the official media partner of the ifwla lifting warehouse ... · and distribution facility design...

Article Kicker 1

The Yale warehouse Simulator is a tool developed to help businesses take the risk out of difficult handling decisions.

Basing recommendations on realistic data and assumptions, the Yale Warehouse Simulator helps identify the make-up of a materials handling fleet required to meet a company’s warehouse operational requirements. For example, enabling seasonal businesses to deal with peak period volumes, or helping a contracting business to select a leaner fleet operation.

The Yale Warehouse Simulator can help you understand how efficiently your warehouse is running and whether your forklift trucks are being utilised to their full potential. It can also recommend how big your materials handling fleet needs to be, based on projected pallet volume and throughput requirements.

To find out more, visit www.yalewarehousesimulator.com or call our exclusive UK dealer, Briggs Equipment on 01635 265158.

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24659 Yale Warehouse Sim 297x210 IFWLA Front Cover AW.indd 1 12/09/2014 16:54

The official media partner of the IFWLA

WAREHOUSING& LOGISTICS

INTERNATIONALwww.warehousinglogisticsinternational.com

Optimize your warehouse and distribution facility designMaintain quality and consistency in your buildings worldwideBlueScope Buildings is the global leader in Engineered Building Solutions, bringing quality and consistency to building projects worldwide. With a broad international manufacturing footprint, BlueScope Buildings maintains 18 manufacturing locations across 4 continents.

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www.warehousinglogisticsinternational.com

IFWLA comment

WAREHOUSING & LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL is the official media partner for, The International Federation of Warehousing & Logistics Associations, IFWLA

www.ifwla.com

The IFWLA Secretariat is based at the offices of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association, 11 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6HB, UK Main office: 0207 636 8856

Warehousing & Logistics International is published by Quad Publications Ltd, Made Simple Group, 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU , UK

Publisher: Daren Thomas; T: 0044 [0]7719740736 E: [email protected] Skype: daren.thomas1

IT Director: Richard Davies E: [email protected]

Far East Correspondent: Mark Millar T: Hong Kong +8529468 5295 T: China +86 1363217 3885 E: [email protected] Skype: mark.millar88

IFWLA 2015 Convention, Liverpool, England

T he International Federation of Warehousing Logistics

Associations (IFWLA) hold their annual convention in Liverpool England in June 2015.

This established event takes place generally in a member country, and next year is no exception. The hosts – the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) were founding members of IFWLA and have hosted the event on three previous occasions – 1973, 1999, and 2004. The venue for 2015 has been chosen for a number of reasons, but predominantly because Port of Liverpool has a glorious history in terms of world trade, and is undergoing an exciting regional re development programme which will attract trading partners around the world.

The convention will take place between 1-4 June 2015 and the International delegates will be based on the only “Beatles” themed hotel in the world – The Hard Day’s Night Hotel.

Delegates will be mostly 3PLs, who will be keen to talk to UK 3PLs, retailers and manufacturers. They will include delegates from USA, China, India, Japan, Taiwan, France, Italy, Iran, and Australia. The programme will provide a balance between formal presentations, panel sessions, technical visits, and social activities; e.g. golf on the famous championship links course of the West Lancashire golf club.

Further details will be published in due course, but specific enquiries can be made now to Roger Williams at: [email protected]

“Port of Liverpool has a glorious history in terms of world trade, and is undergoing an exciting regional re development programme which will attract trading partners around the world.”

By Roger Williams

http://www.ifwla.com



WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM-WMSThe first cross-device solution for warehouses – CERTIFIED by Motorola.The solution is adapted for newly released Android terminal – Motorola MC3200.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Iulia Corbu at +40.344.80.21.62 or email at [email protected]

www.keep-it-mobile.com

Who should attend?The solution addresses logistics companies and provides a clear picture of the entire flow of goods in a warehouse.

Benefits:• Automating operations by using

mobile terminals

• Reduced manipulation costs

• Efficiency of storage place

• Any transaction made is immediately visible in the whole system thanks with the wireless infrastructure

• Web interface for clients

• Removal of stock differences between the administration of WMS beneficiary and that of the partners/clients

• Generating labels with unique barcodes, allowing the unique identification of each pallet KIM WMS is now

available also on ANDROID, together

with industrial devices Motorola TC55 and Motorola MC3200.

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CILF 2014 Review

Held jointly by the Ministry of Transport of the PRC and

Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair (CILF) is the largest logistics and transport expo in Asia for the logistics services, supply chain management, ports and shipping, air cargo, multi modal transportation,

technology solutions and material handling sectors.

Featuring the ‘Business is Great’ branding, the UK Pavilion comprised a multi-user exhibition space which provided a cost-effective platform for UK-based SME service providers to explore business opportunities in the China logistics sector.

The UK Pavilion initiative was led by China-based, award winning

industry leader Mark Millar, who serves as Chairman of the Logistics Committee at the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and as International Advisor to CILF organisers LSCMA in Shenzhen.

British companies exhibiting on the UK Pavilion included business book publisher Kogan Page, supply chain technology thought leaders Pantechnik International,

China International Logistics Fair HOSTS UK PAVILIONIn October 2014, the China International Logistics Fair in Shenzhen hosted a UK Pavilion for the first time in its nine-year history.



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CILF 2014 Review

industry specialist training provider The Resources Group and third-party logistics group Trade Distribution. For most exhibitors, this was their first adventure into the China market.

Supporting partners from the logistics industry were the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), international specialist executive recruitment firm Logistics Executive, and London-based specialist media group Warehousing & Logistics International.

The CILF Tradeshow also included a Business Matching program, which the UK Pavilion exhibitors found particularly valuable as a channel for establishing new contacts, exploring market opportunities and meeting potential business partners.

