MHD Supply Chain Solutions July 2023

KÖRBER A

LEADER IN

GARTNER MAGIC QUADRANT

DLL on funding future automation

project44 breaks down supply chain data

MHD

Supply Chain Solutions

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Editor: Edward Cranswick

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Art Director: Blake Storey

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

MHD Supply Chain Solutions magazine is recognised by the Australian Supply Chain Institute, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia, the Supply Chain and Logistics Association of Australia and the Singapore Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society.

EMBRACING INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY

Welcome to the July edition of MHD Supply Chain Solutions, where we continue to explore the latest trends, innovations, and success stories shaping the world of supply chain. This month, we have a great collection of articles and detail exciting solutions ahead of CeMAT in Sydney and foodpro in Melbourne.

We delve into the ongoing shortage of timber pallets and the timely alternative presented by Ozkor’s groundbreaking plastic pallet. Alan Morgan, CEO of Ozkor, makes a compelling case for the adoption of their LWR-1165 pallet, showcasing its lightweight design, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. With their product set to debut at foodpro this year, this is an essential read for businesses seeking sustainable pallet solutions.

The explosive growth of e-commerce and its impact on warehousing facilities takes centre stage as we speak with Jason Wu, the local Business Development Manager at AutoStore. Wu sheds light on how their cube storage system is automating logistics facilities, providing retail businesses with efficient solutions to address the constant influx of orders. Don’t miss this eye-opening interview for valuable insights into streamlining warehouse operations.

And on the cover this month we talk to Körber Supply Chain Software, who for the fifth consecutive year has been named Leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems report. We find out how they do it, what it means – as well as what they’ll be bringing to CeMAT this year.

Halfway through the year, and the industry is still brimming with energy. See you next month.

ARTICLES

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

COPYRIGHT

MHD magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in MHD is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in MHD are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

Edward Cranswick Editor

edward.cranswick@primecreative.com.au

FEDEX EXPRESS OPENS ADELAIDE GATEWAY

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, has announced the launch of its new FedEx Adelaide South Australian gateway to support the surging air freight demand out of South Australia.

Adjacent to the Adelaide Airport, the new facility forms part of the planned freight and logistics hub for Adelaide Airport East Precinct, and features enhanced sorting and storage capabilities, supported by state-of-theart technology.

“This gateway is now the largest single express freight sorting facility in South Australia, and the first to respond to major freight upgrades at the Adelaide Airport,” says Peter Langley, Vice President, FedEx Express Australasia.

“The enhanced capabilities of the new facility will benefit local businesses looking to tap into the international marketplace and supports the growing demand for e-commerce in the South Australia region.”

The new FedEx Adelaide South Australian gateway spans nearly 64,000 sqm – more than double the size of the previous facilities combined and is equipped with 435m conveyor belts and an advanced automated sortation system that can sort up to 10,000 packages per hour – four times the previous sorting capacity.

It also offers a more than 300 per

cent increase in package sorting volume and enables selected one-day delivery services to be extended to homes and businesses in 130 additional postcodes across metropolitan and South Australia.

FedEx Express notes that air freight volume in Adelaide is expected to more than double over the next 20 years, rising from 58,500 tonnes annually to 146,000 tonnes in 2039.

Between 2020 and 2050, it is anticipated that the volume of wider Australian air freight will increase by more than 103 per cent, rising from

TOLL GROUP

almost 290 million tonne kms in 2020 to almost 589 million tonne kms in 2050.

The new facility helps to support broader long-term economic benefits for South Australia.

With 25 weekly flights into and out of Adelaide Airport carrying FedEx Express cargo, the new facility provides importers and exporters — including small-and-medium enterprises and heavy-weight shippers — with greater and more reliable access to other cities within Australia and between international markets.

INVESTING

IN DEMATIC’S GTP

Dematic has announced Toll Group is investing in a Dematic goods-to-person (GTP) order fulfilment solution as part of the development of its new Western Sydney retail distribution and fulfilment facility.

The new site will be located at Kemps Creek, near Western Sydney

International Airport, which is due to be fully operational by 2025, and complements Toll’s existing Sydney retail distribution and fulfilment facility in Prestons.

“Toll has a long and proud history in Australia,” says Nick Vrckovski, Toll Group President, Retail and Consumer.

“For over 130 years, our curiosity

and passion for innovation has propelled us forward to become one of the Asia Pacific region’s integrated logistics providers. We are excited to work with Dematic to bring the very best in automation technology to our Kemps Creek facility, which will help our customers deliver their goods faster and more efficiently.”

The new facility forms part of the planned freight and logistics hub for Adelaide Airport East Precinct.

by

with AutoStore™

As a leading technology company itself, Leader Computers wanted to upgrade its warehouse with automation that would increase business efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, as well as make better use of the available warehouse space.

The AutoStore solution implemented by Dematic streamlines picking, packing, and replenishment operations, reduces storage footprint, and allows room for future growth. And, most importantly, Leader Computers is now delivering an enhanced level of service to thousands of its managed service providers and IT resellers, nationwide.

Learn more at dematic.com/leader-computers

In the Dematic GTP order fulfilment solution, workers will build orders in ergonomically designed high-

rate workstations that improve productivity, efficiency, and safety.

The orders and items required to fulfil the orders arrive at the workstation exactly when they are needed from a Dematic Multishuttle® storage system.

“The high-density Dematic Multishuttle system feeding items into the GTP workstations will allow Toll to maximise space efficiency and inventory storage within its latest supply chain facility in Australia,” explains Terry Jamieson, Business Development Manager at Dematic.

“We’ve designed the solution with additional room for volume expansion in line with Toll’s projected future growth.

“Additionally, the fast-moving pick zones integrated within the GTP order fulfilment solution will provide Toll with a significant improvement in picking productivity, as well as

with flexibility in responding to e-commerce demands, including fulfilling orders during promotional periods or when particular SKUs are in high demand.”

The solution for Toll Group will include 16 high-rate GTP workstations, supplied by a multishuttle system that will also buffer and consolidate orders, plus an additional multishuttle system for despatch.

Another advantage will be the ability to customise e-commerce order cartons to be the smallest necessary size, which will reduce transportation costs for Toll’s customers and significantly reduce waste.

Dematic will also install its locally manufactured Colby Very Narrow Aisle pallet storage racking at the Toll facility.

Toll Group’s Kemps Creek facility is due for completion in 2025.

DHL SUPPLY CHAIN OPENS HAMILTON HUB

DHL Supply Chain has announced the opening of a new transport hub in New Zealand’s Hamilton, which it says will bolster final-mile delivery capabilities in underserviced areas outside of Auckland.

The contract logistics solutions company notes the new facility in the regional town serves as a key logistics hub nationwide, ensuring reliable and efficient delivery of consignments to end recipients.

“We’re excited to announce the opening of our new transport hub in Hamilton,” says Matt Casbolt, Managing Director at DHL Supply Chain New Zealand.

“This is the latest addition to our two-year transport network development strategy, following on from the establishment of our Whangarei, Tauranga, and Hawkes Bay transport hubs.”

Fitted with state-of-the-art technology and equipment, the new transport hub will better meet the needs and expectations of regional

customers in the surrounding communities as it services customers across all sectors that require a high service standard in deliveries, including consumer goods, life sciences, healthcare, engineering, and IT sectors.

The facility brings DHL’s marketleading compliance, training, and health & safety procedures to the New Zealand market.

“With the addition of our new Hamilton hub and existing network, we are proud to now provide last mile and line haul services to customers in regions and key markets that represent over 50 per cent of the country’s GDP,” adds Matt.

“Our goal is to continue delivering an exceptional transport service to our customers, enabled by great people, a strong network presence, and partnering with the best transport service providers.”

DHL says its investment in regional areas is helping to enhance the resilience of supply chains in New Zealand, especially in the wake of

recent global supply chain disruptions. As part of this investment, DHL plans to open more hubs later this year and into 2024 to support ambitious growth plans for the New Zealand market. It now has a network of depots across Auckland, Whangarei, Tauranga, Hamilton, and Hastings.

The new site will be located at Kemps Creek, near Western Sydney International Airport.

DHL says its investment in regional areas is helping to enhance the resilience of supply chains in New Zealand.

Hangcha Forklifts Australia is at CeMAT 2023

VISIT HANGCHA FORKLIFTS AUSTRALIA AT STAND L15

Hangcha Forklifts Australia will have a full range of our lithium warehouse and counterbalance range on show at CeMAT.

We will be launching several new models including:

• Lithium Stand On Pantograph Reach Truck in single and double deep

• Lithium Rough Terrain forklift

• Lithium man up storage assist vehicle

• Lithium double length center ride order picker

CeMAT

25-27 July 2023

The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park #CeMATAus

Hangcha Forklifts Australia has been set up to support our national dealer network. Call 1300 399 687 to be put through to your nearest local dealer.

sales@hcforkliftau.com

AMAZON’S PERTH FC OPENING SOON

the new FC once its fully operational. This includes almost 100 new job opportunities, in addition to roles filled by existing workers transferring to the new facility.

Amazon Australia notes this will increase its operational footprint in Western Australia by more than 60 per cent, enabling it to better serve its growing customer base in the state.

The FC spans almost 20,000 sqm – around the same size of the WACA –with capacity to house more than three million items sold on Amazon.com.au, ranging from small to medium and large items.

“Nearly 1000 construction jobs were created during the build and fit out, and we look forward to welcoming a team of more than 200 people working at the FC once it’s fully up and running,” adds Mindy.

Amazon Australia says construction of its fulfilment centre (FC) in Perth is nearly completed and is set to open this year in time for the holiday season.

The new FC is located in the Jandakot Airport Commercial Precinct and is more than double the size of the company’s existing site near Perth Airport, which it will replace when it opens.

“We are investing significantly in our Perth operations as part of our ongoing

commitment to improve selection and delivery outcomes for customers throughout the state,” says Director of Operations at Amazon Australia, Mindy Espidio-Garcia.

“Many Prime members in greater Perth will have already enjoyed free next-day delivery from Amazon, and the opening of this site will increase the selection of items that can be shipped to local customers quickly.”

More than 200 jobs will be based at

WOOLWORTHS GOING ELECTRIC BY 2030

Woolworths Group has announced its aim to make all its home delivery trucks 100 per cent electric-powered by 2030 by adding more than 1000 EVs to the nation’s roads.

It says it has kick-started the transition by welcoming the first of 27 new EVs, which will begin delivering

groceries to Woolworths’ Sydney customers over the next two months.

“Our home delivery trucks are a familiar sight in neighbourhoods across Australia, and within the next seven years, we want to make every one of them electric, and free of fossil fuels,” says Woolworths Group CEO, Brad Banducci.

The job opportunities at the FC will range from entry level positions, including pick and pack, shipping customer orders, as well as specialist roles such as human resources, workplace health and safety, and team leader positions.

The majority of jobs will be permanent full-time roles, offering exciting career opportunities, competitive pay, and benefits, such as subsidised healthcare, and up to 20 weeks paid parental leave.

“The case for a low carbon future has never been clearer, and we’re backing a better tomorrow for our communities and the planet by starting the transition now. Not only can we help make our suburban streets quieter and cleaner, but we hope to set an example for other businesses to support the growth of

More than 200 jobs will be based at the new FC once its fully operational.

Australia’s EV industry.”

Woolworths home delivery fleet is currently made up of 1200 trucks and growing. It is anticipated that the very last combustion engine vehicle will join the home delivery fleet by 2027, as they are gradually decommissioned.

All 27 of the new home delivery EVs will be based in Sydney, delivering groceries to customers across the CBD, Inner West, Sutherland Shire, St George region and Eastern Suburbs.

Woolworths Group’s new EVs consist of two models manufactured by Foton Motor and SAIC Motor, which both offer sufficient working range to complete daily metro home deliveries before returning to base to charge overnight.

They are fitted with a new, stateof-the-art electric refrigeration system that runs off the vehicle’s battery, ensuring groceries stay cold.

Through the business’s ongoing decarbonisation initiatives,

by 2030 Woolworths Group intends to have reduced its overall operational transport emissions by almost 60 per cent

compared to today, and to have decommissioned more than 3000 internal combustion engine vehicles from its company-wide fleet.

FROM PADDOCK TO PORT: WHAT’S INVOLVED IN FOREIGN TRADE?

Reto Fuhrer, CEO of RF Supply Chain Expertise, discusses some of the key challenges involved in foreign trade – and what SMEs need to do to overcome them.

When a country is as far away as Australia, the potential pitfalls for those dealing in international trade are big. In my experience, many SMEs don’t know the first thing about navigating the complex web of obligations, duties, and risks that come with importing or exporting goods. I don’t blame them.

So – aside from engaging RF Supply Chain Expertise – here’s a quick guide to the essentials to keep in mind when dealing in international trade.

CUSTOMS AND HS CODES

Whenever something crosses a country’s border – whether you’re

importing components or parts or exporting a finished product – it’ll pass through a customs process.

Which brings us to Harmonised System Codes (HS Codes).

HS Codes are what you use to classify your product in an international customs directory. They are administered by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to serve as the foundation for import and export classification systems used by the majority of countries.

Every five years, the WCO assigns specific six-digit codes for varying classifications and commodities. Countries are allowed to add longer codes to the first six digits for further classification.

Companies are themselves responsible for putting on correct HS

Codes, so it’s vital to get these right –otherwise you might be fined, or your product could get stuck at the border.

Just because you’re an SME, not a big corporation, doesn’t mean you’re excused!

And while products might seem alike at first glance, that doesn’t mean they’re classified the same. Beer is classified differently from water, for example – as the HS Codes correspond with different taxes, regulations, and fees that are applied at the border.

In my experience, the best practice is to send a sample product ahead of a full shipment to test whether it’s cleared by customs authorities – rather than risking a full shipment on your first go.

I’d also recommend choosing a customs broker who is used to the

All 27 of the new home delivery EVs will be based in Sydney.

industry and can help you clear any unexpected hurdles.

INCOTERMS

‘Incoterms’ from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are a set of rules that define responsibilities of sellers and buyers, including who carries the risk when goods are in transit, who pays for shipping management, insurance, documentation, and the general customs clearing process.

Effectively navigating Incoterms

2020 (the current regime) is important in negotiating international trade as different rules will be suitable for different importing and exporting needs.

For instance, there is a trade-off between the amount of control you wish to have and the risks you wish to carry. Free on Board (FOB) shipping means you take over goods once the supplier has loaded the goods on board of the vessel, whereas Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping means the whole transportation process – including

import clearances – is done by your supplier. On the one hand, DDP means your supplier assumes all the risk; on the other hand, it also means your supplier has complete control for the journey.

When exporting, I’d recommend not using DDP shipping, as your company doesn’t want to get involved in other countries’ customs clearance processes. SMEs simply can’t be aware of all customs regulations worldwide.

FTAS

As we’ve seen in recent years, geopolitical considerations are more of a concern for importers and exporters, so it’s important businesses are across the trade agreements in place and how they’ll affect their product.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are agreements to lower trade barriers –chief among them tariffs on goods. That doesn’t mean that once an FTA between two countries has been signed, trade barriers have been eliminated. Countries will often make exceptions to protect favoured domestic industries –imposing tariffs to protect local potato growers or beef producers, for example.

Be vigilant, get an expert

These are just some of the various considerations involved as SMEs enter into foreign trade. To be aware of the issues is important, but having an expert at your side is vital. With entrepreneurship on the rise in Australia – ticking all the boxes at customs will keep you a step ahead.

At RF Supply Chain Expertise, we have the depth and breadth of experience – and the professional network – to help you with whatever problems come your way.

For Australian – and particularly rural – SMEs, foreign trade presents many challenges, says RF Supply Chain Expertise CEO Reto Fuhrer.

SAVING MILLIONS?

ALL IN A FEW DAYS’ WORK FOR EXTOLLA

Meet the industry experts scoring instant sevenfigure supply chain savings for APAC businesses.

How long does it take to see supply chain optimisation results? Just days, according to Extolla, the newest name in supply chain solutions.

Their secret? Insider knowledge. Extolla’s consultants are all supply chain and logistics experts who have worked in the same types of businesses and industries as their clients.

The result? Immediate, bottom-line impact for Extolla’s customers across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

“One of our consultants saved a client $2 million within the project’s first week. That’s how quickly we can make a difference,” says Extolla CEO Peter Kendall, who formed the business following a 20-plus year career in global supply chain leadership, including as Managing Director of enVista APAC.

“And that’s because we have hands-on experience and a deep understanding of client supply chain challenges. Our team makes Extolla unique – you’re partnering with people who have lived and breathed the issues you’re facing, except they have the tools, systems, and tech to solve them.”

Transforming the supply chains of manufacturers, distributors, 3PLs, and omni-channel retailers through a technology-agnostic approach, Extolla engineers its platform-neutral solutions for immediate impact and sustainable supply chain improvement.

The company provides key services including robotics and technology systems, software, network design, strategic sourcing, inventory strategy, ESG strategy planning, and automated DC optimisation and design.

“It’s about giving our clients’ supply chains the ‘X-factor’ that makes their business stand out and, ultimately, more than satisfies their customers,” says Peter.

“That could involve automation and robotics, supplier sourcing, de-risking, or improving network efficiency. But we don’t just show and tell. We show and do. Our focus is results, not PowerPoint presentations. We make it happen.”

It’s not just solutions and implementation capabilities where Extolla has an advantage. Its team has lived and worked in global brand supply chains across Asia Pacific, the Americas, Middle East, Africa, and Europe, giving its consultants the real-world expertise to navigate geographical and cultural sensitivities.

