Logistics News ME - June 2018

Site visit

Trucks

Airport show

Combilift expands services in Ireland

A new Quester for construction aficionados

Aviation solutions for the modern day

Connecting trade professionals with industry intelligence

Packing a (sweet) Punch

Mondelēz International’s delectable gift to the region – a “Factory of the Future” in Bahrain

June 2018

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Bespoke Logistics Project of the Year 2017

Domestic Logistics Service Provider of the Year KSA 2017

GCC Supplier Of The Year 2017 KSA Supplier Of The Year 2017

Contents

Contents

J u n e 2 018

Website: www.CBNme.com/logistics-news twitter: @logisticsnewsme Facebook: /LogisticsNewsME

June 2018

R e a d a l l t h e l at e s t i s s u e s o n I s s u u

Start 12 | News 22 | Op-ed

An insight on the positives for the shipping industry up ahead

Features 26 | Cover story

Mondelēz brings the favoured Oreo closer to the region

32 | Interview

In conversation with Toby Edwards, CEO of Shipa Freight

34 | Site Visit

Combilift launches new facility in Ireland

38 | Trucks

UD Trucks’ new Quester variant is a versatile machine

42 | Event preview Highlights from Airport Show 2018

46 | Viewpoint

Balancing high sales variances via simple mitigation

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52 | Supplier News 54 | Diary

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 3

Regional News

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J u n e 2 018

E d i to r ’ s L e t t e r

J u n e 2 018

A note from the editor

Pa r o m i ta d e y @paromitadey1 |

linkedin.com/in/paromita-dey

The regional governments are still in attempts of diversifying from predominantly being an oil-based economy, by investing heavily in the development of key sectors like logistics and ports. Almost every major port, from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait, has substantial upgrades planned and are on track to achieving that.

One of the recent examples include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Abu Dhabi Ports to work together to develop opportunities for Abu Dhabi Ports to upgrade ports, logistics infrastructure, and services abroad used by EGA to load raw materials destined for the UAE. Another is the King Abdullah Economic City Port in Saudi Arabia, which began operations in January 2014. The port, up the coast from Jeddah in the Red Sea, has a capacity of 1.3 million twenty–foot equivalent units (TEUs) and this is expected to rise to four million TEUs by 2016, seven million by 2018, and ultimately 20 million. The developers, Emaar Economic City, hope that the port will turn into a global hub, in much the same way as Dubai or Abu Dhabi

CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net

in the Gulf. As 25% of the world’s trade passes through the Red Sea on the way to the Suez Canal, this will be a key factor.

In addition to the ports, the air cargo side is not left behind. Middle Eastern carriers saw air cargo volumes increase by more than 7% in February, according to latest figures published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Year-on-year freight volumes increased 7.4% in February and capacity increased 7.6%.

Seasonally adjusted freight volumes continue to trend upwards despite slowing to an annualised rate of 4% since late 2017.

It is of no doubt that the region will benefit from the upcoming mega events as well as the solid economic growth of the domestic economies.

But will this momentum be enough to sustain the capacity created by the sea and air freight in the region? What cost will it come for? It’s a wait and watch game!

Paromita Dey Editor

Group Sales Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706

Senior Sales Manager Vishvanath Shetty vish@bncpublishing.net

Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818

Editor Paromita Dey paromita@bncpublishing.net Reporter Mehak Srivastava mehak@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net Marketing Manager Mark Anthony Monzon mark@bncpublishing.net Photography Hayder Al Zuhairi Farooq Salik

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On the web Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website.

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Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors.

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Regional News

Regional News A n u p dat e f r o m a r o u n d t h e r e g i o n Technology

Virgin Hyperloop, DP World to develop joint cargo hyperloop system

Virgin Hyperloop One and DP World are launching a new joint venture, DP World Cargospeed, two years after the high-speed transportation technology developer tapped the UAEbased shipping company in a $50mn financing.

The company’s stated goal is to deliver palletised cargo more efficiently by combining super high-speed promise of hyperloop transportation with new logistics technologies to accelerate deliveries, along Virgin Hyperloop One’s planned routes between Mumbai and Pune in India; in Saudi Arabia, and in the United Arab Emirates.

DP World and the Virgin Hyperloop One introduced their joint initiative at a glitzy event hosted by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group chairman and CEO, and Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder and Virgin Hyperloop One chairman, at the historic vessel Queen Elizabeth 2. The event was graced by the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid 12 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

(L) Sir Richard Branson and (R) Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem during the joint initiative announcement

Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Bin Sulayem said: “Throughout history, cargo has always been the catalyst for transport revolutions.

With a bold vision for the future, Dubai has always pushed the boundaries of innovation. This spirit of innovation has enabled us to become a world leader in logistics. We have made a significant investment in Virgin Hyperloop One because we see the need for a hyperloop-enabled cargo network to support rapid, on-demand deliveries globally. We believe in Virgin Hyperloop One’s long-term

vision. They are the right partner to shape the future of global logistics, and we look forward to developing the first DP World Cargospeed systems with them.”

Branson remarked: “The global growth of e-commerce is driving a dramatic shift in both consumer and business behaviour.

On-demand deliveries are a novelty today. Tomorrow it will be the expectation. DP World Cargospeed systems powered

by Virgin Hyperloop One will enable ultra-fast, on-demand deliveries of high-priority goods and can revolutionise logistics, support economic zones, and create thriving economic mega-regions.”

Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, said: “Based on McKinsey’s assessment of our technology, Virgin Hyperloop Oneenabled supply chains can dramatically impact business bottom lines by reducing both finished goods inventory and required warehouse space by 25%. Collectively, we chose to call our Virgin Hyperloopenabled cargo solution DP World Cargospeed, because speed is about more than just getting from A to B; it’s about optimising the entire end-to-end journey.

DP World Cargospeed will offer unprecedented customer experience, reliability, and the freedom from having to plan too far ahead.”

No actual routes or investment costs were announced at the event, and it was highlighted that the Hyperloop plan connecting Mumbai-Pune in India would potentially be worked on prior to attention shifting to the systems in the UAE. www.cbnme.com

J u n e 2 018 Airports

Dammam Airports Co signs agreements with Vanderlande and Serco

Dammam Airports Company (DACO) signed two strategic agreements with Vanderlande and Serco at the 18th Airport Show in Dubai.

As part of DACO’s agreement with Vanderlande, the two entities will work on introducing a baggage handling system (BHS) at King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) that will help make travel procedures smoother for airport personnel, passengers, and airlines.

Turki Abdullah Al-Jawini,

CEO of Dammam Airports Company, said: “Guided by our vision to transform airports and redefine the travel experience, our efforts in the last 10 months have focused on expanding the airport’s operational efficiency, as it witnesses a steady growth in passenger traffic and an increased demand for commercial services. We are pleased to partner with global leaders like Vanderlande and Serco Middle East to execute our long-term plans for the

airport and transform it into a major hub for air transportation within the region and beyond.”

The agreement with Serco Middle East is to install fire and rescue services at the airport. The contract, which makes KFIA the first Saudi airport to leverage an international service provider’s expertise in firefighting systems, will help raise the airport’s safety standards in line with its existing firefighting protocols.

David Greer, CEO, Serco Middle East, said: “As a globally recognised fire and rescue services provider, Serco is pleased to enter this agreement with Dammam Airports Company that has been mandated to oversee the operations of the King Fahd International Airport.

Passenger safety and security are among the most critical aspects of airport operations, and we are delighted to utilise our industry-leading expertise in providing cutting-edge fire and rescue solutions to enhance the airport’s security procedures.”

The data EU-GCC Trade Values

$83.1bn

Value of 29.4mn MT of trade handled by DP World – UAE region

Middle East

40% 31% 13% Asia

Europe

Top trade regions for JAFZA

China

JAFZA’s largest trade partner, followed by Saudi Arabia, US, Vietnam, and India Data provided by DP World.

Quick news

Al Futtaim Logistics launched a multi-temperature facility in Jebel Ali South, equipped with space for more than 1,600 pallets and warehouse management technology.

Dubai World Central (DWC) handled a total of 229,831 tonnes of freight during the first quarter of 2018, as against 211,144 tonnes handled during Q1 2017.

Tristar received the “Best Workers Welfare Program” award at the Happiness@ Work award ceremony organised by Sustainable Mindz in Dubai.

Etihad Cargo has opted for DoKaSch Temperature Solutions’ Opticooler, known as the flying warehouse, to transport its highly temperature-sensitive air cargo shipments.

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 13

Regional News

AWL inaugurates JAFZA warehouse

Facility

UPS launches $163mn hub in DP World London Gateway

(L to R): Lou Rivieccio, president, UPS Europe; Mark Vale, president, UPS UK, Ireland and Nordics; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World Group chairman and CEO; Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling MP.

Access World Logistics, a joint venture between RHS Group, Dubai, and Switzerland-based Access World, inaugurated a state-of-the-art third party logistics and warehousing facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA).

The facility was built over a 40,000sqm plot with a total investment of about AED40mn, according to an official statement.

The facility, with a storage capacity in excess of 100,000 freight tonnes of multiple products, has a 15,200sqm covered warehouse with very narrow aisle (VNA) racking systems as well as bulk-stowage space, and air-conditioned as well as ambient-temperature warehousing space, plus an open-storage yard of about 7,500sqm.

The fast-track project was completed in less than 10 months from the ground-breaking, which was held in July. The logistics company is also in the process of commissioning a 1 MWp roof-top photovoltaic (PV) panel system to meet most of its power requirements through solar energy.

The event was attended by dignitaries from DP World, Dubai Customs, the London Metal Exchange, Commercial Bank of Dubai, clients, key members from the logistics fraternity, contractors, consultants, service providers, as well as senior management of Access World and RHS Group.

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16 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

UPS officially opened its new 32,000sqm package sorting and delivery facility, located at the DP World London Gateway Logistics Park, in South East England.

At $163mn, the new London Hub is one of UPS’ largest single infrastructure investments outside of the United States in the company’s history.

“Every single day, we see evidence of a more interconnected world of commerce.

And we are delighted that UPS continues building upon its relationship with Dubai-based DP World to explore new international opportunities,” commented Rami Suleiman, newly appointed UPS president of the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa region (ISMEA).

“We are leveraging our work with DP World, a global trade enabler, along with UPS’ smart global logistics network to improve trade flow processes that our customers rely upon to expand their businesses globally.”

UPS is also working with Expo 2020 Dubai as the official logistics partner to help connect Dubai to the world and the world to Dubai. The theme of the UK’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is Global Britain – Innovating for a Shared Future.

“We congratulate UPS on this strategic development.

By using DP World London Gateway Logistics Park and Port, UPS will have a fast ‘global conveyor-belt’ directly connected to their own worldwide network,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. “This development confirms that the marketcentric location of DP World London Gateway, right on the doorstep of London and the South East and on the same site as the country’s fastest growing deep-sea port, can only add value to supply chains – through reductions in cost, time, and carbon footprint.”

Located at the DP World London Gateway Logistics Park, the new building will act as a UK package processing hub and distribution centre for the local area as well as a gateway to UPS’ global logistics network, with capacity to process up to 28,000 packages per hour and room for further expansion. More than 500 employees will operate out of the new operations hub that spans the space of approximately five football pitches. With over four miles of conveyor belts, the facility features advanced package scanning and sortation equipment that increase the flexibility to efficiently route packages to their final destinations. www.cbnme.com

J u n e 2 018

Quote

Events

MAN debuts latest Lion’s Coach bus at UITP MENA

Agility is accelerating a fast-moving transformation to establish itself as a digital leader in the logistics industry.”

Tarek Sultan, CEO and vice chairman, Agility

Sohar Flour Mills to establish 12 grain silos at SOHAR Port SOHAR Port and Freezone signed an agreement with Sohar Flour Mills (SFM) for the lease of a 10ha plot within the port area for the construction and management of 12 grain storage silos, each boasting a storage capacity of 13,000 tonnes.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sohar Flour Mill will also oversee the construction and development of a new agro bulk terminal and deep-water berth, which will be dedicated to handling the rapidly growing volumes of agro commodities moving through SOHAR Port.

