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Tag: warehouse

Kite launches cutting-edge knife

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Engineered with usability in mind, the Kite Knife from Kite Packaging is a multipurpose tool which it says is perfect for various warehouse uses, eradicating the need for multiple knives and cutters in the workplace. Boasting versatility, it offers businesses an environmentally and economically smart sustainable solution for reducing waste and cutting costs.

Comprising a stainless-steel blade, Kite says the Kite Knife is highly durable and corrosion resistant in quality, possessing the ability to outlast similar products. The ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) handle adds to its overall strength, making the knife impact- and chemical-resistant, as well as fully recyclable.

Thanks to its hard-wearing design, this product can withstand tough work environments, cutting through cardboard “like butter” and lasting longer than most models, whilst ensuring safety comes first. Whether you use it to cut hand holes into boxes or multi-score boxes, the serrated blade and rounded tip act as a safety feature. This provides protection from injuries commonly associated with box cutters and knives, whilst simultaneously delivering the cleanest of cuts with speed and efficiency.

Competitively priced, the Kite Knife is described by Kite Packaging as a new generation of product designed for optimum user experience, safety, efficiency and sustainability.

Verdion completes iPort speculative phase

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Pan-European logistics real estate specialist Verdion has completed a further facility at iPort, the multimodal logistics hub just outside Doncaster, bringing new Grade A space to the undersupplied Yorkshire market.

iP10 offers 259,266 sq ft of high-quality distribution space in a steel portal framed warehouse unit with double-storey offices, HGV and car parking and a secure 53-metre-deep yard.

It is the final completion in Verdion’s latest round of speculative development, which also included two buildings leased to Woodland Group and Euro Pool Systems respectively. Verdion has also signed a new long-term lease with Maritime Transport, which has doubled the size of its facility at iPort to reflect its growth in the region. Unit iP2f is also currently available offering 174,380 sq ft for immediate occupation.

Jamie Young, Asset Manager at Verdion, said: “With clear demand in this Yorkshire market for high quality logistics space, this new unit offers over 250,000 sq ft with immediate availability and outstanding road and rail transport links. It also means that our latest speculative development programme has been delivered very smoothly despite wider supply chain challenges in the market and, with occupier appetite showing no signs of slowing, we are now focussed on bringing forward future opportunities at the park.”

iPort is one of the UK’s most advanced multimodal logistics hub, with capacity for a total of 6 million sq ft of 24/7 of logistics and light industrial accommodation close to Junction 3 of the M18 and the East Coast Main Line. It also benefits from an award-winning multimodal on-site rail freight terminal. iPort Rail, is increasingly being used by companies based on-site and across the region looking to cut carbon across their supply chains, with rail connections to major UK sea ports.

Other occupiers include Amazon, CEVA, Fellowes, Lidl, Dusk, Kingsbury Press, Woodland Group and Euro Pool Systems, while its remaining 1.7 million sq ft includes capacity for buildings of up to 800,000 sq ft.

AR Racking extends manufacturer’s warehouse

Posted on by Keith McKinley

PFERD-Rüggeberg S.A., leading brand in grinding tool solutions for treating surfaces and cutting materials, has extended its logistics manufacturing warehouse in Júndiz (Álava, Spain) entrusting in the industrial storage specialist AR Racking for the advice, design and installation of the warehouse extension.

PFERD’s ongoing commitment to quality and improvement processes have led to the recent extension of one of its eight production centres worldwide. AR Racking has installed an adjustable pallet racking system in the 2,500 sq m Júndiz warehouse. PFERD’s priority was that this extension would provide it optimum stock control and agile warehouse operations.

Adjustable pallet racking (or selective racking) is a very versatile system and also allows immediate access to all the unit loads. This installation has provided PFERD with a capacity for almost 3,200 pallets which took AR Racking just two weeks to complete.

According to Juan Zubieta, PFERD’s Planning and Purchasing Manager: “AR Racking offered us a solution in line with our needs to continue improving and to be more competitive in an incredibly demanding market, and the truth is that the project was completed in full conformity and with a high-quality service.”

AR Racking provides comprehensive industrial storage support, advising on and planning the installations, delivery times, product and installation instructions. Mikel Bilbao, AR Racking Sales Executive commented: “The solution installed will optimise the loading and unloading operations, reducing times, which will allow PFERD to provide a better customer service.”

PFERD, a German multinational, is one of the most important manufacturing companies internationally. It currently has more than 2,000 employees worldwide and is present in more than 100 countries.

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Tritax Symmetry delivers Doncaster speculative DC

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Tritax Symmetry, the dedicated logistics development company for Tritax Big Box REIT plc, has committed to speculatively build a state-of-the-art, 132,750 sq ft logistics building on the last remaining plot at Symmetry Park Doncaster.