Mark Nicholls, CEO of Pantechnik International commented “Our clients are bringing us to China. My objective is to learn as much as I can about the logistics industry in China. Being here has provided an excellent platform for us to learn, to meet, to form partnerships and to develop relationships. Like China, the CILF Tradeshow is big! We’ll be here again in the future”.

Following the CILF Tradeshow, UK Pavilion participants joined industry events in Hong Kong, including the Networking Mixer for Supply Chain & Logistics Professionals (SCLP) and three site-visits, providing behind-the-scenes insights into Hongkong

International Terminals at the container port, at the Cathay Pacific Air Cargo Terminal and inside Tradeport - the purpose-built 30,000 sq metre logistics hub and regional distribution centre at Hong Kong International Airport. The day concluded with a cocktail reception at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, overlooking Victoria Harbour.

Mr Laurence Cave, Chief Executive Officer of The Resources Group, based in Oxford said: “Following on from exhibiting at the China International Logistics Fair (CILF) in Shenzhen, the SCLP networking event in Hong Kong event proved to be the culmination of a hugely rewarding trip. Plans are now rapidly gathering pace for The Resources Group to establish a permanent local presence. Our China trip has been both enjoyable and immensely worthwhile. Through meeting people from a wide selection of nations and industries, a truly global perspective on logistics in the 21st century has been achieved.“

Trade Distribution from the Isle of Man was represented by Hubert Lowry, Sales Director

who commented “I would like to thank the organisers for all the help and encouragement received on my company’s first visit to China and Hong Kong. We were delighted to meet so many knowledgeable members of the Supply Chain Logistics Community who I found to be very welcoming and informative. The trip has been a huge success and we have established valuable new business contacts. We feel privileged to have been involved on this occasion and look forward to being involved again in the future.”

Background to CILF 2014

With over 1,200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and 80,000 visits from over 60 states and regions worldwide, CILF 2014 in Shenzhen is Asia’s largest gathering for logistics industry professionals, suppliers, prospects and clients to meet face-to-face to effectively and productively explore and develop business opportunities. Shenzhen is the economic centre and logistics hub of South China and borders Hong Kong – one of the world’s leading global logistics hubs and the international gateway into and out of mainland China.



REACH OUT TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCEof influential logistics decision-makers

Advertise in WLI MagazineMarch 2015 Features:Automated Handling/Forklift Technology/ Warehouse IT/ Warehouse Maintenance and an IFWLA Convention PreviewDeadline for material 16/1/2015

For media pack please contact, Daren Thomas, [email protected]

Tel: 0044 (0)771 9740736

MEDIAINFORMATION

WAREHOUSING & LOGISTICS INTERNATIONAL

ISSUED OCTOBER 2014

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Duel Fuel

Howard Tenens and Prins Autogas are the first to successfully

convert a Mercedes-Benz Actros Euro 6 type vehicle to run on duel fuel, Compressed Natural Gas and diesel. The innovation provides a solution to the conundrum facing the dual fuel vehicle technology industry in adapting a Euro 6 type vehicle to run using the carbon saving technology.

Howard Tenens approached Prins to provide a solution to converting Euro 6 tractor units to dual fuel as part of their search for an innovative technology partner. Howard Tenens needed a solution sooner than the predicted 2 year timescale that an OEM dual fuel vehicle solution would be available in to ensure the momentum in the industry was maintained.

The conversion work is now complete on the Mercedes-Benz Actros and on 3rd November 2014 Howard Tenens will take delivery of the first Euro 6 dual fuel CNG vehicle in Europe. The Mercedes-Benz Actros 2445 will benefit from a 12.8/450 bhp Euro 6 engine, GVW 44,000kg operation, predictive powertrain control and a 93KG CNG capacity. The Mercedes-Benz will shortly be followed by a DAF CNG conversion. Howard Tenens will be carrying out various fuel trials involving both

CNG and Diesel Euro 6 vehicles over the coming months.

This is a monumental achievement for both Howard Tenens and Prins. Jamie Hartles, Commercial and Marketing Director stated: “We are proud to be taking delivery of the first Euro 6 dual fuel conversion, not only in the UK but in Europe.

The partnership between Howard Tenens and Prins supports our commitment to sustainable logistics, underpinned by an enthusiastic

and forward thinking approach to engineering which surmounts challenges.”

Will Putter – Commercial Director Prins UK said: “Prins Autogas systemen B.V. exceeded our expectations in producing the engine system in under two months. This is a testament to the quality and flexibility of the Prins Dieselblend-2.1 system. Prins UK have formed a great partnership with Howard Tenens who we find to be a forward thinking and innovative logistics company and look forward to more pioneer projects down the road. Prins UK will have 3 different makes of Euro 6 conversion systems available running natural gas by the end of Q1 2015.”

www.tenens.com

Howard Tenens



Through research, we’ve always known that simply minimising aisle width isn’t everything.An easier handling VNA articulated truck without the need for ‘superflat’ floors means safer speed.

The inherent abilities of the Flexi AC Range make it easier to manoeuvre quickly and safely. Its HiVIS mast, Open View overhead guard both mean better visibility, and its True RadiusTM

design means minimised truck bulk and so easier handling in all very narrow aisles.

A distinctive lack of irritating wheel arches is another feature that makes Flexi’s tight turning circle even more useable.

The Flexi family is making all the difference, everywhere. It’s easy to understand how the Flexi AC articulated truck has become a mainstream space saving solution in warehouse logisitics, because, through research and innovation, we’re talking warehouse safety and efficiency, worldwide.

Translated, it simply means safely, faster.

Call 0121 557 6242 www.flexi.co.uk F L E X I N A R R O W A I S L E

AC Range

M OV I N G FO RWA R D SA F E LYOpen View guardHiVIS mast True RadiusTM design Smooth control

8


Big Picture

The Global Financial Crisis hit many companies very hard, but the

manufacturing industry in particular felt the force of the world slipping closer and closer to the edge. Previous years of sustained growth were suddenly met by production levels dropping in excess of 75%, and unfortunately, some didn’t survive to tell the tale.