The sub-usufruct agreement (SUA) was signed on April 11 at a ceremony held at SOHAR Port and Freezone offices.

Signing the agreement on behalf of SOHAR was the CEO, Mark Geilenkirchen and DCEO, Jamal Aziz; while Sohar Flour Mills were represented by Khamis Abdullah Al Farsi, the chairman of the Board, and director, Ali Habaj.

Highlighting the growing role played by the food sector at SOHAR Port and Freezone, Mark Geilenkirchen noted: “Enhancing the nation’s food security has been a matter of great focus for the government in recent years. Aligning with Oman’s National Food Security Strategy, we moved to set up a dedicated ‘Food Cluster’ within SOHAR, which essentially forms the basis for an entire up-stream and down-stream food production, packaging and distribution eco-system. The construction of these large capacity grain silos certainly highlights the rapid growth and development of the food and agriculture sector in Sohar, and aligns with the country’s continued economic diversification efforts.”

Marking its strong presence at the UITP MENA Transport Congress & Exhibition 2018, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East, together with its partner in the UAE, United Motors & Heavy Equipment Co, showcased the all-new MAN Lion’s Coach.

The MAN Lion’s Coach, which premiered at Busworld 2017 in Belgium, has begun sales across the Middle East.

Franz von Redwitz, managing director MAN Truck & Bus Middle East, said: “We are pleased to participate in the UITP MENA Transport Congress & Exhibition 2018 and honoured to showcase our all-new MAN Lion’s Coach on a platform that explores future solutions of public transportation. With its fast-growing economies and ongoing public transport projects worth more than $100bn, the Middle East and North Africa region presents an excellent opportunity for commercial vehicle manufactures, and, therefore, we attach great importance to this gathering of major players

in the industry. MAN Truck & Bus Middle East remains committed to transforming the region’s public transportation landscape by providing innovative mobility solutions.”

On his part, Khalifa Darwish, managing director, United Motors & Heavy Equipment Co, said: “It is encouraging to know that our participation at the UITP MENA Transport Congress & Exhibition 2018 has already been generating positive response from our customers in the UAE. The all-new MAN Lion’s Coach is a major milestone in our efforts to revolutionise transport solutions in the country by offering efficient, costeffective, and high-quality buses to governments and companies. We are confident that the new Lion’s Coach will boost our partnership with MAN Truck & Bus Middle East and further strengthen our market standing.”

UITP MENA Transport Congress ran from April 2325 2018, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 17

Regional News

Agreement

Abu Dhabi Ports, MSC sign deal for container terminal at Khalifa Port

(L to R): Diego Aponte, president and CEO of MSC Group and HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports

Abu Dhabi Ports signed a 30year concession agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, to establish a new container terminal at Khalifa Port.

HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, witnessed the signings, alongside a number of high ranking officials.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO at Abu Dhabi Ports, and Diego Aponte, president and CEO of MSC Group, were signatories for both agreements HE Jaber said: “Under the leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the UAE has made historic strides in both economic and social 18 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

development, striving to be a leader in the maritime sector, positioning itself on the global economic and trade map. Since the inauguration of Khalifa Port on December 12, 2012, it has become a real testament to the advanced engineering practices in the UAE, in addition to the success of the government’s strategic plans to build world-class infrastructure projects. Over the past five years, Khalifa Port has been recognised as one of the most modern and technologically advanced ports in the region and the world.”

He added: “These agreements cement the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s position as a global trading, shipping, and

logistics hub. This agreement will also promote economic growth and increased investment through the rise in container traffic.”

Aponte commented: “MSC is delighted to be part of the UAE’s maritime sector growth.

The UAE has a rich history in international trade and after two decades of operating in the country, MSC is pleased to continue to support the growth of the local maritime economy. We are confident that with this investment, we will continue to ensure a high level of service for our customers and have the capacity to grow the scale of our operations in the UAE.” Shamisi said: “Khalifa Port plays a vital role in Abu Dhabi

Ports’ strategy that aims to further enhance the capital and the UAE’s economic and trade positioning on a regional and global level.

MSC will invest a total of AED4bn over the life of concession agreement in operational equipment.”

Developments include an increase in the current 12 ship-to-shore cranes to make a total of 25 of some of the most technologically advanced cranes in the world, over the next two years; in addition, deepening the berths, making Khalifa Port the first port in the region capable of receiving the largest shipping vessels in the world that specialise in bulk cargo shipment. www.cbnme.com

J u n e 2 018

DAFZA reports growing influx of automotive companies The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) announced continued growth in the number of automotive, car parts, and accessories companies within the free zone.

The announcement was made during Automechanika Dubai 2018, in which DAFZA was the lead free zone sponsor of the 16th edition, alongside being an exhibitor.

The event, which specialises in automotive, automobile parts, and accessories, was held at Dubai World Trade Centre from

May 1-3, 2018.

DAFZA’s sponsorship and participation of the event

Top 5 online

1

UPS announces new regional, global appointments

2

UPS launches $163mn in DP World London Gateway

3

Dubai Airport Show 2018 officially opens

4

Hacis, Chu Kong Shipping sign strategic logistics agreement

5

DP World, Egypt govt, Suez Canal Authority develop trade infrastructure

aimed to shed light on the range of excellent services it provides to companies

working in the automobile, cars, and parts sector. The free zone highlighted the commercial benefits to foreign investors who choose DAFZA to launch their businesses and the facilities it offers at various levels, from licenses and permits to government services.

A number of automotive companies are based in DAFZA, including Bentley Motors, Sumitomo Rubber Middle East, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tata Motors, Audi Volkswagen Middle East, Toyota Motors, Peugeot, and others.

Profits

Aramex registers AED103.4mn net profit growth in Q1 2018 Aramex announced its financial results for first quarter, ending March 31, 2018.

Aramex registered doubledigit net profit growth of 13% in Q1 2018 to AED103.4mn, compared to AED91.8mn in Q1 2017. Q1 revenue grew 8% to AED1.19bn, from AED1.106bn in Q1 2017, mainly attributed to the continued growth of global e-commerce activities.

Bashar Obeid, chief executive officer of Aramex, said: “We had a good start in the first quarter of 2018, launching several strategic initiatives to support future growth and enhancing our operational efficiencies, expanding last mile capacity and accelerating our digital transformation journey.”

Commenting on Aramex’s outlook for the remainder of 2018, Obeid said: “We continue to maintain a positive outlook for the year, as we expect to continue to benefit from the

An Aramex facility in operation

boom in global e-commerce activities. We expect stronger contribution from e-commerce activities to our domestic express services in the future, as major e-Tailers are establishing fulfillment centers in our core markets. Our focus this year will be on accelerating the digital transformation, boosting operational efficiencies, and enhancing our B2B and freightforwarding capabilities across the network.”

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 19

Regional News

J u n e 2 0 18

Contract

ADNOC Logistics to lead Ruwais container terminal operations

ADNOC Logistics and Services, the shipping and services arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), signed a contract with Borouge, a leading provider of value creating plastics solutions, to handle its Ruwais container terminal operations.

The five-year contract, awarded through a competitive bidding process, is the first deal signed between Borouge and ADNOC Logistics and Services as a new integrated entity, following the integration of IRSHAD, ESNAAD, and ADNATCO into a single 20 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

ADNOC operating company.

Under the terms of the contract, ADNOC Logistics and Services will carry out all handling operations of Borouge’s packed and palletised products and bulk loaded containers.

ADNOC Logistics and Services will handle up to 800,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum. ADNOC Logistics and Services claims to be fully equipped to meet the increased production planned at Borouge’s plants in the next five years, to meet the forecasted growing demand, especially in China and

South East Asia, for high value polymers.

Abdul Aziz Mohamed Al Zaabi, senior vice president of the services unit, ADNOC Logistics and Services, said: “This five-year contract with Borouge is a robust vote of confidence in our plans to create added value by establishing a world class, integrated, logistics, and services business in Ruwais.

“Following the unification of our shipping and marine services operations, our focus continues to be on servicing the ADNOC business and international clients to the highest standard, without

compromising our HSE commitments.

Looking ahead, as part of ADNOC’s 2030 strategy, we are expanding our powerful offering to customers outside of the ADNOC network, first regionally and then globally.”

ADNOC is making significant investments in new downstream projects to grow its refining capabilities and expand its petrochemical production. As a result of the planned expansions in ADNOC Downstream business, Ruwais will become one of the largest integrated refining and petrochemical complexes in the world. www.cbnme.com

TRUCKS

Op-Ed

J u n e 2 018

Opinion

Peter Richards, Group CEO, Gulftainer, comments on the positive opportunities ahead for the shipping industry, despite recent hitches

The need to shift from pure sea freight to the entire supply chain is apparent now more than ever.”

A sea of opportunities

T

he shipping industry ushered in 2018 with great hope for recovery, after what seemed like a prolonged period of challenges.

Reports specifically indicated an upturn in the dry bulk and oil tanker segments, although container shipping was expected to continue showing signs of volatility.

This is unsurprising, given the fact that container shipping has been fraught with hurdles ranging from the growing trend of postPanamax ships, changing dynamics owing to new alliances, as well as a general slow-down in global trade — negatively impacting the order books. Container ships, however, remain a lifeline for the global economy, responsible for the carriage of 90% of world trade.

In effect, the potential for growth and resilience within this segment continues to hold strong, albeit with a new perspective for the future – of greater collaboration, integration, and digital disruption.

Working together for better gains The maritime industry can greatly benefit from collaboration to deliver better efficiencies. In this respect, it is worth considering the speculative nature of shipping markets due to the long lead times between ordering and deploying vessels. In fact, the overcapacity of vessels that is affecting the sector today can be largely attributed to the fact that many of the orders for large vessels were placed before 2011, when the growth forecast was relatively optimistic. While this pattern is likely to repeat itself, meaningful cooperation versus

22 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

positive co-existence can help industry players, especially port operators, prepare for the next down-cycle.

On the other hand, globally, there is a growing need for enhancements to port infrastructure. Globally, the OECD estimates infrastructure investments to account for a staggering $6.3tn per year over the period from 2016 to 2030, signalling an urgent need for private-sector contribution. In markets such as the US, for example, port ecosystems, which include roads, rails, and waterways, require over a $100bn of funding to adapt to the new norm of mega-ships and select shipping routes. Notably, according to PwC, across ports in Sub-Saharan Africa, a 25% improvement in port performance alone could boost the overall GDP by 2%.

At Gulftainer, we have witnessed this impact through our global portfolio. The Jubail Container Terminal, for example, saw an impressive 26% throughput growth last year and received the largest container vessel to arrive at Jubail till date, with the maiden call of Evergreen Marine Corporation’s 14,424-TEU EMC Taurus in November 2017. At Port Canaveral, we have expanded operations significantly, adding warehousing capabilities and strategic services to support the US Space Industry, including contracts with SpaceX. These improvements not only result in GDP growth and better opportunities to participate in the global supply chain, but also have a significant local impact, through job creation.

Diversified services to meet customer needs The need to shift from pure sea freight to the

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Op-Ed

entire supply chain is apparent now more than ever. Bringing the customer closer to an allinclusive logistics experience is key to enabling this shift. This means focussing on integrated solutions, which for example, links e-commerce expertise with the logistics supply chain.

In other words, it is worthwhile considering the margins offered by a door-to-door process, since sea freight accounts for only a fraction of the costs of shipping goods from one point to another.

The results from our integrated third-party logistics (3PL) subsidiary company, Momentum Logistics, speak to the success of this approach. Whether in the GCC, Iraq or in the US, our customers are increasingly opting for a wholly integrated supply chain experience, which not only simplifies the overall transaction, but adds to cost and handling efficiencies.

A new era of digitisation Technology is playing an undeniably crucial role in shaping the future of the maritime industry, as shipping companies as well as port operators are beginning to realise its potential.

This presents new opportunities for maritime innovations whether it is in digitisation or data analytics. Technology developments are also

24 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

J u n e 2 018

bringing in greater transparency when it comes to goods in transit, and is increasing overall efficiency in the supply chain.

To some extent, digitisation is already underway in the industry, with cloud-based products and advanced analytics using data and machine-learning to improve decision making.

