Network Handling Winter 2019

2019 winter winter Vol XXVIIV

The Irish Magazine for the Materials Handling, Warehousing & Logistics Sectors

Creative Journeys given a lift at Dublin Airport Inside Hyster Interview FTAI Survey

Calor Feature Cartwright launch DHL Logistics

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contents winter 2019

The Irish Magazine for the Materials Handling, Warehousing & Logistics Sectors

Creative Journeys Cover pic; Creative Journeys is a two-year public art program that brings together Dublin Airport and the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

Dublin Airport is proud partner with NCAD where, since 1746, countless people have taken creative journeys in pursuit of their artistic ambition. Every year, millions of passengers start or finish journeys in Dublin Airport, coming from and connecting to Artist: Philip Napler Material: Plywood the rest of the world.

This partnership between Ireland’s national gateway and Ireland’s oldest art school celebrates these journeys. Creative Journeys will give NCAD students, past and present, the opportunity to showcase their creative work to an international audience and will provide Dublin Airport passengers with a unique perspective into contemporary Irish art.

This installation is called ‘Visual Amenity 1’ and ‘Visual Amenity 2’. The structures are near replicas of each other and contain 72 interlocking pieces. They have been designed by deconstructing a small flat-pack model of a forklift vehicle and re-sizing the individual pieces to a much larger scale through a computer commanded cutting process – a kind of reverse engineering. The work is made from plywood. In their reproduced modular form, the forklifts are intended as an efficient and visually interesting way of thinking about the production and global movements of goods.

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Volume XXVIIV Issue 4

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News

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Interview - Hyster

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Review I - IMHX 2019

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Report I: ECG Conference

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Feature - Calor FLT

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Logistics - DHL Rugby

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Case Study - Uniphar

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Published by:

Fleet Publications, D’Alton Street,

Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland F12 E7P2

Editor:

Jarlath Sweeney – jarlath@fleet.ie

Contributors:

Johanna Parsons, Paul White, Howard Knott,

Rob Van Dieten & Cathal Doyle Advertising:

Mary Morrissey

Administration:

Denise Owens

Design & Layout: Crackerjack Design House Contact Details: Telephone: 00353 94 9372826 Email: handlingnetwork@fleet.ie

WHO GETS HANDLING NETWORK? Handling Network - the magazine of the Irish Handling & Distribution Industry - is produced bi-monthly by specialists in the materials handling sector, with contributions by experts on topics of special interest to its readership.

Handling Network is distributed on controlled circulation; addressed to key personnel in Ireland’s top companies and organisations. Recipients include Company Directors, Purchasing Managers, Warehouse & Logistics Managers, Plant & Production Engineers, Transport Managers, Safety Officers and other relevant personnel.

Areas covered include forklift trucks, warehouse logistics, racking, storage & distribution, commercial vehicles, plant & equipment finance, lifting gear, loading bay and conveyor systems...together with information on health and safety issues.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in Handling Network, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by advertisers, manufacturers or contributors or for opinions expressed.

Copyright for all material contained in this magazine remains with the publishers.

www.handling-network.com

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Combilift wins Design4Safety Award

Combilift added yet another award to its ever growing tally when it won the Industrial Vehicles Category of this year’s BITA (British Industrial Truck Association) Design4Safety Awards. The Monaghan company’s reputation for designing innovative products and features to enhance safety in the materials handling sector was underlined once again with the success of its patented multi-position tiller arm, which is a feature common to all its pedestrian models.

Martin McVicar, Combilift’s CEO and co-founder commented on accepting the trophy from BITA Secretary James Clark : “We are very proud to be the winners of such an important award as safety is a crucial issue in our industry. Following the FLTA Safety award we received for the Combi-PPT earlier in the year, this highlights the fact that our product range is designed with the utmost safety in mind - not just for operators but for all employees who work with or

in the vicinity of forklifts and industrial vehicles.”

Combilift’s unique multi-position tiller enables push button rotation of the rear wheel parallel to the chassis and back, allowing the operator to remain in the safest possible position when placing and picking in narrow aisles; at the side of the unit rather than behind it. This reduces the risk of the operator being crushed or trapped between the truck and racking and the excellent visibility reduces the risks of accidents involving other personnel. Originally designed for the Combi-WR reach stacker, the tiller arm is now incorporated on Combilift’s ever growing range of pedestrian models such as the multidirectional Combi-WR4, the Combi-CS counterbalance stacker and the Combi-PPT powered pallet truck.

Groupe Renault rewarded for reducing its logistics carbon emissions Groupe Renault has been honoured for the best progress in reducing CO2 emissions from its freight transport.

The French automotive company was in the top ten companies to voluntarily reduce the environmental impact of its logistics activities. At the end of 2017, Groupe Renault’s Supply Chain had achieved a reduction of nearly 9% in CO2 emissions from its logistics activities in Europe, following an initial commitment to a 7% reduction.

As part of this commitment, the Group has defined several actions to reduce its impact, including working on: n The optimization of the filling rate of the means of transport and reduction of the kilometres /m3 travelled. n The reduction of fuel consumption for the transport of its goods. n The use of multimodal transport by promoting rail and maritime transport.

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The “Voluntary Commitments for the Environment - Transport & Logistics” programme (EVE) proposes 3 measures: FRET21 for shippers (climate change), Objective CO2 for freight and passenger carriers and EVCOM for freight forwarders, as well as the implementation of an environmental data exchange platform between transport stakeholders. This programme supports companies in reducing the energy and environmental impact of their transport and logistics activities. The programme is supported by the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition and the Ministry of Transport.

In parallel with the experimentation conducted with the start-up NEOLINE to develop a sustainable maritime transport service powered by wind,

Groupe Renault’s involvement in the FRET21 system illustrates the Group’s ambition to reduce the ecological footprint of each vehicle throughout its life cycle, from the transport of manufacturing parts to customer delivery and end-of-life processing.

Groupe Renault was the first car manufacturer to set a public and quantified target for reducing its carbon footprint. Compared to 2010, the decrease was -18.2% in 2016 and the objective by 2022 is to reduce the Groupe’s carbon footprint by 25%.

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Wincanton Ireland invests in a fleet of ten new VNA forklifts from Jungheinrich

Wincanton Ireland has invested in a new fleet of ten very-narrow-aisle (VNA) forklifts from Jungheinrich.

The Wincanton site in Ballycoolin, Dublin - spanning 240,000 square feet - has seen its warehousing operations continue to grow in 2019. Due to this expansion, it has brought in the new vehicles from Jungheinrich to ensure it continues to provide the

level of service its customers demand.

As business continues to grow for Wincanton, the focus has turned to achieving maximum throughput in the most efficient manner possible. With 46 aisles reaching 11,000m in height, this 3-shift, 24 hour operation requires the most reliable and efficient material handling solution in order to meet the demands that are inherent for Wincanton. Maximising storage space in the large Ballycoolin operation is paramount for Wincanton during the decision-making process, the company mangement concluded that Jungheinrich provided the best solution.

