Initially published in 2001, the Skills Gap Report which was published in partnership with Deloitte was a study which indicated a mismatch between the skills of available working people and the skills that the manufacturing industry required. The reports that followed confirmed that gap and showed an increasing mismatch of skills.
The shortage of senior, highly-skilled engineers across the board in the UK has been highlighted by figures released in the latest manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) which has now reached its lowest level in more than three years, following the EU referendum.
To understand the skills gap, we have to understand how the public understands manufacturing. Many people still see manufacturing as a dark, dirty and even dangerous industry.
Most students at secondary school level recognise that science & maths subjects could be useful for getting a good job. However, far fewer feel such jobs are attainable or relevant to them. To add to the problem, the profile of those who do go on to study particular Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and pursue certain STEM careers is too narrow. Women, working class and some minority ethnic groups remain under-represented in some disciplines and occupations, particularly in engineering. This not only means a pool of potential talent is being lost, but that those industries are missing out on the many benefits of a more diverse workforce.
Studies show that these groups tend to have limited exposure to the world of STEM, which those with high levels of exposure generally gaining this through family members’ qualifications, occupations and interests. The greater the level of exposure to STEM, the more likely a student is to study STEM subjects post-16 years of age.
STEM subjects are hugely important; however, much of the current technology curriculum for university and college education doesn’t place enough emphasis on the relevant technical skills needed in today’s manufacturing businesses either. The challenge is that new technologies are emerging at an unprecedented pace and the education system is struggling to keep up with it. Often college and university curriculums are running out of date courses and subsequently graduates leave with outdated skills impacting their employability.
If a new technology does emerge, it can take 6-18 months for this to get onto a curriculum aligned to exams by which time the technology landscape will have moved on again. There is clearly a lack of synchronised technical skills training at college and university level which is struggling to keep pace with the accelerated technology change in industry.
Traditionally working in manufacturing meant manual jobs needing vocational skills and on-the-job training through apprenticeships. Over time, industrial engineers and IT professionals have become in demand as manufacturing has become more automated.
Collaborative manufacturing is creating a greater need for up-to-date IT and technical skills. Employers are needing to upskill both entry level candidates as well as existing staff with advanced skills.
A strong British engineering sector is vital to the long term sustainability of our economic recovery, and increasing the supply of engineers is at the heart of this. As a country we excel in hi-tech industries but we need engineers to make sure the UK stays ahead of our competitors. The rest of the world is not stagnant, so we must do everything we can to uphold our position as a leading engineering nation. The Government’s Engineering UK report finds that engineering businesses have the potential to contribute an extra £27 billion to the UK economy every year from 2022 if we can meet the demand for a quarter of a million new vacancies in the same timeframe.
Businesses and government bodies are already working hard to attract and retain talent within their workforce, but there is always more that can be done to improve the image of the UK’s manufacturing sector and promote the benefits of pursuing a career in this area. With the decision to leave the EU causing increased uncertainty, business and the Government must act quickly in order to keep the UK and the sector an attractive employment option.
To bridge the skills gap, there is a trend for companies to recruit new staff with 50-60 percent of the skills required, as they are unable to find workers with all of the skills required. Employers are bringing these staff into their business with base-level skills and then providing comprehensive training to bring them up to the required level.
At the other end of the spectrum, highly experienced senior managers over 40 years old within the industry, have an immense amount of knowledge to pass on, but can be reluctant to change and be less patient with new technology.
Modern technology helps recruit and retain new workers, propelling manufacturing to a new era of innovation. The right technology allows multiple generations of workers to “meet in the middle” and support manufacturing’s transition. As an example, modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) & product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions reinforce the traditional best practices, as well as meet expectations of younger generation users who can get up to speed quickly on best practices and easily obtain critical historical data for reference and training. Employees of all ages have the opportunity to share knowledge with new recruits through the use of collaborative tools.
The skills gap is most noticeable in the STEM sector, however it is important not to solely focus on this area. The requirement for a flow of highly talented, creative and original workers into the UK holds the key for the future development of companies across the spectrum.
As employers, we must take steps to narrow the skills gap now. This comprises of ensuring existing employees are up-skilled and being committed to finding new talent, both of which will help future proof businesses.
Many manufacturers are making great effort to engage with educational establishments, from primary to university level, which is already leading to greater enthusiasm for manufacturing & engineering amongst young people. Additionally, apprenticeships can play a key role in creating a more prepared and qualified workforce, benefitting both the individual and the employer.
Apprenticeships can certainly play a huge role in preparing skilled workers whilst offering employers the opportunity to strengthen and diversify their workforce providing a future talent pipeline tailored to the individual business needs.
Apprenticeships offer substantial training and the development of transferable skills. Most training is on-the-job working with a mentor, to learn job specific skills in the workplace. This means that technical skills vital to business performance and growth are gained and strengthened, helping to develop our industry as a whole. Apprenticeships bring opportunity; to attract new talent, offer progression and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.
In April 2017, a new levy will require all companies that operate within England to pay 0.5% of their payroll towards funding apprenticeships. There is an allowance of £15,000 therefore in reality only companies with an annualised payroll of more than £3M will pay the levy.
The levy will support the existing frameworks as they move towards the employer led standards. Current frameworks are currently being phased out and are expected to be removed completely by 2020.
To formulate a new Apprenticeship Standard requires 10 companies to design and submit the standard. Only when this has been approved, can it proceed. This standard can then be used by the company who submitted it, as well as every other companies in the UK. The overall idea being that the levy will support the Government's commitment to improving productivity by increasing the quantity and quality of apprenticeships.
Employers need to take a leap of faith and make the extra investment on supporting new applicants, so they can deliver the skills needed for the business and industry in the long term. The levy could be very powerful for closing the skills gap in the manufacturing industry. Some of the investment is a sunk cost which lowers the threshold for making the business case weigh up to recruit apprentices.
The Apprenticeship Levy will not solve all of our skills problems, but a supply of thousands of skilled apprentices every year will make a positive difference. The levy will most definitely help to transform the skills landscape in the UK manufacturing industry.
A positive image of the sector portrayed by the media is vital. Helping to change historic perceptions of the industry will make career choices within the sector more inviting.
In order to accelerate the narrowing of the skills gap, the Government now needs to help businesses by promoting employment on every level. The decision to leave the EU without doubt poses a serious problem for talent acquisition as many businesses source much-needed talent from the EU. Adapting to marketplace changes as and when new agreements are made will be needed to overcome the ramifications of the Brexit vote.
Continued improvement in the co-ordination, quality, reach and impact of engineering outreach activity by the whole engineering community, business and industry is essential. Building on existing programmes is necessary to positively influence the perceptions and subject choices of young people and get more of them interested in a career in engineering.
Education programmes such as Tomorrow’s Engineers have made it clear that this is best achieved through collaboration and support from local, regional and national STEM employers. Government, working in partnership with business, the education sector and the engineering community, needs to ensure the provision of a national coordinated employer – led, informed and relevant approach to careers inspiration in educational establishments.
It is not unreasonable then, to think that every child should have an engineering experience that is linked to careers and the curriculum, with all schools and colleges being held to account through their relevant inspection authority. This should in turn help us achieve the latest Government target of a two-fold increase in the number of Advanced Apprenticeship achievements in engineering and manufacturing technology, which will be fundamental in us meeting the forecasted demand for skilled engineers by 2022.
Author:
Jess Penny
General Manager, Penny Hydraulics Ltd
01246 811475
jessica@pennyhydraulics.com
Leading agricultural fertiliser producer, CF Fertilisers UK, has opted to switch its tire policy to Continental Tires for the heavy-duty forklifts and on-site trailers at its Cheshire headquarters and manufacturing site.
The company runs a fleet of 14 heavy-duty Kalmar DCE 10 forklifts and some 12 two-axle A-frame trailers at its Ince plant. These tackle the heavy-lifting and movement of 600kg and 1000kg bags of fertiliser from the point of production to storage and despatch facilities elsewhere on site. The site itself, at Ince in Cheshire, sits on 124 acres of land next to the Manchester Ship Canal and includes one Ammonia and three 3 Nitric Acid plants, a further Nitrogen fertiliser plant and 3 compound lines. With approximately 400 employees on site, CF Fertilisers produces 1 million tonnes of fertiliser a year and supplies key market sectors in grass and arable farming. So intensive is the process, its continuous production lines at Ince, and sister site in Billingham in the northeast, account for some 2% annually of the nation’s natural gas usage.
Anthony Jones, Day Handling Team Leader, explained the change in tire policy. “You have to understand that the site is very demanding on tires. Though it is largely flat land, like any major site there is a degree of unevenness at points around the working area that test the wear patterns and life of tires, but our main concern lies in safety-challenges emanating from tire wear. Our Kalmar fork-lifts can pick up four 1000kg bags of fertiliser at one time, and, because they are suspended on straps, each load is effectively ‘live’ in terms of the danger of swinging during transit; while our trailers, which we run as pairs at all times, can also carry that much each.
Because of the nature of the site, safety is a major everyday consideration, and that works right through everything we do. Handling and moving loads with this sort of weight, 24/7, is a key part of the inherent risk on the site, so we take it very seriously indeed.”
The company first looked at Continental Tires in late 2015, and a trial was initiated that was due to run for a full six months. Continental Tires along with local dealer, Nation Tires, offered to set up the trial on both fork-lifts and trailers.
Anthony Jones recalls, “We decided to give ‘Conti’ a chance. We felt the tires we had been using were being changed far too often – so something had to give. We liked the ideas the Continental team put forward and the confidence they had that they could improve on both safety and economy; and we especially liked the fact that they had a very competent and professional local dealer, Nation Tires, the Continental Tires Industrial network partner at Ellesmere Port. A blow-out on a tire, quite apart from the huge safety risk, can also have a very damaging commercial effect on us. We run 24/7, 365 days a year, and if a forklift or pair of trailers is unavailable to us, we soon see back-logs of product needing to be cleared from the end of the production line and moved to storage areas. We produce some 21 different varieties of fertiliser, including our top-selling Nitram brand, and that’s over 1 million tonnes a year: a continuous process that simply cannot be put at risk.”
The initial trial was scheduled for six months, but the immediate improvement was so noticeable that, within just three months, the decision was made to switch the whole fleet to Continental Tires products. The big, heavy-duty Kalmar forklifts feature six tires on two axles. Again, for safety reasons, CF Fertilisers decided to go for the heavy duty pneumatic tires, ContiRT20 11.00 x 20s, but also to inject them with foam. ”Continental said we’d get 12 months wear out of these,” says Jones, “but nine months into their usage, we are still only 50% worn and looking good. It is great economically, in terms of purchase price and saved downtime, and a real bonus from the safety angle. The trucks have special rising cabs in order to be able to deal with the work, and a tire blowing out on a heavily laden truck with the cab raised to its full 10 foot extension could cause it to tip over- and that’s simply unthinkable!”
The onsite trailers used to move bagged products from production into storage areas are two-axle A-frame draw bar units, hitched in pairs and pulled behind agricultural tractors as prime movers. The major problem, again, was too-frequent changes due to wear. Anthony Jones adds, “There was also a major safety risk here. The tires were wearing, and the most worrying part was that it was the sidewalls that were exhibiting most stress, so a blow-out was a constant threat.” The trailers have standard draw-bar configuration of steering front axle and rear fixed axle, both with twin tire hubs. As with the fork-lifts, Continental tires, in this case Continental IC40 10 x 20s, are delivering longer wear times and enhanced safety.
Nation Tires, the local dealer to CF Fertilisers, had a major part to play in the success of the Continental Tires trial and take-up. Managing director, Tony Glennon, said, “For a site this size, with the variety and significance of the vehicles we are talking about here, having a local dealership of our size and capability was an important part of reassuring CF Fertilisers in their switch to Continental Tires. We understood their need for a genuine 24/7/365 support service and were both prepared and able to bring this to the mix, with 17 staff and nine mobile site-service vehicles. They demand a 60-90 minute callout response in the event of a tire needing any sort of attention, and we deliver.”
Anthony Jones has the last word, saying, “No new relationship is going to be entirely free of teething problems, but with Continental and Nation Tires I think we have got as close to a problem-free start as anyone could have wished. I now feel we have a superior level of site safety because of the switch, and the fact that the company is saving money, by getting far fewer tire failures and significantly longer tire life, is an added bonus.”
The latest Continental Customer testimonial video is available via ContinentalTiresTV: https://youtu.be/qIn3Qtsto70
www.continental-corporation.com
www.continental-truck-tires.com
www.continental-specialty-tires.com
Barton Fabrications, the UK’s largest manufacturer of aluminium storage silos, has achieved accreditation to CE mark its vessels to EN 1090: this ensures compliance with the latest Construction Products Regulations. The standard gives customers the confidence that the silos, pipework, gantries and ladders supplied by Barton, which are all considered structural products, have traceability and conform to mandatory structural requirements.
Commenting on the accreditation Mark Barton, Managing Director and owner of Barton Fabrications said:
“We are delighted to receive the accreditation as this recognises the high level of design, procurement, manufacturing and quality control standards we adopt. We have further enhanced our processes as part of the accreditation assessment – this has included using coded welders for all structural components and improving our job card system.
“Buyers have a responsibility to ensure that the structural products they procure from their suppliers meet all relevant standards and the CE Marked certification we issue with every silo gives buyers the confidence that they have minimised procurement risk”
The now mandatory Construction Products Regulations replace the Construction Products Directive and dictate that any steel or aluminium construction product, which includes silos, are CE Marked to the harmonised European Standard EN 1090. Barton supply full CE documentation electronically following installation of any silo or other structural component supplied.
For more details on Barton Fabrications’ silo solutions, contact Mark Barton:-
Tel: +44 (0) 1275 845901
E-mail: sales@bartonfabs.co.uk Web: www.bartonfabs.co.uk
Terex Trucks is set to return to Hillhead once again – this time, to showcase the latest TA300 alongside the vintage R17 hauler. “We are excited to be at Hillhead this year, it’ll be a good opportunity to show customers what the Terex Trucks brand is all about,” says Paul Douglas, Managing Director of Terex Trucks. “Having the R17 on our stand gives visitors a rare opportunity to take a glimpse into the history of hauling. Terex Trucks’ heritage can be traced back to 1934 when the world’s first off-road dump truck was created. It’s not often that you get to see a 40-year-old truck that’s still in working condition; we hope this highlights the level of quality we build into our machines. Of course, our current machine, the TA300 articulated hauler, will take pride of place too and shows that we remain committed to creating quality trucks that are built to last.”
Occupying stand N14, Terex Trucks will be joined by its official UK dealer, TDL Equipment, which will be located on stand A7.
“Since the very beginning, TDL’s ethos has been to provide local support on a national basis – and that’s something we still strive towards today,” says John Black, Sales Director at TDL Equipment. “This, together with our partnership with Terex Trucks, means that we are able to offer haulers to our customers that help them to provide an enhanced level of service to their own customers.”
With 476 exhibitors and 18,601 visitors from 71 countries, the 2016 Hillhead show was quite literally record-breaking – and the 2018 show is set to be even bigger. It will take place from June 26th - 28th at Tarmac’s Hillhead Quarry near Buxton, Derbyshire.
Based in Scotland, Terex Trucks has been building robust haulers at its Motherwell site since 1950. Taking pride of place on the Terex Trucks stand will be the new TA300 articulated hauler and the R17, which dates back to the early 1970s. Achieving a payload of 28 tonnes (30.9 tons) and powered by a five-cylinder Scania DC9 EU Stage IV compliant engine, the TA300 hauler is designed to withstand the toughest conditions at quarries, infrastructure developments and commercial projects. With a maximum torque of 1,880 Nm, the machine has great traction and an effective power-to-weight ratio to ensure material is moved quickly and cost-effectively across all kinds of terrain and in any type of weather. Additionally, the machine features an ergonomically designed cab, complete with plenty of space and a commanding view for maximum operator comfort.
More than 40 years old, the R17 13.5 tonnes (14.9 tons) hauler represents the history of Terex Trucks. Originally, the engine was manufactured in Cumbernauld and the machine itself was built in Motherwell. A team of apprentices have been working hard at the Motherwell factory to restore the machine back to its original glory. With the work now complete on the truck, visitors at Hillhead will be able to appreciate the historic craftsmanship of the R17 for themselves, from the simple yet effective operating system to original features such as the driver’s seat and engine.
Street Crane has announced that Andrew Pimblett is stepping down as managing director after 49 years with the business, 38 of which he served as a board member. His successor is Gus Zona, who has worked for Street in the roles of both sales director and operations director.
Andrew, who has been managing director for 28 years, has spent his whole career with Street Crane. He joined the company as a technical apprentice in 1969 and quickly worked his way up the ranks. He was made sales director in 1980 before being appointed deputy managing director and then managing director in 1990.
Throughout this time, Andrew has not only been instrumental in transforming Street from a local crane fabricator into the UK’s largest crane and hoist manufacturer but establishing the company as a leading supplier of hoists and components to other crane manufacturers worldwide.
Andrew and his team has consistently grown Street’s UK crane manufacturing operation in a period which has seen a sharp decline in crane purchases from British manufacturers and competitors go out of business. From a standing start, he led the company into the global hoist and crane components business, which is now the larger part of Street.
He said: “When I joined Street it was a very small company which manufactured custom-made cranes predominately for the Sheffield steel industry. It was always my ambition that one day we’d be able to compete with the big names in the pre-engineered volume crane and component sector, but most people told me that would never happen.
“To have proved them wrong is very satisfying. Street has grown and evolved rapidly, achieving phenomenal success driven primarily by our commitment to investing in product development and innovation.
“We now have a vast engineering team, including many experienced designers as well as a large number of younger graduates, all of whom are focused on designing new products. This has helped us to create one of the biggest ranges of cranes and components in the world, which we sell to more than 100 distributors globally and to end users in a vast number of sectors in the UK.
“I’m incredibly proud of these achievements and of all the people at Street which have been instrumental in this success.
“Being Street’s managing director is however, a very demanding job that takes you all over the world, so I feel the time is right to pass the baton. I have no doubt that Gus is the perfect person for this job. His appointment is a result of a long-standing succession plan and I wish him every success.”
Gus is an experienced and long-serving member of the Street team having joined the company in 1988. He worked initially in production control and purchasing before serving two terms on the board firstly as sales director and latterly as operations director. In between these two roles at Street, Gus was managing director at Lloyds British Testing.
Gus added: “It’s going to be a challenge stepping into Andrew’s shoes but I’m looking forward to taking on this new role and building on Street’s achievements.
“There is a huge opportunity to grow the business even further by expanding our distributor network and continuing to bring technologically-advanced products to the market. This will include cranes that self-monitor safety, servicing and maintenance and will have a huge impact on the sector. With our R&D and engineering capabilities, our aim is to be at the forefront of these digital developments.”
Andrew will remain at Street Crane as a non-executive director advising on strategic matters and working three days per week.
The British Safety Council has appointed Paul Fakley as Engagement Director. This is a new post in the organisation. Paul joins the charity and membership body from Travel and General Insurance Services (which included the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust), where he was Sales and Marketing Director. Prior to this he was Group Marketing & Business Development Director for Circle Housing.
At the same time, the British Safety Council has appointed Dave Parr as Policy and Technical Director. Dave Parr has been heading Audit and Technical Services at the organisation for the last six years and has worked for BSC since 2005 in various roles including auditor, NVQ Manager and Product Development and Delivery Manager.
Paul brings with him 26 years of marketing and business development experience gained in B2B and consumer-focused roles. He spent a significant part of his career in the insurance industry, heading up marketing for brands such as Direct Line and Churchill.
Commenting on his appointment, Paul Fakley said: “The British Safety Council has been the beating heart of health and safety in the UK for more than 60 years. It is with great pleasure that I join the organisation at such an important time. Workplaces around the world are changing dramatically and the role of the British Safety Council needs to evolve to meet those needs and keep workers free from injury and illness. I look forward to working with the senior management team, trustees and broader business to build on recent initiatives and reaffirm the British Safety Council’s position as the leading voice in health and safety.”
Dave Parr said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of ensuring that the British Safety Council remains a leading voice on health, safety and wellbeing issues. Its strong corporate membership base, both within the UK and internationally, gives the organisation a unique position of influence to ensure that the welfare and safety of workers are the primary factors in business planning and regulatory change. I would like the British Safety Council to use that leverage to help all workplaces to continually improve.”
These two appointments have been made following the resignation of Louise Ward, Policy Standards and Communications Director, who for the past two years has been the driving force behind policy and engagement activity at the British Safety Council. Louise will be returning to the industry, taking up a new role in environment, health and safety.
Just three weeks after the unveiling of Volvo Trucks’ first all-electric truck, the Volvo FL Electric, the company is expanding its product range with yet another electric truck - the Volvo FE Electric. Designed for heavier city distribution and refuse transport operations with gross weights of up to 27 tonnes, sales of the new vehicle will commence in Europe in 2019.
“With the introduction of the Volvo FE Electric we have a comprehensive range of electrically powered trucks for city operations and are taking yet another strategic step forward in the development of our total offer in electrified transport solutions. This opens the door to new forms of co-operation with cities that target to improve air quality, reduce traffic noise, and cut congestion during peak hours since commercial operations can instead be carried out quietly and without tale-pipe exhaust emissions early in the morning or late at night,” says Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks.
The first Volvo FE Electric, a refuse truck with a superstructure developed together with Europe's largest truck bodybuilder, Faun, will start operating in early 2019 in Germany’s second-largest city, Hamburg.
“Hamburg, which was named European Green Capital of the EU in 2011, has worked long and successfully on a broad front to enhance green and sustainable urban development. This applies not least in the transport sector, where electrified buses from Volvo are already being used in the public transport network. The experiences and ambitions from this venture make Hamburg a highly interesting partner for us,” says Jonas Odermalm, Product Line Vice President for the Volvo FL and Volvo FE at Volvo Trucks.
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Siechau, CEO of Stadtreinigung Hamburg, sees large potential for environmental benefits with electric trucks in the city. “Today, each of our 300 conventional refuse vehicles emits approximately 31.300 kgs carbon dioxide every year. An electrically-powered refuse truck with battery that stands a full shift of eight to ten hours is a breakthrough in technology. Another benefit is the fact that Stadtreinigung Hamburg generates climate-neutral electricity that can be used to charge the batteries.”
The new Volvo FE Electric will be offered in several variants for different types of transport assignment. For instance with Volvo’s low-entry cab, which makes it easier to enter and exit the cab and gives the driver a commanding view of surrounding traffic. The working environment improves too as a result of the low noise level and vibration-free operation. Battery capacity can be optimised to suit individual needs and charging takes place either via the mains or via quick-charge stations.
“Our solutions for electrified transport are designed to suit the specific needs of each customer and each city. In addition to the vehicles, we will offer everything from route analysis to services and financing via our network of dealers and workshops throughout Europe. We also have close partnerships with suppliers of charging infrastructure,” says Jonas Odermalm.
Croydon-based haulage provider, Diamond Distribution, is celebrating after the company’s managing director scooped an award at the recent 2018 Everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards, which was supported by the Freight Transport Association.
Keely Priestman, who received the Leader in the Freight Industry Award, has been in the logistics industry for 14 years, starting her career as a PA. She established Diamond Distribution, which is a member of Palletways, the Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network, in 2013 and the business now has 22 members of staff and 18 vehicles under her leadership.
Everywoman runs a portfolio of high profile awards programmes that celebrate the achievements of women across a diverse range of sectors and industries. This latest award is a major coup for Keely and the Diamond team, and the business aims to continually provide opportunities for women in haulage. While women account for just 8% of the haulage industry, the team at Diamond Distribution is one third female. In addition to this, all of the senior management roles at the company are currently held by women.
Keely, who was presented with the prestigious award at last week’s ceremony in London, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won this award and would like to congratulate all of the other winners and nominees on their achievements this year. To be recognised as leading the way for women in logistics is a great honour and it’s great to see other hardworking women getting the recognition they so rightly deserve in a male-dominated industry.
“Since establishing Diamond Distribution just over five years ago, I’ve worked with some fabulous people and I’d like to thank them all for their ongoing support. I couldn’t have won this award without my Diamond team and it’s not only a reflection of me, but also recognition of their hard work and success.”
Palletways Network Development Director, Barry Byers, added: “Keely has made a conscious effort to provide opportunities for women in the logistics industry and we’re delighted that she’s been officially recognised for her continued excellence as a leader. She is a true role model for women looking to join the industry and we’re sure this is the first of many awards that she’ll receive.
“Diamond Distribution continues to make a significant contribution to the strength of the network and sets an excellent example to other members and businesses across the industry. Palletways is a people-based business and we’re delighted that the Diamond team is part of our family. We’re glad to be a part of their success story and look forward to celebrating their next award again soon.”
The company, which offers palletised freight, dedicated loads and storage facilities, covers the CR, SM, RH and TN postcode areas and has a wide range of customers from tile manufacturers to beauty product wholesalers. Diamond Distribution is a regular ‘Palletways Platinum Club’ member in recognition of its first-class customer service and was a finalist for ‘Best SME’ at last year’s Croydon Awards, where Keely was also a finalist in the ‘Women in Business’ category.
Diamond Distribution is one of over 114 independent transport providers that are part of the Palletways UK network. They benefit from shared expertise and resources from within the group to deliver consignments of palletised freight to market faster and more cost effectively than ever before. The Palletways Group comprises 450+ depots and 20 hub operations, through which it provides collection and distribution services across 20 European countries, including the UK.
Let’s go fly the world’s largest kite! The team that has the job of doing just that can take it anywhere – and they do – thanks to Goplasticpallets.com.
The Kuwait-based crew has the Guinness World Record for the largest kite flown, the Kuwait flag, measuring 1000 square meters. They have two more non-record holding kites measuring 1200 and 1250 square meters each.
Andrew Beattie, logistics manager for the Al-Farsi Kite team said, “We fly round the world, including Kuwait, France, Holland, England and New Zealand and we need packaging suitable for the job. We found our perfect pallet boxes at Goplasticpallets.com. They call it 1311S 3R. It is the biggest pallet box we have found anywhere.”
Size wasn’t the only demand for their plastic pallet box, with desert heat and a hands-on team to contend with. Andrew said, “We are particularly hard on our crates. We move them about off-road on the beach and on fields. Sometimes loaded crates get tipped on their sides. We climb on them and in them. We leave them out in the flying field in any weather. We store them outside in the heat of Kuwait. We push them around when no handling equipment is available.
“And while we are harsh in our treatment of the crates, we expect them to be kind to us. No sharp edges that might damage the lightweight fabric when we drag it in or out of the crate.”
Wood is not an option as the kite fabric is incredibly delicate and can get caught on splinters and nails. Andrew said, “Wooden pallet boxes are useless. They fall apart under rough handling, you can’t tip them over repeatedly while loaded and expect them to survive. They are nailed shut, which creates splinters that can catch on delicate fabric. They work loose which creates gaps to snag things. And wooden packaging is most unwelcome in ports with tighter biosecurity rules.”
Their chosen pallet box has a 1400 litre capacity and is smooth inside, making it the gentle giant the record kite needs.
Andrew said, “They have smooth edges inside and out, so they never damage the kites. We can jump on them, push them over, squeeze them over-full and they just soldier on. The later models have great, tough, good-fitting lids that keep the weather (and curious fingers) out of the crates. As a bonus, when empty, they are light enough for one person to manhandle.”
Goplasticspallets.com has the expertise to advise on everything from the correct size, weight and handling of its empty or loaded boxes, crates and pallets. Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com said, “Our plastic pallet boxes are put through their paces in many different industries – from the transportation and storage of delicate pharmaceuticals to sturdy automotive parts – but this is something else. We have faith in our products and it is rewarding to see them being put to use in this record-breaking and enjoyable way.”
Goplasticpallets.com is the UK’s leading independent supplier of plastic pallets, pallet boxes and small containers. The company stocks in excess of 160 different styles of plastic pallets suitable for all types of applications – and many available for next day delivery, 32 different sizes and styles of plastic pallet boxes and a comprehensive range of small containers, crates and trays.
View the boxes in use by the Al-Farsi Kite team here: https://youtu.be/ypajavqh4MM
Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic gantry-based order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces construction plans to expand its production and office facilities at its headquarters in Ulvila, Finland. The new facilities will be built on 8,500 square meters of land, bought by Cimcorp in August 2017, nearly doubling the footprint of its current 9,500-square-meter space. The expansion will enable the company to accommodate its continuing business growth with greater capacity and efficiency, as well as incorporate new space for research and development.
The current facilities include 5,800 square meters dedicated to manufacturing and 3,700 square meters of office space. The expansion will extend the floor area by 7,900 square meters, adding 5,700 square meters for production and 2,200 square meters for offices. With more manufacturing space, Cimcorp can meet growing customer requirements and volume increases with greater production capacity and the ability to manage larger-sized projects. Further, the new, three-floor office building will provide more room as the company continues to grow its team of staff.
Notably, the expanded facility will allow Cimcorp to build upon its strengths in the development of unique material handling systems. With this expansion, Cimcorp will have a total floor area of 17,400 square meters.
Masatoshi Wakabayashi, CEO, Cimcorp Oy, said, “Our decision to expand our Ulvila facilities is a direct result of the substantial business growth that we have seen over the last five years, and the expected continued growth into the future. There has been a sustained increase in orders, and we have continued to invest in product development. This expansion will ensure that we have the capacity and efficiency to continue to meet our customers’ demands and service the rapidly growing global marketplace. This new, larger facility will help us strengthen our position as a leading supplier of automated solutions for the tire and distribution industries.”
Construction will begin during summer 2018, with plans for the facilities to be ready in summer 2019.
The Processing Centre, part of the Citipost Group of Companies has announced exciting plans to launch a dedicated division within the business – providing an unrivalled one-stop shop for its logistics and fulfilment operations.
The decision follows the continuing exponential growth in the online marketplace with more and more organisations entering the e-commerce arena. The Processing Centre already handles freight daily for many household names and is completely focused on the future growth plan.
From its 67,000 sq ft warehouse and processing centre at South Normanton's Berristow Lane, the TPC arm of the business will build on the company's already impressive reputation as a leader in global services.
The Processing Centre will enable the business to increase its offering with flexible fulfilment and distribution solutions for international and domestic clients.
Customers will benefit from a tailored process to meet their individual requirements as well as full end-to-end support - including data analysis, account management and an internal customer services function. TPC believes that the team members behind the operation should have a great knowledge of the pipeline which enables them to support the customers with genuine empathy.
Citipost, which has extensive experience in catalogue processing and fulfilment, has also invested heavily in new state-of-the-art technology to further streamline the process and drive efficiencies.
And the business has increased its operational team, with more jobs set to be created, to ensure they can keep up with demand.
The man at the helm is transport and logistics expert Bob Powner, who brings more than 25 years' experience to the post.
Formerly Processing and Linehaul Director at City Link, Bob has brought a new focus to the business - drawing on the principles of the parcels industry.
He believes the new division will bring huge benefits to the business and its customers - ensuring the highest level of service.
"We are delighted to have launched a dedicated arm of TPC, which handles the sortation, routing and crucially distribution to final mile delivery providers to meet a customer’s individual requirements,” added TPC’s Managing Director.
“Citipost already has a strong track record in fulfilment and final mile delivery of a range of items including catalogues and printed material and we are building on this market-leading position after identifying a growth opportunity in warehousing, fulfilment and despatch within other sectors.
“We are confident that TPC will provide an unbeatable service to our clients both here at home and overseas. The company has invested heavily in TPC to ensure that we are front of mind for customers looking for first-class service at a competitive price.”
Bob’s team are made up of “home grown” talent and members that have gained experience in Royal Mail. Sainsburys and Rentokil. “We have a great mix and the right balance amongst the team that have a focus on delivering a service that achieves the KPI’s across a balanced scorecard.”
With the ability to deliver 24/7, 365 days of the year, customers can also benefit from TPC’s flexibility and its ability to provide a comprehensive range of warehousing, fulfilment and delivery services.
And in addition to their own in-house team of developers, TPC is able to source their own consumables such as packaging and labelling – adding an additional offering to its customer-base.
“simplifying the pipeline through a one-stop shop”
The Processing Centre, part of the Citipost Group of Companies has announced exciting plans to launch a dedicated division within the business – providing an unrivalled one-stop shop for its logistics and fulfilment operations.
The decision follows the continuing exponential growth in the online marketplace with more and more organisations entering the e-commerce arena. The Processing Centre already handles freight daily for many household names and is completely focused on the future growth plan.
From its 67,000 sq ft warehouse and processing centre at South Normanton's Berristow Lane, the TPC arm of the business will build on the company's already impressive reputation as a leader in global services.
The Processing Centre will enable the business to increase its offering with flexible fulfilment and distribution solutions for international and domestic clients.
Customers will benefit from a tailored process to meet their individual requirements as well as full end-to-end support - including data analysis, account management and an internal customer services function. TPC believes that the team members behind the operation should have a great knowledge of the pipeline which enables them to support the customers with genuine empathy.
Citipost, which has extensive experience in catalogue processing and fulfilment, has also invested heavily in new state-of-the-art technology to further streamline the process and drive efficiencies.
And the business has increased its operational team, with more jobs set to be created, to ensure they can keep up with demand.
The man at the helm is transport and logistics expert Bob Powner, who brings more than 25 years' experience to the post.
Formerly Processing and Linehaul Director at City Link, Bob has brought a new focus to the business - drawing on the principles of the parcels industry.
He believes the new division will bring huge benefits to the business and its customers - ensuring the highest level of service.
"We are delighted to have launched a dedicated arm of TPC, which handles the sortation, routing and crucially distribution to final mile delivery providers to meet a customer’s individual requirements,” added TPC’s Managing Director.
“Citipost already has a strong track record in fulfilment and final mile delivery of a range of items including catalogues and printed material and we are building on this market-leading position after identifying a growth opportunity in warehousing, fulfilment and despatch within other sectors.
“We are confident that TPC will provide an unbeatable service to our clients both here at home and overseas. The company has invested heavily in TPC to ensure that we are front of mind for customers looking for first-class service at a competitive price.”
Bob’s team are made up of “home grown” talent and members that have gained experience in Royal Mail. Sainsburys and Rentokil. “We have a great mix and the right balance amongst the team that have a focus on delivering a service that achieves the KPI’s across a balanced scorecard.”
With the ability to deliver 24/7, 365 days of the year, customers can also benefit from TPC’s flexibility and its ability to provide a comprehensive range of warehousing, fulfilment and delivery services.
And in addition to their own in-house team of developers, TPC is able to source their own consumables such as packaging and labelling – adding an additional offering to its customer-base.
De Cromvoirtse, a Netherlands-based steel stockholder and contract manufacturer of small batches of semi-finished sheet metal components, has invested in two interlinked, automated storage systems from Kasto and connected them to three sheet metal laser cutting machines to help speed deliveries. The Uniline store and Unitower B ensure fast, accurate, damage-free material handling, while the supplier's warehouse management system keeps track of stock and ensures smooth order processing.
Internet shopping is on the rise, not only for consumer purchases but also in industry. Manufacturers are increasingly ordering materials online, as it saves time and cuts costs by allowing different offers to be compared easily. The increased competition means that a vendor, to be successful, must not only have a broad range of products at attractive prices, but also be able to make fast deliveries and provide a comprehensive array of services.
Founded in 1982 and with headquarters in the town of Oisterwijk, near Tilburg, De Cromvoirtse spotted this trend early. The company has operated an online portal since 2008, which today accounts for about 70 percent of orders. Customers can use the website to upload drawings and specifications and within two minutes they receive an automatically calculated quotation for production of the component.
Manufacturing capacity includes press brakes in addition to the laser cutting machines. About 90 percent of products are made from steel, stainless steel or aluminium sheet, the remainder being pipes and sections.
Janwillem Verschuuren, one of the company's two managing directors commented, “Most of our 1,200 customers are small and medium-sized companies, like agricultural machine manufacturers, car body makers and machine builders.
“For them, it often doesn’t pay to buy machines of their own and hire expert personnel to make parts, because they only need limited quantities.
“As a rule, we deliver laser-cut components in 24 to 48 hours, while folded sheet metal parts can be supplied within a week.”
To serve the needs of its growing customer base reliably and quickly, De Cromvoirtse has not only automated its ordering process but also most of its production. Its metalworking machines operate around the clock, seven days a week including for long periods unattended. On average, 400 to 500 tonnes of material are held in stock.
The double-sided Uniline store from Kasto has nearly 1,000 storage locations, with special pallets for different materials and sizes as well as for remnants. A stacker crane travels between the two rows of the facility, storing and retrieving material automatically as needed.
Mr Verschuuren recalled, "When we invested in our new warehouse, we investigated various storage options but Kasto quickly emerged as the front-runner.
“Other manufacturers offered us standard solutions that were unsatisfactory, whereas Kasto worked with us right from the planning phase to develop new ideas for the design. They told us clearly what wouldn’t work and what would.”
For example, it proved possible to connect two flat-bed laser cutting machines seamlessly to achieve continuous material flow. To facilitate this, Kasto installed two manipulators at the Uniline's output station. With vacuum suction units, the manipulators lift sheets from storage, place them on the shuttle tables and then remove the finished parts and remnants. In this way, De Cromvoirtse has substantially increased the production capacity of its machines and shortened throughput times.
Ronnie van den Hurk, the other managing director at De Cromvoirtse said, “The KASTO solution allows fast, efficient and safe handling of our materials.
"The stacker crane is equipped with two pallet stations to shorten cycle times and avoid empty runs. For each storage operation there is always a retrieval operation happening at the same time.”
Owing to the company’s booming online business and growing number of orders, even this system eventually reached its limits. In 2016, the company asked Kasto how to increase the store's performance.
The supplier's first thought was to add a second stacker crane to the existing Uniline system, but this reconfiguration would have interfered with the store's operations. So Kasto devised an alternative solution involving the installation of a separate Unitower B store next to the existing in-line system to provide additional capacity.
The latest storage system, which was installed in a few weeks without interrupting the stockholder's operations, consists of a double tower and stacker crane. Rising to a height of 8.5 metres and with a compact footprint, it has space for almost 80 pallets, each of which can hold sheets measuring up to 3,000 x 1,500 mm. Only the pallet that has been called up needs to be moved, ensuring fast access times, while the efficient lifting gear offers significant energy savings.
For maximum flexibility, the Unitower is connected to the Uniline store at the top by a bridge with a longitudinal, rail-mounted carriage. In this way, pallets move automatically from one area of the storage facility to another without losing valuable space below.
An additional laser cutting machine is connected to the Unitower, loading and unloading being performed automatically. Using various grippers, it is possible to handle whole sheets as well as cut parts and remnants, increasing productivity and flexibility. An advantage of the Kasto solution, according to Mr Verschuuren, is that unlike many other storage systems, it allows metalworking machinery of any make to be integrated easily. De Cromvoirtse is therefore able to source production equipment from more than one supplier so can use machines that are most suitable for the given requirements.
Both the new and existing stores are controlled by Kasto’s warehouse management software, KASTOlogic, which has been programmed to treat the two areas as a single, connected system to facilitate operation and increase stock transparency. It is connected with the stockholder's ERP system, ensuring consistent data flow and smooth order processing.
As with the machine tools on-site, both the Uniline and the Unitower can be monitored remotely. If necessary, Kasto engineers can access the facility online from Germany and rectify any problems, although Mr van den Hurk advised that this has rarely been needed.
He concluded, "KASTO gave us optimum support during our latest project, as it has done since the outset.
"We have achieved another big increase in productivity, while also making work easier for our employees, and our customers continue to benefit from short delivery times."
Better traffic safety and enhanced working environment for drivers. These are the goals as Volvo Trucks introduces its new driver support systems based on Volvo Dynamic Steering – an award-winning innovation that assists steering of heavy trucks in a ground-breaking way.
“Volvo Dynamic Steering has truly revolutionised the driver’s job behind the wheel. Better directional stability, easier manoeuvring and higher comfort have reduced the risk of road accidents and strain-related injuries. Now we are building further on our success with new functions that help make the traffic environment even safer. This is all in accordance with our vision that no accidents involving Volvo trucks should ever occur. These functions were developed to help drivers avoid some of the most common accident scenarios identified via our accident research programme,” says Carl Johan Almqvist, Traffic and Product Safety Director at Volvo Trucks.
By integrating Volvo Dynamic Steering with other comfort- and safety-enhancing systems, Volvo Trucks has developed two accident prevention driver support systems: Volvo Dynamic Steering with Stability Assist and Volvo Dynamic Steering with Lane Keeping Assist.
“Imagine you’re driving on a wet, slippery road and you suddenly notice that the rear of the truck is starting to lose its grip on the road. Before this develops into a skid, you steer gently in the opposite direction until the danger is over. That’s exactly the way Volvo Dynamic Steering with Stability Assist works. The big difference is that the system can discover the risk and help stabilise the vehicle before you’ve even noticed that something is about to happen,” explains Carl Johan Almqvist.
The next safety innovation, Volvo Dynamic Steering with Lane Keeping Assist, gives the driver a helping hand when the system detects that the truck is showing signs of edging towards the lane marking. With a slight turn of the steering wheel in the appropriate direction and gentle vibration in the steering wheel, the driver is notified and is helped to steer the vehicle back into the lane.
In addition to the two new driver support systems, Volvo Trucks is introducing a longed-for function that makes it possible to adjust steering wheel resistance individually in trucks equipped with Volvo Dynamic Steering.
“Each driver has a different perception of how light or heavy the steering system should be. Now every driver can adjust the steering wheel resistance exactly as he or she wants for comfortable, relaxed and safe driving. This is a very practical feature, not least for trucks that often have different drivers,” says Carl Johan Almqvist.
‘Carnage’, one of the latest shows from Sky, sees contestants battling customized vehicles against each other in a series of challenging arenas. But they aren’t just competing with each other, they also have to escape ‘The Pusher’, a heavily modified Terex Trucks 2766C articulated hauler from the late 1990s.
Filmed in Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa, Sky One’s new show, ‘Carnage’, has been described as a cross between Robot Wars and Mad Max, with a hint of Wacky Races thrown in for good measure. In each episode – the first of which aired on May 6th – teams of engineers, mechanics and drivers have to battle it out against one another’s souped-up vehicles in three challenging arenas.
The aim of the game is to damage the other opponents' vehicles to the point where they are rendered immobile. But they’re not just competing with each other – they’re also up against the show’s ‘mutant monster trucks’. Dwarfing everything in its path, the biggest of the three is a modified Terex Trucks 2766C articulated hauler, which was manufactured in Motherwell, Scotland, and dates back to 1997.
Weighing in at 22 tonnes, the 2766C – or ‘The Pusher’, as it’s known on the show – is as big as it is powerful. In fact, the team over at Sky One had to apply for a special road permit in order to get the truck on site. Contestants face the truck in ‘The Grid’ – an urban-style obstacle course, surrounded by walls of fire and a three metre trench. The Grid is the only one of the three arenas that’s big enough to accommodate the size, turning circle and weight of The Pusher.
The 2766C dump truck has gone through a series of modifications in order to become The Pusher. “The idea was to design a vehicle that no contestant would want to meet face-to-face, and that was so big and powerful that you could outrun it but not outmuscle it,” says Francois Grobbelaar, Carnage’s stunt coordinator. “That’s why I chose Terex Trucks’ 2766C. It was the ideal vehicle to use for our build.”
To help transform the 2766C and get it into character, the truck has been spray-painted black, given tinted windows and had white smoke added to the smoke stacks. Being so big and heavy, there was a risk that the 2766C would damage the arena – so, the original loading section was replaced with a lightweight tank.
To ensure that it was protected from any damage caused by the contestants’ vehicles, metal window screens were installed as well as wheel guards. “Some contestants use spikes to damage other vehicles,” explains Francois. “So, we fitted angled conveyor belts under the front of the truck to deflect spikes away from the wheels, reducing the risk of a flat tyre.”
Other add-ons include three CCTV cameras for 360-degree visibility, an access door at the back and a platform with a hatch, making it possible to film driving shots with the presenters. Another noticeable modification is the enormous snow plough that has been retrofitted onto the front of the machine.
With this level of customization, it’s no wonder that The Pusher is virtually unrecognizable as a Terex Trucks 2766C hauler. Originally designed for performing in quarries, mines and commercial construction projects, Carnage shows the 2766C truck in a completely new light. However, very much on-brand, the 21-year-old truck has managed to outmuscle every contestant so far. “This truck is still going strong – albeit in a very different application – which demonstrates just how robust Terex Trucks machines are,” says Paul Douglas, Managing Director of Terex Trucks. “Terex Trucks haulers are durable, reliable machines that are truly built to last.”
“We always planned for The Pusher to be the star of the show, and that’s indeed what it is,” concludes Francois. “It was a great vehicle to work on and I am very happy with how she turned out. We hope to use her in more seasons.”
To celebrate the introduction of the Volvo FH in 1993 - a quarter of a century ago - Volvo Trucks is releasing The Volvo FH 25 Year Special Edition. Available as both Volvo FH and Volvo FH 16, it is characterised by its distinctive exterior and interior design, superb driver comfort and state-of-the-art additional features.
The Volvo FH is one of the industry's most successful models ever with nearly 1 million trucks sold since launch, creating a way of life for millions of drivers all over the world. The Volvo FH 25 Year Special Edition is therefore not only a celebration of the truck itself, but also a tribute to all the customers and drivers who have been driving this icon for the past 25 years.
"The Volvo FH is the perfect representation of a customer focused mind-set and a model that has been pushing the boundaries for a quarter of a century. This magnificent edition truck is therefore both a tribute to the first 25 years and a starting point for our continued successful journey with customers and drivers", says Claes Nilsson, President Volvo Trucks.
"The first-generation Volvo FH meant so much for Volvo Trucks and the whole industry. It was a milestone; in fact, it was a game-changer that totally transformed the perception of a modern truck. Working on the design of the edition truck has been a real honour," says Nigel Atterbury, Senior Graphic Designer at Volvo Trucks.
The exterior of this special edition is best described as contemporary with a retro twist. The silver/grey and orange décor highlights the truck's origin and the striping forms the number 25 to signal the anniversary. The striping combines 3D effects and shadows to echo the design trend of the early 1990s and gives the truck a distinct retro look. There are two launch colours, one darker, cool grey tone (Mammoth Tree Metallic) and a shiny red (Crimson Pearl), the latter a modern tribute to the original red cab colour of 1993.
When opening the door, a premium and luxurious interior awaits the driver. Safety has always been key to the Volvo FH and this passion is manifested by orange details in everything from seat belt stitches to curtains, carpets and reflective safety door decals. Using subtle, yet distinct accents, the design team has created a continuation of the safety and driver focus that has always been essential in the Volvo FH. And to enhance a great driving experience, the seats combine quilt and leather to offer exceptional comfort and design.
The limited edition truck also embodies how the Volvo FH has been, and remains, an innovation leader. It includes some of the truck's latest breakthroughs and it can be specified with the brand-new extensions to Volvo Dynamic Steering:
• Volvo Dynamic Steering with Stability Assist. Designed to prevent skidding accidents.
• Volvo Dynamic Steering with Lane Keeping Assist. Engineered to help the driver stay in lane, preventing collisions and roll-over accidents.
• Volvo Dynamic Steering with Personal Settings. Allows individual adjustment of steering wheel resistance for convenient and comfortable driving.
"This truck really shows how Volvo Trucks is driving progress and continues to set new standards in trucking, just like the Volvo FH has done since 1993," explains Tomas Thuresson, Global Long Haul Segment Manager at Volvo Trucks.
Tomas concludes: "It is a fantastic edition that pays tribute to a quite outstanding truck and the millions of people; customers, drivers and fans that have been engaged in the Volvo FH for 25 years."
Hyundai Forklifts - Global Shipping Services is a privately-owned Stevedoring company based on the Humber Estuary, which was established in 1989, following the reform of the UK docks industry. The company was part of a PLC up until 1997 when two directors of the company completed a management buyout. On 1st September this year former Global Shipping operations director, Peter Waud and Darran Richardson finalized another management buyout and now jointly own the company.
Global Shipping have recently expanded their fleet and have taken out a contract hire for ten new Hyundai forklifts, through Yorkshire based Hyundai distributor Hessle Fork Trucks. The order comprised four diesel 50D-9 five tonne machines, which were the very first machines of this model type to be delivered into the UK, two five tonne 50DA-9 machines and four 3.5 tonne diesel 35D-9 trucks, in a deal approaching £650,000 in value. The larger forklifts are working at Immingham Docks and one 5 tonne and the four smaller 3.5 tonne machines are operating at Goole Docks in East Yorkshire.
All ten machines are currently handling timber at Immingham and Goole - discharging ships and loading road vehicles. The machines operate on average eight hours per day and although the machines are new to the company the initial feedback has been very good. “The machines are very substantial and are well-made and look to be a solid piece of kit” reported Global Shipping managing director, Peter Waud. “The operators like working with the machines – they say they are driver friendly and very responsive. The visibility from the cab is also excellent which is an important safety aspect.” Added Waud.
Waud said, “We first met with Hessle about a year and half ago although I have known Gary Hawkhead from the company for many years. We ran predominantly Toyota machines, prior to Hyundai, but the Toyota dealer we worked with stopped dealing in the brand. Therefore, we dealt directly with the manufacturer – however we found that this did not work for us – so we began to look at alternative suppliers and machines. Hessle came up with a proposal that was right for both companies.”
“We did not know the Hyundai product very well, although we had some experience with a couple of machines.” Added Waud. “We also spoke with Hyundai’s head office in Belgium and the European sales manager, Gino Van der Auwera, came over from Belgium and spoke with us about the product and provided lots of valuable information. Signing the deal with Hessle for the Hyundai machines seemed the right thing to do. In doing so we managed to agree a deal from a price, commitment and service level point of view that would work for both Global Shipping and Hessle. Hyundai have a good reputation in all aspects – including vehicles and construction machinery – so I feel we made the right decision.”
Gary Hawkhead, director of the Hessle Industrial Division commented, “Having personally worked with Peter, the Global Shipping team and other port operators for over 15-years we (Hessle) have a full understanding of how to deliver a first-class solution. This is built on providing the highest quality materials handling equipment and an excellent and dedicated service support package. This coupled with our strong financial backing enables us to offer the flexibility to accommodate the client’s business requirements now and in the future, which offers Global Shipping piece of mind in an advancing shipping industry.”
Waud concluded, “What will drive future purchases and commitment to Hyundai will be the reliability of the machines over the coming years and the back-up service that Hessle provide – but early indications from using the Hyundai’s and our dealings with Hessle are very positive.”
In its current form, Global Shipping Services, operate as terminal operators, stevedores and warehouse keepers. The company handle in the region of 1.5 million units of break-bulk cargo per annum and is now one of the major operators in break-bulk cargo in the Humber Ports of Immingham, Hull and Goole. Global Shipping Services handles general cargo such as forest products, steel, casework, heavy-Lift, project cargo, bags, and pure bulk.
It is Global Shipping Services responsibility to change the mode of transport – for example - for imports the cargo will come in on a sea vessel the company will then discharge the vessel, store the cargo and later dispatch the cargo via road or rail. The company also work this process in reverse for exports. Global Shipping customers include shipping lines, importers, exporters, freight forwarders and manufacturers.
Following the previous announcement that Jim Umpleby will become Caterpillar Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2017, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) announced today additional changes in its executive ranks. The company's Board of Directors has appointed current Construction Industries Group President Tom Pellette, 53, group president of Energy & Transportation, the position previously held by Umpleby.
Replacing Pellette, the Board has appointed Bob De Lange, 47, group president of Construction Industries. De Lange is currently vice president of the Excavation Division. Additionally, the Board has appointed Billy Ainsworth, 60, senior vice president and strategic advisor to the Caterpillar Executive Office. In addition to his new responsibilities, Ainsworth will continue to have responsibility for Caterpillar's Rail Division. The above changes are effective January 1, 2017.
"To this role, Tom brings broad and global experience serving customers in the oil and gas and power generation markets," Umpleby said. "Since joining Caterpillar's Executive Office leading Construction Industries in 2015, Tom has delivered strong results while operating in a very challenging economic climate. Tom's proven track record of effective leadership, combined with his extensive global experience serving customers, gives me great confidence as he takes on this new role," Umpleby said.
"During Bob's 23-year career at Caterpillar, he has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and results across a range of marketing, product management and manufacturing positions. Bob also brings a diverse perspective to our Executive Office, having started his career with Caterpillar in his native Belgium before serving in multiple marketing and product manager roles across Europe and in the United States as he progressed to positions with increasing levels of responsibility," Umpleby said. "Most recently, as the vice president of our Excavation Division based in Singapore, Bob has improved Caterpillar's global market position in the excavator industry, including strong unit volume gains in China, the largest excavator market in the world."
"Billy joined Caterpillar 10 years ago when we acquired Progress Rail Services, the company he founded in 1983 and built from the ground up. He brings proven entrepreneurial skills and an unyielding focus on serving customers to his new role. Billy will act as an advisor to Caterpillar's Executive Office as we evaluate strategic growth opportunities," Umpleby said. "In addition to these new responsibilities, Billy will continue to have responsibility for our Rail Division, which will continue to be part of Energy & Transportation."
Stuttgart-based logistics company Agility has replaced its fleet of electric trucks with new Hyster ® H1.8FT LPG forklifts, enabling the company to increase handling capacity and extend service intervals in the growing automotive logistics area of the business.
Agility organises the collection of auto parts from suppliers across Europe before consolidating deliveries at its modern logistics facility in Stuttgart. From here, goods are shipped overseas on-demand, including delivery by air freight or on-board courier depending on the level of urgency.
Despite the volatility of the market, Agility has successfully grown in the past year, expanding its capacities at the Stuttgart facility. As a result, the existing fleet of electric forklifts on-site were suddenly required to work more hours than previously.
Agility is based in the area of Korntal - Münchingen near Stuttgart, where car makers Mercedes Benz and Porsche have their headquarters. Suppliers Bosch and Würth can also be found nearby. Although space is at a premium in this busy, commercial area, a solution which enabled a reliable and uninterrupted operation was still needed.
“We are grateful for every centimetre of space we have available," says Jürgen Götz, Technical Manager at Agility.
At first, Agility considered tackling its challenges either by equipping its existing fleet of electric trucks with extra batteries or by holding more trucks in reserve. However, even possible solutions such as an intermediate store were ruled out due to time constraints.
“Even using and recharging lithium-ion batteries, for example at lunchtime, would not have been enough to help us," says Götz. "Friday’s are especially busy and we have no free time at all - the trucks must run. We rely on them 100 per cent in order to ensure the car parts are ready to be shipped from Stuttgart to Brazil, Mexico, the United States and
China. The ships can’t wait for us.”
“Agility’s challenge is quite rare, so we worked together to considered a variety of possible solutions," says Ralf Glawa, Account Manager at Hyster dealer Hald & Grunewald in Herrenberg near Stuttgart.
“However, despite the increase in performance of batteries in recent years, there was simply not enough power to provide around two additional operating hours per day - even the electrolyte circulation process could not provide the required performance. Therefore, the most sensible solution was to change the fleet of electric forklift trucks to natural gas vehicles,” Glawa continues.
Since the introduction of the new trucks, the reliability of the Hyster ® H1.8FT Fortens forklifts has assisted smooth operations at Agility. Except for changing the gas bottle and conducting scheduled maintenance, trucks can run without interruption. No additional reserve trucks had to be purchased, so today 8 robust Hyster LPG trucks have almost completely replaced the previous electric forklift fleet.
Glawa explains “The total operating costs have been significantly reduced through the use of LPG forklifts. At first look, electric forklifts appeared to be cheaper, as LPG trucks come with higher maintenance costs and a 15 to 20 percent higher initial cost.”
“However, as Agility would have needed extra batteries or additional electric trucks, when considering the cost against the required operating time and distance travelled, the LPG option actually provides a lower total cost of ownership."
“We are more than satisfied with this solution,” says Götz. “Both the design and the comfort of the truck have also convinced the drivers.”
One of the key deciding factors for Agility in choosing to exclusively use Hyster LPG forklifts is also the fast and reliable service.
“The solution has paid off quickly because our customers need reliable partners that help them to avoid production downtime," explains Götz. “Agility can respond immediately when an incorrect item or an insufficient quantity has been delivered, and the customer can request information directly from the warehouse management system at any time.”
In Agility’s Automotive Control Tower, employees control and monitor all processes along the supply chain, from inbound to outbound. Ordinarily it takes three days between the receipt of goods and transporting them overseas.
"We use this time to package the products properly,” explains the plant manager. “We overbuild bulky packages in the container, with wood for example, so that containers can be optimally loaded with a two or even three ply system, which greatly reduces transportation costs for our customers.”
Giti Tire will use CV Show 2017 to unveil the first phase of its Giti branded truck and bus portfolio, with no less than 20 patterns making their European debut.
The display will feature new product lines, conversions of existing patterns from GT Radial, many of which have been improved through increased load index label results or 3PMSF winter accreditation, and other tyres from around the world which have been recognised as strategically important and certified for use in the EU.
As before the Giti-branded stand, which can be found at 4G20, will be split into six core areas, namely combi-road, long haul, regional, mixed service, urban and winter. Further specific product details will be released up-to and during the show itself.
Last year it was announced that the Giti name will replace GT Radial in the truck and bus segment to create a singular global platform and streamline product development. The tyres will continue to sit at the top of the mid-tier segment with extensive value-added service support.
Tony McHugh, TBR Sales and Marketing Director UK at Giti Tire, said: “Out of the 20 patterns on display, six are new to the European market, 12 have been rebranded from existing GT Radial products, with many of these featuring improved load index, label results or winter accreditation, and we will continue to promote our retread programme.
“To actually bring the strategic rebrand idea from concept through to fruition and unveil such an extensive portfolio of Giti products is a great step forwards, and visitors to the stand can expect to see a new and exciting product range backed up by our existing exceptional customer support and value-added services.
“We are aware that this is only the first step in several major launches throughout 2017, but as of now the process has started for Giti to position itself as the tyre of choice for all fleet operators in the truck and bus markets.”
ZEABORN Group, established in 2013, sets a further milestone in the company's development with the takeover of the business operations and the international organization of Rickmers-Linie, including NPC Projects. In addition to the business of Rickmers-Linie, ZEABORN also takes over the business operations of MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting, which is active as bunker and chartering broker. The corresponding contracts between the Rickmers Group and Zeaborn were signed on 7 February 2017. The execution of the transaction is subject to antitrust clearance.
Rickmers-Linie is one of the world's most renowned companies in the field of ocean transportation of project cargo. In addition to the global liner services of Rickmers-Linie, NPC Projects is a perfect extension to the existing ZEABORN tramp business.
"With the growth of our fleet, we were faced with the challenge of building a global organization. Everyone who knows the shipping industry knows that this is a very challenging task in our time. In this respect, it’s a fortune for our development that Rickmers-Linie was available at the right time, "explains Jan Hendrik Többe, Managing Partner of ZEABORN.
Together, Zeaborn and Rickmers-Linie (with NPC and MCC) have a team of close to 200 employees and a combined fleet of about 50 multi-purpose vessels, with deadweight capacities (dwat) between 7,500 and 30,000 tonnes, and a combined lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes.
"Just like us, Rickmers-Linie and NPC Projects are concentrating on the transport of break bulk, heavy lifts and project cargoes. They have an excellent reputation, have close, long-term customer relationships and stand for reliability, quality, innovation and technical competence. With its line-up services and the tramp business of NPC, Rickmers-Linie connects the most important business centers in the world. In this unique combination, we are now able to offer our customers even more tailor-made transport solutions, "adds Ove Meyer, who is also Managing Partner of ZEABORN.
"Rickmers-Linie gets new powerful shareholders who want to expand their activities in the MPP segment. With ZEABORN, we have the right partners to play an active part in the consolidation of the heavy and MPP sector in a currently difficult market situation, and to offer our customers excellent service, safety and reliability on an economically stable basis, "Ulrich Ulrichs, CEO of Rickmers-Linie, added.
With the takeover of the Rickmers-Linie offices in Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the USA, as well as the extensive agency network, the ZEABORN companies now have a global setup with a strong regional presence and local customer service. Mr Bertram R.C. Rickmers will be privately involved as a minority shareholder in the new owner company of the sold business activities.
The UK has always been a place of innovation and economic industry and this tradition caries to this day. But what about being a front runner for industry towards the future? With the decline of manufacturing in the UK with it's main economy moving towards service industries will it ever be able to create a new industrial revolution for the 21st century? One start-up in the UK aims to take industry to whole new heights by acquiring resources and manufacturing off this planet called the The Asteroid Mining Corporation.
The Asteroid Mining Corporation (AMC) is a company founded by Mitch Hunter-Scullion when he was just 20 with the goal to mine the Asteroids for precious metals and other resources. The company consists of a small group of Millennials who all have an interest in the potential of the solar systems resources to be made available to an on, then later off Earth based economy commercially.
For their first mission The AMC won't actually be mining asteroids but will be starting with an activity undertook by terrestrial mining companies and that is surveying and prospecting. In order to make a decision on what asteroid are worth the effort and investment to mine, the composition and other characteristics such as size, orbit and rate of spin needs to be determined and so the asteroids need to be surveyed.
So to get this data the The AMC will build a cube-sat satellite, the Asteroid Prospecting Satellite-1 (APS-1), that will have a spectrometer sensitive in the near-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Through the process of Reflectance Spectroscopy where the sensor analyses the light being reflected from the target asteroid, the chemical make-up can be determined. The AMC will then take this data and incorporate it into information products to be available commercially to private companies, academic and also governmental institutions.
It is proposed that a metallic M-type asteroid measuring just 100 meters in diameter would have Billions worth of Platinum alone and if including all the other rare metals and the massive amounts of Iron and Nickel also present then the value of asteroids speak for themselves! The idea of the AMC is to mine suitable asteroids and bring rare and valuable metals to Earth and keep all the other resources for use in space. These other resources including water can be used to manufacture habitats, power stations or just about anything we could imagine in the zero-gravity conditions of space. Maturing technology such as 3d printing would be used to facilitate this manufacturing and would open up new and bolster existing design, engineering and manufacturing companies.
The AMC isn't alone in it's wishes to mine asteroids with a number of other companies also in the race. The US based Planetary Resources founded in 2012 by Peter Diamandis and Eric Andersen intends to eventually mine valuable metals commercially from near earth asteroids. This company with financial backing from Googles Larry Page and Eric Schmidt together with James Cameron and Richard Brandson is not short of investment. Also another US company, Deep Space Industries, founded by Rick Tumlinson and David Gump with many others are also drawing up plans for asteroid mining. Deep Space Industries, announced in 2013 plans for mining water for fuel and the construction of space power plants and even orbital human colonies on their minds.
Have you an interest in space and the idea of humanity expanding into the cosmos and wondered how you could do your bit to help? - Well now you can!
The AMC is currently holding a round of crowd funding where you yourself can contribute towards this companies efforts to bring the resources of the solar system into the hands of humanity. With your investment you will be helping to enable the creation of an integrated on and off-world economy that will generate jobs and innovation for many generations to come and achieve a return on investment with our success.
If you want to learn more about The Asteroid Mining Corporation then visit their website at https://asteroidminingcorporation.co.uk
If you would like to know more about the investment crowdfunding campaign then visit the CrowdCube page here!
https://www.crowdcube.com/companies/asteroid-mining-corporation/pitches/bk96Vl
Two new live features are set to fuel discussion when the CV Show opens its doors later this month at the NEC, Birmingham.
The new initiatives, which will debut at the show between 25-27 April, are the Innovation Hub presented by respected industry title Motor Transport, and interactive Twitter Lounges, on which visitors and exhibitors can tweet their experiences and news live from the show.
The focus of the Innovation Hub is on exploring the latest developments in fuels, autonomous vehicles and logistics planning.
The 45 minute sessions will include expert speakers from Iveco, TRL and Transport Systems Catapult leading the discussion on innovation, followed by facilitated debate with speakers and attendees to explore the future developments and generate feedback from the audience.
The Innovation Hub will be housed in Hall 3 and will be free to attend – there’s no need to pre-register, just turn up and take a seat.
The panel of expert speakers, which will be announced ahead of the show, will lead discussions on the following topics:
Fuels - the future thinking in diesel, electric, gas and hydrogen power sources. Is diesel really yesterday's fuel?
Autonomy - the big industry issue of the future. What benefits will the connected truck bring to the industry?
Logistics - reviewing the freight models of the future. What are the opportunities for data management and collaboration?
The Innovation Hub is organised by Motor Transport in conjunction with the CV Show and sponsored by Smart Witness, Guests, TRL and Transport Systems Catapult.
Meanwhile, Twitter walls will broadcast visitors’ and exhibitors’ tweets live, if the handles @theCVShow and #CVShow are used. It’s a great way for exhibitors to get their messages across, following three exciting years of growth in the show’s social media presence.
CV Show Director, Rob Skelton, said, “One of the things we’ve tried to do in recent years is develop the way in which show visitors and exhibitors can communicate with each other, both with their news, and with pressing issues where the industry can benefit from a shared voice and a balance of opinions.
“The new Innovation Hub will be the perfect platform to bring together key figures in the road transport and logistics industries to discuss current issues in an open forum environment, while our Twitter walls are a great way for exhibitors and visitors to share their experiences in an immediate and visible manner and increase their social media presence.”
To register to attend the CV Show for free and find out more about the Show’s many features, including some new live elements - details of which are to follow - and a full exhibitor list and floorplan, go to www.cvshow.com
Cumbria based construction equipment dealer, Taylor & Braithwaite is celebrating 50-years of trading this year! The company was originally started by Harold Taylor in October 1967 – he was soon joined by Trevor Braithwaite - it was then that Taylor & Braithwaite was born! Both Mr Taylor and Mr Braithwaite had previously worked for Johnson’s in Kirkby Stephen where they were repairing Agricultural Machinery. Harold Taylor is still a director of Taylor & Braithwaite today.
Back in the day the company (T&B) was focused solely on agricultural machinery and Mr Taylor remembers the first ever machine sold, which was a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor which was sold to Beckwith’s at New Hall in 1968, for the sum of £805.00! Farming company, W G L Soulsby & Sons, also based in Cumbria, was T&B’s first big customer who started with the purchase of one machine and went on to buy all their fleet of machines and equipment from the company.
In 1971 Taylor & Braithwaite decided it was time to expand and so Harold Taylor purchased a farm at Flitholme Cumbria for £5,100 which included 25 acres. A workshop was created and the company began carrying out repairs to 2nd hand agricultural machines.
In the early days, Mr Taylor and Mr Braithwaite were looking after both sales and service – but this had to be reviewed when they both sold the same machine to different customers on the same day – and they only had one machine to sell! So, to avoid any further sales calamities, in 1984 Mr Taylor took over the running of the office and stores and Mr Braithwaite looked after the sales side of the business.
Early brands included agricultural machinery manufacturer Kuhn and Universal Tractors, who were manufacturers of 4-wheel drive tractors. In the 1980’s T&B took on JF Forage Harvesters, Malgar - who manufacture slurry tankers and handling equipment - and PZ manufacturers of hay and silage machines. In 1992 talks began with agricultural machinery giant John Deere and in 1993 Taylor & Braithwaite signed the John Deere franchise deal.
It was also in 1992 T&B expanded further and the company invested in new premises at Sandford to enable the business to work more efficiently in line with undertaking the new John Deere franchise. The land on this new site also enabled customers to demo new machinery before they committed to buy!
When Britain declared itself free of foot-and-mouth in 2002 T&B began selling both new and used plant as more contractors began operating and the demand for machinery was high.
The company remained almost 100% focused on agricultural machinery until director, Ian Burton joined the company back in 2005 – Ian took over Mr. Braithwaite’s role. Mr Burton looks after the sales side of the business and Paul Taylor, Harold Taylor’s son, is responsible for aftersales although they work very much as a team.
Today the company’s business is more than 95% dedicated to construction machinery. Ian Burton contacted Hyundai in 2009, which was at the height of the economic recession.
Mr Burton said “Not many people were jumping up and down at this point to sell excavators, but I saw it as a great opportunity to enter into this industry whilst it was still quiet to build ourselves up for when the market recovered. From this point on the business grew.
The reason we chose Hyundai as a brand was because they manufactured a comprehensive range of machinery which included both heavy-line machines alongside the midi and mini ranges. They didn’t have any dealer representation in the area that we covered so it was a good move on behalf of both companies.”
It was in September 2009 Mr Burton met with the Hyundai team in Belgium to discuss taking on the Hyundai dealership. The company officially began trading in Hyundai in January 2010 with the -7A machines.
Since then the company has gone from strength to strength and the company is the approved dealer for leading brands including Maximus Crushing & Screening, Wacker Neuson for small plant, ProDem, Stihl and Yamaha. Mr Burton said, “We really have kept Hyundai as our main franchise and that’s where most our turnover is generated from. The addition of these newer franchises now enables us though to offer a depth of quality machinery and equipment to our customers that compliments the Hyundai range”
Mr Burton added, “We forecast to sell 12 Hyundai’s in the first year of trading and we managed to sell double that with 24 machines going out in 2010. The following year we sold 49 machines and then 60 – we in fact doubled what we set out to do! We thought selling 50 tractors and 50 excavators per year was a very nice and profitable little business – we well exceeded this. We are now selling around 100 Hyundai machines a year on average – we predict we will continue to in the treble figures each year. Last year we celebrated selling our 500th Hyundai machine.”
It was in 2011 Taylor & Braithwaite let the John Deere franchise go – the company did not agree with the way John Deere was changing the way it wanted to work with its dealers. Mr Burton reported, “In 2011 the construction equipment side of the business really took off – we put all of our efforts into this side of the business. Giving up John Deere was not an easy decision to make – we had a lot of sleepless nights over it. We were in effect giving up a world-leading brand to concentrate our efforts on a lesser known construction brand - it was a real gamble. But I could not see the future in their dealer model for our area.”
Taylor & Braithwaite director Paul Taylor said, “Since the arrival of the -7A machines the Hyundai brand has improved massively! The machines were always very reliable - but they lacked finesse and were a tad old fashioned in comparison to competitors’ brands. Hyundai needed to up their game to keep up with the other brands in the market. They have succeeded with this ten-fold - Hyundai It is now a well received and recognized brand.”
Mr Burton added, “Every time Hyundai bring out a new range they are another step forward with new technology that they incorporate into the machines – you could put Hyundai head to head with any of the competing brands and they would be up there with the best. The new AAVM viewing system is also a huge step forward and something that the other brands need to be introducing factory fitted and not retro-fitted. Brand snobbery is still an issue but we are addressing this.”
Mr Burton said, “Our biggest achievement I believe is successfully changing from 100% agricultural machinery to over 95% construction machinery – completely changing industry. If we had not made the change the company (T&B) would not be here now and we would have been swallowed up in the John Deere corporate company – we would be a small cog in a big wheel.
We have worked hard since the decision was made to change industries and are now able to offer a really strong and complimentary range of products and equipment that offers something for the smallest to the biggest customer.”
“Our original mission statement was to build and maintain a sound customer base and we stand by that today.” Added Mr Taylor. “We like to have happy customers and offer them value for money. We also need to have 110% confidence in a product to be able to sell it. We always look to grow long term relationships and we are a company where the directors are always on the end of the phone – we make decisions quickly – and work directly with all our customers. A good sound back up service is also key and a sound investment.
We are fortunate in that we have a team of staff who are extremely knowledgeable and take a lot of pride in the work that they do.”
We also have a loyal customer base that we have built up over the years. We spend time understanding their needs and make sure that the equipment that we supply is fit for purpose. This reputation has enabled us to grow and attract new customers, often through the recommendation of existing ones – so we must be doing something right”
As part of Taylor & Braithwaite’s 50th anniversary celebrations the company is hosting a ‘50th Anniversary Charity Celebration Ball’ which will take place on 6th October 2017 at the prestigious Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa located on Lake Windermere in the Lake District. The company is hoping to raise between 25 – 30K for Cancer Research UK.
240 guests have been invited from Taylor & Braithwaite’s customer base and industry contacts. There are 24 tables available and already 21 have been snapped up by supporters. There will also be an Auction of Promises at the event to raise further funds for the Cancer charity.
Mr Burton said, “Cancer Research UK is a very appropriate charity to choose as unfortunately we have all been affected by this disease either directly or indirectly so we delighted we are able to host a ball to raise funds at the same time as celebrating our 50th anniversary.”
Taylor & Braithwaite can be contacted on 017683 41400. Visit the website for more information on the company www.t-and-b.co.uk
The PVC industry is making real progress towards sustainability and a positive contribution to the circular economy through a united industry approach, delegates heard at the 5th VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2017 in Berlin, Germany.
Organised by VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainability programme, this year’s forum held on May 10th and 11th took the theme of ‘Towards Circular Economy’ and explored the many growing opportunities for the PVC sector to contribute to this key objective of EU policy.
Against a backdrop of important decisions being taken on the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package, presentations and panel discussions from high-level speakers focussed on how the vinyl industry is tackling key sustainability issues, such as legacy additives in recycled PVC, and contributing to a stronger circular flow of resources.
The forum attracted more than 170 stakeholders from 30 countries representing academia, government bodies, the UN, the European Commission, specifiers, designers, architects and all sectors of the PVC industry.
Welcoming delegates, VinylPlus Chairman Josef Ertl said: “The debate about how Europe can make the transition to a circular economy is placed high on the political agenda. I’m sure, most people will agree, that a sustainable society without a circular economy is difficult to imagine. And the unique characteristics of plastics allow them to make a strong contribution to a more environmentally sustainable and resource efficient Europe. PVC is clearly contributing to this; and certainly VinylPlus with its unique co-operation model, bringing together the whole PVC value chain, is the right platform for sustainability and circularity in the PVC industry.”
Acknowledging that a move from a predominantly linear to a largely circular economic system would ‘dramatically change’ how companies and value chains co-operate and the way we produce and consume goods, Josef Ertl said: “In this context, we must ensure that the entire life cycle of a product is considered, not just aspects at the end of the life cycle.”
He called on political leaders to work closely with the PVC industry to analyse the potential impacts of any decisions that might affect the PVC sector, adding: “They should ensure that the process is developing smoothly without too many frictions. We in the PVC and plastics industry will support such an approach.”
Michael Kundel, President of the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) stated that a clear way forward on how to handle end of life PVC is ‘urgently required’ if its further potential is to be exploited in the future. He called on the PVC industry and political decision-makers to ‘co-operate fully and establish a framework that meets the needs of a low carbon economy’.
He added: “The VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment has set a framework and can serve as a roadmap on how to create a more sustainable future with plastic materials along the value chain. Being the successful pioneer, VinylPlus might well serve as a role model for other plastics too.”
In his update on the Agenda 2030 and the Circular Economy, Christophe Yvetot, UNIDO Representative to the European Union United Nations Industrial Development Organization, outlined PVC’s contribution to the ‘less is more’ vision through its greater durability, longevity and recyclability in materials used in future urban developments.
Presenting the 2016 results, VinylPlus General Manager Brigitte Dero highlighted the achievements of a ‘united PVC value chain’ within the VinylPlus framework, which included the recycling of 568,696 tonnes of PVC last year. A cumulative total of more than 3.5 million tonnes of PVC has been recycled since 2000 thanks to the efforts of VinylPlus.
Progress on additives includes the development of the Additives Sustainability Footprint (ASF), a science-based methodology for assessing the sustainable use of additives in PVC products. The first ASF will be completed for window profiles this year, followed by flexible applications.
Brigitte stated: “Through the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment, we can provide solutions to issues raised in the EU discussion on Plastics Strategy. In 2016, we made real progress towards our sustainability goals in terms of the safety and quality of recycled PVC, alongside recognition by external stakeholders that VinylPlus is considered by many as a frontrunner for the circular economy. You can find out more in our Progress Report 2017.”
Discussion also centred on Circular Economy policies, both regionally and Europe-wide and their potential impact on the plastics industry as a whole. Dr ir Werner Bosmans, EU Commission, DG Environment, updated delegates on the EU Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy. Cees Luttikhuizen, Senior Policy Advisor at The Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment evaluated the impact of REACH policies for waste and the circular economy.
Two keynote speeches from Norbert Kurilla, State Secretary at the Slovak Ministry of Environment and Dr Alexander Janz from the German Federal Ministry for Environment highlighted best practice and developments towards a circular economy in their respective countries.