“Each country has its way of doing business – any supply chain solution we provide has to fit in with that,” says Peter. “We’re fortunate to have a great team of people who bring a global array of life experiences and logistics skills to the table.”

Extolla’s stellar Exec team includes Director of Operations Chris Linden, an expert in WMS, TMS, and ERP supply chain technology and Chief Commercial Officer David Harrison, a global supply chain strategist and deal negotiator known for his ability to exceed performance targets and objectives.

“Our name ‘Extolla’ describes us

perfectly,” summarises Peter. “It means to elevate, to advance. That’s what we do for our clients and for the people we work with. It’s a true team effort.”

Meet the Extolla team and discover how to transform your supply chain at CeMAT Australia, 25-27 July 2023, The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park. Visit stand F40.

AM I READY TO DEPLOY A CLICK-AND-COLLECT STRATEGY?

While click-and-collect shopping may not be novel, its impact on supply chain dynamics and retail strategies is disrupting the industry as we know it. Autostore reveals to MHD what novel solution it has to help businesses deal with this disruption.

Click-and-collect gained further ground during the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s estimated that it will reach a value of over $703 billion by 2027.

According to Jason Wu, Business Development Manager, AutoStoreTM Australia and New Zealand: “We know that traditional brick-andmortar retailers were forced to shift to online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided customers with the option to collect their shopping themselves (click-andcollect), sparing retailers the costs

and resources associated with lastmile shipping”.

And it’s here to stay. “Postpandemic, click-and-collect continues to grow. As part of the post-Covid nation, shoppers continue to exercise the convenience of online shopping and the opportunity to bargain hunt the best deals while browsing,” says Wu, pointing to the findings of Inside Retailer, that 49 per cent of Australian shoppers prefer using click-andcollect to buy food and medicine.

“The 2022 Global Digital Shopping Playbook: Australia Edition found that Australian shoppers who use clickand-collect services tend to buy more from stores than those who don’t,” he adds.

CLICK-AND-COLLECT BOASTS BIG BENEFITS

Click-and-collect offers retailers and warehouse owners several benefits:

• Lower fulfilment costs.

• Faster turnarounds, as items are often collected quickly.

• More opportunities to upsell as the shopper may take advantage of the collection trip to buy a few more items.

• Flexibility and control.

With all this in mind, a growing number of business owners are considering how to deploy clickand-collect in their own stores and supply chains.

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOY A CLICK-ANDCOLLECT STRATEGY

Wu explains that the implementation of click-and-collect isn’t straightforward or simple. “Your

Extolla provides key services including robotics and technology systems, software, network design, and more.

warehouse and your store front –both physical and digital – have to be working together seamlessly, so that you have effective management of stock levels, fulfilment and order status and collections. If not, the system won’t work and you’ll only frustrate your customers”.

Wu shares a basic check list for retailers looking to deploy a clickand-collect strategy:

1. Space: A dedicated (and easily accessible) pickup zone or location where orders can be collected. This may call for store layout modifications, or the installation of lockers/kiosks, for example. “Since physical expansion is not always feasible, changes to store layout must be carefully implemented –they should optimise operations, without creating new bottlenecks or hampering access to goods,” explains Wu. “This is why it’s wise to consult specialists who can advise you on the best possible use of your space”.

2. Personnel: Store associates that are trained to optimise the picking, packing and management of orders. “Amid the current shortage of skilled workers, businesses are challenged to secure human resources. This is where automation and robotics will come into play, negating the need for workers to take on repetitive, manual tasks. Instead, workers can turn their attention to more strategic tasks,” comments Wu.

3. An efficient warehouse system: Not only to enable optimal storage and retrieval of stock, but also to keep tabs on inventory. “Cube storage grids, such as that used in AutoStore’s Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) are very effective,” explains Wu. He points to a recent ASRS installation for Czech e-grocer, Rohlik, which doubled productivity and drove a three-fold increase in picking speed. “The company offers its customers a standard 3-hour delivery guarantee, but already, 10 per cent of all orders are delivered within 60 minutes of order,” adds Wu.

4. Customer data management system and shopping software: The shopper should enjoy a seamless,

effortless and efficient shopping experience. “The goal is to create a personalised and intuitive customer experience, as well as streamlining operations using real-time tracking of inventory and orders,” says Wu, pointing to AutoStore’s QubIt TM Fulfilment Platform software, which manages complex online order fulfilment applications. “This software is available to customers in Australia and New Zealand,” adds Wu.

SMART INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS SUPPORT GROWTH

To help retailers successfully deploy click-and-collect, AutoStore recently introduced the new PickUpPortTM solution, which helps shoppers pick up their online purchases quickly with the help of robots.

Customers simply place their order online, travel to the retail store or fulfilment centre, and approach the PickUpPort kiosk. Behind the scenes,

“The PickUpPort provides a frictionless shopping experience,” comments Wu. “It’s just been awarded the ‘Product of the Year’ prize by the German logistics magazine materialfluss, as it such an easy and cost-effective solution for retailers”.

Looking ahead, Wu anticipates that local retailers will be investing more in online shopping, with particular focus on click-and-collect.

“Click-and-collect could unlock significant profits for retailers, especially as the sector leans towards eCommerce. The key, however, lies in partnering with a specialist who can support the company’s implementation of click-and-collect,” concludes Wu.

AutoStore Robots retrieve the ordered goods from the storage Grid and carry them to the PickUpPort. The shopper then opens a drawer to retrieve their merchandise.

To help retailers successfully deploy clickand-collect, AutoStore recently introduced the new PickUpPort™ solution.

KÖRBER CONTINUING TO LEAD THE WAY

For the fifth consecutive year, Körber has been named Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems report. The team at the software supply chain company explain to MHD why this is the case.

Körber was recently named as Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) report and has been Leader for the past consecutive five years.

To the software supply chain company, this recognition exemplifies the capabilities of its unmatched depth of technologies, spanning warehouse management, warehouse control, order management, robotics, voice, and simulation to empower global businesses to further digitise and automate warehouses in response to today’s extensive supply chain pressures.

Körber says it will continue to focus on strengthening its core WMS offerings while expanding its portfolio

of solutions to truly be the end-toend supply chain provider to support its global customers’ warehouse and ecommerce needs.

STRENGTHENING SUPPLY CHAINS

As supply chains become increasingly complex and digital but remain highly fragmented with a lack of technologies integrating the broader supply chain, Körber has taken a holistic approach to tackle these issues by integrating software and service and technology solutions that maximise customers’ RoI.

From factories to warehouses, distribution centres, transportation fleets, yards, and marine terminals, all the way to retailers

and consumers, Körber’s allencompassing suite of supply chain solutions is designed to help organisations optimise their logistics processes, as well as adapt them to the requirements of the evolving global supply chain.

The end results are improved efficiencies and increased productivity across the entire business.

“More than 86 per cent of companies recognise a strong supply chain is mission critical, and 71 per cent indicate that their supply chain complexity has grown over the last year,” says Chad Collins, CEO Software at Körber Supply Chain.

“We view our fifth consecutive placement as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant ™ for Warehouse Management Systems as another milestone on our journey to become the global supply chain software champion.

“Our suite of warehouse management, control and simulation software, order management, voice and robotics solutions enables companies to build agile, efficient, and sustainable supply chains. We help those who move goods, to do good.”

MEETING CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS

Körber’s solutions such as labour management, gamification, voice and robotics have all helped reduce labour challenges and improve efficiency.

By combining the K.Motion Warehouse Management Systems with autonomous mobile robotics (AMR), the K.Motion Warehouse Control System (WCS), K.Sight CLASS, and voice, vision, and mobility systems, businesses have the technology at their fingertips to revolutionise the

In the past few years, Körber has talked to many customers on issues such as rising consumer demands, labour shortages, and unforeseen economic challenges.

end-to-end supply chain – from source to doorstep delivery.

Körber never stops moving onward and upward, through enhancements to its suite of warehouse management and control solutions, advancements in its robotics offerings, increased usage of gamification across its solutions, and expansion of its endto-end suite through the addition of new products and solutions.

As companies today focus simply on trying to meet consumer expectations, effective supply chain technology plays a sizeable role. Körber’s WMS products make all this possible by encompassing the unique needs of small businesses, global enterprises, and third-party logistics providers, all driving to meet end consumer expectations.

Some of these examples include:

• Officeworks: Since 2021, the retailer of office products, stationery, services, and solutions has been using Körber’s Warehouse Management System (WMS), enabling it to rapidly

increase its operations, as well as deploying Körber’s Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and sortation robots to help with picking across 25,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) and significantly reducing downtime.

• Adore Beauty: Australia’s first online beauty retailer, implementing Körber’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) to meet the rising customer’s demand and lead the way in sustainable fulfilment with reduced cardboard usage and improved operational efficiency.

• Raymour & Flanigan: US familyowned furniture and mattress retailer partners with Körber’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) to drive efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.

• Boxy: Hungary-based 3PL startup collaborates with Körber to enhance warehouse and shipping capabilities powered by Körber’s WMS, Shipping and Dispatch System (SDS) and Unified Control System (UCS) to manage all automation in Budapest

distribution centre.

• REWE International: Austrian food and pharmacy retailer deploying Körber’s WMS to optimise a complex process landscape, bringing maximum flexibility to meet the industry’s multi-layered demands.

• Parts Town: American food service equipment parts distributor collaborates with Körber’s WMS to increase speed and improve accuracy during its rapid growth.

“Businesses need a partner offering the technology and support necessary to develop a solution tailored to their unique needs,” explains Sean Elliott, EVP and CTO Software at Körber Business Area Supply Chain.

“The pandemic, regulatory environments, and heightening consumer expectations have forever altered the supply chain industry. At Körber, we are committed to offering and continuously enhancing our unrivalled depth of solutions and dedicated services that differentiate us and our customers. For us, this recognition as a Leader confirms our commitment to helping companies with their complex supply chain challenges.” ■

* Source: Gartner®, “2023 Magic Quadrant™ for Warehouse Management Systems,” Simon Tunstall, Dwight Klappich and Rishabh Narang, May 8, 2023.

GARTNER® is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner® and Magic Quadrant™ is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc.® and/ or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner® does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner® research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s® research organisation and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner® disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Körber was recently named as Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for WMS report.

KÖRBER SOLVING COMPLEX SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS

our new solutions. Körber consultants and experts can speak to attendees and explain how these solutions can solve their complex supply chain problems.”

“Attendees can have a hands-on experience with our technology so they can understand what it does. They can pick some swag, and use our virtual reality headset, which is gamified and loaded with a scoring and leaders’ board.”

In the past few years, Körber has talked to many customers on issues such as rising consumer demands, labour shortages, and unforeseen economic challenges, and it notes it has multiple solutions to help businesses tackle these problems.

Körber offers its customers the unique ability to partner with a single company to meet all its supply chain technology needs.

Whether a company is looking for a WMS capable of scaling to meet demand now and in the future, AMR solutions to boost productivity and help overcome labour challenges, simulation software to identify concerns or plan new warehouses, or an OMS to help manage the surge in ecommerce orders, Körber can help.

All of its technology connects to allow complete visibility throughout the supply chain, from the orders coming in, to the trucks being loaded.

Körber values the concept of partnership and wants to work with its customers to find the right solution – or set of solutions – for their unique operations. It understands supply chain is not a “one-size-fits-all” industry, and what works for one company

mightn’t work for the next.

It’s part of the reason Körber has put together the product portfolio it has. Körber wants to provide its customers options to create the supply chain technology stack that solves the challenges they’re facing today and enable them to handle the problems that may arise in the future.

SHOWCASING SOLUTIONS AT TRADE SHOWS

Körber is returning to CeMAT 2023 and is excited to show the new capabilities and solutions added to its portfolio.

“We haven’t been at a trade show in New South Wales in a long time,” says Darren O’Connor, Director of Solution Delivery at Körber.

“I think many potential customers aren’t aware of what we have to offer, and CeMAT provides us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate

“We have an order management system that can route orders around,” explains Darren. “When you have a spike in demand in one place, then that potentially means that you don’t have to worry about fulfilling out of a single DC. You can instead move the demand around a bit, and that is a huge benefit for ensuring their sales are met.”

“There’s a lot of customer advocacy that goes inside Körber and its technology platforms. Often, customers are looking for a point of difference in how their processing works. The ability to adapt something and provide a level of new capability and new process for them is a strong point on our technology stacks. It also means they can see things they might not have seen or foreseen during the initial stages of a project.”

Körber anticipates a significant rise in companies seeking visibility throughout their supply chain and

Darren O’Connor, Director of Solution Delivery at Körber speaks to MHD about why Körber is the best in supply chain and explains what the software automation company will showcase at CeMAT 2023.

Körber anticipates a significant rise in companies seeking visibility throughout their supply chain.

having a technology stack that is well-integrated is key.

USING ROBOTS AS A SERVICE

One of the things that makes Körber so unique in the market is its ability to truly provide end-to-end technology to its customers.

It has everything from a bestof-breed WMS, which was recently named in the Leaders Quadrant of the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems, to all the additional technologies it takes to run the supply chain, like OMS, TSO, AMR, Simulation and Voice.

This year, it also launched its industry leading UCS, which allows customers to orchestrate movement of their people and technology in a single solution.

“You can come to us, ask us to design for you a solution that all of the systems are sitting inside that we will supply,” says Darren. “And many customers are looking for that one place to go.”

Körber’s Robotics as a Service (RaaS) program allows its customers to purchase AMRs from any of its robotics partners “as-a-service”, rather than having to budget for a single, large capital expenditure.

This allows operations to put together the AMR fleet that is right for their business at the time, but also expand to include different AMR vendors or increase the AMRs on site as the operations needs change.

This becomes especially critical during peak seasons, as operations

can leverage this flexibility to help manage the increased demand and help ease the stress of finding and retaining temporary workers.

“RaaS is about avoiding the big CAPEX upfront and understanding how robots can improve a business’s operations,” notes Darren. “They don’t have a latent capacity problem like some other companies’ automation solutions.”

DEALING WITH PEAK PERIODS

Körber has built a company around understanding the needs of its customers and enabling them to address those needs in the way that’s right for their business

This allows Körber’s customers to make changes to screens and processes to accommodate their

unique business needs, without impacting their ability to upgrade their system and receive support from its team.

As it continues to develop products and expand its technology offerings, it’s focusing on giving its customers the control they need to run their business, with the confidence that it’s behind them every step of the way.

It recently invested in its Service & Delivery Organisation (SDO), taking advantage of new technologies that will help it better serve its customers, and do it proactively. It understands the supply chain is a critical part of every business and will ensure it’s running smoothly – especially during times of stress – which it says is of the highest importance.

“Our product technology roadmaps are built around understanding customers and addressing their needs,” explains Darren. “Our platform separates out the business logic and runtime. This means we can change to screens and processes to accommodate their needs without having to upgrade their systems.

“We are investing in our SDO organisation and taking advantage of new technologies that service it and our global operations. We understand the supply chain is critical to running it, and particularly during stress peak processing periods. ■

Körber is showcasing its end-to-end supply chain technology at CeMAT 2023.

Darren O’Connor, Director of Solution Delivery at Körber.

COLLIERS VICTORIAN, DATA-CENTRIC LEADERSHIP

Two of Colliers’ Melbourne-based National Directors, Gordon Code and Hugh Gilbert, have been promoted to the new role of Joint Head of Victorian Industrial Business. They explained to MHD what the position entails, what they accomplished in their previous roles, and how they’re using data and

better understand and grow the southern state’s market.

In 2018, leadership in the Victorian Industrial Business was changing and the agents had to decide what type of leadership they wanted.

“We wanted to be the most knowledgeable team in the market,” explains Colliers industrial expert Gordon Code.

“We couldn’t forge relationships any faster than our longer-tenured competitors, but we could prepare more organised datasets, and articulate more informed property strategies based on facts rather than gut feel. As a whole Victorian business, we profiled each major industrial precinct and engaged with our clients with this data with great effect.”

Colliers industrial experts Gordon Code and Hugh Gilbert were recently promoted to the newly created leadership role of Joint Head of the Victorian Industrial Business within the company’s Victorian division. They’ll continue to be based in Melbourne where they’ll report to Gavin Bishop, Colliers Managing Director for Industrial in Australia.

Thanks to the data collection, the Victorian division of Colliers has grown market share, propelled also by the growth of industrial rents and capital values alongside equity market share.

The promotion – which is illustrative of Colliers’ forwardlooking strategy to emphasise next generation data thinking in Victoria –allows the pair to assist the Victorian Industrial team with further engaging

key clients and collaborating with the national business on a more coordinated basis.

Together they’ll roll out Colliers’ new SA1 Property national partnership across Victoria and continue to develop its other data platforms, allowing them to engage with the market more meaningfully, and move forward with the company’s growth strategy. They’ll also spend time driving national initiatives with Colliers national occupier and capital markets teams.

UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET VIA DATA

Gordon started his real estate career at Colliers almost a decade ago and has always worked on the southeastern industrial team.

As time has gone on, he’s been given opportunities to work on bigger projects. His focus has been on institutional leasing and major site sales in the south-eastern market and working with Colliers national

industrial capital markets – including the occupier and leasing team – and partnering up with institutional owners and corporate owners of real estate.

“It’s been nice to grow into this role from starting at the very bottom,” he says. “Working on strata projects and moving into the middle markets, learning the role from the ground up, building strong relationships with private clients growing into the institutional clients.”

Hugh Gilbert has been at Colliers for the past 10 years. He spent his first five years in office leasing and worked for a little while in Sydney. He relocated to Melbourne ready to operate within the Industrial market, which had strong fundamentals and a bright horizon ahead.

His first year in industrial was in 2018. He focused mainly on building Colliers’ data platform.