For port operators, technology-enabled platforms can bring multifold benefits. For example, terminal operators can access data that is relevant, real-time, and actionable, whether it is about fuel consumption, vessel performance, or container capacity. This can further help in optimising berth usage at terminals, reducing the number of moves during container handling, maximising yard usage and equipment use and relocated overbooking.

Artificial intelligence and big data also present a growing opportunity to predict operations, including future vessel behavior, deviations, and demand cycles, thereby reducing the risk of error, while also reducing the wastage of resources in the process.

On the other hand, technology can facilitate innovative systems of communication among stakeholders, and lead to greater transparency and better governance across the supply chain. For instance, our

Marine and Container Handling (MACH) Terminal Operating System (TOS), available across our terminals, provides computerised control of container storage and movement.

In addition to greater efficiency, the move has resulted in more effective coordination among the stakeholders. The real-time data from the TOS enables proactive problem-solving while making it easier for customers to manage transactions. Furthermore, container ships benefit from the system’s automated vehicle booking process that reduces waiting time at the ports. While it is still at a nascent stage, it is expected that blockchain technology will further enhance this process.

Leveraging the global opportunity in container shipping Terminal operations and the maritime industry are at an important crossroads as they gradually shift from legacy frameworks to a new way of doing business. However, most players within the sector understand the need to accept change, or risk being left behind. While the opportunity for growth and expansion continues to be impacted by macro-economic and operational challenges, the agility to evolve and adapt will be a key measure of success.

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C o v e r S to ry

Oh! Oh!

Paromita Dey visits the newly opened state-of-the-art $90mn Mondelēz manufacturing plant in Bahrain to meet growing consumer demand

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rom Ocean to Oreo – that’s the slogan behind the newly inaugurated “Factory of the Future” in the Kingdom of Bahrain by snacking giant, Mondelēz International. To meet the growing consumer demand, the company invested $90mn in the state-of-the-art biscuit manufacturing plant that produces iconic power brands, including Oreo cookies and Barni soft cakes, for local consumers and serves as a hub for exports to the Gulf region, the Levant, and Africa, reducing delivery costs and improving product freshness.

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Mondelēz International and its predecessor, Kraft Foods, have been operating in the Middle East for more than a century, ever since Kraft Foods sold its first can of cheese in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1912.

Mondelēz International’s hub in the Middle East is located in Dubai, where it’s responsible for operations, sales, and distribution in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Lebanon, Iraq, and Pakistan.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of HH Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa; HE Zayed R Al

Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; Daniel Myers, executive vice president, Integrated Supply Chain, Mondelēz International; Maurizio Brusadelli, EVP and president, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Mondelēz International; and distinguished VIP guests.

In a statement during the inauguration ceremony, Myers said: “This investment in Bahrain is a great example of how we’re building a world-class supply chain, with ‘Factories of the Future’ in strategic locations around the world, designed to simplify operations, increase flex-

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ibility, improve productivity, and meet the growth demands of our power brands. We’re keenly focussed on winning with our consumers and customers, as we simplify and modernise our operations and production capacity.

We’re making our company more nimble and efficient, creating the fuel we need to invest in our brands and our people – our most important assets – and deliver sustainable, profitable growth for our shareholders.”

The 250,000sqm manufacturing facility is about the size of 30 soccer fields with production capacity of nearly 45,000 tons per

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year. This new plant is located alongside Mondelēz International’s existing manufacturing site, which has been producing Kraft cheese and Tang powdered beverages since 2008.

In an exclusive interview with LNME, Mohamed Shalaby, plant director, Mondelēz Bahrain Biscuits, says: “This plant is state-ofthe-art and is one of the biggest in the food manufacturing sector in the Gulf region. It is a project that required great technical expertise to get it ready for operation. We broke ground for the facility in 2014 and took four

years to complete to ensure that it meets the highest level of technology.

“We are starting with two production lines, one for Oreo and the other one is for Barni cakes. Our old facility was mainly focused on supplying Kraft cheese and Tang, which remains one of our biggest categories in the organisation. The second category is the biscuits and cakes line. The expansion of our investment in the second category in Bahrain is only a reflection of our cooperation with the government to increase our existence in the country.”

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C o v e r S to ry

Across the last 10 years, we have been working in co-operation with Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to develop the local suppliers.”

Mohamed Shalaby, Mondelēz Bahrain Biscuits

Mondelēz Bahrain Biscuits Plant breaks Guinness World Record The Mondelēz Bahrain Biscuits plant scored a spot in the Guinness World Records, securing a title for the largest cream filled biscuit in the form of an Oreo.

Made with the real dough and cream used in regular-sized Oreos, the record-breaking cookie weighed 73.5 kg with a diameter of 74 cm and a thickness of 15 cm.

The enormous Oreo blitzed the previous record of 28.24 kg set by Hoppe Food Group & Midden Brabant College in The Netherlands back in 2011.

Safa Hassan, quality specialist at the Mondelez Bahrain Biscuits plant, was the brainchild behind the idea. The process was not short of challenges and required a giant mould to be designed locally by the R&D and plant operations teams to begin with. After a couple of attempts, the team succeeded in producing a well baked and unbroken cookie.

The official adjudicator from Guinness World Records carefully measured the weight of the biscuit as per the standards of the record guidelines and only then declared the new record.

“We are extremely proud to have broken a Guinness World Records title for the largest cream-filled cookie at our newly established manufacturing plant in Bahrain,” remarks Mohamed Shalaby, plant director at Mondelez Bahrain Biscuits WLL. “I would like to congratulate the Bahrain Biscuits team for their determination to achieve this milestone; it was wonderful to see the team come together and join forces to make history, especially at such a momentous occasion with the official plant inauguration taking place.”

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The new plant has already made a valuable contribution to the local economy and takes advantage of the region’s highly skilled and educated local workforce. The site creates about 150 direct jobs and helps sustain over 12,000 more indirect jobs in the local economy through its two plants.

Shalaby points out: “Across the last 10 years, we have been working in co-operation with Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) to develop the local suppliers.

We have great success stories from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), specially on the packaging front. All our packaging is manufactured locally. We worked very hard to develop the local suppliers on bulk materials as well. Our standards of supplier development is quite heavy, hence it requires a lot of time and efforts. We have around 350 suppliers in Bahrain, which also includes our service suppliers like hotels, and all our packaging suppliers as well.”

Shalaby points out that the Middle East and Africa are priority markets for the company, and that “they are confident in selecting Bahrain as the preferred location for the plant, due to its business-friendly environment, skilled local workforce, and excellent transport links, all of which will be instrumental to the success of the growth plans”.

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He says: “We have plants in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and now in Bahrain. We have several plants but for every plant, we want to focus on certain supply ability. For example, from here, we can supply to South Africa. We are trying to reach 20 countries by the end of 2018. Many of these are being prepared for further expansion.

“The newest was sourcing of Barni cakes to New Zealand and Australia. The Bahrain plant is an expansion we are quite proud of because this is the first time we are sourcing Barni cakes from the region to as far as Australia and New Zealand. We have only used 54,000sqm out of the 250,000

sqm land for the facility, so there is a huge potential for future expansion as we continue to grow the business and look at scaling up the factory.”

Mondelēz has always been in the forefront of sustainability, and according to Shalaby, it’s an area of expertise that the company has really invested in. He says: “We have developed this area to make sure that we have the least emissions in the environment from natural resource consumption. Our Oreo oven consumes much less energy as compared to the technologies of traditional ovens. Even if you would touch the oven while you are in the plant, you will not feel the heat. And this

is done because of the technology that we put through to reduce energy consumption.

“There are definite future plans to get more involved with natural and renewable energy sources like solar energy and we currently are working with the government to bring this to reality. One of our plants in India has already transferred 70% of its consumption to solar energy. This technology has been developed by Mondelēz and supported by the government entities for environmental aspects. On the same lines, we are also in discussions with the Bahraini government on how to implement this technology here in the future.”

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E x p e rt o p i n i o n

In retrospection Professor John Manners-Bell, CEO, Transport Intelligence (Ti), looks back on the last 15 years of rapid progress in the logistics market

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hen Transport Intelligence was established in 2002, the global economy was still coming to terms with the fall-out from the dotcom bubble and, of course, the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center the previous year. The US and Europe were struggling with recession, with Germany and France amongst the hardest hit. Prospects of future economic growth were gloomy.

However, the fallout from the recession was short-lived, especially when compared with the prolonged market weakness experienced following the ‘Great Recession’ of 2008. In fact, the following few years were what could

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be described as a ‘golden era’ for the logistics industry. Asia was driving economic growth and globalisation was gathering pace helped

by China’s rapid market liberalisation. These forces were about to transform the supply chain and logistics industry.

Back in 2002, one of the first issues we wrote about was Deutsche Post’s plans to buy the remaining 25% of DHL it didn’t already own. The company had already acquired some big names in the industry, such as AEI, and would go on to buy Exel and countless other well-known brands as it became a major player in the consolidation of the sector.

In fact, the market moved rapidly from

one characterised by multiple mediumsized operators to one in which a few companies came to dominate, at least in terms of scale, building out global networks and multiple capabilities.

The intervening period has seen companies emerge from seemingly nowhere to achieve prominence and then be acquired themselves by rivals on an even more meteoric rise. French logistics provider, Norbert Dentressangle, was one such example aggressively buying in the UK and US markets, before being bought by new-kid-on-the-block, XPO. TNT went from being a market leader in the early 2000s, receiving plaudits for

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the way it combined express, mail, and logistics functions, to being broken up and then acquired by players such as CEVA and FedEx. At the same time US giants, UPS and FedEx, have both gone from being largely US focused express parcels carriers to being global providers of parcels and logistics services.

During this time many companies were brought to their knees by overly ambitious acquisition strategies. Even DHL felt considerable pain when its decision to buy Airborne Express in the US back fired, costing the company billions. Only the size and success of the rest of its business allowed it to cope with such losses.

Unfortunately for the industry, the recession of 2008 (the effects of which are still being felt) brought to an end the plentiful supply of money which had been available to make acquisitions. Even more importantly, international shipping volumes fell off a cliff plunging the air cargo and sea freight sectors into crisis. Although an initial bounce back came quite quickly, all markets subsequently stagnated and it took years to regain the ground which had been lost.

Following globalisation, the next big demand-side trend to impact on the industry was e-commerce. After a false dawn in the late 1990s, shopping on the internet eventually became mainstream and this created major opportunities and challenges for the logistics and express sectors. Multi-channel retailing became an essential revenue stream although it has taken many years for operators to adapt to the new demands which B2C deliveries have placed upon them.

Now, however, the zeitgeist for the second half of this decade is ‘innovation and disruption’. The talk is all about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the impact that it will have on the underlying demandside trends as well as the opportunities it will provide for logistics and express operators themselves. Development of autonomous and electric trucks, 3D printing, robotics in manufacturing and in warehouses, drones, blockchain, and the Internet of Things have resulted in media attention for the industry as never before. However, there is also the risk of over-hyping these innovations, leading to one senior logistics executive asserting: “The only disruption we’re seeing is in Powerpoints.”

Perhaps an alternative characterisation of the state of the industry would be that disruption and innovation is occurring; it is just that it is being assimilated into logistics

“Development of autonomous and electric trucks, 3D printing, robotics in manufacturing and in warehouses, drones, blockchain, and the Internet of Things have resulted in media attention for the industry as never before.”

John Manners-Bell, Transport Intelligence companies’ existing operations and technology offerings. Consequently, the next few years will see an evolution of the sector rather than a ‘big-bang’ revolution. Undoubtedly there will be change, and those companies who cannot adjust to the new environment will drop out of the market. However, for most of the largest providers at least, the new technologies offer another way of differentiating their products and services— of driving down costs and of creating efficiencies in their networks.

Looking ahead over the next 15 years of Ti’s life, the technologies which we are analysing on a daily basis today will become mainstream and, in a positive way, forgotten.

A new generation, for example, will grow up regarding ‘smart-contracts’ as the norm and will have little understanding or concern for the blockchain technology which underpins them. Real time shipping quotes will be standard, supply chain visibility complete.