Dr Janz said: “The many possible uses of plastics have made them an integral part of our daily lives. It is precisely for that reason that, now more than ever, we have to strengthen the sustainable management of plastics along the entire value chain and in doing so reduce negative effects on the environment and human health.”
Reflecting on the Forum, Josef Ertl concluded: “Innovation is the main driver which creates ways to reduce emissions and consumption of raw materials and resources. It improves energy and cost efficiency, it increases products’ useful lives. It will create a lot of new ways to improve recycling. Through the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment, with the entire value chain, we contribute to overcoming the challenges faced in a circular economy.”
VinylPlus is the Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry. The programme establishes a long-term framework for the sustainable development of the PVC industry by tackling a number of critical challenges in the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland.
More information on the 2017 Forum can be found at http://vinylplus.eu/community/vinyl-sustainability-forum/vsf-2017. More information on the Progress Report 2017 can be found at http://www.vinylplus.eu/documents//57
Recofloor, the UK’s vinyl flooring take-back scheme, celebrated the environmental commitment of its recycling champions at its sixth Annual Awards Event at London’s world-famous Kia Oval cricket ground in March.
Flooring companies, contractors and distributors received trophies and certificates in ten major award categories plus Gold and Silver groupings from guest host former England cricket captain and Sky Sports commentator David Gower. These companies collected a record-breaking 523 tonnes through the scheme in 2016 – equivalent to 3.2 million cricket balls.
David commented: “Recycling is vital and I can see very easily that Recofloor makes economic and cultural sense to anyone involved in this industry.”
Since its 2009 inception by leading flooring manufacturers Polyflor and Altro, Recofloor has collected 3,289 tonnes of smooth and safety vinyl offcuts and roll ends, uplifted smooth vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), which are recycled back into new products, including flooring.
The main winners were Middlesex Flooring Ltd, MCD Kidderminster, Fantasy Flooring Ltd, Ryjock Flooring Ltd, Interserve, The Hull Flooring Company Ltd, Commercial Flooring UK Ltd, PFL, 3D Flooring Supplies, S&D Flooring Specialists Ltd and Carpets ‘N’ Carpets Ltd.
A record number of entries were received and were judged mainly on last year’s achievements, while also recognising collectors’ significant contributions in various ways.
Middlesex Flooring Ltd won Contractor of the Year for their ‘impassioned attitude’ towards the scheme and demonstration of ‘exceptional commitment’ to collecting clean material. Alongside regularly briefing staff on the importance of separating material for recycling, they ran an internal competition to see which fitter could collect the most vinyl flooring. Top Floors (East Anglia) Ltd was highly commended in this category.
Distributors play a significant role in the scheme’s success by extending their services to allow fitters to drop off smaller volumes of waste vinyl flooring at their sites. Named Distributor of the Year, MCD Kidderminster impressed the judges by further increasing tonnages and training their sales staff to promote Recofloor’s benefits while visiting customers. Birch Distribution, Sheffield was highly commended in this category.
Fantasy Flooring Ltd scooped Drop-Off Site User of the Year having stood out as a ‘consistent performer’ and ‘outstanding’ Recofloor contributor over the years. Praised for returning clean, good quality material, the company displays the Recofloor logo across their vehicle fleet. Ryjock Flooring Ltd was highly commended in this category.
Designed to give credit to contractors of all sizes, the new Project of the Year award went to Ryjock Flooring Ltd for their successful use of Recofloor in a major on-going social housing refurbishment scheme for Sheffield City Council. Toolbox Talks ensured their fitters understood how the scheme works, maximising the amount of material collected while reducing disposal costs. Another winning quality was the ‘slick coordination and communication’ between the contractor and the Birch Distribution drop-off site. J&S Flooring Ltd was highly commended in this category.
Ryjock Flooring Managing Director, Wayne Conlan said: “As proud Recofloor members we are thrilled to be the first to win this new award category. It’s a big bonus. My son Ryan was proactive in establishing the scheme on this project as we knew that it was going to create a lot of waste. Tackling environmental issues ticks a lot of boxes, so we will continue to promote the scheme via our website, emails and social media.”
Rita Fortune, Marketing Manager at PFL’s Dublin depot was named Recofloor Champion as a ‘shining example’ to all members. Having taken her company from recycling nothing to recycling in three different branches, Limerick, Dublin and Belfast, Rita also promotes Recofloor via various media channels. Lee Harvey, MCD Wales was highly commended in this category.
“It was an amazing surprise to receive the award and totally unexpected, I’m delighted,” said Rita. “PFL were behind the scheme 100% from the start, so none of this would have been possible without that support. Recycling through Recofloor is a no-brainer really; you have to save the planet and you’re saving your customers money. It’s a very easy system to use, the key thing is ensuring everyone understands how it works and to keep getting that across to them.”
In a Recofloor first, S&D Flooring Specialists Ltd was named a double award winner for Brand Ambassador (new for 2017) and Outstanding Achievement. Described as the ‘epitome of proactivity’, the Hull-based company has a dedicated Recofloor section on their website and an active presence on a broad range of social media platforms, including an informative Twitter account. After collecting the largest volume of material by any contractor, S&D Flooring Specialists also reaches people ‘like no other company does’. Branagan Flooring Services Ltd was highly commended in the Brand Ambassador category.
Greatest Improver went to Interserve with a 240% increase in tonnage collected compared to the previous year. The Hull Flooring Company Ltd and Commercial Flooring UK Ltd took second and third places respectively.
3D Flooring Supplies received Best Newcomer, having taken to the scheme ‘like a duck to water’. Based in Bristol, a Recofloor hotspot, they have collected more material than other member in that area and created a loyal following of Recofloor drop-off site users. G S Flooring Ltd was highly commended in this category.
The final award; the Longstanding Service Award was presented to Carpets ‘N’ Carpets, Treorchy, one of Recofloor’s most consistent collectors that has collected nearly 60 tonnes in total since joining in 2011. Senior Estimator Ian Davies commented: “The scheme works well for us and having won Contractor of the Year last year, obviously we’re delighted to win again. We publicise this on our website and use the Recofloor logos on our vans, stationery and emails.”
Recofloor Directors Bob Smith and John Patsavellas praised the high quality and content of entries that made judging a difficult task. John added: Recofloor is a world-beating scheme; it makes absolutely logical and financial sense. It’s a win-win!”
Material collected by Recofloor’s 700-plus members is recycled back into products, including new flooring, which benefits the environment and can reduce collectors’ waste disposal costs by up to 70%. Waste vinyl flooring was also used to make this year’s distinctive new awards trophies, designed by Stella Corrall, Creative Director at Lucentia Design.
Reporting on the scheme’s 2016 achievements, Recofloor Manager Jane Gardner said: “Recofloor is making an impact at the heart of the Circular Economy through recovering resources for reuse. It’s a great example of manufacturers working together for a sustainable future.”
A total of 29 firms received Gold and Silver Awards based on the amount of material collected per fitter.
Gold Award winners included: 3D Flooring Supplies, Cardiff; Birch Distribution, Hull; Birch Distribution, Sheffield; Breydon Flooring Ltd; Carpet & Flooring, Bristol; Carpet & Flooring, Manchester; Chesterfield Contract Flooring; MCD Kidderminster; MK Floorstyle; Reform Flooring Ltd; S&D Flooring Specialists Ltd; Status Flooring Ltd, The Hull Flooring Company; Top Floors (East Anglia) Ltd.
Silver Award winners were: 3D Flooring Supplies, Taunton; Branagan Flooring Services Ltd; Carpet & Flooring, Glasgow; Carpets ‘N’ Carpets Ltd; Flooring Solutions (NI) Ltd; J&S Flooring; K Broadbent Carpet Contractors; Mayfield Flooring Ltd, MCD Wales; Middlesex Flooring Ltd; Neofloors Limited; Nutland Carpets Accessories Ltd (Chandlers Ford); Premier Carpets & Flooring Ltd; Safety Flooring Supplies; Stanground Carpets & Flooring Ltd.
More information on Recofloor can be found on www.recofloor.org. Contact 0161 355 7618 or email info@recofloor.org.
The future of the Joloda International loading systems businesses have been secured through a private ‘Buy-In Management Buy-Out’ (BIMBO) deal, which sees the arrival of a new, investing CEO, supported by two of the group’s existing directors. Majority share owning Executive Chairman, Wojtek Kordel, who led the original acquisition of the company from the York Trailer Group in 1982, steps aside into a non-executive director role, to lend continuity and shareholder representation on the new board. Commercial details of the sale are not disclosed.
Joloda International Limited now comprises the original core business, based in Garston, Liverpool; the Hydraroll division based in Gaerwen, Anglesey; a mainland European operation, Joloda BV, based in Venray in the Netherlands; Joloda LLC, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA; and Joloda South America, based in São Paulo, Brazil. The current structure of the Joloda International group testifies to its growth and success, from its modest beginnings in Toxteth, Liverpool in 1962 to today, as an UK-based specialist engineering company turning over in excess of £10million and exporting directly and through a network of agents to more than 20 countries.
Wojtek Kordel says, “Joloda International is a remarkable success story – and I have been developing a succession strategy for the business for some time. At the core of this strategy has remained my personal determination to keep the primary engineering skills and jobs here in the UK, securing the future of our incredibly loyal workforce, both in Liverpool and in Anglesey. In addition, I wanted to ensure absolute continuity and stability for our subsidiary businesses and the network of agents around the world with whom we have worked over many years.
“I set a range of objectives for the business some twenty five years ago and we have managed to achieve and exceed those aims – but I have to recognise that the time is right to introduce new working owners to Joloda, to take the business forward and to the next level. Our management team, our employees and our agents should share our confidence in the buy-out framework which we have agreed and which underpins and secures their futures and the direction of the business”, says Wojtek Kordel.
The new investing Chief Executive Officer is Michele Dematteis, a Merseyside entrepreneur and business leader with a significant track record for developing and growing leading SME manufacturing companies. In his previous role, he was responsible for transforming a market leader in the manufacture and servicing of conveyor systems from its previously modest position to being a 2014 Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Company.
Dematteis is joined by Alec McAndrew, Joloda International’s current Operations Director, who brings a wide experience of design, engineering, manufacturing and essential support functions to the new board. Wouter Satijn, currently International Sales Director for all the group companies completes the new buy-out board. He was previously General Manager of Joloda’s Netherlands-based subsidiary, Joloda BV.
Incoming CEO Michele Dematteis says, “I am delighted with the outcome of these buy-in, buy-out negotiations and I look forward to working with my new investing team colleagues to build on Joloda’s success story, further develop its products and its markets – and take our business toward the future.”
The original and now famous Joloda skate and track system, for the manual assisted movement of loads within vehicles, was developed in 1962. The system then won the prestigious Design Award in 1977. After a brief period within the ownership of a large trailer manufacturer, the company was bought out in 1982 by its then senior management, led by Wojtek Kordel. In subsequent years the base product was developed further, with hydraulic and modular systems being added later. Joloda loading systems have become the default equipment of choice for applications including palletised unit loads within trailers, the movement of paper reels for the newspaper industry, the assembly and one-shot loading of ISO containers and weapons handling systems for military users.
Following the acquisition of the Hydraroll business in 2003, the company strengthened its presence in the automated loading systems sector, notably in airfreight handling. The formation of Joloda BV, originally as a joint venture with the Satijn family, enabled the company to set up an assembly operation for customised loading solutions closer to the primary markets of mainland Europe and the creation of Joloda LLC in the US has enabled the company to grow exponentially in the American markets. The company’s expertise in logistics and engineering has earned it an unique leadership position within the specialist niche global markets it serves, with over 500,000 loading systems having been supplied worldwide. Across its range of products, it delivers up to 500 systems per month to a customer base which includes many of the world’s leading brands, manufacturers and carriers.
Joloda (International) Limited
51 Speke Road, Garston, Liverpool L19 2NY
Tel: +44 (0) 151 427 8954
Email: info@joloda.com,
Website: www.joloda.com
Twelve of the most inspirational female role models in the UK’s transport and logistics industry received prizes at the 2017 FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.
The awards celebrated their 10th anniversary with a glittering ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel. FTA Chief Executive David Wells, who presented the prizes, said: “These awards celebrate the wealth of female talent in a traditionally male-dominated sector. Logistics is one of the UK’s most important industries, employing more than 2.54 million people and ensuring that all aspects of our economy continue to work as efficiently as possible.
“At such a time of great change and economic uncertainty, we need to inspire young people and showcase aspirational role models. The teenagers of today are the transport managers and logistics directors of tomorrow and these awards help us to raise the profile of our sector throughout the country.”
The awards programme was launched to raise awareness of the varied opportunities within transport and logistics, while creating visible role models to inspire and encourage more women to pursue a career in the industry. Judge Michael Dunn from DHL said they promoted “opportunities for talented and successful women in the sector”.
Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman, commented: “The role models celebrated, ranging from women excelling at the beginning of their career to those well-established in their journey, are a reflection of the many rewarding opportunities within the transport and logistics industry. We are proud to recognise individuals who are transforming the industry through their tenacity, passion for innovation and commitment to mentoring the next generation.”
The winners were recognised as the finest in their field, from individuals making significant improvements to road and rail infrastructure to those renovating intricate warehouse logistics in organisations including Sainsbury’s and KPMG.
As well as 12 category winners, one overall winner was identified as Woman of the Year. This went to Julie McCaffery from Grangemouth Stirlingshire, Change Manager (Scotland) at Asda, who was recognised for contributing to the increasing success of the organisation after she led numerous colleague engagement and continuous improvement projects. These initiatives improved the site’s overall safety, customer service and reduced colleague underperformance costs by 70% over the last 12 months alone.
However, Julie’s tenacity is not limited to the workplace. Since 2010, she has worked on a part-time basis as an Associate Lecturer at the University of West Scotland, delivering the MSc program to Quality Management, Project Management and Logistics and Distribution students. By sharing her personal and professional experiences, Julie uses this platform to encourage and inspire students, particularly female students, to venture into the industry.
The Freight Award – sponsored by Eddie Stobart - Awarded to a woman demonstrating how she is innovating in the sector.
Above and Beyond • Tracy Ward, Contract Manager, PD Ports
Leader • Jannette Wallace, Runcorn Depot Manager, CM Downton, from Runcorn, Cheshire
The Passenger Award - Awarded to a woman demonstrating how she is improving the customer experience.
Above & Beyond • Victoria Garcia, Accessibility and Communities Officer, Brighton & Hove Buses, from Brighton & Hove
Leader • Michelle Hargreaves, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Midlands, from Lincoln
The Infrastructure Award - Awarded to a woman demonstrating how she is improving road or rail infrastructure.
Above & Beyond • Caroline Milnes, Programme Manager, Tesco, from St Albans
Leader • Sue Kershaw, Managing Director, KPMG, from London
The Supply Chain Award – sponsored by DHL – Awarded to a woman demonstrating how she is improving processes within supply chain.
Above & Beyond • Jeny Hanvey, Customer Service Manager, Kuehne + Nagel Ltd, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Leader • Gillian Joyce, Former National Fleet Manager, Post Office Ltd, from Manchester
The Warehousing Award – sponsored by Amazon - Awarded to a woman demonstrating how she is innovating and improving warehouse operations.
Above & Beyond • Claire Davidson, Senior Project Manager - Logistics Implementation, J Sainsbury’s Plc, from Rugby, Warwickshire
Leader • Angela Howard, VP Operations – Retail, DHL Supply Chain, from Rugby, Warwickshire
The Industry Champion Award – sponsored by Asda Logistics Services - Awarded to one individual only, male or female, demonstrating the impact that they have had on attracting and retaining women in the industry.
• Jacqueline O'Donovan, Managing Director, O'Donovan Waste Disposal Ltd, from London
Photos show (1) all the winners and (2) FTA Chief Executive David Wells with Woman of the Year Julie McCaffery from Grangemouth Stirlingshire, Change Manager (Scotland) at Asda.
By Malcom Kent CEA (Construction Equipment Association), senior technical consultant.
If you are in any way involved in the safety of earth-moving machinery you probably already know that there is a problem with the technical standard for what operators need to be able to see from their work station. This goes back several years to when a German citizen submitted a petition on the matter to the European Parliament. His claim was that the standard that earth-moving machinery manufacturers were using in the design of machinery, ISO 5006, did not provide a sufficient level of safety. After a long process of investigation and consultation the European Commission came to the conclusion that he was right, and in January of this year published what is called a Decision, with a capital D. This Decision was to state that the standard had been deemed inadequate and that the Commission’s approval of the standard was being withdrawn. What that means is that, although the standard still exists, manufacturers can no longer rely on it as a means to claim that their machines are safe enough with regards to visibility.
What does the standard currently require? 
There are two areas where visibility is assessed under the 2006 edition of the standard: firstly on a 12 metre circle around the machine at ground level, and secondly on a 1.5 metre high post moved around a rectangle set 1 metre out from the footprint of the machine. The detailed requirements vary depending on machine type and size but the principles are the same for all. Note that there is no requirement to be able to see anything at all between 1m and 12m from the machines, although in practice the operator would be able to see a great deal in this range. The main complaint in the original petition was that significant blind spots behind the machine were allowed under the standard and this led to the risk of accidents.
So, what does ‘safe enough’ mean? Well, it depends. It depends on risk assessment that covers the type of machine, the size of machine, how it moves and how fast, how its work equipment (if any) moves and how it is used. That is quite a lot to consider but that is what each manufacturer needs to do in the absence of any technical standard that they can hang their hats on. It’s not just manufacturers who are uneasy in the absence of a suitable technical standard: safety authorities across Europe are trying to produce guidance for manufacturers and are supporting the development of a new standard. The HSE have issued their own guidance document (available for download from their website) which covers some key considerations without going into a lot of detail.
So where are we going with the new standard? That is really hard to say. There are lots of fingers in the pie, from countries a long way away from Europe (remember that the standard is an ISO – international – one) who do not really see the need to plaster machines with mirrors, cameras, radar, or whatever, to countries at the heart of Europe with a culture that demands the highest level of technical risk reduction on products. Because of this there is a real tension over how much to change the ISO standard and it is not clear yet whether the project will succeed in publishing anything. Even if it does, it is by no means certain that the European Commission would deem it as being satisfactory. If they did not it would mean that the effort had been in vain as the block on the use of the standard would remain in place.
The other possibility is that new requirements on visibility could be written into a European standard, meaning that the influence of the Rest Of The World would disappear. On the face of it this would seem more likely to succeed in producing a standard acceptable to the European Commission but the focus of work still seems to be missing the target as far as some people see it.
All this means that we are unlikely to have in our hands for several years (yes, years) a standard for machine visibility which will provide the level of clarity that manufacturers, customers and safety authorities all crave.
So what are we all to do in the meantime? Many manufacturers will be looking at the HSE guidance, which, amongst other things, tells them to review and update their risk assessments, to review what is available in terms of visibility aids and to keep themselves informed on how work on revising the standard is progressing. That last one is pretty well impossible as the work is going in fits and starts, in two directions at once. The guidance also recommends including ‘visibility maps’ in the machine instructions showing the blind spots around the machine. Given how often instruction manuals are used it is questionable as to whether this will reduce accidents. As far as customers are concerned, some are asking manufacturers what they are doing about visibility and some are taking things into their own hands, installing after-market camera systems or other aids. Although there is nothing wrong with this, machine owners need to be aware that, along with the system supplier, they are taking over a significant chunk of responsibility for risk assessment.
So at the current point in time there is no clear vision on visibility. Manufacturers have to stand on their own two feet in risk assessment and the provision of visibility aids and that situation is likely to continue for quite some time.
Paul Featherstone, group director of surplus food recycler, SugaRich said:
“SugaRich welcomes the proposal by the European Commission, in its revised Circular Economy package, that former foodstuffs destined to become animal feed should not be classified as waste.
“This change to the legal framework is part of Europe’s strategy to reduce waste along the entire food chain. Surplus food which is safe to feed to animals is definitely not waste. The nutrients stay within the human food chain, whether it’s converted to eggs or to milk, which then goes back into human food. Our approach ensures we retain more valuable nutrients in the food chain, helping to improve the quality of livestock and their production, and therefore what people subsequently eat.”
The Commission proposes to exclude all feed materials, including former foodstuffs, from the scope of the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC in its new legal proposal on waste. This step shows that former foodstuff processing is recognised as an important link between the food and feed chain and should be part of integrated food and feed safety policies.
Paul Featherstone adds: “A clear non-waste legal status for former foodstuffs is important, as reprocessing operations can occasionally be interrupted by environmental control authorities who have incorrectly interpreted former foodstuff as ‘waste.’ This clarification will help food businesses reduce the amount of food sent to landfill every year, save costs, turn waste into revenue and lessen environmental damage.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has announced it has launched a new non-contact, rotary position sensor from its brand family of Penny & Giles.
With an 8mm low-profile sensor body and a small footprint, this fully-encapsulated, IP68/IP69K-rated sensor offers exceptional levels of performance against water, dust, shock, vibration and temperature. The NRH300DP is ideal for use by OEMs of on- and off-highway vehicles that are destined for use in challenging environments, and as a cost-effective solution for medium volume applications where a select number of options or degree of customization may be required.
Benefits of the new NRH300DP rotary position sensor include:
Non-contact sensing technology provides a long mechanical life
Can be factory set to correspond to rotations of 20° to 360° in 1° increments
Industry-standard 38mm mounting centers – for easy replacement or upgrades
On-board diagnostic functions allow the two outputs to be put into safe, pre-defined states should an internal sensor error be detected
Additonal features include an innovative circuit design that allows the rotary position sensor to be powered from a regulated 5V supply or a varying voltage – such as a vehicle’s battery – in the range of 9 to 30V. Versatile, factory-programmable electronics can also be easily set to one of two analog voltage output ranges (0.5-4.5V or 0.2-4.8V) or one of three PWM frequencies.
The NRH300DP uses proven, wear-free Hall-effect sensing technology and replaces the NRH280DP for new applications. The new design features a number of magnet arrangement options, and includes an over-molded magnet carrier that simplifies the interfacing of the magnet and sensor during installation. Optional bolt, plug or loose carrier variations are also available.
World leading lifting equipment specialists, Konecranes, is once again showing its support for apprenticeship provision here in the UK having appointed six new electrical engineering apprentices this year within its crane service operation. Such is Konecranes commitment to the programme that the company is pledging to double its apprentice intake in 2016.
Bringing the total to 33 apprentices currently enrolled onto the initial three to four year scheme (19 in crane service, five in administration and nine in production), the 2015-2016 newcomers will be based around the country at Konecranes regional branches in Rochester, Andover, Bristol, Warrington, Sheffield and Gateshead.
Selected from some 150 plus applicants, each apprentice will attend college for off-the-job training, the aim being to achieve NVQ Level 2 PEO (Performance Engineering Operations). At the end of year one, the apprentices will also benefit from a further six weeks intensive training as a group, delivered onsite at Konecranes state-of-the-art training centre located at its UK headquarters in Castle Donington, Leicestershire. Here the focus will be crane specific and health and safety. Subsequent training will then be in accordance with the company’s ongoing programme. On completion of training, apprentices will be qualified as Service Technicians, with a BTEC Higher National Certificate in electrical and electronic engineering.
Commenting on behalf of Konecranes, Pat Campbell, Director of Market Area – Europe West said: “Apprenticeships are not only a great way for an individual to gain a recognised qualification, but to develop professional skills for real career progression. We have both senior managers and directors in our business who have undergone the apprenticeship programme in the past, so the scope for continued development not just here in the UK, but on a global basis, is a very realistic proposition.”
A long-term advocate of leading industry players investing in a combination of theoretical classroom and practical on-the-job training, Konecranes holds the enviable record of having a 100% track record in ensuring that service apprentices upon completion of their training go into a full-time job position. This philosophy has always existed within the Konecranes group and is something that HR Director – Region Europe West, Karen Winfield is very protective of. As she injects: “It is not just about giving our apprentices a job at the end of their training period, but putting them on a career path that can take them to the top of their profession.
“Our apprentices not only benefit from access to outstanding learning opportunities, they are remunerated in the process for their efforts, whilst being eligible for a range of fringe benefits that an employer such as Konecranes is capable of offering. Should they then decide to progress to degree level, this delivers another significant advantage in that it is Konecranes who fund the process, so any form of student debt traditionally associated with a University degree is eliminated,” she added.
In recognition of the apprentices’ training and learning efforts, Konecranes recently held its annual Award Ceremony, this year involving the presentation of a new Memorial Award made in commemoration of Paul Coxon, a former apprentice of Konecranes himself. Bestowed on the apprentice that demonstrated both the personal qualities and attributes that Paul consistently exhibited during his 25 years service with Konecranes, the inaugural award went to fourth year apprentice, Alex Linford based in Gateshead. Also singled out was Apprentice Of The Year 2015, James Thackery of Sheffield. The ceremony was held following the culmination of the company’s annual apprentice team building event that was attended by 19 crane service apprentices and which took part over three days at Adventure Sports in Warwick and Whilton Mill Kart Circuit, Daventry.
As event organiser, Konecranes National Training Manager, Martin Wadeson said: “This year’s team building event was hugely successful and thoroughly enjoyed by all concerned. It remains a great way to build rapport between all of the apprentices and get everyone pulling in the same direction.”
At LogiMAT (Hall 3 / Stand B31), Cabka IPS will be showing selected products from its extensive portfolio of plastic pallets. For example, interested visitors can take a look at the BigBag Divider, one of our company's latest products. It can be used to more efficiently transport and store flexible intermediate bulk containers, also called big bags. This loading equipment is easy to stack; during handling it protects the filled bags from the fork arms of industrial trucks to reduce downtimes and costs. The BigBag Divider can be used wherever bulk goods are transported or stored in big bags, which are traditionally the chemical and pharmaceutical as well as the food industry.
Cabka-IPS will also be presenting its new pallet Nest M1. This pallet is only 400 x 300 millimeters, and at half the size of a module, it is the smallest pallet in the company's portfolio. It was designed for display positioning at the point of sale and, thanks to its size, is especially suited for small sales floors and product displays with an average speed of sale. In order to guarantee stability, the displays can be affixed to the pallet using special locking points. An innovative plug-in system (patent filed) will make it possible to combine the pallets into larger units. Thanks to its conical feet, the pallet is nestable, which saves space during storage or transport.
Cabka-IPS at LogiMat in Stuttgart: Hall 3 / Booth 31
In 2014, BEUMER Group, based in Beckum, looked back on yet another successful year with a turnover of 680 million Euros. This was possible because BEUMER continued to concentrate on its core business capabilities, to be innovative, and consistently to pursue its strategic policy of globalisation. A considerable portion of the credit for all this must go to the shared values of this family-owned company. They are the basis for the system provider’s successful integration of some 4,100 employees, each of whom comes from different cultures and backgrounds, and of those, in particular, who have joined the group as a result of its corporate acquisitions. This year, BEUMER Group celebrates its 80th anniversary.
With innovative system solutions for intralogistics in conveying and loading technology, palletising and packaging technology as well as sortation and distribution systems, BEUMER has established an excellent position in the world market. These solutions are applied in various industries such as cement, lime and gypsum, agriculture and mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, energy, food and beverage and also in airports and logistics centres. "We can only achieve a high level of customer satisfaction and a sustainable, successful market presence when the whole team is involved in the corporate strategy in the long term," explains Dr. Christoph Beumer, Chairman and CEO of BEUMER Group. He has been managing the family business since 2000, now in the third generation. Just how innovative and successful this mid-sized company is, has now been extensively documented in the latest edition of the compendium of German world market leaders "Lexikon der deutschen Weltmarktführer", issued by the business press publisher Deutsche Standards EDITIONEN.
On December 9, 1935, the 33-year-old Bernhard Beumer started his first work day as an entrepreneur with four employees. Until then, he had been working for a conveying technology company in Essen. One of his most important seed assets, aside from his courage and determination, was the experience he gained as a repair mechanic for conveying technology, working in the mining industry in the Ruhr area before completing his degree in engineering. Bernhard Beumer had long entertained the idea of being independent and founding his own business. When he learned that a vacant factory building in his hometown of Beckum was up for sale, he seized this opportunity. The classic conveying technology formed the foundation of his business.
The entrepreneur starts from scratch. As a young senior engineer, he knew the business, as well as the customer's needs. Already when founding his new company, he brought with him his first orders from the building materials, cement and mining industries. A considerable step towards the success of BEUMER conveying technology was his development of the idler with labyrinth seal. The founder of the company had this innovation patented and integrated it further into other products. From this idler, he derived the company logo which is still used today: The circle represents the cross section of the idler's tube, the arrow is the idler axle and its direction of running. The company continued to grow, employing about 100 people at the outbreak of the Second World War.
Not only the company founder, but also his eldest son bears the name Bernhard Beumer. It was an obvious choice for the son to follow in his father's footsteps. After completing studies in mechanical engineering, he worked at his father's side for 18 years and took over the company after his father's death in 1981. In the field of conveying technology, he particularly pursued the development of bucket elevators. He quickly realised that a chain as a traction element was too heavy. Its net weight cancels out a major portion of its tractive force. By this time, BEUMER was already an expert in belt conveying technology. This gave Bernhard Beumer the idea of using a belt as the traction element for bucket elevators. He used a belt with steel wires to ensure that the buckets are reliably fixed to the belt. He arranged the steel wires so that there are wire-free zones. Holes can be punched into these zones to fasten the buckets tightly to the belt.
With these bucket elevators, BEUMER created a conveying technology which allows for considerably higher speeds and greater centre distances. BEUMER's current belt bucket elevators allow centre distances of 178 metres or more. By the mid-1980s, the supplier had installed about 100 systems altogether, in 2007 and 2008 there were about 450 installed per year, world-wide. Besides the product development in the field of conveying technology, Bernhard Beumer Jr. also continued the initial development of loading systems and set BEUMER on a decisive path for the globalisation of the group, founding companies in Brazil, the USA and Asia.
In the 1960s, BEUMER laid the foundation for curved belt conveying systems. The first theoretical designs on the market were from the company's Department for Research and Development. Today this group is one of the technological leaders for these systems, either as troughed belt conveyors with open design or as Pipe Conveyors. One particularly impressive reference project is the 12.5 km long troughed belt conveyor in the Chinese province of Sichuan, which was put into operation in 2008 and currently conveys about 2,200 tons of limestone from the quarry to the cement plant. Its routing features several vertical and horizontal curves. The system traverses 1.5 kilometres of water surface and extensive bamboo forests, and can overcome height distances of up to 100 metres. For the same project, BEUMER Group has now been awarded the contract to supply and install another conveyor of similar size, and the customer is already planning a third expansion phase.
In the field of loading technology, Bernhard Beumer Jr. developed new products, such as the three-dimensional loading machine for loading cement bags onto trucks. This relieved the physical burden of the workers. In the 1970s, the engineers further developed this machine until it became completely automated. The stationary palletiser is a result of this development. Today, the BEUMER paletpac stacks paper, PE and PP bags on pallets of different sizes in a flexible, precise and stable way. Depending on the product requirements, it can be equipped with a clamp-type turning device or a twin-belt turning device. The latter allows gentle, fast and precise stacking of bagged bulk material on pallets. The BEUMER stretch hood is a well proven high capacity packaging system that then packages the palletised stacks efficiently and economically. This technology has been optimised further in regards to functioning, economic efficiency and ergonomics and was presented for the first time at the Interpack in May 2014. Since its introduction, BEUMER's customers have responded very positively to this system.
Since 2000, Dr.-Ing. Christoph Beumer, the founder's grandson, has been managing the company. "The success is primarily due to the familial spirit. We have consistently held to our motto 'We are looking for the long-term success, and not for the short-term profit'," he says. BEUMER ensures the long-term success of the company through manageable growth, a large range of products and a global market presence. BEUMER machines and systems are in use all around the world. The group consistently pursues its globalisation, by setting up local group companies, and even local production facilities in China and Thailand. The result: the company has exhibited extremely stable organic growth over the last several years. Undeterred by the impending financial and global economic crisis, Beumer took over the Danish sortation technology specialist Crisplant in 2009, followed later by companies in India, the US and Belgium. Hundreds of thousands of suitcases every day pass through BEUMER baggage systems at airports in Frankfurt, London, Beijing, Singapore and other locations world-wide. Thousands of packages traverse conveyor belts supplied by the intralogistics specialist at parcel centres operated by Hermes, GeoPost, UPS and FedEx. With its acquisition of Enexco Technologies in India, a manufacturer of grinding systems and packaging machines for the cement industry, BEUMER has reinforced its presence in vital markets and simultaneously systematically expanded its portfolio, without abandoning its traditional segments. And what about the integration of the very diverse cultures? The CEO views this as a chance to learn from each other. "We want to create a working environment where everyone respects each other's individuality," emphasises Dr. Beumer. And due to the fact that the local employees in the group companies speak the same language as their customers, the customers feel understood. This creates a high level of customer retention.
In order to be able to fill bags with bulk materials such as cement, mortar or gypsum and therefore provide entire packaging lines for the building materials industry, the BEUMER fillpac, an innovative filling system was introduced to the market in 2013. Users can flexibly integrate and adapt it to existing packaging lines. At the Achema 2015 trade fair, BEUMER presented itself for the first time to the chemical industry as a single-source provider for filling, palletising and packaging technologies with its latest development of an innovative form fill seal (FFS) system. The BEUMER sealpac responds very flexibly to different bulk density, flow characteristics and grain distribution.
BEUMER does not only provide and install machines and systems. With highly capable specialists deployed around the globe, the company also ensures trouble-free operation worldwide. BEUMER Group has established a fourth, independent business unit, in the form of its Customer Support unit. The group thus ensures high levels of availability for its customers' machines and systems. Its specialists take care of the customer, starting with the first project discussion, up until the system is in operation. Customer Support offers various service agreements which are matched individually to the respective needs of the customer, including service intervals and response times as agreed by contract. The agreements can range from maintenance and inspection to a long-term placement of service personnel on site. Within the framework of its wide reaching Customer Support business, BEUMER Group also provides Residential Service. It enables logistics service providers to delegate the responsibility of availability, performance and profitability of filling, palletising and packaging installations to BEUMER specialists. The single-source provider has extensive experience and knowledge of technical and logistics matters in the chemical industry, helping ensure the high efficiency of their machines. In order to provide trouble-free operation, BEUMER employees come to customer sites world-wide, even long-term, if required.
"I view the company as a little jewel case," explains Dr. Beumer when speaking of the company history. "When my grandfather founded it, it was no more than a little wooden box. He added some velvet lining to it and then handed it over to the second generation, my father, who added some more and embellished it further." And following this tradition, the jewel box was then handed over to Dr. Christoph Beumer. His belief is that if you receive the little box, your task is to keep it safe, to maintain it, and, if possible, always add a little to it. Under no circumstances may you remove anything or simply live off of it. "The responsibility is always handed over as well," emphasises Dr. Beumer.
It takes dedication and planning to handle some of the world’s most difficult tasks. They are not always the most spectacular or the largest, but it many cases they are deemed to be worthy of going a little more than the extra mile. Mention the words “nuclear industry” and many people are concerned. Yet the decommissioning of nuclear establishments in the UK has created a whole industry to deal with this delicate issue – and into this arena has stepped the Sheffield-based SCX Special Projects division.
In simple terms the decommissioning of old nuclear power stations requires the removal of nuclear waste. Not such as easy job when the presence of potentially lethal radioactive materials require processes to handle dangerous materials that are hazardous to the natural environment, expensive and require detailed and experienced approaches.
Dounreay Site Restoration Limited in Scotland is considered to be one of the largest and most difficult nuclear decommissioning challenges in Europe. From 1954 until 1994 it was the centre for experimental fast breeder testing and development, made up of 180 facilities including three reactors, chemical reprocessing plants and various waste facilities. At an estimated total cost of £4.5bn, the mass clean-up is scheduled to finish in 2030 but access to parts of the site will be restricted for a further 250 years. For an in-depth process of this calibre you need to be able to rely on your equipment.
The SCX Group comprises three expert engineering companies that operate as one of the UK’s leading solution providers in the fields of mechanical handling and overhead lifting equipment and controls – including their Special Projects division. The company’s custom designed high-integrity cranes and lifting solutions, coupled with their rigorous safety standards and moving expertise is proving to be an ideal fit for a number of Tier 1 projects under Government contracts at nuclear facilities across the country including Sellafield, Harwell, Hunterston, Hinkley, Trawsfynydd, Berkeley and Winfrith.
Plans for a new high-level waste (HLW) storage facility at Dounreay are well under way and SCX’s Special Projects division has recently been awarded the contract to design, manufacture and install a drum crane which will be responsible for the handling of nuclear waste at the facility. The £22 million facility will be an extension to the existing Dounreay Cementation Plant, providing more storage space for 500L stainless steel drums used to contain the encapsulated liquid waste. Here the steel drums holding liquefied radioactive waste will be encased in cement, put into long-term storage and monitored by remotely controlled operations.
Danny Pickard, Applications Engineer at SCX Special Projects, believes that in such a safety-critical industry you need to ensure that the equipment is reliable. “When dealing with high-level waste, you need to apply extreme caution and the most important thing to take into consideration is the strength and durability of your equipment. It is also crucial to keep safety and quality at the top of your list of priorities so that your staff are protected and can work with confidence in the surrounding environment. During the initial design and testing stages of the drum crane for Dounreay we will identify, analyse and resolve any potential hazards or risks in function to ensure that everything practicable is done with regards to safety.”
The 3 tonne SWL, modified-off-the-shelf (MOTS) crane designed specifically for work at Dounreay will be a semi-automatic, remote controlled crane complete with a MotoSuiveur failsafe unit, recovery systems and CCTV. The primary function of the crane will be to transfer the 500L drums containing the nuclear waste packages within the D2702 facility, from the Drum Import Enclosure to a designated position within the facility’s storage vaults. SCX Special Projects will provide a full turnkey handling solution to Dounreay. As well as designing the optimal MOTS (modified off-the-shelf) crane solution tailored to the specific safety and handling requirements of the site, SCX Special Projects will provide all the supporting documentation in accordance with stringent nuclear design codes, then undertake the manufacture, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), installation at Dounreay, Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and commissioning. The entire process is scheduled for completion in time for Christmas 2016.
Danny Pickard expresses the importance of investing in a mechanically failsafe hoist device; “We understand how crucial it is to be certain that a load is safe, secure and under control in this operation. The Motosuiveur device which we have incorporated into the design of the drum crane is already in use on a number of Nuclear Licensed Sites and was initially developed exclusively for the nuclear crane market. It’s an emergency failsafe hoist brake which will never allow a free-fall condition to develop in the event of a mechanical failure or loss of control on the handled load. Instead it acts as an automatic load arrestor, bringing the load to a safe stop within 30° of angular drum rotation. In a radioactive facility this feature is fundamental to safety as nuclear waste requires the highest standards of handling to ensure people and the environment are kept safe.”
SCX Special Projects has been building its reputation in Northern Scotland with involvement in a variety of projects including work at the nearby Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) – the Ministry of Defence’s facility for testing new designs of nuclear submarine pressurised water reactors. SCX helped to analyse different engineering solution options as well as provide design and consultancy work on their Flask Handling Facility. They are also currently revalidating a Class 1 Reactor Access Housing (RAH) crane to determine whether or not it is still safe to use.
Decades of experience in crane service, maintenance, repair and automation of overhead cranes has built a strong capability for SCX as a bespoke handling solutions provider. It is this reputation and delivery that SCX Special Projects is keen to emphasise in its work in the nuclear industry.
“We design, build and create robust and reliable lifting solutions in compliance with stringent regulations and critical requirements. Due to the safety-critical nature of the nuclear industry, each decommissioning job is entirely unique and we can finely tune solutions to fit these specific requirements. Whatever the job, we start with in-depth consultations, flexible project management and high levels of customer care.
“Our experience of working at these sites in Scotland, combined with our expert knowledge of the nuclear industry from previous projects, has enabled us to showcase our experience and technologies in the demanding industry. This will prove highly beneficial for SCX and our partners in the coming years,” said Pickard.
Mike Andaloro has been named president of global logistics firm BDP International. He succeeds John Bolte, who will head a new wholly-owned subsidiary, 360o Predictive Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Also, Lance Malesh, global chief sales and marketing officer, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief commercial officer.
Andaloro will have responsibility for BDP’s overall performance, including global operations, BDP Transport, sales, business development and the global talent pool at company-owned and joint venture units. He has worked for BDP for more than 25 years, most recently as global chief operating officer, a role he will retain as president. He has also served as managing director of Asia Pacific and chief operating officer of the company’s Global Process Accounts business unit.
“Working closely with our ownership, board of directors and leadership team, Mike will play a leading role in shaping our strategic path forward,” BDP Chairman and CEO Richard J. Bolte, Jr. said in announcing the appointment. “His proven experience in customer relationship management, and success in setting and executing against the most exacting standards for operational excellence make him the right choice at the right time to help us achieve our full potential and help our customers grow.”
As president of 360o Predictive Logistics, which is to be launched in early 2016, John Bolte will be responsible for its strategic direction and executive leadership of all functional departments, including technology, operations, sales, marketing and compliance. He also will be responsible for setting strategic and financial objectives, measuring performance and leading the risk management, corporate governance and compliance functions. In addition, he will represent the company in public engagements with customers, stakeholders and government agencies.
“More of our clients are asking us to move up the supply chain with an integrated service offering,” Richard Bolte said. “We are in a unique position to give our customers and others a more complete view of their global processes, eliminate waste and complexity, and mitigate costs through greater consolidation of providers. This calls for a fully managed, integrated supply chain services enterprise to accommodate rapidly changing market dynamics and business conditions. With John’s leadership, 360o Predictive Logistics will be a highly entrepreneurial business backed by BDP’s culture, values and innovation.”
Malesh will be responsible for all new business creation functions, including ocean, air and surface transportation as well as general management of the company’s new 360o Predictive Logistics unit. These responsibilities are in addition to his continued leadership of the global sales, business development and marketing/communications departments. He joined BDP in 2013 as global chief sales and marketing officer.
“Lance has made a game-changing impact on our global growth strategy to become a more sales-focused enterprise,” Richard Bolte said. “As we continue to refine and build on that strategy, he will bring cohesion and a seamless alliance between all our new revenue opportunities.”
Safety barrier manufacturer A-SAFE recently received a visit from HRH The Duke of Gloucester to present the company with the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The Duke, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, presented the award to A-SAFE directors in recognition of the company’s achievements in international trade.
A-SAFE supplies a range of flexible, polymer-based safety barriers to industrial workplaces across the world, such as automotive manufacturing, construction sites, food and drink facilities, car parks, warehouses and airports.
Director James Smith, who accepted the award from The Duke on behalf of all A-SAFE staff, said: “We are very honoured to accept the Queen’s Award from His Royal Highness. The company has come a long way in ten years, built on our foundation stones of innovation, manufacturing and the highest possible quality of products and service. We are proud to be a local company with a global reach and we are looking forward to continuing our growth and making the workplaces of the world even safer, more cost-efficient places over the next decade.”
A-SAFE directors were able to demonstrate the capabilities of their independently tested barrier range to The Duke during a factory tour, which also included a look at the company’s research and development department, the unique manufacturing processes and the onsite extrusion, moulding and testing machinery.
Various VIP customers and special guests were also invited to the event, where they were shown video presentations on a fully built in-house exhibition stand and witnessed various product resilience demonstrations as A-SAFE’s barrier range was put through its paces.
A-SAFE’s polymer-based barriers flex on impact from workplace vehicles, absorbing and dissipating the impact forces. Through this, vehicles, floors, equipment, structures and people are protected and the barriers themselves reform.
A-SAFE, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, has eight international subsidiaries and re-sellers in over 60 countries. The company achieved international turnover of £6.4m in 2014.
As of 1 January 2016 vessels are no longer able to discharge ballast in US waters unless their ballast water treatment (BWT) systems are compliant with stringent demands from the USCG. Experts believe that now, more than ever, it is imperative that shipowners make the right BWT choice.
“There’s so much confusion surrounding the issue of ballast water treatment now,” opines Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen, the head of a firm that brought the first ever commercial BWT system to market back in 2000. “The IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) convention is close to ratification, but yet to be rubber-stamped, and meanwhile the USCG has taken the bold move to act unilaterally to protect the environment with its own regulations.
“So let’s cut through that uncertainty and state a fact: All shipowners that discharge ballast must get a BWT system, preferably an environmentally friendly one, if they want their ships to operate in the future.
“And, if they want to sail in US waters, then they must act now.”
Two standards, one answer
The fact that there are effectively two sets of regulations regarding BWT standards has muddied the waters for shipowners, making it difficult to find the solution they need.
Classification societies are well aware of this, but aren’t as keen to go on record to explain the situation. An environmental solutions expert at one of the world’s leading classification bureaus agreed to speak, but only on the condition of anonymity.
“Ballast water gets by far the most questions of any issue we deal with,” they note with a smile, “and it’s easy to understand why.
“There’s a major difference between USCG and IMO regulations. Basically this centres on standards.
“USCG judges (BWT) systems on the basis of ‘living/dead’ organisms in ballast water, whereas IMO views them in terms of ‘viable/unviable’. In other words, for USCG approval systems have to kill the organisms, while for IMO they don’t, but must ensure they don’t reproduce.
“USCG tests this using the FDA/CMFDA method, which uses a dye to identify living organisms, while the IMO does not list one specific methodology. The MPN (Most Probable Number) test is the norm here, having been used for almost 40 years, but procedures vary from laboratory to laboratory. This is an issue for USCG – it wants a simple, reliable and reproducible testing method.
“Until this is established, and there are hurdles in doing so, both with validation and law making, FDA/CMFDA will remain the USCG standard.”
No alternative
Some may now be feeling lost in a sea of abbreviations. So, here’s the lowdown – USCG regulations are much more exacting. Which means fewer systems will make the grade.
For the time being USCG is temporarily accepting the use of Alternate Management System (AMS), whereby vessels with solutions that have already been approved by another flag state can discharge ballast in US waters. However, USCG approved AMS systems will only be accepted for a period of five years after the vessel’s compliance date, and, if they haven’t met the USCG’s own stringent standards by that point, will have to be changed. That burden of potential cost and uncertainty is not one today’s shipowners, operating in a climate of squeezed margins and aggressive competition, may be willing to accept. They need to be sure.
Unfortunately, the systems that many industry observers seem to prefer for their simplicity, ease of operation and environment credentials (utilising no chemicals) are struggling with USCG approval.
“UV systems are easy to operate, don’t require chemical storage and are a good option for the industry,” opines the classification specialist. “But caution is needed.”
They explain that the majority have been made with the ‘viable’ standard in mind and therefore lack the power – “and you might require a lot more power” – to tackle the tougher FDA/CFMDA test.
“That’s where Optimarin has been smart,” they state. “They’re focusing on USCG current requirements and approval. And the first UV system to get this will have a real market advantage.”
The power to deliver
BWT specialist Optimarin - which has sold over 350 of its systems to shipowners across the world, with more than 270 installed - is coming to the end of a USD 3million USCG approval programme.
Its technology is the first UV system to meet the USCG marine water requirements, successfully satisfying the FDA/CFMDA criteria. Further tests of remaining water salinities are scheduled for spring 2016, after which point approval is expected later in the year.
“Passing the initial tests puts us in pole position in the market for final approval and is a great endorsement of our system’s effectiveness,” comments Andersen. “Each of our system lamps has a 35kw capacity. This power instantly kills any potentially harmful invasive organisms and that’s exactly what USCG wants to see.
“We’re delighted to be leading the way in our segment - something that we put down to decades of work, sector expertise and investment.”
With 2016 now upon us, both Andersen and the regulation expert offer similar, sage advice to shipowners.
Andersen notes: “Install a system that is reliable, simple to maintain, easy to install (make sure any supplier can show a history of retrofit success) and proven within the marketplace. This is still a relatively young sector, so it pays to go with a name you can trust.”
His classification peer, meanwhile, has regulations front of mind:
“It’s simple,” they say. “The industry has to comply, so choose a system that will be compliant.”
Barton Fabrications has installed a 40 tonne flour silo at Speciality Breads’ new £3 million bakery in Margate. The 12 metre high, 3.5 metre diameter ATEX compliant silo has been installed on the 3,000 square metre site, situated close to the bakery’s existing production facility. Speciality Breads, which is a Red Tractor-certified company, will use the new facility to produce around 20 handmade lines, while providing essential additional cold storage, work space and ovens for the team’s artisan bakers.
Commenting on why Barton Fabrications was chosen for the installation Peter Millen, Managing Director at Speciality Breads said:
“Barton Fabrications have a fantastic reputation not just in the UK but around the world for their expertise and service so it wasn’t too difficult a decision. Their professionalism was top notch and there was no problem or issue which they couldn’t counter or have a strategy to solve.
“In any build, whether it’s for a new site or a site being redeveloped, there are always issues, delays and problems on a day to day basis. For this reason, it is essential that you have a team who can be pro-active, re-active, adaptable and flexible. The Barton team ticked all these boxes.”
The new bakery was opened in 2015 by MP Sir Roger Gale who cut a giant ciabatta at the inaugural event.
Cimcorp, manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfilment and tyre-handling solutions, will launch its expanded Dream Factory solution at Tire Technology Expo, taking place in Hannover from 16-18 February 2016.
The new version of Dream Factory includes the handling of raw materials and compound products to provide an end-to-end solution. With an optimized layout design that utilizes 50 percent less floor space than conventional solutions, Dream Factory generates cost savings of up to 50 percent in materials handling capital investment by simplifying the material flow in tyre plants.
The Dream Factory solution is suitable for both brownfield and greenfield factory sites and Cimcorp has delivered automation solutions to seven of the top ten tyre manufacturers globally. Key installations include Cordiant’s Yaroslavl Tyre Plant in Russia – a brownfield site that dates back to 1932 – and Tigar Tyres’ new plant in Pirot, Serbia, which demonstrates the simplicity and speed of installation at a greenfield site. Last year, Cimcorp secured an order worth nearly 30 million euros for an automated handling solution at Qingdao Sentury Tire’s new plant in Thailand, as well as several other orders for major turnkey automated systems in greenfield tyre plants.
In the expanded Dream Factory solution, Cimcorp’s proven gantry robot technology and material handling software provide tangible benefits including total control of the manufacturing process at each stage, real-time data for production and inventory management and streamlined material flows that enable optimum utilization of the most valuable process machinery, such as building machines and curing presses.
Cimcorp will demonstrate the technology behind its innovative Dream Factory solution on stand 4042 at the exhibition.
Materials handling specialists J D Neuhaus will present their concept study of a stainless steel air hoist for the first time at the LogiMAT 2016 exhibition, taking place in Stuttgart from 8 – 10 March 2016. Exhibiting in Hall 6, Stand No. 6G60, the service side of the company will also present information on their comprehensive project planning and maintenance facilities.
Under the motto “engineered for extremes”, J D Neuhaus (JDN) pneumatic and hydraulic hoists and crane systems are used worldwide under the harshest of conditions: on drilling platforms, underground, in foundries, in arctic temperatures as low as -45°, or even under water. Extreme environmental conditions, no matter what the temperature, hot or cold, the performance of JDN products is not impeded.
But indoor uses can be just as extreme as these outdoor ones, namely in areas requiring extreme cleanliness and hygiene. JDN will present the conceptual study of a stainless steel air hoist at LogiMAT for exactly these areas. The sectors JDN is targeting with this study, which also provides for the use of food safe plastics, include for example, the food and drinks industry, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, together with medical and aerospace technology. The study combines the advantages of using compressed air as a method of operation with the hoist construction material of stainless steel. The products will therefore be resistant to corrosion and high levels of humidity, and also easy to clean and disinfect.
Even high-pressure cleaners pose no problem. As the out-going air is extracted and the chain is protected by a bellows, they can also be used in clean rooms (optical and semiconductor industries). And because compressed air is used as a method of operation, the hoist will also be explosion protected (ATEX) so that they can be used in potentially dangerous atmospheres or areas where organically flammable chemicals are handled.
JDN Service will also present its comprehensive offer for planning a project involving the maintenance and general work including overhauls of JDN products. For optimal parts supply, the JDN team has designed spare parts kits and general overhaul kits, which offer the customers a vastly improved service for ordering spare parts. The JDN Service Programme also offers training courses and, where necessary, rented hoists.
In addition, the company will also exhibit examples of standard JDN hoists with an extensive range of accessories and look forward to welcoming visitors to their stand.
The Crown C-5 LPG-powered counterbalanced lift truck with hard cabin, the Crown RT 4020 stand-up rider pallet truck, and Crown's QuickPick® Remote solution configured for Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo Supermarkten have all been nominated for 2016 IFOY Awards.
Crown, one of the world’s largest material handling companies, earned nominations recently for three International Forklift of the Year (IFOY) Awards in 2016 by the international IFOY jury. Nominations include the Crown C-5 LPG-powered counterbalanced lift truck with hard cabin, Crown RT 4020 stand-up rider pallet truck, and Crown QuickPick® Remote solution configured for Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo Supermarkten.
“Our primary goal is to develop high quality, safe, reliable products and solutions that deliver real-world benefits and added value for our customers,” explains Ken Dufford, Crown Vice President Europe. “The fact that we have once again been nominated for this international award – and in three categories – is a tangible example of our global commitment to improving customer efficiency, productivity and safety.”
Crown’s innovative C-5 gas-powered lift truck is equipped with a Crown-built industrial 2.4-litre engine, plus a high-performance powertrain with up to five years warranty and a precise, dual-radiator cooling system that separately cools engine and transmission. The C-5 can also be fitted with an optional hard cabin to provide operators with a more comfortable working environment with an all-round view. The new lift-truck series prioritises total reliability and productivity-boosting efficiency. The truck is designed as a solution to the most demanding and specialised tasks – indoors and out.
Crown’s RT 4020 stand-up rider pallet truck has a lift capacity of up to two tonnes and combines robust, high-performance lift-truck technology with innovative safety features. Characterised by exceptional responsiveness and reliability, the new model is ideal for fast-paced dock work. It also is highly manoeuvrable, even in very confined spaces. Crown’s AC motor is capable of powerful acceleration and travel speeds of up to 12.5 km/h. To protect operators and keep them comfortable and productive, the truck is equipped with a suspended floorboard and a wraparound, soft-foam lean pad. The truck can also be configured with right-hand or left-hand steering, depending on customer preferences.
Jumbo Supermarkten is the largest privately owned supermarket chain in the Netherlands, with more than 580 stores nationwide. Crown configured a QuickPick® Remote solution for the company that has streamlined order-picking operations, significantly enhancing Jumbo’s ability to make deliveries on time. Although Jumbo previously ran trials with AGVs, the company found they only produced marginal improvements in productivity, so the supermarket chain opted for Crown’s semi-automated solution instead. The QuickPick system, which can cost-effectively be integrated into existing working environments, combines GPC 3000 low-level order pickers with an intuitive remote control device.
By implementing QuickPick® Remote, Jumbo improved productivity by 7.5 percent while simultaneously enhancing employees’ job satisfaction. While achieving higher pick performance, operators have been able to reduce the number of movements involved in picking operations, meaning they can now achieve more picks with less physical effort. Martijn Vogelzang, Project Manager at Jumbo, says: “Trialling a fleet of Crown GPC 3000 order pickers optimised with QuickPick Remote resulted in significant productivity improvements and less physical effort for the operators at the Veghel distribution centre, so the decision was fairly straightforward.”
The names of the winners of the IFOY Award 2016 competition will be revealed at the CeMAT opening gala in Hanover on May 31, 2016.
In 2013, Crown took the top IFOY award in the “Forklift Truck Solutions” category for the company’s wireless fleet and operator management system, InfoLink®. In 2014, Crown’s QuickPick® Remote order-picking technology won an award in the “Warehouse Trucks” category.
The ability of Mercedes-Benz to offer a 26-tonne chassis with six-man, type-approved distribution cab prompted high-profile global relocations specialist Matthew James to invest in two stunning trucks from dealer Rygor.
Strikingly finished with airbrushed cab artwork celebrating Elvis Presley and the Disney film Frozen, both are 6x2 Actros 2530 LnR models. They are the biggest rigid vehicles on the operator’s fleet, their low frames allowing for an exceptional 2.9 metres (9ft 6in) of internal height, and a cavernous load volume of 2,400 cubic ft. As a result each truck can carry six removals containers, one more than its other 26-tonners.
Matthew James recently secured coveted Gold accreditation from FORS (the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme), an achievement that reflects its commitment to safety. Both trucks are equipped with a comprehensive array of Mercedes-Benz systems including Stability Control Assist, Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Attention Assist (the last three specified before they became standard features following the introduction of new legislation in November 2015)
They are also fitted with all-seeing Brigade Backeye 360° cameras and tracking systems that highlight incidences of fast cornering, harsh braking and sudden stopping, allowing the company to encourage and promote best practice by its drivers.
Matthew James Managing Director Matthew De-Machen said: “With roads both at home and in Europe becoming busier by the day, the safety of our drivers and crew is paramount. The Mercedes-Benz commitment to accident prevention gives me the peace of mind that comes from knowing we’re sending our staff out in vehicles that as well as being comfortable are also designed to ensure they reach their destinations safely.”
Matthew James is a third-generation family business with headquarters in Dartford, Kent, that provides national and international relocation services, and specialises in moving UK citizens throughout Europe. It has depots in Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga, and runs weekly road train services to and from France, Spain and Portugal.
The Actros, however, will be used primarily for domestic assignments. They represent the first in-roads by Mercedes-Benz and Rygor, into a mixed-marque fleet of 20 trucks.
Both are powered by advanced, 7.7-litre BlueEfficiency engines that produce 220 kW (300 hp) and drive through smooth-changing, eight-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions, while other features include high-performance engine brakes and axle load measuring systems.
Also key to the appeal of the Actros for Matthew De-Machen, was the crew-carrying capability of their 2.3m StreamSpace sleeper cabs. The bottom bunks double as bench seats for up to four passengers, all of whom get seat belts, with the top bunks, folded flush to the rear bulkheads, providing rear cushioning.
“With rules and regulations getting tighter, having extra porters simply sitting on a conventional bunk is no longer an option for any diligent operator,” he explained. “We’ll use four porters for most jobs but these Mercedes-Benz trucks give me the option, for example when we’re packing up at a big house, to send out as many as six in a single vehicle,”
“That extra flexibility represents a huge advantage in this business. My Swedish truck supplier can also do me a six-man cab, but only one that’s built to fire engine specification and is way too big and expensive.”
The Actros bodies are by SBR Specialist Coachbuilders, of Preston, and fitted with a full complement of underfloor lockers and load rails, as well as ramps – the reduced height of the chassis means these are deployed at a low angle, making loading and unloading easier. The striking airbrushed artwork, meanwhile, was created and applied by Andy and Tom Scott at Custom Painthouse, of Barnsley, with the preparation and lacquering undertaken by Lee Aitchison at the nearby LA Spray Shop.
“I like my trucks to catch the eye and these Actros certainly look the business,” continued Mr De-Machen. “The liveries were designed to appeal to different generations – Elvis is a familiar figure to the older generation, while Frozen will be instantly recognised by youngsters. My daughter’s face when she saw herself painted on the truck was priceless!”
He added: “I’ve known Rygor’s Marcus Cahalin for a number of years. He’s a first rate sales executive, and since joining Rygor has also sold me a couple of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans – we run six altogether and love them for their reliability and comfort. But he’d also been badgering me to try a Mercedes-Benz truck and I’m very glad that he finally succeeded, because we’re delighted with our Actros.”
Marcus Cahalin added: “Matthew James is a highly respected and influential operator within the removals sector. With this order Rygor has demonstrated once again its ability to deliver truck chassis which are perfectly tailored to meet the precise needs of a diverse and in some cases highly specialised range of applications.”
Kawasaki Precision Machinery is helping manufacturers improve efficiency and cost savings, with the launch of a new range of pumps, motors and control valves on stand 101 at Bauma, 11-17April 2016.
The new products build on the company’s 20 plus years’ experience in hydraulic systems for excavators and signify its move to a total systems supplier for all types of construction machinery, such as telehandlers, backhoe loaders and wheel loaders.
The range includes the K3VLS Axial Piston Pump, developed for machines and equipment that use load-sensing or electronic control systems.
John Boote, business development manager at Kawasaki Precision Machinery, explained: “At the heart of the new range is the K3VLS which is available in sizes 65, 85 and 105cc with 50, 125 and 150cc being officially launched at the show.
“The pump is significantly lighter than previous models in our range and our rigorous in-house testing process shows that it maintains best in class efficiency across the operating range. This greatly impacts the fuel consumption of the machine, resulting in significant cost savings for the end user.”
The K3VLS features electronic displacement control, torque limiting control and variable horsepower control. It has a 280 bar maximum operating pressure, 350 bar peak pressure rating and is proven to lower fuel consumption even when idling.
The other new products in the range include the M7V High Speed Axial Piston Motor, one of the quietest on the market, thanks to its newly developed rotating group, the K8V Series Closed Loop Axial Piston pump (available in 71, 90 and 125cc) and the KLSV Load Sensing Control Valve, a series of flow-sharing, load-sensing main control valves.
All products have benefited from the expertise of the Kawasaki technology centre where Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), is used to maximise component efficiency.
Boote continued: “We have over 450 engineers in the Kawasaki Development Centre,110 of whom specialise in hydraulics. Together, they’ve developed everything from the world’s fastest production motorbike, the Ninja H2R, to jet engines and gas turbines.
“This knowledge and research and development has now been applied to develop a range of products for construction machinery that offer significant efficiency and fuel savings when used as individual components, but even more when combined as a total solution.
“Our new total solutions approach builds on our success in the excavator component market and gives clients efficiency and reliability built in, one point of contact from a supplier perspective, and ultimately saves valuable time and resource.”
La Palette Rouge (LPR), a division of Euro Pool Group, has signalled its commitment to investing further in customer and sales support by announcing two key senior promotions.
Joe Hebblewhite has been promoted to commercial manager, while Gary Anderton has been appointed interim AOS manager, as the European-wide logistics specialist focuses on an ambitious programme of growth.
The new appointments come as LPR restructures its sales and account management teams to maximise the services it provides to its client base.
Hebblewhite, who joined the company in 2014 as business development manager, will be responsible for commercial development and a team is being built to support him in his objectives. His promotion comes after his successful contribution to LPR’s growing relationships with a stream of new blue chip organisations within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
In his new role as interim AOS manager, Gary Anderton, who joined LPR in 2012 as customer account manager, will continue to focus on developing the company’s existing customer relationships and will look for new ways of maximising the support it offers to its current clients.
He said: “We pride ourselves on providing a value-added service to all our customers and work hard to understand their specific needs. The restructure of the sales and customer support teams is allowing us to focus even further on providing each of our customers with the individual support they need.”
Hebblewhite added: “As a dynamic and progressive company, LPR is always looking to grow its market share with the most recognisable names in the FMCG sector and is proud to be offering simplicity in pricing and the most reliable outsourced solution available. LPR is upping the ante by continuing to provide excellent customer service and I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading a new team to find fresh and innovative ways of supporting our customers.”
Adrian Fleming, managing director, LPR UK, said he was keen to promote within the existing LPR team to develop talent and to invest in its employees, as well as develop its customer support programmes.
“We have long been committed to investing in people, facilities and processes and this new strategic approach of proactively focusing on sales and customer support means we will be in the perfect position to innovate in this most competitive of sectors,” he said.
“Joe and Gary have a wealth of sector knowledge and we are confident that, in their new positions, they will continue to play a significant role in the growth of LPR.”
LPR delivered 62 million pallets across Europe in 2014, rising from 53 million in 2013. This is expected to grow further in 2016 due to a number of new contract wins with high profile blue chip FMCG manufacturers, including Nestlé and Kellogg’s.
In 2015, expansion saw the company move its UK and Ireland headquarters to a new base in Studley, Warwickshire, and make strategic new appointments to boost its UK and Ireland performance. LPR now has over 40 personnel in the UK and Ireland.
The new SF 800 H Retail Pallet is the latest model to join Goplasticpallets.com extensive range of lightweight, cost-effective nestable pallets.
Designed to withstand the rigours of a closed loop retail environment, the durable SF 800 H Retail Pallet truly is a retailer’s best friend since it can be used for multiple tasks from order picking to transferring stock to the shop floor.
Jim Hardisty, Managing Director of Goplasticpallets.com, said: “In retail environments nestable plastic pallets can prove a versatile, reliable workhorse. This new specialist version we’ve just launched offers multi-shop retailers and smaller shop chains considerable benefits over both wooden and paper pallets.
“Stock orders for transfer to stores can be picked or packed onto our SF 800 H Retail Pallets at the regional distribution centre (RDC) and then delivered to the store, on either a normal or double deck trailer. Upon arrival at the store, the loaded pallets can be placed straight on the shop floor ready for sale. Alternatively the shelves can be restocked directly from the pallets.
“Once empty, the lightweight pallets can be stacked neatly by hand up to 50 pallets high, ready for collection on the next inbound truck and returned to the RDC to be used over and over again.”
“Wooden pallets, in contrast, pose a potential hygiene risk when used on the shop floor since they absorb moisture and often have loose nails or splinters. They can also only be stacked manually 10 pallets high to a single pile for health and safety reasons, as they’re far too heavy to lift any higher.
“Although most people presume that nestable plastic pallets are costly, the unit cost for a new nestable plastic pallet is actually comparable to the cost of a new wooden pallet.”
Manufactured from high density polyethylene, the SF 800 H Retail Pallet’s lightweight structure measures 1200mm (L) x 800mm (W) x 145mm (H) and weighs just 10.7kg. For a nestable pallet of this size, it is extremely robust and can bear loads of 2000kg when static or 1000kg on the move.
The unique kidney bean shaped feet create much smaller non-geometric voids on the top deck, which improves secure stacking of smaller boxes, and the rounded design assists the smooth entry of materials handling equipment.
Being made from plastic, the SF 800 H Retail Pallet can be easily washed if required to remove dirt, dust and other contaminants, which can often get trapped in the crevasses and splinters of wooden pallets. This hygienic advantage makes nestable plastic pallets particularly desirable for food and pharmaceutical applications.
The SF 800 H Retail Pallet is available in recycled or virgin material and at the end of its working life it is fully recyclable. It comes in black as standard but other colour options are available for orders of 500+ units, as well as the addition of lips.
US expert tells companies to stop relying on forecasts
SCALA is leading the way on Demand Driven Supply Chains after flying in global thought leader Carol Ptak for a seminar in London.
The US co-founder of the Demand Driven Institute was the star speaker at SCALA’s first ever Directors’ Briefing event.
Industry executives were told to stop using forecasts to drive their operations and to change their supply chains to “pull systems” at the briefing, which was held at the London headquarters of the Institute of Directors.
“Forecast-driven replenishment leads to inventory oscillating between two points, too much or too little,” she explained. “The effect we see is persistent, unacceptable inventory combined with low service levels.
Carol added: “We need to look at supply chains as complex adaptive systems and to improve operational and financial performance we need to position and pull, not push and promote.”
Mrs Ptak also issued a strong call for supply chain leaders to stop their obsession with cost minimisation and to focus on their true role of generating higher returns on investment for the business.
“The chief goal of any business is to deliver a higher return on capital employed, and not to minimise costs,” she said. “We need to increase the flow of materials and products if we wish to generate more sales and more cash for the business.”
The directors’ briefing was held in partnership with replenishment management software provider Orchestr8 and featured case studies of successful implementations of demand driven supply chain planning.
SCALA managing director John Perry commented: “Supply chain leaders experience at first hand the problems that arise when forecasts are used to drive operations, but I have still been amazed at the depth of interest in the Demand Driven approach.
“We are very proud that we have been able to bring Carol, a world class thought leader in supply chain planning, to a very receptive British audience.”
Lombard Shipping has come full circle, replacing the first Actros tractor units it acquired seven years ago with five new examples of the Mercedes-Benz fleet favourite.
Those early vehicles provided reliable, fuel-efficient service from day one, which helps to explain why every new truck commissioned since by the Ipswich-based operator has also worn a three-pointed star.
Today, Mercedes-Benz accounts for the vast majority of Lombard Shipping’s 40 trucks, the only exceptions being the last handful of older vehicles which are due to be phased out soon.
Lombard Shipping latest Actros 2545 tractors were supplied, like their predecessors, by East Anglia Dealer Orwell Truck & Van. They are powered by state-of-the-art, 330 kW (450 hp) straight-six engines that drive through smooth Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions, and have already impressed with their fuel efficiency.
“We’re regularly seeing returns of well over 10 mpg, which is excellent,” said Managing Director Simon Fraser. “The Actros is a great all-round package. Our drivers like them and they’re reassuringly reliable, with downtime reduced to an absolute minimum.
“This is partly down to the fact that the Actros is a superb piece of engineering, but also because if we do ever have a problem, the team at Orwell Truck & Van invariably deal with it quickly and professionally. They understand our business and are always willing to be flexible to help keep our trucks on the road, where they earn their keep.”
Lombard Shipping also operates depots in Huddersfield, Liverpool, Norwich, Belfast and Dublin. One of the new Actros is based in Ipswich, and hauls shipping containers from the dockside at Felixstowe to distribution centres in the Midlands. The remaining four work out of Liverpool, undertaking haulage and groupage duties between mainland Britain and Ireland.
Mr Fraser ascribes the fuel-efficiency of his Mercedes-Benz trucks to a combination of three factors:
First, Lombard makes full use of the Mercedes-Benz FleetBoard telematics hardware fitted as standard to all new Actros. FleetBoard monitors driving style and highlights incidences of over-revving, harsh braking and other factors which can impact on fuel consumption. “It’s a highly effective educational tool,” said Mr Fraser. “By compiling a ‘league table’ of scores we’ve fostered a real spirit of competition between our drivers, to see who can be the most economical.”
The trucks are also fitted with Mercedes-Benz Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) systems. PPC combines cruise control with GPS mapping so the vehicle can ‘see’ the road ahead and make gear shifts, or throttle back where appropriate, in anticipation of changes in gradient. Tests have shown PPC can deliver savings of 5%, although many UK operators have reported much higher gains. The system is available as an option on new Actros but can now also be retro-fitted to vehicles already on the road.
Finally, Lombard’s drivers have benefited from coaching by Orwell Truck & Van’s ‘Fuel-Saver’, driver-trainer Lee Betts, who has shown them how to make full use of the on-board technology and thereby achieve optimum efficiency.
The Actros are the subject of Agility funding agreements from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services – these provide all the benefits of hire purchase with a balloon payment, including low monthly outgoings, but offer additional flexibility by allowing customers to choose from a range of options at the end of the term.
“The Agility payments are highly competitive and we’re able to put off deciding what to do at the end of the contract until much nearer the time,” added Mr Fraser.
“It’s another example of the great customer service we receive from Orwell. They don’t just ‘sit and listen’, but come to us with suggestions if they think they can help us to operate more cost-effectively. For instance, they recently submitted a proposal to retro-fit PPC to several 18-tonne Antos rigids, which we set on the road last year. We’re currently ‘crunching the numbers’ to calculate what level of saving we could potentially achieve.”
Terex AWP has announced the appointment of Gary Cooke to
Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East for the AWP business segment. He will report directly to Charbel
Kordahi. Kordahi was recently promoted to Managing Director for Terex Material Handling & A.W.P, Middle
East & Southern Africa. In his new expanded role, Sharbel takes on responsibility for the Terex Material
Handling facility in the Middle East, in addition to his AWP responsibility. He will also drive, change and
provide strategic and operational leadership.
Cooke’s principle role will be to support distributors and channel partners of Genie® products in the Middle
East, and establish new distributor relationships in territories within the region. Prior to joining Terex, Gary
spent the last 20 years working in the Middle East, including 14 years with Lavendon Group's Middle East
business Rapid Access. He was instrumental in the growth of Lavendon’s UAE business and its expansion
into Abu Dhabi, KSA & Kuwait. More recently Gary helped develop a remote project supply, and as
International Business Development Manager was successful in supplying Powered Access into Egypt,
Algeria, Turkmenistan and Iraq before setting up the Rapid Access depot in Basra.
VisionTrack today announced the launch of a new 3G vehicle camera that is capable of transmitting footage using extremely low amounts of data, making 3G cameras an affordable technology solution to aid road safety initiatives and protect against fraudulent claims.
The VT2000 is the in-vehicle CCTV specialist’s latest product in a line-up of full HD 1080p cameras, with built-in 3G M2M Module, GPS and GLONASS for improved accuracy. It easily streams footage using advanced technology that reduces the amount of data needed to send snapshot video, meaning a ten-second clip can be transferred in under 350kB. Fleet managers therefore benefit from increased volumes of driving footage, not only aiding proactive driver monitoring and training programmes but also giving faster access to vital video and telemetry data in the event of an incident.
Simon Marsh, VisionTrack’s Managing Director, said: “3G cameras are not new, but because of the size of the video files, which in some cases can be as large as 12,000kB for a ten-second clip, transmitting and storing footage has up to now been cost prohibitive for mass deployment. In the event of an incident, fleet managers receive First Notification of Loss (FNOL) through our camera, with a ten-second 350kB snapshot clip sent in as little as five seconds, and have the option to instantly request full HD footage to give them complete visibility of the event. Furthermore, the camera will stay live for five minutes, even with the ignition off, in order to protect against claims from ‘ghost passengers’. If needed, this can be remotely streamed back to our platform. This enables fleet managers to quickly access information for peace of mind and helps protect themselves and their employees against exaggerated and fraudulent claims.”
He added: “A quality clip recorded on our VT2000 camera can be sent and uploaded to our platform in seconds, even in areas where 3G network coverage is poor, because it transmits smaller files. Such footage can usually only be sent in larger files, which can take considerably longer to upload in weak signal areas – if it uploads at all – and requires larger amounts of potentially costly data.”
Alongside its recording and transmission capabilities, the VT2000 platform generates reports on vehicle location, speed, impact force and driving styles, allowing fleet managers to monitor drivers at all times. Drivers can be additionally supported through the camera’s real-time audible notifications, warning of speeding and erratic behaviours, allowing them to alter performance and encouraging safer driving.
Simon concluded: “With the continual prevalence of crash for cash and 180,000 reported casualties on the road in Great Britain from June 2014 to June 2015 alone*, the need for a robust and scalable vehicle camera and tracking solution is clear. We truly are at the forefront of our industry and are in a strong position to meet this need, effectively combining both elements to provide invaluable insight into fleet operations and enable total visibility of activities and driving standards.”
A groundbreaking new collaborative research and development (R&D) project will place Scotland at the forefront of the £7 billion global sensors and imaging systems market, deliver significant economic growth and onshore 41 highly skilled research and manufacturing jobs from Asia.
The initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland and backed by Scottish Enterprise and CENSIS, the Scottish Innovation Centre for Sensors and Imaging Systems, will bring together companies and organisations to collaborate on the production of materials integral to manufacturing a variety of goods that use sensors, ranging from asthma inhalers to infrared cameras.
Four companies - Cascade Technologies (lead company partner), Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global (CSTG), Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd (GSS), Amethyst Research Ltd - and the Research Division of Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering at The University of Glasgow will combine their expertise in different aspects of manufacturing next generation sensing technologies to produce a wide range of products for different end markets. The project will also see high performance III-V infrared detector specialists, Amethyst Research Ltd, continue to locate its operations in Scotland to gain access to Europe.
Aiming to cumulatively boost turnover for the businesses by £135 million over the next 10 years, and cut their production costs by up to 50%, the project will give them a critical competitive edge in the global mid-IR sensors1 market. The project is expected to deliver £56 million to the Scottish economy over the next 10 years.
Dr Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “This ground breaking project is further evidence of Scotland’s global competitiveness. The companies involved are great examples of the innovative supply chain in Scotland, highlighting why we continue to be an attractive location for technology manufacturing investment.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “This project is an excellent example of how collaborative working can support the development of advanced manufacturing technologies, boosting productivity and driving growth. Innovation Centres have a unique role to play in engaging with businesses to identify new solutions and we would like to see more of these types of projects develop in the future.”
The project will provide the organisations with access to III-V semiconductors2, allowing the companies involved to create cutting-edge, quality mid-IR sensors in high volumes with greater sensitivity, lower cost, reduced energy use and a longer lifespan than existing products. These can be employed in a wealth of applications including: gas analysers, methane sensors, distributed feedback lasers3 and a vast array of industrial processes.