That solution is the state-of-the-art EKX516k VNA forklift multiplied by ten. From the planning stage through to delivery and commissioning of the fleet of new trucks, John Curry (Area

Sales Manager, Jungheinrich) worked alongside Alan Overton (General Manager at Wincanton Ireland) in order to deliver the best solution for Wincanton’s operation.

The fleet of ten new EKX516k VNA forklifts work safely and efficiently in aisle widths of only 1,900mm, reaching heights of up to 11,000mm and working at a maximum speed of between 9-12km/h. The Jungheinrich EKX 516k VNA is the current and historical industry benchmark; the maintenance-free synchronous reluctance motors offer completely new performance dimensions, reducing energy loss by up to 10%. The EKX 5-series has the innovative vibration damping system, which offers further improved safety and performance – even on uneven surfaces! RFID tracking increases flexibility and adapts travel speeds optimally to the surrounding conditions. This makes the EKX a reliable partner for Wincanton Ireland as it continue to go from strength to strength in the Irish market.

Swissport is speeding-up air freight handling processes Swissport has gained efficiencies in its global air freight handling processes at its cargo warehouses by introducing newly developed self-services kiosks.

The digital innovation reduces waiting times and increases the quality of the air freight documentation.

Swissport’s cargo business at Brussels Airport, Zaventem, was the front runner, in rolling out the new service followed by Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Swissport will roll out the kiosks across all core cargo stations within the next 24 months. With this digital innovation Swissport wants to reduce waiting times, increase the quality of the air freight documentation and ultimately aim to raise customer satisfaction.

“Our new kiosks support the paperless eFreight initiative by International Air Transport Association

(IATA) and at the same time accelerate the import and export processes for our customers significantly,” stated Hendrik Leyssens, Vice President Global Operations Cargo at Swissport International. “Truck drivers benefit from minimal wait times and faster turn-arounds.”

“After the drivers register and identify at the kiosk with an official ID or passport, they can scan all relevant air freight documentation.

They then receive a text message with the information at which truck gate they must drop their cargo. Shipping information can also be entered via a Kiosk-Web Portal by the forwarders

directly. Furthermore, customers may link their IT systems via an API interface to Swissport’s data base,” continued Hendrik.

The new system also increases efficiency and security. During the documents check, the kiosk system, which is connected to the EU Regulated Agent database, also checks the security status of every shipment. www.handling-network.com

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viewpoint

IS THE FUTURE OF FORKLIFTS ALL ELECTRIC?

Q&A with Russell Baker, Territory Manager, UK & Ireland for Hyster Europe.

As the Hyster brand celebrates its 90th anniversary and Hyster Europe marks over 20 years of producing electric lift trucks in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, Russell Baker discusses how the use of battery powered forklifts is changing.

Q: When did battery powered lift trucks become a focus for Hyster Europe?

A: The introduction of the Hyster XN and XNT series’ of electric forklifts back in 2008 cemented Hyster as a world class provider of low energy consumption trucks, with reduced maintenance requirements, minimised operating costs and zero emissions.

Our plant in Craigavon, started manufacturing battery powered trucks in 2008 and is the European source of all Hyster 1.3 - 3.5 tonne Electric counterbalance lift trucks. Previously, electric truck production for Europe was in Irvine, Scotland. Today, thousands of different types of forklifts are manufactured each year at our UK plant with a large percentage of these being exported through Hyster distributors to customers across Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East.

Hyster Europe now offers a varied range of electric trucks, with powerful, robust and high capacity trucks available alongside small, three-wheel electric forklifts which benefit from optimal energy efficiency.

Q: Are electric lift trucks now the best choice, even in outdoor applications?

A: It depends on what the trucks will be doing as to what the customer should choose. The right choice of forklift can significantly affect the overall performance and cost of an operation and in some instances, an ICE truck may still be more suitable.

However, we are seeing some businesses making the move to electrics, as in the right circumstances it can offer improved efficiency, particularly in terms of battery power, and

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the associated low cost of ownership, including maintenance costs. Electric trucks are also popular with those operations looking for environmentally friendly operation, as they produce zero emissions.

In the past, it would have been more typical to see electric trucks indoors, on ‘light’ duties. However, it’s now common to see Hyster J series electric forklifts working outdoors, carrying out the same demanding tasks as IC trucks, with capacities up to 5.5-tonnes. They can be found even in tough industries such as foundries, recycling centres and construction materials applications.

Q: So, when is an electric forklift the right choice?

A: It depends on many factors and we work closely with our dealers and end customers to find the best solution for different application needs. However, in general, electric lift trucks with lead acid batteries are still often considered the best option for many indoor logistics operations.

For example busy logistics, applications will benefit from efficiency and performance comparable to LPG/ diesel alternatives and a potentially lower cost of ownership where savings can be made with just one lift truck.

These may be multishift operations so forklift batteries can be exchanged easily between shifts without regular opportunity charges – we offer several battery exchange options to make this quick and simple.

However, these applications need the space for a charging room, and to avoid downtime must have strict processes in place to make sure batteries are charged to keep operations running. They also need a weekly maintenance and equalisation schedule.

Q: What about lithium-ion batteries?

A: Lithium-ion is becoming a popular power option for Hyster electric lift trucks. It is an increasingly common choice in the food industry, for example, where operations are mostly indoors and there is a priority to

reduce contamination. Lithium-ion has no acid which could spill and no fumes - hydrogen and other gases can be produced by lead acid, which are unwelcome in clean food production and storage areas.

Lithium-ion batteries do not need the high levels of maintenance that their lead acid counterparts require, and they allow for opportunity charging during planned breaks and lunch time.

This ‘top up’ approach can simplify operations as you only need one battery, not two. Plus, over a period of years, lithium-ion may work out cheaper in the right application, with lower total battery costs.

However, there are infrastructure considerations when it comes to charging, so lithium-ion won’t be the best choice for everybody.

Q: What does the future hold for Hyster electric lift trucks?

A: Electric lift trucks at a lower capacity continue to be a core part of our product offering. However, there are interesting changes at the higher capacity end of the market where Hyster is pioneering the technology on much larger machines.

We currently have projects underway for the Port of Los Angeles in the US and the Port of Valencia in Spain where we are developing Hyster electric container handlers and a ReachStacker. These zero-emission machines incorporate electricity at high voltage as the main energy source to power fully electric motors.

Testing has shown that the machines in development offer comparable performance to the equivalent Hyster IC models and provide excellent energy efficiency and a low cost of ownership when matched to the right application requirements.

The trucks in development also feature patented Hyster energy recovery systems, which recover and store energy from lowering loads and braking, which helps to increase uptime through longer periods between charges, while also helping to reduce the overall energy costs.

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winter 2019

review I

A successful 2019 show as IMHX moves to biennial dates IMHX, the largest and most comprehensive materials handling event on these islands took place between 24 – 27 September at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, attracting over 16,000 professionals in the logistics and supply chain sectors over the four days.