Will the largest shipping, air cargo and logistics companies be owned and run by Amazon or Alibaba with vast, automated

50,000 TEU ships crossing the oceans as some analysts predict? Possibly. However, the future is likely to be much more unpredictable than this, as demand-side trends transform, and potentially eliminate, global supply chains. 3D printing and automation could structurally change production costs, allowing manufacturing to take place in Europe and North America, reducing the importance of Asia-Europe and transpacific goods flows. Mega-cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America may create their own supply chain ‘eco-systems’— local production serving local markets.

Whatever the future holds, the need for high quality research and analysis will always remain. Changing times will mean that only the most agile and adaptable companies will succeed with business models based on knowledge capital and its application. Over the next 15 years we at Ti look forward to providing logistics and supply chain companies around the world with the tools necessary for them to achieve these strategic goals.

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Interview

Levelling the playing field

Toby Edwards, CEO, Shipa Freight, discusses the features and advantages of the latest online platform offering by the Agility group Tell us about Shipa Freight and the purpose behind launching it.

Shipa Freight is a new online platform from Agility that makes it easy to get air and ocean freight quotes, book, pay and track shipments online. It offers both air and ocean freight, including less container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). Door-to-door movements are undertaken using Agility’s Global Integrated Logistics network and service is available in up to 100 countries worldwide.

Shipa Freight is aimed at small and medium-size customers that want 24/7 access to rates, the ability to complete a full transaction online, want one place for instant access to all shipping information (including compliance

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and documentation requirements), and expect immediate answers to their freight questions.

According to the World Trade Organisation, the majority of SMEs that import or export goods (89%) see technology transforming the logistics industry and believe it is “levelling the playing field” for SMEs to operate globally. We recognise and value our customers’ needs and the significance of enabling SMEs to improve and enhance their operations.

Technologies such as Shipa Freight are designed to cater to those needs and to provide customer service excellence. To put it simply, Shipa Freight is born of Agility’s recognition of technology as critical to driving the future of the logistics industry. Our services have

always been underpinned by the best that technology has to offer, and we recognise that the market has been reshaped in recent years, characterised by varying customer expectations, real-time response, and a slew of new innovations to engage with them at various touchpoints. With this in mind, we are extremely excited about Shipa Freight and all that it has to offer.

Furthermore, Agility customer support is available 24/7 to help them book and manage their shipments, or to get rates for routes not quoted online. The ability to use technology and combine it with Agility’s global network make it a compelling service for customers to use.

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How does Shipa Freight intend to tackle the issues associated with compliance, customs requirements, and cross-border bureaucracy, for SMEs? According to Shipa Freight’s global study of 800 SMEs, small and medium-size companies said they needed the complexity taken out of compliance, customs requirements, and crossborder bureaucracy if they were to consider engaging in more international trade. Shipa Freight helps customers overcome these aforementioned issues by providing a compliance database with information on the documents required on all trade lanes, and helping them navigate the legal and regulatory requirements that are obstacles for many small businesses.

When a customer chooses to ship freight between two countries, Shipa Freight notifies the customer what documents are needed to move that freight. This database of knowledge is built from our global network of operators and experts. With Shipa Freight’s compliance database to guide them, the likelihood of customers’ freight being delayed is much reduced.

For a small business going global, having the confidence that their logistics provider is with them every step of the way is paramount. In addition, our global network of experts is available to provide practical support when needed.

How does Shipa plan to use Agility’s global network to support its acceptance and growth in the market?

What gives users of Shipa Freight a great advantage is that the service is backed by Agility’s global network of more than 22,000 employees in over 100 countries across the world. Shipa Freight gives customers the support of a trusted global network and allows small and medium-size companies to access the world’s growing markets. The knowledge and expertise of this global network is contained within Shipa Freight and allows customers to go global with a trusted partner.

Technology is the way to go; how does this fit into the overall ideals of Agility?

Technology is playing a key role in Agility’s development and Shipa Freight is an example of how we have utilised technology to build a new platform for customers.

“The service is backed by Agility’s global network of more than 22,000 employees in over 100 countries across the world.” - Toby Edwards, Shipa Freight In addition to Shipa Freight, Agility is looking at and deploying technology in many other areas. These include blockchain, IoT, data sciences, and the re-engineering of our operational software. For data science, we are looking at both our ability to participate in integrated customer supply chains and also customer service and pricing solutions.

In addition to these trends, logistics-ondemand services are also expected to see more traction in the coming years. At Agility, these changes are factored into our day-today operations as innovation is the only

way to move forward in a rapidly changing landscape. With this in mind, we developed Shipa Freight, the first fully integrated online freight service which caters to a new breed of customers in real-time.

Will the software only be available to Agility customers?

Shipa Freight is an open web-based platform that anyone can use. Users can generate a quote very easily and once they sign up, they have access to many more features that will help them manage their logistics.

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Si t e v i s i t

Soaring success

Logistics News ME attended the official opening of Combilift’s new EUR50mn global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland

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orklift manufacturer and material handling solutions provider, Combilift, officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the company also announced that it will be significantly expanding its workforce with the creation of 200 new jobs in the next three years.

Built at a cost of EUR50mn, the investment in the new 46,500sqm facility will allow Combilift to realise its ambitious growth plans.

Martin McVicar, managing director of Combilift, said: “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the combination of this production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years.”

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Combilift currently exports 98% of its products to 85 countries through its 250-strong international dealer network. The current workforce stands at 550 people and the new employment opportunities will be for skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists, and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills.

New Factory The new 46,500sqm purpose–built factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for future expansion when required. With 11 acres of roof space, it is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland.

Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the new factory will enable Combilift to

double its output in a single shift across all production lines.

Four 90m moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes. There are 60 welding bays, two plasma cutting machines, three paint lines which use sustainable waterbased paints, and three automatic shot blasters to cater for different sized products. 12,000 pallet locations ensure ample storage space for parts and components. The facility also includes a 50-seat cinema training room, 5,000sqm of office space, and a dedicated R&D Development and Testing Centre.

23% of roof space is covered in skylights, enabling staff to work in natural daylight without the assistance of artificial lighting.

Other lighting is provided through 1,100 LED lights with individual PIR sensors. Solar panels supply 185kW of energy with a 1MW biomass

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plant fuelled by recycled wood (pallets etc.) to heat the spraying booths and assembly area.

110,000l of rain water are harvested for jet washing and bathroom facilities.

More than 50 truckloads of finished products are dispatched from the factory each week, and spare parts are shipped across the world to the dealer network.

Certified to international quality and safety management standards, the new headquarters and manufacturing facility has been awarded ISO 9001 international quality management system, ISO 14001 Environment Management, and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series.

Mass Customisation McVicar attributes the company’s impressive growth and its status as an acknowledged world leader in the material handling sector to mass customisation. “Combilift has set the benchmark for the mass production of customised innovative products. Mass customisation is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer as customers are increasingly expecting products to be tailored to their requirements. We listen to and take feedback on board from our customers and dealers to identify solutions that best match their individual specific needs.”

Combilift invests 7% of its annual turnover in research and development to enhance its customisation capability and to maximise return of investments (ROI) for its customers. McVicar adds: “The flexibility in our new facility means that we can continue to accommodate any request for a customised material handling solution. We also see ourselves as much more than a forklift manufacturer and are transforming the transport and logistics sector with our innovative, space-spacing products and our services.”

Combilift also offers a free logistics and warehouse design service which enables customers to see the benefit that its products will bring to their business. “Our engineers proactively design, plan, and produce material flow analysis and 3D animations - 150 to 200 per day for our worldwide customers - which clearly illustrate the capacity potential as well as the optimum flow of materials on their site,” explains McVicar.

Product portfolio Combilift’s product portfolio has expanded way beyond its first multidirectional model, according to McVicar. “Combilift has always focused on a number of niche market segments and has a proven track record of launching one or two new products annually.

Martin McVicar, managing director of Combilift

In the first 10 years, we focussed on the long load material handling sector with the multidirectional range which revolutionised the handling of long materials, allowing customers to handle long products in less space more safely.”

Between 2008 and 2018, Combilift diversified its product ranged by developing a number of innovative space saving warehouse and heavy load handling products; the Aisle Master articulated truck and the Straddle Carrier (Combi-SC) respectively. Pedestrian products were introduced into the range in the last five years, enabling Combilift to gain a foothold in this growing market. The CombiWR, Combi-WR4, and the Combi-CS all

incorporate Combilift’s unique patented multipositional tiller arm technology.

“There is a growing demand for pedestrian trucks, driven by safety concerns where customers and/or employees are in the vicinity of operating forklifts,” said McVicar. “It is our intention to significantly expand this range, as can be seen with the launch of the new high lift capacity Combilift Powered Pallet Truck (Combi-HC-PPT).”

Middle East plans Combilift started its Middle Eastern business 12 years ago back and, according to McVicar, there are lots of opportunities in the region.

“We had a recent meeting in Dubai with Danube; they are a DIY chain and are really interested in looking at pedestrian equipment because their stores are always busy and we all know how much health and safety is becoming important in every country. So, for us, the more safety conscious the customers become, it’s a real benefit for our business.

“In the Middle East, we have been doing business for over 12 years now. So, it’s a very significant market for us. We are growing there, and a lot of opportunities lie in the market.”

The company sees its biggest growth in Saudi Arabia. McVicar concludes: “We try to target the easy projects first. In Saudi Arabia, we have a lot of business happening for steel fabricators; the construction market is buoyant, and the long loads material handling solutions are very successful. Also, there are a lot of warehouses being built in the country. Hence, we witness growth from that sector as well.”

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Ta l k i n g p o i n t

Fleet Intelligence Ford Trucks discusses how its FMS solution can transform fleet operations

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ord Trucks continues to bring new features and special services to its customers in the region. During the successful product launch event of its Tractor Head Series recently in the region, Ford Trucks also launched its new Fleet Management System (FMS), which enables clients to track critical and essential data as well as the status of their vehicle to control the operational costs of fleets. It can also deliver huge savings on fuel and help fleets to better control the uptime of their vehicles.

Efficiency and productivity are increasingly important to fleets in the region, with many of them utilising telematics

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and software to manage their operations.

To maximise the effectiveness of their operations, fleet can equip Ford’s Trucks own sophisticated FMS solution and access mission- critical data such as being able to follow each truck’s location and the vehicle’s condition.

Ford Trucks’ FMS unlocks the operational potential of fleets with features such as the live monitoring of vehicles, fuel consumption tracking, and sudden fuel drop alerts. It is also a powerful tool for monitoring driver performance and will measure on-site operational productivity via detailed reports on the vehicles and drivers.

Driving in the Middle East is a

demanding profession and the skills, experience, and abilities of fleet drivers can vary considerably. Through features such as the Intelligent Dashboard, as well as reports and alarms, fleet managers can ensure that drivers abide closely to the traffic rules by tracking poor driving practices and speeding, thereby decreasing the potential risk of car accidents and the number of driving fines and penalties.

If there has been an accident or emergency, fleet managers will receive instant warning messages from the vehicle, ensuring they can respond immediately. The location of vehicles can be identified in the shortest time possible in the case of stolen or lost ve-

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hicles - fleets should also be able to receive additional discounts from insurance companies due to the use of the vehicle tracking system. For added security, Ford Trucks’ solution can also prevent the theft of fuel from vehicles using its array of special sensors and software programs.

To optimise the management of the fleet and drivers, managers are also able to draw up individual driver profiles and properly evaluate the performance based on statistical data. Managers can also receive daily reports to access up-to-date data on operational costs.

Ford Trucks estimates that by deploying its FMS, fleets can save up to 20% on their fuel costs and can also reduce maintenance costs by extending intervals and reducing wear and tear. It enables fleet managers to better plan maintenance schedules and services while repair work on their vehicles can be followed by using specially developed software programs.

The Ford Trucks FMS is an in-built solution created in partnership with Arvento, one of the leading companies in the FMS sector and has provided its solution in three continents. Arvento brings to Ford Trucks FMS solution a broad product portfolio and a wide range of after sales service points which perfectly matches with Ford Trucks’ high-end series. Ford Trucks is always dedicated to being the right partner to its clients far beyond the initial purchase and after sales support is essential for the FMS as well.