Working at locations across central Scotland, each company will bring expertise in the growth of these materials and play an important collaborative role in the supply chain. The businesses will then take the materials and produce a variety of different products relevant to their specific end markets – none of them will compete with each other.
Bringing significant production capability back to the UK, access to these materials and the technology used to produce them will help to develop Scotland’s technical skills in advanced sensors and imaging systems. This will also allow further innovation and breakthroughs with the materials through continuing collaborative research and the sharing of expertise.
Combined with the dozens of indigenous companies which could make use of the facility and Glasgow’s academic landscape, the project presents a globally unique proposition for manufacturing mid-IR sensor devices.
The project is supported with almost £6 million in funding over the next three years, comprising £2.8 million from the companies participating, £2.6 million from Scottish Enterprise’s collaborative R&D support and £241,000 plus capital equipment provided by CENSIS.
Ian Reid, chief executive of CENSIS, said: “This project will have a momentous impact on Scottish industry and is a game-changer for collaborative R&D. Not only will it underpin the development of Scotland’s sensors and imaging sector, which already accounts for £2.6 billion in annual revenues, but it will also provide the academic community with access to cutting edge technology; allowing further innovation and collaboration.
“Scotland has the potential to be at the forefront of the global sensors and imaging systems sector, and this project could make that a reality. We have the opportunity to innovate continually from the design and growth of the materials, right through to the wide variety of products which can be manufactured and their extensive applications.
“Collaboration between these companies and the academic community will put both of these groups at the forefront of global trends and in a unique position to access new markets, ultimately creating a globally competitive supply chain of businesses.”
Portlandzementwerk Wotan H. Schneider from Üxheim-Ahütte in the Volcanic Eifel has acquired a Pipe Conveyor manufactured by BEUMER Group to transport clinker to its cement mill. The 200-metre-long conveying system is customised to fit perfectly into the local environment. Since the system is completely enclosed, no material can fall on the road or passing vehicles. Additionally, absolutely no dust is released into the air, which greatly benefits the environment, which greatly benefits the environment. Furthermore, the conveyor is economical in operation, energy-efficient and maintenance-friendly.
Around 380 million years ago, huge limestone reserves accumulated in the lime dell of Hillesheim in the Volcanic Eifel region of Germany. Numerous dolomite formations and several basalt and lava cones demonstrate the geological diversity of the area. At the heart of the region lies the small parish of Üxheim-Ahütte. Portlandzementwerk Wotan H. Schneider KG, informally known as Wotan Zement, has had its plant on the outskirts of the village with 180 inhabitants since 1923. The family-owned enterprise has 70 employees and produces nine cement types. According to technical director Gerd Morenhoven, these include Portland cement, Portland limestone cement, Portland pozzolana cement, blast-furnace cement and Portland slag cement. These are bagged or filled into silo trucks and transported to construction sites, ready-mix plants, concrete component manufacturers and building material traders.
The enterprise mines the necessary raw materials (limestone and marl) in the Üxheim, Nohn, Berndorf and Kerpen quarries that all lie closely together in the lime dell of Hillesheim. For the manufacturing of cement clinker, limestone and marl are crushed and homogenised with additional raw materials. In raw mills, the materials are ground to the necessary grain size and dried. The resulting raw meal is then homogenised and temporarily stored in large silos. To obtain cement clinker, a coarse intermediate product, the raw meal is first transported into the cyclone preheater. There it is preheated and deacidified at temperatures of over 950 degrees Celsius. The material then moves into the rotary kiln where it is burned at temperatures of around 1,450 degrees Celsius. "Due to increased demand for Portland cement we currently need to buy additional cement clinker. It is delivered in trucks to a specially built clinker receiving station", explains the technical director. The cement manufacturer needed an efficient solution for transporting the arriving material to the processing site. "We were looking for an eco-friendly and low-maintenance solution", specifies Gerd Morenhoven. The new conveyor had to be optimally adapted to the existing premises; for example, it had to follow the course of the access road and not lose any material during transport, even on uphill and downhill slopes.
Comprehensive expertise, optimum support
For the building material manufacturer, BEUMER Group was their first choice to supply optimal conveying equipment. The provider of conveying solutions has been well-established in the building industry for nearly 80 years. BEUMER has bundled its comprehensive expertise in the industry and established different Centers of Competence to offer optimal support to building material manufacturers by providing single-source solutions. The Pipe Conveyor segment is one of BEUMER's Centers of Competence, which are in charge of worldwide project management and sales. This specific project was carried out in close collaboration between the group companies in Austria and the Czech Republic.
Maximum environmental protection, minimum maintenance
"Together with the management team in Üxheim-Ahütte, we developed a solution that is tailored exactly to match the customer's requirements", says Josef Amon, project manager at BEUMER Group Austria GmbH who was responsible for the project. It became apparent that a Pipe Conveyor was the best solution offering environmental protection and low maintenance. Wotan Zement already has a Pipe Conveyor and the system has stood the test of time. "Its closed design reliably protects the environment from dust and people or vehicles from falling goods", explains Josef Amon. The conveyors also offer many other advantages. They are able to navigate long distances and tight vertical and horizontal curve radii. The ability to negotiate sharp curves means that far fewer transfer towers are needed in comparison with other belt conveyors — or, depending on conveying length and curve radii, even none at all. Thanks to this, the customer can significantly reduce costs and BEUMER can more easily adapt the system to specific requirements.
BEUMER Group supplied and installed a system with a pipe diameter of 200 millimetres and a length of 213 metres. It conveys up to 200 tons of material per hour. Another system advantage is the reduced noise emission of the Pipe Conveyor. Special idlers, low-noise bearings and electric motors work very quietly. "This makes for a more pleasant working environment for our employees. Besides, the people in the vicinity are not disturbed by the noise. It is an important aspect, since the plant is located on the outskirts", notes Gerd Morenhoven.
Smooth performance from start to finish
Besides the supply and installation of the Pipe Conveyor, BEUMER also took care of all the necessary solutions for ensuring flawless operation. Among other things, BEUMER equipped the conveying system with a magnetic separator.
The route of the Pipe Conveyor now runs along the access road, crosses a weigh-bridge, then reaches a two-way chute. There, clinker is either transported to the mill via an existing reversible belt conveyor or taken to the existing clinker store.
Constructive solutions
BEUMER Group was in charge of the entire process. BEUMER Austria took over the project implementation: its employees created the basic design and included all the systems supplied by the customer, delivered the components and commissioned the Pipe Conveyor. BEUMER Czech Republic a.s. took care of the detailed engineering, the steel structure and the installation. "We designed the frames so that they could support the pipeline for pneumatic cement transport supplied by the customer", explains Josef Amon. This pneumatic pipeline was part of another project. The simultaneous use of the Pipe Conveyor frames as a pipeline bridge allowed for substantial cost savings in the other project. "The challenge was to do without additional supporting structures", says Josef Amon. Furthermore, the engineers integrated the Pipe Conveyor into the existing plant structure. "However, because the system was quite old, there was very little documentation left", he reminisces. That challenge, too, was successfully mastered by BEUMER, as Pipe Conveyors are quite easy to integrate into existing plants.
The complete project implementation lasted around ten months. Since February 2015 the system has been operating successfully. "We are very pleased", says the technical director, Gerd Morenhoven. "The transport from the clinker receiving station to the clinker store or the mill is performed quietly, quickly and without material loss".
Chris Davies has been appointed Technical Manager at Cargo 2000, based at the organisation’s Geneva, Switzerland headquarters.
Davies brings over 14 years of experience in the air freight IT sector and joins the new Cargo 2000 management team, headed by Ariaen Zimmerman, Executive Director.
“Chris has a reputation for delivering robust projects and solutions for his customers, and prides himself on his ability to act as a conduit between commercial and technology teams,” said Zimmerman.
“He is very much looking forward to continuing his efforts to promote industry-wide quality standards from within the Cargo 2000 team.”
The Board met in Amsterdam this week to review progress on its strategic transformation program and plan next steps for its brand relaunch later this year.
Before joining Cargo 2000, Davies worked with Descartes Systems Group in London, where he led various systems integration projects for the company’s GF-X electronic cargo-booking portal for freight forwarders and carriers.
Descartes is a valued partner and systems provider for Cargo 2000.
Davies has previously served on the C2K Technical Working Group and will be responsible for delivering the core technical C2K product.
“I am looking forward to liaising productively with all stakeholders within the C2K community, many of whom I have worked closely with over the years,” said Davies.
“I am keen to continue to develop these relationships and to bring the fresh perspective of someone who has been at the core of the industry for some time to help define the future strategy and achieve the objectives of Cargo 2000 in a way that addresses the needs of all industry participants.”
Davies joins Cargo 2000’s new management team as the organization prepares to rebrand in the New Year, part of a change program which involves a revision of door-to-door specification, a Smart Data project and a revised Audit and Certification program.
Gray & Adams the UK’s leading manufacturer of temperature-controlled transport equipment has launched its 60th anniversary celebrations by hosting a visit from HRH Prince Charles and announcing its intention to build the UK’s first, maximum-length, lifting-deck semi-trailer.
The Prince, who as heir to the throne uses the title of Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland, was conducted on a tour of Gray & Adams’ Fraserburgh headquarters by Joint Managing Directors Peter and James Gray. He chatted with staff from all levels of the business and viewed the production facilities in which the ground-breaking 15.65m trailer is to be built.
Commissioned by an established, high-profile customer, its precise specification has yet to be confirmed. However, it will feature four separate temperature zones and offer a capacity of 60 pallets, comfortably more than double the number that can be carried on a standard, 13.6m single-deck trailer.Gray & Adams began life in 1957, when panel beater Jim Gray and motor mechanic Jim Adams set up a car and body repair business to serve the area in and around Fraserburgh.
Six decades on and still family-owned, it is now a £150-million turnover business employing more than 700 people in Scotland’s North-East and at other production facilities in Belfast, Doncaster and Dunfermline, as well as an after sales centre in Bedford.
Although Gray & Adams also builds dry freight trailers and bodies, including highly specialised vehicles for niche markets, it is for temperature-controlled equipment that the company is best-known. Its products enjoy an unrivalled reputation for quality and durability, and are chosen by many of the biggest names on UK roads, including all of the major supermarkets.
Innovation has also been a Gray & Adams hallmark since its earliest days, and the 15.65m lifting-deck project once again underlines its technological leadership. Having built some of the first insulated trailers for the transportation of perishable goods in the late 1950s, Gray & Adams went on to manufacture the industry’s first double-deck trailer in 1994, and its first lifting-deck version in 2000.
The company has also pioneered the development of longer, 14.6m and 15.65m semi-trailers, since the Department of Transport launched a major trial in 2012. It has built fixed double-deck variants at lengths in excess of 14m. But neither Gray & Adams, nor any of its competitors, has yet engineered a twin-deck version at the maximum permissible 15.65m length, let alone one with a lifting second deck for easier loading and unloading.
Fiercely proud of its ‘British built’ heritage, the company was honoured to mark the start of its 60th anniversary year by welcoming HRH Prince Charles for its first Royal visit. He was accompanied by James Ingleby, the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, and welcomed by Jim Gray’s sons Peter and James.
The factory tour took in the various stages of the production process, with the Prince showing particular interest in the different types of insulated panel used by the manufacturer to build its trailers and bodies.
He spoke to staff who explained their roles, and also to several of those among the ranks of cheering colleagues who lined his route between the site’s buildings – not even a torrential downpour could dampen their enthusiasm.
The Gray & Adams team invited a number of leading customers, and they also had the opportunity to meet the Royal guest and see him unveil the plaque commemorating the biggest day in the company’s history.
Before returning to the helicopter in which he arrived, Prince Charles received a number of gifts as mementoes of his visit. Among them were scale models of tractor units and double-deck trailers bearing the names of his grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte. These were presented by Stuart Philpot, aged 13, and his sister Grace, 10, founder Jim Gray’s own grandchildren by his daughter Marie Philpot, who is also a Gray & Adams Director.
Peter Gray commented: “This company has grown out of all recognition over the last 60 years. However, we remain a family-owned business with all that this implies in terms of our personal commitment to customer care, and to the training and development of our people. Indeed, we are proud of the many long-serving members of staff who have remained loyal to Gray & Adams throughout their entire careers.
“A lot of time and effort went into the planning of this visit, which was a huge success. The Prince was very interested in what we do, and demonstrated an impressive understanding of some of the engineering challenges that we have to overcome in tailoring equipment to meet the specific requirements of our customers.
“Our Royal guest was also very generous with his time, chatting with numerous members of the company team and leaving them with memories they will never forget. His visit was the perfect way in which to celebrate this important milestone in the history of our company.”
After 10 years operating as Senior Vice President for Toyota Material Handling Europe, Nick Duckworth has now taken the position of Managing Director for Toyota Material Handling UK following the retirement of Mike Matthias. Duckworth is a long serving member of Toyota with vast experience gained in the material handling world. He brings a wealth of skill and experience gained as SVP for Logistics, Rental, Used and Service and also as chairman in many European countries including the biggest two markets Germany and France. “I’m really looking forward to getting closer to customers and ensuring Toyota Material Handling UK is the customer’s preferred choice partner for material handling solutions. The UK is an incredibly important market for Toyota both at a European and global level.” Duckworth adds “It’s an exciting time to join the UK team as we see many opportunities for continued growth in our core forklift solutions business as well as for exploiting the full potential from developments in our automation offering and Toyota’s acquisition of Vanderlande. We have a fantastic platform from which to continue our growth in the UK and I am excited and honoured to be part of a great team and leading the company.”
Jon Buckley who joined Toyota as Commercial Director from April, succeeds Tony Wallis, the previous incumbent who retired at the end of April. Buckley has a passion for delivering outstanding performance and customer service and brings a wealth of experience gained from working with major brands in the UK materials handling industry. Duckworth adds “We’re delighted to have secured Jon’s services, he will be a major contributor to our continued success.“
Both Duckworth and Buckley are excited about driving the business forward and working with Toyota’s UK team. Duckworth added “We have a great team here at Toyota Material Handling and an exciting journey ahead of us to ensure that we are the customer’s preferred choice as well as to grow our business further and reflect our position as the world’s number one material handling company.”
As part of its expanding business strategy for global distribution, Terex Minerals Processing Systems are pleased has announced the appointment of Rocktec, who will become the new Distributor for New Zealand.
Global Director, Terex Minerals Processing Systems, Simon Croker said, “We are delighted to welcome Rocktec to our global dealer network. This is a great opportunity for us to work with this highly experienced business to expand and strengthen our foothold in New Zealand as a crushing and screening solutions provider. We are sure that the excellent reputation that Rocktec have for service and support will also enhance the customer experience”.
Construction of BITO UK’s new HQ is well under way - and you can keep an eye on its progress via a ‘live cam’ at: http://bito.reachtimelapse.co.uk/newunit/index.php
The new HQ - which includes offices, Client Test & Experience Centre and Distribution Warehouse - is being built on a site just across the road from BITO’s current Nuneaton premises. The new site location will ensure that there will be no staff loss or disruption to customer service as BITO have over two years left on their current facilities lease.
Edward Hutchison, MD of BITO said: “The new building is a significant investment for the BITO Group - it will double the capacity of our existing facilities. This will allow us to employ additional staff to support our expanding sales, enable visitors to view all of our award winning products plus hold a broader range of stock in addition to an increased volume of fast moving stock items. We expect the new Distribution Centre to be fully operational in January 2016. Given the importance of this project to BITO, we invite our customers and supply partners to monitor its progress via the Reach Timelapse camera so that they can see for themselves how we are doing.”
Reach Timelapse provides construction timelapse cameras for projects across the UK. Examples of its footage can be seen on www.reachtimelapse.co.uk. This includes a case study of the demolition of an existing Sainsbury's distribution warehouse and the build of new state-of-the-art facility in Basingstoke.
Software application and engineering company Red Ledge is to exhibit its latest, fast-deployment manufacturing production system on business partner Fairfield Group’s Stand A21 at the PPMA 2015 event. ‘Red Ledge Manufacturer’ is an innovative new manufacturing production system that uses pre-designed, pre-defined production processes to allow faster, more cost-effective deployment for any manufacturer say Red Ledge. The system uses barcode or RFID* technology to track every stage of production, and enables KPI reporting for manufacturing targets. It can be integrated with all mainstream ERP systems. (*Radio frequency identification)
Also on show, ‘Red Ledge WMS’ can be added to Red Ledge Manufacturer to extend its scope for users wishing to integrate their manufacturing and logistics processes. This system can also be deployed standalone.
At PPMA 2015 Red Ledge is also exhibiting the latest version of its ‘Red Ledge Asset Management System’ (AMS) mobile distributed solution. It can be run remotely, in real time using RFID technology that requires no line of site, and is suitable for any organisation with widely distributed assets on multiple sites. Red Ledge AMS is a fully managed system that not only checks the location of an asset but also tracks any scheduled and unscheduled asset maintenance for it.
Red Ledge business partner Fairfield Group (PPMA Stand A21) is a manufacturer of high performance specialist and bespoke, self-adhesive labels for all industry sectors and a supplier of barcoding and RFID equipment.
“Our company motto is process perfect” says Red Ledge managing director Andy O’Donnell. “We hope that visitors to the show will benefit from our smart technology to make cost-effective improvements to their own production, logistics and asset management processes.”
The team at leading palletised distribution network, Palletline is celebrating winning the Motor Transport ‘Safety in Operation’ Award at the event’s 30thannual ceremony.
This is the second time in three years that Palletline has won the ‘Safety in Operation’ Award and the news comes shortly after the network scooped yet another RoSPA Gold Award for safety. It was a great night for the network with member Potter Logistics also winning haulier of the year.
Irish stand-up comedian and actor Ed Byrne presented the awards in front of more than 1,600 guests at the Grosvenor House – A JW Marriott Hotel on London’s Park Lane.
Judges said Palletline had achieved results beyond expectation and praised the decision to limit the weight of tail-lift deliveries to 750kg to reduce the risk of accidents. They added it was good to see a strong safety culture being led from the top down.
Palletline managing director Graham Leitch said: “Throughout our history, Palletline has driven improvements in health and safety by introducing numerous practices that are now the industry standard. Beyond this, Palletline has created a culture where health and safety is central to every task undertaken by every member of staff. This top down thinking is very much driven by our QHSE manager Ken Bell who has done a fantastic job in helping us lead the industry in maintaining a safe working environment and has the full backing of the board, management team and most importantly – of the staff.
“Here at Palletline we don’t simply believe that being safe improves safety – we believe it feeds into all areas of the business and ties in with our ethos of innovation and excellence, to improve everything we do for members and their customers. As such we specifically wanted to enter the category as it is an award that says so much about the standards of the network. We are proud and delighted to have won this prestigious award and would like to share this moment with every single member of staff for making this possible.”
Increasing recurring costs, such as salaries and fuel, add pressure to empty container depot operators, who are constantly looking for new logistics solutions to further optimise operations.
Materials handling equipment manufacturer, Hyster, in cooperation with depot operator Hamburg Container Service GmbH (HCS), has developed a Checker Device for empty container handlers that significantly simplifies the inspection of containers, helping to reduce costs.
With the Hyster Checker Device, containers can be firmly locked in place at a height of 1.9 metres. This allows the checker to inspect the containers thoroughly for damage from all sides. The advantage of this is that the container no longer needs to be set down for inspection.
“This cuts out a stage from the procedure and saves time, which significantly increases the efficiency of our operation," says Dr. Roland Karnbach, Managing Director of HCS. "The only way for us to stay competitive is by systematically optimising all costs."
It was on Dr. Karnbach's suggestion that Hyster set about designing the new retaining device for containers. The Hyster Special Engineering Department (SPED) in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, developed the innovative solution for empty container handler inspections in under two years.
New Hyster innovation ready for market launch
Hyster first conducted a series of experiments by fitting several machines with the Checker Device for HCS at its big trucks production site in Nijmegen. Hydraulic supports were welded directly onto the mast. These supports can be extended at the touch of a button and then locked to keep both the spreader and the container in place. A traffic light and an acoustic warning signal indicate to the checker that the spreader is fixed and the container stabilised. While in this ‘inspection position’, the driver can no longer move the container handler, which allows the checker to inspect all sides of the containers with ease.
Hyster has since developed this innovative system to market launch stage, and has now delivered the first two H22XM-12EC empty container handlers to HCS. The robust container handlers with Checker Devices have been used in everyday operation since November 2014. The company, which employs a workforce of 60, is planning to fit all its container handlers with the new system in the near future. HCS is receiving technical support from the experienced Hamburg Hyster dealer NORGATEC, which is also providing a full service for each of the specially equipped container handlers.
Taking customer needs seriously
"We are designing our new systems and solutions precisely according to our customers' wishes," says Norbert Brünell, Senior Product Strategy Manager Big Trucks EMEA at Hyster in Nijmegen, Netherlands. "Our close relationships with our customers and direct knowledge of container handling equipment manufacturing for the German market enable us to make innovations very quickly and precisely." Hyster is the only materials handling equipment manufacturer to have developed its own solution -the Checker Device- for the inspection of 20 and 40 ft sea containers. Rather than producing an attachment, Hyster has provided equipment that is fixed directly onto the mast. "The priority for Hyster is always to increase productivity through the use of its materials handling equipment and to reduce overall operating costs," says Brünell. The two new Hyster empty container handlers fitted with the Checker Device at HCS conform to Stage IIIB emissions regulations. The next generation of container handlers for the Hamburg-based company will be equipped with Cummins engines and exhaust systems in conformity with Stage IV. Their fuel consumption will be up to 20 percent lower than that of older models and their CO2 emissions will be further reduced as a result.
Container handler operating costs further reduced
The fuel savings and optimised productivity are really paying off for HCS. Around 500 containers arrive at the company's site near the port of Hamburg every day. The containers are delivered directly to HCS on trucks, trains and ships from six o'clock in the morning onwards. The Hyster empty container handlers then take over the handling of the containers within the depot.
The three storage areas at HCS have a total capacity of over 13,000 TEU -almost enough to fill a large container ship. As soon as they arrive, the empty containers are visually inspected by the checkers and examined for damage.
If repairs or cleaning are required, this can be more accurately assessed by the checker directly at the storage site, using the empty container handler fitted with the Checker Device. Minor faults, such as damage to the doors or the interior, are then repaired immediately on site, or the container is transported to one of two repair zones.
For Dr. Karnbach, the new system is ideal: "The solutions that Hyster offers us are perfectly tailored to every requirement, and they will continue to keep us one step ahead of our competitors in the future."
The first Mercedes-Benz Actros to wear the eye-catching livery of flour miller and distributor Whitworth Bros has certainly risen to the occasion, delivering outstanding fuel efficiency and winning a resounding ‘thumbs up’ from drivers.
So impressed is the Wellingborough-based operator that it recently set a second, identical unit on the road, while supplying Dealer Intercounty Truck & Van will grab another slice of the fleet when it delivers two more Actros later this year.
The tractors now in service are both 2545 models with aerodynamic StreamSpace cabs and 330 kW (450 hp) straight-six engines driving through smooth Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmissions. They make nationwide bulk deliveries of bagged, palletised flour on curtainside trailers.
Intercounty Truck & Van has also supplied Whitworth Bros with a 26-tonne Antos 2536 with uprated, 9.0-tonne front axle, which entered service a year ago, and a new, 7.5-tonne FUSO Canter 7C18 – Mercedes-Benz Dealers are additionally responsible for sales and support of the popular Japanese light truck range in the UK. Both rigids have curtainside bodies by Kurt Hobbs Coachworks, of Northampton, and are on multi-drop work.
The two vehicles scheduled for delivery in October will also operate from Whitbros Bros’s Wellingborough site, and be used to deliver flour in tipping powder tank trailers to customers nationwide. Both will be 2445 StreamSpace variants with small-wheeled mid-lift axles which, as well as saving weight, will free up extra space on the chassis to accommodate Gardner Denver’s blowing equipment.
Established in 1886, Whitworth Bros remains a traditional family business with traditional values, but sets its sights firmly on the future and invests heavily in cutting-edge technology, so that its mills are among the most advanced in the world.
The company runs a mixed-marque fleet of approximately 70 trucks, the vast majority of which are tractor units. Its first Mercedes-Benz vehicle, an Axor tractor, was in service from 2010-2013, when it reached the end of its contract. It was, said Regional Distribution Manager Colin Spurrier, “The most reliable vehicle on the fleet.”
Whitworth Bros commissioned its first Actros, a Euro 5 model, in October 2014. “That truck has been a great success,” confirmed Mr Spurrier. “At around 9 mpg the fuel returns are as good as, if not better, than anything else on the fleet.
“Just as importantly, given the company’s commitment to retaining our best staff, driver feedback on the Actros has also been exceptionally positive – they really appreciate the vehicle’s comfortable, well laid out cab.”
Whitworth Bros’s latest trucks are the subject of CharterWay contract hire agreements from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, under which inspections and servicing are being undertaken by Intercounty Truck & Van’s factory-trained technicians.
“We are a very image-conscious company and like to keep the fleet looking smart – our new Mercedes-Benz vehicles have already attracted lots of compliments from customers and others who’ve seen them on the road,” added Colin Spurrier.
“All of our trucks are contract-hired because as well as offering the predictable costs that allow us to budget with confidence, this acquisition method means we get new vehicles every five years.”
The Open Shuttle driverless vehicles supplied by KNAPP to agricultural products supplier, Grene, at the company’s automated warehouse in Denmark utilise swarm intelligence to optimise transport processes.
An international group serving the industrial, wind power generation and agricultural sectors, Grene has operations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as dealers worldwide. The Grene Agro division is focused on the needs of the farming sector, parks and forestry organisations. It supplies spare parts for agricultural vehicles, farm tools and products for animal husbandry, all of which are sold through a dealer network, either in stores or via a webshop. Grene Agro holds more than 100,000 items in stock and also manufactures custom-made parts in its own workshop at the company’s headquarters in Skjern, Denmark. With farmers requiring rapid deliveries of parts and supplies – especially during key periods, such as harvesting – Grene’s automated warehouse offers same-day service, with orders received in the morning being delivered to customers before 4pm or the next day before 7am.
Back in 2012, Grene decided on a comprehensive expansion and retrofit of its existing warehouse in order to meet growing demand and become equipped for multi-channel distribution. At the heart of the new solution was KNAPP’s OSR ShuttleTM goods-to-person storage and picking system and, working alongside it, the Open Shuttle mini Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which independently handle complex transport jobs.
Flexibility
Grene sought a flexible and space-efficient solution to connect the various areas of its warehouse. A static conveyor system was out of the question, as there were long distances to be covered and there was a requirement for clear access for personnel, forklift trucks and other transport vehicles. KNAPP’s Open Shuttles have proven to be an ideal alternative, operating reliably for over 10 hours a day for more than six months. The three Open Shuttles at the site are used for a variety of tasks including replenishment of workstations and transport of completed parts to the OSR ShuttleTM for storage.
Rapid installation
The integration of the Open Shuttles into the existing warehouse was remarkably quick and easy, with start-up and training completed in just two weeks. The user interface for monitoring the Open Shuttles is designed to be especially intuitive and user-friendly. The system can be adapted to changing logistics needs rapidly too. The customer can configure everything easily – including the activation or deactivation of the Open Shuttles, making changes to the layout, changing paths, locking warehouse areas and much more. “The transport processes can be set up very quickly and flexibly with the Open Shuttles,” says Dennis Pallesen, Grene’s Warehouse Manager. “This saves us time and we can work much more efficiently. In addition, our warehouse staff view working with the Open Shuttles very positively.”
Swarming safely
The free-moving vehicles work according to the principle of swarm intelligence: the fleet adjusts to the work requirements and takes care of tasks independently in the different areas of the warehouse. The swarm is where the work is. As well as intelligent routing, the Open Shuttles ensure safe movement. Through an innovative dimension scanner, the Open Shuttle detects static as well as moving objects and reacts intuitively. The Open Shuttles independently plan the fastest route for their tasks and find alternative routes when blocked by an obstacle, without the need for optical or physical aids. This guarantees safe and flexible interaction with people and other transport vehicles, including other Open Shuttles.
JCB will be showcasing the latest in its extensive waste and recycling range – the brand new 457 Wastemaster Wheeled Loading Shovel – at this year’s RWM at the NEC, Birmingham.
The 457 is packed full of new features that enhance user productivity, profitability and safety, including a Tier 4 Final emissions compliant engine, with fuel efficiency gains of up to 16%, and completely new JCB CommandPlus Cab.
The robust Wastemaster machines come with legendary JCB build quality and dependability and are tailor-made for the materials managed by the industry. Each machine is developed to perform in typical waste site conditions.
JCB has been providing machines dedicated to the needs of the waste recycling industry for more than 30 years and it offers the largest range of machines dedicated to re-handling. Come along to stand 5P20-R21, where you can also see the 560-80 Wastemaster Loadall and 35D 4x4 Wastemaster Teletruk, to see which JCB machine is for you.
The MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A Australia Express Service is to begin calling at DP World London Gateway Port, the UK’s newest deep-sea terminal, following changes to the service.
The service will now provide direct calls between DP World London Gateway Port, King Abdullah port in Saudi Arabia, Colombo in Sri Lanka and ports around the Australian coast. It will be the fastest direct service between Northern Europe and Australia in the market.
The call is a new trade lane into DP World London Gateway Port, further enhancing the suite of services on offer to UK importers and exporters. It is also a new service for the UK.
In full, the new rotation will call at DP World London Gateway Port, Antwerp, Le Havre, Fos-Sur-Mer, La Spezia, Naples, Gioia Tauro, Port Louis, Pointe des Galets, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Colombo, King Abdullah, Valencia, DP World London Gateway Port.
MSC Roberta made her first stop at DP World London Gateway Port on Friday, August 7, marking the commencement of the weekly service.
Kelvin Wilden, Operations Director, MSC UK, said: “We are pleased to announce improvements to the Australia Express service in response to customer needs.
“The Australia Express will now provide direct calls between DP World London Gateway Port and Australia, offering the fastest direct service in the market connecting Oceania with the UK and North West Continent. This service improvement will complement our competitive transit times to all other global destinations, using MSC’s vast transshipment network of services.
“We already have a good working relationship with the DP World London Gateway team and this new service further enhances the extensive choice of ports that we offer to both our import and export customers.”
His Excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, said: “We are delighted to have secured a call on the MSC Australia Express Service.
“This service offers some of the most competitive transits to the UK, not only from Australia but also from Colombo in Sri Lanka.
“MSC are already operating the South Africa service into DP World London Gateway Port, so it is testament to the good work being done here, that MSC is willing to add another service into the port.
“This is further evidence of just how compelling the proposition is at DP World London Gateway Port and Logistics Park. With excellent road, rail and sea access just 25 miles from central London, the use of cutting-edge port technology is both streamlining and bringing previously unmatched integrity and reliability to UK supply chains.”
The announcement by MSC follows the opening of Pentalver’s permanent, new five-acre depot at the port. Robert Goodwill, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport also visited the port and logistics park recently to help formally open the DP World London Gateway Logistics Centre.
JCB Finance is launching a campaign to provide additional support for SMEs in the industrial sector when taking out external funding.
The campaign comes after new research commissioned by JCB Finance revealed that more than a quarter of respondents who had bank loans or overdrafts did not believe they had the potential risks to personal assets explained to them when borrowing from the banks.
JCB Finance has therefore pledged to help SMEs access more secure funding to finance capital equipment without unnecessary security of personal assets, and is preparing to launch a number of exciting new services.
Paul Jennings, Managing Director of JCB Finance, commented: “We know from experience the importance of providing our customers with reassurance and understanding, and importantly tailoring our services to meet our customers’ needs.
“Unlike big banks, who have in some cases withdrawn funding from small businesses when they needed it most, JCB Finance has always gone out of its way to support customers with asset finance, using hire purchase and leasing to help small businesses secure the resources they needed while protecting their working capital.
“Such options give customers a regular and fixed payment schedule as a secure alternative to payment on demand loans, something which the research highlighted as a top priority, with 89% of those surveyed stating that managing working capital is important to their business.”
The research also highlighted the variety of preferences when it comes to how customers would like to arrange finance facilities. More than half prefer a face to face meeting whilst a quarter would rather talk over the phone, 14% like to arrange finance at the point of purchase and 10% prefer to arrange finance by email. JCB Finance therefore offers a range of on and offline communication channels tailored to meet its customers’ needs.
In addition, the survey identified that 41% of small business owners find it difficult to find time in conventional office hours to arrange finance and when it comes to cyber security, more than half of those surveyed said that they worry about exchanging information and attachments by email.
JCB Finance is therefore delighted to announce the forthcoming launch of its Online and Sign Online platforms. Scheduled to launch in October 2017, they will enable the convenient and secure signing of finance agreements, without the need for printing, scanning and emailing. It will also enable customers to access their agreement details, any related correspondence and plan their cash flow more easily.
Finally, the survey showed that 82% of customers who use JCB equipment would be happy to arrange finance with their dealer or salesperson. JCB Finance is therefore proud to offers its services nationwide via its trusted and accredited dealer network or through its personal field sales team, to help best meet the needs of individual customers.
Jennings concludes: “We remain as committed to our customers, new and old, as ever. As a people orientated business, we always aim to treat our customers fairly and provide a secure and stable route to additional credit lines.
“In fact, we have been providing asset finance and supporting business growth in the construction, agriculture and industrial sectors since 1970 so we understand the kind of challenges our customers may face. And with our latest service announcements, we believe that we are best placed to support SMEs with their asset finance needs over the forthcoming months and years.”
Richard Mann, Director of Mann Plant Hire and Lamanva Training Centre, added: “JCB Finance has done us proud for nearly 40 years - from starting out with just one digger to refocusing the business on training, they have always provided a reliable and great value service.
“They know us and understand the needs of the business very well, which means they're able to offer the support, advice and service we need.”
https://www.jcb-finance.co.uk/online/
A South Wales-based demolition and plant hire company has reported a boom in production after the arrival of new plant from Finlay Plant SW. Prichard’s, based in Llantrisant, has taken delivery of a Terex Finlay 883+ Spaleck and a Terex Finlay 893 in the last six months, supplied by Finlay Plant SW, part of the Finlay Group of companies.
Since then the business has seen an increase in its soil and stone production at its Project Yellow site in Pontyclun, one of the company’s four recycling yards.
Priding itself on offering a quality and cost-effective solution, Prichard’s are a leading provider of construction and support services throughout Wales, the Midlands and the South West, offering services including site clearance, bulk excavation and infrastructure services, as well as recycling and waste management services.
Tom Prichard, Director at Prichard’s, said: “The operators are very happy with both units.
“I’m confident that the plant will continue to increase our productivity and ability to supply our customers with the products they exactly require.”
The Terex Finlay 883+ Spaleck is producing a top grade 15mm soil whilst the Terex Finlay 893 is screening all the construction and demolition waste brought to the site.
The ultimate in mobile screening and separation, the Terex Finlay 883+ Spaleck is working continuously for Prichard’s, regardless of the weather conditions.
It features 3D and Flip-Flow technology for nearly blockage and maintenance-free screening, making it ideal for processing difficult applications, such as shredded metal, coal, soil and wood.
The second plant, the Terex Finlay 893, is producing subsoil and two clean stone products to crush.
Featuring an aggressive forward-facing inclined modular configuration screen box with a 20’x6’ top deck and an 18’x6’ bottom deck, this heavy-duty screener is engineered for processing quarrying, mining, construction and demolition debris as well as topsoil, recycling, sand, gravel, coal and aggregate applications.
Darren Simpson, Project Yellow Supervisor at Prichard’s, said: “The plant meets our needs and both machines are performing well for us."
“We’ve always found that the machines we’ve had from Finlay Plant SW have been very good and reliable."
“The excellent spares and back-up service we receive too is another reason we keep going back to them.”
Prichard’s currently has a fleet of ten Terex Finlay machines, all supplied by Finlay Plant SW.
Gareth Johnson, Managing Director of Finlay Plant SW, said: “It’s great to see the plant proving their worth out on site and contributing to the continued success of Prichard’s.”
To see the plant in action, watch the video at https://youtu.be/FLOHHZcpakU
Leading logistics automation supplier, Cimcorp, is celebrating an order from Sinebrychoff – a subsidiary of the international brewing and beverage giant, Carlsberg – for a robotic dolly picking system at its facility in Kerava, Finland. Due to be operational at the beginning of 2018, the Cimcorp solution will take care of material flow from the high-bay warehouse to the loading docks and order fulfillment for beverages supplied to customers. Pasi Lehtinen, VP Supply Chain at Sinebrychoff, said, “This is a significant investment for us. We have chosen Cimcorp due to the flexibility and scalability of its automation, which will enable us to adapt to market changes and accommodate business growth.”
Cimcorp’s solution will replace Sinebrychoff’s order picking of dolly loads, which until now has been a manual process and accounts for some 30% of the company’s deliveries. Automating this process represents a significant cost saving, as well as providing the opportunity to eliminate picking errors and thereby enhance customer satisfaction. From its base in Kerava, Sinebrychoff distributes beers, ciders, soft drinks, energy drinks and bottled water directly to retailers across Finland.
Sinebrychoff requires the automation to be sufficiently flexible to handle its wide portfolio of products – including beverages in bottles and cans in various pack formats and sizes – as well as being adaptable to its evolving business needs. Kimmo Sormunen, Automation Manager at Sinebrychoff, said, “Customer orders vary from whole truckloads to just a few cases, so the range of order units includes pallets, dollies (wheeled quarter pallets), mini-dollies (for smaller shops and kiosks), single cases and kegs. The Cimcorp solution will be able to handle an unlimited number of SKUs and cater for new SKUs, such as seasonal products, as well as volume increases. The system will be fully automatic, with beverages not being touched by human hand until they are loaded into delivery vehicles.”
Pallets of beverages will be transported from the existing high-bay warehouse by conveyor to the dispatch area, where a vision system will enable the products to be unloaded by universal robots and deposited on dollies or mini-dollies. After being automatically shrink-wrapped, the loads will be stored by gantry robots and then picked by these overhead robots in line with customer orders. After picking, the dollies/mini-dollies will be automatically labeled beforbeing transported to the loading area by Sinebrychoff’s existing laser-guided vehicle system.
“Cimcorp’s dispatch solution is proven and this system has been carefully designed, with a clear and simple layout,” said Kimmo Sormunen. “The energy efficiency of the robots is another important benefit for us.” Cimcorp will also supply its warehouse control system (WCS), which will receive information about orders, stock and routes from Sinebrychoff’s warehouse management system (WMS) in order to manage the material flow and order picking, ensuring that all orders are ready for shipment at the right time.
Kai Tuomisaari, Sales Director at Cimcorp, said, “The Cimcorp solution will ensure 100% picking accuracy and 100% product traceability, as well as providing flexibility for future changes. We are really delighted to receive this order and to begin co-operation with Carlsberg.”
The relationship between MWheels and manufacturing giant Wheels India (WIL) will continue into the next decade after signing a new five-year exclusive European distribution agreement for Xlite and Xbrite forged aluminium wheels.
The contract continues a relationship that started in the 1940s with classic car wire wheels, and which progressed into steel commercial vehicle wheels in the 1980s and forged aluminium CV wheels in 2010.
In 2011, Xlite and Xbrite became worldwide brands thanks to an exclusive 10-year trademark agreement between the companies. At the start of 2017, WIL revealed an upgraded multi-million pound production facility to improve the forged aluminium wheel finishes still further.
WIL is part of the TVS Group, one of India’s largest auto-component businesses with a combined turnover of $6.5 billion.
Matthew Mardle, Chief Operating Officer at MWheels, said: “The relationship between the two companies is built on history, operational excellence and a mutual respect of each others’ strengths in our respective sectors.
“Partnership is an often overused word but in this case it’s simply true, they manufacture and create fantastic products in which we often feedback specific technical details and requirements, and in turn we have given them a market position in Europe through the brands which are second-to-none.
“Above this they have been instrumental in providing the scientific support to our successful wheel safety campaign, their research into the effects of circumferential and non-circumferential hub shapes on wheel fatigue provided the basis of the EU Roadworthiness Act* activity.”
Sanjay Pande, Senior Vice President Marketing for WIL, said: “We have huge respect for MWheels and their senior management team, they share their aims and objectives very openly and we have put an operational support structure in place to assist with meeting these goals.
“We very much look forward to continuing our excellent relationship for many years to come, striving forward together to deliver overall wheel excellence, in both technical performance and safety, for commercial vehicle operators throughout Europe.”
Xlite and Xbrite, which are five times stronger and 40 percent lighter than the standard steel equivalent, are spin forged from a single aluminium billet, a unique manufacturing process using a CNC machine to produce a higher degree of production accuracy and a truer running wheel.
Xlite is available in machined and polished finishes, while Xbrite+ goes through several automated treatment stages which permeate the metal deeper to deliver a wheel with the highest levels of corrosion resistance and shine. Wheels are available in 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 inch sizes.
The ultimate advantages of operating with forged aluminium wheels including extra payloads, reduced diesel usage, decreased CO² emissions and less wear on surrounding parts, including expensive components such as tyres and brakes.
RUD have been producing and protecting tyres with their innovative Tyre Protection Chains for over 70 years, working alongside many heavy operators across industries such as quarrying, mining, and recycling.
Earthmovers working in harsh conditions in mines, quarries and other heavy industries constantly face damages to tyres, due to punctures and sidewall damage from haul road rock debris and accidental impact. Plant owners know the importance of investing in top quality Tyre Protection Chains to reserve and maintain their valuable assets.
RUD’s tyre protection chains use case hardened alloy chains linked in patented designs to provide a high level of tyre protection and traction qualities. The chains are typically used across fire and hot slag conditions, which can be very dangerous and lead to loss of equipment through burnt tyres.
RUD tyre protection chains offer three wear levels to provide a greater wear resistance on hot and burning surfaces. Sharp edges on the outer surface of the chain and multiple link designs help increase traction to suit a wide range of aggressive and low traction surfaces. The designs and benefits vary to each project and specific requirements.
One of RUD’s latest innovation Sideflex: provides a cost effective solution to the problem of sidewall damage to expensive and valuable dumptruck tyres, for construction and mining equipment in particular earthmoving machines.
Sideflex is an easy to fit, lightweight shield which simply deflects rock and debris from the tyre wall. The device fits firmly within the wheel hub and almost brushes the ground preventing rock and debris from penetrating the tyre wall. Protective arms radiate from a central retaining ring and form a shield covering the sidewall.
RUD’s Tyre Protection Chains are well known in the industry for their quality and reputation, by extending a tyres life by a factor of ten. They help reduce operating costs; decrease downtime and most importantly increase overall productivity.
Reduce operating costs, decrease downtime & increase productivity with RUD Tyre Protection Chains.
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced the following changes:
Steve Niehaus, currently vice president with responsibility for the Electric Power Division (EPD), is retiring.
Following Niehaus' retirement, the company will consolidate the Electric Power and Marine & Petroleum Power Divisions (MPPD) into the new Electric Power, Marine and O&G Division (EPMOG), led by current MPPD Vice President Tom Frake.
Niehaus has elected to retire after 27 years of outstanding service with the company, including the last three as vice president with responsibility for EPD.
"Much of Steve's career has been spent in marketing and commercial engines, and in his most recent position, he has provided critical leadership in strengthening and aggressively growing Caterpillar's electric power business," said Jim Umpleby, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for Energy and Transportation. "He has lived all over the world helping our customers and employees develop and grow – from Saudia Arabia to Brazil to Singapore and throughout the United States. I'm grateful to Steve for his many contributions to Caterpillar and wish him well in retirement."
Since joining Caterpillar in 1989 as a marketing trainee, Niehaus has held numerous positions in the commercial engine businesses, large engine center marketing and Solar Turbines. In 2013, he was named vice president of EPD.
He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and also completed the Digging Deep Program with the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Frake, a 30-year veteran of Caterpillar, has a broad marketing and product background. He has led MPPD since 2012, which provides a solid foundation for the newly formed EPMOG.
"We continue to focus on our customers' success with leading and innovative products, services and solutions, while also reducing costs in this challenging environment," said Caterpillar Chairman & CEO Doug Oberhelman. "Consolidating these energy operations along with the recently announced integration of two divisions within Customer & Dealer Support will bring efficiencies and a streamlined leadership team. With these changes, we will have reduced executive leadership by 13 percent since 2013."
The changes are effective June 1, 2016.
About Caterpillar
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2015 sales and revenues of $47.011 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance, and we do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
Caterpillar's actual results may differ materially from those described or implied in our forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) global and regional economic conditions and economic conditions in the industries we serve; (ii) government monetary or fiscal policies and infrastructure spending; (iii) commodity price changes, component price increases, fluctuations in demand for our products or significant shortages of component products; (iv) disruptions or volatility in global financial markets limiting our sources of liquidity or the liquidity of our customers, dealers and suppliers; (v) political and economic risks, commercial instability and events beyond our control in the countries in which we operate; (vi) failure to maintain our credit ratings and potential resulting increases to our cost of borrowing and adverse effects on our cost of funds, liquidity, competitive position and access to capital markets; (vii) our Financial Products segment's risks associated with the financial services industry; (viii) changes in interest rates or market liquidity conditions; (ix) an increase in delinquencies, repossessions or net losses of Cat Financial's customers; (x) new regulations or changes in financial services regulations; (xi) a failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; (xii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position; (xiii) our ability to develop, produce and market quality products that meet our customers' needs; (xiv) the impact of the highly competitive environment in which we operate on our sales and pricing; (xv) failure to realize all of the anticipated benefits from initiatives to increase our productivity, efficiency and cash flow and to reduce costs; (xvi) additional restructuring costs or a failure to realize anticipated savings or benefits from past or future cost reduction actions; (xvii) inventory management decisions and sourcing practices of our dealers and our OEM customers; (xviii) compliance with environmental laws and regulations; (xix) alleged or actual violations of trade or anti-corruption laws and regulations; (xx) additional tax expense or exposure; (xxi) currency fluctuations; (xxii) our or Cat Financial's compliance with financial covenants; (xxiii) increased pension plan funding obligations; (xxiv) union disputes or other employee relations issues; (xxv) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or government investigations; (xxvi) changes in accounting standards; (xxvii) failure or breach of IT security; (xxviii) adverse effects of unexpected events including natural disasters; and (xxix) other factors described in more detail under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 for the year ended December 31, 2015.
The specialised high-performance handling products manufactured by the J D Neuhaus company are engineered for extremes, and are suitable for operation within chemical, oil and gas and general industries involving hazardous working areas including those subject to potential explosion risks. Their hoist and overhead crane mechanisms are strong, fast and silent, providing high levels of safety with ease of operation. They combine lube-free, low maintenance operation with 100% duty ratings and unlimited duty cycles. The products are insensitive to dust, humidity and temperatures ranging from -20°C to +70°C.
It is essential that the correct installation, operating and regular inspection servicing procedures are undertaken and maintained for these products to ensure long-term, trouble-free operation of all mechanical and power-operated components.
To ensure that users obtain the best value for money from their investment in handling products, the JDN company can provide offsite/onsite services including supervision, installation, training, inspection, maintenance and repair, together with the supply of spares, service kits and full refurbishment facilities. All work is undertaken under full JDN personnel supervision and is carried out in co-operation with external certification authorities where required.
Appropriate products and services available from the JDN service department include:
• Prior inspection for the planning of the building site
• Organisation of the building site and coordination with all participants
• Provision of assemblyman
• Commissioning
• Approval of the hoists/cranes on client terms
• Approval in cooperation with external certification authority (3rd party)
This is then followed-up where required with regular maintenance and annual inspections by JDN trained engineers/technicians covering:
• Annual maintenance under compliance with the legal requirements and the JDN maintenance plan
• Introduction into the JDN maintenance database to ensure clients are reminded of upcoming planned maintenance
• Maintenance contracts that provide precise cost control details
This is also then supported with full maintenance/repair/modification facilities including:
• Repair and modification in JDN' s own workshops
• Repair and modification at client facilities
• Conversion in co-operation with JDN R&D requirements
• Overload tests
A full spare parts provision incorporates support for the choice of spare parts, compilation of spare parts and service kits for retention in client warehouse and the shipping of the spare parts worldwide.
In addition, specific customer personnel training, all tailored to meet client needs is available either on-site, at customer facilities or one of the widely located JDN sales companies. J D Neuhaus are represented in more than 90 countries (including Germany, France, Great Britain, Singapore and USA), together with 70 other branches throughout the world.
After expiration of the theoretical operating life (at the latest after 10 years) all hoists are currently required to undergo a general overhaul. For J D Neuhaus hoists, this work can be undertaken within their service centre or by one of the JDN authorised service partners.
If there is a short term demand for hoists of any capacity then a full rental service, including delivery, is available and hoists can be customised to meet specific client requirements.
The J D Neuhaus air operated handling equipment, including hoists and cranes for operations within light, medium and heavy duty engineering, cover individual lift capacities from 250kg up to 100 metric tonnes. Even heavier lift requirements can also be achieved using multiple hoists and integrated synchronised lift and traverse controls for units operating in tandem or parallel configurations. Land based or offshore oil/gas platform mounting can be accommodated, including installations on sea-going vessels where ocean swell movements can be minimised by the use of rack & pinion drives incorporated into horizontal overhead beams and the mechanised trolley drives. Specialised hoists for underwater handling operations, or extreme low cryogenic conditions down to -45°C are also available, together with optional hydraulic drive mechanisms where compressed air power supplies are not readily available.
Further information is available on request to:
J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. KG
58449
Witten-Heven
Germany
Tel: +49 2302 208-219
Fax: +49 2302 208-286
info@jdngroup.com
As of July, the verified weight of sea containers must be made known to the shipping company before loading them onto the ship. Two methods are allowed: weighing the packed container (Method n.1), or weighing all individual items in the container (Method n.2). With iForks on the forklift, every pallet lifted is immediately weighed, without taking the goods out of the process. Using the RAVAS SOLAS App, total container weights are easily computed and communicated with all stakeholders in the supply chain, including the shipping company.
The advantages of SOLAS Method n.2, determining container weights by weighing individual items:
Weight information available early, end customers can make changes without missing their ship
No overloaded containers during road transport to the port
Highly accurate weight information, certified OIML III
Efficient weighing, no driving back and forth to weighbridges
Information available on individual shipments within containers
Amendments to the SOLAS regulations require that as of July 2016 the verified gross weight of containers must be made known before loading them onto a ship. The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) has decided that container weights may be determined by weighing the packed container (Method n.1) or by weighing the individual items in the container (Method n.2), earlier in the chain. RAVAS supplies the mobile scales and the connectivity to make individual pallet weights and shipments available throughout the supply chain.
iForks is the successful wireless mobile scale for forklift trucks from RAVAS. With iForks on the truck, every load lifted is immediately weighed. iForks provide a highly accurate weight read-out in 1 kg steps on a display in the cabin, and are available in legal for trade version OIML III. Extended scale functions include registering of ID codes with every weight recorded. iForks also communicates bi-directionally with WMS or ERP systems, via Bluetooth or Wifi connection. iForks can be installed on any counterbalanced or reach truck in a matter of minutes.
For efficient computing of container weights, RAVAS offers its SOLAS App. The App can be installed on a PDA, iPad or iPhone. After identifying the container by its number and registering its tare weight, the App allows the user to identify individual pallets or shipments and register their weight, communicated by iForks. Total container weight is computed and registered on the PDA, and can be downloaded to a PC via USB cable as a CSV file. If the App is used on an iPad or iPhone, the information can be e-mailed to the shipping company straight from the App.
Bradshaw, UK manufacture and supplier of specialist electric vehicles since 1975, has launched a full range of fully N1 homologated electric road vehicles. The range offers 10 standard options, ranging from van body vehicles for last mile delivery, high tip or cage body options for the waste industry, and a shuttle bus for people transportation.
With a maximum road speed of 25mph, an operational range of up to 50 miles and a payload up to 900kg, the many body options cover a multitude of inner city applications.
Under test conditions for N1 homologation the vehicle achieved an incredible 73 miles.
Each model has a safe and comfortable cabin with ABS thermoformed shell and excellent visibility. Pick-up configurations are available in long and short wheelbase and all models can be left or right hand drive.
All test data was achieved with sealed maintenance free batteries and combined on-board charger, no need for battery topping up and no gas emissions during recharge. Where extended run time is required, the complete pick-up range can be supplied with a battery change system to achieve 24 hour run time.
Simon Clipsham, General Manager at Bradshaw commented: “We are excited to introduce an extensive range of zero emission Electric Road Vehicles. We believe it to be the only N1 homologated, commercially viable vehicle of its type, to meet the challenges set by the modern City Centre. Primary markets include the increasing requirement for noise reduction within the waste industry and the growing demand for last mile delivery.”
Bradshaw provide a wide range of electric vehicles, from tow tractors and load carriers to vehicles seating up to 8 people. Vehicles come in a range of options and can be specifically designed and manufactured to fit each individual requirement.
www.bradshawelectricvehicles.co.uk
Recorded footage security is integral to VisionTrack’s new VT1000 premium high definition vehicle camera, which launched today and is ideal for fleets wanting to take their first steps into the world of in-vehicle CCTV.
With a super-wide 170 pillar-to-pillar angle lens, the camera records high-quality footage in 1080p and has a built-in GPS receiver to ensure vehicle location and speed accuracy, helping fleets mitigate the risk of insurance fraud and monitor vehicles to improve driving standards and operational efficiency. It also benefits from a security-led design, whereby a key is needed to access the memory card and the recording angle is locked in place, negating any concerns around footage being compromised.
Simon Marsh, VisionTrack’s Managing Director, said: “It is important that every fleet has the opportunity to utilise vehicle cameras that provide irrefutable evidence in the event of an incident, especially where fault is being disputed by a third party. The VT1000 is a device that requires minimal investment, opening up this technology to fleets of any size. As well as suiting businesses looking for a camera-only fleet solution, it is perfect for organisations keen to trial this type of equipment to gain initial insight into how it can be of benefit before investing further in higher specification 3G telematics cameras.”
Speaking of the VT1000’s security features, Simon added: “Many vehicle cameras used by fleets were originally made for individual car users and, as fleet adoption of these devices has boomed, some camera companies have added locking cases as a security afterthought. These cases do not always provide adequate protection against users accessing the format button and deleting footage that a fleet operator may need to see. This is where the VT1000 differs, being developed with integrated locking case and lockable recording angle so managers can have peace of mind. Plus, it also comes with alarm outputs so it can be integrated into third party telematics and is made for fleet use.”
VisionTrack’s VT1000 is the second product to be launched this year by the in-vehicle CCTV specialist, with its flagship VT2000 3G telematics camera released in January. Offering advanced functionalities, the VT2000 allows a ten-second video clip to be transmitted to a fleet manager or insurance company within seconds using only 350kB of data.
“Within our cutting edge range of products we have solutions to cater for all fleets, whether they are looking for a standalone camera or a complete 3G telematics camera,” added Simon. “Having had first-hand fleet experience, we have been able to design our cameras around fleet needs. We believe our equipment and big data platform to be among the most high-tech and scalable on the market.”
Temperature-controlled vehicle hire and leasing specialist Freezerent has celebrated its 10th anniversary by investing in its 100th refrigerated Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
The Wolverhampton-based company took delivery of the new 313 CDI from local Dealer Midlands Truck & Van, with which it has developed a successful partnership over the last decade. The landmark vehicle was converted and fitted with a GAH refrigeration unit by established supplier Vantastec, of Ystrad Mynach, near Cardiff.
Founded by Managing Director Lee Dorward, Freezerent offers all makes and sizes of vehicle, from car-derived vans to 26-tonne rigid trucks and tractor units, on flexible short-, medium- and long-term contracts. The company made strong progress in its early years and despite some very difficult trading conditions has continued to grow. Last year was its best yet in terms of turnover and profit.
Freezerent has previously opted to buy top-quality Approved Used 3.5- and 5.0-tonne Sprinters from Midlands Truck & Van, and will continue to do so when the right vehicles become available. However, its most recent acquisitions were of new vans, and Mr Dorward, who was joined in the business five years ago by fellow Director Lee Hampson, anticipates that new vehicles with single- and multi-temperature configurations will account for a much higher proportion of future purchases.
“We’ve certainly tried vans by other manufacturers but they didn’t stand up to the job as well as a Mercedes-Benz,” he said. “The Sprinter offers outstanding reliability, fuel-efficiency and driver appeal, as well as leading the market in terms of its safety features. Everyone likes to drive a Mercedes-Benz and when it comes to spot rental in particular, it can help to finalise a deal if the vehicle you’re offering has this high level of quality.
“Every bit as important to us, though, is the after sales support we receive from Midlands Truck & Van and other members of the manufacturer’s Dealer Network,” he continued. “All of our Sprinters are on Mercedes-Benz Complete Care repair and maintenance contracts, and in the unlikely event that one suffers a breakdown the Mercedes-Benz Service 24h emergency roadside assistance cover is far superior to the alternatives provided by its competitors.
“Midlands Truck & Van is a commercial vehicle specialist. This means it has a far better understanding than would a car dealer, of the crucial importance of getting a refrigerated vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible.”
Mr Dorward added: “Anyone can supply a vehicle for a cheap price – and ours are invariably highly competitive – but it’s imperative for a rental company also to offer the levels of round-the-clock service that we do. We stay right on top of our maintenance and we don’t cut corners, so if a vehicle suffers accident damage, for example, we get it repaired immediately. We rely heavily on Mercedes-Benz to deliver on our comprehensive back-up promise.”
The Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA), which will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year, has welcomed no less than five new members since the start of 2016.
The new members are global integrated logistics systems manufacturer and provider, SSI Schaefer; mechanical and electronic drive technology manufacturer, NORD Drivesystems; the Danish material handling group, Qubiqa, which includes the brands Univeyor, QLS, Jokan and Seelen; WRH Global UK, which provides optimum material/process flow systems, combining unique 'rolling friction' technology with process flow know-how; and the racking and storage systems specialist, Stockrail International, which represents Optimus Sorters within the UK.
AMHSA’s Secretary, Dave Berridge, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome these five companies into AMHSA, bringing our membership up to 57. The total number of members and their diverse product and service portfolio serve to underline the fact that AMHSA represents the whole of the automated handling sector in the UK.”
A number of members will be exhibiting within the AMHSA zone at the IntraLogisteX show – which takes place on 16 & 17 March at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry – and at IMHX 2016, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 13-16 September. “Both events will provide AMHSA with a great platform from which to present the benefits of automation to an industry facing ever-increasing demands for speed and efficiency,” added Dave Berridge.
Blockchain the technology behind the digital asset and payment system Bitcoin – is being mooted as the next big thing for supply chains. But how can this fledgling technology be used to benefit logistics and the greater supply chain? The answer lies in its potential to speed up administrative processes and to take costs out of the system while still guaranteeing the security of transactions, writes Gavin Parnell, Director of Go Supply Chain.
The underlying principle of blockchain is to provide a secure environment where encrypted business transactions between buyer and seller can happen without the need for third parties to intervene. This means that it could be a game-changer for supply chains.
Blockchain is essentially a trustworthy digital ledger that nobody can change, but anybody in a system can update. When they do, it is time-stamped and everybody in the system gets included in the update. Only one update can be made at a time, with each update to the ledger forming a ‘block’, and cumulative updates creating a chain of blocks – hence the term: ‘Blockchain’.
This distributed system operates over a network via the Internet. Individuals in the network keep copies of the blockchain on their personal computers and move the information, or a payment, on digitally by validating the transaction.
All the participants with a copy agree the state of the block chain at any given time. It is this consensus and the use of cryptography (storing and transmitting data in a particular form so that only those for whom it is intended can read and process it) that ensures records can’t be counterfeited or altered, giving Blockchain its high security.
An increasingly pertinent advantage of blockchain technology is to repel cyber attacks and forced outages. Hackers would not only need to hack into a specific block to alter existing information but would have to access all of the preceding blocks going back through the entire history of that blockchain, across every ledger in the network, simultaneously. And with no central organisation owning the system it is difficult to corrupt and everybody can use it and help run it.
The advantages of better data sharing across the supply chain would allow for:
• faster and more accurate tracking of products and distribution assets – for example containers, as they move through the supply chain
• a reduction of errors on orders, goods receipts, invoices and other trade related documents due to less need for manual reconciliation
• sharing of information about process improvements and maintenance in real-time
• a permanent audit trail of every product movement or financial transaction from its source to ultimate destination, reducing opportunities for fraud.
Accredited users in a specific supply chain would be able to access specific blocks of data in the system, either to view or transact. While still early days, take-up will accelerate as the possible applications become better understood.
Blockchain can be used to create ’smart’ contracts that execute the terms of any agreement when specified conditions are met. The “smart” part is a piece of computer code that predefines a set of rules under which the parties to that smart contract agree to interact with each other. The code facilitates, verifies, and enforces the performance of contract conditions.
In a retailer-supplier relationship, for example, it is possible to route purchase orders, invoices, receipts, shipping notifications, inventory data and other trade related documents to be automatically matched and verified. Payments and replenishment orders can be triggered automatically, based on the codified rules within a smart contract. There are obvious cost-saving opportunities in administratively heavy industries such as aviation and marine shipping.
Early adopters are pioneering supply chain blockchain applications in a number of industries. With the opening of the Walmart Food Safety Collaboration Center in Beijing, IBM, Walmart and Tsinghua University are collaborating to improve the way food is tracked, transported and sold to consumers across China. They are looking to harness blockchain technology to generate transparency and efficiency in supply chain record-keeping, with the aim of enhanced food safety for Chinese consumers.
With blockchain, food products can be digitally tracked from an ecosystem of suppliers to store shelves and ultimately to consumers. The information captured in each transaction is agreed upon by all members of the business network; once there is a consensus, it becomes a permanent record that can’t be altered. This helps assure that all information about the item is accurate.
The record created by the blockchain can also help retailers better manage the shelf-life of products in individual stores, and further strengthen safeguards related to food authenticity.
IBM, along with global transport and logistics company Maersk, is building a blockchain solution that will be made available to the shipping and logistics industry. The solution will help manage and track the paper trail of tens of millions of shipping containers across the world by digitising the supply chain process from end-to-end to enhance transparency and the highly secure sharing of information among trading partners. Maersk found in 2014 that just a simple shipment of refrigerated goods from East Africa to Europe can go through nearly 30 people and organisations, including more than 200 different interactions and communications among them. When adopted at scale, the blockchain solution has the potential to reduce complexity and save the industry billions of dollars.
In another logistics application ABN Amro, Delft University, the Port of Rotterdam and over a dozen other partners are joining forces to launch a large-scale project. Over the next two years, the partners in the TKI Dinalog project will be designing, developing, and implementing a new information infrastructure. This will be rooted in blockchain technology to connect operational information, financial flows and contracts.
It is early days and there are some challenges. There is a need to convince all involved parties to join a particular blockchain and collaborate for mutual benefit. Without this, it won’t work well. Business leaders will need to be open to sharing information with their tier 1 suppliers and others deeper in the supply chain. The old-age question ‘what’s in it for me?’ will need an answer before everyone is confident to share everything in these private ledgers.
Other hurdles are a lack of regulatory framework or standards, the cost of adapting legacy systems to blockchain, working out who pays for transaction process, and adopting a new mindset around a decentralised network with no central control.
These are all hurdles that can be addressed and blockchain remains a more powerful and broader concept than other bleeding edge technologies such as the Internet of Things. Ultimately, blockchain technology could help create more transparent and less vulnerable supply chains.
For further information visit www.gosupplychain.com
Daifuku, the global leader in automotive factory automation, has completed an upgrade project at Honda of the UK Manufacturing, which has achieved a 30 per cent increase in output. Completed during a series of shutdown periods over the past six months, the project demonstrates how significant improvements in productivity can be achieved through enhancements to existing logistics processes.
In 2016, Honda confirmed its Swindon site as the global production hub for the all-new Civic. It has since invested a further £200m in the plant, which now employs more than 3,500 people. Working closely with Honda engineers, Daifuku was tasked with increasing daily production from 640 to 790 units. In terms of cars rolling off the line, this meant speeding up the production rate by 16 seconds – reducing the time finished vehicles were delivered from 85 seconds, down to 69 seconds.
Paul Mack, project engineer at Daifuku, said: “Daifuku has a long and very successful relationship with Honda over a period of decades. A lot of the conveyors, lifts and other lineside logistics equipment inside the Swindon plant has been there for twenty years, and continues to work reliably and safely. Given their strong environmental ethos, the team at Honda was keen for us to retain as much original equipment as possible, while enabling the sizeable increase in output.”
To achieve the 30% increase in productivity, Daifuku engineers focused on three main areas of the lineside logistics process:
Triple decking vehicles exiting the paint shop – preventing bottlenecks
Creation of more workstations at various strategic locations – increasing productivity
Changing the structure of the line to accommodate the introduction of kitting and complete units – improving supply chain efficiencies
The significant increase in lineside efficiency was produced by carefully increasing the speed of the chains that transported the vehicles down the line. However, this enhancement was not as simple as it might first appear.
Mack explains: “Turning up to speed on the chains sounds simple, but we had to consider several key effects of this change – most notably safety. Large metal objects moving within a tightly controlled, highly populated space deserves careful consideration. And that’s exactly what we did.”
During the testing phase, bumping of body shells was identified as a potential problem. This issue was overcome by the development of bespoke cushion stoppers for each stop station.
Another small, yet vitally important element of the process that was accelerated to good effect, concerned the drop lifters. Here, high flow, second exhaust units were installed to shave vital seconds off waiting times between vehicle transfers.
Mack said: “Every time we transferred a car from the lifters onto the conveyor, it was taking up to ten seconds for the air cylinders to return to a neutral, safe position. So, by developing a reverse gear for the pumps, we clawed back valuable seconds at every vehicle transfer.”
Despite the challenges of working with well-established infrastructure, limited time to test out new solutions and a tough objective to increase production efficiencies, Daifuku has demonstrated how collaboration and problem solving can create significant value.
Clearly, improving productivity – while maintaining unrivalled quality standards – does not always require a ‘rip it up and start again’ mentality. Working together, Honda and Daifuku have shown how great results can be achieved without excessive amounts of investment.
Mercedes-Benz Dealer Northside Truck & Van has set the seal on the £1.5-million redevelopment of its Sheffield branch, which now features a smart and welcoming showroom aimed at retail van customers.
The Dealer has also refurbished the office and staff welfare accommodation at the facility on Ambereley Street, Attercliffe, and increased repair and maintenance capacity by 25% through a workshop extension that created space for two new bays.
Meanwhile, the Service Department, which remains open round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week, has introduced tachograph calibration and testing, as well as an MoT service covering vehicles in the Class 4, 5 and 7 categories.
Depot Manager Lee Snowball declared: “The investments we have made at Sheffield reflect our determination to keep vehicle downtime to an absolute minimum, and our commitment to providing operators with the ultimate ‘one-stop shop’.
“The new showroom, extended workshop and refurbished facilities mean that not only is the branch a more attractive place for customers to visit, it is also more efficient and comfortable for staff.
“The fact that our technicians work through the night also allows van and passenger transport operators to get their MoT tests carried out, and truck operators their tachograph work done, at times that suit them, so their vehicles are always available for work when needed.”
Lee added: “The feedback from customers who have visited our new-look dealership has been resoundingly positive – they appreciate the fact that we’re investing to make their lives easier.”
Northside Truck & Van sells and supports Mercedes-Benz vehicles and FUSO Canter light trucks from a network of seven branches across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
In February the company was crowned Mercedes-Benz Van Retailer of the Year at the manufacturer’s annual Van Academy awards, where it also won no fewer than five of the remaining 11 awards. At the corresponding Truck Sales Masters event Northside won the Mercedes-Benz Truck Sales Dealer and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Dealer prizes, while Tony Birtwistle and Dave Brindle picked up the awards for Truck Sales Master and Used Truck Sales Manager respectively.
These successes came in the wake of a memorable 2015, in which Northside took the prestigious Apprenticeship of the Year title at the 2015 Motor Transport Awards – the road transport industry’s ‘Oscars’ – in recognition of its commitment to developing “the leaders of tomorrow”.
Family-owned business Linco Construction has been using its Terex Trucks TA300 articulated haulers to assist with the evacuation and rescue of victims affected by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.
To support the ongoing cleanup efforts in areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey in the US city of Houston, Linco Construction has been putting its Terex Trucks haulers to good use. Following the destruction left in the wake of the tropical storm, which hit the city on August 25, 2017, Linco sprung into action, taking its articulated framed trucks to the streets to rescue victims of the severe flooding that stemmed from the hurricane.
“The damage that Hurricane Harvey caused was unimaginable,” says Stephen J. Brown, president and CEO at Linco Construction. “We’ve experienced tornadoes before but this was incomparable. There’s been flooding, roofs have been ripped off and as a result, many families have been displaced – so our pitching in where possible once it was safe to do so was a no-brainer.”
Brown adds: “We wasted no time putting the TA300s to work to help rescue and evacuate victims of the storm. There’s still a huge task ahead for the entire community in the coming weeks and months to restore the city of Houston, and here at Linco we’re ready and willing to offer any assistance required with the people, tools, and machines we have.”
A Category 4 cyclone, Hurricane Harvey was the strongest storm to make contact with Texas since 1961, and mainland US in 12 years. With winds at 130mph, some areas experienced rainfall that exceeded 50 inches (1,300mm), flash flooding, and tornadoes. The hurricane also affected neighbouring state, Louisiana, when it made its third and final landfall on August 29 before dissipating on September 3.
Moving into the next phase of the relief mission, Linco is set to rally together alongside other volunteers to help the city recover from the natural disaster. The first step in the operation will involve removing debris to make way for the reconstruction works.
How much weight can a Volvo FH16 750 pull? With the world’s strongest man behind the wheel of the world’s strongest series-produced truck, it is up to the new I-Shift with crawler gears to prove what it can do. On April 12th, the answer will be revealed on Volvo Trucks’ YouTube channel.
On March 15 Volvo Trucks launched the new I-Shift with crawler gears. The new crawler ratios make it possible to start and drive with a gross combination weight of up to 325 tonnes - which is unique for a series-produced truck. But just how much weight can the transmission really handle? Volvo Trucks' forthcoming test of ultimate strength will reveal the answer. In the challenge, Magnus Samuelsson, former winner of the "World's Strongest Man" competition, and truck journalist Brian Weatherley will go head-to-head with the laws of physics and subject I-Shift with crawler gears to its toughest test.
"We already know that I-Shift with crawler gears can haul really heavy loads. With this challenge, we want to demonstrate the transmission's immense capacity and show what the new crawler ratios can accomplish," says Peter Hardin, Product Manager FM and FMX, Volvo Trucks.
In this challenge, which takes place at the Port of Gothenburg, the truck has to pull an extremely heavy container train.
"Attempting to move off from standstill with such a heavy load, like we're doing here, is an immensely tough challenge for a regular series-produced truck with automated transmission. In my 30 years as a trucking journalist, I've never witnessed anything like it," says Brian Weatherley.
On April 12, the film in which Magnus Samuelsson teams up with the I-Shift with crawler gears will premiere on Volvo Trucks' YouTube channel.
Facts I-Shift with crawler gears
I-Shift with crawler gears is a further development of Volvo Trucks' I-Shift automatic transmission.
The new version of I-Shift has been specially developed for excellent starting traction and to handle driving at ultra-low speeds.
I-Shift with crawler gears can drive as slowly as 0.5-2 km/h and can start off from standstill while hauling 325 tonnes, a unique achievement for series-produced trucks with automatic transmission.
The transmission is available in a choice of direct drive and overdrive, with one or two crawler ratios. It is also possible to specify two extra reverse crawler gears.
The crawler gears are added to a regular I-Shift gearbox. In order to handle the high loads involved, several components are made from high-strength materials. The gearbox is 12 cm longer than a regular I-Shift unit.
I-Shift with crawler gears is available with Volvo Trucks' 13- and 16-litre engines on the Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FH and Volvo FH16.
Pentalver roared with delight managing the inland transportation and handling of the latest Longleat Pride member.
The fibreglass lion sculpture was commissioned to celebrate Longleat Safari Park’s 50th anniversary. The sculpture will be officially celebrated at a special anniversary party later this year where Sir Elton John will perform.
Pentalver was the obvious choice for returning customer Tigers Global Logistics because of the complete solution Pentalver offer. Our strategically placed depots and innovative container solutions and services compliment such a special out of gauge project cargo move.
The Lion sculpture is 8 metres long and 4.3 metres tall and weighs almost 3 tonnes. It arrived at London Gateway from South Africa in a 40ft open top container on board Safmarine Highveld on the 11th March 2016.
Tigers, a global supply chain group headquartered in Hong Kong, have a close relationship with Bruce Little, the South African based sculptor, who sculpted the lion. Tigers South Africa handled the shipment from source and engaged Pentalver to handle the UK delivery leg from the port to Longleat Safari Park.
Pentalver Specialist Haulage Team transported the loaded 40ft open top container from London Gateway to Tilbury where the Cargo Handling Team carefully de-vanned the container and loaded the sculpture onto the wafer deck trailer. The transportation to Longleat Safari Park was captured by many on their phones as the Lion was such an unusual impressive sight to be seen on the motorway. The dedicated Pentalver Specialist Haulage team are very experienced and trusted in handling such unusual cargo. Carl Wheeler, Specialist Haulage Transport Planner commented:
“Pentalver were delighted to be involved in such a prestigious project. We were first instructed to deliver the lion by crate, however the consignment was too high to travel by road on our super low loader, so our expert cargo handling team carefully removed the Lion sculpture from the casing. Our one stop shop service provided the customer and artist with peace of mind knowing the sculpture was in safe hands. Pentalver have the expertise and equipment needed to ensure a smooth transit from Port to final delivery at Longleat.”
Pentalver are exhibiting at Multimodal 2016 which takes place from Tuesday 10th May – Thursday 12th May. Please come and visit the team on stand 1360 to discuss innovative solutions for your next project.
Mobile Mini, a leading hirer of portable accommodation and secure storage containers, has strengthened its green credentials by launching a new range of industry-leading energy efficient mobile welfare units.
The company, with a network of 16 branches across the country, is now offering its construction industry customers the new Groundhog GP360 Fusion unit - the most innovative, cost effective and environmentally efficient mobile welfare unit of its kind.
The market leading Groundhog unit, manufactured by South Wales-based Genquip Groundhog, has been purpose built for sites without water or electricity connections and offers cost-effective, robust and easy to use, anti-vandal site accommodation, while guaranteeing the lowest emissions and fuel consumption of any similar unit.
The new units are easily towed, secured and manoeuvred on site by one person in less than 3 minutes, giving Mobile Mini’s customers extra flexibility when working on remote or constrained sites. The Fusion’s environmental features mean it’s cost effective as well as eco-friendly, with reduced fuel usage, a lower carbon footprint and reduced noise pollution.
The Groundhog GP360 Fusion unit provides a safe and comfortable working environment, which accommodates up to six people and includes an in-built auto-timed generator, toilet, drying room and canteen area, with seating, sink, microwave, kettle and heating system.
Chris Morgan, Managing Director at Mobile Mini, commented: “Genquip Groundhog is recognised as the market leader in mobile welfare units and we worked closely with its team to offer our customers the very latest in mobile unit technology, focusing on convenience, cost and environmental benefits. The new Fusion unit the most advanced mobile welfare unit in the UK with exceptional levels of energy efficiency.
“Its industry-leading features make it a highly secure and money saving choice for our customers, guaranteeing a robust and easy to use option that genuinely helps the environment.”
Kubota UK, the market-leading supplier of high quality & performance compact construction machinery, has achieved the landmark sale of its 50,000th excavator in the British and Irish market.
This is a major milestone for the company that was the first to introduce and pioneer the concept of mini-excavators into the UK in 1979. Back then; with no products of this kind on the market, there was some serious skepticism about the introduction of mini-excavators and the value they could provide to building projects. In fact, just 41 Kubota machines were sold in 1979, with one of the first being the classic KH10 mini-excavator model, a machine that can still be found working 37 years later.
Since being introduced, the popularity of mini-excavators has gone from strength-to-strength. Competing brands have entered the sector, but none have managed to take Kubota’s number one position as market leader, a reputation that has been built by providing robust, high performing and reliable machines, with excellent comfort and efficiency, and backed up by a first class after sales support.