The news follows a major deal with B&Q which is taking a 430,240 sq ft warehouse and distribution facility that is already well under construction. It also responds to the rapidly growing on-demand logistics market due to digitalisation and consumer delivery expectations.

Located at Junction 34 of the A1 (M) on the North Nottinghamshire/South Yorkshire border, Symmetry Park is a £70m industrial and distribution scheme being delivered by Tritax Symmetry. The award-winning logistics developer has committed to deliver up to 721,000 sq ft of logistics space on the regionally significant site.

In 2020, Tritax Symmetry agreed a deal to let its first speculative 151,388 sq ft logistics building on the site to Dogmates Ltd trading as Butternut Box. The fast-growing brand has made a significant investment into the fit out and created hundreds of new jobs for the area. Roadside retail property business Euro-Garages also expanded its options with the purchase of a 1.2-acre plot standing alongside its existing Starbucks and KFC outlets at Symmetry Park.

Tritax Symmetry has a land portfolio of 4,150 acres, capable of accommodating 40m sq ft of logistics space in the UK. The company is dedicated to targeting carbon neutrality on the construction of all new buildings and, due to market demand, has committed to a speculative build programme of units totalling over 2.4m sq ft during 2022.

Simon Dixon, Development Director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “We are pleased to commit to the speculative delivery of the last remaining plot at Symmetry Park Doncaster. We have identified strong ongoing occupier interest in the region and our deals with B&Q, Butternut Box and Euro Garages are testament to the site location right off the A1 (M) and directly opposite Blyth Services, with high visibility and great accessibility from both sides.

“Having a site with infrastructure already enabled and detailed planning consent in place allows us to react quickly to market demand with a premium, bespoke and highly sustainable new premises in this prime logistics location.”

The Leeds offices of Savills, Dove Haigh Phillips and Colliers International are representing the development.

Simon Dove, Partner at Dove Haigh Phillips, said: “This commitment from Tritax Symmetry to speculatively deliver the third and final unit, offering over 132,000 sq ft is testament to a very strong occupier market.  In particular for this location which has become a hot bed for industrial and distribution businesses, not least because of its direct access to the motorway.

“The new unit will have over 250 metres direct frontage to the A1(M), giving major brand prominence for any occupier, with a market-leading specification and full infrastructure already in place.  Symmetry Park has an unrivalled USP with the ability to provide up to 8MW of power, future proofing the entire site.”

 

QleanAir cleans the air at Swedish warehouse

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Health wholesaler Life Logistics constantly works to improve the working environment in its warehouse, and has been using air cleaners for a long time. It has now upgraded to QleanAir’s new FS 90 models because they are mobile, take up less space and make less noise.

Life Logistics is Sweden’s largest wholesaler within health products and supplies resellers with one of the Nordic countries’ broadest assortments. Life Logistics is responsible for the supply of goods to Life’s many stores and its e-commerce customers, but also to independent stores.

Within the Life Group, people are passionate about helping customers stay healthy naturally. It also protect its employees’ health by systematically improving the working environment when it comes to ventilation, air quality, noise, ergonomics, etc. At the warehouse, large amounts of corrugated board are handled during unpacking and packing, which generates a lot of troublesome dust. Therefore, ceiling-mounted air cleaners have long been used to improve the working environment for employees. In connection with a rebuild, they had to dismantle the air cleaners, and took the opportunity to expose their supplier at the time to competition.

QleanAir won the tender with two floor-standing QleanAir FS 90 units because they are mobile and easy to place close to the source. They are also smaller in size than the predecessor, about half the size, and quieter. Despite the difference in size and the fact that there are only two air cleaners compared to the previous three, the air quality is the same or even better.

“We prefer QleanAir’s air cleaners because they are more mobile, quieter and smaller,” says Conny Löwenmark, operations manager at Life Logistics.

Before the new units were delivered, the warehouse was without an air cleaner for two months. This made it harder to breathe and the warehouse became so dirty it had to be cleaned all the time. Now weekly cleaning is sufficient and the air quality is good.

“It is very easy to work with QleanAir. We have a service agreement which means that a service technician from QleanAir changes the filters and checks the air a couple of times a year,” concludes Löwenmark. “Otherwise, we don’t notice the air cleaners.”

Life Logistics continues to work with the working environment. In the next step, focus will be on the noise levels in the warehouse. All so that the employees have the best workplace possible.

 

Dedicated safety products for the supply chain

Posted on by David Priestman

Conveying goods from one provider to its customers involves working often with machineries or at height. These actions go from picking in a warehouse to loading and unloading a truck, train or plane, whether manually or with robotic assistance. Each step includes safety hazards, each step is subject to maintenance works. Fallprotec says it provides solutions for every moment.