In fact, Ford Trucks FMS’s 7/24 RealTime Tracking and Control and wide after sales network makes this agreement a perfect match for fleets. This system is designed to maximise fleet flexibility and can be customised depending on fleet requirements with a series of features for fleet verticals. The Cold Chain Monitoring System, for instance, uses temperature sensors connected to devices measure, monitor, and report temperature levels of cold-chain and FMCG vehicles in real-time.

In the event of a critical and unexpected temperature change, users receive alerts both through the system and SMS. Ford Trucks will also work with clients to put together an FMS service payment plan that fits with their budgets. Ford Trucks also offers further flexibility with preventive service contracts and comprehensive service contracts which customers can again tailor, depending upon their operating requirements.

Major benefits • Safe driving • Cut idle times significantly • No more fast, aggressive, and high RPM driving • Increased use of correct routes • Enjoy 25 data tracking features • Get reports on all violations • Access correct and qualitative analyses • Access detailed reports on customised website • More detailed vehicle monitoring with optional accessories

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Trucks

The extra mile UD Trucks brings the construction variant of the popular Quester range to the Middle East, East and North Africa markets

By Mehak Srivastava

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n April 2018, UD Trucks introduced new models in its Quester range. The heavyduty trucks, first introduced in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region in 2016, are designed to perform across various industries, from mining to construction, to logistics and long-haul transportation.

With its 2018 launch, the Quester range now boasts of 6x4R-40 tons and 8x4R with hub reduction, dedicated for heavy construction projects. These new models feature reinforced front suspension, higher ground clearance, and an 11l engine (GH11E) based on parent company Volvo’s global technology resources, in combination with Japanese manufacturing quality. Features such as fuel economy, payload, robustness, and a wide range of applications not only meet the different needs of a variety of customers but also extend the uptime of the truck.

The UD Trucks Middle East team held an event to introduce key customers to the new Quester range, offering an opportunity to get

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up and personal with the trucks—including the chance for a test drive alongside expert drivers.

Mourad Hedna, president of UD Trucks MEENA, says: “We are very excited about the arrival of the Quester 6x4R-40T and 8x4R, which complete the Quester model range lineup. The Middle East conditions are tough, with the varied terrain, high temperatures, and payloads. To ensure the new models meet the needs of our customers, we tested the model in real conditions for over a year in Qatar. We are confident that the now complete range of Quester, with its proven fuel-efficient engines and UD Trucks quality, will set ‎new standards of efficiency in the Middle East and other growth markets.”

Quester’s two engine alternatives are designed with proven fuel-efficiency and superior performance for various applications.

The 8l diesel engine (GH8E) offers excellent performance and is ideal for distribution and construction work. The 11l engine (GH11E) is based on the Volvo Group’s global technology

resources in combination with Japanese manufacturing quality.

Quester offers ideal axle positioning available in seven different configurations 4×2R/T, 6×4R/T, and 8×4R configurations for distribution and long haul, and 6×4R/T and 8×4R for construction and mining work.

The 6x4R/T and 8x4R are designed for rough conditions and particularly suitable for construction where durability and high reliability are of the highest importance.

The 6x2R/T can be provided with a bogie lifting axle which is used to lift the axle in the unloaded condition.

A heavy-duty chassis with high flexibility and quality is one of Quester’s main characteristics.

It provides a large offer of chassis layouts to give a flexible packing arrangement including different wheelbases, a range of fuel tank sizes, and different exhaust directions.

With the large range of options, the Quester is able to meet legal requirements in areas such as front and side/rear under-run protector, ADR

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for dangerous goods carrier in different markets.

Quester also has the option of fitting roof and side air deflectors, both designed to minimise aerodynamic drag. The two newly designed UD trucks’ cabins provide a standard roof cab with option of on-road or construction bumper, and the high roof cab with on-road bumper.

In addition, the on-road cab comes with side air vents on cab which also keeps the dirt of the side of the cab. The high roof sleeper cab with wider twin bunk arrangement supports efficient long-haul operation in terms of resting and storage space.

“Rapid economic development and the gradual improvement of infrastructural capabilities are a trend in growth markets,” says Hedna. “The demand for commercial vehicle transportation is rapidly gaining momentum in those areas. The reason behind the development of Quester was to design a more efficient truck with affordable prices in growth markets, to take part of the development in the fastest growing economies, and to locate production closer to overseas customers.”

While dynamic development in the field has always been the trademark of the venerable company, its fundamentals remain rooted to customer service, striving to offer the best to all its clients.

Hedna comments on UD Trucks’ tagline ‘Going the Extra Mile’: “If I start from the product itself, we don’t design it solely for Japan. Agreed, we are a Japanese brand, but we design it to go for many, many miles in terms of tough application, because we know that some customers may overload the truck, while others expect the truck to go more than one million kilometres. Then, when it comes to totally solutions, especially in the segment of construction, we know that it’s a huge investment for a client operating in this industry.

It’s a machine, and when you’re investing in a machine, every hour counts. So, the extra mile that we go for here is the uptime. We regularly check with our customers– is the truck running, is it on field, is it sitting? And if its sitting, then why so? Is there a problem with it?

We go the extra mile in terms of uptime and total solutions.”

Hedna also mentions that UD Trucks is very particular when it comes to services, such as parts availability, making it mandatory that spare parts are available at all times, for instance, in the UD Trucks Dubai warehouse.

“We work with our partners to make sure they have enough stock, that they overstock, so that every single part needed is available at short notice.

“We also go the extra mile with competence. Years ago, trucks were very

In 1935, Kenzo Adachi established Nihon Diesel Industries on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. The company initially started with the production of KD-series 2-cycle diesel engines, soon following up with the introduction of the 4.5-tonpayload TT6 series trucks. Rebranding as Minsei Industries in 1946, and Minsei Diesel Industries in 1950, the company had already begun to establish its name as a proficient transport equipment manufacturer.

1960 saw the company change its name to Nissan Diesel Motor Company, where forward-control trucks and truck tractors were introduced, alongside compact 4-cycle 40 kW (55PS) SD20 and 44 kW (60PS) SD22 diesel engines.

70-80 tonne crane-carrier truck series were also added to the line-up. 1969 saw the introduction of 4-cycle 136 kW (185PS) PD6 and 99 kW (135 PS) ND6 diesel engines for heavy-duty vehicles.

Major change came about when Volvo group acquired Nissan Diesel in 2007.

In due time, Nissan Diesel became UD Trucks, and completed 80 years of excellence in 2015. The first engines launched by the company used the pioneering ‘uniflow scavenging diesel engine’ technology – abbreviated “UD” – and the UD name and symbol has been on all engines and trucks the company has released ever since. With its headquarters located in Ageo, Japan, UD Trucks supports sales and services in more than 60 countries through a worldwide network. basic; anyone could drive them, anyone could repair them. It’s not the case anymore.

We have certain requirements in terms of environment and emissions—our trucks have a minimum standard of Euro 3—and we have requirements in terms of safety.

The trucks are slightly more complex than 10 years ago. It means that we need to make sure that our partners and customers have the right skills and competences. Some of our competitors sell their services such as training drivers. However, we have our competence development centre, where we do the training, or even at the customer’s desired location.”

Hedna firmly believes that they are not in a simple consumer business. With the launch of Quester, UD Trucks will provide extensive customer service and aftermarket support to

help transport businesses serve their customers.

The complete UD aftermarket support will deliver quality and value, making sure that Quester runs in optimum condition for a long time in local markets – to go the extra mile.

Some services offered by UD Trucks includes the UD Basic Follow-Up Tool, a specially designed communication system for UD Trucks in all markets without UD telematics services or with limited internet coverage, and provides fuel efficiency and vehicle and driver performance analysis. Other tools include the UD Mobile Workshop, UD Value Calculator, and UD Finance.

“We are in a business driven, business to business sector. Even more so, we are in a human to human sector. Everything depends on the relationship [with the consumer].”

We are in a business driven, business to business sector. Even more so, we are in a human to human sector.”

Mourad Hedna, UD Trucks Middle East

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Event review

Automechanika Dubai 2018 The mega-scale automotive event saw a number of key products, exhibitors, visitors, and deals signed at its 2018 edition

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he 16th edition of the Middle East and Africa’s (MEA) largest automotive aftermarket trade and networking event opened on May 1, 2018, in Dubai, featuring 1,812 exhibitors from 61 countries.

Running for three days and spanning 63,350sqm at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Automechanika Dubai 2018 was flagged off

by HE Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The biggest names in the global auto services industry were out in force, showcasing their latest innovations across the show’s six product groups of parts and components; electronics and systems (1,102 exhibitors); tyres and batteries (221 exhibitors); accessories and customising (219 exhibitors); repair and

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maintenance (200 exhibitors); and car wash, care, and reconditioning (70 exhibitors).

With 23 country pavilions and a brand-new Innovation Zone at the centre of the show floor in Hall 4, Automechanika Dubai 2018 arrives amid a sense of optimism in a MEA market, where sales of auto parts and accessories is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7% over the next five years.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Automechanika Dubai’s organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “Research shows that the MEA auto aftermarket was valued at $22bn in 2017, with sales of auto parts and accessories across the region estimated to reach $31bn by 2022. With a fleet size of 92 million passenger and commercial vehicles, the MEA is still a key market for global and regional aftermarket players.

He further added: “Automechanika Dubai

has over the past 15 years succeeded in bringing together leading automotive aftermarket brands to this fast-growing region, providing an important opportunity to connect with new prospects, have face to face interactions with existing customers, create brand awareness, and position themselves as reliable suppliers of premium quality aftermarket products and services.”

Automechanika Dubai 2018 is expected to attract an audience of more than 30,000 trade buyers from 135 countries this week.

Those seeking insights into the future of the MEA automotive aftermarket need look no further than the newly introduced Innovation Zone, where top global brands such as Renault, WABCO, and Beissbarth presented their latest products, ushering in a new era in automotive technology.

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Renault, the Innovation Zone’s official sponsor, showcased its ZOE Long Range electric hatchback along with its Twizy twoseater electric vehicle.

Marwan Haidamous, managing director of Renault Middle East, said the French manufacturer was the first to bring the electric vehicle (EV) to the market: “The Renault ZOE is still the longest range, affordable EV on the market today, with a 300km real time range, and is fully equipped to handle the harsh Middle East weather conditions,” said Haidamous.

“Renault is at the forefront of innovation, and with the current market development, it’s essential that Renault as a brand cements its position as the number one EV selling brand in Europe. We plan to build on that to become the leader in the EV segment race which is currently emerging in the Middle East.”

AutoPro, a subsidiary of ENOC (Emirates National Oil Company) and ACDelco, a division of General Motors and one of the world’s leading automotive spare parts and services brands, signed a memorandum of understanding at the event, following which both companies will collaborate on a series of service centers across the UAE. In the coming year, up to ten sites will become the first AutoPro locations to be certified as authorised ACDelco service centers.

The AutoPro-ACDelco Certified Service Centers will be able to service a wide range of car makes and models by accessing ACDelco’s extensive array of 90,000 high quality prod-

ucts, from across 37 categories. This multibrand product portfolio covers American, European, and Asian brands, ensuring that the majority of UAE car owners can benefit from the peace of mind that comes with having their vehicles maintained by an ACDelco Certified Service Center.

ACDelco was the ‘Official Auto Service Center’ partner for Automechanika Dubai 2018.

Automechanika Dubai 2018’s global significance was underlined by the presence of 36 international trade associations.

An Indian pavilion was among the 23 country pavilions out in force, where around 100 exhibitors and manufacturers displayed products and services spanning the entire auto aftermarket, from components and tyres, batteries, tractor and harvester combine parts, to spare parts for European trucks, trailers, cars and earthmovers.

Bhaskar Sarkar, executive director and secretary at EEPC INDIA, the government body that officially backs the Indian Pavilion, said: “India has great engineering prowess in the automotive sector with a skilled labour force that can develop products and services for the aftermarket sector.

“At Automechanika Dubai 2017, 46 companies participated under the EEPC umbrella as part of the Indian Pavilion, and feedback from them indicated that orders worth $5.4mn were booked during the show, while enquiries worth $19.2mn were also generated. We look forward to similar business prospects at AutomechanikaDubai 2018.”