One of the first management reactions to a drop in production is to look at the company head-count and begin considering reducing staff numbers to bring better balance to the falling rate of production. This is certainly a logical approach, as no company owner really wants idle hands on the payroll (crisis or not), but the shrewd companies looked outside of their micro-environment and analyzed the bigger picture.

Let’s take a hypothetical look at a producer of electronic components. This company sells their products to companies that produce consumer electronics – everything from laptops and

TVs to toasters and door bells – then takes these goods to the retail market where you and I make our purchases. For years, this company experienced market-leading growth, but suddenly production fell off a cliff. They were only manufacturing 50% of what they did the year before. It was a meltdown. Management was smart, though, and realized they were not the only victim of a global crisis since everyone around them was experiencing the same troubles.

So how many staff did this company lay off? Zero. Seeing the bigger picture, management viewed themselves as just one part of the whole, a single cog turning inside a much larger system.

It’s easy for people to view their own department as the only result that matters. It’s the same for viewing the performance of a single branch or for a single company inside a larger enterprise. Indeed, it’s all too easy to look at your enterprise as a standalone without factoring in the “why’s” from a much wider ecosystem.

We all sell, operate, succeed and fail inside a supply chain. When we look at this bigger picture – when we think globally – we see that we are all linked together. We can rely on these links at times of perceived failure, and we can succeed when others do.

It’s this point of view – this understanding – that led our hypothetical electronics company to the decision they made. They analyzed the chain and made a very important discovery. Sales to the end consumer only dropped by

THINK GLOBALLY to Avoid Creating Your Own CrisisDarren Matthews, Business Development Analyst for WiseTech Global, explains the importance of having a big-picture mindset.

“Indeed, it’s all too easy to look at your enterprise as a standalone without factoring in the “why’s” from a much wider ecosystem.”



3%. The final sale price of these goods might have been discounted, but the items were leaving the store all the same. Retailers’ natural reaction to recession tends to be “let’s reduce inventory,” or “sell, but don’t replenish,” or simply “cash is king.” Yet, our electronics management team knew that when inventory is sold, it needs to be replenished. The statistics showed that on average, retailers held stock for four to six months of current sales. They knew that at some point, they would be required to ramp up production once again. Fire in January and Hire in May, or maintain the well trained staff you currently have. To the relief of our hypothetical electronics employees, the staff were retained, and the company was well positioned to meet demand when it returned.

By thinking globally and analyzing the data, they were able to see the cause and effect inside the wider ecosystem. Retailers were reducing their inventory but didn’t stop buying, meaning it was inevitable that demand would return. Thinking globally

allows us to sometimes spot the obvious things that a local profit and loss report does not really reflect.

Whether inside your own organization, or globally inside a wider ecosystem, having the information on-hand allows you to take a better look at the world you live in. Simple yet sophisticated technology solutions can provide you with a clearer vision of that world. Gaining visibility over your own stock inventory or that of your clients’, your local and global

financial positions, prospective sales and quotes, margins on won business, the number of shipments you’re moving, your overseas operations, your potential profits from shipment files, and even your staff’s productivity, efficiency, and work capacity – having the right technology solution allows you to shine a light over all of these to better see the supply chain that links them together.

Information should be at your fingertips any time you need it, and with the knowledge that you are all linked together in some way, it can enable you to make a far better appraisal of your current position. In doing so, you can avoid creating your own crisis along the way.

www.wisetechglobal.com

“Whether inside your own organization, or globally inside a wider ecosystem, having the information on-hand allows you to take a better look at the world you live in.”

10


Introducing a 70-strong fleet of lift trucks from Yale dealer Forkway across its network

of 16 distribution centres and three manufacturing facilities has allowed packaging specialist Macfarlane Packaging to reduce its total forklift fleet by 20%.

From boxes and bags to labelling and stretch wrap, the range of packaging materials and systems supplied by Macfarlane Packaging is almost endless.

As the largest packaging distributor in the UK, Macfarlane Packaging supplies some of the best-known logistics providers, manufacturers and retailers in

the country as well as selling direct to individual consumers via its fast-expanding dotcom operation. It is essential for Macfarlane that it provides solid reliability when it comes to availability of stock – making the performance of its 16 regional distribution centres and three manufacturing facilities absolutely pivotal to the overall success of the business.

Equipment quality and reliability were the key considerations when the firm began looking for a new materials handling partner two years ago to replace a very mixed fleet of lift trucks and a decidedly mixed level of handling reliability. Macfarlane Packaging began looking for a single source supplier back in 2012 to support a fleet-wide rationalisation programme.

Cover Story

Yale wraps up fleet rationalisation for Macfarlane

“There was a need to consolidate the fleet, to ensure we had the right number of trucks with the right specifications at each site to deliver an excellent level of service for our customers.”



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Cover Story

Macfarlane Packaging Logistics Director, Tim Hylton, comments: “There was a need to consolidate the fleet, to ensure we had the right number of trucks with the right specifications at each site to deliver an excellent level of service for our customers.”

Once its agreements with existing suppliers came to a close, the opportunity to carry out that consolidation finally arose and, after a period of extensive research, the firm chose Yale as its preferred manufacturer, striking a seven-year contract hire deal with Yale dealer Forkway for a selection of equipment including reach trucks, counterbalanced trucks, man-up order pickers and powered pallet trucks.

The fleet it now runs is around 20% smaller in number than before and includes 17 three-wheel electric counterbalanced trucks (two ERP13VC models

and 15 ERP15/16/18/20VT trucks); eight gas-powered four-wheel counterbalanced units (GLP16/18/25/35VX models); 31 reach trucks (nine MR14 units, 21 MR14H trucks and one MR16H); two man-up order pickers (MO10S); and 11 MP20X platform power pallet trucks. A single MC10 counterbalanced stacker truck completes the current line-up.