The show was hailed a major success by exhibitors, with many commenting on a high level of engagement and significant business orders being placed. Over 450 exhibitors included many of the biggest names in the industry, and featured many new products unveiled for the first time.

Automation was the name of the game, with interactive collaborative robots, autonomous guided vehicles (AGV) and intelligent picking solutions among the equipment displayed.

IMHX event director, Rob Fisher, was delighted with the feedback from the event: “I am delighted that so many exhibitors have hailed IMHX 2019 as a success - praising the excellent quality of attendees, the high level of engagement and quantity of new leads and orders taken over the four days of the event,” he said.

The opening day of the show saw the announcement that following an extensive period of consultation involving many of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of equipment and technology to the logistics sector as well as other partners and stakeholders, IMHX will increase its frequency to every two years. Therefore the next IMHX takes place at the NEC on September 14-16, 2021.

15NE articulated truck, supplied by Combilift dealer Briggs Equipment to Nestlé to mark 15,000 products supplied to the UK market.

Crown

Crown Lift Trucks was also marking an anniversary, celebrating 50 years in the UK. Launched at the show was its new ESR 1000 Series reach truck. It can lift loads of up to 2 tonnes up to 13 metres in height thanks to new technology to improve safety.

Doosan

Handling Network reports on some of the highlights of IMHX 2019.

Combilift

Among a number of new products was a 1,500kg capacity electric pallet truck – the BPSC15E-7 lateral drive, which has a built-in charger, long-life batteries and a compact chassis for extra manoeuvrability.

The pride of Monaghan, Combilift premiered its Container Slip-Sheet (Combi-CSS) which is designed for quicker, more efficient and safer mechanised loading of products (particularly long ones) into containers. It also showed its new generation R-Master 2020 and marked a significant milestone on the UK with a special liveried Aisle Master

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BYD China-owned forklift manufacturer, BYD is making major inroads into the sector in Europe. Unveiled were a number of products featuring BYD’s proven Iron-Phosphate battery technology. They included a second generation BYD PTP20S Stand-On Pallet Truck with a 2000kg load capacity and the

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review I

manoeuvrable and compact new BYD PTW20S Pedestrian Pallet Truck.

decanting, consolidation and returns handling to customer-specific operations and can manage loads of up to 50kg.

Toyota Material Handling

Briggs / Yale

A variety of material handling solutions for logistics and warehousing applications were displayed by Yale at IMHX alongside UK partner Briggs Equipment. The all-electric line-up included a lithium-ion powered MP20 pedestrian pallet truck.

The extensive Toyota stand focused around key zones of Automation, Lean Connectivity & Energy. Each zone linked to provide an interactive story, and helping stand visitors to address questions such as should they automate, whether lithium-ion is the right solution for their operation, and what steps they could take to make their operation leaner. Product wise there was a world preview of the LWI160, the first Lithium-Ion BT Levio powered pallet truck.

B&B Attachments Manitou

On display was KAUP’s first electronically operated fork positioner attachment, the T160BE, which completely removes the requirement for hydraulic operation. Electrically operated and electronically controlled enables the positioning of the fork tines to be set and controlled with precision from inside the forklift truck.

Knapp Making its UK premiere was the new Pick-it-Easy Evo workstation featuring an ergonomic design for intuitive operation. It can handle a range of functions from picking,

Four new products took pride of place on the Manitou stand, with particular attention given to the new ER16 electric reach truck that comes with a rated capacity of 1,600kg and stretches to 8 metres in height but can operate in aisles from 2.6 metres. Also featured was the Manitou ME315, powered by a 48V, 460Ah battery and with a 1,500kg lift capacity, the EP15, a 1,500kg lift capacity electric pallet truck, and the diesel powered MI25D forklift powered by a 35kW Yanmar engine that can handle loads of up to 2,500kg on solid Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle surfaces. www.handling-network.com

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ECG Conference 2020 - how advanced technology can empower the transport networks of tomorrow

If the theme was ‘Fly me to the Moon Tomorrow’s industry today!’, the mood was most definitely upward looking at the Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) Conference 2019 held in Berlin, Germany. The ECG, which represents and promotes the interests of the automotive logistics sector in Europe is looking towards the future with a firm focus on the three pillars of digitalisation, automation and sustainability.

Representing logistics service providers, manufacturer logistics managers and suppliers to the sector, the ECG includes not only car carrier operators, but all sectors of the intermodal transport industry. They provide transport, distribution, storage, preparation and post-production services to manufacturers, importers, car-rental companies and vehicle leasing operators in Europe. The ECG’s 130 members operate not only in the region of 26,000 specialist road transports, but 460 car-carrying ships, 13,600 purpose-built railway wagons and 19 river barges.

Speaking at Europe’s biggest event in outbound logistics were a cross section of relevant industry experts ranging from the EU Commission to OEM vehicle manufacturers. They had a common message - the automotive world is changing probably at a faster rate than ever before, and the logistics industry has to, and will, move along with it.

Challenges such as electrification, changes to automotive retail and dealerships, car sharing, ownership models and changing mobility

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preferences will all have an impact on future distribution, explained ECG President Wolfgang Göbel. External factors such as the US-China trade war and Brexit are also impacting on sales of European cars with a knock-on effect for the logistics sector.

Recognising that CASE - Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric vehicles are going to continue to grow in importance, Mr. Göbel said that the ECG had recognised these new industry challenges at a number of levels including a brain-storming session at Board level. Additionally a number of working groups and sub-groups have been set up with the wide support of members to look into the impact on the sector. They include a Sustainability Working Group, a Truck Platooning sub-group and an Autonomous vehicles sub-group. Finally at Secretariat level, a business analyst is to be recruited.

Quoting an unnamed car manufacturer OEM which stated that 20-25% of all car sales will be digital in the next five years, Mr. Göbel said this will create opportunities for the logistics sector.

Eddy Liégeois - Head of the Road transport unit at DG Move at the European Commission said that ECG members cannot ignore the EU’s Mobility Package - a collection of 3 initiatives concerning the governance of commercial road transport in the European Union. Outlining some of the key aspects of Mobility Package I, which is scheduled for adoption in 2020 with application in 2022, they include changes to rules on Cabotage, ‘long’ rests in vehicles and minimum wage regulations. He also highlighted the need for more safe and secure parking spaces - 400,000 are needed with only 300,000 currently available.

The EU is committed to setting up a public list of safe and secure parking using common standards and a certification procedure, he said.

Other aspects being looked at under Mobility Package I include a more coherent tolling policy with tolls based on CO2 emissions and external costs of pollution as well as congestion charges to better manage infrastructure.

While there will be no change to the directive adopted in 2015 on ‘modular concept’ or to length and weight measures of trucks, Mr. Liégeois said that there may be flexibility for more aerodynamic vehicles or those using alternative fuels. The discrepancy between weights and dimensions for national and international transport is also being looked at, with a study to be

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report I launched in 2020 - feedback participation welcomed.