SJE Corporation from Korea was another exhibitor looking to build on the success of previous editions of Automechanika Dubai in the show’s car wash, care, and reconditioning section. The manufacturer of commercial and industrial cleaning products launched its Optima Steamer aimed at the car wash, auto detailing, transportation, and fleet cleaning sectors.

Mohammed Al-Showair, the CEO of EcoClean, met SJE Corporation at AutomechanikaDubai 2014. EcoClean has since become the exclusive representative for SJE’s vapour steam machines in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kingdom of Bahrain.

“The increase in water charges coupled with water scarcity and government sustainability initiatives is encouraging car wash operators to embrace eco-efficient products and solutions,” said Al-Showair. “In the UAE alone, the auto industry contributes close to AED367bn in trade capital. Thus, there is immense scope for growth and in the car care sector.

“Where a pressure washer can use 150-300l of water, the Optima steam cleaner can cut that amount down to about four litres per car wash. While many cleaners require an air compressor to operate, the gentle pressure of steam works as an air compressor with a natural sanitiser built-in-one. Additionally, steam cleaning doesn’t produce problematic wastewater runoff,” added Al-Showair.

Automechanika Dubai returned with its popular Truck Competence initiative, where more than 1,500 exhibitors showcased products dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck sector, from truck parts and accessories, to workshop equipment, body repairs and care.

An extended Automechanika Academy programme also offered more insights into the present and future of the MEA automotive aftermarket, spearheaded by the Innovation Zone on the opening day, where a presentation and panel discussion of an in-depth industry survey about the regional automotive aftermarket was among the many highlights.

The second day commenced with the latest figures of Dubai’s trade for auto parts and accessories in 2017, delivered by Dubai Customs, while the afternoon was filled with CPD training sessions powered by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

The Automechanika Academy also presented the 1st Smart Commercial Vehicles Middle East Conference from May 2-3, where the latest developments in smart, connected, sustainable and intelligent commercial vehicles were under the spotlight.

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 41

Event review

Airport Show Dubai 2018 The show is held at a time when the aviation industry in the region is witnessing a ‘synchronised recovery’ and rapid growth

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he 18th edition of Airport Show took place from May 7-9, 2018, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, hosting over 350 exhibitors from 60 countries, with the largest number of dedicated pavilions ever, representing Europe, US and Asia, along with over 7,500 visitors.

This year’s event also saw its largest number of buyers ever, with 190 buyers attending from 34 countries, representing 75 airports, ground handling, police, immigration, customs, air traffic control, and aviation authorities.

The event was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

The 18th edition of Airport Show featured two new co-located events, Air Traffic Control Forum, Airport Security Middle East, in

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addition to CAPA-Centre of Aviation Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF) and Women in Aviation. The show is supported by International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO), Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), Dubai Airports, dnata, Contractors Association, and Shipping and Cargo Logistics Group (SCLG).

Major deals signed during the show include Dammam Airports Company (DACO) signing strategic agreements with Vanderlande and Serco Middle East.

Sharjah International Airport awarded Frequentis and its UAE partner Bayanat Engineering UAE a contract to modernise its voice communication infrastructure and replace the existing Schmid Telecom system.

Honeywell, a global leader in connected airports, launched a new smart software suite

Honeywell NAVITAS that helps enhance the safety and efficiency of airside operations.

NAVITAS intelligently integrates air and ground traffic control with maintenance operations, so airports can more easily accommodate growing air traffic while promoting safety and on-time performance.

“The design of the software suite is a continuous process,” remarks Raghu Seelamonthula, director – products and solutions, Honeywell Airports Business, commenting on the current status of NAVITAS. “We keep delivering the roadmap items as we see the product evolving over a period of time. We’ve already implemented it at an airport in the Far East. We’re currently working on projects in South East Asia, Europe, and Middle East. For this region in particular, we’re working in the UAE.” Developed to comply with the latest indus-

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Europe sets the trends, in many ways, for the aviation industry, following which it cascades to the other countries.”

Mervyn Harris, Nokia

For airports, we’re showing what we can do in terms of connectivity, such as wireless connectivity, fixed connectivity, as well as IoT solutions, cybersecurity, and even outsourcing of IT for airports.”

Richard van Wijk, Nokia try standards set forth by organisations — including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) — Honeywell NAVITAS includes modular and scalable software components, combined with an intuitive user-friendly interface, providing real-time insights for air traffic controllers and maintenance operators. The components assist personnel in visualising and routing aircraft movements — from enhancing situational awareness about traffic conditions and more safely expediting aircraft turnaround times, to automating fault diagnostics for airside equipment — all despite the increasing complexity and stress associated with today’s airport operations.

“Every airport has its own concept of operation, so the suite requires customisation accordingly,” continues Seelamonthula. “The way the platform is built allows you to customise it in a seamless manner, without programming it again. It’s what we call function block logic.

“We have a full phase gate approach to a project implementation. In the airlift phase we have a requirements definition phase, where we mutually agree on the concept of operation, what is their targeted goal to meet, etc. And once the deployment is completed, we have the training phase, where we have dedicated trainings for teams such as IT, engineering, air traffic controllers, and any others who provide support.”

Seelamonthula remarks that Honeywell has seen significant response coming out of Europe, especially following the SESAR initiative, and that NAVITAS aligns very well with the

current airport requirements in Europe. He also indicates healthy market response in South East Asia and Australia.

The Honeywell NAVITAS modules include Tower Manager, Engineering Manager, Surface Manager, and Performance Manager.

Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection, unveiled the HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX solution and the Touch Screen Check Point Configurator in the Middle East, at the Airport Show.

Cameron Mann, global market director – Aviation, Smiths Detection, comments: “From our perspective, in terms of airport environment, we think there are two areas that airports need to consider in the design process.

One is how you screen bags in the baggage screening area, and how that interacts with the baggage handling systems, which is the part that sits under the airport. It represents a significant amount of investment for the airport, and there’s a big design process that goes into it.

“The other area is the check point area.

We’re trying to be more involved with the architects and engineers, because the reality is that if they get better advice earlier, then the airport isn’t forced to design a solution for a space it was never designed for. Airports 20-30 years ago had very different space requirements, but today’s airports have transformed. The more informed we can make those designers, the better allocation of space we have in the airport, and thus improving passenger experience. If you don’t allow enough space, there’s queues and too many challenges. Our challenge is to work with the aviation authority to design spaces that are functional from a security checkpoint perspective.”

The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX checkpoint scan-

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Event review

HE Jameela bint Salem Al Muhairi, the first-ever woman Minister of State for Public Education, in her keynote address at the 3rd Women in Aviation General Assembly.

ner is the first to feature the company’s proprietary CT scanning technology. It is equipped to deliver higher levels of security, whilst optimising checkpoint performance through improved productivity, increased throughput, and lower costs. The cutting-edge checkpoint scanner generates high resolution and exceptionally accurate 3D and 2D images - thus eliminating the need to remove electronics and liquids from hand luggage and improving the passenger experience. Less divestment reduces the number of trays required per passenger. The process of handling fewer trays combined with the impressive 0.2m/s belt speed and low false alarm rate will significantly increase checkpoint throughput.

Moreover, the new scanner can be incorporated into existing checkpoint lanes and enable airport authorities to minimise upgrade costs. Integrating the checkpoint scanner into an advanced screening and management platform, such as Smiths Detection’s Checkpoint.

Evoplus, will further streamline operations through remote screening and directed search, in addition to providing access to valuable management data.

Further planned enhancements for the HISCAN 6040 CTiX focus on the automatic detection of prohibited items such as guns and large knives, hence operators will no longer need to review every image.

In addition, Smiths Detection showcased its innovative touchscreen virtual demonstration tool, which employs realistic graphics to enable airports to examine everything from passenger preparation to scanning, image analysis, software support, recheck and even the colour of its hardware. The Touch Screen Checkpoint

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Configurator tool illustrates the range of options that Smiths Detection can provide such as security, operational efficiency, and scalability necessary to keep passengers, staff, and infrastructure safe from threats.

Representatives from Nokia discussed their solutions offerings for air traffic control, airports, and airlines.

Richard van Wijk, program owner Aviation, Nokia, says: “For airports, we’re showing what we can do in terms of connectivity, such as wireless connectivity, fixed connectivity, as well as IoT solutions, cybersecurity, and even outsourcing of IT for airports. For air traffic control, we’re showing what we can do for ground solutions, which is basically the backbone that connects all the ATC towers in a country. Last, but not the least,

the solutions that we’re showing for airlines is what we call air to ground, which provides high-speed internet connectivity into the cabin, for passengers.”

Nokia’s IoT solution for commercial airports combines radio and core networks, including mobile edge computing, with connectivity management, device management, data collection and application enablement components, while addressing end-to-end security. Looking ahead, Nokia will continue to build a collaboration community around IoT. Using a real-world business model, these technologies and services can be applied to use cases and partnerships that will make commercial airports future-ready, unleashing the full value of IoT. Wijk mentions that the air traffic control solution has been implemented in the Middle East, alongside the deployment of airport solutions, connecting passengers to cellular networks.

“And for air to ground, we’re still working on a project today in the Middle East, which is quite active, but I cannot share at this point in time.

“Today, Nokia has one project for air to ground, which is the European Aviation Network, which is deployed all over Europe.

It’s a 30-country project, which we are trying to replicate in other parts of the world, including the Middle East.”

Furthermore, the air to ground solutions help to counter the challenges of airline connectivity to satellites – namely costs and overall performance. Nokia’s solution swaps out satellites for LTE base stations on the ground, which connect to the aircraft and offer high-speed service, made available to passengers via Wi-Fi. Mervyn Harris, director – Air Traffic Management, GEPS – Transportation,

We keep delivering the roadmap items as we see the product evolving over a period of time.”

Raghu Seelamonthula, Honeywell www.cbnme.com

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Our challenge is to work with the aviation authority to design spaces that are functional from a security checkpoint perspective.”

Cameron Mann, Smiths Detection Nokia, remarks on the favourability of the LTE technology in Europe: “Europe sets the trends, in many ways, for the aviation industry, following which it cascades to the other countries. Europe is always involved in a lot of research and funding, and that sets the rules for the rest. Therefore, most aviation businesses concentrate on Europe first. The LTE technology is very new, and we’re working with companies like SESAR to endorse this. Once the technology meets the regulations, it’ll cascade down to other markets as well. That’s our strategy.”

The Airport Show also saw the 3rd edition of the Women in Aviation General Assembly, where more than 20 industry experts addressed a crowd of over 350 participants. Its sponsors included Boeing, Honeywell, ExecuJet,

MSI Aircraft Maintenance Services International, LFV, the air navigation services of Sweden, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), and ENOC (Emirates National Oil Company).

Compared with other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the UAE has more women pilots, captains, aircraft engineers, mechanics, aircraft maintenance and air traffic controllers, among others.

Emirates currently employs nearly 27,000 women, making up 42% of the group’s workforce, including women pilots who includes the youngest Emirati female pilot operating the world’s biggest aircraft, A380, of which it is the world’s largest operator. Over 60 of more than 4000 pilots employed by Emirates are females.

Etihad Airways currently employs over 2,850 Emirati women covering various roles,

including 50 female pilots and also the first Emirati woman registered as a specialist in aviation medicine. Over 50% of the airline’s 13,000 strong workforces are women and the airline is keen to narrow the gender gap further.

Air Arabia employs women staff, including the first female Emirati holder of a multi-crew pilots (MPL) license. Two years ago, the UAE became the first country in the world to launch an all-woman operated airline services company.

Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, which organises the trade show, says: “This year felt like a true industry showcase. The dedicated events for security and air traffic control complemented Airport Show perfectly, and we are looking forward to offering further content aligned with industry trends in 2019.”

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Vi e w p o i n t

Pressure point Ralf W. Seifert and Philipp Moser discuss mitigation strategies to tackle high sales variances in the supply chain

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icro marketing, social media and big data are powerful tools in identifying new consumer segments and capturing new market trends.