“That was first for Victoria’s western market,” he explains. “It

AI to

Gordon Code, newly appointed Joint Head of Victorian Industrial Business, Colliers.

Hugh Gilbert, newly appointed Joint Head of Victorian Industrial Business, Colliers.

helped our growth strategy across the board and helped me propel myself quickly as an operator and become a co-manager of the northwest office in 2019.”

The Victorian Industrial Business has learnt about its market and service offering by using data.

“There’s a lot of young blood in our team,” Hugh adds. “We’re in tune with technology.”

He notes the Victorian division of Colliers was lacking cohesion despite growing considerably over the past five years. As a result of the growth, he and Gordon are planning several initiatives.

“We’re seeing clients together instead of individually,” says Hugh. “This role requires us to take ownership over that, and bring the leadership experience we have with our two successful teams and turn it into one.”

Today the Victorian industrial business is made up of almost 30 people and market share is rapidly growing.

Hugh continues: “As we adopt a whole team approach, we can better service clients through the whole Victorian market in terms of geography, size, operations –anywhere from 1,000 sqm to 100,000 sqm DCs.”

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

The data platform Gordon and Hugh built added up to 4000 data points across Victoria when it was in its fifth

iteration half a decade ago. Now, it has nearly one million data points.

Besides having a couple of proprietary data platforms, the Industrial division of Colliers has partnered with SA1 Property to create detailed mapping.

“This is how we service our clients,” explains Hugh. “We underwrite every deal with data points and references to help them make informed property decisions. We’ve won business by collecting and using data along with cold calling.

“Our vision is simple: fostering collaboration between all operators and support staff. We’ll have best in practice training for support, and that goes from team assistants, personal assistants, marketing, and then with our operators and more mentoring.”

Hugh – like Gordon – won’t be restricted to working with only his team. Both will cooperate with the northwest and southwest teams respectively.

DELIVERING OUTCOMES WITH NOVEL AI

The Joint Head of Victorian Industrial Business provides various advantages for Colliers, which include but are not limited to giving a deeper service offering to clients in terms of meetings, data presentations, as well as showcasing the capabilities of the wider team.

“Many institutional clients are getting into smaller form products as the value climbs up,” explains

Hugh. “They’re trying to extract value wherever they can. We want our lower market and mid-market operators front and centre of our major clients, too.

He continues: “We used trend pieces and databases on submarkets. We can give our clients the lowdown on broader trends. This information benefits emerging investors and developers from overseas. We also cooperate with the Colliers National Team. We want to create the same service standard across all metropolitan markets around the country.”

Colliers has a referral platform and other communication channels at both state and national levels. Experts throughout the country specialise in different pockets of the market and provide common taskforces for each type of transaction and cover numerous geographical areas.

“By being subject matter experts, we can help our clients – whether they’re landlords or occupiers – get the best outcome in the marketplace,” says Gordon.

As Colliers’ data platforms have undergone several iterations over the years, it’s been necessary for the team to upskill. They’re engaging in more team and client events.

“We have quarterly meetings with key clients as a group,” notes Hugh. “We use different client engagement strategies at all levels, whether it be the low market, mid-market, or upper market so we have a lot more client facetime.

“We stick to our strengths, which are data and now AI. We’re working on machine learning and predictive analysis based on data inputs determining where rates are going on different levels. It’s something we’re testing, and we have the data to support it, so we expect to deliver something in the second half of the year.” ■

Reach out to Colliers

Victorian Industrial experts to learn more about their data driven approaches, and how they can maximise the potential of property for you.

The Victorian Industrial Business has learnt about its market and service offering by using data.

THE INVISIBLE HAND

In a world where businesses so often chase ephemeral trends seeking the quickest win, Prological’s Peter Jones encourages us to look at the world through a more substantive lens.

Citing the words of Larry Cope, General Electric Global’s Chairman and CEO, Peter suggests focus should be geared towards permanence, longterm planning, and creating legacies worth inheriting. “When asked for advice on forging a successful life and career, Larry Cope’s was powerfully straightforward,” Peter says. “His first big idea was to be substantive in everything that you do – not temporary or superficial.”

Sadly, the “here and now” business approach too often favoured by too many means a focus on short-term victories; and temporary solutions that soon cause fresh problems in need of still more solutions.

“Businesses stuck in this vicious circle never truly perform at their peak because they are constantly making decisions that are only ever temporary fixes,” Peter says.

Contrast this with the Cope philosophy of “substance over the superficial”.

“Being substantive means leaving something worthy for the next generation to inherit, allowing them to start from a higher place and springboard further,” notes Peter. “Instead of chasing your tail with quick fix chasing after quick fix, you’re progressing and building towards something.”

Einstein is reported to have said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Peter puts it another way: “If you’re doing tomorrow what you were doing yesterday, you’re going backwards.” Continuous improvement is the key to success.

But substance and continuous improvement are meaningless terms without a defined end in mind, which is why Larry Cope cited “customer focus” as another cardinal rule for business success. “Please the customers, and you’ll retain them,” as Peter puts it.

This all sounds straightforward enough. Focus on substance, be proactive, build on past achievement, focus on the customer.

Yet for decades now businesses

haven’t heeded this advice when it came to their supply chains, which have long been viewed as a simple, low-key, and relatively unimportant considerations compared to other business functions: the boring work of getting goods to consumers after the real work – of creating, manufacturing, and marketing – has been done.

Getting goods to consumers is manifestly important – you’re unlikely to be a satisfied customer if you never receive your purchase – but the way goods get from supplier to supplier, or business to consumer, plays an increasingly important role in separating the wheat from the chaff.

The point is easy to illustrate in B2C contexts, Peter says, where effective marketing and an engaging, while easy-to-navigate website can draw customers in. But there’ll be trouble, he warns, if the user experience – from the digital platform to the fulfillment process – doesn’t align with customer expectations.

“If the marketing and digital experience are excellent but the supply chain fails to deliver, it will be a problem because the first two experiences have set the customer’s

Peter Jones, Managing Director of Prological, unpacks the vital – if largely hidden –role supply chain plays in shaping customer experience.

An effective supply chain is indispensable to ensuring customer satisfaction.

expectations high,” Peter notes.

The stakes are even higher in the B2B landscape, he points out, as any lapse in delivery can disrupt production lines and have far-reaching knock-on consequences. “If a supplier fails to deliver on time, it can disrupt entire production lines (manufacturing) or soil management (agriculture) or seasonal release (fashion retail) or empty shelves (grocery) – and each of these have enormous consequences within their respective sectors.”

TRANSPARENCY, TRUST, AND ETHICS

Transparency, trust, and ethics in the supply chain have been subjects of growing interest, especially as consumers become more discerning about their purchases. These factors influence brand perception not only in that they may influence whether a person buys a product, but how satisfied they are with the purchases they’ve already made.

“I haven’t personally seen a major fall-off in customer satisfaction because of an ethics or transparency issue, but we have talked quite a lot to businesses about the consequences of not being on top of these issues and what could happen if they’re

caught lacking,” Peter says. “It’s a serious issue – and you wouldn’t want to test breaching your customers’ trust with a supply chain ethics or transparency blunder.”

“For 2023 through 2025, supply chain visibility was rated as the second most important factor according to Prological’s recent Supply Chain Pulse Check Survey, just behind environmental alignment, that businesses are trying to improve,” he notes.

Visibility has a clear link to customer satisfaction in that customers increasingly want clarity on how they get their goods, but another reason companies are prioritising visibility is that it allows for better control and decision making.

“Visibility provides control,” Peter says. “If you can see what’s happening, you’re empowered to make decisions. And while visibility has theoretically been on the agenda for decades, today the technology is readily available to make it attainable.”

“Visibility will be very important for ensuring customer satisfaction moving forward because it exposes issues early, enabling pre-emptive action and mitigating potential fallout. A lack of visibility leaves businesses stumbling in the dark.”

OPENING UP

While it’s clear that enhancing supply chain visibility has substantial benefits both internally and for the endcustomer, Peter acknowledges the reluctance of many businesses to open up their inner workings for scrutiny.

“I’ve been in many meetings where the executive team has expressed concern about exposing the internal capability of the business.”

To move forward with improved transparency, businesses must first ensure their operations are wellorganised. Without this foundational step, Peter cautions that increased visibility might – paradoxically –undermine trust, by highlighting gaps between stakeholder expectations and the realities of business performance.

“Businesses need to be careful and make sure they’ve done the preliminary work before improving transparency. You could actually amplify distrust if you put on display to stakeholders the discrepancies between what they expect and what your business can actually deliver.”

A part of this process of preparation involves updating and improving internal systems.

“To embark on this journey, businesses must have their internal visibility working – from forecast to inventory on hand – which requires integration and performance from existing systems and people as the first requirement,” Peter advises.

“Visibility can either help a business own its customer or show a customer why they ought look elsewhere. Visibility can enhance trust if the business delivers on its promises consistently. Providing visibility reinforces the positive customer experience they have already received.”

In the quest for better customer experience, businesses must focus on enhancing their supply chain efficiencies, improving transparency, and maintaining ethical standards. However, these changes should not be rushed.

“They require a well-planned, methodical approach, to ensure your business is primed to meet your customer’s expectations and sustain long-term success.

“Be substantive, leave a legacy worth inheriting and please the customer – simple!” ■

Supply chain visibility will either help businesses own their customer experience – or expose incompetence.

THE POWER OF VISIBILITY ANALYTICS

project44’s Eric Fullerton on the common challenges hampering many visibility providers and how project44’s visibility and analytics capabilities can overcome them

In an era of burgeoning complexity in global supply chains, businesses find themselves in an escalating battle against time, distance, and uncertainty. Striving to perfect the customer experience, companies yearn for an intimate understanding of their goods’ precise movements around the world. The drive to become more agile, to adjust to fluctuations seamlessly, and to deliver on ever-increasing customer expectations has never been more critical.

According to a PwC survey, a staggering 73 per cent of customers would significantly reduce their spending with a company that breaches their trust, with 44 per cent stating they would cease buying from such a company altogether.

The harsh reality is that without a comprehensive, integrative system that unifies all elements of the supply chain, businesses will continue to wrestle with disconnected teams, incompatible transportation modes, disjointed systems, and unreliable data. This ongoing struggle risks customer attrition at a time when customer retention is paramount.

Fortunately, the advanced end-toend supply chain visibility that has long been the industry’s Holy Grail is no longer a pipedream.

Every day, project44, the world’s leading visibility provider, empowers new businesses to modify production and distribution to counteract lengthening lead times, redirect shipments away from congested ports, and more effectively manage overall supply chain flows.

project44’s Movement platform is

constantly evolving, bringing in new add-ons, products, and capabilities to give users not only best-in-class visibility of their supply chains, but ever-more sophisticated insights drawn from the reams of data project44 collects across the globe.

But what can visibility analytics do for you in optimising your supply chain?

To find out, MHD caught up with Eric Fullerton, Senior Director Product Marketing at project44.

HURDLES TO ACHIEVING TRUE VISIBILITY

In supply chain management, Eric identifies four key gaps that have profound impacts on functionality and efficacy.

First on Eric’s radar is ‘regionality’, an issue that plagues many of today’s supply chain visibility solution providers.

“They all originated somewhere, right? So, they tend to have a regional or modal focus,” Eric explains. Despite efforts by organizations to claim a global reach, the reality is often starkly different. A true global presence requires personnel, regional expertise, and the ability to deliver within the context of each region’s specific nuances. He points out that without an extensive global footprint, companies are inclined to operate within regional and modal biases, narrowing their effectiveness. The proof, he observes, is often in the paucity of physical presence in many of the regions they claim to cover.

Next, Eric turns his attention to the lack of ‘order visibility’. While many visibility solutions providers focus on tracking shipments or assets, a glaring gap exists when it comes to orders and inventory in motion.

Shippers today are increasingly

– and help supply chain professionals solve problems they may not have even thought of, yet.

Eric Fullerton, Senior Director Product Marketing at project44.

thinking more in terms of inventory and purchase orders. “Many offerings today don’t have the ability to show you all of your orders, show you all of your SKUs,” he says. “But at this point, supply chain professionals are demanding to see shipments and orders and have the ability to associate them with one another. “The absence of such comprehensive visibility poses a significant challenge for efficient supply chain management.”

The third challenge Eric discusses is tied to the intermodal and multimodal aspect of supply chains. Integrating all different shipments, from truckload to rail to ocean, and providing an accurate, actionable multimodal ETA is a complex task.

“It’s a gap that many visibility offerings currently available struggle with,” Eric notes, attributing this partly to “modal bias”, where providers don’t offer the same quality of tracking and performance across all different modes. As a result, crucial elements such as ETA accuracy may falter, compromising overall management of the supply chain.

Lastly, Eric mentions “black boxes” in supply chain visibility – nodes such as terminals and yards – where visibility can often be lost. This, he emphasises, is a significant gap that many in the industry struggle to fill. “It’s crucial not only to think about connecting all the modes of transport, but also about tying together those different nodes along the journey.”

CLEARING THE HURDLES WITH VISIBILITY ANALYTICS

project44’s answer to the intricacies and gaps in supply chain visibility lies in a combination of its data-centric approach, a strong, integrated network, and innovative offerings, says Eric.

He highlights how project44’s platform – which includes terminal visibility, yard visibility, and intermodal capabilities, to ocean, truckload and air products, and more – are integral to bridging the identified gaps. The ability to provide both port-to-port and doorto-door versions, catering to specific use cases, offers a versatility that many visibility providers lack.

Eric underscores the value of directly integrating with carriers via API, a strategic choice that sets project44 apart. “We spend a lot of time and energy to with the largest and most

significant carriers to have proprietary API integrations,” he says. “This effort is significant but pays dividends compared to the all-to-common screen scraping approach. The result is data that is more real time and more accurate – a requirement for successful modern supply chains.

Any remaining gaps are filled by Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) connections and mobile apps, thereby ensuring comprehensive coverage.

The true power behind project44’s approach, Eric believes, lies in its data story.

“Although we provide supply chain visibility, at our core, much of what we do is related to integration, data connectivity, and then normalizing that data in a way that is consumable for our customers,” he says.

Indeed, project44 is the “connective tissue” of supply chain, connecting and comprehending 10 billion supply chain data points per month, and tracking one billion shipments per year.

VISIBILITY ANALYTICS FOR PRE-EMPTIVE PLANNING

project44’s analytics are not just about keeping a watchful eye on supply chains; they also serve as an aid in preemptive planning.

The company provides regular databased thought leadership Supply Chain Insights derived from the vast amount of information it gathers. These insights are made available on project44’s Movement platform, providing companies with crucial visibility into global events and trends that can impact their supply chains.

“We’re able to pull together these high-level trends based on global events,” Eric says. “When Russia invaded Ukraine, for instance, we were able to generate reports on how that affected the movement of goods throughout the supply chain across those regions, from ports to truckload volume. We could similarly report on the impact of labour disputes in the UK and dockworker strikes in the US.”

He cites another recent example where project44 responded to floods in Italy by analysing their impact on truckload tracking performance in the Emilia Romagna region, thereby offering their clients vital insights to help them navigate the crisis.

Moreover, project44’s Port Intel

feature allows companies to monitor ports around the world and identify trends or events. This provides a realtime view into import and export dwell times and other trends – facilitating better pre-planning.

“Having this kind of information helps companies adjust their strategies based on trends and potentially avoid certain bottlenecks or delays,” Eric says.

EMPOWERING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGERS

Eric closes our interview by pointing to how visibility analytics of the kind offered by project44 empower supply chain workers and managers to make better and more persuasive arguments when they feel leadership is imposing a bad decision from on-high.

“We’ve all had that experience where a boss with not enough knowledge nevertheless swoops in and tells you to do something that you know isn’t the right call,” Eric relates. “Our visibility analytics have helped supply chain managers to make their case to executives, to hold their ground – and to do so persuasively.

“For example, one of our clients – a major global athletic apparel brand –was dealing with significant congestion at the Port of Long Beach and other California ports. When executives questioned the wisdom of shipping goods into those congested ports, the supply chain team leveraged project44’s Port Intel data to demonstrate that their strategy was still the most expedient. Despite the congestion, the transportation flows and carrier contracts directed towards California resulted in faster delivery to the end destination than it would have been to reroute through New York or Charleston.

“Had the supply chain guys at this company not been able to make their case to the executives with the data to prove it, the executives would have compounded one obstacle with another unforced error. To me, that’s a great story about how visibility analytics empowers on-the ground decision making and leads to better outcomes.” ■

Use the QR code to see project44’s recent white paper on Visibility Analytics.

LOOKING TO THE SKY

Ferag Australia will be showing off the ferag.skyfall for the first time in Australia at this year’s CeMAT. MHD caught up with Ferag Australia Managing Director Philip Batty to dig deeper into what this pathbreaking technology offers.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, supply chains are becoming ever more complex and demanding. In response, innovative solutions are required to streamline processes and make operations more efficient and adaptable. Enter the ferag.skyfall system, a ground-breaking, threedimensional solution set to make its Australian debut at this year’s CeMAT exhibition in Sydney.

Ferag.skyfall, a high-tech amalgamation of shuttles and trolleys, utilises application-specific load carriers and harnesses the power of gravity to reinvent the way warehouse handling operates. By capitalising on vertical space, this revolutionary system significantly reduces the demand for valuable floor area, leaving room for vital valuecreating processes to thrive.

Beyond being a spatially ingenious solution, ferag.skyfall simultaneously consolidates multiple functions into a single, efficient system. It can handle everything from conveying, buffering, and sorting to more intricate tasks such as order picking and consignment for diverse sectors, including e-commerce, retail, B2B, and 3PL. This all-in-one system can extend process chains without necessitating additional transfer points, thus resulting in smoother, more integrated operations.