The expected growth in demand for goods cannot be borne alone by road transport, said Mr. Liégeois. It will require better management of the infrastructure through digitalisation, as well as the increased use of alternative modes of transport - though better reliability and speed will be needed to make these appealing and practical.

A combination of IoT, services and cyber-physical systems will make the logistics of the future ‘smart’ and ‘adaptive’ outlined Dr. Stefan Doch, Managing Director & Senior Partner, ITCL GmbH. Most experts agree that the freight business for standardised transports and operations, will be handled via platforms by 2025. For special requirements (e.g. chemical industry), either niche solutions of platforms will appear or the traditional business will prevail, he claimed.

Within ten years technologies for automation for operational logistics functions will become a driving factor.

For the finished car distribution sector data driven technologies and services will optimise the industry.

Looking at the state of the European car market and the knock-on effect for the car transportation business, Christoph Stürmer, Global Lead Analyst at PwC Autofacts said that he anticipates a slowdown in 2020 due to the implementation the following year of the 95g/km Real Driving Emissions (RDE) standard. He noted that super fuel efficient vehicles are not coming to market as quickly as expected. With manufacturers having to gear up to be ready for 2021, next year is likely to be a year of transition with more uncertainty from the supply side rather than demand side.

The changing face of car ownership,

how consumers will purchase cars in the future, and the impact on car dealerships were topics raised by a number of speakers. Tanja Mattheis of BLG Automobile Logistics noted that while dealers won’t disappear, there will be fewer outlets and they will not have the same role in the future, with more emphasis on selling services rather than products. With OEMs having a more direct sales input, she highlighted an opportunity for transportation firms to become part of the integrated process.

Changing patterns in mobility solutions such as car sharing mean bigger vehicles which present questions for logistics movers noted Bernhard Mattes, President, VDA, while the move towards electric and fuel cells vehicles may also mean different safety measures for transporting.

Highlighting that shifts in car buying trends are already well underway was Dr. Moritz Lück, Vice President Dealership Sales & Operations Europe, AUTO1 Group, an online marketplace for buying and selling inspected used cars. Operating in 30 countries across Europe it has created a single European-wide car trading market with over 1 million customers to date. Dr. Lück noted that AUTO1 Group uses all means of delivery transport including trucks, trains and ferries, and innovative collection methods such as overnight pickups and drop-offs using GPS and precise ETAs. The challenge for the logistics sector is, he said, to match the same day delivery standards set by companies like Amazon.

Sustainability is a big issue said Dr. Monica Schmickler, Transportation Sourcing & Quality, Daimler AG. Mercedes-Benz is aiming to have a carbon neutral new passenger car fleet in just twenty years time. The company is looking at the whole life cycle in this regard, from production plants to

its supply chains. Currently MercedesBenz is creating transparency on its CO2 footprint and wants to incorporate its best practice into contracts and KPIs as award criteria.

Truck manufacturer MAN believes that full autonomous electric goods traffic will happen. Dr. Lars EiermannHüser, Vice-President Engineering, MAN said that automation will make transport cleaner and more intelligent but is likely to lead to a change in the way most goods traffic is organised at present, in hub and spoke logistics systems. There will be less number of stops, with more efficient vehicles that can work 24/7 without rest. This combined with less driver overheads could see a cost reduction of up to 50%. Additionally warehousing might not be so important. Interestingly he noted that such an automated electric vehicle without a traditional powertrain and diesel cabin will take a lot of the value away from the OEM’s perspective.

One of the key focus areas of the ECG has been to ensure top quality health and safety standards for operators and drivers involved in the loading and unloading of vehicles, the result of which is a booklet outlining best practice. Steve Thomas of Toyota Motor Europe provided an overview of the work done by a Health & Safety Working Group. Divided into sub-groups, they included firstly: assessing incidents and recommending improvements, secondly: standardising processes through effective training and auditing, thirdly: defining best practice for the yard by looking at layout, how much space is needed around trucks and what info should be given to drivers, and finally to develop a risk management tool to assess risk for each car carrier type.

Text: Cathal Doyle

www.handling-network.com

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report II

Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) Managers’ Guide to Distribution Costs 2019 invest in gas vehicles for delivery in in the industry 2020. “The real opportunity of gas who contribute is renewable Bio-Gas”, he said, and their skills and called on the Minister to address this. resourcefulness.”

In closing, Willie stared: “We are glass Opening Left to right: Fintan Walsh KPMG, Patrick Sweeney - ENPROVA, Willie O'Reilly BWG, Minister Shane Ross & Aidan Flynn half full people, and we will do what the event, the has to be done - when we know what FTAI’s General “We are a glass half full type of needs to be done.”

Manager Aidan Flynn outlined some people.” If the old adage ‘information Paddy Sweeney from Enprova comof the points highlighted by the is power’ is true, then the more plimented the FTAI on the report and report. He noted that over 50% of the information we have, the more it commended the phenomenal amount companies surveyed had experienced should empower us. Unfortunately, the of work that went into the Guide. increased business overheads of more adage is not exactly correct. Yes, the He mentioned in the findings that than 5%. This was also the case with information does empower but only only two-thirds of the industry give maintenance costs where 23.1% if the data is useful to us. In today’s any training to employees to reduce experienced a rise of over 5% in the age of information, it could be argued energy and that here there is a great last year. Although almost 30.8% that we have far too much information opportunity being missed. reported no increase in maintenance and we waste time sifting through the These are just a few brief extracts costs. chaff to find a kernel of what might from what is a very comprehensive The survey also enquired about be relevant to us. This is why events report and as the first of its kind, it sets the thorny subject of insurance, and such as the presentation of the Freight an important benchmark for the future. in particular the area of motor cover.

Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) There are plans for the FTAI to continue To this question, 53.8% reported an Managers’ Guide to Distribution Costs increase in premiums 2019 are increasingly valuable. of over 5%, with 23.1% The FTAI Managers’ Guide was reporting a fall in costs. compiled by Analytiqua and produced On the subject of in association with BWG Foods, recruitment, the guide Enprova and KPMG. The Guide aims notes some of the findings to benchmark fleet operational costs of the TUDublin’s School in Ireland and provide managers with of Business’s research into supporting information allowing them (HGV) Driver Perception to compare their data with the industry Survey which highlights average. The research was carried the key reasons the out in the first quarter of 2019 and industry finds difficulties surveyed companies across the road attracting new entrants. haulage, logistics and own account Apart from being a sectors. Respondents were questioned Left to right: Jerry Meredith, Claire Martinez DTTAS, co-sponsor of the research, on a wide range of topics including Minister Shane Ross & Aidan Flynn BWG Foods is also overheads, fuel and maintenance, producing the Managers’ Guide next beneficiary of the information gathered. purchasing, insurance costs and year and subsequent years. This will BWG’s Managing Director Willie important training and recruitment provide managers with a well-defined O’ Brien was keen to impress upon issues. graph of how costs affect the business the gathering the importance of the The Guide was officially launched year-on-year. research. He noted that due to efficienat Buswells Hotel, Dublin by Shane The FTAI Managers’ Guide to cies gained through improved route Ross (TD) Minister for Transport, Distribution Costs 2019 is a good read planning, the company has saved over Tourism & Sport. In his address, the and well worth taking a few minutes to 2.3 million kilometres.