For Kubota, its history in this sector is a real success story with momentum continuing to grow year-on-year. After the 41 Kubota machines were sold in year one (1979), it took five years for Kubota to reach 1,000 machines in 1984. By 1988, yearly sales had increased to 1,000 per annum and by 1998, approximately 20 years since the concept was first introduced, Kubota had sold its 10,000th machine within the British and Irish market. This exponential trend continued into the new millennium, with 25,000 Kubota mini-excavators sold by 2006.
In the last 10 years, growth has been phenomenal, with Kubota reaching the 50,000 landmark following a stellar 2015 for the firm, setting new records in terms of volumes and market share for the 3rd consecutive year. Whilst the brand is widely known for its mini-excavators within the UK and Irish construction market, Kubota has also expanded its product offering in 2015, with the launch of new ranges of wheeled loaders and tracked carriers.
To commemorate the achievement internally, the business will be showcasing the 50,000th machine, identified as a Kubota’s K008-3 micro excavator, within the reception of its UK’s headquarters in Thame Oxfordshire, alongside a plaque honoring the feat. The sold model of the K008-3 has been delivered to Hawes Plant & Tool Hire Ltd via Kubota dealer Boss Plant, which is fitting as the plant hire firm has been one of Kubota’s longest standing construction customers.
Externally, a whole host of activity is planned throughout 2016 to celebrate the 50,000th sale. Firstly the business will be exhibiting its original Kubota KH10 model at the Hillhead show in June, where it will be positioned next to a ‘special edition’ gold painted KX-71 machine, considered to be a modern day equivalent in terms of size and power to the KH10. Kubota will then donate the ‘gold-digger’ to the Lighthouse Club, who will be auctioning it off at its prestigious summer ball, with all money donated going to the construction industry charity.
Dave Roberts, Managing Director of Kubota UK, commented: “It is quite remarkable to consider the journey Kubota has been on to reach this 50,000 excavator sales milestone. It was not plain sailing in the early years, quite the contrary, but now the results are there for all to see.
“This significant achievement is testament to the market leading build, performance and reliability of the Kubota machines. Another major part of our success is thanks to our extensive network of independent dealers, who ensure Kubota has strong local presence in each specific territory within the UK and Ireland, which is essential to our sales strategy.
“I’d also like to thank the great team we have here at Kubota UK. Everyone works really hard to keep Kubota number 1 in terms service, product and after sales support. We have earned a fantastic reputation over the years for our machinery solutions; along with the significant value we offer the construction sector in terms of our finance packages, service capabilities and parts distribution.
“It fills me with great pride that we continue to maintain and build on our market leading position thanks to our loyal customers, some of whom have been with us since the start in 1979, as well as the ever increasing number of customers who are new to Kubota. I welcome you all to join me on Stand W3 at Hillhead, where we will be celebrating this achievement.”
For more information on Kubota and its service solutions for the construction groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.
Alternatively, follow Kubota on Twitter @KubotaUK and Facebook www.facebook.com/KubotaUK
Moving from the concept of the supply chain to the value chain, the goal of Logistics 4.0 is the flexible, error-free and intelligent warehouse. At CeMAT, taking place in Hannover from 31 May to 3 June, KNAPP will embrace the exhibition’s theme of ‘Smart Supply Chain Solutions’ by demonstrating how its latest innovations can boost logistics flexibility and quality, while providing the greatest possible investment security for clients.
KNAPP’s exhibit – on stand number F36 in hall 27 – will embody its mantra of ‘making complexity simple’. In response to the unstoppable advance of online sales channels and the growing challenges of omni-channel logistics – constantly changing order structures, small batch quantities, time and cost restraints due to just-in-time or next-day delivery, high levels of sequencing and the need for shop-friendly deliveries – KNAPP’s solutions have championed the goods-to-person principle. With Pick-it-Easy workstations served by shuttle storage systems, KNAPP solutions increase efficiency, reduce errors and free employees from less than ergonomic activities in its core business sectors of fashion and lifestyle, e-commerce, food and pharmaceuticals.
In the fashion and lifestyle sectors in particular, KNAPP focuses on co-operation with its German subsidiary, Dürkopp Fördertechnik. “Many well-known brands such as Hugo Boss, Olymp, Marks & Spencer and Clarks are perfecting their shop-friendly deliveries with help from KNAPP,” reports Heimo Robosch, Executive Vice President of KNAPP AG. “Here, bringing enormous throughput and strict sequences together is what counts. In addition, we’ve tailored our shuttle solutions to suit cartons. Combined with the Pocket Sorter solution developed by Dürkopp, throughputs of up to 7,500 items per hour are possible for each sorter module.”
As well as taking care of complex transport networks within the warehouse, KNAPP’s free-moving Open Shuttles can be combined with new picking procedures, intelligent image recognition technology, fast sorters and the latest robot technology. Operating according to the motto ‘the swarm is where the work is’, the Open Shuttles communicate with each other and autonomously distribute orders among themselves. The flexible, track-free installation saves space and simplifies integration into existing systems. In combination with KNAPP’s Streamline conveyor system, its Open Shuttle technology offers the ideal balance between flexibility and performance.
The Würth Group already relies on KNAPP’s versatile Open Shuttles at two locations in Germany. At Würth Industry Service in Bad Mergentheim, Open Shuttles transport goods from the goods-in area to an infeed point of the conveyor system, whereas at Adolf Würth in Künzelsau, Open Shuttles are used to supply special check stations. At the Austrian food retailer, SPAR, pallet versions of the Open Shuttle vehicles supply loads from the high-bay store to goods-to-person pallet workstations.
To achieve process and service quality in its objective of the zero defect warehouse, KNAPP relies on its KiSoft Vision image recognition technology to achieve 100% accuracy. Comprehensive monitoring of its central belt autopickers using image recognition systems enables orders to be picked without errors. A further step is the implementation of service assistance systems through which production and service employees will be able to communicate with machines and IT systems in the future as naturally as in a social network. Tablets, smartphones or smart glasses are being adapted to provide support through visualized data.
Each year, KNAPP AG invests around 30 million euros in research and development and thereby in its long-term success. With an instinct for trends and new market requirements combined with innovative solutions, KNAPP has already put its stamp on the intralogistics sector. An important step towards becoming a complete supplier was the group’s recent investment in the German group, KHT Apostore. Explains KNAPP CEO, Gerald Hofer, “With autopickers for pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers, KNAPP now offers a completely new solution for the whole healthcare industry, from pharmacies through to hospitals.”
Transporting chemicals can be extremely dangerous for all involved throughout the supply chain. However, according to a recent report from the Chemical Business Association (CBA) accidents remain at an all time low1. James Killerby, director of Hibiscus, leading supplier of labels and software for the chemical and transport industries, explains how compliant labelling is playing an increasingly important role in keeping the number of accidents down.
Modern industry relies heavily on a number of potentially dangerous chemical substances. If mishandled, these hazardous chemicals can be extremely harmful to those who come into contact with them, especially during handling and transportation. Chemical products are often corrosive, combustible, temperature-sensitive, poisonous or otherwise dangerous to employees and the environment and can lead to an increased danger throughout the supply chain.
Whilst steps are in place to reduce chemical-related workplace injuries, occasionally major accidents can occur. This not only poses a serious health risk to supply chain workers and members of the public, but could also have vast financial implications for the companies involved.
The legislation surrounding the transportation and handling of potentially hazardous chemicals is becoming progressively more complex, as chemical products are shipped to a wider global market. For those involved in the chemical supply chain this poses a particular challenge, ensuring chemicals are shipped quickly and efficiently, whilst also ensuring staff remain safe.
Due to its inherent risks to human health, the handling of hazardous chemicals is subject to regulatory control at every stage of its development, and this compliance requirement is especially evident in the supply chain. Key to this regulatory adherence is labelling, with complex legislation surrounding the movement of chemicals particularly important to the industry.
The risks associated with incorrect, missing or insufficient labelling of packaging, as well as the chemical containers themselves, are abundant. If chemicals are wrongly labelled, or labels become damaged during transit, making them difficult to read, this can have highly dangerous consequences.
As the breadth and reach of international trade has grown, there has been an increased demand for a system of labelling that is understandable to all, regardless of nationality or first language. The United Nations has therefore created the Globally Harmonised System of Classification (UN GHS).
CLP is the European Union’s legislation to underpin the new system, and it uses the UN GHS as its base for the Classification, Labelling and Packaging – hence the name – of substances across all EU countries. The aim of the GHS is to apply the same criteria for categorising chemicals worldwide, according to their health, environmental and physical hazards, and the subsequent requirements for labelling and safety data sheets.
The size of labels, types of supplemental information and precise position of data on the label, are all covered under the CLP rulings. Companies now have to follow strict adherence to these guidelines to ensure they are fully compliant within the remit of the new CLP system.
There are new “hazard” labels and guidelines around the use of words, phrases and terms. The dangerous goods list also has several changes and there are alterations to packing instructions with some specific to the method of transportation. On the road specifically, legislation on the construction of vehicles has been amended and there are new EN and ISO standards.
The new legislation aims for simplicity and accuracy in labelling but the definitions themselves are complex so seeking advice from industry experts is advisable. When commissioning labels, consideration should be given to the heat and humidity they will be expected to withstand and what their life cycle will involve – a factor particularly relevant in the chemicals sector, where products often require temperature controlled transportation. Sometimes labels with adhesives, which are produced to a higher specification, are required.
In order to ensure simplicity and global understanding of chemical labelling, new hazard symbols have been introduced. Nine red diamond-edged hazard pictograms have been launched to gradually replace the familiar old orange and black square CHIP danger symbols. This includes three new symbols:
Most industrial chemicals are covered by the CLP regulation, though some that have a more specialised job are covered by more specific legislation. It doesn’t, for example, apply to radioactive substances and mixtures, or to mixtures for scientific research and development which aren’t placed on the market and are only used in controlled conditions. Specific groups of chemicals, which may be subject to additional control, i.e. pesticides, biocides and carcinogens, are also exempt.
The more specific chemical groups do however fall within the scope of REACH, the European Union Regulation, which covers the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year. It concerns individual chemical substances, but does not include human and veterinary medicines, food and food additives or plant protection products, polymers and biocides, which are all covered by more specific legislation such as the Biocidal Products Regulations (BPR).
Since REACH covers the entire supply chain, compliance requires a collaborative effort by all involved in the chemicals transportation. Meeting the requirements of REACH can vary significantly depending on your role in the industry, as well as the product you manufacture.
With an emphasis on a “no data, no market” approach, the REACH Regulations place a responsibility on industry to provide safety information on chemicals, such as how the substance can be safely used and the risk management measures that need to be put in place to avoid harm to employees. As a result, supply chain management is one of the main values of REACH, with manufacturers and importers required to gather information on the properties of their chemicals and register this information in a central database with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
This regulation has been the catalyst for improvements in the safety of workers throughout the supply chain, with many of the most dangerous chemicals – referred to as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) – identified and substituted with less hazardous ones.
Although companies need to be aware of the changes to chemical labelling and packaging under CLP regulations and requirements of legislation such as REACH, they must also take into account the demands placed upon them when transporting hazardous chemicals by road.
The high potential for incidents such as traffic accidents, spillages, fires, explosions or chemicals burns during the carriage of dangerous chemicals by road, means the legislation surrounding the process is equally complex.
When transporting hazardous goods by road in the UK and the EU, packages and vehicles must be properly labelled to conform to the strict CDG (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) and ADR Regulations. Hazard warning labels, diamonds, placards, Hazchem panels and panel holders must be attached to vehicles to ensure full compliance.
Equally importance to the safe transportation and handling of hazardous materials is export documentation, and more specifically dangerous good notes. A dangerous goods note is a transport document that provides details about the contents of a consignment to carriers, receiving authorities and forwarders. Much like the labels themselves, such a document details what the dangers of the goods are, further reducing the risk of accidents and ultimately employee injuries.
ADR not only serves the purpose of protecting everyone directly involved, such as the consigner or carrier, but also those who may become involved if an accident or spillage occurs, such as members of the emergency services and the public. The regulations place responsibility on everyone involved in the transportation of hazardous materials, to ensure the risk of incidents is minimised and a fast and effective response can be achieved if they do occur.
Given the inherent risks associated with handling hazardous chemicals, and the strict regulatory compliance surrounding it, seeking industry expertise on legislative compliance is imperative, not only to avoid potentially costly fines but also to guarantee the safety of all staff throughout the supply chain.
As the supply chain continues to expand into new regions, crossing international borders, the number of people potentially at risk of chemical accidents grows. All in the chemical supply chain must take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances, and limit the consequences to people and the environment of any major accidents which do occur.
James Killerby is director of Hibiscus PLC, a leading supplier of labels and software for the chemical and transport industries.
Hibiscus, a family business based in Yorkshire for 35 years, is a one-stop shop for everything needed to produce high quality dangerous goods and chemical labels for storage and transportation. They are one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ADR hazard warning diamonds and placards, with thousands of labels in stock, ready for next day delivery. The company also produces software for the classification and labelling of hazardous substances and the authoring and management of Safety Data Sheets. Hibiscus has expert, up-to-date knowledge of legal requirements and a committed team of 32 employees who guarantee a high level of service.
References
1. http://www.chemical.org.uk/news/cbanews/supplychainaccidentsatalltimelowcbareport.aspx
Materials handling specialists J D Neuhaus (JDN) are set to present their concept study of a new stainless steel air hoist at the CeMAT 2016 international exhibition. This is the world’s leading trade fair for supply chain management and intralogistics, which takes place in Hannover, Germany on 31 May to 3 June. Exhibiting as part of the Cranes Pavilion in Hall 27 (Stand D68), the company will also be promoting its class-leading service capabilities, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about JDN’s industry-proven project planning and maintenance expertise.
Manufactured under the company’s mantra ‘engineered for extremes’, thousands of JDN pneumatic and hydraulic hoists and crane systems are in service worldwide, with many operating in harsh conditions such as those found on oil and gas platforms, or in mines or foundries. Underwater environments and extreme temperatures (as low as -45°C) are also familiar territories for JDN products, which are renowned for their operational reliability under even the most adverse conditions.
Of course, some indoor applications can be just as testing as external ones, particularly when it comes to equipment that needs to operate in extremely clean and hygienic environments. Indeed, growing demand in this area is what prompted JDN to undertake its conceptual study of a stainless steel air hoist, the results of which will be presented to visitors at CeMAT 2016.
There are clear target markets for stainless steel air hoists, such as the food and beverage sector, for example, as well applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical and aerospace industries. Visitors to the stand at CeMAT 2016 will see that JDN’s detailed study assesses the benefits of using compressed air as a method of operation in combination with stainless steel as the hoist’s construction material. Resistance to corrosion and high levels of humidity will therefore be assured, while the products will also be easy to clean and disinfect, even using high-pressure cleaning equipment.
Cleanroom-based users in the optical and semiconductor industries would also benefit from the use of a stainless steel air hoist. This is because expelled air is extracted, while a bellows is deployed to protect the chain.
Stand visitors will also see JDN Service present its extensive capabilities in project planning for maintenance and overhaul work. Among the initiatives are special spare parts kits and general overhaul kits that have been purpose-designed by the
JDN Service team to provide customers with a simplified process for ordering spares. Further aspects of the JDN Service Programme include training courses and hoist rental options. Rental is a popular choice if there is a short term demand for hoists of any capacity.
Further highlights of the JDN display at CeMAT 2016 will include examples of the company’s standard air hoists, such as the best-selling Profi and Mini ranges. The Profi series is designed for heavy-duty industrial applications up to 100 tonnes load capacity. Offering 4 or 6 bar air pressure, various explosion protection classifications are available. Profi hoists feature sensitive, infinitely variable speed control for the precise positioning of loads, as well as easy operation, low maintenance requirements and sound absorption.
In contrast, the JDN Mini range widens the range of application in the light duty sector as a handy, flexible and universally deployable air hoist. The ideal tool for most light engineering workshops, the Mini series offers a selection of load capacities between 125 and 980 kg. Designed as a cost effective alternative to hoists that use other driving media, lifting heights of 3, 5 and 8m are available.
JDN’s friendly team of experts will be on hand throughout CeMAT 2016 ready to discuss any specific applications, regardless of the complexities, and provide an overview of the optimum solutions available.
With over 200 employees across the group, J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. manufactures pneumatically and hydraulically-operated hoists and crane systems up to 115 tonne capacity from its state-of-the-art facility in Witten, Germany. This globally unique specialisation means that J D Neuhaus has set the quality standard for the market, a move that has seen the company become the established global leader in its technology field with customers in more than 90 countries worldwide.
Resilience and reliability are the key product differentiators, thanks largely to their explosive protection rating which makes them ideal for use even in the most challenging of operating environments. Extreme applications include oil and gas exploration in arctic temperatures as low as -45°C, along with underwater tasks such as ship hull repairs, and plenty of others in demanding sectors like mining, the chemical industry, heavy plant construction and many areas of logistics.
The wide portfolio of services provided by J.D. Neuhaus includes equipment assembly, inspection, maintenance and general overhaul, along with the supply of customer training courses.
Over 80% of production from the Witten plant is exported, which is why the company has long-established subsidiary companies in France, Great Britain, Singapore and the USA, all of which have helped create a tight-knit global network in collaboration with international partners.
J D Neuhaus has history that can be traced back to 1745, and is now in its seventh generation of family ownership. Visitors to the Hebezeug-Museum (Hoist Museum) in Witten, are able to see for themselves the remarkable history of this progressive company.
Further information is available on request to:
J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. KG
58449
Witten-Heven
Germany
Tel: +49 2302 208-219
Fax: +49 2302 208-286
info@jdngroup.com
BITO Group owner Fritz Bittmann cut the ribbon to open the impressive new facilities of UK group company BITO Storage Systems, during a ceremony that also celebrated his 80th birthday.
Retired from management in 2009 but remaining an integral part of BITO, Fritz Bittmann took over the then small family business some 56 years ago and developed it into a global leader in intralogistics, storage and order picking solutions.
There to help mark this happy double occasion were BITO Group directors and management from throughout Europe, along with company staff and key suppliers. Also in attendance were prominent members of the logistics sector, as well as former CBI director general, Lord Digby Jones, who added his thoughts to a day celebrating a significant European business.
During the opening ceremony Edward Hutchison, managing director of BITO Storage Systems said: “We’ve seen constant growth on gross profit of over 20% in the UK. This year in the first quarter we’ve accelerated to 40%. We are growing, hence the expansion with the new premises and employing more people – we’ve extended our workforce by 20% in the last 6 months alone and we plan to continue this growth, which the new facility will facilitate.”
Located just across the road from its former premises in Helmsdale Business Park, Nuneaton, the brand new purpose built office, show room, experience centre and distribution centre facility will double the company’s current stock holding capacity of for intralogistics solutions. Holding a broader range of stock – including Pallet Racking and Carton-Live in addition to a greater volume of fast moving stock items such as shelving, bins and containers – will ensure that more products are available on its Fast Track 3-day service.
Presenting a high tech, modern and attractive work place the multifaceted facility can also host meetings and allow clients to try out their solutions.
Speaking at the opening event, BITO Group MD Winfried Schmuck said: “What Edward and his team have created is fantastic and reflects BITO’s philosophy. BITO is 171 years old now and several generations of Bittmanns have created this company - always with honest, long-term thinking that is valid for customers and employees. BITO Group has reached a 200m Euro turnover and 220m Euro order entry through solid, profitable growth. We strongly believe in our people and core values of quality, service and long-term partnership. We created the UK subsidiary in 1999. In January 2001, Edward arrived and created a completely new company with a very solid business model – including the ability to order though a catalogue or online, delivering to all sectors operating logistics in the UK. Edward has created a fantastic ‘family’ here in terms of the team, who together have increased BITO UK turnover 10 fold in 15 years. I am looking forward to seeing this success story continue.“
Lord Jones added: "World class products, quality inward investment by a quality business into the World's most successful economy, a Happy Big Birthday to the company's owner - what a fabulous opportunity to celebrate so much that is good at a time when good news is in short supply. It is a privilege to be asked to participate in these celebrations and the company being longstanding major supporters of Leicester Tigers had nothing to do with it - well perhaps just a little bit!"
Hutchison concluded: “I am extremely proud to be hosting the opening of our wonderful new facility and celebrating the special occasion of Mr Bittmann’s 80th birthday. It is fitting that he should officially open our brand new building, which marks a significant next step for BITO in the UK and is an important new development in the Nuneaton and logistics business landscape. The new facility reflects our philosophy of ‘Perfection is our Passion’, and will allow us to provide our service to a growing list of customers in the food & beverage, ecommerce, fashion retail, pharmaceutical and automotive sectors.”
VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainable development programme, recycled 514,913 tonnes of PVC within its framework last year. The 2015 results were presented at its 4th Vinyl Sustainability Forum 2016 in Vienna, Austria where the industry shared its major successes, notably the replacement of lead-based stabilisers in the EU-28 market.
Taking the theme of ‘Smart Vinyl for our Cities’, the Forum held on April 28th attracted more than 130 stakeholders from academia, government bodies, the UN, the European Commission, specifiers, designers, architects and all sectors of the PVC industry.
Featuring top-level speakers from across Europe, presentations and panel discussions centred on the versatile role of PVC in meeting the future needs of people living and working in urban environments and how it can make a significant contribution to many aspects of the built environment.
Welcoming delegates, VinylPlus Chairman Josef Ertl said: “European cities are forerunners in the transition towards a low carbon and resource-efficient economy. 72% of the EU population lives in urban areas, using 70% of our energy.
“To assure quality of life, future cities will need healthy and energy-efficient buildings, reliable water distribution and sewage systems, as well as affordable healthcare. Using PVC in place of other materials reduces costs, improves product performance and makes a positive contribution to sustainable development.”
“With our NGO partner The Natural Step, we will revisit our Voluntary commitment and highlight the relevance and sustainability aspects of PVC products in 21st century cities,” added Josef Ertl.
Explaining the main outcomes of the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030) and the Paris Climate Summit (COP21), Stephan Sicars, Director Department of Environment, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) said: “The shift of emphasis to designing products and processes for sustainability offers the plastics and PVC industry many opportunities to capitalise on innovation, as well as consumer demands for better environmental performance and smaller environmental footprint of products. These trends are said to allow USD 3 trillion in potential resource savings by 2030 amid an emerging USD 1 trillion global ‘green’ market.
“A circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design. The PVC production chain is making progress globally by reducing its environmental impact in areas such as chlor-alkaline production, energy and mercury use and VCM production. In addition, there are excellent developments in different regions and in Europe, especially.”
VinylPlus General Manager Brigitte Dero presented the 2015 results and highlighted lead-based stabiliser replacement as a ‘historic achievement’. This means, from 2016, products made from virgin PVC resin by European converters no longer contain lead.
She stated: “Our progress and achievements in 2015 demonstrate how the VinylPlus Voluntary Commitment is contributing to addressing climate change, improving product sustainability and moving the European PVC industry towards a circular economy. You can find out more in our Progress Report 2016.
“Undoubtedly, the highlight of the year for VinylPlus was the replacement of lead-based stabilisers in the EU-28 by the end of 2015. This major achievement by the European Stabiliser Producers Association (ESPA - www.stablisers.eu) concluded a challenging journey that saw close cooperation along the value chain to solve technical constraints.”
In 2015, VinylPlus recycled 514,913 tonnes of PVC waste – an upward recycling trend of which window profiles and related profile products accounted for around 45%. The greatest volumes - 508,154 tonnes – were registered and certified by Recovinyl (www.recovinyl.com), the PVC waste collection and recycling network comprising 177 companies Europe-wide. The target is to recycle 800,000 tonnes per year by 2020.
VinylPlus reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issue of ‘legacy additives’ in recycled PVC in cooperation with regulatory authorities and is calling to propose realistic solutions for the continuation and development of PVC recycling, taking into account its resource efficiency benefits.
VinylPlus is also intensifying its discussions with institutions in a committed effort to help find solutions amid ongoing concern from recyclers and converters over uncertainties in the implementation of relevant EU regulations, such as REACH, CLP and Hazardous Waste.
Christos Fragakis, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission spoke about the new EU R&I policy initiative to promote the deployment of solutions to address the complex, but highly interconnected urban challenges and underpin cities’ transition towards sustainability and enhanced resilience to changes.
He also updated delegates on the new Circular Economy Package (endorsed in December 2015), the upcoming Plastics Strategy and the potential contributions of Horizon 2020 in underpinning innovation in all its forms.
Reflecting on the Forum, Josef Ertl concluded: “Having heard some inspiring talks and presentations, I feel encouraged about the future of PVC as a material of choice offering numerous benefits for society which helps to serve people’s needs. We are well on track and on our way to the sustainable development goals we have set for PVC; making PVC a material of choice offering safe products, contributing to society welfare. Achieving this vision is worth all efforts in our industry. I encourage all of you to help us to contribute to this vision because it’s up to us to make it happen.”
VinylPlus is the renewed ten-year Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry. The programme establishes a long-term framework for the sustainable development of the PVC industry by tackling a number of critical challenges in the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland.
More information on the 2016 Forum can be found at http://vinylplus.eu/community/vinyl-sustainability-forum/vsf16
More information on the Progress Report 2016 can be found at http://www.vinylplus.eu/resources/publications/progress-report
Scotland’s largest port, Grangemouth is this weekend (7 May) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first container vessel to call at the port and the UK. The Sea-land freight service called into the port on the Saturday 7th May 1966 as part of the Europe and American shipping route transporting mostly Scotch whisky for onward travel to the USA.
Sea-land launched the transatlantic container ship route in April 1966 with four ships in service, each carrying 226 containers with cargoes of cameras, safety razors and pre-fab housing complements. The weekly route was the first transatlantic ship carrying only containers and called at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Baltimore, Maryland, in the US, then Rotterdam, Bremen and Grangemouth. Grangemouth was the only UK port in the rotation making Grangemouth (Scotland’s Container Terminal) the first port in the UK to handle goods in this way, with the subsequent development of containerisation changing the way in which world trade is undertaken.
Over the past 50 years, the port has developed through investment and is now Scotland’s largest container port. The terminal has handled in excess of three million containers over the past 50 years and today handles more than £6 billion worth of goods each year including spirits, food, steel plate, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the port, along with all the Scottish operations of Forth Ports, are today being rebranded with a fresh look and feel for the business. The rebranding was designed by Edinburgh-based, award winning design agency Blood Creative. Signage, livery, containers and stationery will all be updated as part of the rebrand.
Commenting on the golden anniversary, Charles Hammond, Group CEO of Forth Ports said: “We are excited about reaching this significant milestone in the history of the port.
Over the past 50 years the port has changed and adapted to the changing needs of our
customers and we are now Scotland’s largest container port and makes a major
contribution to the economy of Scotland. We look forward to continuing to play our part for
Scotland in the next 50 years!”
Also happening in 1966:
The BBC began to broadcast in colour
Harold Wilson was the UK Prime Minister
The first credit card was launched in the UK
The last UK concert by the Beatles
James Bond’s Thunderball was the number one box office film
Manfred Man’s Pretty Flamingo was number one (on 7th May 1966)
And, of course, England won the football world cup
Terex® Minerals Processing Systems is pleased to announce the launch of the NEW CRC1150 portable cone plant, and the CRH1313R portable impactor and screen plant.
The CRC1150 portable cone plant:
The Terex® Cedarapids CRC1150 portable cone plant delivers big production at a practical price. The highly mobile plant features the new TC1150 cone crusher that utilizes high efficiency roller bearings and boasts several notable advancements that enhance performance and functionality. New key features include automated cone controls and larger closed side settings. The crusher is powered by a 300 hp motor and drive, all mounted on a rubber isolated frame. The plant includes an oversize cone feed hopper extension with overflow chute, “straight-line” undercrusher conveyor, metal detector, and service platforms. Easy maintenance features include conveniently located grease banks and a ground access cone lubrication module.
The CRH1313R portable impactor and screen plant:
The Terex® Cedarapids CRH1313R delivers big production and has the versatility to handle rock crushing, concrete recycling, and asphalt recycling. The highly mobile plant is a complete stand-alone closed-circuit unit with three product capability. The plant features a high production Cedarapids IP1313 impactor with a 3 or 4 bar 50” (1270 mm) rotor powered by a Tier 4, 450 hp (335 kW) diesel engine, direct drive to crusher, and 200 hp (150 kW) generator. Uptime is maximized with a heavy-duty undercrusher pan feeder that protects the conveyor belt from damage by absorbing the high velocity discharge from the crusher. More capacity is possible because of the 5'x16' (1515 x 4875mm) patent-pending dual-slope 2-deck screen which handles heavier loads. In addition, the capability to return both screen deck products to the crusher maximizes production. A rugged 48" x 16' (1220 x 4875 mm) high-stroke Cedarapids “Advantage” feeder with 60" (1525 mm) grizzly bar or optional stepped tine style grizzly section feeds the impactor. The new CRH1313R portable impactor/screen plant is simple to operate, quick to set up, and easy to transport.
The J D Neuhaus Profi TI range of air operated hoists incorporate many years of design and development, and have successfully proved their versatility and reliability following installations within a wide range of light, medium and heavy duty industrial workplaces. The major aspect of these hoists is that they have been engineered for extremes and can be safely operated even where hazardous working environments exist. Their compressed air supply, utilised for both power and control functions, does not initiate sparks, so providing an unbeatable advantage when hoists are operating in potentially explosive atmospheres. Even greater safety can be achieved by the prevention of sparks generated by static discharges or metal to metal friction contacts.
Standard versions of JDN hoists and crane systems (which utilise Profi TI hoists for lift operations) have the explosion protection / classifications and markings EX II 2 GD IIA T4 / II 3 GD IIB T4.
Increased spark protection can be achieved, which involves copper galvanisation plating of the hoist bottom block and load hooks, together with fitting brass safety catches to achieve a rating of EX II 2 GD IIB T4.
With even further increased spark protection for explosion group IIC, the hoist horizontal movement trolleys incorporate running wheels and travel gearing which are manufactured in bronze for an impressive EX II 2 GD IIC T4 rating.
The Profi TI hoist range is the workhorse of the industrial and commercial world, providing lift capacities from 250kg up to a full 100 tonnes. The operating air supply can be set at 4 or 6 bar pressure, with a standard load lift height of three metres being provided throughout. Other optional lift height requirements can also be specified and accommodated as required.
All Profi TI hoists are equipped with a top suspension hook, with optional overhead trolleys also available to accommodate lateral movement of suspended loads. Three trolley options incorporate load traverse movements combined with precise load placements. One trolley is manually operated for horizontal movement of the suspended load. A second trolley has a manually operated reel chain mechanism for lateral load movements. The third motorised trolley provides traverse as well as load raise and lower movements utilising compressed air power.
All trolley systems can negotiate overhead rail curvatures, and can also be fitted with rack and pinion drives for safe load handling on offshore platforms and sea going vessels. For installations with overhead space constrictions, a low headroom trolley option is also available, suitable for loads up to six tonne.
The easy to use range of Profi TI hoists are 100% duty rated with unlimited duty cycles, so minimising any downtime conditions. Their compact modern design eliminates any protruding control hoses or similar external parts susceptible to damage, emphasising the suitability of the Profi range for even horizontal pulling. These standard hoists are also insensitive to atmospheric dust or humidity and withstand working temperatures ranging from -20°C to +70°C. Their patented, low maintenance vane motor brake systems ensure fail-safe starting and positive braking, while also being low maintenance as well as suitable for lube-free operation. Various pendant controls can be fitted for sensitive, single speed, multi-function or remote control operation. These design led hoists also provide strong, fast and silent operation combined with high performance, together with more efficiency and greater reliability to ensure high lifting and lowering speeds while incorporating positive sound absorption.
The compact hoist designs ensure minimum dead-weight together with suitability for installation in conditions of low headroom availability with loads from one tonne upwards also incorporating overload protection.
Hydraulically operated versions of the JDN Profi range can also be made available, together with hoists specifically designated for operation within unique working conditions. These include JDN Profi 25 TI hoists, available with compressed air or hydraulic fluid operation, which are suitable for work undertaken in fully submersed conditions. These subsea hoists provide possibilities of enhanced weightless underwater movements of suspended loads which has included the replacement of a 45 tonne replacement rudder blade for a cargo ship while remaining berthed at sea.
Further information is available on request to:
J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. KG
58449
Witten-Heven
Germany
Tel: +49 2302 208-219
Fax: +49 2302 208-286
info@jdngroup.com
The Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (the AITT) has been chosen by major global forklift truck manufacturer Crown Lift Trucks to accredit the company's internal and external operator training courses in the UK.
Mike Knowles, UK Operations Director at Crown, said: “Kevin Sowerby joined Crown four years ago as Technical Training Manager; with Kevin’s appointment we set a goal of creating a Crown UK Training Department. This development has benefited Crown employees, as well as enabling us to go to market and offer Crown Training to our customers.
“All of Crown UK’s previous operator training was AITT-accredited – so it was a natural progression for us to become a bona fide AITT training provider ourselves.“
“Thanks to AITT, we are also able to create training programmes for our own staff, with the ability to adapt the training to meet the demands of the business, as well as deliver on-site training at a customer’s premises anywhere in the UK.
“The AITT has been very supportive and understanding of our needs, and very professional in assisting us to achieve our objectives.”
Dave Sparrow, Managing Director of AITT, said: “We’re very proud to work alongside Crown as the accreditation body for their in-house and external training. It demonstrates AITT’s growing role as a benchmark for the quality and consistency of materials handling training.
“The services we offer forklift truck manufacturers, in particular, extend not only to accrediting their own tutors and training centres, but also in working with them on their training manuals for new equipment. This helps to ensure that operators in the field receive the most appropriate and effective kind of training.
“With an ever-increasing range of innovative and inventive truck designs and attachments entering the materials handling sector every year, manufacturers are coming to AITT to make certain that the standard and type of training on their equipment is uniform, consistent and fit for purpose, whatever they do and wherever they are.”
For more information on AITT training courses or achieving AITT-accreditation for tutors or training centres, please contact the Association on 01530 810867 or via their website at aitt.co.uk.
Author: Dan Haggarty, Head of Emergency Response, National Chemical Emergency Centre.
Chemical companies play critical roles in developing best practice in risk mitigation and crisis management - with industry initiatives such as Responsible Care demonstrating this drive to continually improve protection for people and the environment. In early 2016, the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) hosted a forum on supply chain best practice with representatives from influential private sector partners at the forefront of industry. The forum provided an opportunity for product and transport safety managers and SHEQ executives to network, share best practice on day-to-day chemical safety and offer insight into improving safety across the sector.
Topics of discussion were put forward by the delegates and chosen for their relevance and timeliness in the context of the current demands facing industry. These included:
• Delivering best practice in product stewardship across the supply chain
• Meeting requirements for global chemical emergency response
• Emergency response and incident management in cases of off-site emergencies
• The benefits and risks of implementing chemical safety benchmarks
In attendance were managers from major companies and stakeholders across the chemical industry, representing areas such as petrochemicals, agrochemicals, polymers and plastics. This included representatives from Allnex, Ineos (O&P Europe), Shell Chemicals (Europe BV), Yara and CEFIC. The total annual sales revenue of those that attended is over $120bn and accounts for almost 10% of the sales for the world’s top 120 chemical companies.
Building a culture of risk mitigation and management into the chemical supply chain to reduce the probability of an incident or its impact on people or the environment is a priority for responsible managers.
The delegation identified managerial support and hunger for excellence in risk management as a core ingredient and first step to implementing best practice. To achieve this, the group highlighted the importance of supporting front line supervisors in logistics to develop leadership skills to match their technical expertise. They also discussed the need to embed a culture of risk mitigation throughout the supply chain by building long term relationships with chemical suppliers and distributors, and supporting them to make achievable improvements in chemical safety.
In discussing the challenges facing industry, one key issue was a concern that smaller chemical companies may lack the knowledge, capacity or infrastructure to consistently deliver best practice. The European Commission has already flagged this as an area of concern, particularly in relation to the upcoming REACH 2018 registration. Similarly, managing the risk of third party haulier’s collecting or dropping chemicals onsite is complicated due to the difficulty determining the quality of external equipment or training processes. Companies must also be prepared for the risks of chemicals in ‘mixed-load’ trucks and ensure that all employees adhere to the rigours of ADR at every step of the supply chain.
The delegation then highlighted the practical actions companies can take to ensure that suppliers and distributors uphold this high standard. This included the need to perform assessments of customers and distributors of high risk chemicals through full system exercises with well-defined objectives and embedded learning to build safety into a chemical’s supply chain. Techniques used to achieve this include:
• Providing driver training
• Performing supply chain spot checks
• Maintaining detailed training records and incident logs
• Conducting periodic route reviews with route planning and live route assessment and changes for high hazard products.
Many companies supported this process with positive incentivising actions, such as offering driver of the year awards. Establishing standards in procurement and performing impartial third party assessments are valuable tools to identify gaps in competency, procedures and systems, and ensure that high quality systems are in place. Meanwhile, professional on-site, in-person or online assurance training sessions are essential for all employees handling dangerous goods.
For the international companies at the forum, 24 hour emergency response formed an important pillar of their chemical safety framework.
Attendees agreed that using European standards as a basis for emergency response is a good start when it comes to defining best practice. However, the lack of harmonised regulations creates challenges, despite the almost worldwide GHS implementation. Different regional definitions for the practical application of best practice also demands precision in interpreting regulation. Companies must therefore ensure that their processes are aligned with regional legislation.
The relative lack of training in chemical incident response for local partners and the Fire & Rescue Services in emerging regions was also highlighted as a key concern for companies operating in remote geographies. Delegates expressed the need to engage with local Fire Services, and encouraged chemical companies to build relationships and, where appropriate, share experience with regional emergency responders on best practice in emergency response. Finally, without direct visibility on the ground, 24 hour multilingual emergency response remains the first and most immediate line of protection for populations and the environment in the event of an incident.
Delegates were asked to draw up what they considered to be best practice in preparing for an off-site emergency. They discussed preparations for the full crisis management lifecycle, from testing current methodologies to preparing for media response.
Recommendations included:
• Scheduling four to six table top exercises a year that test methodology and communications routes, including third parties to impart risk mitigation best practice and test subcontractor capabilities and call flow processes between parties.
• One in-depth ‘in-the field’ exercise per year using operational equipment and involving all partners and emergency response personnel.
• Testing and developing leadership in decision making through crisis management workshops and activities. In particular, drawing clear boundaries for senior managers for when organisations should respond and where they should support partners and emergency service response. This involves educating senior managers how to empower response teams.
• Implementing crisis communications systems and procedures with plans to overcome language challenges, which is essential for those operating internationally.
• Clear understanding with contractors and logistics providers about who is going to take responsibility in different incidents.
• Ensuring that all relevant stakeholders have access to simple procedures to follow and a checklists of key activities in case of emergency – generally business continuity plans are too long and not action orientated and accessible for those using them.
• Press training for spokespeople and identifying points of contact for media enquiries.
The group concluded that success in off-site emergency response requires comprehensive training programmes with well-defined learning objectives. This includes delivering pre-activity risk assessments, identifying local responders in advance, providing in-country employee training and offering auditable web-based training platforms. For many companies, employing a trusted third party training partner is a cost effective way to provide comprehensive supply chain training. Finally, delegates discussed what guidelines they might provide or produce for the provision of a comprehensive level 1 emergency response service.
The delegation agreed that standards play an important role in establishing best practice, providing something against which to measure performance, helping to educate supply chains and raising standards, both internally and externally. When commenting on what sets apart good standards, the group agreed that those developed through the collaboration and involvement with trade associations, experts and industry bodies have a greater degree of legitimacy. CEFIC loading / unloading guidance was highlighted by the group as an example of a guideline that was performing well, in part due to close industry involvement.
However they also noted a number of risks and concerns when it came to creating benchmarks in best practice, in particular low cost drivers. In the classification of materials hazards there also remain inconsistencies between organisations, with a perceived short term disadvantage to those following best practice. Finally, identifying how to embed guidelines with local Emergency Responders so they make the right decisions when faced with an incident remains a challenge for the chemical industry as a whole, highlighting the importance of close public sector engagement.
NCEC exists to help those working in the chemical industry to provide the highest level of protection to people, property and the environment. However, if best practice is to be widely implemented it must be practicable, and developing practical benchmarks can only be achieved through close industry consultation. The annual practitioner forum provides a unique opportunity to review the challenges facing industry while working to continuously improve processes that ensure the safety of people, property and the environment across the global supply chain. NCEC is delighted to disseminate these results to help organisations benefit from the combined learning and experience of the forum and promote best practice activities that really work.
To be part of the dialogue and share you experience in chemical safety with industry experts from around the world, register to attend NCEC’s next private sector forum. Contact daniel.haggarty@ricardo.com for more information.
NCEC is the chosen 24 hour emergency response provider for more than 500 chemical companies, and supports many more with training and regulatory services.
NCEC is committed to supporting its clients to lead the way in best practice and ensure that global supply chains reflect the industry’s commitment to protecting people, property and the environment. http://the-ncec.com/best-practice
At its distribution centre in Perth, Western Australia, steel producer and wholesaler OneSteel Metalcentre, part of Arrium Mining & Materials Group, stocks approximately 8,000 tonnes of different types of material for supply to its branches and customers, including construction companies, shipyards and plant manufacturers. To streamline the handling and management of its extensive range of bar and tube, the company has invested in a Unicompact honeycomb storage system from German manufacturer Kasto.
Andrew Cosgrove, National Operations Manager at OneSteel explained, “We deliver a wide range of types and quantities of material, often just-in-time. The automated warehouse provides rapid access and continuous traceability of our stock, giving us the transparent, efficient storage that is crucial to our operation.”
The Unicompact at OneSteel has 2,272 cassette locations, each of which can accommodate five tonnes of material up to nine metres long. In total, almost half of the steel on-site, subdivided into some 700 different line items, is currently stored in the system.
Mr Cosgrove added, “Compared to conventional storage methods, the small footprint of the Unicompact provides very high storage density, which for us means shorter distances to move the material and more space for additional stock or process steps.
“The goods-to-man storage system has greatly reduced our access times. At the press of a button, material is loaded and unloaded from the store and sent automatically to the picking area. It guarantees productivity and efficiency in our business.”
He went on to explain that working in the warehouse has become considerably easier and the process more reliable. While the store carries out the laborious loading and unloading of material virtually by itself, employees have more time for other tasks.
KASTOlvr warehouse management software controls the processes and gives OneSteel a detailed overview of orders and stock levels. Every delivery and individual cassette can be identified and tracked, helping to avoid delivery errors and provide customers with a consistently high quality service. The software has also simplified the task of consolidating items required for each order.
Mr Cosgrove concluded, “Everyone at OneSteel is very impressed by the Unicompact storage system. It enables us to work more quickly, safely, reliably and efficiently than before.
“Ultimately, this is all to the benefit of our customers, as they get exactly the material they require from us, flexibly and in the shortest possible time.
“If additional capacity should be necessary in the future, the modular Unicompact system can be easily modified and extended to meet our new requirements.”
KASTO Ltd, Unit 5, Garamonde Drive,
Wymbush, Milton Keynes, MK8 8DF.
Tel: +44 (0)1908 571590. Fax: +44 (0)1908 566106
Email: sales@uk.kasto.com
Web: www.kasto.com
Contact: Ernst Wagner, Managing Director.
Industry4_Sync You have, no doubt, already read and heard plenty about the big changes that are coming to the supply chain. Connectivity, big data, automation and other technology trends are converging to create new opportunities to increase productivity, reduce costs and enable unprecedented flexibility.
These various technologies are often discussed under the umbrella of larger macro trends, specifically the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0. But as these concepts have gained traction in the market, they continue to evolve and have become harder to define. In this post, we’ll explore the relationship between the two terms and what they ultimately mean for the future of the warehouse.
The IoT is the interconnection of computing devices and sensors embedded in objects and machines, enabling them to collect, send and receive data. That sounds like a simple concept, but the implications are powerful and far-reaching. The IoT has the potential to transform every aspect of our lives, creating smarter homes, buildings, vehicles, and just about everything else.
This ability to connect machines through the Internet is as powerful, if not more so, in manufacturing and the supply chain as it is in other applications. This reality led to the creation of a more specific term, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), to describe the application of IoT technology in industrial settings. GE is generally credited with coining the term and, along with other manufacturers, created the nonprofit Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) to advance the concept.
The IIoT connects the sensor data, machine communications and automation systems that have become common in industrial settings and uses advanced control technology, machine learning and big data to enable smart machines, and ultimately smart factories and warehouses. Already we are seeing this technology being applied the way industrial systems are maintained and serviced through real-time condition monitoring.
Industry 4.0 has different origins than IIoT but encompasses many of the same principles and technologies. The term first emerged in the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2011, and was developed to capture that country’s vision for the future of manufacturing. While some still associate the term with the German government—and it is still more prevalent in Europe than in the U.S.—the term quickly outgrew its origins and has been adopted by a wide range of vendors and manufacturers, including Swisslog and our parent company KUKA.
One of the strengths of the term Industry 4.0 is that it puts the incredible changes that are occurring today in the context of previous industrial revolutions. In so doing, it helps create a clearer vision for the future that is not only possible but seemingly inevitable. Does anyone still doubt that we will continue to build on the IT and electronics that fueled the third industrial revolution to increase the intelligence and interconnectivity of industrial machines, and that the factories and warehouses of the future will be significantly different than what exists today as a result?
Industry 4.0 has become shorthand for the comprehensive transformation of the whole sphere of industrial production through the merging of digital technology and the Internet with conventional industry. It is very useful in that sense, but it’s also helpful to understand the principles that underlie this transformation to ensure the building blocks are in place to achieve the desired goal. We’ve written extensively about Industry 4.0 and its implication for the warehouse, focusing on what we consider its core principles:
The fact that we focus more on Industry 4.0 than IIoT in our communications doesn’t mean we don’t fully support the evolution of the IIoT. We do. But we find the term Industry 4.0 to provide a more comprehensive roadmap to the future because it encompasses cyber-physical systems, the Industrial Internet of Things and the Internet of Services. In that way, it helps us plan for and create a future in which cyber-physical systems communicate over the IIoT and cooperate with each other and humans in real time, supported by an Internet of Services in which both internal and cross-organizational services are leveraged across the value chain.
That, I think, is a future we can all work together to achieve, regardless of what we label it. The important thing is that we continue to move toward a common goal: smarter factories and warehouses.
Dr. Kerstin Höfle is Innovation Manager for Swisslog WDS, responsible for the management of all Industry 4.0 activities and serves as representative in the KUKA Industry 4.0 Leads Team. In addition, she is responsible for implementation of a central IP management within Swisslog, including strategy development and knowledge transfer within the organization. Dr. Höfle earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Management at the University of St.Gallen, Switzerland.
In 2016 Powerscreen, one of the world’s leading providers of mobile crushing and screening equipment, marks half a century of serving the crushing and screening industry around the world. Established in 1966, Powerscreen has achieved its five-decade legacy through industry leadership, customer input and innovation.
Powerscreen was founded in 1966 under the name of Ulster Plant in Country Tyrone, Northern Ireland and today that is where the research, development and manufacturing of products continue. By the 1970’s the Powerscreen name was born. When the founders set up Powerscreen in 1966 they pioneered the concept of mobile screening, taking the machines to the quarry face rather than the expensive process of moving the material to the machine. In 1969 Powerscreen exported their first machine to Sweden which cost £2.5k. Today Powerscreen has a true global presence, operating in worldwide scale in over 80 countries. In 1966 Powerscreen employed eight people, now that figure has risen to six hundred people producing a range of over thirty machines.
Powerscreen started out from mobile machines in a sand pit to industry leading machine designs now serving quarry, mining, C&D and recycling industries globally. Powerscreen not only pioneered the mobile machine concept but also set new standards for many products and technologies that have become widely adopted in the industry, including the Chieftain and Warrior ranges of mobile screens. In 2015 Powerscreen launched the Warrior 600 making the Warriors the most comprehensive range of mobile scalping units in the industry.
“From Ulster Plant to serving customers around the world today, Powerscreen is the story of teamwork. Our customers have trusted us and helped us to build and define the industry, as well as creating ways for people to work safely. It is through teamwork that we will continue to find new solutions and opportunities” said Colin Clements, Powerscreen Product Line Director.
In the last 50 years, Powerscreen has gone above and beyond in its product development efforts, focusing on what customers need to be successful in their industries and applications — Powerscreen innovations are changing the market and setting the industry standard for quality, reliability and safety in crushing and screening equipment.
Key to the success of the Powerscreen brand is the global distribution network, there are over 120 distributors operating globally providing local service and support service to end users. Pat McGeary, Blue Group Chairman, said “Powerscreen is in my blood, I joined in 1968 when it was just a little local factory and today its part of my family’s life. I am proud to have been part of the success story and to see the passion and dedication that was there when I joined is still there today.”
Cheshire-based PDQ Specialist Courier Services has taken delivery of seven brand new multi-temperature refrigerated vehicles from Burnley-based CoolKit Ltd, fitted with high quality refrigeration systems and the latest state of the art temperature monitoring and tracking equipment.
Accurate temperature control is essential to PDQ, which specialises in the pharmaceutical, hazardous and scientific analysis industries, with a customer base covering the UK and Europe. The vehicles from CoolKit will be used in the handling a variety of temperature-critical consignments, including pharmaceutical and pathology samples, new and controlled drugs, radioactive and flammable materials, as well as frozen embryos and a range of children’s medicines for neo-natal and premature babies.
PDQ Business Development Manager, Luke Devlin explains: “Temperature is at the heart of everything we do at PDQ. All our deliveries are temperature-critical and the need for real-time, perfect information is paramount.
“Such is the variety and complexity of loads being carried that we require highly specialist vehicles. The CoolKit vehicles have both dual and triple compartment bodies, and the latest technology from Seven Telematics. Up to three independent temperature probes provide our customers with the highest level of information possible during transit. We ensure traceability throughout the delivery process and can log into any vehicle, at any time, all over Europe and this includes when they are on ferries too. The detailed analysis even monitors the length of time of every door opening during a delivery cycle.”
The centenary of the birth of JCB’s Founder has been marked with the unveiling of a specially commissioned bronze bust.
Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE was born on June 21st, 1916 at the family home, The Parks, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, the son of Cyril and Dolores Bamford. As a youngster playtime was spent building cars and boats – early signs of an inventive flair which would see him become one of Britain’s most celebrated engineers.
When Mr Bamford retired in 1975 and handed over to his son Anthony, the company he founded in a lock-up garage in Uttoxeter in October 1945 was turning over more than £43 million a year and employing hundreds of people. He had also become universally known as ‘Mr JCB’ as well as ‘Jamais Content’ Bamford, thanks to his unwavering drive to do things better.
Today his sons Lord Bamford and Mark Bamford and his grandson Jo Bamford marked the centenary of his birth and his many achievements by unveiling the one and a quarter scale bronze bust at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester.
It is the work of another innovative son of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent-born sculptor Andrew Edwards, 52, who has spent five months creating the image of Mr Bamford in his 1960s heyday when JCB was establishing itself on the world stage.
Lord Bamford said: “My father was without doubt an engineering genius and we wanted to mark the centenary of his birth and the huge contribution he made to Staffordshire and to Great Britain. We are delighted with the bust and it’s very fitting that it has been created in the county of his birth and by a sculptor whose talent was developed right here in Staffordshire.”
The bust will now be on permanent display at JCB’s World HQ and will be seen by the thousands of visitors who pass through the company’s doors every year.
Andrew Edwards said: “I am always extremely nervous when I undertake projects of this nature because they are so very personal to the family members involved. By working closely with the Bamford family I believe we’ve created a wonderful likeness of someone who is undoubtedly one of Staffordshire’s most famous sons. It has been an honour to have undertaken this work.”
The bust weighs around 50kgs and stands around 700mm high. It’s not the first bust of Mr JCB to be commissioned; a smaller one was cast in 1964 and presented to him by employees in gratitude of a £250,000 bonus he shared with the workforce after a record year. That work of art sits on Mr JCB’s original desk in the Story of JCB permanent exhibition at the World HQ.
S Norton & Co Ltd, at the forefront of British metal recycling for 50 years, is being restructured so that the owners John, Charlie and Matt Norton can devote more time to strategy and longer-term direction of the business and ensure its future success.
Founded in 1960, the family-run scrap processing business collects, processes and distributes over one million tonnes of ferrous scrap every year. It has long-established metal recycling operations across the UK in Manchester, London, Liverpool and Southampton.
The brothers’ decision comes as the growing size of the company – 150 employees across eight sites – and ever-increasing regulatory controls has meant the need to develop more formalised corporate governance procedures.
For these reasons, they have expanded their Board with four new directors joining in June 2016 and are delegating more specific operational functions to existing senior managers.
The new board members are Roger Morton, Managing Director and Graham Donohue, Finance Director, plus two non-executive directors with long experience of the business, Margaret Harry and Norman Jones.
It’s an additional role for Roger who has worked in partnership with S Norton for more than 10 years as a Director of Axion Polymers. He will help to advise shareholders and senior managers on the organisational and procedural changes, while providing an interface between the executive management teams and directors.
He will continue to run the Axion business alongside fellow Axion Polymers director Keith Freegard, with whom he founded their Manchester-based resource recovery and plastics recycling business in 2001. Axion’s business remains unchanged.
John Norton, Chairman commented: “These changes will help S Norton to maintain and grow its position as one of the largest and most progressive metal recyclers in Europe. The intention is to retain the close rapport of senior managers with the shareholders and retain the family ethos of the business, while ensuring that there is no change of control in the ownership of the company.
“In creating a stable long-term future for our company, our aim is to remain the preferred partner for suppliers and buyers of all types of recycled metal; stay at the forefront of technical and commercial innovation and empower our staff to take more responsibility, thereby increasing job satisfaction for everyone in our business.”
Commenting on his new role, Roger added: “S Norton & Co is a long-established, highly-respected and successful company in its sector and the shareholders’ vision is that it remains a stable family-controlled business that recycles responsibly.
“I am looking forward to helping their experienced team with their plans to grow further while remaining profitable so they can continue to invest for the long term.”
For more information on the company visit the website at www.s-norton.com.
In 2016 Mercedes-Benz Trucks became the first manufacturer in the world to produce a heavy-duty electric truck. The technology pioneer is now taking the logical next step: putting its electric truck, the eActros, out on the road with operators. Ten vehicles in two variants, with gross weights of 18 or 25 tonnes, will be handed over in the next few weeks to customers, who will be testing their everyday feasibility and economic efficiency under real-life conditions. The long-term aim: locally emission-free and quiet driving in urban environments with series-production trucks.
At the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Mercedes-Benz displayed its concept for a heavy-duty electric distribution truck for urban areas. The reaction from the general public, politicians and customers was positive across the board. In Germany alone, some 150 serious enquiries were received. Using expertise from across the Daimler Group, an interdisciplinary team from Daimler Trucks has designed a vehicle capable of coping with everyday distribution operations. A number of technical and, above all, business-related issues remain outstanding, key among them the range and cost of the batteries, but also the infrastructure required for their use as part of customers’ commercial fleets.
“Daimler Trucks is synonymous with innovation leadership, allied to a realistic and pragmatic attitude,” explained Martin Daum, the Daimler AG Board Member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses. “This is particularly true when it comes to electric mobility. We now want to work together with our customers to move swiftly forward with the development of our Mercedes-Benz eActros to the point where it becomes a viable proposition in tough everyday operations – both technically and commercially. We are beginning this process by creating an innovation fleet and will be supporting its testing in the day-to day logistics environment of our customers. This will enable us to establish just what remains to be done, in terms of technical matters, infrastructure and service, to make our Mercedes-Benz eActros competitive.”
Stefan Buchner, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, added: “We are now passing both two- and three-axle variants of our heavy-duty electric truck, the Mercedes-Benz eActros, into the hands of customers. Initially the focus will be on inner-city goods transport and delivery services – the ranges required here are well within the scope of our Mercedes-Benz eActros.”
“We have developed a vehicle that has been configured from the outset for electric mobility. Compared with our prototype, quite a few technical changes have been made: the power supply is now ensured by eleven battery packs in all – and wherever possible we have used already proven components that are ready, or very close to ready, for use in series production”, said Stefan Buchner.
Participating in the fleet test are customers from a variety of sectors in Germany and Switzerland. They are: Dachser, Edeka, Hermes, Kraftverkehr Nagel, Ludwig Meyer, pfenning logistics, TBS Rhein-Neckar and Rigterink from Germany, and Camion Transport and Migros from Switzerland.
These customers all distribute goods via road, but in very different sectors and categories. Commodities carried range from groceries to building supplies and raw materials. The eActros will be used to undertake tasks that would otherwise be completed by vehicles with conventional diesel engines. According to need, they are fitted with refrigerated boxes, tank or curtainside bodies. The drivers are being trained specially to work with the eActros. The pilot customers will be testing the vehicles in real-life operations for twelve months, after which the trucks will be going out to a second round of customers for a further year. “This will enable us to satisfy the many requests we have had from customers and to gain even more insight,” said Stefan Buchner. “Our aim is to achieve series-production and market maturity for a range of economically competitive electric trucks for use in heavy-duty transport operations with effect from 2021.”
The eActros is based on the frame of the conventional Actros. However, the vehicle architecture has been configured specifically for the electric drive system, with a high proportion of relevant components. The drive axle, for example, is based on the ZF AVE 130 that has already proved its worth as a low-floor portal axle in hybrid and fuel-cell buses from Mercedes-Benz and is now being fundamentally revised for the eActros. The axle housing has been completely redesigned and is mounted in a significantly higher position, thereby increasing the ground clearance to more than 200 mm. The drive system comprises two electric motors located close to the rear-axle wheel hubs. These three-phase asynchronous motors are liquid-cooled and operate with a nominal voltage of 400 volts. They generate an output of 125 kW each, with maximum torque of 485 Nm each. The gearing ratios convert this into 11 000 Nm each, resulting in driving performance on a par with that of a diesel truck.
The maximum permissible axle load stands at the usual 11.5 tonnes. The energy for a range of up to 200 km is provided by two lithium-ion batteries with an output of 240 kWh. These have already proved their worth in service with EvoBus GmbH – so can no longer be considered as prototypes. “Synergies within the Group like these allow us to pool our experiences, shorten development times and, of course, also save costs,” said Stefan Buchner.
The batteries are accommodated in eleven packs: three are located in the frame area, the other eight underneath. For safety reasons, the battery packs are protected by steel housings. In the event of a collision, the mountings give way and deform, so diverting the energy past the batteries without damaging them. The high-voltage batteries do not just supply energy to the drive system, but to the vehicle as a whole. Ancillary components such as the air compressor for the braking system, the power steering pump, the compressor for the cab air-conditioning system and, where relevant, the refrigerated body, are also all electrically powered. Discharged batteries can be fully recharged within three to eleven hours, assuming a realistic charging capacity of 20 to 80 kW from a mobile charging device at a fleet depot. The charging standard used is the Combined Charging System, CCS. The LV on-board network made up of two conventional 12-volt batteries is charged from the high-voltage batteries via a DC-DC converter. This ensures that all relevant vehicle functions such as lights, indicators, brakes, air suspension systems and cab systems remain operational in the event of the high-voltage network failing or being switched off. The high-voltage network can only be activated if both LV (low-voltage) batteries are charged.
The development and testing of the heavy-duty electric trucks in distribution transport forms part of the project ‘Concept ELV²’, which is funded to varying extents by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment and Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy to the tune of around ten million euros altogether. Areas covered by the funding plan include the investigation of the complex challenges involved in the development, assembly and operation of electric trucks. These include the use of high voltages (> 400 V), high currents (up to 1000 A), battery technology (price, weight, durability, service life, charging time), range and energy requirements, charging infrastructure and logistics concepts, safety requirements, summer and winter viability as well as questions about customer acceptance of the trucks.
The customer innovation fleet will be on the road until at least mid-2020. Its aim is to establish the energy requirements for a series of specific application scenarios as well as the economic efficiency of the electric trucks, and to compare the environmental performance of the electric trucks with that of diesel trucks in a full Life Cycle Assessment. The findings of this research work will find their way back into the vehicles in the form of on-going optimisation measures. The results will be published, giving potential users the opportunity to optimise their route planning or to develop new business models for their logistics processes.
Blazing the trail for all-electric light-duty trucks is the eCanter from the company’s Asian brand FUSO, which launched last autumn as the first series-production electric truck. The eVito from Mercedes-Benz has also been available to order since November 2017 and will be going out to customers from the second half of this year. Next in line are the all-electric Citaro city bus and the eSprinter. Vehicles from Daimler Trucks, Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Vans thus ensure that every aspect of inner-city transport is catered for with electric vehicles. Along with payload and load capacity, the key factors that are in demand here are sustainability and noise reduction. Where frequent stopping, braking and acceleration are required, the advantages of battery-electric drive technology truly come into their own. The city’s residents benefit from cleaner air and less noise, while – as another advantage – electric trucks are by and large unaffected by access restrictions.
EnerSys® - Lead acid batteries have existed for more than 100 years but they should not be dismissed as outdated technology. Modern advancements combine their proven benefits with features that are increasingly in demanded for deployment throughout intralogistics: high power density, longer operating times, flexible charging, zero maintenance and cost effectiveness.
The number of electrically powered vehicles is increasing in the logistics sector. Easier handling, higher flexibility for outdoor and indoor deployment and lower maintenance costs are key selling points. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly regarded as the technology of the future for on-board power in industrial trucks. They are assumed to have significant advantages over conventional lead-acid batteries.
The main reason given for choosing lithium-ion batteries is high energy density, which means the ability to store a lot of energy in a small space. Another reason is they require virtually zero maintenance, since lithium-ion batteries (unlike their lead-acid counterparts) do not require refilling with water. A further major plus point is flexible charging capability: lithium-ion batteries can be recharged at any time. This does not cause any outgassing as with conventional lead-acid batteries, and there is no memory effect (long-term loss of storage capacity due to frequent partial discharge). Although these reasons are all valid, they often fall short of the mark. To properly compare lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries for use in intralogistics, you have to delve deeper into the technology.
The term ‘lithium-ion’ covers a wide range of battery systems with different chemical compositions. For example, the negative electrode can be made from graphite, titanium or another material, while the positive electrode consists of a lithium metal oxide based on cobalt (LiCoO2), nickel (LiNiO2), manganese (LiMn2O4), or another metal. The electrical characteristics of the cell depend on the specific combination in each case – the nominal cell voltage of current batteries usually ranges from 2.2 to 4.2 V, depending on the material combination. This means that if you want to replace a conventional lead-acid battery by a lithium-ion battery, the battery configuration depends on the chosen chemistry. For instance, to replace a 24 V lead-acid battery you would need six or seven cells if you opt for lithium nickel cobalt oxide (NCA) with a cell voltage of 3.6 V, or nine cells if you choose lithium titanium oxide (LTO) as the anode material, with a cell voltage of 2.4 V. If the cell count is not adapted, you will have different charge and discharge voltages every time you change to a different material combination. The chosen chemistry also determines the energy density, capacity, cycle lifetime, storage and ageing characteristics. In addition, it also affects sensitivity to high and low temperatures, and sensitivity to deep discharge and overcharging.
A common aspect of all types of lithium-ion cells is that they are more sensitive to certain operating conditions and external factors than lead-acid batteries. To ensure proper operation of these cells, it is therefore necessary to use an electronic battery management system equipped with sensors for current, voltage and temperature. This is in order to monitor charging and discharging at the cell and system levels. This battery management system usually has a direct interface to the electric vehicle. A consequence of this close integration of lithium-ion batteries into the vehicle electronics is that most industrial truck manufacturers make and install their own lithium-ion battery systems. Manufacturers are reluctant to give external parties access to the CAN bus of their forklift trucks – a prerequisite for integrating batteries from “independent” suppliers. For operators of industrial trucks, this means that they have to buy their lithium-ion batteries from the equipment manufacturer. They do not have the option of purchasing batteries for their various forklifts, lift trucks or cleaning machines from the battery manufacturer of their choice. By contrast, lead-acid batteries from different manufacturers are mutually compatible, so a wide variety of vehicles can be equipped with batteries from a single supplier. The electronics required with lithium-ion systems also present a certain amount of potential residual risk of faults and outages – experience shows that most battery system failures are due to faulty electronic components. This should not be understood to mean that the lithium-ion batteries currently available for industrial applications are unreliable, but simply that this reliability comes at the cost of higher technical complexity.
The subject of outages leads directly to the required maintenance expense for various battery systems. Here the main advantage of lithium-ion batteries over lead-acid batteries is their claim to deliver virtually zero maintenance. That is true to the extent that conventional lead-acid batteries use diluted sulphuric acid as the electrolyte. As a rule, these batteries do indeed require servicing at least once a week, which amounts to topping up the cells with water. However, lead-acid battery technology has also progressed. For example, the Hawker® Water Less® Battery from EnerSys®, based on PzS technology, allows refilling intervals of four, eight, or even thirteen weeks, depending on the charging technology and configuration.
Virtually zero maintenance with high power densityThin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology can even dispense entirely with water refilling. It is based on traditional lead-acid batteries, but with a number of significant added features. The electrolyte is absorbed in micro-porous glass mat separators, eliminating the need for topping up with water. Particularly with regard to power density, TPPL has advantages over conventional lead-acid batteries because the positive and negative electrodes are only 1 mm thick, compared to 9 mm electrode thickness in typical conventional lead-acid batteries. This allows many more electrodes to be fitted in the same space, increasing battery capacity and boosting power density. The TPPL batteries in the NexSys® portfolio from EnerSys®, for example, offer the same or higher ampere-hour capacities as conventional liquid-electrolyte batteries. Another key feature of TPPL batteries is that pure lead is used for the grids. The grain structure of this pure lead makes the grids much less susceptible to corrosion and allows them to easily handle relatively long storage times. However, the main thing is that the chemical behaviour of the batteries is significantly more stable, which offers advantages with regard to charging characteristics and lifetime. For example, the TPPL batteries in the Hawker® NexSys® series have a cycle life of about 1450 cycles at 60% end discharge depth, depending on the version. In addition, TPPL batteries can be operated under shallow discharge cycle conditions with no memory effect, have a very low gassing rate, enable short charging times, and have high energy throughput over the working day.
Where power for heavy-duty applications is required, lead-acid batteries with square tube design can be an attractive option. In this design developed by EnerSys®, the tubes of the positive plates are square instead of round as in conventional batteries. The EnerSys® batteries sold under the Ironclad® brand name can be operated with higher specific acid density, which not only increases performance and operating time, but also extends the lifetime due to the lower specific load on the positive electrodes. They have a design lifetime of 1800 cycles, which means an additional year of service in many applications. In addition, these batteries can maintain higher voltages for a longer period during discharge, enabling longer operating times. When industrial trucks are used in shift operation, this means less frequent exchange of spare batteries, and thus higher productivity.
The sustainability of the battery system should also be considered, because lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries differ significantly in this regard. Lead-acid batteries are composed of relatively few materials (essentially lead, sulphuric acid and plastic) and are therefore easily and virtually completely recyclable. The materials can not only pay for the cost of collection and processing, but also potentially yield a profit, depending on market conditions. By contrast, recycling of lithium-ion batteries presents a greater challenge. A chemical analysis is first necessary to determine whether the battery actually contains any valuable materials. In the case of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, recycling is currently hardly worthwhile, while with lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries the cobalt can be recovered and corresponds to about 10 per cent of the new value of the cell. The difficulty of recycling is also indicated by the target stated in the EU Battery Directive (2006/66/EC) – one of the most advanced recycling directives in the world – which sets a goal of just 50 per cent by weight for lithium-ion batteries.
In order to take a truly informed decision on which battery system is the best for a specific application, you should carefully examine the various systems and technologies. Each system has its own particular advantages. With lithium-ion batteries, the basic advantages are high power density and flexible charging. However, this technology is still in its infancy – the market share for industrial trucks is less than 2 per cent. This share will rise in future, especially when the price of lithium-ion batteries drops as a result of increasing use in electric cars. The share of lithium-ion technology is likely to rise in particular with small manually operated industrial trucks with little space available in the equipment. By contrast, lead-acid batteries – with their track record of robust and reliable technology – will continue to score well in the heavy-duty sector. Modern advancements, such as TPPL batteries or the square tube design, can enable lead-acid batteries to meet more stringent demands in the intralogistics sector for productivity, flexible charging and performance.
HCL Safety, specialist sub-contractor in fall protection and part of MSA Safety, has made two key appointments as part of a wider strategy to enhance its offering across the UK.
Joining from Danosa Roofing, Danielle McGowan will cover Scotland as well as North East England and Helen Smith, formerly employed by Arco has been appointed to cover the Trans Pennine area.
The expansion comes as part of the continued investment from MSA Safety into the HCL business to improve customer experience.
The sales team is now made up of five sales managers, who will be supported by regionalised dedicated Account Managers. The overall team will bring a wealth of experience on-board including vast roofing and specification knowledge, as well as an in-depth understanding of the contractor and distribution fields.
Stuart Pierpoint, UK Sales Manager at HCL commented on the appointments: “It’s an exciting time here at HCL. There have been significant investments across the business, meaning we have been able to increase the size of the sales team resulting in dedicated regional management alongside full UK coverage.
“The recent expansion will help us to form better and closer relationships with our customers, ensuring we continue to provide a first-class service across the board.”
HCL is equipped with the expert knowledge needed to assess the risks surrounding working at height, as well as implement the correct fall protection solutions to the highest standard.
For more information, visit: www.hclsafety.com
J D Neuhaus The importance of an ever-expanding industrial world should not be underestimated. After all, long-term, sustained industrialisation is a key driver for economic development, a fact recognised by the world’s most important leaders. It was no accident, for example, that President Obama made a personal appearance to open the planet’s largest industrial exhibition, Hannover Messe, earlier this year, becoming the first US president ever to do so.
Technological innovation, such as that exhibited at Hannover Messe, is paramount in helping industrial companies achieve competitive gain and accrue market share. These technologies must be robust, reliable and require little maintenance. Only this way can the industrial sector maximise its output. For example, take humble hoists and crane systems such as those manufactured by J D Neuhaus (JDN). These lifting mechanisms have become the mainstay of material handling operations the world over as so many industrial tasks require lifting and manoeuvring, which without mechanical assistance would prove unproductive.
Even hoists and cranes, however, are constantly evolving. Today’s iterations place great emphasis on long service life, ecological compatibility and recyclability – all of which is achieved without any detriment to safety or performance. And perform they must. The wide ranging demands of industrial applications for these products mean that at crane and hoist manufacturers such as JDN, their products are all engineered for extremes.
For instance, imagine the cold, dark, isolated, dangerous conditions in which underwater divers have to operate, or the fast-paced, high temperature, heavy atmosphere that foundry workers must endure. Or how about the howling gales and driving rain environment encountered by oil rig operatives. Even under extreme operating conditions such as these, JDN hoists and cranes, which are available with individual lifting capacities up to 100 tonnes, move loads reliably and with precision, day after day, year after year. They are in use in more than 70 different commercial sectors, including oil and gas, mining, the chemical industry and heavy plant construction. The 100% duty cycling of the equipment, which can either be used directly in applications or as sub-components of other OEM material handling devices, allows workers around the world to work longer and harder with maximum safety and the minimum of stress and physical effort.
A further benefit is the streamlined design of the latest cranes and hoists, which ensures that maintenance is non-invasive and both quick and simple to perform, thus minimising non-productive downtime. In practice, benefits such as these have had a resoundingly positive impact at countless industrial companies, where huge increases in productivity have been achieved.
To ensure this advantageous position continues moving forwards, the Global Service offered by J D Neuhaus helps industrial users guarantee the continuous operational availability of hoists and cranes, aiding the delivery of product longevity. With JDN Global Service it is possible to diagnose, find a solution and fix the problem, in any remote corner of the world.
Ultimately, for long-term structural change, industry plays a pivotal role. It creates many productive, formal jobs at an early stage of development. It also drives technological development and innovation to sustain productivity and growth in manufacturing and other commercial sectors. In short, the prosperity of the global economy relies on industry, and industry relies on technology. Only by selecting optimised, proven technologies engineered for extremes, can worldwide industries continue to grow.
Further information is available on request to:
J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. KG
58449
Witten-Heven
Germany
Tel: +49 2302 208-219
Fax: +49 2302 208-286
info@jdngroup.com
Two years since being acquired Terex Trucks new vigour is leading to tangible benefits for its articulated and rigid hauler customers.
In June 2014 when Terex Trucks became part of Volvo Construction Equipment the central message of the acquisition was that both companies were ‘stronger together’. Two years on, and despite a further downturn in demand for haulers in general, a series of product, service and distribution improvements at the Motherwell, Scotland based company have firmly taken root.
Speaking about the last two years of ownership, Andrew Knight, vice president of strategy and business development at Volvo CE, makes clear that the company has not deviated from its initial plan for Terex Trucks in almost any respect. “When we bought the business we made some clear statements – we said that we were committed to the brand, committed to the product and committed to the dealers – and we haven’t strayed from that at all with our actions.
“We bought a business with a well-regarded reputation and an established population of products in the field,” he continues. “Machines that need looking after with parts and services, and that offer a good revenue stream. We bought Terex Trucks because it has a range of products that we don’t have – rigid haulers – but also because we could see advantages in having a value brand of articulated haulers in our portfolio. So short term market volatility aside, the strategic reasoning for getting into this business remain valid.”
Since the acquisition, Terex Trucks needed to push forward and stabilise its position in the market. This has occurred by Volvo investing in making products more reliable, as well as easier to use and support. It has also helped promote the brand by championing Terex Trucks at conventions such as Bauma and Intermat. “The influence of having a large parent isn’t always obvious from the outside but there’s been a large amount of support given. A lot of time has been spent improving the way Terex Trucks goes to market, how the brand is supported and in strengthening the sales team and dealer network.”
This April saw Terex Trucks roll out the first fruits of its new line of machines, with the ‘Gen 10’ TA400 articulated dump truck gaining plaudits following its international launch at the Bauma exhibition in Germany.
“Every investment that is made in the business – whether it is product or marketing or infrastructure – is a sign that Terex Trucks will be in a confident position when the markets for these machines improve,” continues Knight. The introduction of the Gen 10 was also a conscious effort to showcase Terex Trucks’ robust simplicity and highlight its position in the articulated hauler market. Knight explains: “Terex Trucks offers a well proven reliable product that can be sold into tough environments and needs a straightforward maintenance approach.”
“The rigid hauler market is in the doldrums presently, due to low demand for commodities, but it is important that Terex Trucks remains competitive in the market and presents a compelling offer,” Knight says. “Many of our customers have told us: ‘Don’t make the product any more complicated, we run these machines in arduous environments, miles away from workshops and civilisation and we need to fix the product in a straightforward and easy way ourselves’. As a result Terex Trucks has a strong position in offering a reliable product that can be easily maintained in difficult environments.”
Addressing the problems that the brand is facing in North America in terms of market demand, Knight says: “The total market itself is tough so we never assume the economy will get us out of a problem, but if we continue to do the right things, when the market recovers there’s no reason why Terex Trucks cannot be successful.”
So keeping the faith, Knight emphasised the solid foundation of confidence in Terex Trucks’ long term potential. While the Scottish brand may not have all the latest technological features, its recipe of simple robust quality has stood the test of time, helping it to flourish in emerging markets and making it a company worth investing time and money in.
“Today Terex Trucks is a successful company with the backing of a big firm. The benchmark for making a business succeed is to plan for success. We’re not planning to fail – we’re just getting on with it!”
Terex Trucks
TEL: int +44 (0) 1698 503 161
EMAIL: press@terextrucks.com
One of the UK’s leading food companies, the Addo Food Group, says investment in new Mitsubishi forklifts GRENDiA ES is helping feed their ravenous production lines and maximise production of over 256 million of the nation’s best-loved pork pies, sausage rolls, pasties and Scotch eggs.
Faced with an ageing fleet, the Dorset Foods division – where hundreds of thousands of the UK’s Scotch eggs are baked and fried – sought out a very specific type of forklift truck to deal with their conditions on site.
Trevor Cook, Supply Chain Manager at Addo Food Group, explained: “The Mitsubishi forklifts each have to unload up to a ton of ingredients including eggs, meat, seasoning and packaging from a lorry parked on the road and transfer them 75 yards to the loading bay.
“Outside space is very restricted; there’s very little room to move and we have very tight corners. Added to that, the loading bay itself is also on an incline, so for us manoeuvrability and stability of the trucks are paramount.”