Automated racking systems are now a widespread feature in warehouses all over the world, with goods being stored at heights up to 40m. The maintenance of the racks includes work at height. Fallprotec’s Securail Pro is a secure option for both types of work. Its unique profile has high inertia that enables up to 6m spam between supports, making it adaptable to every racking configuration.

Fallprotec says it is ideal for securing zones with low fall clearance and can be used as a fall arrest system with up to two users between brackets. Occupying little space, it fits easily inside the structure and can be bended to follow the configuration of the hall.

The loading of goods is another station that involves risks, for the transported goods as well as for the person involved in the process. To counteract it, Fallprotec has installed its SafeAccess monorail system on several loading bays all over the world. The SafeAccess is an undeformable fall arrest rail system. When installed in overhead configuration, it is the most suitable system when the fall clearance is low, for instance during loading.

This rail can be used for petrochemical industries as it is ATEX certified for potentially explosive atmospheres. The aluminium rail is protected by a high-quality powder coated surface treatment that resists to a marine environment.

Depending on the site configuration, SafeAccess can be combined with a Flexbow jib. The Flexbow is a standardised outrigger jib designed to secure loading bays and machinery. As the lifeline can also be installed high over the user, it is suitable for enhancing safety in vast storage and loading halls.

Last but not least, as the logistics sector is an increasingly robotised one, the maintenance of its automated equipment is an ever-returning key topic. In addition to the already mentioned rail systems, Fallprotec also provides vertical solutions adapted to all machineries, big or small. The company has developed a range of ladders with integrated fall arrest rail suitable for the maintenance of robotic tipping arms, pickers and AGVs. For instance, the SafeLadder is a secure alternative to traditional access ladders. The user, equipped with a harness, is directly connected to the fall arrest rail which is integrated into the access ladder upright.

The fall arrester VIA 4 fitted with energy absorber follows the user effortlessly and locks instantly in case of a fall. Various SafeLadder types and accessories are available to fit any situation: temporary SafeLadder, telescopic SafeLadder and traversing SafeLadder along a SafeAccess rail. A variant of the Securail Pro, the MastLadder, uses the same rail profile while fitting it with rigid rungs to create a ladder with minimum space occupation.

Fallprotec has installed its safety solutions worldwide with several industrial companies and logistics integraters such as Total and Stow. All Fallprotec products for logistics will be introduced in Birmingham at the IMHX tradeshow on booth 5C90.

 

Garbe acquires brownfield site in Salzgitter

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH has acquired an industrial wasteland in Salzgitter (Lower Saxony, Germany). Following a comprehensive redevelopment of the site, a high-quality and sustainable new building for the storage and handling of industrial goods is to be constructed on the 51,000 sq m site. The logistics property is scheduled to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2024. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is investing around €43m in the conversion project.

The Hamburg project developer took over the property from Alstom. The deal came about as a result of the good cooperation between the two companies. Garbe Industrial Real Estate had previously realised a 30,000 sq m logistics property for the rail vehicle manufacturer on its factory premises in Salzgitter in 2014. The area now acquired is in the immediate vicinity.

Before construction can begin, the site must be cleared of contamination – including foundations of former buildings, concrete slabs, shafts and possibly also explosive ordnance. The potentially contaminated soil will be carefully removed and professionally disposed of. Then a levelling layer is applied and its surface is completely sealed.

“In the process, we bring our many years of experience in dealing with so-called brownfields to bear,” emphasises Adrian Zellner, Member of the Executive Board at Garbe Industrial Real Estate. “With the revitalisation of this area, which has been lying fallow for years, we are enhancing the value of the soil enormously, raising previously unused property reserves without sealing valuable green spaces and thus creating significant settlement potential.”

The complex conversion process is completed by the construction of a modern logistics property with a total area of 32,000 sq m in three fire compartments. For protection, a foil is drawn under the floor slab so that substances that may be hazardous to water can also be stored. At least 28 dock levellers and three ground-level sectional doors are planned for loading and unloading trucks. There will be 140 parking spaces for cars and six for trucks in the outdoor area. Some of them will be pre-equipped with e-charging stations.

A photovoltaic system will be installed on the entire roof area to generate renewable energy. Several green spaces are planned on the property. In addition, the logistics property will not be supplied with fossil fuels. This is entirely in line with Garbe’s corporate strategy of realising project developments with the highest sustainability standards, taking into account all ESG criteria. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is therefore also striving for certification of the property to at least the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council.

The location is characterised by its central position south of the city triangle of Hanover, Wolfsburg and Brunswick. It is only a few kilometres to the A 39 motorway, which connects Salzgitter in a northerly direction with Wolfsburg and the A 2 Dortmund – Berlin motorway, and in a southerly direction with the A 7 Hamburg – Ulm motorway. There is also a connection to the public transport system. The nearest bus stop is 200m away.

Initial talks with potential users of the logistics centre are already underway. Garbe Industrial Real Estate expects the centre to be let during the construction period.