Speaking to MHD, Philip Batty, Managing Director of Ferag Australia, explains that while there are other pocket sortation systems in existence, ferag.skyfall’s uniqueness lies in its origin and operation.

“We adapted our technology from the core Ferag graphics technology, a process that took a reasonably long period of time,” Philip says. “This core technology has been around for 40 years,” he says. “Ferag.skyfall is the culmination of the company’s deep-rooted knowledge and decades

of industry experience.”

According to Philip, the real innovation of the system is its smart use of established technology. “The chain technology it uses has been around a long time, which means we understand it well. We know how to build systems with overhead conveyors,” he elaborates. “By effectively utilising a combination of driven technology and gravity, it successfully achieves lower overall power consumption, setting it apart from its competitors.”

The ferag.skyfall system is also engineered to handle impressive loads.

“Its capacity for a pocket sortation system is quite high,” he says. “For instance, each pocket can carry 15 kilos, and we can sort 10,500 pockets per hour. If you had 50,000 pockets all loaded – that’s a significant amount of weight.”

The flexible design of ferag.skyfall allows it to be utilised effectively in any setting. Whether in a greenfield or a brownfield environment, it can adapt to meet specific site needs. Its unique functionality streamlines the sorting and buffering process, essentially doing the hard work so operators don’t have to.

“All the operator has to do is receive the work item – whether it’s a single item or part of a multiple order – and put it into a pocket,” Philip says. “The system will then sort and bring together the items belonging to that one order and deliver it to the packing location.”

MODERN DISTRIBUTION MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY

In an industry where speed and efficiency are paramount, the potential of ferag.skyfall to revolutionise the intralogistics landscape is apparent.

“For high-volume e-commerce

operations with complex SKU and order profiles, it will have a big impact in Australia,” Philip says.

This is particularly so given ferag. skyfall’s spatially savvy design.

“One of the major advantages here is that the whole system can be elevated, freeing up the ground floor for other uses,” Philip explains. “You can place it high up above the ground operations. This is particularly advantageous in Australian warehouses, which typically have high ceilings. And doubly so given the scarcity of available industrial property in Australia. Many companies have so much underutilised space above them in their warehouses. Ferag.skyfall slots in perfectly, here.”

Buffering capability – which refers to managing processes with different throughput rates and synchronising their outputs – is another area where the system stands out.

This is especially crucial when dealing with an automated pick engine, which operates swiftly, and a manual pick process, which might be slower. These differences in speed and timing can create challenges in coordinating the flow of items for an order. “If you try to synchronise them in real time, it’s nearly impossible,” Philip says, recalling “nightmarish” past experiences trying to consolidate items from different pick engines. The possibility of automated loading and unloading of the stations makes the process even more efficient and powerful.

This is where ferag.skyfall’s buffering capabilities shine: “The operator in the automated process doesn’t have to consider where the item goes, he can simply pick items and place them in pockets without thinking about which order they belong to.”

This decoupling of tasks allows the operator to focus on the picking

process and enables the ferag.skyfall system to handle the rest.

In essence, the system “synchronises the delivery of items,” helping to level out and align the different timings of processes. This translates to increased efficiency and productivity in order handling, making it an attractive solution for businesses grappling with the challenges of managing disparate picking processes.

SUSTAINABLE, EFFICIENT, ENERGY-SAVING

“Sustainability and energy efficiency are central to the value proposition of the system,” says Philip.

Ferag.skyfall’s vertical utilisation advantage can be a boon to businesses operating within constrained building spaces, providing a costeffective alternative to relocating or constructing new infrastructure.

But it isn’t only in terms of spatial efficiency that its stands out.

“Regarding energy efficiency, it’s chain-based, meaning it doesn’t need a lot of motors or drives to work,”

Philip explains. “It sometimes uses gravity, pulling up at times and then letting gravity take over to run down.”

The system operates like a pumped hydro system – energy is consumed to elevate the load carriers, but the process of descent is powered by gravity. This makes it a highly energy-efficient solution. “You don’t have a lot of motors,” Philip notes.

SKYFALL AT CEMAT

Philip Batty is gearing up for the first-time unveiling of ferag.skyfall at this year’s CeMAT exhibition in Sydney. The excitement and anticipation are palpable as he talks about the upcoming showcase.

“Last year, we presented a small static concept, but now we need to show people the product in action –moving, loading, and unloading – so they can truly appreciate it.”

In wrapping up our conversation, Philip has a clear message to potential users of the ferag.skyfall system.

“I’d ask those considering their expansion paths whether ferag.

skyfall might not be the best add-on solution for them? You can add it on to an Autostore system or a shuttle system and get the most out of your vertical space.

“The ferag.skyfall has had outstanding success overseas, and it’s the right product at the right time for Australia. We at Ferag Australia look forward to sharing its potential with attendees at CeMAT this year. And since we’ll be exhibiting alongside so many other fantastic intralogistics solutions, we’ll be able to show you how it works in concert with other fantastic products from other companies – like Autostore, just to name one.

“Ferag Australia works with a lot of other great manufacturers and solutions providers. The ferag. skyfall is great in its own right, but also a great addition to the intralogistics market mixture in that it complements so many other great solutions.” ■

Ferag Australia will be exhibiting at Stand B4 at CeMAT on 25-27 July 2023.

The ferag.skyfall will be on display at CeMAT 2023.

KEITH TULLOCH WINE GETS GREENER

A family-owned winery in New South Wales has enhanced its carbon-neutral business status with the help of its new Toyota battery electric forklift.

Keith Tulloch Wine, based in the verdant Hunter Valley region, wanted to upgrade its existing fleet of two LPG gas forklifts in 2021, and saw an opportunity to further reduce its carbon footprint with the addition of an 8FBN 3 tonne electric forklift from Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA).

Keith Tulloch Wine operations manager Alisdair Tulloch says that government incentives and the chance to improve the business’s environmental credentials spurred the decision to purchase a new unit.

“At the time there were a lot of instant asset write-offs and tax concessions that spurred us on to make some decisions a couple of years earlier than we otherwise would have,” Alisdair says.

“We used to run two forklifts, and being LPG you have the ongoing costs of the fuel, then also the reliability of the units was really starting to get to us, whether that’s through actual breakdowns or running out of gas at inopportune moments.

“Our business is also certified carbon neutral ... so for us there was a really good financial and environmental motive to swap our two forklifts for just the one which is fully elecric.”

As well as replacing two LPG forklifts with a single batteryelectric unit, the energy that powers the forklift is even procured in an environmentally friendly way, through the use of solar power.

“We have a pretty huge solar array here, and the forklift is being charged with the solar so essentially it’s become an emissions-free vehicle for us,” Alisdair says.

Along with the improved environmental impact and cost savings, the new Toyota forklift also offers improved functionality over the older LPG units with welcome new features and technologies.

“We compared several models, this one had everything we needed at the right price,” Alisdair says.

“It has the appropriate features like a container mast to get out of tight spaces – previously we had a taller mast which made it difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

“And to have the capacity to lift quite heavy grape bins, barrel racks and barrels to quite tall heights but also having a compact unit, the actual forklift that we purchased has been perfect at doing that.”

Toyota’s 8FBN forklift range features Toyota’s exclusive System Of Active Stability safety system, designed to help prevent forklift rollover and contribute to accident prevention.

It also features a high water resistance rating of IPX4 meaning it can work as comfortably outside as it does inside making it one of the most versatile forklifts on the market.

Arguably the most important factor for Keith Tulloch Wine has been the lack of downtime experienced with the new forklift, thanks to the signature performance and reliability associated with TMHA.

Alisdair says the reliability of the new unit has been a huge boon for the business.

“A unit like this, the lack of issues is the great thing,” he says. “Having moved on from having some older units that would be constantly breaking down or having downtime - you only notice those things when they’re having downtime and there hasn’t been any with the new machine apart from regular servicing which is perfect, because it’s a tool that’s ready to use all the time instead of something that

Keith Tulloch Wine was first founded in 1997 by Alisdair’s parents, Keith and Amanda, as a family owned and operated boutique winery in Pokolbin.

is unreliable.

“Having to wait for a technician to come out on a busy vintage day and you’ve got food on the ground, the clock is going to be ticking, so the fact that we’ve had something really reliable is great.”

Local TMHA area sales manager Allan Peacock, who helped facilitate the sale, says it has been a pleasure to work with Keith Tulloch Wine and the team over the journey.

“Working with Alisdair over the years has been both a learning and enjoyable relationship,” he says.

“His standing as a leading wine maker has to be commended, always approachable and looking for new ways to approach the challenges of day-to-day life as a winemaker.”

The servicing experience has been simple and hassle-free for the wine-maker, with TMHA’s extensive service network and knowledgeable technicians providing excellent service and product reliability.

Alisdair notes that servicing with

TMHA has been particularly easy.

“There’s been absolutely no issues at all, everything’s been very straightforward,” he says.

“The sales and the aftersales service was really good, Allan came out and visited the site and walked us through everything that we wanted from the unit and made sure the specs were exactly what we were looking for and priced us up on it, so that part of the service was really good.

“He came and visited us afterwards to make sure the unit was running smoothly and we were happy with the outcome, and if there was anything he could follow up on for us.”

Alisdair adds that the performance of the new unit has led him to recommending TMHA to others in the wine-making industry.

“Other people have seen that we’ve taken a new forklift and have asked about it, and we really have only had positive things to say about it,” he says.

“There are things like the

additional hydraulic control which helps to tip bins which people like, there’s an auto-leveller on one of the hydraulics to level out the tynes on the forklift which can be helpful when you’re moving bins of fruit or going in and out of racks.

“We would and have recommended Toyota to other people in the industry.”

Keith Tulloch Wine was first founded in 1997 by Alisdair’s parents, Keith and Amanda, as a family owned and operated boutique winery in Pokolbin.

With an annual crush of between 110 and 150 tonnes, Keith Tulloch Wine is a grape-growing and winemaking business from vineyard through to bottling.

Specialising in semillon chardonnay and shiraz, the winery also offers sales and cellar door tastings on-site in Pokolbin. ■

For more information visit www. toyotamaterialhandling.com.au

FITTING WAREHOUSES WITH UPWARD SOLUTIONS

With e-commerce and online-related purchases reaching new heights, retail businesses are finding their warehouses have insufficient space to cater for the constant influx of orders. AutoStore’s Jason Wu, local Business Development Manager, explains to MHD what solutions the global cube storage company has to automate logistics facilities.

specialised Robots at CeMAT 2023 in Sydney. This solution is designed to simplify warehousing automation and consists of two operator’s workstations, namely ConveyorPort and CarouselPort.

TACKLING CHALLENGES WITH AUTOMATION

Automation is the key to smart space utilisation, operational efficiency and increases productivity. Automated cubic storage involves implementing cube-like storage systems into a warehouse and is one of the biggest trends the market has ever seen.

Jason Wu, local Business Development Manager for AutoStore, says the company has noticed a rapid uptake of its groundbreaking solutions. “It looks to fulfil key challenges such as space utilisation, labour efficiencies, stock management, order fulfilment, and ergonomics,” he explains.

AutoStore, the global cube storage company, has various solutions for warehouse owners who need to modify their facilities to accommodate the ongoing demand presented by the ever-growing and changing e-commerce sector.

Online-related retail businesses continue to turn a considerable profit off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic as customer demand for products increase. One of the only ways to deal with this challenge is to either invest in larger warehouses

or to incorporate solutions that can make a business’s order fulfilment more efficient and accurate.

As Australian companies contend with the rising costs of industrial real estate, low vacancy rates, and pressures to implement ESG initiatives – all while grappling with labour shortages – automation is integral to improving warehousing operations and to combating these challenges.

This is why AutoStore will showcase for the first time ever its medium sized Grid, complete with

The Medium Grid will be showcased at CeMAT because AutoStore considers the annual ANZ exhibition to be a one-stop-shop of leading technology and service providers in intralogistics, materials handling, and supply chain management.

“CeMAT gives us the perfect opportunity to further demonstrate the benefits of our automated cubicbased storage solution,” notes Jason. “We look forward to engaging with businesses who want to redefine order fulfilment and learn more about our offerings.”

At the exhibition, visitors will have

AutoStore has provided solutions of all varieties including anywhere from 5000 to one million Bin systems.

a chance to view the live AutoStore system demo in action. The Medium Grid includes R5 Robots, workstations (which the company calls “Ports”), chargers, as well as a dummy display unit and a Grid structure with 60 Bins.

The two most popular workstations are the ConveyorPort, which has Bins dropped on a conveyer and transferred to an opening outside of the Grid. The other is the CarouselPort, which is designed to work with the operator in harmony with Robots to ensure the next Bin is always ready.

The workstation operates with three rotating arms, each holding one Bin tray. Two arms are positioned in the back of the port for Robots to place or retrieve Bins. The third arm is in the front position for picker access to the goods inside the Bin.

USING NIMBLE TECHNOLOGY TO MOVE GOODS

AutoStore recently surveyed the market both locally and globally to identify challenges and potential opportunities. Besides problems such as shipping constraints, it found most products that were in demand needed to be imported to Australia from overseas as volumes dramatically climbed.

“This forces companies to look for larger spaces and more warehouse

locations to meet these increasing expectations with sufficient stock and order fulfilment,” explains Jason.

“This trend started with COVID and is the main reason why most Australian businesses are doing whatever they can to futureproof their agenda.”

Business owners have been looking at maximising their existing usable footprint, i.e., using the cubic or square metres in their warehouses.

With AutoStore’s innovative solutions, warehouse owners – while they can’t expand their operations horizontally if they have insufficient space in their facilities can utilise the available clearance height.

“AutoStore is extremely knowledgeable in this area and is investing in the local ANZ market based on its potential,” adds Jason. “We’re informing businesses as to how our solutions can benefit them in a quick and efficient manner.”

More than 1150 AutoStore systems have been fitted to warehouses globally and several have been implemented in Australian facilities, including Davcor, design, manufacturer, and wholesale distribution company specialising in locks, which was set up in Sydney back in 2016.

INSTALLING WITHOUT DOWNTIME

“We would like to use AutoStore as a staging medium rather than just a pure picking and packing or only storage,” Jason says. “You can pick something then you can stage that back into the Autostore, and when it is needed, it can come out from the other side.”

The PickupPort is an end-user friendly workstation, enabling 24/7 click and collect. It has been installed in Sydney although it isn’t active yet. The solution is like an ATM inside a bank. It’s airconditioned and requires the user to enter a code into an interface and an online order comes out of the machine. There’s a stack drawer system which empties the Bins.

When AutoStore installs its solutions into a warehouse or distribution centre, no downtime is required from the customer who can simply proceed with business as usual as the technology is deployed.

USING LEGO-LIKE STORAGE SYSTEMS

No job is too small or too large for AutoStore. It can cater to any facility’s shape or size.

“Installing an AutoStore is like playing Lego,” Jason explains. “The storage system is customisable and comparable to a Rubik’s Cube where one Grid is stacked upon another. If a business has a mezzanine, we can simply reduce the stack and shape it so it fits, or if they have an empty space above their office, we can also cater to that, too.”

There are no entry levels for an AutoStore solution, and it can be conveniently tailored towards whatever a business’s needs may be.

“Our customers in Sydney who invested in AutoStore seven years ago gained payback less than two years later,” Jason adds. “Their business has continued to boom, especially following COVID. Prior to the pandemic, they managed to expand their operations by up to 50 per cent with this capability.

“Another of our customers saved on forklifts and all the costs associated with them including electricity and gas bills. This is one of the only systems on the market that can run 100 per cent on solar power. Ten of our robots use the same energy as a single vacuum cleaner.”

In terms of operation sizes, AutoStore has provided solutions of all varieties including anywhere from 5000 to one million Bin systems for its wide range of clientele.

Jason confidently concludes: “AutoStore is a pioneer in cube storage automation and continues to be a market leader in the field.” ■

AutoStore’s two most popular workstations are the ConveyorPort and CarouselPort.

Jason Wu, local Business Development Manager at AutoStore.

Industrial Solutions 2023

GROWING HARVEY NORMAN

that does not rely on a rail system, enabling to travel freely around the workspace,” Paul says.

“Harvey Norman selected 10 of our ACR robots which deliver efficient handling as well as provide high density and high throughput.”

The HaiPick robots and paired HaiPort tote dispensers, deliver multiple totes to workstations for seamless picking.

“The system eliminates all walking within the aisles of the fulfilment centre,” explains Paul.

Harvey Norman Commercial Division provides an extensive selection of brand-name products to builders, developers, architects, and designers.

Committed to innovation and improving its service offering, the leading retailer has invested heavily in automation technology that is set to transform its operation at its facility in Sydney’s southwest.

The retailer’s new purposebuilt facility features a range of automation technology, including materials handling robots from tech pioneer, Hai Robotics known for its next-generation robotic warehouse solutions that have been implemented in various industries, including fashion, 3PL, retail, electronics, healthcare, and e-commerce.

DEPLOYING ROBOTS FOR EFFICIENCY

Located at Crossroads Logistics Centre, the Harvey Norman Commercial Division’s 18,000 sqm site stores more than 60,000 stock

keeping units (SKUs), an impressive jump from its previous facility in Taren Point, which held 20,000 SKUs across 12,000 sqm.

“We’ve experienced rapid growth across our service offerings in the past couple of years and have made the decision to invest significantly in our supply chain capabilities,” said Kabe Franklin, Merchandise Manager at Harvey Norman Commercial Division.

Harvey Norman Commercial Division selected BPS Global Australia to advise, design and implement the full system. BPS selected Hai Robotics as it’s a key component of the automation solutions.