The powered pallet trucks are used across several sites for loading dock operations and feeding pallets to and from the racking areas, while the gas counterbalanced units are generally reserved for ground level loading operations outdoors, where required. The reach trucks are deployed within standard 2.4m wide aisles of racking for pallet putaway and retrieval at heights of nearly 10m at some sites, while the two low-level order pickers are used exclusively at the 52,000 square foot Milton Keynes distribution centre to serve an area of pallet racking dedicated to Macfarlane’s dotcom operation, which dispatches some 200 orders a day.

A number of the reach trucks have been fitted with load height indicators to help protect operators, handling equipment, racking and goods from any risk of damage when working at height, while the powered pallet trucks all feature extra-high load guards to protect operators from the possibility of any load shift when unloading

double-stacked loads – an important consideration given that some of the pallets the company handles are very light.

All the Yale lift trucks have also been fitted with an onboard telemetry-based vehicle management system that gathers a wealth of data on individual trucks and drivers as well as overall fleet performance.

Using RFID fobs to distinguish between different staff and automatically uploading all the information wirelessly to a central data centre from which a huge range of reports can be accessed, the system is used at Macfarlane to ensure pre-shift checks are carried out, as well as logging truck run time and lift time. The system also analyses individual operator activity and detects and logs any collisions, distinguishing between low, medium and high impacts and even learning to recognise and ignore the regular bumps and vibrations caused by moving around a site – for example when moving from a pristine warehouse floor to an uneven yard outside.

The Yale electric trucks also feature an auto-shutdown system that kicks in after a user-definable period to save on battery power, helping to conserve running time and reduce the need for battery charging – a move that allows trucks at some Macfarlane sites to be charged as little as once every 48 hours.

“All the Yale lift trucks have also been fitted with an onboard telemetry-based vehicle management system that gathers a wealth of data on individual trucks and drivers as well as overall fleet performance.”



12


Cover Story

With loads ranging from small packages up to mattress boxes measuring 1.5 x 3.0 metres and individual pallets carrying goods worth anything up to £1,700, precise, sensitive handling was absolutely critical for Macfarlane, says Hylton. The easily damaged nature of some goods, like rolls of stretch film, also meant it needed trucks that were simple to control and very smooth in operation.

Above all else, however, the new truck fleet had to be reliable, says Hylton. “The reliability of the trucks was incredibly important to us, given the way our business operates,” he confirms. “We take orders throughout the day, with receipt of goods taking place during the morning and the picking process needing to start very quickly in the afternoon. With only a limited amount of kit on site, we need to make sure it is working at all times.

“The reliability of the Yale trucks, when we trialled them, their functionality, and the feedback we got from the employees using them was all very positive,” he continues.

“These trucks are absolutely critical to our operation because they can get to the highest locations in the racking.”

Hylton’s enthusiasm for the Yale trucks is only equalled by his enthusiasm for the service offered by dealer Forkway.

“We’ve known Rob Wilson, Forkway’s Warehouse and Specialist Accounts Manager,

for a number of years and he has a very good understanding of our business and where we want to get to,” he comments. “That’s important, because there are requirements now in our fleet that five or six years ago, we wouldn’t have had in our business, like the dotcom operation’s use of man-up order pickers. As our business grows and changes, we need a supplier that is going to be able to offer us that flexibility – and Forkway can.

“We’ve been starting to experiment with trucks that can perform a number of different jobs, for example shifting away from the exclusive use of counterbalanced trucks outdoors in favour of powered pallet trucks that can be used both for loading/unloading across a dock and also on indoor work. It’s been about working

out what the best kit is for each site and working with Forkway to determine the right number of trucks.

“They really understand the specifications we need and they make sure they have that kit available for us, which means we can flex the fleet up and down as the seasonality of our business changes,” he says.

This has certainly paid off: apart from the 20% or so reduction in fleet numbers, Hylton’s new approach has ensured

Macfarlane spends no more now on its lift truck fleet than it did three years ago.

“Moving to Yale has been cost-neutral for us, but as we all know, inflation has been rising, and the cost of metal and other materials has been rising, so for us to remain cost-neutral with a single supplier has been an achievement in itself,” Hylton says.

“These trucks are absolutely fundamental to the success of our business and the reliability of the new trucks is fantastic,” he adds.

“Overall, the move to Yale has been a very positive experience for us and we are delighted with our fleet.”

For more information, visit www.yale.com



Top meeting-places for intralogistics decision-makersin the world’s growth markets.

GERMANY Hannover 31 May – 3 June 2016CHINA Shanghai 27 – 30 October 2014INDIA New Delhi 10 – 13 December 2014TURKEY Istanbul 19 – 22 March 2015AUSTRALIA Sydney 5 – 7 May 2015ITALY Milan 19 – 23 May 2015BRAZIL São Paulo 30 June – 3 July 2015RUSSIA Moscow 22 – 25 September 2015

Contact: Tel. +49 511 89-34133, [email protected]

Leading trade fair for intralogistics & supply chain management

CeMAT Events Worldwide

CeMAT_2016_Anzeige_Events_Ww_DIN_A4.indd 1 08.09.14 10:55


SDI Group, the global integrator of automated materials handling systems, has introduced a new, flexible version of its leading Sorter Control System (SCS) software. SDI’s latest V5.0 software offers complete versatility for multi-channel and omnichannel operations, fully enabling SDI’s FSU and LS900 sorters to simultaneously process items across multiple clients and differing operating modes.

Capable of preparing single or multiple orders, configuring material for store fulfilment, managing returns, or processing on-line orders on a single sorter, SDI’s V5.0 software maximises the use of the sorter, making it a highly versatile tool for fulfilling a wide diversity of order requirements. Until now, several versions of SCS software existed in parallel and were dedicated to different types of operations, such as distribution to stores or e-fulfilment. The V5.0 software

makes it possible to run both operations on the same sorter.

