedicated software to ensure the correct alignment of the loading system with the trailer.

It is able to follow the trailer’s height which changes continuously while moving weight from the dock into the trailer, thus ensuring a flawless loading process. The system deposits the pallets on the floor of the trailer in a controlled way, without any friction to the pallets and its cargo.

The Skateloader can be seamlessly integrated into any automated production or warehouse system. The Skateloader system increases efficiency by 400%, compared to traditional forklift truck loading. The shorter truck turnaround time at the dock is accomplished while creating a safer work environment, for employees and product.

Loadrunner Plus System for loading & unloading Euro palletised goods

The LoadRunner Plus was developed and engineered for automated one-shot loading and even unloading of Euro pallets, consistent pallets or racks with no bottom boards into non-modified standard truck/trailer/container.  It’s a refined solution for one-shot loading and unloading goods for inbound or outbound transport.

The LoadRunner Plus can load (and even unload) 33 euro pallets (short side leading, three pallets side-by-side) in one-shot automatically. Even partial loading is possible with all Ancra’s Non-Modified ATLS Solutions. And as there is no queue pressure between the individual pallets, product damages during the loading (or unloading) cycle are also avoided.

It can easily be applied at existing sites, whether you have docks or without docks.

All Ancra’s Non-Modified ATLS solutions can be pre-loaded by the buffer stations as well as by AGV or forklift trucks.

Click here to watch a video of Skateloader

Frozen veg group gets clad-rack warehouse

Posted on by Keith McKinley

AR Racking and Swisslog have started the installation of a new clad-rack warehouse in Funes (Navarra, Spain) for Virto Group, a leader and reference in the production and distribution of frozen vegetables for retail, food service and industry.

The new clad-rack warehouse, which covers 11,020 sq m and will be 38m high, will have a storage capacity for 56,166 europallets, which will allow Virto Group to have a stock of between 50 and 70 million kilograms of frozen products.

AR Racking’s 100% galvanised racking, apart from supporting the external exposures and external forces of the warehouse, will be designed to integrate a Swisslog compact storage system with 31 transfer cars for pallet handling. An ideal solution for high-density storage and maintaining maximum operational speed, with flows of 350 pallets per hour.

“We fully trust AR Racking’s expertise in industrial racking systems, having worked with them on previous occasions to fulfil our storage needs in other frozen product facilities that we have in Segovia, Badajoz and La Rioja,” explained José Antonio Baldero, Technical Director of Virto Group.

“Clad-rack warehouses provide great low density resulting in significant savings due to lower investment. Our racking also adapts perfectly to warehouses that require cold work such as that of Virto Group, which will be at a temperature of -24°C,” added Roberto Arriaran, Director for Integration Business Unit at AR Racking.

 

 

Panasonic introduces TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet

Posted on by David Priestman

Panasonic has introduced the TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet, which is describes as the ultimate rugged Android tablet for the truly mobile worker. This 7 inch screen device is easy to use in one hand, adaptable for a variety of tasks yet powerful and tough enough to cope with the busiest shift. It’s at its best when in the hands of security and police forces patrolling the streets, technicians monitoring production lines, field services engineers carrying out inspections and maintenance or construction workers on site.

“The modern mobile worker deserves a mobile computing device designed for their everyday needs – not just another consumer tablet in a hardcase with all the potential problems they bring,” said Baris Koc, European Product Manager for rugged mobile IT at Panasonic. “The TOUGHBOOK S1 is that professional mobile workforce device. It’s built without compromise to meet the very specific and practical everyday needs of both the users and the IT administrators deploying and maintaining them.”

The TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet is ergonomically designed and lightweight (426 g) and with or without a handstrap it fits conveniently and comfortably in one hand for use over long periods of time. Even in all weather conditions, the outdoor readable display is easy to use with a market-leading brightness of up to 500 cd/m² and enhanced anti-reflection technology ensuring clarity in the brightest sunlight. Rainy days and the need to remove safety gloves are also operational problems of the past when working with the TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet because of its effective rain-mode and glove-enabled touch screen.

For those needing to capture signatures or complete reports or forms, the optional stylus pen is accurate and easy to use.

The device is flexible for the different needs of mobile workers and can be optionally equipped using its configurable gadget port offering combinations of barcode reader or additional USB port. A 13MP rear camera with flashlight and a front 5MP camera are ideal for capturing images to attach to reports and for video conference calls with colleagues.

To ensure the rugged tablet can work as long as any shift, it is equipped with a simple click and switch design for warm-swapping batteries. It takes away the need to interrupt work, power down the device or remove fiddly panels to change batteries. With two options of battery size, the device can operate for up to 14 hours on a single charge.

Powerful enough to handle the application needs of any mobile worker, the device uses the Android 10 operating system and is equipped with a Qualcomm SDM660 Octa-Core CPU and 4GB of RAM memory and 64GB of storage.

Despite its ergonomic and lightweight design the tablet has all the protection expected of a fully rugged TOUGHBOOK device with a dust and water rating of IP65/67, MIL-STD-810H certification and tested to withstand drops of up to 150cm onto concrete. For effective utilisation of accessories, the TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet shares elements of the TOUGHBOOK L1 and A3 Android tablet ecosystem, such as batteries, cradles, docks and stylus pens. For ease of management and administrative peace of mind, the TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet is Android Enterprise-ready and comes bundled with the Panasonic COMPASS suite of Enterprise Management tools. The Complete Android Services and Security package offers everything a business needs to configure, deploy and manage its Panasonic rugged Android devices securely.

The TOUGHBOOK S1 tablet comes with a standard three-year warranty and is available immediately. Prices start from €1.110/£1.004 + VAT.

 

 

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