According to Paul Philips, General Manager at Hai Robotics ANZ, as the retailer deals with a lot of small electrical and general merchandise products, the Hai solutions were a perfect fit for Harvey Norman Commercial Division.

“Our multi-layer autonomous case-handling robot features a nextlevel autonomous navigation method

“The products are presented in totes in an efficient manner to the user at the workstation after which the product is picked into the order tote and sent off for subsequent workflows of packing and transportation.”

SCALING AS DEMAND FLUCTUATES

Designed and installed by BPS Global Australia, Harvey Norman Commercial Division has invested in an array of state-of-the-art technology –including Goods-to-person pick stations, a CMC automated packaging machine, satchel pack machines, very narrow aisle stock pickers by Toyota Material Handing and a Warehouse Management System (WMS) by Thomax Technology.

“Harvey Norman Commercial Division is focused on future growth and needed new technology to achieve its ambitious targets,” Malcolm Druce, Managing Partner at BPS Global Australia says.

“We have worked with the leading retailer to find and design the most suitable automation technology for its new facility – and the Hai solution is a central part of this.”

BPS Global Australia has selected automation solutions from Hai Robotics to expand Harvey Norman Commercial’s SKU capacity, improve lead times and target future growth at its Sydney facility. MHD catches up with the team behind the project to find out more.

The HaiPick robots and paired HaiPort tote dispensers, deliver multiple totes to workstations for seamless picking.

BPS reviewed Harvey Norman’s existing operation and the new site was then designed so that the retailer could flex up as its sales and customer base grow.

“We have worked with Harvey Norman to ensure that the build is fit for purpose, we’ve reviewed the forklift operations to design better processes and we’ve designed the entire system layout,” notes Malcolm. “The Hai Robotics solution serves as the lynchpin to the entire operation.”

The Hai Robotics solution allows Harvey Norman Commercial Division to scale up and down as demand fluctuates and enables same-day picking – with waves of orders being picked and packed in less than 90 minutes.

While the new solution is in its infancy, the go-live and project launch went extremely well.

“We’ve successfully transferred to a new site with all of the new technology, and we haven’t had any downtime,” adds Malcolm. “We’ve been operating a progressive go-live with staggered testing and UAT so as to reduce the risk on the business.”

According to Hai’s Paul Philips, a further benefit of the solution is the user experience. “The interface presented to the user is very simple to understand and has removed the need for extensive training,” he says. “Users can enjoy a safe environment

with minimal handling and there is now no walking required to pick products and fulfil orders.”

Kabe Franklin, Merchandise Manager at Harvey Norman Commercial Division says by partnering with BPS Global Australia and Hai Robotics, he’s confident the retailer has deployed the right automation. “This tech suite is exactly what we need to grow, and we look forward to delivering the very best experience and service for our customers.” ■

In July, Hai Robotics will be attending CeMAT in Sydney to showcase a number of its innovative robotic solutions.

On display and for demo will be the newly launched solution, that encompasses Hai’s flagship ACR solution, HaiPick, along with the AMR-led solution, HaiFlex within the same operational grid. Attendees will also be able to learn more about Hai’s innovative micro-fulfilment solutions.

Featuring a mini-AMR solution, Hai’s micro-fulfilment utilises both ACR and AMR technology to increase throughput, accuracy and is Hai’s highest density and throughput solution to date.

Visit Hai on Stand F16 to learn more about the latest robotic solutions to hit Australia and New Zealand.

HaiPick A42G-E4, the multi-layer autonomous case-handling robot (ACR), helps handle cases intelligently with the maximum payload of up to 300 kg.

HaiPick A42-G-E4, the multilayer autonomous case-handling robot (ACR), helps handle cases intelligently with the maximum payload of up to 300 kg. It features a next- level autonomous navigation method that does not rely on a rail system, enabling it to travel freely around the workspace. Additionally, the robot can detect obstacles and plan for charging automatically, ensuring uninterrupted operation. Features

• Accurate positioning and navigation: using the IMU and DM code navigation method

• Efficient handling: capable of processing up to 8 totes simultaneously as equipped with multiple storage trays

• High compatibility: providing an adjustable-width fork option for complex picking scenarios that contain both totes and cartons

• Smooth traveling: adopting a differential-wheeled design that ensures smooth traveling and rotating

• Easy usability: coming with a twin alert system that integrates both an indicator and an audio player

• Multiple protection functions or mechanisms: including but not limited to the emergency stop buttons, bumpers, obstacle avoidance, and battery protection

• Compliance: CE/NRTL

HaiPick A42-G

Visit Hai Robotics at CeMAT

The A42 the multi-layer autonomous case-handling robot by Hai Robotics travels freely around the workspace.

TOMPKINS ROBOTICS

Bringing innovative robotic solutions to the forefront of the Australian logistics industry, Tompkins Robotics is making waves with its leading-edge products and their upcoming display at CeMAT 2023.

This breakthrough product is a game-changer, increasing sort destinations up to six times in the same system footprint. The tSort3D revolutionizes the warehousing landscape with its capacity to handle up to 20,000 items an hour, delivering unparalleled volume sortation. Designed for seamless integration with existing tSort systems, the tSort3D can connect thousands of sortation destinations from any induction point. It enables incredibly efficient batch picking for thousands of orders, outpacing systems that can only handle a few hundred. Notably, the tSort3D is versatile in handling a wide range of product types. From round and cylindrical to uniquely shaped items, the tSort3D’s distinctive tray design accommodates them all, extending beyond the limits of traditional cross-belt sorters. It can also accommodate wider, taller, and deeper products, underscoring its

a wide array of goods – from small cosmetics to large containers, apparel, footwear, and even parcel bags and

The tSort has been applied across a wide spectrum of the supply chain, addressing needs in a range of sectors. “It has been implemented in various sectors and door-todoor within a warehouse: inbound receiving, returns processing, order fulfillment, shipping sortation, kitting operations, e-commerce, store

replenishment, wholesale distribution, micro-fulfillment, central pharmacy, parcel postal sortation, and more,” Thompson says.

The flexibility of the tSort is what sets it apart from the competition. “We can tailor it exactly to your capacity needs by adding or subtracting robots, destinations, and induction stations,” Thompson says.

This scalability and modular nature of the tSort product gives it an edge in terms of adaptability. “The tSort solution

True to the Tompkins Robotics ethos, the tSort3D is modular, providing adaptive, flexible, and portable solutions. Its design facilitates quick implementation and growth with evolving operational needs.

Induction Lift

A testament to Tompkins commitment to innovation, this new addition enhances the flexibility of the market’s leading sortation system.

Designed to facilitate ergonomic operations, the Induction Lift enables manual operators to easily induct to a multi-level system, creating a more comfortable working environment for extended periods. With a performance capacity of over 600 cycles per hour, each lift can deliver operator induction rates of 1200 UPH within a two-lift induction station. Moreover, the Induction Lift can reach up to five sortation levels, reducing the footprint of a traditional two-level tSort system significantly.

In conjunction with Tompkins’ xChange solution, the Induction Lift takes fulfillment and sortation to new heights. Integration of the Induction Lift and xChange can multiply a system from 1000 sort destinations at a single level to 2000 destinations across four levels, simultaneously reducing the need for additional space by 45 per cent.

This empowers you to generate higher volumes in a single system as tSort robots can operate over a larger surface area. Consequently, it enhances throughput capabilities and enables larger batch picks in your order fulfillment system.

Embrace a more efficient and productive future in your warehouse operations with the Tompkins Robotics’ Induction Lift.

is modular and scalable, resembling a large Lego set. We can assemble and disassemble it as needed,” Thompson continues. This feature allows businesses to optimise their operational capacity as per their needs, ensuring efficient use of resources.

The setup process is another critical aspect of the tSort solution, which – as per Thompson – can be turned around within a span of five to eight months and needs minimal setup. “It can be set up on site and fully operational within two to three months, with a very low impact on operations,” he says, highlighting the quick turnaround time for setup.

The proof is in the pudding, with Thompson noting that 65 per cent of their solutions are implemented in existing or brownfield operations, offering ease of integration for businesses.

Sean Hewat of Primary Sight – who undertakes much of the implementation work in Australia for Tompkins –emphasises the significant advantage this brings, especially considering the current scarcity of industrial property and labour shortages.

“The great thing is, it can be moved easily,” Sean says. “It’s not a fixed structure. If your lease is up for renewal, or you need to move to a bigger site, you can pack it up and move it.” This flexibility offers businesses a significant edge in navigating the changing dynamics of their operational environments.

TOMPKINS AT CEMAT

The Tompkins Robotics team – together with Sean Hewat of Primary Sight –are exhibiting at CeMAT this year, and excited to show off the tSort and other Tompkins solutions.

The Tompkins team intends to make a

significant impact, offering attendees the chance to see their products in action. Despite being a small team, they have ambitious plans for their stand. “We will have the system operating,” Sean Hewat reveals. “So, we’ll have a small system that will have the tSort 3D, the tSort, the new Induction Lift – it will be very interactive.”

This interactive demonstration aims to provide attendees with an immersive experience, enhancing their understanding of the system’s ease of use.

But another factor Sean is keen to impress on attendees is the costeffectiveness of Tompkins solutions, given the rising trend towards automation in Australia.

“As Australia embraces the automation age, it’s also finding out what that can cost. Tompkins’ product suite is very competitive,” he notes, adding that Tompkins is therefore well placed to form a key part of sustainable automation growth journeys.

Thompson concludes by pointing out how affordable automation can improve workplace culture and improve labour retention – over and against the stereotype that the automation revolution is all downside for warehouse workers.

“We’ve found that typical warehouse workers – working with pen and paper and pushing carts around – aren’t having much fun,” he points out. “It’s not very enticing for your workforce. But if you tell them you’re going to be working in an automated facility, with robots and cool technology – that whole gamification aspect really adds to the excitement of the modern industrial environment. That’s a point we’re keen to emphasise at CeMAT this year –automation is for everyone.” ■

Autostore™ with tSort™.

SHAKING UP SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY

Mark Brammy, CEO of Terre Property, and Steve Smith, Partner at Leedwell, are well-known commodities in the South Australian property world. The pair recently sat down with MHD to discuss the burgeoning partnership between Terre Property and Leedwell.

Steve and Mark have known each other since working together at Goodman Group earlier in their careers.

“Our relationship with Steve, the Leedwell team, and many of his colleagues goes back many years,” Mark recalls. This tight-knit network, particularly in the industrial logistics sector, is a boon to both Leedwell and Terre Property.

The proximate cause of Terre Property and Leedwell re-connecting was Terre Property’s purchasing of the Cavan Connect Logistics Park (of which more later).

“The parcel of land that we have purchased, Cavan Connect, was previously a Goodman asset,” says Mark. “The relationship between myself, Steve, and the team at Goodman is strong. That’s where we had the idea to acquire this land with a strategy of developing it into a prime grade industrial property.”

Goodman’s focus towards the Eastern Seaboard and international markets left a gap for Mark and Steve to step in.

“We have a lack of available land opportunities in the market within that particular precinct,” Steve says, commenting on the industrial real estate climate in Adelaide. But Mark and his team are well-equipped to meet this challenge head-on. Terre intends to deliver institutional-grade assets that will not only be attractive to the market but also burnish their reputation as competitive and capable players in the industry.

YOUNG GUNS

In its relatively brief history, Terre Property has already established itself as a standout performer in industrial real estate.

A vertically integrated investment manager, Terre Property has made its mark by specialising in developing and repositioning Industrial & Logistics assets throughout key markets in Australia.

Terre Property’s vision is rooted in its core values, which focus on specialist knowledge in pre-lease development, asset management, and prudent investment management for

its capital partners.

“We strive to provide long-term value for our investor clients while also partnering with tenants to form long-lasting relationships,” Mark explains.

One such relationship, a partnership with Singapore based Straits Real Estate (SRE), has significantly influenced Terre Property’s operations and strategy in Australia. SRE, the real estate investment arm of the SGX-listed entity Straits Trading, is a cornerstone investor client and partner in the Terre Property platform.

In other words, Terre Property has some big guns backing it.

“We’re responsible for ongoing asset management and investment into Australian-based industrial & logistics assets,” Mark says.

This strategic approach aligns with Terre Property’s broader vision and the current trends in the Australian real estate market. “We see longerterm trends relating to the industrial and logistics sector remaining consistent,” Mark notes. “An undersupply of quality product to suit tenant requirements is resulting in upward pressure on face rents.”

Terre Property boasts a number of

Terre Property’s Mark Brammy and Leedwell’s Steve Smith discuss their burgeoning partnership and the exciting possibilities of the Cavan Connect Logistics Park.

Cavan Connect Logistics Park, at 48,500 square metres, lies in a prime location within the northern Adelaide industrial market.

significant assets along the Eastern Seaboard and in Adelaide, such as the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners South Australian Distribution Centre, and the headquarters of Siemens’ Australian operations located in Bayswater, Victoria.

Another key asset is the Cavan Connect development in Adelaide. This industrial parcel is situated in the tightly held inner northern precinct, providing superior connectivity to the main arterial road infrastructure. Mark believes that the Cavan Connect project will offer tenants modern, tailor-made accommodations in an inner industrial precinct – a unique opportunity in Adelaide’s industrial property landscape.

With its strong portfolio of assets and deep-rooted relationships – not least its relationship with Leedwell – Terre Property is set to remain a significant player in the Australian I&L sector for years to come.

CAVAN CONNECT LOGISTICS PARK

Cavan Connect Logistics Park, at 48,500 square metres, lies in a prime location within the northern Adelaide industrial market.

“With two street frontages, it’s in close proximity to major north-south road infrastructure, as well as rail infrastructure,” Steve explains.

The site’s strategic location and

flexible design allows it to cater to a wide range of industrial needs, with suitable spaces ranging from 3000 to 25,000 square metres. Notably, Cavan Connect is nestled among numerous food production and storage businesses, placing it in a perfect position to tap into the cold storage and fresh food logistics market. Steve stresses the heightened importance of this sector in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

“The site caters to that but not only that, we’re just tapping into what is around the location specifically,” he continues.

The potential to create a hub in this space is enticing, as is its its central location and extensive connectivity to the metropolitan area and interstate networks.

The Cavan Connect site, currently vacant and recently settled, will soon become a hive of activity.

“The plan is for Terre Property to build institutional-grade assets,” says Steve. He further explains that the intention is to cater to tenants’ specific requirements while keeping commercial viability in mind. The scarcity of quality assets in Adelaide, coupled with the evident demand, makes the prospect of speculative construction feasible and potentially beneficial in stimulating further development.

Mark says Terre Property’s

background in understanding development construction and working closely with tenants – with expertise spanning supply chain issues, automated racking, cold stores, and technical manufacturing processes – means they’ve got the bona fides to deliver the goods at Cavan Connect.

However, until tenant needs are clear, the development is aimed to respond flexibly to anticipated market demands. “It’s just about responding to what you think the market is going to want to receive, which is probably a more generic type of industrial facility,” Mark explains. “But we’re not ruling anything out. We have the know-how to tailor solutions to unique client needs.”

The facility will include arrangements for solar and other environmentally friendly features, which are highly attractive for businesses striving for carbon neutrality. “That’s where the old stock in the market – particularly in the north – won’t be able to compete with the modern scale and size of this development,” Mark concludes.

“Cavan Connect marks a distinct shift in the industrial real estate landscape in Adelaide. And we’re so pleased to be working with Steve and the Leedwell team to bring exciting new industrial real estate opportunities to South Australia.” ■

Terre Property and Leedwell are working to bring modern industrial real estate opportunities to South Australia.

PROJECT ENABLERS

Global equipment finance specialist DLL is enhancing its intralogistics finance offering, seeking to take a more proactive approach to meet customer demand for automation. MHD sits down with DLL’s Steven Davey and Marco Wagner to learn more.

For decades, global equipment finance firm DLL has been a key force behind investments in materials handling equipment (and much else), but with the logistics labour market constricting, and the demand for automation solutions greater than ever, it is stepping up its game in financing intralogistics solutions.

DLL has a proud history of asset financing dating back to 1969 – with more than 20 years in Australia –and a global network encompassing 25 countries. So, its intralogistics financing offering, itself a decade old, is built on solid foundations.

As Steven Davey, DLL’s Intralogistics lead for Australia and New Zealand, points out, DLL has traditionally kept itself in the background, supporting its vendor partners to help buyers with financing arrangements. But with the demand for intralogistics and automation so high – and many unsure how they’ll ever pay for it –DLL is taking its financing options directly to equipment users. Steven says, “This move involves working directly with CFOs, CEOs, and heads of procurement to understand their capital expenditure and funding requirements – and aiding them in large scale funding projects.”

Marco Wagner, Global Head of Intralogistics at DLL, says that there’s been a shift in emphasis for DLL in its approach to intralogistics financing, with the priority now to be “project enablers” for customers seeking intralogistics or automation solutions.

“We were doing intralogistics financing for more than 10 years on a reactive basis,” Marco says. “What changed is that we have moved away from a reactive approach to a proactive approach with a dedicated team of experts.”

The change was triggered by the

realisation that financing, say, a forklift, and financing an entire intralogistics system are completely different beasts. With projects reaching up to 250 million dollars and having long lead times, the complexity of intralogistics finance far outweighs that of commodity assets.

“You need to really understand the supply chain ecosystem and contractual complexity in the intralogistics world because there are more stakeholders involved,” Marco explains. This revelation necessitated the formation of a “dedicated team of specialists” to tackle the unique challenges of intralogistics finance.

The decision to adopt this proactive approach was also influenced by the company’s history and customer demands. DLL is certainly no stranger to the logistics market generally, having done materials handling and transport equipment financing for more than five decades.