To keep productivity levels high and the perishable ingredients on the move, the Addo Food Group opted for the LPG-powered Mitsubishi GRENDiA ES FG15N Series forklift for its compact design and fully hydrostatic steering.
Operators say the intuitive handling’s precision and predictability – even in the tightest corners and aisles – gives them more trust in their control of the vehicle, and this added driver confidence pays off with faster, more assured manoeuvring leading to increased productivity.
Mr Cook continues: “Because there’s not a lot of space around here, the trucks have to be robust and stand up to knocks, and with Mitsubishi we knew we were getting a truck with a reputation for reliability and non-stop performance, whatever the conditions.”
In order to deliver that level of dependability, Mitsubishi have built in strength from the ground up, with features like the rugged rear axle assembly with metal bush mounts (instead of more fragile rubber mounts favoured by some competitors) as standard.
Also as standard is the GRENDiA’s Belly Seal, a must-have for the dirty, all-weather outdoor environment of Dorset Foods’ loading areas. This unique under-truck protection – and sealed wheel arches – prevents the cyclonic effect, which draws dirt and dust into the engine and recirculates it into the working environment. With the Mitsubishi design, dust and dirt is kept off their incoming ingredients, as well as dramatically prolonging the engine life.
Mr Cook added: “Competitive pricing was one of the most important factors, and Grant at Andover Fork Truck Services came up with a very attractive package. But at the same time, we needed really rapid service response times.
“A simple but important example is the replacement of indicator lights or bulbs. Because space outdoors is restricted they can easily get damaged… but we need them working when we’re unloading from a wagon truck on a public road.
“It’s a real health and safety issue, and time is a big factor. But whenever we have an issue the Mitsubishi service team are out like a flash, so the drivers and I are happy as Larry.
“Because my role extends beyond purchasing and goods inwards to include despatch and logistics, deadlines turnaround times are all-important to me. Knowing that Andover have got my back is a great plus for me.”
To find out more about the award-winning Mitsubishi Forklifts range and Andover Fork Truck Services, call the Greenline 0845 371 3048, contact info@red-diamond.co.uk or visit www.mitsubishi-forklift.co.uk.
North West manufacturing company KP Industries have come up with a unique solution to an automotive business in Ireland.
The Rochdale-based business have installed a £250,000 bespoke conveyor system at C&F Automotive in the Irish Republic in a deal which will benefit top-end car manufacturers.
The conveyor system experts sent a team over to C&F’s headquarters in County Westmeath to discuss the project which provides a unique coating system for aluminium trims used for the premium OEM automotive industry.
This was the first project between the two companies and its successful delivery on time after 12 weeks has led to the two agreeing on a new contract in mainland Europe supplying a similar solution for C&F’s continental manufacturing outlets.
Using state-of-the-art 3D CAD technology to design the conveyors in-house, CAD designers at KPI used the latest software to build the concept on-screen before handing over to the engineers on the shop floor to deliver the product.
C&F Automotive required a dipping system for a specialist coating technology they use on their trims for cars to improve their corrosion resistance capability to overcome particular market conditions seen by various OEM manufacturers.
The conveyors were manufactured at KP Industries at its Rochdale base before being transported across the Irish Sea to C&F’s Automotive headquarters in Co Westmeath.
Allan Hodgeon, Operations Manager at KP Industries, said: “All projects provide a challenge in terms of logistics and this one was no different because not only did we have to transport the system several hundred miles to Ireland in several parts but the customer needed a system which would consistently withdraw the components from the coating tank at a set speed.
“This meant we had to work with one of our partners, ISS, who build bespoke ovens and coating tanks which would work in tandem with conveyor system.
“The uniqueness of this project and its complexity has resulted in C&F using KP Industries and our expertise for another project which we are delighted about and we look forward to starting on this.”
Mike Young, Business Unit Manager at C&F Automotive, said: “I think what was interesting in this partnership with KP Industries was that the technology developed had never been done before and KPI met this challenge extremely well and on time.”
KPI was founded in 2003 by Phil Cornell, the present managing director, to provide a complete service for the automation industry, specialising in supplying automated handling conveyors and special materials handling equipment to an increasingly competitive market. The company is experienced and has personnel with a wealth of design, manufacture and technical expertise to provide services across the industry, operating from its Rochdale factory headquarters. The base has recently been expanded after the company purchased a 5,000 sq ft test facility on the same industrial estate. Last year KPI had a record turnover of £3.0 million and has also worked with a number of household names including JCB and Jaguar Land Rover.
Phone +44 (0) 1706 656924 / Email info@kp-i.co.uk / www.kp-i.co.uk
twitter @kpindustriesuk
Trouble is brewing for Europe’s beer producers. Significant changes in consumer behaviour are pressing brewers to re-think their supply chains. By Sid Holian, Managing Director at BiS Henderson Consulting
Europe’s Brewing sector is experiencing radical change, similar in many respects to retail’s omni-channel revolution. According to statistics released in 2015 by industry trade body The Brewers of Europe, there are over 6500 breweries in operation across Europe, a thousand of which started up in 2014. This represents a 16% increase on 2013 and a doubling since 2008.
However, this explosive growth in the number of breweries does not reflect any real increase in the volume of beer being consumed. Instead, it depicts a shift in drinking habits towards speciality beers and a growing market demand for a more diverse offering of craft products. The UK leads the way, being home to over a quarter of Europe’s breweries.
This significant shift in the market is driving new behaviours in big brand producers. Many are acquiring niche brands or adding their own versions of high-end premium beers to their product portfolios, but in so doing supply chain complexity has risen significantly, with increased SKUs and only a minimal shift in the volume of beer being managed. Added to this, seasonal variations between big-volume power-brands, popular in summer months, and low-volume niche beers, popular at festive periods, bring further complexity.
There is another major trend impacting the sector. In the past, the on-trade was king and most beer consumption was in bars and restaurants. But now, with the wide introduction of smoking bans for public places consumers are choosing to drink at home and are shifting towards buying beer through the big supermarket chains. In turn, this change in buying behaviour introduces major issues to the supply chain - challenging traditional behaviours, management techniques and customer relationships.
In particular, retailers are looking to reduce their warehouse costs by putting pressure on manufacturers to provide smaller, more frequent deliveries – with all the incumbent logistical challenges falling on the manufacturer.
What’s more, retailers have driven a considerable increase in the number of product pack types being managed across the industry. Ten years ago, many breweries and beer distribution operations would handle as few as 25 SKUs. Now, the expectation is that they handle a minimum of 125 SKUs. For the sector’s logisticians this has added considerably to the burden of complexity.
Faced with new market dynamics, escalating SKU proliferation and major changes in channels to market, Brewery businesses must look hard at their logistics networks and operational processes to find innovative solutions that best serve both collective and individual markets. For example, is direct sales distribution the right route for a certain country? Is a distributor model going to be more cost effective? What might future shifts in consumer behaviour do to this dynamic? Clearly, a highly agile and flexible supply chain will be an essential asset for any organisation responding to such radical change.
Practical logistics experience and well-grounded supply chain thinking will be called for and those brewery businesses that can tap into this expertise will be better positioned to adapt their supply chains and reap the benefits.
In a recent project for the international brewer, SABMiller, BiS Henderson Consulting was asked to undertake an in-depth analysis of its European warehousing and distribution operations with a view to identifying opportunities for unlocking value, reducing costs and enhancing service. For the eight countries under review savings of 9% versus budget have been identified, and where the ‘deep dive’ programme has been deployed so far, the benefits delivered have out-stripped forecast, ranging in each country from 7.5% of supply chain budget, up to 20%.
Significant operational benefits, cost reductions, service improvements and increased value can be achieved in the brewing sector by creating supply chains that are attuned to these changing market dynamics. However, it is only through the application of close analysis, intelligent thinking and practical know-how that the full potential can be realised and a competitive edge gained.
More information at www.bis-henderson.com
Terex Trucks has appointed Hitrac (1974) Inc. as its dealer in the Province of Manitoba, Canada. Hitrac will supply and support Terex Trucks’ full range of articulated dump trucks throughout the territory.
Headquartered in Winnipeg and with over 40 years’ experience as a successful construction equipment dealer, family-owned Hitrac (1974) Inc. has been appointed an official Terex Trucks dealer.
Operating as both a sales and rental company, Hitrac has a strong portfolio of leading construction equipment brands, and the appointment will see the company provide sales, rental, parts, service & maintenance solutions for the Terex Trucks’ articulated dump truck (ADT) product line throughout the Canadian Province of Manitoba.
Matt Deloglos, director of sales and marketing Americas at Terex Trucks, welcomes Hitrac (1974) Inc. to the Terex Trucks’ team as the right fit at the right time. “Following its previous supplier’s withdrawal from the articulated hauler market, Hitrac was left without an ADT to offer its customers. It was a natural fit for Hitrac to become a Terex Trucks dealer because of its previous experience and knowledge of the ADT market,” said Deloglos.
“The timing is also good for Terex Trucks, as Manitoba has been a solid market for both 30 and 40 ton articulated dump trucks over the past five years and all indicators continue to show signs of steady growth in the area. We’re looking forward to developing new customers in the province and providing Terex Trucks’ hauling solutions for Hitrac and its customers.”
Commenting on the deal, Paul Scharf, president of Hitrac (1974), said, “We’re excited to be joining the Terex Trucks family. And we’re looking forward to being able to offer our customers a range of great products that are guaranteed to exceed their expectations in terms of productivity and efficiency!”
Added investment in customer support and latest innovative DNV 2.7-1 certified equipment for the UAE offshore oil and gas sector are the focus of the Cargostore International stand at this year's ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.
Local market industry professional Scott Glatley has been appointed Cargostore Offshore - General Manager, Abu Dhabi and joins the team on Stand 8631 at the event, (November 7th- 10th 2016; Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre).
Formerly UAE General Manager at Enermech UAE LLC, Scott, 48, is tasked with promoting Cargostore products and services, as well as liaising with customers and suppliers on all matters associated with registration, qualification, enquiry generation and submission, and order execution.
Further day-to-day liaising with the company's local sponsor and government departments also fall within his remit as General Manager for Cargostore's Abu Dhabi operations.
Commenting on his new position, Scott Glatley stated:
"I'm delighted to be joining the team at Cargostore International. Cargostore's offshore products and services are of the highest quality and I look forward to continue delivering the wide range of quality offshore CCU products and services that our existing UAE customers enjoy, but, also to grow Cargostore's customer base, its market share and expand the CCU options available in the UAE.
"We will listen carefully and gain a full understanding of our customer's cargo storage, handling and transfer operations and support requirements. In the forthcoming months we have some very exciting innovative ideas and plans to offer our customers. Cargostore shall provide solutions that will ensure our customers have the quality of choice, when they want it, and at the most competitive price."
The London-based company is a fast-growing specialist supplier of DNV Offshore carrying units to the international energy sector in addition to offering rental, storage and distribution of containers for intermodal shipping and the UK domestic market.
Says Offshore - Vice President, Jacob Poot:
"Scott brings top level technical, operational and commercial awareness underpinned with 28 years' experience working within the oil and gas industry to bear on one of the most important markets for Cargostore and we're delighted to have him in the field supporting our valued customers in the UAE."
Cargostore's stand at ADIPEC showcases latest updates on the company's unique and innovative DNV 2.7-1 certified equipment ranges.
Focus will be on the company's innovative new tool box with assisted lid opening technology along with latest waste skips; 10 and 20ft reefers, all fitted with high-impact resistance bars; accommodation units, tanks, reefers, minis, baskets and waste skips.
Further ADIPEC information at http://exhibitors2016.adipec.com/exhibitordetails.aspx?exid=exhiReg1035
Dawsongroup has confirmed its chief executive, Mike Williams, is stepping down with immediate effect due to underlying health reasons. Mike Williams had been with the company for 40 years, becoming managing director of Dawsonrentals in 1979 and rising to the chief executive role with the group in 1993.
Speaking about the decision, group chairman, Peter Dawson, said, "It is a simple commercial truth that nothing stays the same: change is inevitable. After working so closely with Mike for 40 years however, it is hard to accept. His energy, commitment and commercial ability have been instrumental to the development of the business we have today. As has his very individual, slightly acerbic sense of humour; used so often to very good effect as he made his points both to suppliers and his own team alike! However, he would be the first to acknowledge the huge part played by the input and support of that team, a number of whom have been with him for many of those 40 years.
"I am sure I speak for all who know Mike when I wish him a full and speedy recovery."
Mike Williams added, "I had been planning my eventual retirement from the business for some time and had hoped to finish toward the end of 2017. However, this new situation has been forced on me by the need to deal with a health matter that fortunately, I am being told, should be managed successfully. Sadly, the time this may take means my retirement plan is not going to work, so it is with real regret and a sense of unfinished business that I must now complete my time with Peter and the team. It's been good, very good at times, but as the saying goes, all good things come to an end."
Steve Miller, who has worked alongside both Mike Williams and Peter Dawson for 30 years, the last seven as group managing director, has been announced as Williams' successor. He said, "You don't spend 30 years working with Peter Dawson, Mike Williams and the others without learning an awful lot. That doesn't mean my new role will be simply to deliver 'more of the same'. As Peter has said, change is an inevitable part of commercial life, but it can also bring fresh opportunities and directions.
"This a strong and successful business, more than capable of developing further in the sectors where we are already established, and in new ones going forward. I am delighted to enjoy the backing of the current group board: Tony Coleman, our group finance director; Lucinda Kent, our group company secretary; and Ian Jones, a non-executive director, and for 10 years the managing director of commercial vehicles and vans at Mercedes Benz UK - a formidable team. There are things we do outstandingly well as a business and others we can to do better. Certainly, we need to be more people-focused, both internally and externally. Assets are simply our operational 'fuel', it's our people that will drive this business further and faster than our competitors - that's our goal."
One of Europe's leading independent distributors of commercial vehicle wheels MWSD will launch MWheels GmbH at IAA 2016, as it looks to create strong retail ties to connect with the German aftermarket.
Situated at Stand A35 in Hall 24, the company will display a selection of Xlite and Xbrite+ forged aluminium wheels, for which it owns exclusive European distribution rights, as well as promote its Chevron brand of quality steel wheels. All products are TÜV marked for quality assurance.
The new limited liability company will officially commence trading on January 1st, 2017 and is currently securing headquarters in the Cologne region. Initially three-to-four jobs will be created, and the company is finalising warehouse and distribution logistics with a third-party provider.
MWheels GmbH will be a new division of UK-based Motor Wheel Service Distribution MWSD, which has over 80 years experience in the wheel industry and over 35 in the commercial vehicle wheel segment across Europe.
This unique market position and unparalleled technical knowledge has seen the company lead a renowned wheel safety campaign which has resulted in commercial vehicle wheels being classed as safety critical items in the imminent EU Roadworthiness Act*, which comes into force throughout Europe in May 2017.
MWSD operations director, Matthew Mardle said: "The company has proven itself to be a true partner of the industry, moving the mindset of wheels from a commodity driven purchase to a leading safety-critical item which ultimately has a huge effect on the profitability and legal obligations of every CV operator.
"The EU Roadworthiness Act comes into force in May 2017 and it's our role to educate the market. To achieve this we need to establish contact with networks and larger retail chains, as well as independent specialist truck tyre and wheel dealers, to develop close strategic and sustainable business relationships."
"We want to work with companies and provide them with extensive technical training and services to support sales," added MWSD technical director, Kevin Ryan. "This will be partnership in its truest sense.
"By truly understanding a customer's operational requirements and the technical benefits of our Xlite and Xbrite+ forged aluminium wheels, or our Chevron steel wheels, a total solution can be reached to improve the financial performance and legal obligation of every business in the procurement chain."
Xlite and Xbrite+, which are five times stronger and 40 percent lighter than the standard steel equivalent, are spin forged from a single aluminium billet, a unique manufacturing process using a CNC machine to produce a higher degree of production accuracy and a truer running wheel.
Xlite is available in machined and polished finishes, while Xbrite+ goes through several automated treatment stages which permeate the metal deeper to deliver a wheel with the highest levels of corrosion resistance and shine. Wheels are available in 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 inch sizes.
The ultimate advantages of operating with forged aluminium wheels including extra payloads, reduced diesel usage, decreased CO² emissions and less wear on surrounding parts, including expensive components such as tyres and brakes.
Rack Sense from The Rack Group is a unique new product that helps effectively monitor the impact levels to your pallet racking. Aiming in turn to save on repair costs and improving the safety of your warehouse.
The Rack Group name is renowned within the industry for their continuous efforts in reducing pallet racking maintenance costs through their innovative, market leading products and services. Their latest offering comes in the form of “Rack Sense”, a sensor device which is attached to the inside of a pallet racking upright. Once there it monitors the impacts levels to the upright and notifies warehouse staff of any impacts in real time.
Before Rack Sense, pallet racking damage often went undetected and forgotten, until a yearly inspection highlighted the danger and the need to replace or repair the damage. This has always meant that a potentially catastrophic issue with the pallet racking could be missed for upwards of a year… until now.
Rack Sense is capable of highlighting impacts in real time and sending the location, time, date and impact velocity to any tablet, phone or email account. This system also notifies warehouse teams to the potentially damaged leg through an inspection iPad, this allows users to inspect the damaged leg and enter any information they see fit, such as impact levels, images, general housekeeping notes and much more. This information is then logged along with the initial impact data to a secure “Rack Cloud” server which can be accessed on any device, anywhere. This information can then be generated into reports or even sent to third parties to be quoted for repairs.
“Were delighted with the outcome of this product, there’s been a lot of testing and perfecting but we’re really excited to finally bring this industry first to market” said Richard Nelson, Marketing Coordinator of the Rack Group. “Rack Sense has taken many forms and done many things over the past few years, but we’ve listened to market leaders and undergone numerous focus groups to perfect the product and create something which will work for everyone. The product is based on a simple theory, if MHE drivers know any impacts are attributable to them through the sensor, they will naturally drive with more care, it’s just that simple”.
Trials were ran at distribution centres of a major UK supermarket chain, during these trials The Rack Group covertly installed the product so warehouse staff weren’t aware of its existence for one month. The second month staff were made aware of its location and what the product was capable of, the results were astounding, with a 70% reduction in impact levels in the first month alone, equating to a reduction in racking repair costs of £49,000 per annum.
The Rack Group, based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, have been creating innovative methods of reducing pallet racking maintenance/repair costs for over 40 years. Our previous innovative products have gone on to be sold around in the world in over 80 Countries, used by the world’s biggest blue chip companies, firmly cementing us as industry leaders in our field.
To learn more about Rack Sense please contact Richard Nelson on r.nelson@therackgroup.com or visit www.rack-sense.com.
Hiab, part of Cargotec, has announced that Tim Hansen from Denmark has won the World Crane Championships (WCC) held on 24 and 25 September in connection to the IAA exhibition in Hannover, Germany.
Among 15 finalists Mr Hansen won the championship final with a time of 2:51:42, Guido Beaujean from the Netherlands got silver with a time of 2:53:99, and Martin Utpatel from Germany won the bronze final with a time of 2:51:01.
In the finals, the crane drivers got to operate the cutting-edge HIAB X-HiPro 232 mid-range loader crane just launched at the IAA. The competition tested the contestants' skills and ability to clear a series of precision obstacles at maximum speed.
"I have been nervous from the start," Mr Hansen commented after the race. Tim Hansen has his own company, Tim Hansen APS, and has been operating cranes all his life. It runs in the family: Tim's grandfather Sven Aage Hansen, aged 82, has driven cranes for over sixty years and father Sören Hansen is also a crane operator. "The best thing about being a crane operator is working in the summer time," Tim Hansen said with a smile.
Mr Hansen will return home with the title of World Crane Champion, a EUR 5,000 travel cheque and EUR 20,000 to aid the purchase of a new HIAB crane. In fact, Mr Hansen is considering using his prize money on a new HIAB X-HiPro 232, the same model that was used in the final. Lotta Sjöberg, Marketing Manager, HIAB Loader Cranes, congratulated Tim on the championship title and also on the recently gained title of dad, as Mr Hansen became a father two months ago.
Hiab sponsored the WCC last year for the first time in recognition of crane operators from around the world who perform demanding jobs daily. This year, the finalists came from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom and Slovenia.
Joakim Andersson, Senior Vice President, Loader Cranes at Hiab, commented: "I wish to warmly congratulate Mr Hansen for the win and all the finalists for a great competition. You put up a stunning show at the World Crane Championships. Also the road up to the race was amazing, with hundreds of professional crane drivers taking part in the qualifications. We at Hiab are thrilled to have hosted this event where the industry's best drivers have shown that they've really got what it takes. We look forward to the next championship final at the IAA 2018 exhibition in Hannover!"
Palletforce, the UK’s leading freight distribution network, played host to some of the country’s top HGV drivers in a contest to find the British Gypsum Driver of the Year for 2016.
The event, held at Palletforce’s 400,000 sq ft Hub in Burton upon Trent, brought together 10 elite drivers from British Gypsum’s three third-party logistics providers: DHL, Ceva and Palletforce member John Jempson & Son.
And Palletforce was thrilled when, after a gruelling day of testing, the judges awarded the top prize to Jempson’s driver Julian Spencer – just 12 months after he won the Most Improved category in last year’s competition.
The final itself was the culmination of a series of regional qualifying heats featuring around 350 drivers. Each finalist was put through their paces in a series of tests designed to show not only their driving skills, but their mechanical, technological and theoretical knowledge.
Tasks included a driving assessment on open roads, manoeuvring their vehicle through a set course, coupling and uncoupling, hazard perception and vehicle defect identification.
Drivers were also required to display mastery of British Gypsum’s “ePOD” tracking system, executing a scripted scenario using a hand-held terminal.
Commenting on his award, Julian Spencer said: “This year marks the 150th anniversary of Jempsons, so it’s fantastic to win the Driver of the Year Award.
“The concept of vehicle telematics and the ePOD system were fairly new to me when I started with the company, but Jempsons’ development programme – combined with the additional focus provided by Driver of the Year – has made me a much better all-round driver.”
British Gypsum’s distribution improvement manager Kirk Ennis said: “This annual event is all about acknowledging the contribution our drivers and support teams make in delivering a safe and sustainable transport network.
“The final is the culmination of regular development sessions that the driving workforce undergo, which in turn supports the targeting of a Zero Harm safe working environment. We would like to congratulate Julian and Jempsons for coming out on top in a highly competitive field this year.”
Michael Conroy, chief executive of Palletforce, said: “We are delighted to host this prestigious event and lend our support to an initiative that encourages excellence in all areas of HGV driving.
“It is particularly pleasing that Julian has won the Driver of the Year award. It’s recognition not only for the effort he has put in over the last 12 months, but the ongoing programme of driver improvement implemented by Jempsons and British Gypsum.”
Street Crane started in 1946 by Peter Street in an 800 sq ft workshop based in Sheffield with just £88, the family-run business has gone from strength to strength, now employing 350 people on sites in High Peak and Sheffield. With a UK client base that includes leading brands such as Siemens, JCB, Hitachi Rail and Rolls Royce, Street has also grown to be a global exporter, supplying cranes and components to customers in 48 countries around the world.
Chairman Martin Street said: “We’ve experienced rapid growth in recent years and that’s mainly as a result of our latest product range which has expanded our exporting capabilities. Since we introduced our new range of ZX hoists in 2006, our exports have grown significantly all over the world, particularly in the US. Our products are sold through a network of approved distributors, which is continuously expanding and adding to our sales success. Twenty years ago we had just three export partners, today we have more than 100.
“This business model means that we’re placed to continue to build on our success. As well as plans to double our turnover within 10 years, we are investing in developing new products that will continue to keep us ahead of the competition. With a large in-house research and development team, we have a number of new products in the pipeline with the first expected to be launched later this year. We are also continuing to develop new sales software that will make it easier for our distributors to sell our cranes and hoists.
“Despite the current economic and political uncertainty surrounding the UK and other parts of the world, it’s very much business as usual for Street. Having made recent investments in our manufacturing operation and with a focus on continuous development and improvement, we are looking forward to the next few years with confidence.”
Established in Sheffield in 1946 as a crane repairer, Street moved into crane production in 1953. It relocated to Chapel-en-le-Frith four years later to enable it to build the larger cranes needed for modern factories. In the mid 1960s, Street Crane Express was set up to provide a dedicated service operation. In 2000, the company launched its initial range of ZX wire rope hoists and started to develop its export component sales strategy. In 2014, it opened a new £3million hoist factory to meet the growing demand for its products around the world.
At the North West regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 A-Plant, was crowned as Large Employer of the Year Award for organisations in Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire. The awards recognise excellence in businesses that grow their own talent through apprenticeships and the apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.
Commenting on the award win, A-Plant’s Head of Training Bob Harper said; “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Large Employer of the Year Award for organisations in the North West. It is amazing to think that back in 2005, the A-Plant Apprenticeship Programme started with just a handful of Plant Maintenance Apprentices to create the talent of the future and provide a pool of skilled employees familiar with our equipment and values. Today, we employ almost 150 Apprentices across our business, a number which continues to grow.
“Plant Maintenance remains our largest stream of Apprentices but we also offer apprenticeships in Customer Services, Driving, Mechanical Engineering, Payroll, Marketing, IT, Business Administration, Electro Technical, Welding and Fabrication and other disciplines. We are fully committed to our apprentice programme and we believe that they are an integral part of how our business grows.”
Find out more about A-Plant’s Apprentice Programme at: http://www.aplant.com/careers/apprenticeships
Compact crushing and screening equipment provider EvoQuip has expanded their global sales team by appointing new Sales Managers for North America and Western Europe.
EvoQuip has appointed Conor Grogan as Territory Sales Manager for Western Europe. Conor will be responsible for leading all sales activities in this area, including sales support and applications. Conor has previously worked in the bulk material handling and crushing and screening industry for the last 8 years.
Joining the team alongside Conor will be Sean Donaghy. Sean will be responsible for leading all sales activities in North America. Originally from County Tyrone, Sean started his career working for Powerscreen in North America 1991. Since then, Sean has moved to Ohio and has continued to gain experience in the crushing and screening industry in North America.
Commenting on the recent additions to the EvoQuip team, Matt Dickson, EvoQuip Global Product Line Director said, “EvoQuip are delighted to have gained two extremely experienced and determined salesmen. Conor and Sean’s reputations and wealth of knowledge in the Crushing and Screening industry will be a driving force when it comes to EvoQuip plans for the future”
EvoQuip offers a comprehensive portfolio of products to address the needs of the compact crushing and screening markets in five key industries: building and construction; quarries; plant hire; farming and agriculture; landscaping and gardening; and asphalt and concrete crushing. Terex identified an opportunity to bring value to customers in these industries by providing intuitive equipment that is simple to operate and maintain, fuel efficient and easy to transport.
For more information on the EvoQuip® range of compact crushers, screens and conveyors please visit www.terex.com/EvoQuip
One of the leading suppliers to the construction industry has turned to its long-standing partner, Aggregate Processing Solutions (APS), to specify a high-performance washing plant.
Mick George Ltd is now producing 300 tonnes of sand and gravel per hour at Bridge Farm, Cambridgeshire with the introduction of a bespoke system supplied by APS, which is being used for the major A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon road upgrade.
APS – part of the Finlay Group of companies – has worked closely with Mick George for more than 30 years and the relationship, which has seen approximately £20million equipment specified, has supported the continued growth of the business.
The company, which operates across East Anglia and the East Midlands, started out in business with just a single tipper truck in 1978 – and now boasts a commercial fleet size in excess of 350 HGV vehicles.
Mick George specialises in bulk excavation, earthmoving, demolition and asbestos removal, as well as waste management services, aggregate and concrete supply and has recently expanded into facilities management.
Backed by unrivalled industry knowledge and experience, the business has become one of the region’s top choices for commercial, trade and residential customers.
Darren Griffiths, Area Quarry Manager at Mick George – who has nearly 30 years’ experience in the industry – says the APS machine is a fundamental part of the site.
He said: “It’s producing all the material we need in one self-contained unit.
“The material we’re processing is taken off site, straight from the plant, so it’s been really important for us to have equipment that can keep up with such demand.
“The best thing is that when you turn it on it does exactly what it’s supposed to, with less wear and easy maintenance.”
APS has incorporated a number of standard modular relocatable units to create the washing plant, providing Mick George with a truly specific solution for the needs of the site.
It comprises of a CDE S20 Feed Hopper, a CDE M45100, an AggMax 153 and a 20-metre radial conveyor, which helps increase stockpile capacity and saves time for the business.
The washing plant, which requires only one operator, is producing six different products – a +40mm reject, 40mm, 20mm, 10mm and 6mm aggregate, as well as concrete sand.
Darren added: “As it runs so well, all of the maintenance is scheduled, which is a major benefit for us.
“The backup we have received has also been fantastic.”
John Dunne, Managing Director at APS – who worked alongside Darren to specify the plant – said: “It’s our association with CDE as a UK licensed partner that allows us to create bespoke solutions for businesses.
“Working closely with Mick George, we have provided a washing plant with powerhouse production levels and a backup that can be trusted.”
To see a video of the washing plant in action, visit https://youtu.be/l81S2GridYA
This month sees Derbyshire-based metal and waste management specialist, Ward, ship its first vessel of HMS 1 and 2 from its dedicated deep sea port at Immingham to Turkey.
The MV Fearless ship, which has five storage holds and four onboard cranes to unload the scrap, will transport almost 20,000 tonnes of HMS 1 and 2, grade 80:20 to Habas in Nemrut Bay, Turkey. It is the first shipment from Ward’s fifth site, Immingham dock, which opened earlier this year.
Thomas Ward, Commercial Manager at Ward, said: “This first ship heading for Turkey is another major milestone for Ward and our metals business. It opens up one of the largest global markets for scrap metal to us, due to Turkey’s production of rebar for use in construction and manufacturing. We can now independently import and export steel in bulk to and from anywhere in the world. At least another five vessels like this are expected ship out this year.”
HMS 1 and 2 comprise obsolete scrap metal only - iron and steel recovered from items demolished or dismantled at the end of their life, such as construction and demolition waste or railway upgrade projects. Ward has recovered the iron and steel from its metal and waste processing plants in the UK, as well as purchasing scrap from local customers in and around its other four sites.
Since opening the dock in April 2018, Ward has employed five full time, permanent staff and invested in new infrastructure, site upgrades and plant and equipment, including two Sennebogen 830e and a Liebherr LH40 cranes. The site enables the independent metals specialist to export and import various grades and bulk, sort and process for onward recycling.
Ward is a fourth-generation family business and has quadrupled its turnover in the last 10 years, through continuous investment and innovation in metal processing and recycling. It now recycles over half a million tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals per year.
For more information on Ward and its metal buying, selling and export services, visit www.ward.com.
An East-Midlands-based plant hire company has purchased a fourth-generation machine after taking delivery of the original prototype of the plant 16 years ago. MMC Southern – which has its head office in Cossington, near Leicester – has welcomed its fourth Terex Finlay J-1175 from Finlay Plant SW, part of the Finlay Group of companies.
The jaw crusher is currently powering through 300 tonnes of granite per hour at Carnsew Quarry in Cornwall.
Denver McCullough, one of the four directors of MMC Southern, said: “The Terex Finlay J-1175 is definitely capable of processing more material, but we have to make sure that the secondary plant can keep up with it.
“The jaw crushers are just great machines and competitively priced.
“We also have a great working relationship with Finlay Plant SW and we’ve had a lot of machines from them over the past 20 years and never been disappointed.”
MMC Southern was the first company in the UK to trial the high-performance Terex Finlay J-1175 in 2002.
The tracked mobile jaw crusher features a Terex Jaques JW42 jaw crusher and a heavy duty VGF feeder to provide the operator with optimum production.
Due to its compact size, quick set up times, ease of transport and simple maintenance, the model is ideal for quarrying, mining, demolition and recycling applications.Its fully hydraulic closed side setting minimizes downtime and offers quick adjustment.
The deeper hopper sides were a bespoke feature for MMC Southern – fitted by Finlay Group’s own engineering team – to help increase production.
Brothers Denver, Nigel and Thomas McCullough grew up with a passion for the industry as their father owned a quarry in Northern Ireland when they were children.
In 1998 they teamed up with Michael Merriman to establish MMC Southern, a plant hire and earthworks company.
Gareth Johnson, of Finlay Plant SW, said: “We’ve worked closely with MMC Southern over the years and it’s been fantastic to see the Terex Finlay J-1175 become such a valued player within the company.
“The J-1175 jaw crusher is well respected within the industry for its high performance and versatility.”
To see the plant in action, head over to YouTube at https://youtu.be/7GqLRzEuBew
Motor Wheel Service Distribution MWSD has announced a senior management restructure to prepare the business for future growth following the launch of its German division and the impending EU Roadworthiness Act implementation.
Company founder and owner John Ellis becomes Chief Executive and Matthew Mardle, who joined the business earlier this year as Operations Director, takes the title of Chief Operating Officer.
Kevin Ryan maintains the specialist product development and client advisor role as Chief Technical Officer and Clive Maudsley is now Chief Financial Officer.
Michael Payton maintains his position as Marketing Director.
Already this year MWSD has launched MWheels GmbH, as it looks to create strong retail ties to connect with the German and wider European aftermarket, and has continued to spearhead the CV wheel safety campaign which will be realised when the EU Roadworthiness Act* comes into effect in May 2017.
Ellis said: “MWSD has invested heavily in its infrastructure this year, improving its penetration into UK and European markets as well as introducing personnel who are needed to maximise these developments. It is imperative this senior team has very focused targets to deliver the growth for which we have planned.
“With the launch of MWheels GmbH we have firmly showed our commitment to the European market, especially Germany, and the imminent legislative changes mean that every CV operator in the European Union will need a full aftermarket structure in place to support its wheel purchasing and fitting operations.
“We are in a unique position to work in partnership with the industry to deliver steel and forged aluminium products and solutions which ensure compliance, and also make sure that the vehicles are delivering maximum profit-per-kilometre by operating on the right wheels and axles.”
Rail technology leader, Bombardier Transportation and CD Cargo, the freight subsidiary of Czech Railways, have signed a purchase agreement for up to 50 of the newest generation of BOMBARDIER TRAXX Multi-System1 (MS) locomotives. This first call-off is for 10 TRAXX MS3 locomotives.
Ivan Bednárik, Chairman of the Board of Directors, CD Cargo, said, “The new TRAXX MS3 locomotive will be the most modern in our fleet. Its powerful traction and cost-effective long-distance performance will support our international business strategy and be fully interoperable in both the domestic market and neighbouring countries.”
“We are proud of the trust and confidence that our new customer CD Cargo has placed in our innovative TRAXX MS3 locomotive”, said Michael Fohrer, President, Region Central & Eastern Europe, Russia, Israel, CIS and China, Bombardier Transportation. “With this success in the Czech Republic, the order marks the entry of our new locomotive platform in the Central, Eastern and South Eastern European market. Once again, the TRAXX locomotive platform's excellence and its track record of over 2,250 units sold has convinced another important customer.”
The TRAXX MS3 locomotive is the only multi-system locomotive on the market with the Last Mile function that enables it to easily bridge non-electrified track sections found in ports or freight terminals. The vehicle addresses customers’ need for improved profitability, increased flexibility as well as for more reliable performance and availability throughout the locomotive’s entire lifecycle. This new multi-system locomotive will be equipped with the latest version of the European Train Control System, Baseline 3, ensuring seamless operation from day one.
With this new order, 54 modern, interoperable TRAXX multi-system locomotives have been ordered by Czech customers. CD Cargo’s first ten locomotives will be used for freight and passenger transport in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary while extending the fleet’s operability to Slovenia and Croatia. The locomotives will be assembled at Bombardier’s site in Kassel, Germany, with the carbodies coming from Wroclaw, Poland and the bogies produced in Siegen, Germany.
Bombardier is the second largest rolling stock manufacturing company in Czech Republic. It has more than 1,000 employees in its Ceska Lipa manufacturing site, which is key supplier of welded components for Bombardier’s regional and commuter trains, trams and metros. Bombardier’s products support rail and urban transport in Czech Republic every day. More than 40 TRAXX locomotives are in operation for several operators for whom Bombardier also provides service and maintenance. Moreover, Prague Metro Line A and B are equipped with BOMBARDIER CITYFLO 350 mass transit train control solution.
www.bombardier.com
Dematic has launched a turnkey, automated packing and labelling solution for consolidating and bagging ecommerce orders for dispatch. Working with packaging machine specialist, Adpak, and labelling solutions provider, Logopak, Dematic has developed the intelligent software needed to manage and consolidate orders, print labels and seamlessly integrate the solution with client warehouse management systems (WMS).
Suitable for end-of-line applications for automated goods-to-person picking processes or as a standalone system for more manual warehouse operations, the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution will enable omni-channel businesses to reduce operating costs, upgrade customer services through later cut-offs for next-day delivery, and reduce shipping costs by optimally tailoring pack sizes.
The Dematic Auto Bagging Solution subsystem operates through a single interface to the client’s WMS, providing a solution to automatically: load goods, scan delivery notes, measure goods, envelope-trim and seal goods, and label packages. Picked items are either manually placed on the feed belt – or in the case of an end-of-line process, automatically channeled in sequence – consolidated as per order, measured for optimal pack size and then bagged using bespoke packaging material that is cut and sealed, all in one automated process.
Order accuracy and customer satisfaction are assured with Dematic iQ software. Every delivery note is scanned and verified against the dispatch label, ensuring the right order is delivered to the right customer.
Working at a rate of up to 1,320 packages per hour, the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution has the potential to reduce the requirement for manual packing resources by up to 90%. In addition, the compact footprint (35 – 50 sq m) needed for the machine frees up warehouse space for other value-adding processes.
Simon Houghton, Sales Manager, Product Solutions, Dematic Northern Europe, explains how the subsystem brings greater consistency, productivity gains and cost savings to e-fulfilment operations. “The typical rate at which a manual packer can select the right size bag, place the goods in the bag, make sure the dispatch note is included and then print the label and apply it, is around 120 packs per hour – whereas, the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution offers up to 1,320 packages every hour. With this level of productivity the labour force can be redeployed to focus on service enhancing activities, such as picking goods much later in the day and so pushing back order cut-off times for next-day deliveries. In ecommerce, later cut-offs can offer a powerful competitive edge.”
Dematic has already integrated the solution for a leading UK department store, helping the business to achieve significant productivity gains for its ecommerce operations.
Simon Houghton says, “The Dematic Auto Bagging Solution offers an exciting new opportunity for Dematic, especially where existing ecommerce customers could benefit from its liberating technology – freeing up space, resources and cash.” Adding: “The subsystem also has great potential as a standalone solution for heavily manual warehouses, where automating the packing operation has big benefits in terms of removing packing desks and enabling the redeployment of staff.”
Over 50 technical experts from some of the UK’s leading retailers, 3PLs and automation consultancies attended a series of special customer days on the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution, held on two days, last month, at Dematic’s state-of-the-art offices in Adderbury, Oxfordshire. Attendees were treated to seminar sessions on the new technology and a live demonstration of the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution.
More information on the Dematic Auto Bagging Solution at www.dematic.com/auto-bagging-solution
According to data from the Department for Transport and Office for National Statistics, 301,600 HGV drivers were employed in 2017. With 210,000 drivers recorded in Microlise systems over the same period, a significant 70% of the UK HGV driving community engaged with Microlise telematics over the year.
The number of drivers recorded by Microlise systems have increased considerably compared to 2016, due to the renewal of major contracts and several significant new business wins, including major brands such as Eddie Stobart Logistics.
The Government data was released in the form of the Department’s for Transport “Domestic Road Freight Statistics” report, which also highlighted that in 2017:
“We’re proud to see that such a large proportion of the driving community is engaged with Microlise systems,” commented Nadeem Raza, Chief Executive Officer of Microlise. “With significant fleets joining our customer-base in 2017, alongside the renewal of existing major customers, we have seen significant growth in market share. Our focus remains on product innovation to ensure we continue to provide operators with world-class solutions that help them reduce costs and environmental impact while increasing efficiency and safety standards”.
On the data found in the “Domestic Road Freight Statistics” report, Raza commented:
“The Department for Transport report clearly demonstrates the absolutely fundamental role that the road freight industry plays in the UK economy - both in terms of the £12.4 billion going into the Treasury, but also keeping the country’s key industry sectors moving.
“Transport operators are facing an unprecedented numbers of challenges at the moment, from the introduction of Clean Air and Low Emission Zones, to the change in attitude to Diesel, and of course Brexit which looms large on the horizon. I am sure I am not alone in calling on the Government to recognise the importance of the industry and to work to support it in meeting the challenges faced”.
For more information on Microlise products, please visit www.microlise.com/products.
GKD Technologies is a leading provider of systems designed for safeguarding personnel and machines. Based in the South of England, the company design, develop and produce height, slew and load safety control systems for Road Rail vehicles (RRV’s) and general construction equipment including excavators.
The company has seen significant growth over the last year and has recently added new team members, which are helping grow the business and increase its market share across the board.
Robert Bullen has recently joined the company as COO (Chief Operating Officer). Rob comes from a corporate background and has worked with companies such as Ford and Virgin. He has joined the company to oversee the general running of the business which has allowed allow GKD’s owner and CEO Nick Ground to concentrate on innovation and new market opportunities. Robert commented on joining the company, he said, “This is a very exciting time for me to join a great team at GKD. We plan to build up on GKDs strong product base with continuous innovation and a level of service that exceeds both current and new customer expectations.”
Nigel Baseley has also joined the GKD Technologies team as Sales & Marketing Director. Nigel retired from Caterpillar around 2-years ago, where he was responsible for sales and marketing in a number of divisions, working with teams based across Europe, the Americas and Asia. As part of his new role, Nigel will assist GKD with its expansion in the construction market and continue its growth in the Rail Sector.
Nigel said, “It is an exciting time for GKD, with its range of highly developed Height, Slew and Load indicators available to meet the ever-increasing demand for systems to help with safety. Companies across the world are recognising their responsibility to fit such systems and turning to GKD because of its products but, also for its reputation for customer support. I am pleased to be in a position to support GKD in its expansion."
Nick Ground is the founder and CEO of GKD Technologies. Nick started the company in 1992. Nick’s background is in electronics engineering and in the early 2000’s he was approached to design an RCI specifically for the rail industry which was launched in 2005. Today Nick’s role is product design and innovations including big data and predictive working.
Nick said, “We see real and exciting opportunities in automation and the use of performance data, life cycle and different business models for what we do and what we are offering. For example, we are looking at the prospect of using remote data access on proximity warning systems, so you can see how many incidences there were, where and when.
This information can be overlaid on your site highlighting the danger zones – this allows you to remodel and remove danger zones. The use of data taken from our systems to inform, will help design the construction sites of tomorrow.”
Nick concluded, “With Nigel and Robert joining the GKD team I am able to dedicate more time to innovation and exploring new market opportunities.”
GKD now boasts a team of 22, of those seven are dedicated design and software engineers working across the range – the engineers also form the R&D department.
Watford-based Sigma Pharmaceuticals has installed automated handling systems from KNAPP as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Family-owned wholesaler, Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc, opened its new headquarters and automated distribution facility earlier this year, with the ribbon being cut by Pharmacy Minister, Steve Brine MP. Automation has proven to be the ideal solution to meet the challenges of distributing Sigma’s ever-growing business volumes.
Beginning as a community pharmacy in 1982, Sigma Pharmaceuticals has grown to become one of the largest independent pharmaceutical distributors in the country, employing more than 400 people to serve over 3000 pharmacies, hospitals and doctors across the UK and Europe. As the business has continued to grow, its operations have had to evolve in order to maintain its high standards of customer service. Explains Sigma co-founder, Bharat Shah, “I started this business as a totally manual operation – filling up shelves, picking stock, packing it, putting it in a van and delivering it. The operation just became bigger and bigger, and things started to change. The next generation of the family came into the business and they questioned our manual operations because volumes were continually increasing and we weren’t able to work efficiently.”
The company’s existing warehouse in Watford relied on manual picking of orders using paper lists. Space was at a premium and staff found it increasingly difficult to work in what became a cramped environment. Sigma’s solution was to acquire the adjacent building, strip it out entirely and design a new distribution system, along with modern and flexible office facilities. To help with this task, the company chose logistics automation specialist, KNAPP.
“Within nine months the building was ready,” says Bharat Shah, “and in the tenth month we were ready to occupy the building. I think only a family business could have achieved these timelines. Our aim is to have capacity here to allow the site to be a national operation serving satellite depots all over the country within the next five years.”
The automated logistics solution supplied by KNAPP features a fully automatic ‘A-frame’ picking machine, combined with a paperless order picking system utilising radio frequency (RF) terminals. Goods arrive at the facility either in totes from the decanting area (on another site) or on pallets from the adjacent pallet warehouse. While the A-frame autopicker handles fast-moving products on the ground floor, medium-movers and slow-moving goods are picked on the mezzanine from a combination of flow racks and shelves into customer order totes circulating on an intelligent conveyor system, which has a capacity of 900 totes/hour. After picking, totes are conveyed to the ground-floor dispatch area for automated lidding and strapping, or for their contents to be repacked into cartons if they contain only a few items.
Sigma currently handles about 10 million tablets a day and the new facility will allow it to increase that number. The new distribution centre has the capacity to operate at the level of the busiest days of the year – December 23rd and 27th – every day for five years. The automation has also increased accuracy, as Pravesh Patel, Executive Director at Sigma, explains: “Due to the configuration of the system, we have been able to increase efficiency and picking accuracy; this has increased customer satisfaction with regard to delivering in full and on time, as well as reducing the number of queries and returns from our valued customers.”
SICK has released a ground-breaking miniature version of its powerful and robust Visionary-T 3D snapshot vision sensor. Thanks to a pioneering collaboration between SICK AG and Microsoft Corp, the SICK Visionary-T Mini packs precise, high-resolution and rapid image capture into a robust design that is both compact and lightweight for materials handling and logistics applications.
The SICK Visionary-T Mini uses best-in-class time-of-flight snapshot technology to set new standards of data accuracy for detailed environmental perception at high speed. It captures both the 3D depth and 2D intensity values of every pixel at an exceptional (512 × 424 px) resolution in a single shot of light, at up to 30 3D frames per second.
The SICK Visionary-T Mini is, therefore, a compact and versatile all-rounder for logistics, warehousing and materials handling applications, and delivers the same high performance whether installed in static applications, on moving machinery or robots. The Visionary-T’s high repetition rate ensures there are no blurring effects as a result of movement of the camera or the object. It is particularly well-suited to dynamic applications where lower weight is an advantage, or installation space is at a premium.
With a low-weight and no moving parts, the SICK Visionary-T Mini performs reliably despite the shocks and vibrations of applications such as robot palletising and depalletising, or, when used as part of object detection, collision warning or navigation systems in automated guided carts, forklifts and mobile robots. Its precise data quality is an advantage for 3D dimensioning and level detection duties, for example for packaging completeness checks, warehouse storage and retrieval systems, or for intelligent loading of freight trucks.
“The SICK Visionary-T Mini fuses the best of SICK’s industrial camera expertise with the type of precision sensing technologies from Microsoft Corp that you would more normally except to find in mobile phones,” states Neil Sandhu, SICK UK product managing for imaging, measurement and ranging. “The result is an extremely competitive price performance level with consistently excellent 3D and 2D data quality for even the most rugged industrial conditions, including where there is bright light or very dark conditions.
“The Visionary-T Mini also makes it easy to integrate the data stream into your applications, particularly where the target is moving, such as for anti-collision for mobile vehicles or for robot picking from a belt, for example.”
The automatic High Dynamic Range of the Visionary-T Mini ensures even widely-varying contrasts and lighting conditions across a scene are captured reliably in each frame without the need for complex set up, or expert knowledge of time-of-flight settings. The high-density 512 x 424 px resolution is complemented by a 70° x 60° field of view.
As a programmable device, the SICK Visionary-T Mini is easy to configure and commission. The user-friendly visualisation and configuration tool makes it easy to set up the device parameters and adapt the data to the specific application. A multicam mode is available to process image data from more than one Visionary-T Mini. With rapid 3D data transmission, the Visionary-T Mini is suitable for integration into most industrial applications.
The SICK Visionary-T Mini measures just 80 x 70 x 77 mm (w x h x d) and weighs only 520g so it can be fit into even the smallest machine spaces, on robot arms, or onto small and lightweight automated guided carts.
The Visionary-T Mini is a rugged industrial sensor with IP65/IP67 housing and no moving parts, capable of operating at temperatures between -10 and + 50°C, and in bright sunlight up to 50kLux. Rapid and stable communication is assured over industrial Gigabit Ethernet, as well as robust electrical performance, including resistance to electromagnetic interference.
For more information, please contact Andrea Hornby on 01727 831121 or email andrea.hornby@sick.co.uk.
CHEP, the supply chain solutions company, has announced the appointment of Christophe Campe to the position of Senior Vice President, European Supply Chain. Mr. Campe is transitioning from his current role of Vice President, First Mile Solutions (FMS) and European Key Accounts, and will be replaced by Candice Herndon, currently Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Europe. FMS covers CHEP Solutions and platforms for inbound packaging flows including full-size plastic pallets and Pallecon IBCs .
“These individuals both bring global expertise and knowledge as well as a deep commitment to helping our customers find innovative solutions to address the growing complexity of the supply chain landscape across Europe,” noted Michael Pooley, President CHEP Pallets, EMEA.
Mr. Campe will be responsible for leading the safe and efficient operations of CHEP’s 350 European Service Centres and managing logistics across the CHEP network in Europe. He has been with CHEP since 1993 developing various strategic positions. He assumed the role of Finance Director for Germany, Nordics and eastern Europe, and held the position of Country General Manager in Benelux and Germany before he entered the FMS and European Key Accounts organisation.
“Our pallets, crates and containers form the invisible backbone of the global supply chain. We have improved and learned from supply chains on six continents over 70 years. The scale and density of our network means we can be faster and more responsive to our customers’ changing needs. Supply chain collaboration is key to achieving mutual cost savings and a safer and more sustainable supply chain, and hence it will be an important part of my new team’s efforts,” Mr Campe said.
Mrs. Herndon joined CHEP in 2006 and has since held various regional and global roles within Sales & Marketing, Strategy, Supply Chain Solutions, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs. Prior to joining CHEP, she worked for Accenture, where she performed Strategy and Management consulting.
In her new role, Mrs. Herndon will be responsible for further integration and growth of CHEP’s FMS organisation, while also leading the European Commercial Key Account teams and customer relationships.
“My teams will be focused on understanding the changing needs of our customers and industry and delivering products and solutions that help eliminate waste, risk and cost in the supply chain. As our customers are faced with new challenges and opportunities, CHEP is committed to supporting them in the creation of smarter and more sustainable supply chains,” she said.
KNAPP AG has won a major order to automate the new Campus North distribution centre of the adidas Group in Germany, which supports the company’s European e-commerce business.
The adidas Group, international player in sportswear manufacturing with the brands adidas and Reebok, hascommissioned KNAPP to automate its new e-commerce centre in Rieste, near Osnabrück in northwest Germany. With the provision of a new, high-performance all-in-shuttle solution, KNAPP will support the adidas Group in handling the flow of e-commerce goods, enabling strong growth in the business and making it possible for the organisation to react flexibly to the changing demands in the sportswear sector.
With more than 55,000 employees in over 160 countries, the adidas Group produces a wide range of articles each year. In peak periods, more than 350,000 products a day leave the group’s largest distribution centre worldwide. The expansion of the facility with KNAPP’s automation solution will allow the constantly growing volume of e-commerce orders to be handled effectively. Alongside managing the large quantities of outgoing deliveries and the constantly changing assortment, the adidas Group has a strong focus on customer service. Fast transit times and high levels of flexibility were therefore crucial in the choice of system.
The e-commerce solution being delivered by KNAPP, particularly its OSR ShuttleTM technology, fits the bill precisely for these requirements. Thanks to the design of the Pick-it-Easy Shop workstations, order picking is carried out ergonomically according to the goods-to-person principle in an intuitive, error-free workflow. The warehouse logistics software, KiSoft,guarantees efficient processing for every article in the online shop.
Start-up of the new system is planned for 2018. Gerald Hofer, CEO of KNAPP AG, is delighted about the new order: “This project is a prime example of our philosophy of making complexity simple. The flexible OSR ShuttleTM solution provides access at all times to all articles and gives the adidas Group the independence needed for future business development. The entire solution is modularly constructed and can be easily expanded. We look forward to the collaboration with the adidas Group and the successful realization of this all-in-shuttle project.”
Engine and drivetrain components specialist, Pankl Racing Systems, is relying on shuttle technology from KNAPP at its new drivetrain component factory in Austria.
As part of the installation of its new production facility at its headquarters in Kapfenberg, Pankl Racing Systems has selected KNAPP’s flexible YLOG-Shuttle system for automation of the small parts warehouse and supply of the workstations. Pankl develops, manufactures and markets engine and drivetrain systems as well as chassis parts for racing cars, luxury vehicles and the aerospace industry. The new manufacturing site for high-performance motorcycle gearboxes, featuring the new automated storage system, is due to begin operation in 2017.
“We opted for the concept from KNAPP because it’s clear that the core components of the system have been carefully thought through and are technically sophisticated,” explained Stefan Zinner, Series Production Manager at Pankl. “Another crucial factor was the extremely productive co-operation during the concept phase. The project engineers and product managers were quick to grasp our unique requirements and went on to develop excellent solutions.”
The solution from KNAPP consists of an automated YLOG-Shuttle system connected to three workstations. The YLOG-Shuttle technology is scalable in line with company growth and guarantees high availability. Pankl’s extensive range of toothed wheels and shafts will soon be stored across 4,300 storage locations, from where they will be supplied to the assembly workstations according to the goods-to-person principle.
KNAPP is supplying ergonomic workstations from its Pick-it-Easy series that are specially adapted to suit Pankl’s requirements. A safety check comprising three separate steps will be carried out to ensure that each part can be traced, if necessary, at a later stage. The individual parts will be supplied to the workstations in the correct sequence, with staff being instructed via pick-to-light technology as to the correct article to pick. The serial number will then be read using image recognition technology, identifying the part removed from the storage tote. In addition, the assembly process will be verified using image pattern recognition technology from KNAPP subsidiary, ivii GmbH.
Stefan Zinner has high expectations of the new technology: “For us, the KNAPP system is a pioneering solution, leading the way towards Industry 4.0 and going far beyond the classic requirements of warehouse logistics. It involves value-adding interaction between man and machine. Our staff will carry out assembly tasks that require technical skill and will be supported in these tasks by the image processing system.”
Giti has launched its new generation trailer tyre – the Giti GTR955 Combi Road – which delivers a mileage increase of around 30% against previous comparable products.
The result, which was concluded following a four-year design and test period on several different fleet types across various diverse sectors, has been achieved through enhancing the tyre profile, advanced belt construction and a newly developed tread compound.
Other key developments see rolling resistance improve by approximately 10% and better wet braking, both of which result in B labelling.
The design and manufacturing developments also result in an important increase in retreadability properties.
The tyre is now available in 385/65R22.5 164K and 385/55R22.5 160K. Both sizes are three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) marked to indicate excellent winter and all-season traction and braking properties.
Specially developed in cooperation with Giti’s European R&D Centre in Hannover, Germany, the Giti GTR955 Combi Road is manufactured at the company state-of-the-art facility in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tony McHugh, TBR Sales and Marketing Director UK at Giti Tire, said: “Trailer tyres make up 35% of the European truck tyre market, and it is imperative we have a product which is comparable against the very best in the sector.
“We will actively be targeting original equipment trailer manufacturers as well as the aftermarket with this tyre, having concluded the excellent price-per-mile (ppm) achievable.
“It is also worth noting the GTR955 is our very first trailer tyre to carry the ‘Combi Road’ designation, which means it will be used in both long distance and national usage which again widens its appeal.”
Automated materials handling equipment has historically been bespoke, complex and inevitably expensive, to both purchase and install. The result is an inflexible solution that is unable to adapt to new or altered operating environments. Yale Europe Materials Handling has a new solution: a range of robotic trucks that require no infrastructure, offer the reliability and durability Yale® is famous for and the support of its extensive service network.
As a result of over a decade of research and development into automated solutions, Yale is delighted to announce the launch of its robotics portfolio: the MO25 low level order picker, the MO50-70T tow tractor, and the MC10-15 counterbalance truck featuring Balyo technology.
Designed to offer the familiarity and reliability of Yale whilst reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency, the Yale robotics solution is perfect for customers seeking affordable automation.
“For some customers, automation on a large scale isn’t viable for their operations, due to the changeable nature and variety of the tasks and requirements the application needs to cover,” said Ron Farr, Warehouse Solutions Manager for Yale. “However, there are small, repetitive jobs which could be automated to free up the existing workforce for higher-value tasks. We’ve developed our robotics offering with this in mind, to provide customers with flexibile, affordable automation.”
Industry-leading Balyo geoguidance navigation technology is at the heart of the solution, ensuring Yale robotic trucks stand out from traditional automated guided vehicles on offer. With no dedicated infrastructure required, the trucks can operate autonomously without the need for any wires, magnets or reflectors.
“After consulting with our clients, we recognised that a major hurdle to introducing robotics in warehouses and production lines is the installation of dedicated infrastructure. By collaborating with Balyo we’ve been able to produce a range of trucks that use existing structural features to generate their own map, enabling them to self-locate and navigate in real-time. There’s no need to bury wires in the floor or mount reflectors on walls, which reduces the cost of installation and virtually eliminates ongoing structural maintenance. The solution is fully connected to the customer environment and can be integrated into current processes quickly and easily,” said Ron.
Based on the existing MO25, MO50-70T & MC10-15 manual trucks, Yale robotic trucks are suitable for a wide range of applications. The trucks can automate a variety of repetitive load transportation tasks from servicing production lines, transporting loads between stations, and conducting milk-run production loops to carrying empty pallets to a palletising machine.
Built-in advanced obstacle detection helps the trucks anticipate and react to their immediate environment, controlling truck speed and allowing for smooth, efficient movement. While the provision of both manual and automated modes ensures efficient operation alongside employees and manually operated trucks.
“The dual-mode design means Yale robotic trucks can still be used manually to complete non-automated tasks. Operators can regain control at the touch of a button. This eliminates the need for separate equipment and gives customers the flexibility to accomodate unexpected requirements,” explains Ron.
“We’ve carefully studied how we can make robotics as cost-effective and productive as possible for our customers. The Yale robotics solution is completely scalable from a single truck to a large fleet to ideally suit the application at hand. As the Industry 4.0 trend continues, our robotics range can open the door to automation to many who were unable to consider it in other iterations,” Ron concludes.
For further information on Yale robotics visit www.yale.com.
The industrial world is constantly seeking ways to become faster and more efficient – and anything that reduces downtime, speeds up production and cuts overall costs is the ultimate goal. But where do you look to make improvements?
One area where major advances are being made is in battery technology. Currently there are two major trends in storage devices: one, the ability to hold more energy and two, the ability to offer much faster charging and a longer lifetime. One such innovation is the Ultra Fast Carbon Battery (UFCB) from NAWA Technologies, which is ideal for power tools and automated guided vehicles.
Based on the principle of the ultracapacitor, this energy storage solution can be charged and discharged within seconds. And it can do so over a million cycles without any loss in performance and high efficiency. Because it uses carbon as a base material – aligned carbon nanotube electrodes with a unique coating – and not a precious material like lithium, the UFCB is environmentally friendly and also very, very fast with unique storage capabilities. Compared to regular ultracapacitors, UFCB’s can hold five times more power or energy depending on application.
So this technology bridges the gap between lithium ion and regular ultracapcitors – but how does it benefit the world of manufacturing?
Well, when it comes to the industrial world, we have been using the same type of batteries in handheld devices – such as power tools – for the last 20 years. Some companies have made significant progress in increasing battery capacity i.e. how long the battery can last on a charge and its lifespan, but very little progress has been made with regards to its fast charge capabilities.
NAWA’s UFCB design gives portable and hand-held devices the ability to take-on and store electricity at a phenomenal rate. Today’s power tools use lithium-powered batteries because of their ability to store large amounts of energy, but they have to spend a significant period of time recharging. Lithium-powered batteries used in power tools also have less energy capacity than batteries from mobile phones or cars. So, gram-for-gram, they are more expensive.
Then there is the fact that power tool batteries cannot be charged more than several hundred times, forcing companies to change the batteries far more often for demanding industrial applications, and because there is the cost of the initial investment, operating costs and the lifetime of the battery/tool to consider, the overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is high.
Finally, given they operate at high power (high rates of charge and discharge), the batteries suffer more from heat degradation and, to overcome this, they are larger than they really need to be. Over the course of its lifetime the UFCB will store more energy than any lithium battery, so based on charging cycles, they are far less expensive.
NAWA’s UFCB perfectly suits this power profile. It can quickly and easily provide high power, and function in high temperatures - all without having to make the system larger. In applications where the typical usage is instant power bursts (for instance a nail gun that uses power only while driving nails), NAWA’s UFCB is the most effective battery design. It reduces the size of the battery pack while making it possible to recharge in less than a minute. The user will also have a lighter tool that he/she can recharge just by putting it on a wireless charging station. This can be done millions of times - drastically reducing the number of battery replacements needed, and thereby reducing the TCO.
NAWA’s UFCB can also be used alongside existing battery technology, resulting in a highly efficient hybrid system combining high energy and high power. This can be used in a wide variety of hand-held, motorised tools and is most effective in machinery that is frequently in-and-out of use throughout the day.
These need a battery to power the system over a long period of time but at a relatively low current, but for some very specific tasks they also may need higher current. In this case, NAWA’s UFCB will do the job. Let’s take an electric saw, for example. It needs more power to start for the first hundredth of a millisecond and then operates at lower current. The starting current can, therefore, be provided by the NAWA’s UFCB. Furthermore, when you stop the saw, it continues to rotate, allowing you to harvest that wasted energy back into the UFCB. You see similar operational modes in many other power-tools, such as a booster, a screwdriver, or a jackhammer – all potential uses for a hybrid-ultracapacitor arrangement.
The technology can also be applied to electric vehicles used in manufacturing. Take AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), for example, which are currently mainly powered by lead-acid batteries.
Two of the major problems facing AGVs are, firstly, the fact that while charging they are not in use – and are, therefore, inefficient, requiring additional AGVs to be used while they are charging. Secondly, battery maintenance and replacements are cumbersome and difficult to carry out. At NAWA, we believe that it will be more efficient to replace existing batteries with UFCB combined with a system of multiple fast-chargers - so that AGVs can be recharged at various locations (wirelessly when picking up or delivering or while driving). This would mean there would be no idling AGVs, less back-up AGVs, no battery replacement, and safer recharging.
In fact, in this way, the factory environment could potentially provide the blueprint for other electric road vehicles as the industrial applications of a system of UFCB and multiple charging points are almost endless; vehicles at airports, harbours, buses or even for a small electric vehicle sharing network in cities.
Looking further ahead there is an argument that such a system could be used across an entire city with ride-sharing autonomous vehicles. Why? Well, currently, cars are not in use for around 95 per cent of their lives and represent up to 30 per cent of the constructible footprint of a city, while they are only actively being driven for five percent of time.
That is a long way into the future of course. What is not is the use of NAWA Technologies’ UFCB in the industrial environment. We believe our innovation will be in widespread use, in power tools and AGVs, within the next two-to-three years. Sustainable, safe, efficient – and a crucial part of the ongoing development of clean, affordable energy. Watch this space.
A 92 year old shipowner electrified a maritime conference in Naples when he directly warned one of the Italy’s most senior politicians that the national fleet was “doomed to disappear” without more help from government policies.
Mr Peppino D’Amato the head of Perseveranza said ministers in Rome were “not really paying attention” to the fact that “companies are shutting down and jobs being lost.”
He demanded a personal meeting as soon as possible with the government to explain what policies were needed. The celebrated owner had been in the audience listening to a round table debate at the 2018 Shipping and the Law conference in the famous port city. But he insisted on taking to the stage so he could deliver his impassioned plea directly to Roberto Fico, the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies who was there.
Fico, who is from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which is part of Italy’s coalition government, had earlier given the key note speech at the conference. Fico had gone out of his way to stress the importance of the “blue economy” to both Naples and Italy saying his party was determined to rebuild port and other transport infrastructure and “avoid the mistakes of the past.”
This was not enough - it seemed - for Mr D’Amato although the two men agreed at the end of the conference session that a proper meeting would take place in future.
Mario Mattioli, president of Confitarma, the Italian Shipowners Association, had earlier told the conference that he had his own “good” meeting with the new Transport Minister that had last 50 minutes.
More traditional targets for shipowner frustration were outlined at the event by Panos Laskiridis, president of the European Community Shipowners Associations.
He attacked the European Union for failing to appreciate the maritime sector. “Europe has no trade wars, refugee problems,disputes between economic strong and weak countries…the only strategic asset which Europe possesses is its huge merchant fleet which moves about 40% of the world’s trade.”
The European Commission should “abstain from pointing the (critical) finger at shipping but protect, defend and stand behind us.”
The conference used the title of “The future is Now” to discuss progress on new fuels plus environmental regulations around sulphur and carbon.
Leading Greek shipowner John Lyras said it was wrong that responsibility for “greening” shipping and potentially taking penalties for not doing so all lay with vessel operators.
“What about the ship builders, fuel suppliers, the shippers? It is car manufacturers not car owners who get penalised for polluting vehicles after all,” he said.
The International Maritime organisation’s top legal adivser, Frederick Kenney, said he had seen a significant and positive shift in shipowner attitudes towards sulphur and carbon in the past 4 to 5 months.
But he questioned how shipping could do the kind of brilliant public relations job like aviation which had largely won over the public to its side.
The environmental session at the conference ended on a higher note with major local shipowner and vice president of the International Chamber of Shipping, Emanuele Grimaldi, outlining the enormous fuel efficiencies wrought in his huge fleet with the use of quite easily available incremental changes using new hulls, propellors and paints.
Francesco S. Lauro, the lead partner of Naples law firm Studio Legale Lauro which stages the annual conference, said it was another major success.
“Over 200 people from all around the globe came to Naples to debate political and economic as well as commercial and legal issues that all affect shipping.”
“It was the best event yet with passionate debate from all sides but also new ideas raised and technical solutions discussed.
“We have created something unique and we are determined to build on this for next year: our tenth anniversary. The foothills of Vesuvius seem to be a perfect place for scalding hot but relevant maritime debates.”
http://www.shippingandthelaw.org/
Emission standards for diesel forklift trucks are about to get a lot stricter and, for the first time, LPG trucks are affected too. What are the implications for buyers planning their future strategic fleet purchases? By Paul Watson, UK Commercial Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK Ltd.
As of 1st January 2019 new diesel and LPG powered forklift trucks sold in the European Union will start to have to comply with the world’s toughest emission standards for non-road vehicles, Euro-Stage V. Although the UK is set to exit the EU shortly after its introduction, the standards will almost certainly be adopted here too.
So what will this mean for those planning their forklift truck fleets? Should buyers be reconsidering their fuel or power options? Possibly, but there are a number of important considerations to take into account.
The headline news is that limits on emissions of particulate matter are to be reduced by a further 40% under the new regulations – taking the current Stage IV A limit of 0.025 g/kWh of soot down to 0.015g/kWh – and this will apply across all engine sizes. Carbon Monoxide emissions will be set at 5.0 g/kWh for all engines up to 128kW and emissions for NOx and HC will remain as currently specified.
The good news is, the Euro-Stage V standards are much clearer and simpler than the existing tiered arrangement for emission limits which are presently staggered across a range of engine power outputs: Stage lll A - less than 37kW, Stage lll B - 37kW to 81kW and Stage IV A - larger than 81kw.
However, for buyers of forklift trucks, life is about to become more complex. Under Euro-Stage V standards all IC engine forklift trucks, both diesel and LPG powered vehicles, will have to comply regardless of engine size – and that means even trucks below the current minimum threshold of 37kW.
For LPG trucks, emissions of particulate matter will not be a problem, but to eliminate nitrous oxides a three-way catalytic converter will be necessary. The good thing is catalytic converters are relatively inexpensive, require minimal maintenance and do not have to go through the lengthy regeneration processes associated with diesel particulate filters (DPFs).
The biggest impact of these new standards will fall on the diesel engine models. Most diesel forklift trucks supplied to the market presently require DPFs to comply with the current standards. With the introduction of more stringent Euro-Stage V regulations significantly more advanced DPF cleaning systems and operating regimes will be required by most manufacturers to comply, and for less sophisticated diesel engines this will mean longer periods of downtime and more expense.
As the vast majority of forklift makers do not build their own engines, the solution adopted by the industry has been, in general, to adapt ill-suited automotive engines and reduce the amount of NOx by lowering the combustion temperature using cooled exhaust gas to dilute the amount of oxygen in the combustion chamber. But, there is a big penalty. Soot is increased which requires the engine to have a diesel particulate filter fitted to prevent the soot being emitted.
As those having purchased a new forklift fitted with a diesel particulate filter will know, it has to be recharged at regular intervals. This is a lengthy process that for most users must be performed once or twice a week and requires the truck to be taken out of service and the engine to be revved at full engine RPM for about 20 minutes to half an hour, in order to burn the soot that has collected in the particulate filter. Large amounts of fuel are used in the process and the truck is not available for duty – increasing downtime and significantly impacting productivity. Then there are the costs associated with the burning of extra fuel and associated maintenance issues, not to mention the sheer inconvenience of the whole lengthy, repetitive process.
However, at present, not all diesel engines need DPF filters to comply with the current regulations. There are only a small number of forklift truck manufacturers who have diesel engines on the market that do not require diesel particulate filters to comply with the existing Euro-Stage lllB and Stage lV standards. Only a couple of them, can offer solutions across the whole range. Doosan has a full range from 2.0-tonne capacity across all diesel powered counterbalance trucks up to 25-tonnes.
Of course, with the new, stricter Euro-Stage V regulations coming into force even these manufacturers will need to further reduce emissions, and this will almost certainly require the fitting of DPFs. However, a significant point is that Doosan only needs to introduce a very small DPF to comply, as the in-house designed G2 engine is already exceptionally clean. And, importantly, tests underway on G2 engines at Doosan’s Infracore Engine Division indicate that effective cleaning of the filter takes place whilst the truck is in normal use – similar to your diesel car. So there is no costly down time.
Clearly, tightening EU regulations on carbon, nitrogen oxide and particle emissions offer strong indications as to the direction policy makers wish to take. So, as with cars and vans, is the future electric?
Electric trucks have a lot to offer. In 2016 Doosan launched a range of 48v electric trucks up to two tonnes and in early 2017 an 80v range from 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes was launched. Later in 2018 the five tonne electric series will be revamped and six, seven and eight tonne electric models will be looked at in the near future.
However, there are plenty of applications where diesel or LPG trucks offer the best solution and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. As you might expect, much depends on the particular demands of the job, the application and the working environment.
With the introduction of these much stricter Euro-Stage V standards it makes sense to fully understand the impact these regulations will have on your future forklift truck fleet. Understanding your options at this point may help in planning your fleet purchasing strategy going forward.
As part of the $21bn Doosan engineering conglomerate, the industrial vehicle division is uniquely positioned to tap into the rich resources and ‘in-house’ expertise of Doosan Infracore’s Engine Division. Doosan are investing heavily in expanding their range of electric forklift trucks, offering powerful models capable of handling loads once only thought possible using IC engine trucks. If you are looking for expert advice on how the Euro-Stage V standards might affect your business, Doosan are well positioned to offer you a balanced view.
Derbyshire-based metal and waste management specialist, Ward, has exceeded its forecasted annual export target from its dedicated deep sea dock at Immingham in just seven months. The specialist metal recycler has exported over 50,000 tonnes of ferrous and no-ferrous metal since it opened the facility in April this year, at an estimated value of £7.6million.
Three ships left the dock in last month destined for Bilbao and Sestao Port in Spain and Iskenderun in Turkey, carrying a combined load of over 31,000 tonnes including plate iron and HMS 1 and 2 grade. The Ward team has been grading and processing the material whilst stock has been building at the site.
The largest of the three vessels, the Pochard S, measured 198 metres long 23.7m metres wide with six holds and six hatches. It sailed from Immingham and took 11 days to arrive at its destination, after loading 23,881 tonnes over six days loading 24 hours, a day through two shifts.
Thomas Ward, Commercial Manager at Ward, said: “This is a hugely significant milestone for us as we continue to utilise the port further. Results achieved so far have exceeded our initial estimates and we are continually improving tonnages of metals for export and import. The team is working incredibly hard with existing customers as well as exporting to new customers in destinations all over the world. In the next couple of months we’ve already got orders to export a further 20,000 tonnes in steel skulls, plate iron and obsolete steel scrap.”
Ward is a fourth-generation family business and has quadrupled its turnover in the last 10 years, through continuous investment and innovation in metal processing and recycling. It now recycles over half a million tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals per year.
For more information on Ward and its metal buying, selling and export services, visit www.ward.com.
A safety and training innovation centre being built at Vantec HQ in Sunderland will create a UK-first ‘living warehouse’ focusing on accident prevention in the logistics industry, drawing on the latest innovation in training and health and safety.
The innovation centre is the result of a unique partnership between Vantec and the University of Sunderland brokered by Sunderland City Council. The centre will be housed in a dedicated 9000 sq ft building currently being refurbished at Vantec’s Cherry Blossom Way site in Sunderland, and will open its doors in March 2019.
The centre will house a new living warehouse in which 3D immersive training will take people through all the potential causes and consequences of a single lapse in safety prevention, to increase insight and enhance the company’s capabilities in continuous improvement.
Martin Kendall, managing director of Vantec Europe said: “Our accident rates are very low, but our aim is zero. There are 600 Vantec forklift truck drivers in Sunderland and another 100 in our other UK bases. Our challenge is to make the forklift driving activity as safe as practically possible.
“The innovation centre is a completely new way of tackling safety awareness and accident prevention. Because it brings the consequences of a single lapse in safety to life it engages and involves every individual who takes part.
“It is an effective method of keeping safety to the front of the mind long-term. Employee well-being is at the heart of this initiative. Bringing down accident rates through better awareness will also support increased productivity and staff motivation at Vantec.”
The centre will use the University of Sunderland’s expertise and resources in paramedics, nursing, law, behavioural sciences and psychology to create a world class interactive training environment. A realistic, potent film will cover every aspect of a potential accident at Vantec, from the impact of the initial event to the arrival of the ambulance, the stay in hospital, effects on family, colleagues and employer, and will even include mock law courts, with student lawyers enacting the trial with a jury.
It blends technology and interaction throughout to create a life story of an accident. Actors, university students and lecturers will act out parts of the programme to bring it vividly to life for participants.
The film will be shown on a three-wall projection, and is central to the safety training programmes. Aspects of the film will be used to create in-depth segments to improve understanding about accident prevention, and boost leadership, communication, and worker involvement across the entire Vantec workforce.
The living warehouse came about following senior level discussions between Vantec and the University of Sunderland at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Well-being’s simulation suite. The suite is part of healthcare provision for training nurses and paramedics.
Professor Tony Alabaster, Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Well-being, and programme leader Dr Sarah Pickup, then worked with Martin Kendall and his team at Vantec to create a bespoke programme to suit the logistics industry.
This facility will be developed under the investment plans of Hitachi Transport Systems (Vantec’s parent company) as a part of HTS Global Innovation Centre.
Vantec handles over 20 million containers every year, 24 hours a day for Sunday to Friday and employs over 1000 people in Sunderland.
The company already occupies over a million square feet of warehousing in Sunderland at its Cherry Blossom, Turbine Way and Hillthorn centres. Sunderland City Council has provided advice and support for Vantec’s innovation centre.
Detailed discussions about the project took place with board level representatives of both Vantec and Hitachi Transport Systems, both in the UK and Japan, when the City Council was showcasing its automotive and advanced manufacturing sector.
Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “The innovation centre is a great example of Vantec’s forward-looking strategy and its excellent approach to continuous improvement, innovation and employee welfare. It also shows Sunderland’s dynamism and ability to lead in key sectors. The knowledge economy eco-system is growing across the city, and the innovation centre will provide a focus for new ways of training.