Minister said: “The transport and assess and compare the figures to your Willie highlighted BWG’s logistics industry is vitally important own business. The report is not just for progressive migration to gas-powered to sustaining our economy. A reliable the larger companies and the document vehicles to service the 1,100 and efficient transport industry is of will provide concise up to date relevant independent retail stores within the fundamental importance to Ireland data about the industry. group, and took the opportunity to and the resilience of the sector is due Text: Paul White announce that BWG will further largely to the many people working www.handling-network.com

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feature

Busting the most popular forklift truck fuel myths Calor FLT Specialists discuss some of the most popular myths surrounding fuels for forklift trucks (FLTs).

Myth #1 Electric is the most environmentally-friendly fuel As the take-up of BioLPG – a renewable fuel – continues, the assumption that electric is the greenest fuel available for FLTs is no longer valid. BioLPG is produced from sustainably sourced feedstocks, and is 100% renewable. It comes as standard in Calor’s 13kg lightweight forklift cylinder and is available in bulk supply forklift refuelling options too so organisations can benefit from carbon footprint reduction in aiming to meet their sustainability goals.

The fact that BioLPG is chemically identical to LPG is another big draw for fleet managers, as there is no requirement to invest in new equipment or infrastructure. BioLPG is simply a drop-in fuel for those already using LPG. For fleet managers with sustainability goals – which is becoming an increasingly key concern, as big

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brands across the supply chain choose and champion other businesses that are as equally eco-conscious as them – BioLPG is a quick and hassle-free way to help meet these green ambitions.

According to the most recent SEAI data, carbon emission levels from LPG are roughly 50% of that of electricity1 and even taking into account the impact of forklift fuel efficiency variances, a substitution of electric to BioLPG results in a 65%2 reduction in carbon emissions.

Myth #2 Diesel is the tried-andtested ‘safe choice’ It can be hard to change the habit of a lifetime, even when technology moves on and offers potentially better alternatives. Diesel has long been the ‘go-to’ fuel for FLTs. Historically, a diesel engine truck has been superior to electric models, owing to its lifting

capabilities. Diesel trucks were also perceived as able to operate well on gradients, and generally offer reasonable maintenance and servicing costs.

However, emissions and air quality are big areas where diesel struggles, and this is fast becoming the main reason why fleet managers are deciding to source alternative fuels. While exhaust fumes and diesel particulates may be able to easily escape to the atmosphere when used outside, the pressure for greener, more environmentally-friendly FLT fuels is accelerating. Diesel fumes are increasingly recognised as harming public health.

Policy makers around Europe are already taking steps to ban diesel vehicles, with sales of new diesel cars banned in Ireland from 2030.

While exhaust catalysts and purifiers can reduce noxious emissions, these still only make the machines acceptable for occasional indoor use.

In contrast, LPG emits 98 percent less particulate matter than diesel, and these emissions are lead- and soot-free.

This means LPG-fuelled FLTs can be used in sensitive production environments, such as food and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. When also fitted with a three-way catalyst, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions drop to virtually zero.

In a world where cleanliness is as importance as efficiency, diesel is no longer seen as the ‘go-to’ fuel and is quickly falling out of fashion due to its impact on air quality. This is especially true for fleet managers that are investing in new FLTs or those with a lease renewal coming up. If you are going to invest in new fleet, better to invest in the future and not the go to solution of previous decades.

Myth #3 The introduction of EU Stage V emission standards means electric is the only option Since the beginning of January 2019, diesel and LPG FLTs need to comply with the EU Stage V standards for non-road mobile machinery.

This presents no challenge for FLT operators using LPG. For LPG FLTs, emissions of particulate matter are not a problem under the new standards, however, nitrous oxides will need to be eliminated via a three-way catalytic converter. The good news is that these are inexpensive, require minimal maintenance and do not have to undergo the lengthy regeneration processes associated with diesel particulate filters (DPF).

In contrast, many diesel engines will be affected in a big way. With the introduction of these new standards, more advanced DPF cleaning systems and operating regimes will be required to comply. For less sophisticated diesel engines, this will result in longer periods of downtime and greater expense.

One approach the industry has taken to overcome this issue is by lowering the combustion temperature using cooled exhaust gas, which dilutes the amount of oxygen in the combustion chamber. Yet this results in increased soot, meaning the engine requires a DPF to prevent the soot from being emitted.

This DPF, however, needs to be recharged at regular intervals, which is a lengthy process that has to be

performed once or twice a week. This requires an FLT to be taken out of service and the engine to be revved at full engine RPM for between 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 during this process, and then there is the downtime and inconvenience of the time-consuming and repetitive process – not to mention the associated costs with burning the extra fuel as part of this.

So, is electric the way to go? Not necessarily. While electric FLTs are beginning to edge out from solely being used in warehouses and into rugged heavy-duty equipment too, the adoption of electric as a mass-market solution for these heavy-duty applications is still a long way off.

Furthermore, the high initial purchase price is a big barrier for many organisations.

With LPG models able to cope easily with the recently-introduced EU Stage V standards via an inexpensive and easily fitted three-way catalytic converter, LPG is a solution that is available now – and long into the future – for FLT fleets. Future-proofing is already in place with the introduction of Calor BioLPG so for many LPG fleet users, the opportunity to run on renewable energy is an option today.

Many diesel models will struggle with the EU Stage V standards that have come into force, but LPG’s reliability and cost-effectiveness when compared with electric models will ensure it remains a popular choice for fleet managers.

For further information please visit:

https://www.calorgas.ie/for-business/transport-and-logistics/forklift-trucks 1 https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/ seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 2 Atlantic Consulting, 2018; BioLPG Footprint Comparisons

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winter 2019

Launch Pad

Teaming-up Cartwright Trailers & TTW - Offering more choice and services

L-R: David MacDonald Cartwright Group & Ricky Burke Trucks & Trailer Works

The Cartwright Trailer Group has expanded its operations with a move into the Irish market. The long-standing and well-regarded trailer and commercial vehicle bodybuilder has joined forces with Truck & Trailer Works (TTW) in managing the brand’s sales and aftermarket activities from its new North Dublin location in Swords Business Park.

Cartwright was formed 67 years ago and is one of the most popular trailer marques in the UK. Its entry into the Irish market is far from its first export tenure as the Group’s product range is also well regarded with operators throughout the Benelux countries where bespoke trailers find favour with many high profile operators.