The software also allows even greater versatility. Using a single database a company can define multiple clients and numerous ‘jobs’, allocating destination chutes in either a fixed or dynamic way, depending on requirements. Induction stations can also be assigned in accordance to needs and ‘client profiles’ can be created, stored and deployed with ease – ensuring consistency.

The SCS V5.0 software has been successfully deployed at French fashion and home furnishings retailer, Eurodif, where an SDI LS900 parcel sorter with a total of 120 destinations has been set the task of compiling orders for stores using 90 of the chutes while at the same time dynamically allocating 30 chutes to the reverse sorting of parcels received into the distribution centre.

All aspects of the software have been designed for maximum flexibility and the easy redeployment of the sorter in response to operational demands that may change throughout the working day. Importantly, all features such as touch screen control, operating analytics, maintenance support, interactive displays on chutes and barcode reading ‘on the fly’, are retained.

Gordon Smith, CEO of SDI Group says, “Investment in the development of innovative sorter control software is a vital element of our business and an important competitive differentiator for us. By creating flexible tools that can maximise the capabilities, performance and productivity of our fast sortation systems, our clients can reap the financial and ‘customer service’ benefits of a fast and responsive supply chain.”

SDI Group boosts sorter versatility with V5.0 control software



15


Knowledge Portal

SDI Group, the global integrator of automated material handling systems, has expanded its Maintenance Support operations by 70% in the last twelve months, signalling a growing imperative for businesses to achieve maximum uptime of critical automated logistics processes.

“As store replenishment and ecommerce operations become more complex and time-sensitive, businesses are becoming increasingly dependent on sophisticated automated materials handling systems to achieve store replenishment in single items and extended cut-off times for online orders. Mechanical or software failure can quickly affect dispatch performance,

impacting customer service and ultimately brand value, so ensuring any issues are dealt with swiftly is absolutely vital.” says Barry Pemberton, head of UK support operations at SDI Group.

SDI Group has a fast developing systems maintenance business, providing full-time, on-site engineers for many of the world’s leading retail brands, across multiple international territories. In the UK, the company has recently secured a three-year contract to maintain all three of George at Asda’s UK distribution centres on a 24/7 basis.

Maintenance Support provides around-the-clock backup for automated systems under

maintenance contract, helping to support on-site maintenance teams by deploying highly trained engineers to problem sites under strict KPIs to ensure maximum system uptime. Maintenance Support also makes regular visits to smaller systems and operations where there are no on-site engineers – and provide accident, sickness and holiday cover for on-site teams.

SDI Group’s Maintenance and Support operations cover installations designed and built by both SDI Group and other manufacturers, and are coordinated from a network of offices across Europe, the USA and major regional markets.

SDI Group’s Maintenance Support steps up a gear

SDI Group launches sortation knowledge portalSDI Group, the global integrator of automated materials handling systems, has launched www.sortation.com, a new web site designed to demonstrate the benefits of automated sortation in a multimedia format.

The site profiles different automated solutions, giving visitors the opportunity to assess what would suit their application – whether it is hanging garments, boxes, delicate goods, fast moving goods, e-commmerce, returns, etc.

Visitors can see the solutions in action on a series of high definition films, and read about how businesses have benefited from their installation in a portfolio of case studies.

Commenting on www.sortation.com, Gordon Smith, CEO of SDI Group, said: “The new web site offers a knowledge portal on automated sortation for the multichannel retail sector. It is a great way for companies to determine how automated sortation can deliver a bottom

line benefit to their business as well as providing the agility they require to meet future market demands. We look forward to developing the site with further information and features and, of course, lots more successful case studies.”



16


Logistics fills Innovation Union With Life

Logistics Clusters

As one of their central outcomes, the EU- funded research

projects LOG4GREEN and LOG2020, both associated projects of EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, celebrated the first European Forum of Logistic Clusters on 14- 15 October 2014 in Brussels. About 200 participants from over 20 countries, including Brazil, USA and Australia, participated in the forum. “The conference served as a platform to promote the exchange of knowledge and thus future collaborations. It also highlighted the role European regions can and must assume in the research and development of logistics innovations“, says Thorsten Hülsmann, CEO of EffizienzCluster Management GmbH.

„Events like this make it clear: logistics is on the way to fill the Innovation Union with life.” EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr is the biggest research and innovations cluster for logistics in Europe.

Clusters are boosters for more innovation

The first day of the conference focused on the role of clusters and their role in

transforming Europe into an Innovation Union. Among the prominent experts were Dimitri Corpakis, Head of the Unit ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’ in the DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission, Keir Fitch, Head of the Unit ‘Research and Innovative Transport Systems’ in the DG Move at the European Commission, and Jacob Stoumann of

Oxford Research. Experts and participants stressed that the innovative performance of European regions still differs a lot. Thorsten Hülsmann: “To change this, the European Commission aims at improving the framework conditions for innovation. Both, Horizon 2020 as well as the European Structural and Investment Funds contribute to ensure smart, inclusive and sustainable growth in Europe. This allows great opportunities for companies and research to cooperate and innovate.” Clusters play a crucial role in boosting all regions for more innovation: as intermediaries and important door openers, they serve at the same time as cooperation platforms especially for small and medium businesses.

Collaboration is key for future logistics

The second day was devoted to six topics that had been defined as particularly relevant for the future by the research projects LOG4GREEN, LOG2020 and SoCool@EU, the third organiser of the conference. In six breakout sessions, stakeholders from academia, industry and the public sector intensely discussed main challenges, good practice examples and

The First European Forum of Logistic Clusters in Brussels stresses the role of clusters for more innovation. Participants benefit from excellent networking opportunities.