“Our ambitions for Sunderland as a leading automotive hub requires the long-term commitment of our skilled, motivated workforce. We have the best, most productive workforce in Sunderland and their safety is paramount. It will be strengthened further by this development.
“It also illustrates the close relationships between the city’s businesses, council and university, which together help to secure major investment and new opportunities. This leads to job creation and a robustly strong automotive sector. We look forward to seeing the new innovation centre open its doors in 2019.”
Dr Sarah Pickup, lecturer in Environment Health and Safety at the University of Sunderland, commented: “This collaboration is very exciting, it allows us as academics to work closely with a global business situated on our doorstep and through internal cross-collaboration, apply a wealth of knowledge and skills to a very real-world challenge. For Vantec to engage in such a collaboration is a strong statement that signals their motivation to enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees in new and innovative ways and we are excited to be involved with this”.
Professor Tony Alabaster, academic dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing added: “The relationship with Vantec has changed our own approach and given us a broader scope – it’s an excellent example of how this university adapts to support the North East region’s skills, technology and research requirements.”
It’s that time of year when many businesses reflect and take stock of the year behind and plan for the year ahead, and Goplasticpallets.com is moving into 2019 stronger than ever.
Celebrating its 25th year of business this year, Goplasticpallets.com has recorded sales in excess of one million plastic pallets, pallet boxes and containers in the last 20 years alone, which reinforces its position as the UK’s largest plastic pallet supplier.
The company has continued to grow from two to now 29 members of staff, including an experienced management team and highly knowledgeable sales force. Between them the company’s sales experts boast 100+ years’ experience within the pallet industry, as well as expert knowledge.
Goplasticpallets.com has further strengthened its relationships with leading European plastic pallet and box manufacturers this year. First saw the signing of the company’s fifth partnership agreement, this time with Italian manufacturer JCOPLASTIC which secured Goplasticpallets.com sole UK distribution rights for an impressive range of industrial and agricultural rigid pallet boxes. The summer then saw the company consolidate its partnership agreement with Belgium-based manufacturers Smart-Flow and Gamma-Wopla who have given Goplasticpallets.com exclusivity in the UK for distributing more than 50 of its plastic pallets and small containers.
Another major accomplishment for Goplasticpallets.com this year was becoming an Accredited Exporter of Plastic Packaging Waste. This means that when customers no longer have a need for their plastic pallets or boxes, or they have come to the end of their long working life, Goplasticpallets.com can return them to their recycling plant in Belgium; saving customers both the hassle and cost of disposal and ensuring their products are recycled in a sustainable way.
This is particularly pertinent given the huge media focus on plastic pollution this year. In fact, Goplasticpallets.com was one of the few plastic pallet suppliers to speak out to counter the abundance of ‘ditch the plastic’ campaigns that have appeared by highlighting the important role plastic plays in our everyday life. After all, not all plastic is ‘bad’ and it’s crucial that we all distinguish between ‘bad’ single-use and ‘good’ recyclable plastics.
90% of the plastic pallets Goplasticpallets.com supplies are made from recycled material and can be reused repeatedly for often 10 years, or more, and then recycled at the end of their long working life. They will also be exempt from the new Plastic Packaging Tax, introduced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his autumn Budget which will tax all produced or imported plastic packaging without at least 30% recycled plastic from 1 April 2022.
Just one of the plastic pallet supplier’s ‘stand out’ projects this year included delivering 19,750 plastic pallet boxes to Europe’s leading dry pet food manufacturer, GA Pet Food Partners, for use in its new fully automated warehouse. The team had a huge task on their hands coordinating production with CABKA_IPS, the manufacturer in Belgium, and organising delivery schedules with LKW WALTER.
The large-scale logistics operation saw all 19,750 plastic pallet boxes and lids transported by full trucks – more than 470 individual loads – from the manufacturing plant in Ieper in Belgium to GA’s distribution centre in Chorley in Lancashire over 30 weeks.
Another significant project saw Goplasticpallets.com help time-critical logistics business Menzies Distribution reduce its logistics costs and improve internal supply chain processes by providing a long lasting plastic pallet solution and invaluable product advice.
Goplasticpallets.com supplied 4,680 of its APB 1210 Pool Perforated 5R pallets, a heavy duty, full perimeter design, which in addition to its competitive price offered the benefit of saving space in storage – crucial for Menzies’ busy packing environments.
The rise in automation in the manufacturing sectors is definitely one opportunity given the crucial role plastic pallets play in ensuring a smooth and efficient production line. This year Goplasticpallets.com supplied plastic pallets to one of the UK’s largest supermarkets for use in an automated storage and retrieval system and is working with a number of other large retailers on similar projects.
Sustainability will remain a key area of focus for 2019 both in-house – looking at new ways to reduce waste – and demonstrating the company’s ‘green’ credentials to customers.
What is certain is that Goplasticpallets.com has exciting plans for the year ahead!
Call Goplasticpallets.com on 01323 744057 to find out how we can become your plastic pallet supplier or browse our extensive product range: www.goplasticpallets.com
Yesterday the EU reached a decision to regulate CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. To speed up development, Volvo Trucks continues to invest heavily in more climate-friendly transport solutions, but additional measures are needed to stimulate demand for vehicles with low CO2 emissions.
“Cutting climate emissions from heavy-duty vehicles is an incredibly important task, and it’s fundamental to our initiatives in sustainable transport. At Volvo Trucks, we’re well-positioned to take on this challenge. It’s natural for the EU to now introduce limits on CO2 emissions. In order to speed up the transition, we would however also like to see stronger financial incentives for the customers who take the lead and choose more climate-friendly vehicles,” said Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Electric trucks can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. Volvo Trucks launched its first truck models with electric powertrains in 2018 and will start series production this year.
“We’re at the stage where the technology will soon be ready for wider applications in heavy-duty transport. If demand is stimulated and the new charging infrastructure network is expanded, the volume will also be able to increase at a faster rate than would otherwise be possible,” said Lars Mårtensson, Director of Environment and Innovation at Volvo Trucks.
Other climate solutions include natural gas and biogas. Running a Volvo FH LNG on natural gas cuts CO2 emissions by about 20 per cent compared to diesel. With biogas, the tank-to-wheel emissions can be cut by 100 per cent.
At the same time, Volvo Trucks is continuing to develop the diesel trucks that currently make up the absolute majority of its sales. Since the early 1990s, the fuel usage and CO2 emissions of a typical long-distance Volvo truck have decreased by about 20 per cent*, and there is room for additional improvements with more efficient powertrains, lower rolling resistance, and better aerodynamics. Each truck needs to be optimised for its specific transportation task.
While the emission limits imposed by the EU set a clear timetable for vehicle manufacturers, the goal – improving fuel efficiency and reducing the climate impact – has been a top priority for the industry for some time now, partly because fuel usage makes up about one-third of a transport company’s costs.
“Our ambition has always been to be able to offer our customers the optimal, energy-efficient comprehensive solution for the transport task at hand,” said Lars Mårtensson.
Among Volvo Trucks’ customers, as well as many customers of transport services, there is a great amount of interest in making transport more climate-friendly. Expanding investment subsidies or tax breaks for those who choose to invest in climate-efficient technology would make a big difference.
“New technologies that contribute to cutting CO2 emissions need to be able to enter the market rapidly. Fast-tracking the reviewing and certification process by the authorities would speed up the introduction of new innovations within the transport sector,” added Lars Mårtensson.
The EU framework covers emissions from the actual vehicles, but Volvo Trucks takes a broader approach to the question.
“If all parts of the transport system work together toward the same goal, we can reduce the climate impact even more. Better logistics, increased access to biofuels, fuel-efficient driver training, aerodynamic trailers, improved road standards and expanded opportunities to use high-capacity vehicles are just some of the ways in which other parties can contribute,” concluded Lars Mårtensson.
Industrial workspace health and safety services and products specialist, IWS Group, has appointed two senior executives as it invests in major growth and expansion across its UK and international operations.
Darren Harrison is appointed as Group Project Delivery Director and Stephanie Gentle as Group Marketing Director. Darren brings a wealth of experience and expertise in delivering services across industrial and retail sectors. He joins IWS Group from Heras (mobile perimeter protection solutions), where he was Chief Commercial Officer. Before Heras, Darren was at Whirlpool for 15 years, initially building up the services team across Europe before he became MD of the UK and, then later, MD of the Benelux.
In the role of Project Delivery Director at IWS, Darren will spearhead a centralised project delivery team, which will consist of installation, repair and maintenance engineers to manage the growing number of projects and services across the group. Delivering this service at a group level enables IWS to consistently supply a best-in-class service for its extensive customer base across the UK and Europe.
The strategic move by IWS Group creates a unique proposition in the industry and supports the mission of the group to provide comprehensive safety solutions that enhance productivity, while extending and preserving the lifecycle and performance of the industrial setting.
Steph Gentle will be responsible for strategic marketing and brand strategy for the IWS Group, working alongside the senior management team on planned growth initiatives including new business development; new product development; client liaison, and integrated communications for the group's range of workplace safety, impact protection and industrial racking products and services.
A Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Steph brings over 17 years' experience and knowledge in industrial and commercial products and services to the role. This includes responsibility for developing marketing and brand strategies and leading sales and marketing teams to design and deliver integrated brand and communications campaigns, lead generation, sales processes and new product launches.
These appointments come as the IWS Group continues to experience demand for its products and services, fuelling ambitious plans for growth in 2022, investing in resources and high-quality management to support expansion, new product development and business innovation.
Darren Harrison said: It's a really exciting time to join the IWS Group. We are ideally placed to be able to offer complete solutions for companies with our comprehensive range of proprietary products and sector-leading service. This end-to-end capability makes us unique and unrivalled in the industry as customers look for added value expertise and quality products from a single source supplier."
Steph Gentle, who transitions to the full-time position from a consultancy role, said: "I have enjoyed being a part of the growth and development of the IWS Group from the beginning. The opportunities to develop the corporate and product brands further are significant and exciting - our future is bright and IWS Group's burgeoning reputation for innovation will be a continuing part of our success. Coupled with the ability to provide a unique combination of services, products and solutions throughout the lifetime of a warehouse, we will secure our position as a trusted industry adviser by becoming the gold standard for safety innovation, technical expertise and customer service."
Jeroen van den Berge, CEO of IWS Group, said: "The appointments of Darren and Steph strengthen our talented leadership team. Steph has already been an integral part of the business and we are delighted to make her role permanent, as marketing is a critical element of our group wide strategy. Darren's role further cements our position as a leading solutions supplier to warehouse, storage and logistics sectors. It enables us to deliver exceptional customer service, regardless of where the customer is located in the UK or on the continent."
IWS Group is a growing family of niche specialists providing essential services and products to the warehouse, materials handling and logistics industry. From racking installation; racking repairs and maintenance; through to impact safety solutions and warehouse management products, we cover many critical aspects of safety management throughout the lifecycle of an industrial building.
More at www.iws.group
Boxes, beads and bubble wrap provide hours of innocent enjoyment for kittens, puppies and small children but for grown-ups they are increasingly a cause of anxiety. It is said that on average every man, woman and child in the UK receives 140 cardboard boxes a year. Surveys consistently find many consumers – from 15% to 40% – who believe that online deliveries often arrive in boxes way too big for the items they contain, while a ‘Which?’ survey reports 48% of customers agree that “excessive packaging is one of the most annoying things about online shopping”.
Sustainability is a growing consumer concern. The same surveys show that many customers feel more positively about brands that are trying to reduce unnecessary packaging. At least the cardboard is seen to be recyclable – not so the bubble wrap and the polystyrene beads. Particularly baffling to consumers is when voids in the box are filled by even more cardboard boxes!
Oversize boxes aren’t just an annoyance to consumers. Without adequate dunnage in the voids, goods can be damaged in transit, and boxes become more susceptible to crush damage. Oversize boxes create unbalanced loads, causing back problems for warehouse and delivery staff, even when the overall weight of the package is quite low. Oversize boxes also waste transport space and delivery vehicles invariably ‘max out’ on volume long before they reach weight limits. Shipping empty space simply doesn’t make sense – it’s wasteful both environmentally and financially.
Society also pays. Companies that generate significant amounts of packaging are subject to Packaging Recycling Obligations (PRO), which means they either take their packaging back for recycling, or pay a fee in lieu. This raises £73 million a year in support of recycling efforts, but English local authorities estimate the cost to them of handling cardboard packaging is more like £700 million and rising: the Smithers PIRA consultancy predicts ecommerce packaging use to increase by 14.3% per annum over 2017-2022.
A National Audit Office report in July 2018 found ‘no evidence that the PRO system encouraged companies to minimise packaging’ but that may change. With a government Resources and Waste Strategy imminent, DEFRA officials are talking about ‘full cost recovery’ and some environmentally-minded MPs are advocating, in effect, a ‘cardboard tax’.
The January 2018 KPMG Retail Survey found that over half of consumers would be prepared to pay more for environmentally friendly packaging – but it doesn’t have to be that way. The technology now exists to create fit to size boxes for every consignment while improving throughput at packing stations and dramatically reducing a range of costs.
It comes in the form of CVP-500. This inline autopacker from Neopost sizes (using 3D scanning), constructs, tapes, weighs and labels each individual order – whether of individual or multiple items. With a cycle time as short as seven seconds a single operator can do the work of up to ten packing stations. Typically there is a 20% saving in the use of cardboard, and a complete elimination of void filling materials. Reductions in shipped volumes of up to 50% have been achieved. Packing errors are also reduced through check-weighing, invoices/returns labels automatically generated and included, and labelling can be integrated with automated carrier rate-shopping software.
So a packing line can achieve higher and more accurate throughput with fewer staff, major savings on packaging material costs, lower transport volume requirements, a minimised exposure to recycling obligation payments, lower consumer anxiety and a positive message on sustainability.
Of course, if you are a kitten, puppy or small child, you are really going to miss the bubble wrap and the polystyrene beads.
Jo Bradley is Business Development Manager for Automated Packing Solutions at Neopost Shipping. www.cvp-500.com
Goplasticpallets.com – The Responsible Plastic Pallet Company – is urging customers to reuse their plastic pallets and boxes, recycle them, and then repeat the process to help create a circular economy.
This pertinent advice comes following what’s been a difficult last year for plastic pallet’s biggest rival ‘the wooden pallet’ with timber shortages and price rises affecting availability and causing serious concern amongst pallet users.
Jim Hardisty, Managing Director for Goplasticpallets.com, said: “Not only do we stock the largest range of plastic pallets, pallet boxes and small containers in the UK, all of our products are available in large volumes – our customers need not worry about supply shortages.
“Our plastic pallets and boxes can be reused time and time again; recycled once they reach the end of their working life; then the recycled plastic can be fed back into the manufacturing process to create new, high quality, reusable plastic pallets and boxes – closing the loop and creating a circular economy.”
Following the company’s pledge last month to recycle all of its customers’ plastic pallets and boxes, Goplasticpallets.com has had a lot of interest in its recycling scheme. But a question they’re frequently being asked is how exactly does it work?
Jim explained: “We’ve tried to make it as simple as possible for our customers to recycle their plastic pallets and boxes. Depending on the volume that customers wish to recycle, they can choose from one of our two recycling solutions.
“For volumes in excess of 1500kg, customers can take advantage of our hassle-free collection service, where we will arrange a collection and transport the products straight to our partner’s recycling facility in Belgium. Customers can arrange for smaller loads to be dropped off at our warehouse at their own convenience, where once consolidated we will transport in full truck loads to Belgium – ensuring our trucks are running at their maximum efficiency.
“Our partner’s recycling factory in Belgium is one of only three in Europe with a pallet recycling facility adjacent to the manufacturing plant, and is the closet one to the UK. By recycling our customers’ plastic pallets and boxes in Belgium we guarantee that they will not only be ethically recycled by a fully licensed facility, but also that the recovered material will be reused to make the next wave of high quality, long life plastic pallets and boxes.”
Find out more about Goplasticpallets.com’s recycling commitment here or call 01323 744057 for help recycling your plastic pallets and boxes.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/26/uk-pallet-crisis-no-deal-brexit
Major European pallet pooler LPR, has taken delivery of 1,200 UPALL® protected wooden pallets, as the company begins a ‘real world’ trial of the innovative new UPALL® pallet guard system, developed by James Jones & Sons (Pallets & Packaging) Ltd.
The UPALL® protective system has been in development since 2015 and sees robust plastic protectors fitted at the point of entry to heat treated PR80 wooden pallets. The wooden pallet components are protected during handling, loading and transportation, meaning the pallet lasts longer, requires fewer repairs and remains in circulation for longer.
The UPALL® protectors are based on the original US pointGUARD invention, which UPALL® has redesigned, developed and patented for the European market. Tests on the UPALL® protectors at Virginia Tech showed that they increase the lifespan of a wooden pallet by three times and potentially longer. This is because UPALL® protected pallets experience substantially less damage with significantly fewer wood chippings and debris. This reduces downtime, equipment maintenance and housekeeping, and improves safety. A UPALL® protected pallet remains in circulation earning money for longer - with quantifiable savings seen in inspection, repair, transport and trip costs.
The 1,200 LPR branded and colour coordinated UPALL® pallets were delivered by Tyldesley Distribution Services (TDS) and are now being used by one of LPR’s major UK FMCG customers, to make deliveries into one of the UK’s leading discount supermarkets.
Each of the 1,200 UPALL® protected pallets is fitted with two digital transponders, enabling LPR to closely monitor and track the pallets as they move between distribution centres. These transponders will enable LPR and James Jones to accurately assess and monitor the performance of each pallet in line with daily usage patterns.
Alongside the LPR field trial, the UPALL® system is also currently undergoing comprehensive testing at Napier University in Edinburgh, the findings of which will enable UPALL® to compile a full life cycle assessment report and demonstrate the potential cost savings UPALL® can offer and the positive impact it can have on the environment.
Gil Covey, Executive Chairman of James Jones & Sons (Pallets & Packaging) Ltd, said: “We and our partners in UPALL® have developed and invested in the UPALL® product over several years and following on from extensive simulated trials at Virgina Tech in the USA and at Napier University in Scotland, we are delighted to now be partnering with LPR to trial this innovative product in the field.
“We are confident that these protected wooden pallets will prove their economic and environmental credentials to both LPR and their clients, whose goods will be delivered on highly presentable pallets. The reduced need for and cost of pallet repairs will be demonstrated and the environmental advantages of reducing damage in transit and storing carbon in wood for longer will be evident. We are sure this innovative product will prove to be very successful in the market and we look forward to continuing to work with LPR on its development.”
Simon Wood, Operations Director at LPR UK & Ireland, said “We are always happy to work with businesses that have such close synergies to our own. Innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative working run through the LPR business – as they do with James Jones.
“It has been a pleasure to work with James Jones on the UPALL® pallet guard, and we were delighted to see the first trial going into one of our trusted customers.”
To assist with material decontamination of the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) material processed at Enva’s plastic recycling and recovery facility in Lincolnshire, UK. Enva employed the services of Impact Air Systems to provide a material separation solution that would remove contamination, improve current capacity, and enable operations to continue to grow.
Enva recycles and recovers a large percentage of small domestic WEEE material generated annually in the UK. Its facilities around the UK and Ireland recycle and recover materials ranging from plastics, metals, wood, oil, glass aggregates for re-use in manufacturing and for energy conversion.
Enva’s sink float system, used for the processing of plastics, was being compromised with heavy contamination from the material passing through it, so a density separation system was required to remove the light fibres, dust, and other residue from the rigid plastic material stream. The contaminated material was sent to Impact’s test facility for a trial run through the Zigzag Air Classifier (ZAC), a tried and tested solution, popular in the recycling and resource recovery industry for its effective ability to utilise air technology and density separation to clean valuable materials from contaminants.
Impact’s test facility provided outstanding results, with the input material being cleaned to an exceptional level, which ultimately resulted in the sale of a ZAC800.
For the plastic processing company, the ZAC800 handles up to 14 tonnes per hour at a bulk density of 350kg/m³, however as the ZAC is also available in a 1200mm wide version, compared to the 800mm, and is therefore capable of processing material at an even higher throughput.
Project Manager, James Anderson commented on the installation:
“As an existing customer of Impact Air Systems, it was a natural decision to contact them with regards to the additional requirements of the plastic recovery process. We have a great relationship with Impact and have always been more than satisfied with their solutions. The ZAC works extremely well as part of our process and only took a week to install. The results are impressive and have resolved the issues we were experiencing with the high volume of contaminants hindering the sink float process. The ZAC has also decreased costs due to the contaminants/SRF material being removed earlier in the process before getting wet.
We highly recommend Impact’s ZAC for its ability to recover our materials effectively, its low maintenance, ease of use and quick return on investment of around 8 months.”
Carl Henson, Technical Sales Manager for Impact Air Systems, sold the system to Enva and said about the solution:
“ENVA’s efforts in diverting valuable material from landfill are commendable, so to be involved with the upgrades of its recovery process was a privilege. The ZAC800 was the obvious solution to meet Enva’s requirements of decontaminating the WEEE material stream and the results spoke for themselves. The ZAC has many features that ensures it is robust, reliable, easy to maintain for the customer, making is an easy choice. Quick access points also allow for unblocking if larger parts manage to make their way through to the ZAC or if there is a material build up. This is the ultimate solution for material recovery and with the return on investment being so quick, our customers are always more than satisfied.”
Impact Air Systems has developed various cost-efficient systems for the recycling industry around the world. Its innovative system design and well-engineered components ensure maximum efficiency, speeding up the sorting task, improving the throughput and quality of recycled material grades.
Its separation systems provide convenient solutions for waste recovery and sorting scenarios across the waste management sector, making processes efficient and cost effective.
Impact Air Systems work with many sectors around the world, delivering trim extraction and waste separation using air technology solutions. It offers technical expertise with over 30 years of experience to provide a cost effective and efficient solution to waste handling issues.
Based centrally in Leicester, Impact Air Systems is perfectly positioned to offer its service throughout the UK and has operations in the USA.
Impact Air Systems head office address is: 3 Kingsley Street, Leicester, LE2 6DY.
Follow on social media: LinkedIn or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Impact has several project partners and flagship installations across the globe.
New technologies improve detection capabilities – at Futureworx a number of exhibitors will be demonstrating a range of advancements in object and people detection…
Advancements in sensors and other components used in various types of safety systems are improving the detection capabilities and alerting machine operators when there may be a person, animal or inanimate object in their path. This capability will be particularly important as machines become more automated because they will need to be able to distinguish their surroundings and know they are travelling a safe route.
Spillard Safety Systems is showing its award-winning cloud platform captures, processes, and learns from an equally innovative video telematics system. With real-time video and analytics from multiple cameras over a fleet of vehicles simultaneously, Spillard says, you will never miss a thing ever.
A Deep Learning Human Detection System will also feature on the Spillard stand. With this system, you will only detect the human form, removing hazards such as lampposts, railings, dustbins etc. often identified by more basic detection models.
Xwatch Safety Solutions is launching a new safety system and showing the latest machines from Sany fitted with Xwatch technology. The company has also teamed up with Plantforce Rentals who is revealing its ‘Cancer Research’ Charity machine, an SK85 Kobelco fitted with an Xwatch XW4 height and slew restrictor, all proceeds from the hire of this machine will be donated to Cancer Research.
Plantforce Rentals is also bringing the latest hybrid and semi-autonomous machines from Kobelco, also kitted out with Xwatch and Leica technology, in addition to bringing its state of the art simulator to promote advanced operator training and invite guests to experience machine technology. Plantforce will also be linking live to a connected work site.
FTC Group has developed a Pedestrian Detection Camera system and will showcase this at Futureworx. Many construction and plant companies are already using the system in the field with FTC Group seeing a huge increase in demand, FTC Group’s BDM Sean Hamill states ‘We are working with companies across the board, who see the clear benefits of such a system fitted to their assets in the field and also from new straight off the line from their OEM, our system works on any brand and type of machine and delivers instant Health and Safety improvements across the board’.
Plantforce Rentals will also showcase the system on its stand following recent positive trials on the hire company’s plant.
GKD Technologies in partnership with SiteZone Safety will be launching the first phase of its cloud-based, connected platform, SafetyZone at FutureWorx 2022. With a ‘best-in-class approach’, SafetyZone will bring together advanced health and safety technologies to deliver actionable insights making it the first of its kind in the industry. This initial phase sees the integration of SiteZone a leading proximity warning system, with a roadmap for 2022 which enables SafetyZone to incorporate an ecosystem of innovative safety solutions.
Safety Shield Global has also confirmed its attendance and will be giving live demonstrations of the latest innovations in semi-autonomous plant solutions and collision avoidance and how these innovations will work in collaboration with existing site safety procedures and reduce collisions on site.
There will also be live interactions with the plant through the Safety Shield Vue data portal and the team will demonstrate how the data analytics and event video capture is changing behaviour on-site associated with people and plant interface.
The event will showcase the most enhanced AI collision avoidance technology and behavioural management systems for construction sites of the future.
MDiG will be showcasing the Leica MC1 machine control system which is a revolutionising software platform for all machine control solutions and applications. The Leica MC1 is the one-for-all software solution platform to guide and automate all heavy construction machines. The Xwatch and Leica MC1 systems have recently been integrated to provide safety for the operator.
The conference programme is taking place on day two of the event, 31st of March and speakers confirmed are from, Hexagon, Skanska, Costain, MachineMax and many more. The conference will also investigate future fuels where there will be a panel of experts discussing how to power the machines of the future. Visit www.futureworx.uk for the full programme of events.
Registration is now open for day two (31st March) of the event – for the conference and exhibition Showcase please visit www.futureworx.uk/rsvp and enter the code FWXG22. Places are limited and space is filling up fast.
TYRI, the world leader in heavy vehicle lighting, is now launching a brand-new heavy vehicle lighting system – TYRI INTELLilight™. This intelligent lighting system works on a similar principle to a wireless mesh network: the lights are interconnected via Bluetooth in a closed network, which is integrated with the vehicle, and then easily controlled via an app. The lights are zoned according to the work situation, external circumstances, and the current user, and all information is saved.
“TYRI INTELLilight™ improves the entire work environment for operators. You get personalised lighting that acts according to each unique situation. Furthermore, you can easily dim the lighting and adjust the colour temperature from warm yellow light to cold blue light. If you choose to integrate sensors into the system, the lighting itself will increase the comfortability by ensuring that the lights perform the desired actions in different situations. For example, by dimming the light when the vehicle’s own lighting dazzles the operator, or when passing another vehicle. A radio-controlled system also allows the lights to be switched on and off from a distance for increased safety,” says Christian Wadell, Head of Research & Development at TYRI Sweden.
TYRI constantly keeps an ear to the market in order to remain at the forefront and offer sought-after products and services. Because TYRI has proprietary research and development in Sweden, new technologies can be rapidly developed and tested.
“We developed TYRI INTELLilight™ to be able to cope with the demanding work done by heavy vehicles and to tackle many of the challenges associated with lighting in tough conditions. Simplicity was also an important parameter in the development, and since the system can be controlled via an app (iOS and Android), the lights can quickly be zoned and rezoned according to the requirements of the work. At the same time, we wanted a system that would deter theft of the lights, which we achieved through each light needing to be connected to the closed network in order to function,” says Wadell.
Hot on the heels of Bauma Munich, the Plantworx Construction Machinery Exhibition hosted by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) is almost upon us! It’s just 70-days until the show opens its doors to visitors from the construction sector.
The 4th biennial working construction event is taking place at its brand-new home at the East of England Arena in Peterborough from 11-13 June.
The show will benefit from 20% more exhibition space than at its previous location in Leicestershire and spans more than 140,000 square metres – that’s an area bigger than 20-premier league football pitches.
Rob Oliver, Chief Executive of the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) said, “After Bauma, Plantworx will be the first opportunity to see new products from many of the major OEMs. With the advent of Stage V engine requirements – and more entrants into the electric-powered arena, Plantworx 2019 promises to be the best yet to see new machines”.
Rob added, “Ground conditions at the East of England venue are first rate for Plantworx which should reduce the need for wellington boots at the show. A lot of the car parking will be on hard standing and we have the option to rotate the grass parking areas to protect both the turf and visitors’ cars.”
“We are not sure what will come first – either Brexit or Plantworx – but we can honestly say that Brexit has not impacted on companies wanting to exhibit at the event and trade! We are expecting 20,000 visitors to attend the event and we are already ahead of ourselves from previous shows in terms of pre-registration.”
Here are the latest companies that have signed on the dotted line to exhibit at Plantworx. The sales team have had 15 exhibitor bookings in last week – with more flooding in daily. The show now has 356 exhibitors in total and an impressive 121 (34%) are brand new to the event. A full exhibitor list can be found on the Plantworx website.
• EmiControls – New
• IPAF
• Lumag Distribution Ltd – New
• Tex Engineering Limited – New
• Vehicle Vision International – New
• WHOTZHOT Ltd – New
• Cyberhawk (Drone Zone) – New
• Fire and Safety Solutions & Rotarex Partnership – New
• Geith International Ltd
• ITH Bolting Technology – New
• Linco – New
• MachineMax – New
• MPA Group – New
• Tracked Carriers – New
Registration for free fast track entry tickets is now open – follow the link to reserve your pass to the biggest working construction event in 2019 https://www.plantworx.co.uk/event/2019/tickets
Put the 11th, 12th, 13th June 2019 in your diary the Plantworx team look forward to welcoming you all to East of England Arena and Events Centre, Peterborough for Plantworx and Railworx.
There has been no shortage of challenges for the logistics industry this year. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 ground industries across the world to a halt. But, as the world began to open up this year, businesses were faced with new problems: crippling supply shortages, from materials to shipping and labour. The effect of supply chain disruptions has only been exacerbated over the festive period due the surge in demand. However, there is renewed optimism across the logistics industry as investors back new solutions which aim to remedy the disruptions through digitisation.
KlearNow, the smart Logistics as a Service (LaaS) pioneer founded in 2018 and launched in the UK 2021, has raised £38M ($50M US) in new capital to transform broken supply chains, simplifying and providing real-time cargo visibility to the customs clearance and drayage processes. KlearNow’s AI-powered platform eases the worldwide supply chain disruptions that have left businesses grappling with delays and shortages.
The Series B investment was led by?Kayne Partners Fund, the growth private equity group of KayneAnderson Capital Advisors, with continued participation from existing investors including GreatPoint Ventures, Argean Capital, and Autotech Ventures, plus new investment from Activate Capital.
Though the global logistics market value is £6.5T, it is a fragmented and archaic industry and one of the last to embrace technology and collaborative innovation. The global pandemic has further exacerbated supply chain bottlenecks, accelerating the need for digital transformation.
Investors were drawn to KlearNow’s platform as it eases import/export burdens by digitizing and streamlining complex paper-based logistics processes, reducing manual entry times and human errors. The platform takes the digitized data to power its customs clearance marketplace, providing an unprecedented level of real-time end-to-end visibility, collaboration, and cost savings for its customers.
Since its £12M Series A funding round led by GreatPoint Ventures in January 2020, KlearNow has grown exponentially, increasing its customer base tenfold and its monthly revenue run rate by more than 50 times. During this time, U.S.-based KlearNow has expanded into Canada, and launched its UK service in January 2021 to support UK and EU businesses operating in the post-Brexit landscape.
KlearNow recently added a drayage marketplace to its smart LaaS platform to support drayage companies facing planning and scheduling challenges and importers demanding extended visibility. With both customs clearance and drayage marketplaces, KlearNow provides a single view of multi-leg shipments from port of loading to the warehouse. The Series B investment strengthens KlearNow’s position as the go-to digital supply chain solution for businesses that trade across borders.
Sam Tyagi, CEO and founder of KlearNow says: “This latest round of funding enables us to aggressively accelerate our technology development and deployment, geographical expansion, and talent investments, helping us transform supply chains that power commerce.
“We are excited to have strategic partners and investors with deep knowledge in this space, and we believe that with their support, our technology can lead to a meaningful, sustainable impact on global supply chains.”
Nishita Cummings, Managing Partner and Co-Head of Growth Equity at Kayne Partners, says: “The supply chain and logistics industry is primed for incredible disruption in the upcoming years and continued investment in technology and tech-enabled infrastructure is a critical component of the solution.”
“KlearNow is the leading technology partner in this space, with an advanced AI-based platform that removes friction in moving goods across borders in an easy, efficient, and cost-effective manner.”
Tyagi added: “Global supply chains have been in a chaotic state for the past couple of years, but businesses in the UK have faced the additional challenge of dealing with an opaque and hard-to-navigate post-Brexit trading landscape. We’re proud that our platform has been able to ease the burden for a wide range of UK businesses, from flower growers to car parts manufacturers. This funding partnership will help us offer more innovative solutions to more businesses in the UK, EU and around the world.”
Ashok Krishnamurthi, Managing Partner at GreatPoint Ventures added, “Digitalization has become mission-critical for supply chain logistics. During the pandemic lockdowns when the world and companies needed work from home capabilities, KlearNow stepped up, unshackling employees from the office, scanners, and fax machines. With a smart digital solution, supply chain logistics teams were able to work remotely from home and leave the paper world?behind. Visibility, productivity, and sustainability are a great combination.”
A leading family owned 3PL has been shortlisted in an amazing three categories at this year’s United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) Awards.
Carlton Forest 3PL, which remains family owned as it continues to deploy its ambitious five-year growth plan, has made the final in the categories of Logistics Service Provider of the Year, Warehouse Manager of the Year for Bradley Hall, Site Supervisor at its Bawtry park site and Young Employee of the Year for Alistair Plant, Business Development Manager.
“We are naturally thrilled to have made the shortlist for these prestigious industry awards and this shows just what a major player we are in the warehousing, logistics and supply chain sector,” said Lisa Tomlinson, 3PL Divisional Director, Carlton Forest 3PL. “Both Bradley and Alistair are well deserving of their nominations and finalist places, as is the business as a whole which reflects on what we have achieved, our plans for the future and the superb team that we have that delivers each and every day.”
The awards are to be held on Tuesday 28th June at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. Members of the Carlton Forest team will be in attendance to support all finalists, and to celebrate all that has been achieved by the industry in the last two, very challenging, years.
“I am very proud of the team, and Bradley and Alistair, and wish all finalists the very best of luck,” said Lisa. “It will be a superb event and showcase the very best of an industry in which we are all very proud to work in.”
To find out more about UKWA Awards and to book tickets visit https://www.ukwa.org.uk/events/ukwa-annual-lunch-2022-tues-28th-jun/
Further details about Carlton Forest 3PL can be found by visiting www.carltonforestgroup.com
The first Hillhead was held in 1982 and over those 40 years Bunting has manufactured and supplied thousands of magnetic separators and metal detectors for use in the aggregate and recycling industry. Once again, Bunting is exhibiting at the 2022 show, helping companies solve metal separation and detection problems from stand C9.
Bunting is one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of magnetic separators, eddy current separators, metal detectors and electrostatic separators.
The Bunting European manufacturing facilities are in Redditch, just outside Birmingham, and Berkhamsted, both in the United Kingdom.
Bunting started exhibiting at Hillhead under the name of ‘Master Magnets’ in the 1980s. Both Magnetic Separators and Industrial Metal Detectors have evolved since 1982, becoming stronger, lighter and more efficient. Hillhead 2022 provides the perfect platform to showcase the latest metal separation technology including the ElectroMax and ElectroMax Plus Overband Magnets.
The development of the ElectroMax Overband Magnet followed user requests for stronger and lighter Overband Magnets for mobile plant. As one of the world’s largest producers of Permanent Overband Magnets for mobile crushers and screens, companies turned to Bunting to design a light and powerful electromagnetic version. When compared with Permanent Overband Magnets, the air-cooled ElectroMax Overband Magnet has an average increase in magnetic power of 185% matched by a weight reduction of 25%. The ElectroMax-Plus further increases the magnetic power of the ElectroMax by at least another 105%.
Since the magnetic separator’s launch, the ElectroMax is proving popular with mobile equipment manufacturers and users, as well as static plant suppliers and operators (i.e., quarries and recycling plants).
In a quarry or mine, tramp metal causes costly and time-consuming damage to screens, crushers and conveyor belts. At Hillhead, the Bunting team will explain how to prevent such issues by installing suitable magnetic separators and metal detectors.
Bunting’s range of Industrial Metal Detectors, including the models TN77, QDC and QTA, detect and enable the removal of tramp iron and manganese steel (e.g., non-magnetic digger teeth). The Metal Detectors are commonly installed with an Overband Magnet or Pulley Magnet to provide the ultimate tramp metal protection.
Overband Magnets are also used to recover ferrous metals from recycled materials (e.g., steel beverage cans). However, since the first Hillhead in 1982, the emergence of the Eddy Current Separator for recovering non-ferrous metals was a defining moment for the recycling industry. The technology is now widely used in plants recycling waste from households, construction, wood, plastics and many more.
The Bunting range of Eddy Current Separators continues to evolve, enabling the separation of both large and small non-ferrous metals. Many are mounted on mobile plant for batch processing waste stock piles in situ.
“Hillhead has been always been an important exhibition for us,” explained Adrian Coleman, the General Manager of Bunting-Redditch. “With many of the exhibitors also being customers, the show provides the perfect platform to meet and discuss projects.”
A completely new size for Giti Tire in Europe, the all-new Giti GSR237 Combi Road steer tyre in 355/50R22.5 has been launched for high load, low platform transportation.
Designed to compete with premium brands – which up until now have been the only manufacturers to produce this size – the tyre has been proven with European test fleet partners to deliver enhanced abrasion resistance and superior mileage in both highway and reginal applications.
The tyre records a B in Rolling Resistance and A in Noise and carries three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) homologation so it can be used all-year round in all EU countries.
Development of the Giti GSR237 Combi Road was led by Giti Tire’s European Research & Development Centre in Hannover, Germany.
Antonio Palummo, TBR Senior Engineer - Europe for Giti Tire, said: “Tread characteristics include an extremely wide and robust design with three straight longitudinal grooves for effective water evacuation and deep transversal sipes to improve grip and traction on snow and ice.
“Very robust shoulders protect the tyre from abrasion and have been proven to deliver regular wear.”
Tony McHugh, TBR Sales and Marketing Director - UK at Giti Tire, said: “When meeting with fleets it will be hugely beneficial to have size 355/50R22.5 in the portfolio, and with the Giti GSR237 Combi Road steer tyre having outstanding mileage and top label ranking performance we expect to see big demand.”
The varied and specialist services available from Hoist & Winch Ltd have come to the rescue of a cement industry customer that was looking to replace a large rotor used in its production process. Thanks to the design, manufacturing, test, certification and installation services offered by Hoist & Winch, the cement works was able to avoid the long lead times associated with buying original OEM equipment, and successfully complete a highly complex and challenging lifting operation.
In essence, the objective was to lift and replace a large rotor fitted with pivot-mounted hammers that break down the media as part of the cement manufacturing process. Located at the base of a very large production enclosure, a pair of bearing journals provides support for each end of the rotor. Hoist & Winch had to design and arrange manufacture of equipment that would help to lift the worn and replacement rotors in and out of position in a precise manner without damaging any adjacent equipment, including the main drive motor and gearbox.
The cement works last performed this particular maintenance lift to replace a worn rotor in 2010 using a pair of lifting lugs that had since been disposed of. New replacement lugs were only available from the original supplier of the cement production process equipment on a very long lead time, which did not meet the requirements of the customer’s programme.
With a total design weight of 80T, rotor lifting was courtesy of a pair of tandem-controlled 41T SWL (safe working load) wire rope hoists located on monorail beams arranged at 90° to the rotor bearing journal stub shafts.
Kicking off the scope of work and working closely with a long standing trusted Sub Contractor, Hoist & Winch set about designing two 41T SWL rotor lifting lugs. As the basis for this task, the company used the customer’s drawing of the 600mm diameter rotor stub shaft profile and site photographs of the original lifting lugs. Other assignments here included accurate surveys of the existing hoist runway beam centres and the hoist unit hook profile. Hoist & Winch then produced general assembly drawings for a final dimensional check on site and customer approval of the design concept.
As well as manufacturing the rotor lifting lugs, the Hoist & Winch scope included design and manufacture of a special mandrel that would allow proof load testing of the lifting lugs prior to delivery to site. Each 41T SWL rotor lifting lug had to undergo a test rig mounted, 200% static proof load test. Hoist & Winch also performed non-destructive testing (NDT) involving visual, X-ray and magnetic particle inspection (MPI) procedures, while dynamic load testing of the rotor lifting lugs took place at the customer’s site using the new replacement rotor as the test load in advance of the lifting operation.
After passing all testing requirements, Hoist & Winch issued a LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) Thorough Examination Report and Proof Load Test Certificate for the new rotor lifting lugs, along with 3.1b Material Certification for all materials used.
To see the project to its conclusion, Hoist & Winch witnessed the customer’s use of the rotor lugs during a planned plant shutdown for the lifting operation to take place. In so doing, the company also provided standby breakdown cover for the pair of tandem-controlled 41T SWL wire rope hoists.
“This project demonstrates how our diverse and comprehensive portfolio of services can come to the aid of almost any lifting requirement,” says Andy Allen, Director of Hoist & Winch Ltd. “Our professional team has decades of experience in lifting equipment services, for all applications. If your plant has any kind of lifting demand that would benefit from the input of industry experts, our team can help, beginning with a no-obligation discussion about the task in hand.”
Visit www.hoistandwinch.co.uk for further information and to view recent case studies.
Hoist and Winch Ltd
Unit 20, 11B Arrow Business Park, Alcester Employment Park, Arden Road, Alcester, B49 6HN
Tel: 08450 171126
e-mail: sales@hoistandwinch.co.uk
web: www.hoistandwinch.co.uk
Celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the Utz Group believes that – in addition to its technological innovation and local service – it is the company’s culture of focusing on people and fostering a sense of community that drives its success.
With 1350 employees across 8 locations on 3 continents, Utz is the global market leader for returnable packaging. The company, which manufactures over 20 million products a year and is achieving annual growth of 10-12%, takes pride in promoting a sense of family.
“Our commitment to developing, recognising and rewarding talent,” comments Russell Evans, General Manager of Georg Utz Ltd, pictured, “means that we are successful in retaining our creative and hard-working employees. With our clients seeking packaging solutions customised to their unique needs, the expertise and experience of our staff are highly valued. We offer a range of opportunities for professional development – including digital training through the Utz Academy – and ensure that we provide attractive financial incentives and benefits, including an annual profit-sharing scheme.”
One of the UK subsidiary’s long-serving employees is Shaun Batty, Maintenance & Facility Manager, who has just clocked up 15 years with Utz. When he joined the company as Maintenance Engineer, he was alone in the department but now leads a team of 11, overseeing day-to-day operations in maintenance and the toolroom. Seven technicians maintain and repair machinery at the company’s factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire – which recently took delivery of its tenth injection-moulding machine – while four employees in the toolroom produce and service tools to meet production requirements. “My role is interesting, challenging and very rewarding,” says Shaun Batty. “I’ve been fully supported from day one in a company that holds family values close to its heart and has the utmost confidence in its employees. I think the fact that I’ve been here for 15 years speaks for itself!”
Training and professional development have always been a high priority at Utz. As the UK subsidiary has grown considerably since being established in 1990, it has relied in part on growing talent through apprenticeships. “Over the past seven years,” explains Russell Evans, “we’ve participated in the scheme operated by the Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA) in partnership with automotive manufacturer, Toyota. We currently have three apprentices who have just completed their studies, one who is yet to finish and a further two joining us shortly.”
One of the apprentices at Georg Utz Ltd is Shaun Batty’s son, Finley. Aged 19, he is working in the toolroom and completing his course through day release at West Nottinghamshire College. Finley has been with Utz for three years now and is really enjoying his apprenticeship. “It’s great to learn new skills,” he says, “and gain wider knowledge of both engineering and toolmaking. The best thing about working for Utz is definitely the people I work with – colleagues are always willing to help and share their knowledge. As a hands-on type of person, I’ve really learned a lot from training on the job.”
Utz recently held a group-wide conference to mark its 75-year milestone. Every employee was invited to the celebration, which attracted a total of 650 participants from around the world, including around one third of the UK team. Taking place over two days at Europa-Park, Germany’s largest theme park, the event culminated in a huge gala dinner party with live music, entertainment and presentations.
Further celebrations will take place in the UK when Georg Utz Ltd holds a Family Fun Day in late August. Taking place at Derbyshire Cricket Club, the event will see employees and their families meeting to enjoy food, drink and entertainment.
The TRATON GROUP, Daimler Truck, and the Volvo Group have completed the final step in forming the previously announced joint venture for charging infrastructure in Europe. The new joint venture, with Anja van Niersen as appointed CEO, is expected to have a significant role in supporting the European Union’s Green Deal for carbon-neutral freight transportation by 2050.
As announced last year, the joint venture (JV) plans to install and operate at least 1,700 high- performance green energy charge points on, and close to, highways as well as at logistics hubs across Europe. The parties are committing to invest €500 million in total, which is assumed to be by far the largest charging infrastructure investment in the European heavy-duty truck industry to date.
The JV intends to take a catalyzing role as a charge point operator (CPO) in the value-chain by installing and managing charging stations for heavy-duty trucks and coaches. It will be a self- standing legal entity, operating under its own corporate identity and based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Anja van Niersen, who will be taking the helm of the new company, will bring with her a breadth of experience from the energy and charging industry sector, most recently serving as CEO and later as Chairman of the Board of a major European electric vehicle charging network provider.
With a strong customer-driven approach focusing on transport operators’ specific needs, the JV will provide reliable and accessible high-performance charging stations for all battery electric heavy-duty vehicle fleet operators.
This kick-start is a call to action to all other industry players, as well as governments and policymakers, to work together for a rapid expansion of the necessary charging network as well as investing in renewable energy in order to reach Europe’s climate targets. As a clear signal to all stakeholders, the charging network initiated by the three parties will be open and accessible to all heavy commercial vehicles in Europe, regardless of brand.
Christian Levin, CEO TRATON GROUP: “To find the best solutions for the climate challenge is our most urgent priority as an industry and as the TRATON GROUP. When we talk to customers about electric trucks, they always ask: where can we charge? To support as fast as possible, we are teaming up and from today on kick-starting the European charging network. With Anja van Niersen this JV has a CEO with a great deal of experience in setting up charging networks. Anja and her team will support the important journey to enable further progress of sustainable transport.”
Martin Daum, CEO Daimler Truck: “We are very excited to kick off this new joint venture together with our partners. It is crucial that we are now taking the initiative for building up the much-needed charging network. Still, we call on the entire industry to join in our effort. The number of charge points has to increase significantly as fast as possible to make electric long- haul trucking a viable solution for our customers.”
Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO Volvo Group: “This is a long-awaited and major step towards achieving the required charging infrastructure for the roll-out and success of battery- electric long-haul trucks and coaches. We are making what would be impossible for one actor alone to accomplish - this strong partnership is a significant milestone and accelerator towards carbon neutral transport in Europe by 2050.”
The JV team will work quickly to scale up operations and network deployment to provide reliable and convenient public charging for heavy-duty vehicles. As the demand for battery electric trucks and coaches is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, the team will work collaboratively across industries to design and build charging solutions that match the needs of transport companies and drivers.
More information including the reveal of the brand name will be available during 2022.
The TRATON GROUP, Daimler Truck, and the Volvo Group will own equal shares in the JV but continue to be competitors in all other areas. The three partners signed the joint venture agreement in December 2021. Since then, the necessary approvals by the responsible authorities were obtained.
More information about the JV:
Yanmar Europe B.V., EMEA subsidiary of the world-leading provider of power solutions from Japan, announces two new appointments. As per July 1st, Peter Aarsen will become Yanmar’s new CEO to lead the worldwide Energy Systems business unit. On the same date, Samir Laoukili will succeed Peter Aarsen as the new President of Yanmar Europe B.V.
Peter Aarsen joined Yanmar fifteen years ago and was appointed President of Yanmar Europe B.V. in 2014, after holding various positions in the company. In recent years his involvement in the Energy Systems business gradually increased. His broad technical knowledge and understanding of the rapidly changing energy market led to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Yanmar Energy Systems International by Group Management in Japan. He is the second non-Japanese Executive to lead a global business unit, reflecting expresses the confidence bestowed upon him.
Samir Laoukili has been working for Yanmar for almost ten years in various Finance positions, including his current positions as Chief Finance Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Yanmar Europe. In his current position he coordinates the European Finance function from Yanmar’s Regional Headquarters in The Netherlands and is also CFO of the newly acquired battery technology company ELEO in Helmond. His appointment as President of Yanmar Europe B.V. confirms Yanmar’s trust in his capabilities to successfully lead the organization in the new challenges ahead.
https://www.Yanmar.com/eu/About-Us/
STILL UK has launched the RXE 10-16C, a successor to its highly successful STILL RX 50, one of the best-selling electric forklift trucks in its class.
The new RXE 10-16C arrives as the smallest member of the electric forklift family, powered by lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. It strikes the right balance between driving comfort, manoeuvrability and safety while moving loads of up to 1.6 tonnes in the tightest of spaces.
At a height of just under two metres and being less than a metre wide, the three-wheel counterbalance truck fits safely through doors or narrow aisles in the warehouse aided by very sensitive steering.
The RXE 10-16C does not lack for power either, having a top speed of 12.5 km/h when loaded. For safety, especially when manoeuvring in tighter spaces, Curve Speed Control assistance comes as standard equipment.
Jürgen Wrusch, product expert for electric forklift trucks at STILL GmbH, says: "Despite its compact dimensions, the RXE 10-16C lifts half a tonne to a height of almost seven metres without any effort.
“That is a very impressive accomplishment for a small forklift truck. This is made possible by the particularly low centre of gravity and the extra rigid design of the slim lift mast."
Other safety features include protective roof bars that offer the driver the best possible view of people or objects nearby.
There are also equipment options available to enhance safety - from Safety Light 4Plus lighting, a lift height indicator, stability assistant or overload detection.
The new truck gets its power from a rear-wheel, three-phase AC drive in 24-volt technology, based on the FM-X reach truck. A major advantage is that the steering chain has been replaced by hydraulic gear steering, reducing maintenance costs. The rear counterweight also now offers more space for the electrical system, including the drive control.
Charging access for an RXE 10-16C powered by lead-acid batteries is straightforward and, as with the RX 50, battery changes are from the side via a lift truck. Existing lead-acid batteries from the RX 50 can be used in the new RXE with just a change of battery plug.
Naturally, the RXE 10-16C is available with a Lithium-Ion Ready option with integrated quick charging access. A STILL Li-Ion battery can also be retrofitted.
Following RX family tradition, the RXE 10-16C has inherited from its bigger siblings the high ergonomic standards, innovative operating concept and the smart STILL Easy Control on-board computer, displaying all relevant information and performance functions.
That means operators can switch easily between different load classes because drivers are familiar with control functions across the whole series of STILL electric forklift trucks - RXE 10-16C, RX 20 and RX 60.
One of the UK’s leading suppliers of automatic print and apply labellers, Industrial Labelling Systems (ILS), is showcasing its latest range of print and apply labelling machines at the IMHX show, held at the NEC in Birmingham on 6-8th September.
ILS will use the UK's premier event for supply chain and logistic operations, to demonstrate both the new Evolabel FlexWipe™ XL Pallet Labelling system and the Quick Tamp print apply system – the first time both have been on display at a trade show in the UK.
Visitors to stand 5E61 will see a distinctly international presence, with both Evolabel and their Asia Pacific (APAC) partner, Matthews Intelligent Identification, attending the IMHX show with ILS. Together the businesses will highlight first-hand Evolabel’s philosophy of ‘simplicity in design’, demonstrating the success of the technology in the APAC region and using the show as an opportunity for sharing best practises at a global level.
The demonstration of the FlexWipe™ XL will highlight how dual stacked pallets at variable heights can be labelled, thanks to the revolutionary motorised stand, which can move up to 1.6 meters. Built around two independent motorised arms, which can move both horizontally and vertically, the unrivalled system can quickly label three sides of a double stacked pallet, and then validate the barcode, all without having to halt production.
The Quick Tamp print apply system will also be shown, which is proving ideal for in-line labelling requirements of e-commerce and logistics customers due to its speed and ability to apply labels on the fly at various heights, removing a previous bottleneck for many operations.
Denis Brett, Managing Director at ILS said; “IMHX is the perfect show for us to demonstrate how print and apply labelling technology has evolved to meet the needs of today’s logistics and warehouse sector.
“We’re very excited to be exhibiting for the first time with both Matthews and Evolabel and to have the opportunity to present our range of customised, scalable label solutions that make ILS a trusted partner for warehouse and logistics applications worldwide. And we look forward to welcoming visitors to see our labelling technology up close and how we can revolutionise their operations.”
With Matthews noting huge popularity particularly in the APAC region for both the FlexWipe™ XL and Quick Tamp, it is the ability to improve manufacturer efficiency, mitigate risk and eliminate waste for leading retailers, 3PLs and distributors, including the likes of DHL Australia that is proving a winning combination.
“The simplicity in design means that the Evolabel applicators are the ideal solution for distribution centres and warehouses that need a small footprint, accuracy and speed – all while operating on the fly and at variable heights,” said Braydon Cocks, Product Specialist at Matthews Intelligent Identification.
“I’m delighted to be supporting ILS at this leading show, sharing our insight and demonstrating how businesses such as ours are leading the way for today’s global labelling needs.”
In addition to having a stand at IMHX, ILS will also be taking part in Wednesday’s Power Pitch session in the Solutions Theatre, highlighting how the FlexWipe is the future of print & apply labelling in logistics. Phil Molloy, ILS’s Business Development Manager will outline how the FlexWipe’s small footprint, fast operation, and safety standards in labelling, together with its ability to work in sub-zero environments, make it the perfect choice for labelling as they hope to win the pitch against four other businesses in the sector.
Established in 2002, ILS has grown to become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of automatic print and apply labellers for a variety of industries including food and drink, pharma and healthcare, automotive, e-commerce and logistics. Its wide portfolio of products includes pallet labellers, outer case and tray labellers, large character inkjet marking, and barcode inspection and validation systems
ILS operates from an 11,000sq ft facility in Middleton, near Manchester. As well as the company’s extensive UK customer base, which features leading names such as ASOS and Adidas, sales have extended across the world to Europe, the USA, South Africa and Australasia.
In addition, ILS offers an in-house label manufacturing facility for the production of plain white label stock and LPN (license plate number) labels for the fashion industry. Together with the availability of machine consumables such as ink and thermal transfer ribbons, this provides a single-source supply for customers’ print and labelling requirements.
Framo Morat hub gears and hub drives prove their worth in automated guided vehicles that ensure maximum efficiency and reliability in distributing goods, packages, and components in warehouses, package distribution centres, and production halls.
Flexible, efficient, and reliable. Today's intralogistics have to be all of these to be able to meet the requirements of shorter product life cycles, faster delivery times, and greater turnover rates with shrinking batch sizes. Many companies therefore rely on innovative automation solutions that ensure a standardized and automated flow of material around the clock. One example of such solutions is the automated guided vehicle (AGV), also known as the autonomous mobile robot (AMR). They are the cornerstone of an automated warehouse. Controlled by intelligent software and communication, they improve the efficiency of material flow and contribute to end-to-end optimization of the value chain.
A central component of an automated guided vehicle is the right gearbox. After all, nothing runs (or drives) without it. Framo Morat is well aware of this. With 110 years of experience in developing custom drive solutions, the company recognized early on the need for gearbox designs for automated guided vehicles. Framo Morat knew they were the obvious starting point for entering the AGV market segment. This was based on numerous successfully implemented gearbox projects in the field of intralogistics as well as their own experience in modernizing their in-house warehouse and logistics concepts.
The NG250 and NG500 hub gears, which are available in single- and two-stage designs based on a modular system, were the result of this undertaking. The NG250 lends itself to smaller AGVs. The single-stage version has a total gear length of 62.5 mm and a standard wheel size of 125 mm, and it can handle a load of up to 250 kg per wheel. In terms of compactness, the NG500 also has an impressive total gear length of 64 mm and a standard wheel size of 160 mm. With a wheel load of up to 500 kg, this is meant for larger vehicles. When it comes to gears, Framo Morat has unlocked the maximum power density of the hub gears. They prove their worth, particularly in wheel drives for automated guided vehicles, thanks to their favourable arrangement of the separate wheel bearings and the integration of the planetary gear in the PUR wheel.
Being the individual components they are, the gearboxes are just one part of the automated guided vehicle. As such, the logical next step was to work together with a long-time partner in motors to offer the first complete system for the drivetrain. “Depending on customer demands, renowned motor manufacturers have developed and established as standard either high-performance systems for transporting heavy loads or compact solutions that can be put in limiting spaces,” Felix Kneipp explains with excitement. He is responsible for business development in the hub drive / intralogistics division at the Black Forest gear and drive specialist. Framo Morat drew on its experience developing drives to adapt the solutions for seamless application in a variety of different motors. Thanks to the modular principle, economic efficiency can be maintained despite system differences.
Their own automated guided vehicle system solution was the obvious next step following successful customer projects. “Our focus was no longer just on a matched power density for the gearbox, but also for the motor and the electronics. We also wanted to develop a drive unit for which the load capacity and dynamic requirements were reliable for the entire service life of the AGV,” explains Kneipp.
Out of this came a highly integrated and powerful wheel hub drive. Based on the NG500, it unites all the functional elements into an all-inclusive solution. The modular and scalable system is a true jack of all trades that features impressively high and targeted performance in the smallest of spaces. With this, AGV manufacturers have a system matched to the application, yielding either more compact vehicles with the same load capacity or increased usable installation space for batteries and electronics.
Furthermore, customizations on the load capacity, torque, interfaces, sensors, and control profiles can be made upon request. Through the high degree of in-house vertical integration for the gear components, freedom in defining the motor characteristics, and having their own assembly team, Framo Morat can also make short delivery times a reality for the wheel hub drives.
“The drive can be used in all different AGVs. Whether in automated warehouses, in production for distributing parts, packaging, and components, or as a drive unit for disinfection robots or vehicles for pharmaceutical transport in medical facilities. All of this makes it interesting for vehicle manufacturers from all different sectors,” says Kneipp.
In addition to system solutions, there is also continued interest in custom AGV solutions. The acquired expertise in the market segment of hub gears and drives as well as their decades of experience in the development and production of individual drive systems for a multitude of customers and industries has been an advantage for Framo Morat. “Core competence is important in custom developments, especially for applications that can’t be serviced by the typical systems,” Kneipp explains. “That’s why it’s a given for us also to offer our customers individualized solutions upon request.”
Their vertical integration allows Framo Morat to produce initial prototypes very quickly and economically. But Framo Morat is thinking even beyond custom developments. “We’re always considering how we can draw on current market trends to create universal in-house developments so that other applications and big players in the intralogistics sector can also benefit,” says Kneipp.
The latest example is the drive for lift trucks and small forklifts based on the speeroX gear. The system consists of a high-performance electric motor, a helical-cut spur gear stage, and a speeroX gear set as an angle stage. Compared with existing systems, the new development has an outstanding efficiency, power density, dynamics, durability, and system performance. “This makes the speeroX particularly attractive to manufacturers of lift trucks and small forklifts,” Kneipp says.
The speeroX gear is a proprietary development of Framo Morat that allows for a high gear ratio and power flow around the corner in just one stage. The gear set relocates the gearing of the wheel to the flat side. The favourable spatial arrangement of the spiral-toothed wheel and as the modified worm gear allow for a markedly smaller installation space compared with conventional gear designs. The speeroX gear set is also quiet and features high efficiency with a long service life.
At Framo Morat, they know that automated guided vehicles are part of the future and that, in just a few years, they will be indispensable in intralogistics. That’s why the company is continuing to focus on developing custom solutions as well as their own drive concepts for AGVs.
With 110 years of experience in gear technology and drive engineering, the Franz Morat Group combines expertise in metal-cutting gear technology and plastic injection molding technology under one roof. The components and drive systems, most of which have been developed specifically for the customer, are used in such fields as mechanical engineering, rehabilitation equipment technology, intralogistics and the automotive industry. For the booming E-Motive sector, the equal joint venture Morat Swoboda Motion (MSM) was founded with automobile supplier Swoboda in 2018. The Franz Morat Group, including MSM, has more than 700 employees and operates subsidiaries in the US, Poland, Mexico and Turkey.
British machinery manufacturer MattressTek has established itself as a leader in the provision of machines for the mattress industry, including foam processing, with successful export across the US, Mexico, Europe and Australia
MattressTek Directors, Shaun Peel and Michael Birtwistle, have over 40 years worth of combined experience in the industry and are strong advocates for automation in production lines, supporting the inevitable transition to digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, efficiency and sustainability, as well as dealing with the labour shortage the industry is facing.
“Automation is the way forward” Technical Director Shaun explains. “We are always keen to explore where we can reduce and prevent issues occuring, in the early stages of our assessment of customer lines, as well as streamlining production, increasing capacity and saving time by speeding up the process.”
With a team made up from a mix of designers and engineers, its positioning as a provider of quality, robust and reliable machines and conveyors has contributed to their success in America, Europe and even Australia, with the installation of production lines for the bed industry and beyond.
“Innovation and problem-solving are at our core, and this has led to investment in a number of areas of the business. With a focus on minimizing downtime for manufacturers; preventing bottlenecks and ensuring the most efficient use of time and resources, we help to identify areas of improvement for our customers across the globe, whether that is a lack of space or reduced workforce.”
Fellow Director, Michael Birtwistle, highlights the benefits of their offering in supporting automation:
“There are a whole host of machines needed to help manufacturers to make their products - positioning, stuffing, stitching, sewing, unbaling, gluing, turning, flipping, inspecting and packing. Our machines meet those needs and allow seamless addition into any existing production lines, many being built bespoke to specific requirements.”
“This means that there is minimal disruption during installation, which is also done by our expert fitters. Automating the production process also helps to deal with the labour lag the industry is currently facing.”
Michael continues: “We have developed and refined our machines, with regard to the design, hardware and programmable technology, allowing us to adapt them to fit into limited space at factories, as well as incorporating sensors to flag up when material runs out or threads break, for example.”
Some of MattressTek’s recently developed machines include its Stacker and Stuffer, as well as 90/180 degree turning and flipping inspection and straight-line belt and roller driven conveyors. They are also working on a roll packing machine that will allow an operator to feed pocket springs or a complete foam mattress in, as it is pressed, rolled and wrapped, ready to pack or transport on a pallet.
Machines such as the Hot Glue Bridge, which applies glue to foam buns and layers mattress filling components before they are pressed together by the Tamping machine, are also getting attention, meaning they are ready to further meet the needs of their customers across the globe, driving exports, as well as satisfying their UK clients too.
Backed by its reputation for quality, servicing and the fulfilment of repairs, MattressTek’s development has also included expansion of its team in various areas including fabrication, installation and electrical, as well as supporting the design and build teams.
This has coincided with other internal investments too: “We have been able to attract local skilled workers, tripling our workforce over the last two years. Adding to this growth, we have invested in internal processes and systems to make it a safe, efficient and enjoyable place to work.
“We have invested in a Material and Resource Planning system to streamline, track and plan production and resourcing, which will support the sustained global export of our range. We have also aligned our marketing to showcase the full product range and our development, taking on a full-time member of the team.”
Shaun said: “We have added the full range of machines and conveyors to our website and created downloadable technical product sheets for all of the products and a catalogue too. We are working to present case studies of previous and ongoing projects, in the UK and US, to show our versatility and the bespoke design and build offering.”
Although they are busy fulfilling orders of their customers throughout the UK, 70% of their production is exported across the globe and this spread will continue to grow.
“Growth has been pretty rapid, attributed to the onboarding of staff members and the development of existing products and processes, along with the introduction and development of new machines. We will continue to export to our customers across the US, Europe, Mexico and the UK, as well as having a presence at bed industry, machinery, automation and manufacturing events too.”
Supply chain hardware, software and services company Renovotec has formed a partnership with enterprise mobility solutions specialist Social Mobile, the two companies announced today. Renovotec says the move will support its rapid expansion in doorstep delivery and field service markets.
Social Mobile provides mobility solution design and manufacturing services that bring innovative, enterprise-grade devices to market quickly and efficiently. The US-based company is an Android Enterprise certified partner that has deployed over 11 million devices worldwide, and was recently named as one of the ‘Inc. 5000’ fastest growing companies in America. Social Mobile devices are all made exclusively for global enterprise and are Google Mobile Services (GMS) certified.
Target sectors for the new partnership include transportation, logistics, healthcare, retail and hospitality, amongst others. Renovotec will distribute Social Mobile solutions in the UK and Ireland, providing support across the region.
“We select our partners for the value they bring to our marketplace and for the benefits of their products for our users” says Renovotec CEO Richard Gilliard. “Social Mobile is also notable for its strong focus on R&D and its speed of delivery from requirement to build.”
“Renovotec is a leader in the enterprise mobility space” says Social Mobile founder and CEO Robert Morcos. “They are the ideal partner to propel us into new markets and strengthen our foothold in Europe, where we can be a reliable supplier of rugged, enterprise devices and private label solutions to their customers.”
Founded in 2011, Social Mobile is a Google Mobile Services (GMS) partner, leveraging the Android operating system to design, engineer, and manufacture turnkey, mobility-as-a-service deployments that enable enterprise organizations to utilize smart solutions to support an array of business-critical operations. An OEM, managed service provider, and consultancy, Social Mobile is uniquely positioned to serve as a domestic design partner to US clients, controlling all aspects of the development supply-chain, and ensuring the utmost in security and availability. To learn more about other Social Mobile products and solutions, visit:?https://socialmobile.com.
Renovotec is the UK’s fastest growing provider of rugged hardware software and services for supply chain users. The company’s approach to rugged hardware purchase and rental is customer-driven and manufacturer-independent. Renovotec’s rugged-hardware-as-a-service (r-HaaS) combines ongoing user support with zero capital outlay, allowing companies to scale their hardware flexibly, and with confidence. Renovotec is an expert in field mobility service technology running on rugged mobile devices, and is the UK’s leading exponent of automatic data capture (AIDC) on rugged and mobile hardware using voice, scanning and RFID technology.
New capital allowances introduced in the recent budget are designed to encourage investment and boost recovery from the pandemic. Under the super-deduction scheme, companies can claim 130% capital allowances on investments in qualifying plant and machinery – including lorries, vans, refrigeration units, electric vehicle charge points and much more – from 1 April 2021 until the end of March 2023. This means that there is no better time for operators in the temperature-controlled storage and distribution sector to invest in the latest technology – and there's no better place to discover leading-edge solutions than the TCS&D 2021 Exhibition. Taking place alongside the TCS&D Conference and TCS&D Awards, the show returns to the East of England Arena in Peterborough on the 7th & 8th September 2021.
A wide range of products and services will be exhibited at TCS&D 2021, including a number of solutions on show for the first time. Cold chain electric vehicle supplier NRG Fleet Services will be exclusively showcasing the Electra e-Cargo SEIV 19t refrigerated electric vehicle at TCS&D 2021. This innovative vehicle is the UK's first fully electric temperature-controlled truck, enabling cold chain operators to keep goods cold or frozen while protecting the environment. The technology provides continuous power to the on-board refrigeration system, allowing zero-emission operation even when the vehicle is stationary. In addition to its lower carbon footprint, the technology reduces noise levels during loading and unloading.
Transport refrigeration manufacturer Hubbard Products will be introducing its new Uno series of energy-efficient direct-drive diesel refrigeration units at TCS&D 2021. Designed to transport cargo in fresh to deep-frozen temperatures, the units are suitable for medium or large box body vehicles and are available in three capacities: Uno 600, Uno 800 and Uno 1000. On the Hubbard Products stand (D50) will be a monoblock example, along with a brand-new, powerful and precise in-cab controller and microprocessor. The new Uno series brings more flexibility at lower operating speeds, while optimizing both performance and fuel consumption. The new range complies with the most stringent emission, material waste and noise pollution regulations. Also on display will be the popular Hubbard Zer0° Electric range for electric vehicles and standard fossil fuel vehicles, as well as the Hubbard SFZ range of invisible refrigeration units.
Cold store and freezer PPE manufacturer Goldfreeze will showcase the latest upgrades to its best-selling Hi-Glo® Cold Store & Freezer clothing ranges. "These garments now feature sustainable Dupont™ Sorona® insulation," explained Tarek Hayat, Managing Director of Goldfreeze, "which delivers unbelievable warmth, maximum comfort and incredible breathability. This is just one element of our commitment to transition to sustainable products and business processes by 2030." Goldfreeze will also be exhibiting its new and sustainable Coffee Carbon base-layer, made from yarn derived from recycled coffee waste. "Sustainability is at the centre of our thinking," continued Tarek Hayat, "something we are highlighting with the launch of our Sustainability Mark at TCS&D." Visitors to the Goldfreeze stand will also be able to have a sneak peek at the company's new price- and performance-leading cold store footwear, which it is due to launch later this year.
New solutions being showcased by cold store construction specialist ISD Solutions will include products from the Dutch high-performance door manufacturer, Salco BV, with which ISD recently signed a distribution agreement. ISD Solutions has experienced significant growth in recent months due to increased demand for automated high-bay freezer warehouses, driven by Brexit and the growth in online food retail resulting from the pandemic. The Gloucester-based company has also delivered almost 5,000m2 of certified fireproof separation walls for the new UK Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) at Harwell in Oxfordshire, which is due to open this summer.
Visitors to the Star Refrigeration stand will be able to experience the company's new, free app – the Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) tool – that enables owners and operators in the cold storage sector to benchmark their energy consumption against industry standards and UK best practice. The company will be promoting its latest Azanechiller 2.0 and Azanefreezer 2.0 air-cooled, low-charge ammonia solutions that are designed to reduce energy costs, avoid the uncertainty of synthetic F-Gas refrigerants and provide a future-proof solution for reliable cooling. The Star Refrigeration team will also showcase the Envi range of CO2 refrigeration chillers and freezers, suitable for smaller applications, and visitors can find out about Ethos – the company's bespoke, data-driven analysis service – which can help in the transition towards a net zero cold chain sector.
Visitors to the TCS&D Show will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a selected range of vehicles – including electric ones – to experience handling and performance, as the show's Ride & Drive Experience track makes a welcome return.
The show's organisers will be complying fully with government guidelines to make TCS&D 2021 a Covid-secure event. Despite the end of restricted attendance figures for indoor events being scheduled for late June, TCS&D will still cap the number of visitors to the show in September at 1,000 per day. "In addition, there will be thermal camera checks on arrival, numerous sanitiser stations and wider aisles," said Martyn Cogan, Exhibition Director, "and we'll also be locating more exhibits than ever in the TCS&D Outdoor Marketplace.”
Many exhibitors return to TCS&D due to the show's ability to deliver high-quality sales leads. For example, commercial paint-spraying specialist, JustSpray, will be exhibiting for the second time at this year's event. Explained Lee Hodgkins, Managing Director, “2019 was our first TCS&D Exhibition and it was a great success for JustSpray. We met some great companies and gained new contacts, so I’m delighted to say that we have just renewed our stand and we look forward to attending the 2021 event in September.” Companies interested in exhibiting their solutions to a targeted audience of cold chain buyers should contact Martyn Cogan on 07545 378793.
For more details on the #TCSD21 Exhibition & Conference, visit www.tcsdshow.com.
After twelve months construction work, Bunting’s European Managing Director Simon Ayling officially opened the extended Bunting-Redditch facility. The revamped facility includes additional manufacturing and storage space, a new ‘Customer Experience Centre’, and a third floor of offices.
“Despite delays and challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we now have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which is already providing the additional space needed to fulfil the growth in orders,” said Simon Ayling, Bunting’s European Managing Director.
The Bunting Group is one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of magnetic separators for the recycling and waste industries with manufacturing facilities in the USA and Europe. The Bunting European manufacturing facilities are in Redditch, just outside Birmingham, and Berkhamsted, both in the United Kingdom.
The facility investment programme increased both the manufacturing floor and office space by 50%. The additional manufacturing space is already being utilised by the production team manufacturing large orders such as a recent export project for one Eddy Current Separator and three (3) large ElectroMax Overband Magnets.
The staged construction work started with the replacement of the entire roof of the manufacturing plant. The next stage involved extending the manufacturing and stores areas. The final work focused on a new third floor of offices and a new ‘Customer Experience Centre’ where customers undertake tests on a wide range of magnetic separators, metal detectors, and electrostatic separators.
The ‘Customer Experience Centre’ is home to a state-of-the-art laboratory and is one of the most advanced for magnetic and electrostatic separation in the world. Companies processing and mining minerals, and recycling waste materials, send samples to the laboratory for controlled tests. The tests demonstrate what separation is possible, ultimately leading to the purchase of production-sized magnetic and electrostatic separators. The new ‘Customer Experience Centre’ is 300% larger than the previous testing area, incorporating an extended range of laboratory-scale equipment to handle the increased demand for material tests.
The Customer Experience Centre features designated areas for both wet and dry testing on both high-intensity Magnetic Separators and ElectroStatic Separators. This latest investment in Bunting’s European laboratory facilities follows the creation of a Recycling Test Centre in February 2018.
“The facility expansion ensures we are able to meet the growing demand for our separators,” explained Simon. “We have a facility that accurately reflects our position as a global force in material separation technology.”
Columbus McKinnon, the global leader in lifting and smart motion control technology, is launching an innovative hand chain hoist with the support of Lifting Equipment Store. The YaleMINI 360 Hand Chain Hoist has been designed as a spin-off from the well-respected Yalelift 360 Chain Hoist, the first chain hoist to allow 360-degree rotation of the hand chain.
Lifting Equipment Store is offering this new small, lightweight hoist for pre-order from its website with delivery being promised from 26th July 2021. Its size allows for it to fit into nearly every toolbox giving it an advantage over other chain hoists. The block, which is precisely machined from die-cast aluminium, features large upper and lower hooks fitted with heavy-duty spring-loaded safety catches. A galvanised load chain and a hand chain with a bright zinc finish along with the internal parts, are all well protected making the hoist perfect for outdoor use.
The YaleMINI 360 Hand Chain Hoist also features a compliant load pressure brake that enables the load to be held in any position and the hoist used in any direction. Thanks to the 360-rotating chain guide, you can also safely operate it from any position with confidence. The hoist features forged lifting and load hooks made from age-resistant high-alloy tempered steel, which stretches when overloaded (as opposed to simply snapping like many other hoists do on the market). In addition, both hooks are rotatable 360-degrees.
Will Dunn, CEO of Lifting Equipment Store UK and President of Lifting Equipment Store, USA, said: “We are delighted to bring this new hoist to the market. Given its unique features, we’re sure it will be welcomed by a broad range of our customers.”
Part of the Kingsway Corporation Group, Lifting Equipment Store was established in 2012, rapidly expanding throughout the materials handling marketplace whilst maintaining core goals and upholding outstanding customer service.
Lifting Equipment Store’s global list of customers depend on the store to supply top quality Lifting Equipment, Material Handling Equipment and Safety Equipment to end users and the trade online, face-to-face and over the phone. Lifting Equipment Store has a five star rating on Trustpilot.
Choosing the right pedestrian barriers not only improves safety but also supports operational performance for warehouse operators looking to mitigate risk.
The sheer volume of people carrying out their responsibilities under one roof to shift and store goods and load and unload vehicles, places paramount importance on warehouse safety at all times, if incidents and accidents are to be avoided. Furthermore, it means that protecting people entering or exiting premises during shift changes is also an important consideration if serious harm or injury is to be avoided.
Every year, dozens of people who work in warehouses and logistics centres are injured, according to the Health and Safety Executive. These places are hazardous environments, where the risk of collision and impact is an ever-present concern - under UK law, employers must observe a duty of care to their workforce and identify the health and safety hotspots where they can deploy effective solutions to properly protect people.
A key part of best practice involving safety specification for new warehouses, or even updating existing ones, centres around the efficiency and sustainability of the property – operators and owners are ultimately looking for a property that runs as safely and efficiently as possible. The Health and Safety Executive’s HSG76 advises on a number of factors which have to be taken into account when planning the layout of a site so that ‘…pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely. Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there should be adequate separation between them’.
This involves the installation of systems that are crucial to the safe and efficient movement of people, vehicles and machinery around the industrial workspace. HSG76 also recommends combining this clearly discernible safety signage with guardrails and pedestrian handrails used to create clear segregation and traffic routes.