In managing Cartwright’s presence in Ireland TTW will market the Group’s wide range of new and pre-owned trailers from three locations in Ireland which include Dublin Port, Swords, and its home base in Dungannon, County Tyrone. TTW has a vast experience in the trade and is looking forward to the opportunity as Ricky Burke, Managing Director of TTW explained: “This exciting new partnership with Cartwright is a very good fit for both businesses. We see the future for the relationship based on offering customers a bespoke body build whatever the size of the order, coupled with providing multi-purpose solutions to customers’ individual problems.”

Cartwright’s Key Accounts Director with responsibility for Ireland David MacDonald commented on the development: “We are delighted to be

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creating a new partnership with TTW which is well known and respected throughout Ireland for the quality of their service and operation. We have been looking for an established partner for some time and one that shares our values as a business as well as our commitment to service excellence with our customers.”

David feels that being able to meet particular customer needs is the secret to Cartwright’s success. This may be because Cartwright is still an independent family business, and understands the difficulties that face many transport operators, especially the smaller fleet owners. This is where Cartwright can help as the company is far from just being a trailer manufacturer. Apart from trailer production some of Cartwright’s other activities include trailer rental and finance packages.

The size of Cartwright’s rental activities is quite significant and could be of interest to many operators in Ireland.

Having such a large rental fleet means that a wide selection of trailers should be available almost on demand. This combined with a national service and support network provided

by TTW will no doubt attract new Irish customers to the brand.

At the open day at TTW’s new premises in Swords, the Cartwright Group had on display a number of new trailers including a pillar-less curtainsider, a straight box van, plus an interesting example of its bespoke

manufacturing. This was an 11.1 metre tandem axle urban trailer with command rear steer, multi-temp interior and a Carrier-Transicold Vector unit and D’Hollandia tail-lift. This type of trailer, as David described, is typical of what Cartwright Group can produce for operators: “We can build to their bespoke specifications where some other manufacturers which specialises in volume production find this type of order more difficult to produce.”

Over the almost seven decades of trailer production, Cartwright work ethics and products have received numerous accolades for both design and innovation. The company was recently awarded the Motor Transport Award for Technical Excellence. This recognition is something David Mac Donald is rightly proud of and could be of particular interest to operators in Ireland. The award was in recognition of an industry-first where Cartwright developed a reduced height double deck fridge with two decks of 1830mm each. What is of particular interest is

that Cartwright managed to achieve this and remain under the maximum legal running height of 4.65 metres.

The partnership between Cartwright Group and TTW will offer more choice for operators and the experience and expertise of both companies within their specific fields will no doubt ensure the venture is a success.

Text: Paul White

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winter 2019

logistics

DHL – Delivering Epic Moments at the Rugby World Cup 2019

Bernard McCarthy, Managing Director of DHL Express in Ireland, reflects on DHL’s important behind-the-scenes role for Rugby World Cup 2019.

“The partnership between DHL and Rugby World Cup 2019 continues a longstanding relationship between DHL and the game of rugby. The partnership has again seen DHL team up with one of the biggest international sporting events, which took place in host country Japan from 20 September to 2 November 2019.

DHL was previously the Official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and Rugby World Cup 2015 in the UK. As part of the 2015 sponsorship DHL delivered over 48 tonnes of team freight, 1,400 official match balls, and 20 sets of uprights to the 13 match venues, while also delivering over 400,000 tickets to more than 160 countries! Those figures have only gone one way in the last 4 years – up! By the end of the 2019 tournament, DHL delivered over 67,000kg of team freight internationally as well as domestically across Japan, in addition to over 432,000 tickets across the world.

At DHL we’re working hard to delivering essential tournament and team equipment from around the world. It’s a massive behind-the-scenes effort to deliver this year’s biggest international sporting event in the most

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epic of fashions. Just like the 20 participating teams in Japan this year, DHL had put in months of preparation to ensure that an estimated 1,000 linehaul movements planned on the DHL network for Rugby World Cup 2019 were executed well and on time.

At DHL we are providing a comprehensive range of logistics services but our main job is transporting the equipment for each of the 20 participating teams. Each international rugby team on average travel with 4 tonne of equipment. Material such as scrum machines, tackle bags, ice baths and balls are picked up from their country of origin, brought to Japan and shipped around the country to follow the teams as they travel. This cargo is critical. Without it, they could not train or prepare appropriately for a game.

However, despite the meticulous planning and detail, the reality is that

the project always evolves in real time.

The biggest challenge is to expect the unexpected. Obviously, we need a detailed plan, but we also know that, on occasions we have to adapt as circumstances warrant.

On a local level here in Ireland as Official Logistics Partner to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), we were well aware of the need to provide the Irish team’s equipment in pristine condition to ensure that Japan was a home away from home and the players could stay focused on producing epic moments on the pitch!

But this year there has been so much more to our Rugby World Cup 2019 journey as we have sent a lot more than just general but related freight to Japan!”

winter 2019

logistics

Match Ball Delivery As part of DHL’s partnership with Rugby World Cup 2019, we ran a global campaign to select 48 kids to deliver the match ball onto the field at all 48 Rugby World Cup matches.

All participating nations, along with a select few countries where rugby is popular or growing, were asked to host local competitions to pick a child to represent their country.

With Tommy Bowe at the helm, DHL Express Ireland asked parents of rugby mad kids to upload videos of their budding stars giving the boys in green an inspirational team talk. Our winner, Emily from Omagh, County Tyrone, delivered an impassioned rap to get the boys in green motivated before their big opening game against Scotland. On Sunday, 21 September, Emily got to walk out with the teams at Yokohama Stadium and deliver the lucky match ball to the referee; what an experience for Emily and her family and one she will never forget.

DHL Rugby Memories Over the years Irish rugby has given us some special memories from Ronan O’Gara kicking that drop goal in 2009 to finally beating the All Blacks on home soil at the Aviva Stadium. DHL also wanted Irish fans to share their

rugby memories with us to be in with a chance to win a trip to the Ireland V Scotland opening game. Fans shared their memories in droves but the one that really stood out was Ireland & Munster star player Peter O’Mahony sharing his Grand Slam winning medal with Jennifer Malone. We loved this memory and Jennifer and her mother Donna flew out to cheer on the boys in green in Japan. They also managed to meet up with our Match Ball Day (MBD) winner Emily – two absolute stars, for sure!

be delivering logistics requirements for the third consecutive time for rugby’s pinnacle event. We are committed to ensuring the important movements behind the scenes are seamless to enable the players to produce epic moments on the field. We look forward to continuing to grow the strong association between DHL and the game of rugby!

You could say that rugby is part of DHL’s DNA.

The Rugby World Cup Final There is no bigger match than the Final of the greatest sporting event of the year. Therefore, as Official Logistics partner of the tournament DHL Ireland presented the opportunity to send one fan to the final of Rugby World Cup 2019. Following a month long partnership with the Irish Times, Ian Branagan and his son were whisked all the way to Japan for the hotly anticipated final.

Rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and it exemplifies many of the elements that are critical to DHL’s business: teamwork, speed, accuracy, precision and timing, passion, a commitment to excellence – and the will to win. We are proud to

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winter 2019

case study I

Irish pharma distribution firm increases pick efficiency by 25%

Uniphar Group is one of the leading healthcare solutions providers in Ireland. When it needed to improve operations at its main warehouse in Dublin the firm took on Jungheinrich to design and supply a comprehensive solution, creating space savings of 85%, increasing pick efficiency by 25%, and setting the warehouse up for 24-hour automated operations.

Uniphar Group consists of different divisions operating within the healthcare sector. While providing a range of products and services to various industries, one of its core activities is wholesale and distribution to Irish pharmacies, and it is a major provider of pre-wholesale and wholesale pharma distribution in Ireland.

The company provides pharmacy customers all over Ireland with a twice a day service, and services over 2,000 pharmacies, hospitals and clinics annually.

The company has four operating depots; in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Sligo.

Wayne McGarry, Group Operations Director at Uniphar explained: “Uniphar supply chain operates in the high-volume, low-margin and ever-challenged distribution sector.

This leads to greater reliance on robust,

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reliable, efficient operations.

Following an acquisition Uniphar needed to consolidate into a single pre-wholesale DC [Distribution Centre] and therefore required a high-quality, fit-for-purpose and effective operation.”

Uniphar needed its facility to become a 24 hour operation, it required more storage space and wanted to increase efficiency and to build in potential for Very Narrow Aisle automation systems in future. “We wanted to maximise every square inch of this facility,” added Wayne.

Jungheinrich came up with a system that would customise the existing storage space. The German specialist supplied a range of VNA trucks and EKX electric order pickers, each installed with a busbar energy system which allows trucks to charge as they operate.

Jungheinrich also supplied pedestrian ERC electric pallet stacker trucks for lifting up to six metres, using a foldable stand-on platform.

To enable goods-toperson picking the LRK 500 modular vertical lift was installed. This stores goods in trays, stored vertically on both sides of the unit. By reading a barcode or pressing a button, the trays are conveyed to the central extractor and transported to the picker at the bottom. Once the item has been placed into the shipping tote the picker

touches a sensor on the pick station and the item is automatically invoiced and dispatched.

The solution from Jungheinrich also included Automated Guided Vehicles [AGVs] in the fleet. They can transport loads to the designated stations safely, fully automatically and with millimetre precision which is enabled by laser navigation.

Since implementing the new system Uniphar has found that its operational processes improved. It has seen a space saving of some 85% from the LRK lift and carousel system.

The VNA busbar and EKX forklift trucks increased pick efficiency by 25%. In addition, the AGVs have also enabled 24-hour operation at the site.

“Jungheinrich listened to our challenges and together we designed cost effective solutions with the end customer in mind. Most importantly we delivered an on time and in budget project and a gold standard ongoing support program that only Junghierich Ireland could provide,” added Wayne.

Text: Joanna Parsons

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winter 2019

warehousing

Quitmann O’Neill Packaging continues its legacy of growth

Quitmann O’Neill Packaging was a finalist in the Own Account Transport Operator of the Year Category at the recently held Fleet Transport 2020 Awards. From its Portumna, County Galway base, it supplies packaging and services across the 32 counties to multinationals and SMEs in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage sectors. Founded in 1999, it is a family business with roots going back some 30 years at the site.

Originally Quitmann Ltd was a subsidiary of Metalbox UK, which produced home-ware including stainless steel bins and aluminium saucepans. In 1981, Liam O’Neill Snr. joined the company and eventually steered it into becoming a stockist business supplying plastic jerry bottles, buckets, tinplate pails, lever lids and the like.

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In 1996, Liam Snr purchased Quitmann Ltd from the parent company, Crown Cork & Seal. Liam Jnr. and David joined their father in the business, running transport and sales respectively. New products were introduced to the range including pallets, barrels, buckets and large steel, plastic and fibre drums for industrial use.

In 2001 the company purchased Priority Transport in order to gain greater control of deliveries and five years later, David bought out his father and brother. David O’Neill (pictured left) is now the sole owner of the firm, and he takes an active role in the running of the business. Speaking to Fleet Transport on a day when he was driving a truck, he admitted his driving days are few and far between.

“Every now and again I jump into a truck when it gets busy Transport is a big part of our business but our main business is selling packaging,” explained David.

There are now some 26 staff employed including five in the office, four warehouse operatives, a salesperson, and the rest are drivers.

There are 12-14 trailers, and a fleet of eight Renault Trucks in the fleet, that are more or less on the road every day.

The firm has also two Ford Transits and two smaller vans for smaller, urban deliveries.

The typical fleet activity is to collect trailer loads of inbound stock from the UK at Dublin Port either for direct delivery to a customer, or else back to Portumna where the load is decanted and reloaded for deliveries on stops all the way back to Dublin. And as David mentioned they have a similar

operation for European suppliers. “All our containers from Europe come in to Cork and I use skeletal trailers to go down and collect the boxes there and we do the same thing - bring them back to Portumna, strip them, reload, deliver all the way down to Cork drop off the empties and take another full load back up the road.”

“Our empty running rate is very low. At the moment now because of Brexit we’re full about 95% of the time but normally we’re pretty much full all

winter 2019

warehousing

of the time... We don’t do empty!”

The core of the business is the work that goes on in the warehouse. The original site was extended last year by 20,000 sq.ft. bringing the total storage space to some 55,000 sq.ft. Quitmann O’Neill has in the region of 100 racking bays, but David stated that the nature of their business means that they don’t need much, as most products stack on top of each other to fill the space neatly.

“You know your 1,000 litre tanks?

Every farmer loves them,” added David, “We sell them new and reconditioned and we can stack them six or eight high in the warehouse. We have about nine metres height at the eaves so we can stack the stuff to the roof.”

To do this Quitmann O’Neill has five forklifts, including a Jungheinrich,

a Mitsubishi and three Toyotas including one diesel powered machine for outside work. But the majority of the materials handling goes on inside and so the rest of the forklifts are electric powered.

There are four full time warehouse operatives, but they are not the only people you might find in the Portumna base. David also uses the warehouse as a showcase for the business offerings, and often brings clients in to give them a better understanding of what’s available in terms of products and services.

“There’s a new purchasing manager coming in to visit next week. I always invite the customers on site, because once they see what we do to accommodate their needs then they realise that nobody else is going to be able to do that to the same extent.”

Quitmann O’Neill offers a complete service to clients. “We deliver from one drum to a truckload of drums on their behalf to their customers.” And the services go beyond delivery.

For one of their bigger customers they were suppling materials to pack waste into. Some ten years ago David agreed to provide an employee to go onsite to pack the waste for them, who was followed by two more. This service has proved so successful that they now have a further six staff working at a waste to energy furnace, controlling waste coming in and out of the site.

“What we try to do is look to the customers

and give them everything that we can, do everything we can for them… making ourselves indispensable… and touch wood we’ve been very lucky.”