DLL’s significant portfolio – with 16 billion dollars of assets belonging to the Construction, Transportation, and Industrial (CT&I) business unit and around five billion of that in materials handling alone – gives it a unique insight into the needs of the industry.

“We are among the largest owners

of materials handling equipment in the world,” Marco says.

The changing landscape of the industry, including factors like labour availability, costs, safety, and the benefits of automation, has driven customers to seek new solutions. “Our existing customers are being forced to automate their processes,” Marco explains, adding that new customers are also seeking to invest in automation.

This scenario has shaped DLL’s proactive approach, ensuring they continue to meet the needs of their existing customers while also reaching out to new clients who require assistance in automating their supply chains.

Steven identifies several significant challenges currently influencing the Australian market: inflationary pressures throughout the supply chain, escalating labour costs, strain on supply chains due to difficulty in sourcing parts and equipment, the pace of technology advancement, and increasing demands for flexibility from customers.

However, one of the most substantial challenges he points out is access to capital. “These projects are not cheap,” he says. “A lot of

Marco Wagner, Global Head of Intralogistics at DLL.

Steven Davey, DLL’s Intralogistics lead for Australia and New Zealand.

times companies have to make very tough decisions as to what level of automation or technology investment they can afford.”

Steven sees his role at DLL as one of facilitation, easing this decisionmaking process by providing the necessary financing solutions to make customers’ automation business cases work.

The complexity of the intralogistics world also presents challenges, with a multitude of stakeholders involved, from end customers and suppliers to third-party logistics (3PLs), fourthparty logistics (4PLs), real estate developers, consultants, integrators, and architects. DLL becomes a key partner in these complex projects, enabling them to realise the necessary investments.

“For a project, everyone has their own agenda or interests – we partner with all stakeholders to provide a tailored approach”, Steven says. “This underlines the complexity of the sector and underscores the need for a nuanced understanding when it comes to providing effective financial solutions, and we work with various parties to provide benefits that help enable projects to be completed.”

Steven also makes a key distinction about DLL’s approach to financing these projects. He notes that while other lenders might finance individual components of these projects, DLL differentiates itself by treating these as holistic, end-to-end projects, with often long construction periods.

“We understand you have other costs that go into these projects. You’ve got engineering fees, installation costs, hard assets and software; all of these extra costs that feed into your whole project and our ability to finance those costs on your behalf as well.”

He underscores DLL’s commitment to support clients throughout the entire project life cycle, even making progress or milestone payments to all suppliers involved on behalf of the clients.

This comprehensive approach to financing, according to Steven, is a significant differentiator in the market. He concludes, “Intralogistics operators have huge capital requirements. We are here to make the whole thing work.”

Steven, Marco, and the Australian DLL team will be taking their proactive approach directly to customers at

this year’s CeMAT in Sydney. With all top intralogistics solutions providers showcasing there, it’s important to DLL to interface directly with attendees and help enable their project aspirations, providing on-the-spot consultations and offering insights into their financial solutions. “Along with our customer-focused objectives, we are also there to support our partners and suppliers that we are dealing with globally,” Steven says.

“We’re really excited about CeMAT because we’re keen to demonstrate how we can offer tangible support to clients, suppliers, and integrators; it’s a great opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones.” ■

To learn more about DLL’s intralogistics financing, visit www.dllgroup.com/ au/en-au/solutions/fleet-solutions/ intralogistics

Contact Steven at +61 413 892 725 or steven.davey@dllgroup.com

Automation is becoming more indispensable by the day – so DLL is stepping up to meet intralogistics financing needs.

GETTING PROCUREMENT RIGHT

Effective intralogistics implementation requires an effective procurement strategy. Argon & Co’s Christian Garcia and Kevin Mannion talk to MHD about how they get procurement right for their clients.

Argon & Co prides itself on its meticulous approach to warehouse design, as well as its equally meticulous approach to procurement in getting the right intralogistics equipment and the software systems behind them.

As of last month, the ‘Warehouse Wizards’ at Fuzzy LogX are now operating under the Argon & Co banner. But their trademark approach to consulting remains as distinctive as ever. In other words, the Fuzzy LogX secret sauce now comes in Argon & Co bottles.

Christian Garcia, Facility Design Manager at Argon & Co, says the procurement process begins with a careful analysis of the client’s current operation. “We start with an analysis of the client’s current operation – either to improve it or design a new distribution centre from scratch,” Christian says. “We need to ascertain what our clients need, their price range, and vendors’ capacity to deliver on schedule.”

Deep experience in and knowledge of the market is essential. “Depending on the project, we might approach anywhere up to a dozen vendors, to help us gauge market trends.”

“It’s essential for us to understand the business fully before we can start procurement,” adds Kevin Mannion, Senior Consultant at Argon & Co. “We need to understand their current daily activities, their pain points, their future plans and activities.”

COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, OR PAY

The ability to effectively communicate and execute meticulously in procurement activities is often what

separates a successful project from one fraught with issues. For Christian and Kevin, it’s not only about choosing the right piece of equipment or software but understanding its application in the specific context of their client’s operation. If the requirements aren’t effectively articulated and communicated from the outset, there can be trouble.

“On the software front, different WMS systems are suitable for different operations and ways of performing the processes required for that operation,” Kevin says. “Choosing the wrong solution could be a pain point for the next decade.”

“For instance, you may need a feature as simple as a required check before you put something away. If that doesn’t exist in the system, then you may encounter that problem multiple times a day for as long as you use that software.”

The same goes for choosing the incorrect physical equipment. “If your forklift, for example, doesn’t properly access the racking or cannot efficiently turn in a given space, it will not be effective.”

Christian echoes this, highlighting the necessity for precise execution in equipment procurement. “If the machine is too wide or too tall, or if the mast just barely matches the arch of the door, that is problematic.

“Communication is key because we need to understand what the customer wants and what is best for them. Even the slightest miscommunication can cause major problems later.”

With respect to WMS implementations, Kevin adds that “in my experience, many new WMS

implementations are instigated because the old one wasn’t fit for purpose from the beginning, or future requirements were not taken into consideration at time of selection.”

NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS

One of the standout features of Argon & Co’s approach to procurement lies in its nurturing of relationships with suppliers. Regardless of whether they’re currently working with a specific WMS or MHE vendor, they maintain a broad network of contacts in the industry. This means that Argon & Co can prep the ground for the client.

“When we engage with the customer, we’re already informing them on what to expect when they start speaking with vendors and looking at different software or equipment,” Kevin says. He adds that the consultancy’s role involves preparing the client for current market trends, especially when they haven’t interacted with the procurement process in a while.

Christian Garcia, Facility Design Manager at Argon & Co.

“We discuss what new offerings they should expect and what outdated things they should forget.”

Such knowledge is especially important when it comes to complex warehousing solutions, says Christian. With the established manual warehousing culture in Australia, the introduction of new systems and mechanisation can appear daunting to many clients. “It’s about building confidence that vendors are capable because they have years of experience and numerous case studies,” Christian explains.

He adds that this trust-building process also involves rigorous vendor evaluation. “We need to make sure they have the right tools and materials for the specific project,” he says.

Kevin underscores the significance of Argon & Co’s role in smoothing the way for vendors, too. “In fact, before the vendors even speak to the customer, we’ve already paved the way for them,” Kevin states. He goes on to suggest that Argon & Co’s engagement with vendors often makes the procurement process more straightforward for all parties involved: “They find the job smoother when working with a consultancy service provider like us. It removes any doubt before all parties begin to interact.”

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

“The world of warehouse management and material handling equipment is constantly evolving,” Christian says. “We need to ensure that the solutions we recommend to our clients are not just adequate for their current needs, but also adaptable for future changes.”

A significant part of this process involves active monitoring and evaluation of their relationships with suppliers. “We keep an eye on their product updates, the projects they’re working on, and how they handle customer service and support.”

This continuous appraisal isn’t a one-sided affair, though. “We provide feedback to the suppliers based on our experiences and the experiences of our clients,” Christian points out. This mutual feedback loop enhances Argon & Co’s knowledge base, ultimately benefiting their clients.

Kevin stresses the importance of continually validating suppliers’ abilities

to deliver on their promises. “It’s quite straightforward to tick boxes at the beginning of an RFP process, with suppliers saying, ‘Yes, I can do this or that’,” he says. “But there is further evaluation that follows. We ask questions such as, ‘How can you do this? How is it going to look in 10 years if you proceed this way?’”

The consultancy also seeks to engage their clients in the evaluation process. “Clients can observe the process we’re going through,” Kevin notes. “As we complete our discovery, design, and the eventual embedding of the solution, they have ample opportunities to provide their own input as well.”

Even as they maintain relationships with trusted vendors, the Argon & Co team is not afraid to explore new horizons. They invite many parties, providing a comprehensive overview of the market. “It’s always good to learn what new suppliers can offer and potentially include them in future projects,” Kevin says.

Many vendors are happy to visit the Argon & Co office in North Strathfield, to present or demonstrate their products and services on a regular basis to the Argon & Co team. This way, the trends in the market are continually being updated in the consultancy’s knowledge bank – which ultimately benefits both customer and suppliers alike.

Argon & Co is dedicated to finding the best and right solution for their clients – remaining agnostic between solutions providers. Their clients and their needs are the most important factors in every procurement project.

Recognising that each customer’s needs are unique, Argon & Co also takes into consideration any existing clientsupplier relationships.

“One of the first questions I always ask is, ‘Do you have a preferred supplier for this particular equipment?’ because they may already have agreements that provide competitive pricing from the start – saving them and us time and effort,” Christian says. “However, if they prefer for us to conduct a full evaluation, we are always ready to help.”

PROCUREMENT AS STRATEGY

Kevin and Christian also highlight the importance of approaching procurement as a strategic function rather than merely an operational task. Christian

expands on this distinction: “We align our client’s transformation project with the latest available technologies that will serve them in the short and long term without the need for major updates. We are also on the outlook for innovative solutions with environmentally conscious approaches that line up to our client’s long-term goals – in sustainability and carbon neutral policies, for example”.

According to him, this strategic approach to procurement plays a vital role in the success of large organizations, whether they are breaking ground on new ventures or maintaining ongoing operations. And it’s the approach Argon & Co takes in all its projects and engagements. “From a project perspective, we don’t sign any agreements with anyone to supply specific equipment; we’re technology agnostic and will choose the right individual supplier on a caseby-case basis, assist our customer with contract negotiations and then support them all the way from implementation to commissioning and handover.”

Christian adds.

Kevin says that from the outset Argon & Co’s procurement strategy is accompanied by data collation and spend analysis through a Process Excellence Review (PER) of the operation, then through the design phase by identifying the suitable suppliers for all the project needs.

Argon & Co delivers comprehensive support and advice through contracting and negotiation with suppliers, before moving onto the implementation and final optimisation realisation, he adds.

No stone is left unturned. ■

Kevin Mannion, Senior Consultant at Argon & Co.

INNER HARBOUR

Port Kembla is the State’s largest vehicle import hub and an international trade gateway for bulk agriculture, construction and mining industries.

Tom Rourke

CBRE Director

+61 400 456 363 tom.rourke@cbre.com.au

Adam Tresidder

CBRE Director

On behalf of NSW Ports, CBRE & MMJ are pleased to present two unique lease offerings located within the Inner Harbour precinct of Port Kembla. Lot 2: 18,018sqm* & Lot 11: 3,668sqm* offer fantastic operational potential with close proximity to common user berths.

The sites are well-supported by road and rail infrastructure to support distribution of goods across the Illawarra and Greater Sydney, allowing occupiers to maximise operational efficiency. The two sites can be leased as a package or individually.

NSW Ports welcomes your participation in the process as prospective tenant and port user.

Expressions of Interest Closing: Thursday, 27th July at 4:00pm (AEST).

*approximate

Michael Croghan

MMJ

Director

+61 418 217 564

michael.croghan@mmj.com.au

+61 431 780 392 adam.tresidder@cbre.com.au

CONVEYING SUCCESS

As ecommerce expands, vacancy rates diminish, and labour shortages heighten, businesses are seeking cost effective solutions to automate their warehouses and Distribution Centres (DCs). Chris Andrit and Matthew Dawson from Conveyor Logistics explain to MHD how their services can aid in these endeavours.

Conveyor Logistics is an intralogistics company specializing in customizable systems integration for materials handling, order fulfillment, packaging automation, and conveyor solutions for warehouses and DCs. As a conveyor builder, it successfully merges all system aspects to deliver full turnkey projects for its clients.

Their comprehensive team spanning sales, marketing, engineering, project management, design, and IT undertakes the design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and after-sales service for customer projects.

In addition to systems integration and warehouse automation, Conveyor

Logistics offers PLC programming, put/pick to light systems, zone picking systems, mechanical electrical installation, conveyor and sortation equipment, among other services. As the largest privately-owned intralogistics integration company in Australia, it provides Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Goodsto-Person Systems with the help of its partner, Geek+. These businesses collectively develop innovative solutions for their customers.

REDUCING FOOTPRINT WITH ROBOTS

Conveyor Logistics and Geek+ are set to present the Robo-Shuttle, a high-density tote or goods-to-person

system at CeMAT 2023. This system can pick totes stored at a height of eight meters, maximizing warehouse clearance height.

This agile, adaptable, and scalable solution caters to the evolving needs of businesses and can expand sales, increase the number of robots, or boost bin rates. Overall, it enhances the efficiency, flexibility, and storage capacity of a business’s warehouse.

At the exhibition, a conveyor system, sorting robot along with various Geek+ Goods to Person automation systems will be displayed. “The Geek+ products complement our work,” says Chris Andrit, CEO of Conveyor Logistics. “Our company has grown considerably since 2020. We’re supplying our

Conveyor Logistics provides AMRs and GTPs with the help of its partner, Geek+.

product to alleviate the ongoing labour shortage.”

Matthew Dawson, Business Development Manager at Conveyor Logistics, acknowledges that staff retention is challenging. However, he believes the warehouse automation solutions. Empowered by Geek+ using the proprietary smart algorithms, along with the picking system ensures using the fewest robots to achieve maximum efficiency while improving the warehouse storage capabilities.

“It allows businesses to utilize space efficiently,” Chris adds. “It saves them from having to relocate to a larger facility.”

MANUFACTURING HOMEGROWN CONVEYORS

Over the years, Conveyor Logistics has completed custom projects for businesses such as Silk Contract Logistics,’ 101 Warehousing, Puma, Fashion Biz, Daifuku, Dexion, Stow, Invenco, and Next 3PL.

In addition to servicing the entire Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) market, it offers its services globally. Some of its most recent overseas project involvements were in Vietnam, Philippines, Middle East and Fiji.

“We’re planning to enter the US market in the next four months,” explains Chris. “We currently have a

warehouse in Missouri. Our next one might be in Las Vegas.”

Matt notes that Conveyor Logistics is expanding the Geek+ side of the business.

“Inquiries are coming in for AMR-type solutions. We’re attracting interest from top tier 3PL, Retail apparel & footwear clients, pharmaceutical, Distribution and Fulfillment Centre companies. These Companies are looking for ways to reduce their overheads along with improving efficiencies, productivity and flexibility with a fast ROI. “We’re aiming to grow the e-commerce area over the next 12 months through our Geek+ partnership.

Conveyor Logistics is one of the few companies manufacturing conveyors locally. “We still produce our products in Melbourne; nothing is imported,” Chris highlights.

“We strive to develop solutions that are Australian made. This approach affords us better control over product quality without any complications.”

Geek+ is certainly excited by its partnership with Conveyor Logistics. Dave Ching, Head of Sales, ANZ at Geek+ told MHD:

“Geek+ has partnered with Conveyor Logistics with the aim of introducing advanced warehouse automation technology to Australia. By leveraging

Conveyor Logistics’ vast experience in intralogistics operations and Geek+’s advanced mobile logistics robot technology, local businesses can avail themselves of innovative and efficient supply chain solutions. Through this partnership, Geek+ hopes to broaden its presence in Australia and deliver exceptional service and support to the region.

“Geek+ will supply its sophisticated Autonomous Mobile-Robot (AMR) solutions to Conveyor Logistics. These robots can automate time-consuming tasks like picking, moving, and sorting. By integrating Geek+’s robots with Conveyor Logistics’ conveyor systems, warehouse processes can be streamlined, rendering them more efficient and cost-effective. Geek+ will also offer its expertise and support to Conveyor Logistics, focusing on providing exceptional service and superior quality warehouse solutions to Australian businesses.”

As Conveyor Logistics continues to innovate and grow with its Geek+ partnership, it is positioning itself at the forefront of Australia’s intralogistics sector – providing businesses with increasingly efficient, cost-effective, and locallymanufactured solutions to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. ■

In addition to servicing the entire ANZ market, Conveyor Logistics offers its services globally.

FORK IT OVER

Hangcha’s new lithium forklifts are efficient, affordable, and readily available in Australia. Daniel Anderson, National Sales Manager for Hangcha Australia, talks  MHD through the range.

As the supply of machinery worldwide continues its struggle in a post-pandemic landscape, investing in the latest and greatest in forklift technology might be the last thing on the minds of many in the logistics space.

Obtaining any forklift at all in a timely manner is a tall order – who has time to worry about the latest battery technology, or reducing the emissions of their fleet?

That’s where Hangcha Australia comes in. The business has recently introduced a new line of efficient lithium-battery-powered forklifts, and National Sales Manager Daniel Anderson says Hangcha has machines ready to go.

“We’ve got heaps in stock, and the

build times are quick too,” he says. “Even straight out of the factory, we can deliver in around three months. That’s a big advantage because some of our competitors are still looking at one-to-three-year lead times.”