Indeed, the use of pedestrian barriers and handrails is an area where gains in safety can be rapidly achieved in a relatively straightforward and cost-effective manner. There are systems available that can be installed in various locations and which are designed to accommodate all levels of activity in the industrial workplace. For example, there are barriers designed for zones where larger commercial vehicles operate while others are more suited to interior areas to segregate the workforce and forklift trucks, or protect people from sensitive or hazardous equipment.
When choosing a barrier system, it’s important to select products with performance characteristics that make them suitable for the required application. This might seem obvious but it’s not uncommon for some products to look good on paper only to disappoint in reality. Any responsible supplier should advise on performance requirements and best practice when specifying products.
Easy-to-assemble modular pedestrian safety barriers and guardrail systems can be used in an array of locations to improve external and internal safety in car park walkways, exits and entrances, uneven pathways and internal floors. They are also suitable in applications where there is multi-level flooring, work areas close to electrical equipment, incursion hazards, and places where people need to be steered away from machinery. Not only do these installations direct foot traffic along a pre-set route with a clear visual indicator of danger, but also provide a firm handhold to prevent people from tripping, slipping or falling.
To protect people and IT cabinets, or manage risks from walking on / off mezzanine floors, high visibility pedestrian safety barriers (SEG+) and accessories such as sprung return gates, can be deployed. These are also designed to provide protection in areas where industrial vehicles operate, guiding people safely around sites and preventing them from straying into the path of moving machinery or hazardous equipment.
Guardrails and Armco barriers can also form part of a comprehensive pedestrian safety solution. The former should be installed in areas where there is a high volume of off-road vehicle traffic and material handling equipment – they can prevent serious workplace accidents and in extreme cases, fatalities. Tough and highly visible Armco safety barriers considered to help keep drivers and pedestrians safe across the entire spectrum of the industrial workspace. Moreover, integrated polymer safety ends and corners are specifically designed to enable drivers of materials handling equipment, powered industrial truck operators and HGV vehicles to easily spot and navigate around barrier systems.
Tackling the issue of safety in the workplace is a paramount part of managing warehouse and logistics facilities properly – and it’s only going to increase in scope and importance as workspace becomes ever more of a premium in the UK’s rapidly expanding logistics and distribution sector. Simply put, there is always room for improvement and more effective risk management can only be good for business and the environment.
Part of IWS Group, Brandsafe specialises in bespoke designed impact protection systems and solutions for distribution centres, warehouses, and manufacturing and production facilities. The company’s product range combines the versatility and high visibility of polymer with the inherent strength and cost-effectiveness of steel. Its unparalleled project and consulting expertise offers an unrivalled solution for companies looking to put safety first. More about how to choose the right pedestrian safety system at https://www.brandsafeprotection.com/virtual-warehouse/
Over the past week, ocean volume tracked by FourKites at the Port of Shanghai remained at lower levels, with the 14-day average ocean shipment volume down 23% compared to 12 March (the day before lockdowns went into effect in Shenzhen and partial lockdowns began in Shanghai). Meanwhile, FourKites has seen strong ocean volume at the Ports of Shenzhen and Ningbo-Zhoushan, with 14-day average ocean volume up 15% compared to 12 March, as Shenzhen recovers from COVID-19 lockdowns earlier in March and shippers divert goods through ports nearby to Shanghai. (Fig. 1 below)
At the Port of Shanghai, FourKites has started to see the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on ocean dwell time. For imports, the 14-day average dwell time is now at 8.3 days, up 144% compared to 12 March. Export dwell has been impacted to a lesser extent, now at 6.0 days and up 20% compared to 12 March. (Fig. 2 below)
Over-the-road volume in Shanghai continues to be impacted as well, as both deliveries to and pickups from Shanghai decreased further over the past week. As of 16 April, the 14-day average over-the-road and intermodal shipment volume leaving Shanghai is down 41% compared to 12 March, while deliveries to Shanghai are down 72% over the same period. (Fig. 3 below)
More ergonomic. More functional. More innovative. The italian Ferretto Group takes a further step forward in warehouse automation by launching the new generation of Vertimag; already chosen as a vertical storage system by leading companies globally, now comes in an updated version to respond even more effectively to the needs of the most varied markets and sectors.
The ongoing work of the Research and Development center has made it possible to further highlight the benefits of Vertimag, leading to concrete advantages in terms of efficiency and productivity: space optimization creates a 90% reduction in the footprint compared to a traditional warehouse, ergonomics and flexibility are complemented by the versatility offered thanks to the widest range of tray combinations in the market. Innovation is not limited to the efficiency of goods storage, it also benefits the operators: the user-friendly interface, the ergonomic bay, the simplicity of management, the safety elements all permit a better user experience.
Vertimag combines more than 60 years of experience, continuous investment in research and development, and the quality of a solution designed and built entirely in-house. The new VLM brings all this together and allows Ferretto Group to offer companies a truly cost effective, innovative and functional solution to provide concrete advantages in terms of productivity and process optimization.
Available in versions from 3 to 12 meters in height, the VLM has a maximum capacity of 70,000 kg and can store materials of any format, weight and size up to a height of 695 mm. The new Vertimag stands out primarily for its flexible solutions: 15 models, 6 types of picking bay (Ergo-Tech, single internal, double internal, single external, double external, removable) and 120 combinations of tray sizes allow this outstanding product to meet the demands of the most diverse production sectors.
Special attention has been paid to safety: barriers for operators, full compliance with anti-seismic standards, and a quieter operating system.
The push for innovation has also made it possible to strengthen the equipment supplied with the system, resulting in a more efficient management software designed in-house with a new generation graphic interface and an easy integration with external management software.
New Vertimag has been designed and tested for robustness; furthermore, the management software includes preventive maintenance algorithms which, in combination with the design, improves the system uptime.
The software has a user friendly and customizable dashboard through which it is possible to quickly check the status of all the machines, dynamically manage the compartments of the trays, and monitor in real time the stock levels and the position of items in the trays. To optimize the operator’s working conditions, a wide range of accessories is also available sliding console, a trolley for tray removal, laser pointer, alphanumeric LED bar, barcode reader, piece counting scale and label printer.
Working position at optimal height even with a double picking bay, sliding console, user interface, and picking bays optimized to be used with any external lighting condition or noise reduction are only a few examples of how Ferretto Group solutions are tailored for users.
Vertimag is therefore the best answer to the need for integration and efficiency in warehouse logistics.
Speak to Quickline, our UK distribution partner, to find out how a Vertimag VLM can benefit your business
https://quicklinestorage.co.uk/products/automated-storage-solutions/vertimag-vertical-lift-module/
Founded in Vicenza - Italy - in 1956, Ferretto Group SpA is one of the leading manufacturers of storage and material handling solutions. The company designs and produces a complete range of integrated and high-tech solutions for the needs of each sector and application. It offers metal shelving, industrial mezzanines, automatic storage and vertical storage solutions.
Visit the website for more info about the new Vertical Lift Module Vertimag
Look at the video about our new Vertimag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o97uRn6Bizs&t=78s
Lifting Equipment Store, the UK materials handling equipment supplier, has made two new appointments as it prepares for further growth in the second half of this year.
The supplier has appointed Sandy Andringa into the newly-created position of Head of Marketing, and Steven Nash as Warehouse & Logistics Manager.
The appointments see the Lifting Equipment Store team expand to eight members of staff.
Reporting to the firm’s CEO, Will Dunn, Sandy is responsible for the company’s marketing strategy. The role will see Sandy developing the Lifting Equipment Store website’s ecommerce and mobile capabilities, while maintaining PR and communications, SEO and social media strategy. She will also oversee the production of Lifting Equipment Store’s first product catalogue.
Sandy has over 20 years of marketing experience, having joined from Boltight Limited where she worked as Marketing Manager. She has also held roles at T A Savery & Company Ltd and Ove Arup & Partners.
Steven has joined Lifting Equipment Store to oversee the development of the firm’s supply chain management and logistics capabilities. Reporting to George Dunn, General Manager, he will focus on supporting the firm’s broadening product range and will lead the installation of a warehouse management system.
Steven joins the firm after working in automotive roles for 33 years, including recent roles at DHL, where he worked on the Jaguar Land Rover account, and Unistrut. He has also held roles at Denso and Global EPP.
Will Dunn, CEO, Lifting Equipment Store, said: “It’s great to be welcoming Sandy and Steven. Our strengthened business development team will be essential as we continue to improve our product range and increase our sales. I am sure that the expertise and experience of Sandy and Steven will contribute towards our ongoing success.”
Sandy Andringa, Head of Marketing, Lifting Equipment Store, added: “I’m very happy to be taking on this role at Lifting Equipment Store. I’m excited to see how the changes that we make to the strategy can elevate brand awareness and increase sales.”
Steven Nash, Warehouse & Logistics Manager, Lifting Equipment Store, said: “It’s a great time to be joining Lifting Equipment Store, with lots of change taking place in terms of developing its product line and innovating how the warehouse is managed.”
Part of the Kingsway Corporation Group, Lifting Equipment Store was established in 2012, rapidly expanding throughout the materials handling marketplace whilst maintaining core goals and upholding outstanding customer service. Lifting Equipment Store’s global list of customers depend on the store to supply top quality Lifting Equipment, Material Handling Equipment and Safety Equipment to end users and the trade online, face-to-face and over the phone. Lifting Equipment Store has a five star rating on Trust Pilot.
More than 600 offences were discovered in a week of action by police and Highways England patrolling the M6 in unmarked HGV ‘supercabs’.
Police officers caught 92 drivers using their mobile phone illegally – with one playing online poker and another FaceTiming his partner.
Failing to wear a seatbelt was the most common offence with 138 people seen risking their lives without the safety protection.
In total there were 594 vehicles stopped by police using the unmarked cabs including 230 HGVs and 199 private vehicles. Action taken ranged from words of advice or fixed penalty notices to traffic offences being reported and even eight arrests.
The unmarked Operation Tramline HGV cabs are funded by Highways England and used by police forces across the country. They were a key part of the multi-agency week of action which ran from Monday 24 May to Sunday 30 May.
The campaign took place along the length of the M6, the longest motorway in the country. As well as the Operation Tramline HGV cabs, there were also additional police patrols, vehicle stops and advice given to drivers at motorway services by campaign partners.
Highways England deals with around 180 reported incidents on the M6 every day including a large number of traffic collisions - 4,222 were reported on the M6 in 2019.
But the week of action, which ran under the banner of Operation Vertabrae, saw a reduction in the number of incidents and traffic collisions.
The number of incidents recorded by Highways England reduced during the campaign from 1,301 the week before to 1,287 while the number of traffic collisions fell 17% from 71 to 59.
Highways England Head of Road Safety Jeremy Phillips said:
“Our aim through this week of action was to make not only the M6 but all of our roads safer by raising awareness and encouraging motorists to consider their driving behaviour.
“The HGV cabs helped the police to identify almost 600 dangerous drivers who could have caused collisions and harm if they hadn’t been pulled over. Our safety advice given at motorway services and through the campaign also helped to make the M6 safer.
“We are confident that, working together with our road safety partners, this campaign has helped spread our safety messages to drivers but also raised awareness that those who engage in high risk behaviours can expect to be spotted and, if an offence has been committed, action will be taken by our enforcement partners.”
Six forces took part in the operation – Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Warwickshire Police and Central Motorway Police Group.
Among the dangerous drivers spotted during the campaign was a motorist who had no insurance or licence, was not wearing a seat-belt and neither was a four-year-old child sat on someone’s lap in the car.
Warwickshire Police stopped a driver who was found to have 22 points on their licence and no insurance.
While Central Motorway Police Group pulled over a car near to junction 10 which had false plates, no documents and the driver only had a provisional licence. He was reported to the courts for traffic offences and the vehicle was seized.
From their elevated viewpoint in the unmarked HGV cabs, police officers were able to spot people driving dangerously – whatever vehicle they may be in.
Pc Jamie Blood, who led on Operation Vertebrae for Warwickshire Police, said:
“This operation highlights the number of drivers that are willing to risk their own lives and the lives of others by driving vehicles in poor and dangerous condition, and by choosing to use a mobile phone, speed or not wear a seatbelt whilst driving. Once again it is terribly disappointing that we encountered so much poor driver behaviour on our roads.
“Using a mobile phone is a major causation factor in many collisions and the dangers of drink and drug driving are also well known, yet we continue to deal with drivers risking theirs and others safety.
“We are committed to making Warwickshire’s roads safer, however we cannot do this purely with enforcement, and we are asking drivers to please avoid these high risk behaviours whilst driving.”
Inspector Steve Vickers, of Cumbria Constabulary’s mobile support group, said:
“Motorways demand drivers’ full attention, driving distracted or taking unnecessary risks can have devastating consequences.
“The use of the Operation Tramline HGV was a great opportunity to give us an elevated view of those driving on the Cumbria stretch of the M6 and catching those driving dangerously and putting other road users at risk.”
In addition to the Operation Tramline figures, the North West Commercial Vehicle Unit also stopped 85 HGV and LGVs. Of these, 45 offences were discovered including unsafe tyres and breaches over the drivers’ hours and load weight.
The unit used marked police cars to stop commercial vehicles on the M6 across the north west. Among the incidents they spotted was a driver reversing back along a live lane at junction 18 in Cheshire because he had overshot the junction.
Other agencies taking part in the week of action included the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Health and Safety Executive, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office.
The DVSA carried out checks at eight locations along the M6 checking caravans and trailers, vans and HGVs. They discovered 216 vehicle defects including tyres and brakes. Also 229 roadside offences such as drivers’ hours breaches and overweight vehicles.
Table of stops and offences recorded by police using the Operation Tramline cabs
Since the launch of Operation Tramline in 2015, more than 21,600 offences have been recorded. The most common offences have included:
Using a mobile phone – 6,073
Not wearing a seatbelt – 6,253
Not in proper control of vehicle – 1,501
Speeding – 1,199
In total, 19,564 vehicles were stopped in Operation Tramline between July 2015 and April 2021.
Highways England is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via its website (https://trafficengland.com), local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available at https://highwaysengland.co.uk/highways-england-about-us/.
For further information please contact Highways England’s press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option below:
Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) & out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire, Humber and North East (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (between 9am & 5.30pm)
Environmental credentials are a fundamental component of corporate CSR initiatives. In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate an end to its contribution to global warming by 2050, requiring the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by this date. After rising steadily for decades, global carbon dioxide emissions fell by 6.4%, or 2.3 billion tonnes, in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic drastically restricted economic and social activities worldwide. A great reduction, but as the world reopens, will we see these numbers rise once more? Businesses bear the responsibility both to deliver the infrastructure and change that helps shape a modern, post-pandemic economy, while doing it in a way that effectively measures, evaluates and reduces carbon impact.
Alexander Baal, Director Sales Operations, Jungheinrich UK, explains how deploying Lithium-ion-powered material handling equipment is one method that can not only significantly support businesses’ CSR initiatives, but also help them to unlock valuable productivity and efficiency gains.
The market trend for businesses to move away from transportation and industrial equipment powered by fossil fuels has been gaining momentum for many years and this includes warehouse equipment such as forklift trucks. Climate change, with its true reality and impact on the planet, forms a significant part of everyday discussion for businesses, all of whom can contribute significantly both positively and negatively based on the decisions made around managing their business.
When considering the area of materials handling equipment, great strides in innovation have been made in recent years to deliver an alternative to gas and diesel power that not only supports the move to more sustainable energy sources, but also provides invaluable efficiency gains. The numbers speak for themselves that electric forklifts offer a significant positive effect when compared against their diesel or gas counterparts. For example, if a comparison is taken for a standard 2000kg electric counterbalanced truck working 2000hrs per year with its diesel and gas counterparts, we see that the electric truck would produce circa 4,600kg of CO2 in that year compared to circa 13,980kg for the diesel and circa 17,640kg of CO2 for the LPG. This means electric trucks provide a CO2 saving of 67% per year against the LPG equivalent and 74% saving over the diesel truck counterpart.
It is true to say that an electric forklift embraces a higher initial outlay than its diesel or gas counterparts, however it also benefits from lower maintenance costs as there are fewer moving parts and hence fewer service items involved. Whilst short term savings can be made by the acquisition of the I/C engine trucks, the longer-term total cost of ownership of Lithium-ion-powered trucks can offer distinct value. There will always be differences in the amount consumers pay for diesel, LPG and electricity, however, typically the pricing for electricity remains far more stable than the long term pricing for any bi-product of crude oil, which is an important factor when considering decisions for the business. Depending on how many forklifts are being serviced at any one time, the outlay for electricity comes up trumps in the fight against fossil fuels.
The benefits for materials handling fleet operators to consider Lithium-ion are considerable for both efficiency and reliability. Lithium-ion supports 24x7 logistics operations without the need for regular battery changes due to its short charging times, high power and energy density, meaning there is no drop-off in power over the life cycle of the battery. Moreover, operators don’t need to factor machinery downtime into their operation, resulting in higher productivity throughput. Business savings are made as no maintenance is required and no period of battery resting is needed after each charge. During the recharge process, less energy is wasted as heat thus cost saving to further the business contributing to renewable energy, resulting in lower energy costs.
In order to become more sustainable, businesses will inevitably need to adapt to using cleaner sources of energy. Many will therefore need to overhaul their diesel equipment and consider more energy efficient power alternatives, such as Lithium-ion. EV Batteries will require less lithium by over half over the next decade and the amount of cobalt required will drop by more than three-quarters and nickel by around a fifth according to analysis by Transport and Environment. Compared to diesel or gas equivalents, electric machinery will consume far less raw materials, making it the clear choice for a sustainable future.Therefore, by deploying a Lithium-ion powered alternative to warehouse equipment, businesses can increase efficiency and sustainability in the long-term, providing a key competitive advantage and advancing CSR goals.
The fall of carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the pandemic has provided a global opportunity for change and identified initiatives that can contribute to the continued reduction of CO2. Businesses have a crucial role to play to promote clean energy and deploy or scale-up new sustainable technologies to make equipment more energy efficient. Striving to deploy Lithium-ion powered handling equipment in future operations is one of the many proactive measures companies can take to ensure that their carbon footprint is reduced and sustainability is increased – especially with the significant rise of ecommerce which is set to continue, and that many businesses have already benefited from.
Crucially, businesses must capitalise on this opportunity for change for the better. Not just to support global sustainability efforts to save the planet, but realise the additional benefits that come alongside – including cost savings, productivity gains and no downtime.
The Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution (TCS&D) Exhibition, Conference and Awards will return to the East of England Arena in Peterborough on the 7th & 8th September.
Unlike some events, TCS&D 2021 will be keeping it small and keeping it safe for exhibitors and visitors. Despite the end of restricted attendance numbers for indoor events being scheduled for late June, TCS&D 2021 will still be capping visitor numbers at 1,000 in September.
The bi-annual TCS&D show will incorporate the 'Cold Chain Hub' conference – the programme for which is being devised by the Cold Chain Federation – making the event a fantastic opportunity to learn about the latest technologies and trends in the industry. "After a challenging 12 months for our sector and as we return to a more normal life," explained Martyn Cogan, Exhibition Director, "we want TCS&D to deliver a host of tangible benefits to give our visitors a great couple of days. TCS&D will provide an unrivalled opportunity for anyone involved in the temperature controlled supply chain sector to learn and network."
Although TCS&D (@TCSDShow) will take place after Covid-19 restrictions are scheduled to be lifted, the event will incorporate a number of measures to ensure a Covid-secure environment, including thermal camera checks on arrival, numerous sanitiser stations and wider aisles. "There is plenty of space to spread out at the East of England Arena," said Martyn Cogan, "and we'll also be locating more exhibits than ever in the new TCS&D Outdoor Marketplace.”
The Ride & Drive Experience track in the outside display area will make a welcome return. “This proved hugely popular at the last exhibition," commented Martyn Cogan, "as it gives visitors the best possible opportunity to experience vehicle handling and performance. We are anticipating a wide range of vehicles on display in the outdoor area, including more electric vehicles than ever before."
The latest exhibitor to sign up to the show, NRG Fleet Services, will be exclusively showcasing the Electra 19t Refrigerated Electric Vehicle at TCS&D 2021. "This is a real coup for the show," commented Martyn Cogan, "and is certain to attract a great deal of interest."
The TCS&D show features products and services from right across the cold chain. Exhibitors already signed up for TCS&D 2021 include refrigerated vehicle suppliers Gray & Adams, MAR Cooling Solutions and ABC Trailers Solutions (available for all Schmitz Cargobull requirements); transport refrigeration manufacturers Carrier Transicold and Hubbard Products; cold chain electric vehicle supplier NRG Fleet Services; transport refrigeration service provider Longhurst Refrigeration; diesel-free transport cooling & energy manufacturer Hultsteins; rental & contract hire specialists Prohire and VMS Fleet Management; portable cold storage supplier Seven Refrigeration; supplier of new and used refrigerated vehicles Stockport Truck Centre; commercial vehicle repairers Yaxley Coachworks; protective clothing supplier Goldfreeze; insulated products supplier Polar Thermal Packaging; refrigeration and cooling specialist Star Refrigeration; cold store construction specialist ISD Solutions; automated racking solutions supplier SSI Schaefer; fire protection specialist Wagner Group; software provider Procuro Euro; and logistics recruitment agency Unity Resourcing Solutions.
Companies interested in exhibiting their solutions to a targeted audience of up to 1,000 visitors should contact Martyn Cogan on 07545 378793.
With a number of media partners including its own magazines Frozen & Chilled Foods and TCS&D, the TCS&D Show will have a huge publicity push. TCS&D’s marketing is not just about the two days at the exhibition but encompasses all the pre-show and post-show opportunities to ensure high-quality visitors and a great return on investment for exhibitors.
In addition to printed and online publicity, there will also be promotion via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. TCS&D is again partnering with The Press Rooms news platform, which will be actively distributing exhibitor news via its extensive social media network, as well as once again providing exhibitors with their own unique video to use on their social media channels.
The annual TCS&D Awards (@TCSDAwards) will take place at the end of the first day of the exhibition on Tuesday 7th September. The awards will once again recognise and reward excellence in the cold chain in a variety of categories. "As the 2020 awards had to become a virtual event," explained Martyn Cogan, "it will be wonderful for professionals in the industry to celebrate and network together again with their peers, albeit with extra safety measures as necessary." The registration form for free entry in a range of award categories will be available at www.tcsdawards.com from 1st April.
For more details on the #TCSD21 Exhibition & Conference, visit www.tcsdshow.com.
The surge in electric vehicles has created a need for effective lithium ion battery recycling in the UK. A solution is a step closer, as Fenix Battery Recycling, Ever Resource and the University of Birmingham have received £955K in grant funding to develop an innovative technology to make lithium ion battery recycling cleaner and more sustainable.
The funding from the Government’s Innovate UK Smart Grants programme, is for the development of separation technologies for end-of-life lithium ion batteries. The £25 million Innovate UK Smart Grants programme provides funding to organisations delivering game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy.
Emma Kendrick, Professor of Energy Materials at the University of Birmingham and her research group, including Dr Rob Somerville have invented a process which physically separates, without any chemical processing, anode-arisings and cathode-arisings in shredded end-of-life lithium batteries. This technology has significant potential to make all types of downstream recycling processes cleaner and more sustainable and the researchers believe the technology can be extended to other battery types.
Working with Ever Resource Ltd and Fenix Battery Recycling, the Innovate UK funding will allow the technology to be scaled up, so that it can be used in commercial battery recycling.
Ever Resource Ltd is a circular economy innovator, turning waste into feed-stock and producing value-added products from end-of-life materials. Fenix Battery Recycling is developing a facility to offer on-site recycling for multiple battery types including lithium ion from its shredding and recycling plant in Willenhall, West Midlands and its latest site in Kilwinning, Scotland.
“Lithium ion is at the forefront of the electric transport and energy storage revolution. The market for these batteries is currently growing at a compound annual growth rate of 18% - but there is no cradle-to-grave solution for all of the technology metals and minerals used to manufacture these batteries,” says Dr Athan Fox, Chief Executive Officer of Ever Resource and Director of Technology for Fenix Battery Recycling.
He added: “To support global recycling initiatives in this space, we are developing an innovative system which physically separates with more than 99% efficiency anode-arisings and cathode-arisings in shredded end-of-life lithium batteries. By separating these component streams before downstream chemical or metallurgical processing, we are making recycling cleaner, greener and more economically sensible.”
Fenix Battery Recycling’s Willenhall plant has been ready to recycle alkaline batteries since October 2020. It will become fully operational once it receives its permit from the Environment Agency – a process which has been delayed by Covid-19.
“Our Willenhall plant has been ready to open its doors since October 2020, so we look forward to receiving the permit very soon,” explains Damian Lambkin, Commercial and Business Development Director at Fenix Battery Recycling. “We are also accepting lithium ion batteries now, which we will store at our fully licensed and permitted site in Kilwinning, Scotland, ready for recycling when our lithium ion shredding operation kicks off in the next 6-12 months. We are in a position to be storing and discharging already and will be able to start this as part of the treatment process as we receive the materials.”
The project, which is funded by Innovate UK’s SMART framework, is supported by Formula E (the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship), a single-seater motorsport championship that uses only electric cars.
Retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment showed further strong growth in June, and were 75% ahead of the levels seen in the same month last year, when sales were still recovering from the impact of the first lockdown. As a result, sales in Q2 were more than double the levels seen last year, and reached over 10,000 units during the quarter. For the first half of the year, sales were over 18,000 units, and are 73% ahead of the levels seen in the first half of last year.
Comparisons with sales in earlier years indicate how buoyant the market has been in 2021, with sales are ahead of both 2018 (by 4%) and 2019 (+7%) in the first half of the year. Like many other industries, the sector is still experiencing supply chain shortages and price rises for many products and materials. High levels of equipment sales in the face of this demonstrate the underlying strength of current demand in the construction market.
The pattern of sales for the major equipment types in the first half of the year is shown in the chart above. This shows that the strongest growth in sales has been experienced by Telehandlers (for the construction industry), with sales more than double last year’s levels in the first six months. This is a welcome bounce back after showing the weakest performance amongst the major equipment types in 2020, when sales were over 40% below 2019 levels. Mini/midi excavators (up to 10 tonnes) have had the opposite experience, after being the strongest performing product last year. Sales in the first six months of this year have shown 58% growth compared with last year, and lag behind all the other major equipment types in % growth terms. However, Mini/midi excavators remain the most popular equipment type by a significant margin.
The construction equipment statistics exchange covers sales on a regional basis in the UK and N Ireland. The map shows the percentage differences for sales in the main regions in the first half of 2021 compared with the same period last year. This shows that sales have been strongest in the North West of England and in Scotland, where sales have been more than double the levels seen in the first half of 2020. In contrast, weaker sales have been experienced in the West Midlands and Wales, where sales have been less than 35% above last year’s levels.
Sales in the Republic of Ireland are also recorded in the statistics scheme, and like the UK, showed further strong growth in June. As a result, sales in Q2 were more than double last year’s levels, and in the first half of the year are 56% above sales in the same period last year.
* The construction equipment statistics exchange is run by Systematics International Ltd. This scheme is run in partnership with the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the UK trade association.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK has welcomed the appointment of Anne-Marie Trevelyan as Secretary of State for Transport, with the following statement by Sharon Kindleysides, Chief Executive at CILT(UK).
“The Institute would like to welcome Anne-Marie Trevelyan as Secretary of State for Transport and we look forward to working with the Secretary of State to ensure that effective transport and logistics policy lies at the heart of government."
“Transport and logistics are crucial to our everyday lives. Our members work tirelessly to ensure the nation has access to critical goods and is connected to jobs and community. We are particularly looking forward to working with the Secretary of State to build on the momentum and impact the government backed Generation Logistics campaign is currently gaining across the industry."
"The CILT acknowledges and thanks outgoing transport secretary Grant Shapps for his work with the industry and the Institute over the past three years.”
Terex Trucks, based in Motherwell, Scotland, is celebrating after landing an internationally recognised award for demonstrating high health and safety standards.
Terex Trucks works hard to ensure its staff, customers and contractors get home safely to their families at the end of every working day. After four consecutive years of securing the Silver Award, Terex Trucks has received a RoSPA Gold Health and Safety Award 2021, despite it being a particularly challenging year with many changes in health and safety.
Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards.
Karen Anne Duffy, HSE & sustainability manager at Terex Trucks, says: “We have always taken health and safety very seriously at Terex Trucks and the events of 2020 reinforced the need to safeguard our employees’ health, safety and mental health – whether they were working on site or from home or were on furlough. We increased communications throughout 2020 and made use of social media to keep everyone involved, up to date and engaged, as well as letting team members know what to expect when returning to the site.”
“We are thrilled to be recognised with a gold award from RoSPA, our fifth consecutive award,” Karen Anne continues. “It’s a testament to the support and involvement of the whole team and the genuine care that they have for each other. Health, safety and mental health will always be a priority for us as a heavy manufacturing business and with the support and understanding of our management team, our working environment remains a safe place.”
Julia Small, RoSPA’s achievements director, says: “The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for health and safety worldwide.”
“RoSPA is very proud of the achievements of its entrants, and with this award we recognise the best of the best, those organisations that have gone the extra mile, raising the bar for the delivery of safety in the workplace,” Julia continues. “Currently, around seven million people are directly impacted by the RoSPA Awards, but the scheme’s global influence is even wider – with nearly 2000 organisations from 46 countries represented this year.”
Staff from Terex Trucks will be presented with their award during a virtual ceremony in September.
For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards
Clark has expanded the GEX20-30L and GEX40-50 electric forklift series to include models with an 80 volt lithium-ion battery (Li-ion), which further extends the product range in the segment of electric counterbalance trucks with Li-ion technology. The materials handling vehicles specialist offers operators a powerful and environmentally friendly alternative to IC engine-powered trucks in both the 48 V and 80 V electric segments with load capacities from 1.6 to 5 tonnes.
The four-wheel electric forklifts GEX20-30sL and GEX40-50 with 80 V Li-Ion technology are available with load capacities from 2 to 5 t and are ideal for transporting heavy loads indoors and outdoors. Whether in industry, distribution or even in the food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, where clean operation is important, the Clark electric forklifts with Li-Ion battery ensure high handling performance with low operating costs over the entire life cycle of the truck. The trucks prove their worth especially in intensive operations where powerful starting behaviour is required, fast loading and unloading is important at peak times or in operations where slopes or ramps have to be overcome regularly. Especially in multi-shift operation, however, where high availability is important, trucks with Li-Ion batteries show their strengths to the full. Here, the operator particularly benefits from the properties of Li-Ion technology, such as durability, fast and intermediate charging capability as well as freedom from maintenance.
Two travel motors in the parallel front drive, each with 7.8 kW power on the GEX20-30L and 11.3 kW on the GEX 40-50, together with the 80 V three-phase current technology, guarantee rapid acceleration and high thrust. The AC motors used are designed to be wear-free and very robust. They achieve a top speed of up to 18 or 20 km. The dual AC control is equipped with modern Mosfet and CAN bus technology. Three travel modes are available for energy-efficient use of the truck, which are individually programmable. Also adjustable are the wear free, regenerative braking with the engine brake and automatic speed reduction when cornering. Safe operation on sloping terrain or ramps is ensured by the standard ramp function. This prevents unintentional acceleration or rolling back of the truck and ensures that the operator always has the vehicle under control.
With the Clark Li-Ion solution, the customer receives everything from a single source – i.e. the Li-Ion battery, the battery management system (BMS) and the high-frequency charger. The battery capacity for all 80 V models in the GEX series is 560 Ah. The 80 V charger only requires a power connection (CEE 16 A plug) and fully recharges the battery in just 3.5 hours. The charging status is shown on the vehicle display. During the charging process, the display on the charger always shows the current charging status of the Li-Ion battery. The BMS has a safety cut-out.
The Li-Ion battery can be intermediately charged at any time and within a very short time, when breaks occur, without damaging the battery or shortening its service life. Approximately 6.25 % of the charge quantity can be achieved in 15 minutes. Li-Ion vehicles can thus be used around the clock without the need to change batteries. This reduces the downtimes that would be necessary for a battery change. Another advantage of Li-Ion technology is that the battery has a constant voltage during the entire operation. Full power is always available ? even if the battery is already 80 % discharged. Operators can therefore not only increase their productivity with Li-Ion technology, but also save costs for maintenance, infrastructure and replacement batteries. This makes the investment in a Li-Ion truck worthwhile for all companies that want to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard.
Clark Li-Ion batteries are based on safe lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technology. With LiFePO4 batteries, no oxygen is released during the chemical reaction within the cells. This means there is no risk of spontaneous combustion or explosion of the battery. Vehicles with LiFePO4 battery perform efficiently even at very low and high ambient temperatures. With 2500 guaranteed charging cycles, the service life of the Li-Ion battery is at least twice as long, and depending on the application, even many times longer than the service life of a lead-acid battery. In addition, LiFePO4 batteries are more environmentally friendly than, for example, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC batteries), because these require problematic raw materials, such as cobalt.
Like the smaller models, the GEX20-30L and GEX40-50 models have a spacious and ergonomic operator's workplace with a generous footwell and plenty of leg and headroom. These models also offer a choice of comfort seats with air or mechanical suspension. The trucks can be operated either via adjustable mini-levers integrated in the armrest or via ergonomically arranged hydraulic levers on the vehicle bonnet. A change of direction is made via the steering column, the armrest or via a double pedal. The power steering ensures that the operator needs only low steering forces and few steering wheel turns when manoeuvring. The multi-coloured, high-contrast display provides information on all important driving parameters. Storage facilities for documents and mobile phones round off the workplace.
The Clark four-wheel electric forklifts with 80 V Li-Ion battery are available with extensive additional equipment. The optional equipment includes, among other things, different cabs, such as rain protection (steel roof), weather protection (steel roof and front windscreen), partial (steel roof, front and rear windscreen as well as PVC side panel) and full cab, mini-levers or mechanical levers, blue LED warning lights, orange safety belt, attachments as well as additional safety options.
You can also visit CLARK online at www.clarkmheu.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CLARK.the.forklift.
Clark has expanded the GEX20-30L and GEX40-50 electric forklift series to include models with an 80 volt lithium-ion battery (Li-ion), which further extends the product range in the segment of electric counterbalance trucks with Li-ion technology. The materials handling vehicles specialist offers operators a powerful and environmentally friendly alternative to IC engine-powered trucks in both the 48 V and 80 V electric segments with load capacities from 1.6 to 5 tonnes.
The four-wheel electric forklifts GEX20-30sL and GEX40-50 with 80 V Li-Ion technology are available with load capacities from 2 to 5 t and are ideal for transporting heavy loads indoors and outdoors. Whether in industry, distribution or even in the food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, where clean operation is important, the Clark electric forklifts with Li-Ion battery ensure high handling performance with low operating costs over the entire life cycle of the truck. The trucks prove their worth especially in intensive operations where powerful starting behaviour is required, fast loading and unloading is important at peak times or in operations where slopes or ramps have to be overcome regularly. Especially in multi-shift operation, however, where high availability is important, trucks with Li-Ion batteries show their strengths to the full. Here, the operator particularly benefits from the properties of Li-Ion technology, such as durability, fast and intermediate charging capability as well as freedom from maintenance.
Two travel motors in the parallel front drive, each with 7.8 kW power on the GEX20-30L and 11.3 kW on the GEX 40-50, together with the 80 V three-phase current technology, guarantee rapid acceleration and high thrust. The AC motors used are designed to be wear-free and very robust. They achieve a top speed of up to 18 or 20 km. The dual AC control is equipped with modern Mosfet and CAN bus technology. Three travel modes are available for energy-efficient use of the truck, which are individually programmable. Also adjustable are the wear free, regenerative braking with the engine brake and automatic speed reduction when cornering. Safe operation on sloping terrain or ramps is ensured by the standard ramp function. This prevents unintentional acceleration or rolling back of the truck and ensures that the operator always has the vehicle under control.
With the Clark Li-Ion solution, the customer receives everything from a single source – i.e. the Li-Ion battery, the battery management system (BMS) and the high-frequency charger. The battery capacity for all 80 V models in the GEX series is 560 Ah. The 80 V charger only requires a power connection (CEE 16 A plug) and fully recharges the battery in just 3.5 hours. The charging status is shown on the vehicle display. During the charging process, the display on the charger always shows the current charging status of the Li-Ion battery. The BMS has a safety cut-out.
The Li-Ion battery can be intermediately charged at any time and within a very short time, when breaks occur, without damaging the battery or shortening its service life. Approximately 6.25 % of the charge quantity can be achieved in 15 minutes. Li-Ion vehicles can thus be used around the clock without the need to change batteries. This reduces the downtimes that would be necessary for a battery change. Another advantage of Li-Ion technology is that the battery has a constant voltage during the entire operation. Full power is always available ? even if the battery is already 80 % discharged. Operators can therefore not only increase their productivity with Li-Ion technology, but also save costs for maintenance, infrastructure and replacement batteries. This makes the investment in a Li-Ion truck worthwhile for all companies that want to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard.
Clark Li-Ion batteries are based on safe lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technology. With LiFePO4 batteries, no oxygen is released during the chemical reaction within the cells. This means there is no risk of spontaneous combustion or explosion of the battery. Vehicles with LiFePO4 battery perform efficiently even at very low and high ambient temperatures. With 2500 guaranteed charging cycles, the service life of the Li-Ion battery is at least twice as long, and depending on the application, even many times longer than the service life of a lead-acid battery. In addition, LiFePO4 batteries are more environmentally friendly than, for example, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC batteries), because these require problematic raw materials, such as cobalt.
Like the smaller models, the GEX20-30L and GEX40-50 models have a spacious and ergonomic operator's workplace with a generous footwell and plenty of leg and headroom. These models also offer a choice of comfort seats with air or mechanical suspension. The trucks can be operated either via adjustable mini-levers integrated in the armrest or via ergonomically arranged hydraulic levers on the vehicle bonnet. A change of direction is made via the steering column, the armrest or via a double pedal. The power steering ensures that the operator needs only low steering forces and few steering wheel turns when manoeuvring. The multi-coloured, high-contrast display provides information on all important driving parameters. Storage facilities for documents and mobile phones round off the workplace.
The Clark four-wheel electric forklifts with 80 V Li-Ion battery are available with extensive additional equipment. The optional equipment includes, among other things, different cabs, such as rain protection (steel roof), weather protection (steel roof and front windscreen), partial (steel roof, front and rear windscreen as well as PVC side panel) and full cab, mini-levers or mechanical levers, blue LED warning lights, orange safety belt, attachments as well as additional safety options.
You can also visit CLARK online at www.clarkmheu.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CLARK.the.forklift.
COO Andreas Krause has left Clark Europe at his own request on 31 January 2023 to devote himself to other tasks in the future. Krause has been employed at the Clark Europe headquarters in Duisburg since 2008 and has been responsible for Spare Parts, Order Processing, Technical Support, IT, the European Development Centre, and Logistics in the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2019. The position of COO will not be filled at Clark Europe. Andreas Krause's areas of responsibility have been reallocated within Clark.
Karl Hielscher, Director Logistics, will be responsible for logistics and order processing for trucks in the future and has been granted power of attorney. In addition to the entire internal logistics, Hielscher's tasks include the workshop, the reconditioning of used trucks, the spare parts warehouse and the customer service for the direct sales, which the materials handling vehicles manufacturer established for the Duisburg region in 2018.
COO Andreas Krause has left Clark Europe at his own request on 31 January 2023 to devote himself to other tasks in the future. Krause has been employed at the Clark Europe headquarters in Duisburg since 2008 and has been responsible for Spare Parts, Order Processing, Technical Support, IT, the European Development Centre, and Logistics in the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2019. The position of COO will not be filled at Clark Europe. Andreas Krause's areas of responsibility have been reallocated within Clark.
Karl Hielscher, Director Logistics, will be responsible for logistics and order processing for trucks in the future and has been granted power of attorney. In addition to the entire internal logistics, Hielscher's tasks include the workshop, the reconditioning of used trucks, the spare parts warehouse and the customer service for the direct sales, which the materials handling vehicles manufacturer established for the Duisburg region in 2018.
With entries closing this week for Logistics UK’s Van Awards, supported by Van Excellence, the business group is urging all operators to apply now for the chance to be recognised as the ‘best of best’ in this vital market.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Friday 24 September 2021 with a drinks reception and three course lunch, to celebrate the operators who have made a significant contribution to the industry over the past 12 months. Celebrated English cricketer, Matthew Hoggard MBE – one of the most successful international cricketers to have played for the country – will be providing entertainment during the lunch with his remarkable success story and tales of competing against some of the greatest cricketers in history.
Nominations close on 12 August 2021. The awards are supported by the Van Gold Partners: The AA, Bott Ltd, Brigade Electronics, Hertz UK Ltd, Lex Autolease, Quartix, and TVL.
David Wells, Chief Executive at Logistics UK, comments: “We are thrilled that Matthew Hoggard MBE, an iconic Ashes-winning cricketer, will be providing the entertainment at Logistics UK’s 2021 Van Awards. With only a few days left to apply, we are urging anyone wishing to be considered to submit their entry as soon as possible.”
All the winners of the Van Awards will be shortlisted automatically for the Van Operator of the Year category at Logistics UK’s Logistics Awards 2021, taking place on 9 December 2021 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.
For more information, and to enter the awards, please visit: logistics.org.uk/vanawards21. Entries close midnight on 12 August 2021.
Against the current backdrop of soaring inflation and energy costs, loading bay and unloading specialists Thorworld Industries is urging distribution businesses to take advantage of potential efficiency savings through changes to their loading operations to help weather a challenging economic climate.
Despite government support in the form of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, UK businesses are still facing a substantial increase in costs compounded by pre-existing labour shortages and rampant inflation. These factors are driving distribution firms to find efficiencies wherever possible, with improvements to loading operations representing a significant opportunity to do so.
With historically high energy costs, reducing consumption wherever possible is a priority for many businesses. One way to achieve this is ensuring that warehouses and loading areas are as energy efficient as possible through implementing loading dock seals or shelters.
Dock seals or shelters are designed to protect both people and goods from temperature fluctuations during loading and unloading and bring considerable energy savings. Widely used in temperature critical businesses such as food manufacture – standard distribution businesses still stand to reap the benefits of these energy savings.
Utilising modular loading docks is another way to improve efficiency in loading operations. These customisable and semi-permanent loading systems allow for businesses to scale their operations up or down depending on need, such as responding to seasonal activity, for a low capital investment at a time when many firms are wary of making large investments.
Adaptation of loading areas for van-based distribution is another avenue in which efficiencies can be found. As more businesses pivot to direct-to-consumer logistics, van docking ramps can provide an easy and low-cost loading solution tailored to vans.
As with modular loading docks, these specialised ramps don’t require warehouse modifications and can handle the weight of electrified vans – which are becoming more common as fuel costs continue to rise.
“Maximising efficiencies across all aspects of a business has always been of central importance to distribution and logistics businesses, now it is critical to survival for many”, said John Meale, Managing Director of Thorworld.
“Loading operations are a key area in which these efficiencies can be found, and we would highly encourage firms to look at the different changes they could make and to capitalise on the opportunities that these loading systems bring”.
Now more than ever, firms stand to benefit the most from the Super Deduction capital allowance scheme from the UK government which ends in March 2023. The scheme allows UK companies to claim back 130% of the cost of qualifying purchases against their corporation tax bill with loading dock equipment representing an ideal example.
For more information about Thorworld Industries loading and unloading solutions, including yard ramps and docks visit: https://www.thorworld.co.uk/.
Clark has given the PPFXS20 electric low-lift truck with integrated operator platform a face-lift. In the process, the Materials handling vehicles specialist has not only improved the ergonomics and user-friendliness of the truck, but also the performance: for particularly intensive operations, the low-lift trucks are now also available with lithium-ion technology.
The PPFXS20 with a load capacity of two tons has an integrated operator platform with padded side walls. This provides the operator with maximum comfort, especially on longer journeys. The low-lift truck is thus ideal for use in the transport of goods by road, the loading and unloading of trucks via ramps as well as for the order picking of a wide variety of goods in industry, trade, and distribution.
The PPFXS20 is equipped with a maintenance-free and enclosed 1.6 kW three-phase traction motor. This provides powerful acceleration and high speeds of up to 10 km/h. The powerful 2.2 kW lift motor guarantees maximum efficiency when lifting and lowering loads. Thanks to the high battery capacity of 375 Ah for the lead-acid battery, the pallet truck achieves optimum battery life. The pallet truck is available with side battery change as standard. The quick and easy battery replacement via a roller bed guarantees high availability of the truck. For particularly demanding applications or for multi-shift operation, the PPFXS20 is also optionally available with a 205 Ah lithium-ion battery. The Li-Ion battery can be recharged at any time and within a very short time – for example during breaks – without damaging the battery or shortening its service life. Recharging the battery is possible at any 230-volt socket. In just 10 minutes, 7 % of the battery capacity can be recharged. This reduces the downtime that would be necessary to change the battery. After only three hours, the battery is fully charged again. Li-Ion technology not only increases productivity, but also saves costs for maintenance, infrastructure, and replacement batteries. This makes a Li-Ion vehicle worthwhile for anyone who wants to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting, and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard.
For handling work and horizontal transport over long distances, the generous side access with an opening range of 445 mm enables the operator to climb up and down from the vehicle quickly and safely. While driving, the operator can comfortably lean against the padded backrest of the generously designed operator's platform. The operator's platform is fully suspended and guarantees vibration-free operation so that the operator can concentrate fully on his work.
All controls can be operated intuitively and without fatigue by both left- and right-handed operators. The rounded fork tips allow safe and speedy threading into the pallet and thus contribute to a high turnover of goods. The all-electric power steering is smooth. This allows the vehicle to be manoeuvred precisely and safely even in the tightest of spaces, for example in narrow racking aisles. For greater safety when cornering, the automatic reduction of the driving speed is proportional to the steering angle. This reduces the centrifugal forces acting on the operator.
You can also visit CLARK online at www.clarkmheu.com or on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/CLARK.the.forklift.
Clark has given the PPFXS20 electric low-lift truck with integrated operator platform a face-lift. In the process, the Materials handling vehicles specialist has not only improved the ergonomics and user-friendliness of the truck, but also the performance: for particularly intensive operations, the low-lift trucks are now also available with lithium-ion technology.
The PPFXS20 with a load capacity of two tons has an integrated operator platform with padded side walls. This provides the operator with maximum comfort, especially on longer journeys. The low-lift truck is thus ideal for use in the transport of goods by road, the loading and unloading of trucks via ramps as well as for the order picking of a wide variety of goods in industry, trade, and distribution.
The PPFXS20 is equipped with a maintenance-free and enclosed 1.6 kW three-phase traction motor. This provides powerful acceleration and high speeds of up to 10 km/h. The powerful 2.2 kW lift motor guarantees maximum efficiency when lifting and lowering loads. Thanks to the high battery capacity of 375 Ah for the lead-acid battery, the pallet truck achieves optimum battery life. The pallet truck is available with side battery change as standard. The quick and easy battery replacement via a roller bed guarantees high availability of the truck. For particularly demanding applications or for multi-shift operation, the PPFXS20 is also optionally available with a 205 Ah lithium-ion battery. The Li-Ion battery can be recharged at any time and within a very short time – for example during breaks – without damaging the battery or shortening its service life. Recharging the battery is possible at any 230-volt socket. In just 10 minutes, 7 % of the battery capacity can be recharged. This reduces the downtime that would be necessary to change the battery. After only three hours, the battery is fully charged again. Li-Ion technology not only increases productivity, but also saves costs for maintenance, infrastructure, and replacement batteries. This makes a Li-Ion vehicle worthwhile for anyone who wants to operate a maintenance-free, long-lasting, and fast-charging battery with a high safety standard.
For handling work and horizontal transport over long distances, the generous side access with an opening range of 445 mm enables the operator to climb up and down from the vehicle quickly and safely. While driving, the operator can comfortably lean against the padded backrest of the generously designed operator's platform. The operator's platform is fully suspended and guarantees vibration-free operation so that the operator can concentrate fully on his work.
All controls can be operated intuitively and without fatigue by both left- and right-handed operators. The rounded fork tips allow safe and speedy threading into the pallet and thus contribute to a high turnover of goods. The all-electric power steering is smooth. This allows the vehicle to be manoeuvred precisely and safely even in the tightest of spaces, for example in narrow racking aisles. For greater safety when cornering, the automatic reduction of the driving speed is proportional to the steering angle. This reduces the centrifugal forces acting on the operator.
You can also visit CLARK online at www.clarkmheu.com or on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/CLARK.the.forklift.
A London-based logistics specialist has invested in training local talent to overcome the region’s HGV driver shortage.
ELB Partners, which is based in Croydon, has teamed up with leading driving school, EP Training Services, to train a new generation of drivers and upskill its workforce.
The partnership is positive news for drivers Sam Cates, Liam Montey and Philip Bennet, who have all successfully gained their Class 2 HGV licences thanks to ELB Partners’ investment.
The trio are all now qualified to drive trucks over 3,500kg and are supporting the business with its nationwide deliveries.
Sam and Philip have also gained HazChem certificates, enabling them to transport goods throughout the UK and Europe as part of the firm’s membership of The Hazchem Network – a pallet network specialising in the movement of hazardous freight.
In addition, former trainee teacher Sam, who joined ELB Partners in November 2020, has gained a crane truck licence and will undergo training for an HGV Class 1 licence in 2023.
He said: “I had been working in primary school while gaining my teaching degree however, after funding for my role was removed, I turned to something I love – driving.
“HGV training can be expensive so being able to do it through ELB Partners has given me the freedom of learning, training and enjoying life on the road behind the wheel of an 18-tonne lorry, without the financial burden.
“Before joining the company, I wasn't aware of the many different additions that are available to your driving entitlements.
“Getting the opportunity to be able to learn how to carry hazardous goods, for example, was an amazing experience, likewise with gaining my lorry loading license.
“No two days are the same as the deliveries and loads are always different, as on one drop you could be carrying a car engine and the next a pallet of sodium hypochlorite.
“There are always opportunities for drivers to develop their wealth of knowledge and ELB is always willing to invest time and money in its employees.”
Peter Eason, managing director at ELB Partners, said: “Like every logistics firm, we have been impacted by the HGV driver shortage and have developed a new approach to driver recruitment.
“We’ve found that there are a lot of would-be HGV drivers out there with huge potential, but they can’t afford to invest in the training without the guarantee of a job at the end of it.
“By working with EP Training, we are able to recruit the right people based on their interest and enthusiasm for the role and provide the training they need to gain their HGV licences.
“We’re pleased to have enabled Sam, Liam and Philip to gain the skills they needed to enter the profession and we already have three van drivers lined up to undergo the same training process with in 2023.”
Sean Pargeter, director at EP Training Services, said: “We have worked with ELB for many years and they are a great company to work with as they are keen and eager to offer newly-trained and qualified HGV drivers an opportunity.
“There are few companies that will take a punt on a newbie, however, Peter is more interested in those with the right attitude and aptitude, as opposed to having the mandatory two years’ experience.
“It’s great for EP Training Services as we can offer newly-qualified drivers the chance to get on the ladder and work with ELB Partners.”
For more information about ELB Partners, which is part of the UK-wide Pallet-Track network, visit www.elbpartners.com.
A new range of high-performance polymer safety barriers for improved protection of interior and exterior warehouses and industrial workspaces, has been launched by impact protection equipment specialists Brandsafe.
Manufactured from strong, hard-wearing and low-maintenance High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), this range features single and double low-level bumper barriers, end of aisle racking protection barriers, as well as multi-rail, single and double bumper pedestrian barriers. An easy-to-install pedestrian safety gate system is also available with these barriers.
Specifically designed in eye-catching, high-visibility colours that can be easily spotted by vehicle operators, these safety barriers can reduce and prevent accidents and collisions from forklift trucks, materials handling equipment and even HGV delivery vehicles. This helps to improve not only safety in and around the workplace, but also the operational efficiency and effectiveness of these buildings.
These safety barriers are manufactured from recyclable and non-toxic materials, ensuring their suitability for impact protection applications in food production facilities and freezer environments. Available in a selection of heights, widths and lengths to suit the required specification and application, they will only need replacing when either frequent or major impacts have occurred, minimising the long-term operational costs for repairs and replacements.
Secure the best possible price for your impact protection and safety systems with Brandsafe's Black Friday offers. Place your order with us between now and 31st December 2022 to get up to 10% off. More at https://www.brandsafeprotection.com/black-friday-deals-2022/
A new range of high-performance polymer safety barriers for improved protection of interior and exterior warehouses and industrial workspaces, has been launched by impact protection equipment specialists Brandsafe.
Manufactured from strong, hard-wearing and low-maintenance High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), this range features single and double low-level bumper barriers, end of aisle racking protection barriers, as well as multi-rail, single and double bumper pedestrian barriers. An easy-to-install pedestrian safety gate system is also available with these barriers.
Specifically designed in eye-catching, high-visibility colours that can be easily spotted by vehicle operators, these safety barriers can reduce and prevent accidents and collisions from forklift trucks, materials handling equipment and even HGV delivery vehicles. This helps to improve not only safety in and around the workplace, but also the operational efficiency and effectiveness of these buildings.
These safety barriers are manufactured from recyclable and non-toxic materials, ensuring their suitability for impact protection applications in food production facilities and freezer environments. Available in a selection of heights, widths and lengths to suit the required specification and application, they will only need replacing when either frequent or major impacts have occurred, minimising the long-term operational costs for repairs and replacements.
Secure the best possible price for your impact protection and safety systems with Brandsafe's Black Friday offers. Place your order with us between now and 31st December 2022 to get up to 10% off. More at https://www.brandsafeprotection.com/black-friday-deals-2022/
The UK’s largest container firm is diversifying into the hire and modular markets with the launch of a new group.
Cleveland Containers, which is based in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside, has recently announced the launch of the Cleveland Group, which encompasses the container arm along with two new divisions: Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular.
Johnathan Bulmer, chief executive officer of Cleveland Containers, said: “By responding to the needs of our 15,000 strong customer base and answering their increased calls for eco-friendly site accommodation and modular buildings, we have seized the opportunity to expand into these markets.
“We have experienced rapid growth over the last 12 years, and I’m excited to embark on this new adventure. I would like to thank our existing award-winning team whose hard work and achievements have enabled this next phase of Cleveland and welcome the new team members to the company.
“It’s important to reiterate that as the UK’s leading shipping container supplier, Cleveland Containers is not going anywhere, we want to continue our success by establishing Cleveland as a market leader in hire and modular.”
The group will now offer a full turn-key service, providing all essential site set-up units and accessories including offices, canteens, toilets, furniture, temporary power supplies, fencing and lighting.
To aid the expansion, Cleveland Containers has also strengthened its team with the appointment of a number of new roles.
Jon Hurford has joined as chief financial Officer and former CEO of SRL Traffic Systems, Richard Tredwin, has been appointed as non-executive chair. Meanwhile former Mobile Mini managing director Andrew Thompson joins as chief operating officer, bringing a wealth of site hire expertise to support the development of Cleveland Hire.
Andrew said: “Prior to joining the business, it was evident that Cleveland Containers are innovators in the industry, with a strong brand, modern approach to the customer experience, and a positive attitude to risk-taking.
“We’re taking these attributes forward to transform the markets we are entering, making it a really exciting time to join the business.”
For more information on Cleveland Containers and its range of products, visit Shipping Containers for Sale & Hire UK | Cleveland Containers
https://www.clevelandcontainers.co.uk/
The UK’s largest container firm is diversifying into the hire and modular markets with the launch of a new group.
Cleveland Containers, which is based in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside, has recently announced the launch of the Cleveland Group, which encompasses the container arm along with two new divisions: Cleveland Hire and Cleveland Modular.
Johnathan Bulmer, chief executive officer of Cleveland Containers, said: “By responding to the needs of our 15,000 strong customer base and answering their increased calls for eco-friendly site accommodation and modular buildings, we have seized the opportunity to expand into these markets.
“We have experienced rapid growth over the last 12 years, and I’m excited to embark on this new adventure. I would like to thank our existing award-winning team whose hard work and achievements have enabled this next phase of Cleveland and welcome the new team members to the company.
“It’s important to reiterate that as the UK’s leading shipping container supplier, Cleveland Containers is not going anywhere, we want to continue our success by establishing Cleveland as a market leader in hire and modular.”
The group will now offer a full turn-key service, providing all essential site set-up units and accessories including offices, canteens, toilets, furniture, temporary power supplies, fencing and lighting.
To aid the expansion, Cleveland Containers has also strengthened its team with the appointment of a number of new roles.
Jon Hurford has joined as chief financial Officer and former CEO of SRL Traffic Systems, Richard Tredwin, has been appointed as non-executive chair. Meanwhile former Mobile Mini managing director Andrew Thompson joins as chief operating officer, bringing a wealth of site hire expertise to support the development of Cleveland Hire.
Andrew said: “Prior to joining the business, it was evident that Cleveland Containers are innovators in the industry, with a strong brand, modern approach to the customer experience, and a positive attitude to risk-taking.
“We’re taking these attributes forward to transform the markets we are entering, making it a really exciting time to join the business.”
For more information on Cleveland Containers and its range of products, visit Shipping Containers for Sale & Hire UK | Cleveland Containers
https://www.clevelandcontainers.co.uk/
Manitou, one of the earliest adopters of the industry’s own security marking scheme CESAR, is one of the latest companies to recognise the additional benefits of the scheme’s recent development - ECV (Emissions Compliance Verification). Manitou began fitting the enhanced system earlier this year to all construction, aerial work platforms, and agricultural and compact equipment leaving the factory onwards and for sale within the UK market.
The Construction Equipment Association (CEA), owners of the CESAR Scheme, developed ECV as a response to the demand for an easy and reliable way to confirm the emissions category of construction equipment used within Low Emission Zones and “green” construction sites. CESAR ECV has already been recognised by HS2 as an acceptable means of demonstrating a machine's green credentials and other major schemes are also looking favourably at the initiative.
Andrea Davidson, Air Quality Lead, Phase One, HS2 Ltd said “We are happy to confirm that we would accept the ECV as part of the registration process for plant to work on HS2 sites, and would consider it suitable for compliance assurance purposes.”
“With the expansion of Low Emission Zones and “green” construction sites, there is an urgent demand for the quick identification of the certified emission levels of machines brought on to sites." Commented Suneeta Johal, Chief Executive of the CEA.
Ms Johal added, "The easy-to-read and scan visual sticker cuts out a lot of work for construction site managers and local authorities, and as such, the ECV application for CESAR is the single biggest development since the scheme was launched as an anti-theft initiative back in 2007.”
Mark Ormond, Managing Director of Manitou commented, “With an industry looking increasingly at the environmental impacts of construction work CESAR ECV will be invaluable to Manitou customers working on, and companies managing, large-scale projects across the UK. We are very pleased to make this a standard fitment to the major part of our machine range.”
Kevin Howells, Managing Director, Datatag ID said, "Many years ago, I used to sell the Manitou range of telehandlers and I was always impressed with the company's agility and the vision of founder Marcel Braud to adapt and create market-leading all-terrain machinery. Manitou wanted to create machinery that “handles everything” and I'm proud they have agreed to enhance the existing Official CESAR Scheme system with the standardisation of ECV. Another great example of how agile Manitou is - helping its customers work towards a cleaner and greener environment."
Manitou, one of the earliest adopters of the industry’s own security marking scheme CESAR, is one of the latest companies to recognise the additional benefits of the scheme’s recent development - ECV (Emissions Compliance Verification). Manitou began fitting the enhanced system earlier this year to all construction, aerial work platforms, and agricultural and compact equipment leaving the factory onwards and for sale within the UK market.
The Construction Equipment Association (CEA), owners of the CESAR Scheme, developed ECV as a response to the demand for an easy and reliable way to confirm the emissions category of construction equipment used within Low Emission Zones and “green” construction sites. CESAR ECV has already been recognised by HS2 as an acceptable means of demonstrating a machine's green credentials and other major schemes are also looking favourably at the initiative.
Andrea Davidson, Air Quality Lead, Phase One, HS2 Ltd said “We are happy to confirm that we would accept the ECV as part of the registration process for plant to work on HS2 sites, and would consider it suitable for compliance assurance purposes.”
“With the expansion of Low Emission Zones and “green” construction sites, there is an urgent demand for the quick identification of the certified emission levels of machines brought on to sites." Commented Suneeta Johal, Chief Executive of the CEA.
Ms Johal added, "The easy-to-read and scan visual sticker cuts out a lot of work for construction site managers and local authorities, and as such, the ECV application for CESAR is the single biggest development since the scheme was launched as an anti-theft initiative back in 2007.”
Mark Ormond, Managing Director of Manitou commented, “With an industry looking increasingly at the environmental impacts of construction work CESAR ECV will be invaluable to Manitou customers working on, and companies managing, large-scale projects across the UK. We are very pleased to make this a standard fitment to the major part of our machine range.”
Kevin Howells, Managing Director, Datatag ID said, "Many years ago, I used to sell the Manitou range of telehandlers and I was always impressed with the company's agility and the vision of founder Marcel Braud to adapt and create market-leading all-terrain machinery. Manitou wanted to create machinery that “handles everything” and I'm proud they have agreed to enhance the existing Official CESAR Scheme system with the standardisation of ECV. Another great example of how agile Manitou is - helping its customers work towards a cleaner and greener environment."
One of the UK’s leading logistics companies relies on an installation of 32 loading bays from Stertil Dock Products to ensure the efficient loading and unloading of 160 vehicles every day.
Based in Wakefield, Integrated Third Party Logistics (ITPL) provides comprehensive warehousing and storage facilities to support a number of companies and is a vital element in the UK-wide distribution of goods for a locally-based soft drinks producer. Vehicles arriving at the ITPL complex, which include 40 foot curtain sided and box containers, deliver and collect palletised loads with an average weight of one tonne per pallet.
When originally constructed, the ITPL warehouse incorporated 16 loading bays featuring Stertil loading bay equipment. This original installation performed well in a demanding application over many years which led to the decision to install similar equipment to support a recent 14 bay extension to cope with increasing throughputs.
The Stertil equipment installed within the new extension includes the latest generation of S-series swing-lip dock levellers. Providing a dynamic load capacity of six tonnes, these levellers automatically adjust to the changing floor height of the vehicle during loading and unloading operations, even if the vehicle is unevenly loaded.
Stertil also supplied and fitted its W-series curtain dock shelters to ensure exceptional performance of the loading bays. These shelters combine sturdy aluminium frames and strong reinforced curtains to provide optimal sealing between vehicles and the warehouse building. The collapsible aluminium frame prevents damage from incorrect docking of vehicles and can be fully customised. Also, the lightweight shelters ensure easy installation whilst standard double guidance chevron markings ensure correct positioning of vehicles to the shelters.
To complement the energy saving properties of the dock shelters, Stertil also installed insulated doors from its Thermadoor range. These doors offer a choice of insulation levels including higher value insulation for applications where temperature control is critical. Seals are located all round the door and between hinged panels to ensure the integrity of the insulation. All Thermadoor models incorporate a range of track configurations to suit different building layouts and available headroom.
The doors may be powered or manually operated and offer a range of safety features including finger protection at panel-to-panel joints. All Thermadoor overhead models meet the requirements of EN 13241-1: 2003 and, based on this standard, doors are CE marked. Wind load tests and thermal resistance have been certified in accordance with EN 12424 and EN 12428 respectively.
Completing the range of Stertil dock products installed at the ITPL warehouse
are L-shaped rubber bumpers which effectively prevent damage to the loading bay caused by reversing vehicles.
“Based on the successful use of a range of Stertil products at our original warehouse, we were keen to have Stertil equipment installed to support our new extension,” says Dave Ellis, managing director of Integrated Third Party Logistics. “The installation was very smooth thanks to the professionalism of the Stertil engineers and, as expected, the new loading bays support our 24/7 operation perfectly.”
Andrew Georgiou
Stertil UK Limited
Tel: 0870 770 0471
Email: ageorgiou@stertil.co.uk
www.stertil-dockproducts.co.uk
For many years, Stertil Koni has been a trusted supplier of heavy-duty vehicle lifting equipment to the UK’s emergency services. Providing safe lifting capacities ranging from 5.5 tonnes up to a massive 60 tonnes, the company’s hydraulic 4-post lifts continue to represent a very popular choice.
Stertil Koni’s Compact range of 4-post lifts includes models ST4055 and ST4070 which offer respective capacities of 5.5 and 7 tonnes. All models feature an extremely low drive-on height of only 160mm which guarantees that vehicles with low ground clearance can be driven onto the lifts’ platforms without grounding. This low drive-on height also means that short drive-on ramps can be used thereby creating more space for vehicles to be moved within the workshop.
Thanks to the special design incorporating columns, cross-beams and tracks, the ST4055 and ST4070 models are very stable vehicle lifts. Also, with maximum space between the slim profile columns, there is ample room for the safe positioning of wide vehicles and unrestricted access for technicians when working on raised vehicles.
The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust relies on an installation of seven ST4070 4-post lifts to ensure safe and reliable operation during workshop activities on its mixed fleet of over 500 emergency vehicles and other ambulances used for the transportation of non-emergency patients.
In order to cope with the regular maintenance and servicing of the fleet, which includes the latest Mercedes Sprinter box van ambulances, the Trust’s existing vehicle lifts had to be replaced. After researching the equipment that suited its needs, the Trust put the project out to tender and Stertil Koni was awarded the contract.
The ST4070 has an adjustable descent speed as standard, making removal of engines and gearboxes easier and safer. It can also be used in combination with various optional accessories including jacking beams and axle stands.
Avon & Somerset Police is another ‘blue light’ service to opt for the 7 tonne capacity ST4070 4-post lift. Installed within a new workshop at Radstock in Somerset, the lift is used to simplify a range of activities including vehicle maintenance, repair and servicing.
Stertil Koni’s Mid range of 4-post hydraulic lifts includes the 12 tonne capacity ST4120. This model provides easily-controlled and unrestricted lifting heights up to 1.9 metres which is reached in 90 seconds. A range of adjustable width platforms is available in lengths from 4.5 metres up to 10 metres whilst an optional third platform may be specified for working on three-wheeled vehicles such as fork trucks.
To ensure versatility across the widest range of workshop sizes and types, the Stertil Koni ST4120 may be installed either surface-mounted or recessed. Furthermore, the lift’s unique design is crossbeam-free thereby enabling complete accessibility to the underside of raised vehicles. A selection of optional accessories is also available including anti-skid plates and air installation kits.
The Stertil Koni range of Ultra 4-post hydraulic lifts comprises two models – the ST4175 and the ST4250. These lifts offer respective lifting capacities of 17.5 tonnes and 25 tonnes. However, when used as a set of two in tandem, a maximum lifting capacity of 50 tonnes can be achieved.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service specified a total of nine Stertil Koni hydraulic vehicle lifts which included two ST4250 models. Supplied with 11.5 metres long platforms, these lifts feature a unique design that eliminates the need for crossbeams, ensuring unobstructed access for operatives and tools to both vehicles and the lift itself. This also means that users can choose the ideal working width to set up, depending on the type of vehicles to be serviced. The Stertil Koni ST4250 offers a maximum lift height of 1.9 metres which is achieved in just 72 seconds, making it one of the fastest heavy-duty vehicle lifts in the world.
Controlling the lift is made easy and safe for the user from the well-positioned control panel that can be used to programme a range of functions including lifting heights. Also, a numerical on board, self-diagnostic programme provides information about the system status at all times. The ST4250 is supplied complete with a full lighting kit and air-operated jacking beams for wheel-free maintenance.
Acclaimed for their reliability, long lifespan and high resale value, the Stertil Koni lifts are used by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to maintain and repair a wide range of vehicles including fire tenders, vans and cars.
Tony Edge
Stertil UK Limited
el: 01604 662049
Email: lifts@stertil.co.uk
Articulated hauler specialist Terex Trucks rebrands as Rokbak and announces its vision for an exciting new future. The Scottish manufacturer unveiled the new brand at a digital launch event on September 1, attended by dealers, customers, media, and Volvo Group colleagues from around the world.
Rokbak is the new name for Terex Trucks, with the new brand representing the continuation of its strong hauling heritage with a future-focused vision. Throughout the last four decades, the company has never wavered in its promise to customers to deliver powerful and reliable articulated haulers – and that legacy remains front and centre within the new brand. At the same time, the Rokbak name represents an exciting new future and reflects the significant advances the organization has made in recent years as well as its new strategic priorities.
“Our company has an incredible history and a proud heritage,” said Paul Douglas, Managing Director. “Seven years ago, we became a member of the Volvo Group, which allowed us to make major improvements in every part of our business. Millions of pounds have been invested in improving our products, modernising our facilities, expanding our network, and developing our people. It has been a process of continual evolution. That’s why we feel it’s right to recognize this evolution with a new brand name to launch an exciting new chapter in our history. And we’ll keep investing to further improve our machines for our customers.”
The significant investments and improvements in the company’s articulated haulers in recent times have ensured they remain among the most robust and reliable machines around. Now, with their foundation in the predecessor models from Terex Trucks, the 28-tonne payload RA30 and 38-tonne payload RA40 from Rokbak are the most productive and efficient articulated haulers the company has ever made.
As part of the new brand launch, the machines now come in Rokbak colours and livery. While maintaining the experienced design, craft and precision that are synonymous with the company’s haulers, the RA30 and RA40 deliver better fuel economy, lower emissions, improved safety, and greater durability. With a tough design that’s built to last, the haulers power through hard work with ease, boosting customers’ productivity no matter how tough the conditions.
“We’re very excited to reveal our new brand, and of course our haulers are the shop window,” continued Paul Douglas. “Rokbak stands for power, performance and reliability. We already have a very healthy order book for the new brand, and we want to further expand our reputation, dealer network and market share. We’re still the same skilled, experienced, and passionate team, committed to making rock-solid haulers every day. But we also have a clear vision for where we want to go and who we want to be.”
As part of the Volvo Group, Rokbak has experienced steady evolution over the past seven years. While this has taken place across the board, it is particularly prominent in four key areas: product design, sustainability, safety, and people.
In product design, the company has introduced Stage V engines for better fuel efficiency and operation for customers. Other improvements include a new transmission on the 28-tonne (30.9-ton) machine, the introduction of the Haul Track telematics, and a stronger focus on operator wellbeing and safety. In terms of sustainability, the company’s manufacturing plant has shifted to 100% renewable energy as well as operating within Science-Based Targets and ISO standards, plus targeting CO2 emission reductions.
The focus on safety has been emphasised in all areas, but particularly on its employees. Changes in processes at the factory have seen a stronger concentration on maintaining employee safety while simultaneously delivering high standards and low downtime. For the company’s people at the heart of Rokbak, there is a continual focus on professional development, keeping the team at the forefront of skill and expertise. Similarly, Dealer Operating Standards and training ensures the expanded dealer network continues to deliver the highest levels of service.
“We are proud and excited to have the modernized Rokbak brand continue as a fundamental part of our organization,” said Melker Jernberg, President Volvo CE and Executive Vice President Volvo Group. “We believe in a sustainable future, innovation and the power of our people and we see that all encapsulated in Rokbak. At the same time, the company has its own personality, heritage and loyal customer base and it will be exciting to see the brand evolve further as it sets out on this new stage of its journey.”
Under the credo of “Pioneering Industrial Sustainability”, Castolin Eutectic launches in September its growth strategy for the next years under the leadership of a complete new executive management team based in Kriftel, greater Frankfurt area, Germany.
Over the course of more than 100 years, Castolin Eutectic has brought innovative products and solutions to customers in wear-intensive industries, continuously striving to extend useful life, reduce maintenance costs and increase industrial productivity through welding, brazing and coating technologies.
“We have transitioned from being a family-owned business into a global standalone company while maintaining our industry expertise, people focus and our deep rooted belief in sustainability,” explains Patrick Fetzer, President and Chief Executive Officer since October 2020.
“Looking ahead, we will cultivate the focus on reusability with a disproportionate focus on value-added services in proximity to our customers. Our industry application matrices and service shop footprint will continue to enable further expansion into the service and consumables categories,” says Martin Kirchgassner, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
Castolin Eutectic will keep expanding its key industry customer base (cement, mining, oil & gas, power generation, steel, pulp & paper, sugar, agriculture, recycling) and distinguish itself through customer service, speed to market, responsiveness and reliability.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic we have once again learned the importance of productivity in times of difficult topline growth. As we aspire to grow, we also intend to inject our company with highly needed investments, which have not been prioritized in the recent years,” explains Tabish Wani, new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer appointed in February 2021.
“At the heart of our Business Strategy are our people, on whom the achievement of our ambitious strategic goals depends. It is therefore self-explanatory that we, at Castolin Eutectic, have committed ourselves to promoting and challenging the skills and engagement of our employees,” says Berthold G. Jansen, Global Head of Human Resources. “We focus on a healthy mix of experienced and young employees, with an appropriate presence of all genders and orientations. An important first step in this direction is the introduction of an ESG management program that reflects our sustainable future orientation.”
Tabish Wani brings extensive practical experience in the area of supply chain, manufacturing and sourcing from international groups in consumer goods and industrial products.
Norbert Finger, appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on May3rd, assumes global responsibility for Finance, IT, Controllership, Risk Management and M&A activities. With a background in automotive, building materials, retail and manufacturing, Norbert has led strategically important projects for private equity companies in postmerger integration, business transformation, as well as working capital and cost optimization.
Berthold G. Jansen, the new Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, has previously held leading HR positions in the automotive, industrial, aerospace and defense sectors. Berthold's experience focuses on the design, management and implementation of HR transformation projects with a trigger in increasing efficiency and digitalization. In addition to his global Human Resources role, Berthold heads Castolin Eutectic’s Legal affairs and Compliance Office.
Founded in 1906, Castolin Eutectic is today a worldwide leader in sustainability solutions for maintenance and repair. The company distinguishes itself by having a large territorial salesforce that sees the rapid changes in the industry and intervenes at the customers’ site as technical consultants. By refurbishing damaged industrial components, Castolin Eutectic helps save CO2 and conserve precious resources.
Bunting is one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of magnetic separators, eddy current separators and electrostatic separators for the recycling and waste industries. The Bunting European manufacturing and product testing facilities are in Redditch, just outside Birmingham, and Berkhamsted, both in the United Kingdom.
The Bunting ElectroStatic Separator, launched earlier in 2020, significantly enhances the ability of companies to recover fine metals such as copper wire. In this project, the feed material is fine material from air-extraction post-shredding; a mix normally classified as waste despite the valuable metal content. Previous attempts to recover the metal constituent, including fine copper wire, had been unsuccessful.
Prior to ordering the equipment, controlled tests conducted at Bunting’s Customer Experience Centre in Redditch determined that a three-stage separation process would enable high levels of metal recovery and purity.
On site, between one and two tonnes per hour of the metal mix initially passes through the Metal Separation Module before the final stage of ElectroStatic Separation. The Metal Separation Module consists of a Ferrite Drum Magnet, Vibratory Feeder and high-intensity Rare Earth Roll Separator. The Ferrite Drum Magnet removes strong magnetic metal with the remaining mix passing onto the Vibratory Feeder. This regulates and presents an even, monolayer of material onto the belt of the Rare Earth Roll Separator.
The Rare Earth Roll Separator has a thin belt feeding material onto a head pulley constructed from high-strength neodymium rare earth magnets. As material passes over the head roll, weakly magnetic metals are attracted to the radial high-intensity field and held on the belt and then deposited underneath. A strategically placed splitter enables the separation of the attracted metals (including fragmented stainless-steel) from other non-magnetic materials (e.g. fine copper wire and aluminium).
This non-magnetic metal mix passes onto the third separation stage to recover fine copper wire at a feed rate of approximately one tonne per hour. The ElectroStatic Separator is a recent additional to the range of Bunting metal separators. The technology produces a separation by exploiting the difference in electrical conductivity between various materials in a feed material. This enables the recovery of metals such as fine copper wire. In this project, the recovered copper wire has a purity of +95%.
Developing new metal separation processes, such as this three-stage Magnetic Separator and Electrostatic Separator system, is vitally important to reduce the amount of metal lost to waste and of unrecyclable material sent to landfill. There is also significant financial gain, with increased metal recovery and reduced disposal costs.
