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Transport & logistics news The latest from the industry
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New developments in the Transport & Logistics industry
GreyOrange launching new flexible automation products kalmar autortg
Robotics and warehouse automation company, GreyOrange, is set to launch its new modular sortation system and demonstrate upgraded versions of its Butler and PickPal.
Today, retailers and logistics businesses face many new kinds of complexities and challenges due to the unprecedented growth in volumes, combined with the volatility of peak periods and increased pressure to cut operational costs. GreyOrange will present a portfolio of AI-powered solutions that it says bring Flexible Automation to life; it reduces complexities and delivers maximum productivity, from inventory management and picking to sortation.
Sid Chatterjee, Vice-President, Products, GreyOrange, said, “The GreyOrange solution portfolio offers a strong business case for Flexible Automation. In the past year it has been adopted globally by industry-leading players in retail, 3PL and e-commerce.”
The new GreyOrange modular sortation system comprises modular components that it says deliver significantly higher throughput per unit area, improving space utilisation and reducing operating costs. The AI-enabled robotics system can be easily scaled, making it more investmentfriendly and usable for a range of applications across retail and logistics industries. Visit: www.greyorange.com
BEumER lands $33 million contract at Queen Beatrix International Airport
BEUMER Group has signed an agreement with Aruba Airport Authority N.V. for the design and installation of a $33 million, high-speed baggage transportation and sortation system at Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport. The installation, which also includes BEUMER’s residential programme for on-site operation and maintenance, is part of the airport’s Gateway 2030 expansion and modernisation program.
The baggage handling system (BHS) features a tote-based CrisBag® high speed baggage transportation and sortation system, with integration to a full TSA-compliant EDS screening system with intote screening functionality, and a Baggage Image Weight Identification System (BIWIS) to streamline the airport’s US pre-clearance process.
The new system will eliminate the requirement to reclaim checked luggage and undergo a second passenger screening process which presently is in place for U.S. travellers. Additionally, the new system will allow US and non-US bound flights to operate from a common-use check-in facility. Aruba Airport handles approximately 2.8 million passengers annually, with 67 percent coming from the United States.
Installation will begin in Q3 of 2020, with completion expected in Q2 of 2021 in coordination with the opening of the Gateway 2030 project construction phase 1. Visit: www.beumergroup.com
system gains ground in Europe
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has won a tender to supply a complete AutoRTG system to Belfast Container Terminal (BCT) in Northern Ireland. The system will comprise eight automated rubber-tyred gantry cranes (AutoRTGs) controlled by the Kalmar Terminal Logistic System (TLS) and new-generation remote control (RC) desks.
Belfast Container Terminal (BCT), the largest in Northern Ireland, is owned by and located in Belfast Harbour and is operated under concession by Irish Continental Group. The AutoRTG system will replace the manually operated rail-mounted gantry crane (RMG) system currently in use at the terminal.
The cranes at BCT will operate fully automated within the container stack, receiving orders from the Kalmar TLS which performs planning, routing and execution for all operations based on orders from the terminal operating system (TOS). Crane gantry operation will be automated with supervision from the operator at the RC desk in the control room. Truck handling will be remote controlled, and the system will feature a truck positioning system to ensure accurate alignment of trucks under the RTGs. As part of the project scope, Kalmar will be responsible for the integrations between the TLS, the TOS and other relevant systems. Visit: www.kalmarglobal.com
Rhenus to take over Core Management Logistics
european forwarder Rhenus logistics has continued its programme of uK growth, through the acquisition of 3Pl provider Core management logistics (Cml). The deal sees Rhenus Warehouse Solutions europe acquire the leicestershire-based business, which specialises in warehousing, pre-retail, freight forwarding and distribution services for the uK market. Cml currently occupies more than 45,000m2 of warehousing space, across three facilities, on lutterworth’s magna Park, one of europe’s largest distribution parks. Cml provides customers with flexible warehousing, multi-channel fulfilment, valueadded services and international freight forwarding solutions.
Cml’s warehouse provision is aimed at the uK’s growing e-commerce sector. Cml is also the uK’s only provider of Green GoH, a garment-on-hanger solution for the transportation of hanging garments in containers.