“Clusters play a crucial role in boosting all regions for more innovation: as intermediaries and important door openers, they serve at the same time as cooperation platforms especially for small and medium businesses.”



still existing problems to be solved in the forthcoming years. For instance, in the session on ‘Green investments in supply chains: the inevitable choice towards competitiveness’ panellists agreed that measures towards more sustainability in logistics not

only provide great opportunities for the environment, but also for economic efficiency and cost savings. In the session ‘Meeting the challenges of sustainability: requirements for tomorrow’s Supply Chain Executives’, presenting the results of the Erasmus project LOG2020, the panel discussed requirements and developments in the field of education and training of logisticians and supply chain managers. The Master Class, developed during the project LOG2020, aimed at training executive logistics managers to be properly prepared for the inevitable challenges the future holds. Lars Nagel, CEO of the start- up GlobalGate, which was developed from EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, pointed out that not only the needs of the market changed, but also the customers’ requirements: today’s executives do not have the

time for extended classroom trainings, but request flexible and comfortable learning tools.

Intriguing and lively in- depth exchanges

The event attracted scientists and company representatives from many important European logistics regions. The participants took advantage of the keynotes on the role of logistics for smart regional development and intriguing and lively in-depth exchanges between panellists, covering the range of today’s most relevant logistics topics. The organisers were enthusiastic about the great success of this first European Forum of Logistic Clusters. Supported by positive feedback from participants, the clusters sharing the organisation of the conference can well imagine continuing the forum as a biannual event.

“...measures towards more sustainability in logistics not only provide great opportunities for the environment, but also for economic efficiency and cost savings.”

http://www.bennettandpartners.co.uk/logistics_flipbook/


Consumer demand for fresh, quality products to be available anytime

means that food producers, manufacturers and processors should keep lead times as short as possible, respond to seasonal peaks and provide deliveries on time. PROflow, BITO’s pallet live storage system, provides the ideal solution for meeting these requirements. It ensures that the FIFO principle (First In, First Out) – a key ingredient for success in the food industry – is maintained. The Greenery is a leading distributor of fruit and vegetables, which has opted for this racking solution and its success has proved it made the right decision.

The name PROflow refers to BITO’s well-established and successful PRO pallet racking – a modular system that can be adapted to individual requirements. The second part of the name, ‘flow’, conveys motion. Put that together and you have the PROflow system, for live storage and push-back racking, which both provide special features to give an advantage over conventional pallet racking.

In contrast to static pallet racking, pallet live storage allows products to be stored in FIFO sequence. The lanes of each pallet live block are replenished with stock from the loading aisle. Products

are picked at the opposite side so those fed in first are taken out first. This sequence offers numerous advantages such as easy control of sell-by dates, production batches and product lines. Moreover, it gives direct access to all items at the picking face and each pallet moves forward by gravity when the empty one in front is removed. Sufficient

replenishment quantities guarantee constant product availability. Given that products are always in direct access at the picking face, order picking is both fast and easy. The clear layout, which allows immediate product access, helps to reduce process times and improve process predictability.

Pallet live storage installations are far more compact than pallet racking and provide a better overview of the reference lines on stock. This reduces travel routes for order pickers as well as the time required for order collation at the loading dock. In addition to increasing picking performance this storage solution can be used within a much smaller floor surface, a fact that will save energy costs – particularly in cold stores.

Fresh Food18

BITO’s FRESH FOOD FOCUS

The Greenery opted for BITO pallet live storage. Orders are picked in picking tunnels.

“...for live storage and push-back racking, which both provide special features to give an advantage over conventional pallet racking.”



19


Fresh Food

Load separator eliminates lane pressure

The FlowStop load separator is an innovative feature of BITO pallet live storage. Mounted to the picking side, the load separator reliably separates the first pallet from the other pallets in the lane, allowing forklift trucks to retrieve a pallet safely without lane pressure and without damaging the component. Truck forks can pass under the full length of the pallet – there is no need to pull the pallet halfway out and then reposition the forks. This makes product handling a lot easier and reduces the risk of fruit or vegetables crates toppling over.

Hygiene is of course a major food industry requirement, whether in ambient warehouses, in chill stores or in cold stores – and strict regulations apply. For this reason, BITO pallet live storage can be provided with tiltable roller conveyor lanes, which allow convenient cleaning of the floor beneath. Even when products are handled with care,

there is a risk that truck forks can cause damage to packaging units – leading to spilt contents and soiled warehouse floors. With tiltable roller conveyor lanes it is easy for warehouse operators to keep these areas perfectly clean.

BITO’s focus on fresh foods for The Greenery

The Greenery is a leading fruit and vegetable distributor, which has opted for BITO pallet live storage to handle its broad range of produce, which spans organic home-grown as well as exotic fresh fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. This range is supplied to supermarket chains, wholesalers, gastronomy establishments and the processing industry. To cater for each market segment, The Greenery has subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, UK, Poland, Italy, Russia, Romania, Brazil and the US. Each subsidiary specializes in a product group or a particular market segment, which allows The Greenery to adapt at any given time to customer demands globally.

For example, Dutch grown produce is complemented by imported produce from all continents such as citrus fruits, banana and other exotic fruit, as well as produce that does not grow in the Netherlands all year round – such as cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes or cauliflowers.

In the Netherlands, some 276 supermarkets are supplied with up to 4000 pallet loads of fresh produce each day, which creates demanding storage requirements for The Greenery. Its pallet live storage installations have been equipped with picking tunnels to link buffer areas with picking areas. Pick pallets are supplied in live storage lanes, with pallet buffer stock located on top. Buffer stock is also kept in live storage lanes as well as products that do not grow in the Netherlands during some months of the year. Relocating fully loaded pallets from the buffer area on top to the live storage lanes at floor level guarantees continuous supply to the order pickers. This, in turn, ensures an uninterrupted supply chain to retailers. Moreover, BITO’s solution makes optimum use of the warehouse capacity, which would be much lower with static pallet racking.

Photos: BITO-Lagertechnik Bittmann GmbH

The FlowStop load separator operates without activator. Although permanent product in-feeding into the roller conveyor lanes is possible, there is no lane pressure.