Perhaps luck has had something to do with it, but the business offering is obviously sound, and Quitmann O’Neill is winning loyal customers.

“This year we’ve grown by ten percent, which is the lowest growth we’ve had in a long time. To put it in perspective, the company’s doubled in size in a little under five years. So

touch wood, we expect it to grow significantly again next year. And none of that is through acquisition, everything has been earned. I’ll be honest though, acquisition would have been easier, and it’ll probably be next on the list!”

You can’t argue with business growth like that. And with a robust expansion plan to boot it should be interesting to watch the firm’s continued expansion.

Text: Johanna Parsons

www.handling-network.com

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winter 2019

case study II

Whistl tops off Belfast expansion with electric van trial

Whistl, the delivery management and postal operator has followed its expansion in Belfast with a trial at the site for the first electric Renault Trucks Master Z.E.

The all-electric 3.1 tonne van has a range of around 160 km and is based at Whistl’s hub at the Hightown Industrial Estate in Newtownabbey, Belfast. The trial van is being used for day-to-day operations, collecting business mail and parcels and delivering post on to An Post for forward despatch. The van has its own charging point on site.

Working with Renault Trucks, Whistl is looking at ways of reducing emissions across its 400 strong fleet of vans and HGVs and is keen to embrace new technology to enable it to reach its goal of a sustainable transport strategy.

Commenting on the field test, Phil Brown, Depot Manager at Belfast said: “The vehicle is a revelation, and the drivers love it. It is quiet yet the acceleration is immediate and to drive it is no different to a normal van. The emissions are zero and the anticipated cost of running it are so much lower than traditional diesel.”

Baz Barrett, National Fleet & Compliance Manager added: “It is

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vital that we as a business continue to look at new technologies and adapt our fleet in this way. We already have an excellent relationship with BRS/ Renault Trucks and so when we knew this 100% electric vehicle was coming to market, we wanted to see how we could integrate it into our fleet in core urban areas. From the feedback so far, it works really well and there is great scope to introduce it into our fleet now to enable us to reduce our carbon and NOx footprint.”

In 2016 the firm extended its sorting depot at Newtownabbey, increasing the depot size to 11,000 sq ft. The company’s mail sorting capability has grown from 32 bins to 144, with two Bowe Criterion sorting machines which can handle some 36,000 items per hour.

On average the depot sorts 24-28,000 items per hour which are then despatched via two trucks bound for the UK, and one van for the Republic of Ireland. This is where the Master Z.E. comes in.

“We chose the Belfast depot as the home for the trial of the vehicle as we could easily swap out the existing vehicle without impacting on overall operational performance,” added Phil.

Graham Neagus, Head of LCV on behalf of BRS and Renault, said: “This vehicle is ideal for parcel deliveries carrying over 1,000kgs payload and able to cover 100 miles/120 km per charge and all with

zero emissions… [It] is one of three full-electric products from Renault Trucks, including both 16 and 26 tonne rigid HGV’s.”

Whistl has been operating in Northern Ireland since 2010 and handles over 50 million items a year for clients including Allied Irish Bank and PowerNI. Nick Wells CEO, Whistl concluded: “The demand for our services from the public and private sector has enabled us to commit to invest in the area and double the capacity of our current operations.”

Text: Johanna Parsons

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winter 2019

supply chain

Irish Exporters Association Supply Chain Series

The 2019 Irish Exporters Association (IEA) Supply Chain event series will conclude with a session focused on Research & Development taking place at Shannon Airport on Tuesday, 26 November and hosted by Shannon Airport.

On Thursday, 21st the final webinar on the very successful 2019 series will take place. This will look at future trends and technologies in Supply Chains with GS 1 as lead presenter.

On 25 September last, a combined meeting of the IEA Supply Chain Group and the Association’s Western Regional Group was hosted by Thermo King Ireland at its European headquarters in Mervue, Galway. Fleet Transport, the media partner in the Supply Chain Group published a report on the event : https://fleet.ie/irish-exporters-association-iea-western-regional-council-meeting-at-thermo-king-galway/ The IEA will continue to develop the Supply Chain event and webinar series through 2020 so as to better prepare Irish Manufactured Goods exporters for the logistics challenges both short and long-term.

IEA Multimodal Freight Group The IEA Multimodal Freight Group has been meeting for over ten years.

It has a diverse membership incorporating Government Agencies including BMJ-May19-Combilift.qxp_Layout 1 25/04/2019 15:42 the Department of Transport, Tourism &

Sport, Irish Maritime Development Office and Western Development Commission, Ports and operators within those ports, shipping lines and agents, transport companies including Irish Rail, Perennial Freight and others along with a number of exporters.

The purpose of the group is to discuss and inform all partners in the physical supply chain of current developments particularly with regard to multi-modal services. While meeting the challenges of Brexit and other potential trading disruptors, there is also focus on meeting Ireland’s environmental pollution targets through use of more green energy and of rail and lower-carbon sea routes.

At the October meeting of this group Irish Rail advised that the semi-State company has made a Board decision to significantly incentivise the development of rail freight feeding Irish Ports and other locations and will shortly appoint a Commercial Manager focused on this activity. The operating model will remain one in which the company will charter full trains to forwarders or other operators.

The track access charges for such new services will be significantly less than those currently in operation, greatly improving the competitiveness of this mode while train lengths and operating speeds will also be increased.

The implications for exporters’ supply chains of the introduction of the International Maritime Office (IMO) low-sulphur emission rules in January 2020 were also discussed at that meeting. Currently ships operating in the Irish Sea and on global services are Page 1subject to regulations which limit the

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level of sulphur in exhaust emissions to 3.5%. This limit will reduce to 0.5% on 1 January, 2020.

The simplest way for vessel operators to meet this requirement will be to switch from using Heavy Fuel Oil to a low-sulphur fuel, which is fundamentally, diesel fuel. This will significantly add to the voyage costs.

Stena Line has developed a shadow BAF (fuel surcharge) matrix and current indications are that the extra surcharge on shipment cost for a trailer using the Irish sea short-sea routes would be about €30, approximately €2 per tonne of cargo. For trailers and containers shipping direct to and from Continental Ports the cost increase would be similar as the vessels already pass through a low-sulphur emissions area while in the English Channel.

For traffic moving on deep-sea routes, not only will exporters and importers face the additional cost on the feeder vessel running between Ireland and the European mainline ports but, for the deep-sea voyage the extra cost per container could be of the order of €200 or €15 per tonne. Further additional charges could apply if local feeder services at the far end are used.

A significant number of new ferries and container vessels under construction will be LNG powered so as to meet the new regulations but it likely that the additional cost of construction will mean that users will be subject to significant costs as well. Some 200 or so of large vessels have been fitted with exhaust scrubbers that will enable them to continue to use heavy fuel oil but it remains unclear on how this will affect shippers’ costs.

Text: Howard Knott

TRANSPORT www.fleet.ie

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