Daniel attributes this to the Chinese company’s preparedness and nimbleness throughout the COVID-19 years.

“Some parts shortages did hit us at the start, but we were able to recover really quickly,” he says. “We had processes in place which meant we weren’t reliant on any one manufacturer, whether it was for engines or chips or controllers. So that enabled us to not really skip a beat.”

Though only establishing an Australian presence in November

2022, Hangcha draws on more than 60 years of experience in the global material handling space. The company currently manufactures more than 250,000 pieces of warehouse equipment each year at its state-of-the-art facility in Li-an, Zhejiang province.

THE LITHIUM DIFFERENCE

Daniel says that for Hangcha, the push towards lithium technology has been largely market driven, and improved affordability is a big factor. And there are now a range of compelling benefits to making the switch, whether from gas or diesel-powered units, or even older lead acid battery models.

The lead acid batteries used in traditional electric forklifts require

Hangcha Australia prides itself on getting its forklifts to customers fast.

regular watering – especially in heavy-usage situations – and need to be charged in open areas with good airflow.

“These wet cell batteries will often need to be watered once a week,” Daniel says. “The big disadvantage with that is they can be overfilled or underfilled, so there’s a risk of acid spillage.

“And you’ll probably only get around 1300 cycles on average out of them. The lithium models we’re bringing in will give you 4000-5000 cycles, require no watering or maintenance, and you can charge them inside.”

Daniel says lithium batteries also offer better flexibility when it comes to charge times, and can comfortably be charged intermittently without compromising the life expectancy of the battery.

What’s more, Daniel says Hangcha’s purpose-built lithium forklifts are now on-par with some of the marketleading gas models in terms of pricing.

“Price was always a barrier with lithium forklifts, but that’s no longer a problem,” he says. “The return on investment is almost immediate too, because running an electric forklift is a lot cheaper than running one on gas or diesel.”

Daniel says these benefits are available without the oversized price tag, meaning Hangcha’s lithium forklifts are a viable option even for smaller operators.

“From a Hangcha perspective, our

lithium models don’t come at a huge premium – it’s only a few thousand dollars difference,” he says. “Then you’ve got all the green advantages as well. They’re more environmentally friendly, no gas or fuel required. And you’ll still get eight to 10 hours run time on the battery too.”

SEE IT AT CEMAT

For those on the fence about putting their money down for what might be an unfamiliar brand, the Hangcha Australia team will be out in force at CeMAT 2023 in Sydney from 25-27 July. Here, Daniel says the manufacturer’s full range of

equipment will be on display, with product experts on hand to discuss all things material handling.

“We’re going to have everything from pallet trucks, ride-on counterbalance units, reach trucks – including a brand-new stand-on pantograph double-deep reach truck – and 10 or 11 lithium units on the stand,” he says.

For what will be the manufacturer’s first major showing at an event in Australia, Daniel says getting the Hangcha name out there is the primary focus.

“Hangcha has been in the Australian market for over 20 years, but re-branded under a range of different names, so you didn’t know it was a Hangcha you were driving,” he says. “Now, it’s about being proud of the Hangcha name. The quality of the product speaks for itself, so we want to give people a chance to come and sit on the machines and see for themselves.

“Chinese products used to be the budget option – and the pricing is certainly still low – but the quality has come along in leaps and bounds. There’s really no gap in the market anymore.” ■

Hangcha Australia will be exhibiting at CeMAT 2023 at stand L15.

For more on Hangcha Australia’s material handling range, visit: www.hangchalift. com.au

The Hangcha Australia team will be showing their wares at CeMAT 2023 in Sydney.

Hangcha’s lithium battery forklifts are in hot demand.

INTRODUCING P1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Introducing P1 Project Management, the new powerhouse in the realm of industrial property and automation solutions.

aesthetically pleasing.

With the logistics and supply chain industry undergoing rapid changes and evolution, efficient project management is now more important than ever. This need becomes even more evident when considering new warehousing requirements, where achieving a balance between operational efficiency and economic viability can often pose considerable challenges.

Enter P1 Project Management Services, an advisory firm that pledges to redefine the landscape of industrial property and automation solutions through their unique approach to project management.

UNPARALLELED PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

In a world where generic solutions are no longer sufficient to address distinct business requirements, P1’s personalised approach to project management stands out. Every solution the firm offers is designed to align with client growth expectations, business expansion, and operational efficiencies.

But P1’s edge lies not only in tailoring unique solutions for each project but also in ensuring each one is technically and commercially viable, while being

P1 Project Management also stands apart because of its extensive portfolio of services. Whether it’s property search, property development, infrastructure services, industrial construction, automation solutions, fit-out services, or stakeholder management, P1’s suite of offerings promises to deliver on every front. The firm’s commitment to ensuring a smooth operational transition, coupled with its expertise in change management and defect management, further fortifies its promise of comprehensive service.

A TEAM OF SEASONED EXPERTS

At the heart of P1 Project Management’s value proposition lies a team of industry veterans who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Founder Peter Petito brings 30 years of logistics, property development, and building industry experience, holding significant roles with the likes of Coles Group, Toll, and Sigma Healthcare. Peter’s expertise in delivering landmark projects is a testimony to P1’s commitment to excellence.

Complementing Peter’s experience is the strategic planning prowess of Anthony Di Ciacomo, P1’s Project Director West Coast. With his notable experience working with organisations like Toll Group, Frasers, Landcorp, Perth Airport, Curtin University, Westpac, and Charter Hall, Anthony offers an unparalleled perspective on project and asset management.

P1’s Co-Founder and Project Director East Coast, Katya Moskvina, brings her own unique blend of project management passion and power engineering qualifications.

In her distinguished career, Katya has proven her mettle by executing multifaceted projects across a range of industries. These encompass areas such as industrial property construction and automation, pharmaceutical facilities fit-outs, civil infrastructure, oil and gas installations and automation, and industrial generator projects. Katya’s impressive portfolio includes successful collaborations with industry giants like Sigma Healthcare, ARTC, Apache Energy, Energy Australia, Santos, Chevron, Worley Parsons, and a host of others.

Completing the team is Neil Mulcahy, the Director of Business Development. Armed with a Master of Business (Supply Chain/Logistics) and nearly 30 years of experience, Mulcahy’s global experience across operational, management, and board-level roles ensures that P1’s solutions are operationally efficient, innovative, and environmentally sustainable.

UPHOLDING CLIENTCENTRIC PRINCIPLES

P1 Project Management’s vision and values set the groundwork for their exceptional service. The firm is dedicated to developing comprehensive and viable warehousing solutions that are delivered on time and within budget. They prioritise a client-focused approach, developing personalised solutions that meet clients’ unique warehousing requirements.

P1 does this while emphasising open communication, transparency, and collaboration, ensuring all stakeholders are working towards a successful project outcome. The firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional project management services is demonstrated through their meticulous attention to

P1 Project Management prioritises a client-focused approach, developing personalised solutions that meet clients’ unique warehousing requirements.

detail, competitive tender process, and a stringent quality control process.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES – WITH A DIFFERENCE

Adhering to a methodical, step-bystep approach, P1 Project Management diligently analyses, reviews, and approves every facet of a project before proceeding to the subsequent phase.

The process begins with a thorough assessment of project prerequisites, ensuring a complete understanding of the project’s scope and objectives. Once these requirements are well defined, P1 develops a comprehensive Design Brief, aligned with architectural plans, and primed for tender.

Throughout every phase, P1 works in close collaboration with its clients, making sure that the Design Brief aligns seamlessly with their unique needs. With a relentless commitment to delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest levels of client satisfaction, P1 provides an extensive range of services. These

include the analysis of project requirements, the development of a detailed Design Brief, and the management of a comprehensive tender process with carefully selected builders. Moreover, P1 crafts tailor-made tender documents for fit-out items specific to the client’s requirements. It takes the reins in orchestrating the warehouse construction process, expertly managing the integration of tasks between builders and fit-out scopes. P1 also oversees the installation and commissioning of key fit-out items. To ensure project completion to the highest standards, P1 even handles construction defect management post-Practical Completion.

“In a rapidly changing industrial landscape, P1 Project Management stands ready as your strategic partner, combining decades of industry knowledge with a steadfast commitment to excellence,” says Peter Petito. “If you’re looking for unparalleled project management services that are clientfocused, efficient, and deliver topnotch results, it’s time to initiate a conversation with P1.” ■

To connect with P1 Project Management, call 0412 111 386, email Peter. Petito@P1ProjectManagement. com.au or visit the website at www. p1projectmanagement.com.au

The Original Cube Storage

At the heart of P1 Project Management’s value proposition lies a team of industry veterans who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

FALCON AUTOTECH TAKES FLIGHT

Meet Falcon Autotech, a developer of innovative, smart, and cost effective intralogistics solutions.

highlights his instrumental role, saying, “He has done an amazing job in really pushing the business or facilitating the business to move into the next step.” This ‘next step’ has involved taking Falcon’s warehouse automation solutions global, with the company investing heavily in new offices in Australia, UAE and will be opening up its office in the Netherlands in the coming months.

AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR

Having set up shop in March, Chris has been hard at work building the Falcon Autotech presence Down Under. “There is just little old me in Australia,” Chris laughs, “who’s relying very heavily on my support team in India to assist and support.”

With its origins in India, a bustling hotbed of technological advancements and innovative thinking, Falcon Autotech has grown to become a world leader in warehouse automation systems, boasting live installations in over 15 countries and a strong presence in over 10 years.

Falcon Autotech has provided cutting-edge solutions to some of the most formidable names in a range of industries, from e-commerce, CEP, and fashion to food/FMCG, auto and pharmaceutical sectors. With over 1800 live installations globally, Falcon Autotech has often been the catalyst for efficiency and technological growth for companies across the globe.

“Falcon Autotech is much more than a solutions provider,” says Chris Josey, Regional Head for Australia and New Zealand at Falcon Autotech. “It’s a technology partner that understands the unique complexities of your warehouse logistics and supply chain challenges. It designs, manufactures, supplies, implements, and maintains

top-tier warehouse automation systems with the agility, flexibility, and innovative spirit that’s needed to prepare businesses for the challenges of tomorrow.”

FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW

The company traces its roots back 2004, when Falcon Autotech was originally founded under the name “Futuristic Robotics”. “It specialised in special purpose machines for the automotive and pharmaceutical industries” says Chris.

But in 2010, it pivoted towards a new frontier, “After a lot of research and development, they settled on the warehouse automation space to create a standard technology stack which can be widely adopted,” Chris reflects. Thus, in 2012, the rebranded Falcon Autotech embarked on an exciting journey, starting with the Indian market.

At the heart of Falcon Autotech is a family story. Originally helmed by a father-son duo, Naman Jain, the son, took the helm in 2020. Chris

Despite the geographical distance, the Indian team has provided invaluable support for Chris and the newly established Australian operation. From sales to installation support, they’re committed to making Falcon Autotech a household name in the Australian and New Zealand markets. “They see that as a very strategic growth direction for Falcon Autotech,” Chris says. “I don’t think it’ll be just me for long.”

The company is planning to expand its Australian footprint, with the sights set on an office in Sydney.

Currently based in Brisbane, Queensland, Chris confidently bridges the gap between the two continents. The company’s commitment to supporting their international expansions is impressively demonstrated by their response to recent projects.

Chris cites an ongoing project with Aramex in Chullora, New South Wales as an example of Falcon Autotech’s capabilities in delivery large scale warehouse automation solutions.

“We are currently installing a

Falcon Autotech’s products start with a diverse range of sortation equipment.

crossbelt sorter for Aramex,” he says. “With support of our Australian partner and strong support of 6 to 8 warehouse automation technicians that have come over from India to assist, the system is set to go-live in August.” The swift and robust support from the Indian team is an emphatic statement about Falcon Autotech’s commitment to its Australian endeavour.

A COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE

For any company looking to optimise its warehouse logistics, Falcon Autotech offers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge products and services. As Chris explains, the company’s offerings are both broad and specialised, spanning across five key technologies.

Their products start with a diverse range of sortation equipment. “From a crossbelt sorter to an arm sorter to a tilt tray sorter depending on the application,” Chris explains, “we offer a solution tailored to our client’s specific needs.”

Among Falcon Autotech’s innovations, Chris highlights their dimension and weight scanning systems. These systems, offered in both static and dynamic variants, further streamline the supply chain process, ensuring accurate measurements for every item that passes through a warehouse.

Falcon also shines in the realm of pick-put-to light systems, conveyor systems and robotics solutions. In particular, Chris highlights two of their robotic offerings — RoboPick and RoboDome— as testament to the company’s commitment to advanced technology solutions.

What’s more, the company is on the cusp of launching a new addition to its impressive portfolio.

“At CeMAT this year, we’ll be releasing our latest innovation, our 3D automatic storage and retrieval system called NEO – An ASRS that Everyone can Own,” Chris reveals. These solutions are affordable, scalable, reliable, and simple.

“We listen to what the customers need and want. By truly understanding their client’s requirements, Falcon Autotech designs systems and programs that not only

meet the immediate demands but also expand their product line for future needs. This approach is not about creating a one-size-fits-all solution, but instead about crafting tailored systems that can evolve alongside their clients’ business needs.”

One of the distinct strengths of Falcon Autotech is its in-house IT team. Having designed all of their own automated control systems, the company ensures seamless integration with existing warehouse infrastructure. Rather than imposing their systems onto the customer’s setup, Falcon makes their technology work harmoniously with what’s already in place. “We make our systems work with them,” Chris says, underlining Falcon’s commitment to creating customer-focused solutions.

FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Falcon Autotech is swiftly making its mark in the Australian and New Zealand market. “We have a very strong and long-lasting relationship with Aramex,” Chris says. This successful partnership has already resulted in a significant project, with a system for Aramex in Sydney currently under construction and set to go live later this year.

But Falcon Autotech’s footprint in the ANZ region goes beyond a single project. According to Chris, they’ve seen a successful soft launch in the country and have a “very healthy opportunity pipeline of projects” in the works. Over the next year, they look forward to these opportunities advancing to the design and install stages.

In addition, a significant partnership with Alstef Group is key to Falcon’s operations in the region. This global relationship has Alstef handling the customer side for Falcon’s crossbelt sorters in the parcel market, as well as overseeing the install and maintenance for all regional projects.

But the vision for Falcon Autotech in the ANZ region extends beyond just selling products. Chris emphasises that Falcon aims to partner with clients to grow their businesses sustainably and viably. “My plan for Falcon within this region is to create an organisation that’s in line with our parent company,” Chris says. This means ensuring a measured pace of growth that allows for dedicated customer support, staying true to Falcon’s core values of customercentricity and innovation.

Despite being relatively young in the warehouse automation space, the company carries a sense of pride in its achievements over the last 11 years. But it’s not just about past successes – Falcon Autotech is sharply focused on the future and delivering cost-effective results for current and prospective clients.

“Our price point is extremely competitive. Falcon Autotech is not just offering high-end, high-quality solutions. It’s offering these top-tier solutions at an attractive price, which facilitates a quicker return on investment for our clients.

“I look forward to meeting with industry players, current clients, and new ones at CeMAT this year – and showing the industry what Falcon Autotech brings to the table.” ■

Falcon Autotech shines in the realm of pick-put-to light systems, conveyor systems and robotics solutions.

WHERE DOES AN INDUSTRIAL IOT PLATFORM FIT IN YOUR SYSTEM?

efector explains the purpose of an Industrial Internet of Things platform.

The purpose of an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform is to facilitate integration and enable digitalisation across a whole operation, says expert Freddie Coertze. Which is why it is typically positioned as a middleware layer between an operation’s industrial equipment and enterprise systems.

“To understand where an IIoT platform will fit into your current operation, it is important to understand its role,” says Coertze, who is the National IoT Business Development Manager for ifm Australia.

“The IIoT platform is responsible for collecting data from sensors and machines, processing and analysing the data, and providing insights and control over the industrial processes. It facilitates the value of this information by enabling communication and integration between different systems.”

According to Coertze, an IIot platform will enable integration with enterprise systems such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), and CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems), as well act as a conduit for existing SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) layers in an industrial organisation’s architecture.

“This enables complete visibility into a factory or plant’s operations,” explains Coertze. “Normally, the layers of these systems are not integrated and in fact it can be incredibly expensive to achieve that integration. This is what an IIoT platform solves. Any of these systems can pull data and insights out of the one platform.”

Importantly, an IIoT platform uses a common language of communication that can connect between different systems, including legacy equipment.

“This communication within the operational architecture is key,” says Coertze. “An IIoT platform enables communication between legacy equipment that uses different communication protocols as well as newer equipment that uses standard protocols such as MQTT – a standardsbased IoT messaging protocol – and OPC UA – a machine-to-machine communication protocol.”

Additionally, an IIoT platform can act as a sentinel over industrial data.

“It can provide an organisation with security and governance over their data, ensuring the data is protected as well as compliant with the relevant regulations and standards,” says Coertze.

“It can simplify this aspect of a business, which is becoming increasingly complex for operations to manage.”

In fact, Coertze says it is the “complexity that digitalisation poses” that prompted ifm to build its IIoT platform, moneo.

“We designed this to act as a

middleware that can fit into existing systems and one that is self-service. Our goal with moneo has to been to simplify the digitalisation process for industrial operations – regardless of their size or requirements – and provide a platform that can enable the communication and integration necessary for transitioning into Industry 4.0,” he explains.

“It is practically a plug-and-play platform that can help companies reap the benefits of qualified data quickly, and without the need for analytics or data science experts.”

To summarise, Coertze says that an IIoT platform should now be considered a critical component of industrial architecture.