“...ensures an uninterrupted supply chain to retailers.”



[email protected]

The Bendi B310-OP is designed to optimise order pickingin narrow aisles and up to heights of 6m; whilst being the first truck on the market to be capable of replenishing pick faces without disrupting the pick cycle.

Retaining many of the features that have made the awardwinning Bendi the first choice in articulated forklift trucks, the B310-OP is capable of storing pallets in narrow aisles without the need for guidance or super flat floors and offers greater space saving over counterbalance and reachtrucks.

Introducing the world’s first Order Picking Articulated Forklift Truck

BendiOrder Picker

To see how much you could save and for a free warehouse consultation contact Bendi on

01527 527411

Dual Functionality - Pick & Replenish

21


Palletisers

As a single-source provider for filling, palletising and

packaging technologies, BEUMER Group continues to pursue its ambitious goal of offering its customers sustainable solutions. In order to control, coordinate and display these processes, BEUMER Group also provides Group Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). These system solutions are tailored to the customers’ individual requirements.

For companies in the food and beverage, construction material, electronics and pharmaceuticals industries, the topic of safety when transporting and storing palletised products has become more and more important. These products must be palletised and filled reliably and securely packed in order to deliver them to the customers without damage. The intralogistics specialist BEUMER has expanded its product portfolio with the filling machine BEUMER fillpac and offers plants and systems for complete packaging lines as single-source provider. The fillpac can be flexibly integrated with existing packaging lines and can be optimally adapted to the customer’s conditions. In palletising technology, BEUMER provides a graduated and comprehensive spectrum of high-capacity layer palletisers

that form secure load units. The geometric precision and the stability of the palletised stacks enable easy storage and ensure secure conveyance to the packaging system downstream. These plants and systems, in combination with the conveying technology also offered by BEUMER, are meticulously coordinated with each other and have a very long service life.

TROUBLE-FREE control of processes

BEUMER Group has added the rotating filling machine BEUMER fillpac to its product portfolio and equipped it with extensive features.

“BEUMER provides a graduated and comprehensive spectrum of high-capacity layer palletisers that form secure load units.”



22


Palletisers

BEUMER adapts these in an optimal manner to individual customer requirements, such as machinery capacities, manufacturing output or storage space. In order to achieve reliable and efficient control of all of these processes, BEUMER provides Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), which can be tailored to the users’ requirements.

Warehouse Management System guarantees process control

The BEUMER Warehouse Management System is a web server application which controls and coordinates the entire packaging process, storage and preparation for shipment of products in an optimum manner. Control of materials flow, warehouse management and also the interface to the superior ERP system of the customer are integrated to form part of the system. All information from the packaging line, labelling, storage and shipment converges here. This ensures complete and absolute transparency of all products and processes. All the persons involved in production can access the system, the logistic scheduler, warehouse employees or forklift operators. The functions and graphical user interface can be configured to meet customer-specific requirements. The BEUMER Warehouse Management System ensures financially sensible processes

and transparent flow of goods which leads to shorter delivery periods.

If the ERP system receives a picking order, it sends the information to a distributed control system and to the Warehouse Management System. The distributed control system monitors and controls the material flow from the silo, checks the product quantities, bagging, palletising and also securing of loads. The packed load units are then provided with a barcode. In the process, the BEUMER Warehouse Management System is in continual data exchange with the ERP system.

After the load units are delivered to the conveying system, the palletising technology stacks the boxes, bags or trays onto pallets in a secure and space-saving manner. These pallets are then transported on roller conveyors towards the BEUMER stretch hood® high-capacity packaging system. The stretch hood system wraps the loaded pallets with a special polythene film. This extremely weather-resistant packaging ensures the safety of the products during storage and shipment. They are

then provided with a barcode.

The Warehouse Management System includes also a main control system for fork-lifts. This ensures that the palletised and packaged goods can be loaded quickly without prolonged intermediate storage. Therefore, the Warehouse Management System checks if the pallet is ready for collection at the belt conveyor, reads the barcode, assigns a specific storage space for the pallet and controls the corresponding fork-lift. In these processes, the BEUMER Warehouse Management System is in continual data exchange with the ERP system.

Any errors that could occur amongst the production, storage and shipment systems are avoided with the BEUMER Warehouse Management System, as are time-consuming searches. As all processes are defined chronologically, an automatic material reservation and provision process is enabled that is timely and tailored to demand. The warehouse and supply process that is positively driven also makes the production throughput clearly faster and more efficient.

“The BEUMER Warehouse Management System ensures financially sensible processes and transparent flow of goods which leads to shorter delivery periods.”



Dear Mr Wonka,It has come to our attention that during a Golden Ticket promotion at your Chocolate Factory, lapses in Health & Safety procedures led to the sudden and unfortunate disappearances of some of the ticket holders who were, at the time, participating in a guided tour of your premises.

You may not be aware of modern Health & Safety practices in the workplace, but I would like to introduce you to A-SAFE, who manufacture innovative, award-winning safety barriers, helping workplaces like yours adhere to new H&S regulations.

As we understand it, the first incident occurred in the Chocolate Room where one Augustus Gloop, despite advice to the contrary, approached your chocolate river, drank a substantial quantity of product (contravening a number of food hygiene standards) and, subsequently, fell in.

Segregation of personnel from unauthorised areas is key to factory safety and, at A-SAFE, we provide high-vis Pedestrian Barriers that act as guide and protection for staff or visitors. We believe installing A-SAFE barriers in your factory will prevent future accidents in this area – and we can provide Slide or Swing Gates should the Oompa Loompas need access to the river for quality control purposes.

We believe the second incident occurred in the Inventing Room and involved Ms Violet Beaurigarde, who carelessly tasted a prototype confectionery product, causing her to turn purple and swell to the size of an enormous beach ball, necessitating a rather uncomfortable de-juicing process for the young girl.