Used well, this information can help companies optimise product offerings and, more precisely than ever, help them tailor products based exactly on what consumers want. Given micro marketing companies may even customise their approaches almost to an individual level, and reach new, micro consumer segments, which were (economically) inaccessible before. So far, everything sounds good.

However, micro marketing tools, a blessing for some companies, are only one side of a shiny new coin.

On the flipside, product portfolio proliferation and customisation often cause significant headaches, which are strongly felt in the opera-

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tions and supply chain departments. Shattering traditional customer segments, catering to diverse service expectations, increasing the supplier base to provide more choice, and supporting a multitude of delivery channels are all adjustments that come at a price.

With such changes, demand forecasts may no longer stabilise, and sales and operation planning can turn into guesswork. Indeed, there is a wellestablished relationship between sales variance and sales volume per stock keeping unit (SKU).

The lower the sales volume per SKU in a given time period, the higher sales variance.

In operations, uncertainty is the enemy. Uncertainty causes product obsolescence or lost sales, delivery delays, poor customer service, and ultimately higher costs. As companies target smaller and smaller market segments, the product portfolio is broadened and the average sales volume

per SKU typically decreases due to this range extension. Products specifically tailored to new customer segments are often also likely to have shorter life cycles, and thus higher sales variances compared with products that have an extended sales history.

So how might you resolve the dilemma between the need for differentiation and limiting harmful operational uncertainty?

There are seven mitigation strategies, which managers can use to tackle the issue of high sales variance. Though not every concept is equally adapted for every company, these seven points provide a useful starting point.

1. Causal factor analysis of demand Many firms create sales forecasts based on historical data, analysing demand patterns and marrying this with macro-economic trends.

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For high volume, functional products with low demand volatility, this approach is perfectly adapted. But when new markets and customer segments are unlocked, sales volumes are low and customer needs are not yet understood, thus historical data has limited explanatory power. In this case, a more holistic approach has to be developed where the underlying reasons and causal factors of demand are analysed in cooperation with customers and customers’ customers. In 2014, Amazon.com deposited a patent called “anticipatory shipping”, a method aiming to reduce delivery times by triggering the shipping process in anticipation of customer demand. Seven-Eleven Japan introduced an information system which allowed them to collect point-of-sales (POS) data from all their stores and learn about sales trends by customer profiles, date, store, and item. They can monitor stockouts and scrap, optimising their offering and allocation of shelf-space. Through the deep understanding of their customer base, they could raise inventory turn performance to unseen levels. Another example is Nestlé, the Swiss consumer goods company that managed to increase demand predictability by cooperating with distribution channels and linking sales to price discount promotions.

2. Lead time reduction Don’t forecast what you cannot predict is the idea behind lead time reductions intended to reduce sales variance. Sales forecast accuracy is negatively correlated with the forecasting time horizon – the further in the future, the less accurate the forecast. The principle of this approach is to reduce go-to market time, so companies can react quicker and rely on shorter, more precise demand forecasts. The apparel industry is very dynamic, often altering fashion trends even within a season. This puts the corresponding supply chains to the test. Zara, the Spanish fashion retailer, bases their business model on this challenge. Thanks to a very agile and responsive supply chain, they can react to fashion trends or changing sales volumes, rather than relying on forecasts. They achieve this through fast decision processes and manufacturing located close to their customer markets, which reduces the lead time of their supply chain.

3. Fast product rotation The consumer electronics and apparel industry both inherently have very short product life cycles. In such environments, firms only survive when they constantly launch new and innovative products. The demand of these products is quite impossible to forecast. Apple tackles this by constantly rolling over their product portfolio.

Zara even goes one-step further, actively limiting quantities for some of their products and thus

Views shared by: Ralf Seifert is Professor of Operations Management at IMD. He directs IMD’s new digital supply chain management program, which addresses both traditional supply chain strategy and implementation issues as well as digitalisation trends and new technologies.

Philipp Moser received his master’s degree in Engineering from EPFL in 2010, following which he he joined McKinsey & Company in their Geneva office for almost 3 years.

He holds a PhD in the field of operations management. artificially shortening the product life cycles for certain high fashion items. Based on strong differentiation and customer attachment, these companies can keep quantities at the lower end of their forecast range and smoothen out sales over the sales season.

4. Mass customisation Mass customisation aspires to combine the benefits of mass production (low costs through economies of scale) and customisation (sales driven by targeting new customer segments), for instance by means of modularisation. Customers get the chance to combine interchangeable modules to create a “customised” solution, whereas individual modules are standardised and manufactured in large quantities. In this scenario, the average sales per module are increased and demand variance is reduced. Sky Deutschland, the German pay-TV company, used a modular approach for their receiver boxes.

A selected setup box could be clipped onto the hard drive, whereas different versions of the hard drives exist. This way, only the individual modules have to be kept in inventory, instead of all the possible combinations. Likewise, Nike id, allowing a personalised shoe design from within a predefined option selection, helps to reduce product variety in the sales channel while still serving individual consumer requirements.

5. Postponement Customisation of products as a principle to tap into new markets increases the breadth of the product portfolio and the complexity of

supply operations. The decoupling point is the moment where a product becomes specific to a certain market or customer group. Based on this concept, postponement is the principle of delaying this point as close to the sales moment as possible. This way, the firm can rely on more accurate, short-term demand forecasts. This is a very common practice in the consumer goods industry for companies working across international markets such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Products are often sold in the same format in different countries, but their packaging has to be tailored in terms of the language.

By sticking country specific labels on the standardised packaging, these firms decouple the manufacturing and postpone the moment where a product is attached to a specific market.

6. Portfolio rationalisation Volkswagen differentiated in 1985 with only nine different segments in the automotive market. By 2005 this number increased to 40 categories. Driven by the intention to penetrate new market segments, firms constantly add new products. But additional products imply additional supply chain complexity and higher sales variances due to lower volumes. Companies such as Apple and Nespresso actively manage and limit product variety, amongst other reasons to pool demand and improve forecasting. Lidl and Aldi, the German discount retailers, limit their product portfolio to a couple of hundred SKUs (compared to several thousand which are standard in the industry), constantly taking out lower volume items.

7. Centralised stock Cutting down the product portfolio is not always a valuable option. The broad portfolio is one of the key competitive edges of Zalando, the European online retailer. Therefore, they chose an approach other than portfolio rationalisation to achieve demand pooling: centralised stock. They run a small number of large central warehouses, each handling large volumes. With this setup, they gather demand, move to the left on the sales volume curve, driving down sales variance.

Micro marketing, social media, and big data are powerful marketing tools. Their full potential, however, can only be tapped if they are used to cater to new consumer segments and to gain insights into the buying behaviour of these consumers, which are useful to pilot the supply chains required to delight the consumers. Consumers always want more product variety but are not always willing to pay or wait for it. Thus, managers will need to take an integrated view on marketing and operations to employ the right mitigation strategy to limit sales variance and operational uncertainty.

Logistics News ME | June 2018 | 47

Trucks

In for the long haul LNME meets the Renault Trucks team guiding the company’s Middle East progress

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enault Trucks is emerging from Volvo Trucks’ massive re-organisation of its brands with a renewed ambition and refreshed line-up. Its own rich heritage in the region reaches back decades, particularly across North Africa where there remains a strong link with its French colonial past. It would be tempting to view its strong presence in countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, where almost one in every two trucks bear a Renault badge as the major focus for the

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company, but in the last year it has taken steps to enhance its capabilities and reach across the entirety of the Middle East and North Africa.

With dealers and customers gathered at its May Long Haul Days event in Istanbul to test its latest trucks and find out more about its newest services, Gregoire Blaise, VP, Greater Middle East, Renault Trucks, rattles through a list of significant changes to its approach to the market, including the establishment of a new regional headquarters for its new and

used trucks operation under the Greater Middle East banner, a roll-out of its T, C, and K ranges, Euro 5-powered trucks in the UAE, the introduction of its automatic crawler gear system XTENDED Optidriver, a re-start in Sudan, and entry into Pakistan.

While 2017 saw a total of 49,930 trucks delivered globally, Blaise says that Renault is ramping up its presence in a challenging market overall.

“We can say that 2017 for the industry was

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not a very good year. Overall, the markets were declining and there were a lot of difficulties as I’m sure you were aware,” he says before adding that Pakistan could be relatively strong for Renault Trucks in the future, despite competition from Japanese and Chinese manufacturers because of the investment in infrastructure in the country. “For the last five years, it has really been doing regular and steady growth.”

Olivier De Saint Meleuc, SVP, Renault Trucks International, explains that the strategy for the truck maker is to invest in the region now so it is prepared when the market recovers.

“We consider that the actual market is very low but when Europe drops this time, the Middle East will grow - this is why we are making the investment now; investing in a new headquarters, re-staffing in all different countries, investing in new importers,” he remarks. “We invest now so we can take the fruit when the market is higher.”

Furthermore, the company has set-up a financial advisor in Dubai as it considers how it can provide financial support to fleets via its dealer, says Blaise: “We are exploring the possibility to bring some financial tools to countries although each of them will be a different case.”

Currently serving 46 service centres in the region, Renault Trucks is also working closely with its local partners, De Saint Meleuc says, to identify how it can better help their fleet customers.

“What we have felt for many years is that it is important to have offices in each of the countries in which we operate and have people on the ground to understand what the customer really wants,” he says. “The key strategy is to work with our importers because they are running each country and know the culture. The dealer always knows the customer better than we do. The trust in our importers is the key for how we want to build our infrastructure worldwide.”

“Going back to 2016, we decided that we needed to be closer to our customer,” says Blaise. “The main purpose is to listen.”

During the event, LNME was told how Renault Trucks’ C and K range vehicles have been developed to provide an efficient response to customer demands, whether they are being driven on or off the road. The company believes they set new standards in terms of robustness and productivity and on the sidelines of the Istabubal Park Circuit, the team was shown how each model can easily be adapted to suit a wide range of applications within the distribution and construction.

Explaining that, importantly for fleet buyers in the region, both the ranges have undergone rigorous quality trials and exhaustive field testing under real operating conditions “to ensure they excel” within the Middle East market, Blaise says that the priority is to offer trucks that maximise fuel efficiency.

“We have two ranges that cover Euro 3 and Euro 5 which can go for different segmentations, three different cabs, three engines, and you can do any number of configurations using these to do any application but, most importantly, we are proven to be best-in-class in fuel efficiency,” he says. “By proven I mean, we have conducted a lot of tests with all the competitors with similar set-ups and in the same conditions and traffic. We have one of the best engines, drivelines, cabs, trucks, and with the best fuel efficiency, customers have a huge responsibility to benefit from that.

“I know that fuel consumption isn’t one of the main (concerns of fleets) as the fuel prices are not up high but be sure that it will not last and the price will increase because of tax, etc,” he remarks. “If you are better at managing fuel efficiency compared to your competitors, then you will be more competitive than they are.”

At the Long Haul Days event, Renault Trucks demonstrated how much of this extra fuel efficiency is being produced by the development of a new engine and a newly extended Optidriver driveline system which enables drivers to move at very low speeds on rugged terrain or when pulling a heavy

load. Those invited to Istanbul were able to experience Renault Trucks’ newest features out on the track.

“We say it is a proven new range,” says Blaise. “It demonstrates adaptation, evolution but we have some new features. We have addressed minor issues that we faced at the beginning: there’s a new engine and we have extended the Optidriver system to allow you to have very slow movement of the trucks and still have control.”

He continues: “We are convinced Optidriver is the best gearbox in the market. And for construction and long-haul applications, it is a fantastic gearbox. We are still investing but more because we only to finetune - and we and our customers are extremely happy with it. The reality today is that only an extremely highly skilled driver can save a slight amount of fuel. You have to be extremely good to be better than the gearbox. There are some drivers think are better but it is our task to convince.”

The move to Euro 4 and Euro 5 emissions standards in the UAE has been a major change within the Gulf market and like other manufacturers, Renault Trucks, saw a pickup in demand for Euro 3 vehicles prior to its introduction as fleets.

“We saw a bounce before the implementation,” Blaise notes. “For our customers, there is an added constraint that they wanted to avoid. While we have had to do some training on it for our aftersales which is normal, but I believe it is much harder for manufacturers from India or China. We have

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Trucks

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Optimising Total Cost of Ownership Renault Trucks believes it has developed a global transport solution that optimises operating costs for fleets in any market.