 

Union Industries increases stock levels

Posted on by David Priestman

Union Industries, the Leeds, UK-based manufacturer of high-speed industrial doors, has increased its stock levels even further to allow minimal lead times for production of its door range and replacement parts.

The driver behind this has been the 12% increase Union has seen in orders from companies looking to replace foreign-made doors.

A common problem with some manufacturers of fast rolling shutter doors is the lack of spare or replacement parts with many having particularly long lead times – one recent customer citing 21 weeks for spares to arrive into the UK from Germany. This problem has been increasing in recent years due to factors such as Brexit with some doors installed in the UK manufactured in Europe, it leads to both new and replacement parts being harder to source.

However, Union Industries prides itself on its low lead time and ensures there are sufficiently high stock levels to manufacture a minimum of 25 doors at any one time. Stock is replenished daily and spare parts for standard door servicing are always readily available for immediate dispatch.

Union says parts that require more bespoke manufacturing can be entered into production within a matter of days, meaning that disruption can be kept to an absolute minimum.

Union’s Operations Director, Tony Metcalfe, said: “We have seen an increase in orders to replace foreign import doors in the UK which this is mainly down to the long lead times for spares and repairs, along with more demand for our reliable and British manufactured doors.

“We maintain high stock levels to ensure we have a consistently efficient service line and can deliver replacement parts to our customers within 24 hours of the initial order in many cases.”

Alan Hirst, Sales Director, Union Industries, said: “Our business has always tailored itself to the needs of our customer base. We pride ourselves on listening to what our customers’ challenges are and helping them with the right solution, so this is a fantastic example of how Union Industries is yet again leading the way in the supply chain.

“We are proud to be a British manufacturer of robust and reliable industrial rapid roller doors that have the most minimal downtime due to the quality of the design and build as well as our ability to service and replace parts rapidly.”

 

XPO receives BRCGS ‘AA’ accreditation for Arla facility

Posted on by Keith McKinley

XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of freight transportation services, has again received BRCGS ‘AA’ accreditation for satisfying rigorous safety and compliance standards at the Arla Foods Ltd dairy plant in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Arla Foods, a centuries-old dairy cooperative, is the largest supplier of fresh milk and cream in the UK.

XPO earned its initial BRCGS accreditation for Aylesbury in 2021, after being awarded a contract by Arla Foods to store and deliver over 14 million litres of milk per week to retailers in South East England. The two companies then expanded their relationship to include a distribution centre in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, where XPO manages transport. XPO received BRCGS accreditation for Hatfield in 2021, and recently completed the 2022 audit.

Dan Myers, managing director, transport – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “The Arla brands stand for food quality and safety, and their reputation is built upon that. Arla and XPO strive for the best standards recognised by the BRCGS ‘AA’ accreditation. We focus on this crucial goal as a joint team effort.”

BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance) was founded in 1996 to harmonise safety standards across the supply chain. BRCGS global benchmarks for food safety, consumer product safety, packaging materials, storage and distribution, ethical trading and other standards help assure consumers that products are safe, legal and of high quality.

XPO provides technology-enabled transport solutions for customers across a range of sectors in Europe, including chilled and ambient food and beverages, retail, trade and industrial goods, and e-commerce, as well as world-class events, such as the Tour de France.

Prologis breaks BREEAM record

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A brand new distribution centre developed and owned by Prologis UK has achieved the highest sustainability rating of any project in its category.

Completed recently, the 233,860 sq ft building – known as DC3a – achieved a BREEAM rating of 88.8% (Outstanding). This is the highest rating recorded for a new building assessed under the BREEAM 2018 New Construction Manual (Industrial – Shell and Core).

Completed in July 2022, DC3a was built by Prologis UK in partnership with lead contractor, VolkerFitzpatrick. BREEAM has provided a holistic assessment of the development, based on categories focussing on innovation, health & wellbeing, energy, materials, waste, water, transportation, land use & ecology and pollution.

The speculative development of DC3a, means that Prologis UK now has more than 770,000 sq ft of logistics space at Maylands Business Park. This brings the company’s total development footprint in Hemel Hempstead to more than 1.5m sq ft

Martin Cooper, Vice President, development management at Prologis UK, said: “We are very proud of this record-breaking BREEAM rating, which underlines the care and commitment that we give to developing buildings that really are best in class and built for the long term. The property has attracted great market interest, not just due to its sustainability credentials, but also due to its excellent location to the east of Hemel Hempstead, close to Junction 8 of the M1, with access to London and the South East.”

Stuart Deverill, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick’s building division, said: “It is extremely satisfying to know that the efforts made to construct this building in the most sustainable way possible have been recognised. This couldn’t have been achieved without Prologis UK’s sustainability vision, and the commitment of our construction partners right across the supply chain.”

 

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