“If an operation tries to build a system in the more traditional way, they simply won’t get the transparency and flexibility needed to support digital operations and gain the visibility they need to improve and remain competitive,” he concludes.

“An IIoT platform will provide the connectivity, analytics, and control required to optimise operations. It is fundamental to the digital transformation of an industrial operation.” ■

An IIoT platform uses a common language of communication that can connect between different systems, including legacy equipment.

STAYING TRULY INNOVATIVE

Vative, the Australian-based continuous-improvement training and consultancy, has been transforming businesses since 2006.

Back then, the company’s Founder, Steven Farrugia, recognised a gap in the market for a consultancy that would guarantee results for clients without upfront fees.

“We always were and remain confident in the results we can deliver, our business focuses on delivering a return on investment,” Steven says. “We help organisations establish a culture of Continuous Improvement to deliver increased productivity, profitability, and growth”

Steven says the first company he worked with experienced efficiency improvements in excess of 500 per cent. Vative took off from there.

The holistic deployment model is emblematic of Vative’s whole approach: there’s a proven methodology in how they deliver business transformation for clients.

Vative’s offering encompasses a 5-phase continuous improvement strategic deployment model, guaranteed to deliver ROI when followed. Business transformation, through a holistic implementation of ‘lean’ business principles is the approach they take with a vision to continually expanding the breadth and reach of its services across Australia and eventually internationally.

While traditional applications of lean methodologies originated in the manufacturing industry, the expansion into the entire supply chain sector has been an inevitable evolution.

Its offering and business ethic are anchored in the “founding concept” of ‘Kaizen’. “Kaizen is a Japanese mindset, concept, and practice that emphasises continuous improvement and striving for perfection – without expecting

to ever reach perfection itself,” Steven notes.

In 2010 Vative got a big boost, Steven says, when it recruited its now-CEO Theo Pappas.

“Theo was clearly on the same page in terms of mindset and work ethic, and he was also an innovative and outsidethe-box thinker,” he says. “That’s what Vative has always valued, and Theo has been instrumental in driving our growth and growing our team with people who share our vision and values.”

“When Steve called me and asked whether I’d consider coming on board I had other offers, but there was something unique about where Vative were going – and I really bought into that vision,” Theo says. “There was a true entrepreneurial spirit among the small group of founders at the time, and that energetically drew me right in; being truly innovative wasn’t only a tagline, it was embedded in their mindset”

Theo pioneered Vative’s move to become a registered training organisation and carve out its niche in

the education and training space.

“He was not afraid to take a big risk and back himself, which was representative of his character,” Steven says. “He saw an opportunity for Vative to become a registered training organisation and take control of its own training rather than relying on external partners. Although it wasn’t something he’d done before, he was willing to immerse himself in it, and we backed him – to great success.”

TACKLING SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES

It will come as no surprise to readers that supply chain has faced – and continues to face – significant challenges in today’s economic and political climate. But Steven and Theo both reject the notion that businesses should trim their sails when entering economic headwinds. “The challenges are coming no matter what,” Steven says. “The question is, do you want to try and shield yourself from them as long as possible, or make yourself robust and resilient enough to withstand

Vative’s Founder Steven Farrugia and CEO Theo Pappas discuss the philosophy of Vative, where it’s been, where it’s going, and the recent acquisition that is helping it deliver real results for the supply chain now – and in the future.

Vative Founder Steven Farrugia (L) with CEO Theo Pappas.

and thrive in the face of them?”

“Most businesses engage in process improvement when the business pain points get too unbearable and something needs to be done to fix it quickly,” Theo says. “That is a reactive strategy and typically the damage is already deep.”

Perhaps the most pronounced challenge businesses in supply chain face today is a labour- and talent shortage. Theo notes that many businesses are struggling to meet customer demand and are hiring whoever they can find to fill the gaps. “Many businesses are just throwing money at hiring employees to try and meet customer demands,” he says. “But that’s a band-aid fix that doesn’t address the underlying problem.”

Rather, to properly address this challenge, Theo suggests that businesses need to think differently and more innovatively.

Steven notes that the mindset of trying to protect oneself from economic headwinds is problematic. Instead, he suggests its clients should lean into the challenge and view it as an opportunity to grow, the same philosophy Vative applies at the executive level. This aligns perfectly with the Japanese Kaizen principle, which involves stepping toward the strain and strategizing about how to navigate it and find opportunities within it. “I think companies should welcome challenges and competition,” he says. “It’s no surprise that Toyota –a Japanese company – has demonstrated willingness to share their intellectual property with competitors to improve

the industry as a whole. That evinces extreme confidence in their own work – and it’s something I take inspiration from.”

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

But to continue continuously improving companies across Australia, Vative has realised it needs to expand its presence across Australia. To that end, it has recently made a new acquisition.

The acquisition is strategically important for Vative as it will enable the organisation to grow its operations regionally and establish a foothold across the entire eastern seaboard of the country. Theo says, “This acquisition has been an 18-month process, we began working on acquiring the company while we were in the midst of Pandemic.

“Being truly innovative is in our DNA. Vative has a history of it, it secured Government accreditation as a registered training organisation in 2011, expanded its industry specialisation, and is now going through a acquisition and merger to grow across regions as well.”

Theo emphasises that the latest acquisition of Corporate Partners will help Vative drive growth and customer demand from Queensland through to New South Wales. “Strategically, QLD was a region of opportunity and growth,” he says. “We knew that if we could carbon copy our model into Queensland it would work;all was needed was a local based leadership team to own it.

“We looked at the QLD market, and there was certainly an opportunity for

us to carve out market share in this region through our unique offering. Through this process we came across the opportunity to acquire Corporate Partners, a training and consulting business who had 20 years of operation in Sydney and had also shown recent growth in the QLD market. The opportunity was ripe.”

CHANGING MINDSETS

The philosophy of continuous improvement is critical to achieving longevity and success in business – and particularly in supply chain today, Theo and Steven agree.

When it comes to changing mindsets in business, Theo Pappas believes that strategic thinking and a long-term focus are essential.

“It all stems back to the original thinkers of continuous improvement,” Theo says. “Changing your mindset –your paradigm – is the first step for companies in 2023 that are worried about forthcoming challenges. But that change in mindset is guaranteed to be the difference between those get through this economic climate versus those that, unfortunately, don’t.

The executive team and owners of a business play a crucial role in shaping the mindset of the organisation, Theo notes.

“What separates the businesses that succeed versus the ones that spiral out of control comes down to the mindset of the executive team or the owners. Those who prioritise strategic thinking and a long-term focus can set their businesses up for success, while those who focus only on short-term gains may struggle to survive.

“Executives should think agile and focus on building strength in culture. Leadership is judged when the times get tough, when it can retain its team and continue to grow during a retractive market.

“It works best when you go in opposing directions. During good economic times, look within, invest in people, strengthen your core systems and build culture so when the tough times do come calling – and they always do – you are ready to be bullish in growth because you’re confident your business systems and people can handle it, the hard work was already done.

“At Vative we’re primed and ready to help businesses in that journey.” ■

Vative has expanded its operations across NSW and QLD.

An

ASRS That Everyone Can Own IS HERE Launching in Australia at CeMAT 2023

Falcon Autotech is a global intralogistics automation solutions company. With over 10 years of experience, Falcon has worked with some of the most innovative brands in E-Commerce, CEP, Fashion, Food/FMCG, Auto, and Pharmaceutical Industries. With our proprietary so ware and robust hardware integration capabilities, Falcon designs, manufactures, supplies, implements, and maintains world-class warehouse automation systems globally. Falcon’s strong research and development team and the continuous focus on innovation reflects our strong solution line around Sortation, Robotics, Conveying, Vision Systems, and IoT. Falcon has successfully completed over 1,800 installations across 15 countries on 4 continents.

INNOVATIVE PLASTIC PALLET TECHNOLOGY AT FOODPRO’23

As the shortage of timber pallets continues, users of heavy wooden pallets should now switch to a lightweight, cost-effective, plastic pallet, says Ozkor’s Alan Morgan. Ozkor’s new LWR-1165 pallet will be on show at foodpro this year.

When it comes to industry challenges, high on the list of goals a plastic pallet manufacturer might aspire to would be the design and development of an alternative option that matches the price of a standard Australian wooden pallet.

This might seem like a tall order, but, one of Australia’s leading plastic pallet suppliers has done just that.

Sydney based Ozkor Pty Ltd has invested in a newly manufactured plastics injection moulding tool that is currently undergoing trials in anticipation of launching in July this year at the foodpro 2023 exhibition on Stand F38 in Melbourne on 23rd26th July.

According to Ozkor’s National Marketing Manager Alan Morgan the Australian Industry has been waiting a long time for a plastic pallet at a price comparable with wood – particularly since major shortages in supply of

timber pallets experienced since the COVID pandemic.

“We will be manufacturing the new LWR-1165 model in Australia which will enable Ozkor to eliminate shipping costs and provide much quicker delivery lead times,” Alan says.

“Traditionally plastic pallets have been much higher in price than wooden alternatives. As a result of our market research, Ozkor has identified a niche market where many companies are using much heavier wooden pallets than they need for the application they are used for and renting them even though they continually remain in the customers warehouse,” Alan says.

Ozkor’s LWR-1165 plastic pallet can step in here with its ability to hold up to 1000kg. It is perfect for uses in selective beam racking and – because it much lighter than wooden pallets – it will reduce transportation costs for end users. Rather than wait for a

forklift or pallet jack one person will simply be able to pick an empty pallet up by hand to relocate it.

“From our research we have found that many companies are looking for a lower cost option than continuously paying rent year after year for pallets that are not required to be de-hired,” Alan says. “This has prompted many companies to look towards investing in the purchase of their own pallets to avoid the imposition of renting wooden pallets. The LWR-1165 is intended to give companies an option that will enable them to get a very quick return on investment plus a reduction in their dependency to rent. Furthermore, the prices open an opportunity to use the new pallet as a one-way distribution pallet without the need to rely on wooden pallets.” ■

For further information contact: Ozkor Pty Ltd on + 61 (0) 2 9672 8588 or go to our web-site: www.info@ozkor.com.au

The LWR-1165 will be on display at this year’s foodpro exhibition in Melbourne.

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN INDUSTRY

At Melbourne’s Aerial in South Wharf, Prime Creative Media held a sold-out dinner gala as part of the Women in Industry Awards on Thursday June 8 where it acknowledged selected women’s accomplishments in a range of industries.

Prime Creative Media held its annual Women in Industry Awards and dinner gala on Thursday June 8 at Aerial, South Wharf in Melbourne, acknowledging women across a range of fields.

The event is held to support and recognise the outstanding efforts of women in male-dominated industries who are initiating change and breaking glass ceilings.

Exceptional women who have achieved success through their invaluable leadership, innovation, and commitment to their sector, including transport, construction, logistics, and more were celebrated.

Giselle Phillips from Fredon,

Queensland took home two awards: Safety Advocacy Award and Woman of the Year.

List of winners from Women in Industry Awards 2023:

• Business Development Success of the Year – Stefanie Frawley, TMX Global

• Excellence in Construction (sponsored by NAWIC) – Trudy Grimshaw, Department of Finance, Western Australia

• Excellence in Engineering (sponsored by SEW-EURODRIVE) –Elsa Antunes, James Cook University

• Excellence in Manufacturing (sponsored by PACCAR Australia) –Kristi Riordan, Harvest B

• Excellence in Mining (sponsored by Weir Minerals) – Ashara Moore, BHP

• Excellence in Transport – Coralie Chapman, Humes Concrete Products

• Industry Advocacy Award – Jemma Walshe, Fulton Hogan

• Mentor of the Year – Teagan Dowler, The BCW

• Rising Star of the Year (sponsored by Atlas Copco) – Sophia Kurianski, Jinolo

• Safety Advocacy Award (sponsored by Komatsu) – Giselle Phillips, Fredon QLD

• Woman of the Year (sponsored by Fulton Hogan) – Giselle Phillips, Fredon QLD ■

Prime Creative Media’s Women in Industry Awards 2023 held on Thursday June 8 at Aerial South Wharf, Melbourne.

Giselle Phillips, winner of the Safety Advocacy and Woman of the Year awards.

ANNUAL ASCL AWARDS GALA DINNER

The annual Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards gala dinner recognises the outstanding achievements of supply chain & logistics professionals and organisations across Australia, celebrating industry excellence and championing collaboration, innovation, and success.

Join the best and brightest from across industry to celebrate supply chain’s night of nights, with special guest MC Sam McCool.

DATE

Friday 10th November 2023

TIME 6pm Start For pre-dinner drinks & canapes

VENUE

Grand Ballroom The Fullerton, Sydney

DRESS

Ladies: Cocktail

Gentlemen: Lounge Suit

EARLY BIRD OFFER

(valid 01 July to 15 September 2023)

• Table of 8: $2,395 (save $200 on a standard table rate)

• Individual: $315 (save $20 on standard individual rate) ■

HUBTEX SECOND GEN FLUX 30

HUBTEX’s FluX Electric Multidirectional Counterbalance Forklift Truck has had some significant and innovative updates. The latest generation has load capacities of up to three tonnes. It has a new central driver’s position, which provides a higher-up all-round visibility compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the patented 360° HX steering has been added to the compact three-wheel running gear for the first time, ensuring smooth changes in direction from longitudinal to transverse travel.

It handles both pallet and long-load transport in a single vehicle. This hybrid used as a front and sideloader makes the new 3T FluX 30, suitable for a wide range of sectors, from the timber and metalworking industries, through to the building materials trade. For more information visit www.hubtex.com.au

PROJECT44 OCEAN VISIBILITY

Poor ocean visibility puts a strain on global supply chains, logistics costs, and customer service. At the root of the issue is low-quality data that hinders personnel productivity, streamlined operations, and proactive exception management. Today, more than ever shippers and 3PLs need global ocean visibility with the data quality, intelligence, ETAs, and proactive exception management that ensures efficient, costeffective, reliable, and sustainable global transportation. Project44’s Ocean Visibility solutions is here to help, with a suite of solutions that uses first-in-class data and analytics to improve personnel productivity, allow for proactive exception management, reduce logistics costs, improve customer service, and empower users for agile transport planning and procurement.

For more information visit www.project44.com

AUTOSTORE GRID AND VENDING MACHINE

Global cube storage company AutoStore introduces its latest capability, the Grid and Vending Machine solution, designed to simplify warehousing automation. The ConveyorPort is a workstation in its simplest form, where Bins are dropped on a conveyor and transferred to an opening outside of the Grid. Smart covering and sensors ensure operator safety. The CarouselPort is designed to work with the operator, in harmony with Robots to ensure the next Bin is always ready. The workstation operates with three rotating arms, each holding one bin tray. The Vending Machine solution includes various Robots and chargers, as well as a dummy display unit, and a grid structure with 60 Bins.

For more information visit www.autostoresystem.com

IFM’S TRACK AND TRACE GATE

ifm Track and Trace Gate is the complete solution for your automated and transparent logistics in your incoming and outgoing goods processes. By directly transferring all goods flows to the IT level, you can organise the inter-locking of production, inventory, and suppliers more efficiently than ever before.

For more information visit www.ifm.com/au/en

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

A monthly wrap up of the latest appointments in the supply chain, materials handling and logistics industry.

SWISSLOG’S NEW HEAD OF SALES AND CONSULTING

Swisslog has appointed Sean Ledbury as its new Head of Sales and Consulting for Australia and New Zealand. Sean has more than 30 years of experience in logistics automation, has engineering qualifications and an MBA, and his career has seen him focus on automated and semi-automated picking and conveyor-based solutions, sorting, postal and parcel, airport logistics, AS/RS, and right-sized on-demand packaging solutions.

FALCON AUTOTECH APPOINTS REGIONAL HEAD ANZ

Chris Josey has been appointed as the Regional Head – ANZ, as a result of the recent expansion of Falcon Autotech, a global leader of Warehouse Automation solutions, into the Australian and New Zealand markets. Prior to joining Falcon, Chris successfully held both Sales Manager and Head of Key Accounts roles with Jungheinrich Australia.

FORMER KPMG EMPLOYEE JOINS AMAZON AUSTRALIA

Irene Martinez Gonzalez is on the move to Amazon Australia. After a run with KPMG Australia’s Supply Chain Operations Advisory team, where she executed operations transformation projects for Australian governments, telcos, retail businesses and health service providers, Irene was recruited for a role as an Amazon Program Manager.

AGV SPECIALIST BECOMES FERAG CONSULTANT

As the System Sales Consultant for Ferag Australia, Kieran Hulm brings nearly a decade of experience in the automation space as a qualified electrician and specialises in Automated Guided Vehicles. Recruited by Ferag for his expertise, practical thinking and improvement mindset, Kieran plays a pivotal role in driving the intralogistics division of the business.

FORMER FOOTY PLAYER JOINS COLLIERS

Luke Brown joins Colliers South Australian industrial, taking on the role of Industrial Executive, following an impressive AFL career playing for the Adelaide Crows. With a long-standing interest in property, he brings his drive and desire to build a new career outside of football. He will be based in Colliers’ Adelaide office and will work closely with National Director, Paul Tierney, who leads the Industrial team in South Australia.

KÖRBER’S SERVICES & DELIVERY ORGANISATION

Kurt Seafield joined Körber in 2022 as Director of Service and Support. He’s an electrical engineer by trade and has spent more than 10 years managing support, service, and operations for companies of all sizes within the ANZ region. Recently, Kurt’s role has expanded to be a part of the global SDO team – delivering 24/7 Services to customers around the world from this region.

Do you have career news to share? Email Edward Cranswick at Edward.Cranswick@primecreative.com.au to be featured.

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