The manufacturer has committed itself to be being present throughout the vehicle's entire operating life and provide them with efficient financing and insurance solutions, low fuel consumption, instruction in economic driving, and efficient locally-based maintenance services, as well as ways of reducing downtime costs.

To help its customers cut fuel consumption and therefore reduce operating costs, Renault Trucks has made this issue the focus of its concern right from the vehicle design stage.

The C range is fitted with an OPTIDRIVER automated gearbox as standard, together with cruise control with features designed to optimise commercial speed and reduce fuel consumption.

The cabs of the C and K ranges have windscreens set at an angle and in trapezoid form, narrower at the front than at the rear, which boosts the air penetration coefficient by up to 12%.

Hauliers will also experience increased profitability thanks to the technical qualities of the C and K ranges, since the engines deliver a hitherto unrivalled level of performance. With its optimised curb weight, the C range offers a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCW) of up to 100 tons for a 6x4 tractor. For its part, the K range offers a GVW of up to 120 tons.

Focusing on the driver as well as the vehicle, Renault Trucks has been developing its own instruction in economic driving over more than 30 years, which is being continually adapted to keep pace with customers' changing needs and technological innovations. Over 25,000 drivers have now followed OPTIFUEL training instruction.

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been on this Euro 5 journey for a long time, but it is not a big deal.”

“It is more a question for us to work with our importers to anticipate the pre- and postbuy volumes,” adds De Saint Meleuc. “From a service perspective, it is something that we are managing well. This is an example of why it is important with us as Renault Trucks to have via our importers a direct connection with the final customer. Whether it is Saudi Arabia or Pakistan or everywhere, this is why we need to keep feet on the street.”

With De Saint Meleuc calling the Middle East as high on the agenda for the truck-maker, Blaise highlights the importance of bringing dealers and distributors together at an event such as Long Haul Days in Istanbul.

“We believe that any customer touching or using our trucks is convinced that our brand

deserves much more than it has right now in the Middle East. We need these events and demos - and partners who are fully committed.

We are back, and we want to be here in the long-term as we believe the market growth will come from this region.”

Blaise is a relative newcomer to the Middle East, arriving in 2016 as part of Volvo’s shuffling of its four-strong truck pack (Renault Trucks, Volvo Trucks, UD, and Mack). He explains why he is sure Renault Trucks can maintain momentum against its peers in the market.

“We are in a business where people have memories because they are buying and using a truck for a long time. In our business, if you are really principled, committed; and there when your customer needs you, they remember that.

This is why I am enjoying my work.”

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Up d a t i n g y o u o n t h e r e g i o n ’ s s u pp l i e r s

FAMCO, RTA sign deal for 143 luxury Volvo coaches

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has commissioned Volvo Buses and FAMCO to supply 143 Volvo luxury intercity coaches over the next two years, in what is FAMCO’s largest deal with the RTA to date.

Volvo’s B11R is the first bus in the Middle East to meet the strict Euro 6 standards of fuel efficiency and emissions; aiding the successful signing of the deal which was evaluated against the RTA’s rigorous 10year total cost of ownership requirements, including fuel and operational costs.

Commenting on the significant new signing, Akash Passey, senior vice president for Volvo Buses Region International said: “Being the first bus manufacturer to introduce Euro 6-standards 52 | Logistics News ME | June 2018

to the Middle East has enabled us to deliver the most fuel efficient, cost effective, and environmentally conscious public transport solution, helping the RTA to continue to lead the way in safety and sustainability.

These buses mark the beginning of a new breed of modern buses, focussed on delivering clean, safe and efficient public transport.”

“The Volvo coaches will be operating not only in Dubai, but across the entire UAE, bringing people closer and uniting communities, and we’re proud to be a part of the RTA’s goal to increase the community’s mobility via public transport by as much as 30% by 2030,” said Nigel Johnson, senior managing director, FAMCO UAE.

Coca-Cola Amatil deploys Swisslog, KUKA robotics solutions Coca-Cola Amatil New Zealand has announced a major expansion planned for its Auckland Distribution Centre in 2018. The Coca-Cola bottler which operates in six countries – Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa – has commissioned Swisslog and KUKA for its robotbased ACPaQ solution.

Swisslog will employ its robotic based order picking system, ACPaQ, which combines robotics solutions for depalletising and palletising, combined with the CycloneCarrier shuttle technology and enables a fully automated process, bringing high throughput and reliable picking of customers’ orders.

Amatil has been using a fully automated pallet storage system since 2007 and the expansion into robotic picking allows the company to meet rising customer demand while reducing costs and improving quality, efficiency and predictability in its operations.

John Truscott, general manager supply chain for Coca-Cola Amatil NZ, says the new system will enable the business to keep pace with increased demand along with rising expectations on the quality of customer deliveries.

“We are excited by this technology and the advantages that the fully

automated case picking system provides us. This will certainly strengthen our capabilities heading into the 2018 pre-Christmas period,” Truscott said.

“The whole picking system will be fully integrated using Swisslog SynQ software, which also controls automated delayering of single product pallets into individual cases.”

The heart of the new system will be three RowPaQ robot cells, which can each handle up to four cases simultaneously, and stack up to 1,000 cases per hour into multi-product pallet loads ready for customer delivery.

This is a far higher throughput than existing mixed case robotic palletisers. These robots also have unique grippers designed for fast, gentle, and accurate handling of almost any carton, shrink wrapped or foiled package.

The solution is completely scalable and additional RowPaQ cells can be added to the system to increase throughput as required.

The new solution also includes Swisslog’s multilevel shuttle storage system (CycloneCarrier) that quickly delivers sequenced cases to the robots, all linked with pallet and case conveyors.

The ACPaQ system will be installed this year and replace a manual, voice directed picking system but will link with the existing automated pallet store to create a seamless operation. www.cbnme.com

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Savage Saudi Arabia supplies Quiqup initiates retail locomotives to Saudi last-mile business in Dubai Aramco, MWSPC Savage Saudi Arabia, a leading provider of services for refineries in the Kingdom, has delivered a total of seven locomotives and two locomotive booster units from the US to Saudi Arabia’s Eastern and Northern provinces.

Savage Saudi Arabia is a joint venture company between Savage Companies (US) and Ahmad Nasser Albinali Holding Company (Saudi Arabia).

The delivery will support rail operations at Saudi Aramco and Ma’aden Wa’ad AlShamal Phosphate Company (MWSPC) facilities.

Savage will own, operate, and maintain the two Tier3 compliant, low-emissions locomotives delivered to Saudi Aramco’s Wasit and Berri Gas Plants, in the Jubail area.

Savage also delivered five GP38-3 locomotives and two booster units to MWSPC’s new mining and processing plants in Wa’ad Al-Shamal Industrial City and Ras Al Khair Industrial City.

The locomotives and booster units were imported by ship from US to the Port of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and hauled by tractor-trailers to

their final destinations.

Savage has an agreement to provide rail switching, track maintenance, and track signalling system operations and maintenance for Saudi Aramco at its Wasit and Berri Gas Plants.

These services will help facilitate the transportation of molten sulphur by rail to MWSPC’s facilities for use in producing phosphate fertilisers. On the receiving end, Savage is providing training for locomotive operations and maintenance to facilitate handover to MWSPC, who owns and operates the units.

Troy Savage, senior vice president and executive manager for Savage Saudi Arabia, said: “The delivery of these locomotives highlights the continued emphasis Saudi Arabia is placing on the development of railroad infrastructure and diversification of industry.

We are pleased to operate one of the first industrial rail switching facilities in Saudi Arabia and are committed to providing excellent service for our customers.”

Quiqup, a tech scale-up that offers last-mile logistics services to retailers of all sizes and across all industries, announced its first international rollout into Dubai.

Quiqup offers local businesses the opportunity to generate additional revenue by offering same-hour and sameday deliveries to their customers through a range of tailored business services.

At launch, Quiqup has been working with over 125 local trial partners, including Level Shoes, Wojooh, Virgin Megastore, Boggi, Pizza Express, NKD Pizza, and Just Salad in Dubai. The company has witnessed over 70% month-onmonth growth in its soft launch and expects further growth in the months to come.

Businesses in Dubai now have the option to offer consumers convenient deliveries via their own websites and apps instead of being locked in to the big e-commerce giants. Quiqup works in the background, enabling its partners to power local deliveries while they stay in full control of their own prices, customers, data, and the movement of their goods.

In May 2017, the company announced a £20mn Series B funding round, led by JOBI Capital, to support its international expansion, strengthen its operations, and build out its products and services through advancements in its proprietary tech.

Bassel El Koussa, CEO and co-founder of Quiqup, said: “As our first launch internationally, our expansion to Dubai marks a huge step for Quiqup as a company and an important milestone in our long-term ambition. Our mission is to bring on-demand, same-day delivery to the mass market.

With consumer expectations evolving at an incredible rate, the on-demand shopping model is quickly becoming the norm in every market. The flexibility behind our tech allow us to bring Quiqup’s range of services to new locations all over the world and Dubai is a great place for us to apply this strategy and launch our international expansion. The lastmile delivery space offers huge potential to Dubai’s local retailers, regardless of size or sector, and we look forward to growing our presence in the UAE and other markets in the years to come.”

For small businesses, Quiqup levels the playing field with large e-commerce players by providing the infrastructure that helps them expand their offering and reach more customers through store-to-door delivery. For larger businesses, Quiqup can power fast, same-day deliveries from stores or warehouses for its customers by seamlessly integrating its last-mile logistics solutions into their existing e-commerce platform. For both, Quiqup makes this all possible without the major capital investment and the burden of building and managing their own urban logistics fleet.

Since launching in London in 2014, Quiqup has experienced 170% growth year-on-year and delivered over 1,000,000 orders. The company now has a headcount of over 150 employees, and has on-boarded over 2,500 Quiqees since the company’s inception.

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The key exhibitions, conferences, and seminars coming up this month

June

5-7

June

5-7

3PL & Supply Chain Summit: Atlanta Atlanta, USA The 3PL & Supply Chain Summit: Atlanta is North America’s largest and most high-level gathering of logistics executives, and their manufacturer and retailer supply chain counterparts. It brings together the leading thinkers and practitioners in logistics and supply chain to network, learn, debate challenges, discuss trends and share ideas, promising an impressive speaker line up from companies like UPS, Schenker AG, DHL Supply Chain, Johnson & Johnson, Cisco, and more.

Happening alongside are the Open Innovation Challenge and Supply Chain Summit: Atlanta.

SIL 2018 Barcelona, Spain Now in its 20th year, Salón Internacional de la Logística (SIL) 2018 will play host to a number of professionals from the logistics, storage, and material handling sectors. For Spain and the south of Europe, SIL is the reference for doing business in the logistics sector, representing 2.9% of the Spanish GDP. The 2017 edition saw nearly 30,000 visitors. Industry sectors in focus include automation technology, commercial vehicles, material handling, packaging technology, packing machines, shipping, and transportation.

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June

21-23

June

26-28

India Material Handling & Logistics Show New Delhi, India Organised by Reed Manch Exhibitions, India Material Handling & Logistics Show is an international exhibition and conference on material handling and storage equipment and technology. IMHLS has been designed to attract decision makers from variety of industries to meet, network, share ideas, build relationships and generate new business in India, the emerging user market for the material handling and storage solutions industry.

Over 200+ exhibiting companies and 9,081 visitors attended the IMHLS 2017 show.

Also taking place alongside are the India Warehousing Show and India Cold Chain Show Regional.

CWA- Expo Carga Mexico City, Mexico CWA - Expo Carga is a three-day event being held at the Centro Citibanamex Exhibition Centre in Mexico City. The event showcases products like ELF-guided vehicles, automated storage systems, hoists, cranes and monorails, automation and robotic equipment, automatic doors, deck levelling ramps and warehouse maintenance etc. in the business services and industrial products industries.

Dedicated networking activities, workshops and specialised forums categorised by industry and/or geographical areas will allow visitors to evaluate foreign trade operations, market coverage, costs, trends, innovations, and control of goods. www.cbnme.com