It seems careless in the extreme to allow the public exposure to untested products. At A-SAFE we rigorously test every new product we create, adopting the very latest FEA procedures and independent testing before allowing them to marketplace.

Ms Veruca Salt’s accident in the Nut Room may have been the most easily avoided of all. Although we cannot do anything about Ms Salt being a ‘bad nut’, simple NO ENTRY signage on the Nut Room door (A-SAFE can supply integrated signboards for workplaces) should have acted as suitable deterrent.

Finally, the incident involving Mike Teavee, which saw him tearing around the Television Room at breakneck speed, culminating in him being shrunk to one inch tall through a teleporter and being sent to your chewing gum stretching machine for resizing, was nothing less than negligent.

A-SAFE Traffic Plus Barriers installed around the teleporter would have offered collision protection from high velocity children and, because the barriers are impact-absorbent, they wouldn’t have damaged the floor.

Despite all of these concerns, we would still like to say how much we admire your constant product innovations and inventiveness. At A-SAFE we have developed the iFlex RackGuard which protects rack legs from the impacts of vehicles and is an improvement on an already outstanding design – in a similar way to how your Luminous Lollies for Eating in Bed at Night improve on the lollipop.

We look forward to hearing from you in due course.

asafe.com

An open letter to Mr Willy Wonka regarding Health & Safety concerns at a confectionery manufacturing plant

BOOK FLIGHTS NOW.Name of Organisation: International Federation

of Warehousing Logistics Associations (IFWLA)

Date of the event: 1st - 4th June 2015

Name of the event: IFWLA’s annual convention

Event Hotel: Hard Day’s Night Hotel, Liverpool, England www.harddaysnighthotel.com

Registration fee: Click here for further details

Registration opens: 1st January 2015

Tel: 0207 636 8856

www.ifwla.com

mailto:rwilliams%40ukwa.org.uk?subject=IFWLA%20Convention%20Registration%20Fee%20Enquiry


Flexi Narrow Aisle, manufacturer of the Flexi range of articulated

forklift trucks, has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the Flexi business.

“Safety is a key consideration in the design and implementation of any piece of materials

handling equipment and, of course, it is paramount with the manufacturing process,” said Peter Wooldridge, managing director of Flexi Narrow Aisle.

It is felt that Safecontractor accreditation will further enhance Flexi’s ability to attract new contracts and the company’s commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company’s liability policy is up for renewal.

Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.

John Kinge, technical director

of Safecontractor said, “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.”

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Flexi has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.

“Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”

TOP SAFETY ACCREDITATION for Flexi Narrow Aisle



26 Safety

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20 page e-book

Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.

Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.

Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use

the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

The Safecontractor accreditation follows the recent announcement that Flexi Narrow Aisle has had its ISO 9001 Accreditation renewed.

John Maguire, Flexi Narrow Aisle’s sales and marketing director, commented: “ISO 9001 Accreditation demonstrates our compliance with proven international business practices and appropriate standards and

is invaluable to our operation – particularly when it comes to tendering for contracts with larger companies.”

He added: “ISO 9001 recognition shows that all aspects of our business comply with best practice standards that are acknowledged the world over.

“Flexi Narrow Aisle has been ISO 9001 compliant for many years, but our recent audit was particularly pleasing because our quality control systems and procedures were shown to exceed the requirements laid down within ISO 9001.”

“...all aspects of our business comply with best practice standards that are acknowledged the world over.”

http://www.bennettandpartners.co.uk/logistics_flipbook/

While it is well understood that a warehouses’s

throughput (in pallets/truck/hour) will be determined in large part by the flatness and levelness of the concrete floor on which the trucks must operate, close control over this warehouse feature is routinely overlooked on most European warehouse floor projects. Decades of worldwide experience, however, has proven that the specification of F-Numbers and the daily testing of floor profile tolerances as the floor is being installed can improve warehouse operational efficiencies by as much as 50%.

The F-Number System (ASTM E1155M) is a rational, comprehensive, and extraordinarily effective methodology for specifying and controlling both floor flatness and levelness in all situations where the traffic patterns are unconstrained. ASTM E1155M

describes the measurement and calculation of two kinds of F-Numbers: FF and FL. FF („F” = „Flatness”) numbers control the floor’s local bumpiness. FL („L” = „Levelness”) numbers control the floor’s local inclination relative to horizontal. The higher the floor’s FF and FL numbers, the better its flatness and levelness.

F-Numbers are derived from a statistical analysis of the floor’s surface profile measured at 30cm and 3m intervals. The floor profiling instruments offered by Allen Face Europe – the D-Meter® and F-Meter® – are particularly well suited for the task. In fact, F-Number testing with either the D-Meter® or F-Meter® is extremely fast and simple. Any building owner, general contractor, concrete floor installer or local testing lab can learn to do it in less than an hour, thus eliminating the need to bring in any specialty (viz. expensive) floor testing firm.

Allen Face Europe is the European counterpart of the Allen Face Companies (USA) – inventor of the Superflat Floor, the F-Number System, and the instruments used to test them. Formed in 2013 by Noemi Nagy, AFE draws upon Allen Face’s three dacades of international experience in concrete floor profile specification and control to help warehouse owners and designers incorporate these powerful tools into their warehouse concrete floor projects, and thereby ensure the successful, high-speed, low-maintenance operation of their lift trucks.

Allen Face Europe Ltd Fecske utca 10, Budapest, 1084, Hungary +36 70 316 0745 www.allenface-europe.com

AFE brings concrete floor flatness management to Europe for greatly increased warehouse efficiencyThe F-Number System – when coupled with the unique floor profiling instruments available from Allen Face Europe (AFE) – provides a simple yet comprehensive means for warehouse operators both to define their flatness and levelness requirements and to provide extremely effective daily monitoring and correction of results during the floor’s construction.

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