Videos explaining the technology and showing the separation performance are available to view on the Bunting-Redditch YouTube channel:
• Metal Separation Module, consisting of a Drum Magnet and Rare Earth Roll Magnetic Separator;
Investigating metal separation possibilities at Bunting’s Redditch Customer Experience Centre provides experienced process engineers with the technology needed to maximise both metal recovery and purity. Bunting invites companies to contact Bunting to arrange such test work.
Additional information on metal recovery and separation using the ElectroStatic Separator, magnetic separators, and eddy current separators is available on the Bunting website.
Bunting-Redditch website – www.mastermagnets.com
All photographs were taken by Paul Fears Photography
The manufacturing and distribution industry has faced many challenges as a result of the pandemic. These challenges have led to businesses prioritising digital transformation much earlier than anticipated.
Yoav Kutner, CEO and Founder of Oro, Inc., believes that it has never been more important for businesses to have a B2B eCommerce platform that supports their digital strategy in order to provide long-term value and increased resilience to uncertainty.
The manufacturing and distribution industry has faced many challenges as a result of the pandemic; from spikes in demand, crippling border delays and supply and driver shortages - to name just a few.
This pandemic has forced many businesses to turn to B2B eCommerce solutions, such as OroCommerce, to access a diverse range of B2B features and capabilities, including personalisation, localisation, built-in multi-channel CRM, powerful workflows and a pricing engine. Doing so, they have revolutionized their operation and introduced clarity and cohesion right throughout their organisation and its manufacturing supply chain.
Earlier this year Fictiv released their State of Manufacturing report which says that 95% of industry leaders acknowledge that digital transformation is a necessity for their company’s development and success.
So what is digital transformation? Simply put, whenever a company modernizes its IT systems (ERP, CRM, WMS, TMS), needs access to cloud-based applications or automates core business processes, that’s digital transformation.
Digital transformation is changing the manufacturing industry as we know it. According to McKinsey, in 2020 almost 70% of manufacturing companies struggled to pass the initial stage of digital transformation.
Those manufacturers and supply chains that thrived during the pandemic were the ones designed for flexibility and agility. Digital transformation created the flexibility and agility that needed to respond to changing market conditions so they can turn on a dime.
Traditionally, B2B manufacturers, distributors and retailers have relied on print materials, face-to-face meetings, live events and conferences to stay connected. Before the pandemic, trade show attendance reached a record high with events being the best way to network and build relationships with customers. The Covid-19 pandemic forced workers to stay home and limited in-person interactions - and forced organisations to source digital solutions overnight, solutions that, within 18 months, became essential to customer outreach and support.
While our return to the new-normal is underway, it’s debatable how much manufacturers and distributors will be able to return to their old means of trading. One thing that is guaranteed, is that today’s manufacturing and distribution businesses no longer have the luxury of relying on yesterday’s strategies if they want to keep up with digitization in manufacturing.
It’s not only Covid-19 that has driven digital transformation within the industry. More than 73% of B2B transactions now involve millennials as decision makers, meaning that the change in online B2B buying behaviour is absolutely here to stay.
New generations of B2B buyers are making more purchase decisions, and the only way to reach them is through digital channels. This demographic is comfortable with making everything from small to sophisticated purchases online and as a result, B2B buyers are demanding more control of their purchasing experience, turning to the internet to research, self-educate, and self-serve.
As a result, the number of eCommerce users is expected to grow by 7%, to 61 million users in the UK by 2024. That’s why many manufacturing and wholesale companies are turning to platforms such as OroCommerce to ensure they don’t get left behind.
The biggest challenge for manufacturers today is the desire and the need to stay on the front foot and to lead their competitors in the race against a constantly evolving digital transformation market.
Increasing competition in the industry is putting pressure on organizations to reduce costs, improve customer experience and increase profitability. Organizations must now go beyond the hype of new technologies and develop future-ready digital strategies to manage change and capitalize on opportunities - and that’s where an enterprise-grade B2B eCommerce platform such as OroCommerce comes in.
Utilizing platforms such as OroCommerce, that is built with a comprehensive set of features ready for any B2B commerce model, will help to digitally transform your businesses and revolutionise the eCommerce landscape.
Covid-19 has been a rollercoaster for many businesses, and manufacturing is no exception. The pandemic has shown all the vulnerabilities and expedited digital transformation. The pandemic transformed the landscape, and B2B businesses of all sizes explored innovative methods to attract and retain their customers.
In order to compete in this constantly changing market, manufacturers are now expected to provide more and more digital-driven services such as real-time production, tracking, and analysis.
It has never been more important for businesses to have a B2B eCommerce platform that supports their digital strategy and we’re pleased to be able to offer our flagship platform to UK businesses looking to improve their online offering to remain competitive within the industry. The platform has been specifically designed for manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and multi-channel brands.
For businesses that haven’t yet made the move to digital channels, there is no better time than now. The shift in customer preferences is here to stay and a digital strategy is essential for providing long-term value and remaining more resilient to uncertainty, supply chain shifts, or pandemic-style disruptions.
Searching for the ultimate B2B eCommerce platform can feel like digging for gold. But just how "all that glitters is not gold", B2C solutions don't really work for B2B. OroCommerce knows this to be true. Developed by the same leadership team that built the popular B2C platform Magento, sold to eBay in 2011, Oro's founders saw an emerging demand for a more robust solution from the B2B industry. View the video below.
Youtube link https://74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv=yb9Q3nKEG3U/1/0102017cdb3c496f-b626ac22-80b2-4dbf-8b8b-79eb82d68457-000000/B1ldDPwU8IrZefIN3QerT3XedpA=242
Oro, Inc. offers a suite of open-source commerce applications: OroPlatform, OroCRM, and OroCommerce. OroCRM is a solution for multichannel companies, and OroCommerce is the only open-source eCommerce platform purpose-built for B2B companies. Oro's founders previously founded Magento and have deep experience in the eCommerce industry. They include Yoav Kutner, CEO; Dima Soroka, Chief Technology Officer; and Roy Rubin, director of Oro's advisory board. For more information on OroCommerce, click here. Already established in the US, Oro, Inc. recently launched its flagship platform OroCommerce in the UK. OroCommerce is the first and only open-source B2B eCommerce platform that’s been built from the ground up for mid-market and large commerce businesses.
WasteAid, the UK-based international NGO that shares waste management and recycling skills with policymakers and communities in lower- and middle-income countries, has welcomed three new Trustees to its Board. Between them, they bring a wealth of experience in government, international development, humanitarian programmes, and water and sanitation.
Claudio Deola is a Senior Humanitarian WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Advisor at Save the Children where he currently coordinates the global humanitarian WASH response. He has almost 20 years of practical experience in the WASH sector, both in direct implementation and in remote support. He has worked with different types of organisations in multicultural environments, in large scale operations and in complex emergencies as well as in early recovery. He has a sound academic grounding in engineering and humanitarian assistance, having completed a MSc in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering and a MA in Humanitarian Aid. He has a strong commitment to impact effectiveness in humanitarian assistance, and is currently co-chairing the Global WASH Roadmap 2020-2025.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to become part of the board of trustees. I believe WasteAid’s mission is a crucial one that can improve the health and quality of life of many people and bring more visibility to an overlooked problem. Having just joined the board, I am already incredibly impressed by the work WasteAid is doing and by the commitment, energy and passion of its staff.”
Enzo Martinelli is an international development professional who has been working for over 30 years with international NGOs based in the UK, Italy and Germany, where he has gained expertise in organisational development, resource mobilisation, programme development and project management. Enzo’s areas of interest are quite diverse and encompass community-based interventions in small business development and microfinance, formal and adult education, human rights protection, freedom of press, media development and environmental protection.
Enzo Martinelli said: “Environmental protection and waste management are critical elements in mitigating climate change risks. Within this context, WasteAid commitment to the promotion of more sustainable practices and policies around waste management is very laudable. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to join their Board of Trustees at a time of exponential growth for the organisation, which is a clear signal of the urgency for such interventions and of the great demand for greater impact for this work worldwide.”
Deborah Sacks has worked in the waste management industry for over twenty years, in both the public and private sectors. Since 2010 she has run a waste management consultancy that focuses on work with local and central government identifying the steps needed to improve waste management performance within the UK and other countries around the world.
Deborah has also been on the board of a number of different charities in the UK and brings extensive experience to WasteAid in both the UK and abroad.
Chair of the WasteAid Board Sarahjane Widdowson said: “we’re pleased to welcome Deborah, Enzo and Claudio and look forward to strengthening our board with their diverse skills and experience. We’d also like to say a big thank you to our two outgoing trustees Rachel Wildblood and Ray Georgeson, who were founder members of the board. WasteAid continues to make an impact on an important and yet often overlooked area, and the board are ready to support our fantastic staff to continue their impressive work in raising awareness of this important issue and scaling the organisation to amplify our impact.
WasteAid published its first Annual Review in September this year, and in preparation for COP26 launched its Waste & Climate hub. In Glasgow, WasteAid delivered key messages on the health and climate impacts of open burning, the need for universal access to waste management services, and how partnerships across the value chain can accelerate change.
WasteAid’s programme included a COP26 official side event on the importance of global waste management for climate action; a panel discussion on the health impacts of black carbon from waste burning in the World Health Organisation Pavilion; and a WasteAid/Bright Blue panel event on moving from open burning to a circular economy, featuring Ceris Turner-Bailes, WasteAid CEO, Charles Heaulme, Chief Executive of Huhtamaki, and H.E. Lamin Dibba, the Environment Minister for The Gambia.
COP27 will take place in Egypt and the WasteAid executive will continue to work with partners to build understanding of the health and climate benefits of sustainable waste management in advance of the next Conference of Parties.
SICK has expanded its MAX® family of linear encoders to extend the space-saving, operating cost and maintenance benefits offered by its innovative magnetostrictive measurement technology to smaller hydraulic cylinders and more harsh operating environments.
The rugged SICK MAX30 and SICK MAX48 linear encoders use reliable, non-contact magnetostriction technology to measure the piston position in the hydraulic cylinders widely used in cranes and materials handling machinery. The SICK MAX encoders offer compact integration benefits for new machinery designs. They also provide an opportunity for end users to upgrade to more rugged performance and diagnostic feedback through quick and easy retrofit into existing cylinders.
The SICK MAX30 is believed to be the smallest in-cylinder magnetostrictive linear encoder on the market, with a head dimension of 30mm x 35mm, extending the innovative MAX® positional feedback technology to smaller cylinders with more limited space. OEMs therefore have new opportunities to take advantage of the SICK MAX’s highly-reliable, contactless and wear-free positional accuracy, including in axes with lower operating forces. This enables them to be installed in material handling machinery such as mobile cranes, reach stackers, and lift trucks, for example in outrigger cylinders, lift and tilt cylinders and steering systems.
The new SICK MAX48A introduces a highly-durable full stainless-steel enclosure and axial wire orientation to extend the benefits of the popular 48mm SICK MAX48 linear encoder to the harshest industrial operating environments.
Darren Pratt, SICK’s UK product manager for encoders, explains: “Ever since SICK’s MAX48 was launched in 2017, cylinder manufacturers have welcomed its ability to achieve a longer usable piston stroke length within the tight space of a standard-sized hydraulic cylinder due to its smaller damping zone. This space-saving benefit enables, for example, a greater useful reach for a hydraulic arm with several cylinders.
“The MAX30’s installation depth is considerably smaller than for competitive units. So, a MAX encoder could deliver up to 10% more travel in a cylinder with a stroke of 300-400mm, for example. The SICK MAX®’s innovative design concept means there is no need to fit a spacer when assembling the magnet in the piston, making installation easier and less prone to assembly errors.”
All SICK MAX® linear encoders feature built-in diagnostics to record data for preventative and predictive maintenance, enabling, for example, analysis of operating cycles and the determination of operating limits. This diagnostic information provides data to machinery control systems to ensure performance, safety and reliability in machine operation and maintenance. End users can easily incorporate the instrumented cylinders in existing systems to maximise machine availability and avoid costly unplanned downtime.
The SICK MAX30 is suitable for smaller cylinders with piston diameters of 30mm or more and piston rod diameters of 20mm or more. Maximum stroke length for the MAX48 is 2500mm, while the MAX30 is available with stroke lengths up to 1500mm; any length can be specified upwards from 50mm in 1mm intervals.
All the SICK MAX® encoders give a resolution of 0.1mm and repeatability of ±0.2mm. Because of the sensing technology employed, the encoders give absolute position data, so there is no need for a teach-in at start-up.
All the encoders are resistant to shock and vibration and operate in fluid temperatures of -30oC to +95oC. Excellent EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) performance helps to boost reliability, even when used close to high-powered electrically ‘noisy’ equipment such as motors. Provided a suitable electrical connector is used, MAX® linear encoders are protected against the ingress of dirt and moisture to IP69K.
Positional data can be output via a choice of analogue formats (V DC or mA), PWM, and CANopen and SAE J1939 industry-standard digital protocols.
For more information on SICK MAX® magnetostrictive linear encoders for in-cylinder position monitoring, please contact Andrea Hornby on 01727 831121 or email andrea.hornby@sick.co.uk.
Workplace visual communications specialist Beaverswood has appointed new European resellers for its racksack waste collection and segregation range as it continues to expand its international operations and product distribution channels.
Germany-based A.M.P.E.R.E. Deutschland GmbH has been appointed as a new reseller in a move that will enable it to extend its range of products currently available to its pan-Europe reseller network and end-user customers with a selection of new blue and clear fronted racksack systems.
In France, leading industrial and office products reseller Manutan’s present racksack offering will be enhanced with the addition of two blue and two clear fronted sacks. These will now be available to customers in Belgium, Holland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic among other countries.
Racksack allows order pickers to quickly and safely dispose of cardboard, paper, plastic, clips and other common waste, which is then emptied into onsite balers and skips to be sent away for offsite recycling. This saves time and space, enabling operators to secure improvements in the segregation and management of waste materials while maintaining a safe, tidy and productive workspace.
The appointments come as Wokingham-based Beaverswood has maintained a resilient performance during the pandemic while developing its international operations - it recently appointed a European manager to expand its reseller network.
The company also continues to introduce products such as a new heavy duty racksack to support business growth with resellers and end-user customers, who include warehouse, logistics and distribution centre operators.
Chris Bevis, head of business development, said that A.M.P.E.R.E. and Manutan – one of Beaverswood’s largest customers and product resellers – will be partners in extending racksack’s reach and customer support across Europe.
He added: “We are gaining traction via our distributor channels, which has led to an estimated 20% increase in demand for our products in the last year. Their appointments reflect our ambition and commitment to bring innovative products to market via strong partnerships and reseller relationships.”
Alexis Körner, sales marking systems and operational safety at A.M.P.E.R.E. Deutschland GmbH, said: “This is an extremely positive move for both companies, opening up exciting new opportunities to introduce an added value product solution to our own reseller network.
“The European warehousing, logistics and materials handling sectors are seeing unprecedented growth and the introduction of racksack allows us to further serve these markets with high quality products and services.”
Clark has launched a new high-lift pallet truck onto the market. The efficient and versatile PSX16 pedestrian stacker with foldable ride-on platform and side protection bars is suitable for the economical transport of goods over longer distances as well as for the storage and retrieval of goods on higher racking levels. For particularly intensive applications, the PSX16 is also available with a Lithium-Ion battery (Li-Ion). It can then be used wherever operators want to benefit from the advantages of this technology, such as easy handling and free from maintenance, the intermediate charging capability or the gassing-free recharging of the battery. With the PSX16, Clark presents its first high-lift pallet truck with Li-Ion battery and expands the product range in the field of Li-Ion vehicles once again.
With a load capacity of 1600 kg, servo steering as standard, a battery capacity of up to 375 Ah of the lead-acid version as well as an side battery removal system, the electric high-lift truck PSX16 offers everything needed for demanding use in industry, distribution and trade.
The truck is characterised by a robust design and intuitive operation. Thanks to compact dimensions and a small turning radius, the unit is ideally suited for applications in space-critical work areas and pedestrian operation. For this purpose, both the stand-on platform and the side bars can be folded away. In pedestrian mode, the travel speed is reduced, enabling precise manoeuvring. The powerful lift motor and the proportional hydraulic system ensure smooth and precise lifting and lowering of loads at lifting heights of up to 5.8 m. The 4-point support system allows the lift to be positioned at any height. With the aid of the 4-point support, the operator achieves a high residual capacity with the PSX16. The modern drive motor in three-phase AC technology guarantees a high degree of efficiency with powerful acceleration and fast change of direction. Thanks to the excellent energy balance of the PSX16, the operator can look forward to low operating costs.
For easy and ergonomic ascent and descent, Clark has designed the platform step height to be very low at only 160 mm. Good all-round visibility ensures that the operator always has the fork tips and load in view. On longer transport routes and in curves, he benefits from side guards with a soft-grip surface that ensure a comfortable grip. The operator can activate the side guards without leaving the truck. The operator's spine is relieved by the spring-loaded, low-vibration ride-on platform. The driver can thus cover even longer distances without stress. For a high level of safety, the speed is automatically reduced when cornering. The truck has roll-back protection for safe use on gentle slopes. The standard mast damping system allows the operator to store and retrieve goods safely and without jolts. The ergonomic tiller is equally suitable for right- and left-handers. The display integrated in the frame provides information about the battery charge level, operating hours and error code messages.
The PSX16 high-lift pallet truck is also available as a Li-Ion version with a battery voltage of 205 Ah for particularly intensive operations or in multi-shift use. The high energy density of the battery enables high driving performance and availability without the hassle of changing the battery. The Li-Ion battery guarantees extremely short charging times. A 24/7 truck availability can be achieved by fast intermediate charging during break times without limiting the battery life. To do this, simply connect the external charger to the battery. No high-voltage connection is required. The battery can be recharged at any 230-volt socket. Battery and charger in the Li-Ion version are optimally matched to each other, and the built-in battery management system ensures safe operation.
In addition, the operator benefits from numerous advantages that have a positive effect on operating costs: Compared to the lead-acid battery, the Li-Ion battery has a longer service life. There is no additional expense for maintenance work, as the Li-Ion battery is maintenance-free. Intermediate charging can be carried out without the need for a special charging room and the charging location does not need to be ventilated as there is no gassing. Clark uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have a safe cell chemistry. Thus, using the Li-Ion battery is also a good choice from an ecological point of view.
You can also visit CLARK online at www.clarkmheu.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CLARK.the.forklift.
At LogiMAT 2022 Hyster will focus on ‘Powering YOUR Possibilities’ and will reveal the first preview of its new tough, scalable lift truck series.
Visitors to Stand C10 in Hall 10 from 31 May – 2 June in Stuttgart, Germany, will be among the first to discover the latest Hyster developments, including a sneak peek of a new modular and scalable IC counterbalanced truck series which is ‘distinctly Hyster – built for you’.
“At LogiMAT, we are excited to bring together our diverse global industry experience and our newest developments, showing how we support our customers specific needs with different solutions,” explains Rainer Marian, Director Network Development at Hyster Europe.
The expert team from Hyster, backed by the power of Hyster dealers from the DACH region, will be on hand to discuss how Hyster can ‘power your possibilities’ with a range of solutions to address customers’ unique handling challenges across diverse applications and industries. Overall, the full Hyster product portfolio includes a comprehensive range of more than 140 models of counterbalance trucks, warehouse trucks and container handlers.
At the show, Hyster will also be inviting visitors to learn more about the wide selection of different power options available for its lift trucks and warehouse equipment, including intelligent lithium-ion battery solutions. Sustainability, automation, and lifetime cost reduction will also be high on the agenda.
"Space is becoming scarcer. Time pressure is increasing. Business costs are rising,” says Rainer. “As many companies are in the process of business transformation, Hyster is excited to have a range of solutions to help make it easier to overcome the specific challenges facing customers operations. We are very much looking forward to discussing this with visitors at LogiMAT 2022.”
For more information visit www.hyster.com.
They should be more sustainable and energy-efficient. To achieve this, they must be able to process more films made from recyclates – the demands placed on packaging equipment by operators are constantly increasing. What are the operators’ main concerns, and how does the BEUMER Group meet the requirements of its customers? Jörg Spiekermann knows the answers.
“Energy efficiency is foremost on everyone’s mind these days,” says Jörg Spiekermann, Head of Sales for Palletizing and Packaging Systems Consumer Goods at the BEUMER Group. “On the one hand, rising energy costs mean we must manufacture our systems and machines energy-efficiently. To achieve this, we rely on sustainable production at our sites in Germany.” For example, a photovoltaic system on the roof of BEUMER’s company headquarters produces enough green electricity to cover around 20 percent of the total energy requirements in Beckum. On the other hand, customers demand that BEUMER solutions enable them to work energy-efficiently. Spiekermann says, “These customer demands are aimed at our packaging systems and other products – a strategic factor for remaining competitive.”
The BEUMER Group offers complete final packaging lines that match customer specifications. One component of these lines is the new, modularized BEUMER stretch hood A. It’s a high-performance packaging system, which the Group presented at the Duesseldorf interpack trade fair.
BEUMER has also redesigned its high-performance stretch hood A, focusing on energy-efficient electric operation. And there’s more: To further reduce energy requirements, expensive blowing air for cooling the film weld seam and the hydraulics are no longer required. “Our compact, high-performance packaging system requires only 0.03 kilowatts per hour per pallet,” explains the BEUMER expert. The reduced consumption of compressed air saves costs. There is also no chance of leakage at any point since hydraulics are no longer being used. This also saves more than costs, because in the case of hydraulics in particular, leaking oil can pollute the environment and soil the packaged goods. So the stretch hood A is ideal for the food industry.
Spiekermann: “Our customers come from different sectors, including the building materials, chemicals, cement and consumer goods industries. For example, they pack peat, humus and alternative planting substrates, tiles and glassware, detergent cartons, paint buckets or various packages chaotically stacked on one another.” The system covers the palletized load units with a highly elastic stretch hood. The stretch film adapts perfectly to each stack. As in the stretch wrapping process, the film is highly elastic and fixes the material on the pallet through horizontal and vertical contracting forces. This process thus offers significantly higher load stability. “The goods are packed from 5 sides and are safely protected against environmental influences such as sun, dirt and moisture, both during handling and external storage.” Operators can transport products to customers in perfect condition. The smooth and perforation-free surface of the film enables a clear view of the packaged goods in the customer’s sales areas. The barcodes on the goods can also be easily identified.
The packaged product is not only protected from environmental influences. The packaging also provides increased theft protection: For example, goods at the customers may repeatedly disappear en route from picking to the warehouse and arrival at the buyers – and their loss is usually not noticed. With the conventional stretch-wrap method, anyone can easily reach into the packaging opening from above and remove an item without destroying the film. The stretch hood process prevents these thefts: Any attempt to remove an item from the packaging will destroy the film.
“To conserve resources, more and more customers are coming to us demanding stretch hood film with the highest possible recyclate content of up to 30 percent”, reports Spiekermann. The new Packaging Act, which has been in force since the beginning of 2019, supports this approach. The goal of the Act is to prevent waste and strengthen recycling. Many films thus contain more recyclate. Recyclate can significantly change the film’s properties and, consequently, its handling. Recycling their production waste is an economical solution for the film manufacturers who supply the BEUMER Group, because the scrap material can be processed into regranulate and returned to the production cycle. Using its own regranulates, the manufacturer can conserve resources, reduce emissions, minimize waste through reuse and avoid adverse environmental impacts. However, the recycled content can also significantly change the properties of the films. They do become tougher – but our machine can still process them safely and reliably.
The thinner and more efficient the film, the more meters a roll will have, and the longer the machine running times will be. This is another plus for the operator, since it ensures higher production throughput and reduced film roll changes on the machine – and consequently less downtime, because changing a roll of film during a shift costs time. This means that operators can also stock fewer rolls. The stretch films are thinner yet more efficient than conventional films. As a result, the packaged products are optimally secured, and less material is consumed. “We tested films with thicknesses of 20 to 25 micrometers extensively, using our BEUMER stretch hood A packaging line,” explains Spiekermann.
“To ensure optimal film consumption, we can accurately calculate film consumption with the BEUMER stretch hood A, which is not possible with conventional stretch wrapping machines. This also enables us to calculate how much film material our customer can save with the stretch hood process,” explains the BEUMER expert. The precise determination of the stack contour also enables us to accurately calculate the section length, and this also reduces film consumption. “By the way, one BEUMER stretch hood A can replace several stretch wrappers because it works much faster. The operator doesn’t have to attach the film to the pallet or separate it,” says Spiekermann. There is also a defined and guided film delivery at the product stack.
The BEUMER stretch hood A requires a small footprint of only 13.7 square meters. Yet another new feature is the modular design. It enables the same or similar components and modules to be installed in all plants – and BEUMER has implemented as identical a design as possible wherever feasible. There are also fewer components, which reduces the number of spare parts and speeds up their delivery times. The modules are individually assembled for each customer, internally tested and installed on the customer’s site. Employees can operate the stretch hood A easily and intuitively via an ergonomic human-machine interface (HMI). All tasks can also be carried out from the ground – including maintenance and quick and safe tool changes. Spiekermann: “We can instal the machine quickly and also equip it with standard interfaces to the customer’s ERP and MES systems.”
Another essential aspect is comprehensive customer support. It ensures the constant availability of the systems. Our support includes a 24x7 support line, fast spare parts supply, and global offices to rapidly assist customers worldwide. The BEUMER Group has also developed a futuristic product – the BEUMER Smart Glasses: BEUMER customer support technicians can look over the shoulder of the customer’s service technician and solve the problem with him. This digital solution reduces time-consuming journeys and high additional costs.
They should be more sustainable and energy-efficient. To achieve this, they must be able to process more films made from recyclates – the demands placed on packaging equipment by operators are constantly increasing. What are the operators’ main concerns, and how does the BEUMER Group meet the requirements of its customers? Jörg Spiekermann knows the answers.
“Energy efficiency is foremost on everyone’s mind these days,” says Jörg Spiekermann, Head of Sales for Palletizing and Packaging Systems Consumer Goods at the BEUMER Group. “On the one hand, rising energy costs mean we must manufacture our systems and machines energy-efficiently. To achieve this, we rely on sustainable production at our sites in Germany.” For example, a photovoltaic system on the roof of BEUMER’s company headquarters produces enough green electricity to cover around 20 percent of the total energy requirements in Beckum. On the other hand, customers demand that BEUMER solutions enable them to work energy-efficiently. Spiekermann says, “These customer demands are aimed at our packaging systems and other products – a strategic factor for remaining competitive.”
The BEUMER Group offers complete final packaging lines that match customer specifications. One component of these lines is the new, modularized BEUMER stretch hood A. It’s a high-performance packaging system, which the Group presented at the Duesseldorf interpack trade fair.
BEUMER has also redesigned its high-performance stretch hood A, focusing on energy-efficient electric operation. And there’s more: To further reduce energy requirements, expensive blowing air for cooling the film weld seam and the hydraulics are no longer required. “Our compact, high-performance packaging system requires only 0.03 kilowatts per hour per pallet,” explains the BEUMER expert. The reduced consumption of compressed air saves costs. There is also no chance of leakage at any point since hydraulics are no longer being used. This also saves more than costs, because in the case of hydraulics in particular, leaking oil can pollute the environment and soil the packaged goods. So the stretch hood A is ideal for the food industry.
Spiekermann: “Our customers come from different sectors, including the building materials, chemicals, cement and consumer goods industries. For example, they pack peat, humus and alternative planting substrates, tiles and glassware, detergent cartons, paint buckets or various packages chaotically stacked on one another.” The system covers the palletized load units with a highly elastic stretch hood. The stretch film adapts perfectly to each stack. As in the stretch wrapping process, the film is highly elastic and fixes the material on the pallet through horizontal and vertical contracting forces. This process thus offers significantly higher load stability. “The goods are packed from 5 sides and are safely protected against environmental influences such as sun, dirt and moisture, both during handling and external storage.” Operators can transport products to customers in perfect condition. The smooth and perforation-free surface of the film enables a clear view of the packaged goods in the customer’s sales areas. The barcodes on the goods can also be easily identified.
The packaged product is not only protected from environmental influences. The packaging also provides increased theft protection: For example, goods at the customers may repeatedly disappear en route from picking to the warehouse and arrival at the buyers – and their loss is usually not noticed. With the conventional stretch-wrap method, anyone can easily reach into the packaging opening from above and remove an item without destroying the film. The stretch hood process prevents these thefts: Any attempt to remove an item from the packaging will destroy the film.
“To conserve resources, more and more customers are coming to us demanding stretch hood film with the highest possible recyclate content of up to 30 percent”, reports Spiekermann. The new Packaging Act, which has been in force since the beginning of 2019, supports this approach. The goal of the Act is to prevent waste and strengthen recycling. Many films thus contain more recyclate. Recyclate can significantly change the film’s properties and, consequently, its handling. Recycling their production waste is an economical solution for the film manufacturers who supply the BEUMER Group, because the scrap material can be processed into regranulate and returned to the production cycle. Using its own regranulates, the manufacturer can conserve resources, reduce emissions, minimize waste through reuse and avoid adverse environmental impacts. However, the recycled content can also significantly change the properties of the films. They do become tougher – but our machine can still process them safely and reliably.
The thinner and more efficient the film, the more meters a roll will have, and the longer the machine running times will be. This is another plus for the operator, since it ensures higher production throughput and reduced film roll changes on the machine – and consequently less downtime, because changing a roll of film during a shift costs time. This means that operators can also stock fewer rolls. The stretch films are thinner yet more efficient than conventional films. As a result, the packaged products are optimally secured, and less material is consumed. “We tested films with thicknesses of 20 to 25 micrometers extensively, using our BEUMER stretch hood A packaging line,” explains Spiekermann.
“To ensure optimal film consumption, we can accurately calculate film consumption with the BEUMER stretch hood A, which is not possible with conventional stretch wrapping machines. This also enables us to calculate how much film material our customer can save with the stretch hood process,” explains the BEUMER expert. The precise determination of the stack contour also enables us to accurately calculate the section length, and this also reduces film consumption. “By the way, one BEUMER stretch hood A can replace several stretch wrappers because it works much faster. The operator doesn’t have to attach the film to the pallet or separate it,” says Spiekermann. There is also a defined and guided film delivery at the product stack.
The BEUMER stretch hood A requires a small footprint of only 13.7 square meters. Yet another new feature is the modular design. It enables the same or similar components and modules to be installed in all plants – and BEUMER has implemented as identical a design as possible wherever feasible. There are also fewer components, which reduces the number of spare parts and speeds up their delivery times. The modules are individually assembled for each customer, internally tested and installed on the customer’s site. Employees can operate the stretch hood A easily and intuitively via an ergonomic human-machine interface (HMI). All tasks can also be carried out from the ground – including maintenance and quick and safe tool changes. Spiekermann: “We can instal the machine quickly and also equip it with standard interfaces to the customer’s ERP and MES systems.”
Another essential aspect is comprehensive customer support. It ensures the constant availability of the systems. Our support includes a 24x7 support line, fast spare parts supply, and global offices to rapidly assist customers worldwide. The BEUMER Group has also developed a futuristic product – the BEUMER Smart Glasses: BEUMER customer support technicians can look over the shoulder of the customer’s service technician and solve the problem with him. This digital solution reduces time-consuming journeys and high additional costs.
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Meta Title: The BEUMER Group meets customer requirements with its packaging systems.
Meta Description: What do operators expect from packaging systems? Jörg Spiekermann from the BEUMER Group knows the answers and the strengths of the new BEUMER stretch hood A.
Keywords: BEUMER Group; BEUMER stretch hood; Modularization; Smart Glasses; Packaging solutions; Sustainability; Energy efficiency; Recycling films
Social Media: They should be more sustainable and energy-efficient. To achieve this, they must be able to process more films made from recyclates – the demands placed on packaging equipment by operators are constantly increasing. What are the operators’ main concerns, and how does the BEUMER Group meet the requirements of its customers? Jörg Spiekermann knows the answers.
Captions:
Photo 1: The simple, intuitive and reliable operation of the BEUMER stretch hood A is especially appealing to customers.
Photo 2: The stretch hood safely protects the palletized stacks from environmental influences.
Photo 3: Before the actual packaging process begins, the film is overstretched, after which it tightens around the stack.
Photo 4: Jörg Spiekermann, Head of Sales Palletizing and Packaging Systems Consumer Goods at the BEUMER Group: “Our robust machines usually run for 25 to 30 years.”
Photo credits: BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG
They should be more sustainable and energy-efficient. To achieve this, they must be able to process more films made from recyclates – the demands placed on packaging equipment by operators are constantly increasing. What are the operators’ main concerns, and how does the BEUMER Group meet the requirements of its customers? Jörg Spiekermann knows the answers.
“Energy efficiency is foremost on everyone’s mind these days,” says Jörg Spiekermann, Head of Sales for Palletizing and Packaging Systems Consumer Goods at the BEUMER Group. “On the one hand, rising energy costs mean we must manufacture our systems and machines energy-efficiently. To achieve this, we rely on sustainable production at our sites in Germany.” For example, a photovoltaic system on the roof of BEUMER’s company headquarters produces enough green electricity to cover around 20 percent of the total energy requirements in Beckum. On the other hand, customers demand that BEUMER solutions enable them to work energy-efficiently. Spiekermann says, “These customer demands are aimed at our packaging systems and other products – a strategic factor for remaining competitive.”
The BEUMER Group offers complete final packaging lines that match customer specifications. One component of these lines is the new, modularized BEUMER stretch hood A. It’s a high-performance packaging system, which the Group presented at the Duesseldorf interpack trade fair.
BEUMER has also redesigned its high-performance stretch hood A, focusing on energy-efficient electric operation. And there’s more: To further reduce energy requirements, expensive blowing air for cooling the film weld seam and the hydraulics are no longer required. “Our compact, high-performance packaging system requires only 0.03 kilowatts per hour per pallet,” explains the BEUMER expert. The reduced consumption of compressed air saves costs. There is also no chance of leakage at any point since hydraulics are no longer being used. This also saves more than costs, because in the case of hydraulics in particular, leaking oil can pollute the environment and soil the packaged goods. So the stretch hood A is ideal for the food industry.
Spiekermann: “Our customers come from different sectors, including the building materials, chemicals, cement and consumer goods industries. For example, they pack peat, humus and alternative planting substrates, tiles and glassware, detergent cartons, paint buckets or various packages chaotically stacked on one another.” The system covers the palletized load units with a highly elastic stretch hood. The stretch film adapts perfectly to each stack. As in the stretch wrapping process, the film is highly elastic and fixes the material on the pallet through horizontal and vertical contracting forces. This process thus offers significantly higher load stability. “The goods are packed from 5 sides and are safely protected against environmental influences such as sun, dirt and moisture, both during handling and external storage.” Operators can transport products to customers in perfect condition. The smooth and perforation-free surface of the film enables a clear view of the packaged goods in the customer’s sales areas. The barcodes on the goods can also be easily identified.
The packaged product is not only protected from environmental influences. The packaging also provides increased theft protection: For example, goods at the customers may repeatedly disappear en route from picking to the warehouse and arrival at the buyers – and their loss is usually not noticed. With the conventional stretch-wrap method, anyone can easily reach into the packaging opening from above and remove an item without destroying the film. The stretch hood process prevents these thefts: Any attempt to remove an item from the packaging will destroy the film.
“To conserve resources, more and more customers are coming to us demanding stretch hood film with the highest possible recyclate content of up to 30 percent”, reports Spiekermann. The new Packaging Act, which has been in force since the beginning of 2019, supports this approach. The goal of the Act is to prevent waste and strengthen recycling. Many films thus contain more recyclate. Recyclate can significantly change the film’s properties and, consequently, its handling. Recycling their production waste is an economical solution for the film manufacturers who supply the BEUMER Group, because the scrap material can be processed into regranulate and returned to the production cycle. Using its own regranulates, the manufacturer can conserve resources, reduce emissions, minimize waste through reuse and avoid adverse environmental impacts. However, the recycled content can also significantly change the properties of the films. They do become tougher – but our machine can still process them safely and reliably.
The thinner and more efficient the film, the more meters a roll will have, and the longer the machine running times will be. This is another plus for the operator, since it ensures higher production throughput and reduced film roll changes on the machine – and consequently less downtime, because changing a roll of film during a shift costs time. This means that operators can also stock fewer rolls. The stretch films are thinner yet more efficient than conventional films. As a result, the packaged products are optimally secured, and less material is consumed. “We tested films with thicknesses of 20 to 25 micrometers extensively, using our BEUMER stretch hood A packaging line,” explains Spiekermann.
“To ensure optimal film consumption, we can accurately calculate film consumption with the BEUMER stretch hood A, which is not possible with conventional stretch wrapping machines. This also enables us to calculate how much film material our customer can save with the stretch hood process,” explains the BEUMER expert. The precise determination of the stack contour also enables us to accurately calculate the section length, and this also reduces film consumption. “By the way, one BEUMER stretch hood A can replace several stretch wrappers because it works much faster. The operator doesn’t have to attach the film to the pallet or separate it,” says Spiekermann. There is also a defined and guided film delivery at the product stack.
The BEUMER stretch hood A requires a small footprint of only 13.7 square meters. Yet another new feature is the modular design. It enables the same or similar components and modules to be installed in all plants – and BEUMER has implemented as identical a design as possible wherever feasible. There are also fewer components, which reduces the number of spare parts and speeds up their delivery times. The modules are individually assembled for each customer, internally tested and installed on the customer’s site. Employees can operate the stretch hood A easily and intuitively via an ergonomic human-machine interface (HMI). All tasks can also be carried out from the ground – including maintenance and quick and safe tool changes. Spiekermann: “We can instal the machine quickly and also equip it with standard interfaces to the customer’s ERP and MES systems.”
Another essential aspect is comprehensive customer support. It ensures the constant availability of the systems. Our support includes a 24x7 support line, fast spare parts supply, and global offices to rapidly assist customers worldwide. The BEUMER Group has also developed a futuristic product – the BEUMER Smart Glasses: BEUMER customer support technicians can look over the shoulder of the customer’s service technician and solve the problem with him. This digital solution reduces time-consuming journeys and high additional costs.
First, the lifting and rigging equipment and services provider hosted Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, at its Minworth, West Midlands depot, before Pyle, South Wales headquarters opened its doors to Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East.
The visits were facilitated by the HS2 high-speed railway, which is showcasing companies around the UK that are playing a vital role in the construction of the major infrastructure project. Minworth and Pyle are just two of RSS’s 10 national locations, which combine to deliver radio-frequency identification (RFID)-chipped shackles, hooks, slings, and harnesses to HS2, in addition to periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections and other services.
RSS is an important supplier within a wider supply chain that includes approx. 2,500 companies, most of which are based in the UK and represent the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community. It is a network of businesses that exemplifies the economic impact of a project that goes far beyond the route of the railway—reaching across the nation to impact jobs and skills, while strengthening the businesses it relies on daily at multiple points of use.
Steve Hutin, managing director at RSS, said: “To welcome the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, who holds the posts of Minister of State [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] and Minister for Development and Africa, in addition to Rt. Hon. Carolyn Harris, from the other side of the political benches, to our company demonstrates the scale of HS2 and the opportunities it delivers, both in terms of direct revenue, but also raising our profile as a business, and that of the lifting sector.”
It is an industry that has welcomed much interest from the nation’s policy and decision makers recently, following the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association’s (LEEA) hosting of an event at UK Parliament on the eve of July’s Global Lifting Awareness Day, celebrated at the #GLAD2023 hashtag on social media.
Earlier this year, RSS was presented with a Values Award by the Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, currently delivering the HS2 Main Works Civil Contract for Phase 1 of the route—the HS2 London tunnels.
Hutin added: “The project centres on operation of TBMs [tunnel-boring machines], which must be working 24-hours-a-day. Marking milestones and welcoming MPs to our business isn’t about celebrating what a single company does per se, but more elevates the importance of our industry and its impact on the wider economy.”
The visits were facilitated by the HS2 high-speed railway, which is showcasing companies around the UK that are playing a vital role in the construction of the major infrastructure project. Minworth and Pyle are just two of RSS’s 10 national locations, which combine to deliver radio-frequency identification (RFID)-chipped shackles, hooks, slings, and harnesses to HS2, in addition to periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections and other services.
RSS is an important supplier within a wider supply chain that includes approx. 2,500 companies, most of which are based in the UK and represent the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community. It is a network of businesses that exemplifies the economic impact of a project that goes far beyond the route of the railway—reaching across the nation to impact jobs and skills, while strengthening the businesses it relies on daily at multiple points of use.
Steve Hutin, managing director at RSS, said: “To welcome the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, who holds the posts of Minister of State [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] and Minister for Development and Africa, in addition to Rt. Hon. Carolyn Harris, from the other side of the political benches, to our company demonstrates the scale of HS2 and the opportunities it delivers, both in terms of direct revenue, but also raising our profile as a business, and that of the lifting sector.”
It is an industry that has welcomed much interest from the nation’s policy and decision makers recently, following the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association’s (LEEA) hosting of an event at UK Parliament on the eve of July’s Global Lifting Awareness Day, celebrated at the #GLAD2023 hashtag on social media.
Earlier this year, RSS was presented with a Values Award by the Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, currently delivering the HS2 Main Works Civil Contract for Phase 1 of the route—the HS2 London tunnels.
Hutin added: “The project centres on operation of TBMs [tunnel-boring machines], which must be working 24-hours-a-day. Marking milestones and welcoming MPs to our business isn’t about celebrating what a single company does per se, but more elevates the importance of our industry and its impact on the wider economy.”
First, the lifting and rigging equipment and services provider hosted Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, at its Minworth, West Midlands depot, before Pyle, South Wales headquarters opened its doors to Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East.
The visits were facilitated by the HS2 high-speed railway, which is showcasing companies around the UK that are playing a vital role in the construction of the major infrastructure project. Minworth and Pyle are just two of RSS’s 10 national locations, which combine to deliver radio-frequency identification (RFID)-chipped shackles, hooks, slings, and harnesses to HS2, in addition to periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections and other services.
RSS is an important supplier within a wider supply chain that includes approx. 2,500 companies, most of which are based in the UK and represent the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community. It is a network of businesses that exemplifies the economic impact of a project that goes far beyond the route of the railway—reaching across the nation to impact jobs and skills, while strengthening the businesses it relies on daily at multiple points of use.
Steve Hutin, managing director at RSS, said: “To welcome the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, who holds the posts of Minister of State [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] and Minister for Development and Africa, in addition to Rt. Hon. Carolyn Harris, from the other side of the political benches, to our company demonstrates the scale of HS2 and the opportunities it delivers, both in terms of direct revenue, but also raising our profile as a business, and that of the lifting sector.”
It is an industry that has welcomed much interest from the nation’s policy and decision makers recently, following the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association’s (LEEA) hosting of an event at UK Parliament on the eve of July’s Global Lifting Awareness Day, celebrated at the #GLAD2023 hashtag on social media.
Earlier this year, RSS was presented with a Values Award by the Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, currently delivering the HS2 Main Works Civil Contract for Phase 1 of the route—the HS2 London tunnels.
Hutin added: “The project centres on operation of TBMs [tunnel-boring machines], which must be working 24-hours-a-day. Marking milestones and welcoming MPs to our business isn’t about celebrating what a single company does per se, but more elevates the importance of our industry and its impact on the wider economy.”
First, the lifting and rigging equipment and services provider hosted Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, at its Minworth, West Midlands depot, before Pyle, South Wales headquarters opened its doors to Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East.
The visits were facilitated by the HS2 high-speed railway, which is showcasing companies around the UK that are playing a vital role in the construction of the major infrastructure project. Minworth and Pyle are just two of RSS’s 10 national locations, which combine to deliver radio-frequency identification (RFID)-chipped shackles, hooks, slings, and harnesses to HS2, in addition to periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) inspections and other services.
RSS is an important supplier within a wider supply chain that includes approx. 2,500 companies, most of which are based in the UK and represent the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community. It is a network of businesses that exemplifies the economic impact of a project that goes far beyond the route of the railway—reaching across the nation to impact jobs and skills, while strengthening the businesses it relies on daily at multiple points of use.
Steve Hutin, managing director at RSS, said: “To welcome the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, who holds the posts of Minister of State [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] and Minister for Development and Africa, in addition to Rt. Hon. Carolyn Harris, from the other side of the political benches, to our company demonstrates the scale of HS2 and the opportunities it delivers, both in terms of direct revenue, but also raising our profile as a business, and that of the lifting sector.”
It is an industry that has welcomed much interest from the nation’s policy and decision makers recently, following the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association’s (LEEA) hosting of an event at UK Parliament on the eve of July’s Global Lifting Awareness Day, celebrated at the #GLAD2023 hashtag on social media.
Earlier this year, RSS was presented with a Values Award by the Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS) joint venture, currently delivering the HS2 Main Works Civil Contract for Phase 1 of the route—the HS2 London tunnels.
Hutin added: “The project centres on operation of TBMs [tunnel-boring machines], which must be working 24-hours-a-day. Marking milestones and welcoming MPs to our business isn’t about celebrating what a single company does per se, but more elevates the importance of our industry and its impact on the wider economy.”
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
What news can there possibly be around piece-picking robots? Arm finds item, picks it up, manipulates or orients it, puts it in the right place - end of. It’s the classic application of industrial robotics and has been so, at least on high volume production lines, for four decades.
But in a sense, that application is barely robotics at all – functionally, an old-fashioned juke box did much the same thing, and the machine typically can only work with one or a very limited set of items, presented to it in a very structured way. As early investors in robotics discovered to their cost, these ‘general purpose robots’ were in practice highly task-specific and although they have become essential in high volume production, they have been of limited utility in the warehouse and similar situations where the need is to pick from a very wide range of items varying in shape, size, robustness and orientation.
Now, however, and seemingly overnight – although in reality these developments have been years in the making – advances in sensors, vision systems, handling devices and the means of controlling them, including the beginnings of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), are making general purpose picking robots a practical reality. For Invar, as a leading independent systems integrator, this is becoming a very exciting space.
Presented with a mixed selection of items, the robot can now identify the correct piece, either by scanning a barcode or RFID signal, or purely by analysing the input from a vision system. Either way, algorithms can work out the current and required orientation. The robot can handle the piece according to parameters ‘attached’ to the identity of the piece, including what tool to use to pick the piece up, and how much force is appropriate – or in the case of increasingly popular manipulation by vacuum suckers, which elements from an array of suckers to use, and how much suction to apply. Using developing forms of ML/AI, the robot can be ‘trained’ to deal with novel items, and even optimise its own operations.
This is important for many industries and companies because up to now, piece part picking has tended to be highly labour-intensive and stubbornly resistant to automation. Many parts were awkwardly shaped, too fragile, too small or there was too large a range of sizes/weights. Also, they might require prior operations to present them in the right orientation for the robot or there may be quality issues which require pre-screening, and so on.
In these circumstances any return on investment in automation has often seemed nebulous, and manual labour has often been preferred. But now, not only is human labour scarce and increasingly expensive, manual pick rates may be slow by comparison with more advanced forms of automation, with high numbers of errors – often exacerbated by illness or fatigue. A business operating in, for example, direct to consumer pharmaceuticals, a growing field, cannot tolerate less than 100% accuracy. Similarly, there is no ‘acceptable’ level of damage to electronic components and this can’t be guaranteed with manual systems.
However, the good news is, item picking technology is moving ahead at quite a pace and is fast becoming affordable to SMEs, with a reasonable ROI. So, as labour continues to be hard to find and costly, piece picking robots are likely to become more and more attractive, and when allied to the availability of highly scaleable Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can represent a significant de-risking of the business.
There are a number of options as to how picking robots are deployed. Picking arms may be in fixed locations with goods reaching them on conveyors, AMRs, mobile racking, carousels or the like – and completed picks similarly removed. Or they may rove the warehouse floor mounted on AMRs. They may be designed as cobots, specifically to work safely alongside people, or they may be ‘fenced off’ – physically, or through software and safety features.
There is a further important point of consideration. As noted, previous piece-picking robots have often required goods to be presented in closely defined orientations. For example, so that the barcode can be scanned, or the shape recognised, or so that they don’t overlap. This can require either manual intervention or an array of handling devices that in sum may be as complex and expensive as the robot itself – they also take up a lot of space. It is increasingly likely that with advanced, AI-enabled vision and other systems, much or all of this preparation can be dispensed with.
Piece-picking robots are becoming far more dextrous, quick-learning and adaptive. But, of course, there is still a need to train the robots with the right images and algorithms. It’s fair to say that both suppliers and integrators are actively engaged in working out the most effective ways of organising this, but what is evident to us is that, at this stage in the development and adoption of the technology, there is a real need for open collaboration between all the travellers on this journey into robotic picking.
As independent integrators of advanced warehouse technology with a dedicated division of software developers, we are closely involved in the fast-evolving field of piece-picking robotics and in progressing the smooth interface between robots, controllers and warehouse management systems.
Further independent advice on transforming operational performance in the warehouse can be found at: www.Invargroup.com
The ninth edition of Europe’s largest showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors welcomed its highest visitor and exhibitor numbers to date, including from international markets, and became the biggest ever event to be hosted at Piacenza Expo in Italy.
GIS, Europe’s premier showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, marked a historic milestone at its ninth edition, held 5–7th October in Piacenza, Italy. The exhibition broke records across the board, gathering its largest-ever number of visitors and exhibitors in an electric atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.
The appetite for face-to-face interaction was palpable as more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the Piacenza Expo centre. This figure included a 44% increase in international attendees compared to the 2021 edition, underlining GIS’s growing influence outside of Italy. Moreover, with a record 432 companies showcasing the latest equipment, components, and services, the exhibition space expanded to a sprawling 71,000m2 making it the largest ever at Piacenza Expo.
This exceptional event featured several machine premieres, such as the world’s largest spider lift, the Palazzani TT2J58 with a 58 m working height, and the Magni DTB41RT telescopic boom platform, featuring an innovative stabilisation base with movable wheels. GIS 2023 also witnessed the Italian launches of the versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane from Manitowoc and the Liebherr LTM 110-5.3 mobile crane, which is the first model to be equipped with the new LICCON3 crane control system.
The decision to present these cutting-edge machines at GIS 2023 emphasises the event’s pivotal roles in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport markets. Equally significant was the opportunity to connect with industry peers, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate achievements. Throughout the three-day event, three prestigious awards ceremonies – the Italian Terminal and Logistic Awards (ITALA), the Italian Access Platform Awards (ITALPLATFORM), and the Italian Lifting & Transportation Awards (ILTA) – honoured noteworthy contributions to these industries.
Moreover, the event featured seven enlightening seminars and panel discussions addressing critical industry challenges. Highlights included a rental forum hosted by Rental Blog and Sollevare, as well as a comprehensive discussion on operator training and qualifications organised by ESTA (the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes.
It was not all work and no play, however. On Friday 6th October, GIS by Night provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for exhibitors to connect with their customers and share great food, music, and entertainment.
Fabio Potestà, director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, the company behind the event’s organisation, expressed his satisfaction with GIS 2023’s record-breaking success: “The numbers speak for themselves. We had a record number of exhibitors, an unprecedented exhibition space, and a remarkable turnout of visitors – especially qualified ones, which is very important for a B2B exhibition. Our shows are audited so these are real numbers that our exhibitors can trust. We also had more qualified visitors from the rest of the world, mainly Europe, which is important for our Italian exhibitors who are keen to export and can use GIS to network and grow internationally.”
The next trade fair to be organised by Mediapoint & Exhibitions is GIC 2024, Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries, taking place 18–20th April 2024. GIC covers all aspects of the concrete industry from production, through construction using concrete, to demolition and recycling, showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and equipment. Like GIS 2023, GIC 2024 will also take place in Piacenza, Italy, and is expected to be bigger and more international than ever before. Details can be found at gic-expo.it.
The ninth edition of Europe’s largest showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors welcomed its highest visitor and exhibitor numbers to date, including from international markets, and became the biggest ever event to be hosted at Piacenza Expo in Italy.
GIS, Europe’s premier showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, marked a historic milestone at its ninth edition, held 5–7th October in Piacenza, Italy. The exhibition broke records across the board, gathering its largest-ever number of visitors and exhibitors in an electric atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.
The appetite for face-to-face interaction was palpable as more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the Piacenza Expo centre. This figure included a 44% increase in international attendees compared to the 2021 edition, underlining GIS’s growing influence outside of Italy. Moreover, with a record 432 companies showcasing the latest equipment, components, and services, the exhibition space expanded to a sprawling 71,000m2 making it the largest ever at Piacenza Expo.
This exceptional event featured several machine premieres, such as the world’s largest spider lift, the Palazzani TT2J58 with a 58 m working height, and the Magni DTB41RT telescopic boom platform, featuring an innovative stabilisation base with movable wheels. GIS 2023 also witnessed the Italian launches of the versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane from Manitowoc and the Liebherr LTM 110-5.3 mobile crane, which is the first model to be equipped with the new LICCON3 crane control system.
The decision to present these cutting-edge machines at GIS 2023 emphasises the event’s pivotal roles in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport markets. Equally significant was the opportunity to connect with industry peers, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate achievements. Throughout the three-day event, three prestigious awards ceremonies – the Italian Terminal and Logistic Awards (ITALA), the Italian Access Platform Awards (ITALPLATFORM), and the Italian Lifting & Transportation Awards (ILTA) – honoured noteworthy contributions to these industries.
Moreover, the event featured seven enlightening seminars and panel discussions addressing critical industry challenges. Highlights included a rental forum hosted by Rental Blog and Sollevare, as well as a comprehensive discussion on operator training and qualifications organised by ESTA (the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes.
It was not all work and no play, however. On Friday 6th October, GIS by Night provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for exhibitors to connect with their customers and share great food, music, and entertainment.
Fabio Potestà, director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, the company behind the event’s organisation, expressed his satisfaction with GIS 2023’s record-breaking success: “The numbers speak for themselves. We had a record number of exhibitors, an unprecedented exhibition space, and a remarkable turnout of visitors – especially qualified ones, which is very important for a B2B exhibition. Our shows are audited so these are real numbers that our exhibitors can trust. We also had more qualified visitors from the rest of the world, mainly Europe, which is important for our Italian exhibitors who are keen to export and can use GIS to network and grow internationally.”
The next trade fair to be organised by Mediapoint & Exhibitions is GIC 2024, Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries, taking place 18–20th April 2024. GIC covers all aspects of the concrete industry from production, through construction using concrete, to demolition and recycling, showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and equipment. Like GIS 2023, GIC 2024 will also take place in Piacenza, Italy, and is expected to be bigger and more international than ever before. Details can be found at gic-expo.it.
The ninth edition of Europe’s largest showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors welcomed its highest visitor and exhibitor numbers to date, including from international markets, and became the biggest ever event to be hosted at Piacenza Expo in Italy.
GIS, Europe’s premier showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, marked a historic milestone at its ninth edition, held 5–7th October in Piacenza, Italy. The exhibition broke records across the board, gathering its largest-ever number of visitors and exhibitors in an electric atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.
The appetite for face-to-face interaction was palpable as more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the Piacenza Expo centre. This figure included a 44% increase in international attendees compared to the 2021 edition, underlining GIS’s growing influence outside of Italy. Moreover, with a record 432 companies showcasing the latest equipment, components, and services, the exhibition space expanded to a sprawling 71,000m2 making it the largest ever at Piacenza Expo.
This exceptional event featured several machine premieres, such as the world’s largest spider lift, the Palazzani TT2J58 with a 58 m working height, and the Magni DTB41RT telescopic boom platform, featuring an innovative stabilisation base with movable wheels. GIS 2023 also witnessed the Italian launches of the versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane from Manitowoc and the Liebherr LTM 110-5.3 mobile crane, which is the first model to be equipped with the new LICCON3 crane control system.
The decision to present these cutting-edge machines at GIS 2023 emphasises the event’s pivotal roles in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport markets. Equally significant was the opportunity to connect with industry peers, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate achievements. Throughout the three-day event, three prestigious awards ceremonies – the Italian Terminal and Logistic Awards (ITALA), the Italian Access Platform Awards (ITALPLATFORM), and the Italian Lifting & Transportation Awards (ILTA) – honoured noteworthy contributions to these industries.
Moreover, the event featured seven enlightening seminars and panel discussions addressing critical industry challenges. Highlights included a rental forum hosted by Rental Blog and Sollevare, as well as a comprehensive discussion on operator training and qualifications organised by ESTA (the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes.
It was not all work and no play, however. On Friday 6th October, GIS by Night provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for exhibitors to connect with their customers and share great food, music, and entertainment.
Fabio Potestà, director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, the company behind the event’s organisation, expressed his satisfaction with GIS 2023’s record-breaking success: “The numbers speak for themselves. We had a record number of exhibitors, an unprecedented exhibition space, and a remarkable turnout of visitors – especially qualified ones, which is very important for a B2B exhibition. Our shows are audited so these are real numbers that our exhibitors can trust. We also had more qualified visitors from the rest of the world, mainly Europe, which is important for our Italian exhibitors who are keen to export and can use GIS to network and grow internationally.”
The next trade fair to be organised by Mediapoint & Exhibitions is GIC 2024, Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries, taking place 18–20th April 2024. GIC covers all aspects of the concrete industry from production, through construction using concrete, to demolition and recycling, showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and equipment. Like GIS 2023, GIC 2024 will also take place in Piacenza, Italy, and is expected to be bigger and more international than ever before. Details can be found at gic-expo.it.
The ninth edition of Europe’s largest showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors welcomed its highest visitor and exhibitor numbers to date, including from international markets, and became the biggest ever event to be hosted at Piacenza Expo in Italy.
GIS, Europe’s premier showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, marked a historic milestone at its ninth edition, held 5–7th October in Piacenza, Italy. The exhibition broke records across the board, gathering its largest-ever number of visitors and exhibitors in an electric atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.
The appetite for face-to-face interaction was palpable as more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the Piacenza Expo centre. This figure included a 44% increase in international attendees compared to the 2021 edition, underlining GIS’s growing influence outside of Italy. Moreover, with a record 432 companies showcasing the latest equipment, components, and services, the exhibition space expanded to a sprawling 71,000m2 making it the largest ever at Piacenza Expo.
This exceptional event featured several machine premieres, such as the world’s largest spider lift, the Palazzani TT2J58 with a 58 m working height, and the Magni DTB41RT telescopic boom platform, featuring an innovative stabilisation base with movable wheels. GIS 2023 also witnessed the Italian launches of the versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane from Manitowoc and the Liebherr LTM 110-5.3 mobile crane, which is the first model to be equipped with the new LICCON3 crane control system.
The decision to present these cutting-edge machines at GIS 2023 emphasises the event’s pivotal roles in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport markets. Equally significant was the opportunity to connect with industry peers, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate achievements. Throughout the three-day event, three prestigious awards ceremonies – the Italian Terminal and Logistic Awards (ITALA), the Italian Access Platform Awards (ITALPLATFORM), and the Italian Lifting & Transportation Awards (ILTA) – honoured noteworthy contributions to these industries.
Moreover, the event featured seven enlightening seminars and panel discussions addressing critical industry challenges. Highlights included a rental forum hosted by Rental Blog and Sollevare, as well as a comprehensive discussion on operator training and qualifications organised by ESTA (the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes.
It was not all work and no play, however. On Friday 6th October, GIS by Night provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for exhibitors to connect with their customers and share great food, music, and entertainment.
Fabio Potestà, director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, the company behind the event’s organisation, expressed his satisfaction with GIS 2023’s record-breaking success: “The numbers speak for themselves. We had a record number of exhibitors, an unprecedented exhibition space, and a remarkable turnout of visitors – especially qualified ones, which is very important for a B2B exhibition. Our shows are audited so these are real numbers that our exhibitors can trust. We also had more qualified visitors from the rest of the world, mainly Europe, which is important for our Italian exhibitors who are keen to export and can use GIS to network and grow internationally.”
The next trade fair to be organised by Mediapoint & Exhibitions is GIC 2024, Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries, taking place 18–20th April 2024. GIC covers all aspects of the concrete industry from production, through construction using concrete, to demolition and recycling, showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and equipment. Like GIS 2023, GIC 2024 will also take place in Piacenza, Italy, and is expected to be bigger and more international than ever before. Details can be found at gic-expo.it.
The ninth edition of Europe’s largest showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors welcomed its highest visitor and exhibitor numbers to date, including from international markets, and became the biggest ever event to be hosted at Piacenza Expo in Italy.
GIS, Europe’s premier showcase for the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, marked a historic milestone at its ninth edition, held 5–7th October in Piacenza, Italy. The exhibition broke records across the board, gathering its largest-ever number of visitors and exhibitors in an electric atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.
The appetite for face-to-face interaction was palpable as more than 18,000 visitors flocked to the Piacenza Expo centre. This figure included a 44% increase in international attendees compared to the 2021 edition, underlining GIS’s growing influence outside of Italy. Moreover, with a record 432 companies showcasing the latest equipment, components, and services, the exhibition space expanded to a sprawling 71,000m2 making it the largest ever at Piacenza Expo.
This exceptional event featured several machine premieres, such as the world’s largest spider lift, the Palazzani TT2J58 with a 58 m working height, and the Magni DTB41RT telescopic boom platform, featuring an innovative stabilisation base with movable wheels. GIS 2023 also witnessed the Italian launches of the versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane from Manitowoc and the Liebherr LTM 110-5.3 mobile crane, which is the first model to be equipped with the new LICCON3 crane control system.
The decision to present these cutting-edge machines at GIS 2023 emphasises the event’s pivotal roles in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport markets. Equally significant was the opportunity to connect with industry peers, engage in meaningful discussions, and celebrate achievements. Throughout the three-day event, three prestigious awards ceremonies – the Italian Terminal and Logistic Awards (ITALA), the Italian Access Platform Awards (ITALPLATFORM), and the Italian Lifting & Transportation Awards (ILTA) – honoured noteworthy contributions to these industries.
Moreover, the event featured seven enlightening seminars and panel discussions addressing critical industry challenges. Highlights included a rental forum hosted by Rental Blog and Sollevare, as well as a comprehensive discussion on operator training and qualifications organised by ESTA (the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes.
It was not all work and no play, however. On Friday 6th October, GIS by Night provided a relaxed and enjoyable setting for exhibitors to connect with their customers and share great food, music, and entertainment.
Fabio Potestà, director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, the company behind the event’s organisation, expressed his satisfaction with GIS 2023’s record-breaking success: “The numbers speak for themselves. We had a record number of exhibitors, an unprecedented exhibition space, and a remarkable turnout of visitors – especially qualified ones, which is very important for a B2B exhibition. Our shows are audited so these are real numbers that our exhibitors can trust. We also had more qualified visitors from the rest of the world, mainly Europe, which is important for our Italian exhibitors who are keen to export and can use GIS to network and grow internationally.”
The next trade fair to be organised by Mediapoint & Exhibitions is GIC 2024, Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to the concrete and masonry industries, taking place 18–20th April 2024. GIC covers all aspects of the concrete industry from production, through construction using concrete, to demolition and recycling, showcasing the latest materials, technologies, and equipment. Like GIS 2023, GIC 2024 will also take place in Piacenza, Italy, and is expected to be bigger and more international than ever before. Details can be found at gic-expo.it.
Mercadona, a leading grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution centre in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.
As well as enabling the delivery of fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours, the warehouse automation secures Mercadona the benefits of less waste and a safer workplace. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, Mercadona's staff enjoy work roles that are less tiring and more productive, factors that typically aid staff retention. Automation also ensures order accuracy, reduced costs and maximum throughput.
Fruit and vegetables only stay fresh for a limited time, so if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value. Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable produce for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its fresh products.
“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.”
Seeking to optimize its order flows, minimize food waste and enhance the customer experience, Mercadona has worked in partnership with Cimcorp to automate its intralogistics processes at San Isidro, as well as at its distribution centres in Zaragoza and Parc Sagunt. The San Isidro DC supplies 171 of Mercadona’s supermarkets, shipping a daily volume of 118,800 totes to the stores.
By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp's system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time (from order receipt to shipment) significantly. The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.
“The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers,” says Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona.
Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona's desired growth targets. This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.
“Having modular solutions has advantages,” explains Javier Blasco, “such as all personnel knowing the installation, regardless of which city it is in. Additionally, the solutions can be scaled up and the processes standardized more efficiently. The best part has been the robustness of the application; we haven’t had operational surprises with real orders, and we’ve been able to provide a guaranteed service to our stores.”
Cimcorp's modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and excellent service to Mercadona's stores. The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation to revolutionize the food supply chain and ensure sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.
Automation helps Mercadona get fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours
Warehouse automation from Cimcorp is enabling the Spanish grocery retailer to increase the shelf life of its fresh food.
Mercadona, a leading grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution centre in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.
As well as enabling the delivery of fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours, the warehouse automation secures Mercadona the benefits of less waste and a safer workplace. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, Mercadona's staff enjoy work roles that are less tiring and more productive, factors that typically aid staff retention. Automation also ensures order accuracy, reduced costs and maximum throughput.
The freshness challenge
Fruit and vegetables only stay fresh for a limited time, so if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value. Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable produce for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its fresh products.
“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.”
Seeking to optimize its order flows, minimize food waste and enhance the customer experience, Mercadona has worked in partnership with Cimcorp to automate its intralogistics processes at San Isidro, as well as at its distribution centres in Zaragoza and Parc Sagunt. The San Isidro DC supplies 171 of Mercadona’s supermarkets, shipping a daily volume of 118,800 totes to the stores.
By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp's system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time (from order receipt to shipment) significantly. The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.
“The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers,” says Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona.
Standardized, scalable solution
Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona's desired growth targets. This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.
“Having modular solutions has advantages,” explains Javier Blasco, “such as all personnel knowing the installation, regardless of which city it is in. Additionally, the solutions can be scaled up and the processes standardized more efficiently. The best part has been the robustness of the application; we haven’t had operational surprises with real orders, and we’ve been able to provide a guaranteed service to our stores.”
Reliable operation
Cimcorp's modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and excellent service to Mercadona's stores. The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation to revolutionize the food supply chain and ensure sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.
www.cimcorp.com
Automation helps Mercadona get fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours
Warehouse automation from Cimcorp is enabling the Spanish grocery retailer to increase the shelf life of its fresh food.
Mercadona, a leading grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution centre in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.
As well as enabling the delivery of fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours, the warehouse automation secures Mercadona the benefits of less waste and a safer workplace. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, Mercadona's staff enjoy work roles that are less tiring and more productive, factors that typically aid staff retention. Automation also ensures order accuracy, reduced costs and maximum throughput.
Fruit and vegetables only stay fresh for a limited time, so if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value. Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable produce for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its fresh products.
“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.”
Seeking to optimize its order flows, minimize food waste and enhance the customer experience, Mercadona has worked in partnership with Cimcorp to automate its intralogistics processes at San Isidro, as well as at its distribution centres in Zaragoza and Parc Sagunt. The San Isidro DC supplies 171 of Mercadona’s supermarkets, shipping a daily volume of 118,800 totes to the stores.
By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp's system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time (from order receipt to shipment) significantly. The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.
“The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers,” says Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona.
Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona's desired growth targets. This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.
“Having modular solutions has advantages,” explains Javier Blasco, “such as all personnel knowing the installation, regardless of which city it is in. Additionally, the solutions can be scaled up and the processes standardized more efficiently. The best part has been the robustness of the application; we haven’t had operational surprises with real orders, and we’ve been able to provide a guaranteed service to our stores.”
Cimcorp's modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and excellent service to Mercadona's stores. The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation to revolutionize the food supply chain and ensure sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.
Mercadona, a leading grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution centre in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.
As well as enabling the delivery of fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours, the warehouse automation secures Mercadona the benefits of less waste and a safer workplace. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, Mercadona's staff enjoy work roles that are less tiring and more productive, factors that typically aid staff retention. Automation also ensures order accuracy, reduced costs and maximum throughput.
Fruit and vegetables only stay fresh for a limited time, so if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value. Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable produce for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its fresh products.
“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.”
Seeking to optimize its order flows, minimize food waste and enhance the customer experience, Mercadona has worked in partnership with Cimcorp to automate its intralogistics processes at San Isidro, as well as at its distribution centres in Zaragoza and Parc Sagunt. The San Isidro DC supplies 171 of Mercadona’s supermarkets, shipping a daily volume of 118,800 totes to the stores.
By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp's system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time (from order receipt to shipment) significantly. The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.
“The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers,” says Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona.
Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona's desired growth targets. This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.
“Having modular solutions has advantages,” explains Javier Blasco, “such as all personnel knowing the installation, regardless of which city it is in. Additionally, the solutions can be scaled up and the processes standardized more efficiently. The best part has been the robustness of the application; we haven’t had operational surprises with real orders, and we’ve been able to provide a guaranteed service to our stores.”
Cimcorp's modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and excellent service to Mercadona's stores. The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation to revolutionize the food supply chain and ensure sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.
Mercadona, a leading grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution centre in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.
As well as enabling the delivery of fresh produce from field to store within 24 hours, the warehouse automation secures Mercadona the benefits of less waste and a safer workplace. With robots taking care of the heavy lifting and repetitive tasks, Mercadona's staff enjoy work roles that are less tiring and more productive, factors that typically aid staff retention. Automation also ensures order accuracy, reduced costs and maximum throughput.
Fruit and vegetables only stay fresh for a limited time, so if there are any delays in delivering them, they can spoil or lose their nutritional value. Mercadona aims to guarantee the freshness of perishable produce for its customers. One of the best ways of doing this is by reducing the lead time in its warehouses, thereby extending the shelf life of its fresh products.
“The grocery industry is extremely competitive, as shoppers change consuming habits fast and change stores even faster,” says Kari Miikkulainen, Director of Warehouse & Distribution Industry Sales at Cimcorp. “Today, stores offering the freshest, most seasonal produce win. Our job is to help industry players provide their shoppers with more high-quality, fresh produce in less time.”
Seeking to optimize its order flows, minimize food waste and enhance the customer experience, Mercadona has worked in partnership with Cimcorp to automate its intralogistics processes at San Isidro, as well as at its distribution centres in Zaragoza and Parc Sagunt. The San Isidro DC supplies 171 of Mercadona’s supermarkets, shipping a daily volume of 118,800 totes to the stores.
By leveraging automatic storage, handling and order-picking capabilities in different temperature zones, Cimcorp's system has streamlined processes and reduced order-processing time (from order receipt to shipment) significantly. The solution utilizes sophisticated and integrated software for data tracking, tracing and management, ensuring efficient operations throughout the supply chain.
“The most significant advantage is reducing errors to guarantee a better service for our stores and customers,” says Javier Blasco, Logistics Solutions Purchasing Manager for Mercadona.
Cimcorp designed modular control architecture that provides the agility and flexibility needed to handle unpredictability in consumer demand. With work in the DC divided into sections but controlled by one integrated management solution, all units can work in synchronization and meet Mercadona's desired growth targets. This modular approach has enabled scalability and standardized processes across multiple locations for Mercadona, enhancing operational efficiency and facilitating knowledge transfer among staff.
“Having modular solutions has advantages,” explains Javier Blasco, “such as all personnel knowing the installation, regardless of which city it is in. Additionally, the solutions can be scaled up and the processes standardized more efficiently. The best part has been the robustness of the application; we haven’t had operational surprises with real orders, and we’ve been able to provide a guaranteed service to our stores.”
Cimcorp's modular automation design process – combined with reliable and seamless storage, picking and retrieval processes – has delivered operational reliability and excellent service to Mercadona's stores. The successful collaboration between Cimcorp and Mercadona demonstrates the potential of automation to revolutionize the food supply chain and ensure sustainable growth in the grocery retail industry.
ESTA used the recent GIS exhibition, held 5-7th October in Piacenza, Italy, as a forum to bring together key players in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors and discuss the pressing issue of how to enhance and standardise operator competency.
Improving operator skills and professionalism is a top priority in the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors to ensure the safety not only of the operators but also other personnel on site and the general public. This mission is a cornerstone of ESTA, the European association for abnormal road transport and mobile cranes, which champions safer work practices and collaborates closely with equipment manufacturers to facilitate knowledge exchange and cooperation within the industry.
Emphasising the critical need for operator training improvements, Ton Klijn, Director of ESTA, said: “Not only in Europe but all over the world, 95% of accidents with cranes originate from the operator and not from the machine. That’s why we believe operator training needs to be more robust.”
ESTA recently seized the opportunity to promote this cause at GIS 2023, the largest European event dedicated to the lifting, industrial and port handling, and heavy transport sectors, held 5-7th October in Piacenza, Italy. With 432 exhibitors representing 500 brands and over 18,000 qualified visitors from around the world, this event supported ESTA to connect with key industry players and the broader community.
During GIS 2023, ESTA hosted a forum in collaboration with A.N.N.A., the Italian national association for crane and exceptional transport rental, to discuss the latest developments in operator training and qualification. Representing diverse perspectives, the panel included industry giant Liebherr, offering insights from a crane manufacturer’s viewpoint, as well as the Italian Road Police and Italian Ministry of Labour.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn and ESTA President Fabio Belli opened the forum by presenting the association’s ECOL ‘European Crane Operator License’ project, which establishes a standardised framework for the training and examination of crane operators under the European Standard EN 13000 for mobile cranes. Daniela Dal Col, President of A.N.N.A, meanwhile, lent her expertise to the discussion, underlining the advantages of the ECOL licensing system.
The need for ECOL emerged a decade ago when ESTA received stark warnings from manufacturers about the declining operator skills witnessed during crane handovers from the factory. What compounded the issue was as the glaring disparity in national laws and regulations across Europe, creating inconsistencies in operator knowledge and competencies. According to ESTA, crane operator training duration in Europe ranged from just 22 hours to two years.
In response to this pressing issue, an ESTA working group embarked on developing a comprehensive training and examination scheme in 2014. By 2018, the ECOL foundation was established, and pilot runs were conducted. The crowning moment came in December 2019 when ECOL received recognition from EQF (the European Qualifications Framework).
ECOL not only specifies the examination but also sets educational standards, records the experience of licensed operators, and enables site managers to verify the qualifications and experience of any crane operator entering their construction site or facility. This promotes higher levels of competence as well as heightening professionalism, resulting in enhanced safety, and efficiency.
As of 2023, ECOL is officially recognised in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. This means that ECOL-qualified operators can work in these regions without the need for additional training or testing enabling labour mobility, which is a significant advantage amidst the backdrop of labour shortages. Mutual recognition discussions are now underway in Germany, Spain, and the Republic of Ireland.
The next step for ESTA is to apply the same approach to the operation of trailers with the introduction of ETOL ‘European Trailer Operator Licence’. Astonishingly, as it stands, there are no requirements for operating trailers, save for being over 18 years of age and physically able to work the handles. This gap in regulation is what ETOL aims to address, ensuring that operators of hydraulic trailers meet defined standards of competence and safety.
Crane and trailer manufacturers also play a crucial role in elevating skills within the industry. Hence, Christoph Behmüller, Head of Training at crane manufacturer Liebherr, contributed to the forum at GIS 2023 by presenting the brand’s own training initiatives. Recognising that while cranes can be engineered for maximum safety and that the ultimate key to safety lies with the operator, he said: “At Liebherr, as a manufacturer, we can change our machines to be as safe as possible, but we cannot change the operator. That means we have to do more to ensure crane operators are well educated.”
To this end, Liebherr has established training centres across the globe, from Italy and Great Britain to South Africa, the USA, Brazil, and Australia, fostering hands-on learning. In addition, the brand has introduced an extensive e-learning platform, enabling operators to learn at their convenience, covering an array of topics including load charts and rigging procedures. This approach is further complemented by a library of video tutorials, catering to practical facets of the profession, all closely aligned with ESTA to ensure the training meets the required industry standards.
Fabio Potestà, Director of Mediapoint & Exhibitions, which organised GIS, expressed the significance of hosting the ESTA operator skills and qualification forum. “The magic of the GIS exhibition lies in its ability to bring the industry together, foster networking connections, help participants stay abreast of the latest industry trends, and nurture collaboration among key stakeholders. It was an honour for GIS to host the ESTA operator skills and qualification forum and provide a platform for a pivotal discussion that promises to usher in significant safety and efficiency enhancements for the betterment of the industry and society at large.”
Details on the European Crane Operator Licence (ECOL) or European Trailer Operator Licence (ETOL) can be found at www.ecol-esta.eu while further information on ESTA in general can be found at estaeurope.eu.