Rhenus also operates logistics centres in Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and Poland. Visit: www.rhenus.com
INDUSTRYNEWS
kuehne + nagel opens slovenia’s biggest pharma & healthcare warehouse
Switzerland-based logistics company Kuehne + Nagel has opened the largest pharma and healthcare warehouse in Slovenia, strategically located at Brnik, close to the country’s capital, Ljubljana.
The new facility will distribute finished products worldwide and will be used for the storage and distribution of production materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
“The pharma and healthcare industry is among the most important growth drivers for Kuehne + Nagel,” said Gianfranco Sgro, member of the managing board of Kuehne + Nagel International, and responsible for contract logistics.
KN PharmaChain provides pharma and healthcare has a global network of currently close to 200 certified operations, 600,000m2 of industry dedicated warehousing space and a team of specially trained operators. Visit: www.kuehne-nagel.com
Samskip leads initiative for sustainable, autonomous shortsea shipping
Samskip, a leading European multimodal container logistics systems operator, is heading an ambitious initiative to develop autonomous, zero-emissions container ships that can also compete on cost.
Samskip has been named the lead partner in ‘Seashuttle’, a project seeking to bring emissionsfree, autonomous container ships to market.
The announcement follows the awarding of €6 million from the Norwegian government to Project SeaShuttle to take forward development of two allelectric ships slated to connect Poland, Swedish west coast ports and the Oslo fjord. The vessels will draw on state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cells for their propulsion power.
Seashuttle is one of six initiatives included in ‘PILOT-E’, a €100 million-plus scheme involving the Research Council, Innovation Norway and Enova, aiming to develop solutions for climateneutral industries. Seashuttle funding came from four Norwegian ministries (Food and Fishing; Climate and Environment; Petroleum and Energy; and Transport and Communications).
“Samskip is delighted to take the lead in the project to develop next generation sustainable shortsea shipping,” says Are Grathen, MD Samskip Norway. “What distinguishes this project and will be key to its success is the combination of fuel and technology that will make it cost competitive with existing solutions.” Visit: www.samskip.com
TX Logistik and Vegatrans transport commercial vehicles by rail
With the adapter system ‘roadrailLink’ (r2L), Vega International Car-Transport and Logistic-Trading Gesellschaft mbH (Vegatrans) and TX Logistik AG (TXL) are setting new standards in commercial vehicle transport by rail. The system, which transforms a standard pocket wagon into a car transport wagon, is being used on the new route between Sommacampagna-Sona near Verona and the German North Rhine-Westphalian town of Rheine, which commenced in September.
Iveco light commercial vehicles from Italy are currently being sent in two round trips to GVZ Rheine every week on this route, while Scania and Iveco trucks destined for Italy as well as new semi-trailers from various manufacturers are being transported to Sommacampagna-Sona. By using r2L, the same wagon equipment can be used. The system is a load carrier developed by Vegatrans and KTT (KässbohrerTransportTechnik), which is constructed with mobile and adjustable ramps and can be easily loaded into the standard T3000 pocket wagon at each rail terminal with a reach stacker or a terminal crane. Visit: www.txlogistik.eu
Jungheinrich and Fricke found joint venture
Hamburg-based Jungheinrich AG and the Fricke Group from Heeslingen in lower Saxony are combining their expertise in the fields of intralogistics and spare-parts wholesale to launch a joint venture for the international sale of spare parts. The two companies see considerable growth potential, in particular within the independent after market and within e-commerce.
Christian erlach from the Jungheinrich board for Sales and marketing: “Fricke’s many years of expertise within e-commerce combined with Jungheinrich’s expertise in truck construction and service provide outstanding opportunities for a highly customer-friendly provision of spare parts.”
“Jungheinrich and Fricke are two family companies with shared values. We know that Jungheinrich is an innovative leader with outstanding products and are certain that together we can offer our current and future customers real added value,” says Hans-Peter Fricke, managing director and proprietor of the Fricke Group. Visit: www.jungheinrich.de